Old Observation Post, Yellow Zone. Third Day of Escape.
Rin did not sleep again after the dream about Mei.
She sat in a corner of the room, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the broken window that showed the green fog moving slowly outside.
The green pattern on her arm glowed faintly in the darkness, like a light living on its own.
Akira slept a few meters away, his back against the wall with his electric staff on his lap. His breath was steady but not deep. He slept lightly, ready to wake up at any moment.
Rin looked at Akira with mixed feelings.
She was lucky to have a friend like Akira.
But she also felt guilty.
Because the further they went, the greater the danger surrounding Akira.
And it's all because of me.
The network voice whispered again, very softly this time, almost like the wind.
"You know... you could protect him... if you let me help..."
Rin shook her head slightly. "Protect him by turning him into me? That's not protection. That's a curse."
The voice laughed. Not an evil laugh, but a laugh that sounded sad.
"You still think you're cursed... when you're blessed..."
"Blessed?" Rin whispered sharply, trying not to wake Akira. "I lost my family. I lost my home. I'm losing myself. That's not a blessing."
Silence for a moment.
Then the voice answered in a different tone, softer, older.
"Loss is part of growth... you don't understand that yet... but you will..."
Rin did not answer again.
She just closed her eyes tightly, trying to suppress the voice.
But the voice never truly went away.
It only waited.
Morning came with dim light filtering through the broken window.
Akira woke up, rubbing his face tiredly. He glanced at Rin and saw Rin still in the same position, as if she hadn't moved all night.
"Rin... did you sleep?"
Rin shook her head slowly. "Couldn't."
Akira sighed. He stood up, stretching his stiff body, then walked closer.
"You need to sleep. If you don't sleep, your body will—"
"I know," Rin interrupted. Her voice was tired. "But every time I close my eyes... I hear that voice. And I'm afraid... if I sleep too deeply... I won't wake up as myself anymore."
Akira fell silent. He didn't know what to say.
Then he sat down next to Rin, his back also against the wall.
"Then... I'll watch over you. If you start to change... I'll wake you up."
Rin looked at Akira with teary eyes. "You... you're sure?"
Akira nodded. "I promise."
Rin felt something warm in her chest, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Trust.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Now sleep," said Akira with a faint smile. "I'll keep watch."
Rin finally nodded. She closed her eyes slowly, her body gradually relaxing.
And for the first time in two days, she slept without nightmares.
Because she knew Akira was there.
Two hours later, Rin woke to a loud sound from outside.
CRASH!
Akira immediately stood up, his staff raised. "What was that?!"
Rin got up quickly, her body still tired but better than before.
They ran to the window, peeking out carefully.
Outside, about fifty meters away, two people were running towards the post. They looked panicked, breathing heavily.
And behind them.
Mycelian Hounds. Five of them. Running fast with mouths wide open, ready to pounce.
"Damn," Akira muttered. "There are people out there."
Rin squinted her eyes. One of the two people looked familiar.
Large build. Machete in hand.
"That's... Jian!" Rin shouted.
Akira looked more carefully. "And the other one... Shun!"
They had found the others.
But they were in danger.
"Rin, we have to help them," Akira said quickly.
Rin nodded. "Let's go."
They ran out of the post, heading straight for Jian and Shun.
Jian saw them from a distance and shouted, "RIN! AKIRA! WATCH OUT! THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM!"
"WE KNOW!" Akira shouted back.
Rin and Akira ran fast, their staffs ready.
The Hounds were getting closer to Jian and Shun, only ten meters away now.
Akira threw something from his pocket, a small device that emitted a loud noise and a bright light.
FLASH!
The Hounds stopped briefly, their eyes squinting from the light.
Jian took advantage of the moment. He turned, his machete raised.
SLASH!
One Hound fell, its head and body separated.
But four more were still chasing.
Rin and Akira arrived just in time. Rin swung her staff at the nearest Hound.
ZZZTTT!
