The tower doors groaned shut behind them, sealing away the stale air and the oppressive silence inside. Evening light spilled across the plaza, soft and golden, stretching long shadows over the cracked stone. The world outside felt strangely calm, almost peaceful, as if nothing had happened.
Leon stretched his arms above his head with a dramatic sigh. "Finally. I swear that tower smelled like old socks dipped in ancient trauma."
Aika let out a tired laugh. "At least we're out."
Varek didn't comment. He walked ahead with steady, measured steps, scanning the surroundings with the quiet vigilance of someone who never truly relaxed.
Kai followed behind them.
And then he stopped.
His breath caught in his throat.
The plaza wasn't empty.
Nulls. Dozens of them. Moving through the square as if they belonged there. One leaned casually against a wall, another carried a basket of fruit, two more walked side by side in the rhythm of casual conversation. Their pale, stretched bodies didn't match their movements. Their blank faces didn't match the normality around them.
And at the center of them all stood a Corrupted, perfectly still, staring directly at Kai.
Kai stumbled backward, heart slamming against his ribs.
The others kept walking.
"Kai?" Aika turned, confusion tightening her voice. "Why did you stop?"
Leon blinked at him. "Dude, you look like you just saw your GPA."
Kai pointed with a shaking hand. "What are you doing? Don't— don't walk toward them!"
Varek turned, irritation flickering across his face. "Toward who?"
Kai's voice cracked. "Them! The Nulls! They're everywhere—right there!"
Aika looked around, bewildered. "Kai… there's nothing here."
Leon squinted. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head in the tower?"
Kai's pulse hammered. "I'm not imagining it! They're right in front of you! All of them!"
Varek's patience snapped. "Kai. There is nothing there."
But Kai knew what he saw. The Nulls moved. The Corrupted watched. The world felt wrong.
And then the Corrupted appeared beside him.
Not walking. Not approaching. Just appearing, like a shadow stepping out of his own fear.
Its voice slithered into Kai's ear, cold and amused. "I am still a projection… but I wanted to let you know that a tiny crack has appeared. Hahahaha…"
Kai's stomach twisted.
"We will come to you. Don't worry. Just wait, little prince."
Kai froze.
Little… prince?
The Corrupted leaned closer, its grin stretching unnaturally. "Or if — and I say if — you want to come see your mother… you are welcome. Just remove this barrier."
Kai's breath stopped.
Mother.
The word hit him like a blade.
"And those Nulls you see?" The Corrupted gestured lazily at the plaza. "A hint. Some Nulls are hidden as normal citizens. They could be your friends in this otherworld… or a normal child. Let's see what you will do. Hahahaha…"
Kai's hands trembled.
Then the Corrupted paused.
Its head turned slowly.
Its eyes widened.
Everything around Kai froze.
Aika mid‑step. Leon mid‑blink. Varek mid‑breath. The wind. The dust. The world.
Only Kai moved. Only Kai breathed. Only Kai existed.
The Corrupted hissed, voice cracking with shock and fury. "You… you… you found the first Gear? Ah— you— you little—"
The projection shattered like glass.
Time lurched back into motion.
Aika blinked. "Kai? What—"
Leon frowned. "Why are you standing like a broken statue?"
Varek's eyes narrowed. "Kai."
But Kai didn't hear them. His mind was stuck on one sentence.
If you want to come see your mother…
Mother.
Mother.
Mother.
The word echoed inside him like a bell struck too hard. Something inside him twisted — a deep, buried instinct, a memory he didn't have, a longing he didn't understand.
His vision dimmed.
His knees buckled.
And Kai collapsed.
Kai Wakes Up — Three Days Later
Darkness pressed against Kai's eyelids, warm and heavy. His body felt stiff, as if he'd been lying in one position for far too long. His mind floated somewhere between sleep and waking — foggy, slow, clouded.
Then the memory hit him.
The Nulls. The Corrupted. Your mother.
Kai's eyes snapped open.
He was lying in a small bedroom — Leon's apartment. The familiar posters on the wall, the cluttered desk, the faint smell of instant noodles and laundry detergent grounded him in reality. Night had fallen; streetlights glowed through the window.
Kai pushed himself upright, wincing at the stiffness in his muscles. Every movement felt delayed, like his body was waking up slower than his mind.
He stepped into the hallway.
A faint light glowed from the kitchen.
Kai walked toward it — and nearly bumped into Varek.
The man stood at the counter, sleeves rolled up, stirring something in a mug. His expression was its usual unreadable calm, though his eyes flicked to Kai the moment he appeared.
Kai blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Varek raised an eyebrow. "Since I can't find Alethya, I don't know where to stay."
He took a slow sip of his coffee.
"She had a miniature space I could stay in. And my villa is far from here."
Kai frowned. "So you're… living here?"
"For now." Varek shrugged. "Leon offered. Or rather, he complained until I agreed."
Kai opened his mouth, but Varek cut him off with a pointed look.
"And who are you to talk? You've been asleep for over three days straight."
Kai froze. "Three days?"
Varek didn't even acknowledge the shock in his voice. He simply turned back to the kettle, pouring more hot water with calm precision.
"The bonus item is in Leon's room," he added. "He's been guarding it like a dragon."
Kai swallowed. "Varek… I need to tell you something."
Varek didn't turn, but his posture shifted — listening.
Kai lowered his voice. "I saw the Corrupted. It spoke to me. It said there's a crack. And that some Nulls are disguised as citizens."
Varek's grip tightened on the mug.
"And," Kai continued, voice trembling, "it said something about… my mother."
Varek finally turned, eyes sharp. "What exactly did it say?"
Kai repeated the words.
Varek's expression darkened. "You did the right thing telling me. Do not tell Leon or Aika."
Kai nodded. "I wasn't planning to."
"Good," Varek said quietly. "They're not ready for this."
Kai exhaled shakily.
Then he went to Leon's room.
He knocked lightly. "Hey—"
The door flew open.
Leon practically launched himself at Kai, grabbing his shoulders with both hands. "You're awake!"
Kai stumbled back. "Leon—!"
Leon shook him once, eyes wide. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? You collapsed like a dying NPC and then slept for three days. I thought you were in a coma. I googled symptoms. I panicked. I almost called an ambulance. Aika cried. Varek pretended not to care but he kept checking your pulse every few hours—"
Kai managed a small smile. "I'm okay."
Leon punched him lightly in the arm. "Don't do that again."
Kai nodded, but his mind was far away.
The Corrupted's words still echoed inside him.
Your mother.
And for the first time in his life, Kai wasn't sure if he wanted the answer.