CHAPTER 82: NO ANSWER

The way the man stood, unnaturally still. Too still. And his scent, faint but wrong. Not quite alive. Not quite dead.

Theo’s system pinged in the back of his mind, confirming what his instincts already whispered.

[Target Identified: Meteorborn Husk]

Theo narrowed his eyes. "You’re not trapped," he muttered.

The man smiled, too wide, too wrong.

[Ding! Accept Main Quest: Unmask the Husk? YES / NO]

"YES," Theo growled, accepting the quest.

He stood, placing himself between Lexa and the threat.

"Sorry," he muttered, "but if you’re already lost... I don’t have the luxury to hold back."

The thing took another slow step, twitching, as if trying to remember how legs worked. Its movements were jerky and unnatural, arms limp, then rigid, then limp again.

"Shadow Step," Theo whispered.

Darkness snaked beneath him. In a blink, he disappeared, reappearing behind the MHusk.

The creature turned its head the wrong way first before swiveling its neck toward him with a sickening pop.

[Silent Strike Activated]

Theo’s strike was quick and quiet, a crushing blow to the base of the skull. The MHusk shrieked, its illusion of humanity breaking. Its jaw unhinged, the tongue extending like a whip as it lunged wildly.

Theo growled, "Ignite Form."

Flames erupted along his arms and back. Heat shimmered as his veins pulsed with burning power. The moment the MHusk lunged again, he let loose his next move.

[Skill Activated: Pyre Burst]

A concentrated explosion of fire engulfed the MHusk mid-leap. Its scream warped into a dying gurgle as its body crashed into the rubble, burning, twisting, limbs convulsing before finally going still.

[Ding! Main Quest Completed]

[+500 EXP, +50 Gold Coins, +Basic Loot Core, +Rare Shard]

The fire crackled briefly, then died down.

Theo deactivated Ignite Form with a breath, the glow on his skin receding. He turned back to Lexa, barely conscious, blinking sluggishly through the haze. "...Theodore?" she mumbled, voice faint and raspy.

Theo blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle as he carried her in his arms.

"Just Theo, alright?" he murmured, adjusting his hold as debris rumbled nearby.

She gave a weak nod before her head leaned against his shoulder, her breathing steady but light. Then she squinted. "Did... Did you light yourself on fire?" she slurred. "That can’t be real... Am I hallucinating again?"

"Probably," he jested. "Just stay awake."

Her lips twitched weakly. "Hellfire... and shadows. You look like something out of a nightmare."

"Good. Means I’m doing it right," he murmured with a smile before he activated Wind Veil, shielding them from the smog and cinders still floating in the air.

Theo didn’t waste another second. With Lexa still weak but breathing, he dashed out of the collapsing corridor and into the open, flames flickering faintly from the smoldering structure.

He spotted the field medics staging near the edge of the stadium, just past the barricades.

"Over here!" one of them shouted as he approached.

He gently laid Lexa down on a stretcher. "Vitals are stable, but she inhaled too much smoke. Might have blunt trauma on her left side."

The medic nodded and began immediate treatment. Theo gave her one last glance, then disappeared before anyone could recognize him.

[Skill Activated: Shadow Step]

In a blink, he vanished back into the ruins. The system interface reappeared in his vision as he moved deeper into the west wing, avoiding loose debris and warped steel.

[Observer’s Insight: 2 active life signals detected - weak vitals.]

Theo adjusted course, leaping over a broken support beam, then crouching low under a tilted stairwell. Smoke curled thick in the air. With Wind Veil still active, he pushed through the choking haze.

In the rubble of what looked like a collapsed locker room, he found them.

A young woman clutching a bleeding leg, half-buried under concrete dust. Beside her, an older man who looked barely conscious, propped against the wall with blood streaking down his temple.

"Don’t move," Theo said calmly.

They blinked up in shock, too weak to speak.

[Skill Activated: Predator Rush]

Power surged through Theo’s limbs as he grabbed the girl first and slung her over his shoulder. Then, with one smooth motion, he hoisted the man onto his back, muscles straining under the weight but holding firm.

Every step forward was chaos, dust, flickering lights, falling debris but Theo didn’t stop. His heartbeat was steady. Movements precise.

Thirty seconds later, he emerged back into the daylight, his body singed but intact. The medics ran toward him again as he laid both survivors down carefully. One tried to ask questions, but he didn’t answer.

Before anyone could blink, Theo vanished again.

He didn’t look back.

There was no time and no need. The stadium had already been cleared of any active Meteorborns, aside from the MHusk he eliminated. The remaining survivors were rescued and handed over to the medics. His mission was done.

Any longer, and AMSO might start asking questions. Or worse, track him down.

He slipped through the side streets, keeping out of sight until he reached his truck. It was right where he left it. Without wasting a second, he climbed in and started the engine, tires kicking up dust as he sped away from the chaos of Bandi City Stadium.

His hands tightened around the steering wheel, his eyes scanning the road but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He reached for his phone and dialed Aries.

No answer.

A frown tugged at his lips. He tried again. Still nothing.

Next, he called Calix.

Then Kael.

Both calls rang out.

No answer. No replies.

Theo’s grip tensed.

"What is going on?" he muttered, unease crawling up his spine like cold fingers. A strange chill settled in his gut, a warning that something wasn’t right. Or was he just overthinking?

Theo quickly dialed Uncle Andres’ home number next. Relief flickered across his face when the call connected.

"Uncle, is Aries and the kids back home already?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

There was a pause on the other end.

"Oh... not yet," Andres replied slowly. "I thought you’re with them?"

Theo’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"No. I left Aries earlier with Calix, Kael and the kids, but I’ve been trying to reach them. None of their phones are answering."

Andres’ voice lowered, serious now. "That’s not good."

"I know," Theo said grimly. "I’m heading back now."

He hit the gas a little harder, speeding through the empty road.