Chapter 36: A Trace of the Past

The morning sun rose over the Aether Coast

District, casting a warm golden hue over the sleek, towering buildings and the

tranquil coastline. The city was already alive with the hum of activity, and

the air carried a quiet sense of anticipation. At the hospital's entrance, the

team of assassins stood, freshly discharged and still recovering from their

ordeal. Despite their physical exhaustion, there was a sharpness in their eyes

— a readiness for whatever came next.

Waiting for them was

the NKEC Urban Runner, a high-tech armored van known for

being the preferred transport of the most elite assassins. Its sleek, black

exterior glinted in the sunlight, and the subtle hum of its engine hinted at

the advanced technology hidden beneath its surface. The team climbed in without

a word, the automatic doors sliding shut behind them with a soft hiss. Inside,

the atmosphere was tense, the weight of their recent encounter still pressing

heavily on them.

The Urban Runner

moved swiftly through the district, gliding past the neon-lit streets and

towering spires of Neo-Kyoto's advanced architecture. Within minutes, they

reached the NKEC Headquarters, a massive

fortress-like structure that loomed over the city — a symbol of order and

strength in a world balanced on the edge of chaos.

As they stepped

into the headquarters, they were greeted by Zyher, one of the highest-ranking NKEC

operatives. His presence commanded respect — tall, broad-shouldered, with

piercing eyes that missed nothing. Without wasting a moment, he led them into a

secured briefing room. The walls were lined with holographic displays and

surveillance feeds, giving the impression that no corner of the world was

beyond the NKEC's watchful gaze.

Zyher took his

seat at the head of the long table and fixed his gaze on the team. "Now," he

began, his voice calm but carrying an edge of urgency, "tell me exactly what

happened on Abyss Island."

Kyrin, still

visibly shaken but determined, stepped forward. "Yes, sir," he began. "When we

seized the Obsidian Wraiths, everything seemed clear at first. But then—out of

nowhere—a group of assassins attacked us. They used Tazer

Guns, and before we could react, we were immobilized. The shock hit

fast, and we couldn't move. Then… a needle—filled with some kind of Dark

Energy—was injected into our bodies."

He paused, his

brow furrowing as he tried to recall the details. "After that… I blacked out.

But just before I lost consciousness, I saw someone. A man… wearing a black

coat. His face was obscured — I couldn't make out any features. But

the energy coming off him… it felt wrong. Heavy. Dangerous. And then everything

went dark again."

Zyher's expression

remained unreadable, but the room's atmosphere grew heavier with each word.

"And the next thing you remember?" he pressed.

"I woke up in the

hospital," Kyrin finished.

Zyher tapped his

fingers against the table thoughtfully. "Alright," he said slowly. "But tell me

— how exactly were you shot? Was there anything unusual about the Tazers?"

Kyrin exchanged

glances with his teammates before answering. "We were hit with the Tazers first

— that's what immobilized us. But the strange thing was… we felt something

after the shock. A sensation like a dark liquid spreading through our veins. It wasn't

just electricity. It was something… else."

Zyher's eyes

narrowed. "The energy from the Tazers — what was it powered by?"

Kyrin shook his

head. "I didn't get a clear look. But the feeling it left… it wasn't normal. It

felt like Dark Energy, but in the form of lightning.

It wasn't just physical — it was invasive, like it was trying to take over from

the inside."

For a long moment,

the room fell silent. Zyher's mind was clearly racing, piecing together the

fragments of information they'd gathered so far. Finally, he spoke.

"Alright," he

said, his voice steady but firm. "You've been through enough. Take the Urban

Runner and rest at your

place. But stay alert — we'll call you if we need more information."

Kyrin nodded, and the team turned to leave. But even as

they walked away, the unease lingered. They all knew that this was far from

over — and whatever had attacked them on Abyss Island was only the beginning.

The Urban Runner sped through the neon-lit streets of

Neo-Kyoto, its engine humming softly as it carved a path toward the outskirts

of the Aether Coast District. Inside the sleek, armored vehicle, the atmosphere

was heavy — a tension none of them could quite shake after their encounter on Abyss

Island. The silence was finally broken when Kyrin's

thoughts collided with a sudden realization.

"Wait," Kyrin's

voice cut through the stillness, his eyes narrowing as his mind raced. He

turned toward Kyra and Zyren,

his tone urgent. "That man… Does he remind you of someone?"

Kyra's head snapped

toward him, her brows furrowing. "You mean… him?" she asked cautiously, her

voice barely above a whisper.

Zyren's eyes

darkened, his jaw tightening. "It's most likely him," he confirmed, his words

carrying a weight that sent a chill through the vehicle.

Kyra hesitated, her

fingers tapping against her knee as the thought settled. "But… isn't he

supposed to be dead? The accident—"

Zyren cut her off,

shaking his head. "He's not the kind of person who dies in a 'pathetic

accident.' You know that

as well as I do."

The air grew

colder with those words. A heavy, unspoken fear rippled through them — one they

had hoped to leave in the past.

Rin, quiet until

now, finally spoke up. "Wait… who are we talking about?" he asked, his

curiosity barely masking the unease creeping into his voice.

Kyrin's eyes

didn't leave the window, his reflection staring back at him with a somber

intensity. "You'll know soon enough," he replied, his tone dark and distant.

The silence

stretched on again until Senjuro — the youngest among them, but never

one to sit quietly for long — broke it. "He's the one with all

the questions, right, Rin?" he asked with a smirk, trying to inject

some levity into the conversation. But his attempt fell flat. The weight of

their discussion pressed too heavily on them.

As the Urban Runner continued its course, the team's minds

were filled with questions — and one lingering fear that they all silently

shared. If the man they suspected was truly back, their fight was far from

over.