Chapter 2

The blinding light from the battle between Alexandria and the Helix soldier finally dimmed, but when I opened my eyes, an overwhelming pain hit my body. I looked down and saw a blade of energy piercing my stomach. My breath caught in my throat. Blood flowed profusely, soaking the already chaotic apartment floor. 

I didn't know when the weapon had struck me. Was it when I was thrown back from the explosion? Or since the battle began? What was clear was that my body started to tremble, and my vision shook like a TV screen losing signal. 

Alexandria shouted. I saw her leap forward. The blue light from her sword sliced through the Helix soldier in front of her, forcing the enemy to retreat with an open wound on his armor's chest. But it wasn't enough to take him down. The dark figure only swayed for a moment before standing upright again. His voice remained cold, almost like metal scraping against metal.

"Secondary target has been hit. Primary mission is complete."

Alexandria growled, her feet firmly planted on the floor littered with debris. She gripped her sword tightly, her breathing ragged.

"I won't let you get away."

The Helix soldier glanced at her for a moment, then turned to me, who was still standing with trembling legs.

"No need to. He won't last long."

I wanted to contradict him. I wanted to shout and say that I was fine. But when I tried to take a step, the pain gripped me stronger, as if pulling my soul out of my body. My legs finally gave out. My knees hit the cold floor. 

I felt Alexandria dash forward, charging at her enemy without hesitation. The clanging of swords filled the room again, but I couldn't follow the battle anymore. Blood flowed rapidly from my wound, creating a dark pool beneath me. I coughed. Metallic fluid filled my mouth. 

I didn't want to die. Not like this. Not in this cramped room, with my body covered in blood and the TV light flickering meaninglessly. I tried to move my hand, trying to reach for something—anything—that could save me. But all I got was empty air.

Damn…

My body slowly felt colder. Everything seemed far away. The sound of clashing metal, the night wind whistling through the broken window, and Alexandria's ragged breathing. I wanted to speak, to say something, but only a faint groan escaped my lips. 

Alexandria moved quickly, pulling my body that was almost devoid of strength. One of her arms wrapped around my shoulders, while her other hand still gripped her energy sword. The Helix soldier still stood at the shattered window, despite his wounds increasing. His eyes reflected the dim city lights, creating a silhouette that resembled death itself. 

Blood dripped from the cuts on his arm and thigh, but he showed no signs of pain. His breathing was steady, as if his body was no longer fully human. The torn pieces of his armor revealed synthetic skin underneath, a sign that he was more than just an ordinary soldier. His eyes, two glowing red dots behind his helmet, remained fixed on me and Alexandria. Like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to pounce on its prey. 

Alexandria gripped her sword tightly, her body still in a defensive stance. "You should be dead," Alexandria muttered. 

The soldier slightly bowed his head, acknowledging Alexandria's statement. However, instead of falling, he raised his energy sword, which now glowed brighter than before. I swallowed hard. His wounds were many, but he hadn't given up. And that meant this fight was far from over.

"Surrender, Alexandria. You can't save him."

Alexandria snorted in anger. In one swift motion, she grabbed something from her belt, a small communication device that flashed with a red light.

"There's a black code here. I need immediate backup."

I didn't know who she was contacting, but it was clear this wasn't a battle she could finish alone. The Helix soldier in front of us wasn't an ordinary enemy. His severely wounded body should have been unable to fight, but he still stood.

"Whatever you do, do it now," I whispered, feeling cold sweat trickle down my temples.

Alexandria didn't respond. Her eyes remained locked on the enemy in front of her, but her hand moved swiftly, pressing several buttons on the communication device. A few seconds passed until finally, a static voice was heard from the device, followed by a brief response: 

"Request accepted. Send coordinates."

Without hesitation, Alexandria activated the location transmitter. But just as she did, the Helix soldier moved. He charged towards us with unbelievable speed, his sword swinging downwards with enough force to cleave steel. 

Alexandria barely had time to react, but her combat instincts took over. She shifted to the side and deflected the attack, sparks of energy flying through the air. I, on the other hand, could only take a step back, realizing that a single slash from this enemy could finish me off.

"I need emergency evacuation," she said.

I couldn't hear who was on the other end, but her expression changed. Alexandria glanced at me briefly. However, in just a second, she made a decision. She grasped my arm more tightly, then pressed something on her communication device.

"I'll take him to a secure facility. Give me the coordinates now."

The Helix soldier seemed to catch something from the conversation. He moved forward, ready to charge at Alexandria with high speed. However, Alexandria was faster. 

In one motion, she released her grip on me for a moment, pulled out a small grenade from her belt, and threw it to the floor. A loud explosion filled the room, a blinding white light momentarily obscuring my vision. 

I couldn't see anything, only hearing Alexandria's voice as she grabbed me again.

"Ethan, hold on!”

I felt her hand on my shoulder, strong but still careful. My breathing was still ragged, my chest rising and falling in an irregular rhythm. The pain from the wound in my stomach was getting worse, but what was more terrifying was the cold sensation that was starting to spread from my fingertips. 

My eyes slowly adjusted to the fading light. The Helix soldier's figure still stood, but this time, his black armor appeared cracked in several parts. Yet, he still didn't move.

"You think you can escape, Valkyrie warrior?" 

Alexandria didn't respond. "Close your eyes," she ordered briefly.

I didn't even have time to think. This time, I closed my eyes faster, but still, a piercing hum was heard in my ears. 

When I opened my eyes again, Alexandria had already moved. With her last bit of strength, she scooped me up with all her might because my body was heavy, then leaped out of the destroyed apartment, leaving the explosion behind us.

"You'll be okay," she muttered.

The world felt empty. Dark. Silent. 

Somewhere, a faint sound was heard, like the hum of electronics mixed with whispers that I couldn't understand. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy. Cold enveloped every inch of my skin, and something inside me said that I was on the threshold between life and death. 

Then, suddenly, a faint light pierced the darkness. The light flickered, flashing rapidly like a monitor screen experiencing interference. I tried to focus on it, but before I could understand what was happening, everything turned black again. 

Elsewhere, far from my consciousness, a steel-lined room echoed with the sound of heated debate. 

"This is crazy. We can't perform this procedure on an ordinary human, let alone a male!"

A woman in her mid-forties slammed her hand on the glass table in front of her. Her digital glasses flashed, displaying a human body diagram projected in the air. Red lines flashed around the hologram's chest and stomach, a clear sign that the subject was in critical condition.

"Without this procedure, he'll die within hours. The wounds he's sustained are too severe. No conventional treatment can save him."

"Then let him die! Isn't that more humane than turning him into something we don't even understand?"

The atmosphere in the room tensed. 

On the other side of the long table, several women in black combat uniforms with the Valkyrie emblem on their shoulders exchanged glances. One of them, a warrior with short blonde hair, leaned against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.

"There's some truth to that. No one's ever survived this procedure. Project MANTARA isn't a solution, it's a failed experiment we've abandoned years ago."

Alexandria, standing on the other side of the room, clenched her fists with her jaw set. "Don't call it a failed experiment. This project was never completed, but that doesn't mean it can't work. What we need is the right subject." 

.....BERSAMBUNG.....