Arknights: The Life Inside [Arknights]

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 25

In Zhang Yuan's eyes, Yoren had been missing for three whole days. So this reaction was completely normal.

Zhang Yuan raised his hand and tossed the broom aside, his expression complicated as he looked at Yoren.

"Where the hell have you been these past few days? No one answers when I knock on your door, and your phone's been off every time I call."

Yoren lowered his head, his face unreadable.

"I'm sorry… something happened."

"Something happened? What, did you get caught up with loan sharks?"

"No, just... don't ask."

It was clear Yoren didn't want to talk. His mind wasn't here at all.

He sank into his chair like a lifeless puppet, but Zhang Yuan wasn't about to let him off so easily. He immediately followed and sat beside him, eyes sharp with concern.

"Yoren, do you realize that if you hadn't shown up today, the teacher was going to call the police? Hell, even if she didn't, I would've."

Yoren mumbled, barely loud enough to hear.

"It's no use. They wouldn't find me."

"What the hell are you saying?"

Zhang Yuan reached out, gripping Yoren's shoulders to shake some sense into him.

"Ah—don't!" Yoren flinched violently, and Zhang Yuan immediately let go.

Only then did he notice the gauze wrapped beneath Yoren's collar.

"What happened to you? Why are you hurt? Were you attacked?"

"It's nothing. Just drop it. I don't want to talk right now."

Yoren slumped forward, resting his head on his arms, lost in thought once more.

---

It wasn't long before a group of otaku students in the classroom noticed Yoren's return and swarmed around him excitedly.

"Yoren! Where the hell have you been? Oh, by the way, guess what? I pulled Silver Ash yesterday! Jealous, aren't you? Hehehe!"

"Hey, Yoren, have you cleared Raid 4-10 yet? Want me to teach you? Don't worry, even if you don't have 'Little Lamb,' I promise you can beat it if you follow my strategy!"

"Yoren, you totally used up all your luck last time. Look at you—you haven't been the same since. Haven't seen that golden glow again, have you? Hah!"

It was routine. Every time they flexed their gacha pulls, Yoren would call them "stinky seals," but everyone could see the envy in his eyes. That's why they loved showing off to him—it had become an addiction. Three days without showing their cards? Unacceptable.

"Yoren, are you even listening—"

"Enough already!" Zhang Yuan shot up from his seat, glaring at the group. "All you guys ever do is sunbathe and waste time on your stupid rolls! Can't you see Yoren's not in the mood?"

As a longtime friend, Zhang Yuan could tell something was truly wrong this time. This wasn't like when Yoren failed a pull or lost a game. No, this was deeper.

The students chuckled awkwardly, one of them scratching his head. "Jeez, we're just talking—"

"Just fuck off already!"

"Tch. Boring."

As Zhang Yuan bickered with them, Yoren sat motionless, his chin resting on his palm. His expression was blank—like his soul had wandered far from his body.

---

Noon.

Same place, same time. Yoren sat on the rooftop, absently chewing on a straw.

The midday sun warmed his face, a warmth he hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. It reminded him—this world he was in now, it wasn't cold. He wouldn't freeze to death without a fur coat.

But at the same time, in another world, on this very same timeline… people were still fighting to survive in a city of death and frost.

A while later, Zhang Yuan arrived, two grilled sausages in hand.

"Dude, why the hell are you roasting under the sun? Come over to the shade."

"...Oh."

Yoren moved mechanically, settling against the wall beside him.

Zhang Yuan handed him a sausage, nudging him with a knowing look.

Yoren shook his head. "I'm not hungry—mmph!"

Zhang Yuan stuffed the sausage straight into Yoren's mouth.

"Shut up and eat. You didn't have lunch, did you? Whatever happened, food comes first."

Watching Yoren nibble at the sausage, Zhang Yuan finally let out a relieved sigh, wiping his hands clean.

"Yoren, if you're in trouble, just tell me. I'll help however I can. But I'll be real with you—I'm broke as hell. Spent all my money on gacha rolls. Heh."

Normally, Yoren would laugh and curse at him for it. But now, he couldn't even crack a smile.

He lifted his gaze to the sky. "Zhang Yuan… can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you like Arknights?"

"The hell kinda question is that? I've got half my squad at Elite 2, and I just blew half my living expenses on banner pulls. You tell me."

There was a flicker of hesitation in Yoren's eyes. "What if… a door to Terra appeared before you right now? Would you go in?"

Zhang Yuan hesitated, sensing Yoren wasn't joking. He thought for a moment.

"Logically speaking… yeah, I'd go."

"Why?"

"Because I'd get to meet my favorite operators, obviously."

Yoren's voice dropped to a whisper. "What if the sky there was always gray? What if the land was drowning in despair? You might meet your beloved operators, but you'd be powerless. What if your very presence caused the world's fate to spiral out of control? What would you do then?"

A cloud passed overhead, casting the rooftop into shadow. Zhang Yuan couldn't fully grasp what Yoren was getting at.

But at the same time… he did.

He looked up at the sky alongside Yoren. "Then you change yourself."

Yoren's eyes widened slightly. "Change… myself?"

Zhang Yuan nodded. "Yeah. If you can't change the world, then change yourself until you can. Sounds impossible, but you said there are people there that need saving, right? If you have that kind of reason driving you, then even changing the world doesn't sound so hard."

Yoren's grip tightened. "But… I'm just an ordinary guy. The enemies in that world are real monsters."

Zhang Yuan grinned, gripping Yoren's shoulder. "Then stop thinking of yourself as 'just an ordinary guy.' Ordinary people aren't weak. If you need power, find a way to get it. Science, forbidden magic, pacts with demons—who cares? As long as the cost is worth it, then take the plunge. No regrets."

Yoren was stunned. Those words… as childish as they sounded, they made perfect sense.

"Where did you hear that?"

Zhang Yuan scratched his head sheepishly. "Ah… saw it in some anime. Forgot which one. Cool, though, right? My delivery was spot on."

Yoren stood, head lowered. Then, suddenly, he swung his arm toward Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan flinched, laughing. "Whoa, whoa, wait—!"

"Thump."

Yoren's hand landed firmly on his shoulder.

"Thank you… brother."

---

That night, Yoren lay in bed. The anxiety and doubt had disappeared.

He reached into his coat, fingers brushing against a small syringe.

Vina's parting gift. An inhibitor, meant to suppress his condition.

But to Yoren, it was more than that.

It was trust.

This game isn't over.

No matter how weak he was now… no matter how far he had fallen… he had to go back.

Because this was his Arknights.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and hurled his phone into the air.

