Theo hurried to where Aries was and his blood ran cold. There, just a few ters away, Aries scread, writhing in pain on the ground.
Kravo, or what was left of him, had turned. His face was disfigured, twitching with inhuman spasms, and his body was convulsing, gray veins bulging from beneath rotting flesh. His eyes were now hollow and glazed, and his jaw was locked around Aries’s leg, biting it down, drawing blood.
"No...!" Theo whispered in horror.
Aries was desperately kicking, her free leg slamming into Kravo’s face again and again, but the infectee wouldn’t let go.
Theo moved. [Ember Step]
He blinked through the flas and appeared beside them and pulled Kravo away from his sister and smashed his head on the wall.
CRACK!
Kravo’s body slumped.
Theo quickly dropped to his knees beside her, hands shaking as he ripped off the remaining cuff that chained her to the pipe. "You’re okay," he whispered, his voice cracking. "You’ll be fine, Aries. You’ll be fine, okay? I’m here now."
But his eyes... they were wide with panic. He could see the bite. The deep puncture. The bleeding. The infection already pulsing beneath her skin.
"No. No no no no no," he muttered and muttering commands to his system.
"System! System! Begin ergency conversion sequence! Convert Aries like Kael! Give her the mutation! NOW!"
[Ding! Request Denied. Error: No compatible teorite core detected. Mutation process cannot be initiated.]
Theo’s hands froze. His breath hitched.
"What do you an no?! Do it again! Override! I don’t care if it’s risky!" he shouted.
[Host Override Rejected. Subject Aries Luther lacks compatible genetic markers. Mutation Transfer Protocol is not permitted.]
Theo’s eyes burned.
He opened his inventory, voice trembling. "Potion. Healing potion. Give sothing. Anything!"
[Ding! Mutation Abyss System Notification]
Requirent Discovered for Host’s Request: Materialization of Restricted Potions for External Use
Status: Currently Locked
Unlock Condition: Achieve Sovereign Rank
"No, dammit! Please!" he cried out, slamming his fist on the ground as Aries groaned, clutching her leg. Her breaths were shallow, pain twisting her features.
He looked at her - her face pale, but still trying to smile through it all.
"Theo..." she whispered weakly, "It’s not your fault."
Tears fell from his eyes like rapid waterfalls, making his vision blurry.
"I promised to protect you," he whispered brokenly, holding her face gently. "I promised I’d keep you safe."
He looked around, wild for options. Then a thought ca to him, dark, desperate.
He could try giving her his own core. But... that would an giving her his life.
And the system wouldn’t approve.
Not unless-
[Warning: Ergency Host Transfer Protocol is prohibited. Sacrificial mutation bypass locked. ...]
He didn’t even hear the rest.
He just clutched Aries tighter, jaw clenched in pain and fury. He would do anything. Even if it ant burning the entire world down.
[System Override Locked. Ergency Host Transfer Denied. No viable protocol available.]
Theo’s fists trembled. His entire body was locked in helpless fury as he cradled Aries in his arms. Her breathing had beco rapid and shallow. The bite on her leg was darkening, veins already beginning to web out like black cracks underneath her skin.
"Stay with , Aries. Please," he whispered hoarsely. "I’m not losing you. Not like this."
Suddenly-
"I might have sothing!" Beatrice’s voice rang out.
Theo turned sharply. She was sprinting over, holding sothing small in her bloodied hand, a tallic injector with a pale blue liquid inside.
"I-It’s not a cure," Beatrice said as she skidded to her knees beside them. Her hand shook slightly as she presented the vial. "It’s a prototype serum. Our team at AMSO’s dical research division is still testing it. We’ve only used it on low-grade infectees, never on a freshly bitten human."
Theo’s eyes widened. "Then why do you have it?"
Beatrice’s gaze flicked away, sha on her face. "Marlon gave one for ergency study... I wasn’t supposed to use it without approval but I didn’t think I’d end up in this kind of ergency."
Theo looked back at Aries, who was slipping into unconsciousness. He didn’t have ti to hesitate.
"Will it stop the infection?" he asked.
Beatrice bit her lip. "It’s... experintal. At best, it slows the mutation. Maybe buys us hours. Maybe more. We haven’t seen consistent results. There could be side effects. Seizures. Immune collapse. Or nothing at all."
Theo’s eyes locked with hers. "Inject her. Now."
Beatrice didn’t move.
"I said DO IT!" he snapped.
With a nod, Beatrice ripped open Aries’s sleeve and steadied the injector near a vein on her arm. "Hold her still."
