Hotaru floated in a formless void—cold, endless, and utterly silent. Her body was gone. No heartbeat, no breath. She couldn't tell if she was alive or dead. Shadows wrapped around her like whispers of the forgotten, dragging her deeper into the abyss.

"You've lost everything, haven't you?"

The voice echoed all around her, soft and ancient yet filled with unfathomable power. Hotaru looked up—or at least, she thought she did. Before her, a figure emerged from the darkness, shrouded in shadows, their presence both terrifying and serene. It was the Primis of Death.

Its eyes glowed like distant stars, peering into Hotaru's very soul. "You are at the threshold, neither alive nor dead. You could let go, drift into nothingness… or you could rise once more as my vessel."

Hotaru's mind raced. Memories of her short time in Eidolon flashed before her eyes—Kazuki, Lumi, the city streets. Her voice trembled as she answered, "What… what do you want from me?"

"I want nothing. But you… you wish for a purpose, do you not? You seek to protect those you care about. I can give you that purpose."

The Primis extended its hand. "Become my vessel, Hotaru. Carry my power and my will. But understand—this path is not for the living. You will walk the line between life and death, forever changed. Knowledge will flood your mind. You will see Eidolon for what it truly is… and your soul will never be the same."

For a moment, Hotaru hesitated, staring into the void beneath the Primis' hand. "If I do this… I won't be the same person, will I?"

"No," the Primis said softly. "But you will be stronger than ever before."

Hotaru's lips curled into a determined smile. "Then I accept."

The void shook as the Primis' power surged into her. Shadows swirled, wrapping around her like armor. Knowledge and power flooded her mind—Eidolon's true history, the secrets hidden from the world, and the fate she was destined to fulfill. She opened her eyes, now glowing with a cold silver light, her soul forever entwined with death itself.

Back at the Apartment…

Kazuki leaned back on the couch, eyes narrowed as he stared at Sonnet and Andreas. "So… you guys gonna tell me what's really going on?"

The air grew heavy with tension. Andreas scratched the back of his head, glancing at Sonnet, who twirled a coin between her fingers, her expression unreadable.

"Real motives?" Sonnet grinned. "That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

Kazuki crossed his arms. "I'm serious. You clearly know more than you're letting on. You're not just random neighbors who happen to love gambling and fighting. Who are you really?"

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For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Andreas sighed. "Look, Kazuki… It's not that we don't trust you. We've just got our reasons for staying quiet."

Sonnet leaned forward, her silver hair catching the dim light. "Let's just say we've been around longer than you think. But trust us on this—when the time comes, you'll know everything."

Kazuki opened his mouth to press further, but a sharp knock at the door cut him off. It was midnight.

The group froze. Kazuki exchanged a glance with Lumi, who looked equally puzzled. Slowly, he stood and approached the door.

Another knock.

He gripped the handle and pulled it open. Standing in the doorway was Hotaru—but she was barely recognizable. Her body swayed unnaturally, her eyes glowing with an eerie, silver light. Her expression was blank, lifeless, yet somehow… knowing.

"Hotaru…?" Kazuki whispered, his heart pounding.

Hotaru tilted her head slightly, her voice cold and distant. "Kazuki… we meet again."

Kazuki's breath caught in his throat. This was the girl he saved—but she was no longer the same.

The shadows around her seemed to flicker, a chilling presence filling the room as she took a step forward.

And then… everything went dark.

In the dimly lit apartment, Hotaru stood in front of Kazuki, her eyes cold and distant, reflecting something far beyond what they once were. The lifeless aura surrounding her was unnerving, but her voice remained steady and calm—almost too calm.

"Kazuki, listen carefully," she began. "You've already seen what this place can do to people. Eidolon is collapsing under its own weight, and things are only going to get worse."

Kazuki clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering. "What do you want me to do? What's this plan of yours?"

Hotaru crossed her arms, her expression darkening slightly. "You're not ready to fight the Savior—not yet. But you have something that no one else does. The power of Chaos... and a destiny that ties you to the Zodiac Beasts."

Kazuki blinked in confusion. "Zodiac Beasts?"

Hotaru nodded. "The beasts are ancient guardians—remnants of the Primis of Chaos' power. Each one represents a different Zodiac sign. If you defeat them, you'll absorb their true abilities and grow stronger. Right now, your power is just a replica—a fraction of what it could be."

Kazuki furrowed his brows. "And what happens after I defeat them all?"

Hotaru's voice lowered. "Once you have all twelve, you'll be able to challenge the forces that control Eidolon. Only then will you have a chance to survive what's coming... and protect this world."

There was a pause before Kazuki narrowed his eyes. "But what about you? You've been saying you want to go back to the real world ever since you got here. Why are you staying? Why are you doing this?"

Hotaru hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly—a rare, fleeting glimpse of the old Hotaru. "Because... I have a reason to be here now. I was given this power for a reason. And besides, someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

Kazuki's chest tightened at her words, the weight of the situation finally settling in. "Hotaru..."

She turned away, her eyes glowing faintly as she gazed out the window. "I don't have much time left. I need to seal myself to contain this energy. If I lose control, things will get messy."

Kazuki frowned. "Seal yourself? What does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it," Hotaru said, brushing off the question. "Just focus on the Zodiac Beasts for now. You'll know what to do when the time comes."

As she turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder. "Stay alive, Kazuki. Eidolon needs you more than you realize."

And with that, she vanished into the night, leaving Kazuki standing in stunned silence.