"No," Ming Ji said softly, lifting a hand to the creature's brow. "You're not mine. You're *your own.*"
He smiled—small, real.
**"I'm just… your friend."**
The beast stilled—as if those words had struck something deep.
And then, slowly… it lowered its head again—not in submission…
but in gratitude.
Above them, Jin exhaled—a mix of awe and relief filling his chest.
The city was still scarred.
But something new had begun.
̶In the lab, the scientist slammed his fist on the console—face twisted in rage.
"Subject Beta... is *gone* to us. They've corrupted it with emotion, with *bond!*"
He turned to a final screen—one marked **"Project: Eclipse."**
His fingers hovered.
"One last chance," he whispered. "If I can't control them... I'll erase them all."
But as he moved to activate it—
the lights flickered.
Then died.
The screens went black—one by one.
A voice echoed through the darkened lab, calm and firm:
**"You're done."**
