The journey back to England was silent. Chloe and Ellie were still trying to process everything they had learned the night before, while Vlad kept his usual calm expression—though his sharp eyes never left Orion. The flight was smooth, and within hours they were back in London, walking through streets cloaked in the pale haze of morning.

Chloe’s apartment was in a discreet yet modern building, set apart from the bustle of the city center. Its dark concrete walls and wide glass windows reflected the muted lights of London. Inside, the place was minimalist—cold tones, functional design. Pale wooden floors contrasted with gray walls, and the living room was dominated by a large black leather sofa and a shelf crammed with books and documents.

Chloe tossed her keys onto the glass table and sank into the sofa with a long sigh. Ellie, still digesting it all, crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her wary eyes locked on Orion and Vlad. The vampire moved with composed grace, examining the room with his sharp gaze. Orion, unconcerned, dropped his coat onto a chair and leaned casually against the wall.

Outside, the city was alive even at that hour. Building lights flickered, the distant hum of cars and sirens filling the air. The scent of coffee and rain lingered, mingling with the faint perfume Chloe wore as she tried to relax.

Then Orion’s voice broke the silence—low and cutting, like a blade through the room.

"How’s the girl? Where is she? And what do you intend to do with her?"

His golden eyes glinted with tension. He was more serious than ever.

Chloe drew a steady breath, meeting his gaze head-on.

"Her name is Asuna," she said. "She possesses a unique ability: celestial magic. She can exorcize demons with ease, and dispel curses. That’s why the church wanted her. They intended to turn her into a weapon to expand their influence. I’ve withheld her existence from the government for now, but that won’t last."

Orion’s brow furrowed. He had already suspected the church’s interest, but the truth carried even heavier implications.

"And what about the demons within the church itself?" he muttered to himself. "Maybe they wanted to keep her under control—knowing that if she were killed, another might be born with the same gift."

Chloe nodded slowly.

"That’s possible. There are factions within the church, each with their own agendas. For now, we’ve managed to keep her out of immediate danger."

Orion fell silent, the weight of Asuna’s situation pressing on his thoughts. Her gift made her invaluable—but also a target. And Chloe wasn’t finished.

"Asuna is the daughter of the head of the most powerful yakuza clan in Japan—the Yamamoto clan," Chloe revealed, her voice even graver. "I’ll take her to them. They have the resources to keep her safe."

A small smile tugged at Orion’s lips. The decision was already made.

"I’m going to Japan as well," he declared firmly. "I have business there of my own. And more than that… I want to make sure Asuna is safe."

Chloe raised her brows in surprise but didn’t argue. She knew Orion always protected those within his circle.

With their next steps set, Orion turned to Vlad, his tone heavy with something deeper.

"Vlad… do you know who sent us to this future? Who’s responsible?"

The vampire, silent until now, exhaled a long breath before answering.

"I’ve done some digging," he said, choosing his words carefully. "But there are few answers. One name did surface—Crono. A high-class demon, capable of manipulating time itself. Little is known of him. His existence is shrouded in mystery. But his intentions… are dark."

Orion absorbed the words in silence. Crono. A demon who could control time. But why? Why send him, Bjorn, and Hilda into this future?

Still deep in thought, Orion pressed on with another question—one that had lingered since his awakening.

"And the church, Vlad? In my time, it didn’t exist. How did it rise? What does it represent now?"

Vlad folded his arms, tilting his head as he considered.

"The church… its rise was slow, deliberate. At first, it was merely a symbol of faith. But over centuries, it became a political and military power. Today, it controls vast regions of the world, dictating laws and regulating the balance between races. With celestial magic in its grasp, it could extend its reach even further. But make no mistake, Orion—within the church, factions are at war. And demons… they’re already there, pulling strings like puppeteers in the dark."

Orion stared into the void, his mind threading the pieces together—the church, Asuna, the demons, and now Crono.

He knew what he had to do.

First, reach Japan.
Second, protect Asuna.
Third, find his friends.

And above all, uncover the truth about the enigmatic being called Crono.