**** Arkas's PoV
I floated quietly in the sky, looking down at the Unit 02 training compound.
The entire place felt heavy. Sadness clung to the air, mixed with frustration and quiet anger. You could feel it in the way the soldiers moved, how they avoided eye contact, how silence had replaced the usual banter.
It hadn't been long since they learned about the fall of Unit 77. That alone had shaken them. But then, right in front of their eyes, two of their strongest members—Billion and Steve—were taken. Abducted without warning. The impact had hit them hard.
My thoughts drifted to the boys. Everything we had planned had gone just the way we wanted clean, precise, effective.
Except for one thing. And it was the most important one.
The portable teleportation device they used to take Billion and Steve.
My brows drew together in a deep frown. That device… it wasn't just rare. It was dangerous. Not even the Empire had portable teleporters. They were supposed to be impossible to make small and stable enough for field use.
And yet, the Holts or whoever was backing them, had one. Our worst fear was coming true: they were being supported by someone stronger than Peanu, someone far more dangerous. A hidden force that had no business being this close to us.
I let out a slow breath and rubbed my temples.
At least, for now, the boys were still alive. We had no way of tracking them—not a trace, not a signal, nothing.
All we had to go on was Dante's word, that Billion was okay.
That wasn't much. But it was enough to keep us moving.
My eyes drifted toward the wind elemental training chamber.
North was inside, training alone. I could feel the wind pulsing faintly from the walls, wild and sharp.
She hadn't spoken to me since the day Billion disappeared.
I knew how she felt about the boy—it wasn't hard to see. But the way she completely shut me out... that stung more than I expected. Maybe I deserved it. Still, it hurt.
I let out a long sigh, louder than I meant to.
A voice spoke up behind me.
"Why are you acting like some old man?"
It was Edgar.
I didn't turn around. "Because I am an old man."
He chuckled, floating into view with that usual smug grin of his. A chair made of black smoke appeared beneath him as he dropped into it cross-legged, lazily trimming his nails with a flick of Essence.
I watched him for a moment and shook my head. Sometimes I really wondered how this man made it this far in life without getting himself killed.
He raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking something rude about me, aren't you?"
"Nope," I said dryly. "I don't have enough space in my brain to waste on you."
He nodded seriously. "That's because you're dumb."
I didn't respond. Silence settled between us for a few seconds, the wind from the chamber behind me humming like a storm waiting to break.
Then Edgar spoke again. "You're worried about the kids."
I gave a small nod. "Yeah."
He glanced at me. "You were the one who pushed for this plan. You convinced the Emperor. You believed in them. So why doubt now? All you can do is trust them."
I let out a soft chuckle. "I do trust them, Edgar. That's exactly what scares me."
He tilted his head. I continued, "Billion—he'll justify any risk if he thinks it's worth it. He doesn't hesitate. And Steve... he's so obsessed with getting stronger, he might go too far. I'm afraid they'll do something reckless, something even they can't get out of."
Edgar hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe. But I think you're underestimating them. Billion likes taking risks, sure. But what he loves even more is smashing through problems. People like that, they don't die easy. They'll cling to life just to feel that rush one more time."
I looked away, thoughtful. He wasn't wrong.
Edgar leaned back, folding his arms behind his head. "Anyway, if you're going to worry about someone, it should be North. She's been training nonstop. Pushing herself too hard. I think she blames herself."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I've noticed it too. I'll speak to her tonight."
He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. "Are you going to tell her the truth?"
I shook my head. "No."
He didn't push further. And I was glad.
**** North's PoV
I opened my eyes and stared at the moving targets in front of me.
There were three of them, sliding and zigzagging across the far wall. Their movements were fast and erratic, almost like they were dancing just to taunt me.
The wind inside the training chamber roared around me, pushing at my body and trying to throw off my aim. It was set to the highest level I could handle. Any higher, and I'd be tossed like a leaf.
I stood firm, bow drawn tight, the string nearly humming with tension.
Seconds passed.
But instead of focusing, my mind wandered—again.
Images of Billion played over and over behind my eyes. The fight. His decision. The way he looked back at me one last time, asking me to wait for him.
I gritted my teeth.
He went with those people on purpose. He chose to go. And I couldn't do anything to stop it. Not because I didn't want to but because I wasn't strong enough.
The thought made my chest burn. Anger at myself. Frustration. Shame.
I took a breath and let it out as I released the first arrow.
Then another.
And another.
Three arrows shot through the air in quick succession. The winds tried to push them off course, but I bent the current around them, guided them like threads pulled through a needle. I forced the wind to carry my shots, not resist them.
All three arrows struck their targets dead center.
I let my hands drop, exhaling slowly. My arms trembled not from exhaustion, but from the emotions churning inside me.
Then I heard it. A soft chuckle.
I straightened, bow rising again on instinct.
"Who's there?" I called out, eyes scanning the empty chamber.
No response.
Then a whisper, hoarse and close, slithered into my ear.
"Kid, you're wasting your potential in here."
I spun around, arrow nocked and ready, but the room remained empty. My heart pounded.
"Who's there?" I demanded again, louder this time.
Then, right in front of me, the air began to swirl unnaturally. A shape formed—an apparition made from wind itself. Faint and shifting, but unmistakably humanoid.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to make out any details. But it was like looking through smoke in a storm.
The voice returned, almost playful. "I see you're still angry... about that boy, Billion. I know where he is."
My breath caught. My fingers tightened around the bowstring.
"Who are you?" I asked sharply.
Another raspy chuckle.
"My name is Dante."