Back to the Present

  A Few Moments Later

  Still Inside Hark's Room

  Mr. Hark noticed that only a few seconds remained before Miss Mia would mentally break to the point where returning to normal would become impossible, initiating resonance.

  He watched as Mia abruptly stopped, causing Hark's body to collapse to the ground once the pressure she had cast over the entire room dissipated.

  That pressure had held Hark suspended against the wall against his will, floating invisibly. Immediately after falling to the floor, still severely injured, Hark advanced toward Mia without hesitation, desiring nothing less than to snap her neck.

  She was vulnerable not only physically, but also mentally, after falling into Hark's psychological traps. At that same instant, Sasha's voice echoed for the last time inside Mia's mind, while Hark advanced toward her with a sadistic smile.

  [Sasha of the Past — Echoing Voice, Confident & Joyful] ...Fulfill your mission and find your best friend Emily, and also your aunt Nox. [Happy, Confident sigh] —

  [Sasha of the Past — Echoing Voice, Confident & Joyful] Focus on that, and I promise you with my life that when you and my brother Salin return, little Emi will be waiting for you in your room so you two can play and play, Mia. [Happy, Confident sigh] —

  Hark successfully approached Mia, who, from his perspective, seemed visibly detached from reality—imagining, even if only for a few seconds, that her daughter could have been kidnapped at that exact moment.

  However, in reality, that was not the case. Mia's mind believed it was true because of the fear that her little daughter, Emi, was in danger.

  As the world slowed down, Salin could be seen advancing and placing his hand on Mia's forehead while simultaneously moving toward Hark with his fists clenched tightly.

  With the touch to Mia's forehead, Salin forced her into unconsciousness, preventing an inevitable mental collapse. Instantly after that, Salin rushed forward with eyes consumed by hatred and an enraged smile directed toward Hark.

  Within that slowed-down world, Mia appeared to float backward toward the bed, enveloped by an invisible force. In only a few seconds, she was gently placed above the bed after being carried backward through the air.

  At the exact moment Mia was safely laid unconscious, Salin struck Hark directly in the stomach, no hesitation, with one of his tightly clenched fists. The strike overwhelmed Hark due to Salin's sheer speed.

  The impact caused a wave to ripple through Hark's body, leaving him stunned and in excruciating pain. He instantly spat a large amount of black fluid onto the ground.

  A second later, Hark was thrown back into the wall behind him, the surface collapsing inward under the force of his body, his eyes rolling back.

  In the slowed-down reality, Kalin could still hear Hark's mind speaking. And by the tone of that voice, Kalin understood that, by daring to do what he had done mere seconds earlier, Hark had triggered the darkest side of Salin.

  This man, beyond protecting his family and friends, held as his most sacred treasures his beloved daughter and wife.

  [Kalin — Mental Whisper, Cheerful & Sarcastic] I genuinely pity you, Hark. Not only did you try to damage the mind of the woman Salin loves most, but to make your pathetic situation even worse—you dared to do all of it right in front of him... [Playful, ironic laugh] —

  A few short seconds after being slammed against the wall, Hark collapsed forward, injured from the impact. Even so, Salin recovered quickly and advanced toward Hark's neck with arms extended.

  With both hands, he grabbed Hark's throat, smiling while staring deeply into his eyes.

  [Salin — Calm Voice & Profoundly Hollow] ...I want you to dare repeat the name of my beloved daughter, Emi. Or my little sister, Sasha. Mister "Manipulator." —

  [(Hark — Furious Thought) ...Damn it!! (Heavy, strained breathing)]

  Salin's previous voice—unfinished—returned, echoing directly toward Hark. His voice not only filled the air, but seemed to pierce into Hark's mind, while the world around them slowed and lost all color.

  [(Hark — Furious Thought) This guy isn't joking. His fists tightening around my neck with that strength... This damned—]

  Mr. Hark remains visibly stunned, catatonic from the sudden blow and from the intensity of the pain caused by Mr. Salin's invisible fist. With Hark's eyes wide open, Salin continues his threat.

