ã€ŠArknights: The Life Insideã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Yoren stared at the group chat, his eye twitching as he glared at the image on his phone screen. His fingers flew across the keyboard.

    [Jacob Dumas: It¡¯s not useful. I suggest you uninstall the game.]

    His mood plummeted like a rock in water. The screenshot from the group member made his stomach churn. That damn little sheep. He had spent three full 648-yuan charges trying to pull her. Three. And what did he get? Not even a single strand of wool.

    Now, not only was he broke, but he had also blown through his next two months¡¯ living expenses.

    Yoren turned off his phone, shut his eyes, and leaned back on the school rooftop, letting out a long, weary sigh.

    The world has gone mad.

    Early May had brought a new obsession to the gaming world¡ªa tactical strategy mobile game called Arknights.

    Natural disasters, Originium, Infected, the Reunion Movement. The game¡¯s apocalyptic aesthetic, intricate lore, and stunning illustrations captivated players instantly.

    The internet was flooded with images of a certain girl with long ears and a loose coat. The community had affectionately dubbed her "Ami...Ma...Hu...ahem, Amiya-chan!"

    "If the footprints of life are destined to be buried by the dust of time, then we can never stop moving forward."

    Amiya reached out her delicate hand. "Blade Master, will you still stand by my side?"

    And just like that, thousands of players were lost to the siren call of Rhodes Island, throwing themselves into the world of Terra as devoted Doctors¡ªsomewhere between genius tacticians and lunatics consumed by the gacha gods.

    The classroom hummed with post-lecture chatter. Yoren slumped at his desk, staring blankly out the window, his soul barely tethered to his body.

    His best friend, Zhang, leaned over and whispered, "Yoren, I heard you spent money again?"

    "Mm. Three times 648."

    Zhang winced. "And?"

    They had both been there from day one, both sworn swordsmen of Rhodes Island. Zhang knew exactly what Yoren had been chasing.

    Yoren ruffled his own hair. "Don¡¯t ask. Just let me be."

    Zhang sighed in understanding. "It¡¯s okay. Eyjafjalla is just waiting for you somewhere, Yoren. When you''re ready, she¡¯ll come to your side."

    Yoren clenched his fists. "But¡ª"

    Yoren grabbed his hand dramatically. "Don¡¯t say it. I know how much you long for her. I know the pain."

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    "Uh¡­ no, I mean, I¡¯m flat broke. I can¡¯t even afford instant noodles for the next two months."

    Zhang''s face lit up with an enlightened sage smile. "Yoren, your money hasn¡¯t disappeared. It has simply transformed into another way of being with you. In the world of gacha, we call this¡ªthe law of conservation of energy."

    Yoren stared at him, caught between admiration and the overwhelming urge to punch him.

    "Zhang...thank you¡­"

    "Oh, by the way, I did a ten-pull during lunch."

    Yoren blinked. "And?"

    Zhang rubbed his head sheepishly. "Little Sheep¡¯s potential +1."

    He grinned, his eyes narrowing into infuriating slits. "Haha, isn¡¯t it funny? The thing I want never comes, but the one I already have keeps showing up. Life is so unfair. Meow meow meow¡ªhaha!"

    A nerve in Yoren¡¯s forehead twitched.

    As if summoned by the scent of suffering, other classmates swarmed around them.

    "Yoren, what¡¯s your in-game ID? I wanna add you."

    "Yoren, is Little Sheep any good? I pulled her this morning, but I¡¯m not sure if I should level her up."

    "Yoren, my Little Sheep just hit E2. Which skill should I use when clearing maps?"

    Yoren''s expression darkened with each question.

    "That¡¯s it!" He slammed his desk and stood abruptly. "You can all go to hell!"

    A chubby classmate strolled over, an amused glint in his eye. "Yoren, do you prefer hot pot lamb or roasted lamb leg?"

    "I love neither alright!"

    Shouldering his bag, he stormed out of the classroom without looking back.

    The sky had grown heavy with dark clouds, the wind picking up. Yoren walked home, his rage slowly cooling.

    Honestly? He wasn¡¯t that upset about failing to pull Eyjafjalla. He was frustrated, sure. But more than anything, he was excited about Arknights itself. He loved the world, the lore, the thrill of piecing together its mysteries.

    He pulled out his phone. The weather forecast had been right¡ªtonight would bring a heavy storm.

    A thought flickered through his mind. If Terra were real, would the sky before a natural disaster look like this? Dark clouds churning, the wind whispering warnings of impending chaos?

    A shiver ran down his spine.

    The rain came crashing down just as Yoren shut his front door.

    Throwing his bag aside, he collapsed onto his bed and pulled out his phone, instinctively tapping on Amiya¡¯s profile picture.

    ¡°Akunako!¡±

    The familiar game interface loaded.

    ¡ª¡ªDoctor, welcome back!

    A soft smile tugged at his lips.

    Maybe Eyjafjalla hadn¡¯t come home yet, but that was okay. As long as he kept playing, one day, she would.

    The game had been out for a month, and its popularity showed no signs of fading. The first event had just launched, pushing the hype to even greater heights.

    Yoren loved diving into the lore, uncovering hidden details the developers had scattered throughout the game. Online forums buzzed with theories¡ªwho the Doctor really was, what Amiya¡¯s fate would be, and even connections between Arknights and real-world myths.

    As Yoren dug deeper, a strange thought took root in his mind.

    If Terra were real, would they still treat Arknights as a game?

    War. Ruins. Freedom. Death.

    We sit in comfort, unaware of what it means to lose everything¡ªto be Infected.

    Like Amiya had said:

    The dead will never return.

    Yoren stared at his screen, lost in thought. The rain pounded against his window, the world outside dark and restless.

    Then, a new message appeared on the screen.

    Human, are you willing to change the world of Terra with your actions?

    Yoren froze.

    Was this¡­ a new game feature?

    The words remained, unblinking.

    Thunder rumbled outside, and a chill crawled up his spine.

    Human, are you willing to change this world with your actions?

    Yes or No.

    His pulse quickened. His hand hovered over the screen.

    What is this? A hidden event? A prank? It wasn¡¯t April Fool¡¯s¡ª

    CRACK!

    A deafening thunderclap.

    Startled, his finger accidentally hit Yes.

    The phone slipped from his grasp.

    BANG!

    The screen smacked him square in the face.

    Then, the world went dark.

    Yoren felt himself falling¡ª

    Falling¡ª

    Into an abyss with no end.

 Chapter 2

    Yoren felt himself surrounded by darkness, his mind drifting away. His consciousness blurred as he spun endlessly, as if gravity had abandoned him. A distant voice echoed in his ears.

    "Her ideal is to save everyone. Even if she is misunderstood, even if she turns to ashes, she has never wavered. She is a naive and foolish girl. Human from another world, I have only one request. Before she sacrifices everything, please save her."

    The voice resonated deep in his soul.

    Who is she?

    Then, in an instant, the darkness shattered into blinding white light. Gravity returned, and Yoren felt solid ground beneath his feet.

    He opened his eyes.

    Before him stretched a cityscape unlike anything he had ever seen. Under a gray sky, a prosperous town thrived. The buildings bore intricate geometric carvings, their facades painted in rich colors, with semi-arched doors and towering pilasters. It was foreign yet mesmerizing.

    Yoren stood frozen, his mind racing.

    What the hell? Just moments ago, he had been lying in bed, playing on his phone¡ª

    His phone!

    His memory snapped back. The strange message on the screen. The voice in his head. The moment he pressed "yes."

    No way¡­ was this real?

    He was so stunned that he didn''t even notice the fruit stall directly in front of him.

    "Ku..."

    A cheerful voice called out from behind.

    That voice¡ªYoren knew it all too well. He turned mechanically, his body moving like a rusty machine.

    A petite girl with orange hair and squinted eyes stood before him, smiling her usual silly grin.

    K¡­Kroos?

    She beamed. "Haha, you''re such a weird person! Kroos has been watching you for a while, and you haven''t moved an inch. I thought you fell asleep standing up, just like me!"

    Yoren''s eyebrows scrunched together.

    "Um¡­ do you know me?"

    "Nope!" she said with a laugh.

    "..."

    She tilted her head. "You look kinda pale. Are you feeling sick?"

    "Uh, no. I''m fine."

    "Well, if you''re okay, I gotta run. Beagle''s waiting for me. Bye-bye! Kroos loves ya!"

    Yoren barely registered her departure. His thoughts were in chaos.

    There was no denying it¡ªhe had been transported to another world. And if his gut feeling was right¡­

    "Wait a minute." He turned back toward Kroos, who stopped and looked at him curiously.

    "Yeah?"

    "Where¡­ am I?"

    Kroos raised an eyebrow. "Huh? This is obvious. You''re in Chernobog."

    A chill ran down Yoren''s spine. "Chernobog? You mean¡­ the Ursus Empire?"

    She gave him a thumbs-up. "Bingo!"

    The cold northern wind howled through the streets, biting into his skin. Yoren sucked in a breath, his body trembling¡ªnot just from the cold, but from realization.

    This wasn''t a dream. This wasn''t an illusion.

    This was Terra.

    He threw his head back and whispered to the sky, "Fuck, this is too real."

    Natural disasters. Originium. The Infected. The very concepts he had once obsessed over in a mere game were now his reality.

    A world teetering on the edge of ruin. A world where people bore the traits of animals. A world where massive catastrophes reshaped civilization itself.

    And worst of all, the Infected¡ªpeople cursed by Originium, outcasts shunned by society, forced into hiding or slaughtered outright.

    Yoren reached into his pockets, searching for anything useful.

    Nothing. No student ID, no keys, no money¡ªand, most importantly, no phone.

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    Great. Other isekai protagonists at least got some overpowered system or divine artifact. Meanwhile, he got thrown here barefoot, wearing nothing but a t-shirt and shorts.

    Hell mode.

    Still, panicking wouldn''t help. He needed to think.

    Current known facts:

    He had been forcibly transported to Terra. Whether he could return was unknown.

    Some force had summoned him here. The voice had spoken directly into his mind.

    The voice had asked him to save someone.

    "Her ideal is to save everyone, even if she turns to ashes."

    Amiya. It had to be her.

    But what was he supposed to do about it? He wasn''t some mighty warrior or brilliant tactician¡ªjust a broke college student who had failed to pull Eyjafjalla despite spending three 648s.

    I just wanted my little sheep. Why did it come to this?!

    He groaned and rubbed his temples.

    No matter what, survival came first.

    Yoren turned toward a nearby fruit stall, manned by a burly Ursus merchant with bear ears.

    "Uh¡­ boss, can you tell me what year it is?"

    The merchant shot him a weird look. "1093."

    Yoren stiffened.

    1093.

    That meant¡­

    He was three years away from the Chernobog Catastrophe.

    A violent gust of wind carried snowflakes through the streets. Yoren shivered violently¡ªpartly from the cold, but mostly from the sheer weight of what this meant.

    In three years, Reunion would seize Chernobog. The entire city would fall into chaos.

    The catastrophe that kicked off Arknights'' main story was looming over him.

    He glanced around at the towering Ursus citizens strolling the streets, blissfully unaware of what awaited them.

    Can I really change anything?

    His fists clenched. He had no answers. No tools. No plan.

    But right now, he needed food, clothes, and shelter.

    He had to survive.

    As he surveyed the street, a sharp scream tore through the air.

    "Ahhh! Run! It''s an Infected!"

    On the streets of Chernobyl, every Ursus walked with a fearless expression. Their arrogant looks made it seem as if they were just short of hanging a banner above their heads that read, "Bearmen, fearless."

    Yet, the moment a panicked voice screamed, "Run, it''s an infected person!" their faces twisted with fear.

    Ursus people were naturally strong, proud, and quick to anger. Their heroic spirit was undeniable, but so was their deep-seated hatred for the infected.

    In Ursus cities, the fate of an infected person was never in question¡ªit was always brutal.

    No living creature waits patiently for death. Survival is instinctive. Just as the infected feared the Ursus, to the Ursus, the infected were walking threats.

    As soon as the cry rang out, the owner of a fruit stall sprang into action. He slammed his stall shut and bellowed at the crowd, "Women and children, leave this street immediately! Military police! Someone get the military police!"

    Grabbing an iron rod from behind his stall, he rushed toward the disturbance, joined by a group of burly men, their movements sharp with purpose.

    Yoren curled his lips.

    This wasn''t the first time an infected person had appeared in broad daylight. The residents were well-prepared.

    Nearby, a little girl with bear ears clutched her mother''s hand. "Mom, what are the infected? Are they bad people?"

    Her mother''s expression darkened. "They''re the worst people in the world. They hurt families and friends. And worse, they spread oripathy. Never go near them."

    "Oh..."

    Yoren, standing close by, overheard the conversation.

    She wasn''t wrong¡ªthe infected were dangerous. But she hadn''t finished her thought.

    People feared the infected, wanted them gone, but before they were infected, they might have been those same families and friends.

    Angry shouts erupted in the distance.

    "There''s more than one! They ran!"

    "Everyone, after them! They''re wearing foreign clothes! Search them all!"

    "Infected from other countries sneaking in? This is despicable! If caught, they should be executed immediately!"

    Yoren had no intention of getting involved, but those words sent a chill through him.

    He had no ears on his head, no tail on his body. He was human¡ªa lone, unique existence. And most critically, he had nothing to prove his identity.

    Even though he was sure he wasn''t infected, if he were arrested as a suspicious outsider, he doubted he''d survive the "hospitality" of the Ursus people before they even completed a medical exam.

    Rubbing his freezing feet, Yoren knew he had to avoid two things:

    First, he couldn''t get caught.

    Second, while hiding, he absolutely couldn''t run into a real infected person. He had no idea how contagious oripathy actually was.

    He took a deep breath, then sprinted toward the other side of the street.

    The panic had spread. Windows slammed shut. Mothers pulled their children indoors. Men with hardened expressions combed the streets, iron rods clutched in their fists.

    Yoren slipped into an alleyway.

    At the far end, a figure lay crumpled in the corner.

    A large-bellied man with a flushed face, an empty wine bottle clutched in his hand. His eyes were closed, a blissful drunken smile on his lips.

    A drunk.

    Yoren exhaled in relief.

    Without hesitation, he yanked off the man''s oversized boots. A bit loose, but better than freezing barefoot.

    Then he began peeling away the man''s thick fur coat. Muttering as he worked, "Why''s an Ursus wearing so much? Embarrassing."

    Once bundled up, warmth returned to his body.

    The drunk lay sprawled, belly exposed, snoring away. With his thick chest hair and sheer body mass, Yoren figured he wouldn''t freeze to death before morning.

    Just then, footsteps echoed behind him.

    Yoren stiffened. Slowly, he turned.

    A muscular Ursus man stood at the alley''s entrance, iron rod clenched tight, eyes locked on him.

    Shit. Busted.

    Right now, Yoren wasn''t just an illegal resident, a strange species, or a suspected infected¡ªhe had a new crime: suspected drunken assault. And he had been caught red-handed.

    Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

    The Ursus man stepped forward, each footfall heavy.

    Looking at the thick muscles bulging from his arms, Yoren had no doubt he''d be beaten senseless in the next second.

    His mind raced. Then, an idea.

    With a deep inhale, he forced a fierce expression onto his face. Snatching up the wine bottle, he barked out, "Damn it, so he''s just a drunk! I thought he was a damn infected!"

    The Ursus man froze.

    Before he could speak, Yoren cut him off. "Hey, brother, have you found anything over there? I''ve checked three alleys¡ªnothing."

    "Uh¡­ no. Who are you?"

    "I live in Xicheng District. Just had business here today. But no time for chit-chat, we need to find those infected bastards before they bring trouble to Ursus!"

    The Ursus man hesitated. "You''re Ursus too? Why''re you so scrawny?"

    Yoren scoffed, tossing the bottle to the ground. "Losing weight. All muscle under here, but I''m not stripping in this weather."

    The man squinted. "Where''re your ears?"

    Yoren clicked his tongue, stepping closer. "Are you done? This is no time for chatting! A true Ursus man is out there hunting infected! Or¡­ are you scared? Using this as an excuse to slack off?"

