Eyrx lowered his head slightly.
"So… I choose the first option. The Voice."
The darkness around him trembled.
"Then you have chosen power… along with memory."
A cold silence followed.
Eyrx frowned. "Memory…?"
"Yes."
The Voice faded like smoke carried by the wind.
"Wait—" Eyrx stepped forward desperately. "How do I return to my body?"
No answer.
The void shattered.
His eyes snapped open.
A violent gasp escaped his lips.
For a second, the world stood still.
Then—
THUMP.
A pulse of green energy exploded from his chest.
The veins around his neck glowed faintly as his body began changing. Muscles tightened. His breathing deepened. Emerald light leaked from beneath his skin like burning fire trapped inside flesh.
Slowly… painfully… Eyrx sat up.
But something was wrong.
His body moved—
yet he wasn't controlling it.
The hideout, frozen moments ago in chaos, suddenly came alive again.
Men stared at him in horror.
"T-That's impossible…"
"He took five bullets…"
One of them stepped back, his voice trembling. "What… what is that green energy?"
Eyrx rose to his feet mechanically.
Cold.
Emotionless.
His blood-covered clothes dripped onto the floor.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He walked toward the leader—the man who had shot him.
The criminal raised his gun with shaking hands. "Stay back!"
Eyrx grabbed him by the throat before he could pull the trigger.
CRACK.
The man's neck twisted unnaturally.
Screams erupted through the hideout.
One by one… Eyrx slaughtered them.
Gunfire echoed.
Bones shattered.
Blood painted the walls.
Yet his expression never changed.
Not even once.
Thirty minutes later…
The rain poured heavily across the empty highway.
Eyrx walked alone through the darkness, soaked in blood and water.
His movements were slow and lifeless, like a puppet dragged by invisible strings.
Then suddenly—
The green glow disappeared.
His eyes widened.
For one brief second, he saw himself.
The blood on his hands.
The bodies.
The horror.
"…What…?"
His legs gave out beneath him.
THUD.
He collapsed onto the wet road.
Darkness consumed him again.
Beep… Beep… Beep…
A soft mechanical sound echoed through the room.
Eyrx slowly opened his eyes.
White ceiling.
Dim lights.
A hospital.
He lay on a simple bed inside a private room, medical machines quietly humming beside him.
Near the window stood Grace.
She stared outside silently, one hand tucked into the pocket of her long coat. She wore a brown shirt with black straight-fit pants, her hair tied into a high ponytail that swayed gently as she turned toward him.
"Oh," she said softly. "Eyrx… you're awake."
Her sharp eyes softened slightly.
"Are you feeling alright now?"
Eyrx held his forehead weakly. "What… happened to me?"
"And why am I in a hospital?"
Grace walked closer. "Some people found you unconscious near the highway late at night. Your clothes were covered in blood."
She paused.
"What happened to you?"
Eyrx stared blankly ahead.
"Near the highway…?" he whispered. "Did I leave the house last night…?"
Fragments of memories flashed inside his mind.
Green light.
Screams.
Blood.
But nothing was clear.
"I… can't remember."
Grace sighed quietly. "Don't force yourself. Your treatment isn't fully complete yet. Just relax."
Eyrx looked around slowly. "Where's Grandma? And Hazel?"
"I already called them," Grace replied. "They should be here soon. After they arrive, I'll leave."
She crossed her arms. "Do you want anything to eat? I can bring it."
Eyrx shook his head lightly. "No… Aren't you supposed to go to your new case today?"
Grace smirked faintly. "I am. But I couldn't fully reach the destination. I stopped near a village and stayed in a hotel outside the city."
"Hmm…" Eyrx nodded weakly. "Just don't forget to call me."
Grace raised an eyebrow teasingly. "I don't remember asking for permission."
Suddenly—
BANG!
The door swung open.
A young girl rushed inside alongside an elderly woman.
"Eyrx!"
His grandmother hurried toward him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"Oh, my grandson…" Her voice trembled. "What happened to you?"
Eyrx looked down helplessly. "I… don't know."
