Distorted Paths

A cold wind swept across the rooftop.

The darkness of the night felt heavier than usual—like the shadows themselves were alive.

Aren stood still on the edge of an old, worn-out building, gazing at a faint ripple in the sky. It shimmered softly, barely noticeable, as if the air itself was bending and breaking.

Aren (softly):

"Tomo… this place… it feels like time itself is confused."

Tomo rested calmly on his shoulder, his blue lights blinking faintly with each word.

Tomo:

"Confirmed. The space-time fabric here is unstable. Distortion levels are increasing. This isn't a normal crack in reality."

Aren sighed, his eyes still locked on the twisted portion of the sky.

Aren:

"A new place… every time. Every chapter I find myself somewhere else.

It's like something keeps pushing me…"

Tomo:

"Or perhaps someone is guiding you.

Another sign of Spiral's interference, maybe."

Aren grew quiet, the weight of Tomo's words sinking in.

He lowered his rod and sat near the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling, thoughts heavy.

Aren:

"Tomo, according to your analysis… is this all happening just to me?

Or is the world itself breaking?"

Tomo:

"Analysis suggests… your presence is attracting the distortions.

Your arrival… from the future… created a fracture in this world's flow.

You're not just part of the disturbance, Aren.

You are the disturbance."

A tired chuckle slipped from Aren's lips.

Aren:

"Great.

I'm a walking glitch."

Suddenly, a sound echoed from beneath the rooftop—like stone cracking under pressure.

Aren shot up, alert in an instant.

Aren:

"Tomo—scan the area."

Tomo (processing):

"Negative… wait… wait… distortion spike detected… someone's coming."

Dust burst upward from below.

A metallic chime echoed through the air—like an old bell being struck deep underground.

From the shadows, a girl stepped out.

Her face was hidden by darkness, her movements unhurried. A presence that felt misplaced in time.

Unknown Girl (slowly):

"Don't play with time…

There's only one who truly understands it…

Spiral."

Aren narrowed his eyes, stepping forward cautiously.

Aren:

"Who are you?"

But the moment he moved, everything flickered.

A blinding white flash devoured the scene—time itself blinked.

Aren (angrily):

"What the hell is going on?!"

Tomo immediately jumped in front of him, lights flaring.

Tomo:

"Echo. Presence detected.

He's close."

Aren's fingers tightened around his rod.

He didn't flinch.

Aren (low, cold voice):

"If Echo's back…

Then I'm not backing down this time."

The rooftop began to blur.

The air distorted once more—this time forming a spiral.

At its center… a shadow emerged.

A silhouette.

It could be Echo.

Or something far worse.

---

Chapter 9 – End