The jackpot lights flickered one last time, sparks dancing across the blood-slick floor.
A cold ping cut through the ringing in his ears:
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Target Eliminated: Pre-Glutton Steel Rank]
[+ Feed Count: 6,000]
[Feed Count: +3,000]
[Total Feed Count: 17,100 / 20,000]
Johnquis coughed, staring at the blue glow.
"We… we did it? Is he finally dead? We survived THAT."
His chain twitched at his side, almost alive. The metal links pulsed, flowing like fresh blood through veins that had no business feeling warm. He wiped the blood from his mouth, a hoarse, broken laugh rattling out of him.
"Heh… Look at us. Just a leash boy and a mutt… taking down a Steel Rank pre-Glutton."
He let the chain coil loosely around his wrist, then glanced down. The Runner lay there, half-broken, eyes still glowing faintly — watching him with that same eerie, loyal focus.