Chereads / The Immortal Eve [Apocalypse] / Chapter 55 - dust settled

Chapter 55 - dust settled

As the dust and debris settled in the destroyed city, the surviving **allied forces**—the **Cloud Knights**, the **Celestial Army**, and the **Frontier soldiers**—finally arrived at the outskirts. They were battered, bruised, and exhausted from their own battles, yet their eyes widened in disbelief at the wreckage before them.

**Commander Cooper** and **Lieutenant Lastimosa** surveyed the carnage, their expressions hardening as they tried to process what had transpired. Even **Xiao Ling**, though weakened, stood at the front, her eyes scanning the desolation.

**Seraphina**, alongside **Kane**, hovered slightly above the ground, using her enhanced vision to peer deeper into the city, but no one could get closer. They had been pushed back by the sheer force of the clash between **Alexander** and **Zadkiel**. The overwhelming surge of energy and destruction that rippled from their battle had formed an invisible barrier of power, preventing anyone from entering the city itself.

**Seraphie** landed beside her sister, **Elysia**, her wings slowly folding as the two Celestial leaders gazed into the heart of the ruined landscape. The aftermath of the titanic struggle was evident—the entire city was shattered, buildings reduced to rubble, flames still burning in the distance. However, the oppressive force that lingered in the air made it impossible for anyone to move further.

**Seraphie**: "What… what could have caused this?"

**Elysia**: "It's Alexander. His power… it's beyond anything we've ever seen before."

Even from this distance, the air was thick with the remnants of Alexander's **black flames**, their dangerous heat seeping into the ground, the atmosphere, and even the sky above. The soldiers, though hardened by battle, couldn't withstand the energy surging through the ruins. Any attempt to move closer was met with an invisible force that knocked them back, leaving the allies to watch helplessly from the city's outskirts.

**Kane**: "We couldn't help him… no one could get close."

His voice was grim, frustration evident. He clenched his fists, staring at the point where Alexander had vanished into the chaos.

**Xiao Ling**, still breathing heavily, put a hand on Kane's shoulder. "He did this… for all of us. That kind of power is something only he could control. But what now?"

As the dust settled, **Kane** gathered his courage and began walking toward the ruined center of the battlefield, where **Alexander** stood, still surrounded by the lingering black flames. His steps were heavy, not only from exhaustion but from the weight of the loss he carried in his arms—**Ty's** lifeless body, wrapped carefully in his cloak.

Every step he took was met with resistance, the energy in the air pushing back against him. But Kane's resolve was unshakable. The grief of Ty's death weighed on his heart, but so did the need to reach Alexander. He pressed on, shielding Ty's body from the heat of the flames, ignoring the burning in his skin and the heaviness in his chest.

**Kane**: "Alexander…"

His voice was soft, barely a whisper, as he approached. When he finally reached Alexander, the flames around him dimmed slightly, allowing Kane to get closer.

**Alexander**, battered, shirtless, and scarred, stood like a monument of destruction. His demonic eyes still glowed faintly with the black fire, though his expression had softened, his rage ebbing away. He didn't turn to look at Kane, but he could sense his presence.

**Kane**: "I… I brought her."

Slowly, Kane knelt down, gently placing **Ty's** body on the ground at Alexander's feet. He stood back up, his gaze meeting Alexander's, searching for any sign of recognition, any flicker of the man he once knew.

**Kane**: "She saved you."

There was a long silence between them, the only sound being the crackle of the dying black flames. Kane's eyes brimmed with tears, his voice breaking slightly.

**Kane**: "I couldn't save her… I couldn't do anything."

Finally, Alexander spoke, his voice low and filled with pain.

**Alexander**: "She was the only one… the only one who ever believed in me…"

He slowly knelt beside Ty's body, his trembling hands gently brushing her hair away from her face. He could feel the anger still swirling deep within him, but it was now overshadowed by an unbearable sadness.

**Alexander**: "I couldn't protect her…"

Kane, standing beside him, placed a hand on Alexander's shoulder.

**Kane**: "She wouldn't want you to blame yourself. She did it because she loved you, Alexander."

Alexander clenched his fists, his whole body shaking as he looked down at Ty's peaceful face. His heart felt like it was being ripped apart, the agony of loss hitting him harder than any battle ever could.

**Alexander**: "Then why… why does it feel like I failed her?"

The black flames around him flared briefly before dying down completely. He was no longer the unstoppable force of destruction; he was just a man broken by grief, standing in the ruins of a city and a life torn apart.

As they stood there, with Ty's body between them, the rest of the allied forces watched from a distance, understanding that this was a moment that no one else could intrude upon.

**Kane**: "We'll honor her. We'll honor everyone we've lost."

As **Eve** and **Adam** limped toward Alexander, their bodies broken and battered, they leaned on each other for support, barely able to keep themselves upright. Their missing limbs and deep wounds spoke of the brutal battle they had endured. Their faces were pale, smeared with dirt and blood, but their eyes still glimmered with determination, even as they approached **Alexander**, who stood over Ty's body.

