01 was still searching for the one who called him. Suddenly, from the shadows, a woman and a silver panther appeared.

    01 looked at the woman. "Who are you?" His eyes flicked between the woman and the panther. He was ready to strike.

    Luna tilted her head and smirked. "I''m just a spectator. Here to enjoy the downfall of a pathetic family. But you... You''re an unexpected guest."

    01''s gaze narrowed. He took a step forward. "You''re the one behind this chaos, aren''t you? You killed 02 and you killed Dorian."

    Luna chuckled. She took a step forward. "Oh no. I merely oversaw their fight."

    01 prepared his stance. "Stay back! I don''t know who you are, but I''m warning you—don''t test me."

    Luna stopped and grinned. "I don''t need to test you. I already know how this ends."

    She smirked and whispered to him. "Now, shall we play?"

    01 let out a frustation. "Damn it!" Without hesitation, he fused with his own beast.

    Dark energy enveloped his body as his arms and legs transformed into powerful tiger claws, his agility and strength amplified by the fusion. "Let''s see how far your confidence gets you."

    Luna''s smirk never faltered. "Loxen."

    The Silver Shadow Panther growled low. It tensed as it prepared to strike. Without another word, the panther lunged forward.

    01 darted to the side. He used his tiger claw to counter it but was easily blocked by Loxen''s claw.

    Luna watched from a distance. She smirked as she watched the show. "Let''s see if you''re as strong as you claim, ''other one.''"

    The battle raged. The courtyard was shrouded in shadows and glowing with bursts of dark energy.

    ---

    The battle intensified as 01 launched himself forward, his claws slashing through the air toward Loxen.

    The panther dodged swiftly, melting into the shadows with ease. 01 growled, frustrated, as his claws hit nothing but air.

    Luna smirked and mocked from the sidelines. "Too slow. Loxen, end this quickly."

    Loxen reappeared behind 01, its Shadow Claws slicing downward.

    Loxen growled low, stepping toward 01 for the finishing strike. 01''s vision blurred, his breath ragged as the panther loomed over him.

    ---

    Luna stood over the unconscious 01. She kneeled down briefly, inspecting his strange clothing and weaponry. "Who are you, really?"

    She was more intrigued than concerned. Without wasting time, she closed her eyes and reached out telepathically.

    She called Lucius with telepathy. "Master. I''ve encountered something unusual in the Garran estate. There are mysterious people here—this one fought me. They''re powerful, and I don''t know their purpose."

    Lucius''s voice came through almost instantly. "Mysterious people, you say? Interesting. I need to know what they''re doing and why they''re here."

    Luna paused, glancing at the motionless body beneath her. "He''s unconscious, but he''s dangerous. I can''t let him recover."

    Lucius''s response was quick. "Kill him, but don''t damage the brain. Take his head, preserve it in a container, and store it in your spatial ring. I''ll summon you immediately after. I''ll extract what I need myself."

    A small smirk curled on Luna''s lips. "Understood, Master."

    She opened her eyes and turned to Loxen. She then gestured toward 01. "End him. Cleanly."

    The panther growled softly in acknowledgment and approached the unconscious man.

    Without hesitation, it raised a massive paw and drove its claws deep into his chest, piercing his heart with precision. 01''s body convulsed briefly before falling limp, lifeless.

    Luna smiled after seeing Loxen''s work. "Good."

    She crouched beside 01, pulling out a sharp blade from her belt. "Now for the interesting part."

    With practiced precision, she cut through the top of his head, exposing the intact brain beneath.

    Her expression remained emotionless as she carefully extracted it, her hands steady.

    From her spatial ring, she retrieved a specialized container, placing the brain inside and sealing it tightly.

    Rising to her feet, Luna held the container up briefly, her smirk returning. "All that effort, and this is all you''re good for," she said quietly.

    She slid the container into her spatial ring and closed her eyes again, reaching out telepathically. "Master. I am done with it."

    Lucius voice came through. "Good. Prepare yourself. I''m summoning you now."

    The air around Luna began to shimmer, a faint glow enveloping her and Loxen as Lucius''s summoning took hold.