NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: An Ming’s Inhibitor
Liuying shot An Ming an encouraging glance. "You've got this."
An Ming squeezed her warm hand one last time, drawing strength from her touch as he approached the dormant Molten Knight. Up close, its presence felt like a black hole devouring his resolve—crushing, suffocating.
The silver armor stood silent in the dark. An Ming took a steadying breath and pressed his palm to its helm.
"Save me."
A distant voice echoed. Flames erupted, engulfing An Ming as he vanished from Liuying's sight.
Liuying clenched her fists, eyes locked on the armor. He'll make it.
Elsewhere, Caesar watched the feed on a monitor, sighing. "What a waste for the Empire if he dies here."
A shadowed figure materialized beside him, clutching a weathered transformation device. "That prototype remains untamed. Only a human heart can break its shackles."
"You're betting everything on him?"
The figure's gaze darkened, recalling his earlier encounter with An Ming. "Gramr's time dwindles. The original Molten Knight is our last hope."
An Ming plummeted through an abyss, the voice growing clearer:
"Save me."
He crashed onto damp grass. Above him hung colossal insectoid cocoons, their translucent threads converging at a throne where Titanis sat—her eyes hollow, strings of the Hive pulsing from her fingertips.
"Am I… dreaming?" An Ming muttered.
Threads snaked toward his wrists. Titanis tilted her head, lifeless yet curious. "I've… seen you. Dream… or reality?"
"Maybe both," An Ming said, tearing free.
"Find me," Titanis whispered as the world dissolved. "Save me."
"Synchronization Rate: 10%."
The Molten Knight's eyes blazed. Silver energy surged through its frame as it lurched upright.
Liuying's breath hitched—five minutes. Even Gene-Hacks took thirty.
"Synchronization Rate: 30%. Warning: Threshold Reached."
An Ming didn't hear the alert. Fire consumed his vision. Molten claws reached for him—
Crash!
Caesar's monitor flashed red. "He'll go berserk! Where's the damn inhibitor?!"
The shadowed man nodded at the screen. "Already deployed."
Liuying stood firm as the Molten Knight's flaming fist hurtled toward her. Death loomed, yet her mind raced with unlived dreams: Adopt a cat. Travel. Hold him close…
She smiled, arms outstretched. For him, it's worth it.
The inferno vanished. Gentle hands caught her.
"Idiot… You could've dodged." An Ming's armored embrace cradled her.
"I knew you'd stop," Liuying laughed, sunlight in her voice.
"Synchronization Rate: 50%."
The alert meant nothing. In that moment, their reflections—amber and sunset—were all that existed.