**Alexander**, still kneeling by Ty, looked up as the siblings staggered closer.

**Alexander** (dryly): "You look like hell."

**Eve** gave a weak, bitter smile, while **Adam** just chuckled faintly, their exhaustion palpable.

**Eve**: "We feel like it too."

**Adam**: "But we're still here, somehow."

Alexander's hardened expression softened for a moment. Despite everything, these two had fought alongside him, suffering their own losses. He stood up slowly, casting a glance at their near-lifeless forms.

**Alexander**: "You've done more than enough. It's time for you to rest."

Neither **Eve** nor **Adam** argued. They had no energy left to protest. With a nod of agreement, they both collapsed to the ground, too weak to hold themselves up any longer. The exhaustion finally overtook them, their bodies giving out after the relentless fight.

Alexander watched them for a moment before stepping forward, kneeling down to check their pulse. Both of them were still breathing, though barely.

**Alexander**: "You're still alive…"

He stood back up, signaling to a group of nearby angels who had finally arrived, cautiously approaching the aftermath of the battle.

**Alexander** (to the angels): "Take them somewhere safe. Tend to their wounds."

The angels, still in awe of the destruction around them, nodded quickly and moved to carefully lift **Eve** and **Adam**, carrying them away to safety.

As **Alexander** turned to **Kane**, preparing to ask about **Dr. Jin's** body, a strange sensation crawled up his spine. Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

He spun around, his eyes narrowing, only to see **Dr. Jin**, standing right behind him. But something was different.

She was smiling, wearing her signature confident smirk, but instead of the male form everyone was used to seeing, she was now standing in front of them in a distinctly **female form**.

**Dr. Jin**: "Miss me?"

For a moment, no one spoke. **Alexander**, **Kane**, and the others stared, wide-eyed, in complete disbelief. They remembered all too clearly what had happened earlier. **Dr. Jin** had been dead, her body laying lifeless not far from them. They could still see her male corpse from where they stood, partially covered by debris and dust.

**Kane**, always quick to voice his confusion, pointed at the body still laying on the ground.

**Kane**: "But... how? We saw you die! You're... right there!"

The others were equally stunned, glancing back and forth between **Dr. Jin's** female form and her male corpse.

**Dr. Jin** just shrugged casually, as if this bizarre situation was nothing to be concerned about.

**Dr. Jin**: "Well, technically speaking, I did die. But, death's just a... temporary inconvenience when you're as brilliant as I am."

She twirled her hair with a playful grin before looking down at her new form.

**Dr. Jin**: "And I figured, why not come back with a change? This body has some... improvements."

**Alexander**, still processing the situation, finally spoke, his voice steady but with an edge of confusion.

**Alexander**: "So you're saying you just decided to switch bodies...?"

**Dr. Jin**: "More or less. You see, when you dabble with advanced bioengineering, body transference, and neural backups, things like death become... well, flexible."

She winked at Alexander, her tone suggesting she was enjoying every second of the shock on everyone's faces.

**Kane**, still trying to grasp the reality of it, slowly nodded.

**Kane**: "Of course... you're *you*. This makes perfect sense."

**Alexander** crossed his arms, glancing again at the male corpse that still lay not far away.

**Alexander**: "So, what now? Are you just going to leave... that version of you there?"

**Dr. Jin**: "Oh, that? Just consider it... obsolete."

As soon as **Dr. Jin** casually mentioned she could revive **Ty**, **Alexander**'s heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, he rushed forward, grabbing both of her shoulders tightly, his eyes wide with desperate hope.

**Alexander**: "How? Tell me how!"

For a moment, **Dr. Jin** seemed flustered, her cheeks turning a shade of pink as she tried to maintain her usual playful demeanor.

**Dr. Jin**: "If you're going to grab me like that, at least take me out to dinner first."

**Alexander**, however, wasn't in the mood for jokes. His grip tightened ever so slightly, his voice full of urgency and barely contained anger.

**Alexander**: "Enough with the goddamn jokes! Just *tell me* how!"

Sensing the gravity of the situation, **Dr. Jin's** playful smile faded, her expression turning serious. She took a deep breath before speaking, locking eyes with him.

**Dr. Jin**: "Alright, alright. I can turn her into a vampire."

**Alexander** blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

**Alexander**: "What?"

**Dr. Jin**: "Ty already has a bit of vampire DNA in her, but if I introduce royal vampire blood into the mix—along with the traces of her human blood—she can be transformed into a full-blooded vampire. She'd retain her human traits, her mind, her emotions… she wouldn't be some mindless monster."

Her voice softened, but her gaze remained intense as she continued.

**Dr. Jin**: "She'll be stronger than ever, but this isn't a decision to be taken lightly. Once I start the process, she won't be the same. She'll live forever—like me, like the vampires. But there's a cost to immortality, Alexander."

**Alexander** stared at her, his mind racing. The idea of Ty returning to life gave him a surge of hope, but at what cost? Would Ty even want this? Would she be the same person he loved?

He glanced over at Ty's body, lying motionless in Kane's arms. The weight of the decision bore down on him like a crushing force.