    The Ursus man''s expression darkened. "Fuck no! I hate infected! Anyone scared of them is a coward!"

    Yoren clapped him on the shoulder. "That''s the spirit! You check that side, I''ll take this one. We''ll get those bastards before sundown! Move!"

    "Right!"

    The Ursus man stormed off, iron rod in hand.

    As soon as he was gone, Yoren slumped against the wall, breathless.

    "Damn..."

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3

    Yoren stuck his head out of the alley, scanning his surroundings. When he was sure no one was around, he slipped out, keeping his movements quick and silent.

    He had been lucky¡ªjust a muscle-headed fool. If that Ursus man had pressed further, he might have been exposed.

    Pulling the collar of his fur coat high to shield his face, Yoren avoided the crowds and made his way toward the outskirts of Qie City, where fewer people roamed.

    As he moved, thoughts churned in his mind.

    The safest option was to reach the outskirts and find a slum or abandoned district to hide out in until the search died down.

    To be honest, he felt uneasy.

    In his old world, he had faced countless dangers in video games. Whether it was saving the princess in a fantasy realm or taking down a demon king in a cursed castle, he never hesitated. After all, if you died, you could always try again.

    But here? Here, there were no second chances.

    The air was cold, the fear real. He was living inside the world of Arknights¡ªbut unlike before, he wasn¡¯t a player looking at pixels on a screen. He was a man with no power, no allies, and no way out.

    It was the year 1093 of the Terra calendar. According to what he remembered from Arknights lore, Rhodes Island had only recently been established. Before Amiya turned it into a formidable paramilitary medical force, it had been just a small pharmaceutical company.

    He had already met Kroos, and it seemed she and Beagle had yet to join Rhodes Island.

    The major factions were still in their infancy¡ªPenguin Logistics, Blacksteel International, Kjerag Trade, Rhine Lab. The power balance of the world was shifting, but nothing had solidified yet.

    And as for the operators he knew so well? He had no idea where they were at this point in history.

    Three years ago, when Talulah led Reunion¡¯s uprising in Chernobog¡­ where were they?

    Amiya was probably still just a young girl.

    Texas was a rookie at Penguin Logistics.

    Liskarm and Franka were fresh recruits at Blacksteel International.

    And Eyjafjalla¡­

    Yoren smirked at the thought.

    A young Eyjafjalla, wearing a puffy skirt, speaking in that soft, sleepy voice.

    [¡°These lambs were left to me by my mother. Senior, aren¡¯t they cute? ¡­Senior? I fell asleep...¡±]

    "Heh¡­ hehehe¡­" Yoren chuckled to himself like a complete idiot as he jogged through the cold streets, the fur coat billowing behind him.

    Wiping away a bit of drool, he snapped back to reality.

    "I¡¯m not a lolicon¡­ probably. When I meet her, I have to be the image of a cool, reliable senior."

    Then again¡­ who even was he in this world?

    He wasn¡¯t a swordsman. He wasn¡¯t a hero. He was just a shut-in gamer who struggled to clear Arknights stages without looking up guides.

    One moment, he was grinding through a Raid level. The next, he had been dragged into this world, barefoot in the snow, with only a vague mission: "Save Amiya."

    But how? He had no skills, no weapons, no power.

    Still, despite all the fear and uncertainty, something inside him burned with excitement.

    Because this was Arknights.

    He wasn¡¯t just watching his favorite operators on a screen anymore. He could meet them. Talk to them. Fight alongside them.

    And if he couldn¡¯t pull them from a gacha banner?

    Then he¡¯d go find them himself.

    ¡ª

    An hour later.

    Yoren¡¯s breath came in heavy gasps. His legs ached, his throat was dry. He slowed his pace.

    The road had become rough, the buildings around him worn-down and abandoned. He hadn¡¯t seen another person in at least ten minutes.

    No doubt about it¡ªhe had reached the deserted districts of Chernobog.

    The wind had picked up, snowflakes swirling through the air. If this kept up, there¡¯d be a full-blown snowstorm by nightfall.

    He needed shelter. A place to rest. Somewhere to start a fire.

    His gaze swept the area until he spotted four large warehouses in the distance. They looked abandoned, but still sturdy enough to block out the wind.

    Perfect.

    Yoren trudged toward them, stopping in front of one of the rusted iron doors. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the handle and pulled with all his strength.

    Screeeech.

    The heavy door groaned open just enough for him to slip inside.

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    The interior was dark and vast, crates stacked high in the corners. He had just begun searching for firewood when a pair of blood-red eyes glowed from behind the boxes.

    His breath caught.

    ¡°Oh, shit!¡±

    The dim lighting made the sight even more terrifying. Yoren stumbled back, heart pounding, his skin crawling with goosebumps.

    A beast? A zombie? A ghost?

    After a tense moment, a thin man emerged from the shadows, his movements stiff and unnatural.

    He wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was a Filin. But something was wrong.

    His bloodshot eyes were wide with paranoia. His body trembled. Veins bulged from his neck. And on his skin¡ª

    Yoren swallowed hard.

    Black crystal formations.

    Oh, hell.

    ¡°Infected,¡± Yoren muttered under his breath.

    The Filin man suddenly pointed at him, his voice breaking into a crazed scream.

    "You¡¯re here to kill me, aren¡¯t you?! I won¡¯t let you catch me! Before I die, you¡¯ll all die! The natural disaster is coming! Everyone will die!"

    Yoren raised his hands. "Hey, hey, calm down. I don¡¯t mean any harm. I¡¯ll just¡ª"

    "No one can escape! I¡¯ve seen it! The rain of fire! The storm that will tear everything apart! Everyone will die! EVERYONE!"

    Yoren¡¯s eyes darted to the man¡¯s outstretched hand.

    Crystals. Growing on his skin.

    A chill ran down his spine.

    Before he could react, a deep, authoritative voice cut through the air.

    "Bloodshot eyes, hallucinations, and crystallization on the skin. Early-stage oripathy symptoms. This man is infected."

    Yoren whirled around.

    Standing at the warehouse entrance was a petite Ursus girl, her fur-collared crimson coat billowing as she stepped inside. Dark red strands mixed with her brown hair, framing sharp blue eyes. Her face was fair, striking, but what stood out most was the unwavering confidence she carried.

    A red armband sat on the sleeve of her coat.

    Unlike the massive, brutish Ursus he had seen before, she was barely 1.6 meters tall. Yet her presence filled the room.

    Yoren¡¯s breath hitched as realization struck him.

    "You¡­ you can¡¯t be¡­ Winter?"

    The girl gave him a single glance before scoffing.

    "Pathetic. Get out of the warehouse. Now."

    <hr>

    Looking at the bear-eared girl¡¯s defiant expression and hearing her sharp words, Yoren was absolutely certain.

    That¡¯s right¡ªshe was a hot-blooded fighter through and through.

    Dusting himself off and straightening his hair, he spoke with exaggerated calmness. "General Dong, save me!"

    Winter raised an eyebrow. "You know me? Are you a student of the Ursus Student Autonomous Group?"

    "Uh¡­ yeah¡­"

    "Which school?"

    "No time for details! We¡¯re on the same side, right? Think of a solution quick¡ªI don¡¯t want to get infected!"

    Winter looked a little younger than her game portrait, still carrying traces of immaturity. Yet, to Yoren, she appeared radiant¡ªalmost like family.

    After all, in his old world, Winter had been his very first five-star operator to reach E2.

    She scoffed. "Pathetic. An infected person scared you this much? If you don¡¯t want to get infected, stay behind me."

    "Got it!" Yoren dashed behind her, gripping the back of her coat like a chick clinging to its mother.

    "Hey, don¡¯t cling to me."

    "I¡­ I¡¯m just making sure you can protect me if he lunges."

    Winter shot him a cold glare. "If you don¡¯t back off, I¡¯ll carve you into pieces."

    "Huh?"

    With a flick of her coat, she pulled out a short black axe. The blade gleamed as it traced a deadly arc through the air, nearly slicing off the tip of Yoren¡¯s nose.

    "Stand back!" she roared.

    Yoren was already ten steps away before she finished speaking.

    The infected Filin crouched by the wooden boxes, his bloodshot eyes flickering with primal survival instinct. His ears flattened, and his muscles tensed like a cornered animal.

    "I¡¯m not from Ursus! You have no right to kill me!"

    Winter regarded him with icy detachment. "I won¡¯t kill you. Ursus has laws for dealing with the infected. I¡¯ll hand you over to the military police. No matter where you¡¯re from, I won¡¯t allow infected to roam freely."

    The Filin let out a bitter laugh. "Don¡¯t insult me with that lie. Everyone knows how Ursus treats the infected. If you hand me over, they¡¯ll strip away my identity, throw me in the mines, and leave me to die alone in the dark."

    A flicker of sadness crossed Winter¡¯s face. "It¡¯s not up to me. Blame fate."

    "Fate?" The infected spat, his voice rising with fury. "That¡¯s just an excuse for the selfishness of Ursus! Afraid of losing their power, they divide the world into black and white. Those who live in the light refuse to acknowledge the suffering of the infected! No matter what I was before, the moment I contracted this disease, I lost everything!" His fists clenched. "The Ursus aren¡¯t gods! Who gave you the right to make these rules?!"

    Winter stood silently, letting him rage.

    The words echoed in the warehouse, and something in Yoren¡¯s chest tightened.

    At that moment, he understood.

    The world wasn¡¯t split into good and evil. Justice was just another word for the victor¡¯s will.

    The Reunion Movement hadn¡¯t emerged from nowhere. And three years from now, Tallulah¡¯s cause wouldn¡¯t be born in vain.

    And Amiya¡ªthree years later, he finally understood what she wanted to save.

    Winter took a slow breath and tightened her grip on her axe.

    "I¡¯m sorry. But for Ursus, I have to do this."

    Her voice lacked its usual firmness. Perhaps, for the first time, she was questioning herself. Perhaps this very moment planted the seed of doubt that would later lead her to join Rhodes Island, alongside the friends who lost their homes.

    But for now, she was an Ursus leader. And she had a duty to fulfill.

    Her face steeled once more. "I don¡¯t want to hurt you. But if you resist, I won¡¯t hesitate to cut off your hands and feet."

    The infected man bared his teeth in a twisted grin. "I won¡¯t let anyone oppress me. I will escape Ursus. I will live free!"

    Winter smirked. "Oh? Then show me if you have the strength to make that happen. Let me warn you, I¡¯m not like other Ursus."

    There was no more need for words.

    Yoren knew that despite her age, Winter was a formidable warrior. As the leader of the Ursus Student Autonomous Group, her combat prowess likely ranked near the top of all Ursus fighters.

    But this wasn¡¯t a game¡ªthere were no stats to reference. Yoren had no idea how powerful she truly was.

    Winter narrowed her eyes, and the air around her shifted.

    Her aura was suffocating. Even Yoren¡ªjust a bystander¡ªfelt the overwhelming, primal pressure.

    In that moment, she wasn¡¯t a girl.

    She was a beast.

    Bang!

    Winter roared, the ground beneath her feet cracking as she launched forward, axe in hand, an unstoppable force.

    Yoren yelped and darted to the corner, as far away from the battlefield as possible.

    The infected Filin reacted with razor-sharp reflexes. As Winter¡¯s axe came crashing down, he leapt, his lithe body twisting through the air, landing gracefully atop a metal beam.

    CRASH!

    Winter¡¯s axe obliterated the wooden crate, sending a shockwave of splinters and dust exploding through the warehouse.

    Above, the Filin balanced on the steel frame, peering warily into the haze below.

    Then¡ª

    Winter moved.

    With an explosive leap, she soared upward, grabbing onto the metal beam with one hand.

    The Filin smirked. Speed and agility belonged to the Filin, not the Ursus. As long as he wasn¡¯t caught directly, he could always find a chance to escape.

    But he had underestimated Winter.

    Still hanging from the beam with one hand, Winter''s gaze sharpened. A deep growl rumbled from her throat.

    Then¡ª

    "RAAHH!!"

    With a monstrous roar, her grip tightened.

    Metal groaned. The beam in her hand buckled under the sheer force of her grip.

    BANG! BANG! BANG!

    Under Yoren¡¯s and the infected man¡¯s horrified gazes, the steel rivets burst from their sockets. The entire metal frame contorted like paper in Winter¡¯s grip.

    Then¡ª

    With one final, earth-shattering tear¡ª

    The entire beam came crashing down.

    The infected Filin¡¯s body seized in shock. As the steel beneath his feet twisted and shattered, he plunged downward, along with the wreckage.

    BOOM!

    A deafening impact. The man hit the ground hard, blood spurting from his lips before his body went limp.

    Silence.

    Yoren, still pressed against the corner, gawked, his jaw practically unhinged.

    Tearing through steel beams?! That¡­ that wasn¡¯t human strength!

    That wasn¡¯t just the power of a bear.

    That was the power of an excavator!

    The Ursus people weren¡¯t just monsters.

    Winter was a monster.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4

    The dust stirred by the collapsed roof beams slowly settled, leaving the entire warehouse in shambles.

    A snowflake landed on Yoren¡¯s nose. He looked up. One-third of the roof had been torn apart by the merciless winter.

    Well¡­ an open-air warehouse. That¡¯s one way to put it.

    Beneath the wreckage, the infected man lay pinned under twisted steel bars, blood trickling from his mouth.

    "He won''t die," Winter muttered.

    "He''s just unconscious from the impact. The Filin people aren¡¯t that fragile."

    She slung her axe over her shoulder and leaned against the wall, exhaling.

    "With all that noise, the military police from Qie City will be here soon. You stay and keep an eye on him. I¡¯m leaving."

    Seeing Winter preparing to go, Yoren immediately shook his head like a rattle.

    "No, Sister Dong, don¡¯t leave."

    "Why?"

    "I¡­ I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll wake up soon, and I won¡¯t be able to handle him."

    "Tch. Shame on you."

    Yoren just grinned sheepishly. Now that the infected man had been subdued, his own situation didn¡¯t seem so dire. And with Winter here, at least he had a witness to prove he wasn¡¯t involved¡ªjust an ordinary guy who forgot his ID.

    Winter squatted down and placed her axe gently on the ground. Compared to her earlier brutality, she seemed more at ease now.

    "By the way, which school are you from?"

    "Uh¡­ my school¡¯s far from here."

    "You don¡¯t look Ursus. How do you know me?"

    "I¡­ I¡¯m your fan!"

    Winter smirked faintly.

    She wasn¡¯t a celebrity, but given her position in the student union, it wasn¡¯t surprising that some people admired her. Across the Ursus Empire, there were plenty of legends about her.

    Yoren wrapped himself in his coat and crouched beside her.

    "Winter, why did you come to Chernobog?"

    "I¡¯m here to see a friend."

    "A friend?"

    "Yeah. Her name is Zhenli. She¡¯s my best friend."

    She didn¡¯t know it yet, but three years from now, Chernobog would be destroyed by catastrophe. The Integration Movement led by Talulah would seize control, threatening Lungmen itself.

    Yoren stole a glance at Winter. If history followed the same path he remembered, she would eventually lead the student union to join Rhodes Island.

    "Winter."

    "Hm?"

    "What are your plans for the future?"

    She tilted her head, her ice-blue eyes calm.

    "Plans? Haven¡¯t thought about it. I¡¯m not at an age where I need to."

    "That¡¯s¡­ very much like you."

    Winter frowned.

    "Tch. You talk like you know me well."

    Yoren just smiled and said nothing.

    He had a strange feeling.

    If history ran its course, he already knew what would happen in three years. For the world, he was a man from the future¡ªbut only up to a certain point. The story he knew only reached a few chapters ahead. Beyond that, everything was a mystery.

    And that¡¯s what worried him.

    The butterfly effect.

    History followed certain patterns, but it was also shaped by unpredictable variables. Even the smallest change could send ripples through everything.

    The operators in Arknights were all key figures in the vortex of Terra¡¯s conflicts. But he didn¡¯t belong here. A single action, a single word, could alter the course of events and trigger an unforeseen chain reaction.

