---
A deafening crash.
The sealed panel of their storage shelter rattled violently.
Everyone inside froze. Even Lyra, battle-hardened and fox-blooded, flinched at the sudden blow.
"That's not them," she whispered.
San stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… whoever just hit the door isn't human. Or hybrid."
There was no time to debate.
The steel sheet covering the entrance groaned again. Not with fists. Not with weapons. But with pressure — pressure from something that didn't even breathe.
A deep, low growl filtered through the cracks, not quite animal, not quite human. Hyme pressed against San's side, tail bushed up, ears alert.
The door dented inward.
Then silence.
San whispered, "It left?"
"No," Lyra said, eyes wide. "It's circling."
Suddenly, from above — a BOOM.
The ceiling cracked.
San yanked Hyme to the floor just in time as debris exploded inward. Stone and dust rained down. Wooyoung coughed, shielding her eyes. Lyra spun into a crouch, daggers in both hands.
And then…
It entered.
A figure.
Draped in a cloak darker than night. No visible features. No scent. Just presence — like the air itself bowed under its weight. Even Lyra took a step back, hackles rising.
"What… what the hell is that?" Wooyoung choked.
It didn't answer.
It only looked — not at San, not at Lyra, but at Hyme.
"Half-blood," it whispered. Its voice was void, echoing despite the small room. "You should not have been born."
Hyme's eyes widened. "I know that voice… from my dreams—"
San shoved Hyme behind him. "Touch him, and I'll tear you apart."
The thing tilted its head. "You don't even know who he is, do you, human?"
It lunged.
San barely dodged. The thing moved like smoke, arms stretching like blades. He threw a punch — nothing but air. Lyra pounced from the side, slashing — but her blades hit nothing.
"I can't land a strike—!"
"Keep it busy!" San yelled.
Behind the chaos, Hyme's breathing changed. His pupils dilated, glowing faintly. Power stirred in his blood — ancient and locked. Something was waking up in him.
"Stop…" he whispered, trembling. "If you hurt them— I'll…"
The cloaked thing turned toward Hyme once more. "You are unfinished. A mistake."
Hyme's hands clenched. "Then I'll be a mistake that kills you."
The air exploded.
From Hyme's back, a pulse of hybrid aura burst — not just feline, but something more. A white-blue flash threw the creature off balance. Lyra lunged again, this time her dagger tore through its robe.
It screamed. Not in pain — in surprise.
"You're awakening," it hissed. "Too early."
Then it vanished.
The ceiling crumbled where it had stood. Only black dust remained. The room fell deathly silent again.
San rushed to Hyme, grabbing his face. "You okay?!"
Hyme blinked slowly. "I don't… know. What was that?"
Lyra sheathed her weapons. "Whatever that was… it wasn't sent by Lys. It wanted you both dead."
Wooyoung looked shaken. "Someone's trying to erase all royal hybrids."
San's jaw tightened. "So Lys… might be a target too."
---
Meanwhile…
Down a twisted alley, bleeding and limping, Lys stumbled through the darkness.
His royal coat was torn. One eye swollen. Blood stained his white-blonde hair.
He hadn't expected betrayal.
He hadn't expected to be hunted by his own people.
He slumped against a wall, chest heaving. Behind him, a glint — too fast to react.
He was slashed across the ribs, sent crashing into garbage cans.
A shadowy figure stood over him. "You were supposed to obey."
Lys coughed, snarling, "I don't take orders… from you anymore."
He rolled, dodged another strike, and barely made it to the alley's exit.
And just as he reached the road…
A car screeched to a halt.
Kai leaned out the window, eyes wide. "Whoa! Hey—are you okay?!"
Lys collapsed.
Kai rushed out, grabbed him, and carried the limp, bleeding figure to the backseat.
"Poor kitten…" he muttered, not realizing the cat prince he just rescued had more blood on his hands than he could imagine.
---