The Hellion specialist staggered, his armored frame sparking, leaking oil and blood. His breathing was ragged, distorted, like his own cybernetics were failing him.
Ryo stood over him, fist clenched, heart pounding.
> [OPPONENT AT CRITICAL DAMAGE THRESHOLD.]
[FINAL STRIKE RECOMMENDED.]
A single blow would end it.
His body was ready.
His instincts were screaming for it.
But something held him back.
A Choice That Defines a Warrior
Karin and Vos had recovered, weapons drawn, watching the fight with wide, uncertain eyes.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Except for the specialist.
He raised his head, visor cracked, revealing a scarred, half-human face beneath.
His lips curled into a bloody smile.
> "Well, Prototype 001…"
> "What kind of monster are you going to be?"
Ryo's chest tightened.
The rage inside him—the war machine instincts screaming for him to finish it—fought against something deeper.
Something human.
If he killed this bastard, it would be so easy.
But if he did…
Would he ever stop?
Mercy or Blood?
The system pinged.
> [CHOICE DETECTED.]
[MERCY OR EXECUTION?]
Ryo's breath shuddered.
Then he made his decision.
He lowered his fist.
The Enemy Spared
The specialist laughed—soft, broken.
> "Interesting."
Then he staggered upright, holding his ribs.
Vos scowled. "We should finish this bastard off."
Karin didn't lower her rifle. "What's stopping us?"
Ryo exhaled. "…He's not the real enemy."
The specialist chuckled.
> "Smart. The real enemy is still watching."
His red visor flickered.
Ryo's stomach twisted.
A Darker Presence
> [WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED SURVEILLANCE DETECTED.]
A new voice crackled through the damaged Hellion comms.
Calm. Collected. Powerful.
> "Enough."
Ryo's blood ran cold.
Because whoever this was…
They were on an entirely different level.
The specialist stiffened.
> "Understood, Commander."
Then, before anyone could react, he activated a recall beacon.
His **form flickered—**and then he was gone.
The War Was Only Beginning
The alarms still blared.
The facility was still crumbling.
Karin turned to Ryo, eyes burning. "What the hell was that? Who was he talking to?"
Ryo clenched his jaw.
The Hellions were watching.
And now, they knew exactly what he was.
The system pinged.
> [QUEST UPDATED: ESCAPE AND SURVIVE.]
Ryo exhaled. "We need to get out of here. Now."
Because this?
This was just the beginning.