What do you do when the end stares you in the face, and there's no way out?
Adrian couldn't answer that either—not yet.
The portal shimmered ominously at the center of the ruins, a swirling vortex of dark energy that seemed to pulse with malevolent intent. From within, monstrous forms began to emerge. Their grotesque features glinted in the dim light, claws clicking, and fangs bared.
Adrian's breath hitched as he tightened his hold on Lucy. She was trembling uncontrollably, her face buried against his chest. The once-glowing shield that had protected her earlier flickered one last time before fading entirely. She had nothing left, and neither did he.
Lucas stepped forward, the light in his eyes igniting like a beacon in the dark. His irises and pupils disappeared entirely, leaving behind two glowing orbs of pure white. Beside him, Nova's transformation was equally chilling. Her gaze darkened until her pupils and irises vanished into a void of black, making her appear as though she were staring straight into one's soul—or lack thereof.
They were ready.
"Stay back," Lucas ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Nova and I will handle this."
Nova cracked her knuckles, the shadowy aura around her eyes deepening. "Let's see how these freaks handle a fight."
The first ETT lunged, a hulking beast with razor-sharp claws and twisted horns. Lucas met it head-on, a blinding flash erupting from his hands as he unleashed a concentrated beam of light. The creature screeched, its body disintegrating into ash.
Another ETT, serpentine and agile, darted toward Nova. With a manic grin, she caught it mid-strike, her enhanced strength crushing its skeletal frame with terrifying ease.
Adrian could do nothing but watch, his heart pounding in his chest. Lucas and Nova were incredible, their Unique Class powers turning the tide against the ETTs. But for every monster they destroyed, more seemed to pour from the portal.
And then it happened.
One of the creatures, smaller but quicker than the rest, broke through their defenses. It slithered silently across the rubble, positioning itself behind Adrian and Lucy. Its blade-like appendage gleamed as it raised it high, aiming for Lucy's exposed back.
Adrian's body moved before his mind could catch up.
"Lucy!" he shouted, shoving her aside.
The blade plunged into his side.
Pain exploded through him, sharp and all-consuming. The world around him slowed to a crawl. He could hear Lucy's scream, muffled and distant, as if underwater. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as his legs gave out beneath him.
He hit the ground hard, his body refusing to respond. Blood pooled around him, warm and sticky, as the sounds of battle faded into the background.
In that moment, as his consciousness ebbed away, Adrian felt an inexplicable stillness. The fear, the pain—it all dulled, replaced by a strange sensation, as though something deep within him was stirring.
The last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him was the portal, its ominous glow reflected in his fading vision.
And then, nothing.