Before his eyes was a dark room, filled with metal cages along the sides. Inside those cages were corpses that couldn't be classified as human or monster, but rather a grotesque hybrid of both, muscles swollen on one side, and patched skins bearing stitch and dissection marks.
Some corpses had deep cavities in their chests, as if their organs had been removed for detailed study, while others were connected to wires and metal electrodes.
There were tubes hanging from the ceiling, linked to remnants of life-support machines, some broken and dripping with dry, viscous fluids.
Azure knelt, vomiting violently. His body trembled, his breaths came in gasps. Even Vladimir, usually calm, was now seething with anger.
It took a few minutes for Azure to calm down slightly. He stood, walking slowly into the room, gazing at the corpses to his right and left with mixed emotions—anger, hatred, and sorrow.
When he reached the far end, he found another door. He took a deep breath to brace himself for more shocks as he opened it.
This room was different, filled with large screens and electronic devices. In the middle, a huge beast was chained with golden chains. Its body was full of wounds, blood dripping from it, its eyes closed. It looked thin and weak, as if it were a corpse.
Azure approached slowly, stopping two feet away. Though the creature before him was a corpse, he could sense a faint trace of life energy within it.
Vladimir warned, "It's best not to do anything foolish," but Azure took another step toward the monster.
Vladimir sensed something wrong and tried to change Azure's mind, "We need to leave quickly. We don't know when this building might collapse, or if stronger monsters that survived are still here."
Azure ignored him, closing his eyes. He moved his hand and began touching the monster slowly.
"We must go NOW," Vladimir said coldly.
Azure didn't respond, continuing to feel the monster's skin slowly. He felt sadness… and shame, knowing those responsible were human!
"So many of you died. Though you could say this has nothing to do with me, I feel ashamed that those who did this were of my kind! That's why I refuse to let you die like them," Azure spoke quietly, casting his healing magic on the monster.
Lycarius and Vladimir were shocked and shouted together, "STOP!"
As the monster felt the energy within, it opened its eyes wide. A tremendous energy erupted, shaking the room.
Azure's power was rapidly drained. The monster's wounds healed at an astonishing rate. It moved slowly, shattering the chains binding it.
The monster's energy grew stronger until a second, larger explosion threw Azure against the wall. He fell, struggling to rise, staring at the monster before him.
The monster's skin had turned to black scales. Its hands healed, sprouting black claws on each hand. Its eyes glowed red, and a snake-like shadow appeared behind him, vanishing after a few seconds.
The energy in the air gradually faded. The monster looked at Azure with no expression, then moved with terrifying speed, grabbing him by the neck.
The monster's black claws clutched Azure's neck, yet the grip wasn't fatal.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Azure's, its expression twisted with confusion and bewilderment.
Azure can smell the blood from the healed wounds on the monster's hand. His heart pounded, yet he felt no fear. Something in the monster's eyes made him feel… pity.
The monster tilted its head, scanning its surroundings in confusion, but didn't know where it was. Its gaze returned, locking onto Azure once more.
Azure felt something in the monster drew him in—a strange sensation, as if seeing a reflection of himself: lost, confused, trapped in a world he didn't understand, unsure of where he was or who he was.
Azure raised his hand slowly, ignoring the pain in his body, and placed it on the monster's arm. "I… won't hurt you," he murmured, his voice shaky but firm.
The monster slowly opened its mouth, speaking in a rough voice, "Where… am I?"
Azure opened his mouth, trying to steady his nerves, and replied calmly, "In a human facility... They were experimenting on you."
"Experiments…" the monster repeated the word, suddenly raising its head, its eyes glowing brighter.
"This isn't good," Vladimir muttered in Azure's mind.
Azure said nervously, "Don't worry, you're free now… no need to get angry."
The monster's grip loosened. It released Azure's neck and dropped to its knees, clutching its head with both hands, letting out a low roar that made the ground tremble under Azure's feet. It was in pain.
The monster stopped roaring but kept staring at Azure. "You… saved me?", its voice carried doubt and confusion. "Why?"
Azure swallowed hard, unsure of his own answer. Why did he do it? Was it guilt? Or perhaps because the monster was like him? He replied weakly, "I don't know… maybe guilt that those who did this were my kind, or maybe because I don't want to see people die in front of me."
Lycarius sneered in his mind, "Do you think this monster will become your friend just because you saved it?"
Azure ignored Lycarius, focusing on the monster and speaking again with a shaky voice, "You look lost… I know that feeling well. I'm also adrift in this world, my memories still fragmented. Maybe… maybe we can help each other"
The monster didn't move, staring at Azure for a long moment, as if reading his intentions. Then, slowly, it sat on the ground. "I… don't trust you. But… I have no choice," its voice grew less harsh, though still laced with pain.
Azure sighed sadly, "I guess you don't remember your name, do you?"
The monster nodded.
"Would you like me to choose a name for you?"
The monster thought for a moment and nodded.
Azure pondered for a while, "Hmm, what about the name Reth?"
The monster thought for a moment, then nodded slowly, "Reth is good."
Azure smiled faintly as he stepped closer, moving with caution. He extended his hands toward Reth and said with a gentle smile, "Glad to meet you, Reth. I'm Azure."