"Arknights!"

---

In the darkness, his mind swam, but the dizziness wasn't as intense as the first time. Yoren closed his eyes, focusing on the sensations around him.

The chill in the air stung his skin. Beneath him, the ground was solid and steady.

He opened his eyes.

The summer breeze swept through the empty streets of District E in Mandel City. The night had fully settled, draping the ruins in silence.

Yoren had chosen to return under cover of darkness, unsure of what awaited him at the landing point. If danger lurked nearby, the shadows would be his ally.

Now, it seemed his caution had been unnecessary.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a power bank. The device had a flashlight function—his only reliable source of light. He had considered carrying a weapon, but it wouldn't have made a difference. Even without Big Bob, the infected were far beyond his ability to fight at his current level.

This situation was far from ideal.

Though he hadn't been attacked upon arrival, Yoren knew better than to relax. He was a lone lamb, separated from the flock, vulnerable and exposed.

His priority was clear: find Vina and ACE. But Mandel City was massive, and an entire day had passed. They could be anywhere—nearby, miles away… or worse.

No. He refused to believe anything had happened to them.

After a moment of thought, he decided the safest option was to return to City A. He would follow A-6 Street out of Mandel City and head back to the dead woods where they had left their car.

If the vehicle was still there, it meant Vina and the others hadn't left the city. He would wait for them.

If it was gone…

Well. That would mean they had chosen to move on without him.

Yoren tightened his grip on the power bank. The light was bright but made him more visible. He kept close to the edge of the street, angling the beam downward as he moved cautiously in the direction he had come from.

The city was a graveyard of destruction. Buildings on either side were reduced to rubble, evidence of the battle that had raged here earlier.

He had barely taken two steps when the power bank's glow illuminated a small figure.

Yoren stopped.

His eyes widened in surprise.

A turtle?

The small girl was curled up beside a collapsed wall, her backpack still strapped to her back. She looked like she had fallen asleep.

Yoren hurried over, crouching beside her. Keeping his voice low, he called out, "Turtle! What are you doing here?"

Her head stirred. Slowly, she lifted her face from her knees, her drowsy eyes adjusting to the light.

When she saw him, she shot up in an instant, throwing herself into his arms.

"Yoren! You're alive! I knew you'd come back!" Her voice trembled, thick with tears. "I waited for you. I didn't leave."

Yoren placed a hand on her head, a mix of relief and concern flooding him. He glanced around, wary of potential threats, then gently took her hand and led her to a more concealed spot.

They slipped through the wreckage of a broken house, settling in the shadows.

Leaning against the wall, Yoren looked at her seriously. "Turtle, why are you here alone? Where are Vina and ACE?"

She blinked. "They left."

"Left? Where?"

"I don't know."

Yoren placed his hands on her small shoulders, his voice firm. "Tell me everything that happened after I disappeared."


"I was hiding when I saw a man with a dagger coming toward you. I wanted to help, but before I could do anything… you were gone."

Yoren thought for a moment.

"What happened next?"

"Vina realized you were missing and went crazy. She knocked the big guy down, grabbed a hammer, and kept hitting the dagger guy. She thought he had done something to you. Then Brother Kate and the others came to help ACE, who was trapped. But more infected appeared. Vina wouldn't stop fighting. She was out of control. In the end, Brother Kate and the others dragged her away."

Yoren exhaled, piecing it together.

Kate must have rallied the others, forcing the infected back. When Vina lost control, they had no choice but to pull her out of the battle. At least they were alive. That was all that mattered.

"Then why didn't you go with them?"

She hesitated. "I didn't want to. I wanted to wait for you."

Yoren's breath caught.

"I didn't know where you were," she continued, "but you promised me. You said as long as I was alive, you'd find me. If I ran off, you wouldn't be able to. So I stayed."

"You waited here all day?"

She nodded. "After Vina and the others left, I used my Absolute Domain. The infected couldn't touch me, so they all chased after the others instead. I had food in my bag—I could have waited for three days. If you hadn't come back by then… I would've left."

She looked up at him, a small smile on her face. But Yoren could see the sadness behind it.

"If you had died," she said quietly, "I would've been sad. But I can't do anything about that. Maybe I'd cry for a while… but eventually, I'd forget you."

Yoren felt something tighten in his chest.

He reached out and ruffled her hair. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm back now. As long as we stick together, you'll never forget me."

The turtle's smile grew a little brighter. "Okay."

With her found, Yoren's next step was clear: find Vina and the others.

He helped her to her feet. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Good. We can't stay here. Follow me."

"Where are we going?"

"The church where we stayed before heading to City A. It's close to where we parked. We'll pass through the main city—maybe we'll find Vina and the others along the way."

Yoren turned on the power bank's LED light, ready to crawl out of their hiding spot.

But as he lifted his head, the light flickered over a figure standing barely a meter away.

Yoren froze.

A long blue coat. A tall, imposing frame. Silver hair flowing past broad shoulders. Cold, emotionless eyes locked onto his.

His breath caught in his throat.

Shimotsuki.

The infected warrior who had turned the tide of battle single-handedly.

Yoren didn't move. Neither did Shuangyue.

The night held its breath.

And then...

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 26

Damn it, this has to be a joke.

Staring at Shuangyue, who stood before him like a reaper draped in moonlight, Yoren felt his head throb, his thoughts racing in a desperate frenzy.

He had just returned! Just barely made it back!

And yet, before he could even process his situation, before he could even share a moment's breath with Turtle inside, the enemy mage had already arrived and was about to end his life?

This was insane. Unfair. Completely absurd.

What the hell was he supposed to do?

Turtle was behind him—there was no question about it, she had to be protected.

Even if escape was an option, even if he had to surrender himself, there was no way he'd drop the power bank uselessly to the ground. No, if he had to go down, he'd at least make sure to smash it against Shuangyue's composed, eerily beautiful face before he did.

Gritting his teeth, Yoren fixed his eyes on her and, in one swift motion, grabbed Turtle by the wrist, shoving her away with force.

"Don't worry about me—just run!"

There was no hesitation in his voice, only the raw urgency of someone willing to stand as a shield. He could only pray that she listened.

As Turtle stumbled backward, Yoren tightened his grip on the power bank, his mind already set. If he had to buy her even a few seconds, he'd give it everything he had.

Summoning every ounce of strength, he swung his arm.

"Fuck you—"

A blade of pure ice materialized out of thin air. The cold shimmer of its crystalline edge was the last thing he saw before it pressed against his throat.

Yoren froze. The raw, biting chill spread from his neck down his spine, locking him in place.

