The city was alive with lights, a blurred spectrum of yellow, white, and neon bleeding past the tinted windows of the NITITAS ÆON-X. Inside, the cabin felt like a cocoon. Quiet. Tense. Every hum of the engine resonated through the car like a heartbeat, steady but relentless.
"For now," Lig's calm voice broke the silence, "second destination."
Leo's eyes flicked to him. "Second… destination?"
Lig didn't answer. He was already scanning the road ahead, fingers brushing controls with precise, almost ritualistic movements. Leo felt the uneasy tightening of his chest—the sort that comes before something dangerous and inevitable.
The car slowed, taking the same intersection they had passed moments ago. A strange familiarity clung to the crossing, making Leo frown. "Again? Bro… I think you should go home alone. That place… it's not good."
Lig exhaled slowly, the sound almost a sigh in the quiet cabin. Then, with a faint smile, he said, "Drive fast," and Leo swallowed hard, his stomach tightening. "Or we'll be late getting home."
"Good," Lig said. Then his voice dropped, darker this time, "Then make your heart strong like rock, or you'll regret coming."
Leo hesitated. His mouth opened, but no words came. He swallowed hard. He wanted to argue, but something in Lig's gaze made him pause.
Lig reached forward and tapped the window controls. The glass darkened instantly. The outside world vanished. The reflection of their own faces stared back at them, ghostly and distant. Ninety percent opacity. Complete privacy. The night, the city—gone.
The car turned sharply onto a narrow street. Red lights flashed above, their glow bouncing off the sleek metal of the vehicle. Ahead, a tall iron gate appeared, almost hidden in the shadows.
The car stopped.
Leo leaned forward, peering through the tinted glass. A board by the entrance flickered weakly in the night.
PLEASURE HUB it read.
Leo's mouth opened slightly. "What the—" He stopped. He didn't know whether to laugh, shout, or feel fear. Before he could choose, Lig opened the door.
Thirty seconds passed.
Forty.
Then footsteps approached.
A girl appeared. Medium height, delicate, calm, with eyes that seemed to assess everything at once. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She wore an oversized jacket that hid her figure, making her look smaller than she really was. Her presence was quiet but commanding.
She slid into the car beside Nemo. The door closed.
For a moment, silence hung heavy, broken only by the hum of the engine.
Then she opened her jacket. Beneath it, a dark uniform gleamed, marked with silver insignia.
ALLY OF BLOSSOMS – ARMED FORCES, COMMUNICATION DIVISION.
Nemo's posture straightened. Her voice was precise. "Yes… what's the mission report, Dina?"
"Mission successful," the girl replied, her tone clipped but confident.
Lig stepped back inside the car, adjusting his seat. "Good," he said simply. Then his eyes flicked toward Leo. "Then we can begin the next phase."
Dina nodded. "Yes, Captain of AOB."
Leo's eyebrows knitted. "Cap…?"
Lig chuckled, the sound low and controlled. "Lor," he said, turning to Leo, "do you still want to continue?"
Leo swallowed. His hands tightened around the seatbelt. His voice, though unsteady, came out firm. "Yes, Cap."
Dina raised an eyebrow, then laughed softly. "Okay, okay. You two can stop. I know exactly who you are."
Lig's grin widened faintly. "Hahaha… just making the mood better."
Narrator
Confused about how Dina knows them?I could tell you now, but that would spoil Volume 2. Keep that question in your mind. Let it simmer.
The car moved again. This time, Leo noticed a shadow in the rear-view mirror.
A small vehicle, half-broken and rusty, was following them.
Leo's heartbeat quickened. "Lig… we're being followed."
Lig's calm voice didn't waver. "I know."
The city lights thinned. Buildings fell away. The road stretched empty and endless ahead.
Lig's hand brushed over the console. Mode: SPORTS → RACE.
The ÆON-X responded instantly. A low roar, a vibration through the floor. The speed climbed.
200… 280… 350 km/h.
The dashboard flashed warnings—tires overheating, aerodynamic stress, wings adjusting. Leo's hands gripped the seat harness. "Lig… this is insane!"
"We're fine," Lig said.
The highway straightened. Long, flat, deserted. Lig turned the wheel sharply. The car veered onto a different route. The rear wing deployed slightly.
350 became 400.
The truck behind them didn't fall back.
"It's not a normal vehicle," Lig said casually. "NITITAS T20.0M variant."
Leo's stomach dropped. "Military…?"
Kilometers vanished beneath them. Harnesses tightened automatically. 420… 460… 500 km/h.
