The next morning, the condition remained. The temporary stability from the previous intake had already begun to fade, and the strain returned slowly, spreading through his body with each passing moment. Basic recovery had only delayed the collapse. If nothing changed, this body would not hold for long.
Arin sat up. The moment he moved, a sharp strain spread through his chest and arms. His muscles resisted, not because they were strong, but because they couldn't sustain movement. Even maintaining balance required effort, and the instability beneath it didn't disappear.
Stopping wasn't an option.
He reached for the terminal. Medical support was the only solution that could stabilize the condition. Anything else would only delay the inevitable.
He opened the search panel and selected the nearest high-level facility within Astra Vale City, Eastern Outer Region. Multiple results appeared, but the Central District Medical Center stood out. Better facilities, faster treatment, higher stability.
Other options existed, but none were fast enough. Delay meant risk, and this body didn't have that margin.
Estimated travel time: 15 minutes.
That was within range.
He stood up. The moment his weight shifted, the instability returned immediately. His legs held, but only barely. A dull pain spread upward from his feet, through his spine, settling across his body. The earlier intake had only suppressed the symptoms. It hadn't solved anything.
He moved anyway.
The door opened, and the outside world came into view. The streets of Astra Vale were already active. Civilians moved with purpose, heading toward work, transport points, or assigned tasks. No one stayed in place for long.
This was one of the outer regions, where movement never stopped and attention was rarely given.
Arin stepped forward. The first few steps were manageable, but the strain increased with each movement. His breathing grew heavier, not from exertion, but from instability. The body wasn't functioning properly. It was holding together.
The earlier stability was already breaking down. If this continued, he wouldn't last more than a few minutes.
A few people glanced at him as he passed. His pale appearance stood out slightly, and his movement lacked stability, but no one stopped. No one intervened.
That was enough to understand the environment.
Weakness wasn't unusual here.
And it wasn't protected.
He reached the transit area. Vehicles moved in fixed patterns, arriving and leaving without delay. Each stop lasted only a moment before continuing. One of them descended and aligned in front of him.
Arin stepped forward and entered as the door opened automatically.
"Astra Vale City — Eastern District, Sector 7."
"Location confirmed."
"Destination?"
"Central District Medical Center."
"Route confirmed."
Fare: 150 Credits.
He accepted. The door closed, and the vehicle lifted.
For a moment, the strain reduced. Sitting eased the pressure on his body, allowing it to stabilize slightly. But the relief didn't last. The instability remained beneath it, waiting.
Arin leaned back and looked outside. Buildings passed steadily on both sides, structured and connected by elevated paths. Above, vehicles moved in fixed lanes. Below, people continued without pause.
Everything functioned.
This place didn't stop for weakness.
Time passed, and the strain returned gradually. His fingers tightened slightly as the body approached its limit again.
"Central District reached."
The vehicle descended and came to a stop. The door opened.
Arin stepped out. The moment his weight shifted again, the weakness surged back, stronger than before. The body had reached its limit.
The medical facility stood ahead. Tall, structured, active. The distance wasn't far, but it wasn't easy either.
He moved forward.
Each step required effort. The strain increased, spreading through his body as his breathing became uneven. His vision blurred slightly at the edges, but he didn't stop.
He continued until he reached the entrance.
The moment he stepped inside, the pressure dropped. The environment stabilized, and the body no longer needed to hold itself together.
That was enough.
The body had reached its limit. The moment it no longer needed to hold, it stopped.