Rex strode forward, closing the distance between him and the researcher.

    "Alright, uh... do you have a name?" Rex asked, eyebrow raised.

    "My name is Oscar, my Lord Angel!" the man replied, his voice dripping with reverence.

    Rex let out a small sigh. "Okay, Oscar. First off, drop the ’Lord Angel’ stuff. I’m not an angel, alright? I’m just a guy, like you is just that I’ve only been, you know, changed. Some...

    circumstances led to this, but trust me, I’m no mythical being destined to save humanity or anything."

    Oscar tilted his head, eyes wide with curiosity. "What circumstances would those be, if I may ask?"

    Rex scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Well... I was, uh, sort of dead. Or dying. Then I got transformed and came back to life. You know, typical Friday night stuff."

    Oscar’s eyes lit up with excitement. "I see, I see! Resurrection, then!" He nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, "How old are you now? Can you even die of old age?"

    "Me? I’m 23. And as far as I know, no, I can’t die of old age. Not that I’ve tested it out or anything," Rex said, shrugging.

    Oscar muttered to himself, "Immortal, too... fascinating." Then, with sudden intensity, he blurted out, "And what about those wings of yours? And your height? No regular human could possibly—"

    "Yeah, let’s not get into all that," Rex cut him off, waving a hand. "We didn’t come here to debate my anatomy. We’re mercenaries, hired by Black Horizon Corporation to rescue you and bring you back. So, how about we focus on that?"

    Oscar’s face twisted in panic. "Wait, what?! No way I’m going back to them! I escaped for a reason!"

    Rex blinked, confused. "Escaped? They told us you were kidnapped."

    "Kidnapped? Ha!" Oscar scoffed. "Those bastards wanted to use my EMP tech against a runaway human slave camp! Disable their energy shield, capture them, and turn them into guinea pigs for genetic experiments. There’s no way I’m going back to help them do that!"

    Rex felt a pit forming in his stomach. He glanced at the mission info on his screen. On one hand, there were the innocent runaway slaves. On the other hand, the 500k credits they’d be paid if they brought Oscar back. No wonder Ys had been letting him handle the talking so far. It was a messy situation.

    "So, it looks like we’ve got two options," Rex started, trying to think it through. "First, we take you by force, hand you over to Black Horizon, and get paid. Or second—"

    Ys interrupted, her voice cutting in sweetly, "Oh, darling, about that second option... I think it’s off the table."

    Rex frowned, turning toward her. "Why?"

    "Because," Ys said, looking down and kicking at something on the ground, "I may or may not have already killed the leader of these rebels."

    Their weapons were relics of a lost age, firing rapidly but with little power. It didn’t matter how many shots they fired; those hits were like pebbles against a fortress.

    The invaders marched forward, their heavy infantry equipped with advanced energy shields and combat armor that deflected the desperate barrage with ease. The defenders fought with everything they had, but their weapons could barely scratch the enemy’s armor.

    Realizing they couldn’t hold the outer lines, the humans retreated to the camp’s central building; the town hall was a reinforced structure that had become their last stand. From there, they poured fire relentlessly, shooting until their energy rifles overheated, hearts pounding in their chests as the grim reality of the situation set in.

    For them, this wasn’t just a battle; it was a statement. They fought for their freedom, their families, and their future. It was a fight to prove that no matter how many times the human race had been pushed down, it would always rise again.

    Humanity had been forged in the crucible of rebellion, and no matter the odds, they would always resist oppression. It was part of who they were, part of their very soul.

    But you can’t win wars on ideals alone...

    The enemy forces, unfazed by human resistance, advanced methodically. With a single command, the Black Horizon troops fired rocket launchers at the town hall, their blasts tearing massive holes in the structure.

    Inside, screams echoed as debris rained down. Mothers huddled with their children, shielding them from the destruction, trying to protect them from the nightmare that had descended upon their home.

    The situation was growing more desperate by the second. The human defenders, outgunned, outmatched, and surrounded, were fighting a losing battle.

    But they didn’t stop. They couldn’t stop. Not with everything at stake. They fought with a kind of fury that only comes from knowing this was their last stand, from the understanding that there was no escape, no reinforcement coming, only the grim reality of survival or annihilation.

    Outside, the general of Black Horizon watched the devastation unfold with a gleeful grin plastered on his face. His voice boomed over the battlefield. "Hia hia hia! Keep going! Finish them off! Remember, I want them alive, but don’t be too gentle.

    And that prize I asked for? She better be in one piece when I get there."

    The Black Horizon soldiers stormed the breached town hall, their footsteps pounding the ground as they swept through the remains of the camp like a plague. Inside, the remaining humans made their final stand, knowing full well what awaited them if they were captured.

    But still, they fought, because even if they were destined to fall, they would not fall easily. They would fight until their very last breath.

    Because that was the human spirit.

    Amid the smoldering ruins, a small human girl, barely eight years old, struggled desperately to free her little brother. A portion of the wall had collapsed on him after the explosion, pinning his fragile body beneath its crushing weight.

    She pulled with all her might, her tiny hands trembling as she strained, her face streaked with dirt and tears. But no matter how hard she tried, it was no use. She was just a child, and her strength was no match for the heavy stone trapping her brother.

    Her brother, no older than five, had already lost consciousness. His pale face was stained with blood, and his breathing was shallow. Half of his body had been crushed beneath the rubble, and it was a miracle he was even still alive. She could see that much, even at her young age. Time was slipping away for him.

    Through her tear-blurred eyes, she felt her hope slipping, too...