The road stretched endlessly.
No destination. No map.
Just… forward.
Asad and Leon walked side by side, the soft grass shifting under their feet.
For a while— Neither of them spoke.
Because for the first time…
They didn't have to.
Leon finally broke the silence.
"...Feels strange."
Asad glanced at him. "...What does?"
Leon looked at his hands.
"...No system. No quests. No power notifications."
A pause.
"...It's quiet."
Asad smirked slightly.
"...You miss it?"
Leon thought for a moment.
Then shook his head.
"...No."
"...But I got used to it."
Asad nodded.
"...Yeah."
Another breeze passed.
But this time—
Something felt… off.
Asad stopped walking.
Leon noticed.
"...What happened?"
Asad narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...You feel that?"
Leon focused.
Silence.
Wind.
Nothing unusual.
"...Feel what?"
Asad didn't answer immediately.
His gaze fixed on the horizon.
"...Something's watching."
Leon tensed slightly.
"...Watching?"
Asad nodded slowly.
"...Not like before."
"...Not a system."
"...Not a god."
A pause.
"...Something… else."
Suddenly—
The wind stopped.
Completely.
The sky remained blue.
But—
For a split second—
It glitched.
Leon's eyes widened.
"...Did you see that?!"
Asad didn't respond.
Because he was already looking at it.
The sky—
Flickered.
Like a broken screen.
Then—
Back to normal.
Silence returned.
Leon stepped back slightly.
"...I thought this world was free."
Asad's expression turned serious.
"...It is."
A pause.
"...But freedom doesn't mean empty."
Leon frowned.
"...What does that mean?"
Asad looked forward again.
"...It means…"
"…we're not the only ones here."