    Maybe that¡¯s why¡­ that man in the darkness summoned me here.

    A gust of icy wind swept through the ruined warehouse, carrying flurries of snow.

    Yoren turned his head and noticed the white flakes gathering around Winter¡¯s furry ears.

    Instinctively, he reached out to brush them away¡ª

    But before his fingers could touch her, her ears twitched, shaking the snow off.

    Like a pet flicking off dust.

    Yoren froze.

    His heart skipped a beat.

    That was¡­

    His hands clenched into fists. He inhaled deeply.

    So.

    Kawaii.

    Animal ears were the best.

    Winter turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

    "Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my head?"

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    As she spoke, she unconsciously shook her ears again.

    Yoren almost died on the spot.

    He covered his face with both hands, desperately trying to contain himself.

    "No¡ªnothing. I just, uh¡­ think your ears are¡­ really cute."

    Winter scoffed.

    "Tch. We Ursus all have them."

    Yoren glanced at her again.

    And suddenly¡ª

    A reckless idea popped into his head.

    He knew it was stupid. He knew it was dangerous. But between the sheer insanity of time travel and his growing sense of detachment from reality¡ª

    He just didn¡¯t care anymore.

    There was something he had always wanted to do.

    And if not now¡­ then when?

    Do I want to be a coward for the rest of my life¡­

    Or a real man for one second?

    Yoren swallowed.

    Damn it. I¡¯m going for it.

    Winter, completely oblivious to the madness unfolding in Yoren¡¯s brain, was mumbling to herself, rubbing her hands together for warmth.

    "Why are the military police so damn slow? That crash should¡¯ve been loud enough to¡ª"

    Before she could finish¡ª

    Yoren moved.

    Like lightning, he reached out¡ª

    And grabbed her ears.

    Then, he squeezed them.

    Soft. Warm. Furry.

    A pure, unfiltered sense of joy flooded his brain.

    Winter froze.

    The next second¡ª

    A noise escaped her lips.

    A noise that should not have come from someone like her.

    ¡°Ah~¡±

    The moment it left her mouth, Yoren panicked.

    He ripped his hands away, clutching his nose to prevent a nosebleed.

    Winter sat there, eyes squeezed shut, hands gripping her head, her breathing unsteady.

    "You¡­ what the hell was that?"

    The tone of her voice suggested she felt deeply, deeply violated.

    Yoren immediately scrambled several feet away, waving his hands frantically.

    "Uh¡ªuh, I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry! I had to do it¡ªI couldn¡¯t help myself!"

    He grabbed a stick from the ground and shoved it toward her.

    "H-here! Just hit me with this! Just don¡¯t aim for my head!"

    Winter took the stick.

    And crushed it into sawdust with one hand.

    Yoren blanched.

    "S-Sister Dong¡­ please, have mercy¡­"

    Winter slowly bent down, reaching for her axe.

    She stood up, hair shadowing her eyes, her face unreadable.

    Yoren flinched.

    Then¡ª

    She turned toward the warehouse entrance.

    "Stand back."

    Yoren blinked.

    "Huh?"

    Winter narrowed her eyes.

    "Someone¡¯s coming."

    "Wait¡­ is it the military police?"

    "No."

    Winter¡¯s grip tightened around her axe.

    "I can feel it."

    A chill ran down her spine.

    "The breath of a beast."

    <hr>

    Yoren couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of creature Winter¡ªan Ursus of all people¡ªwould call a beast.

    The warehouse was eerily silent, save for the wind howling through the hole in the roof.

    Winter tightened her grip on her axe, eyes locked on the door.

    Heavy footsteps echoed outside. Slow. Deliberate.

    Then they stopped.

    Right in front of the door.

    Yoren swallowed.

    They waited.

    Nothing happened.

    ¡°¡­Did it leave?¡± he whispered.

    Winter didn¡¯t relax.

    "No."

    Her tone was grim.

    ¡°Large predators don¡¯t attack right away. They measure their prey first. If they hold back, they won¡¯t strike at all. But the moment they bare their fangs¡­ they will rip flesh from bone.¡±

    Yoren shivered.

    ¡°So¡­ the thing outside¡ªit¡¯s sizing you up?¡±

    ¡°Maybe.¡±

    ¡°Should we call for backu¡ª¡±

    BANG!

    Something slammed into the metal door. The force was so immense that it dented the thick iron.

    Yoren¡¯s stomach dropped.

    BANG!

    The second hit sent cracks spiderwebbing across the doorframe. The warehouse trembled.

    Yoren pointed at the door, face pale.

    ¡°Winter¡­ you sure this is a beast? Because it sounds like a goddamn bulldozer.¡±

    BOOM!

    A final, deafening crash¡ª

    The entire metal door ripped free, flung across the warehouse like a toy. It slammed into the far wall with a metallic clang, kicking up dust.

    Yoren gawked.

    ¡°Okay, was that really necessary?!¡±

    Winter didn¡¯t answer.

    She was already preparing for a fight.

    As the dust cleared, a lone figure emerged.

    A slender, golden-haired girl stepped into view.

    Despite the frigid Ursus winter, she wore only a black jacket over a thin, torn T-shirt. A pair of feline ears twitched atop her head, her messy ponytail swaying as she walked.

    She wore nothing but shorts, her bare thighs exposed to the cold, but she didn¡¯t seem to care.

    In one hand, she twirled a massive, black-metal sledgehammer.

    The cocky smirk on her face said it all.

    I am invincible.

    Yoren¡¯s stomach dropped.

    Oh, shit.

    She stopped in front of them, rolling a lollipop between her fingers. Her sharp eyes swept over the scene before landing on the injured man pinned under steel bars.

    Her expression darkened.

    "You two did this to my little brother?"

    Winter met her gaze fearlessly.

    ¡°I did it alone.¡±

    The girl tilted her head.

    "Oh? Then give me a reason.¡±

    Winter¡¯s lips curled.

    "Before you ask questions, you should introduce yourself first, little Aslan girl."

    The blonde scoffed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t waste my name on dumb bears. You hurt my men. I¡¯ll make you pay for it.¡±

    Winter cracked her knuckles.

    "Oh? You can try."

    "I would try, even if you didn¡¯t tell me to."

    ¡°Then come on.¡±

    ¡°Come on.¡±

    The tension thickened like ice in a storm.

    Yoren, feeling an impending bloodbath, hurriedly stepped between them.

    "Okay, okay, hold up!" He forced a wide, nervous grin.

    "You two¡ªlet¡¯s not rip each other apart just yet. Especially you, Miss Wang."

    The golden-haired girl narrowed her eyes.

    ¡°¡­My last name isn¡¯t Wang.¡±

    Yoren already knew her identity the moment she walked in.

    Vina.

    The King of Impulse.

    The infamous leader of the Glasgow Gang.

    Vina popped the lollipop into her mouth, speaking around it.

    "Huh? Who the hell are you?" She waved a hand dismissively. "I¡¯m here on a Glasgow mission. Everyone else¡ªclear out."

    Winter¡¯s eyes sharpened.

    ¡°You¡¯re with the Glasgow Gang?¡±

    Vina smirked.

    "What, got a problem?"

    Winter crossed her arms.

    ¡°What is Victoria¡¯s biggest gang doing in Chernobog?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡±

    The dismissive response made Winter¡¯s blood boil.

    Back in Ursus, no one talked to her like that.

    Winter rolled up her sleeves.

    ¡°You little brat. Say that again, and I¡¯ll pluck every single piece of that piss-colored hair off your head.¡±

    Vina raised an eyebrow.

    "Please. Look at those scrawny arms. Shouldn¡¯t you be hibernating?"

    Winter¡¯s nostrils flared.

    ¡°I¡¯M GOING TO TEAR YOU APART.¡±

    Seeing Winter about to detonate, Yoren desperately threw himself between them again.

    ¡°Winter, no, stop!¡±

    ¡°Get out of my way! She¡¯s dead!¡±

    As Winter struggled against him, Vina squinted.

    She tapped her chin thoughtfully, staring at Winter.

    "Wait¡­ you called her Winter?"

    She pulled the lollipop from her mouth, her expression shifting.

    ¡°As in¡­ THE Winter? Ursus Student Autonomous Group Winter?¡±

    Yoren finally managed to shove Winter back, exhaling.

    ¡°Yep. That¡¯s the Winter. And you¡¯d better not piss her off. You might be allies in the future.¡±

    Vina frowned.

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±

    Then, her eyes narrowed further.

    ¡°Wait¡­ how do you know my name?¡±

    Winter stiffened.

    ¡°You¡¯re Vina?¡±

    She suddenly looked at Vina in a new light.

    "The King of Impulse? The leader of the Glasgow Gang?"

    Vina groaned.

    "OH FOR FU¡ª I TOLD YOU, MY LAST NAME ISN¡¯T WANG!"

    Yoren waved her off, completely ignoring her frustration.

    ¡°Got it, Miss Wang.¡±

    Vina twitched.

    A vein popped in her forehead.

    Winter and Vina stared at each other.

    The air between them crackled.

    They had heard of each other before.

    The infamous Ursus Student Autonomous Group and the notorious Glasgow Gang were both well-known in their respective regions. Even though this was three years before Chernobog fell, their reputations were already legendary.

    Vina smirked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Ursus¡¯s ¡®General Winter¡¯ to be so young.¡±

    Winter¡¯s lips curled.

    ¡°And I didn¡¯t expect Glasgow¡¯s leader to be such a loudmouthed brat.¡±

    Yoren, sensing another impending deathmatch, clapped his hands together.

    ¡°Alright, great! So, we know each other. That¡¯s fantastic. Let¡¯s all sit down and talk this out like civilized people, yeah?¡±

    Vina side-eyed him.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve been meaning to ask since the start.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±

    Yoren hesitated.

    He had no idea what to say.

    After a long pause, he finally forced out:

    ¡°Uh¡­ Miss Wang¡­ actually, I¡¯m your biggest fan.¡±

    Vina blinked.

    Then her entire face darkened.

    ¡°¡­I. TOLD. YOU. MY LAST NAME ISN¡¯T WANG!!!¡±

    She swung her sledgehammer at Yoren¡¯s face.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5

    "Ouch!"

    Yoren felt a sharp jolt in his head, his vision darkening as a ringing noise filled his ears.

    Vina hadn¡¯t even swung hard¡ªshe had only tapped him lightly with the hammer, as if expressing her dissatisfaction. But even that was enough to send him crashing to the ground.

    Lying there like a lifeless ragdoll, Yoren could barely make out the voices of the two women conversing above him. Their words drifted in and out, erratic and distant.

    ¡°Is this infected person one of your Glasgow gang members?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. And I won¡¯t let you hand him over to the Ursus military police. I¡¯m taking him with me, Winter. I know you¡¯re strong, but I suggest you don¡¯t do anything pointless.¡±

    ¡°Vina, tell me¡ªwhy is a member of the Glasgow gang infected with Oripathy? And why are you in Chernobog?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing rumors. Foreign gang members have been showing up in Ursus lately. Is that your Glasgow gang?¡±

    ¡°I said, it¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    ¡°King of Advancement, Vina¡ªanswer me. Are you smuggling Originium to some underground faction within Ursus?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say this one last time: it¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    Winter¡¯s voice turned icy, her presence commanding and absolute.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t give me a straight answer, no one is leaving this place.¡±

    Boom!

    A deafening shockwave erupted next to Yoren, the sheer force shaking him from his daze and jolting him upright.

    Dazed, he clutched the fresh lump on his head, barely registering what was happening before another impact sent him sprawling backward. His ears rang, his mind reeled.

    Then he looked up¡ªand his breath caught in his throat.

    Winter stood firm, gripping her axe with both hands, while Vina¡¯s black warhammer pressed against the handle, unyielding.

    The ground beneath them had caved in, deep cracks splitting the walls around them. The sheer force of Vina¡¯s strike was staggering¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just brute strength. This was raw, unrestrained power.

    Vina¡¯s golden hair was wild, standing on end, her wide eyes burning with fury.

    ¡°I said, stay out of my business! Don¡¯t piss me off, Winter!¡±

    Winter, unwavering, held her ground despite the floor beneath her feet sinking. Her legs didn¡¯t buckle, her stance remained firm. But her expression had changed¡ªher usual composed demeanor replaced by something graver.

    She had underestimated Vina.

    That hammer swing hadn¡¯t been precise, hadn¡¯t relied on technique¡ªit was pure physical force, and somehow, it matched her own. That alone was unsettling.

    More than that¡ª

    Vina had done it one-handed.

    Realizing the fight was escalating beyond control, Yoren ignored the throbbing pain in his head and rushed between them.

    ¡°Enough! Vina, back off! Why are you two actually fighting?!¡±

    ¡°Tch.¡±

    The two women, though appearing lean and wiry, were like two freight trains colliding.

    Yoren threw himself into the chaos, shoving at their weapons, wedging himself between them, forcing them apart despite the very real risk of being crushed.

    Winter stepped back without a word, her face unreadable.

    Vina, scowling, exhaled sharply before finally lowering her hammer.

    She turned to Yoren and shoved the weapon into his hands.

    ¡°Hold this for me, kid.¡±

    The moment Vina let go, the warhammer plummeted straight down with a heavy thud, nearly flattening Yoren¡¯s foot.

    ¡°Shit¡ª¡±

    The weight was monstrous.

    ¡°Oh my god, how do you even lift this?!¡±

    ¡°Just rest one end on the ground and hold it steady.¡±

    ¡°...Oh.¡±

    From his spot against the wall, Lin Dong snorted, looking at Yoren with barely concealed disdain.

    ¡°Pathetic.¡±

    Meanwhile, Vina shrugged off her leather jacket, rolling her shoulders before crouching near the wreckage. Steel beams had collapsed over her injured companion, trapping him beneath the debris. But Vina didn¡¯t hesitate¡ª

    She grabbed hold of the twisted metal and ripped it away like it was made of paper.

    Despite her slight frame, she bore the title of King of Advancement for a reason. One by one, she tossed aside the heavy debris, flipping over steel beams like they were mere building blocks.

    Soon, she had freed the injured man underneath.

    The infected man blinked groggily, eyes glassy, his voice hoarse. ¡°Boss¡­ Boss, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I got infected. It¡¯s my fault¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up. I¡¯m getting you out of here.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s¡­ another one¡­¡±

    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll find them after I get you to safety.¡±

    Tears welled in the man¡¯s eyes as he nodded weakly.

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    Vina turned back to Yoren, retrieving her hammer from his grip.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, kid?¡±

    ¡°Yoren. Yoren¡ªlike summer¡¯s wind.¡±

    Vina raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. ¡°You¡¯re not from Ursus, are you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then what are you doing here? Are you friends with Winter?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s complicated. I know her, but she doesn¡¯t know me. Today¡¯s our first meeting. As for why I¡¯m here¡­ Let¡¯s just say I was passing through.¡±

    Vina gave a small nod, as if considering his answer.

    ¡°Alright. See ya.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±

    Yoren almost called her Miss Wang¡ªan old habit¡ªbut caught himself in time.

    ¡°Vina¡­ You¡¯re leaving?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ goodbye.¡±

    Without another word, Vina hoisted the injured man onto her shoulder and strode out of the warehouse, stepping over rubble as if it wasn¡¯t even there. Winter, who had been leaning against the wall, made no move to stop her.

    Yoren watched her disappear through the doorway.

    In his world, Miss Wang had always been one of his favorite Operators.

    Winter finally spoke. ¡°Yoren. It¡¯s time to go.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you did hear my name just now.¡±

    She walked up to him and rested a hand on his shoulder¡ªlightly, almost reassuringly.

    ¡°You seem timid, but when it matters, you don¡¯t hesitate.¡±

    Yoren blinked. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t stepped in, I would¡¯ve fought Vina to the death.¡±

    He laughed dryly. ¡°So that¡¯s what this is about. No big deal. I might be useless, but I couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch two of my favorite Operators kill each other.¡±

    ¡°...What¡¯s an Operator?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ Never mind.¡±

    Yoren glanced around at the ruined warehouse. ¡°Winter, why did you let Vina leave with the infected?¡±

    Winter scoffed, muttering under her breath. ¡°That girl¡­ Consider this me doing her a favor.¡±

    She wouldn¡¯t admit it outright, but Yoren could tell¡ª

    She knew she couldn¡¯t beat Vina.

