Melissa rose to her feet, her gaze fixed on the laboratory's exit.
— Let's get out of here, Ruby.
— But… where are we going? — Ruby asked, still uncertain.
— As I said, I'm an angel that dwells within Kevin. I can't choose where I go, but I know one thing: if you follow this boy, I'm certain you'll go far. And whenever you look at him, I'll be there… accompanying you. — Melissa's eyes stayed on the exit, firm and resolute.
Ruby struggled to stand, but managed it. She picked up her scythe from the floor and set it against her back; it locked into place as if it were a part of her.
— Then let's leave this place.
Melissa whispered softly:
— I'm counting on you, little brother.
Her eyes returned to normal, and a faint white smoke enveloped her. When it cleared, Kevin stood there again, his expression serious, his clothes torn from battle. A wound still marked his stomach.
— Follow me, Ruby.
She did as told, walking with him through the corridor, past the same corpses and the same foul stench Kevin had crossed before.
As they walked, Ruby glanced at him.
— Will you tell me how you met Melissa?
— I… — Kevin inhaled deeply, bitterness lacing his words. — I was desperate. I wanted to vanish from this world. I accepted to become her host because my only goal was to die. But it didn't work, and here I am… drifting without purpose, until I met her.
He looked away, sincerity and pain carved in his tone.
Ruby studied him closely, then spoke softly:
— After what just happened, I realized death isn't the answer. You may have your reasons, but you need to overcome them.
Her calm voice made Kevin reflect for a moment. Staring at the ground, he muttered almost to himself:
— Your voice… it's sweet and true. I feel like such a fool.
Ruby didn't reply, but a faint smile crossed her lips.
As they neared the end of the corridor, Kevin pressed his hand against his wound.
— Her attacks drained my essence, slowing down my regeneration… luckily it's over. I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if it kept going.
He slapped his palm against the wall, forcing himself back to focus, only to see there was nothing ahead but another wall. Ruby raised her eyes, spotting a dark pit stretching upward.
— Can you climb up, Ruby? — Kevin asked.
— I can't… originally, there used to be a staircase here.
— How long has it been like this? — Kevin asked curiously. — And do you know what these creatures are?
— They're inventions of Thomas Reveler — Ruby explained, her voice heavy with grief. — A scientist who lost his sanity after his family died. Since he was young, he was obsessed with science. After his loss, he tried bringing the dead back to life. He began with animals… then with humans. I'm just another one of his victims. I'm the only human with three anagaretes, but I still can't fully control them… or my urge to kill.
Kevin stepped closer, gently placing his hand on her waist. Green chains burst from his back, humming faintly.
— Hold on tight. We're going up.
Ruby, flustered, obeyed. Kevin drove the chains into the wall, climbing with her like a spider.
At the top, all was calm. Ruby pulled away, still embarrassed, as Kevin walked forward with determined steps.
— I like your scythe, you know. It's attached to your back, right? — he asked, jogging beside her down the aged corridor.
— The scythe is part of my body. It's like my arm.
Kevin, mischievous, brushed his hand across it. Ruby shivered at the touch, and out of reflex grabbed his arm tightly.
— Don't touch my scythe again, or I'll carve a wound just like the one on your stomach!
When she noticed his injury had already healed, she was surprised.
— Don't be shocked — Kevin replied. — Just as I don't know everything about you… you don't know everything about me.
He paused briefly, his eyes drifting to the laboratory's entrance.
— We'll wait for a friend here, Ruby.
Ruby stood quietly, studying every detail as though it were all new to her. But when she looked back at Kevin, she froze — a greenish owl perched calmly on his shoulder.
Kevin raised his hand, and the owl flew down the corridor toward Luna's direction.
— How did you do that? And why? — Ruby asked.
— It's an owl made of my essence. I can see whatever it sees. I sent it after Luna, to check how she's doing.
Ruby crouched, wincing, and sat beside him.
— Do your legs trouble you, Rubyzinha? — Kevin asked.
— Sometimes I lose mobility. Even simple things like walking or crouching become difficult.
Kevin laid his hand gently on her thigh. A green glow enveloped her body for a few seconds.
— You'll feel better now. — he said, pulling his hand away as she nodded in relief.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the laboratory, Luna was fighting a monstrous apparition. It towered over 2.5 meters, its slimy black body dotted with ten eyes across its surface, shapeless and grotesque. Lodged inside its mass, a sword glimmered faintly.
— That thing absorbed my sword without me noticing… — Luna thought, wounded and frustrated. — If I had it in full, this would've ended already.
The monster spat a stream of green corrosive fluid. Luna dodged swiftly, the liquid hissing as it melted everything it touched.
Her eyes snapped toward the green owl that flew into the chamber. The creature tried to strike it with another acidic spit, but the owl darted aside with ease, landing gently in Luna's palm.
It transformed into a gleaming green blade, and her eyes widened.
— I get it now! With this, I can finish you in one strike!
The monster's eyes blazed, glowing a violent yellow as if ready to explode. Its distorted, guttural voice reverberated, thickening the air.
— Not here… you won't explode here. — Luna hissed through clenched teeth.
She swung her arm back, summoning all her strength. Her sword flared crimson, sparks crackling like thunder.
— Neo Jutsu: Akai Kaminari!
The strike cleaved through the air with blinding speed, trailed by a storm of fiery stones collapsing from the ceiling. The monster's body was split open as the blade pierced it, hurling it against the wall. The impact left a massive crater, and in an instant the creature was blasted out of sight. A brilliant flash, followed by a distant explosion, sealed its fate.
— It's over… — Luna murmured, exhausted, turning back toward the corridor.
Minutes later, she found Kevin. He lay on the ground, breathing heavily, while a girl sat silently nearby.
— Damn it, Kevin! — Luna shouted, furious. — While I was nearly dying fighting freaks and abominations, you were just lying here… with this girl?!
Both of them jumped, startled by her sudden appearance. Kevin scrambled to his feet.
— Hey, wait! Don't twist it like that! I didn't find any enemies where I went — it's not my fault!
Luna narrowed her eyes, pointing accusingly at the girl.
— And who's she supposed to be?
— Her name's Ruby… from what I gathered, she's some kind of experiment.
Ruby stepped forward with a polite smile.
— A pleasure to meet you.
Luna's face hardened instantly. Her aura flared as she took a battle stance.
— We can't trust her. She's one of them… she could kill us at any moment!
Before anyone could speak, a mouth opened on Kevin's forehead. A familiar voice echoed out, calm and unwavering.
— She isn't like the monsters you've fought so far, Luna. — Melissa's voice.
Luna's eyes widened, a chill racing down her spine. Kevin raised his hands quickly.
— Relax… it's Melissa. The angel who lives inside me.
Ruby seemed distant, her attention drawn elsewhere. She frowned, sensing a presence.
— Trusting something that isn't even human…? — Luna growled.
— Who said she isn't human? — Melissa's voice cut back firmly.
Kevin sighed, already tired of the bickering. But suddenly, another voice echoed from outside:
— Hey, Luna… are you there?
Luna froze.
— That voice…
Kevin's eyes widened.
— It sounds like… my cousin's voice…
They rushed toward the exit. When they emerged, the sight froze them in place: Luís stood there, smiling calmly. At his side, Ruby knelt at his feet, receiving his hand over her head like a tamed cat.
— So you really are alive, Kevin… — Luís said, his smile widening.