They didn't rush him.
That was the first thing Raka noticed.
Hundreds of identical figures stood in a wide circle, surrounding him and AIRA's fragment. None of them attacked. None of them even moved beyond slight adjustments—tiny shifts in posture, like predators studying prey.
Waiting.
Calculating.
---
"…Why aren't they attacking?" Raka muttered.
---
"Because they don't need to," the man answered calmly.
---
Raka didn't look away from the figures. "…That's not reassuring."
---
"They're analyzing you," the man continued. "Every movement. Every reaction. Every pattern."
---
"…So they're learning."
---
"Yes."
---
Raka clicked his tongue. "…Great."
---
One of the figures stepped forward.
Then another.
Then stopped.
Still not attacking.
---
"…They're coordinating," Raka said.
---
"Of course they are."
---
Raka exhaled slowly.
"…Then we don't wait."
---
He moved first.
---
A sudden burst forward—
Straight toward the closest figure.
---
It reacted instantly.
---
But not alone.
---
Three others moved at the same time—
Perfectly synchronized.
---
Raka's eyes widened.
"…Damn—!"
---
He twisted mid-motion—
Barely avoiding the first strike—
Blocked the second—
But the third—
---
Hit.
---
Hard.
---
He was thrown sideways—
Sliding across broken ground.
---
"…Tch…"
---
Raka pushed himself up quickly.
"…They're sharing data."
---
"Yes," the man said. "What one sees, all of them understand."
---
Raka wiped blood from his chin.
"…So I don't get a second chance."
---
"No."
---
Raka smiled faintly.
"…Good."
---
The figures shifted again.
---
"…Then I'll make the first one count."
---
He moved.
---
Faster than before.
---
Not reckless.
---
Focused.
---
He targeted the same figure.
---
This time—
He didn't go straight.
---
He zig-zagged—
Changed rhythm—
Forced unpredictable movement.
---
The figures reacted—
But slightly slower.
---
"…Got you."
---
Raka closed the distance—
---
Strike—
---
Direct hit.
---
The figure staggered.
---
Raka didn't stop.
---
Second strike—
Third—
Fourth—
---
The figure broke.
---
Shattered into fragments.
---
Raka jumped back instantly.
---
"…One down."
---
But then—
---
The fragments moved.
---
"…What?"
---
They didn't disappear.
---
They reformed.
---
Rebuilt.
---
Restored.
---
The figure stood again.
---
Completely intact.
---
"…You've got to be kidding me."
---
The man sighed.
"…Did you really think it'd be that easy?"
---
Raka clenched his fists.
"…So they can't be destroyed."
---
"Not like that."
---
"…Then how?"
---
The man didn't answer immediately.
---
"…Find the difference."
---
"…Difference?"
---
"They look the same," the man said. "…But they're not."
---
Raka's eyes sharpened.
---
"…Then I'll figure it out."
---
The figures moved again.
---
This time—
All of them.
---
Raka's instincts screamed.
---
"…Now they attack."
---
"Of course."
---
They came at once.
---
Not chaotic.
---
Perfect.
---
Raka moved.
---
Dodged—
Blocked—
Countered—
---
But there were too many.
---
A strike from the left—
Another from above—
Another from behind—
---
He couldn't keep up.
---
Hits landed.
---
One.
Two.
Three.
---
Raka staggered.
---
"…Tch—!"
---
He forced himself forward—
Breaking through one line—
Creating space—
---
Breathing hard.
---
"…Okay…"
---
Blood dripped from his arm.
---
"…This is bad."
---
"Very."
---
Raka glanced at AIRA behind him.
Still standing.
Still confused.
Still vulnerable.
---
"…I can't let them reach her."
---
The figures moved again.
---
Closing in.
---
Raka's mind raced.
---
"…Think…"
---
They couldn't be destroyed.
They shared information.
They adapted instantly.
---
"…Then there has to be a core."
---
The man smirked slightly.
"…Now you're thinking."
---
Raka's eyes scanned them.
---
"…Which one…"
---
They all looked identical.
---
Same stance.
Same presence.
---
"…No difference…"
---
The figures attacked again.
---
Raka barely held them off.
---
"…There has to be something…"
---
Then—
---
He saw it.
---
One figure—
---
Was slightly delayed.
---
Just a fraction of a second.
---
But noticeable.
---
"…Got you."
---
Raka broke through the attacks—
Ignoring the hits—
---
Straight toward that one.
---
The figures reacted—
Trying to intercept—
---
But Raka pushed through.
---
"…Move!"
---
He reached it—
---
Grabbed it—
---
The moment of contact—
---
Everything paused.
---
The other figures froze.
---
"…What…"
---
Raka's grip tightened.
---
"…You're the source."
---
The figure didn't resist.
---
Didn't react.
---
"…Correct."
---
Raka's eyes widened.
---
"…You can talk?"
---
"…We all can."
---
Silence.
---
"…Then why didn't you?"
---
"…No need."
---
Raka clenched his teeth.
---
"…Then let's change that."
---
He pulled—
---
Trying to break it—
---
But—
---
Nothing happened.
