The shadows struck first.
Not like creatures.
Not like bodies.
They moved like liquid darkness—sliding, stretching, snapping forward from impossible angles.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Left!" Ayu snapped.
Wira reacted instantly, slashing across the ground. His claws cut through the incoming shadow—
But instead of blood—
It split like smoke.
Then reformed.
"…not physical," he muttered.
"Of course not!" Ayu replied. "They're extensions!"
"Of what?!"
"Of them!"
That explained nothing.
The shadows lunged again—this time from above.
Wira jumped back, barely avoiding them as they slammed into the ground, leaving dark, burned marks across the asphalt.
Whatever they touched—
Corrupted.
"Don't let it hit you!" Ayu warned.
"Yeah, got that part!"
Wira steadied himself.
Think.
Adapt.
That's what had worked before.
The golden aura flickered around him again.
Subtle.
Responsive.
Not exploding.
Listening.
"…if they're not physical," he murmured, "then I hit the source."
Ayu glanced at him.
"…you think you can reach them?"
Wira looked up.
At the figures watching from above.
"…only one way to find out."
He moved.
Fast.
The ground cracked beneath his step as he launched upward, aiming straight for the nearest figure.
The rooftop.
The watcher.
The source.
The figure didn't dodge.
Didn't move.
Just smiled.
"…there it is."
The shadows surged upward to intercept.
But this time—
Wira didn't cut them blindly.
He focused.
The aura around his claws shifted—
Condensed.
Sharpened.
Gold met black—
And this time—
The shadow didn't reform.
It burned.
The figure's smile faltered slightly.
"…interesting."
Wira landed on the rooftop.
Close.
Close enough to see their face clearly now.
Human.
Almost.
But their eyes—
Too deep.
Too empty.
"You're not normal," the figure said.
Wira smirked.
"Yeah. I've been told."
Behind him—
More shadows rose.
Wrapping around the rooftop.
Cutting off retreat.
Below, Ayu raised her hand again, golden scripts forming around her arm.
"Wira—don't let them surround you!"
"Working on it!"
The figure stepped forward.
Still calm.
Still controlled.
"But you're still incomplete," they said.
A pause.
"Which makes this easier."
The shadows surged.
All at once.
From every direction.
Wira inhaled.
Deep.
That presence inside him—
Reacted.
Stronger now.
Closer.
Almost aligned.
BOOM.
His heartbeat echoed again.
But this time—
It didn't feel chaotic.
It felt… guided.
His body moved.
Not just instinct.
Not just reaction.
Precision.
His claws cut through the shadows—
And each strike now—
Burned them away.
Clean.
Permanent.
The rooftop cracked under the force of his movement.
The figure's expression shifted.
Not fear.
But—
Interest.
"…you're learning faster than expected."
Wira closed the distance in an instant.
Claw aimed straight for their neck.
The figure tilted their head—
Barely avoiding the strike.
But this time—
They didn't counter immediately.
They studied him.
Up close.
Carefully.
"…yes," they murmured.
"It's real."
Wira didn't stop.
He attacked again.
Faster.
Sharper.
But the figure stepped back—
Then simply—
Vanished.
Wira's claw cut through empty air.
"…tch."
Behind him—
The other figures were gone too.
The shadows—
Retracting.
Melting back into nothing.
The street fell silent again.
No presence.
No pressure.
Just—
Gone.
Wira stood there, breathing steady.
"…that's it?"
Below, Ayu lowered her hand slowly.
"…no."
Wira jumped back down beside her.
"What do you mean no?"
Ayu looked up at the empty rooftops.
Her expression serious.
"That wasn't an attack," she said.
Wira frowned.
"…then what was it?"
Ayu met his gaze.
"A confirmation."
A pause.
"They were checking you."
Wira's jaw tightened.
"Checking what?"
Ayu didn't hesitate this time.
"Whether you're worth taking."
Silence.
That answer landed heavier than anything tonight.
"…and?" Wira asked.
Ayu's expression didn't soften.
"They didn't leave."
Wira looked around instinctively.
"They're still here?"
"No," Ayu said.
Then—
Worse.
"They reported."
Wira exhaled slowly.
"…great."
Ayu crossed her arms.
"If the higher ones get involved…"
She didn't finish.
Didn't need to.
Wira already understood.
Stronger enemies.
Smarter.
More dangerous.
He rolled his shoulders slightly.
"…good."
Ayu blinked.
"…good?"
Wira's eyes flickered gold again.
A faint smirk forming.
"Means I'm not crazy."
Ayu stared at him for a second.
Then shook her head slightly.
"…you are."
A beat.
"But you might survive this."
Wira looked up at the dark sky.
Something out there had noticed him now.
Something bigger.
Ancient.
Watching.
"…then let them come."
The golden aura flickered once more—
Brighter.
More stable.
And somewhere far beyond the island—
Something answered.