Chapter 29

Alex watched silently from inside the tractor, his gaze fixed on the three prisoners. Guilt and doubt still weighed heavily on his mind. He knew what Ariel was suggesting: eliminate them. They were dangerous, more than dangerous... they were monsters disguised as humans. He recalled every fragment of their memories, every atrocity committed. He couldn't deny that the world would be a safer place without them. But then, his morality held him back. No matter what they had done, they were still human, at least in their most basic form.

"Alex," Ariel's voice interrupted his thoughts, "we can't keep them here indefinitely. You know the risks. Not just for what they could do if they escape, but for the information they could give if they return to their group."

Alex gripped the tractor's steering wheel, his mind in conflict. "I know, Ariel. But... I can't just kill them. No matter how much they deserve it, it's not something I'm ready to do."

"These people have committed atrocious crimes. By any logical measure, eliminating this threat is the most sensible option. The resources needed to keep them under surveillance could be used more efficiently elsewhere."

"Resources? Is that all you care about?" Alex responded, frustrated. "It's not just about efficiency, Ariel. I can't take someone's life like that... it's not the right thing to do."

"The right thing and the necessary thing don't always align. If we let them live, they will likely try to escape. And if they succeed, more will come for us. It's a calculated risk."

Alex sighed, running a hand over his face. He knew Ariel was right from a logical standpoint, but something inside him couldn't ignore the moral dilemma. "I'm not like them, Ariel. I won't become a murderer just because it's easier."

"Then what do you propose?" Ariel asked, emotionless but with a tone that made it clear time was essential.

"Let me think a little more," Alex said, looking toward the prisoners, who were trembling in front of Vela. He knew he had to make a decision, but for now, he couldn't.

Suddenly, the tractor's screen lit up with a new alert. "Alex, there's movement nearby."

"The companions of these guys?" Alex asked, sitting up straight, his gaze now focused on the monitor.

"I can't be sure. There's a human figure moving, but it doesn't seem to be related to them. They're being chased."

"Chased?" Alex leaned toward the screen. What he saw froze him. A human figure was running at full speed through the snow, with five or six mutated rats, each a meter tall, close behind. The rats had huge, sharp teeth and dirty claws that scratched the ground as they moved with terrifying agility.

"Where?" Alex asked urgently.

"A few streets away," Ariel replied. "But consider the risks."

Alex watched the screen for a few more seconds, seeing how the human figure ran with agility, but the rats weren't giving up. It was only a matter of time before they caught up.

"I can't let that happen," Alex said firmly. "I'm not going to sit here while someone gets devoured by those things."

"It's a reckless move, Alex. You don't know who you're helping, and you could expose yourself unnecessarily."

"I don't care," Alex said as he prepared to leave the tractor. "I can't watch a human die like that, not when they're so close and we can do something."

Ariel was silent for a moment before finally agreeing. "Understood. Prepare yourself. I suggest you take a weapon."

Alex nodded, grabbing a shotgun and adjusting the metallic glove he had used once before against the horrible infected bear. But this time, there were two of them, and as he put them on, Alex couldn't help but make a strange face at the sensation of both his arms being wrapped by the mycelium. "Damn, this thing really is weird."

Outside, the prisoners seemed much more nervous and trembling. At some point, Roka and Suri had arrived, and along with Vela, they began to surround them menacingly.

"Vela," Alex called, climbing onto her back with some difficulty. "We need to get a saddle or something; this isn't comfortable."

Vela growled softly as if responding to his comment and began to move toward the danger under Alex's guidance. The other two dinosaurs, Roka and Suri, followed closely, as if they understood the gravity of the situation.

As they moved through the deserted streets, the icy wind whipped Alex's face. The cold was brutal, more intense than anything he had felt in a long time. "What's the current temperature, Ariel?"

"Minus 25 degrees Celsius," Ariel replied. "I suggest you don't stay outdoors for too long. Prolonged exposure to these temperatures could cause hypothermia, even with proper gear."

