Morning sunlight filtered through gaps in the forest canopy, scattering golden rays across Arin's sleeping form. Peaceful. Calm. Almost gentle.
Until something warm and furry dropped onto his face like a meteor.
"MMPHH—?!"
Perin sprawled cheerfully over Arin's face like it was the softest pillow in existence, tail thumping with dangerous enthusiasm.
"Ghh—Perin—CAN'T—BREATHE—!"
"Prrrp!"
The creature only snuggled deeper.
After a few desperate flails, Arin pried the clingy furball off and gasped for air like a drowning man returning to life.
"Bro… you trying to assassinate me with love?!"
Perin blinked innocently and tilted its head.
A soft voice spoke nearby. "I believe he was attempting to wake you."
Arin turned.
Vayushri sat quietly by the lake's edge, silver-blue hair glimmering softly. There was something calmer about her now… though she still moved as if she didn't belong on solid ground.
"Morning," Arin said, rubbing his face. "So… you're still here."
She looked slightly confused. "You… asked me to stay."
Arin nodded. "Right."
Perin hopped onto his shoulder.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Can spirits… feel temperature?"
She blinked at the sudden question. "We do not process cold or heat like humans. But… I dislike harsh frost. It reminds me of failing to protect what I was bound to."
Arin glanced at her.
She looked away.
He decided not to push further.
As they walked deeper into Zone 27, Arin asked, "So… what exactly can you do? Like, spirit powers."
Vayushri hesitated. "I can control water, sense natural mana, and create illusions… if the Mother permits."
"And if the Mother doesn't permit?"
She paused. "I… am not sure. I have never tried to go beyond her will before."
Arin smirked slightly. "Well… get used to freedom. It's messy."
She tilted her head. "Messy?"
"You'll figure it out."
A loud crunch echoed nearby.
The trio stopped.
A massive creature emerged from between the trees—muscles bulging beneath cracked, rocky armor-like skin, glowing with faint mana fissures. A B-Tier Earthscale Beast—known for brute strength and thick defense.
Vayushri stepped back instinctively. "We should avoid—"
Arin rolled his shoulders. "Nope. Time to train."
He lowered into a stance—calm, focused. Remembering Om Sai's words:
"Controlled, idiot. It's a dance, not a tantrum."
The beast roared and charged.
Arin moved—not wildly, but sharply, slipping past heavy swings, testing its rhythm.
Dodge. Counter. Move with the flow. Read it. Break it.
He slammed a palm strike into a weak joint, sliding under its arm to avoid a sweeping tail.
Its rocky hide cracked slightly.
Not enough.
He exhaled slowly. Echoform—first phase. Controlled.
Green light briefly flared under his skin as natural energy surged—not wildly exploding like before, but focused, compact.
He punched.
A shockwave burst beneath his knuckles, splitting a section of the beast's chest.
It stumbled.
Arin's movements grew sharper, more precise. Like water shaped into a blade.
Thank you, Om Sai… even though you're a pain.
One final strike—an elbow to the head, amplified with controlled echo energy.
CRACK.
The B-tier beast collapsed.
Arin stood there, panting slightly, minor cuts along his arm and cheek leaking thin trails of blood.
Vayushri stared in stunned silence.
Perin hopped down, inspected the fallen beast, then turned back toward Arin with widened eyes.
Then, for the first time since Arin had met him—
Perin spoke.
"…Arin."
Everything froze.
Arin blinked slowly.
"…You… can talk?"
Perin tilted his fluffy head.
"Arin."
It repeated with absolute confidence.
Arin's face slowly broke into a shocked grin.
Vayushri watched silently—but her expression softened, almost like… a small part of her felt safe for the first time.
They walked deeper through Zone 27, the mana in the air heavier than before—as though watching them.
Suddenly…
Hhhhsssshhhh…
A cold mist began to seep from the forest floor, swirling unnaturally around their feet.
Arin stopped instantly.
His breath hitched.
A pressure gripped his chest—the same suffocating tension he once felt…
In that dream. In the red water. Standing before Kalkin.
Vayushri frowned. "This fog… it is not natural."
Perin's fur flared in alarm, tail stiff. He leapt onto Arin's shoulder, claws gripping tightly.
Arin clenched his jaw.
His eyes trembled—but not in fear. In recognition.
"…I've felt this before," he muttered.
Vayushri turned to him. "What?"
He didn't answer her.
Instead…
He reached out and took her hand.
She flinched—eyes widening, unprepared for the contact. Her heartbeat—a spirit shouldn't even have one—skipped strangely in panic and surprise.
"Stay close," Arin said quietly, gaze sharp. "Don't get separated. This fog… messes with your mind. Makes you see things you shouldn't."
Perin pressed closer to his neck anxiously.
Vayushri hesitated—but then gripped his hand back, slightly shaken. "O-okay."
They moved slowly, steps careful, every direction now fading into swirling white nothingness as the fog thickened… then darkened… like shadowed breath from a nightmare.
A distant… whispering laugh rippled through the haze.
Not loud. But cold.
Chilling.
Perin hissed.
Vayushri stiffened.
Then…
A figure stepped out from the fog ahead.
Humanoid.
Tall. Barefoot. Its skin was ash-gray, stretched too tightly over its muscles. Two curved black horns spiraled from its forehead, glowing faintly crimson. Its eyes were pitch black with burning red pupils, like staring into a forge of hate.
And its smile…
Was long. Too wide. Wrong.
Dripping with mockery—as though this moment was a reunion it had been waiting for.
Arin's blood froze.
The creature tilted its head slightly.
And in a voice that should not know him…
It spoke.
"So… you've finally arrived…"
It stepped forward, the fog coiling around its ankles like obedient servants.
"…Kalkin."
The name hit the air like a curse.
Arin's breath caught in his throat.
Vayushri gasped softly.
Perin's claws dug into Arin's shoulder harder.
And somewhere in the back of Arin's consciousness…
A familiar voice chuckled in dark amusement.
"Well… things just got interesting, didn't they?"
The fog thickened again.
The creature's grin widened into something inhuman.
Arin's heartbeat pounded.
Not in weakness…
But in rising fury.