Chapter 16 · Tamer of the Ash Wilds - Chapter 16: You Died Inside the Gate

The screen went from red to white so fast Lin thought it might crack.

"Personality matrix loaded. Baseline comparison: Subject 047-LX. Confidence threshold: ninety-two percent."

Lin's chest went cold. 047-LX. That wasn't a name. That was a sample code.

Crunch pressed against his leg, low growl vibrating through the floor. The beast's eye-marks were glowing again, brighter than before, pulsing in sync with the hatchery core like they were talking to each other.

"Access granted," the screen said. "Welcome back, Dr. Lin."

Dr. Lin.

He wasn't a doctor. He'd dropped out of his postgrad two years before the collapse, went into private sector gene work because the pay was better and the ethics were looser. But the system knew him. Knew his biosignature. Knew things he didn't.

The core terminal lit up in sections. Three folders expanded across the cracked display, labels flickering: PROJECT CINDER. GATE INSERTION LOG. CASUALTY RECORD.

Lin's hand hovered over the screen. His pulse was too loud in his ears.

"Lin." Vira's voice crackled through the comm bead he'd forgotten he was still wearing. "You need to move. The hatchery's heating up. If that core goes critical—"

"I know."

"Then get out."

He should.