"Perfect... just what I needed," Alex muttered sarcastically. "I hope this person is worth it."

Snow kicked up under the powerful strides of the dinosaurs as they made their way through the icy streets. As they neared the sighting, Alex could see the tracks left by the rats in the snow, signs of the pursuit. "How much further?" he asked.

"About 300 meters from your current position," Ariel reported. "The rats are gaining ground. If you don't hurry, you won't make it in time."

Alex gritted his teeth. "Faster, Vela," he said, leaning forward to signal her to pick up the pace.

The frozen, empty streets stretched out before Alex like a reminder of the world that once was. The buildings, old and sturdy, were now skeletons of concrete covered in snow, with broken windows and roofs collapsed under the weight of accumulated ice. The silence that dominated the city was only interrupted by the crunch of snow under the feet of Vela, Suri, and Roka, who moved with surprising agility for their size.

In the distance, Alex could see the human figure. They weren't very tall, maybe one meter forty or fifty centimeters, wrapped in a thick white coat and a snow mask that covered almost their entire face. Despite the layer of snow, the figure ran with impressive speed and agility, as if fleeing from death itself.

Behind the person, Alex saw what was chasing them. Six enormous rats, each at least a meter tall, with grayish skin covered in spots and scars, and red eyes glowing like embers in the snowstorm. Their claws were long and sharp, and their teeth jutted from their jaws like knives. They moved quickly, almost gliding over the snow, and although Alex had seen many things in this new world, these creatures filled him with a mix of repulsion and alertness.

Despite the obvious threat, Alex didn't let fear paralyze him. He had spent months facing his own fears, training on the farm, venturing out to face creatures that once would have terrified him. Over time, he had learned to trust his own abilities and those of his animal companions. Though fear was always present, he now knew how to control it. The creature that was once a simple chicken, Vela, was now an imposing ally, and with her and the other dinosaurs by his side, Alex felt more prepared—not because of a lack of fear, but because he had learned to face it and maintain his humanity despite the battles this frozen world forced him to fight.

He calmly pulled out his shotgun, aiming at the rapidly approaching rats. The human figure continued running toward him, without stopping. "Get down!" Alex shouted, but the figure seemed not to hear, too focused on surviving.

"Get down now!" Alex yelled again, this time with more force. The figure, finally aware of his presence, didn't stop immediately but after a few seconds of hesitation, dropped to the ground in the snow.

Alex didn't waste time. He pulled the trigger of his shotgun, and a loud blast echoed through the cold air. The first shot hit one of the rats, blowing off part of its skull in a spray of dark, thick blood. The creature collapsed, dead on the spot. He quickly turned and fired again, wounding two more rats in the hind legs, but despite the damage, they kept advancing, limping and growling with fury.

Alex grumbled in frustration. "I expected this. This shotgun doesn't have enough power at long range," he muttered as he reloaded the weapon. "Vela, stay alert." Then, without wasting any more time, he turned to the two dinosaurs accompanying him. "Roka! Suri! It's your turn."

With a roar, Roka and Suri charged into the fray. Snow flew up in a white cloud under their claws as they raced toward the rats. Alex watched as his animal companions moved with lethal precision. Roka, with his massive size and brute strength, was the first to hit one of the wounded rats. He crushed it with a single claw, burying it in the snow and splitting its body in two as the creature let out a horrifying scream before going still.

Suri, on the other hand, was more agile, moving with a nearly feline speed. She pounced on another rat that tried to evade her with quick movements, but Suri caught it in her jaws. A dull crunch echoed through the air as the rat's spine snapped. With a violent shake, Suri tossed the mangled body aside.

The remaining rats tried to retreat, aware that they were facing much larger and deadlier predators, but it was too late. Roka slammed into one of them, sending it flying several meters through the air with a simple swing of his tail. The rat's body landed heavily in the snow, its chest collapsed from the force of the blow. Meanwhile, Suri brought down another rat,

 slashing its abdomen open with her sharp claws, spilling the creature's entrails onto the snow.

