The room went still.
Too still.
The moment the figure stepped forward, everything shifted—like the balance of power had been quietly rewritten.
Nyra felt it instantly.
That presence.
That energy.
It wasn't just similar to hers.
It was… connected.
The figure studied her with calm, unreadable eyes.
"You feel it too, don't you?" they said.
Nyra didn't answer.
But her body tensed.
Because yes—
She did.
Ronan stepped slightly in front of her.
Protective.
Instinctive.
"I don't like this," he muttered.
Kael's voice was low.
"Stay sharp."
The figure's lips curved faintly.
"Still relying on Alphas?" they said.
A pause.
"Disappointing."
Nyra's gaze sharpened.
"I don't rely on anyone."
The figure tilted their head.
"Good."
A pause.
"Because they won't be able to help you."
The air shifted instantly.
Pressure rising.
Energy building.
Nyra stepped forward.
Matching the tension.
Matching the presence.
"Who are you?" she asked again.
The figure smiled.
This time—
There was no warmth in it.
"My name doesn't matter," they said.
A pause.
"What matters…"
Their eyes glowed faintly.
"…is what I am."
The energy in the room surged suddenly—
Dark.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Nyra's breath caught.
Because unlike hers—
This power wasn't controlled.
It wasn't balanced.
It was corrupted.
"You're an Origin," she said.
The figure nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
"Just not like you."
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
The walls trembled.
The air thickened.
Nyra's voice dropped.
"What happened to you?"
The figure's expression didn't change.
"They improved me."
That word—
It hit wrong.
Nyra's eyes narrowed.
"They broke you."
Silence.
Then—
The figure smiled again.
Wider.
Darker.
"Maybe," they said.
A pause.
"But I survived."
And then—
They moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
The attack came without warning—
A surge of raw energy aimed directly at Nyra.
Kael reacted instantly—
Blocking it—
But the force pushed him back hard.
Ronan stepped in—
Countering—
But the energy twisted mid-air—
Changing direction.
Unpredictable.
Unstable.
Nyra moved.
Not fast—
But precise.
She raised her hand—
And stopped it.
The energy froze mid-air.
Struggling.
Resisting.
The figure's eyes widened slightly.
"…You can control it?"
Nyra's voice was calm.
Cold.
Certain.
"I don't lose control anymore."
The energy collapsed instantly.
Gone.
Silence.
Then—
The figure laughed softly.
"…Good."
A pause.
"Then this might actually be fun."