The bunker groaned, its metal beams twisting under the force of the explosion. Smoke and dust choked the air, swallowing the dim emergency lights.
Eva staggered backward, her heart hammering in her chest. Kruger should've been down, should've been hurting—but he wasn't.
He stood amidst the collapsing corridor, grinning through the blood.
Eva's knife was still buried in his side, yet he barely seemed to notice. Instead, he wrapped his fingers around the hilt and yanked it free, tossing it aside like it was nothing.
"That all you got?" Kruger growled, taking a slow, deliberate step forward.
Eva's breath hitched.
She was out of explosives. Out of bullets. Out of time.
Kruger cracked his neck. "You should've known by now, Morales. This?" He gestured to the destruction around them. "This won't kill me."
Eva clenched her jaw. Then I'll find something that will.
Kruger's laughter followed her down the corridor.
Sergeant Darius "Hellhound" Rook crouched near a collapsed entryway, watching the chaos unfold through the bunker's security feeds. The explosion had torn through multiple levels, but Kruger was still standing.
Rook's fingers tightened around his rifle.
He had served under Kruger long enough to know one thing—this man wasn't just a soldier anymore. He was something else.
Something unstoppable.
Rook switched his comms to a private frequency. "Plague Mistress, we got a problem."
Dr. Sylvia Voss's voice crackled in. "Kruger?"
"He's alive," Rook confirmed, eyes narrowing. "And evolving."
"Get out of there, Sergeant," Voss ordered. "Now."
But Rook didn't move. He watched as Kruger stalked after Morales, his movements unnervingly calm.
For the first time in years, Rook felt something cold settle in his gut.
Deeper in the Bunker…
Eva's lungs burned, her vision swimming from blood loss. She had to keep moving—had to find an exit.
An old service hatch, partially buried under fallen debris. It was a tight squeeze, but if she could just—
A hand closed around her throat.
She gasped as Kruger hauled her up, slamming her against the bunker wall.
"No more running," he murmured, his grip tightening.
Eva struggled, clawing at his arm, but he was too strong.
Kruger tilted his head, almost… curious.
"Still got some fight left in you," he muttered. "Good. I was worried you'd break too easy."
Eva's vision darkened.
Kruger staggered as a bullet pierced his shoulder.
From the shadows, Rook stepped forward.
His rifle was raised. His expression unreadable.
"Let her go, General," Rook said quietly.
Kruger turned his glowing eyes toward his old comrade.