Enko, Tang Yan, and Varian had quietly returned to Beiling City. Unlike the rest of their group, who returned to the capital base, the trio moved cautiously, keeping a low profile to avoid drawing attention. They rented a small, nondescript room, and during this time, Varian came to learn of Tang Yan's secret: the Future Diary. Varian agreed to help Tang Yan keep this secret safe.

With shared purpose, the three of them devised a plan. They wrote down a date in unison, set it firmly in their minds, and then each took sleeping pills to enter the world of dreams.

Together.

As they drifted into the shared dreamscape, the scene that unfolded before them was set a month into the future. In this dream, Enko took the lead, stepping directly into a café, his presence purposeful. The atmosphere in the dream felt surreal, an echo of something yet to happen, with an undertone of tension threading through the air.

Inside the café, Enko's eyes settled on a woman sitting alone. Her demeanor was calm but laced with something enigmatic, a coldness that seemed to ripple beneath the surface. Without hesitation, he approached her.

"Are you the Fateweaver?" he asked, his voice clear, unshaken.

The woman slowly turned her head, her expression blank at first, before morphing into something more dangerous. "What are you talking about?" she replied, her tone as steady as her gaze.

"You should recognize my face, right?" Enko pressed, determined to get an answer.

The woman's lips curled into a strange, almost mocking smile as she regarded him with sudden intensity. "So you know?" she mused softly, the words slipping from her like venom. "That's really... embarrassing."

Without warning, the air around Enko shifted. Before he could react, the woman flicked her hand, and from her fingertips shot out invisible threads—silk-like, but impossibly strong. The threads wrapped around him in an instant, binding his body with precision.

Enko struggled, but the bonds held fast, constricting tighter with each passing second. His vision blurred, and just as quickly as it had begun, darkness swallowed him whole. His consciousness faded, the dream collapsing into a cold, empty void.

The first dream ended in failure.

The three woke up from the shared dream with a single, unsettling conclusion: their direct approach against 006 had ended in failure. Enko, Varian, and Tang Yan gathered to discuss their next move.

"If we try to assassinate 006 from the outside," Tang Yan suggested, "is it possible?"

Varian shook his head, grimacing. "The chances seem low, but we can at least try. Without pushing the limits, we'll never find a way through."

Determined, the trio continued to experiment, returning to the dream world again and again. Their waking lives became mere intervals between these dreamscapes, a blur of sleep deprivation and forced slumber. To stay on track, they resorted to taking sleeping pills every day. Over time, their continuous trials revealed new insights.

"During the last test," Enko mused, "when I approached 006 with the bombs strapped to me, she didn't attack as quickly as she usually does."

Tang Yan nodded. "That means she hesitated. Maybe the number of bombs was enough to make her cautious."

Enko leaned back, deep in thought. "But 006 can use her silver threads to control my body. She could just pull me away, keeping the bombs at a safe distance."

"We can counter that," Varian said, his eyes gleaming. "We'll tell her the bombs are remote-controlled. If she tries to move you, we'll detonate them instantly."

With renewed focus, the trio prepared for their next test. But even with this new strategy, the unexpected happened once again—006 manipulated her threads to sever the bomb lines on Enko's body without hesitation.

Tang Yan frowned. "What do we do now?"

"Find a way to stop her from cutting the bombs," Varian suggested.

"Not realistic," Enko replied, shaking his head. "She's too precise. She'll figure out a weak point eventually."

Tang Yan tapped his chin, an idea forming. "Then let's bluff. Tell her the bomb lines are interconnected. If she cuts even one wrong wire, the whole thing will explode."

Varian grinned. "That could work. She'll have to second-guess herself and won't act recklessly."

"But what if she doesn't go for the bombs at all?" Enko's voice dropped. "What if she just cuts me instead?"

The room fell silent as they all pondered the grim possibility. Finally, Tang Yan broke the silence with an idea.

"Is there a way," he began slowly, "to connect the bomb to the person's life force? If she kills Enko, the bomb goes off immediately?"

Varian sighed, rubbing his temples. "We're going in circles. We can't use tech we don't have, and blowing up a building—well, that just complicates things."

Tang Yan leaned back, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Then why not create the *idea* of the bomb? You know... something like Schrödinger's Cat. As long as she *believes* the bomb exists and it's powerful enough to kill her, then it becomes real in her mind."

Enko sat up straighter, his eyes lighting up. "Exactly. We don't need an actual bomb. The threat alone is enough. If she thinks I'm carrying something that could blow her to pieces, she'll hesitate."

Varian furrowed his brow, still unconvinced. "So we trick her into thinking there's a bomb on you. Sure, that might stop her from killing you instantly, but what about the endgame? We still have to kill her somehow. If there's no real bomb, what's our actual plan?"

The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of Varian's question hung over them. They had been so focused on preventing Enko's immediate death that they hadn't thought through the final step—how to end 006.

"We need a real way to kill her," Enko murmured, breaking the silence. "Something more than just a bluff."