Grace stepped aside and glanced toward Hazel.
"It's time for me to leave," she said calmly. "Take care of him."
Hazel nodded. "Don't worry. You focus on your journey. I know your work isn't easy."
Then suddenly—
Eyrx's grandmother froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Eyrx…" she whispered. "Where is your pendant?"
Eyrx blinked.
"My pendant…?"
His hand instantly moved to his neck.
Empty.
His heartbeat stopped for a moment.
"No… no, where is it?!"
He searched around the bed frantically.
Then Grace reached into her coat pocket.
"You mean this?" she asked quietly.
In her hand… hung the pendant."Yes… but how was it in your hand?"
Grace looked at the necklace for a moment before replying softly.
"The doctor gave it to me while they were treating you."
Eyrx slowly extended his hand.
"Give it to me."
Grace placed the necklace carefully into his palm. For a second, her fingers touched his hand, cold and trembling.
Then she stood up quietly.
"I'll see you in the future…" she said while walking toward the door. "If I'm alive."
The door closed behind her.
Those words struck Eyrx harder than his injuries.
If I'm alive…?
His chest felt heavy.
Why would she say something like that?
Before he could ask anything, Hazel quickly interrupted his thoughts.
"Eyrx, do you remember anything that happened to you?"
Eyrx held his head weakly.
"I only remember a green light… and blood." His voice became lower. "My whole body was covered in blood. But strangely… I felt powerful before I collapsed."
Hazel's grandmother sighed.
"Forget about it for now. Look how weak you've become."
Hazel crossed her arms and smirked slightly.
"To me, it looks like you drank too much and fought someone all night."
Eyrx immediately frowned.
"You know I don't drink."
"Relax, I'm joking," Hazel replied with a small laugh.
Meanwhile…
Outside the hospital, Grace walked toward the parking area. The cold evening wind moved through her hair as she unlocked her car and sat inside.
She stayed silent for a few seconds, staring at the steering wheel.
Who did this to Eyrx?
Her phone suddenly rang.
Grace answered calmly.
"Yes?"
"Did you leave for the city?" a deep voice asked from the other side.
"I just started the car," Grace replied. "Eyrx was badly injured. He's in the hospital."
The voice instantly became serious.
"What happened to him?"
"I don't know. Someone found him near the highway."
A short silence followed.
"I'll come meet Eyrx."
"So the mission has started."
"Yes."
"Good luck, Grace."
The call ended.
Grace started driving.
Night slowly covered the roads as her car moved through the empty highway. Mountains surrounded the area, dark and endless beneath the evening sky.
After hours of driving, she finally looked at the map.
5 minutes remaining.
Soon, a giant hotel appeared ahead of her.
The building stood isolated between mountains like a forgotten place. A large parking area stretched to the left side while darkness covered everything around it.
Grace parked the car and entered the hotel.
Inside, the lobby was quiet.
A well-dressed receptionist smiled politely.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I need one room for two days."
"Your ID, please."
Grace handed her the ID card and answered a few personal questions.
After a moment, the receptionist gave her a silver key.
"Room 22."
Grace took the key and walked upstairs.
The corridor felt strangely silent.
No voices.
No footsteps.
Only the sound of the cold wind moving through the hallway.
She unlocked the room and stepped inside.
The room was clean and simple — a bed, a small sofa, a balcony, and dim yellow lights.
Grace placed her luggage aside, removed her coat and shoes, then freshened herself before sitting on the bed with her laptop.
But instead of opening it, she picked up her phone and tried calling Eyrx.
Suddenly—
CLICK.
The lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Grace stood up immediately.
"What is this…?"
She checked her phone.
No signal.
Thirty to forty minutes passed, but the electricity still didn't return.
Finally, she stepped outside into the corridor.
As she walked, a strange feeling crawled through her body.
Someone was following her.
Grace instantly looked back.
Nothing.
She continued walking again.
Then suddenly—
A shadow moved at the end of the corridor.
Grace stopped.
"Is anyone there?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
She reached the reception desk and spoke coldly.