Behind him, Turtle stood wide-eyed, paralyzed in the doorway, uncertain whether to flee or fight.

Shuangyue's gaze was like a winter storm—piercing, unreadable, and void of warmth. A faint blue light flickered in her irises as she regarded him in silence, before finally parting her lips to speak.

"If I wished for your death, it would have happened the instant you moved. You understand this now, don't you?"

She spoke without arrogance, without cruelty—just an absolute certainty that sent a shudder through Yoren's bones.

He had faced danger before, had endured moments where he thought he might die—but nothing compared to this. This wasn't desperation, wasn't even fear. It was the sheer realization of how utterly powerless he was.

And yet…

Despite the icy steel at his throat, despite the knowledge that one flick of her wrist could end him, he felt something stir deep within.

Not terror.

Resolve.

She hadn't killed him immediately. That meant she wanted something. That meant there was still room to act.

Yoren swallowed hard, his Adam's apple barely grazing the ice sword. He met her gaze, unflinching.

"Then why haven't you killed me?"

Shuangyue tilted her head slightly, as if amused by his defiance.

"Because I have questions."

Yoren let out a slow breath. "If you want answers, then I have a question of my own. Vina and the others—are they alive?"

Shuangyue didn't blink. "You mean the gang members from earlier? They live."

A weight Yoren hadn't even realized was suffocating him suddenly lifted. Relief, pure and unfiltered, flooded his system. No matter what happened next, at least he hadn't caused irreversible damage. He hadn't led them to their deaths.

It was a small victory, but in this world, small victories were everything.

He straightened slightly, his mind sharpening.

Shuangyue wanted answers. Fine. He'd answer—but on his terms.

"Go ahead," he said. "Ask your questions."

She held his gaze for a long moment before speaking.

"Your name."

"Yoren."

Silence stretched between them as she studied him, eyes unfathomable.

"Tell me, Yoren… You do not belong to this world, do you?"

Yoren's heart stopped.

A chill colder than the blade at his throat coursed through him.

How? How could she possibly know?

His mind reeled. Had he slipped? Had he done something to give himself away? No—no, he had been careful. He had blended in, adapted, never spoken of the impossible truth to anyone.

And yet, here she was, stating it as fact.

A sharp pressure against his throat reminded him of the sword still in place. Shuangyue's voice was a whisper of frost.

"Answer me."

His pulse pounded. He knew he had no choice.

"…Why do you know?" he managed, his voice barely above a breath.

Shuangyue narrowed her eyes. "So it's true, then."

A sinking realization clawed at his stomach. He had just confirmed it. Damn it.

Shuangyue exhaled softly, almost as if she had expected this. "I saw you disappear," she said. "And then, just as suddenly, you reappeared."

Yoren felt the blood drain from his face.

Shuangyue continued, unbothered by his shock. "I have seen many things in my life, Yoren, but I have never seen someone vanish beyond the bounds of magic. Your disappearance and return were accompanied by a surge of energy—stronger than the sum of all the Originium consumption in Mandel City. Yet that energy did not radiate outward. It collapsed upon itself, as if it had been forced into a singularity."

Her voice dropped, quiet yet razor-sharp. "I know of no spell, no incantation, that can accomplish this."

Yoren's thoughts spiraled. She had sensed the energy. Had detected something even he barely understood.

Shuangyue took a slow step forward, lowering her blade at last. "Tell me, Yoren," she murmured. "Where do you come from?"

Yoren exhaled. He was out of lies, out of excuses.

"…Not from here," he admitted.

Something flickered in her expression—satisfaction, curiosity, maybe something else.

She studied him for another moment before nodding. "Then I ask again: What are you?"

Yoren clenched his fists. What was he?

He had no answer to that.

A foreigner? A trespasser? A mistake?

Or maybe…

Maybe he was just someone trying to find his place in a world that wasn't his own.

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken words. Then, to his surprise, Shuangyue's lips curved ever so slightly.

"Interesting."

And just like that, she turned on her heel.

Yoren blinked. "…What?"

She glanced back at him, the ghost of a smirk playing at the edges of her lips. "You intrigue me, outsider. And for now, that is enough."

With that, she vanished into the night, leaving Yoren standing there, the weight of her words pressing down on him.

For now.

What the hell did that mean?

Yoren took a slow, steadying breath. His fingers grazed his throat, still cold from the ghost of her blade.

"Let me you ask you this. Answer me..."

"Yoren, what race are you, which world are you from, and who are you?"

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 27

After hearing what Shuangyue said, Yoren's brows furrowed tightly.

If he had to sum up Shimotsuki's words in three words, it would be:

I don't understand.

Time-space exploration, merging technology with magic, consuming golden stones to summon beings from another world—it all sounded like some kind of gacha game. Was he just a failed SSR pull? Had someone summoned him, realized he was useless, and abandoned him out of disappointment?

That didn't seem right. If someone had invested in bringing him here, they should have known his worth.

In short, Shuangyue's explanation left him more confused than before. With his current understanding of this world, he couldn't extract anything useful from it. More importantly, he didn't care how he had arrived—he only wanted to know how he had disappeared.

And then there was that final question.

What was he? Where was he from? Who was he?

A question both simple and complicated.

He was human. He came from Earth. As for who he was... well, that was harder to define.

He had been an Onmyoji, a Master, a commander, a captain, even a summoner. Eventually, he had become an irrational Blademaster. Beyond all that, he was once just the administrator of a fan fiction sharing group.

If he answered truthfully, he had no doubt that Shuangyue's massive ice blade would make another appearance.

Yoren sighed, looking at Shuangyue's cold, unreadable expression.

"I admit my life is in your hands right now, but if you put aside your hostility, we could actually have a meaningful conversation. I can tell you everything I know."

Shuangyue's icy gaze didn't waver. "Fine."

Yoren sighed before speaking.

"My race is human. I come from a world called Earth. As for my identity—believe it or not—I'm just an ordinary person, nothing special."


Then, in the most concise terms possible, he recounted his experiences in a way that Shuangyue could understand.

Of course, he omitted anything that would damage his own image, threw in a few embellishments, and portrayed himself as a wise, resolute, and resourceful traveler—a hero rather than a mere survivor.

After listening, Shuangyue's expression turned pensive. "So, your mission is to save the world?"

"No, no, no. This world is already doomed. I don't have the power to save it, and I don't intend to. But there's someone—someone who wants to save everyone. My mission is simply to save her. And, along the way, to protect the people I care about, including the girl with the hammer from earlier today."

