The next second, I was back.
[ TRANSITION COMPLETE ]
Location: Valenreach — Greyhaven Intersection
Layer Status: Reintegrated
Displacement: Resolved
Residual Distortion: Present
---
The city intersection. Everything looked normal.
Too normal—but it felt… delayed.
[ PERCEPTION WARNING ]
Reality Sync: 87%
Temporal Offset: Minor
Cause: Post-Distortion Recoil
---
People were everywhere. Around me below, people began reacting.
Their voices blurred together.
Too many at once—none of them making sense.
"Who is that?"
"He just appeared out of nowhere!"
"Was he floating?"
My feet touched the ground as if I had fallen from above, Aron still in my arms. The normal world had returned—but something felt off.
[ SUBJECT STATUS — ARON ]
Vital Signs: None
Soul Signature: Absent
Status: Deceased
---
His weight hadn't changed—but carrying him felt heavier than anything before.
But I kept walking forward slowly. My face had no expression.
I wasn't empty. I just didn't have anything left to show.
[ SUBJECT STATUS — ZEKAI KRYSTAN ]
Physical Condition: Stable
Internal Damage: High
Mental State: Suppressed Collapse
Primary Emotion: Grief
Secondary: Null Response
"Who is he carrying?"
Phones were already raised, recording everything.
But I didn't react. I just stood there.
"Move."
No… no…
I didn't walk.
From where I stood, I simply appeared ten feet ahead—vanishing from sight and reappearing instantly.
That was the outcome I chose.
The crowd reacted immediately.
"He was just here—where did he go?"
"Look—he's behind us!"
"How did he move there…?"
"…Is he even human?"
They weren't looking at me. Their eyes weren't on me. Not really.
They were seeing something they couldn't understand.
Empty.
Then— a group of people in black coats rushed toward me.
Some agents. They moved quickly and surrounded me, raising their weapons.
[ EXTERNAL RESPONSE DETECTED ]
Organization: BSA
Units: Armed
Intent: Containment / Neutralization
Threat Level: Moderate → Rising
---
They shouted at the civilians,
"Everyone, leave this place immediately."
"This area is now restricted."
At the same time, the agents raised their guns and aimed directly at me.
"Don't move."
But no one stepped closer.
[ INSTINCTIVE REJECTION ]
Hostility Response: Delayed
Cause: Unknown Pressure Field
Effect: Engagement Hesitation
---
Their formation tightened—but their feet didn't move.
Even the air around me felt… avoided. Even with guns— they hesitated.
"Hey… hey… he feels like bad news…"
"Something's wrong with him…"
"...Why does it feel like he's the dangerous one here?"
Weapons stayed trained on me—but no one wanted to fire first.
Weapons clicked. Safety off.
"Stop right there!"
"Who are you?"
I didn't answer.
"Who is that in your arms?"
"Which world do you belong to?"
I didn't respond.
Think whatever you want about me… right now, I can't feel anything.
"I don't have anything to say."
I didn't even look at them.
The civilians couldn't understand what they were saying.
"From another world?"
"He looks human… then why are they saying that?"
"Hey, didn't you see? He just appeared out of nowhere from the sky."
None of them were asking the same question.
But all of them wanted the same answer.
Earlier, Zekai and Aron had disappeared.
Along with them, forty-three civilians and BSA agents had vanished.
Now— only Zekai had returned. And Aron's lifeless body.
Hearing that, the agents lost their patience and stepped forward.
"Don't you understand what we're saying?"
"Leave. Now."
One man from the crowd spoke up,
"Why should we leave? Who are you to tell us that?"
Immediately, the agents raised their guns and aimed at the civilians.
"We are government agents. This is your last warning."
"Obey… or you will face consequences."
Hearing that, the civilians had no choice but to leave.
"Damn… we're missing a good scene," someone muttered as they backed away.
Before anyone could process it—something fell from the sky.
Then—a strange falling sound echoed.
Everyone froze in place.
[ MASS EVENT DETECTED ]
Object Classification: Human Remains
Source: Distortion Layer Residual
Return Process: Incomplete
---
Then another. Then more.
Pieces of people. Arms. Legs. Heads. Broken torsos.
They fell one after another onto the road. The remains of the missing forty-three people.
They didn't fall all at once.
More followed and then more. Like the sky hadn't finished returning them yet.
[ CASUALTY UPDATE ]
Missing Subjects: 43
Recovery Status: Partial
Survival Probability: <1%
---
Those weren't bodies falling. They fell like something rejected.
Not all of them came back the same way.
Screams filled the air instantly.
"AHHHHHHH—!"
"What is happening?!"
People panicked.
"No—no—what is this?!"
"How are these human bodies falling from the sky…?"
One of the bodies hit the ground— right in front of someone filming.
The phone slipped from their hand.
No one picked it up. People backed away in horror.
One of the agents, who seemed like the unit leader, reacted immediately.
"Oh no… this is bad."
He shouted to his team,
"Move! Clear everyone out—now!"
He pressed a button on the watch strapped to his wrist and sent a voice signal.
"Unit 5, command repeat—situation is out of control. Initiate emergency protocol immediately."
A reply came within seconds.
"Command acknowledged. Code X activated. Initiate the process."
After receiving the order, he quickly scanned the surroundings. The civilians had already dispersed.
Another agent removed his gloves and raised his hand. A black energy formed in his palm.
In the next moment, the air distorted—then the surrounding area blurred and sealed—like a layered barrier forming around Zekai and the agents.
From the outside, no one could see what was happening inside.
Inside the barrier, the agents' tone turned harsh.
"We don't have time to talk."
"Speak now… or we end you right here."
[ STATUS RESPONSE ]
KILL THREAT DETECTED
[ DO OR DIE ]
No… my vision is blurred right now. I can't see anything clearly.
After shifting through that dimension, the overwhelming power inside me… I still don't have control over it.
I remained still. I hadn't done anything.
And yet—I was the one being cornered.
Then—a weak sound came from among the bodies.
"…Ah…"
A man was still alive.
His body was broken. He lay on the ground, barely conscious.
One of his arms was gone.
Two severed hands lay beside him.
Neither of them were his.
Blood spread beneath him as his eyes struggled to open.
[ SUBJECT DETECTED ]
Name: Helmith
Vital Integrity: Critical
Survival Probability: 27%
Immediate Aid: Required
---
His eyes opened—just enough to prove he wasn't dead.
Yet.
The chaos hadn't ended. It had just begun.
End of Chapter 17 - Return