Dust still filled the hall as Fang stood amidst the rubble. His clothes were tattered, and numerous wounds covered his arms, yet he didn't utter a single groan. He held Ari in his arms with extreme care, his eyes warily tracking the "Shadows" who had fallen under Lu Ming's brutal blows.
(Fang to himself, gazing down at the pale Ari: Her pulse is fading... Her body temperature is dropping at a terrifying rate after that fiery blast. You did it, Miss... You protected the man I failed to protect with from chains. Damn it, my hands are shaking from exhaustion, but I won't let you fall.)
Lu Ming, still showing golden scales across his face, stepped forward. He pulled Ari from Fang's arms with a harshness born of pure fear. He looked at Fang, who was panting heavily, blood streaming from his forehead.
"Fang... Are you okay?" Lu Ming asked in a low, strained voice.
Fang wiped the blood from his eyes, replying with cold composure: "Don't worry about me, sir... My wounds are superficial. But Miss Ari... her energy is completely burned out. The flames she unleashed consumed her life force. We need to get to the lower lab right now; there's a 'Stabilizing Serum' her father left behind for emergencies."
(Ari to herself, feeling Lu Ming's warm hands: Fang... his voice sounds so exhausted... Was he hurt because of me? Thank you for catching me before I burned up completely. And look at Lu Ming... he's carrying me, sprinting through the dark corridors... I feel drops of sweat falling on my face... or are those tears? No... the Dinosaur King doesn't cry.)
They reached the subterranean laboratory, where the old machinery hummed quietly. Lu Ming laid Ari onto the metallic operation table, while Fang expertly prepared the tubes and the serum with the practiced precision of a veteran handler used to treating battlefield casualties.
"Sir..." Fang said, readying a long needle. "This serum won't work on its own. Her body is rejecting any external energy right now. The only solution is to grant her your 'Life Essence'—a portion of your hybrid blood to stimulate her heart into beating again. But doing so will leave you severely weakened for weeks."
Without a moment's hesitation, Lu Ming extended his scale-covered arm toward Fang: "Do it! My life means nothing without her! She risked everything to protect and save me. If the storm is meant to burn me, then so be it... As long as she wakes up to annoy me with her sharp tongue again!"
(Ari to herself, feeling the sting of the needle and a sudden, intense warmth surging through her veins: What is this? It's not fire... It's a gentle warmth... like a dense forest on a rainy day. Lu Ming? Is this your blood? Why is my heart trembling like this? Don't weaken yourself for my sake... I'm the one who's supposed to protect you!)
The monitors began to emit a steady, rhythmic sound... Beep... Beep...
Ari's heartbeat was returning, but Lu Ming's face turned corpse-pale. He collapsed beside her bed, his hand gripping hers tightly.
Fang leaned against the table in total exhaustion, a faint murmur leaving his lips: "You both did it... The monster and the storm are now bound forever. Rest now, My Lord... I will stay here and guard you both."