The forest didn't move.
The wind didn't breathe.
Even the night felt like it was watching.
⸻
Malvek remained on his knees.
His hands dug into the dirt.
Trembling.
"…I couldn't…"
His voice cracked.
"…I was right there…"
⸻
Silence answered him.
⸻
Nobu stood a few steps behind.
Bleeding.
Breathing heavily.
But his eyes weren't on Malvek—
They were on the distance.
Calculating.
⸻
"…Get up."
⸻
Malvek didn't move.
⸻
"…Crying won't bring her back."
⸻
That—
Hit harder than any punch.
⸻
Malvek's fingers tightened.
"…You think I don't know that…?"
⸻
"…Then prove it."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…Stand."
⸻
Slowly—
Malvek rose.
His body shaking.
Not from fear.
Not from weakness.
⸻
From rage.
⸻
"…Tell me where they are."
⸻
Nobu exhaled slowly.
"…If it were that easy…"
"…They wouldn't exist."
⸻
Malvek turned sharply.
"…You know something."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
"…Talk."
⸻
For a moment—
Nobu said nothing.
⸻
Then—
"…The Veyrath Clan…"
He began quietly.
"…isn't just a clan."
⸻
"…It's an experiment."
⸻
Malvek frowned.
"…What does that even mean?"
⸻
"…Years ago…"
"…they were researchers."
⸻
"…Obsessed with one thing…"
⸻
Nobu's eyes darkened.
⸻
"…Control."
⸻
"…Control over power…"
"…Over bloodlines…"
"…Over life itself."
⸻
Malvek's breath slowed.
Listening.
⸻
"…They studied clans…"
"…Captured warriors…"
"…And started creating… replacements."
⸻
"…The V Subjects."
⸻
A cold silence spread.
⸻
"…Those things…"
"…aren't born."
⸻
"…They're made."
⸻
Malvek's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Wait."
A pause.
"…i thought you don't know much about this ."
Nobu didn't respond.
"…But how do you know all this about them?"
Silence.
The air grew heavier.
"…You talk like you've seen it before."
Nobu's gaze shifted—just slightly.
Barely noticeable.
"…I just know enough."
"…That's all."
Malvek frowned.
"…That's not an answer."
A pause.
Then—
"…Focus on what matters."
Nobu said coldly.
"…Knowing why won't save her."
Malvek clenched his jaw.
He didn't believe him.
Not fully.
But right now—
He let it go.
⸻
"…Every V Subject…"
Nobu continued.
"…was once human."
⸻
That—
Changed everything.
⸻
"…What…?"
⸻
"…They take people…"
"…Break them…"
"…Rebuild them."
⸻
"…Erase emotion…"
"…Enhance their bodies…"
"…Turn them into perfect hunters."
⸻
Malvek felt something twist inside him.
⸻
"…Then… V-13…"
⸻
"…Was someone… before this…?"
⸻
Nobu nodded.
⸻
"…Yes."
⸻
"…And worse…"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…Some of them…"
"…don't die properly."
⸻
"…They remember."
⸻
A chill ran down Malvek's spine.
⸻
"…That's why they're dangerous."
⸻
"…Not just because they're strong…"
⸻
"…But because they've lost everything."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Malvek looked down at his hands.
⸻
"…Then my sister…"
⸻
"…If they take her…"
⸻
His voice trembled—
Just slightly.
⸻
"…Will they turn her into one of them…?"
⸻
Nobu didn't answer immediately.
⸻
That—
Was the answer.
⸻
"…No…"
Malvek whispered.
⸻
"…No… I won't let that happen…"
⸻
Something changed.
⸻
Not just rage.
⸻
Something deeper.
⸻
Colder.
⸻
"…Good."
⸻
Nobu stepped forward.
⸻
"…Because from here on…"
⸻
"…you either become strong…"
⸻
"…or you lose everything."
⸻
Malvek looked up.
⸻
"…Then train me."
⸻
No hesitation.
⸻
No doubt.
⸻
Just resolve.
⸻
Nobu stared at him.
For a long moment.
⸻
Then—
"…Fine."
⸻
BOOM!!!
Before Malvek could react—
Nobu's fist slammed into his stomach.
⸻
"—!!"
⸻
Malvek flew back.
Crashing into a tree.
⸻
"…What the hell—?!"
⸻
"…This is your training."
⸻
Nobu walked toward him.
⸻
"…You're too emotional."