    As they stepped outside, a flood of Ursus military police swarmed the scene.

    One of the officers¡ªa broad, heavy-set man¡ªeyed them suspiciously. ¡°You two. What the hell happened here?¡±

    Yoren jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ¡°See for yourself.¡±

    The officers peered past him into the wreckage.

    ¡°What in the¡ª¡±

    Winter shoved her hands into her coat pockets, expression dark. ¡°You idiots. Took you long enough.¡±

    ¡°What did you just say, you little¡ª¡±

    Before the officer could snap, his colleague quickly pulled him aside, whispering urgently.

    ¡°Wait. That¡¯s her. Lin Dong.¡±

    ¡°The Lin Dong?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. General Dong herself. I wouldn¡¯t pick a fight.¡±

    The officer paled, coughing awkwardly. ¡°Ahem.¡±

    Yoren smirked. Seems Winter¡¯s reputation carried more weight than he¡¯d thought.

    <hr>

    Winter gave a brief account of what had happened to the military and police officers of Che City. She carefully omitted the identities of the Glasgow Gang and Vina, instead describing the infected as having been rescued by unknown, highly skilled individuals.

    Yoren understood. In a way, Winter and Vina were alike. As the leader of a group that operated in the gray areas of the law, Winter had no reason to become an informant.

    Still, he couldn''t help but wonder¡ªwhat had changed in the years ahead? What had happened when the catastrophe struck three years later? Why had Winter, instead of fighting to the death as she might have now, chosen to abandon Chernobog and lead her companions to Rhodes Island, an organization dedicated to helping the infected?

    He studied her face¡ªstill youthful, still hardened by experience¡ªand asked,

    "Winter."

    "Hm?"

    "If one day, this city was wiped out in an instant... where would you go?"

    Winter frowned at the seriousness in his tone. She looked up at the sky, as if searching for an answer in the endless gray expanse.

    "If it were truly destroyed in an instant? Well... as the head of the Ursus Student Self-Government Group, it¡¯s not about what happens to me. I¡¯d have to find a place for my people."

    It was the answer Yoren had expected. The same response he knew he would have heard from her years later. This was the Winter he had come to admire.

    "Winter, promise me you¡¯ll survive. We¡¯ll meet again in Rhodes Island in three years."

    She shot him a puzzled look. "Hah? What kind of nonsense is that? How could I, Winter, ever die? And what¡¯s Rhodes Island?"

    Yoren chuckled, shaking his head. "Never mind. Forget it."

    The military police quickly cordoned off the area, collecting blood samples from the infected beneath the wreckage. Once the experts arrived, they launched their pursuit operations.

    Winter dusted off her coat. "We¡¯re done here. I¡¯ve got things to do. You should head home."

    Yoren laughed bitterly. Home?

    Winter caught the change in his expression and raised a brow. "What''s wrong with you?"

    He shrugged. "How should I put it... I don¡¯t have a home anymore."

    She folded her arms. "You ran away, huh?"

    "...Something like that."

    Winter sighed, then waved over a nearby officer. A man in uniform stepped forward, looking attentive.

    "This guy¡¯s got nowhere to stay. Find him a place for the night. Food, clothes¡ªwhatever he needs. Put it on the Student Government¡¯s tab."

    "Understood, General Dong."

    The sky darkened. Snow began falling heavier, blanketing the streets in silence. Winter turned, her back to Yoren, giving him a lazy wave as she disappeared into the storm.

    Yoren watched her go, a strange weight settling in his chest. He had no idea when¡ªor if¡ªhe¡¯d see her again.

    A firm hand landed on his shoulder. The officer gave him a small shake. "Come on, kid. Let¡¯s get you somewhere warm."

    Half an hour later, Yoren walked alongside the officer through the dimly lit streets of Chernobog.

    "So, kid," the officer said, adjusting his cap, "you¡¯re not Ursus, are you? How¡¯d you manage to get General Dong to personally arrange housing for you? How do you know her?"

    "Uh¡­ is Winter really that famous?"

    The officer gave him a look like he had just asked if the sky was blue.

    "You mean to tell me you don¡¯t know?"

    "I mean, I know she¡¯s the leader of the Student Government..."

    The officer chuckled, the kind of laugh that said, Kid, you have no idea.

    "Listen, no matter what country you¡¯re in, students are the future. But in Ursus, only the best of the best can join the Student Autonomous Group. And the ones who lead it? Those are the ones shaping the future of this nation."

    Yoren blinked. "That¡¯s... a lot more intense than I expected."

    "Of course it is! The Student Autonomous Group isn¡¯t just some club for overachievers. They go places the government won¡¯t go. They solve problems no one else can. Border conflicts, riots, infected uprisings¡ªyou name it, they¡¯ve handled it. Some say their actions have influenced national policy more times than the public even realizes."

    Yoren let out a slow whistle. "Damn. That¡¯s... kind of insane."

    The officer grinned. "Now you¡¯re getting it."

    They turned into a narrow alley, the officer pointing ahead. "Hotel¡¯s just through here. You can stay the night¡ª"

    A dull thud cut him off.

    The next second, the officer collapsed, hitting the ground hard.

    Yoren barely had time to react before a shadow moved from the darkness of the alley.

    His stomach twisted. He wasn¡¯t being robbed.

    He knew this figure.

    "Vina?"

    The King of Advancement stood there, her golden eyes burning in the dim light, gleaming like a predator¡¯s.

    Her voice was cold.

    "I thought it over. I really can¡¯t let you leave."

    Yoren took a step back, his throat suddenly dry. "W-why?"

    "Because you saw me. You saw my people. The infected are being hunted in this city. I can¡¯t touch Winter, but you¡ªyou¡¯re an unstable factor I can¡¯t ignore."

    She tightened her grip on her warhammer.

    Yoren felt his blood run cold.

    She was going to kill him.

    For a brief moment, he felt stupid¡ªstupid for forgetting that this wasn¡¯t a game, that these people weren¡¯t just characters in a story.

    Winter, Vina, all of them¡ªthey weren¡¯t just figures he admired from a distance. They were real, living people, operating in a world where survival wasn¡¯t a given.

    In his mind, Vina had always been the lion cub with the hammer in one hand and a lollipop in the other, always broke, always complaining.

    But beyond the jokes and the quirks¡ª

    She was the leader of the Glasgow Gang.

    A real gangster.

    And what did gangsters do?

    Street fights. Turf wars. Smuggling. Murder.

    He had heard her and Winter talking earlier¡ªabout smuggling Originium, about their illegal dealings.

    It was naive to think she wouldn¡¯t kill an ordinary bystander for knowing too much.

    Yoren stared at her. He clenched his fists¡ªthen loosened them.

    What a joke. Was he really going to die here, for something so absurd?

    He hadn¡¯t seen the Lamb. He hadn¡¯t touched the halo of the Archangel. He hadn¡¯t stolen a chocolate bar from Texas.

    He hadn¡¯t even told Amiya to her face¡ª¡°You¡¯re not a donkey. You¡¯re an adorable little rabbit.¡±

    The world was vast, and he hadn¡¯t even begun to see it.

    Something inside him surged, a desperate, reckless desire to live. He clenched his fists again, his breathing steadying.

    Vina raised the hammer, her golden eyes unblinking.

    "Even a weak creature like you will struggle before it dies, huh?"

    Yoren met her gaze, stepping forward.

    His eyes were firm. His expression unshaken.

    He squared his shoulders, drew a deep breath¡ª

    And in the calmest, steadiest voice he could muster, said:

    "Miss Wang, please don¡¯t kill me, wuwuwu!"

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6

    Vina expected Yoren to fight back, to scramble for a brick, a bottle¡ªanything¡ªto make a last stand.

    But what Yoren said next was completely at odds with the fear in his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m the leader of the Glasgow Gang. I won¡¯t be soft-hearted. I never have been, I¡¯m not now, and I won¡¯t be in the future.¡±

    His voice was steady, but his trembling hands betrayed him.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll make it quick.¡±

    ¡°No¡ªyou can¡¯t kill me.¡±

    Vina raised her black warhammer, its weight effortlessly poised in her grip.

    ¡°Give me one good reason.¡±

    Yoren¡¯s mind raced, filtering through every scrap of knowledge he had about this world, every detail he had pulled from his own reality. There had to be something¡ª

    Then, a spark of clarity.

    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me. My existence is too important. I know things about this world¡ªthings that haven¡¯t happened yet.¡±

    Vina¡¯s grip on the hammer didn¡¯t waver. But she tilted her head slightly, curiosity flashing in her crimson eyes.

    ¡°Oh? Like what?¡±

    Yoren inhaled sharply, forcing his body to stop shaking. He had one shot at this.

    ¡°Three years from now, the Reunion Movement will use a natural disaster to obliterate Chernobog. The city will be left in ruins and turned into their stronghold. That¡¯s only the beginning. Afterward, they¡¯ll set their sights on Lungmen.¡±

    Vina¡¯s expression remained unreadable.

    ¡°Chernobog? Lungmen? Even if what you¡¯re saying is true¡ªwhat does that have to do with me? Besides, why should I believe you?¡±

    Yoren clenched his fists.

    ¡°It is true. And I know something even more important.¡±

    He took a step forward, locking eyes with her.

    ¡°For centuries, humanity has learned how to endure natural disasters. But disasters don¡¯t destroy civilizations¡ªpeople do. Vina, you don¡¯t turn your back on the infected. Even when your own men fall to Oripathy, you don¡¯t abandon them. But not everyone is like you. One day, the world will break, and when that happens, the infected and the uninfected will be at war.¡±

    Silence.

    A long, heavy silence.

    Then, Vina exhaled slowly.

    ¡°And?¡±

    Yoren swallowed. He had her attention now.

    ¡°Vina¡ªVictoria is cracking. The empire is crumbling, and while the world watches in silence, dark clouds are gathering over Londinium. Three years from now, when the Reunion Movement¡ªled by Tallulah¡ªrises, it will shake the foundations of the world. Not even Victoria will be safe.¡±

    The weight of his words hung thick in the air.

    After a long pause, Vina finally spoke, her voice quieter than before.

    ¡°So? Are you saying you want to save this world?¡±

    Yoren let out a dry, almost bitter laugh.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of power. I¡¯m not here to save the world.¡±

    He took a breath, his next words steady and certain.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to save an innocent rabbit.¡±

    Vina blinked. ¡°...Rabbit?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. She wants to save everyone. Even when she¡¯s misunderstood, even when the whole world turns against her, she won¡¯t waver. Three years from now, she will lead a powerful armed medical organization, one that will stand at the center of it all. The name of that organization is¡ªRhodes Island.¡±

    Yoren had spoken all he knew, all he had been sent here to do.

    He didn¡¯t need to save everyone. That wasn¡¯t his burden to bear.

    But she¡ªAmiya¡ªwould try.

    And before her ideals consumed her, before she burned herself to ashes for a dream no one else believed in¡ª

    He had to save her first.

    Vina studied him for a long moment before finally lowering her hammer.

    ¡°You don¡¯t sound like you¡¯re lying.¡±

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m not.¡±

    Another beat of silence.

    Then¡ª

    A familiar voice rang from the entrance of the alley.

    ¡°Or<s>or</s>and~you!¡±

    Yoren stiffened.

    A small head of orange hair peeked into the alley, squinting playfully as it surveyed the scene.

    ¡°Hey! What are you two doing here?¡±

    The corner of Yoren¡¯s mouth twitched.

    No way. How had he run into Kroos twice in one day?! With this kind of luck, it was no wonder he had never managed to pull Exusiai back in his original world.

    Kroos¡¯ eyes landed on him, and she grinned.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Oh! It¡¯s you again! Haha, what a coincidence.¡±

    Yoren forced a smile. ¡°Uh¡­ hi.¡±

    Kroos stepped further into the alley, hands on her hips. ¡°It¡¯s so dark in here! What are you doing? Hey¡ªwho¡¯s the blonde girl?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a gangster.¡±

    Kroos¡¯ smile faltered. ¡°...Gangster?¡±

    At that moment, she noticed the enormous hammer in Vina¡¯s grip.

    Her expression changed instantly.

    ¡°Wait¡ªyou¡¯re being robbed?!¡±

    Before Yoren could even begin to explain, Kroos turned and waved urgently to the side.

    ¡°Mia! Get over here¡ªsomething¡¯s happening!¡±

    ¡°Coming!¡±

    Seconds later, Beagle sprinted into the alley, adjusting her glasses as she took in the scene.

    Yoren groaned inwardly. Before joining Rhodes Island, Kroos and Beagle had been part of a security team in Columbia. How exactly they ended up in Chernobog, nobody knew.

    ¡°Mia! That guy is being threatened by a gang! We have to save him!¡±

    Beagle nodded resolutely. ¡°Got it.¡±

    She grabbed a nearby trash can lid as a makeshift shield, while Kroos drew her short crossbow, stepping cautiously into the alley.

    With her voice shaking slightly, she aimed the weapon at Vina.

    ¡°You! Drop your weapon and let him go!¡±

    Beagle echoed, ¡°Put it down!¡±

    Yoren stood frozen. The two of them were trying so hard, but¡­ the sight was almost comical.

    Vina turned slowly, eyes glowing red in the dim light. The air grew heavy with an unmistakable, bloodthirsty presence.

    ¡°You two brats had better mind your own business¡ªor I¡¯ll rip you to pieces.¡±

    ¡°AHHHH!!!¡±

    Kroos and Beagle screamed.

    ¡°Uh¡­ excuse us¡ª¡±

    ¡°GOODBYE!¡±

    Beagle flung the trash can lid aside and bolted, Kroos hot on her heels.

    Yoren was left standing in stunned silence.

    ¡°...Hey, are you giving up already?! I think I could¡¯ve salvaged that!¡±

    Kroos barely glanced back as she shouted over her shoulder.

    ¡°Try to hold on! We¡¯ll call the military police! Kroos loves you!¡±

    As their voices faded into the distance, the alley once again fell into quiet.

    Vina slung the hammer over her shoulder, unimpressed.

    ¡°We need to leave.¡±

    ¡°We?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. After what you just said, I¡¯ve decided to let you live. But¡ªI can¡¯t just let you run around freely.¡±

    Yoren hesitated. ¡°Then¡­ what are you gonna do with me?¡±

    Vina flashed a wide, fanged grin.

    ¡°Easy. I¡¯m recruiting you. Congratulations¡ªyou¡¯re now a member of the Glasgow Gang!¡±

    ¡°...Huh?!¡±

    Vina clapped a hand on his shoulder. ¡°You got two options. One¡ªjoin the gang. Two¡ªI hit you hard enough to make you forget this conversation. Your choice.¡±

    Yoren straightened his clothes and bowed deeply.

    ¡°Hello, Boss.¡±

    <hr>

    Joining the Glasgow Gang didn¡¯t seem like the worst outcome.

    Yoren was a complete illegal resident now, no home, no status. He had no idea where his next meal was coming from, let alone how he was supposed to change the future and save Amiya. Right now, survival was his priority.

    And if that meant sticking close to the King of Advancement, then so be it. At the very least, she could be his key to fully stepping into the world of Terra.

    Vina grabbed Yoren¡¯s hand and led him cautiously out of the alley.

    The warmth of her grip caught him off guard. Small, but strong. A firm, unwavering hold. A strange thrill ran through him.

    How would he even explain this to someone? A few hours ago, he had been a nameless nobody in a classroom, mocked for failing to pull a powerful Operator in a gacha game. And now? He was holding Vina¡¯s hand.

    He almost wanted to laugh.

    They crossed a few streets, the crowds thinning as they moved deeper into the outskirts of the city.

    Finally, Vina released his hand.

    ¡°This should be far enough. No military patrols around here.¡±

    Yoren flexed his fingers absentmindedly. ¡°You know Chernobog well.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m working here, I need to know the layout. I¡¯m not scared of the authorities, but avoiding them means less trouble. Besides¡­¡± Her expression darkened slightly. ¡°One of my men is infected.¡±

    That was fair. The Glasgow Gang was a foreign presence here. Keeping a low profile was just common sense.

