The main base hadn't changed.
It never did.
Cold.
Controlled.
Unforgiving.
The moment the doors opened, the atmosphere shifted.
Guards straightened instantly.
Conversations stopped.
Eyes lowered.
"…Boss."
Dante didn't slow down.
The wheels of the chair moved steadily across the polished floor.
Quiet.
Precise.
Every turn controlled.
Izana didn't speak.
Didn't acknowledge anyone.
He didn't need to.
His presence alone was enough.
Even now.
Even like this.
Leah's words lingered somewhere in the back of his mind—
Come back to us.
His hand rested loosely against his thigh.
Still.
Steady.
But not relaxed.
Never relaxed.
They moved deeper into the base.
Through corridors that didn't echo—
because no one dared to make noise.
Dante finally spoke.
Low.
Controlled.
"…You sure about this?"
Izana didn't look at him.
Didn't hesitate.
"…Open the door."
That was his answer.
Dante didn't ask again.
They stopped in front of a heavy metal door.
Two guards stood on either side.
Weapons ready.
But lowered the moment they saw him.
"…Boss."
Dante nodded once.
"…Open it."
The lock clicked.
The door creaked open.
And the air inside felt different.
Thicker.
Colder.
They entered.
Kairo sat restrained in the center of the room.
Chained.
Bruised.
But upright.
His head lifted slowly.
And when his eyes landed on Izana—
he smiled.
A slow.
Crooked.
Unbothered smile.
"…You're still alive."
Silence.
Dante pushed the chair forward.
Not rushing.
Not dragging it out.
Just enough.
Izana didn't speak.
Not yet.
His gaze stayed on Kairo.
Unmoving.
Unreadable.
They stopped a few feet away.
The room went still.
Completely.
Then—
"…You missed."
Izana's voice was low.
Flat.
Kairo's smile widened slightly.
"…Clearly not well enough."
Silence.
No reaction.
No shift.
Just that same cold stare.
Kairo tilted his head slightly.
Studying him.
"…Didn't expect you to come here like this."
His eyes dropped briefly to the wheelchair.
Then back up.
"…Doesn't suit you."
Izana didn't respond.
Didn't rise to it.
Didn't need to.
He leaned forward slightly.
Just enough.
Ignoring the quiet pull of pain.
"…You went after her."
The room stilled again.
Even Dante's posture shifted slightly.
Kairo didn't deny it.
Didn't look away.
"…She was in the way."
That was it.
That was all it took.
Not for an outburst.
Not for anger.
But something colder.
Something sharper.
Izana's gaze didn't change—
but it deepened.
Dangerously.
"…You aimed at her."
A pause.
His voice dropped.
Even quieter.
"…While she was carrying my son."
Kairo let out a faint breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"…Then maybe I should've aimed better."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Dante's hand tightened slightly on the back of the chair.
"…Boss—."
Izana didn't look at him.
Didn't acknowledge the warning.
He didn't need it.
His voice came calm.
Controlled.
Deadly.
"…Break his arm."
A pause.
Just a second.
Then Dante exhaled through his nose.
"…Got it."
He didn't move himself.
Just nodded once.
A guard stepped forward immediately.
No hesitation.
No question.
Kairo's smirk faltered slightly—
just for a second.
Then—
a sharp crack.
The sound echoed through the room.
Kairo's body jerked violently.
A strained breath escaped him—
not quite a shout.
But close.
His jaw clenched.
Eyes tightening.
But he didn't scream.
Didn't give that satisfaction.
Izana watched.
Unmoved.
Unblinking.
"…You think this changes anything?"
Kairo's voice was rougher now.
Tighter.
But still defiant.
Izana leaned back slightly.
Calm.
"…No."
A pause.
"…This is just the beginning."
Silence fell again.
He let that sit.
Let it settle.
Then—
Izana leaned forward.
Just enough.
Ignoring the strain.
Ignoring the pull of pain.
"…You're still following him."
Kairo's expression didn't change.
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
A flicker.
Recognition.
Izana's gaze didn't waver.
"…Even after he's dead."
A pause.
His voice dropped.
Colder.
"…You stayed loyal."
Silence stretched.
Kairo exhaled slowly.
Then—
a faint smirk returned.
"…Someone had to finish it."
There it was.
Confirmation.
Not that Izana needed it.
He already knew.
Kairo tilted his head slightly.
"…You should've died that day."
The words settled into the room.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Izana didn't react.
Didn't shift.
Didn't rise to it.
"…He died."
A pause.
His gaze sharpened—
just slightly.
"…You didn't."
Silence.
Kairo studied him now.
More carefully.
Trying to find something.
Anything.
To break through that calm.
Izana leaned back slightly.
Controlled.
Unrushed.
"…So now you live long enough to regret staying loyal to him."
Dante's grip on the chair tightened slightly.
Just enough to notice.
He exhaled quietly.
"…You already knew."
Izana didn't look at him.
"…Of course I did."
Silence.
Kairo let out a faint breath.
Almost a laugh.
"…Then what—."
A pause.
"…You came here to talk?"
Izana's gaze stayed on him.
Unmoved.
"…No."
A beat.
Then—
"…I came to end it."
The room went still again.
Kairo's smirk didn't fully disappear.
But it weakened.
Just slightly.
"…You think this ends anything?"
Izana didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
The silence said enough.
Kairo's eyes darkened slightly.
Then—
he pushed again.
"…Next time I won't miss her."
Everything stopped.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
Just—
stopped.
Dante's posture shifted instantly.
Tension snapping tight.
But Izana—
didn't move.
Didn't react outwardly.
His voice came quiet.
Even.
"…Break his other arm."
A pause.
Just a second.
Then—
Dante nodded once.
"…Do it."
A guard stepped forward immediately.
No hesitation.
No warning.
A sharp crack echoed through the room.
Kairo's body jerked violently.
A strained breath tore from him—
closer to a shout this time.
His jaw clenched hard.
Eyes tightening.
But still—
he didn't beg.
Didn't break.
Izana watched.
Unblinking.
Unmoved.
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Kairo's breathing steadied slowly.
Barely.
His gaze locked back onto Izana.
Still defiant.
Still holding on.
"…You're not leaving here the same either."
Izana's expression didn't change.
"…I already didn't."
A pause.
Then—
a small movement of his hand.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
Dante understood immediately.
"…We're done."
The guards stepped back.
Resetting.
Waiting.
The chair turned slowly.
Controlled.
Deliberate.
Izana didn't look away from Kairo.
Not until the distance started to grow.
Not until the door came back into view.
Then—
just before they reached it—
his voice cut through the silence again.
Quiet.
Final.
"…You stayed loyal to the wrong man."
A pause.
"…Now you live with that."
The door opened.
Light spilled in.
Cold.
Sharp.
The chair moved forward.
Out.
The door shut behind them.
The sound echoed.
Final.
Dante exhaled slowly.
"…You held back."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
They moved down the corridor again.
Same silence.
Same control.
Then—
"…I'm not done."
Dante nodded slightly.
"…Didn't think you were."
A pause.
Then—
"…Leah's not going to like this."
Izana's gaze stayed forward.
Unmoving.
"…She doesn't need to."
The wheels continued forward.
Steady.
Unstoppable.
And even now—
even like this—
Izana didn't feel weakened.
Because this wasn't about strength anymore.
Not physical.
Not visible.
This was something else.
Something colder.
Something final.
And somewhere far from the base—
Leah's hand rested over her stomach.
Zarek kicked once.
Sharp.
Unsettled.
Like he felt it too.
Like he knew—
this wasn't over.
Not yet.