The Hound convulsed, fell, but was still moving.
Shun ran past Rin, his breath almost gone. "T-thank you!"
Akira shielded Shun, his staff striking a Hound that tried to pursue.
Jian, Rin, and Akira now stood in a triangular formation, back to back.
The three remaining Hounds circled them, their movements more cautious now.
They had learned.
"Jian," Rin said quickly. "You take the front. Akira left. Me right."
"Okay," Jian answered shortly.
The Hounds attacked simultaneously.
Jian swung his machete brutally. SLASH! The Hound in front of him was cut in half.
Akira dodged a bite from a Hound, then struck it from the side. ZZZTTT! The Hound fell.
Rin faced the last Hound. It jumped high, its claws ready to tear into Rin's face.
Rin reflexively stepped back, but her foot tripped on a small fungal root.
She fell.
The Hound landed right on top of her, its mouth wide open.
Rin felt time move slowly.
And the voice came again, this time very clear.
"Let me out... now..."
No. I can—
"YOU WILL DIE."
Rin closed her eyes.
Then.
SLASH!
The sound of tearing flesh.
Rin opened her eyes.
Jian stood over her, his machete embedded in the Hound's neck. Green blood flowed to the ground.
The Hound fell to the side, dead.
Jian pulled Rin to her feet roughly. "You alright?"
Rin nodded weakly. "I-I'm... thank you."
Jian looked at Rin for a long time, then let go of her arm. "Be careful next time."
They all stood panting, their breaths heavy.
Shun sat on the ground, hugging his tablet as usual. His face was pale.
Akira cleaned his staff of the Hound's blood. "You... where from?"
Jian let out a long sigh. "Long story. But short version... Mei sent an emergency message. She said we had to leave the dome and gather here."
Rin tensed. "Mei? Is she... is she okay?"
Jian shook his head. "I don't know. Her message was encrypted. Just coordinates and the word 'urgent'."
Rin felt her chest tighten. Mei...
Akira spoke up. "How did you get out? The dome must be on lockdown after we escaped."
Shun finally spoke in a trembling voice. "I-I... I hacked the security system. Could only open the gate for a few seconds. Enough for us to get out."
Akira looked at Shun with admiration. "You can hack the dome system?"
Shun gave a small nod. "I-it's... it's my specialty. But I couldn't close it again. So... now they definitely know someone got out."
Jian swore softly. "Meaning they'll send search teams."
Rin looked at them all. "So what's our plan now?"
Jian looked directly at Rin. "Mei said, if she couldn't come, we had to continue to the Red Zone. There are backup coordinates there."
Rin tensed. "The Red Zone? Why?"
"Because there's someone there who can help us," Jian answered. "Mei didn't say who. Just said... that person knows about the Mycel Heart."
Silence for a moment.
Rin felt the green pattern on her arm vibrating hard.
Mycel Heart.
Their final destination.
"How far is the Red Zone from here?" Rin asked.
Shun opened his tablet, checking the map. "A-about... forty kilometers. If we walk without stopping... three days."
Akira sighed. "Three days in the Yellow Zone and Red Zone. Without dome support. Without full supplies."
Jian smiled cynically. "Sounds like a suicide plan."
"Or the only plan we have," Rin countered.
They all fell silent.
Then Jian lifted his machete, placing it on his shoulder. "Okay. I'm in."
Shun nodded weakly. "M-me too."
Akira looked at Rin. "You know I've been in from the start."
Rin felt something warm in her chest.
They were still with her.
Even though they knew the risks.
"Thank you," Rin said softly.
Jian looked at Rin with a serious gaze. "Don't thank me yet. We're not safe."
Meanwhile, Tianhai Dome. Isolation Cell Room, Sector-1.
Mei sat in the corner of a dark, cold cell. Her body was covered in wounds. Her face was swollen. But her gaze was still sharp.
In front of the cell stood two officers in black uniforms.
