"Try it."
The words barely left Aren's mouth—
And everything exploded.
The hallway shook as the black-clad operatives moved at once, their formation tightening like a net closing in. No hesitation. No wasted motion.
They weren't fighting anymore.
They were ending it.
"…left!" the girl snapped.
Aren didn't question it.
He moved.
A strike cut through the space where he had stood a second ago, fast enough to split the air. The wall behind him cracked on impact.
Too close.
"Forward!" he replied instantly.
They surged ahead together.
Not random.
Not reckless.
Focused.
Two operatives stepped in—
Blocking the path.
The girl moved first.
A sharp feint—
Then a precise strike to the throat.
Clean.
Efficient.
Aren followed.
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing the second one mid-motion—
The mark pulsed.
Darkness flickered.
For a split second—
The urge surged.
"Consume."
"…not now," Aren muttered.
Instead—
He slammed the attacker into the wall—
Hard.
The path opened.
"Go!" she shouted.
They ran.
The corridor blurred around them as footsteps echoed behind—
Closer than they should be.
"…they're still gaining," Aren said.
"Of course they are," she replied. "You think you're the only one who can move fast?"
The stairwell appeared ahead.
Freedom—
Or a trap.
They didn't stop.
Down.
One floor.
Two.
Then—
Impact.
A figure dropped from above—
Blocking the exit.
The leader.
He landed without sound.
Without effort.
"…I said enough," he repeated calmly.
The air around him—
Shifted.
He wasn't like the others.
He stepped forward—
And pressure crashed down.
Aren's body tensed.
His movement slowed.
Not stopped—
But resisted.
The girl clicked her tongue.
"…he's stronger."
"No kidding," Aren replied.
The leader raised his hand—
And the space around them tightened.
Invisible force.
Binding.
Restricting.
"…this ends here," he said.
Silence.
Then—
The mark pulsed.
Violently.
Aren's vision flickered.
"Threat exceeds threshold."
His fingers twitched.
"Release recommended."
Aren's jaw tightened.
"…if I do that…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Because deep down—
He knew.
He might not stop.
"…do it," the girl said suddenly.
Aren glanced at her.
"…what?"
Her eyes were sharp.
Serious.
"…or we lose."
A pause.
"…and I don't plan on getting captured."
Silence.
Then—
Aren exhaled.
"…fine."
The moment he let go—
Everything changed.
The mark ignited.
Darkness spread instantly—
Not violently—
But smoothly.
Like it had always belonged there.
His senses sharpened.
His body—
Lightened.
The pressure around him—
Cracked.
The leader's eyes narrowed.
"…so that's it," he murmured.
Aren stepped forward.
This time—
The force didn't stop him.
It bent.
Slightly.
Enough.
The leader moved.
Fast.
A strike aimed directly at Aren—
Precise.
Deadly.
Aren reacted—
Not by blocking.
But by slipping through.
His movement—
Different.
Not faster.
Sharper.
He appeared at the leader's side—
His hand reaching—
Darkness forming—
For a split second—
The leader's composure broke.
He stepped back.
Avoided it.
"…dangerous," he muttered.
Behind Aren—
The girl didn't hesitate.
She moved—
Striking from the opposite side.
Perfect timing.
The leader blocked—
But it shifted his balance—
Just enough.
Aren saw it.
Took it.
His foot slammed into the ground—
Cracks spread—
And he pushed forward—
Breaking through.
The path—
Opened.
"…now!" he shouted.
They didn't look back.
They ran.
Past the leader.
Past the operatives.
Through the exit.
Into open air.
The city stretched ahead—
Alive.
Unaware.
They didn't stop.
Not until the school was far behind.
Not until the pressure—
Faded.
Finally—
They slowed.
Silence.
Heavy breathing.
Then—
"…you held back," the girl said.
Aren didn't answer immediately.
"…barely," he replied.
She studied him.
"…you're unstable."
Aren glanced at her.
"…you noticed."
A pause.
Then—
"…what's your name?" he asked.
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…Iris."
Aren nodded slightly.
"…Aren."
Silence followed.
Not awkward.
Not tense.
Different.
Because now—
They both knew.
This wasn't over.
From a rooftop far away—
The leader stood watching.
Unharmed.
Unshaken.
"…interesting," he said quietly.
Behind him—
Another figure stepped forward.
"…should we pursue?"
The leader's gaze remained fixed on the distance.
"…no."
A pause.
"…let him run."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…he'll grow."
Silence.
Then—
"…and when he does…"
A faint smile formed.
"…we'll take him."