The drone materialized at moon zenith. No engine hum—acoustic camouflage. It sprayed iridescent mist smelling of rotten roses and baby powder.
"Achoo!" Xiao Man sneezed. "Smells like... sad medicine."
Lupus-0's nasal sensors overloaded. Pheromone cocktail:
40% Isoamyl nitrite (fear enhancer)
30% Androstenone (rage trigger)
30% Unknown compound (codename: Lullaby Siren)
Ground trembled. A grizzly Orphnoch erupted from pines—twelve feet tall, moss growing between cracked bone plates. Its eyes were cataract-white, leaking viscous fluid.
It charged Xiao Man, ignoring Lupus-0.
Tactical analysis:
*Weak point: Spine L3/L4 fusion flaw*
Origin: Logging camp foreman, ID# 7743, exposed to Smart Brain "Timber Growth Serum"
Lupus-0 intercepted. Claws scraped bone-moss. They crashed through birches. He aimed for L3—but his trapped wrist ruptured. Bio-fluid spurted.
SHRIEK! Bear claws shredded Xiao Man's jacket. The crayon drawing fluttered into mud mixed with Lupus-0's black blood.
The bear froze. Sniffed the paper. "Little one... smell..." Its tongue rasped over the rainbow. Tears welled in its milky eyes.
*Rage ignited Lupus-0's mitochondria.*
He bit through its spinal flaw. Ripped out glowing vertebrae. As the beast died, its jaws formed human words:
"Tell... my Jenny... sorry..."
Xiao Man salvaged the drawing. The blood had dissolved wax, revealing hidden text:
"Project Lullaby Phase 4: Emotional Harvest via Parental Loss"