The first Hunter moved faster than sight.
One second it stood among the trees.
The next — it was in front of Feroz.
A blade of condensed blue energy formed in its hand and slashed toward his chest.
Feroz reacted on instinct.
He raised his glowing arm.
The energy struck—
And exploded in sparks of light.
The force pushed him back several steps, boots digging into the forest soil.
Yusuf engaged the second Hunter immediately. Steel met unnatural light as Yusuf's blade clashed with a glowing weapon.
The third Hunter did not move.
It watched.
Studied.
"Your control has improved," the first Hunter observed calmly. "But emotion still leaks through."
Feroz's jaw tightened.
"You talk too much."
The Hunter attacked again — faster.
This time, Feroz didn't block.
He stepped aside.
The blade sliced past him, cutting through a tree trunk instead. The tree collapsed behind him with a heavy crash.
Feroz focused.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
The glow on his arm shifted — no longer wild, but concentrated.
He thrust his palm forward.
A pulse of force shot outward, striking the Hunter in the chest.
The creature flew backward, crashing into a boulder.
For a second—
Silence.
Then it stood up again.
Unharmed.
Feroz felt a chill.
"They do not feel pain like you do," Yusuf shouted while deflecting another strike. "Aim for disruption, not damage!"
The third Hunter finally stepped forward.
Its voice was deeper than the others.
"You are awakening too quickly," it said to Feroz. "The timeline is shifting."
Feroz's heart skipped.
Timeline.
"Twenty-seven," the Hunter continued. "That was the intended convergence."
Feroz froze for half a second — and that was enough.
The first Hunter reappeared beside him and struck him hard in the ribs.
He flew sideways, hitting the ground violently.
Pain shot through his body.
The glow flickered.
The third Hunter walked closer.
"You are not ready," it said calmly. "Come willingly. The debt can still be arranged without unnecessary death."
Feroz forced himself to stand despite the pain.
"My father said something like that," he breathed. "About debt."
The Hunter's eyes flickered slightly.
"Your father made a mistake."
Feroz wiped blood from his lip.
"No," he said quietly.
"He made a sacrifice."
The glow on his arm changed again.
Not brighter.
Sharper.
More focused.
The symbol expanded slightly across his skin, forming faint lines toward his wrist.
Yusuf noticed.
"Careful!" he warned. "Do not overdraw!"
But Feroz was done holding back.
The memory of the older version of himself flashed in his mind.
Empty eyes.
Cold voice.
"This is what happens when you fail."
"I won't fail," Feroz whispered.
The forest wind suddenly stilled.
Leaves froze mid-motion.
Even the Hunters paused.
The energy around Feroz compressed tightly — then released in a controlled shockwave.
Not wild.
Not explosive.
Precise.
The first Hunter was thrown into the trees.
The second staggered backward.
The third raised its hand to shield itself — but the pulse disrupted the blue glow in its eyes.
For the first time—
The Hunters looked unstable.
Yusuf took the opening.
He moved with speed Feroz had never seen before, striking the second Hunter at the neck where light and shadow merged.
The glow shattered.
The Hunter collapsed.
Not dead.
But deactivated.
The third Hunter stepped back slowly.
"This changes the equation," it said quietly.
Feroz stood firm despite the pain in his body.
"Good."
The Hunter looked at him for a long moment.
Then it spoke something strange.
"Phase Two will begin early."
The remaining Hunters dissolved into streaks of blue light and vanished into the forest.
Silence returned.
Feroz's glow faded gradually.
His legs gave out.
Yusuf caught him before he hit the ground.
"You pushed too far," Yusuf said sternly.
Feroz winced but managed a faint smile.
"They're not untouchable."
"No," Yusuf agreed. "But now they will escalate."
Feroz looked up at the night sky through the trees.
"Let them."
Far away, beneath the silent tree in the city park—
A faint crack spread across the bark.
And deep underground—
Something ancient shifted position.
The clock was no longer moving toward twenty-seven.
It was moving faster.
And somewhere in the darkness—
A council of the Free Masons had just been informed.
The key had begun to fight back.