**Dr. Jin**, seeing the conflict in his eyes, spoke again.

**Dr. Jin**: "It's your choice. But you have to decide soon. Her body won't hold much longer."

**Kane**, still holding **Ty's** body, stared at **Dr. Jin** in disbelief.

**Kane**: "Wait… you're a *vampire*? Since when?"

**Dr. Jin** casually shrugged, as if revealing this wasn't a big deal.

**Dr. Jin**: "Since the beginning. I'm a half-blood, actually. My mother was a vampire, and my father was human. I inherited most of my father's traits, though—so I'm more human than vampire. That's why I'm weaker than your standard vampire."

She smirked a little at her own explanation, clearly unfazed by the shock on Kane's face.

**Kane**: "More human than vampire? You've been hiding that all this time?"

**Dr. Jin** chuckled softly.

**Dr. Jin**: "What can I say? A girl's got to keep some secrets. But now that it's out in the open, I can use this to help Ty… if you all agree, of course."

She looked between **Alexander** and **Kane**, waiting for their response, her expression more serious now.

**Alexander** clenched his fists, knowing full well the consequences of his decision. He could almost hear **Ty's** voice in his head, scolding him for choosing such a path for her. But this was the only way to bring her back. No matter how much she might hate him for it, he couldn't let her go.

**Alexander**: "She'll hate me for this… but I can't lose her."

He looked over at **Kane**, his eyes filled with grim determination.

**Dr. Jin**, without her usual playful demeanor, nodded in understanding. She took a test tube from her coat, filled with the shimmering, deep crimson of royal vampire blood.

**Dr. Jin**: "Kane, lay her down gently. I'll make this quick."

With a reluctant nod, **Kane** carefully laid **Ty's** body on the ground. The battlefield still felt heavy with the aftermath of chaos, but all eyes were on **Dr. Jin** as she approached **Ty**. Kneeling beside her, **Dr. Jin** uncorked the vial of royal blood.

**Dr. Jin**: "This will bind her fully to the vampire lineage, but she'll retain her humanity. Once the blood takes hold… there's no going back."

She held the test tube over **Ty's** lips, then slowly began to pour the blood into her mouth, watching as it slowly trickled down.

Everyone stood in silence, waiting, hoping that this would work.

**Ty's** wounds began to heal rapidly, her pale skin regaining a vibrant hue. Strands of her black hair transformed into a shimmering white, and her once-normal eyes now glowed bright yellow, featuring the distinct white beast pattern at their center.

As she slowly stirred awake, a wave of confusion washed over her.

**Ty**: "What... what happened? Why am I alive?"

Her gaze darted around, taking in the destruction of the battlefield and the familiar faces of her friends, but her attention quickly settled on **Alexander**. Memories flooded back—her sacrifice to protect him, the moment of impact, the darkness that followed.

**Ty**: "I remember… I gave my life for you, Alexander. How am I here? Why… why am I like this?"

She shifted her position, doing stretches as if to ease her body into this new existence. There was no sign of anger or resentment on her face; instead, she appeared surprisingly calm, as if she had accepted her fate without question.

**Alexander** stepped closer, his expression a mix of relief and concern.

**Alexander**: "Dr. Jin revived you. I couldn't lose you, Ty. Not like that."

**Ty** took a deep breath, the cool air filling her lungs. She felt different, stronger somehow. A faint smile crept onto her face as she looked at her hands, flexing her fingers and marveling at her new strength.

**Ty**: "I… I can feel it. This power… it's incredible."

Her voice was steady, filled with an unexpected acceptance.

**Ty**: "So, I'm a vampire now? Is that what this is?"

**Dr. Jin** nodded, stepping back to give them space.

**Dr. Jin**: "Yes, but you'll retain your rationality and humanity. You're still you, Ty."

**Ty**'s smile widened, her thoughts racing as she considered what this meant for her.

**Ty**: "I won't fight it. I'll make the most of this. If I can still protect those I care about, then this is just another form of strength."

**Alexander** felt a wave of relief wash over him. He hadn't known what to expect when she woke up, but seeing her acceptance and determination filled him with hope.

**Ty** turned to **Kane**, who watched in awe.

**Ty**: "And you, Kane. You all fought for me. Thank you."

**Kane**, still in shock, managed a smile.

**Alexander** stepped forward and wrapped **Ty** in a tight embrace, relief flooding through him as he held her close.

**Alexander**: "I'm so sorry, Ty. I'm so sorry for everything! I thought I lost you…"

His voice cracked with emotion, and tears streamed down his face as he repeated the words, his heart finally feeling the weight of her presence again.

**Ty** gently pushed him back, wiping the tears from his cheeks with a soft smile.

**Ty**: "Stop crying, Alexander. I'm here. I'm alive. That's what matters now."

She raised her fist in a show of strength, embodying the spirit of their fight and the victory that awaited them.

**Ty**: "Now let's go out there and show them what we're made of!"

With a spark of determination igniting in her eyes, **Ty** turned to face the battlefield, ready to charge forward.

**Alexander** felt the strength of her words seep into him. He lifted his own fist in response, the resolve returning to his spirit.

**Alexander**: "You're right! Together!"

As he prepared to give a victorious cry, the moment hung in the air, charged with the promise of the battle to come.