00:24… 00:23…
I didn't waste a second.
The moment the words left my mouth, I lunged forward, pushing my speed to its absolute limit. Flames erupted from my palms, the air around me warping from the sheer heat. My body burned with adrenaline, every fiber of my being screaming to move faster, hit harder, win.
Because if I didn't—if I failed—everything was over.
He didn't flinch as I closed the distance.
A flicker of amusement danced in his dark eyes.
Then, just as I swung my blazing fist—
He vanished.
Not like before.
Not like when he made himself forgotten.
This time, he moved so fast, it was like he had teleported.
My punch met empty air.
I twisted, searching frantically—
Then—
A blow slammed into my ribs.
I barely registered the pain before I was airborne, sent hurtling backward. My back crashed against a steel railing, the metal bending under the impact. A choked gasp escaped me as I fought for breath.
00:20… 00:19…
I forced myself to move, gritting my teeth as I pushed off the railing. My entire body ached, but I refused to fall.
He stood a few feet away, arms crossed like he had all the time in the world.
"Disappointing," he said, tilting his head. "I expected more from you, Akari."
I clenched my fists.
He was playing with me.
I hated it.
With a sharp inhale, I centered myself. My flames roared higher, but I didn't attack blindly this time.
He was faster than me.
Stronger, too.
But I wasn't just fighting with brute force.
I had strategy.
I focused my ability, slowing the air around me—turning every movement into a blur to anyone else. I shifted my weight, feinting left before darting right.
He moved to counter—
But I was already behind him.
I drove my knee into his spine, pouring every ounce of velocity into the attack.
For the first time—he actually staggered.
A spark of satisfaction ignited in my chest.
But it was short-lived.
Because a second later, he retaliated.
Faster than I could react, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. The moment his fingers closed around me, a chilling sensation spread through my arm.
Then—
Everything slowed.
Not just me.
The entire room.
The countdown. The alarms. The flickering lights.
It was like time itself had been weighed down.
My heart pounded in my chest as I realized—
He can manipulate time, too.
"Interesting," he murmured, his grip tightening. "You use velocity. I use time."
I struggled against his hold, but my body felt like it was trapped in molasses.
He leaned in slightly. "Did you really think you were the only one with this kind of ability?"
A surge of frustration bubbled up inside me.
I hated being restrained.
With a snarl, I let my fire explode outward, forcing him to release me. The instant he did, I willed my ability into overdrive, shaking off the slowness and returning to full speed.
00:14… 00:13…
I was running out of time.
I needed to end this.
Now.
Summoning everything I had left, I pressed my hands together. The heat around me intensified, turning the air heavy with energy.
Then—
A spark.
A flash of blue light.
The entire room lit up as I unleashed my hidden ability.
A beam of pure, concentrated fire exploded from my palms, roaring forward with enough force to tear through steel. The sheer intensity of it made my vision blur, but I didn't let up.
For a split second, I saw his eyes widen.
Then—
Impact.
The force sent shockwaves through the building. Sparks flew. The walls trembled. The air crackled with raw power.
Smoke filled the room.
I stood there, panting, my body trembling from exhaustion.
Did I get him?
Was it enough?
I squinted through the smoke—
And then, through the haze, a voice.
A slow, amused chuckle.
"Oh… that was something."
My stomach dropped.
The smoke cleared—
And there he was.
Still standing.
Slightly singed, but otherwise fine.
No.
No, no, no.
He brushed dust off his jacket, exhaling like he had just finished a mild workout. "You almost had me with that one."
My hands curled into fists. My vision swayed. I had put everything into that attack.
And it still wasn't enough.
00:05… 00:04…
My breath hitched.
I failed.
The missile was going to launch.
Then—
He moved.
Not to attack.
Not to fight.
He strode past me, completely ignoring my exhausted form, and approached the control panel.
I was too drained to stop him.
I could only watch as he reached into his pocket—
And pulled out…
A key.
My eyes widened.
"Wait—"
Click.
He slid the key into the override slot.
The countdown halted.
00:03…
Everything went silent.
The alarms shut off. The emergency lights dimmed.
I stared, chest heaving.
He turned to face me, that damn smirk still on his lips.
"Like I said," he mused. "A deal's a deal."
I tried to process what just happened.
He let me fight him.
He could've ended me at any time.
But instead—
He stopped the launch himself.
"Why?" I rasped, my throat dry.
His smirk widened. "Because, Akari… I was never on their side."
I stared at him, my mind racing.
