The eastern tunnel shook before Andy even appeared.
Stone cracked inward. Metal screamed. Lights burst one by one like dying stars. The air thickened, heavy enough to make lungs work harder.
Xin felt it in his bones.
"He's coming," he said.
Rion stepped beside him, blade already out. "Stay close. Do not commit."
Xin nodded, though every instinct screamed to do the opposite.
The tunnel split open.
Andy stepped through.
He filled the space like a walking catastrophe. Nine feet of warped muscle and fused armor, flesh shifting constantly as if it refused to settle. Tentacles slid from his back and arms, tasting the air. His blue white eyes locked onto Xin instantly.
"There you are," Andy said calmly. "I was hoping you would be here."
Xin clenched his fists. "This ends today."
Andy smiled. "It already did."
Scene: First Contact
Andy moved.
Not fast.
Instant.
He crossed the distance in a blink. Xin barely raised his arms before a shockwave slammed into him and sent him skidding across the floor. Concrete shattered beneath his back.
Rion intercepted from the side.
Berzar.
The blade flashed and struck Andy's torso. Sparks and gore sprayed. For a moment, it looked like the cut had gone deep.
Then the flesh folded back together.
Andy did not even flinch.
"That tickles," he said.
Rion leapt back. "We keep him moving. Do not stop."
Xin pushed himself up, blood dripping from his mouth. He charged, low and fast.
Andy swung a massive arm.
Xin ducked, slid under it, and struck upward with Phenom Force. The impact cracked Andy's jaw and snapped his head back.
For the first time, Andy staggered.
Xin felt hope spark.
Too soon.
Andy's neck twisted and realigned with a wet sound. He looked down at Xin, eyes glowing brighter.
"My turn."
Scene: The Slash
A tentacle burst from Andy's arm.
Not blunt. Not heavy.
Sharp.
It moved like a blade made of living flesh.
Rion shouted, "Xin move now."
Too late.
The tentacle sliced through the air and clipped Xin's hand. Pain exploded. Something fell to the floor.
Xin screamed.
He looked down.
One finger was gone.
Blood poured freely, splashing across the cracked concrete.
Xin staggered back, clutching his hand, teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached.
Andy tilted his head. "Fragile."
Rion appeared between them instantly, blade raised.
Kurai's voice hissed inside Rion's head, sharp and urgent.
That cut is decomposition. It eats matter. It does not just slice. It erases. Do not let it touch you again.
Rion's eyes widened slightly.
"Xin," he said quickly. "That thing can cut anything. Armor. Bone. Energy. You get hit again and you die."
Xin nodded, breathing hard. "Then we don't get hit."
Scene: The Hit
They moved together.
Xin rushed from the front, reckless on purpose. Andy smiled and raised another tentacle.
Rion vanished.
Berzar.
The blade struck from behind, carving across Andy's back and shoulder. Flesh exploded outward. Andy roared, more annoyed than hurt.
Xin channeled everything he had left.
Phenom Force.
He drove a punch straight into Andy's chest.
The shockwave blasted outward, cracking the floor in a wide circle and slamming Andy back several meters into a support pillar.
The pillar collapsed.
Andy stumbled.
Not fallen.
But moved.
Xin stared, panting. "We hit him."
Rion grabbed his arm. "And it did not matter."
Andy straightened slowly, body already rebuilding. The missing flesh crawled back into place like it had never been gone.
His smile widened.
"Run," Andy said softly. "I want to chase you."
Scene: The Bait
Tara's voice crackled in Xin's ear.
"You got his attention. Bring him home."
Xin turned and ran.
Rion ran beside him.
Andy followed.
Every step Andy took shattered the ground. The walls warped as he passed. The hall ahead trembled like it knew what was coming.
Xin's hand burned. Blood soaked his sleeve. His vision blurred, but he did not slow.
They burst into Rizak Hall.
The massive chamber opened before them, lights flaring on in sequence.
Andy stepped in after them.
Above, hidden platforms shifted.
Alec's voice came through comms. "Target inside. Upper levels ready."
Alaric followed. "Core armed. Waiting on your signal."
Xin and Rion skidded to a stop at the center.
Andy entered fully.
The trap was set.
Andy looked around, amused.
"So this is where you planned to kill me," he said.
Xin wiped blood from his mouth and met his gaze.
"Yeah," he said. "Right here."
Andy laughed.
The sound echoed through the hall.