"Capture him."
The command echoed once—
And the world moved.
The figures in black didn't hesitate.
They advanced instantly, their movements synchronized, precise—nothing like the chaotic aggression Aren had seen before. This wasn't a fight.
It was an operation.
Aren stepped back slightly, his senses sharpening.
"…they're fast," he muttered.
"Not just fast," the man behind him replied calmly. "…trained."
The first one reached him.
No wasted motion.
A hand shot forward—not to strike—
But to restrain.
Aren reacted.
He twisted his body, slipping past the grip, his counterattack already forming—
But—
Another one was there.
Too coordinated.
A blow struck his side, forcing him back.
Not overwhelming—
But controlled.
Measured.
"They're not trying to kill you," the man said. "That's the problem."
Aren's eyes narrowed.
The mark pulsed.
"Threat detected."
"…no kidding," Aren muttered.
Across from him—
The girl hadn't moved.
Not yet.
Her gaze shifted between the attackers…
And Aren.
Calculating.
"…you brought this on yourself," she said coldly.
Aren glanced at her.
"…you're still here."
A pause.
Then—
One of the black-clad figures lunged toward her.
That was their mistake.
She moved.
Fast.
Cleaner than before.
Her strike landed with precision, sending the attacker crashing into the wall with a sharp, echoing impact.
"…I don't take orders," she said calmly.
Silence.
Then—
Everything escalated.
Three of them shifted toward her instantly.
Two remained on Aren.
"…they split," Aren observed.
"Of course they did," the man replied. "You're both problems."
Another attack came.
Aren blocked—
Barely—
As the second one moved in, trying to lock his arms.
This time—
He didn't resist immediately.
He waited.
Watched.
Learned.
Then—
He moved.
A sharp twist.
A shift in weight.
A precise step—
The grip broke.
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing the attacker's shoulder.
For a split second—
The darkness flickered.
The attacker froze.
"…again?" Aren muttered.
But before he could act further—
"Don't."
The voice came from the side.
The girl.
Aren glanced at her.
She had just taken down another one, her breathing steady despite the fight.
"…not here," she said. "…you'll make it worse."
Aren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…too late for that."
Still—
He released the grip.
The attacker staggered back.
For a brief moment—
There was distance.
Space.
And in that space—
A decision was made.
The girl stepped closer.
Not toward the enemy—
But toward Aren.
"…temporary," she said.
Aren looked at her.
"…what?"
Her eyes locked onto his.
Sharp.
Unwavering.
"…we work together," she said. "Or we both get taken."
A pause.
Then—
"…I don't trust you."
Aren tilted his head slightly.
"…same."
Silence.
Then—
They moved.
Together.
One attacker lunged—
The girl intercepted.
Aren followed—
Their movements didn't clash.
Didn't interfere.
They flowed.
Not perfectly.
Not smoothly.
But effectively.
Aren blocked a strike—
Redirected it—
The girl stepped in—
Finished it.
Another came—
She dodged—
Aren stepped behind—
Cutting off the retreat.
For the first time—
The attackers hesitated.
Because the situation had changed.
"…they adapted," one of them muttered.
From the back—
The leader watched.
Silent.
Observing.
"…interesting," he said quietly.
The fight continued—
Faster now.
Sharper.
Aren's movements grew more precise.
Her attacks—
More aggressive.
The pressure built.
Then—
It happened.
One of them broke through.
A chain-like weapon shot forward—
Wrapping around Aren's arm.
Before he could react—
It tightened.
His movement stopped.
"…got him."
The moment shifted.
Danger spiked.
The mark pulsed violently.
"Consume."
Aren's eyes darkened.
"…no," he muttered.
Not here.
Not now.
The girl noticed instantly.
"…don't lose control," she said sharply.
Aren clenched his fist.
The darkness flickered—
Then—
Stopped.
Instead—
He pulled.
Hard.
The chain tightened—
But so did his grip.
The attacker stumbled forward—
And in that moment—
The girl moved.
A precise strike—
Direct.
Clean.
The attacker dropped.
The chain loosened.
Aren stepped free.
Silence fell—
Brief.
Heavy.
They stood back-to-back now.
Breathing steady.
Surrounded.
"…this won't end well," she said quietly.
Aren's gaze remained forward.
"…it doesn't have to."
A pause.
"…what are you thinking?"
Aren's eyes flickered slightly.
"…we don't fight them."
Silence.
Then—
"…we break through."
The girl's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Then—
She smirked.
"…finally," she said.
"…something smart."
At the far end—
The leader stepped forward.
"…enough playing."
The pressure in the air—
Doubled.
"…you're coming with us."
Aren took a step forward.
The girl matched it.
Side by side.
Not allies.
Not friends.
But something—
Close enough.
"…try it," Aren said.
And the moment shattered.