Chapter 138: The Return of UV1
The aftermath of the explosion left the hall shrouded in smoke and silence. Adam stood frozen, his eyes darting between the debris and the crumpled figure of Pratham near the far wall.
The air carried the acrid smell of burned metal and flesh, a haunting reminder of the devastation UV1 had wrought.
Mikasa stirred, her movements slow at first. Her injuries had healed entirely, the deep gashes and burns on her body now just faint marks.
With newfound strength, she pushed herself off the ground and turned her gaze toward Pratham. Her heart clenched at the sight of him—wounded, vulnerable, and barely conscious.
She rushed to his side, her voice trembling as she cradled him in her arms. "Pratham, are you okay?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.
Pratham’s eyes fluttered open, heavy with exhaustion. His breathing was shallow, his body battered and bruised.
Summoning what little strength he had, he raised his uninjured hand to touch the charred remains of his other arm, now a painful reminder of his failure.
"I... I’m fine," he whispered hoarsely, though the strain in his voice betrayed his words. "But forgive me... I couldn’t save UV1. He... he chose to destroy himself. I don’t understand what was going through his mind."
His words hung in the air, each syllable heavy with regret. Before he could say more, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
The rhythmic clinking of boots against the floor grew louder, cutting through the oppressive stillness like a knife.
Mikasa and Adam both turned toward the source of the sound, their attention drawn to the hall’s entrance.