While Kyon edges closer to the unknown, old powers stir in quiet rooms. As allegiances are tested and secrets come to light, one question lingers: what happens when balance breaks?

The clock is ticking, and Kyon is running out of choices. With friends divided and enemies closing in, a single step forward might be the point of no return.

Kyon encounters the last person he expected—her, the red-haired vampire who once tried to kill him. But this time, she’s not here to fight. She brings a message, a warning, and guidance—claimed to be from Elijah Gerard himself.

Kyon and Sia leave Kadir’s library burdened with uncertainty, the clock ticking down to Kyon’s fateful meeting with the shadowy William Conrad. At Sia’s urging, they seek out Lawrence, the grizzled Flux-wielder who had once saved Kyon from death.

Kyon and Sia return to Lawrence in search of a plan, and he points them toward Fang & Flame—a vampire-friendly club where secrets often slip through loose lips. With less than thirty minutes to spare before Conrad’s summons, Kyon enters alone, hoping to gather intel. Inside the pulsing, predatory atmosphere of the club, Kyon feels the weight of time and danger closing in. Then, amid the shadows and flickering lights, he sees her.

Kyon wrestles with the decision of whether to attend the dinner at the Helios Hotel, summoned by the enigmatic William Conrad. Though Sia urges caution, suggesting that Conrad’s invitation is more of a trap than a gesture of politeness, Kyon feels compelled to go for the answers it might offer about his mysterious existence. The pair seeks advice from Kadir, a Flux master, who warns that Conrad sees Kyon as a potential threat or asset due to his rare nature, and that the decision to face Conrad could be critical. As Kyon debates the risks, Sia remains wary, but ultimately agrees to help him prepare for whatever awaits. With the clock ticking, Kyon’s path forward becomes clearer but more dangerous, and the stakes have never felt higher.

Kyon and Sia are unnerved by a mysterious presence on the streets of Sharman, but when a well-dressed man hands Kyon an envelope, the tension escalates. Inside, Kyon finds an invitation to a dinner at the exclusive Helios Hotel, signed by someone named William Conrad. Despite the opulence of the venue and the name’s unfamiliarity, the letter feels like more than just a polite request—Sia senses danger. The invitation feels like a summons, pulling Kyon into a world he may not be prepared for. Sia urges caution, but the choice remains in Kyon’s hands: to attend or risk the unknown consequences of refusing.

Kyon and Sia take a stroll through the lively city of Sharman, but Kyon can't shake the feeling of being an outsider. As they explore the business district, Sia pushes him to replace his battered phone, offering help he’s reluctant to accept. Despite his protests, the kindness of his friends becomes undeniable, and Kyon begins to understand the power of friendship and support. However, as they return to campus, an eerie sensation haunts him, leaving him unsettled as he realizes they may not be as alone as they think.