Rain continued pouring across the ruined city while thunder echoed endlessly above the dark skyline. Broken vehicles burned across the flooded streets while infected wandered through the distance like shadows beneath the storm. In the middle of the destroyed road stood Arata, black energy flickering around his body while Akari remained tightly within his arms after being saved from the enhanced soldier moments earlier. Bodies of black-coated enemies lay scattered across the street while shattered concrete and debris surrounded them from every direction.

Nobody moved, Not Yuna, Not Reina, Not Kaede.

Not even Airi, Because right now—Arata looked terrifying.

The black markings spreading across his arm had reached part of his neck now while dark energy flowed around him unnaturally like smoke breathing with its own life. Rainwater slowly dripped from his hair while his eyes remained locked onto Lucien standing several meters away beneath the black umbrella.

Lucien quietly observed him.

Then slowly smiled.

"...So this is the true synchronization."

Akari finally noticed Arata’s grip around her waist tightening slightly. Not painfully. Protectively.

Like he was unconsciously confirming she was still safe.

Her heartbeat immediately became unstable again.

Especially because she could feel the violent pressure radiating from his body despite him holding her so carefully at the same time.

"...Arata," she whispered softly.

His eyes slowly moved toward her afterward.

For one brief second—The darkness weakened slightly again.

That tiny reaction did not escape Lucien’s attention.

"...Interesting," he muttered quietly. "You really can stabilize him."

Yuna immediately stepped forward afterward while aiming her rifle directly toward Lucien again. "Can you stop talking like a psychopath for five minutes?"

Lucien ignored her completely.

Instead he calmly looked toward Arata once more. "Do you know why the organization searched for you all these years?"

Silence.

Rain echoed softly across the destroyed street.

Then Lucien answered his own question.

"Because your system is not artificial."

Everyone froze instantly.

Reina’s eyes narrowed. "...What does that mean?"

Lucien slowly removed one glove afterward while exposing black markings across his own arm too. But unlike Arata’s, Lucien’s markings looked unstable. Broken. Almost forced into his skin unnaturally.

"Our systems are copies," he explained calmly. "Incomplete imitations created from research data." His golden eyes sharpened afterward. "But yours..." A faint smile returned to his face. "...yours was inherited."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Arata’s expression darkened slightly.

Lucien slowly continued walking through the rain toward them. "Your father discovered something before his death. A perfect synchronization method between human consciousness and evolutionary systems." His smile widened slightly afterward. "The first successful system user wasn’t created in a laboratory." His eyes locked onto Arata again. "It was you."

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Akari slowly looked toward Arata afterward.

Because suddenly—Parts of his childhood started making sense.His unnatural instincts.

His emotional suppression.The strange dreams.The system reacting only to him.

Arata’s hand slowly tightened at his side.

"...You’re lying."

Lucien tilted his head slightly. "Am I?"

The system flickered violently before Arata’s eyes again.

[Memory Fragments Detected]

Pain exploded briefly through his head afterward.

Small fragmented memories flashed across his mind instantly.

A laboratory room.

His father arguing desperately.

His mother crying.

A young Arata unconscious inside strange machinery surrounded by monitors.

Then blood, Gunshots, Darkness.Arata staggered slightly.

Akari immediately grabbed his arm. "Arata!"

Lucien quietly watched him. "...You were too young to remember properly." His voice softened afterward. "Your parents tried protecting you after the experiment succeeded."

Yuna looked horrified instantly. "...Experiment?"

"They never wanted him weaponized," Lucien answered calmly. "That is why they died."

Rain continued pouring heavily around the ruined streets while silence consumed everyone afterward.

Arata’s breathing slowly became uneven.

Not from exhaustion.

From rage.

Years.

He spent years believing he failed to protect anyone.

Believing weakness destroyed his family.

But now—The truth sounded worse.His parents died protecting him.

Lucien slowly spread both arms afterward while black-coated soldiers repositioned around the street carefully. "Come with us willingly, Arata." His golden eyes remained calm. "You deserve answers." A small smile appeared afterward. "And together, we can reshape this broken world."

Yuna immediately looked disgusted. "That speech sounded evil."

"It was honest."

"That somehow makes it worse."

Reina slowly stepped beside Arata afterward while spinning one combat blade casually in her hand. "You know, I usually hate suicidal fights." A dangerous smile appeared across her face. "But your face is really making me violent right now."

