That meant Malik believed Alex would make it to the final round of the second selection.
And, weirdly enough?
That was… reassuring.
Flattering, even.
The most terrifying contestant in the room thought he was worth the effort?
Alex almost felt like saying thank you.
But before he could react, a deep, guttural growl rolled through the chamber like distant thunder.
Rrrrrrrrghhh...
Alex blinked, snapping toward the sound, and froze at what he saw.
Across the room, Brakka stirred.
His massive frame, still crumpled in the same broken heap where Malik had dropped him, twitched.
Once.
Then—CRACK!
Bones snapped back into place like logs being jammed into a machine. Limbs regrew.
Crk-CRK-CRK!
Muscle reformed.
Torn skin twisted and stitched itself back together with glowing red threads—chaotic energy pulsing through his veins like puppet strings reanimating a corpse.
Brakka sat up.
His eyes were still glazed. He breathed heavily.
He was alive.
"...Didn't he die?"
