Aren didn't slow down.
The darkness surged with every step he took, spreading across the cracked floor like something alive, responding only to instinct.
No hesitation.
No restraint.
Just destruction.
Iris steadied her footing, her breathing controlled despite the pressure bearing down on her.
"…you're not gone," she said under her breath.
Aren moved again.
Faster than before.
His figure blurred—
Then appeared right in front of her.
A strike came down.
Heavy.
Iris raised her arms and blocked.
The impact slammed into her, forcing her back, her feet grinding against the broken ground.
"…too strong…" she muttered.
But she didn't retreat.
Instead—
She stepped forward.
Into it.
Aren's next strike came—
She didn't block.
She slipped past it.
Closed the distance.
Her hand shot forward—
And struck his chest.
Right over the mark.
For a fraction of a second—
Everything paused.
Aren's body stiffened.
The darkness flickered violently.
His movement halted.
Iris didn't stop.
Another strike.
Same place.
Precise.
Controlled.
"…come back," she said sharply.
Aren's hand twitched.
His head shifted slightly.
Like something inside him reacted—
But couldn't respond.
The mark pulsed.
Harder.
Brighter.
The darkness lashed out.
Iris jumped back just in time, the energy slicing through the air where she had been.
"…still not enough…"
She exhaled slowly.
Her eyes never left him.
"…then I'll force it further."
Aren stepped forward again.
But this time—
She moved first.
Faster than before.
More precise.
She closed the distance before he could strike.
Her hand grabbed his collar—
Pulled him forward—
And her forehead slammed into his.
A sharp impact echoed.
Aren froze.
The darkness around him stuttered.
"…wake up!" she snapped.
Silence.
A single second.
Two.
Then—
Aren's eyes flickered.
Just slightly.
Iris saw it.
"…good," she whispered.
But it didn't last.
The darkness surged again.
Violent.
Unstable.
Aren's body reacted—
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing her arm.
Tight.
Too tight.
The darkness crawled along his grip—
Spreading.
Iris's eyes widened.
"…damn it…"
She twisted instantly, forcing her arm free before it could spread further, stepping back.
"…he's pulling everything in…"
Aren's breathing was uneven now.
Not calm.
Not controlled.
Conflicted.
The mark pulsed again.
"Consume."
His body moved again.
But slower.
Less precise.
A crack in the chaos.
Iris noticed.
That hesitation—
That delay—
That was her opening.
She stepped in again.
No hesitation this time.
Her strike landed—
Directly against the mark.
Aren's body jerked.
The darkness flared violently.
Then—
For the first time—
He reacted.
"…stop—"
The word barely came out.
Rough.
Broken.
But real.
Iris didn't stop.
Another strike.
Same place.
"…fight it!" she said.
Aren staggered back a step.
His hand lifted—
Not to attack—
But to hold his head.
The darkness flickered wildly.
Inconsistent.
Unstable.
"…I—"
His voice strained.
"…can't—"
"…you can," Iris cut in.
"…you already did."
Aren's breathing grew heavier.
The mark pulsed rapidly.
The darkness surged—
Then collapsed slightly.
Then surged again.
Like a battle happening inside him.
Iris stepped forward slowly this time.
Not attacking.
Not forcing.
"…listen," she said.
"…you're still here."
Aren's eyes flickered again.
Darkness shifting.
Fighting.
"…don't let it decide for you."
Silence.
The pressure in the room shifted.
Less explosive.
More unstable.
Aren's body trembled.
His hand clenched.
The darkness surged once more—
Then—
Stopped.
For a split second—
Everything froze.
Aren's eyes cleared.
Just a little.
"…Iris…"
Her expression didn't change.
But her stance relaxed slightly.
"…good," she said quietly.
"…stay there."
Aren took a step back.
Slow.
Unsteady.
The darkness flickered again—
Trying to return—
Trying to take over—
But weaker now.
"…it's not done…" he said.
"…I know," Iris replied.
"…but now you are."
Aren clenched his fist.
The mark pulsed one last time—
Then—
Dimmed.
The darkness faded.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
Until—
Nothing remained.
Silence filled the broken room.
Aren stood there, breathing heavily.
Sweat ran down his face.
His body felt heavier.
Like everything had drained out at once.
"…you're back," Iris said.
Aren didn't respond immediately.
He looked at his hand.
At the mark.
Still there.
Still quiet.
"…barely," he muttered.
He lifted his head slightly.
"…what was that?"
Iris exhaled slowly.
"…you crossed the line," she said.
A pause.
"…and almost didn't come back."
Aren stayed silent.
Because he knew—
She wasn't exaggerating.
He had felt it.
That moment—
Where nothing else mattered.
Where he didn't exist anymore.
Aren clenched his fist slightly.
"…next time…"
He stopped.
Then continued.
"…I won't lose."
Iris looked at him.
Studying.
Measuring.
Then—
A faint smirk appeared.
"…next time," she said,
"…you won't get that chance."
Aren frowned slightly.
"…what?"
Before she could answer—
The mark pulsed.
Once.
Sharp.
Different.
Aren's eyes narrowed.
"…they're coming again."
Iris's expression hardened instantly.
"…already?"
Aren turned toward the broken wall.
His breathing steadied.
But his eyes—
Were different now.
Not unstable.
Not calm.
Something else.
"…this time," he said quietly,
"…I'm ready."
Outside—
The air shifted again.
And the hunt resumed.