Ellie froze, her mind racing as the cloaked figure in front of her turned slightly. Before she could react or process what was happening, an overwhelming force swept over her, crushing her body as if the very air had turned to iron. Her knees buckled, and the world around her dimmed. Darkness engulfed her completely as she lost consciousness.
---
Inside the Red Bird Dojo, Harry sat with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the worried faces of the students in front of him. He had remained within the martial arts hall since the events at the manor, focusing on his training, intent on strengthening himself without unnecessary distractions. But peace had proven elusive. Once again, something had disrupted his plans.
"Has it really been more than half a month?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with concern.
One of the senior students nodded grimly. "Yes, Sister Ellie hasn't come to the martial arts hall in over two weeks. We thought she might be unwell or busy, but when we went to check on her at her home, she wasn't there either."
Harry's brows furrowed. "She wasn't home?"
"No," the student confirmed. "We searched everywhere we could think of, but there's been no sign of her. It's as if she's vanished."
Harry leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the wooden armrest rhythmically as his mind began to race. He knew Ellie's character well. She was disciplined and reliable, the kind of person who would never abandon her training or her duties without good reason. If she had been delayed, she would have at least sent word. But her complete disappearance without a trace? That was deeply troubling.
"Something's not right," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His sharp instincts were rarely wrong, and now they screamed at him that this was no ordinary absence.
Harry stood abruptly, his movement startling the students. "I'll handle this," he said firmly. "Tell the others to stand down. This matter is mine to investigate."
The students nodded, relief evident in their eyes. "Yes, Deputy Master."
As they filed out of the room, Harry sank back into his chair, his thoughts swirling. Just as he began to focus on his next move, an odd sensation washed over him; a deep, primal throbbing that seemed to echo from within his very being.
He froze, his mind instantly attuned to the source. The Simulation Coin, the artifact linked to his growth as a fighter, was pulsing faintly in his mind. It emitted a soft, glowing light, vibrating in response to something unseen. At the same time, Harry felt the subtle but unmistakable shift in the energy of the world around him. It was growing, intensifying, as if preparing for something.
Harry narrowed his eyes. 'This isn't a coincidence.'
He knew from experience that the sudden surge in the simulation energy often heralded a pivotal moment; a chance for growth, but also danger. Whatever was happening, it was connected to Ellie's disappearance.
After a moment of silent contemplation, he made his decision. He would not let this opportunity slip by. More importantly, he needed answers.
---
Over the next several days, Harry threw himself into the investigation. He studied every piece of information his students had gathered, piecing together the timeline of Ellie's disappearance. She had last been seen late at night, heading toward a part of the city few dared to venture into. It was an area filled with dilapidated alleys and crumbling buildings, remnants of a time long past.
Following her trail, Harry found himself standing at the entrance of a narrow alleyway. The air here was thick with decay, the scent of mold and rot clinging to every surface. The buildings, old and worn, leaned precariously against each other, their cracked walls whispering of forgotten stories.
Harry's sharp gaze swept the area. Every scuff mark on the ground, every discarded piece of debris spoke to him. He reconstructed the scene in his mind, imagining Ellie's path and the moment she must have been taken.
"This is where it happened," he murmured, crouching to inspect a faint scuff mark on the ground. The remnants of a struggle were evident; footprints, broken glass, a faint smear of blood leading deeper into the alley. Whoever had taken Ellie had acted quickly and decisively.
But one question lingered in Harry's mind: 'Why her?'
Ellie wasn't a high-ranking member of the Red Bird Dojo. Her strength, while respectable, wasn't exceptional. She wasn't wealthy, nor did she hold any critical influence. On the surface, she seemed ordinary. So what would motivate someone to abduct her?
As Harry pondered, the air around him began to shift. The numbers representing the world's energy, visible only to him through his connection with the boundary stone, began to spike. The sensation was both thrilling and unnerving. Something was coming.
Harry straightened, his instincts suddenly on high alert. His eyes snapped to the far end of the alley, where a shadow began to emerge from the darkness.
A figure stepped forward, their movements slow and deliberate. As they came into view, Harry's sharp gaze locked onto them, taking in every detail. The person was tall and cloaked in a dark robe, their face obscured by a mask that reflected the faint moonlight. The air around them seemed to ripple with an unnatural energy, thick and oppressive.
Harry's heart steadied, his expression calm but his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike. The figure stopped a few paces away, their presence exuding quiet menace.
"Who are you?" Harry asked, his voice steady, cutting through the tense silence.
The figure didn't respond immediately. Instead, they raised a hand, their fingers moving in a slow, deliberate gesture that sent a pulse of energy rippling through the air.
Harry felt the surge before it hit, a wave of raw force that pressed against him, testing his resolve. He held his ground, his eyes narrowing as the boundary stone within him pulsed in tandem, counteracting the pressure.
"I take it you're the one responsible for Ellie's disappearance," Harry said, his tone cold and measured.
The figure tilted their head, as if studying him. Then, at last, they spoke, their voice low and distorted, almost inhuman.
"She was just the beginning."
Before Harry could respond, the figure lunged forward, the darkness of the alley exploding into chaos.