The white dot expanded, consuming everything around it.

  The distortion in space grew larger.

  Screeeeech...

  The Center began to tremble.

  "We need to get out of here—now!"

  Chaos erupted within the Center as people scrambled toward the escape pods.

  Chris stood frozen, eyes fixed on the growing white void.

  "What... what is happening?"

  Smack!

  Suddenly, everything turned white before Chris's eyes.

  Smack!

  Jang Wi-Wi slapped him again.

  "Hey! Snap out of it! We have to escape!"

  Rubbing his stinging cheek, Chris rose to his feet.

  "Jungwoo... what about Jungwoo?"

  Chris looked at Jang Wi-Wi.

  "What are you talking about? We need to—"

  Boom!

  The Center tilted over 20 degrees.

  "Whoa!"

  People tumbled, screams echoing throughout.

  Wailing sirens blared as liquefied gas began to leak.

  In the distance, flames flickered.

  Chris stared at the leaking gas.

  "What the...? Is there a fire?"

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  Jang Wi-Wi snapped.

  "You idiot! We need to get out of here now!"

  Chris met his gaze, determination in his eyes.

  The sirens grew louder, drowning out their voices.

  "We have to get Jungwoo out of here!"

  Jang Wi-Wi sighed in exasperation.

  "You're insane... Fine! Do whatever you want! But don't blame me if you end up dead..."

  Before he could finish, Chris had already dashed toward the Regeneration Room.

  Regeneration Room: A state-of-the-art medical facility within the Center, equipped with advanced technology capable of regenerating severed limbs. Among the top five companies, it boasts the highest cellular regeneration capabilities. Operates as an annex to the Center.

  Wailing sirens intensified.

  "Jungwoo! Jungwoo!"

  Chris couldn't explain why he was so desperate to find Jungwoo. It just felt imperative.

  "Jungwoo! Where are you?!"

  He burst into the Regeneration Room.

  "Ugh..."

  The room was in shambles.

  Limbs mid-regeneration, severed arms, legs, eyes, and even a monkey missing its legs—everything was in disarray.

  "Chris..."

  A voice whispered into his right ear.

  Chris quickly blinked his right eye.

  "Locate Jungwoo!"

  His eye turned blue, initiating the tracking process.

  Target located within 1 meter.

  Chris couldn't believe it.

  "Jungwoo...?"

  Before him was a creature resembling a monkey with severed legs.

  Without his eye turning blue, he wouldn't have recognized him.

  The legless monkey kept touching its ears.

  "Chris... help me... I don't know what's happening..."

  "Jungwoo! What happened to you?!"

  Boom! Crash!

  Another explosion rocked the Center.

  "Jungwoo! Stay with me! We need to get out of here!"

  Chris hoisted Jungwoo onto his back and ran.

  Jungwoo's spine was so contorted he could barely hold on.

  "Damn it... What the hell is going on?"

  Jungwoo's muttering translated into Chris's right ear.

  With a sigh of relief, Chris sprinted toward the escape pods.

  Wailing sirens continued.

  Fortunately, two escape pods remained.

  "Jungwoo! Hang in there! I'm setting the coordinates! Just follow them! I'll be right behind you!"

  Chris placed Jungwoo into a pod and input the coordinates.

  "Let's head to Earth! Go!"

  He shouted and sealed the hatch.

  "Chris... don't leave me..."

  Jungwoo's voice was drowned by the pod's launch.

  Chris quickly boarded the remaining pod and set the coordinates.

  "Please... be safe!"

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The Center began to collapse.

  Escape Pod: Emergency evacuation capsules designed to save lives during crises. The Center is equipped with 1.5 times more pods than personnel. Once coordinates are set, the pods navigate automatically, capable of traveling up to 100 million kilometers.