Triple X System

Kyle groaned, his eyelids cracking open like shutters rusted from disuse. The dim light in the room was a gentle caress, coaxing him back to consciousness. He lay there, unmoving, as memories of the mission flooded his mind – the krael’s attack, the beta wolf, Lucias’s critical hit...

His gaze drifted to the side, landing on Lucias and Layla. They were awake, watching him with quiet concern etched on their faces. Kyle’s relief was palpable, followed by a spark of anger.

He sat up slowly, his movements economical. Elara sat across from him, her eyes intent on his face. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and smoke, a reminder of the witch’s domain.

"You." Kyle said, his voice low and even. "You sent us out there blind."

Elara’s expression didn’t waver. "I gave you a chance, Kyle. A taste of Kraken’s power. You needed to see it, feel it."

Kyle’s anger simmered, rising to the surface like a pot left unattended. "A chance?" he laughed, the sound bitter. "You call that a chance? We were lucky to survive."

Elara’s eyes flashed with defiance. "Survival is the first step, Kyle. You needed to understand the stakes."

The argument simmered, the air thickening with tension. Layla and Lucias exchanged a worried glance, their murmurs dying as they watched the exchange.

"3." Lucias murmured, his eyes fixed on Kyle. "He’s really going for it."

Layla’s voice was barely audible. "Perplexing, isn’t it?"

Their words were cut short as a sharp pain laced through their stomachs, like a hot knife slicing through their insides. They gasped, clutching their midsections, as if trying to hold in the agony.

Kyle was at their side in an instant, his anger forgotten. "What’s happening?" he demanded, his voice laced with panic. He reached out to Snow, his inward system guide. ’Snow, what’s going on?’