"Come on, apes, do you wanna live forever?!"

Renard screamed at the top of his lungs. The city had now become a battlefield. The mercenaries fired their magic at the tank, making it explode in a fiery blaze. Artillery then rained upon Renard and Adriana's position. I quickly took cover as bullets and magic almost hit me.

"Shit... What's the situation? How is the second division faring?"

"Fuck, I don't know, Adriana, goddamnit! We need to reach that damn warehouse now—Katharina might die if we don't get there quick!"

"Damn it, we need to rendezvous with the third division. The comms say the second division is almost wiped out by some SSS rank."

"Have you contacted Katharina? Shit, she won't reply to us."

Weird—Katharina is not here, yet her memory fragments created a scenario where both of them are having this conversation. Is she recreating these memories?

"Shit, we need to push at the front. The tanks and mechs are arriving shortly."

They didn't notice that I am right beside them. I have realized that the red doors are capable of hurting me. Katharina's subconscious must be here. I quickly drew my MRS and followed them.

"Go! Go! Go! We'll be pushing them. The mechs and tanks have arrived—push those fuckers out of here!"

Enlytic soldiers fired their rocket launchers at the mechs. I quickly ducked for cover as large explosions erupted, destroying part of the mech. The barrel of the gun then emitted some magical symbols before the mech opened fire. Bodies of the Enlytic soldiers exploded, leaving traces of blood mist and guts scattered around the streets.

"Shit, we need to hurry up now. We just confirmed that the SSS rank has broken through the second division."

Adriana's voice was panicked. They were now near the warehouse. The buildings and rubble were more prevalent, and the Enlytic soldiers were on top of the buildings, firing down at their position. Fire and explosions kept pummeling the mercenaries.

"Come on! Don't let the tanks get destroyed! We need to get through now!"

"Adriana! Shit, where the heck is Bracus? Have you confirmed that they have entered the warehouse?"

Adriana was calling on the radio, panicking as the artillery nearly hit her. She almost fainted from the shell shock. Renard then went to her side and tried to calm her.

"Goddamnit, Adriana, are you all right? Shit, don't worry, we're almost there."

"Huh...."

The tanks and the mechs were now firing at the soldiers. Many of the Enlytic soldiers fired using their magic. The explosions were so big that pieces of metal and rubble almost hit the two.

I then left the scene. Some soldiers tried to aim at me, and the bullets and magic were now passing, almost hitting me. The warehouse was now in sight. The burst of the machine gun suppressed my position.

"Fuckers... Goddamn this memory. Shit, just a bit more and I can get into that damn warehouse."

This is too weird, this memory—Adriana and Renard not noticing me, but these damn soldiers.... What the hell is happening? Shit.

Mercenaries then rushed in, advancing. The rubble buildings served as cover. I quickly evaded the soldiers by running from cover to cover. Echoes of gunfire could be heard near me.

"Okay, I have arrived.... I just need to find Katharina then."

The entrance of the warehouse was large. There were signs of gunfire from before, with bodies of the mercenaries and the Enlytic soldiers scattered around. Bullet wounds and magic residue created a horrific scene.

I quickly entered, my mind racing. The warehouse was large, full of shipment containers of food and other necessities, with bodies scattered throughout. I heard the sound of gunshots below—a firefight was ensuing, with the sounds of shotguns and rifles echoing.

"Bracus, shit! We need reinforcements here! Damn it, there are too many of them!"

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A mercenary screamed below. I quickly made my way up a flight of stairs. It was too dark to see properly what was going on. It felt like I was alone, walking into the darkness. My footsteps echoed, and the stench of blood and carcasses permeated the area.

"Shit, where is she?"

Suddenly, the lights came on, revealing a bloody hall. Bodies upon bodies of mercenaries could be seen. I quickly searched for Katharina. Minutes passed, and I heard a whisper—her voice. She was sitting beside a concrete pillar, her hair almost turning red, her armor damaged beyond repair. Her bloody face could be seen as her deep blue eyes stared at the ceiling. She was clutching her weapon, a shotgun.

"Adri-ana.... Renard..... I'm sorry.... I'm sorry... Looks like, I won't... make it."

I quickly went to her and dropped to one knee. Her eyes were slowly closing, her breathing getting rougher. I quickly held her hand—her hand didn't phase through. Her eyes slowly opened as she saw me.

"Who... are you?"

"Me? Well, I am your future therapist...... Katharina.... You are badly hurt."

"Future...Therapist?"

"It's hard to explain, but I should get you out of here now."

She seemed silent, only staring at me. I smiled to try to ease her, but suddenly, I heard voices screaming—a male and a female one.

