Each movement felt strange.
His body obeyed.
But...
Not naturally.
Almost as if something inside him had changed.
He glanced down at his hands.
"..."
Nothing looked different.
No glowing lines.
No marks.
Nothing.
Yet...
He could feel them.
Deep beneath his skin.
Sleeping.
Waiting.
Dr. Z noticed his expression.
"You can feel them."
Kai slowly nodded.
"...Yeah."
The doctor smiled.
"Good."
"It means they're real."
Kai looked toward the door.
"...Guess this is goodbye."
"For now."
Dr. Z chuckled.
"Don't die."
"I'd hate to lose such an interesting patient."
Kai smirked.
"I'll try."
He stepped outside.
The afternoon sun hit his face.
Warm.
Bright.
Normal.
After everything...
It felt strangely comforting.
Kai took a slow breath.
"...Muscle City."
"...Guess I'm back."
And with an unfamiliar weight beneath his skin—
He began walking toward the city once more.