Boros sat once more on the edge of the bed, the faint creak of the frame the only sound in the quiet chamber. His dual-layered eyes rested on Yelan, the black-haired beauty who lay sprawled across the sheets, chest rising and falling in exhausted, uneven breaths. Her voluptuous body glistened with a sheen of sweat, marked by the evidence of their long night.
He couldn't help but let his mind drift, replaying the chain of events that had led to this exact moment.
*That faithful night…*
He remembered standing in a narrow, filthy alley, his white doctor's lab coat stained a deep, vivid red. Blood—some of it his victims', most of it his own—flowed steadily into the drainage grate at the end of the road. Bodies lay scattered around him like broken dolls. He stood barely out of breath, chest rising slowly, as more men marched into the alley with guns drawn and torches held high.
The flickering torchlight illuminated the gruesome scene, landing squarely on him.
The leader of the group stepped forward, voice rough with barely contained rage. "Looks like you pissed off a lot of people, Doc."
Boros looked at the man calmly. "Remind me—which organisation do you work for again?"
The leader's jaw tightened, anger flashing at being so easily forgotten. "You forgot me already? But you can't forget what you did. You put a lizard's heart inside our boss."
Boros put on a thoughtful expression, running a hand through his hair and pushing it backwards. "Ahh… it was a crocodile's heart. And your boss is fine, isn't he? So what are you guys doing chasing me?"
The leader was visibly taken aback. He took a longer look at the doctor standing before him. "You're insane. But what would I expect from a psycho like you? What kind of man takes so many bullets and loses so much blood but still remains standing?"
The rest of the group focused their torches fully on Boros. Just as the leader said, the blood soaking his lab coat was his own. Multiple bullet holes riddled his torso and limbs, dark and wet.
"Enough talk," the leader snapped. "Everyone into position."
His men spread out quickly, surrounding Boros in a tight circle.
"Ready… and—"
The leader suddenly paused. Boros had pulled a small trigger from his jacket pocket. He waved it casually in front of them. "If you value your boss's life, you'll let me go."
The leader made a sharp hand sign. "Stand down."
Boros smiled and began cautiously climbing the metal stairs along the side of the building. But just as he reached the top, a helicopter roared into view, its spotlight locking onto him. Machine-gun fire erupted instantly. His body jerked with the impacts, taking several stumbling steps backward before he fell over the edge, crashing back down to the alley floor.
The group closed in around him. Boros looked up at the leader, blood trickling from his mouth. "Since when?"
"From the very beginning," the leader replied coldly.
Boros couldn't help but smile. A short, weak laugh escaped him before his eyes closed and everything went dark.
Instead of death or whatever judgement awaited in the clouds, he opened his eyes to a dazzling, infinite sight—stars, galaxies, and entire universes swirling in cosmic splendor. As his vision focused, he made out the faint but unmistakable outline of a giant dragon eating its own tail, an eternal ouroboros stretching across the void.
"I guess even hell wasn't open to someone like me," Boros muttered.
A powerful voice suddenly spoke directly inside his mind. *You can jest even now. It seems you're just as much a fool as I thought.*
Boros frowned and turned in every direction. "It's not polite to talk in someone's head without their permission."
The voice replied smoothly, *I believe it's also not polite to put an animal's heart into someone without their permission.*
Boros allowed a small smirk. "Well played. Can I at least know who I'm talking to?"
*You've been looking at me for some time now.*
"No, no, no—you're not gonna tell me I'm speaking with the fuckin' multiverse or sea of stars right now. Me? An underground doctor with zero qualifications."
*You'd better believe it and get used to it. You may refer to me as Ouro.*
"That still doesn't tell me what you are."
*You couldn't comprehend it even if I explained. All you need to know now is that I will give you a second chance and help you reach what you desire.*
Boros crossed his arms in the void. "Why are you helping me? There's no such thing as a free lunch. But since you're offering so nicely, I'll bite. As for what I desire…"
*A domain. Your own dominion. And you have no idea what form or shape this domain of yours should take.*
"Hey—don't just go around reading my mind."
*I have heard your desire and made my choice. I give you the name Boros, and with it you will go forth and acquire what you desire.*
"Hey, don't just go deciding—"
His train of thought shattered as warm arms wrapped around him from behind. Yelan pressed against his back, her hands resting forward over his chest, holding him gently. Her voice was soft, still laced with exhaustion. "You didn't get any sleep."
Boros replied calmly, "It appears so."
Yelan shifted slightly, her breath warm against his shoulder. "What are you planning to do today?"
Boros let out a slight chuckle, the sound low and filled with dark promise.
"Create life."