They didn't wait long.
Not after that.
Adrian stood in the center of the arena again, the air heavier than before. This time, there were no repeated drills. No slow buildup.
This was it.
Kai stood on his right. Veyr on his left.
Neither of them looked relaxed.
"…So," Adrian said, exhaling slowly, "this is the part where we do something risky."
"Stay focused," Kai replied.
Veyr added, "And don't go deeper than you can handle."
Adrian smirked faintly. "…That's not a clear limit."
"You'll feel it," Veyr said.
"…Yeah. That's what I was afraid of."
Silence settled.
Then Kai spoke. "We anchor you. You follow the connection. If it starts pulling you, you stop."
"And if I don't?" Adrian asked.
Kai's voice lowered. "Then we pull you out."
Adrian nodded once. "…Alright."
He activated the mark.
The shadows formed instantly, heavier than before, but stable. Adrian didn't fight them. He let them settle, let the pressure build without losing himself.
"I'm going in," he said quietly.
"Stay with us," Kai replied.
Then—
The world shifted.
Darkness.
Endless and silent.
Adrian stood in the void again, the same empty space stretching in every direction. But this time, he didn't hesitate.
"…I'm back," he said.
The voice answered immediately.
"…You return… willingly."
Adrian exhaled. "…Don't make it sound special."
The darkness moved slightly, reacting to him.
"…You grow closer…"
"…Yeah," Adrian said. "Not by choice."
A pause.
"…You seek what remains…"
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "…So you know why I'm here."
"…I know everything you bring with you…"
That wasn't comforting.
---
Back in the arena, Adrian's body stood still, shadows circling slowly.
Kai's gaze stayed fixed on him. "…He's in."
Veyr nodded. "…Stable. For now."
"Keep him that way," Kai said.
---
Inside the void, Adrian moved forward.
One step.
Then another.
The pressure increased, but he held it steady.
"…Show yourself," Adrian said.
The darkness didn't respond right away.
Then—
"…You look for what is broken…"
Adrian's voice hardened. "I'm not asking twice."
Silence.
Then the void shifted.
Not violently.
Slowly.
Like something being revealed.
A figure appeared in the distance.
Faint.
Unclear.
But there.
Adrian's breath slowed.
"…You again."
The figure didn't move at first.
Then—
Slightly.
Enough to confirm it was real.
Adrian took a step forward.
"…Can you hear me?"
No answer.
The pressure around him increased, heavier now, like the space didn't want him getting closer.
"…He does not belong to you…"
The voice cut in again.
Cold.
Sharp.
Adrian frowned. "Then why is he here?"
"…Because he failed…"
That hit harder than expected.
Adrian clenched his fist. "…He's still here."
"…Not as you understand…"
Adrian ignored that. He focused on the figure instead.
"…Hey," he called out. "You told me to run."
The figure twitched.
Small.
But real.
Adrian's eyes widened slightly. "…You hear me."
---
Outside, the shadows around Adrian spiked.
Kai stepped forward instantly. "It's reacting."
Veyr's gaze sharpened. "…He made contact again."
"Be ready," Kai said.
Inside the void, the figure lifted its head slightly.
Still blurred.
Still distant.
But clearer than before.
"…You shouldn't be here…"
The voice was faint.
Broken.
But real.
Adrian felt it hit him differently than the Source.
"…So it is you," Adrian said quietly.
"…Leave…"
The word came out strained.
"…Now…"
Adrian shook his head. "Not happening."
The pressure surged immediately.
The darkness reacted violently this time.
"…You defy me again…"
Adrian winced slightly. "…Yeah, yeah."
The pull started again.
Stronger than before.
Not inviting.
Not tempting.
Forcing.
"…You will not take him…"
The voice deepened.
Angrier now.
Back in the arena, Adrian's body tensed.
"Kai," Veyr said, "he's being pulled."
"I see it."
The shadows were no longer stable. They twisted, rising sharply around Adrian.
"Adrian," Kai said firmly. "Pull back."
---
Inside the void, Adrian felt it.
The pull.
Stronger than last time.
Dragging at him.
"…Not yet," he muttered.
The figure in the distance flickered.
Unstable.
"…You don't have time…"
Adrian clenched his fist. "…Then talk faster."
A weak sound came from the figure.
Almost like a laugh.
"…Still… the same…"
Adrian frowned. "…What does that mean?"
The figure took a small step forward.
Closer.
Just enough for Adrian to see—
The outline.
The shape.
Almost clear.
"…It doesn't end…"
The voice broke slightly.
"…It repeats…"
Adrian's chest tightened. "…Then we stop it."
The darkness surged violently.
"…You will become it…"
Adrian shook his head. "No."
The pull intensified.
Too strong now.
Too fast.
---
"Now!" Kai said.
Veyr didn't hesitate.
They both moved.
The connection snapped.
---
Adrian gasped as the arena rushed back.
He dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
"…That was worse," he muttered.
Kai was already beside him. "…You went too far."
Adrian shook his head. "…Not far enough."
Veyr stepped closer. "…What did you see?"
Adrian looked up.
His expression serious now.
"…He's still there."
A pause.
"…And he's not gone."
Kai frowned. "…Explain."
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"…He said it repeats."
Silence.
That word settled heavily.
Veyr's eyes narrowed. "…A cycle."
Adrian nodded. "…Yeah."
Kai looked at both of them. "…Then we're running out of time."
Adrian stood slowly, still catching his breath.
"…Then next time…"
He looked at them.
"…We go deeper."
Neither of them argued.
Because they all knew
This wasn't over.
Not even close.