Shuangyue lowered her head, her long ice-blue hair veiling her expression.

"Do you truly believe she can save everyone?"

"Maybe."

"Impossible."

Shuangyue's head snapped up, her face shrouded in darkness and grief.

"Save everyone? That's a lie. Once, I had that same dream. But I didn't want to save everyone—I only wanted to save one person. Just one. And I couldn't. In this world, as long as ordinary people and infected exist, destruction is inevitable. The infected aren't at fault—no one chooses this fate. But ordinary people, blessed by luck and untouched by disaster, show no mercy. For their own safety and interests, they exile and exterminate us. There's only one way to create stability—not by erasing ordinary people, but by turning everyone into infected. This world needs integration."

Her voice echoed through the ruins, sharp as ice.

In that moment, Yoren understood.

This was the precursor to the Integration Movement.

Like Rhodes Island, Tallulah should not have surfaced until three years after the Che Castle riot. According to Arknights' records, the "Reunion Movement" had barely begun before that event. Their first real battle was still years away.

But here, in this moment, Yoren was hearing the word "integration."

Shuangyue's ideology was more extreme than Tallulah's.

Three years later, Tallulah would rally powerful infected, forming an army to stand against ordinary people. She would embrace the strength of the infected, wielding it as a weapon to carve out justice in the world. It was a battle for equality, not annihilation.

But here, now, Shuangyue and her followers weren't fighting for justice—they were consumed by self-loathing. They weren't looking to build a future. They were seeking destruction, dragging the entire world down with them.

Before Tallulah, there must have been many such fractured groups—scattered across the world, driven by despair, waging an unwinnable war against ordinary people.

Yoren could only imagine how much effort Tallulah had spent uniting them. Perhaps that was the true meaning behind the name "Integration Movement."

From an outsider's perspective, he didn't see the infected as villains. If anything, the greed and cruelty of ordinary people were more repulsive. The infected's thirst for vengeance wasn't born of evil—it was a tragic inevitability.

But Yoren wasn't a hero. As Vina had told him, he didn't distinguish between ordinary people and infected—only between enemies and allies. He wasn't here to fight a war. He was here to protect the people who mattered to him.

Yoren met Shuangyue's gaze steadily.

"I don't doubt you've suffered. But this plan of yours won't change anything. In the end, both ordinary people and infected will be wiped out."

"Shut up! What do you know?!"

Shuangyue's voice cracked as she roared, eyes wild with fury.

"Everyone will disappear? Good! I've already lost everything. I couldn't even protect the person who mattered most to me. If that's the case, then this world doesn't deserve to exist!"

Her hands clenched into fists, and the air around her turned frigid. Her long blue hair stirred as frost crackled in the ruins.

"I couldn't save her. I don't even know what horrors she suffered after she was taken from me. She's gone. If she's gone, then the world should be buried with her."

Shuangyue trembled, her breath unsteady. But Yoren remained calm.

From the moment he had seen her, something about her had seemed familiar. Now, he finally understood.

He watched her quietly, then spoke her name with certainty.

"Shuangyue... do you know a girl named Frost Nova?"

---

Ever since meeting Shuangyue earlier that day, Yoren couldn't shake off a nagging thought.

He had gone through every bit of knowledge he had about the world of Terra, searching for any mention of someone like Shuangyue. But no matter how hard he tried, there was nothing—no records, no legends, not even a whisper of her name in anything he had ever known about Arknights.

However, her appearance and abilities reminded him of someone else.

Silver-white hair. Carter ears. Devastating ice magic.

There was only one person who fit that description: Frost Nova, the formidable warlock of the Reunion Movement—the leader of the Infected Warlock Team, feared and respected alike.

Yoren's heart pounded as the pieces of the puzzle fit together. If his speculation was correct, then Shuangyue and Frost Nova were connected in a way that even she might not fully realize. And if that was the case…

He hesitated for a moment before finally breaking the silence.

"Shuangyue… do you know a girl named Frost Nova?"

The air between them turned to ice.

Shuangyue's expression froze, and her piercing gaze locked onto him, wide with shock. The name had clearly struck a nerve.

"You…" her voice wavered slightly. "Why do you know that name?"

Yoren exhaled slowly. That reaction confirmed it—he was right.

There was no more point in hiding things from her.

"I told you before that I come from another world. I know that's hard to believe, but you need to listen. In my world, we know about what happens in Terra. We've seen it unfold—your history, your people, your battles. And three years from now… Frost Nova will play a pivotal role."

Shuangyue grabbed his shoulders, her grip tight, desperate.

"Tell me!" she demanded. "What happens in three years? Is her name recorded as a casualty? Is she… on a death list?"

Yoren swallowed hard. He had seen the fate that awaited Frost Nova, and the weight of that knowledge made his chest tighten. He didn't want to lie to Shuangyue, but the truth was too cruel to say outright.

"I'll tell you everything I know," he said. "But first, I need to understand something. What is your connection to Frost Nova?"

Shuangyue's icy demeanor cracked. For a long moment, she simply stood there, her lips pressed together as if struggling with the words she was about to say. Finally, she spoke.

"Frost Nova… is my daughter."

The revelation hit Yoren like a thunderclap.

So it was true.

He had suspected they were related, but hearing it confirmed sent a chill down his spine.

Frost Nova, the girl who would become a legendary figure in Terra's history—the beacon of hope for the Infected, the one who would defy fate itself—was standing on the path her mother had once walked.

"Tell me what you know about her," Shuangyue pleaded. "Please."

Yoren nodded solemnly. "I will. But first, tell me—what happened between you and Frost Nova? Why do you think she's gone?"

A shadow fell over Shuangyue's face. Her gaze drifted into the distance as if looking into the past, reliving the memories she had tried to bury.

"Fine," she whispered. "I'll tell you. But after that… you must keep your promise."

Yoren remained silent, giving her the space she needed to begin.

Years ago, Shuangyue's family was once a powerful lineage of mages, their name whispered with reverence throughout the land. But they had violated the laws of Ursus—had stepped on a forbidden path. And for that crime, they were stripped of everything. Their names, their status, their very existence was erased.

They were cast into the abyss.

Stripped of their rights, they were taken to the mines, where they were condemned to endless servitude. Beaten, starved, forced to work until their bodies collapsed from exhaustion.

It was in that endless darkness that Frost Nova was born.

A tiny, fragile life in a world of despair.

Shuangyue named her daughter after the stars that glittered coldly in the night sky, hoping that she could at least shine brightly, even in the cruelest of worlds.

