The alarms screamed.
Red lights flooded the hallway.
And in front of them—
Madam Silver.
Unmoving.
Unshaken.
"…You've grown," she said calmly.
Her eyes locked onto Kai.
"But not enough."
Axel stepped forward. "We don't have time for this—move!"
Madam Silver didn't even look at him.
"You were always impatient," she said.
Kai raised his hand slightly, stopping Axel.
"…She's not letting us leave."
Silence.
Heavy.
Leo whispered, "Kai… she's Rank 1. We can't fight her head-on."
Kai didn't respond.
His eyes stayed on her.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Inside—
A voice.
"…You know what to do."
Kai clenched his fist.
"…No."
Madam Silver tilted her head slightly.
"…You're resisting it?"
Kai's eyes widened slightly.
"You know about it…"
She smiled faintly.
"I know everything about you."
The air shifted.
Danger rising instantly.
"Then you know…" Kai said slowly, "…I don't want to use it."
Madam Silver stepped forward.
"Then you will lose."
She vanished.
In a blink—
She was in front of him.
Strike—
Kai blocked—
But the force sent him crashing into the wall.
Axel shouted, "KAI!"
Leo stepped back. "She's too fast!"
Kai pushed himself up.
Breathing heavy.
Pain spreading.
Madam Silver stood there.
Untouched.
"This is your limit," she said.
Kai's fists trembled.
Not just from pain.
From pressure.
From everything.
His uncle.
The prison.
The experiments.
The truth.
Inside—
The Underlord whispered again.
"…Let me out."
Kai's breathing grew heavier.
"…If I do…" he muttered.
"…I might not come back."
Silence.
Madam Silver raised her hand.
"Then fall."
She attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Kai couldn't block it fully—
The hit sent him sliding across the floor.
Axel clenched his fists. "We can't just stand here!"
Leo grabbed him. "If he loses control, it's over for everyone!"
Kai slowly stood up again.
Body shaking.
Vision blurring.
He looked at Axel.
At Leo.
"…I'll come back," he said quietly.
And then—
He stopped holding back.
His eyes flared.
Deep red.
Dark.
Cold.
The air exploded outward.
A shockwave blasted through the hallway.
Walls cracked.
Lights shattered.
The Underlord…
Was released.
Kai's body straightened.
The pain—gone.
The hesitation—gone.
"…Finally," the voice echoed.
Axel stepped back. "…Not again…"
Leo whispered, "He let it out on purpose…"
The Underlord looked at Madam Silver.
Calm.
Interested.
"…You are different," he said.
Madam Silver didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
"…So this is the power inside you," she said.
The Underlord smiled slightly.
Dangerously.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
They moved.
The clash shook the entire facility.
Power vs power.
Control vs something beyond control.
And for the first time—
Someone stood against the Underlord
Without fear.