The first rays of sunlight pierced through the veil of the misty valley, casting golden streaks over the ancient ruins and broken trees. Birds chirped from high perches, but the melodies were distant, almost reluctant to intrude upon this cursed place.

While most of the group had only just begun to stir from sleep, Kai had already lapped the entire Valley of Beasts four times over.

He hadn't slept. Not even for a moment.

Instead, he'd moved like a silent shadow beneath the moon, slipping through the trees, gliding over cracked stone paths, and vaulting over ravines. His frustration had festered since he ran out of cigs and had nothing else to do. It twisted in his chest like a thorn he couldn't yank out.

And so he hunted, his eyes completely dyed red as he took in all the living creatures in his surroundings.

The beasts here weren't weaklings. Every one of them was a predator that had survived in the Valley for years - creatures mutated into grotesque forms by the Z Virus, some fused with plant matter, others entirely muscle and teeth.

Perfect.

He cut through them one by one.

Snap. A four-legged lizard the size of a horse lunged at him from above. Kai didn't blink. A lash of blood from his palm spiralled like a whip and cleaved its head clean off before it even hit the ground.

But this wasn't just slaughter. He was training.

His battle with Iancu had left more than bruises - it left ideas. The way the pale mutant moved with his mist… it was graceful, unhurried, refined. The mist had flowed around him like living fog, slipping through gaps and choking them before they could even react.

Kai wanted that same finesse. That same control.

The mist was subtle, hard to track. Kai's blood was the opposite - visceral, vibrant, impossible to ignore. But there were similarities. Both could harden, reshape, reform.

He didn't know how Iancu's power worked exactly, but that didn't matter. He'd take what he could understand and make it his own.

By the time the sun crept high enough to crest over the trees, Kai stood at the edge of the manor's courtyard, drenched in gore.

Tendrils of blood spiralled from his outstretched fingers, holding aloft half a dozen beast corpses like grotesque marionettes. They hovered behind him, twitching and limp, their eyes glazed over in death.

As he walked forward, not even trying to wipe himself clean, the others turned to look and immediately froze mid-conversation.

Sven, Nadya, Lenny, Amina, and Isaac stared, their mouths slowly opening in various degrees of shock. Even Iancu, lounging inside the grand, vine-choked hall, paused his tea sip - but only for a moment.

"These were the ones that looked the tastiest," Kai said casually, letting the carcasses drop to the mossy ground with a wet thud.

His red eyes were bloodshot - not that anyone could really tell with how naturally red they already were - but his face was pale, lips cracked, and there was a wildness in his gaze that told them he hadn't slept. Not even a wink.

"You wouldn't happen to have a shower in this haunted house of yours, would you?" he asked, glancing at Iancu.

The pale man, who looked half-asleep under the shadow of a heavy curtain, waved a lazy hand. "No running water, unfortunately. Though you might find a small spring…"

"I spotted it while roaming around," Kai interrupted. He sniffed himself, winced slightly. "I'll get cleaned up. Got any clothes?"

"Help yourself," Iancu gestured vaguely toward the upper halls. "Take the left wing. Third corridor. Rooms still smell like mothballs."

Kai gave a sharp nod and disappeared inside. He didn't have to say anything more - he knew Sven would handle the gutting and butchering. The man loved his daggers and knives too much not to.

He returned not long after, dressed in some nobleman's ruined formalwear that he had torn and wrapped around his frame to resemble something more modern. It still had the flare of a forgotten era - large buttons and wide collars - but it did the job.

His hair was damp, face freshly washed, but specks of blood still clung to his forearms and neck like red tattoos.

They ate outside in silence.

The morning breeze was cool, brushing against their skin, carrying the scent of wildflowers and iron.

Iancu remained indoors for obvious reasons. His dog-beast companion rested beside him, gnawing on a bone longer than Isaac's leg. Amina and Lenny had taken him some meat earlier, which he appreciated with a ghostly nod.

Nadya sat hunched over her food, clearly hungover. Sven wore sunglasses that he probably didn't own yesterday. The others - Isaac, Amina, and Lenny - kept their heads down, chewing quietly.

The usual chatter was gone. Even Takeshi was absent again, probably meditating on the rooftop or some far-off ridge like a wandering spirit.

