After dropping Zavrion at school, Kenny took the forest road back toward Kin's house. He already knew this path was not safe—rumors had spread long ago about strange things happening here—so he kept his eyes down, walking quickly, eager to get home without looking around.
Just as he reached the middle of the trail, a villager appeared in front of him.
"It's been so long since I last saw you," the man said warmly. "Do you not live here anymore?"
Kenny's first instinct was to avoid him. He kept walking, trying to slip away without answering. But the man wouldn't stop talking. His words chased Kenny, tugging at him, holding him back.
Finally, as Kenny turned slightly, the villager's figure twisted. His body blurred, and in the next second, the smiling man melted into a black, shapeless shadow.
Kenny's heart lurched. Without thinking, he chanted a spiritual spell under his breath. The shadow shivered, hissed, and vanished into thin air.
Shaken, Kenny rushed back home, slammed the door behind him, and ran straight to find Kin. But as soon as he entered, his blood froze.
Another black shadow stood right behind Kin.
"Brother Kin, behind you!" Kenny screamed.
Before Kin could react, the shadow darted forward with terrifying speed and plunged straight into Kenny's body.
"Kenny!" Kin shouted in shock.
Kenny's eyes rolled white, his body stiffening. Then, in a strange, hollow voice that was not his own, he whispered,
"I have returned…"
Kin clenched his fists but forced himself not to panic. He released his Omega pheromones, summoning the animal spirits bound to him. The spiritual beasts roared into the room, circling Kenny. Their presence pushed back against the invading darkness.
With a screech, the black shadow was dragged out of Kenny's body and expelled. But Kenny's body collapsed immediately afterward, his consciousness slipping away.
Meanwhile, when school ended, Zavrion stood at the gate, waiting patiently for Kenny. But minutes stretched into nearly an hour, and Kenny never came. His chest tightened with worry. He tried calling Kenny, but there was no answer.
Anxious, Zavrion called his father.
"Did Kenny leave to bring me from school?"
Kin's voice was heavy on the other side.
"No… Kenny was attacked. He hasn't regained consciousness yet."
The moment those words hit, Zavrion hung up the call and sprinted home without another thought. Bursting through the door, he ran straight to Kenny's side. He shook him gently, voice breaking.
"Kenny! Wake up, please!"
No response.
Desperate, Zavrion released his Enigma pheromones, pouring all his energy into pulling Kenny back. The room grew heavy with power, the air thick with his desperate plea.
Slowly, Kenny stirred. His eyelids fluttered, and at last, he opened his eyes.
But his face was blank. Confused. As though he remembered nothing.
"What… what happened?" Kenny whispered weakly.
Zavrion's throat tightened. He wanted to scream, but instead, he just grabbed Kenny's hand.
Kin stepped closer, his voice gentle but firm.
"Kenny, you don't need to think about it now. Just rest. Stay here with us."
Kenny blinked, still lost, but nodded faintly.
And in that quiet moment, both Kin and Zavrion exchanged a worried look. Neither of them could shake the dread—this was only the beginning.
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