Kai's shock vanished in an instant, replaced by a razor-sharp focus. With a single stomp, he launched forward, his body blurring across the rooftop, legs moving in seamless succession.
As he neared the edge, his feet slammed against the ground, bringing him to a skidding halt. Without hesitation, he leaped off, diving headfirst.
At the last moment, his foot coiled against the wall, propelling him downward at breakneck speed, slicing through the air like a bullet.
The wind whipped Kai's hair upward, but his eyes remained locked on Dain, refusing to blink. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his arm shooting out to grab Dain's wrist.
With a desperate 360° spin, he swung his arm upward, hurling Dain back toward the rooftop.
Dain's eyes widened in shock as gravity reversed on him—Kai falling, while he was sent soaring back up. He crashed onto the rooftop, his body bouncing before skidding to a halt.
A brief sense of relief washed over Kai as he saw Dain land safely. But now, he was the one falling.
Twisting his body midair, he flattened himself against the rushing wind, urgency flashing in his eyes. His gaze snapped downward—directly beneath him stood a lamp post, shaped like the figure seven. An idea struck.
Stretching his arm forward as the ground rushed closer, his palm caught the pole. The momentum from his fall sent him swinging wildly around it, spinning several times before he was flung across the street. He crashed into an alley, his body tumbling across the concrete for several meters before finally coming to a stop.
Kai lay on his back, staring up at the sky, his chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. His head spun slightly from the intense maneuver, but aside from that, he was fine.
Meanwhile, Dain stood frozen at the edge of the rooftop, watching as Kai narrowly escaped death. The urge to jump again wavered—once had been one thing, but a second attempt felt impossible. His mind raced, panic setting in as he tried to figure out his next move. His chest pounded, his eyes darting across the street in search of Kai.
Unfortunately for him, Kai found him first. Their eyes locked—the sixteen-year-old looking up at him from below with an unreadable expression.
Dain's breath hitched. Fear crept into his bones. He didn't know what to do, but one instinct took over—run.
He took slow, hesitant steps backward before abruptly turning and heading for the exit door.
Kai watched as Dain sprinted off, his mind racing with possibilities. His fingers instinctively curled, pressing against his jaw as he analyzed the situation.
"What's he planning? Judging from the way he spoke, he's ready to activate the mark and take thousands of lives. But if that's the case… why didn't he just jump again? Is he running because he plans to set it off inside the hospital? Or is he afraid I'll try to stop him by force?"
His pulse quickened. Every second counted.
"Whatever the reason… he's a threat to everyone in this area. I have to stop him—no matter what."
Kai's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening into pure determination.
****
Dain sprinted down the hospital hallway, his breath ragged, fear tightening his chest. His feet pounded against the floor, eyes locked on the next turn—his only escape.
But before he could reach it, a blur shot into his path.
Kai slid out from the opposite end of the hallway, his body low, fingers grazing the polished floor, legs spread wide in perfect balance. His head was tilted downward, but when he finally lifted it, his sharp gaze locked onto Dain like a predator cornering its prey.
Dain's heart slammed against his ribs. His body froze.
"How is he here already?" The thought struck like a hammer, panic creeping up his spine.
Dain's fingers curled around the cold metal of the medical scissors, his grip tightening as he ripped it from the nurse's tray.
"Stay back!" he yelled, raising the sharp tool high above his head, his breathing uneven.
But Kai didn't flinch. He knew the real threat wasn't the blade in Dain's hands—it was the mark he carried. If Dain activated it, thousands would die.
In an instant, Kai moved.
A dark blur shot through the hallway, distorting everything in its wake. Before Dain could even process what was happening, Kai's grip locked around his wrist, freezing his arm mid-swing.
Dain's eyes widened in shock.
At the same time, Kai's stance was solid, his other arm coiled back, ready to strike. The tension in the air was suffocating. Dain could feel the sheer force behind Kai's fist—aimed directly at his gut—yet it stopped just short, hovering there so precisely it was as if time itself had frozen.
Dain's chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, his widened eyes still locked on Kai. His entire body trembled, not just from fear but from the weight of everything crashing down on him at once.
Kai slowly released his grip, his movements deliberate, giving Dain a moment to process. Then, gently, he pried the scissors from his hand and tossed them onto the floor. There was no aggression in his face, no hostility—only understanding.
"For the record," Kai began, his voice low, calm, steady, "I didn't just stop you to protect the people who would've died with you. I stopped you because I didn't want to see you die."
Dain swallowed, his throat dry, his hands still shaking.
Kai took a step back, giving him space. "What do you say?" he asked. "Let me take you somewhere they can help you. And then, together, we'll find the monster that marked you… and we'll kill it."
Dain stared at him, his mind at war with itself. But for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel completely alone.
Dain let out a shaky breath, his tense shoulders easing as he met Kai's steady gaze. "I almost killed all these people…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Kai didn't hesitate. "Doesn't matter," he said firmly. "You weren't yourself. You just lost someone you loved—no one can blame you for that."
Dain studied him for a long moment, searching his face as if trying to find any trace of judgment. Instead, he found only understanding. With a slow nod, he exhaled. "Alright… I'll come. For real this time."
Before Kai could respond, the heavy stomp of boots echoed down the hallway.
"Stop right there!"
Two security guards in black uniforms stormed in.
Kai sighed. "We might have to run."
Dain glanced at him, a ghost of a smirk forming. "Yeah."