Around that time...
Unusual things were happening in the corner of the building.
SQUEAAAKK.
The sound of twisting metal echoed through the ward’s fragile calm like a whisper of doom.
Mira nervously grabbed Hex’s hand. Hex glanced down at her with a faint smile, squeezing her hand gently.
"Everything will be alright," he said softly, though his own mind buzzed with confusion. What the hell is going on...?
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion ripped through the air. The floor beneath them shuddered violently. Lights flickered. The hospital walls trembled.
CRACK! BOOM!
Patients screamed. A woman holding a child shouted, "It’s happening again! The monsters are here!"
An old man tried to crawl under his bed, yelling, "I’m too old for this! I didn’t sign up to die here!"
The teenage girl dropped her teddy bear and bolted toward the exit, crying.
The nurses were shouting into their radios, trying to get an update, while alarms began blaring across the building.
Hex’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked at the ceiling, then at the shaking walls. The scent of smoke and burning wiring filled the air.
Rondal turned sharply, his eyes scanning the chaos. For a split second, his gaze met Hex’s—there was uncertainty in them, a flicker of conflict as he weighed down the option.
Hex understood instantly.
"Uncle," he said quickly, "you can go take a look. I promise, I’ll take care of her."
He looked down at Mira and then added, "Also... I live near Slim District 4, close to the Complex Apartment."
He had no fear in revealing his address. He already planned to move soon.
"Hmm!Make sure you are safe."
Rondal stared for a heartbeat, then nodded. "Got it... Please, take care of her. I’ll reward you well..."
With that, Rondal darted out through the chaos, vanishing down the corridor.
Under the echo of screams and cries, Hex stood up. He ripped the IV needle from his arm and yanked off the sensor pads.
Grabbing Mira in one fluid motion, he whispered, "Mira, don’t panic. Everything will be alright."
Though he spoke with calm, a storm of fear twisted inside him.
What the hell am I supposed to do?
Suddenly, the wall at the far end of the corridor exploded outward.
BOOOOOOM!
Flames and smoke belched from the top floor, curling through the broken windows like a living monster. A plume of fire twisted into the sky, followed by a shockwave that knocked over metal trays and sent beds crashing.
People screamed and ran in every direction. Some pushed over IV stands, others trampled one another in the stampede. The hallway became a river of chaos.
From the far corner of falling debris,Hex could see a glimpse of reflecting blasts.
Whatever it was,it had the power of an explosion.
Hex’s eyes narrowed. He tightened his grip on Mira, swung her onto his back, and dashed forward.
Despite looking lean and frail, Hex’s body was a wonder.
The Mutation Index (MI) wasn’t just a measure of special abilities—it accounted for one’s physical and mental enhancements as well.
And Hex... Hex was a rare breed. An MI of 8 despite lacking any ability.
For a brief period, he could reach speeds comparable to beast-class sprinters—up to 60 miles per hour—and his bones were dense enough to punch holes through solid material.
It was a miraculous body, one that most needed years of intense training and gene-enhancing serums to achieve.
But Hex... was born with it.
"Uuuuuhhh!" Mira gasped, her eyes wide as she felt the wind slap against her face. The wind tore past her ears, making her sway back and forth as Hex shot forward like a bullet.
He weaved through crowds, leapt over stretchers, and ignored the screams around him.
His mind was only to escape.
The stairs were packed with fleeing people.
Looking at the crowd hurrying their way, he made a split-second decision.
Hex grabbed Mira firmly and looked down.
"2nd floor....Few knocks."
Then without hesitation he jumped making the ones close to him scream in fury.
"AHHHH!"
"A MADLAD!"
From the second-floor balcony, Hex dove straight down.
THUUUD!!
He landed with a thunderous slam, the ground beneath him cracked slightly. The floor trembled from the impact, and several people nearby turned in sheer shock.
"Did he just jump two floors!?"
"Is that a Soldier or guild hunter!?"
"My god, that kid’s crazy!"
"Wait—he’s carrying a child!"
Hex ignored them all. Fortunately, no one had been directly below him, or they would’ve been flattened like a pancake.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Mira nodded so hard her ponytails swung in every direction. One nod wasn’t enough for her.
He turned back toward the entrance.
Amidst the scattered chaos, shocked gazes followed him. Whispers rippled around.
"Who is he!?"
"That’s not normal speed—he’s a mutant, isn’t he?"
"Look at his legs... He didn’t even break a bone from that fall..."
But Hex had no time for awe.
"Don’t block me! Move aside!" he yelled, charging toward the entrance shoving aside people who came at him.
Just as he neared the large double doors—
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A massive, cataclysmic blast tore through the top of the building. The shockwave hit like thunder.
CRACK!
RUMBLE!
Debris rained down. The ceiling split. Dust filled the air like a storm. A wave of force slammed against Hex, knocking him backward.
A massive chunk of concrete shot through the haze and slammed into Hex’s shoulder.
"Ghhhaaah!" he grunted, stumbling and rolling over the ground.
He hissed in pain, biting down on his lip to keep from screaming. With his free arm, he coiled around Mira and rolled toward a nearby desk.
They tumbled beneath it, hidden momentarily from the chaos.
He gently laid Mira down for a second, pressing a hand over his bruised shoulder.
Through the settling dust and falling debris...
Something began to emerge.
Sssssssssssssss...
A glowing azure light shimmered from the center of the broken floor.
A hissing sound cut through the debris.
A burning mass began to rise with its shape still indistinct, but its presence chillingly clear.
Hex narrowed his eyes, lips bloodied, heart pounding.
Whatever just jumped down really came at the worst possible situation.