Daniel, with his strong arms and a face tight with anger and desperation, dragged Xanthos's unconscious body out of the rubble-strewn room, his jaw clenched. Shoji was still clinging to Xanthos's hand, sobbing uncontrollably, his face streaked with tears. The sight of Shoji's anguish broke something inside Daniel, who had always seen Shoji as a little brother.
Once they were a safe distance away from the immediate danger, Daniel stopped, his breathing ragged. He looked down at Xanthos's still body, then back at Shoji, who was a wreck of tears and pleas. Without warning, Daniel's frustration and fear burst out in a single action-he slapped Xanthos across the face, hard enough to leave a red mark on his pale skin.
"You don't get to leave him like this! Not after everything, you idiot!" Daniel shouted, his voice trembling with fury. He glanced at Shoji, who had crumpled to the ground, still holding Xanthos's hand as though it was his last lifeline.
Zani, who had just arrived on the scene with her soldiers, witnessed the situation, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Xanthos, unmoving, and Shoji in hysterics. Panic gripped her, and she rushed forward, shoving Daniel aside. Her hands shook as she tried to rouse Xanthos, fear flashing across her usually composed face.
Without hesitation, she resorted to desperate measures, her fear translating into rough actions. She aimed a kick at Xanthos's groin, her voice breaking as she yelled, "Get up, you stubborn bastard! Shoji needs you-wake up!"
She kicked again, her usual calm demeanor shattered. But no matter what she did, Xanthos remained unresponsive, his body a heavy weight in their arms. The reality of the situation settled over them like a thick, suffocating fog, threatening to drown them in despair.
Seeing the urgency, Daniel, Zani, and Rayne quickly gathered their strength and made a decision. They couldn't stay here, not with danger still looming. Shoji needed Xanthos alive, and they needed to get him to safety before it was too late.
"Let's move, NOW!" Daniel barked, lifting Xanthos with all his strength as Zani and Rayne helped steady Shoji, who refused to let go of Xanthos's limp hand. Together, they hurried out, pushing their way through the chaos and rubble, hoping against hope that they could save Xanthos from the brink one more time.
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After what felt like an endless race against time, Daniel, Zani, Rayne, and Shoji finally reached a safer hospital far away from the chaos of the previous attack. Xanthos's limp body was rushed into the emergency room, leaving the rest of them waiting with bated breath in the starkly lit hallway. Shoji, with puffy eyes and trembling hands, clung to a shred of hope, whispering quietly to himself that Xanthos would be okay.
After a tense wait, a doctor emerged, his face grave but with a hint of optimism. He glanced over the group before finally delivering the news. "Xanthos's heart is still beating-faintly, but it's there. There's a small chance he might pull through, but it's a very delicate situation."
The moment the words left his mouth, Zani's composure shattered. Her eyes narrowed in a mix of frustration and desperation, and she lunged at the doctor, grabbing the front of his coat with a fierceness that matched her fiery temper. "A small chance? That's all you have to say? After everything, a 'small chance' is all you're giving us?" she growled, her voice rising as her grip tightened.
The doctor flinched, eyes widening in panic. He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, his voice shaking as he tried to placate her. "Look, I-I'm just telling you the facts! We'll do everything we can, but it's touch-and-go! Please, just back off!"
Zani's fury didn't abate; if anything, the doctor's stammered response only seemed to fuel her rage. But before she could lash out further, a gentle touch wrapped around her wrist. Zani turned sharply to find Shoji, his eyes red from crying, looking up at her with a quiet plea in his gaze.