⸻
"…Too predictable."
⸻
"…Too weak."
⸻
Each word—
A strike.
⸻
Malvek forced himself up.
⸻
"…Then fix it."
⸻
Nobu's eyes narrowed slightly.
⸻
"…Good."
⸻
BOOM!!!
Another attack.
Faster.
Sharper.
⸻
Malvek barely blocked—
⸻
CRACK!!
His arm trembled.
⸻
"…Focus."
⸻
"…Don't think about revenge…"
⸻
"…Think about survival."
⸻
Attack after attack came.
Relentless.
⸻
Malvek struggled.
Falling.
Standing.
Falling again.
⸻
Time passed.
⸻
Minutes.
Hours.
⸻
The night deepened.
⸻
Blood covered the ground.
⸻
Malvek's breathing became unstable.
⸻
"…Again."
⸻
"…Again."
⸻
"…AGAIN."
⸻
Each time—
He got up.
⸻
Each time—
He lasted longer.
⸻
Until—
⸻
BOOM!!!
He blocked.
Clean.
⸻
Nobu stopped.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
"…Finally."
⸻
Malvek stood there.
Panting.
Broken.
But—
Different.
⸻
His eyes—
Weren't filled with panic anymore.
⸻
They were steady.
⸻
"…You're starting to understand."
⸻
"…Strength isn't anger."
⸻
"…It's control."
⸻
Malvek clenched his fists.
⸻
"…Then I'll control it."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…And then I'll destroy them."
⸻
Far away—
Deep underground—
⸻
A girl opened her eyes.
⸻
Darkness.
Cold.
⸻
"…Where…"
⸻
Chains.
⸻
A faint hum echoed through the room.
⸻
"…Subject awakening confirmed."
⸻
Her eyes widened.
⸻
Figures stepped out of the shadows.
Black robes.
⸻
"…Prepare for evaluation."
⸻
She struggled.
⸻
"…LET ME GO—!!"
⸻
No response.
⸻
Only cold eyes watching her.
⸻
Elsewhere—
⸻
V-13 stood in silence.
⸻
His body partially repaired.
⸻
But his mind—
Active.
⸻
"…Malvek…"
⸻
A flicker.
⸻
Something faint.
⸻
A memory?
⸻
A feeling?
⸻
Gone.
⸻
"…Irrelevant."
⸻
Behind him—
A figure approached.
⸻
Different.
⸻
Stronger.
⸻
"…You hesitated."
⸻
V-13 didn't turn.
⸻
"…Negative."
⸻
"…Then why are you still thinking about him?"
⸻
Silence.
⸻
For the first time—
V-13 didn't respond immediately.
⸻
"…Processing…"
⸻
The figure smiled faintly.
⸻
"…Interesting…"
⸻
"…Maybe this one isn't perfect after all…"
⸻
The lights dimmed.
⸻
"…Phase Two begins now."
⸻
"…Deploy V-9."
⸻
"…And wake the others."
⸻
Rows of chambers lit up.
⸻
Figures inside—
Eyes opening.
⸻
One by one.
⸻
Hunters.
⸻
Monsters.
⸻
Weapons.
⸻
All awakening.
⸻
Back in the forest—
⸻
Malvek stood under the night sky.
⸻
Bruised.
Broken.
⸻
But standing.
⸻
"…I'll save you."
⸻
His voice was quiet.
⸻
But absolute.
⸻
"…No matter what you become…"
⸻
"…I'll bring you back."
⸻
Nobu watched him silently.
⸻
"…Let's see if you can."
⸻
Far beyond—
Where time itself felt unstable—
A distortion formed.
⸻
A man stood within it.
⸻
"…So it's true…"
⸻
Fragments flashed in his mind—
Broken timelines.
Shifting events.
⸻
"…Nobu…"
⸻
His eyes sharpened.
⸻
"…You went back."
⸻
A faint smirk appeared.
⸻
"…Trying to change everything alone…"
⸻
The distortion trembled.
⸻
"…Idiot."
⸻
He stepped forward.
⸻
"…If you're there…"
⸻
"…then I'll come too."
⸻
The air cracked violently.
⸻
"…Wait for me."
⸻
"…I'll be your shield again."
⸻
And in the next second—
He vanished.
⸻
The distortion collapsed.
⸻
As if it never existed.
⸻
The wind returned.
⸻
And with it—
War.
⸻
To be continued…