The sky was breaking.
Not metaphorically.
Not like before.
This time—Raka could see it.
Cracks.
Real cracks.
Spreading across the clouds like shattered glass.
"…That's not normal," he said slowly.
Aira didn't respond.
Raka looked at her.
She was frozen.
Completely still.
"…Aira?"
Her lips moved.
Barely.
"…It's not supposed to come down here…"
Raka swallowed.
"Okay… I'm starting to not like your tone."
The execution unit stepped back again.
Its perfect body—flawless just seconds ago—now seemed… tense.
Like it was waiting.
Or worse—
Like it was afraid.
Raka pointed at it.
"…Hey. Why is that thing backing off?"
Aira didn't look away from the sky.
"Because," she whispered, "it knows what's coming."
The cracks above widened.
Light poured through them.
Blinding.
But not warm.
Cold.
Dead.
Raka squinted.
"…Why does that light feel wrong?"
Aira finally moved.
One step back.
Then another.
"…Because it's not light," she said.
Raka frowned.
"…Then what is it?"
Aira's voice dropped.
"…It's data."
Silence.
"…Data?" Raka repeated.
"Yes."
Raka blinked.
"Okay… I don't understand."
Aira exhaled slowly.
"That thing above us… it's not just a weapon."
"Then what is it?"
She hesitated.
"…It's a reset."
Raka felt something in his chest tighten.
"…Reset?"
Aira nodded.
"If the system detects something it can't control…"
She looked at him.
"…It erases everything."
Raka let out a small laugh.
"…Everything?"
Aira didn't smile.
"Yes."
The word echoed in his head.
Everything.
The city.
The sky.
Him.
Her.
Gone.
"…Well," Raka said, forcing a grin, "that's… comforting."
Aira grabbed his arm.
"We need to leave. Now."
Raka didn't move.
"…Where?"
Aira froze.
Then—
"…I don't know."
Raka looked up again.
The cracks were spreading faster.
Whatever was behind them—
Was getting closer.
"…Running won't help, will it?" he asked.
Aira didn't answer.
That was enough.
Raka exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
Aira looked at him.
"Okay what?"
He looked at her.
Calm.
Too calm.
"…Then we stop it."
Aira stared at him.
"…You're joking."
"I'm not."
"That's not possible."
"Probably."
"Raka—"
"But it's better than doing nothing," he said.
Aira shook her head.
"You don't understand. That thing isn't something we can fight."
"Everything can be fought."
"No," she said firmly. "Not this."
Raka stepped closer.
"Then what do you suggest? We sit here and wait to be deleted?"
Aira clenched her fists.
"…There has to be another way."
"Then find it," Raka said.
Aira looked at him.
Frustrated.
Scared.
"…You're insane."
"Yeah," Raka replied. "But I'm still alive."
The execution unit moved again.
Slowly.
Not attacking.
Just… watching.
Raka noticed.
"…Why is it not attacking?"
Aira glanced at it.
"…Because we're no longer the priority."
Raka laughed dryly.
"Wow. That's a first."
The sky rumbled.
Not like thunder.
Something deeper.
Heavier.
Like reality itself was groaning.
"…We're running out of time," Aira said.
Raka nodded.
"…Then talk to me."
"What?"
"You said it's a reset," he continued. "That means there's a trigger."
Aira hesitated.
"…Yes."
"Good. What triggers it?"
Aira looked up.
"…An anomaly."
Raka pointed at himself.
"…That would be me, right?"
Aira didn't answer.
"…Aira."
"…Yes," she said quietly.
Raka nodded slowly.
"Okay. So if I disappear…"
"No."
Raka frowned.
"You didn't even let me finish."
"I know what you're going to say."
"Then say it."
Aira stepped closer.
Her eyes sharp.
"You're thinking about sacrificing yourself."
Raka stayed silent.
"That's not happening," she said.
Raka looked away.
"…It would stop this."
"No."
"You just said I'm the trigger."
"Yes, but—"
"Then it's simple."
"It's not!" Aira shouted.
The wind shook around them.
Raka looked at her.
"…Then explain it to me."
Aira's breathing was uneven.
"It doesn't just erase you," she said. "It erases everything connected to you."
Raka blinked.
"…Connected?"
Aira swallowed.
"…Me."
Silence.
Raka froze.
"…What?"
Aira looked down.
"If you're deleted… I'm deleted too."
Raka's chest tightened.
"…Why?"
Aira hesitated.
"…Because I broke the system."
Raka frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Aira closed her eyes.
"…I'm not supposed to feel anything."
Raka didn't speak.
"But I do," she continued. "Because of you."
Raka's heart pounded.
"…So you're saying…"
Aira looked at him.
"…We're linked."
Raka let out a slow breath.
"…Of course we are."
Aira almost smiled.
"…Idiot."
"Your idiot."
"Not the time."
"Yeah… probably not."
The sky cracked louder.