"What happened to the electricity? It's been over an hour."
The receptionist apologized nervously.
"There's a wire issue, ma'am. The lights probably won't return until morning."
Grace sighed tiredly and turned away, but then suddenly stopped.
"If it's only a wire issue… then why is there no signal?"
The receptionist looked at her strangely.
"You're new in this city, aren't you?"
"Yes."
A small smile appeared on the girl's face.
"Then you'll discover many interesting things here."
Grace stared at her for a moment before walking back upstairs.
This time the corridor felt safer.
She opened her room door—
CLICK.
The lights suddenly returned.
Grace frowned immediately.
"They said morning…"
Ignoring the strange feeling, she sat on the bed and called Eyrx again.
The phone rang several times before someone answered.
"Hello?"
"Hazel?" Grace asked softly.
"Yeah. Eyrx is sleeping. Do you want me to tell him something tomorrow?"
"Just tell him I reached safely."
"I will."
Grace hesitated for a second.
"How's Eyrx?"
"He's recovering, but those injuries made him really weak."
Grace lowered her eyes.
"May God heal him soon."
After ending the call, Grace opened her laptop and searched for historical places nearby.
A few minutes later, her father called.
"Yes, Dad?"
"You reached safely?"
"Yes."
His voice became cold.
"Stay strong… and remember why you went there."
Grace's expression darkened.
"To take revenge for Mom's death."
"Good."
The call ended.
Later that night…
Grace suddenly woke up around midnight.
The room felt freezing cold.
She walked into the bathroom and washed her face before looking into the mirror.
Then—
Her breathing stopped.
A black shadow stood behind her reflection.
Grace's eyes widened.
She instantly turned around.
No one.
Her heartbeat became faster.
She quickly grabbed the gun beside her bed.
"Who's here?!"
Silence.
Then a dark figure appeared near the balcony.
Grace aimed the gun immediately.
"Don't move!"
Slowly, she walked closer.
Step by step.
But when she reached the balcony—
Nothing.
Suddenly—
CLICK.
The lights went off again.
Darkness covered the room.
"Who are you?!" Grace shouted.
No reply came.
Then suddenly she heard whispering outside.
"Grace…"
A shadow moved past the balcony.
Without hesitation, she chased after it.
Down the corridor.
Down the stairs.
Into the lobby.
The receptionist looked shocked.
"What happened, ma'am?"
"Someone ran this way!"
"There's nobody—"
Grace suddenly saw the shadow near the hotel gate.
She immediately fired.
BANG!
The receptionist screamed in fear.
But Grace ignored her and continued chasing the figure outside.
The shadow disappeared deep into the forest.
Rain clouds gathered above as Grace followed it further and further until she realized—
She was lost.
Suddenly, shadows appeared around her from every direction.
One after another.
Dozens of dark figures surrounded her silently.
Grace tightened her grip on the gun.
Then they attacked.
Grace fought like a professional fighter, moving quickly between the shadows. Punches, kicks, knife strikes, gunshots—
The forest echoed with violence.
For several minutes, she continued fighting without stopping.
But after nearly six minutes…
She realized she couldn't defeat them.
The shadows kept coming endlessly.
Blood dripped from her shoulder while her breathing became heavier.
Grace turned and ran deeper into the forest.
Heavy rain suddenly began pouring from the sky.
She had no shoes now.
Wet mud covered the ground beneath her feet.
She slipped hard into the mud and crashed onto the ground.
Pain shot through her body.
Breathing heavily, she struggled to stand again.
Then she started running once more.
But suddenly—
A hand grabbed her neck from the darkness and lifted her into the air.
Grace kicked violently, trying to free herself.
But slowly…
Her legs stopped moving.
Several shadowy men appeared around her.
Without saying a single word, they began digging into the wet ground.
Grace's vision blurred as they threw her inside the pit.
Cold mud crashed onto her body.
One shovel after another buried her beneath the earth.
Rain continued falling heavily above the grave.
And within minutes…
It looked as if she had never existed at all.