Ethan's back pressed hard against the cold, unyieldial of the corridor wall. His breathing was bored, each breath shallow and ragged, his dislocated shoulder pulsing with searing pain. His vision blurred, the edges of the HUD flickeriically as the system struggled to keep him funing. He blinked away the dizziness, trying to focus on the grim reality unfolding before him.

  The g boots of Syndicate soldiers echoed down the corridor, their shadows stretg long and ominous in the dim light. Ethan g his pistols, they were nearly out of ammo. He had o psma grenade, but that wouldn't be enough to take down the growing number of troops verging on his position. They had him surrounded, and there was no way out.

  "I'm not gonna make it," Ethan muttered under his breath, the thought creeping ie his best efforts to push it away. His mind flickered to Malek and the others. Had they already been captured, or worse? Was this all for nothing? He shook his head. No. He couldn't afford to think like that, not now.

  Another volley of psma fire cut through the air, smming into the bulkhead beside him, sending sparks flying. His armor's shields flickered, abs the brunt of the bst, but they were running on fumes, just like him. He ducked lower behind the crate he'd taken cover behind, gritting his teeth as the pain in his shoulder fred again.

  Raeth's voice crackled through the facility's speakers once more, dripping with mockery. "Is this it, Ethan? Is this really the best you do? You've survived lohan I expected, I'll give you that. But this is the end of the line. You 't win. You're outnumbered. Outgunned. Just give up."

  Ethan's hands trembled as he reloaded his st charge into one of his pistols, his teeth grinding together. His body felt like it was on the verge of colpse, every nerve screaming at him to stop. But even as his strength waned, something deep within him flickered to life again. A tent power, a force he didn't fully uand but had unknowingly relied on. It whispered to him, nudging his body forward even as it rebelled against him. His reflexes sharpened, his mind cleared.

  "No," Ethan growled to himself, tightening his grip on his pistol. "I'm not dying here."

  He took a deep breath, steeling himself. There was no time for fear, no room for hesitation. He had to fight, and he had to win. Summoning every ounce of willpower he had left, Ethan rose from behind the crate and charged into the open.

  The Syndicate soldiers reacted instantly, their rifles snapping up to fire, but Ethan was already moving. His enhanced reflexes guided him through the storm of psma bolts, weaviween the deadly streaks of energy with inhuman precision. His pistols barked in response, each shot finding its mark with deadly accuracy. Two soldiers went down, then three more. He was moving faster thahought possible, his pain dulled by adrenaline and something else, something deeper.

  The soldiers regrouped, their numbers overwhelming, but Etha pushing forward. His vision tunneled, fog solely on the arget, the shot. His dislocated shoulder screamed in protest, but his body refused to slow down. He ducked behind another crate, his breathing heavy, his ammo dangerously low. He could feel the walls closing in, the end growing nearer with each sed.

  Another volley of psma fire. Another explosion of pain as his suit's shields struggled to hold. His pistols clicked empty. He was out of options. This was it.

  And then, just as he was about to be overwhelmed, the corridor behind the Syndicate forces erupted in a massive explosion. The shockwave sent debris flying, and through the smoke and chaos, a familiar voice called out.

  "You didn't think I'd leave you behind, did you?"

  Ethan blinked in disbelief as Malek's figure emerged from the haze, fnked by Derek and several guards from the previous outpost. They charged into the fray, their ons bzing, cutting through the Syndicate soldiers with brutal efficy. Psma fire lit up the corridor as Malek's team tore through the ranks of Ethan's enemies, mowing them down in a hail of energy bolts.

  The relief was overwhelming. For a momehan allowed himself to sag against the wall, his body trembling with exhaustion. But only for a moment. He forced himself to his feet, drawing in a deep breath as he grabbed a rifle from one of the fallen soldiers.

  "About time you showed up," Ethan called back through the smoke, his voice hoarse.

  Malek grinned as he ducked behind cover, reloading his rifle. "Couldn't let you have all the fun."

  Ethan smirked, feeling a surge of hope. With Malek and the others by his side, they had a ce. They weren't out of this yet. Not by a long shot.

  With renewed energy, Ethan joihe fight, ying down suppressing fire as Malek's team pushed forward. The tide of the battle began to turn in their favor, the Syndicate forces falling bader the bined assault. For the first time in what felt like hours, Ethan allowed himself to believe they might actually make it out of here.

  Raeth's voice came over the inter again, but this time it wasn't mog. It was angry, frustrated.

  "How is this possible? No matter. You think you've won, but I have plenty more surprises in store for you."

  Ethan's eyes narrowed beh his helmet. He knew Raeth wouldn't go down without a fight, but they'd e too far to turn baow.

  As they advahrough the corridors, taking down the remaining Syndicate troops, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something was ging within him. His body, though battered and bruised, moved with a precision and agility he hadn't known before. His senses felt heightened, his reflexes faster than they should have been, especially sidering his injuries.

  But there was no time to dwell on it. They were nearing the exit now, the final stretch of their escape. The facility shook as arms bred, red lights fshing as Raeth's forces scrambled to stop them.

  "Stay close!" Malek shouted as they reached the final corridor. "We're almost there!"

  Ethan nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. Every step felt like a victory, every soldier they took down a small triumph. And then, finally, they saw it—the exit. The massive bst doors loomed ahead, and beyond them, freedom.

  But Ethan knew better than to believe it would be that easy. Raeth still had cards to py, and the real fight was far from over.

  As they approached the bst doors, Ethan couldn't help but gnce back at the facility behind them. It felt like they were leaving a battlefield, but also stepping into another one. Raeth wouldn't stop, not until they had him ered. And for Ethan, this was no longer about survival. It was about finishing what they'd started.

  He tightened his grip on his rifle, his dislocated shoulder throbbing with pain.

  "Let's finish this," Ethan muttered under his breath as they stormed toward the exit, a glimmer of hope burning in his chest.