The doors opened slowly.
Not like normal doors—
These were heavy. Reinforced. Built to keep something in… or out.
Kai walked forward without hesitation.
Axel and Leo followed, though both felt it immediately—
This place was different.
Colder.
Darker.
Older.
Axel whispered, "I don't like this…"
Leo nodded. "This isn't just a facility… it feels like a containment zone."
The commander walked ahead.
"Because it is."
They passed multiple sealed chambers.
Each one marked with warnings.
LEVEL 5
DO NOT OPEN
HOSTILE ENTITY
Axel stopped for a second. "…Yo… how many things are they hiding?"
Kai didn't look at the chambers.
His focus was straight ahead.
"…Where are you taking me?" Kai asked.
The commander didn't turn back.
"To the origin."
Silence followed.
They reached a final door.
Larger than all the others.
No label.
No warning.
Just a single symbol.
The Dragon mark.
The door opened.
Inside—
A massive underground chamber.
Dimly lit.
Machines running.
Energy flowing through cables connected to a central platform.
And on that platform—
Someone stood.
A figure.
Calm.
Still.
Waiting.
Kai stopped walking.
For the first time—
He hesitated.
Axel whispered, "…Who is that?"
The commander spoke quietly.
"…One of the original architects."
The figure stepped forward into the light.
A man.
Older.
Sharp eyes.
Presence heavy enough to silence the entire room.
"…Kai," the man said.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"…You know me."
The man nodded slowly.
"I know everything about you."
Leo stepped forward slightly. "Another scientist?"
The man looked at him briefly.
"No."
A pause.
"I am the one who approved your creation."
Silence hit instantly.
Axel stepped back. "…Nah… this is getting crazy…"
Kai didn't move.
Didn't react outwardly.
"…Then you're responsible," Kai said.
The man didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The word echoed.
Heavy.
Final.
Kai took a step forward.
Slow. Controlled.
"…Why?"
The man looked at him carefully.
Not with regret.
Not with pride.
With certainty.
"Because the world needed something stronger than chaos."
Kai's eyes flickered slightly.
"…So you made me?"
The man shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"We completed you."
Silence again.
Axel whispered, "What does that even mean…"
Leo's voice dropped. "Kai wasn't just born… he was built into something…"
Kai stepped closer.
"…And my mother?"
The man's expression changed slightly.
Not much—
But enough.
"She disagreed."
Kai's voice sharpened.
"…With what?"
The man answered calmly.
"With what you were becoming."
The air shifted instantly.
Kai's fists clenched.
"…So what happened to her?"
The man didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"She tried to stop the project."
Silence.
Axel whispered, "…No way…"
Leo looked at Kai carefully.
"…And you let that happen?" Kai asked.
The man looked directly at him.
"…She made her choice."
Something inside Kai snapped slightly.
Not an explosion.
Not rage.
Something colder.
"…Where is she?" Kai asked.
The man's answer came slowly.
"…Closer than you think."
Silence filled the chamber again.
The machines behind them began to hum louder.
Energy building.
Leo noticed first. "Uh… why is everything powering up?"
The commander stepped back slightly.
"…Because this is the next phase."
Axel frowned. "Next phase of WHAT?"
The man raised his hand slightly.
"…Full synchronization."
Kai's eyes widened just slightly.
Inside him—
The Underlord stirred.
"…No…"
But the machines activated fully.
Energy surged through the room.
The platform lit up.
And suddenly—
Kai felt it.
The pull.
The connection.
The force dragging at something deep inside him.
His eyes flashed red.
Brighter than ever before.
Axel shouted, "KAI!"
Leo tried to move forward—
But was stopped by a barrier.
"…What are you doing to him?!" Leo yelled.
The man watched calmly.
"…Finishing what we started."
Kai dropped to one knee.
Pain surged through him.
But not physical.
Something deeper.
Memories.
Voices.
Fragments of something ancient.
The Underlord's voice echoed louder than ever.
"…They are trying to control me."
Kai clenched his teeth.
"…I won't let them…"
But the energy kept rising.
The chamber shook.
The system overloaded.
And for the first time—
The Underlord sounded…
Concerned.
"…Kai…"
Kai looked up.
Eyes blazing red.
"…We fight this. Together."
Silence.
Then—
For the first time ever—
The Underlord didn't argue.
"…Agreed."
The energy exploded outward.