THE LUNA THEY REJECTED CAME BACK RUTHLESS

It Learned From Me

The moment it moved—

I knew this wasn’t like the others.

It didn’t rush blindly.

It didn’t stumble.

It stepped forward.

Slow.

Controlled.

Like it was testing the space… and us.

Kael shifted slightly beside me.

“Stay focused,” he said.

“I am.”

But the truth?

My focus wasn’t just on it.

It was on what I felt.

That corruption—

It wasn’t unstable anymore.

It had settled.

And that was worse.

Because now—

It was thinking.

The thing tilted its head slightly, its eyes locked onto me.

“You’re the one it reacts to,” it said.

Its voice still sounded wrong—layered, like two voices trying to speak at once.

My chest tightened.

“What are you?” I asked.

A faint smile.

“Hungry.”

The word echoed.

And before I could react—

It moved.

Fast.

Faster than before.

My body reacted instinctively, the warmth inside me surging outward as I pushed the energy forward.

The force hit it directly—

But instead of being thrown back—

It stopped.

Mid-step.

Like it had expected it.

My eyes widened.

“What—?”

It lifted its hand slowly—

And the energy I sent toward it…

Twisted.

Not absorbed.

Not blocked.

Changed.

The air warped around it as the force bent, redirecting slightly before dispersing.

My breath hitched.

“It didn’t take it,” I said.

Kael’s voice sharpened.

“It altered it.”

The thing smiled wider.

“Learning,” it said.

A chill ran down my spine.

Because suddenly—

This wasn’t just a corrupted body.

This thing—

It adapted.

“Again,” Kael said quickly.

“Don’t let it study too long.”

I didn’t hesitate this time.

I moved forward, calling the energy again—but this time, I focused it tighter.

More precise.

The force shot forward—

Sharper.

Faster.

The thing reacted immediately—

But not fast enough.

The energy hit its side, forcing it back slightly.

Not much.

But enough.

Its smile faded.

Just a little.

“Better,” it said.

My chest rose steadily now.

“Stop talking.”

It tilted its head again.

“Make me.”

The warmth inside me surged again—

But this time—

I held it.

Controlled it.

Not letting it spread.

Not letting it react wildly.

I stepped forward—

Then struck again.

Not pushing wide—

Driving the force directly toward it.

Focused.

Intentional.

The thing tried to shift the energy again—

But this time—

It resisted.

Because I wasn’t giving it space to change.

The force hit harder—

Driving it back.

Its expression changed again.

Not amused.

Not curious.

Interested.

“Interesting,” it said.

Kael moved in now, fast and precise, striking from the side.

The thing reacted—but not fast enough.

The combined pressure forced it back further this time.

Its footing slipped slightly.

And for a second—

It looked almost human again.

Almost.

Then—

It laughed.

A low, distorted sound.

“This body won’t last,” it said.

My chest tightened.

“What does that mean?”

Its gaze locked onto mine again.

“It means…”

The air shifted suddenly.

“…I don’t need it.”

My eyes widened.

Because the moment it said that—

The corruption inside the body surged.

Violently.

Not outward—

Inward.

Like it was collapsing the host from the inside.

“Kael—!”

“Move!”

We both stepped back instantly.

The body dropped to its knees—

Trembling.

Breaking.

The thing inside it laughed again.

And then—

The connection snapped.

The body went still.

Completely.

Silence filled the room.

Heavy.

Unsettling.

My chest rose unevenly.

“Did we stop it?” I asked.

Kael didn’t answer immediately.

Because we both felt it.

That presence—

It wasn’t gone.

It had just left.

And that was worse.

Because now—

It wasn’t tied to a body.

It was free.

And somewhere out there—

It was still learning. 😈🔥