Ravine looked at Zhon urgently. "Zhon, bring Irene back to safety and see what you can do for her. Roan and I will take care of this."

  Zhon tried to protest. "But if one of you gets hurt, then what? I can't repair you from afar."

  Ravine smiled. "We'll be back."

  He nodded, lifted Irene's damaged body, and headed for the exit. As he ran, the creature moved with lightning speed to slash him, but Ravine intervened, blocking with her spear before kicking it backward. Zhon activated his camo and vanished.

  "Now we can focus on it without holding back," Roan said.

  "Is your railgun still working? I feel like we could use it to our advantage here!"

  Roan shrugged. "Hey, I always could, but Zhon won't be happy about that later."

  "Hmpf, there won't be a later if we don't get rid of this thing now."

  As it rose, the amalgamation in its android body began pounding its chest with both hands.

  "This thing is so random," Roan observed.

  "Be on your guard. That's all the more reason not to let it down."

  The creature released electrical energy around itself in crackling waves.

  Ravine activated override mode at seventy percent. "I'll distract it. You make sure to charge that railgun."

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  "Got it." The system displayed: "RAIL GUN CHARGING UP!"

  The creature lunged for Ravine, striking her with multiple consecutive slashes before powerbombing her into the ground. It screamed, launched her upward, and attacked from all angles. As it prepared to cut her in half, she blocked the organ blade, and they clashed multiple times at high speed throughout the facility.

  "How did this thing evolve so quickly?" Roan muttered. "It's like it copies how we move."

  "Is it ready yet?" Ravine screamed.

  "Just a little more! Hold on!"

  "Damn it, this thing is intense!"

  She managed to cut through the android's legs, sending it crashing down. This should slow it down, even if just a bit.

  But the creature grew organic legs from its mass, stomped the ground, and hurled chunks of floor toward her repeatedly. She dodged and punched through the last piece of rubble.

  "It's ready!" Roan shouted.

  Blue light pulsed from his railgun arm, thrumming with contained energy.

  Ravine looked at the creature struggling in her grip. "This is how you die. We'll take care of Mother Phoenix for you."

  She ran toward Roan, holding the creature high, then threw it directly at him. "Now!" she shouted, gripping its head to keep it in position.

  Roan fired.

  The railgun blast tore through the amalgamation, blowing half its body apart. The recoil sent Ravine flying backward, her entire arm severed by the sheer force of the blast.

  As she fell, the creature began crawling toward Roan. He moved backward slowly, watching as the amalgamation finally stopped moving and collapsed on the floor, blood pooling around it.

  Roan ran to Ravine. "Hey, you all right?"

  Ravine waved her remaining hand dismissively. "That worm got us in worse condition than this." She dusted off her shoulders and stood.

  "Zhon's not going to be happy about our missing arms, huh?" Roan laughed.

  She smiled. "He'll come around."

  As they prepared to join the others outside, a voice suddenly came through their systems—calm, serene, young, and feminine.

  "My children, it seems you have finally found the truth. I owe you all an explanation as to why things had to end this way. Regroup in Tokyo, Japan, and I promise to give you what you seek."

  The transmission ended, leaving them in profound silence.