The sound of rain was the first thing he heard.
It pattered against metal somewhere above him — steady, calm, almost peaceful. Then came the smell of ozone, burnt oil, and blood.
Leon’s eyes opened slowly. The ceiling above him was cracked concrete, faint blue light flickering from an old System terminal beside the bed. His body ached, every muscle heavy like stone.
[Status: Stabilizing.]
[Health: 46%.]
[Apex Containment: 0%.]
He sat up fast. “Zero?”
Pain exploded behind his eyes. He pressed his palms to his temples as the memory hit — the fight in the Core, the explosion of light, the Apex’s voice.
“Nova…”
He turned — and there she was, sitting across the room, half-asleep in a chair, rifle across her lap. When she saw him move, she jumped up.
“You’re awake!”
“Barely,” he raspe
