The tunnel stretched forever.
No lights. No signs. Just ancient track and cold stone, eaten by time and forgotten prayers. Jung Min walked ahead, pistol drawn, each step echoing like a warning. Azari followed, the relic wrapped tight in her arms like it might bite.
It pulsed faintly.
Not in fear.
In recognition.
"This line leads to a Saint vault?" Azari whispered.
Jung Min nodded.
"Vault Zero. First cathedral they buried. Never found on a map. Only marked by blood."
She swallowed.
"Yours?"
"Some of it."
They walked another hour before the path dipped into a shattered cathedral frozen beneath the earth. Pillars of bone. Stained glass buried in dirt. And in the center, a sealed obsidian door—etched with seven Choir glyphs.
Azari stepped back.
The relic in her arms trembled.
And then it spoke.
Low. Raspy. Mechanical.
But human.
"One voice missing."
Jung Min stiffened.
"That wasn't you, was it?"
Azari shook her head.
He stepped forward and touched the door.
Blood leaked from his palm instantly.
The glyphs lit one by one.
"Six voices recognized," the door said.
"Seventh remains unbroken."
Azari stared.
"Who's the last?"
Jung Min didn't speak.
Because he already knew.
They weren't hunting Jihoon.
They weren't even hunting the Choir.
The Choir was gathering itself.
All seven voices.
Seven Saints.
One song.
And the seventh voice?
It was Azari.
She dropped the relic like it burned.
"No. No no no no—"
Jung Min grabbed her shoulders.
"Listen to me—whatever they planned, it doesn't matter."
"I'm part of it," she gasped. "I was made for this—wasn't I?"
He held her steady.
"You're not a voice. You're a weapon. The difference is who pulls the trigger."
Behind them, the tunnel rumbled.
Voices began to chant.
Faint. Distant.
But rising.
The Choir was singing again.
And this time, they were calling her name.
Jung Min drew both pistols.
"Stay behind me."
Azari reached into her bag.
Pulled the relic free.
It was glowing bright now.
"I'm not staying behind," she said quietly.
He looked back.
Saw her eyes. Steady. Focused.
Almost like his.
He nodded once.
"Then let's end the rehearsal."