Mike quietly left Sota and Medusa behind.
He didn't say anything.
Didn't look back.
He simply walked toward the stairs.
"Hmm…"
"…Let's see what I can find out."
His footsteps echoed softly in the empty stairway.
"Tham… Tham… Tham…"
The deeper he went, the quieter it became.
But his mind—
Wasn't quiet at all.
As he stepped out of the hospital—
The air felt… different.
Heavy.
Cold.
Ottar City stood before him—
Broken.
Shattered.
Alive… yet dead.
People filled the streets—
But no one was really living.
A man sat on the ground, holding someone in his arms.
His lips trembled.
"No… no… wake up…"
But the body didn't move.
A woman cried uncontrollably, clutching her husband's clothes.
A child sat beside a lifeless figure, shaking them again and again—
"Get up…"
"Please… get up…"
No one answered.
Everywhere—
Crying.
Screaming.
Silence between those sounds.
Mike walked through all of it.
Step by step.
"Tham… Tham…"
His eyes moved slowly, observing everything.
The destruction.
The pain.
The aftermath.
"…So this is what it looks like…"
He muttered under his breath.
But his face—
Didn't change.
Not even a little.
"…Pathetic."
With that—
He kept walking.
Leaving the broken city behind.
Meanwhile—
Inside the hospital.
Sota stood in front of Medusa.
His fists clenched tightly.
His eyes—
Were no longer filled with fear.
They had changed.
"Tum abhi training ke liye ready nahi ho."
Medusa said calmly.
Sota didn't hesitate.
"I've decided."
"I will become stronger."
"I will save people."
"And…"
A small pause.
"I will find my answers."
The room went silent.
Sota turned around.
And walked away.
Without looking back.
Medusa stood there.
Watching him go.
"…Since when did he become this stubborn…"
He sighed quietly.
But there was something else in his eyes.
Something deeper.
Something… concerned.
Sota returned to his room.
Closed the door.
And sat down slowly.
His hands trembled slightly.
He stared at them.
"…What was that…"
"That energy…"
"Why did it enter my body…?"
His thoughts started racing.
Uncontrolled.
"I know… Medusa knows something…"
"But he's hiding it…"
"Why…?"
His grip tightened.
"…What is happening to me…"
He slowly lay down on the bed.
Covered his eyes with his arm.
The silence in the room felt heavy.
His breathing slowed.
His thoughts blurred.
And before he even realized—
He fell asleep.
Time passed.
The sun disappeared.
Night took over.
Moonlight spread across the ruined city.
Mike stopped in front of a large building.
Tall.
Silent.
Guarded.
Two knights stood at the entrance.
The moment they saw him—
They bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Sir Mike."
Mike didn't respond.
He walked past them without a word.
Inside—
The reception area was quiet.
Too quiet.
A young woman stood behind the counter.
Light brown hair.
Deep brown eyes.
The moment she noticed Mike—
She quickly straightened herself.
"Welcome, Mr. Mike."
Her voice was soft.
Careful.
Mike smiled lightly.
"How are you, Alley?"
"Everything alright?"
Alley looked at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…You're here again."
Mike chuckled.
"What do you think?"
Without waiting for her reply—
He walked ahead.
Alley watched him go.
"…How is he always so confident…"
She muttered softly.
Mike entered a long hallway.
The lights were dim.
The silence—
Unnatural.
"Tham… Tham…"
His footsteps echoed again.
Slow.
Measured.
He stopped in front of a large door.
Black.
Heavy.
Just as he raised his hand—
A voice came from behind.
"You're here again."
Mike tilted his head slightly.
"…And you're here too."
"Alya Fellos."
Alya sat calmly on a chair.
One leg crossed over the other.
Her long blue hair shimmered under the dim light—
Like waves under the sun.
Her deep blue eyes—
Endless.
Cold.
Beautiful.
She wore a white knight uniform.
Perfectly clean.
As if it had never seen battle.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I actually work here."
"But you…"
"You come here like it's your home."
Mike turned fully toward her.
His expression sharpened slightly.
"…Are you here to mock me?"
"If you have something important to say—say it."
"I don't have time."
Alya slowly stood up.
Took a step forward.
Then another.
"…So you really don't know why I'm here?"
Mike didn't answer.
He simply stared at her.
Silent.
Observing.
Alya chuckled softly.
"Fine…"
"Then listen carefully."
She walked closer.
Closer.
Until she was right in front of him.
Then—
She leaned near his ear.
And whispered—
"…Blossom Castle."
Silence.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Mike's eyes widened slightly.
"…So it's starting again…"
His voice was low.
Serious.
Alya stepped back.
Her expression changed.
No more smile.
No more softness.
"Everything is about to begin again."
A pause.
Then—
Her usual smile returned.
"Anyway… I should go."
"But remember this."
She turned.
And started walking away.
Step by step—
Her figure slowly faded into the darkness of the hallway.
Until—
She was gone.
Mike stood still.
Thinking.
"…So it begins again…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…But this time…"
"…things won't go the same way."
He turned toward the door.
Placed his hand on it.
And pushed.
"Creeeaaak…"
The door opened slowly.
Inside—
Nothing but darkness.
Silence.
Deep.
Heavy.
Mike stepped inside.
Without hesitation.
"…Interesting…"
The door slowly closed behind him.
"Tham…"
And everything went silent again.