Tang Yan's eyes darkened as he spoke up. "What if we somehow lured her into a trap? Not just any trap, but one she wouldn't see coming. Somewhere isolated, where we control the environment."

Varian crossed his arms. "You're talking about baiting her into an uninhabited building, right? But if we clear out the area in advance, 006 will definitely sense something's off."

Enko hesitated this time, prolonging the moment as he peered into Beiling's future once more. He needed to see if their actions had made any difference.

But to his dismay, the future remained unchanged.

006 still controlled everything.

No matter how many times they attempted to alter events, no matter what strategies they devised, nothing shifted. The outcome was the same, as if fate itself was mocking their efforts. Enko's chest tightened with a growing sense of dread, a terrifying realization creeping into his mind.

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"Could it be... that by seeing the future, we caused it to happen?"

"So, what if we do nothing?" Enko's voice cut through the silence, a desperate idea born from the paradox they couldn't escape. Maybe, just maybe, by standing still, they could change everything.

The group mulled it over. Perhaps their constant interference was fueling the future they dreaded. Why not stop? Let things unfold on their own? If they ceased their efforts, maybe the grim future of 006 controlling Beiling City would fade away.

But it didn't.

In theory, doing nothing should have altered the course. But all it did was delay the inevitable. When the future resurfaced, it was worse. 006 was stronger, more powerful than ever—gaining an immortality that hadn't existed before.

"Nothing is worse than this," Varian muttered, his frustration palpable.

"If we stop now," Tang Yan interjected, "maybe we can give Beiling City a brief reprieve, avoid the catastrophe... but only for a time."

"And when it comes back," Enko added, "006 will be invincible. Unstoppable."

"Is there no way out of this?" Tang Yan whispered.

Varian, overcome with frustration, slammed his fist against the wall. "Every day that passes brings us closer to that day. And we're still here, empty-handed, no plan—are we really going to just... run?"

Enko, staring out the window, drifted in thought. His gaze landed on a child playing soccer outside. The child missed a shot but immediately chased after the ball, determined to kick it again.

A light flickered in Enko's eyes. He turned back to the group, an idea forming.

"Of course, if we can't kill 006 in one go, we won't aim for that on the first try," Enko said, his voice steady with determination.

Tang Yan and Varian exchanged puzzled looks. "What do you mean?" Varian asked.

Enko leaned forward, a glimmer of a plan in his eyes. "Listen to me. I have an idea. We already know 006 will end up in that building in the future, right? So, we let the future unfold as planned. I'll get close to her, trigger the sequence that leads to her controlling Beiling. But, we set up bombs in her new base *before* she ever moves there."

Tang Yan frowned. "And she won't notice?"

"No. That building is far outside her current territory. If we act now, there's no way she'll know what we've done."

Varian nodded, starting to see the outline of the plan. "So, we let the future play out as normal, let her move to that place, and then... we detonate the bombs?"

"Exactly," Enko confirmed, but there was a catch. Varian voiced it: "But what if she discovers the trap? What if she escapes before the explosion?"

Enko's lips curled into a grin. "Theoretically, all we need to do is keep her there, right?"

"Yes, but how?" Tang Yan pressed.

"I have a way to stop her." Enko lifted his chin confidently. "I have a hundred percent certainty on this."

'During the Death Game, I unlocked a skill—a legendary-level ability. It's guaranteed to cause my opponent to slip.'

Enko continued, "We let the future develop as it's supposed to. In the original timeline, 006 doesn't want to kill me; she wants to turn me into one of her monsters. So, she won't strike me down immediately."

"And while she hesitates, I'll keep her trapped inside the building. I'll make sure she's still there when the bomb goes off."

...

Number 009: Splitter.

Vampire 008's successful experiment led to a major breakthrough in the biofactory's ongoing research, culminating in the creation of 009, one of Mei's greatest achievements.

However, Mei herself had written a stark warning in bold, red letters across the top of 009's document:

"009 has a very unique personality. Do not communicate with it to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

P/S: Can't really understand human language!

...

The rainy season had passed, leaving Beiling City to bake under dry, hot days and shiver in the chill of the evening air. Amidst the shifting weather, blood pooled beneath 003 Han Verte, his body sprawled across the cracked pavement. Standing over him was a white-haired man, draped in a black jacket, whose face bore a vicious expression, radiating cold malice. Around his neck, a serpent coiled tightly, tail gripped in its mouth— like a ouroboros.

The man's voice dripped with condescension as he spoke. "Do you know what the eagle does when its young grow strong enough?"

Han, bleeding and barely able to lift his gaze, struggled to comprehend his words, but the man's tone never faltered.

"They push them off the cliff," the man continued. "Either they fall to their death or spread their wings and fly. In the end, the weak are weeded out, and only the strong survive—those who truly represent the group."

He smirked, pressing his foot harder onto Han's chest. The pain shot through Han like an electric current, his bones feeling as though they were ready to splinter apart with even the smallest shift.

"I am Lord's most outstanding creation. Almost perfect, unlike you pathetic rejects."

