## I. Farewell to the Red Continent
The journey towards the Polyhedron Country was approaching a geographical and emotional landmark. Zack, K, Mira, Lyra, and the Boy were traversing the last villages of the Red Continent, a land of brutal contrasts and melancholic beauties. In the distance, the Boy observed the vastness of the crimson forest. Thousands of kilometers away, the silhouette of the Red City could still be seen, a dark stain under the sky where the moon, in a unique phenomenon on Earth, shone with eternal intensity.
That was the home of the world's strongest beasts, a place where the black mist of the Void was not omnipresent, allowing life, however wild and dangerous, to flourish. There was a savage beauty there that everyone, in some way, knew they would miss.
Zack approached the boy. In a rare gesture of affection, he placed his hand on his shoulder, feeling the fragility and strength emanating from him.
— I will miss it too — Zack whispered, a slight smile appearing on his lips. — But I promise you: we will return here again.
Mira observed the scene and smiled. Seeing Zack show affection was like watching a flower bloom on asphalt; something improbable, yet profoundly beautiful.
— You should do that more often — Lyra commented, returning the smile.
The Boy looked one last time at the horizon, waving his hand in a farewell gesture to the red lands.
— Thank you for taking care of me... Father — the Boy replied, his voice clear and sweet.
The world seemed to stop for an instant. Zack's eyes trembled. He, the King of Horror, the man whose mere mention of his name caused armies to tremble, had never been called "father." His pupils, dark as the Void itself, were suddenly invaded by an overwhelming sensation of love, a warmth he didn't know he was still capable of feeling.
Zack said nothing. Silence was his only answer, but the way his fingers lightly squeezed the boy's shoulder said it all. K watched the scene with a mixture of fascination and fear. There was a family. Zack, the son of a king, the man hunted by the whole world, now had a weak point. A place where he could fall. And for K, knowing that the most dangerous man on Earth had something to lose was more terrifying than his own strength.
## II. Shadows in the Void
The group continued their journey, the red vegetation giving way to a gray, barren land as they approached the border. K, unable to contain her doubts, approached Zack.
— Can we talk? — she asked. Zack nodded slightly. — When we leave the continent, everything changes. We'll have to wear our hoods and we can't stay in the Void mist for too long. Prolonged contact can drive us mad.
— I have a plan — Zack replied, his voice maintaining its usual calm. — Five kilometers from here, we'll cross the border. Twenty-five kilometers further, we'll reach the first crystal-protected city. We'll stay there for a few days to readjust.
K snorted, crossing her arms. — You always know what to do. It annoys me, you know? Sometimes I feel useless. Let the rest of the group think a little too.
Lyra, who overheard the conversation, let out an ironic laugh. — I know how it is, K. We felt that way too at first. It's normal. He's like that.
Mira joined the conversation, casting a significant glance at K. — Zack didn't tell you, did he, K? Zack spent years wandering alone through the black mist. He knows how to deal with this hostile environment better than any of us.
K paused for an instant, shocked. She gave Zack a light shove on the shoulder, as if trying to test his solidity. — Stop it! He can't be that amazing! Come on, guys, no one can...
Before she could finish the sentence, Lyra and Mira simply shook their heads in unison, confirming the truth.
— Damn it! What are you, Zack? You're not human... — K exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
Zack gave a short laugh, amused by K's astonished expression. — Madness doesn't affect me. Many say it's because of my black eyes, or because I'm incredibly handsome — he joked, making the Boy and the others laugh. — But the truth, K... it's because of the Black Moon.
## III. The Mystery of the Blade and the Loop
The relaxed atmosphere dissipated when K's gaze fell upon the sheathed sword on Zack's back. She still remembered the feeling of terror the weapon emanated during their combat.
— How did you get this weapon? — K asked, her voice now serious. — It scares me, Zack. It seems alive.
— I think so too. I always told you that — Lyra agreed.
Mira continued, her tone of voice filled with concern: — We sealed it once, and yet it came back to you, Zack. It seems like a symbiosis. You were much happier before it appeared. It seems this sword only brings misfortune.
Zack's gaze became heavy, the shadows under his eyes seeming to darken. — I don't remember how I found the Black Moon...
The revelation hit the group like a physical blow. — What do you mean? — K asked, incredulous.
— I'm being honest. I don't remember. In fact, I don't remember many things from my past. It's all very confusing. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a *loop*. I feel like something has happened before. I remember you, K.
K was speechless, trying to process the information. Lyra and Mira exchanged cautious glances; they already knew about those memory lapses, though they avoided bringing it up so as not to destabilize Zack.
— I talked to Lyra and Mira about you, K. The truth is, I feel like I know you from somewhere. It feels like I've lived years by your side. I don't know if it was a dream... a woman appears...
Before Zack could continue, Lyra interrupted him with a firm gesture. — Zack, talk about this when we're in a safe place. Eyes and ears are everywhere, especially here at the border.
K felt a deep unease. That information stuck in her mind like a thorn. Who was the woman in Zack's dreams? And how could he remember her if they had never met before that fight?
## IV. The Pursuer
The group stopped abruptly when Mira raised her hand, signaling silence. Her hunter senses were on high alert.
— Someone has been following us for a few days, Zack — she said, her voice low.
— What are we going to do? — K asked, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her weapon. — I thought I was going crazy, but I really felt a presence.
— He wants to make it clear that he's following us — Lyra observed, analyzing the invisible tracks in the mist. — But he keeps his distance. If we engage in combat, he can easily escape. He's smart.
Zack looked at the map and then at the dense mist ahead. — The border is one kilometer away. We'll make our camp here.
K almost screamed in frustration. — Are you crazy? Someone's hunting us and you want to light a fire and camp? Let's cross the border now, it's right there!
— Calm down, K — Zack replied, keeping his voice level. — He knows he needs to appear now, before we cross. The black mist on the other side will erase our trail and make the pursuit almost impossible for him. I'll make contact and find out what he wants.
— You're crazy! The boy is here, Zack! Why do you want to engage in combat?
— We won't engage in combat — Zack stated, looking into the darkness between the twisted trees. — He's at a disadvantage. We are four warriors against only one. If he wanted to kill us, he would have tried already. He wants something. And I want to know what.
Silence fell upon the group. Against K's will, they began to set up camp. The campfire was lit, casting long, dancing shadows against the approaching mist. They sat around the fire, the tension palpable in the air, waiting for the shadow that followed them to finally decide to show its face.
**END OF CHAPTER**