The wind didn't just howl anymore—it roared.
It tore across the helipad like something alive, whipping Seo-yeon's hair across her face, dragging at Ji-hoon's coat, screaming through the metal structures around them. The city lights below flickered faintly, blurred by distance and motion, as if the world itself had stepped back to watch what was about to happen.
Adrian stood in front of them.
Calm.
Still.
Dangerous.
There were no drones moving now. No distractions. No noise beyond the wind and the faint hum of machines.
Just him.
"…So this is what it comes down to," Ji-hoon said quietly, his voice steady, though his chest still rose and fell from the earlier fight.
Seo-yeon stepped beside him, her shoulder brushing lightly against his. She didn't pull away this time.
"…Together," she said softly.
Ji-hoon didn't respond immediately.
But he didn't move away either.
That was answer enough.
Adrian exhaled slowly, rolling his neck once, like a man preparing for something routine.
"…You know," he said casually, "I expected more chaos. More screaming. More… heartbreak."
His gaze shifted between them, sharp and calculating.
"…But instead, you two grew closer."
Ji-hoon's eyes hardened. "…You sound disappointed."
Adrian smiled faintly. "…I am. It's much more interesting when people fall apart."
Seo-yeon stepped forward slightly.
"…We're not like your games," she said.
His eyes flicked to her.
"…Everyone is like my games," Adrian replied calmly. "They just don't realize it until it's too late."
And then—
He moved.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just motion.
Fast.
Too fast.
Ji-hoon barely had time to react before Adrian's fist was already inches from his face.
"Ji-hoon—!"
Seo-yeon's voice cut through the air as she lunged forward, intercepting the strike with both hands. The force of it sent shockwaves through her arms, pain shooting up instantly, but she held her ground.
Barely.
The concrete beneath her feet cracked slightly from the pressure.
Ji-hoon's eyes widened.
"…He's fast," he muttered.
Adrian tilted his head slightly, observing her.
"…Interesting," he murmured. "…You're stronger than before."
Seo-yeon pushed his arm away and stepped back, her breathing steadying.
"…I had to be," she said.
Ji-hoon didn't wait.
He moved in immediately, closing the distance between them with a sharp, precise strike aimed at Adrian's side.
Adrian blocked it effortlessly.
The impact echoed across the helipad.
Metal groaned beneath their feet.
"…Predictable," Adrian said calmly.
Ji-hoon's jaw tightened.
"…We'll see about that."
They attacked together this time.
No hesitation.
No miscommunication.
Ji-hoon struck high.
Seo-yeon moved low.
A perfect combination.
Adrian stepped back—but not fast enough to completely avoid them. Seo-yeon's kick grazed his side, forcing him to shift his balance slightly.
It was small.
But it was something.
Ji-hoon noticed.
"…We can hit him," he said quickly.
Seo-yeon nodded. "…Then we don't stop."
The fight escalated instantly.
Blow after blow.
Movement after movement.
Ji-hoon's strength met Adrian's precision, each strike calculated, each motion controlled. Seo-yeon flowed between them, her movements sharp yet fluid, adapting in real time, reading patterns, predicting reactions.
But Adrian—
He wasn't just reacting.
He was studying them.
"…You've improved," he said mid-fight, blocking Ji-hoon's punch and sidestepping Seo-yeon's strike. "…Both of you."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…But you're still human."
He struck back.
Hard.
Ji-hoon barely blocked it, sliding back several feet from the force.
Seo-yeon moved in to counter—but Adrian anticipated it, grabbing her wrist mid-motion and twisting slightly.
Pain shot through her arm.
She gasped.
"Seo-yeon!"
Ji-hoon lunged forward instantly, slamming into Adrian and forcing him to release her.
They separated again.
Breathing heavier now.
The air thicker.
"…You okay?" Ji-hoon asked quickly, glancing at her arm.
She flexed it slightly, wincing but nodding. "…I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced.
"…Don't lie."
She met his eyes.
"…I'm not weak," she said quietly.
Something in her tone—
Stopped him.
"…I know," he said after a moment.
Adrian watched them, expression unreadable.
"…Fascinating," he murmured. "…Even now, you're still holding back."
Ji-hoon frowned. "…What?"
Adrian's gaze shifted to Seo-yeon.
"…You," he said. "…You're still afraid of what you can do."
Her heart skipped.
"…I'm not—"
"You are," he cut in calmly. "…You felt it earlier, didn't you? That clarity. That power."
Seo-yeon's fingers tightened slightly.
He was right.
And that scared her.
Ji-hoon stepped forward slightly, placing himself between them.
"…Don't listen to him," he said.
Adrian smirked faintly. "…Why? Because I'm right?"
"…Because you're manipulating her," Ji-hoon shot back.
Adrian chuckled. "…No. I'm revealing her."
Seo-yeon's breathing slowed.
Her mind replayed everything—
The fight.
The speed.
The precision.
The feeling.
That overwhelming clarity.
"…Ji-hoon…" she said softly.
He glanced at her.
"…What if he's right?"
His expression hardened instantly. "…He's not."
"…But what if—"
"He's not," he repeated, firmer this time.
She looked at him.
Really looked at him.
"…You said to trust you," she said quietly.
He held her gaze.
"…Then trust me now."
Silence.
The wind howled around them.
Then—
She nodded.
"…Okay."
Adrian sighed.
"…How boring," he said. "…I was hoping you'd break."
His eyes darkened.
"…Fine."
This time—
He didn't hold back.
He moved faster than before.
Stronger.
More aggressive.
Ji-hoon barely blocked the first strike.
Seo-yeon barely dodged the second.
The pressure changed instantly.
"…He's serious now," Ji-hoon muttered.
"…I noticed," she replied.
They moved together again.
But this time—
They adapted.
Ji-hoon focused on power and defense, drawing Adrian's attention.
Seo-yeon shifted her movements, faster, lighter, striking at precise moments, targeting openings.
"…Left!" Ji-hoon called.
She moved instantly.
Strike.
Impact.
Adrian staggered—just slightly.
But enough.
"…Now!" she shouted.
Ji-hoon didn't hesitate.
He drove forward with everything he had.
His fist connected.
Hard.
Adrian slid back across the concrete, stopping near the edge of the helipad.
For the first time—
He looked… impressed.
"…So this is your limit," Adrian said quietly.
Ji-hoon stepped forward, breathing hard.
"…No," he said. "…This is just the start."
Seo-yeon stood beside him again.
Closer this time.
Stronger.
"…We're not done," she said.
Adrian smiled slowly.
"…Good."
His eyes gleamed.
"…Because neither am I."
And then—
The lights flickered.
The ground beneath them vibrated.
A low mechanical rumble echoed from below the helipad.
Ji-hoon frowned.
"…What now?"
Seo-yeon's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's not normal…"
Adrian stepped back.
Completely calm.
"…Did you really think I came unprepared?" he asked.
The rumbling grew louder.
Metal groaned.
Something beneath them—
Was moving.