Chapter 28: Varkren’s Instinct
The air reeked of blood, a thick metallic scent that clung to Orion's tongue as he stood over the Varkren's corpse.
The beast still radiated faint heat, its massive form twitching with post-mortem spasms. Even in death, it looked indomitable—its black, chitinous hide pulsed with dying crimson veins.
A soft chime resonated in his ears.
The Pythia System flickered to life.
「Begin Extraction?」
「Yes | No」
Orion exhaled, steadying his breath before pressing his palm against the still-warm flesh.
The moment contact was made, something struck him—a force, primal and violent, surging up his arm. It latched onto his nervous system like a predator sinking fangs into prey.
Then the world around him shifted.
Pain all flooded into him at once, like a dam breaking in his mind.
Not the sharp kind, but something deeper, more visceral—like his very cells were being torn apart and reshaped all at once. His nerves lit up as though something had detonated inside him.