  [Salin – Serene Voice & Profoundly Empty] If you dare speak of "them" again, Mr. Hark... I promise you... [Deep & Slow Breath] —

  Salin's voice reveals a deep rage and an urge to dismember every atom of Hark's body for daring to touch even a single strand of hair belonging to the woman he loves, especially after attempting to break him mentally through psychological games.

  [Salin – Serene Voice & Profoundly Empty] What I will do with your existence and essence will be far worse than what the Begeneri brothers would do upon discovering that an Oculi is working with such filthy dealings. [Deep Breath] —

  Now fully controlling his body, Salin tightens his grip around Hark's neck even more, using both hands, keeping him suspended against the wall. Hark, with a catatonic gaze, watches the black liquid dripping not only from his mouth, but also from his nose and eyes.

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  [Salin – Serene Voice & Profoundly Empty] But you are simultaneously working for the humans, selling information through influence, exploiting human species for your own benefit and for your repulsive experiments. [Deep, Serene Breath] —

  [(Hark – Heavy & Tremulous Thought) ...If I keep provoking him any longer, he will certainly burst my neck with the strength of his fists... What curse is this... (Heavy, Choked Breathing)]

  Hark watches before his slowing vision, trembling, as Salin keeps holding him firmly with both hands. While keeping him pinned against the wall, Hark feels his spine being pressed, the pain intensifying.

  The force of Salin's hands is not the only cause—there is something in the environment exerting psychological pressure, crushing Hark's body toward the ground.

  [Hark – Heavy, Tremulous Whisper] Please... [Suffocating Cough] —

  [Salin – Serene Voice & Profoundly Empty] What keeps you alive in this exact moment, Mr. Hark, are simply the pieces of information contained within your mind and... [Serene, Deep Breath] —

  [Hark – Heavy, Tremulous Whisper] Do not kill me, please... [Suffocating Cough] —

  Before Hark's eyes, Salin—previously with short white hair—gradually loses the white coloration, revealing black hair beneath. It becomes evident that Salin is fully conscious of his actions. Although his face holds a cheerful smile, there is no hint of genuine emotion—his empty gaze remains fixed upon Hark's bleeding eyes.

  [Salin – Serene Voice & Profoundly Empty] ...Everything else is meaningless waste to me. The moment Mia and I learn what you can offer regarding the possible location of Emily, and also of Nox... [Calm, Deep Sigh] —

  [Hark – Heavy, Tremulous Whisper] I will tell you everything I know—please, do not kill me... [Suffocating Cough] —

  [Salin – Serene & Profoundly Empty Whisper] ...And who said you have a choice, Mr. Hark? [Tranquil Breath & Cheerfully Empty] —

  Mr. Hark, suffocating, desperately tries to present reasons for Salin—whose eyes carry not even the faintest trace of mercy—to not only snap his neck, but also destroy his existence and essence, turning him into nothing more than an empty shell of flesh, hollow and devoid of anything within.

  At the same time, the world seems even slower than it already is. In that exact moment, Kalin, who had been within the subconscious, speaks to Salin, causing him to close his eyes for a brief moment.

  It is then that Salin is drawn inward, into the depth of his own mind, to speak with Kalin directly.

  Meanwhile, for Hark—who is moments away from being strangled by both hands—there is blood pouring from his opened wounds, burning as it flows, releasing a thick, dark smoke.

  A Few Microseconds Later

  Inside Salin's Mind

  Within the Subconscious

  Salin emerged before the white world, still in the same posture he had been moments earlier when holding Hark, who was no longer there. Only Salin occupied the infinite white space that extended endlessly in every direction.

  Slowly, Salin lowered his arms, keeping his hollow gaze and his smile consumed by hatred toward Hark, who was absent now, existing only in the real world.

  Simultaneously, time flowed so slowly that its motion was almost imperceptible to the human eye.

