Liora narrowed her eyes as she looked at the new figure.
It was tall, part beast and part machine, moving with precise, sharp steps.
Its body was covered in armored plating.
One eye glowed red and the other was reptilian.
Wires ran across its arms and chest, and its claws clicked against the stone.
Liora's face tensed. "What… is that?"
Theron grinned as he stepped to the side.
"So you're surprised?"
He raised a hand toward the new arrival.
"Liora, you already knew we were experimenting hybrids."
His voice was smug.
"And this one of the few who managed to survive."
He pointed.
"This is Scaldrith. The first of his kind."
Liora's eyes narrowed. "So… it's real."
"A living human-beast hybrid."
Theron nodded. "One that didn't break. Didn't go mad. Didn't run."
He turned to Scaldrith.
"Fight her. Hold her here. I only need a few minutes."
Scaldrith didn't speak.
It stepped forward, slowly, scanning Liora with glowing sensors.
