The mansion was in chaos.
Rogues—twisted, pale creatures with soulless eyes—had broken through the enchantments. They moved like shadows, hissing and snarling, hungry for blood. Hungry for her.
Mona stood at the center of it all, breath steady, her blood humming with light.
Sunghoon stood to her left, a sword made of shadow in his hand. Niki to her right, eyes burning red, claws already out.
"Stay behind us," Sunghoon said again, voice sharp.
But Mona didn't move.
"No," she said. "I'm not running."
"Mona, this isn't a game," Niki growled. "They'll kill you."
"They'll try," she said calmly. Then, louder:
"Let them come."
The floor beneath her cracked—her glowing mark pulsing as a light like moonfire erupted from her body.
A rogue leapt toward her—fangs bared—
BOOM.
Mona's hands shot forward. A blast of silver light hit the creature midair, burning its flesh into ash before it even hit the floor.
The room froze.
Even the Rogues paused.
Niki stared at her, stunned. "You… you controlled it."
Sunghoon's grip on his sword tightened. "Her light is awakening faster than we expected."
"I didn't even know what I was doing," Mona said, her voice shaking slightly. "I just felt…"
"Protective?" Niki stepped closer. "Of us?"
She met his eyes.
Before she could speak again, more Rogues rushed in—this time faster, stronger.
Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunoo, and Jungwon arrived, each moving like deadly predators. The boys fought with elegance and rage—fangs out, eyes glowing, the truth of their identities no longer hidden.
But Mona held her ground.
When a Rogue tried to blindside Niki, she screamed, "No!" and sent a wave of light that wrapped around him like a shield.
Niki turned, breathless. "You saved me."
"I told you," she said, panting. "I'm not just some girl who draws in the corner."
Sunghoon slashed another Rogue in half, but his attention never left her.
The battle was bloody. The air smelled like smoke and magic. One by one, the Rogues fell—burned by Mona's light, destroyed by Enhypen's fury.
When the last one crumbled to ash, the mansion fell into silence.
Everyone stood still—catching their breath.
Mona dropped to her knees, overwhelmed. "I… I can't believe we survived."
Niki knelt beside her, holding her shoulders. "You did more than survive. You led."
"You were amazing," Jake said from across the room, grinning.
Jay nodded. "You're one of us now."
She looked up at them all. Her eyes flickered with silver.
"I don't think I'm one of you," she said softly. "I think I'm something… else."
Later That Night
She stood in the garden, wrapped in a cloak, watching the moon. Her thoughts were loud. Her heart louder.
Niki found her first.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, sitting beside her.
She shook her head. "I feel like a storm."
He looked at her gently. "A beautiful one."
She blushed but stayed silent.
"I meant what I said earlier," he whispered. "I trust you. I always have. Even when I didn't know why."
Before she could answer—
"Am I interrupting?" Sunghoon's voice came from behind.
Mona turned.
"No," she said. "Just… thinking."
Sunghoon stepped into the light, the silver in his eyes faint but visible. "You saved us. You saved him," he added, glancing at Niki.
"I'd do it again," Mona said simply.
Niki stood up. "You're not the only one who cares about her, Sunghoon."
Sunghoon raised a brow. "Is that what this is?"
Mona stepped between them. "Enough."
She looked at both of them. "Whatever this is—whatever we are—we have to focus. Something bigger is coming. I can feel it."
Sunghoon looked at her like she was the moon itself.
Niki looked at her like she was his anchor.
And Mona?
She looked at the blood-red sky.
Something was calling to her.
Something ancient.
And it had her name.