The ground was silent again.
But this time—
It wasn't peaceful.
It was focused.
Kael moved quickly through the forest, his senses fully alert, every movement precise and controlled.
Ronan followed just behind him, equally sharp, equally dangerous.
Neither of them spoke.
Because now—
They were close.
Very close.
"I can feel it stronger," Kael said suddenly.
Ronan didn't slow down.
"Same."
That alone confirmed it.
They were on the right path.
The connection—
Faint before—
Was growing.
Leading them.
Pulling them.
Guiding them exactly where they needed to go.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"She's still alive."
Ronan glanced at him briefly.
"You sound surprised."
Kael didn't respond.
Because that wasn't it.
It wasn't surprise.
It was something else.
Something heavier.
"She's fighting," he said quietly.
Ronan's expression darkened slightly.
"Of course she is."
Deep underground—
Nyra struggled to breathe.
The new containment field pressed down on her from all sides, heavier than before, stronger, suffocating.
Her body refused to move.
Her power—
Silent.
Completely suppressed.
But inside—
Something was changing.
The man stood a few steps away, observing her with clear interest.
"Fascinating," he murmured.
Nyra forced herself to lift her head.
Her vision blurred.
"What… are you doing…?" she asked weakly.
The man stepped closer.
"This?" he said calmly. "I'm improving the process."
Nyra's chest tightened.
"You're killing me…"
He shook his head slightly.
"No," he said. "I'm perfecting you."
Those words sent a chill down her spine.
Before she could respond—
The machines activated again.
But this time—
Something was different.
The energy didn't just pull from her.
It moved through her.
Around her.
Like it was searching.
Nyra gasped.
Her body tensed violently.
"What—?!"
The man's eyes lit with interest.
"There it is…"
Nyra's breathing became erratic.
"There's what?!"
The energy surged again—
And suddenly—
Her eyes snapped open.
Glowing.
But not just silver.
Something darker moved within them.
Unfamiliar.
Uncontrolled.
Unwelcome.
"What did you do to me?!" she shouted.
The man smiled slowly.
"I didn't do anything new," he said.
A pause.
"I just removed the limits."
Nyra's heart slammed violently.
"No—"
But it was already happening.
The power inside her—
It wasn't just hers anymore.
It was shifting.
Changing.
Becoming something else.
Above ground—
Kael stopped suddenly.
Ronan nearly ran into him.
"What—?"
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"That's not her power."
Ronan's expression hardened instantly.
"What do you mean?"
Kael's voice dropped.
"Something's wrong."
Silence.
Then—
Ronan understood.
"…they changed it."
Kael's fists clenched.
"We're out of time."
Ronan nodded once.
"For once, we agree."
They moved again—
Faster.
Deadlier.
More focused than ever.
Because now—
This wasn't just about saving Nyra.
It was about stopping whatever she was
Nyra's power is evolving into something unknown…
and even Kael doesn't recognize it anymore.