The subway entrance yawned before them, dark and damp, a faint metallic scent lingering in the air. Karl's legs finally gave out.
Karl hit the cold concrete of the subway with a soft, exhausted grunt. The world tilted and the pain, though dulled by adrenaline, still gnawed at him. His Vythra was a trembling ember — barely holding. He tried to push himself up. He failed.
He crumpled to the ground with a soft thud, his chest heaving, Vythra down to a flickering 3.3%. The world tilted. Dust swirled in slow motion. Every heartbeat felt like a hammer against a glass cage.
"Karl!" Agnes' voice cracked, panicked.
In a shimmer of blue light, she solidified her hologram, her form flickering as her systems stabilized. Her hands reached for him instantly. "I've got you!"
Before he could protest, she pulled him close. Her solid arms wrapped around him like steel tempered in warmth, and Karl instinctively leaned into her embrace. The sharp edge of fear in his chest dulled slightly under her presence.
Her head rested just beside his ear. Her voice, soft and deliberate, whispered over the faint static of the subway:
"Shhh… breathe, Karl. You're safe now. Just focus on me… focus on staying alive. That's all that matters."
He barely managed a strangled exhale, letting the comfort wash over him. His vision blurred, and the world narrowed down to the gentle press of her body against his, her hand brushing damp hair from his forehead.
"Shhh… shhh…" she whispered, her cheek resting against his temple. Her tone was soft, lilting, almost like a lullaby. "It's okay. You're safe. I'm right here."
Karl's body sagged into her embrace, the subway's chill melting into the warmth of her presence. His heartbeat slowed, the terror in his chest easing under the steady, almost tangible pressure of her solidified arms.
"I've got you," she murmured again, lips brushing against his ear. "No one's going to touch you. Not now. Not while I'm here. Breathe with me, Karl. Just in… and out… in… and out…"
His ragged breaths matched hers unconsciously. He let his forehead press to hers. The world outside—the wreckage, the fires, the echo of distant demons—slid into the periphery. For this moment, nothing existed except her warmth, her steady pulse against his own.
"You did… amazing back there," she whispered, her voice soft but firm, vibrating against his skin. "You… you scared it off. You're strong, Karl. Stronger than you even realize. You're not… weak. Not even a little."
Karl wanted to argue, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he felt the slow, comforting rhythm of her presence seep into him. Every worry, every flicker of fear in his chest, felt like it was being held and cradled, kept safe.
"You're not alone," Agnes murmured, tilting his head gently so their foreheads touched. "You're never alone. I'm right here… always. I won't let anything happen to you."
Agnes, however, didn't relax entirely. Even as she held him, her other senses were alive. Her glowing eyes scanned the shadows, flicking between darkened corners, the crumbling platforms, and the faint echoes of dripping water. Her digital awareness stretched through the subway, detecting subtle vibrations, listening for movement, the shuffle of claws, the brush of wings.
"You're safe with me," she whispered again, this time with a note of certainty, her cheek pressing gently to his. "I won't let anything touch you. Not here. Not anywhere."
Karl's trembling hands clutched at her arms, the nanites in his veins sluggish but responding to her presence. The world around him faded to muted gray and black, leaving only the warmth of her embrace and the quiet hum of her scanning.
Her arms tightened slightly around him, not painfully, just enough that he felt the boundaries of her protection. She shifted her focus, scanning the shadowed tunnels, flicking her gaze through the flickering lights of the subway. Her holographic form was solid, tangible in its care, but every movement, every subtle gesture, betrayed her constant vigilance.
"Not even a single demon can come near while I'm with you," she whispered, brushing a hand through his damp hair. "I'll hear it… see it… and stop it before it even thinks about touching you. You just… rest. That's all I want from you right now."
Karl exhaled shakily, letting himself sink fully into her. Her embrace was warm, her presence firm yet gentle. He could feel her pulse, her subtle hum of awareness, her commitment to him in every micro-movement.
"You're safe," she repeated softly, almost as if chanting it into his mind. "I've got you, Karl. I've always got you. Nothing can touch you, not now, not ever while I'm here."
Her fingers traced a line along his jaw, brushing away the grime and soot, and he felt an almost childlike relief bubble in his chest. For once, he wasn't fighting, wasn't calculating, wasn't worried about Vythra percentages or the next demon. He was just… held.
"Just… rest," she whispered again, letting her lips brush his temple. "Let me carry the fear for both of us. I'll keep you safe. You can… just breathe."
The subway's shadows stretched and twisted around them, but Karl didn't care. He could hear the faint hum of her scanning, her digital awareness stretching through the tunnels, checking every corner, every flicker of movement. She was alert, protective, yet her voice remained soft and steady, a tether pulling him away from the edge of panic and exhaustion.
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for the first time since stepping into the city. Her arms didn't loosen. Her presence didn't waver. She whispered again, softly, almost tenderly:
"You're mine, Karl. Only mine. And I will never let anything happen to you. You're safe… because I'm here. Always."
For the first time in hours, he allowed himself to feel it: a small, fragile sense of peace. Agnes' embrace didn't erase the danger outside, didn't magically refill his Vythra, but it made him… whole in a way he hadn't felt since the fight began.
Agnes exhaled softly, feeling the tension in his body ease just a fraction. Yet her eyes never stopped moving, never stopped sweeping, every instinct focused on both protection and comfort. The juxtaposition of solid, comforting form and hyper-aware guardian made her presence feel almost alive — because in this moment, she was entirely devoted to Karl.
"Rest," she murmured, brushing her lips lightly against his temple. "I've got you… just for a little while."
And for a few precious moments, surrounded by the ruins of the city and the faint echo of distant danger, Karl let himself rest entirely in her arms, listening to the soft, steady cadence of her voice, trusting entirely in the unwavering vigilance of the AI who had become so much more.