Nine was in slightly better shape, but not by much. The cracked Carapace Armor around his ribs was slowly repairing itself, yet the remnants of crystallization erosion had never been fully cleared away. The newly grown carapace was thinner than before, and his body was using insufficient material to barely patch the gaps.
J withdrew his gaze. They needed time.
"Seed, hurry up and sprout..."
At that moment, without any warning, a Green Glow suddenly lit up on Jie's body.
The light seeped out from beneath her skin, spreading along the burn scars across half her face. Something buried deep within her Flesh had been activated remotely.
At the same instant, the wound at Nine's ribs lit up as well. Green light leaked through the gaps in the bandages, dyeing the wrapped white cloth a pale green.
The bowl in J's hand froze.
His gaze instantly locked onto the light on Jie's body.
Jie opened her eyes, lowered her head, and saw the green radiance seeping from her body. Her expression changed.
Q rose from the window and was already moving toward the door.
J needed no explanation. There was only one person in Bronze City who could leave green light on Jie and Nine!
Klaus had come for them!
J gently set the bowl on the workbench. He rose quickly, but without panic.
"There's no time. Prepare to break out."
His voice was very low, his tone flat.
Jie sat up from the corner and coughed. Her breathing fluctuated violently, but gradually steadied afterward, and her skin began to flicker.
Nine was already standing straight. He withdrew his hand from the patterns on the floor, and his Chitin skin began to take on a deeper gray-white color.
J swept a glance over the ritual area. The seed was still