Rain poured endlessly through the destroyed lobby while thunder echoed across the ruined city outside. Broken glass covered the floor beneath flickering emergency lights while infected screams echoed faintly through the streets surrounding the building. The atmosphere inside the lobby had completely changed now. Cold. Heavy. Terrifying.

Airi stood frozen with a blade against her throat while the black-coated soldier restrained her tightly from behind. Reina remained motionless nearby with both combat blades raised cautiously. Yuna aimed her rifle directly toward the soldier’s head despite blood running down her forehead. Kaede silently prepared another arrow while watching every enemy movement carefully. But nobody moved first. Because all attention slowly shifted toward Arata.

The black markings spreading across his arm looked alive now. Dark energy moved beneath his skin like shadows flowing through veins while the system warnings flickered violently before his eyes.

[Emotional Threshold Exceeded]

[Synchronization Increasing]

[Warning: Host Stability Declining]

Lucien watched him quietly from the rain-covered entrance. And smiled. "...Beautiful."

Akari immediately stepped toward Arata despite the terrifying pressure filling the room now. "Arata."

No response came. His eyes remained locked entirely on the soldier holding Airi. Empty eyes. Dangerous eyes.

The enhanced soldier slowly tightened the blade slightly against Airi’s neck afterward. A small line of blood appeared instantly.

Yuna’s expression changed immediately. "...Don’t."

The soldier ignored her. Instead he spoke coldly toward Arata. "Surrender willingly."

Silence. Rain echoed softly through the broken lobby.

Then suddenly—Arata disappeared.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

The floor beneath him exploded violently from sheer force alone. Everyone’s eyes widened instantly. Too fast. Far too fast.

The enhanced soldier barely reacted before Arata appeared directly in front of him.

CRACK!!

The soldier’s arm shattered instantly under one strike. The blade flew across the lobby. Airi stumbled backward in shock while the soldier screamed violently.

Then Arata grabbed him by the throat. And slammed him through the wall hard enough to collapse half the lobby behind them.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

Concrete exploded everywhere. Silence followed briefly afterward. Even Lucien’s smile faded slightly now. Because honestly— that strength wasn’t normal anymore.

The enhanced soldier tried standing again through the rubble. Arata instantly appeared before him once more. Then punched him directly through another wall.

Blood exploded violently across the concrete.

The soldier stopped moving afterward, Dead.

Everyone stared silently.

Akari’s heartbeat slowly became louder inside her chest. Because right now— Arata didn’t look human.

The dark markings had spread farther across his neck now while black energy flickered faintly around his body like smoke.

Airi slowly stood afterward while breathing shakily. "...Arata?"

He turned toward her slightly.For one terrifying second— nobody knew if he still recognized them.

Then suddenly—Another enhanced soldier attacked him from behind.Arata caught the blade barehanded.

CRACK.

The weapon shattered instantly.Then Arata drove his fist directly into the soldier’s stomach hard enough to lift him off the ground completely.

The soldier coughed blood immediately.

Arata’s expression never changed. Not anger. Not rage. Nothing.

That emptiness terrified Akari more than anything else.

Lucien quietly stepped farther into the lobby afterward while observing carefully. "...The synchronization rate is much higher than expected."

Reina frowned immediately. "...Synchronization?"

Lucien calmly adjusted his gloves afterward. "The system adapts according to emotional trauma." His golden eyes remained fixed on Arata. "Fear. Loss. Rage. Pain." A faint smile returned afterward. "The deeper the emotional damage, the stronger the evolution."

Yuna looked disgusted instantly. "...You turned suffering into a weapon."

Lucien glanced toward her calmly. "Humanity always evolves through suffering."

"Wow." Yuna raised her rifle again aggressively. "You are genuinely insane."

Gunfire exploded instantly.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Several bullets flew directly toward Lucien.

But every enhanced soldier moved simultaneously, Clang. Clang. Clang.

The bullets never reached him.

Meanwhile Arata slowly stepped forward again while black energy spread farther across his arm. The remaining enhanced soldiers visibly hesitated now.

Fear, Real fear.

Lucien noticed immediately. "...Interesting."

Akari suddenly moved directly in front of Arata afterward.Everyone froze, Including him.

