The sound of his footsteps echoed through the empty halls like whispers of ghosts. Erick limped forward, each movement drawing a silent protest from his battered body. Dried blood clung to his skin, and the metallic stench mixed with acid still filled his lungs. He had survived… barely.
The lights flickered above him, blinking like the building itself was in pain.
"Claire… Leon… Sherry…" he muttered, his voice hoarse. Silence answered.
His body screamed for rest. The axolotl regeneration had activated the moment Birkin fled, but it was slow. Too slow. The worst wounds had only stopped bleeding, and breathing was still hard. Each step was a painful reminder that if he wanted to stay alive, he'd need more than luck and willpower.
"System…" he thought. "Use 1 fusion point to upgrade Axolotl Regeneration… and the other for Snow Leopard Instinct."
[CONFIRMING UPGRADES...]
[Axolotl Regeneration – Level 2: Accelerated healing of moderate to severe injuries. Reduced pain and numbness effect.]
[Snow Leopard Instinct – Level 2: Significantly enhanced danger perception, improved reflexes, and combat focus.]
Pain began to dissolve, like a warm current flowing through his veins. The wounds didn't disappear, but they stopped throbbing with brutal intensity. His senses also sharpened. The sound of distant gears, muffled steps ahead… everything clearer. More alive.
He limped forward for a few more minutes until muffled voices echoed ahead.
— "...he could still be alive!" — Claire.
— "Or dead, if that monster got him." — Leon's dry tone.
Erick turned the final corner and saw them. Claire knelt beside Sherry, and Leon stood guard, tense. When she looked up and saw Erick, time seemed to freeze.
— "Erick!"
She stood abruptly and ran toward him. Before he could say a word, she wrapped him in a tight, almost desperate hug.
— "You're alive…" her voice trembled. "Damn it… I thought I lost you."
Erick let himself lean into the embrace. He was exhausted, but the warmth of her arms held him up in a strange, grounding way.
— "I thought so too," he muttered, trying to smile. "But the monster turned back before I had to throw myself off another rooftop."
Claire pulled back just enough to see his face. Her eyes were wet.
— "You're bleeding. Are you in pain?"
— "Everything. Even my thoughts." He tried to joke but stumbled. Leon approached, still tense, but clearly relieved.
— "What happened with the Tyrant?"
— "Lost him in the tunnels. But… I found something else. Or someone." Erick touched his side where his torn shirt revealed bruised skin. "William Birkin."
Silence fell like a stone.
— "The William Birkin?" Leon frowned. "You fought him… alone?"
Erick nodded, serious.
— "And he talked to me. Like he recognized me. Like he was curious. The fight was brutal, but I wounded him. He fled."
Sherry, quiet until now, held Claire's hand.
— "My dad is still alive?" she asked softly, eyes wide.
Erick crouched down, his expression gentler.
— "He is. But he's not… just your dad anymore. He's changed. He's hurt… and dangerous. But you're not alone, Sherry. We'll protect you. I promise."
The girl nodded slowly, holding back tears.
Claire placed a firm hand on Erick's shoulder.
— "You risked yourself for us. Again. I… thank you, Erick. Really."
He exhaled with a tired smile.
— "Just trying to live long enough to get out of here. And maybe… earn myself a decent meal when this is over."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
— "With that attitude, you just might."
Erick laughed, even through the pain. For the first time since it all began, he felt like he wasn't completely alone.
But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning.
The monster was still out there.
And he had to be ready.