    They walked in step, side by side.

    ¡°Where are we going now?¡±

    ¡°Our temporary base. That¡¯s where everyone is.¡±

    Yoren hesitated for a moment, then asked the question that had been nagging him since Winter brought it up.

    ¡°Vina, about what you and Winter were talking about¡­ Are we really smuggling Originium?¡±

    He still wasn¡¯t sure of Originium¡¯s exact worth, but given its destructive potential, it had to be more valuable than gold, oil¡ªprobably even more than drugs.

    Vina glanced around, making sure they were alone before answering.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Right now, it¡¯s our biggest business. Ursus has strict control over Originium. Every single shard, from mining to distribution, is tracked. That means no one outside of the government is supposed to get their hands on it.¡±

    ¡°So you smuggle it in from Victoria?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°But Victoria also regulates Originium, doesn¡¯t it? How do you even get it?¡±

    Originium was a highly dangerous material. If he had to compare it to anything from his own world, it was probably closest to nuclear fuel. No country would let civilians handle something that hazardous.

    Not to mention, exposure to its radiation caused Oripathy¡ªan incurable, fatal disease.

    Vina, however, spoke of it casually.

    ¡°We have different sources. Sometimes we buy from the black market. Sometimes we bribe the right people and get it out of government stockpiles.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s it?¡±

    Vina smirked. ¡°Of course not. Our biggest supply comes from robbery.¡±

    Yoren choked on his own spit. Coughing, he looked at her in disbelief.

    ¡°Robbery?! You mean, like, storming a government facility with guns?!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no Originium in government buildings.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ where the hell are you stealing it from?!¡±

    The corner of Vina¡¯s mouth curled into a devil-may-care grin.

    ¡°There¡¯s one place where massive amounts of Originium are produced on a regular basis.¡±

    Realization dawned on Yoren.

    ¡°The aftermath of natural disasters?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    That made sense. The easiest way to get something valuable was to go straight to its source.

    Vina nodded approvingly. ¡°We can¡¯t fight over Originium after a disaster hits a major city. Governments predict these events in advance and evacuate. They bring in military forces and mining crews. We wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    ¡°So where do you steal it from?¡±

    ¡°Well, large cities have disaster forecasts. But natural disasters don¡¯t exactly follow human convenience.¡±

    She tilted her head, her grin widening.

    ¡°If a disaster hits a remote area, or no-man¡¯s land near disputed borders¡­ that¡¯s when things get interesting. Countries and private forces scramble to claim the raw Originium deposits. That¡¯s when we strike¡ªright in the chaos.¡±

    Yoren exhaled slowly. It made sense. Ruthless, but logical.

    This world had been reshaped by Originium. It had created everything¡ªprofit, power, suffering, war.

    And, of course¡ªthe infected.

    No matter how much people feared it, they would never stop fighting over it. Even knowing what it did to human bodies, they still chased it like fools.

    Yoren turned to Vina.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting infected?¡±

    Vina snorted. ¡°Everyone¡¯s scared of Oripathy. This time alone, two of my men caught it.¡±

    She rested her hammer on her shoulder and smirked.

    ¡°But someone¡¯s gotta do this job. If it¡¯s not us, it¡¯ll be someone else. And I, Vina, don¡¯t fear Oripathy. If I get it one day, then that¡¯s just my fate.¡±

    Yoren understood. The world wasn¡¯t kind. If you wanted something, you had to pay the price.

    Originium pushed civilization forward, but it left corpses in its wake. The powerful profited, and the weak paid with their lives. That was the law of survival here.

    Amiya knew this, too. She had seen firsthand how the world treated the infected. The more she tried to change things, the more she would suffer for it.

    And one day, if nothing changed, it would destroy her.

    The atmosphere between them grew heavy. Yoren forced a grin and changed the subject.

    ¡°So¡­ where exactly is our base?¡±

    ¡°Just ahead. We¡¯re almost there.¡±

    ¡ª

    Ten minutes later, they arrived at a secluded three-story villa.

    Yoren whistled. ¡°Damn. You guys are living good.¡±

    It was remote, sure, but one look at the place told him it was expensive. Way out of reach for most people in Chernobog.

    ¡°As expected of a famous gang. The Glasgow Gang¡¯s loaded.¡±

    Vina walked up and knocked lightly.

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me. Open up.¡±

    The door swung open.

    A tall, silver-haired woman stood in the doorway, scars lining her face. Filin, unmistakably so. Messy hair, sharp ears and tail, clad in tight leather and boots. She exuded strength and attitude.

    Her golden eyes flicked to Yoren. She raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Vina. Who¡¯s the kid?¡±

    Vina shrugged. ¡°New recruit.¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Yoren stared at her, something about her felt familiar, but he couldn¡¯t place it.

    He smiled awkwardly and extended a hand. ¡°Uh, hey. I¡¯m Yoren. And you are¡ª¡±

    Bang!

    The woman slapped his hand away, smirking.

    ¡°Indra. And I don¡¯t do handshakes.¡± She crossed her arms, eyes gleaming with amusement. ¡°These hands? Only good for fighting.¡±

    Yoren¡¯s stomach dropped at her next words.

    ¡°Welcome to the gang, rookie. From now on, you¡¯re at the very bottom of the Glasgow Gang.¡±

    Yoren groaned internally.

    He had just joined, and he was already the lowest-ranked member.

    Great start.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7

    After hearing her words, Yoren finally realized who this silver-haired Filin woman was.

    She was¡ª

    Indra.

    Holy hell. This was what it meant to be truly blessed.

    Forget Exusiai. Forget Nearl. Forget SilverAsh. Indra was the Public Recruitment Limited Operator. The unicorn that players spent years trying to pull and never saw.

    And she was standing right in front of him.

    ¡°Hey, why are you so skinny? Don¡¯t you fight?¡±

    Before Yoren could answer, Indra stepped up and clapped him on the back¡ª

    ¡°Puff, puff, puff!¡±

    Yoren staggered forward, nearly coughing up blood.

    ¡°B-Big sister, could you please not hit me so hard? I¡¯m more of a strategist, y¡¯know? You do the fighting, I¡¯ll cheer you on from the back.¡±

    Indra clicked her tongue, unimpressed. ¡°Tch. So you¡¯re just a wimp. Boring.¡±

    Without another glance, she turned and strode into the villa.

    Vina chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. Indra¡¯s like that with everyone. Give it time, and you¡¯ll see¡ªshe¡¯s reliable. You can trust her.¡±

    Yoren rubbed his sore back, offering a weak smile. ¡°Yeah. Sure.¡±

    ¡ª

    Inside the villa¡¯s living room, five or six people lounged on the sofas. Their hardened expressions and battle-worn bodies made it clear¡ªthey weren¡¯t just gangsters. They were survivors.

    Compared to these guys, even Indra, Vina almost looked¡­ cute.

    Almost.

    But that cute little lion was their boss.

    Vina leaned in toward Indra, her voice low. ¡°Did you find the other one?¡±

    Indra exhaled, arms crossed. ¡°Yeah. Just brought him back. He¡¯s upstairs.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s infected too?¡±

    ¡°Judging by the symptoms? Yeah. He¡¯s got Oripathy.¡±

    Vina lowered her head, her fists clenched.

    ¡°This is my fault. I wasn¡¯t careful enough.¡±

    Indra rested a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°Vina, this isn¡¯t on you. We don¡¯t have proper transport methods for Originium, and our protection measures aren¡¯t foolproof. Nobody wants this to happen. But it has, and now we deal with it.¡±

    She gave her a firm pat. ¡°So stop blaming yourself. That¡¯s not like you.¡±

    Vina took a slow breath. The guilt in her eyes faded, replaced by something harder¡ªsomething unbreakable.

    She wasn¡¯t just their leader. She was their shield.

    Through all this, Yoren watched her closely.

    She wasn¡¯t like the ruthless crime bosses of fiction. She wasn¡¯t running this gang for power or wealth. When her men fell, she went to save them, even at the risk of exposing their operations.

    Even if they were infected.

    Even if the world turned against them.

    This was the King of Advancement.

    Against her enemies, she never yielded. Against her friends, she never turned her back.

    ¡ª

    The tension in the living room was thick. Clearly, this latest smuggling run hadn¡¯t gone as planned.

    Some gang members sat with eyes closed, others smoked in grim silence, a few whispered among themselves.

    Vina grabbed an ornate wine bottle, took a slow sip, and turned to face the room.

    ¡°Kate, did we recover all the lost goods?¡±

    A burly man with a cigarette hanging from his lips let out a long exhale. ¡°No. The Qiecheng military police got there before we could.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the damage?¡±

    Kate¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Bad. Two men infected. And Jill was carrying twenty-eight processed Originium stones when he got caught. All confiscated.¡±

    A heavy silence fell.

    Vina took a deep breath. ¡°How much do we have left?¡±

    Kate ground out his cigarette in an ashtray. ¡°We started with fifty-two. Customs seized eleven when we crossed the border. Now, with Jill¡¯s stash gone? We don¡¯t have enough to finish the deal.¡±

    CRACK.

    Vina¡¯s grip tightened around her glass¡ª

    And shattered it.

    Behind her, Yoren started doing mental math on his fingers.

    Fifty-two total, minus twenty-eight, minus eleven¡­

    Wait a minute.

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    That left them with thirteen.

    Thirteen stones left.

    ¡­That was an eighty percent loss. Holy shit.

    Yoren swallowed nervously. He had just joined the gang, and they were already taking massive financial hits. This wasn¡¯t exactly the morale boost he was hoping for.

    As Vina and the others debated next steps, he awkwardly stood there, not even sure if it was appropriate to ask where the bathroom was.

    Finally, after half an hour of tense discussion, Yoren couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.

    ¡°Uh¡­ can I interrupt for a second?¡±

    A bearded man cast him a sideways glance. ¡°You¡¯re new, huh? You got an idea?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªuh. Not exactly. I just wanted to ask¡­

    Have you guys eaten dinner?

    Dead silence.

    All eyes snapped to him. The weight of their stares made his soul shrink.

    Yoren gulped.

    Okay. Maybe not the right question.

    Vina let out a sigh and stretched. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s enough for today. We¡¯ll come up with a plan tomorrow. Everyone get some rest.¡±

    The tension finally eased as the gang dispersed.

    Before Yoren could slip away, Vina grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.

    Before she could say anything, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

    ¡°Uh, sorry. That was probably not the right time to ask about food, huh?¡±

    Instead of scolding him, Vina just laughed.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re not that serious here. We¡¯re more like family than a business, really.¡±

    Then she tilted her head. ¡°But speaking of food¡­ you must be hungry.¡±

    ¡°Kind of¡­¡±

    He had literally been pulled into this world straight from school. It had been hours since he last ate.

    Vina crossed her arms, thinking. ¡°Most of the others already ate, and I don¡¯t usually have dinner myself.¡±

    She snapped her fingers. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll make you some noodles.¡±

    Yoren blinked. ¡°Wait, you cook?¡±

    She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah? Why, you wanna cook it yourself?¡±

    He shook his head so fast it nearly snapped off his neck.

    ¡°Absolutely not. If the great Vina is offering to cook for me, I¡¯d be an idiot to refuse.¡±

    Are you kidding me? A meal cooked by Miss Wang herself? That was rarer than pulling a six-star Operator!

    ''Need..."

    <hr>

    Vina slipped into a pair of slippers, the soft fabric muffling her steps. Her legs, wrapped in snug shorts, were toned and smooth, her fair skin catching the dim kitchen light.

    Casually, she shrugged off her black coat, revealing the tight white vest underneath. Without hesitation, she stepped into the kitchen and reached for an apron hanging on the wall¡ªa simple one, printed with a little lion.

    ¡°Yoren, come tie this for me.¡±

    Holy shit.

    Hot pants. Long legs. A fitted vest. That slightly messy golden ponytail.

    Gone was the ferocious, battle-worn King of Advancement. Right now, she looked young, girlish, but with the apron on, she also carried the quiet charm of a woman who had long learned to fend for herself.

    This¡ªthis was lethal.

    9999 points of critical emotional damage to Yoren¡¯s fragile otaku heart.

    If his best friend Zhang Yuan saw this, saw him standing right here, about to eat a meal personally made by the King of Advancement, that guy would die from sheer envy.

    ¡°Oi! What are you grinning at?¡± Vina turned, hands on her hips. ¡°Come tie it.¡±

    ¡°R-Right! On it!¡±

    His fingers brushed against the fabric, and through it, he could feel her warmth. It was nothing, really. Just a simple touch. But still¡ª

    He quickly finished tying the apron, clearing his throat. ¡°Done.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    Vina turned to the stove, pouring water into a pot, then methodically setting out ingredients. Judging by how smooth her movements were, she had clearly done this before.

    Yoren hesitated, then asked, ¡°Vina, do you cook often?¡±

    ¡°Not really. Only when things are calm in the gang.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯d you learn?¡±

    Vina stilled for half a second.

    Her expression darkened, just slightly.

    ¡°I had to learn,¡± she said. ¡°Back before I joined the Glasgow Gang¡­ survival wasn¡¯t easy. Knowing how to build a fire, find food, cook what little I had¡ªthat was just part of staying alive.¡±

    Yoren frowned. The way she said it¡ªso matter-of-fact, yet laced with something deeper¡ªmade him uneasy.

    He swallowed. ¡°Vina¡­ what happened before you joined Glasgow?¡±

    She didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, she picked up the knife and started slicing vegetables with slow, measured precision.

    ¡°¡­None of your business.¡±

    Yoren opened his mouth, then immediately shut it. He had clearly hit a wall.

    A chill ran down his spine. Something cold, dangerous, curled around the back of his neck like an unseen predator.

    A voice, low and amused, whispered behind him.

    ¡°Kid¡­ you should watch that mouth of yours. Don¡¯t go poking where you shouldn¡¯t, unless you¡¯ve got a death wish.¡±

    Yoren didn¡¯t need to turn around to know it was Indra. The sheer murderous aura pouring off her was enough to make his body instinctively inch toward the wall.

    ¡°G-Got it. No more questions.¡±

    He could feel Indra smirking before she finally pulled away, her presence retreating like a storm moving past.

    Even though he had conceded, something in Yoren still felt dissatisfied.

    He thought back to everything he knew about Vina.

    Her past had been a mystery in the original records. Most of her personal history was missing. But there were hints, scattered throughout.

    In Rhodes Island¡¯s archives, one particular quote stood out:

    ¡ª That¡¯s where the sun rises. Beyond sight, my homeland is there¡­ Perhaps I will never be able to return. ¡ª

    If he had to guess, her hometown was probably Victoria¡¯s capital¡ªLondinium.

    Something must have happened there. Something so massive that she could never return, leaving her to wander through life until she found herself leading the Glasgow Gang.

    But what?

    His head ached.

    He wanted to piece it together. Wanted to know. Not just for curiosity¡¯s sake, but because he liked understanding the Operators he had cared about for so long.

    But right now, he was powerless.

    For now, all he could do was observe.

    And the more he observed, the more questions piled up.

    He needed to understand the factions in play. He needed to find the Operators who would shape the future. This was three years before the Chernobog Riots¡ªif he could, he wanted to dig into the roots of the Reunion Movement.

    Ultimately, he wanted to save Amiya.

    But how?

    ¡ª

    ¡¾Save Everyone¡¿

    That was her dream. Her ideal.

    But ideals alone weren¡¯t enough. What was her actual plan?

    If he thought about it, Amiya wasn¡¯t as naive as she seemed. She had to know things¡ªthings about Terra that even most leaders didn¡¯t fully grasp.

    There was one particular group that stood out among all the factions.

    BABEL.

    The name came from the biblical Tower of Babel¡ªhumanity¡¯s failed attempt to reach the heavens, shattered when their common language was taken away, leaving them divided.

    And in Terra, the real Babel had fallen. Their records erased. Their purpose a mystery.