Life in the mines was hell. People died every day, their bodies discarded like trash. The Ursus soldiers who guarded the mines never interfered, never helped—if anything, they encouraged the slaughter. The weak had no place in Ursus.

It was there, in that place of misery, that the sickness took them.

Oripathy.

Marked by blackened veins and crystalline growths, it spread like a slow death through the Infected, branding them as cursed beings, less than human.

Years passed in suffering, until one day—an explosion rocked the mines.

A guerrilla force attacked, their assault sending Ursus soldiers into chaos. Slaves broke free in the commotion, running, screaming, dying in the crossfire.

Shuangyue had been wounded in the escape. She had no choice but to flee, but in the chaos, she lost sight of Frost Nova.

She searched. Desperately, she searched. But the battle had swallowed them both, and by the time she regained her strength, she had been taken far away to Kjerag.

There, she was forced into servitude once more. But this time, at least, she wasn't treated like an animal. Her captors saw her as a tool, a source of power. And for that reason, they allowed her to live.

Still, every night, she prayed for Frost Nova. That her daughter had survived. That she wasn't alone. That she hadn't given up hope.

Years passed before she was finally freed.

And the first thing she did was return to Ursus.

But what she found wasn't salvation.

The mine had collapsed. The place where she had last seen her daughter was nothing but ruins and frozen corpses.

She knew—she had always known—that the world was cruel. But seeing the grave of her past with her own eyes broke something inside her.

Yet, she refused to give up.

She spent years searching, tracing every whisper of survivors, every rumor of escapees. And finally, she found one.

The only one.

A former slave, a man who had survived the mine collapse.

When she asked about Frost Nova, his answer was clear.

"No one survived."

Shuangyue had felt her soul shatter in that moment.

Everything—everything she had fought for, every moment she had endured, every prayer she had whispered—had been for nothing. Her daughter, her Frost Nova, was gone.

She was truly alone.

And yet, here was Yoren, a stranger from another world, speaking her daughter's name as if she were still alive.

Her eyes burned as she looked at him, her voice trembling with a desperate hope she was afraid to believe in.

"Tell me, Yoren… tell me everything you know about my daughter."

Yoren clenched his fists, the weight of his knowledge suffocating him. He had seen the future. He knew where Frost Nova's path led. He knew the battles she would fight, the enemies she would face. He knew of the Reunion, of the war, of the sacrifices she would make.

And most of all… he knew how her story ended.

But looking into Shuangyue's pleading eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Not yet.

"Shuangyue… your daughter is alive."

Her breath caught. Her entire body tensed, as if afraid to move, afraid that the slightest motion would shatter the fragile dream.

"Alive?" she whispered, barely able to speak the word.

Yoren nodded.

"And I promise you—I will tell you everything."

But not yet.

Not until he found a way to change fate itself.

 

[TKadira]

And now, He must bear the responsibility as the outsider as I like to say, The Oracle, to save the world. Can't wait for Yoren to have his journey to the Rhode Island. Thank you for the marvelous chapter.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 28

To be honest, while Yoren could understand her pain, he could not truly empathize with her. The suffering she endured was too distant from the life and world he had once known.

"Frost Moon, what happened next? Have you never seen Frost Nova since then?"

Shuangyue's expression had returned to its usual calm. The memories that once left her bruised and battered now seemed to have numbed her completely.

"I knew there was little hope. Frost Nova was very young at the time, and she was infected with Oripathy. Even if, by some miracle, she survived like I did, it would have been difficult for her to make it to adulthood."

"So you believe Frost Nova is dead?"

"I didn't give up back then. After speaking with the other infected, I searched for a long, long time… until finally, I had to accept the truth."

Her voice was unsettlingly calm, as though she were speaking of something mundane.

"I failed to save her. Stripped of everything, I never even had the chance. I can't even remember what she looked like as a child anymore. And the cruelest irony? In the depths of my despair, my body awakened its most powerful Originium arts. I buried the Ursus soldiers stationed in the ice and snow, burning away what remained of my already broken body. For most, such a power would be an untouchable dream. But for me? With this infected body, I can wield Originium itself, bending nature's laws at the cost of my own existence. Ursus stole my only family away from me. So it was only natural that I should return the favor."

Yoren had expected this conclusion. He did not know why Frost Moon, an infected, had lived so long—perhaps she had discovered a way to prolong her life, or perhaps the sheer weight of her hatred kept her frail body moving forward.

Time had passed, but even though Frost Nova was no longer in this world, Frost Moon's longing had not faded.

To her, Yoren was nothing more than a passerby, insignificant in her story. Even knowing he came from another time and space, nothing could change what had already transpired.

Frost Moon hated this world and everyone in it. If she wanted to, she could kill Yoren in an instant. There was no need to reopen old wounds by speaking of the past.

Revenge. Destruction. She could do whatever she pleased, and no one would stop her.

She had lost everything. She thought she had become numb. But when Yoren uttered the name Frost Nova, something within her stirred—something she had long thought frozen over.

Frost Nova had been everything to her. Not just a daughter, but her only beacon in the darkness.

Even though Frost Nova was gone, Frost Moon still longed to hear anything about her, even if it was just a trace of proof that her daughter had truly existed in this world.

After listening to her story, Yoren finally understood why she resented this world so much.

What she had endured was like a cruel script, as though some god above had crafted her fate to be as tragic as possible.

Counting the days in agony. Clutching onto a hope that was never meant to last.

Frost Nova's story could be summarized in mere words, but no one could truly fathom the torment she had endured in her heart.

The deepest love. The most unbearable hatred. The hope she refused to relinquish, only to be swallowed by the cold embrace of despair.

As Frost Moon spoke, Snowsant had curled up in the corner, hugging her knees. Her young face remained emotionless. Perhaps, in Terra, the suffering of the infected was nothing new. Just another tragic story among countless others.

But Yoren had made his decision.

He had to tell Frost Moon the truth.

He looked into her eyes, his voice solemn.

"Frost Nova is still alive."

Silence fell.

A bitter wind howled through the streets. Snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the ground in pale stillness.

A flash of cold steel.

The frozen blade of an ice-forged sword pressed against Yoren's throat. Frost Moon's hand trembled slightly as she held the weapon.

"You'd go so far as to lie just to save yourself?"

"I'm not lying. Frost Nova is alive."

"Shut up."

"Frost Nova is alive."

Frost Moon roared, her voice breaking.

"Shut up! Don't try to deceive me! You're just like all the other selfish, worthless people. I should never have trusted you. I should kill you right now!"

Yoren ignored the frozen blade at his throat and spoke once more, unwavering.

