---
Doro didn't rush this time.
He walked.
Slow. Measured. Like he wanted Nocth to feel every second before the next impact landed.
"…You know," he muttered, cracking his neck slightly, "last time… I didn't really get to enjoy this."
A smirk pulled at his lips.
"You were different back then."
He took another step.
"…Sharper. Colder."
A pause.
"…Not this confused mess standing in front of me."
---
Nocth wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
There was already blood.
He didn't even remember when it started.
"…You keep saying that."
His voice came out low.
Uncertain.
"…But I don't remember being that person."
A faint pause.
"…So maybe you've got the wrong target."
---
Doro's smile widened.
"…Or maybe…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"…you lost something you shouldn't have."
---
Then—
he moved.
---
Fast.
---
A fist came straight toward Nocth's face—
Nocth barely raised his guard in time—
impact slammed through his arms—
his body shifted back—
balance shaken—
---
Another strike came immediately.
Lower.
Harder.
---
It drove into his stomach.
---
Nocth's breath collapsed.
Air forced out in a broken gasp—
saliva slipping from his lips—
his body folding forward—
---
Doro didn't stop.
---
A second hit slammed into his midsection—
then fingers grabbed his collar—
pulled him down—
---
KNEE—
---
The strike landed clean against his jaw.
---
Nocth's vision snapped white for a split second.
---
His body staggered—
legs almost giving out—
---
Doro let go—
only to kick him sideways.
---
Nocth hit the ground.
Rolled once.
Stopped on one knee—
breathing uneven—
---
"…Wow," Doro said casually.
"…This is disappointing."
He flexed his fingers slightly.
"…Last time, you weren't this easy to break."
---
Nocth didn't answer.
His head lowered slightly.
Breathing rough.
Unstable.
---
"…You sure you're even the same person?"
Doro continued.
"…Because the one I remember—"
He stepped closer.
"…wouldn't be lying on the ground like this."
---
Silence.
---
Nocth's fingers tightened against the floor.
Something inside him—
shifted.
---
His vision blurred again.
---
But this time—
it didn't feel like confusion.
---
It felt like overlap.
---
A space that didn't belong here.
---
Bright lights.
A ring.
Voices—distant but focused.
A figure standing across from him.
Gloves raised.
Breathing steady.
Waiting.
---
Not this world.
Not this body.
But—
familiar.
---
Nocth's breathing changed.
Slow.
Measured.
---
His stance adjusted without him deciding to move.
Feet repositioned.
Weight balanced differently.
---
Doro frowned slightly.
"…What?"
---
Nocth stood.
---
Not the same way he had before.
---
His guard lifted.
Tighter.
More precise.
Less wasted movement.
---
Doro tilted his head.
"…That's new."
---
He stepped in again.
Threw a punch—
---
Nocth moved.
---
Not faster—
but cleaner.
---
A slight shift.
A small angle.
The strike missed by inches.
---
Counter—
---
A sharp punch drove into Doro's chin.
---
Another followed immediately.
Left.
Across the eye.
---
Doro staggered back—
surprised—
then grinned.
"…Now this is more like it."
---
He lunged again.
More aggressive now.
---
Nocth moved again—
but this time—
it wasn't fully his.
---
His body reacted before thought.
Before intention.
---
A slip.
A pivot.
A short-range strike to the ribs—
---
Then back.
Reset.
---
Doro's attacks came heavier.
Wilder.
But now—
they weren't landing clean.
---
"…What the hell changed?" Doro muttered.
---
Nocth didn't answer.
Because part of him—
wasn't here.
---
The ring flickered again.
That other place.
That other fight.
---
A voice.
Faint.
"…Keep your guard up."
---
Nocth's fist tightened.
---
Doro broke the rhythm.
---
A sudden forward burst—
shoulder slam—
followed by a downward strike—
---
This time—
Nocth reacted too late.
---
The hit connected.
---
Pain shot through his side—
his balance broke—
---
Doro capitalized instantly.
---
A punch slammed into his face—
then another—
then a third—
---
Nocth stumbled—
---
Doro grabbed him again—
pulled him in—
---
KNEE—
---
The impact landed harder this time.
---
Nocth's head snapped back—
blood trailing from his lips—
---
"…That's more like it," Doro said, breathing heavier now.
"…You're still fragile."
---
He shoved Nocth down again.
---
Nocth hit the ground.
Didn't get up immediately.
---
His vision flickered again.
---
The ring.
The opponent.
The movement.
---
But this time—
it didn't align properly.
---
His body tried to follow it—
but his control slipped.
