The tiny crack in the reinforced glass of Kiran's cell, meticulously weakened by the seed's raw power, finally gave way. Not with a bang, but a soft, desperate sigh of protesting material. He'd focused every ounce of his will, every twitch of that strange energy within him, until the molecular bonds simply couldn't hold. He pushed, the thick pane groaning, then sliding silently inward. A sliver of cold, sterile corridor air hit his face.
His body screamed in protest, every muscle a knot of agony from the constant strain. The cracks on his skin, faded but still present, tingled with a dull ache. He slipped through the gap, landing light as a ghost on the gleaming floor. The hum of the Neo-Eclipse facility was a low, constant vibration against his bare feet. Silence was his only ally now. He moved, a shadow against the stark white walls, his senses sharper than ever, picking up the faint thrum of hidden cameras, the distant footsteps of patrols.
But the silence was short-lived. A sudden, jarring alarm shrieked through the corridors, a digital scream that tore through the quiet. Red lights flashed wildly, painting the pristine walls in urgent, pulsing streaks. They knew. Dr. Koval knew. His heart hammered, a frantic drum against his ribs. He pushed faster, his mind a whirlwind of old blueprints and desperate new calculations. The seed inside him pulsed, an unbridled surge of energy that threatened to overwhelm him. It felt like a wild river, demanding to break free, promising immense power, but at what cost? He pushed it down, needing control, not chaos. Not yet. He had to reach Liam.