The eastern sector was too quiet.
Not empty.
Not abandoned.
Just… wrong.
Aarav slowed his steps as they entered deeper into the area. The buildings were intact, the roads were clear—but there were no people.
No movement.
No sound.
"…This doesn't look normal," Mira said quietly.
"…It isn't," Aarav replied.
His eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
The air felt heavier here.
Thicker.
As if something invisible was pressing down on everything.
"…It's like the world is holding its breath," Mira added.
Aarav didn't respond.
Because his screen—
Was reacting.
Flickering constantly.
Stronger than before.
[ A N O M A L Y D E T E C T E D ]
[ A N O M A L Y D E T E C T E D ]
"…Yeah," he muttered, "I see it."
Mira glanced at him.
"…See what?"
"…Nothing clear yet."
That wasn't a lie.
The screen wasn't showing details—
Just warnings.
And that made it worse.
They moved forward slowly.
Step by step.
Careful.
Focused.
Then—
A sound.
A faint scraping noise echoed from the side street ahead.
Both of them stopped instantly.
"…There," Mira whispered.
Aarav nodded.
"…Yeah."
Something moved in the shadows.
Then—
It stepped out.
One creature.
Then another.
Then—
More.
Three.
Five.
Seven.
All of them similar to the ones Aarav had fought before.
But not the same.
Their movements were sharper.
Their eyes clearer.
More aware.
"…That's not normal," Mira said.
"…No," Aarav replied quietly.
"Not even close."
The creatures didn't attack immediately.
They spread out.
Slowly.
Surrounding.
Mira's expression tightened.
"…They're coordinating."
Aarav's eyes sharpened.
"…Yeah."
That confirmed it.
This wasn't random.
Not even close.
The screen flickered harder.
[ T A R G E T S D E T E C T E D ]
[ T H R E A T : M E D I U M — H I G H ]
"…Multiple threats," Aarav muttered.
Mira stepped slightly forward.
"…We don't have time to analyze."
"…We never do."
The first creature moved.
Fast.
Mira reacted instantly.
A flash of light formed in her hand—
Then shot forward.
Boom.
The creature was thrown back, hitting the ground hard.
Aarav glanced at her.
"…Not bad."
"…Focus," she replied.
The others charged.
At once.
Aarav stepped forward.
The screen flickered.
[ P A T T E R N R E A D I N G A C T I V E ]
Everything sharpened.
The chaos—
Became clear.
"…Left," he said.
Mira moved instantly.
Dodged an incoming strike.
"…Two behind," he added.
She turned, blocking another attack with precise timing.
"…You're guiding me?" she asked.
"…You're fast," Aarav replied. "Use it."
No hesitation.
No delay.
They moved together.
Not perfectly.
But effectively.
Aarav handled the closest threats.
Dodging.
Striking.
Breaking movement patterns.
Mira supported from range.
Fast.
Accurate.
Controlled.
"…They're adapting," she said.
"…I know."
One creature suddenly changed direction mid-attack.
Aarav barely avoided it.
"…Yeah," he muttered, "definitely learning."
The screen flickered violently.
Struggling.
Processing.
[ A N A L Y S I S I N C O M P L E T E ]
[ U N K N O W N V A R I A B L E ]
Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"…Unknown?"
That wasn't good.
At all.
The creatures stopped suddenly.
All at once.
Mid-fight.
Mira froze.
"…Why did they—"
Then—
They turned.
Not toward Aarav.
Not toward Mira.
But toward something behind them.
Aarav's expression changed instantly.
"…That's not good."
Mira followed their gaze.
And for the first time—
Her calm expression broke slightly.
"…What is that?"
A shadow moved.
Larger.
Slower.
Heavier.
And as it stepped forward—
The air itself seemed to distort.
Aarav's screen flickered violently.
More than ever before.
[ E R R O R ]
[ E R R O R ]
[ D A N G E R ]
He exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
This wasn't a group fight anymore.
This—
Was something else entirely.