The moment it smiled—
Everything broke.
---
The Striders rushed forward.
All at once.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Like they had been waiting for that exact signal.
---
"MOVE!" Darius roared.
He stepped in front of the civilians just as a Strider leaped toward them—
His fist met it mid-air.
Heat burst out from the impact, spreading across the street.
The force alone pushed everything back.
But it wasn't enough.
The others kept coming.
---
Malik reacted instantly.
⚫ Shadows rose from the ground—fast.
They formed walls.
Barriers.
Long, moving tendrils that grabbed and stopped multiple Striders at once.
"Stay behind me!" he shouted again.
This time, his voice was tighter.
Even he felt it.
Something had changed.
---
Masszio didn't move at first.
Just for a second—
He froze.
His eyes were locked on the figure in the distance.
That presence…
It wasn't like the others.
It wasn't wild.
It wasn't unstable.
It was—
aware.
---
"…Masszio!"
Laura's voice snapped him back.
A Strider rushed straight at him—
His hand shot up.
The creature stopped mid-air.
Held in place.
Struggling.
But this time—
It felt different.
Heavier.
Like something was pushing back against him.
Like something was watching him.
---
Zyren stepped beside him.
His usual calm expression shifted slightly.
"…yeah," he muttered.
"I don't like this one."
A construct formed instantly—stronger, sharper—and locked around the Strider.
Laura moved.
Fast.
One clean slash—
Then another—
The Strider split apart and dropped.
---
But Masszio didn't relax.
He was still staring.
At the figure.
---
It hadn't moved.
Not once.
---
Then—
It took a step forward.
---
The ground didn't crack.
Didn't shake.
It simply…
made space.
Like reality itself moved aside for it.
---
"…that's not a Strider," Masszio said quietly.
Zyren exhaled.
"…yeah. I figured."
---
The figure raised its hand.
Calm.
Effortless.
---
Every Strider stopped.
At the same time.
Mid-motion.
Mid-attack.
---
"…what the hell…?" Darius muttered, lowering his fist slightly.
Heat still burned around him—
But his focus had shifted.
---
Malik's shadows tightened around him.
"…something's controlling them."
---
The figure's gaze moved.
Slowly.
From the battlefield—
To Masszio.
---
Direct.
Unbroken.
---
Masszio felt it instantly.
A weight pressed against his chest.
His breathing slowed.
His power—
flickered.
"…you…" he whispered.
---
The figure smiled again.
Wider this time.
---
Then—
It vanished.
Not fast.
Not like a dash.
It was simply—
gone.
---
"Where—?!" Laura started—
Too late.
---
It appeared right in front of them.
---
Masszio's eyes widened.
The air twisted.
Like gravity had folded in on itself.
---
Zyren reacted first.
A construct shot forward—
It shattered instantly.
Like it hit something that didn't exist.
And yet—
was still there.
---
The figure tilted its head.
Watching them.
Curious.
---
Up close—
It looked human.
Almost.
But its eyes—
Empty.
Too still.
---
"…interesting," it said softly.
Its voice was calm.
Too calm.
---
Masszio forced his power out.
The ground shook.
Debris lifted into the air.
The force pushed outward—
But the figure didn't move.
Not even a step.
---
"…you're the one," it said, still watching him.
---
Masszio felt the pressure again.
Stronger now.
"…what are you?" he demanded.
---
The figure smiled faintly.
"I've been watching."
A short pause.
"Waiting."
---
Then—
It raised its hand.
Just slightly.
---
Masszio's body lifted.
---
Not by his own power.
---
His eyes widened as he was pulled into the air—
Held there—
Completely still.
---
Helpless.
---
"…!"
He tried to move.
Nothing responded.
---
Zyren's expression changed.
"…nah."
---
Multiple constructs formed at once—
Faster than before.
They shot toward the figure—
They stopped.
Mid-air.
Frozen.
---
Then—
They were crushed.
Effortlessly.
---
Laura moved.
Faster than before.
Her claws aimed for its neck—
She froze.
Mid-strike.
Her body locked.
Her eyes widened.
---
"…too slow," the figure said quietly.
---
Darius charged in from the side.
Heat exploded around him.
His fist swung straight toward the figure—
The impact cracked the ground beneath them.
---
But the figure—
Didn't move.
---
Darius's eyes narrowed.
"…what…?"
---
Malik's shadows surged from every direction.
They wrapped around the figure—
Binding.
Crushing.
Restraining.
---
For a moment—
It worked.
---
Then—
⚫ The shadows shattered.
Like glass.
---
The figure let out a small breath.
Almost bored.
"…not enough."
---
Masszio was still in the air.
Struggling.
His power flickering wildly.
---
The figure looked at him again.
"…you're not ready."
---
Then—
It let him go.
---
Masszio dropped.
Hard.
---
Before anyone could react—
The figure stepped back.
Reality warped—
And it disappeared.
---
Just like that.
---
The Striders—
Collapsed.
All of them.
At once.
Dead.
---
Silence filled the street.
Heavy.
Unreal.
---
No one moved.
---
Masszio slowly pushed himself up.
His breathing uneven.
His eyes fixed on the empty space where the figure had stood.
---
"…what… was that…"
---
No one answered.
---
Above them—
The Black Sun remained.
Watching.
Unmoving.
Unchanging.