The Rise Of Karion Kross: I'm Now A Billionaire

003

Chapter 003

Karion’s POV

“Error in activating system, code 446.”

“Commencing automatic recovery, the host is required to hold on.”

Gasp.

My chest expanded violently as air rushed into my lungs like I had just been dragged out of water. I sucked in breath after breath, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it was trying to burst out of my ribs. My body jerked slightly as I coughed, the pain exploding through my chest and throat.

Damn…

I shut my eyes tightly, forcing myself to slow down. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale again. Each breath felt like fire scraping through my lungs, but I kept going until the panic eased a little. My heart was still racing, but at least I wasn’t choking anymore.

When my breathing finally slowed, I opened my eyes slowly

I was still here, lying on the floor. “my head” I muttered weakly.

My voice sounded strange to my own ears, like it didn’t belong to me anymore. My throat burned, and swallowing felt like dragging broken glass down my neck.

The memory of what happened rushed back all at once, The punch The kicks

My body stiffened instinctively, and that was when the pain hit.

It came like several waves crashing into me at the same time.

My head throbbed, my ribs screamed, my stomach twisted, and my legs felt like they were made of concrete. Pain shot through my spine as if someone had driven hot metal straight down my back. I let out a broken groan and collapsed back flat on the floor, my jaw clenched tightly.

“I’m alive” I said through gritted teeth.

The spot where my head rested felt wet and sticky. The smell hit me immediately

Blood.

My heart skipped. I forced myself to lift my head just a little, biting down hard to stop myself from screaming.

Blood. Everywhere.

It was all over the floor beneath me, dark and thick, some of it already drying. Panic crept into my chest as I remembered the shard of glass. My breathing grew uneven again.

Slowly, painfully, I raised my trembling hand and touched my face.

The moment my fingers brushed the wound, I felt a sharp pain pass through me. My fingers suddenly turned wet.

Still bleeding.

“Shit…” I whispered.

i could feel it running down my cheek, dropping on the floor beneath me. My head felt heavy, my thoughts sluggish, like I was fighting sleep even though I knew I couldn’t afford to.

“I need to get to the hospital,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Or I’m actually going to die here.”

The room was silent., No footsteps. No voices. No Maddie. No Jubril, They were gone.

They left me like this.

I stared at the door, my vision blurring slightly, not sure if it was the blood loss or something else. How was I supposed to get there? I couldn’t even sit up properly, let alone walk.

For a brief moment, a dark thought crossed my mind.

What if this is it?

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head weakly. “No… not like this.”

I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath.

Dying wasn’t an option, Not after everything, Not after what they did to me, I refused to end like this.

“I’m not done with life yet,” I said quietly.

My hands curled into fists against the floor. I counted in my head, gathering whatever strength I had left.

Three.

Two.

One.

I rolled onto my stomach, the movement sending a fresh wave of pain through my body. My arms trembled as I planted my palms against the floor and tried to push myself up.

“Ahhh—!”

A broken groan ripped out of me as my body screamed in protest. My arms shook violently, my legs barely responding, but I forced myself up anyway. My vision darkened at the edges, but I stayed upright, breathing hard.

“Maximum determination reached.”

I froze, that voice again, Clearer this time.

I looked around slowly, my heart pounding harder than before. The room was empty. No speakers. No phones. Nothing.

My throat tightened.

Was I hallucinating? Was this because of the blood loss? The pain?

I swallowed hard and shook my head, Not now.

I didn’t have time to think about voices.

I staggered toward the front door, limping heavily. Each step felt like knives stabbing into my legs and back. Sweat mixed with blood as I dragged myself forward, my reflection briefly catching in the mirror by the door.

I barely recognized myself.

My nose broken, face was swollen, blood smeared across my cheek, my eyes dull and unfocused.

I opened the door and stepped outside.

It was midnight. The street was quiet. No voices. No cars. No movement.

Hope flickered in my chest—and then died.

I reached the main road and looked around desperately.

Nothing, No cabs, No passing cars.

My legs finally gave out.

I dropped to my knees with a dull thud, pain exploding through me again. Blood dripped from my face, pouring onto the pavement below. My hands shook as I tried to support myself.

“This can’t be happening…” I whispered.

My vision blurred again, my strength fading fast.

Then—

Headlights.

Bright lights appeared in the distance, growing closer.

i lifted my head slowly, squinting. A car.

Relief crashed over me so suddenly it almost made me dizzy. I raised my hand weakly, waving it as much as I could manage.

Please… stop, The car slowed.

Then stopped.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Doors opened. I heard footsteps. Someone opened the back seat.

A female figure stepped forward, her face hidden by the glare of the headlights.

“My goodness,” she said softly. “Who did this to you?”

I wanted to answer. I wanted to tell her something.

But I couldn’t.

My throat tightened, my body too weak to respond. I couldn’t even lift my head properly to look at her.

“Help him into the car,” she said firmly. “We’re taking him to the hospital.”

Those words alone were enough.

I felt hands lifting me carefully, supporting my weight as they guided me into the back seat. The moment I touched the seat, exhaustion hit me like a truck.

I tried to keep my eyes open. I wanted to see her face. I wanted to remember the person who saved me tonight.

But my body gave up.

The blood loss. The pain. The exhaustion.

My eyelids grew heavy.

As the car started moving, darkness pulled me under.

Then the voice returned.

30%.

50%.

80%.

100%.