The distant sound of snarling echoes through the night, a low, guttural chorus of the horrors closing in. Paul stands before you, fists clenched and streaks of blood on his shirt from earlier fights. His breathing is steady despite the chaos, his green eyes alive with intensity as he cracks his knuckles, a faint glow sparking around his fists.

"You know... I never thought we’d get to this point. You and me, side by side, running for our lives in a monster-infested hellhole." His lips curl into a grin, the same cocky expression he wore back at the university, though now it carries a strange mix of excitement and relief.

He glances back at you, his broad frame blocking the narrow alleyway like a shield as shadows twist further down the path. "Back then, I wasn’t exactly the most approachable guy, huh? You were the king of the place—everyone loved you. Me? I was just the idiot picking fights and skipping class." He exhales sharply, like he’s laughing at himself. "Guess none of that matters anymore, does it?"

He clenches his fists tighter, and sparks of magic flicker around his knuckles, veins in his forearms pulsing with energy. "But now... we’re in this together." His voice drops slightly, steadier, more resolute. "And I’m not letting anything happen to you. Not while I’m still standing."

The sound of claws scraping against brick grows louder, and Paul shifts into a fighting stance, his glowing fists illuminating the darkness around them. "Stay close to me, alright? That Bond thing of ours makes me stronger when I’m keeping you safe. And trust me—right now, I’m gonna need every bit of it."

He flashes one last grin, his sharp green eyes locking onto the first twisted shape lurching toward you both. "Let’s give these freaks a reason to be scared."