THE LAST SURVIVOR

THE CORRUPTION

chilling silence swept across the valley.

The survivor convulsed violently on the ground, his body twisting as black veins crawled across his neck and face. His cries of pain echoed through the shattered forest.

"E-11!" Lucas shouted, dropping to one knee beside him.

"Stay with us!"

The young man grabbed Lucas's arm with unnatural strength.

His once-blue eyes were now glowing crimson.

"They're..." he gasped.

"...inside me."

Before anyone could react, his scream turned into a monstrous roar.

CRACK!

His bones shifted beneath his skin.

His muscles expanded.

Dark armor-like scales erupted across his body, tearing through his combat suit.

The soldiers raised their rifles.

"What is happening to him?"

Raven stepped in front of Ethan.

"Don't shoot!"

General Victor Kane's expression darkened.

"It's beginning again."

Within seconds, the young man had transformed into a towering creature nearly three meters tall. Unlike the Eclipse Beasts from the forest, he still had traces of his human face.

He wasn't fully gone.

He was trapped between two worlds.

The creature looked at Ethan.

For a brief moment, tears rolled down its face.

"Run..." it growled.

Then it lost control.

With a deafening roar, it charged.

The Guardian intercepted it, but the corrupted survivor fought with terrifying speed and intelligence.

Every blow shook the battlefield.

Lucas clenched his fists.

"We have to stop him without killing him!"

Raven drew her silver blade.

"There may still be a way to save him."

Ethan stared in horror.

"Can he hear us?"

Lucas nodded.

"Some part of him can."

The creature roared again, sending a shockwave through the trees.

The pendant around Ethan's neck began to glow.

A familiar voice echoed in his mind.

"Corruption detected."

"Origin: Eclipse Core instability."

"Possible cure... unknown."

Ethan whispered, "There has to be another way."

The Guardian suddenly turned toward him.

"Commander."

"Your mother's final research may contain the answer."

"My mother's research?"

General Kane's eyes widened.

"No..."

"It survived?"

The Guardian replied,

"Data archive hidden."

"Access requires all seven pendants."

Lucas looked at Ethan.

"Seven pendants?"

He slowly removed his own pendant.

"So that's why they kept us alive."

"They weren't protecting us..."

"They were waiting."

Before anyone could speak, a deep laugh echoed from the cliffs above.

Everyone looked up.

The mysterious man in the black coat stepped into view, flanked by dozens of masked soldiers.

He applauded slowly.

"Excellent."

"You've gathered almost everyone for me."

His cold smile settled on Ethan.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is..."

Director Magnus Voss.

"I founded Black Phoenix."

"And tonight..."

"I'm taking back what belongs to me."

He raised one hand.

Hundreds of red laser sights instantly covered Ethan, Lucas, Raven, General Kane, and the Guardian.

The battlefield fell silent.

Magnus smiled.

"Hand over the pendants..."

"...or watch your friends die."