"Katharina! Where are you!? Please answer!"

"Shit, Renard, you check on the other side. I'll check on the right."

I saw Adriana running in our direction, her face full of blood, her uniform dirty, tears falling as she tried to hug Katharina.

"Oh god, are you all right? What happened to you, Katharina?"

"Bracus... escaped... the mission is successful... all of the third division is dead."

"Adriana..... you should run."

"What do you mean, Katharina? Renard! Renard! Renard! Come quick, Katharina is here—she is badly hurt!"

"Shit! I'm coming!"

Renard was running, his face bloody as well, with bullet markings on his armor. It looked like he had lost his right arm.

"Katharina, thank god that you are al—"

Like a bullet train crashing, pillars upon pillars were broken. The revving of a chainsword could be heard. The last pillar was destroyed, revealing an 8-foot monstrosity. Its arms were muscular, its frame large like a hulking beast, with veins prevalent and turning violet. The hulking being was wearing a mask—a red, smiling theater mask.

"RENARD! RUN!"

Adriana was screaming. I fired my MRS at the being, but somehow it only phased through it. Renard was crawling, his body slowly limping towards us.

"Get back! You fucking monster, get back!"

"Ahhh, a rat escaped my clutches? Hehe, hahahaha, a joyful killing indeed, and you, little rat, will be the appetizer."

Adriana's hands then crackled with electricity. She fired a bolt of lightning, but the monster was not even affected—it was laughing.

"Hahaha, bloody brats—do you think that a puny attack can kill me?"

The monster then picked up Renard by the head. He struggled, then used the pistol in his holster and fired three rounds at the masculine being.

"Yes, I like my food that moves. Yes! Yes! Yes! The ecstasy of the hunt surges within me, and you, boy, will be the prey."

"ADRIANA! KATHARINA! Ruuuaaaaaaaaaaaarggghhhhhhhh!"

The being then stabbed the chainsword into Renard's back, slowly ripping through his heart, then his throat, then finally his head—tearing Renard in half. The being then laughed madly at its first kill, throwing Renard's body in front of Katharina and Adriana.

"REEEENAAARD! Oh my god! Oh my god! You fucker! I'm going to kill you!"

The being slowly walked toward us. I couldn't fucking do a thing—not even my fucking gun would stop that fucker. I looked at Katharina. Her eyes were on me, her whisper silent but... her eyes were full of hate, full of determination. I then realized that she was now talking to me. Time slowed down, her lips echoing, beckoning me to listen.

"... Therapist?.. You said.... that you are from the future, right?"

"Will... I... get... stronger? Will I save my friends?"

I want to lie.... I don't want her to know that she killed Adriana. This subconscious of hers... She's reliving her trauma, her memories. I don't want her to be hurt, but this is the only way to heal her. I can't lie—I must do it for Katharina, to help her find peace, to heal herself.

"No... Katharina. They didn't survive in the future."

Her tears began to fall, but somehow, she was smiling at me. I... I'm speechless. I don't have any comforting words to offer her. Her childish, innocent smile... I feel pity for her.

"Then... did Adriana die peacefully?"

"No... Katharina... She betrayed you."

".................."

No words were spoken between us. Time moved slowly, yet the silent sobs felt like an eternity. I patted her head, ruffling her bloody white hair. She... She is a victim of uncontrollable circumstances. I cannot ignore her crying. I hugged her, and her sobs grew louder. Her blue eyes peeked at me.

"Then... What will I become in the future, then?"

"You will become stronger, Katharina—much stronger."

She smiled at me. Mana began gathering within her, and the time dilation disappeared. The energy within her crackled like lightning. I let go of her as she stood in front of the being, blue lightning streaks of mana almost covering her.

"Katharina? You... have awakened!"

"Do you think that I will die easily, Adriana?"

"The rat has gained courage—perhaps you won't die so easily then? Hahaha, don't disappoint me, little rat!"

She summoned her red sniper rifle. The muscular being rushed at Katharina, the loud revving of its chainsword hungering for new blood. Katharina aimed at the being, her hands pumping full of mana into the sniper rifle.

"Fuck you, this is for Renard, you fucker!"

"You will squeal like him, like a pig in a slaughterhouse!"

A loud bang echoed. The being tried to dodge, but it was too late. The shot hit right in his torso, and a large explosion erupted. My body was blown back by the impact, the fire creeping over me, turning everything to white. I was then suddenly transported to a place full of weapons, like an armory turned into a maze. I was lying on a cold concrete ground.

"Another maze... I need to find her—this must be her consciousness, deep within her mind!"