Alex watched the scene with a mix of relief and awe. Although he had seen his animals fight before, each battle was a testament to the brutality of this new world. The rats stood no chance. They were fast and dangerous, but they were no match for the power and ferocity of Roka and Suri.

Alex watched intently as the human figure slowly began to stand, hands raised in surrender. Their appearance was completely covered by clothing, obscuring any features beyond two bright, light-blue eyes staring back at him. Those eyes, filled with determination but also fear and confusion, unsettled him for a moment. It was as if their gaze was analyzing him, trying to understand if he was a threat or a savior.

Roka and Suri approached, their bodies covered in the blood of the rats they had just torn apart, giving them an even more terrifying appearance. Their slow, calculated movements indicated they didn't trust the figure in front of them. Alex, a bit frustrated, had to raise his voice to stop them. 

"Roka! Suri! Stop!" he commanded firmly, and the two dinosaurs halted just a few steps from the human figure. 

Inside, Alex cursed himself. It seemed he would have to train Roka and Suri more. Vela also showed signs of being overly protective. While he was grateful for their loyalty, sometimes that protective nature became problematic, especially when it came to strangers. 

Turning his attention back to the figure, Alex raised the shotgun slightly. 

"Take off your mask and tell me your name," he said calmly, though the situation remained tense. 

The person hesitated for a moment, clearly wary, but eventually began untying the mask covering their face. As it slid off, the face that appeared left Alex speechless. It was a young girl. 

Alex kept his shotgun pointed at the figure on the ground, a mix of adrenaline and caution running through him. He knew he couldn't trust anyone right away, not in this world where any encounter could mean the difference between life and death. He watched as the figure slowly rose, obeying his command to raise their hands. He could barely make out the person's features through the thick winter clothing and mask, but then, those eyes... Two piercing light-blue eyes met his. There was something in that gaze that made him hesitate, a combination of determination, confusion, and terror, especially upon noticing the giant creatures accompanying him. 

Roka and Suri, still with fresh blood on their claws and mouths, slowly approached the human figure. Their stances were warning signals, as if they were ready to attack at any moment. Alex, feeling nervous, had to give a firm order. "Roka, Suri, stand down!" he said, louder than usual. The two dinosaurs backed off slightly but kept their eyes fixed on the figure, as if evaluating them as a possible threat. 

Meanwhile, Alex cursed under his breath. He would need to retrain Roka, Suri, and Vela. Though they were his loyal companions, they seemed too distrustful of anyone who wasn't him. This could be problematic if they kept reacting this way to every stranger they encountered. 

Turning his attention back to the human figure, Alex gave a clear command again. "Take off the mask. Tell me your name." 

The figure hesitated for a moment, but the tension in the air was palpable. They knew they had no choice. Slowly, they removed the mask, revealing what Alex never expected to see in this cold and cruel world. 

In front of him stood a girl. A girl with a face that seemed out of place, as if from a time when beauty still flourished. She had large blue eyes that contrasted with her pale, almost translucent skin. Despite the soot and dirt covering her face, it was impossible not to notice how striking she was. Her long hair, a color somewhere between soft lilac and silvery gray, fell messily over her shoulders, adding an ethereal air to her appearance. 

Alex was momentarily frozen, surprised not only by the unexpected encounter but by how captivating the young girl in front of him was. There was something in her expression that perfectly combined the determination of someone who had survived much with the natural fear anyone would feel when surrounded by giant creatures and an armed man. 

"Were you saying you wanted to be kind to strangers, and now you're speechless at a pretty face?" Ariel commented sarcastically, interrupting Alex's thoughts and bringing him back to reality. 

Alex blinked, realizing what he was doing, and shook his head. "What's your name?" he asked, trying to sound firm while hiding his nervousness. 

The girl, still visibly nervous, hesitated before answering. "My name is Eira," she said in a soft voice, almost as if she weren't from this world. Her tone was sweet, and though there was clear desperation in her eyes, her voice held a delicate note. 

