The truth revealed

Marcus was at her side in an instant, his hands steadying her. "You're pushing yourself too hard," he said, his voice filled with worry.

"I'm fine," she said weakly, but even she didn't believe it anymore.

"No, you're not," Marcus said firmly. "Whatever's happening to you, it's getting worse. And if you don't let someone help you, it's going to kill you."

Selene looked into his eyes, the weight of his words sinking in. Maybe he was right. Maybe she couldn't do this alone.

But trusting him meant revealing the truth about the system—and she wasn't sure she was ready for that.

The hybrid's lifeless body lay crumpled on the ground, its grotesque form a haunting reminder of how far humanity had fallen since the rift. The group gathered around cautiously, their weapons still drawn in case it wasn't truly dead.