---
Incomplete.
---
Doro kicked him again.
---
"…You're not the same."
He spat to the side.
"…The one I remember would've broken me by now."
---
Meanwhile—
Imuis moved.
---
His feet sparked lightly against the ground—
subtle flashes—
quick bursts of acceleration.
---
The older brother charged again.
Heavy.
Direct.
---
Imuis slipped sideways—
barely avoiding impact—
then grinned.
"…You know…"
He ducked another strike.
"…you really fight like someone who uses their head…"
A pause—
he leaned back just enough to avoid a swing—
"…but forgot to bring a brain with it."
---
The older brother's expression twisted.
"…You're annoying."
---
He shifted.
Changed pace.
---
The next charge came faster.
More aggressive.
Less predictable.
---
Imuis barely dodged—
felt the wind of impact brush past him—
---
"…Okay—yeah, that's new," he muttered.
---
He planted his foot.
---
"…Fine."
---
His movement changed.
---
Not just dodging now.
---
He moved around.
---
Circling.
Accelerating.
His steps carved quick patterns into the ground—
dust lifting slightly—
small arcs forming underfoot—
---
Then—
he burst forward.
---
"—Flash Drift."
---
His body blurred around the older brother—
strikes landing in rapid succession—
face—
jaw—
temple—
---
The older brother staggered—
unable to track him fully—
---
Each hit precise.
Clean.
---
Then—
Imuis stopped.
---
Breathing heavy.
---
"…Yeah…"
He exhaled.
"…I hate using that."
---
His legs shook slightly.
---
The older brother dropped to one knee.
Wounded.
Disoriented.
---
Across the space—
the middle-aged woman's eyes lit up.
That movement…
That execution…
There's no way…
---
Her thoughts sharpened.
I need him.
Alive if possible.
But I'll take the technique either way.
---
Her gaze shifted briefly to Ruby.
…Witnesses can be dealt with later.
---
Back—
---
Doro saw his brother fall.
---
His expression snapped.
---
"…You idiot."
---
He turned—
looking toward Imuis—
who was clearly weakened—
---
And moved.
---
Fast.
Silent.
---
Something appeared in his hand—
thin—
sharp—
designed for one purpose.
---
He angled toward Imuis—
ready to strike from behind—
---
Nocth saw it.
---
From the ground.
Through blurred vision.
---
And something—
broke.
---
Not fully.
Not cleanly.
---
But enough.
---
The world distorted.
---
Sound dropped.
---
Light bent slightly around him.
---
And something unseen—
shifted.
---
Nocth stood.
---
Not fully conscious.
Not fully aware.
---
But present.
---
His eyes—
changed.
---
Not glowing.
Not shining.
---
But wrong.
---
As if something deeper was looking through them.
---
The ground trembled slightly.
---
Pressure spread.
---
Doro froze mid-step.
---
Something invisible—
crashed into him.
---
Not impact—
not force—
but something like space itself rejecting his position.
---
His body slammed into the ground.
---
Hard.
---
The weapon slipped from his hand.
---
His limbs refused to move.
---
His face pressed downward—
unable to lift.
---
Fear hit him instantly.
---
"…What…"
---
Imuis collapsed before fully understanding.
---
Heron, across the room—
stopped mid-fight.
---
"…What the hell—"
---
Everyone felt it.
---
That pressure.
---
Heavy.
---
Unnatural.
---
The middle-aged woman reacted instantly.
---
She struck from behind—
knocking Heron unconscious—
then eliminated the remaining threats quickly.
---
Her gaze snapped toward Nocth.
---
"…You…"
Her voice lowered.
"…What are you?"
---
Nocth didn't respond.
---
He wasn't looking at her.
---
He was staring somewhere else.
---
Like someone standing behind reality.
---
"…No Thread signature…"
She narrowed her eyes.
"…but power of a bearer…"
A pause.
"…but not one."
---
Her voice dropped further.
"…Are you… something beyond this layer?"
---
She shook her head.
"…Impossible."
---
Then—
her expression hardened.
---
"…Whatever you are…"
She raised her tool.
"…you're coming with me."
---
Energy built.
Unstable.
Artificial.
---
She struck.
---
The attack landed.
---
And—
broke.
---
Her weapon shattered instantly.
---
Fragments scattering across the ground.
---
Her body recoiled.
Blood rising in her throat—
---
She staggered back.
Eyes wide.
---
"…What…"
---
Nocth didn't move.
Didn't react.
---
He simply stood there.
---
And for the first time—
fear touched her.
---
Real fear.
---