Julian staggered.
His legs trembled beneath him, blood soaking through torn fabric, every step feeling like knives under his skin.
He should've collapsed.
Any normal man would've.
But he couldn't—not yet.
There was still something left to do.
With sheer will, he dragged his body deeper into the base, toward the center, toward the core.
As he moved through the corridors, a strange pressure built beneath him.
He stopped.
Closed his eyes.
Felt it—
Something pulsing from underground.
Without wasting another breath, he raised his hand. Sparks danced at his fingertips.
With the last remnants of his lightning, he blasted a hole through the reinforced floor.
Concrete shattered. Smoke billowed.
Then, silence.
Julian dropped down into the darkness.
He landed hard, feet slipping slightly on the cold metal below.
Lights flickered above him, exposing the faces of terrified scientists frozen in panic.
One of them stammered, "W-who are you?!"
Julian didn't answer.