The world outside became a blur of black and shadow. Then Lig killed every light—headlights, cabin glow, even the night-vision display.
Leo's hands shook. "Lig… I can't see anything!"
"I know," Lig said softly. "But this place is dangerous. We can't risk lights."
They raced blind, trusting instinct and machine.
After nearly an hour, Lig slowed. The car came to a stop.
Ahead stood a massive, ancient mansion. Overgrown iron gates. Broken walls. Windows like hollow eyes. The night air smelled of dust and decay.
Dina's voice cut softly through the silence. "Think again, Leo."
Leo squared his shoulders. "I'll go."
Lig nodded. "Nemo—clear the way."
"Yes, sir," Nemo replied, almost reverently. Then, after a pause, "Done."
Lig stepped out first. Alone. Five seconds later, Leo followed, Dina behind him.
Bodies littered the entrance—guards neutralized silently, efficiently. Leo realized it had been the work of a single AOB agent. His chest tightened at the thought.
Inside, the hall was enormous. Glass ceiling. Moonlight poured in cold and distant, illuminating the dust in floating beams. Lig stood in the center, soaked in blood—not rain, but his own—but upright, steady, unbroken.
From the shadows, a figure emerged.
Tall. Golden hair. Athletic. Six foot five. Eyes sharp, calculating.
"After many years," Lig said calmly, "we finally meet, Quin."
Quin smiled faintly. "Yes. I thought my guards could hold you, Ligero."
They faced each other, every inch of tension coiled like a spring.
Lig's voice was cold. "So… how's life as an officer of Toplom?"
Quin shrugged. "Better than before."
"You know those creatures," Lig said, voice low. "We felt them once."
"Yes," Quin replied, "but now… it's manageable."
"Pleasure, money, and power have made you forget your past," Lig said. "You abandoned who you were."
Quin's eyes darkened. "Careful. Remember who you're talking to."
"Answer me."
Quin laughed bitterly. "What past? We were nothing. They took everything."
"And instead of fighting back," Lig said, "you became one of them."
"Then what should I have done?" Quin snapped. "Become like you? Or like Furo?"
"At least I stayed human," Lig said. "And Furo is alive."
Quin smiled thinly. "Yes. Tied up in the next room."
Lig's jaw tightened. "Why?"
"Because he dared to ask a question."
"You became a coward," Lig said flatly.
"I could kill you right now," Quin hissed.
"But I'm still standing," Lig said, voice even, "and looking into your eyes."
Quin raised his gun. "Not for long."
They fired simultaneously. The impact shook them violently. Their bodies quivered—but neither fell. Quin blinked at Lig, disbelief written across his face.
"I see… you still have that will," Quin said.
"That's why," Lig replied, calm as ever, "I can still speak."
Quin's knees gave way. He collapsed.
Leo rushed forward. "Bro! Are you okay? We need a hospital!"
Lig waved him off. "It's nothing. And when we get home—you say nothing. To anyone."
"No—but—"
"No 'but.'"
Footsteps echoed. From the shadows, Nemo emerged with a man.
Handsome. Athletic. Six foot two. Fair-skinned. Blue eyes. Sharp jawline. Furo.
Lig smiled faintly. "Furo… my friend. How are you?"
"Better than before," Furo said. "But saving me… you almost killed yourself."
"It's nothing," Lig said. "Let's go home. The girls will be angry."
Furo hesitated. "But—"
"You'll stay with us," Lig said. "You have no home anymore. Ever since the DARK ARC."
Furo bowed his head. "Thank you."
"Anytime," Lig said.
Back home. Silence. The weight of the night pressed on them.
Around three a.m., a knock.
"Can I come in?" Furo asked.
"Yes."
Furo entered. "You're reading? Already dressed?"
"Yes. Anything else?"
"No. Good night."
Lig paused. "You like Mira, don't you?"
Furo froze. "I just… came today. I don't know her."
Lig smiled faintly. "My agents are everywhere."
"I'm sorry," Furo said quickly.
"No need. Just remember one thing."
Lig's gaze drifted to the moon. "Love is precious. A gift. Most people chase what is temporary—glass instead of diamond. Ignore the real heart. And when they try to return, it's too late. Love is beautiful—but also mother of evil. Like a rose—it bleeds. Like the moon—its dark side is hidden, always."
He turned. "Good night."
Furo left.
Lig stood alone, staring at the moon. "We will meet soon… my love."
Narrator
Who is Furo?What will happen next?Is the great apocalypse approaching?And… was Lig right?
Stay alert. The story continues…