Silence cloaked the stronghold like a heavy shroud as Kazuichi walked through the gates, each step slow and deliberate. His mind raced, thoughts spiraling as he tried to piece together a plan, but every solution seemed to slip away like sand through his fingers. The battle against the mindless Hybrids had left him shaken. For the first time in a long while, Kazuichi felt truly uncertain about what to do next. They needed to prepare—that much was clear—but against an enemy that had evolved beyond mindlessness, could they even stand a chance?
Tension lingered in the air as he passed by fellow Hybrids, their faces etched with concern. Whispers followed his wake, hushed conversations filled with worry. Normally, Kazuichi carried himself with unshakable confidence, but today, his troubled expression betrayed his inner turmoil. Despite their shared anxiety, none dared to ask him what had happened. No one wanted to press him for answers—not yet.