If he wasn't working for Desmond and Catalina, then…
Who was he?
I took a slow step forward, my muscles still aching. "Who are you?"
His eyes gleamed.
"You earned that answer," he said lightly. "Didn't you?"
Then—
He reached up.
And pulled down his hood.
I inhaled sharply.
No.
It couldn't be.
I knew that face.
Those eyes.
Memories—fragments, buried deep—came rushing back.
The realization hit me like a truck.
"You…" My voice was barely above a whisper.
He grinned.
"Took you long enough."
---
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
I just stood there, staring at the face in front of me, my mind refusing to accept what I was seeing.
No. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be him.
And yet…
I knew it was.
He smirked, tilting his head slightly, watching my reaction like it amused him. Like he had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Took you long enough," he repeated.
My throat was dry. My hands trembled at my sides.
Finally, I found my voice. "You're… supposed to be dead."
His smirk didn't falter. If anything, it deepened.
"Am I?"
My stomach twisted. "No, this—this doesn't make sense."
He took a casual step forward, completely unfazed by the chaos surrounding us—the wreckage, the unconscious bodies, the distant echoes of sirens.
"I'd say it makes perfect sense." His tone was maddeningly calm, like we were just having a casual conversation. "You just never asked the right questions."
I clenched my fists. My entire body felt like it was on the verge of collapse, but I forced myself to stay standing.
I knew him.
I knew him.
And the realization made my blood turn to ice.
"You were one of us," I whispered.
His grin widened. "Bingo."
I staggered back a step, my head spinning.
This wasn't just some unknown enemy.
This wasn't just another villain or another piece of the Council's twisted games.
He had been part of our world.
Part of our ranks.
And now, he was standing here, acting like none of it mattered.
I sucked in a breath, trying to steady my pounding heart. "Why?"
His expression shifted slightly. Just for a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"That's a complicated question," he mused. "And unfortunately, we don't have time for story hour."
My hands clenched tighter. I was exhausted, barely standing, but anger still burned in my chest.
"You played us," I spat. "You let this happen. You let them launch those weapons."
His gaze darkened. "Did I?"
"You stood by and watched while we nearly died." My voice was shaking, but I didn't care. "And now, suddenly, you help us? What the hell do you want?"
For the first time, his smirk faltered.
Just for a second.
Then, he exhaled, shaking his head like I was missing something obvious.
"You're looking at this all wrong, Akari."
"Oh, am I?" I snapped. "Then enlighten me."
He glanced at the ruined control panel, the deactivated countdown, the unconscious bodies of Desmond and Catalina sprawled across the floor.
Then, he turned back to me.
"I never wanted them to succeed," he said simply.
My pulse pounded in my ears. "Then why—"
"Because if I hadn't been here," he interrupted, voice cool, "you'd all be dead."
Silence.
I stared at him, my mind working through his words.
He wasn't lying.
I hated it, but I knew he wasn't lying.
As powerful as we were, we had been outmatched. Catalina and Desmond had been seconds away from victory. If he hadn't stepped in, we would have lost.
Still—
That didn't explain everything.
"Then why not stop them earlier?" I demanded. "Why let it get this far?"
His expression turned unreadable.
"Because I needed to see how far you would go."
A chill ran down my spine.
My voice dropped to a whisper. "What?"
He tilted his head. "I needed to see if you were ready."
I took a slow step back. "Ready for what?"
Something shifted in his eyes.
Something deep. Something unsettling.
But before he could answer—
A sharp beep echoed through the room.
My heart stopped.
The missile was still armed.
And it was still launching.
A new countdown appeared on the shattered screen.
00:10… 00:09…
Panic crashed through me. "No—wait—"
He sighed. "See? This is what I mean."
Then, without another word, he turned toward the control panel.
A second later, the countdown stopped.
I gasped, my breath catching in my throat.
Then—
The entire missile system shut down.
Lights flickered. Power drained from the room.
And just like that…
It was over.
For real this time.
I swayed on my feet, my mind barely keeping up.
"What… just happened?" Kaito's voice came from behind me, hoarse and exhausted.
I turned slowly, my pulse still racing.
He and the others were staring at the darkened control room, the deactivated missile system, the unconscious bodies of our enemies.
And then—
At me.
Like I had the answers.
I didn't.
I had nothing.
Just a thousand questions.
Because the man who had just saved us—
Had been one of us.
Leaving only more questions in his wake.
And the worst part?
I had a terrible, sinking feeling.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.