A massive piece of "light" fell.
But it didn't hit the ground.
It dissolved mid-air.
Like it never existed.
Raka watched it.
"…That's creepy."
Aira nodded.
"It's rewriting the space."
"Rewriting?"
"Yes. Preparing to erase."
Raka clenched his fists.
"…I really don't like that."
Aira grabbed his arm again.
"Raka… listen to me."
He looked at her.
"If we can reach the core signal…" she said.
"…We might be able to interrupt it."
Raka raised an eyebrow.
"Might?"
"It's a chance."
"Better than nothing."
Aira nodded.
"…But it's dangerous."
Raka smirked.
"That's our brand now."
Aira sighed.
"…We need to get closer to it."
Raka looked up.
"…That thing?"
"Yes."
Raka paused.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Raka scratched his head.
"…Okay. How do we even get up there?"
Aira hesitated.
"…We don't."
Raka blinked.
"…What?"
Aira pointed at the execution unit.
"We use it."
Both of them looked at the black figure.
It stood still.
Silent.
Watching.
Raka frowned.
"…You want to use that thing?"
Aira nodded.
"It's connected to the system."
"And it wants us dead."
"Yes."
"Great plan."
Aira stepped forward.
"I'll distract it."
Raka grabbed her wrist.
"Hey."
She looked back.
"You're not doing this alone," he said.
Aira's expression softened.
"…I know."
Raka smirked.
"Good."
They both turned toward the execution unit.
The air felt heavy.
Like the world was watching.
Waiting.
Raka cracked his neck.
"…Round two?"
Aira took a deep breath.
"…Together."
They moved.
At the same time.
Fast.
The execution unit reacted instantly.
Its arm moved—
Too fast to see.
Raka ducked just in time.
Aira jumped forward.
Her hand glowing—
She struck.
BOOM.
The impact shook the ground.
But—
The execution unit didn't move.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Raka muttered.
The unit turned its head.
Slowly.
Toward Aira.
"Threat detected."
Aira jumped back.
"Raka, now!"
Raka ran forward.
Full speed.
He punched—
Everything he had.
CRACK.
The sound echoed.
But his fist—
Stopped.
Mid-air.
The execution unit caught it.
Raka's eyes widened.
"…Oh."
The unit tightened its grip.
Pain shot through his arm.
"Ah—!"
Aira rushed in.
"Let him go!"
She attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
This time—
The unit moved.
It blocked.
Countered.
And—
Struck.
Aira was sent flying again.
Raka gritted his teeth.
"…Not again."
The unit lifted him slightly.
Off the ground.
"Eliminating target."
Raka forced a smile.
"…You say that a lot."
The unit's arm pulled back.
Preparing to strike.
Then—
Raka did something unexpected.
He stopped resisting.
Completely.
The unit paused.
For a fraction of a second.
"…Yeah," Raka said softly. "You don't understand that, do you?"
The unit hesitated.
Just enough.
Raka twisted his body.
Kicked off its chest.
And broke free.
He landed roughly.
Rolling.
Coughing.
But alive.
Aira stood up again.
"…You okay?"
"Never better," he lied.
The sky roared again.
Louder.
Closer.
They both looked up.
The cracks had opened wider.
Something massive—
Was almost through.
Aira's voice trembled.
"…We're out of time."
Raka nodded.
"…Then we finish this now."
They looked at each other.
No more words.
They moved.
Together.
Perfectly in sync.
Aira attacked high.
Raka low.
The unit blocked both.
But—
For the first time—
It stepped back.
Just one step.
Raka smiled.
"…We're getting somewhere."
Aira nodded.
"Again!"
They attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Pushing it.
Forcing it back.
Step by step.
The unit analyzed.
Adapted.
But—
It couldn't keep up with both of them.
Not perfectly.
Aira's strike landed.
A small crack appeared on its armor.
Raka saw it.
"…There!"
He charged.
Focused.
Everything he had—
Into one punch.
He struck the crack.
BOOM.
The armor shattered.
Just a little.
But enough.
The unit staggered.
For the first time.
Silence.
Raka breathed heavily.
"…Did we just hurt it?"
Aira nodded.
"…Yes."
The unit looked down.
At the damage.
Then—
At them.
Something changed.
Its stance shifted.
More aggressive.
More dangerous.
"Updating combat protocol."
Raka sighed.
"…Of course you are."
The sky split open completely.
Light flooded everything.
The massive thing above—
Finally began to descend.
Slow.
Endless.
Unstoppable.
Aira grabbed Raka's arm.
"…We have one chance."
Raka nodded.
"…Then let's take it."
The unit moved.
Faster than before.
Deadlier.
Final.
Raka stepped forward.
Ready.
Aira beside him.
Together.
Against everything.
The unit raised its hand.
Energy surged.
Raka clenched his fists.
"…Bring it."
The unit spoke—
One last time.
"End."
And then—
Everything went white.
---
To be continued…