Here's your final test, nigga."
Sefu's voice was sharp, cutting through the cold night air. Korir stood in the middle of an abandoned lot, surrounded by the dim glow of streetlights. The mission details were simple—get in, retrieve the intel, and get out without being seen. No slip-ups. No second chances.
Korir exhaled, stretching his fingers. "Bet."
The moment the signal was given, he vanished. Timeshift activated, his body moving between moments, weaving through security like a ghost. The warehouse was tight, packed with guards, but none of them saw him coming. A flicker of shadow, a silent step, and he was past them all.
The safe was cracked, the documents secured. Clean, flawless.
When he returned, Sefu was already waiting, arms crossed.
"Not bad," Sefu admitted. "You handled it cleanly."
Korir tossed the sealed documents onto the table. "What's next?"
Sefu's expression shifted. "Your friend won't be returning."
Korir's body tensed. "What do you mean?"
"Zero's been recruited by another society. Obsidian Fang."
Silence.
Korir's fingers curled into fists. He had fought beside Zero, trained with him, survived with him. Now he was just... gone?
"Guess it suits him," Sefu continued. "Obsidian Fang doesn't follow orders. They only move for profit, power, or chaos. Zero… well, he always had his own path."
Korir inhaled sharply but forced himself to stay composed.
"I see," he said, voice steady. "Then I'll just have to get stronger. Strong enough that even if we meet again, I won't be left behind."
Sefu smirked. "That's the spirit. Now, welcome to Toma officially."
Korir took a deep breath. This was just the beginning.
But somewhere, in the shadows of another city, Zero was walking a path that might one day bring them face to face again—not as friends, but as enemies.