    But what if¡­ Amiya¡¯s true goal was to rebuild it?

    To resist fate itself¡ªto resist the natural disasters that had shaped this world?

    What if her dream was to lead all people¡ªinfected and uninfected alike¡ªtoward a future without disasters?

    And if that was true¡­

    Then Rhodes Island was never just a medical organization.

    Its goal was never just to treat the infected.

    It was the new Babel.

    The Tower of Babel in legend had required all of humanity to stand together in unity. In Terra, that meant every race.

    But in the legend, their unity was shattered when their common language was stolen.

    And in Terra¡­

    Their unity was shattered by Originium.

    Originium fueled civilization, but also disease. It gave nations power, but also divided them. It was the root of everything¡ªof progress, of war, of suffering.

    And at the heart of it all, Rhodes Island stood as the ark to carry them forward.

    If all of this was true, then Amiya¡¯s dream wasn¡¯t just dangerous.

    It was revolutionary.

    Enough to shake Terra itself.

    And if she truly meant to see it through¡­

    Then there was a very real chance that she would sacrifice herself to make it happen.

    Yoren broke out in a cold sweat.

    No. No, that couldn¡¯t happen.

    If Amiya activated her Chimera¡ªif she burned herself out for this plan¡ª

    He wouldn¡¯t let her.

    His thoughts spiraled further.

    So far, every Operator he had met¡ªWinter, Vina, Kroos¡ªthey had all aligned with the records he knew.

    But then, that meant there was still one missing piece.

    The Doctor.

    If this was a game, then the Doctor was him¡ªthe player. The commander behind every decision.

    But this wasn¡¯t a game.

    This was Terra. This was real.

    So then¡­

    Who the hell was the Doctor?

    And even more chilling¡ª

    Did the Doctor even exist?

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8

    The world was falling apart. Before the last sunset sank below the horizon, someone had to step forward¡ªsomeone had to light the torch and guide the lost through the darkness, waiting for the dawn.

    Yes, Amiya would lead the people of this world to build a tower that reached for the heavens.

    But.

    All things cycle between creation and destruction. Civilizations rise, and inevitably, they fall. An era will always meet its end, and in its destruction, the seeds of rebirth are sown.

    Tallulah must have understood this.

    It was entirely possible that her goal wasn¡¯t so different from Amiya¡¯s. The only difference was how she chose to achieve it.

    She wanted to be a creator, but to do so, she had to be a destroyer. She wanted to tear down this world where the infected were trampled beneath the boots of the privileged. And when everything was reduced to ash¡ªonly then could something new be born.

    ¡ª

    ¡°Yoren. Yoren!¡±

    A sharp pain jolted him back to reality.

    Indra had kicked him in the backside, her expression unimpressed.

    ¡°What the hell are you daydreaming about? Didn¡¯t you hear Vina calling you?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªuh, sorry. Got lost in thought.¡±

    Vina placed a steaming bowl of noodles on the table, the aroma rich and inviting.

    ¡°It¡¯s ready. Come eat.¡±

    Yoren didn¡¯t need to be told twice. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Indra stood off to the side, arms crossed. ¡°Tch. You¡¯re damn lucky, kid. Vina¡¯s cooked for me maybe three times in all these years.¡±

    Yoren just grinned. ¡°Heh.¡±

    Vina poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Indra before lifting hers in a casual toast.

    ¡°When we get back to Victoria, we¡¯ll throw a party at my place. I¡¯ll cook for everyone.¡±

    Indra smirked. ¡°Now that I¡¯ll look forward to.¡±

    Vina glanced at Yoren, who was shoveling noodles into his mouth like he hadn¡¯t eaten in days.

    ¡°You too. You¡¯re coming.¡±

    Yoren gave her a thumbs-up between bites.

    She wasn¡¯t normally this generous to newcomers. Hell, she wasn¡¯t even this nice to most of her own gang members. But there was something about Yoren that felt different¡ªsomething she couldn¡¯t quite put into words.

    Like a candle burning in a storm. Small. Fragile. But still¡­ there.

    She still didn¡¯t fully understand what he had meant by the Integration Movement, but when he said that three years from now, Tallulah¡¯s uprising would shake the world to its core¡ª

    She believed him.

    Because if an army of infected, united under a single cause, truly rose up against the world¡­

    It wouldn¡¯t just be war. It would be cataclysmic.

    The world saw Oripathy as a death sentence. Once infected, the Originium fused into the bloodstream, corroding the body, shutting down organs one by one. Without proper treatment, the infected would die within years, and even their corpses would become a source of further contamination.

    But few people knew the other side of the disease.

    For a rare few, Oripathy wasn¡¯t just destruction.

    It was power.

    Those whose bodies reached a high degree of fusion with Originium gained abilities beyond human limits¡ªabilities so potent they could rival an entire army.

    If the Integration Movement gathered enough of these infected, and Tallulah led them to war¡ª

    It would change the world forever.

    Vina clenched her fists beneath the table.

    She loved her homeland. She had vowed to protect it. And she would not let the darkness swallow Londinium whole.

    The gears of fate had already begun to turn.

    And she was determined to stand in their way.

    ¡ª

    ¡°Yoren.¡±

    He looked up from his empty bowl, meeting Vina¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°¡­Will there really be a rabbit in three years? Someone whose ideal is to save everyone?¡±

    He swallowed his last bite and grinned.

    ¡°Yeah. And she¡¯ll prove it¡ªnot with words, but with actions. She¡¯ll build something to carry people through the darkness¡ªan ark that will sail toward the future.¡±

    Vina closed her eyes for a moment. Then, slowly, she exhaled.

    ¡°¡­If that¡¯s true.¡± Her voice was quiet but steady. ¡°Then I, Vina, swear to be one of her knights. I¡¯ll protect that Ark with my life.¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Yoren nodded. ¡°Good.¡±

    Indra, who had been listening, finally scoffed. ¡°Alright, what the hell are you two talking about? Rabbits? Arks? I feel like I just walked into a cult.¡±

    Yoren pointed his chopsticks at her. ¡°You¡¯ll get it eventually. And you too¡ªthree years from now, you¡¯ll be standing on that Ark, whether you believe it or not.¡±

    Indra rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah. I ain¡¯t no knight, though. I just know how to punch things.¡±

    ¡°Tsk, and you wonder why you¡¯re single, Indra-chan.¡±

    Indra cracked her knuckles. ¡°You tired of living?¡±

    ¡°¡­I take it back.¡±

    Vina stretched, setting down her glass. ¡°Alright, enough. Finish up and get some rest. We¡¯ve got a lot to do tomorrow.¡±

    Yoren slurped down the last of his broth and let out a satisfied sigh.

    And then¡ª

    Knock. Knock. Knock.

    The room fell into sudden silence.

    The casual atmosphere vanished.

    Vina¡¯s expression darkened. Indra narrowed her eyes.

    Knock. Knock. Knock.

    The gang members who had already gone to bed immediately reappeared, weapons in hand, their bodies tense.

    The location of this villa was remote¡ªno one outside of the Glasgow Gang should even know about it. And it was already late.

    Whoever was at the door¡­

    They weren¡¯t here for a friendly visit.

    Vina¡¯s ponytail bristled. ¡°That bitch Winter¡ªdid she sell us out?¡±

    Yoren immediately held up his hands. ¡°Wait, no way. Winter wouldn¡¯t do that. I know her.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll vouch for her.¡±

    Indra scoffed. ¡°How much is your word worth?¡± She picked up a chair and lifted it like a weapon. ¡°If it¡¯s trouble, it¡¯s trouble. No point in overthinking it. Vina, we¡¯ve only got one choice.¡±

    She cracked her knuckles. ¡°We fight.¡±

    A chorus of voices rose behind her.

    ¡°Yeah!!¡±

    Weapons were drawn. Knives. Pipes. Brass knuckles. The tension in the room thickened, a killing aura spreading through the air.

    Vina stuffed a lollipop into her mouth, grabbed her Contract Victory Hammer, and spat out the stick.

    ¡°Get ready.¡±

    ¡°KILL!!¡±

    Yoren, sensing impending disaster, quickly stepped in front of the door. ¡°Wait, wait, WAIT¡ªthink for a second!¡±

    Indra raised a brow. ¡°What, you scared?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m thinking. If it were the military police, do you really think they¡¯d be polite enough to knock first?¡±

    Silence.

    The gang members exchanged glances.

    ¡°¡­Shit.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s a good point.¡±

    Yoren sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°Okay, finally. Now, just stay put. I¡¯ll open it.¡±

    Vina folded her arms. ¡°You sure about this?¡±

    Yoren smirked. ¡°What if it¡¯s just someone collecting the water bill?¡±

    No one laughed.

    Slowly, he reached for the handle, bracing himself.

    And then, with a deep breath, he opened the door.

    <hr>

    Yoren¡¯s optimism was shining at full force.

    Compared to standing barefoot in the street on the day he arrived in this world, he now had shelter, food, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªreliable allies. With Vina and Indra here, he wasn¡¯t worried. No matter what happened, they¡¯d find a way through.

    Knock. Knock. Knock.

    The sound was soft but strangely deliberate.

    Yoren leaned in, pressing his ear against the door. ¡°Who is it?¡±

    Knock. Knock. Knock.

    No answer. Just the same steady rhythm.

    Yoren frowned but didn¡¯t hesitate. He reached for the handle and swung the door open.

    And then¡ª

    He froze.

    Standing there was a petite girl, barely 1.5 meters tall, with light blue hair and round bear-like ears poking out from her head. She wore a monocle over one eye and cradled a book in her arms, her school uniform slightly too big for her small frame.

    She looked up at him, eyes calm and unreadable.

    ¡°I am¡ª¡±

    BANG!

    Yoren slammed the door shut.

    Oh, hell no.

    The gang members in the living room tensed, hands gripping their weapons. Vina narrowed her eyes, hammer at the ready. ¡°Who was it?¡±

    Knock. Knock. Knock.

    Yoren groaned. There was no getting out of this.

    With great reluctance, he reopened the door.

    The girl had not moved. She simply blinked up at him, completely unfazed.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± he demanded.

    ¡°I was passing by.¡±

    ¡°¡­At this hour?¡±

    She tilted her head slightly. ¡°I sensed unusual electromagnetic waves. I wanted to investigate.¡±

    Yoren felt a migraine forming. ¡°Truth, I advise you to leave.¡±

    ¡°How do you know my name?¡±

    There it was¡ªthe question he¡¯d been dreading.

    Because the little girl standing in front of him, the one who looked like a harmless middle schooler, was Truth¡ªone of the members of the Ursus Student Autonomous Group.

    She might have been young, but that didn¡¯t make her any less dangerous. Unlike Winter, who was all brute force and instinct, Truth was a genius. She was well-versed in literature, war history, cryptology, and even advanced Originium research. A prodigy with a razor-sharp mind.

    Yoren knew for a fact that dealing with her would be more exhausting than any fistfight with Winter.

    He forced a casual shrug. ¡°I know Winter. She mentioned you.¡±

    Truth adjusted her monocle. ¡°Winter may have told you my name, but how did you recognize me?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ªshe showed me a picture.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall ever posing for a photograph. Describe it to me.¡±

    Oh my god.

    Yoren braced himself against the doorframe, exhaling sharply. ¡°Look, just take my word for it and go home.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the place for you.¡±

    ¡°Is this your home?¡±

    ¡°¡­Sort of.¡±

    ¡°Then why isn¡¯t it a place for me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡ªdangerous.¡±

    Truth¡¯s expression remained neutral. ¡°That is an unusual answer. I am a legal citizen of Chernobog. My safety is protected under city law. If you claim this place is dangerous, it would be appropriate for me to call the authorities to ensure public safety.¡±

    Yoren clenched his teeth.

    He was this close to picking her up and launching her into the night like a football.

    He tried one last time. ¡°Truth, I¡¯m warning you. If you come in, things might not end well for you.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because¡ª¡±

    ¡°What do you intend to do to me? What are you hiding?¡±

    ¡°AHHHH!¡±

    Yoren¡¯s patience snapped like a twig.

    There was no reasoning with her.

    No.

    Reasoning with her was impossible.

    She wasn¡¯t scared of threats. She wasn¡¯t swayed by intimidation. She was pure logic, and if something didn¡¯t add up, she would chase the answer down like a bloodhound.

    Yoren was not equipped to handle this level of mental warfare.

    In a last-ditch effort, he scowled and growled, ¡°Listen, you little brat, get lost before I¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish, Truth pulled a phone from her bag.

    ¡°If my doubts are not answered, I will be unable to sleep tonight. If I cannot sleep, it will affect my productivity. As such, I believe it is necessary to report this situation to the military police.¡±

    SHE DIALED THE NUMBER.

    A voice picked up almost immediately. ¡°Hello, this is the Qiecheng Security Office. What¡¯s the situation?¡±

    ¡°Hello, I am currently located at¡ªmmmf!¡±

    Yoren lunged.

    One hand clamped over her mouth, the other grabbed her phone. He yanked it away and spoke quickly into the receiver.

    ¡°Ahaha, hi, officers! Tough job working so late! On behalf of Chernobog¡¯s citizens, I just wanna say¡ªthank you! Remember to stay warm and drink lots of hot tea! Okay, goodnight, bye!¡±

    He hung up and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

    Then he turned to Truth, his eye twitching.

    ¡°¡­What the hell is wrong with you?¡±

    Truth calmly adjusted her uniform. ¡°Give me back my phone.¡±

    Vina¡¯s voice cut through the air from inside the villa.

    ¡°Yoren. Who are you talking to?¡±

    His stomach dropped.

    Damn it.

    There was no avoiding it now.

    Gritting his teeth, he handed Truth¡¯s phone back to her and sighed. ¡°Fine. You wanna see what¡¯s inside? Then don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±

    Truth blinked at him. Then, without a word, she stepped inside.

    ¡ª

    One minute later.

    Truth stood in the center of the living room, still as a statue.

    Surrounding her was a wall of gangsters.

    Burly, scarred men, all gripping weapons, their expressions murderous. Indra stood with her arms crossed, radiating menace. Vina leaned against the wall, her Contract Victory Hammer resting on her shoulder, the lollipop in her mouth clicking against her teeth.

    She stared at Truth like a lion eyeing a particularly annoying rabbit.

    Her voice was dangerously low.

    ¡°Yoren.¡±

    Yoren stiffened.

    ¡°¡­Explain to me why you let her in.¡±

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9

    At this moment, the living room¡ªneither too large nor too small¡ªfelt like it had been split into two opposing worlds, stark as black and white.

    On one side stood Vina, Indra, and the rest of the Glasgow Gang, their expressions dark and murderous. A suffocating tension hung in the air, like a storm on the verge of breaking. Behind them, the shadows seemed to deepen, an unspoken threat lingering in the room.

    On the other side, standing alone, was Truth¡ªa small, frail-looking Ursus girl clutching a book to her chest, her light blue hair falling neatly over her shoulders. She looked more like a lost schoolkid than someone who had just walked into the lion¡¯s den.

    And in the middle, caught between two worlds, was Yoren.

    Bang!

    The sharp crack of breaking glass shattered the silence.

    Indra had slammed her cup against the table, eyes burning with fury. ¡°Yoren, who the hell is this kid?! Why did you let a damn primary schooler in? Have you lost your mind?!¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Vina didn¡¯t wait for an answer. With a quick nod, she signaled to Kate, one of the gang members nearby.

    Kate moved without a word, stepping quietly toward the entrance.

    Click.

    The door was locked.

    Then Kate planted himself firmly in front of it, arms crossed, body blocking any possible escape.

    Yoren felt his stomach drop.

    Shit. This was bad. This wasn¡¯t just ¡°scare the kid¡± levels of bad¡ªthis was witness elimination levels of bad.

    Instinctively, Yoren stepped back, positioning himself between Truth and the rest of the gang. His hands were steady, but inside, his mind was racing.

