Morning came without warmth.
No sunlight reached the shelter—only the low hum of reinforced systems and the stillness of sealed walls.
Arien opened his eyes.
Clear. Focused.
The first thing he checked—
Time Remaining: 01:12:43
"…Almost done," he murmured.
Footsteps approached.
Soft. Measured.
Sophia stopped at the doorway.
"Master… they'll come today."
"I know."
Arien rose from the bed.
No urgency. No hesitation.
Only quiet certainty.
Ash was already awake.
Sitting near the entrance, posture straight, attention fixed forward—like a guard who hadn't yet learned what he was guarding.
"Did you sleep?" Arien asked.
"Yes."
"Good."
Arien placed something on the table.
Ash looked down.
Then froze.
"…A rifle?"
"It's yours."
Ash picked it up slowly.
Carefully.
As if it might disappear.
"Ashfall Core Rifle…" he read under his breath.
His grip tightened.
"I've never used anything like this."
"You'll learn."
Ash nodded.
"I will."
The answer came steady—but there was something behind it now.
Resolve.
Sophia stepped forward.
"The perimeter is clear. No movement yet."
"They'll come," Arien said."People like him don't wait when there's something to gain."
Silence settled again.
Heavy.
Waiting.
Then—
An engine.
Distant.
Rough.
Ash stood immediately.
"They're here."
Arien didn't move.
"Let them come."
The vehicle stopped beyond the outer gate.
Doors opened.
Voices followed.
Three.
Then—
Four.
Kael Thornwick stepped out.
He looked thinner.
Uneasy.
Clothes worn, eyes restless.
But the core of him—
Unchanged.
Greed.
"Where is she?" he muttered.
One of the men beside him spat.
"This better not be a trap."
Kael scoffed.
"She wouldn't dare."
Inside—
Sophia stood still.
Waiting.
"Master…"
"When he calls," Arien said,"tell him to come around back."
She nodded.
The phone rang.
Sophia answered.
"I'm here," she said calmly.
Kael's voice came through, tense beneath the surface.
"I'm at the front. Cameras everywhere… this place looks locked down."
"Come around back," Sophia said."I'll open the gate."
A pause.
"…Fine."
The rear gate opened with a low mechanical hum.
Kael stepped inside.
Three men followed.
Dante—watchful.Marcus—heavy, built for force.Rex—restless, scanning everything.
They moved cautiously.
"Solid place," Dante muttered.
"Could turn this into a base," Marcus added.
Rex smirked. "If we take it."
Kael didn't respond.
Something felt off.
But he ignored it.
He always did.
At the corridor turn—
Sophia appeared.
"Finally," Kael said, stepping forward.
"Sophia."
Relief flickered—
Then vanished.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"I told you," she replied evenly."I was trapped."
Kael studied her.
Searching.
"Where are the supplies?" he asked."And where's Arien?"
"He's inside."
"…Take us to him."
A pause.
"…Alright."
Inside—
Ash adjusted his grip on the rifle.
Uncertain.
"…Are we killing them?" he asked.
Arien stepped forward slowly.
"…Do you think," he said quietly,"that death is always the end of punishment?"
Ash frowned.
"I… don't understand."
Arien stopped.
Looked at him.
"…You called me brother."
Ash stiffened slightly.
"I—if that was wrong—"
"It's not."
Arien rested a hand briefly on his head.
"You can call me that."
Ash relaxed, just a little.
"Then… what did you mean?"
Arien's gaze shifted.
"When someone dies," he said calmly,"they're free."
A pause.
"No pain. No consequences."
His voice didn't change—
But something beneath it hardened.
"So if they're useful… we don't kill them."
Another step.
"If they're not—"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Ash nodded slowly.
"…I understand."
"Stay here," Arien said.
"If anyone raises a weapon—"
Ash tightened his grip.
"I'll stop them."
"Don't kill them."
A faint pause.
"Not yet."
Footsteps approached.
Slow.
Echoing.
The door creaked open.
Arien sat in the chair.
Back turned.
Then—
He turned.
"Hello."
Kael froze.
"…What the hell?"
He looked at Sophia.
"You said—"
Rex cut in.
"I told you. Trap."
Dante raised his hand.
"Relax. He's alone—"
Kael's voice dropped.
"Kill him."
Click—
Weapons raised.
BANG—!
Two shots.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Marcus and Rex screamed—
"AAAGH—!"
Their shoulders tore open.
Weapons dropped.
Bodies hit the ground.
Kael staggered back.
"What the—?!"
Dante turned—
Too late.
THUD.
He collapsed.
Sophia stood behind them.
Silent.
Efficient.
Before Kael could react—
Darkness.
When they woke—
Pain came first.
Then reality.
They were restrained.
Arien stood in front of them.
Watching.
Kael swallowed.
"…Why are you doing this?"
No answer.
"Weren't we friends?"
Still nothing.
"Take them," Kael rushed."Take everything—just let me go."
Inside—
His thoughts screamed.
I'll come back.
I'll kill you.
Arien stepped closer.
"Friends?"
A faint smile.
"You mean the kind who—"
"—use someone through his girlfriend…"
"—steal from him…"
"—plan to kill him?"
Another step.
"…That kind of friend?"
Kael's expression twisted.
"So what?" he snapped."What are you going to do—kill me?"
Arien raised a hand.
Covered his mouth.
Then smiled.
Not wide.
Not loud.
Just—
Wrong.
Kael froze.
Something primal kicked in.
Run.
His body trembled.
"P-please…" he stammered."I can help. I can be useful."
A pause.
"…Sure," Arien said lightly.
He turned.
Left.
Minutes later—
Each of them was locked in separate rooms.
Clang.Click.
Silence.
Ash looked at Arien.
"…What now, brother?"
"There's somewhere we're going."
Ash's eyes lit up.
"I'm ready."
A pause.
"…Not you."
Ash blinked.
"…Why?"
"Sophia is coming."
A brief silence.
Then—
"I'll leave you something to do."
Arien gestured toward the rooms.
"They're alive."
"Practice."
Ash straightened immediately.
"I will."
"…If you do well," Arien added,"…you'll come next time."
Ash smiled.
"I won't waste it."
He turned.
Walked toward the rooms.
Sophia watched him go.
"…Will he be fine?"
"He will."
A pause.
"It's his test."
She nodded.
"…Then where are we going?"
Arien walked past her.
"Get the vehicle ready."
A moment.
His voice dropped slightly.
"…It's time."
Silence followed.
Something was about to begin.
To be continued…