"Eira," Alex repeated, trying to memorize the name as he processed the situation. "What faction do you belong to? What are you doing here?" 

When Eira heard the questions, it seemed to spark a sense of urgency within her, and her expression shifted, her desperation becoming fully apparent. "Please, we don't have time," she said quickly. "My companions... they're in danger. I need to get back to help them." 

"Your companions?" Alex frowned, confused by the girl's sudden urgency. "What happened to them?" 

"They're trapped," Eira said, unable to contain her agitation. "They're in the police station, locked in the basement. The rat king has them surrounded... At any moment, they'll break down the door and...!" Eira's words rushed out, unable to express everything that seemed to be racing through her mind all at once. 

Eira was visibly agitated. Her breathing quickened with every word, as if every second lost could mean life or death for her companions. 

"They're trapped in the police station," she explained, her voice breaking with desperation. "We went there looking for tools, something to protect ourselves. But then it appeared... The rat king. It surrounded everything. My companions are locked in the building's basement, and I could only escape through a vent. They're still down there, and any moment now those rats will break through the door! There's no time to lose." 

Alex watched her with a furrowed brow, assessing the situation. "The rat king?" he asked, making sure he had heard correctly. The name sounded almost ridiculous, but the gravity on Eira's face told him it was very real. 

"Yes," Eira nodded quickly. "The rat king is a huge mutated rat that controls all the rats in the city. Since this all started, it's become a real nightmare. It's raided nearly all the food sources in the city. It's not just a threat to us, but to anyone trying to survive here. That thing has killed more people than I can count... and now it has my friends trapped." 

Alex quickly processed the information. He knew animals had been mutating all over the world since the appearance of the Omega particle, but hearing about an animal that could control others of its kind added a new dimension to the danger. Nonetheless, it wasn't something that scared him, not after what he had already faced. 

He turned to Ariel, whispering. "Do you think she's telling the truth?" 

"Based on my analysis," Ariel responded without hesitation, "there's a 95% probability that her account is completely truthful. Her behavior exhibits genuine fear and desperation. There are no signs of deception." 

Alex nodded, realizing he couldn't afford to ignore the situation. "Alright, I'll help you," he said with determination, but Eira, her eyes full of concern, shook her head quickly. 

"No, you can't. There are too many rats. There are more than two hundred surrounding the building, and some are as big as people. If you let me go, I can get back to my base and request reinforcements, but you can't face them alone," she pleaded, clearly doubting Alex's ability to handle such a danger. 

However, Alex smiled calmly and pointed to his companions: Roka, Suri, and Vela. "Don't worry about that," he said, remaining calm. "These guys are more than enough to handle whatever comes. And besides, I have a few more reinforcements." 

Eira, who had momentarily forgotten the impressive size of the creatures accompanying Alex, turned her gaze to the dinosaurs. There was something almost primal in the ferocity and power they exuded, as if she had been transported millions of years back in time, witnessing creatures from another world. Vela, with her imposing size, looked like a prehistoric predator, while Roka and Suri, with their alert posture and powerful musculature, seemed ready for anything. 

For a moment, the young girl seemed at a loss for words. Her expression shifted between disbelief and hope, but after a few seconds, the desperation faded slightly. Her blue eyes fixed on Alex, this time with a renewed glimmer, as if she had finally found a way out of the nightmare she was trapped in. 

"Can you really do it?" Eira asked, a mix of surprise and relief in her tone. Though there was still doubt in her gaze, it was now less pronounced, as if the idea that someone could defeat that army of rats was becoming more plausible. 

Alex nodded firmly. "Yes. I just need you to guide me to the station. There's no time to lose." 

Eira looked at him, visibly grateful. For a second, her toughness and distrust seemed to disappear, leaving only an expression of sincere hope. "Thank you... sir. I don't know how I'll ever repay you, but... please! Come with me, we have to hurry." 

Alex stepped a little closer, extending his hand to reassure her. "Lead the way," he said, his voice firm but kind.