Amil staggered backward, clutching his stomach, trying to stop the flow of blood. His voice trembled as he asked, "Why am I bleeding? Aren't I a robot?" His breathing became labored, each gasp sharper than the last.
Dumal stood over him, cold and expressionless. "You are," he said flatly, "but you're still 20% human. You have a human heart and brain." He paused, eyes narrowing as he drew his blade again. Without hesitation, he cut through both of Amil's hands, severing them from his arms in a swift, merciless motion. Blood poured onto the sand, staining it dark red.
Amil collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing as he tried to comprehend the pain. He lay on his back, staring up at the orange sky as the sun set, tears welling in his eyes. "Why?" he whispered, voice hoarse. "Why are you doing this?"
Dumal stepped forward, standing tall over Amil's broken form. "I work for the Union," Dumal said quietly. "I'm not your friend. I was made to do my job." He bent down, grabbing Amil's left leg by the ankle. With a sudden, violent pull, he dragged Amil across the sand and tossed him toward Neato's lifeless form.
Amil's body rolled to a stop next to Neato. He could barely move, his body heavy and cold from blood loss. He tried to lift his head but couldn't. "I trusted you," he whispered, voice breaking as his vision blurred.
Dumal looked down at him, eyes devoid of remorse. "I'm sorry," he said, though there was no emotion in his words. "But it's necessary. We need you to merge with Neato. It's the only way to bring back humanity."
Amil's eyes fluttered, heavy with exhaustion. Slowly, they closed, and as he lost consciousness, his body began to merge with Neato's. Darkness swallowed him whole.
Amil awoke in a vast, endless desert. The ground was littered with decaying planes and scattered skeletons. The wind howled eerily across the wasteland, carrying with it whispers of voices long gone. He stood up, dazed, looking around in confusion.
"Where is this place?" he muttered to himself.
A voice echoed through the barren land, deep and resonant. "You're in my mind."
Amil whipped around and saw Neato, chained from head to toe. The heavy iron shackles wrapped around his body, pinning him to the ground, preventing him from moving. His eyes, dark and hollow, stared into Amil's.
END OF CHAPTER 68