Han gritted his teeth, every fiber of his body crying out in agony, but he managed to speak, voice hoarse. "…001 has returned to find the Lord. You're done here."

The man's sneer deepened. "Oh, I'm far from done. You think you can wait for the Lord to save you?" He chuckled darkly. "I've already deciphered the signal she left for me."

Han's eyes narrowed in confusion, bloodied lips twitching as the man continued.

"Only the fit survive. The weak? They're erased. You all lived too greedily, thinking yourselves untouchable because no one dared to challenge you." He tilted his head, an eerie gleam in his eye. "Well, I'm here now. I'm your opponent. Try to survive if you can—or be eliminated."

"The Lord's meaning is clear. She doesn't need to act directly, not when I can read her signals perfectly."

And before Han could form a question, the man pulled out his phone, displaying a series of messages. With a sardonic grin, he let Han glimpse the screen, scrolling quickly through the messages, though the text blurred before Han's failing vision.

"You don't need to understand the details," the man mocked. "Just know the Lord left her instructions for me."

On the screen was a brief conversation. The man had typed message after message, seemingly seeking validation.

Am I right, Lord?

Lord, why don't you answer?

Mei's response was a single word:

Die.

The man's smile widened as he leaned closer, whispering venomously into Han's ear. "See? That's the signal. It was left for me."

"Lord wants me to kill you!" the man declared, his eyes gleaming with unhinged conviction.

Han, despite the pain coursing through his battered body, managed a bitter smile. "Is it possible… that the Lord wants you to die?"

For a split second, the man faltered, but his laugh soon echoed through the empty street, harsh and scornful. "Impossible! I am the Lord's most successful work. The Lord only needs me! So, this death… it's meant for you, and your kind."

This was 009, the creature born from the fusion of 008's vampire blood and the deadly essence of 004, Queen Bee. His existence defied reason. He wasn't just a monster—he was an anomaly, a being that shattered the boundaries of logic and strength. With 009, Mei had pushed the limits of creation to a new frontier.

To put it simply, 009 was immortal.

Unlike 008, who carried the curse of vampirism and its fatal weakness to sunlight, 009 had no such flaw. His perfection was terrifying in its simplicity—he had no vulnerabilities, no limitations… except for one unpredictable ability.

Chaos Splitter.

Periodically, 009's body can break apart, the pieces splitting into manifestations of pure chaos. There was no rhyme or reason to what emerged—sometimes mythical creatures, other times fantastical oddities like enchanted grass or a block of biscuits. On rare occasions, he could even split off entirely new beings, fully-formed and alive.

And in extreme circumstances, the things that emerged from him held power beyond comprehension.

Wrapped around 009's neck was a creature far more than decorative—the ouroboros, a living entity. Constantly gnawing at its own tail, the snake would periodically devour itself, tightening its coils around 009's throat.

As it fed, the ouroboros would eventually cut into 009's neck, severing it completely. But 009, with his immortality, would not die. His head would fall, only to turn into a new split object. Meanwhile, a fresh head would grow from the stump on his body, and the ouroboros would spit out the tail it had consumed, starting the cycle all over again.

In essence, the ouroboros acted as a grotesque, living timer, marking the moments between 009's splits.

So far, 009 had produced three significant split objects.

First, there was the ouroboros itself, with its endless consumption of his body.

Next came a white worm that burrowed deep into 009's flesh. This worm enhanced 009's physical capabilities to extraordinary levels, but at a cost—it continuously devoured 009 from the inside. However, like all who tried, the worm could never consume 009 completely.

Lastly, there was the black arrow. It held two immutable properties: it could never miss its target, and it was indestructible. Once released, the arrow would pursue its mark without end. Even if 009 wanted it to hit the Sun, a mere toss would send it piercing through the atmosphere, embedding itself in the star's core—only to return unharmed.

Beyond these three, there were countless other split objects, though most were mundane and without notable abilities. Mei had collected many of them, storing them in a warehouse in the Minami Port, treating 009 like her personal walking factory.

Despite his impressive capabilities, 009 had one flaw that annoyed Mei endlessly—his constant chatter. Obsessed with her, he followed her day and night, proclaiming his admiration with a persistence that bordered on madness.

At her wit's end, Mei decided to lock him away in the warehouse. But even then, 009 found ways to bother her. He split off a cell phone and began spamming her with messages, trying to maintain contact.

One day, unable to take it any longer, Mei sent a single-word reply: Die. Then, she promptly blocked him.

Yet that night, 009 showed up.

Han had barely processed the message from Raven before 009 found him. There was no warning, no chance to react. In an instant, Han was slammed to the ground with a force that made his bones feel like they might shatter.

For someone like Han, with the physique of an ordinary human, the sheer power of 009 was overwhelming, crushing.

Above him stood the Splitter, holding the dreaded black arrow in one hand.

"Go well, 003," 009 sneered, lowering the arrow to strike.

But before the arrow could be loosed, a voice rang out from behind.

"Hey, cannery factory, how about playing together?"