They left before the night settled fully.
No ceremony.
No announcement.
Just movement.
The arena faded behind them as they crossed into the outer corridors—quiet, dim, and unfamiliar at this hour.
Adrian walked ahead this time.
Not rushing.
But not hesitating either.
How far is this place?" he asked.
Veyr answered without looking back. "Far enough that most don't go there."
Kai muttered, That's always reassuring."
Adrian smirked faintly. I was thinking the same thing.
The further they went, the quieter everything became.
Not just sound—
Something deeper.
Like the world itself was… thinning.
Adrian noticed it first.
It feels different."
Kai nodded. Yeah."
Veyr slowed slightly. We're getting close."
The shadows along the walls didn't move the same way here.
They weren't responding.
Not stretching.
Not shifting.
Just… still.
Adrian glanced at his wrist.
The mark pulsed.
But weaker.
Fainter than before.
It's already dropping," he said.
Veyr didn't seem surprised. "The closer we get, the harder it is for the connection to stabilize."
Kai looked around carefully. So this place cuts it off?"
Veyr shook his head. "No."
A pause.
It disrupts it."
They reached an open threshold.
No door.
No barrier.
Just a wide, empty space beyond.
Adrian stepped through first.
The moment he crossed—
Something snapped.
Not violently.
Not painfully.
But unmistakably.
The thread.
The connection.
Gone.
Adrian froze.
His eyes widened slightly as his hand lifted instinctively.
It's gone."
Kai stepped in right after him—
And immediately stiffened.
I feel it too."
He looked at Adrian. Nothing."
Veyr entered last.
His expression didn't change.
This is the dead zone."
Silence filled the space.
But it wasn't normal silence.
It was absolute.
Adrian turned slowly in place.
I can't feel it at all."
He clenched his fist.
Nothing responded.
No pull.
No presence.
No waiting.
For the first time since the mark appeared—
There was nothing on the other side.
Kai exhaled slowly. That's… unsettling."
Adrian glanced at him. You don't like it?"
Kai shook his head. It's too clean."
A pause.
Like something important just disappeared."
Adrian looked back at his wrist.
The mark was still there.
But now—
It looked… dull.
Almost lifeless.
So this is what it's like without it," Adrian said quietly.
Veyr stepped closer. Not exactly."
Adrian frowned. What do you mean?"
Veyr's gaze sharpened slightly.
You didn't remove the connection."
A pause.
You stepped outside of its reach."
Adrian's expression shifted.
So it's still there.
"Yes."
Kai added quietly, Just not here."
That thought lingered.
Heavy.
Unfinished.
Adrian rolled his wrist slowly.
Then this is our advantage."
Veyr nodded once. "Temporary."
Kai crossed his arms. Everything about this is temporary.
Adrian smirked faintly. Then we use it while it lasts.
He took a step forward—
And stopped.
The air shifted.
Subtle.
But wrong.
Kai felt it next. Did you—"
"Yes," Veyr said immediately.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Something just changed."
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A pulse.
Not from Adrian's wrist.
From the space itself.
The dead zone trembled.
Just slightly.
Like something far away had knocked on a door that wasn't supposed to exist.
Adrian's jaw tightened. That's not possible."
Veyr's voice dropped. It shouldn't be."
Another pulse.
Stronger this time.
Kai stepped closer to Adrian. Tell me that's not what I think it is.
Adrian didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
Something was reaching.
Not through the connection.
Not directly.
But around it.
Veyr's eyes darkened.
It's adapting faster than expected."
The air pressed in slightly.
The silence cracked.
Adrian clenched his fist.
So even here
A pause.
It's trying to find me."
Kai's voice was low. Or something else is.
That made Adrian look at him sharply.
What do you mean?"
Kai didn't look away.
What if the connection isn't the only thing watching?
Silence dropped again.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
Another pulse.
Closer.
The mark on Adrian's wrist flickered faintly.
Just once.
Veyr stepped forward immediately. We don't stay.
Adrian didn't argue. Yeah."
Kai nodded. Move. Now.
They turned toward the exit—
But the space behind them shifted.
Not blocked.
Not closed.
Just… distorted.
Adrian stopped.
That's new.
Veyr's voice sharpened. It's learning the structure.
Another pulse hit—
Harder.
The dead zone shuddered
For the first time—
It wasn't stable anymore.
Adrian's expression hardened.
So much for safe space.
Kai stepped beside him. We push through.
Veyr nodded. Now.
Adrian took one step forward—
Then another—
The distortion resisted.
Like walking through something thick.
Unnatural.
Behind them—
The space pulsed again.
Closer.
Watching.
Adrian didn't look back.
Don't stop.
Because for the first time—
Even in the one place the connection couldn't reach—
Something else had found a way in.