The alarms didn't stop.
Even minutes after the explosion—
Even after the system declared the evaluation "inconclusive"—
The facility remained on edge.
Because this time—
It wasn't a drill.
"…He destroyed it in one move."
Inside the observation room, no one hid their reactions anymore.
Screens flickered, replaying the moment over and over.
The collapse.The distortion.The point of darkness that swallowed everything.
Not an attack.
A phenomenon.
Yoo Sera stood still.
Watching.
Thinking.
"…It wasn't output."
Someone turned toward her.
"…Then what was it?"
A pause.
"…Absorption."
Silence.
Han Seojun's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That's worse."
Because output had limits.
Absorption didn't.
Inside the destroyed chamber—
Kael stepped over cracked flooring, dust settling slowly around him.
"…They're definitely overreacting."
He looked around.
Or what was left of it.
"…I barely did anything."
But even he knew—
That wasn't entirely true.
Something had changed.
When he released that power—
It didn't feel unfamiliar.
It felt—
Natural.
"…Remembering…"
He muttered quietly.
Yoo Sera's words lingered in his mind.
"…If that's true…"
Then what exactly was he?
The door behind him opened.
Heavy footsteps followed.
Kael didn't turn.
"…You're late."
Han Seojun entered first.
Followed by the silver-haired man and the quiet woman.
They stopped.
Not because they wanted to.
But because—
Instinct told them to.
"…This was controlled?"
The silver-haired man asked.
Kael glanced back.
"…Mostly."
"…Mostly?"
Kael shrugged.
"…Still figuring it out."
That didn't help.
The quiet woman stepped forward.
Her gaze sharp.
"…You didn't just destroy the attacks."
A pause.
"…You erased them."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"…Same thing."
"…No."
Her voice was firm.
"…It's not."
Silence.
Because she was right.
Han Seojun stepped in.
"…That wasn't System-based."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…You're starting to catch on."
The tension rose again.
But this time—
No one reacted aggressively.
Because now—
They understood something important.
Fighting him directly—
Wasn't an option.
Han Seojun exhaled slowly.
"…We're updating the terms again."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"…Another rule?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…Third rule."
The room felt heavier.
"…You will not use that ability without permission."
Silence.
Kael stared at him.
Then—
He laughed.
Not softly this time.
Genuinely amused.
"…Permission?"
He took a step forward.
The air shifted instantly.
"…You think you can control that?"
No one moved.
But everyone felt it.
That pressure again.
Not overwhelming—
But enough.
Han Seojun didn't step back.
"…No."
A pause.
"…But we need to try."
Honest.
Again.
Kael stopped.
Then—
He smirked.
"…You're consistent."
The pressure faded.
"…Fine."
Silence.
"…I'll follow your rules."
That—
Was unexpected.
"…For now."
There it was.
The condition.
"…As long as they make sense."
Han Seojun nodded once.
"…That's enough."
Later—
Kael stood alone again.
A different room.
Temporary.
But quieter.
He sat down slowly.
"…Absorption…"
He looked at his hand.
The shadows moved.
More clearly now.
More… obedient.
"…So I don't just destroy things…"
A pause.
"…I take them."
That changed everything.
Power.
Energy.
Abilities.
"…If I can control it…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…Then there's no limit."
Far below—
The sealed chamber trembled again.
"…He's learning…"
The voice echoed softly.
"…Faster than expected…"
The seals flickered.
Weakening.
"…Good."
Because the more Kael understood—
The closer he would get.
To the truth.
And when he did—
The door wouldn't stay closed anymore.
Back above—
Kael leaned back in his chair.
"…No limit, huh…"
A faint smile formed.
"…Let's test that."
Because rules—
Were only temporary.
And limits—
Were meant to be broken.