"Frost Nova is alive. I don't say this to save my own life. Whether you kill me or let me go, it doesn't change the truth. Frost Nova is still in this world."

The cold seeped into Yoren's bones. His fingers were numb from the ice spreading through the air. But he did not waver.

This was the Terra he knew. Three years from now, Frost Nova would become a central figure in the Reunion Movement. No matter how dire her past had been, no matter how close she had come to death, she had survived.

He met Frost Moon's gaze with unwavering determination.

"Believe me. Frost Nova is still alive."

Frost Moon's perception as a powerful caster was unparalleled. At this moment, she saw no deception in Yoren's eyes—only unshakable sincerity.

No one could lie before her.

He was telling the truth.

The sword fell from her hand, shattering into countless shards of ice against the frozen ground.

Frost Moon's eyes flickered as she seized Yoren's shoulders.

"How do you know? Where have you seen her? Tell me, now!"

"I haven't seen her in person. But I know she's alive."

"Then where is she now?!"

"I don't know exactly where. But three years from now, she will appear in Chernobog. She will be part of an infected uprising that will shake the world."

Frost Moon's breath hitched. She murmured in disbelief.

"Frost Nova… will lead a revolution? Why?"

Why?

Yoren didn't know the answer.

Perhaps, like Frost Moon, Frost Nova had believed she had lost the ones she loved. Perhaps vengeance against this cruel world was the only thing keeping her alive.

He took a deep breath.

"I can't explain everything now. But I promise you, Frost Nova is out there, somewhere in this world. Three years from now, Chernobog will fall, and the storm of fate will begin to spin. In that chaos, the people I care about will suffer, and many will lose their lives."

Yes. Many people he held dear would be caught in the storm.

Starting in Ursus, Rhodes Island would be dragged into the conflict. Then, the war would spread to Lungmen. The fragile illusion of peace would be shattered, and the world would begin its descent into ruin.

Until the very end, when Amiya would awaken Chimera, forced to walk away from the battlefield before she could ever realize her dream.

Whether it was the Reunion Movement or Rhodes Island, countless lives would be lost.

And Yoren? He had only one goal.

He would change fate.

---

The wind howled through the empty streets, cutting through the ruins like a blade.

"Look into my eyes," Shuangyue said, her voice trembling slightly. "I need to hear it again. Are you absolutely sure? Is Shuangxing really alive?"

Yoren met her gaze without hesitation. "Yes. She's alive."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken emotions.

The dynamic between Yoren and Shuangyue had shifted.

To Yoren, she was not an enemy. She was a mother crushed by the cruelty of the world, left with no place to unleash her grief and rage. She had slaughtered countless Ursus soldiers, but it wasn't truly the Ursus army that had driven her to this—it was the entire world's rejection of the infected.

Unlike Vina, who saw only allies and enemies, Shuangyue saw only infected and non-infected, a black-and-white world painted in blood and sorrow.

Upon hearing that Frost Star was still alive, Shuangyue's icy demeanor cracked. A spark of life returned to her frozen expression, and for a moment, she seemed utterly lost, overwhelmed by joy. It was so unlike her usual cold composure.

She stepped toward Yoren. "Tell me more about Frost Star. What did she look like? How tall was she? Was she hurt when you saw her?"

Yoren's knowledge of Frost Star was limited to the main storyline of Arknights. He had seen very few depictions of her, aside from a single portrait.

He wanted to tell Shuangyue everything—about Tallulah, about what would happen in the future.

But this wasn't the time.

His presence here had no bearing on Frost Star's fate three years later. No matter what he did, history had already determined her survival.

What mattered now was finding Vina and the others, understanding what had happened in Mandel City, and more importantly—what was about to happen.

He glanced at the time. Midnight had passed. He recalled something the turbaned man had said earlier—something about a "major event."

Yoren turned back to Shuangyue. "I can't explain everything right now. But if we have time later, we'll talk. What's important is that your daughter is still alive. That means you haven't lost everything. You still have a reason to live. There are still things you need to do—things that don't involve throwing your life away in a meaningless battle."

For the first time, uncertainty flickered in Shuangyue's expression. Yoren's words struck something deep inside her. She had long abandoned the idea of survival—her body was already ravaged by oripathy, her life force slowly bleeding away. Living had lost all meaning.

But now, knowing Frost Star was alive…

Her fists clenched.

"I understand. But…" She hesitated. "Tell me about Frost Star—"

Yoren interrupted before she could continue. He understood her desperation, but he needed answers first.

"I will. But first, answer some questions for me."

Shuangyue exhaled and nodded. "Fine."

Yoren took a moment to organize his thoughts before speaking. "What is the name of your organization, and how many members does it have?"

Shuangyue had already let down her guard. Compared to her daughter, her organization was now secondary.

"I joined this group a year ago. It's called [Hessen]. Most of our members are Ursus. I don't know the exact number, but there are over 200 of us here in Mandel City."

Yoren processed that information, then asked, "Who leads your group?"

"Theresis," she said. "The same man who stabbed you earlier. He personally invited me to join [Hessen] a year ago."

Yoren raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected the turbaned man to be the leader. The guy was slippery and fast, but he didn't seem particularly strong. Vina could probably take him out ten times over in a straight fight.

"Does Theresis have any special abilities?"

"He can use Originium techniques to become extremely agile and completely conceal his presence."

Yoren scoffed. "So, his special ability is running away."

He moved on. "What's your purpose here in Mandel City? Dark Crow mentioned some kind of plan earlier."

Shuangyue hesitated but then spoke. "You're aware that a natural disaster hit Mandel City ten days ago. Ursus' army will be arriving soon to mine Originium. Our goal is to infect everyone who comes here for profit."

Yoren frowned. "Turn them all into infected?"

"Yes."

Doubt flickered in Yoren's mind. "Even our Glasgow Gang uses protective measures when we enter a disaster zone. The Ursus army will be prepared. How do you plan to infect them all?"

Before she could answer, something clicked in Yoren's mind.

The infected corpses in the square.

His expression darkened. "You're not serious…"

Shuangyue's voice was quiet but firm. "You've seen them. The bodies scattered throughout the city. Those infected refused to fight. Maybe they were too kind. Maybe they were too scared. Either way, a month ago, we rounded them up and brought them here. I froze them to death myself."

Yoren's stomach twisted. "What are you planning to do?"

"Once all the greedy opportunists are inside the city, we'll detonate the bodies. The highly concentrated pathogenic particles will fill the air within minutes. After that, all we have to do is destroy their protective gear. Every single person in Mandel City will be infected. No exceptions."

