The world dissolved into a haze of fire and shadow as Feng Ruoxi crumpled to the wet earth, the dart's sting igniting a fresh wave of poison in her veins. Jiang Yukang's arms caught her before she hit the ground, his shout—her name—echoing through the fog that swallowed her senses. The phoenix mark on her wrist blazed, a searing red glow cutting through the rain-soaked night, but this time it wasn't enough. Darkness clawed at her, deeper than before, the drone's hum fading into a distant buzz.
"Ruoxi, no!" Yukang's voice cracked, raw and desperate, as he cradled her against his chest. Rain plastered his hair to his face, his hands trembling as he brushed the dart from her neck. Blood trickled from the puncture, shimmering faintly with that unnatural phoenix sheen, but her eyes fluttered shut, her breathing shallow and erratic.
