Rust and condensation coated the inside of the secondary circulation line, turning the smooth steel into a slick, freezing trap.
Elias dragged his knees forward, his breathing shallow and strictly controlled. Every inch gained required him to flex his core, driving a white-hot spike of agony through his fractured ribs. The compression binder wrapped around his chest felt like a vise made of broken glass.
Directly behind his boots, Kikaru crawled in absolute silence.
The cramped space offered no room to turn around, but Elias didn't need to look back to know her exact state of mind. The golden glare of her system prompt cast a harsh, jaundiced light against the dark metal walls, reflecting off the condensation.
[ ⚔️ SYSTEM ALERT: COMBAT DIRECTIVE ]
⏳ Time Remaining: 14:12🔹 Task: Defeat (1) Shard User⚠ Penalty Pending: 1 Random Stat HALVED (Permanent)
Fourteen minutes. That was all she had left before the system permanently crippled her speed or strength.