A heavy silence fell over them.

Yoren's mind raced. This wasn't just an act of vengeance—it was a calculated extermination. Hessen had no intention of fighting the Ursus army head-on. They wanted to assimilate their enemies, to make them suffer the same fate as the infected.

If he, Vina, and the others didn't leave before [Hessen] triggered their plan, they'd all be infected too.

A faint smile crossed Shuangyue's lips, like an iceberg cracking under the weight of time.

"Whether this plan succeeds or fails doesn't matter to me anymore." Her voice had softened. "Now… tell me exactly when Frost Star appears three years from now. Will it be in the morning or afternoon? Where does she go afterward?"

She no longer cared about Mandel City. All that mattered to her now was her daughter.

But Yoren had no time for sentimentality.

"Shuangyue, I need to—"

A low voice interrupted him from outside the ruins.

"Frost Moon, why are you still here? Dark Crow is looking for you."

From the shadows, a man stepped forward. He wore a gray hooded jacket, his face concealed by the deep folds of his hood. A long, thin blade rested at his waist.

His eyes flicked to Yoren.

"Who are they?"

Shuangyue turned to face him, her expression turning cold once more.

"I have personal matters to take care of. I suggest you stay out of my way."

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 29

"Hongdao, I have personal matters to attend to. I advise you not to get in my way."

Shimotsuki's voice carried an undeniable authority, one that could not be ignored.

Yet, beside her, Yoren felt a sense of unease settle deep in his gut. He had just learned from Frost Moon that the man who had suddenly appeared was called Hongdao.

Red Blade.

Damn it—it was him! The Red Blade!

Yoren's mind reeled. He never expected to see this legend in the flesh. No one knew Red Blade's terrifying exploits better than he did.

Memories flooded his mind—his first time challenging Lungmen 400. He had just reached level 30, nervous but excited. It had started well enough. His little angel, Cross, held her ground on the central platform, cutting down enemies with ease. Jessica and Liskarm provided support from behind, and Beagle, assigned to the front lines, was so relaxed she might as well have been napping.

Then they appeared—a group of gangsters wielding long knives, charging forward with reckless abandon.

But among them, one stood apart.

A man who did not move.

He stood there, motionless, as though frozen in time. His scarf was red.

At first, Yoren had dismissed him as just another enemy—perhaps even a bugged-out unit stuck at the edge of the screen. He had laughed, thinking, I'll finish off 399 enemies, then drop in a Rosmontis to clean up this last straggler.

Everything had gone smoothly. The Avengers had been mowed down like wheat in a storm. Yoren had leaned back, propped his phone up, casually sipping his soda as he watched his inevitable victory unfold.

Then it happened.

The motionless man moved.

Yoren had barely glanced at the screen, smirking to himself. Oh, so you've finally decided to play? Too late, buddy. Your lackeys are all dead. If you can break through my defense alone, I'll eat my damn phone.

The fight commenced. The Red Blade stopped at the choke point, confronted by Myrtle. The other operators swarmed in, their attacks raining down like a storm of steel.

For a moment, it seemed like an easy win.

Then the long sword in his hand blazed with crimson fire.

Yoren's smirk vanished.

---

Swish!

Beagle's health plummeted.

Swish!

Operator Myrtle has withdrawn from the battlefield.

Reserve Operator Gummy deployed!

Swish!

Gummy's health bar dropped to critical.

Swish!

Operator Gummy has withdrawn from the battlefield!

What the hell?! What are you afraid of?! If you're in a hurry to die, come at me! No need to wait in line!

Operator Durin deployed!

Swish!

Operator Durin has withdrawn from the battlefield!

And just like that, despite being pummeled by ranged operators from every direction, Red Blade—with a single sliver of health left—swaggered into the Blue Exit, unchallenged.

Yoren had stared at his screen in horror.

Then, in a burst of rage, he had slammed his soda can onto the table, shouting, What the hell was that?!

---

That was Red Blade.

Now, standing before him in real life, Yoren felt both awe and fear. The memories of that fight had left an indelible scar in his mind. And yet, another realization struck him—

Red Blade's actual name was Hongdao.

Well... it sounded cool enough, he supposed.

The snow fell softly in the darkened streets. As Hongdao approached, Yoren instinctively stepped in front of Snowsant, shielding her with his body. He didn't need to ask—Hongdao was definitely a member of the infected organization Heisen.

The infamous swordsman halted, his gaze cold and assessing.

"Shimotsuki, why are you with these people? They don't look like members of the Black Forest."

Frost Moon stood her ground, her expression unreadable. "I have questions for this young man. Hongdao, this is none of your business. Do not interfere."

Hongdao's gaze flickered toward Yoren and Snowsant. His voice was devoid of warmth. "The girl is infected, but this man is not. Frost Moon, our mission is to eliminate and assimilate all ordinary people in Mandel City. Dark Crow made it clear—any potential risk to the plan must be eradicated. Surely, you haven't forgotten that."

"I haven't forgotten," Frost Moon said evenly, "but I cannot let him die here."

Hongdao's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"He knows about my daughter."

"Your daughter is dead. Killed by ordinary people like him."

"Frost Nova is not dead."

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Hongdao's face. "It seems you've been deceived by his lies. Allow me to rid you of these illusions."

As he spoke, Hongdao's hand moved, resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.

Yoren's blood ran cold.

He's going to kill me.

There was no negotiation, no deliberation. Hongdao was not someone to sit down and talk things through. He was a silent executioner, swift and precise.

Then, in the blink of an eye—

Swish!

Hongdao vanished, his sword already unsheathed.

Too fast.

Far, far too fast.

Yoren barely had time to flinch before the attack was upon him. His instincts screamed, but his body was frozen in place.

There was nothing he could do.

He clenched his eyes shut, bracing for death—

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal rang through the cold air.

Yoren's eyes flew open.

Frost Moon stood before him, her ice sword intercepting the fiery blade. She didn't even glance at him—her full focus was on the opponent before her.

"I said," she repeated coldly, "he cannot die here."

Hongdao's voice was quiet, dangerous. "Frost Moon, have you forgotten your identity? You are infected. Every ounce of pain you have suffered has been at the hands of ordinary people like him."

Frost Moon did not waver. "I have not forgotten. But he cannot die. Not yet. He has not told me where Frost Nova is."

Hongdao's eyes gleamed in the darkness. Without warning, flames erupted from his sword, licking hungrily at the ice blade. The frozen steel began to crack, melting under the sheer heat.

"Go!" Frost Moon shouted over her shoulder. "Now! And don't die."

