Mahiro's heart stopped for a split second as he saw the figure emerge from the shadows, her rocket launcher still smoking from the blast that obliterated the Volt Strider and Iron Pounder. His eyes widened in disbelief, his breath catching in his throat.
"M-Mom...?"
Matsuri Oyama, his mother, stood tall amidst the chaos, her battle-hardened form at complete odds with the warmth and softness he had always associated with her. Her eyes, usually filled with the kindness he had known his entire life, were now sharp, focused, and alert—ready for war. Yet, when they met his, they softened just slightly, a subtle, reassuring smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Mahiro's legs buckled as a wave of relief washed over him, overwhelming the fear that had been building inside him since he first woke up in this nightmare. His chest tightened, and before he could stop himself, tears welled up in his eyes.
"Mom!" His voice cracked as he cried out, the panic and terror he had been holding in spilling over. He rushed toward her, his steps unsteady, his body trembling. "I-I thought... I thought I was going to—"
Matsuri swiftly slung her rocket launcher across her back and knelt down, catching Mahiro in her arms as he collapsed into her. His breath came in ragged gasps, his tears soaking into her combat gear. She held him close, her arms strong and steady, offering him the comfort he so desperately needed.
"It's okay, Mahiro," she whispered, her voice calm and soothing despite the chaos around them. She gently brushed his hair back, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "I'm here now. You're safe."
Mahiro clung to her, his fingers gripping her jacket tightly as the sobs racked his body. The reality of everything—the Combine, the aliens, the overwhelming terror—hit him all at once. But in his mother's arms, he felt a small semblance of safety return, even if only for a moment.
After a few moments, Matsuri pulled back slightly, lifting Mahiro's chin so he could meet her gaze. Her expression was calm but serious. "We can't stay here, Mahiro. We need to keep moving. Mihari's lab is just ahead."
Mahiro nodded, wiping the tears from his face, though his body still trembled. Matsuri, ever the protector, scooped him up effortlessly, carrying him in her arms like he was still a child. The familiar warmth and strength of her hold gave him the comfort he needed to regain some composure.
As they walked, the eerie silence of the battlefield was suddenly broken by the low, mechanical hum of more Combine creatures approaching. Mahiro's pulse quickened again, but Matsuri didn't slow down. She shifted Mahiro to one arm and reached for her rocket launcher with the other.
Emerging from the wreckage ahead were three new Combine-engineered aliens—each more terrifying than the last. The first was a Razor Wraith, a sleek, shadowy creature that floated just above the ground. Its body was covered in sharp, blade-like appendages, and its movements were unnervingly smooth, almost fluid. Behind it came two Heavy Scourge Tanks, large, hulking beasts with thick, plated armor and twin-mounted plasma cannons fused into their forearms.
Matsuri narrowed her eyes as she assessed the threat. "Hold on tight, Mahiro."
In a swift, fluid motion, she aimed the rocket launcher and fired. The first missile streaked through the air, hitting the Razor Wraith square in its chest. The creature let out a high-pitched, metallic screech as it disintegrated into a cloud of shimmering particles.
The Heavy Scourge Tanks weren't as easy to take down. They advanced slowly, their cannons charging as they locked onto Matsuri and Mahiro. Matsuri calmly set Mahiro down behind a piece of cover before sprinting toward the tanks.