---
"…What?"
---
The figure smiled faintly.
---
"…You found the core."
---
A pause.
---
"…But you still can't destroy it."
---
Raka's heart dropped.
---
"…You're kidding me…"
---
"…No."
---
The other figures moved again.
---
But slower.
---
Careful.
---
Like they didn't want to damage the core.
---
"…So this is your only chance," the figure said.
---
Raka's grip tightened.
---
"…Then I'll make it count."
---
He focused.
---
Not on threads.
---
Not on power.
---
On—
Himself.
---
That strange force.
That rejection.
That new existence.
---
"…Come on…"
---
Something responded.
---
The space around his hand—
Distorted.
---
"…This is it…"
---
The figure's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Interesting."
---
Raka pushed harder.
---
The distortion increased.
---
Cracks formed—
---
On the figure.
---
"…It's working!"
---
The other figures rushed in.
---
Too late.
---
Raka shouted—
---
And—
---
The core—
---
Shattered.
---
Everything stopped.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
All the other figures—
---
Collapsed.
---
Falling apart.
---
Disappearing.
---
Gone.
---
Raka stood there.
Breathing heavily.
---
"…Finally…"
---
His grip loosened.
---
The fragments faded.
---
Nothing left.
---
"…That was annoying."
---
The man chuckled softly.
"…You're improving."
---
"…Barely."
---
Raka turned.
---
"…AIRA."
---
She was still there.
---
Still watching him.
---
Still confused.
---
"…It's okay now," Raka said softly.
---
He stepped closer.
---
"…I'll fix this."
---
She tilted her head.
---
"…Fix…?"
---
"…Yeah."
---
A small smile.
---
"…I'll bring you back."
---
For a moment—
She just looked at him.
---
Then—
---
"…Why?"
---
Raka froze.
---
"…What?"
---
"…Why… me?"
---
The question hit harder than any attack.
---
"…Because—"
---
He stopped.
---
Because the answer—
Wasn't simple anymore.
---
"…Because you chose me," he said finally.
---
She stared at him.
---
"…I don't remember that."
---
"…I know."
---
"…Then how do you know it's real?"
---
Silence.
---
Raka smiled faintly.
---
"…Because I remember."
---
She didn't respond.
---
Didn't understand.
---
But she didn't reject it either.
---
"…Come with me," Raka said.
---
He reached out.
---
She hesitated.
---
Then—
---
Slowly—
---
She took his hand.
---
Warm.
---
Real.
---
"…AIRA," he whispered.
---
"…Raka…"
---
Her voice was still uncertain.
---
But it was there.
---
And that was enough.
---
For now.
---
The space around them shifted again.
---
Raka looked up.
---
"…More?"
---
The man's expression darkened.
---
"…No."
---
"…That's worse."
---
Raka frowned.
---
"…What do you mean?"
---
The man looked at the sky.
---
"…That was just a test."
---
Raka's stomach dropped.
---
"…A test?"
---
"…Yes."
---
The layers above them—
Moved.
---
Not breaking.
---
Not collapsing.
---
Aligning.
---
"…Something's coming," the man said.
---
Raka's grip tightened around AIRA's hand.
---
"…Another one?"
---
"…No."
---
A pause.
---
"…The original."
---
Raka froze.
---
"…You're kidding me…"
---
The man shook his head slowly.
---
"…This time…"
---
The sky opened.
---
Clean.
---
Controlled.
---
Terrifying.
---
"…It's serious."
---
A presence descended.
---
Heavier than before.
---
Stronger.
---
Unavoidable.
---
Raka felt it immediately.
---
"…This is bad…"
---
The figure appeared.
---
Not identical to the others.
---
Not even similar.
---
This one—
Was different.
---
Its gaze landed on Raka.
---
Then—
On AIRA.
---
And it smiled.
---
"…So this is where you've been."
---
Raka stepped forward instantly.
---
"…Stay behind me."
---
AIRA didn't argue.
---
Didn't understand.
---
But stayed.
---
The figure took one step forward.
---
And the entire layer—
Shook.
---
"…You've caused quite a problem," it said.
---
Raka clenched his fists.
---
"…You're the original."
---
"…Correct."
---
"…Then I'll end this here."
---
The figure laughed softly.
---
"…No."
---
A pause.
---
"…This is where you begin to understand."
---
Raka's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Understand what?"
---
The figure's smile widened.
---
"…Why she was never meant to choose you."
---
Raka froze.
---
"…What?"
---
The figure raised its hand—
---
And AIRA's body—
---
Lifted into the air.
---
"…AIRA!"
---
She struggled.
---
Confused.
---
Afraid.
---
"…Raka…!"
---
Raka moved instantly—
---
But stopped.
---
Frozen.
---
Unable to move.
---
"…No…"
---
The figure looked at him calmly.
---
"…Let me show you something."
---
Raka's vision—
---
Shattered.
---
And in that moment—
---
He saw it.
---
A memory.
---
Not his.
---
Not AIRA's.
---
Something else.
---
Something hidden.
---
Something—
That changed everything.
---
To be continued…