Howlers Fall Apart (Part 1)

There were multiple signs, subtle, yet undeniable, that something had gone wrong.

The first red flag: Kai was no longer showing in the system. That alone was enough to make Gary’s stomach twist.

Then there was the air around him. When Gary had gotten close to Kai, there had been a strange scent, something off, something irritating. It wasn’t just the smell; it was a feeling, like his instincts were trying to scream at him that something was wrong. But Gary had pushed it all down. He buried every red flag, every gut instinct, because… in that moment, he was just relieved.

Relieved that Kai was still alive.

He had approached him with hope, looked him straight in the eyes, and the moment he did, Gary knew.

“…Unzoku,” Gary muttered, his voice low but steady, never breaking eye contact.

“Right,” Kai replied, his voice filled with bitterness. “It was Unzoku. He did this to me… he made me into this!”