Rain echoed softly around the ruined lobby while she stared directly into his darkened eyes.

"...Stop."

Silence, Arata looked at her blankly.

Akari swallowed nervously afterward because honestly— standing this close right now felt terrifying, But she didn’t move away.

"You’re scaring everyone." she said.Still no response came.

The black energy continued flickering around him dangerously.Akari slowly grabbed his hand afterward despite the dark markings covering his skin, Warm, Human.

"...Arata." For one brief second— the pressure filling the lobby weakened slightly.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed immediately. "...Emotional stabilization."

Akari ignored him completely.Her violet eyes stayed locked onto Arata’s.

"You’re still here." Her voice softened afterward. "So come back already."

Silence.

Then slowly— the darkness around Arata weakened. The black markings stopped spreading.Everyone visibly relaxed slightly afterward, Especially Airi.

Lucien quietly watched the scene with fascination. "...Fascinating."

Yuna immediately pointed her rifle toward him again. "Stop talking like a creepy scientist."

Lucien ignored her.His eyes remained on Akari now.

"...You calm the synchronization." He smiled faintly afterward. "No wonder the system reacted to you."

Akari frowned immediately. "...I have no idea what that means."

"You will."

The atmosphere darkened again instantly.

Before anyone could react— Lucien suddenly raised one hand calmly.

All remaining enhanced soldiers moved simultaneously afterward.Smoke grenades exploded throughout the lobby instantly.

BOOOOOOOM!!

Visibility disappeared completely.

"Everyone move!" Reina shouted immediately.

Gunfire erupted through the smoke while chaos filled the building again. Kaede fired arrows toward movement shadows while Yuna cursed loudly somewhere nearby.

Akari immediately turned back toward Arata.

But suddenly—Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

Her eyes widened instantly.One enhanced soldier had grabbed her through the smoke.

"ARATA!"

The soldier dragged Akari backward rapidly through the smoke toward the shattered entrance. She swung the baseball bat violently but the enhanced soldier blocked it effortlessly.

"LET GO OF ME!"

Lucien calmly stood outside beneath the rain waiting. Then his golden eyes met hers.

"...You’re coming with us."

Akari’s expression changed instantly. "...Excuse me?!"

Inside the smoke-filled lobby, Arata violently tore through another soldier before realizing what was happening.His eyes widened.

"AKARI!"

The system exploded violently again.

[Extreme Emotional Response Detected]

[Synchronization Surging]

Black energy erupted around him instantly.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

The entire lobby shook violently as Arata sprinted directly through walls instead of around them. Concrete exploded everywhere. Enhanced soldiers crashed aside like dolls trying to stop him.

Meanwhile outside— the soldier dragged Akari toward black armored vehicles waiting in the rain-covered street.

Akari fought desperately while kicking and swinging at him repeatedly.

"GET OFF ME!"

Lucien calmly opened the vehicle door afterward, Then suddenly—

BOOOOOOOOM!!

The street exploded behind them.Everyone froze instantly, Arata stood there surrounded by black energy and rain.

And honestly—He looked like a monster.

The enhanced soldier holding Akari visibly panicked afterward, Too late, Arata appeared instantly before him.

CRACK!!

The soldier’s body flew across the street hard enough to destroy an abandoned car completely.

Akari stumbled forward afterward— directly into Arata’s arms.

For one brief second— everything became silent.

Rain fell softly around them while his arms remained tightly around her protectively.

Akari’s heartbeat pounded violently, Not from fear, Not completely.

Arata slowly looked down toward her afterward.The darkness in his eyes weakened slightly again.

"...Are you hurt?"

His voice sounded rough now. Unstable. But human, Akari slowly shook her head, Then quietly whispered:

"...You came for me." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Something about those words hit him strangely hard, Lucien watched silently from nearby afterward, Then unexpectedly smiled.

"...Now I understand."

Yuna, Reina, Airi, and Kaede finally rushed outside through the destroyed lobby afterward before stopping at the sight before them, Arata holding Akari protectively in the rain, Black energy surrounding him, Bodies scattered across the street, And Lucien calmly smiling nearby.

"...This changes everything," Lucien whispered softly.