[???]
"Hah... Look at how much she's grown."
In a cold, desolate chamber where even the dust dared not settle, an old man sat in a high-backed chair. His silhouette was hunched but dignified, cast in dim light that filtered through fractured glass.
"She looks a lot like her mother, doesn't she, Jeong?"
Step. Step.
A tall man with silver hair emerged from the shadows—eyes cold and serpentine, gleaming gold against his pale skin. His attire was immaculate: a black double-breasted tailcoat, crisp shirt, silver pocket watch, and a lapel pin bearing the Scorpion crest.
"Yes, she does, Grand Master." Jeong smiled faintly as he handed a porcelain cup of tea to the old man.
The Grand Master took a whiff. "What a pleasant smell. Smooth as always."
"You honor me too much," Jeong said, bowing slightly.
"Nonsense. You've been impeccable all these years." He took another sip, then set the empty cup down on a low table beside him.
Without a sound, a projection flickered to life mid-air—a holographic screen of Llyne laughing among her friends. Her expressions. Her posture. Her fire.
The Grand Master watched in silence, his gaze softened by a thousand memories.
"Finally... after so many years, all the pieces are now in place. I wonder… will my final wish be fulfilled, or will everything turn to dust once more?" He turned to Jeong, his voice lower. "When the time comes, I hope you'll support her… the way you once did for me."
Jeong fell to one knee, bowing with unwavering loyalty. "I will obey every command."
The Grand Master chuckled. "Why such formality, old friend? I ask only a favor."
"But I—" Jeong hesitated, his eyes trailing to the floor. The Grand Master saw the weight behind those words.
"It wasn't your fault," the old man whispered. "If anything, the fact I'm still breathing today is a miracle in itself."
Jeong's silence was answer enough.
"But," Jeong, turning back to the screen, "do you think they can really do it?"
Jeong's eyes followed Llyne on the screen as she laughed, oblivious to the storm ahead.
"...No one can predict the future," the Grand Master said. "All we can do is watch... and hope."
Jeong gave a slight nod. "Understood. I'll make all the arrangements." He retrieved the empty teacup and vanished once more into the dark.
Left alone, the Grand Master whispered as the screen flickered again—
"When the moment arrives, will you sacrifice everything for your wish?
Or will you cling to what's left...
and let history repeat itself, stud?"
[Llyne's Side]
After I told them about what happened with Master—leaving out the small detail that Rona might be a weapon of mass destruction—I scratched my ear. Why is it so itchy? Is someone talking about me behind my back?
Whack!
"Ow—Isaac!" I winced, holding my head. "What was that for?!"
Isaac's voice was dry as ever. "Can you stop being disgusting?"
I collapsed onto the ground. "My ear's itchy. What else do you want me to do?"
Ronald, sitting cross-legged, was tying Rona's hair with surprising care. "Mr. James said there's a ceremony in ten days where the Masters pick their disciples."
"Eh? When did he say that?!" I lunged at Ronald and shook him violently.
"Just before he knocked us out." He answered casually.
I turned to Isaac. "How many days left?"
Ronald's eyes widened. "Tomorrow is the ceremony."
"EEEHHHHHHHHHH?!"
Isaac shrugged. "It's not like we can do anything but wait."
I groaned and collapsed into Rona's arms. "...You're right. I guess."
[The Next Day – A Few Hours Before the Ceremony]
I stretched my arms, feeling every bone crack and pop. "Wow... That was the best sleep I've had in ages. Only a few hours, but my head's so clear. That's kinda scary..."
I glanced over to see Rona and Ronald cuddled up like a pair of kittens.
...Too close.
I walked over and yanked Rona a full meter away.
"There. Social distancing is important. I don't care what others say."
Behind me, Isaac tossed and turned in his sleep.
"Hmm... Mom... Dad..." he muttered under his breath.
I knelt beside him and wiped the sweat from his brow. His breathing was uneven.
"It's okay. You're okay," I whispered, holding his hand gently. "Just breathe..."
Slowly, his breathing steadied. I smiled.
"He looks like an angel when he sleeps. Shame he's a demon when he talks." I leaned back against the wall.
As I closed my eyes, Alma's face surfaced in my mind. He was only a Devo-ranked assassin, yet he nearly killed me. My hand tightened into a fist. What about the COOPs? The Masters? How strong are they? Can I… really survive that storm?
My eyes flicked toward my sleeping friends.
I have to. For them.
I'll train, I'll grow… I'll tear my way through every obstacle if that's what it takes.
One day, I'll free them all.
I exhaled deeply. "I can do this."
Then I laid back down.
"I wonder who my new Master will be..." I murmured. "Please, let them be kind... and not a cheapskate like my old one."
Sleep claimed me once more.
[Two Hours Left]
WHACK!
"Ayayayaya! What did I do now?!"
Isaac raised his fist again. "Want another hit? Get up. Two hours left."
I backed away, pouting. "Why so violent? So lazy~"
Isaac just grinned and raised his hand again.
"Okay okay okay! I'll get up!" I cried.
Bzzt.
A screen flickered to life.
"Hello, my little bunnies. Or should I say caged birds now? Bit of an upgrade, don't you think?"
It was Mr. James—grinning like a gremlin.
Ronald tilted his head. "Why birds? Bunnies can't evolve into birds."
Mr. James laughed. "A caged bird can't fly because—get this—its wings have been CHOPPED OFF!"
"Oui? That was a joke?" I blinked. "More like a horror story."
Isaac sighed. "He's just an attention-seeker. Ignore him."
"Rona doesn't get it, but Rona is fine!" Rona chirped.
I elbowed Isaac. "Hey... do you think she's really fine? When someone says 'I'm fine' too much, that usually means they need help."
Isaac waved it off. "She's fine. Look how happy she is."
We watched Rona chase Ronald around, playing tag and laughing.
"Besides," Isaac muttered, walking over, "she's way too close to Ronald again."
I sighed. Maybe I'm just overthinking...
"Ahem! Hello? Did you all forget about me?" Mr. James whined. "Your daddy's poor heart is breaking!"
Isaac rolled his eyes. "Good. One less thing to deal with."
Rona gasped. "Mr. James... gone? Noooo~!"
"Aww~ Thanks, bunny no.3. But bunny no.2... how could you?! Bunny 1 and 4, don't you have anything to say?"
Isaac ignored him. Ronald shook his head.
I asked, "When's the ceremony?"
Mr. James pouted. "Ungrateful children... Buhuhu~"
Isaac leaned over. "Rona. If I threw a chunk of meat and Mr. James into the sea… who would you save?"
Mr. James lit up. "Obviously, she'd—"
"Meat!" Rona replied without hesitation.
"WHAAATTT?! Why not me?!"
Rona shook her head solemnly. "Meat is Rona's life."
Ronald whispered, "That must've hurt."
"Oui. Rona the Merciless," I added.
Tring.
A sound rang, ominous and sharp.
"Hm? What's that sound?" I scanned the room.
"The ceremony begins in 15 minutes," Mr. James said gleefully. "Excited? Nervous? Wondering who will be chosen... and who might become Munchy's snack?"
"...Wait." Ronald turned pale. "Not everyone gets picked?"
Mr. James smiled like a cat. "Correct. Don't worry. Munchy is a good boy. He'll take his time savoring each drop of blood and flesh~"
He flashed images of a small dog tearing through bodies.
We all froze.
"...Well!" Mr. James clapped. "Would you look at the time? Let's not keep the Masters waiting, shall we?"
Snap.
Everything around us distorted.
And we vanished.
Again.