    ¡°Whoa, whoa, hold on,¡± he said, forcing a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re seriously not gonna rough up a middle schooler, are you?¡±

    Vina¡¯s golden eyes flickered. ¡°Yoren,¡± she said, her tone cold, ¡°whose side are you on?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on the side of not committing murder tonight?¡±

    She adjusted the hammer on her shoulder. ¡°Only those who survive get to talk about right and wrong. That kid saw things she shouldn¡¯t have. Get out of the way.¡±

    ¡°Wait! Wait a second!¡± Yoren¡¯s mind raced. He had to talk them down¡ªfast.

    ¡°She¡¯s just a student! She was just¡­ passing by! She got curious and asked for some water, that¡¯s all! She¡¯s a kid, she doesn¡¯t know anything.¡±

    Truth, still flipping through her book, corrected him flatly. ¡°I¡¯m not a primary schooler. I¡¯m a middle school student.¡±

    ¡°¡­Shut up.¡±

    Yoren turned back to Vina, lowering his voice so only she could hear. ¡°Vina, think about this. If she disappears, someone will come looking. She probably walks the same route home every night. Her family would report her missing. And then the military police start sniffing around.¡±

    Vina¡¯s expression remained unreadable, but she didn¡¯t interrupt.

    ¡°And that¡¯s not even the biggest problem,¡± Yoren added carefully. ¡°She¡¯s¡ªWinter¡¯s friend.¡±

    That did it.

    Vina¡¯s eye twitched. She let out a slow breath through her nose, weighing the new information.

    ¡°¡­So what do you suggest?¡±

    Yoren exhaled in relief. ¡°Just¡­ feed her some bullshit. Tell her we¡¯re a traveling theater troupe from Victoria, rehearsing for a play. The weapons are props. The scary dudes are actors. Give her some food, send her on her way. She¡¯ll forget about it.¡±

    Vina studied him, then sighed. ¡°You really think that¡¯ll work?¡±

    ¡°Trust me. She just needs an answer that satisfies her curiosity.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine.¡± Vina turned to the rest of the gang, motioning for them to stand down.

    Weapons were lowered, and the atmosphere in the room shifted¡ªjust slightly.

    Yoren forced a casual grin, scratching his head. ¡°Haha¡­ yeah, uh, you caught us. We¡¯re just actors! Doing, you know, actor stuff. Right, guys?¡±

    Truth stared blankly. ¡°It smells like blood.¡±

    Yoren nearly choked.

    ¡°What? No, no, that¡¯s just¡ªuh¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have a strong sense of smell,¡± Truth interrupted. ¡°Someone is injured in this house.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha, yeah! That¡¯s true! One of the¡­ actors cut his finger during rehearsal. But don¡¯t worry, he put a Band-Aid on it!¡±

    Truth blinked. ¡°Are you all really actors?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    She lowered her book, adjusting her monocle. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±

    Yoren tensed. ¡°H-huh?¡±

    Truth¡¯s voice was as calm as ever. ¡°While speaking, your eyes moved to the upper right¡ªa common sign of fabrication. Your speech pattern also changed, and you repeatedly touched your face and scratched your head¡ªsubconscious nervous gestures.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Yoren¡¯s stomach dropped.

    Truth continued, ¡°Additionally, you referred to everyone here as ¡®they¡¯ instead of ¡®we.¡¯ They¡¯re having a party. They¡¯re rehearsing a play. You unconsciously excluded yourself from the lie.¡±

    A bead of sweat ran down Yoren¡¯s temple.

    His eyes darted down to the title of the book she was holding.

    ¡°Detective Corgi.¡±

    Oh, hell no.

    Yoren ripped the book out of her hands. ¡°Detective Corgi?! Are you serious?! Stop reading this garbage, it¡¯s poisoning your mind!¡±

    Truth calmly plucked the book back from him. ¡°Give it back.¡±

    Vina¡¯s voice cut in, sharp and serious. ¡°Yoren. Is this working or not?¡±

    He swallowed. ¡°Uh¡­ probably?¡±

    Vina exhaled, stepping forward until she was face to face with Truth. The young girl barely came up to her waist, but her posture remained steady.

    Vina crouched slightly, golden eyes gleaming. ¡°Alright, kid. Let¡¯s test you. Tell me¡ªwhat did you see here tonight?¡±

    Yoren discreetly motioned at Truth, practically screaming with his eyes: SAY SOMETHING NORMAL.

    Truth gazed at Vina, unfazed.

    Then, she opened her mouth.

    ¡°I suspect you are holding an illegal assembly, and that there is a seriously injured person in this house. I also detected unusual energy fluctuations. Given the readings, you are storing a semi-processed Originium supply.¡±

    A heavy silence fell over the room.

    Truth continued in the same neutral tone. ¡°The estimated amount of Originium in this building is over 7,000 grams. You have not properly isolated it, which increases the risk of Oripathy. Additionally, based on the distinct scent of blood in the air, I conclude that at least one person in this house has already been infected.¡±

    The air turned ice cold.

    The gang members stiffened.

    Vina¡¯s expression darkened.

    Indra cracked her knuckles, her grin sharp as a blade.

    Yoren slowly crouched on the floor, head in his hands, whispering to himself like a broken man.

    Oh my god. Oh my god. Why are you like this?

    His inner voice was screaming:

    GAHHHHHHH!

    <hr>

    Truth was an absolute menace.

    Yoren crouched on the floor, holding his head in despair. Influenced by that damn detective novel, Truth had just confidently deduced everything¡ªand she was right.

    It was almost impressive. Almost.

    A real detective, however, only revealed the truth when they were certain of victory. Truth? She just laid it all out like she was reciting a grocery list.

    Vina¡¯s jaw tightened as she hissed through clenched teeth.

    ¡°You little brat... you¡¯re with the Chernobog military, aren¡¯t you? They¡¯ve been onto us this whole time!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Truth replied flatly, turning a page in her book. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary student.¡±

    Crack!

    Indra shattered a chair into splinters with a single punch, then picked up a jagged wooden shard and stepped toward Truth, her voice low and dangerous.

    ¡°No matter who you are, you¡¯re not walking out of here.¡±

    Yoren shot up from the floor. There was no way in hell he was letting Truth die here¡ªnot because of some noble sense of justice, but because, damn it, Truth was one of his favorite operators in the original world!

    ¡°Indra, stop¡ª!¡±

    Before he could finish, Indra¡¯s boot crashed into his ribs, launching him across the room like a ragdoll. He slammed into a couch with a thud, the impact pushing it a meter back. A sharp pain exploded in his side¡ªprobably bruised, maybe cracked. He groaned, trying to move.

    And Truth?

    She was still standing there, unfazed.

    As if she hadn¡¯t just watched someone get sent flying across the room.

    As if none of this even mattered to her.

    Then¡ª

    Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

    The sound of a ringing phone cut through the tension.

    Truth calmly pulled out her cell, glanced at the screen, and pressed answer like this was just another normal evening.

    The second the call connected, a booming voice erupted from the speaker¡ªso loud, everyone in the room heard it crystal clear.

    ¡°TRUTH, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? I¡¯M AT YOUR DOOR. WHY ARE YOU WANDERING AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?!¡±

    It was Winter.

    Vina¡¯s grip tightened on her hammer. Her golden eyes gleamed with warning.

    ¡°Hang up. Now. If you value your life.¡±

    Truth sighed, as if inconvenienced, and obediently ended the call.

    Yoren, groaning, pushed himself up from the couch, moving next to Vina. His ribs protested, but he forced himself to focus.

    ¡°Vina, you cannot kill her.¡± He kept his voice low. ¡°I wasn¡¯t kidding before¡ªthis kid is Winter¡¯s best friend. If anything happens to her, Winter will tear this entire place apart looking for her.¡±

    Indra narrowed her eyes. ¡°She didn¡¯t say her location. We still have time¡ª¡±

    ¡°I already sent it.¡±

    Truth casually held up her phone, making a scissor-hand gesture.

    The room exploded.

    ¡°FUCK!!¡±

    ¡°SHIT!!¡±

    ¡°DAMN IT!!¡±

    Every gang member cursed in frustration, while Yoren¡ªbruised, battered, and exhausted¡ªlet out the longest, deepest sigh of his life.

    Winter was coming.

    Indra and Kate turned to Vina, waiting for her decision.

    Vina clawed at her golden hair in frustration. ¡°AHHHH! I DON¡¯T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS!!¡±

    Ten minutes later.

    BANG!

    The door of the villa exploded inward, the sheer force sending it flying across the room until it smashed against the far wall.

    At the threshold stood Winter¡ªeyes blazing with fury, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles went white.

    Vina, completely unfazed, leaned back on the couch and calmly took a sip of wine.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re here.¡±

    Winter said nothing. She just stalked forward, boots heavy against the wooden floor.

    CRASH!

    With one swift kick, Winter sent the wine glass shattering to the floor, its golden liquid splashing across Vina¡¯s front.

    Indra immediately stood up, eyes burning with rage.

    ¡°You bitch¡ªyou wanna die?!¡±

    ¡°Indra, sit down.¡±

    Vina didn¡¯t even flinch. She wiped the alcohol off her clothes and finally stood to meet Winter face-to-face.

    Yoren, still sore as hell, quickly stepped in. ¡°Winter, please¡ªcalm down.¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡± Winter didn¡¯t even look at him. Her entire focus was locked on Vina, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel.

    She stepped forward, their faces mere inches apart.

    ¡°Where. Is. Truth?¡±

    Vina smirked. ¡°Looks like Yoren was right. You really do care about that little gremlin.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time¡ªwhere is Truth?¡±

    Vina took her time, studying Winter. ¡°You¡¯re bold, coming here alone. Or did you bring the military police with you?¡±

    Winter¡¯s fists trembled with restrained fury.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone,¡± she growled. ¡°I am an army by myself.¡±

    Vina chuckled. ¡°What a coincidence. So am I. So tell me¡ªwho¡¯s stronger? The lion or the bear?¡±

    Winter¡¯s lips curled back in a snarl.

    ¡°No matter who it is¡ªno matter how strong¡ªif they piss me off, I¡¯ll tear them apart without a second thought.¡±

    Yoren swallowed hard. He knew she wasn¡¯t bluffing. If Winter lost control and activated her Ursus battle cry, this entire villa would turn into rubble.

    The room crackled with tension. Every gang member braced for violence.

    Then¡ª

    A calm voice spoke up from the corner.

    ¡°Winter, stop yelling.¡±

    The fire in Winter¡¯s eyes vanished in an instant.

    She turned¡ªand there, squatting against the wall, was Truth. Completely unharmed. A lollipop stuck in her mouth, flipping through her book like none of this concerned her.

    ¡°Truth¡ª¡± Winter¡¯s voice softened. ¡°You¡¯re okay?¡±

    Truth finally looked up. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a legal citizen of Chernobog, and my personal safety in the city is guaran¡ªmmpfh?!¡±

    Yoren clapped a hand over her mouth before she could finish that sentence.

    He did not have the strength to hear it again.

    Winter exhaled heavily, relief washing over her. She walked straight to Truth, taking the smaller girl¡¯s hand and pulling her into a protective embrace.

    Then she turned back to Vina, fire reigniting in her glare.

    ¡°You bastards.¡± Her voice dripped with venom. ¡°Why did you try to kidnap her?¡±

    The entire room snapped.

    Every single person¡ªincluding Yoren¡ªinhaled deeply and shouted in unison:

    ¡°KIDNAP?! THIS LITTLE GREMLIN WALKED IN ON HER OWN!!¡±

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10

    After Yoren''s explanation, Winter finally understood the whole story.

    In reality, it wasn¡¯t that complicated. A curious kid had poked a hornet¡¯s nest, and just before the hornets retaliated, the kid¡¯s guardian arrived and smashed the entire nest apart.

    Now, only a door frame remained of the villa¡¯s entrance. Yoren sat on the sofa as cold gusts of wind blew through the empty doorway.

    "Winter, don''t worry. If Rhodes Island ever kicks you out, you¡¯ve got a bright future in demolition work. You¡¯ve got the talent for it."

    Winter sat stiffly in the corner of the sofa, her face red with embarrassment.

    "I¡¯ll pay for the door."

    Indra snorted. "Seems like the Ursus Student Self-Government Association has deep pockets. We''re short on cash right now, so why not compensate us for emotional damages too?"

    Winter said nothing.

    Vina poured a glass of wine and held it out to Winter. "Try this. Victoria¡¯s finest red."

    Winter shook her head. "I¡¯m not of age."

    Vina shrugged, took the glass back, and drank from it herself. "Winter, this whole mess was just a misunderstanding. We in the Glasgow Gang don¡¯t need you to compensate us for anything. But in return, I expect you not to get in our way in the future."

    Winter sighed.

    "I don¡¯t care what you do. Your gang must¡¯ve taken a serious hit from this infected incident. You should leave Victoria before things get worse."

    The gang members exchanged looks. They all knew she was right. This smuggling operation had gone sideways in the worst way possible.

    Vina drained her glass, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "We¡¯ll handle our own losses. That¡¯s none of your concern, General Dong. If there¡¯s nothing else, I won¡¯t see you out."

    Winter clicked her tongue in annoyance.

    Zhenli, who had been quietly sucking on a lollipop, glanced up at Vina. "Your candy is good. A little too sour, though."

    Vina chuckled, pulled a few more lollipops from her pocket, and dropped them into Zhenli¡¯s hands. "You¡¯ll get used to it. That¡¯s the taste of home."

    "Thanks."

    Winter sighed and turned to leave, pulling Zhenli along with her. But as she reached the broken doorway, she hesitated.

    She stood there for a moment, as if debating something.

    Then, with a deep breath, she turned back.

    "Vina, consider this a thank-you for not hurting Zhenli. I have some intel for you. It might help you recover your losses."

    Vina¡¯s eyes narrowed. "What intel?"

    "At noon today, the Student Autonomous Group received reports of an unknown natural disaster at the northern border between Ursus and Kjerag. Later, I heard the same from the Che City Security Department. That confirms its authenticity."

    The gang members immediately perked up. The room, once heavy with the weight of failure, buzzed with renewed energy.

    Vina stepped forward quickly. "Do you know exactly when this disaster happened?"

    "Not yet, but the preliminary estimate is about ten days ago."

    "What about the location?"

    "Still unclear. What we do know is that it happened in a remote area with no major cities nearby. A gray zone, outside any nation''s control."

    Vina smirked. "Which means¡­"

    Winter met her gaze. "Which means whoever gets there first claims a massive Originium deposit."

    Yoren leaned over to Kate, whispering, "Why is a ten-day-old disaster still up for grabs? Wouldn¡¯t other groups already be on it?"

    Kate grinned, practically shaking with excitement. "You don¡¯t get it? After a natural disaster, Originium radiation is at its peak. Anyone who steps into the zone too soon has a 90% chance of contracting oripathy. It takes about two weeks for the radiation to weaken enough that people can enter safely. We¡¯re just hitting that window."

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    "Ah, I see now."

    "Exactly. And since it happened in the middle of nowhere, only top-tier intelligence networks would even know about it. Governments move slow, and assembling a team takes time. If we move first, we claim it all."

    Winter turned, waving as she exited. "I¡¯ve given you the information. What you do with it is up to you."

    As soon as she was gone, the entire living room erupted into cheers.

    "Finally, some action!"

    "Been too long since we¡¯ve had a big operation like this!"

    "Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping!"

    Indra slammed a fist into her palm. "This¡¯ll make up for what we lost. Let¡¯s go, Glasgow Gang!"

    Vina smirked. "Kate, contact Victoria HQ. Get intel from the underground network. I want the exact location of that disaster site by tomorrow noon."

    "Got it."

    "We¡¯re in Ursus, which gives us the advantage. If anyone gets there before us, well¡­ we¡¯ll deal with it."

    Indra leaned in. "Vina, we don¡¯t have time to call reinforcements from Victoria. Should we hire a local mercenary group to back us up?"

    Vina nodded. "Good idea. Got any candidates?"

    Before Indra could answer, Yoren shot his hand up.

    "I know! If we¡¯re talking about top mercenaries, it¡¯s got to be Blacksteel International! Let¡¯s bring in Blacksteel!"

    Vina and Indra turned to stare at him like he had just announced he wanted to hire the Emperor of Laterano.