Kaede quietly raised another arrow beside her. "...Agreed."

Meanwhile Airi looked toward Arata silently.

Worried.

Because his expression terrified her now.

Not emotional.

Too empty again.

The black energy surrounding him slowly intensified while rainwater evaporated faintly near his body from the unstable pressure.

Akari noticed immediately.

Then without thinking—She grabbed his hand tighter, Warmth, Human warmth.

Arata’s eyes slowly moved toward her again.

"You’re doing it again," she whispered quietly.

"...What?"

"That thing where you disappear emotionally."

Silence.

Her violet eyes stayed locked onto his.

"You’re not alone anymore." Her voice softened afterward. "So stop carrying everything like you have to become a monster by yourself."

The words hit harder than expected.

Because deep down—That was exactly what terrified him most.

Lucien suddenly smiled wider afterward.

"...There it is."

Yuna frowned immediately. "Why do you look excited?"

Lucien’s golden eyes moved toward Akari. "Because now I understand the system’s reaction."

Everyone became silent again.

Akari frowned. "...What reaction?"

Lucien calmly pointed toward Arata. "His synchronization becomes unstable when emotionally damaged." Then toward Akari. "But stabilizes around you."

Akari blinked slowly.

"...Excuse me?"

"The system attached itself to emotional anchors." Lucien’s expression sharpened slightly afterward. "You are becoming his primary anchor."

The atmosphere froze.

Then immediately—Yuna pointed dramatically toward Akari. "I KNEW IT."

"THIS IS NOT THE TIME!" Akari shouted instantly.

Even Reina looked interested suddenly despite the battlefield around them.

Kaede quietly nodded slightly like she confirmed scientific research.

Meanwhile Arata looked deeply exhausted already.

Lucien calmly continued speaking through the rain. "If his emotions collapse completely, synchronization will fully consume him." His smile slowly faded afterward. "And he will stop being human."

Silence followed instantly.

Airi’s face lost color slightly.Yuna lowered her rifle a little.Even Akari froze afterward.

Because suddenly—Everything made sense.

The black markings.The emotional numbness.

The terrifying pressure around him.Arata wasn’t simply becoming stronger.

He was changing.

Lucien quietly looked toward Arata again afterward. "That is why the organization needs you." His voice became colder now. "Before your evolution reaches the final stage naturally."

Arata finally spoke again, Cold voice, Sharp voice.

"...And if I refuse?"

Lucien smiled faintly.Then several black armored vehicles slowly emerged from the rain-covered streets behind him.

Heavy weapons mounted on top.More enhanced soldiers stepping out silently.

The atmosphere instantly became hopeless.

Even Reina cursed quietly seeing the numbers.

Lucien spread one hand calmly afterward. "Then we forcefully retrieve you."

The enhanced soldiers all activated black markings across their bodies simultaneously afterward, Pressure exploded across the battlefield instantly.

Yuna gripped her rifle tighter. "...Okay this officially became terrible."

Kaede quietly prepared multiple arrows between her fingers.

Airi stepped backward toward the building entrance while protecting the little girl hiding inside. Meanwhile Akari slowly moved closer toward Arata again.

Not because she was fearless.But because right now—Standing beside him felt more natural than stepping away, Lucien noticed that too.Then softly smiled.

"...Protect her carefully, Arata." His golden eyes narrowed slightly afterward. "Because if she dies..." He paused briefly. "...you will become exactly what we want."

Silence.

Then suddenly—The entire street exploded.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

A missile crashed directly into one of Lucien’s armored vehicles from above.

Fire erupted violently through the rain-covered road while enhanced soldiers were thrown backward by the explosion.Everyone froze instantly.Then another missile struck.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

A second armored vehicle exploded into flames.Lucien’s calm expression finally cracked slightly.

"What?"

A loud mechanical roar suddenly echoed through the city sky afterward.

Everyone instinctively looked upward.

Through the storm clouds—A massive military aircraft slowly appeared above the ruined buildings.

Floodlights illuminated the battlefield below while machine guns rotated toward the streets.Then a voice echoed through powerful speakers overhead.

"Attention Black Flag personnel."

The voice sounded cold, Professional Military.

"You are surrounded by the Special Response Division."

Lucien’s expression darkened instantly.

Meanwhile Yuna blinked slowly afterward.

"...Wait." She looked upward again. "There are still actual military people alive?"