Yoren didn't hesitate. He grabbed Snowsant's arm and bolted.

"Come on!"

They sprinted through the ruins, heading toward the city's heart. Snowflakes blurred their vision, the sounds of battle fading behind them.

At the last turn, Yoren glanced back one final time.

Frost Moon stood firm, her ice blade shimmering in the dim light, holding back a monster of fire and steel.

And in that moment, Yoren finally understood what Kal'tsit had meant.

The stronger you are, the more fragile you become.

Such was the law of all things.

---

With Shuangyue's help, Yoren pulled Snowsant along, moving cautiously toward the main urban area.

He kept the power bank's light low, hugging the edges of the streets as they advanced. Snowsant, walking beside him, finally broke the silence.

"So you really came from another world. No wonder you always say things I don't understand."

She had been quiet throughout his conversation with Shuangyue, but she had heard everything.

Yoren glanced at her in surprise. "You actually believe I'm a time traveler?"

"I believe it."

"Doesn't it sound completely ridiculous to you?"

Snowsant shrugged. "It's not that strange. This world is full of weird things. What's one more?"

Yoren had no response to that.

Apparently, her ability to accept the absurd was just as strong as his own.

Snowflakes drifted down, swirling in the frigid wind like tiny white butterflies.

Yoren had no idea what season it was supposed to be here. It had snowed every night since he arrived in Ursus, and Mandel City was close to Kjerag. Maybe this place was just cursed to be frozen year-round.

He led Snowsant through District E and into the northern part of the city, growing increasingly wary.

Two days and one night had passed since their arrival. In addition to the infected organization [Hessen], other forces—besides the Ursus military—had likely infiltrated Mandel City.

Whether it was other factions or more infected, a direct confrontation would be suicide. His only chance of survival was to stay hidden until he reunited with Vina and the others.

Sensing his tension, Snowsant spoke softly.

"Brother Yoren, don't worry. If we run into danger, I can protect you."

Yoren scoffed. "Oh yeah? How? Are you going to stuff me in your backpack?"

"No, no."

Snowsant shook her head, explaining seriously. "My Absolute Domain is small, but it should be able to cover you if I hold you tightly. It'll take longer to activate, and the defense won't be as strong, but you'd be inside it too."

Yoren considered it.

As a last resort, it could work. If they were attacked with no way to escape, Snowsant could activate Absolute Domain before the enemy struck. At the very least, she wouldn't die immediately.

But there were risks.

If their attackers used fire or poison gas, the Absolute Domain wouldn't help much. And if someone like Hong Dao or Shuangyue attacked, Snowsant probably wouldn't even have time to activate it.

No. He had to be careful. He wasn't going to drag anyone else down with his weakness.

From the moment he arrived in Terra, Yoren had gone from confusion to slow adaptation. This was his reality now. He had made his choice, and no matter how much hardship he faced, he wouldn't regret it.

Mandel City had been one endless nightmare. Ore disease, the infected, Big Bob, Red Blade, Hessen—it was as if the world itself was throwing challenge after challenge at him, shoving terrifying and deadly obstacles in his face.

It was almost comical.

If Terra were a person, it was a cruel, sadistic bastard.

A veteran player familiar with every faction. A time traveler capable of changing history. That sounded like a protagonist's setup, right? The world should be revolving around him, the script leading him to a grand destiny.

And yet, here he was, trudging through a filthy, freezing wasteland, lost in the dark, with nothing but a half-dead power bank to light his way.

Patience. That's all he could do now—endure.

Survival came first.

But if fate ever gave him a chance to turn the tables, he swore he would rip every single feather off Dark Crow's head and turn that bastard into a bald pigeon.


—

Two hours later.

Yoren stood at a crossroads, holding Snowsant's small hand. He had to face an unpleasant truth.

They were lost.

The only source of light was the dim glow of his power bank. After circling the area multiple times, he had lost all sense of direction.

Worse, Snowsant was just as hopeless at navigation as he was.

Then, from somewhere nearby, a loud commotion broke the silence.

Voices. Many voices.

Then came the unmistakable clash of weapons, followed by bursts of gunfire.

Yoren tugged Snowsant forward, creeping toward the noise.

Peering around a corner, he spotted a chaotic skirmish. Several groups of people, all dressed differently, were locked in brutal combat. Weapons flashed, fists flew, and bodies slammed into the cold pavement. The street was littered with makeshift light sources, illuminating the scene in flickering chaos.

"Hey! Ha!"

"Take this!"

"Oh, shit!"

"I'm gonna kill you!"

Shouts and curses filled the air as fighters clashed. Yoren crouched low, carefully observing. He didn't recognize any of them. They weren't from the Glasgow Gang or the Death Squad.

This was something else entirely.

It seemed that more factions had entered Mandel City, likely caught off guard by the infected just like he had been. Or maybe this was just a turf war over Originium.

Yoren didn't know.

And he didn't care. As long as Vina and the others weren't involved, these people could kill each other for all he cared.

He pulled Snowsant away, slipping back into the darkness. More distant fights echoed through the city. The number of people in Mandel City was increasing.

For the rest of the night, Yoren scoured the urban landscape, dodging conflicts while desperately searching for Vina and the others.

He had no idea how long he had been running, but eventually, dawn began to break.

He and Snowsant were exhausted. But as the light crept over the horizon, they finally found it—the central bridge leading to the southern district.

Yoren peered around the edge of a broken wall, scanning the bridge and its surroundings. If there were enemies waiting in ambush, he needed to see them first.

His power bank was dead. What he really needed right now was an 8x scope.

Then, without warning, something struck him from behind.

"Ow!"

Yoren stumbled forward, nearly smashing his face into a wooden crate.

Enemy attack?!

His body tensed, instincts kicking in. Ignoring the pain, he spun around, ready to fight.

A scarred face came into view.

Indra.

Relief flooded his chest. "Indra—"

"Damn it, where the hell were you yesterday?!"

"I—"

He barely got a word out before Indra grabbed him by the collar, cutting him off.

Her expression was serious. Urgent.

"The inhibitor. Do you still have it?"

Yoren's stomach dropped. A sinking dread coiled in his gut.

"It's on me. Why?"

Indra's grip tightened. Her voice was sharp, urgent.

"Get it out. Now. One of us has been infected with oripathy."

 

[TKadira]

I wasn't expecting Theresis to be take part in this moment. Would that be giving Yoren the chance to meet Theresa and the OG gang? I'm still not sure if Yoren knew the backstory of The Doctor. But either way, excellent chapter as always.