Rain slashed the pavement as Jeongguk stepped over the body, his black coat absorbing the city's glow. The man in the suit was already forgotten—just another name crossed off a list. Blood swirled in the gutter, merging with neon reflections.

Three blocks away, Taehyung crawled through a shattered window, glass biting into his palms. His collar hung loose, half-ripped, the signal dead. Every breath burned through cracked ribs. He could still hear his owner’s voice: You belong to me.

He didn’t see the figure approaching until he froze beneath a flickering lamppost. Jeongguk stared, hand drifting toward his gun. The hybrid trembled—not with fear of death, but with the quiet defiance of someone who had nothing left to lose.

For the first time in years, Jeongguk hesitated.