Kaden faced the Warden, battered but unyielding.
"No beast to hide behind?" he growled.
The Warden grinned. "Who needs beasts when you've got this?"
He stabbed himself with an ether injector.
His body convulsed—growing claws, scale-armor, and shadow wings.
A Beast-Human Hybrid. Forbidden tech.
Kaden activated his headset's limit mode, syncing with Hunter beyond safety levels.
"Let's dance, freak."
They clashed like gods—shadow vs. corruption. Kaela, weakened but conscious, threw her ember to boost Kaden's final blow.
BOOM.
The Warden hit the ground. Dead. Or close enough.
Kaden collapsed beside Kaela. "So… was that a date?"
She laughed weakly. "You're insane."