The forest around the villa was no longer dark.
White floodlights cut through the trees like blades, casting long, twisted shadows across the ground. The wind carried the metallic scent of weapons—and something worse.
"Those aren't scouts," Mia whispered, peering through a cracked window. "They're moving differently."
Luo's eyes narrowed. He could feel it too. The pressure in the air was heavier, denser—like invisible hands pressing against his chest.
"Suppression Units," he said quietly.
Yuna swallowed. "That sounds… bad."
"It is," Lily replied, water trembling at her feet. "White Hand doesn't send those unless they want something alive."
Everyone went silent.
Then—BOOM.
The outer fence exploded.
Zombies poured in first, driven forward like disposable weapons. Behind them moved soldiers in reinforced white armor, visors glowing faintly blue.
"Positions!" Luo ordered.
Mia kicked over a table and crouched behind it. "I can't believe I miss regular zombies."
Yuna fumbled with a handgun. "I definitely miss Wi-Fi."
Despite everything, Luo snorted.
---
The first wave hit hard.
Zombies slammed into the villa walls while suppression units fired precise shots, thinning the herd without wasting bullets. One unit raised a strange device—an emitter that hummed ominously.
"Lily, don't use your power yet," Luo warned. "They're baiting you."
Lily clenched her fists. "They're tearing the place apart!"
"I know," he said firmly. "Trust me."
She looked at him—really looked—and nodded.
The emitter activated.
A low-frequency pulse rolled through the air.
Lily gasped, dropping to one knee as the water around her violently dispersed.
Mia shouted, "They're suppressing abilities!"
Yuna stared in horror. "They planned this…"
Luo felt the pulse hit him too.
Nothing happened.
That… scared him more than pain would have.
---
A suppression unit breached the front door.
Luo moved.
He didn't think—his body reacted. He grabbed the unit's weapon mid-swing and twisted, using leverage instead of strength. The soldier slammed into the wall unconscious.
Mia blinked. "Okay… that was smooth."
"I've watched a lot of action movies," Luo muttered.
Another unit rushed him. Luo ducked, rolled, and slammed his elbow into the soldier's visor, cracking it.
Still no awakening.
But something watched.
---
Outside, Lily struggled to breathe.
The water inside her veins felt restless—angry.
Control it, she told herself. Don't let it control you.
A suppression unit turned toward her, raising a rifle.
"No!" Mia shouted.
Lily reacted on instinct.
Not a wave.
Not an attack.
Just a shield.
A thin layer of condensed water snapped into place just long enough to deflect the bullet.
It shattered instantly.
But it worked.
Lily stared at her hands, stunned. "I… did that?"
Luo saw it—and smiled.
"That's it," he said softly. "Small. Precise."
She nodded, determination burning through her fear.
---
Inside the villa, Yuna tripped over debris and nearly fell straight into a zombie.
Luo grabbed her arm, yanking her back.
"Thanks!" she gasped.
Mia raised an eyebrow. "Careful. You're saving a lot of girls today."
Luo groaned. "Not now."
Even under fire, Lily smirked.
---
Then—everything stopped.
The suppression units retreated simultaneously.
Zombies collapsed where they stood, heads exploding as if remotely shut down.
Silence fell.
A voice echoed from hidden speakers.
"Enough."
Sanitizer.
"Subject L," the voice continued calmly. "Impressive restraint."
Luo clenched his fists. "What do you want?"
"To observe," Sanitizer replied. "And to warn you."
A pause.
"The girl with water will lose control."
Lily stiffened.
"The human girl will hesitate."
Mia's breath caught.
"And you," Sanitizer said softly, "will break something precious if you awaken too early."
The speakers went dead.
The lights shut off.
The forest returned to darkness.
---
At the same time, miles away, Aria stood at the edge of the city.
She felt it.
That disturbance.
"That was him," she whispered.
Her team looked at her.
"Luo," she said quietly. "He's alive."
She turned toward the direction of the villa.
"We're moving."
---
Back at the villa, the group sat in stunned silence.
Yuna broke it first. "I hate this man."
Mia nodded. "Same."
Lily hugged her arms. "He knows too much."
Luo stared at his hands.
He felt fine.
Too fine.
That scared him more than blood or pain.
"I need to make a choice soon," he said quietly.
Mia looked at him. "About what?"
"About running," he replied. "Or standing."
No one spoke.
Outside, the wind carried distant echoes.
The world was tightening around them.
And something inevitable was approaching.
---
END OF CHAPTER 14