Chapter 85: Gear Shift
Yui’s body refused to move, every muscle aching as he forced himself up onto trembling arms. The man’s gaze shifted toward Yui, cold and calculating, then flicked briefly to Kimi, who lay unmoving nearby.
The man approached Yui, extending a hand. A small black orb materialized in his palm, and Yui’s heart skipped a beat. He braced himself, teeth gritted, expecting a blow or worse—
But the orb simply floated inches from his face.
Yui grimaced, waiting... but nothing happened.
The woman called out impatiently, "We need to go. We’ve got less than a few minutes before full backup arrives, and it’s going to get even bloodier."
The man—Silas—sighed deeply. "I know. I was just hoping to avoid losing so many on our side." His voice carried genuine regret. "It’s really a shame."
His eyes caught something else, just beyond them—a suit, battered but intact, hanging on a nearby post. Elara’s suit. Silas quickly snatched it up, his gaze then shifting to where Elias and Elara lay on the ground, motionless.
He paused, considering. "Vincent must have used the gas on her. This would be an ideal time to take her shard..."
As he stepped toward them, a sudden chill raced down his spine. Yui had somehow staggered to his feet, swaying but defiant.
"You thought you’d just... do whatever you wan—"
Before Yui could finish, the world around him suddenly went dark, as though someone had flipped a switch in his mind. His thoughts blurred, consciousness slipping just enough to disconnect him from reality for a brief moment.