Liu Xian didn't move at first.
His feet stayed bolted to the floor, his hands trembling at his sides, eyes glued to the mess that used to be Koro's head. Bits of blood and brain matter splattered across the sterile white tiles, some even hitting his cheek like warm rain. The dog's body slumped lifelessly, the smell of burnt fur and iron filling his nose.
He blinked. Once. Twice.
That didn't just happen.
His chest rose and fell, too fast, like he was suffocating. The screams in his mind hadn't reached his throat yet.
"No… no, no, no—" His voice cracked mid-whisper.
What is that?
What is going on?
Is that... Is he... ?
They killed him.
God, they fucking killed him.
Would they kill... Wou... Would they... Would they like me too?!!????
"Aahhhhhh," he screamed.
Not just screamed—he wailed. A raw, animalistic cry tore out of his lungs as he launched himself toward Koro's body, but two strong arms grabbed him from behind.
"Let me go!" he shrieked, thrashing wildly.
They tried to hold him, but he kicked and bucked, elbowing the man on the left so hard he let out a grunt. Then, before they could react, Liu Xian twisted and sank his teeth into the man's forearm.
"AHH—YOU FUCKING KID!" the man bellowed, blood spurting from the torn skin. The coppery taste filled Liu's mouth.
"DON'T DAMAGE THE SUBJECT!" V79 roared as the man raised his fist to hit Liu Xian, her voice echoing off the cold walls.
Subject?
The word hit him harder than the punch that followed. The bitten guard, furious, cracked Liu Xian across the jaw with the butt of his gun. Pain exploded in his skull. His legs gave out, and he hit the floor like a sack of bricks, the world tilting violently.
But he wasn't done.
He scrambled up again, growling like a cornered animal, vision swimming. "Why?! Why did you do that?! What the hell is going on?! You said—he said—I thought this was a school!"
"Sedate him!" someone barked.
Two men closed in again, but Liu Xian clawed at the nearest one's face, raking down his cheek. Blood bloomed in fresh lines.
"Don't touch me! Don't fucking touch me!"
He darted to the side, slipping in a puddle of Koro's blood, nearly falling but catching himself on a nearby metal trolley. He hurled it toward the scientists. It clattered and crashed, glass shattering, vials rolling across the floor.
A hand grabbed his shirt from behind, yanking him back.
"I said SEDATE HIM!"
A sharp sting in his neck.
He gasped, struggling harder, but his body already started going numb. His limbs turned sluggish. His screams faded to whimpers. Everything blurred.
"No… no, no, no…"
V79 walked forward, heels tapping calmly against the blood-slick floor. She looked down at him like he was an insect. "Subject 46B. High mana output. Strong survival instinct. Reactive aggression. Recommend immediate confinement and further testing."
He looked up at her, lips trembling. "Why… why did you… kill him…"
Her eyes didn't blink. "He was more of a liability than anything useful. The dog overstepped by asking for something the academy would never give to an awakened. But don't worry, Subject 46B. You, however, are very valuable."
"Fuck… you…" he mumbled, drool escaping the corner of his mouth.
She waved her hand. "Take him to Lab 9. Make sure he is properly restrained."
Then her gaze dropped to the crumpled body of the dog on the floor. Her nose wrinkled as if the stench of death had suddenly become unbearable, and her lips curled in silent revulsion. She squinted, her face tightening like she was physically holding back a gag, then quickly averted her eyes as if even looking at the corpse was beneath her. "Get rid of it," she muttered, voice cold as ice.
Two figures grabbed Liu's limp arms, lifting him off the floor like a broken doll. His head lolled back, eyes flickering.
He caught one last glimpse of Koro's lifeless body.
That dumbass talking dog.
He'd trusted him.
He wanted to fight them again, but everything was darkening. Fading. Like the world was shrinking into a tight tunnel. Sounds started getting muffled. Voices far away.
"…scan for further anomalies…"
"…initiate mana suppression protocol…"
"…might be a new candidate…"
Then, nothing.
Just darkness.
And the lingering memory of a stretched paw that had meant safety… turned into betrayal.