One of them spoke in a flat tone. "Commissioner Lian is giving you one last chance. Tell us where Asakura Rin is, or you will be executed tomorrow morning."
Mei did not answer. She just stared at them with an empty gaze.
The officer sighed. "Very well. That is your choice."
They turned and left, leaving Mei alone in the darkness.
Mei closed her eyes, her body trembling. Not from fear, but from the cold.
But then, she smiled faintly.
Because she knew one thing.
Rin was out.
Rin was safe.
And that was enough.
She was willing to pay this price.
But then, something happened.
The cell door opened with a pneumatic hiss.
Mei opened her eyes quickly. "Who—"
A man entered. Tall, wearing a long dark robe with a high collar. His face was partially hidden by shadow.
But Mei recognized his voice.
"You... Dr. Hayato Gin?"
Dr. Gin looked at Mei with an unreadable expression. "I have an offer for you, Kurohana Mei."
Mei tensed. "What?"
"Your life, for information about Asakura Rin."
Mei laughed. A bitter laugh that sounded like crying. "I already said. I won't betray her."
Dr. Gin approached, kneeling in front of Mei. His gaze was serious.
"I am not asking you to betray her," he said quietly. "I am asking you to save her."
Mei tensed. "What do you mean?"
Dr. Gin took out a small tablet from his robe, displaying complex biological data.
"Rin's synchronization with the Mycel Grid has reached 47%. In two weeks, she will enter stage three. Physical transformation. And if she reaches stage four..." He paused briefly. "She will not be able to return."
Mei looked at the data in disbelief. "How do you know this?"
"Because I have been monitoring her since she was a child," answered Dr. Gin. "I was the one who performed the surgery when she was rescued ten years ago. I was the one who implanted the spore inhibitors in her body to slow the synchronization."
Mei froze. "Inhibitors?"
Dr. Gin nodded. "But those inhibitors have a limit. And that limit is almost up." He looked directly at Mei. "If you want to save Rin, you must bring her to my secret laboratory. In the Red Zone. There is the only way to stop the synchronization without killing her."
Mei looked at Dr. Gin suspiciously. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because you have no other choice," answered Dr. Gin. "Commissioner Lian wants you executed tomorrow. But I can get you out tonight. And we can pursue Rin together."
Silence for a moment.
Mei looked at the data on the tablet again. Then she looked at Dr. Gin.
"If this is a trap..."
"I know," Dr. Gin interrupted. "But I swear on the name of Kurohana Saya, your mother, that I will not betray you."
Mei froze upon hearing her mother's name.
"You... knew my mother?"
Dr. Gin nodded slowly. "I was her research partner. And I was the one who couldn't save her during Expedition-47." He was silent for a long time. "I owe your family, Mei. And I will pay that debt by saving Rin."
Mei looked at Dr. Gin for a long time.
Then finally nodded.
"Okay. I believe you."
Dr. Gin smiled faintly. A sad smile.
"Good. We leave now."
Back in the Yellow Zone. Old Observation Post.
Rin, Akira, Jian, and Shun gathered inside the post, preparing for the journey to the Red Zone.
Jian checked his machete. Akira checked his electric staff. Shun checked his tablet and sensors. Rin sat in a corner, staring at her hands.
The green pattern now covered almost her entire arm and part of her neck.
She felt a strange sensation. As if something was breathing beneath her skin.
Akira sat down next to her. "Rin... are you sure you can go on?"
Rin nodded slowly. "I have to."
"But if—"
"Akira," Rin interrupted. She looked directly at Akira. "I know I don't have much time. But as long as I can walk, I will keep moving forward."
Akira looked at Rin for a long time, then nodded slowly.
"Okay. But if anything happens... tell me."
Rin smiled faintly. "I promise."
Jian stood up. "We leave now. The sooner we reach the Red Zone, the better."
They all prepared.
Then left the post, going deeper into the Yellow Zone.
Heading towards a more dangerous place.
Heading towards the Red Zone.
Heading towards the truth waiting there.