The forest was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Smoke drifted upward from shattered earth. Soldiers moved cautiously around the corpse, as if it might rise again out of spite.
General Kael Draven stared at the severed head at his boots. Still processing.
Kael: "…Cleanup team. Move in."
His voice sounded smaller than usual.
Scene Shift — Government Observation Room
Silence.
The monitors replayed the same frame on loop: head sliding, body falling, Void walking away.
Merek Solan slowly closed the Clearance Omega file. His hands weren't steady.
Merek: "Is… is this all true?"
Director Halden Krowe didn't blink.
Halden: "It is."
Merek looked at the monitors again.
Merek: "That is… wonderful news."
Pause.
Merek: "He didn't even struggle."
Halden smiled faintly.
Merek hesitated.
Merek: "But sir… where is he headed?"
Halden didn't answer. The screen continued replaying the same moment: Void walking away, calm, untouchable.
Scene Shift — Far From the Forest
Bat and Nick had been walking for hours. The cave exit had led them miles away from the battlefield. The forest was far behind them now. The road ahead was cracked, half-abandoned.
Nick stretched his shoulders.
Nick: "Everything okay?"
Bat didn't respond.
Nick sighed.
Nick: "Look, I know you're upset about us running from that thing… but we're alive. That counts for something, right?"
Bat's jaw tightened.
Nick kicked a loose stone.
Nick: "Hey… that cloud kinda looks like a toad."
Bat suddenly stopped walking. Nick almost bumped into him.
Nick: "What? What's wrong?"
Bat didn't move. His eyes scanned the air, the trees, the sky.
Bat: "…Something's coming."
Nick blinked.
Nick: "What? Where?"
Then—a violent gust of wind tore down the road. Not natural. Not gradual. It hit them like a truck. Both were lifted off their feet and slammed onto the asphalt.
Nick groaned.
Nick: "What the hell was that?!"
Bat slowly stood up.
Bat: "I don't know."
Nick rubbed his head.
Nick: "What the hell do you mean you don't know?"
Bat looked around.
Bat: "I couldn't see it."
Nick frowned.
Nick: "So… maybe it was just wind."
Bat's voice dropped. Quiet. Uneasy.
Bat: "…Yeah. Maybe."
Nick brushed dust off his jacket.
Nick: "Come on. Let's keep moving."
They continued down the empty road. Neither looked back.
Scene Shift — Research Facility
Inside a quiet medical lab, Doctor John sorted through files. Footsteps echoed behind him.
Voice: "Yo, John."
Doctor John turned, expression shifting immediately.
Doctor John: "Oh… V. It's you."
He leaned back against the desk.
Doctor John: "Done with the mission already?"
Void: "I told you. Stop calling me that."
Doctor John chuckled.
Doctor John: "Right… right. Sorry."
Pause.
Doctor John: "So… why are you here?"
Void shrugged slightly.
Void: "The Director told me to come. And wait for him."
Doctor John nodded.
Doctor John: "Well then…"
He gestured toward a chair.
Doctor John: "Make yourself at home."
Void sat quietly, calm, relaxed. Like nothing had happened.
Scene — Halden Krowe Arrives
Hours Later.the research facility hummed quietly. Director Halden Krowe stepped through the main doors, expression tight, measured. His boots clicked across the polished floor as he approached the reception desk.
Doctor John looked up.
Doctor John: "Director Halden Krowe… what brings you here?"
Halden Krowe: "I'm here for Void."
Doctor John: "He's in my office at the moment."
Halden nodded, walking down the hallway, pace steady but tense.
Scene — Office
The door slid open. Void leaned casually against the edge of a desk, one leg propped up, faint smirk on his face.
Halden Krowe: "So… I see you've completed the mission."
Void tilted his head, scratching the back of it.
Void: "Yeah… but I don't get it. Why send me out there for just one Veyrix?"
Halden furrowed his brow. Doctor John, standing behind him, shifted uncomfortably.
Halden Krowe: "Just one? What do you mean?"
Void: "Well… there was only one. Nothing else."
Halden Krowe: "Our scanners indicated the Veyrix was moving abnormally… almost like it was chasing something. Are you sure there was nothing else? Nothing suspicious?"
Void paused, hand over his face, thinking.
Void: "On my way back… I did see a couple of people. But they weren't Veyrix. Looked normal. Just walking through the woods, maybe camping. Didn't ask them anything."
Doctor John: "You didn't ask where they were going?"
Void shrugged. "I was running. No time for small talk. Besides… they didn't look dangerous."
Halden Krowe leaned back slightly, processing the information.
Halden Krowe: "So… just one Veyrix. And two random civilians apparently in the area. Nothing else?"
Void smirked lightly. "That's all I saw."
Doctor John glanced between the two men, sensing tension.
Doctor John: "Director… are we sure it's safe to rely on just this?"
Halden Krowe didn't answer immediately. His gaze drifted toward Void, casually leaning back, arms crossed, completely unconcerned.
Halden Krowe: "Yes."
Void's smirk widened.
Void: "Ok… date time. Don't wait up. Bye."
And then—he vanished.
Doctor John muttered: "Sir… what about the people Void mentioned?"
Halden Krowe: "I'll handle it."
He walked out of the office, pulling out his communicator.
Halden Krowe: "gather your men. I want you to find out who those people wore. That's all."