-----
"Calm down! Stay still! You can do this!"
"J-Jake?"
"Yeah, Chris, it's me! Are you alright?"
"Uuugh... not at all... Lucia! W-Where is she?! You have to... find her, Jake!"
"I can feel her nearby, but you're—"
"I'll be... I'll be fine..."
Chris grabbed one of the elixir bottles, drinking it while coughing blood. He looked around, realizing he had somehow survived a literal black hole thrown at his face.
"Even though I was roasted alive... I still somehow survived. God damn... those blessings really made me tough..."
"Yeah... I'm relieved you survived. You shielded Lucia even though you shouldn't have—she's an Esper after all!"
"I... just did it out of reflex... I couldn't bear seeing her get hurt... I was right there... so I did it..."
"Hmm..."
Jake nodded, realizing how much Chris loved her. He smiled faintly, though sadness lingered. If they were back on Earth fighting normal zombies, things would have been much simpler, all things considered.
