The sky didn't change.
It stayed… wrong.
The Black Sun hung above everything, swallowing the light. The world below it was dim, like evening—but it wasn't evening.
It just felt unnatural.
Even after everything that had happened… it didn't move.
It didn't blink.
It didn't leave.
It simply watched.
---
Inside the school, things had gone quiet.
But it wasn't peace.
It was tension.
Students sat in small groups. Some whispered. Some cried. Others stared at their hands—confused, afraid of the strange power they had suddenly gained.
The air felt heavy.
Like something invisible was pressing down on everyone.
---
Masszio stood by a shattered window.
Still.
Watching the city.
Smoke rose into the sky from different places. Sirens echoed faintly in the distance. Somewhere far off, something crashed.
And beneath all that…
There was something else.
Something deeper.
Something wrong.
His hand twitched.
He slowly clenched it.
"…Why does it feel like it's getting worse?" he muttered.
---
"Because it is."
A calm voice answered.
Zyren.
He leaned against a broken desk, arms folded, eyes half-open like always.
"…that thing up there," he added, nodding toward the Black Sun.
"Doesn't look like it's done yet."
Masszio said nothing.
Because he already knew.
It wasn't over.
Not even close.
---
Suddenly—
The building trembled.
At first, it was small.
Then it grew stronger.
The ground vibrated beneath their feet.
Students gasped.
"What now—?!"
Masszio's eyes shot upward.
The air…
Changed.
A low sound filled the space.
You couldn't really hear it.
But you could feel it.
Deep inside your chest.
---
Outside—
The streets began to crack.
Windows shattered without anything touching them.
Shadows stretched across the ground in strange, unnatural ways.
Then—
It started again.
Things began to float.
But this time… it wasn't small objects.
Chunks of concrete lifted into the air.
Desks rose slowly, shaking like something unstable was holding them.
Even people—
Some were lifted slightly off the ground.
"…this isn't normal," Masszio whispered.
---
Then—
Everything stopped.
Completely still.
Suspended in the air.
Silent.
And then—
IMPACT
Everything crashed down.
Harder than before.
The entire building shook violently. Cracks spread across the walls and ceiling.
Students screamed.
Some fell.
Some couldn't even move.
---
From outside—
A sound tore through the air.
Not a roar.
Not a scream.
Something deeper.
Something distorted.
---
Masszio stepped forward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He looked outside.
His pupils shrank.
The street below—
Was no longer empty.
Distortions flickered into existence.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Striders.
Different shapes.
Different sizes.
All appearing at once.
"…a swarm…" he muttered.
One of them looked up.
Straight at him.
Then—
They moved.
Chaos exploded.
Darius stood in the street, fists clenched.
"…you've gotta be kidding me."
Heat flared around his body—stronger than before.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he braced himself.
Malik stepped forward beside him.
Shadows spread out from him—faster, sharper this time.
"…stay behind me!" he shouted to the civilians.
His voice was calm.
But tighter now.
The Striders attacked.
Darius rushed forward.
His punch landed.
The impact exploded outward, sending a Strider flying through debris.
But it didn't stay down.
Another one attacked from the side—
Malik reacted instantly.
Shadows shot forward like living ropes, wrapping around the creature mid-air.
He clenched his hand.
The shadows tightened—
And crushed it.
---
But more kept coming.
Too many.
---
Inside the school—
Masszio turned.
"…we can't stay here."
Laura stepped beside him, claws already out.
"…then we don't."
Zyren sighed.
"…was hoping for a quiet day."
---
Masszio looked outside again.
At the chaos.
At the number of enemies.
At the people still in danger.
His jaw tightened.
"…we're going down there."
No hesitation.
---
They moved.
---
The moment they stepped outside—
The pressure hit them.
Heavier.
Denser.
Like the air itself was resisting them.
---
Masszio raised his hand.
Focused.
Harder than before.
A Strider jerked upward—
Lifted into the air.
This time—
He held it.
---
Zyren followed immediately.
Constructs formed faster now—layering around the Strider, locking it in place.
Laura dashed forward.
Her movements were sharper now.
More controlled.
She struck—
Clean.
Precise.
Deadly.
The Strider dropped.
---
But it didn't matter.
There were too many.
---
Darius noticed them.
Just for a second.
"…kids, huh…"
Malik glanced as well.
"…they're holding their own."
---
Then—
Everything changed.
---
The air warped.
Not like before.
This was different.
Heavier.
Slower.
More controlled.
---
A ripple spread across the battlefield.
Every Strider stopped.
At the same time.
Darius froze.
Malik's shadows stopped mid-motion.
Even the air felt… still.
---
Masszio felt it instantly.
His chest tightened.
His power—
Flickered.
"…what is this…"
---
At the center of the street—
Space twisted.
Not unstable like before.
Controlled.
Deliberate.
---
A figure began to appear.
At first—
Just a shadow.
Then—
Clearer.
Humanoid.
Still.
Watching.
---
Masszio's eyes locked onto it.
And for the first time since everything began—
He felt fear.
---
The figure tilted its head slightly.
Then—
It smiled.
---
The Striders moved again.
All at once.
Toward them.