"Take a seat, Nathan," Dr. Richard said, his voice dropping an octave as he slid a thin manila folder across the mahogany desk. He didn't look up immediately; he just kept staring at the MRI scans pinned to the lightboard.Nathan sat, his posture rigid. "Just give it to me straight, Doc. No medical jargon. No sugar-coating."Richard finally turned, his expression weary. "It’s not good. The tumor has metastasized significantly since the last scan. We’re looking at Stage Four, Nathan. Glioblastoma. It’s aggressive, and it’s deep."The silence in the room felt heavy, almost physical. Nathan let out a short, dry laugh. "Stage four. So, what? I’m a walking corpse now?""You're still here," Richard countered firmly, leaning forward. "But we need to move fast. If we start a combination of aggressive radiation and a new chemotherapy cycle immediately, we might be able to slow the spread. It’s a slim margin, but it’s a chance.""A chance for what? Three more months of puking my guts out and fo

Nathan walked toward the officer, reaching out to help him up."Leave it," the officer rasped, coughing up a spray of blood. He shoved Nathan’s hand away with what little strength he had left. "Get the hell out of here. Find somewhere safe. Somewhere... fortified.""I’m not leaving you like this," Nathan said, his voice cracking."Listen to me!" the officer barked, then winced in pain. "It’s over. The world is finished. This wasn't an accident... this was a goddamn choice. A deliberate apocalypse. Now go!"Nathan hesitated, his heart heavy with a guilt he shouldn't have felt. But as he looked closer, his blood ran cold. There, just beneath the officer’s collar, was a jagged, unmistakable bite mark. The skin around it was already turning a necrotic shade of grey.The officer didn't say a word. He just looked at Nathan, his eyes steady, pleading for the one thing he couldn't do for himself. He wanted out before the monster took over.Nathan’s eyes began to sting, tears blurring his visi

Nathan collapsed onto the cracked asphalt, his chest heaving as the glowing blue light in his eyes slowly dimmed. All around him lay a carpet of mangled limbs and shattered skulls—the remains of the fifty-plus horde he had just dismantled with terrifying, systematic efficiency."Fifty bodies... and I'm barely breaking a sweat," Nathan muttered, wiping a streak of black ichor from his cheek.He turned his attention back to the unconscious girl. With the immediate area cleared, the flyover felt eerily still, save for the distant sound of explosions echoing from the city center. He knew he couldn't stay out in the open for long; the smell of fresh blood would only act as a beacon for more "evolved" types.Nathan leaned down and carefully scooped the girl up in a bridal carry. Her head slumped against his shoulder, her breathing shallow but steady."Don't die on me now," he whispered. "I didn't break my back saving you just for you to give up here."He adjusted his grip, feeling the surge

Nathan's eyes snapped open as he let out a sharp, ragged breath. He sat up slowly, feeling a terrifying amount of power humming through his veins. ​[UPGRADE COMPLETE] [PROJECT Z-ALPHA: STAGE 1 INTEGRATED] ​"You're awake," a soft voice whispered. ​Nathan turned his head. The girl was standing a few feet away, her face pale and her eyes wide with a mix of fear and wonder. ​"Where... where are we?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What is this place?" ​Nathan stood up, moving with a newfound fluidity that felt almost alien. "This was my father's lab. And the house above? That's my home. Or what's left of it." He looked around the cold, metallic room. "But we can't stay here. This place won't be safe for long. Those people from earlier... they'll be back." ​He walked toward her, his glowing blue eyes dimming to a more natural hue. "Look, I'm heading out. I have things I need to do, places I need to go. You can come with me, or you can take your chances out there. It’s your call."

Nathan understood immediately. The primal drive within him was no longer just a chaotic urge; it was a mission with a specific objective. He shifted his position, his hands moving with a firm, calculated intent as he reached for the waistband of Giselle’s underwear.​"I get it now," Nathan rasped, his voice vibrating with a depth that made the air in the room feel heavy.​He looked into Giselle’s eyes, the blue glow in his own irises pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He gently but firmly hooked his fingers into the fabric, pulling it down to expose her completely.​"Giselle, I'm sorry... but I need your fluids right now," he whispered, his gaze dropping.​Giselle’s breath hitched, her chest heaving as she gripped the bedsheets. "N-Nathan... it’s fine. If this is what saves you... ah!"​She let out a sharp, airy moan as Nathan moved between her legs. He didn't hesitate. He leaned down, his focus entirely on bringing her to the peak the system demanded. His tongue and fingers worked w