Darkness.
Kai couldn't feel his body.
Only pain.
Not one kind.
Every kind.
His chest burned.
His veins felt like molten metal.
His bones screamed.
Even breathing hurt.
Somewhere—
Far away—
Voices.
"...Pressure dropping..."
"...Increase mana output..."
"...Again..."
Dr. Z.
Kai couldn't open his eyes.
He couldn't move.
Then—
Something sharp entered his chest.
His entire world exploded.
Pain.
Nothing but pain.
His mouth opened.
A scream escaped him.
He couldn't hear it.
But he knew he was screaming.
His restraints rattled violently.
Something warm flowed down his side.
Blood.
His own.
The pain only grew.
It felt as though someone had reached into his body...
And was rearranging everything.
Every nerve.
Every vein.
Every strand of mana.
He wanted it to stop.
He wanted to pass out.
He couldn't.
"...Heart stopped."
The distant voice sounded almost calm.
Stopped?
Kai wanted to laugh.
That explained why everything suddenly felt...
Cold.
...
His world faded.
---
He stood beneath a crimson sky.