The environmental assault was worse somehow. Or maybe Rama was just weaker. Thirty percent health declining immediately—twenty-eight, twenty-five, twenty-two. Passive corruption damage eating through what little remained.
"Health critical," Nakamura observed. Not judgment. Just fact. "You're at twenty percent before encountering enemies. This dungeon kills you. Mathematically certain. We should retreat. Recover. Try again tomorrow."
"Tomorrow means delaying month-two completion," Rama said. Voice steady despite everything screaming. "Means losing timeline buffer. Means risk accumulation. We continue. Now. No retreat."
First chamber materialized around them. Level 93 Void Stalker coalesced from darkness. Predator-type entity. Fast. Aggressive. Built for killing wounded prey.
Sekar engaged immediately. Defensive positioning. Creating space between the Stalker and Rama's twenty percent health. Wife saving husband. Again. Always. Coalition-complete compensating for damaged member.