Theo did.
Click - hiss.
The serum was delivered in one firm press. Aries flinched, her body jerking briefly before settling again. A soft gasp escaped her lips, but her eyes remained closed.
The seconds stretched like an eternity.
Theo hovered over her, brushing sweat from her brow. "Co on, Aries. Co on..."
Beatrice watched anxiously, whispering, "If she reacts well, we might have at least twenty-four hours. That’s all I can promise."
Theo gritted his teeth, wiping his face. "That’s enough. Just enough to find a real solution."
In his mind, his system gave one final chi as he activated Observer’s Insight:
[Ding! Foreign experintal compound detected in subject: Aries Luther]
Status: Mutation Progress - Paused
Risk of instability remains. Observation required.
Warning: Serum incompatibility may result in cellular failure.]
Theo stared at Aries. Her breathing was slowly stabilizing - still shallow, but no longer erratic.
She was fighting it. And that gave him just enough hope to keep going.
"Thank you," he said to Beatrice, his voice softer now but still tight with emotion. "Now we need to get her out of here."
"I’ll help carry her-" Beatrice began urgently, already moving to slip an arm under Aries’s shoulders.
But before she could, Calix and Kael returned from the far end of the warehouse, their clothes stained with blood and dust. "We’re clear. No more enemies left," Calix reported automatically.
His eyes locked on Aries and the color drained from his face. Then he saw her condition.
"Gods... what happened to her?" His voice cracked, already rushing forward.
Theo didn’t speak. He couldn’t. Calix dropped to his knees beside Aries, cupping her pale face with trembling hands. His jaw tightened, and tears brimd in his eyes as he whispered, "No... no, Aries..."
He gently pulled her from Theo’s arms, holding her against his chest as if he could shield her from the pain. She was barely conscious, her breaths shallow. He clutched her close, tears falling freely now.
"I’ve got her," Calix murmured. "I’ll carry her. Please, just keep the path clear."
Theo didn’t argue. He saw the way Calix held her, like she was his entire world. And deep inside, Theo knew Aries felt the sa. She always softened when Calix was around.
"We need to go now," Kael urged, glancing around the half-destroyed room, his body tense. "We’ve made enough noise. More could co."
"I agree," Beatrice said, stepping forward. "But don’t take her ho. We need to bring her straight to the AMSO laboratory." Her tone was firm. "Supre Commander Marlon Pitt, he’s head of scientific research. If anyone can stabilize her or understand what’s happening, it’s him."
Theo clenched his fists, torn between instinct and logic. He didn’t trust AMSO, not completely, but right now, Aries needed help he couldn’t give.
"She was bitten by an infectee," Beatrice added quickly. "We don’t know how much ti she has. If that serum works, they’ll want to study it too. This might be the only way to keep her alive."
Calix looked up at Theo, his voice hoarse. "Please. Let’s go."
Theo nodded tightly. "Alright. Straight to AMSO."
Without another word, they moved, Calix carrying Aries like she was the most fragile thing in the world, and Theo leading the way, his mind already preparing for whatever ca next.
The drive to the AMSO Capital Research Headquarters felt like a blur of flashing lights and pounding silence. Calix sat in the back seat, cradling Aries in his lap, whispering her na over and over like a lifeline. Her breathing had beco shallower, her skin growing colder by the minute.
Theo gripped the steering wheel tighter, each second sharpening the blade of panic in his chest.
Beatrice sat beside him, phone pressed to her ear. "This is Agent Beatrice Smith, Code 0349," she said quickly. "We’re en route to HQ with a critically infected civilian injected with a prototype serum. Prepare the ergency isolation lab and alert Supre Commander Pitt. This is top priority."
"Copy that," the reply crackled through. "Security clearance approved. We’ll open Bay 6 for ergency access."
The gates of the AMSO compound opened before them just as their vehicle ca screeching into the private lane. Ard guards imdiately surrounded their vehicle, guiding them toward the reinforced dical bay.
Theo didn’t wait for the vehicle to stop fully, he leapt out and opened the back door. Calix stepped out slowly, carrying Aries like glass, his eyes locked on the dics rushing toward them in sterile white suits.
A scientist in a grey coat ran ahead, tablet in hand. He gestured to the team. "Get her inside now. Stabilize vitals. Prepare contamination protocols. Notify Supre Commander Pitt imdiately."
Calix hesitated before handing Aries over, his arms shaking. "Please..." he whispered.
"She’ll get the best care we can give," the dic said firmly, wheeling Aries into the isolation corridor.
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