Chapter 378: Adrian Stone's Eyes Snapped Open

Adrian Stone's eyes snapped open, his body burning as if molten lava coursed through his veins. He could feel every wound mending—shrapnel being pushed from his brain by an invisible force, severed blood vessels reconnecting, shattered tissues regenerating at an impossible speed. But what stunned him most was seeing the source of this healing power.

Elena Ward stood before him.

Golden energy streams flowed back into her chest like receding tides, condensing into a faint starlight glow. Adrian's pupils constricted—this defied all logic.

At the same moment, Elena clutched her sternum. Her chest burned like a miniature sun. Despite expending massive energy, she felt no exhaustion. Instead, power surged through her fingertips.

"Elena!" Adrian struggled to sit up.

"Don't move!" She pressed him down, swiftly removing acupuncture needles before exhaling in relief.

"The Captain's awake!" A soldier's shout echoed through the cavern.

All eyes turned to them.

"Dr. Ward!" Dr. Alice Monroe' voice trembled. "Eric Lewis isn't breathing!"

Elena sprinted toward the motionless soldier. Adrian followed and froze—Eric's abdomen was wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, his face ashen, chest utterly still.

Alice performed frantic CPR. Elena checked his pulse—barely detectable.

"Clear the area!" Elena barked. "You're killing him!"

Time was critical. But with so many witnesses, revealing her ability meant...

Adrian's command cut through the chaos: "All personnel evacuate! Dr. Monroe tend to other wounded!" His gaze swept the group. "That's an order!"

The soldiers scattered. Alice hesitated. "Dr. Ward, you—"

"I'll handle this." Elena gripped her needle case, nails biting into her palms. "We have to try."

Adrian positioned himself behind her like an unshakable fortress. Elena drew a sharp breath—self-preservation or all-or-nothing gamble?

A water droplet fell from the cavern ceiling, rippling through the bloodstained puddle.