  [Salin – Hollow & Serious Voice] ...Why did you bring me here, Kalin? Do you want me to pity Hark, after that bastard tried to use my daughter as a tool to break Mia's mind? I know Emi is safe with my sister, Sasha. [Deep breath] —

  Then, with a single blink, the entire white space shifted into the rooftop of a tall building, while the sky assumed a negative tone of what should have been blue. Behind him stood Kalin, with white hair and black garments, staring directly at Salin.

  Kalin understood that, the moment Hark dared to mention Salin's daughter, Emi — and also her godmother, Sasha, who was Salin's younger sister — Salin wanted to tear Hark apart piece by piece, in an even more sadistic manner.

  This was because of Hark's audacity in involving the very few people Salin genuinely loved — those for whom he would give his life to protect at any cost.

  [Kalin – Understanding & Contemplative Voice] Salin, we went to that event to obtain information about Emily and Mia's aunt. Hark used his abilities and information to break Mia's mind, exploiting psychological games that turn a person's deepest fears against them. —

  [Salin – Hollow & Serious Voice] Say whatever you want, Kalin. After we extract every piece of information Hark possesses, I will burn that bastard atom by atom. —

  [Kalin – Understanding & Contemplative Voice] Salin! Hark used your daughter's name against Mia, but it was a bluff. Your little Emi is safe right now. Hark wouldn't even dare harm her in any way, because she is being protected by a few Oculi — old friends of Klein — men respected as assassins within the Oculi underworld. —

  Salin lowered his gaze with a deep breath, picturing his daughter as he closed his eyes for a moment, while Kalin walked toward him to stand at his side.

  Looking at the city — the city that was nothing more than the condensed accumulation of Salin's memories and experiences, structured into metallic constructions like the building where they stood in that exact moment.

  [Salin – Contemplative & Serious Voice] I can't imagine, not even for a single second, my little Emi being harmed in any way by someone seeking revenge for what we did last year — using her as a means to devastate us psychologically and irreversibly. —

  [Kalin – Understanding & Contemplative Voice] I don't know what it's like to be a father, but... I do understand that your greatest fear is losing the person you love most in life, and... I promise you, Salin, that as long as we are working together, I will use my abilities so that you can protect those you love, and so... —

  [Salin – Contemplative & Serious Voice] "...And so?" —

  [Kalin – Understanding & Contemplative Voice] ...And so, please, Salin... Don't kill Hark. Even though he is filth for selling information not only to the Oculi, but to humans as well, he will still become useful in the future somehow — since he has informants everywhere, do you understand? —

  With a snap of his fingers, Kalin caused a shift of space, returning both of them to the real world — though in a kind of elevated mental perspective.

  Allowing Salin and Kalin to see the real Salin strangling Hark, who screamed in pain, while Salin smiled before a world literally frozen in time.

  [Salin – Contemplative & Serious Voice] I have a favor to ask you, Kalin... —

  [Kalin – Understanding & Contemplative Voice] ...And what would that be? —

  Upon Kalin's question, he noticed — with a slightly confused expression — Salin becoming partially translucent as he walked toward his real body that was frozen in time, strangling Hark, while he responded with a firm tone.

  [Salin – Contemplative & Serious Voice] I want you to take Mia safely to my house and place her in an induced coma for no more than three days, because I managed to visualize something... —

  [Kalin – Confused & Concerned Voice] ...Wait, what exactly do you mean by that? —

  Salin then phased into his own body as if he were made of transparent matter, causing a pulse that rippled outward like a malleable wave in every direction.

  For a brief moment, the image around them inverted into negative colors, though at no point did it harm the structure or the people present there, inside or outside the room.

  Salin's voice echoed into the real world as he returned from that suspended state, still beside Kalin, within the mirrored mental reality — making Kalin, before diving into Salin's subconscious, hear Salin speak with a tone both emotional and furious.

  [Salin – Echoing, Heavy & Serious Voice] Please, Kalin... Just do what I'm asking you to do, and I will explain everything afterwards, understood? —

  [Kalin – Confused & Worried Voice] Okay... I'll trust you, Salin. [Deep breath] —