Seeing several team members still trapped inside the core room, Ivy immediately rushed forward.

Without hesitation, she positioned herself between the closing doors.

The heavy metal slabs pressed against both sides of her body.

"Move! Move! Get out!" she shouted.

The trapped team members didn’t waste the opportunity.

One after another, they sprinted through the narrowing gap.

The opening became smaller and smaller.

Ivy gritted her teeth.

The pressure from the doors was becoming unbearable.

Just a little longer.

Just a little longer...

The final team member finally escaped.

Relief flashed through Ivy’s eyes.

She immediately attempted to pull her other leg out of the core room so that the door can finally close.

But then...

Slash!

A monster’s razor-sharp tail whipped through the air.

The blade-like tail sliced deep into Ivy’s leg.

Blood sprayed across the floor.

"Fuck!!!"

Pain exploded through her entire body.

For a brief moment, it felt as if someone had buried a heated axe directly into her flesh.

Despite the agony, Ivy forced herself backward.

The tail narrowly missed dragging her back into the room.

The instant her leg cleared the doorway....

Boom!

The massive doors slammed shut.

Ivy looked down.

A deep gash ran across her leg.

Blood poured from the wound without restraint.

The cut was so severe that parts of the flesh were visible beneath the torn skin.

"Fuck..." Ivy cursed again through clenched teeth.

"What the actual fuck?!" Erick shouted.

Ignoring his exhaustion, he scrambled to his feet and rushed toward her.

"How the fuck did you get injured?!"

"Don’t ask questions right now," Ivy replied, her voice strained.

Sweat covered her forehead.

She reached into her bag and quickly pulled out a napkin.

Using all her strength, she wrapped it tightly around the wound.

The white cloth immediately began turning red.

Within seconds, it was completely soaked with blood.

Erick’s expression darkened.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked worriedly. "We can treat it right now."

"I’ll treat myself once we’re out of this building," Ivy replied firmly.

Even though her face had become pale from blood loss, she refused to show weakness.

Unfortunately, fate wasn’t done tormenting them.

Suddenly....

A loud alarm echoed throughout the entire facility.

Everyone froze.

The sound was unmistakable.

The moment it reached their ears, the color drained from Erick’s face as he recognized it. Him and the other members do except for Ivy.

His eyes widened in horror.

"What?!" he yelled.

"The destruction program has been activated!"

Panic immediately spread among the team.

"What?!"

"Are you serious?!"

"No, no, no..."

Erick grabbed his head.

His breathing became heavier.

"Which motherfucker activated it?!" he roared.

The alarm continued blaring mercilessly.

"We’re not even out of the building yet!" Erick shouted furiously. "Do you idiots understand what this means?!"

Nobody answered.

Because everyone knew.

The destruction protocol automatically unlocked every containment chamber within the facility before initiating the self-destruct sequence.

Meaning that very monster trapped inside the building had just been released.

Every single one.

Erick’s gaze slowly shifted toward Nathan.

The murderous intent in his eyes was impossible to miss.

"You..." Erick growled.

Nathan remained silent.

"You did this, didn’t you?"

Without warning, Erick stormed toward him and grabbed him by the collar.

"You activated it!"

Nathan simply scoffed.

"You all better run if you want to survive."

He forcefully pushed Erick’s hands away.

"Or stay here and get buried with this place. I honestly don’t give a damn."

Then he turned and sprinted toward the elevator.

At that exact moment....

Boom!

Everyone turned toward the core room.

The reinforced glass panels surrounding the containment area were beginning to fracture.

Tiny cracks rapidly spread across the surface like spiderwebs.

Behind them...growls echoed.

However Nathan reached the elevator first.

The doors slid open.

Ding.

He stepped forward only to freeze as someone was already standing inside.

A small smirk appeared on Darren’s face.

"Going somewhere?" he asked casually.

Nathan’s expression darkened.

"If you idiots want to keep listening to that woman," Nathan snarled, pointing toward Ivy, "then go ahead and die with her! I don’t care!"

He attempted to shove Darren aside.

"Kill that bastard, Darren!" Ivy shouted angrily.

Despite the pain shooting through her injured leg, she somehow forced herself back onto her feet.

BOOM!!!

The entire facility shook violently.

Every containment chamber door burst open simultaneously.

GROWLS~

The monster sounds echoed throughout the facility while heavy footsteps thundered from every direction.

"We’re really screwed this time..." Erick muttered under his breath.