CHAPTER 96: The Day After

CHAPTER 96: The Day After

Phoenix woke at dawn, as he always did at Enid Corp. This time, however, opening his eyes was a greater effort than usual. The pain in his left shoulder was sharp, constant, a reminder of his fight with Alex. He got up with difficulty, feeling every muscle on the left side of his body protest. His entire left arm was completely immobilized, wrapped in thick bandages running from his shoulder to his wrist. Without his regeneration, the arm was weak, practically useless.

With a sigh of frustration, Phoenix clumsily dressed with one hand. Something as simple as buttoning his shirt had become a monumental challenge. "Well, this is just a blessing," he thought sarcastically, his dark mood reflecting his state of mind. In the end, he opted for a simple shirt that didn't require much dexterity to put on. He looked at himself in the mirror for a moment, observing his reflection with disapproval.

"Look at me, I'm a mess," he murmured to the invisible spectators. "I can't even button my shirt without feeling like an idiot. All because someone decided it would be a good idea for me to taste mortality... again." His words were laden with irony, but there was an underlying seriousness in his voice. It was a constant reminder that his regeneration was compromised, that his body wasn't as invincible as before.

With his usual dark humor, Phoenix went downstairs to the Enid Corp cafeteria, finding the place relatively quiet. The smell of coffee and scrambled eggs filled the air, mixing with the sound of morning conversations and the hum of machines. Normally, Phoenix would enjoy the morning energy, but today, everything seemed a bit more muted, more distant.

He walked slowly to the counter, still adjusting to the sensation of having one less functional arm. Upon arriving, with his one free hand, he took a coffee cup and poured himself some of the steaming beverage. The heat of the coffee in his right hand provided a brief comfort amidst the pain.

"Well, here we are," he commented quietly, more to himself than to anyone else. "In the wonderful world of Enid Corp breakfasts, where anything can happen. And today's main event: Phoenix trying to cut his toast with one hand. Don't miss it."

As he struggled to cut a piece of toast, Phoenix felt a familiar presence nearby. A dark, magnetic aura that always captured his attention. He looked up and, to his surprise, there was Alucard, standing by his table with his characteristic smile.

"Well, well, if it isn't 'Enid's Dog' himself enjoying his morning breakfast," Alucard said in a mocking tone, though there was a note of respect in his words. He sat down opposite Phoenix, observing him with those piercing eyes that seemed to see through one's soul.

Phoenix just rolled his eyes. "I didn't know we had such an important guest this morning. What brings you here, Alucard? Run out of fresh blood?"

Alucard smiled with that mysterious glint in his gaze. "No, no, dear friend. Just stopping by to see how you were. While I amuse myself with your constant jokes, I must admit that of all the living, you're the one I respect the most. Strange as it may seem."

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is that a compliment? Because coming from you, it sounds almost like a threat."

"Take it as you will," Alucard replied with a shrug. "But it's the truth. You're one of the few who've come out alive from every fight you've gotten yourself into."

Phoenix let out a soft laugh, though the movement made his shoulder throb again. "Yeah, well, it's not like I have many options. It's either fight or die of boredom." His tone was sarcastic, but there was a glint in his eyes that reflected the sincerity of his words. For as much as they traded barbs, there was a kind of mutual respect between them.

"I've heard rumors," Alucard began, leaning slightly forward, "that your left arm is... incapacitated. That's not something that happens every day. Tell me, what happened?"

Phoenix was silent for a moment, taking a sip of his coffee before answering. "Let's just say I had a little encounter with one of Antigen's new toys. A vampire named Alex. Seems he has a knack for breaking things... especially my bones."

Alucard watched him with interest, his red eyes flashing. "Interesting. So there's someone else out there who can give you a fight."

Phoenix nodded with an ironic smile. "Yeah, more or less. Although I'm not sure calling it a 'fight' is right when your arm ends up in pieces and you can't regenerate."

Alucard smiled. "There must be more to it. Why can't you regenerate?"

"A complicated story," Phoenix replied. "It seems Alex has something special in his strikes. Something that blocks my regeneration. So here I am, like an idiot, with a useless arm and the prospect of weeks of recovery."

Alucard nodded slowly, as if processing the information. "Hmm, it seems this Alex will be an interesting challenge."

Phoenix nodded. "He is. But we'll see who has the last laugh." He took a final sip of his coffee and stood up with difficulty, signaling the conversation was over. "Thanks for the chat, Alucard. It's always a pleasure... more or less."

Alucard stood as well, smiling. "The pleasure is mine, dear friend. Have a good day, or at least, a less painful one."

Phoenix watched him leave, knowing the battle with Alex wasn't the end, but only the beginning of a new series of challenges.

Phoenix walked slowly through the halls of Enid Corp, feeling the weight of the bandage on his shoulder and the sharp pain reminding him with every step of his encounter with Alex. His mood was, as expected, at its lowest. After his conversation with Alucard in the cafeteria, he found nothing else to do but go up to Enid's office and tell her directly what he thought of the idea of being inactive for six weeks. "As if I could last that long without doing anything useful," he thought.