Kai ate slowly, eyes fixed on the horizon.

His thoughts churned like storm clouds.

"You know what's the best hangover cure?" Sven suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Nadya's eyes lit up slightly. "Now you're talking my language."

The two of them bolted upright like schoolkids ditching class. They disappeared into the manor and came running back out with dusty old bottles - more of that stuff that was likely wine or brandy or mutant moonshine. They weren't sure, but it hit the spot if you overlooked the smell and taste.

"Breakfast of champions!" Sven declared, uncorking his bottle with his teeth.

"Cheers to poor life decisions," Nadya grinned, clinking her bottle against his.

They downed the contents without hesitation, even as the others watched with a mix of amusement and horror.

"Isn't it like… eight in the morning?" Isaac whispered.

"They're not human," Lenny muttered, which was ironic considering his appearance.

Amina giggled quietly behind her hands.

But just as the laughter began to build, Kai set down the last of his food.

His eyes, red as ever, stared into the fire.

And when he spoke, the weight of his voice cut through the joy like a blade.

"I've been thinking," he said softly, "and I've made up my mind."

Every eye turned toward him.

Because they all knew, when Kai spoke like that, something was coming.

And it wouldn't be easy.

-

The air turned heavy as the fire crackled softly between them. Bottles clinked. Nadya let out a quiet burp. But all eyes were on Kai, who hadn't said a word in a while, until now.

"I need to leave," he said plainly.

Silence. Even the trees seemed to be still.

The group sat up straighter, the earlier buzz of laughter fading into anticipation. Something about his tone - steady, serious - made their skin prickle.

Kai stared into the fire, as if searching for the words inside the flames. "I've had this on my mind for a while now… ever since New York, but just haven't had the chance."

Amina's smile vanished. Lenny tilted his head, eyes narrowing. Sven and Nadya, even in their mildly drunk state, immediately sobered.

"I can't drag you guys into this," Kai continued. "You've done enough. All of you. But this next part... it's mine."

"Let me guess," Isaac muttered, rubbing his temples. "This is about her, isn't it?"

Kai nodded. "Seraphina. That bitch is performing in London soon."

The name alone dropped his mood several degrees colder, and his gaze sharpened. "I plan on getting my hands on her."

A loud snap came from the firewood. No one said anything at first - then finally, Sven spoke, voice low and uncertain. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

Kai didn't respond.

Sven pushed further, "If you're right about her, if she really has some kind of mind control or illusion ability, then she's not someone you can just walk up to and grab. She's world-famous, Kai. Cameras, security, mutant protection. This'll cause a commotion like no other."

"I know," Kai said, voice calm. "I've considered all of that."

He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. "And honestly? I haven't thought that far ahead. But when have we ever?"

He grinned faintly, the old reckless glint returning to his eyes.

"I'll get there. I'll make a plan. Execute it as best I can. It'll probably go to shit like it always does… and I'll adapt like I always do."

Nadya blinked at him. "You're insane."

"Yeah," he muttered. "But it's the only lead I've got."

The others exchanged looks. They couldn't even argue with that. Chaos followed them daily. Charging into danger and making it work? That was basically their lifestyle now.

"Is that it?" Lenny asked, tilting his head.

Kai shook his head slowly. "No. After I get to her… I'm going to get answers. About what she did to me. What happened to my memories. And once I've squeezed every damn word out of her, I'm going after the AMC."

He paused, letting the weight of that settle.

"I recognised that woman in New York. I'm pretty sure I was a soldier… US military likely. I need access to those records. I'll find out where they keep that stuff - even if it means breaking into the most secure base they have."

"Jesus…" Isaac muttered.

Kai continued, voice unwavering. "Once I have what I need - from her, and from them - I'm going after Nyx."

The name fell like a stone.

No one spoke for a long moment. It wasn't just a plan. It was a declaration.

That was when Kai noticed another presence, silent as ever.

Takeshi.

The blindfolded swordsman had joined them, seemingly appearing from thin air. He didn't say a word, just sat there, arms folded, nodding slightly - as if saying I hear you and I understand.

Kai glanced at him, then back at the others.

"That's it," he said. "That's what I'm going to do."

He expected resistance. Warnings. Pleas to stay, to think it through.

What he got instead... was the complete opposite...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.