The rooftop didn't feel the same anymore.
Even after the fight ended—
Even after Kai disappeared—
Something remained.
A shift.
A presence.
Aarav stood quietly, looking at the space where Kai had vanished.
"…He didn't leave," he said.
Mira frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
"…He just stepped out."
"…Out of what?"
Aarav didn't answer.
Because he didn't know how to explain it yet.
Footsteps echoed behind them.
Multiple.
Organized.
Aarav didn't turn.
"…Took you long enough."
The organization had arrived.
This time—
Not just a few members.
A full team.
Equipped.
Prepared.
Serious.
Mira glanced back.
"…They came fast."
"…They were already on the way," Aarav replied.
The leader stepped forward.
His expression sharper than before.
"…Report."
Aarav smirked faintly.
"…You usually start with 'are you okay'."
"…We already know you are."
"…That's reassuring."
Silence.
Then—
"…You engaged with another irregular," the leader said.
"…Yes."
"…And you didn't eliminate him."
Aarav tilted his head slightly.
"…Was I supposed to?"
"…If possible."
"…It wasn't."
The leader studied him carefully.
"…Or you chose not to."
A brief pause.
Aarav didn't deny it.
"…Both."
Mira stepped forward.
"…He wasn't like the others."
"…Explain."
"…He didn't behave like an anomaly," she said.
"…He was aware."
"…Controlled."
"…Deliberate."
The leader nodded slightly.
"…We expected as much."
Silence.
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
"…You expected him?"
"…Not him specifically."
"…But others like him."
That—
Changed things.
"…How many?" Aarav asked.
"…Unknown."
"…That's helpful."
"…It's accurate."
The leader turned slightly.
"…The system update wasn't random."
Mira frowned.
"…You think it triggered this?"
"…No."
A pause.
"…We think it responded to it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Important.
Aarav leaned back slightly.
"…So something changed before the update."
"…Yes."
"…And we're just catching up."
"…Exactly."
The leader gestured slightly.
One of the members stepped forward, activating a device.
A projection appeared in the air.
Clean.
Structured.
Unlike Aarav's.
"…We've been tracking anomaly frequency," the leader said.
The display shifted.
Graphs.
Spikes.
Sharp increases.
"…It's no longer isolated events."
"…It's spreading."
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"…Global?"
"…Not yet."
A brief pause.
"…But it's heading there."
Aarav crossed his arms.
"…And the system?"
The leader didn't hesitate.
"…It has entered containment mode."
Silence.
"…Meaning?" Mira asked.
"…It is no longer observing."
"…It is acting."
The words lingered.
Cold.
Clear.
Aarav's screen flickered faintly.
[ C O N T A I N M E N T P R O T O C O L A C T I V E ]
He smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
"I noticed."
"…What does that mean for us?" Mira asked.
The leader looked at Aarav.
"…It means you are now a target."
Silence.
Mira stiffened.
"…That's not acceptable."
"…It's not optional."
Aarav exhaled slowly.
"…So now the system is hunting."
"…Correct."
"…Good."
Mira turned sharply.
"…Good?"
Aarav's eyes sharpened.
"…That means it's worried."
A brief pause.
Then—
"…There's more," the leader said.
Aarav glanced at him.
"…Of course there is."
"…Reyansh has been deployed."
Silence.
Heavy.
Immediate.
Mira's expression tightened.
"…Specifically?"
"…Yes."
Aarav smirked faintly.
"…So now I get a personal hunter."
"…You are classified as a priority irregular."
"…That sounds important."
"…It is."
The air shifted slightly.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Aarav felt it.
Again.
That presence.
Watching.
Closer than before.
"…And not just the system," he thought.
"…You need to come with us," the leader said.
Mira frowned.
"…For what?"
"…Containment."
Silence.
Aarav's expression didn't change.
"…No."
The answer was immediate.
Final.
The team tensed slightly.
"…This is not a request," the leader said.
"…Then it's a bad idea."
"…Explain."
Aarav stepped forward slightly.
"…Because if I go with you…"
He paused.
"…Everything will follow."
Silence.
The meaning was clear.
Too clear.
Mira looked at him.
"…You're serious."
"…Always."
The leader studied him for a moment longer.
Then—
"…Then you're on your own."
Aarav smirked.
"…I always was."
The team stepped back.
Not attacking.
Not forcing.
Just—
Leaving.
Because they understood one thing now.
This wasn't something they could control.
Mira exhaled slowly.
"…So what now?"
Aarav looked at the city again.
"…Now?"
A faint smile appeared.
"…We move first."
Because if the system was hunting—
Then waiting—
Was no longer an option.