    Yoren hesitated. "What? Haven¡¯t you heard of Blacksteel?"

    "We¡¯ve heard of them," Vina deadpanned.

    "Then why are you looking at me like I¡¯m an idiot?"

    Vina patted his shoulder with an almost sympathetic look. "Because Blacksteel is the most expensive mercenary group in the world. Even if this operation goes perfectly, every last ounce of our profits would go straight into their pockets."

    Yoren blinked. "Wait¡­ you mean even a major gang like Glasgow doesn¡¯t get discounts?"

    Indra clapped him on the back. "Go to bed, kid. Dreams are free."

    <hr>

    It was already late, and Kate found a few planks of wood to roughly repair the door that Winter had kicked in.

    Vina waved a hand. "Get some sleep, everyone. Stay alert. We have a tough battle ahead."

    "Yes!" The gang dispersed, their energy still charged from the night¡¯s events.

    The villa had plenty of vacant rooms. Yoren chose one at random, not wanting to be disturbed by the snoring of burly men. He collapsed onto the bed, his body heavy with exhaustion, yet his mind refused to quiet.

    Ursus, Chernobog, Winter, Vina, Indra, Kroos, Miguel¡­

    It was all real. Every moment, every fight, every decision. The world of Terra, a place he had once only known from a game, was now his reality.

    As his breathing slowed, sleep finally claimed him.

    Yoren found himself standing in a vast desert. Before him loomed a colossal mobile fortress, its silhouette cutting across the burning sky like a ship adrift in a golden sea.

    A shift in the air, and suddenly, he was standing on its top deck. A card, small and yellow, rested in his palm. Words glowed on its surface.

    [Ten-Pull Recruitment Certificate]

    A voice, deep and familiar, echoed from the sky.

    "Blade Master, the contracts for the operators you¡¯ve recruited have been delivered. Let¡¯s take a look."

    A heavy black canvas bag thudded onto the deck beside him. Yoren clasped his hands together in silent prayer before reaching for the zipper. His fingers trembled slightly as they grasped the metal pull.

    Slowly, cautiously, he unzipped the bag.

    A blinding white light erupted from within.

    Pure. Empty.

    Nothing.

    The world stood still.

    Then, the realization hit.

    "FUCK!" Yoren roared, kicking the bag with all his strength. "Not even a single four-star?! This has to be a joke!"

    His voice cracked with frustration, echoing into the endless desert.

    Yoren sat up abruptly, drenched in sweat, his heart pounding. His breath came fast and uneven.

    A dream. Just a dream.

    The morning sun streamed through the window. He ran a hand down his face, willing himself to shake off the lingering dread.

    Stretching, he turned to roll out of bed¡ªwhen his arm bumped into something on the floor.

    Thud.

    He glanced down.

    A phone.

    Not just any phone¡ªhis phone.

    His breath caught in his throat. Slowly, as if afraid it would vanish, he reached down and picked it up. The familiar weight settled into his palm.

    Desk, chair, posters¡ªhis posters. His room.

    Outside the window, the usual street noise hummed in the distance. A delivery worker in uniform walked past, phone in hand.

    "Hello, this is HungryMe delivery. Should I bring your order up, or will you come down to get it?"

    Yoren sat frozen on his bed.

    Back home?

    No.

    No¡­ it couldn¡¯t be.

    A bitter chuckle escaped him, low and hollow.

    So it was all just a dream.

    Vina. The Glasgow Gang. Ursus.

    Gone.

    Trying to shake off the weight pressing on his chest, he moved through the motions of his morning routine. A shower. A change of clothes. A quick glance at the clock¡ªalready 10 AM. He¡¯d missed two classes. Not that it mattered.

    By the time he arrived at university, the morning lecture was nearly over. He slipped into the back of the classroom, barely acknowledged by the professor¡¯s disapproving glance.

    After class, his friend Zhang Yuan plopped onto his desk, grinning like an idiot.

    "Yo, Yoren! What''s with the dead fish look? Your ten-pull went to shit again?"

    Yoren ignored him, staring blankly ahead.

    Zhang Yuan, undeterred, waved a broomstick in his face, mimicking gunfire. "Applepie! Dadadada!"

    Yoren sighed, pushing the broom away. "You¡¯re a grown man. Stop being an idiot."

    Zhang Yuan blinked. "Damn, who pissed in your cereal?"

    Yoren said nothing. His fingers moved on their own, unlocking his phone. Amiya¡¯s profile picture smiled back at him from the game¡¯s loading screen.

    Arknights.

    It felt¡­ different. The interface, the icons¡ªit all felt so fake, so lifeless.

    "How many yellow tickets you got?" Zhang Yuan asked, scrolling through his own phone.

    Yoren checked his inventory. "About 150."

    "Damn, that¡¯s two ten-pulls. Go for it, man. Maybe today¡¯s your lucky day."

    A group of students gathered around, eager to watch.

    Yoren didn¡¯t care. He tapped the exchange button. Two ten-pull recruitment certificates appeared in his inventory.

    "Come on, let¡¯s see it!" someone cheered.

    He sighed and tapped the button.

    A black recruitment bag thudded onto the screen. He swiped the zipper open without hesitation.

    Golden light erupted from the screen, flames crackling within it.

    Gasps echoed around him.

    Then the cards appeared.

    One.

    Two.

    Three¡­

    Ten.

    Ten identical golden cards.

    Vina.

    The King of Advancement.

    The classroom fell silent.

    Yoren stared at the screen, his expression unreadable.

    Then, ever so slowly, he smiled.

    A real smile.

    Because at that moment, he knew.

    It wasn¡¯t just a dream.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11

    Yoren''s eyes were blank as he stared at his phone screen, utterly dazed. Ten identical Kings of Advancement lined up in perfect symmetry, their golden brilliance mocking him. His classmates crowded around him, gasping, shouting, filming¡ªsome out of awe, others out of sheer disbelief.

    But Yoren couldn¡¯t hear them.

    The vivid images from his dream flooded his mind.

    Vina turned around, the strings of her apron dangling behind her. ¡°Yoren, come tie this for me.¡±

    Vina set a bowl of steaming noodles in front of him, her smile warm and teasing. ¡°It¡¯s ready. Eat up.¡±

    Vina raised her glass, golden hair glinting in the dim light. ¡°When we get back to Victoria, I¡¯ll cook for everyone. You have to come too, Yoren.¡±

    The warmth in her voice. The scent of red wine. The crackling tension between her and Winter. The weight of Indra¡¯s hand on his shoulder.

    It wasn¡¯t just a dream.

    A voice snapped him back to reality. ¡°Yoren, let me take a picture! I¡¯m posting this to Tieba.¡±

    ¡°Forget pictures! Record a video and upload it to Bilibili,¡± another classmate chimed in.

    Zhang Yuan, ever the instigator, clutched his head in mock agony. ¡°My eyes! My poor eyes! Yoren, are you hacking? Ten six-stars in one pull? And they¡¯re all Vina? Does she love you that much?¡±

    Yoren forced a chuckle, trying to shake off the dissonance between the real world and the one he had just left behind. ¡°Guess my luck finally turned.¡±

    ¡°Turned? Bro, you just ascended to godhood!¡± Zhang Yuan laughed. ¡°Come on, you¡¯ve got another ten-pull. Let¡¯s see if Miss Wang¡¯s got a twin sister waiting for you.¡±

    With a resigned sigh, Yoren tapped the [Search Ten Times] button. The crowd held their breath as the black canvas bag landed on the screen. He unzipped it with practiced indifference.

    Golden light shot up once again.

    Silence.

    Then¡ªthe unmistakable voice of a certain frostbitten bear.

    ¡°Winter, Ursus Student Self-Government¡­¡±

    Again.

    ¡°Winter, Ursus Student Self-Government¡­¡±

    Again.

    ¡°Winter, Ursus¡­¡±

    Ten. All ten of them. The classroom erupted into chaos.

    Zhang Yuan nearly fell out of his chair. ¡°Yoren, did you piss off a bear god or something?¡±

    A short, chubby classmate, Li Pi, who prided himself as the class¡¯s luckiest gacha player, suddenly looked pale. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it. No way. This is rigged.¡± His voice was shaking. ¡°Yoren, you still have 600 Originite Prime left. Do another pull. If you get another gold, I swear on my life, I¡¯ll crush a durian with my ass.¡±

    Yoren exhaled. ¡°I don¡¯t pick fights, but if fate forces my hand¡­¡± He tapped [Single Pull].

    The backpack landed. The zipper unfastened.

    Golden light flared once more.

    Li Pi took a staggering step backward, clutching his rear end in terror.

    [Operator Acquired: Zhenli]

    The screen displayed the familiar genius, adjusting her monocle. ¡°I¡¯m Zhenli. I¡¯m still a student, but I was recruited because I can use magic¡­ Strange for a student to be standing in a place like this, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Yoren stared at the screen, an amused glint in his eye. ¡°Zhenli, huh? You¡¯re here too.¡±

    Zhang Yuan strolled over to Li Pi, patting him sympathetically on the shoulder. ¡°So, are you buying the durian, or are we crowdfunding it?¡±

    At this point, the classroom had descended into madness. Students shoved their phones toward Yoren, their eyes glimmering with equal parts desperation and greed.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°King Yoren, please, bless my ten-pull!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll top up right now if you pull for me!¡±

    ¡°Yoren, help me recruit! I only need one more six-star!¡±

    Zhang Yuan rolled up his notebook like a microphone. ¡°Alright, everyone, form a single-file line! No cutting! Li Pi, back of the line.¡±

    Yoren sighed, taking one classmate¡¯s phone. It was prepped for a ten-pull, everything set. He hesitated for a moment. Something didn¡¯t feel right. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. Or rather, something in him still wasn¡¯t fully back.

    ¡°Well, let me just say upfront¡ªno guarantees,¡± Yoren muttered.

    The student beamed. ¡°No worries! Just give me half your luck and I¡¯ll walk away with four or five six-stars.¡±

    ¡°If you say so.¡±

    He tapped the screen. The backpack dropped.

    The crowd fell silent, eyes locked on the screen.

    Ten identical faces stared back at them.

    Clos. All ten were Clos.

    The student¡¯s smile twitched. ¡°Yoren¡­ buddy¡­ did you mispronounce your spell?¡±

    Yoren grimaced. ¡°No spell involved, man. I did warn you.¡±

    The student let out a guttural scream, cradling his phone like a fallen comrade, then bolted from the classroom in tears.

    The next few students hesitated. Yoren had gone from a divine hand to a cursed blade in a matter of minutes.

    Finally, another trembling hand lifted a phone. Xu Huang stepped forward, swallowing hard. ¡°Yoren¡­ I believe in you.¡±

    Yoren sighed, accepting the phone. ¡°Alright. Last one.¡±

    One pull.

    The room fell deathly quiet.

    The phone screen flashed.

    Ten identical Beagles.

    Xu Huang let out a strangled cry, then took off running, screaming down the hallway. ¡°DAMN IT! TEN BEAGLES?! YOREN, I HATE YOU!!!¡±

    <hr>

    Yoren had felt off since the moment he woke up, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on what was wrong. It wasn¡¯t anything physical¡ªat least, not at first. It was more like an itch at the back of his mind, a sense of disconnect, as if the world around him had lost something vital without him realizing it.

    His classmates chattered in groups, some celebrating rare drops in their games, others lamenting their bad luck with gacha pulls. Outside, the midday sun hung high, bathing the city in golden light. It was the world he had known for eighteen years¡ªa world of routine, of safety, of minor frustrations and fleeting joys.

    And yet, why did it feel so... hollow?

    A thought gnawed at him, persistent and unshakable.

    There¡¯s something more than this. Something waiting for me.

    Noon found Yoren on the rooftop of the school building, staring at the sky with a straw lazily hanging from his lips. A jet carved a perfect contrail through the endless blue. He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt like he was supposed to be somewhere else¡ªlike he had unfinished business in a place that didn¡¯t exist.

    ¡°Yoren! There you are, you bastard.¡±

    Zhang Yuan clambered onto the rooftop, balancing two grilled sausages wrapped in paper. He flopped down beside Yoren and shoved one toward him. ¡°You looked like you were having an existential crisis or something. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still high on drawing ten Vinas in a row?¡±

    Yoren didn¡¯t respond, still staring at the sky.

    Zhang Yuan took a bite of his sausage and kept talking. ¡°I mean, I get it. The King of Advance is strong as hell. You lucked out. But damn, what kind of twisted RNG gives you ten of her in one pull? The way I see it, you¡¯ve got a whole damn Glasgow Gang in your account now.¡±

    ¡°The Glasgow Gang,¡± Yoren murmured, barely audible.

    Zhang Yuan kept going. ¡°Yeah, man. Miss Wang¡¯s a beast. Her stats are ridiculous. Too bad she¡¯s a gang leader. Can you imagine having a wife like that? You¡¯d be at home cooking dinner while she¡¯s out there cracking skulls with her hammer.¡±

    Yoren finally spoke, his voice distant. ¡°She knows how to cook.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Yuan blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Where the hell is that written? Did I not unlock enough logs?¡±

    Yoren smiled faintly. ¡°She likes lollipops. And wine. And no matter how dangerous the situation, she never leaves her comrades behind.¡±

    Zhang Yuan gave him a wary look. ¡°Dude. That¡¯s some deep fanfiction territory you¡¯re getting into.¡±

    But Yoren wasn¡¯t listening. He saw flashes¡ªscenes in his mind, more vivid than any dream. Vina tying her apron, nudging him to help. Vina setting a steaming bowl of noodles in front of him with a rare, genuine smile. Vina, raising her glass, saying, Come to Victoria someday. I¡¯ll cook for you.

    His fingers clenched against the cold rooftop tiles.

    It wasn¡¯t just Vina. He could see Winter, standing defiant, bearing the weight of responsibility far beyond her years. Truth, staring blankly at the chaos she¡¯d caused with her endless deductions. Indra, grinning like a predator, slamming her fist into her palm, always eager for a fight.

    He could feel it¡ªthe weight of the hammer slamming into his skull, the force of Indra¡¯s kick sending him flying into a sofa.

    His eyes widened.

    ¡°Holy shit,¡± he whispered.

    Zhang Yuan led him down to the infirmary, still laughing. ¡°Dude, you¡¯re really out of it today. That thunderstorm last night must¡¯ve messed with your head.¡±

    The school nurse frowned as she examined him. ¡°There¡¯s a sizable swelling on the back of your head,¡± she noted, pressing gently. ¡°It looks like you were hit with something blunt¡ªmaybe a metal object.¡±

    Yoren stiffened. A hammer. Her hammer.

    The nurse continued, oblivious to his growing dread. ¡°And your waist... hmm. This bruise suggests you were struck hard, maybe a kick or¡ª¡±

    ¡°A boot,¡± Yoren said, breathless. ¡°It was a boot.¡±

    The nurse looked at him, puzzled. ¡°You remember how this happened?¡±

    Zhang Yuan snorted. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, he probably got up in the middle of the night to practice hula hooping, slipped, and knocked himself out.¡±

    Yoren wasn¡¯t listening. His heart was pounding. The dream¡ªno, it wasn¡¯t a dream. The pain, the memories, the faces¡ªthey were all real.

    He gripped the edge of the chair so tightly his knuckles turned white from the pressure.

    He had been there.

    He had lived in Terra.

    And now¡­ he was back.

    He staggered to his feet, ignoring the nurse¡¯s protests, ignoring Zhang Yuan¡¯s confused questions.

    What the hell happened? Why was he here? Had he been sent back? Was the Glasgow Gang still out there, waiting for him? Was Vina still fighting? Was Winter still leading?

    He had to go back.

    He had to return to Terra.

    "They can all try to stop me...but...I know what was real and...I need to see it again...I can''t...I need it..."

    But how...could he do it...?

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12

    At that moment, Yoren felt everything click into place. The pieces of the puzzle he hadn¡¯t even realized he was assembling suddenly fit together with absolute clarity.

    He remembered.

    Yesterday, after coming home from school, he had been lying on his bed, lazily playing Arknights on his phone. He had just finished a mission when an unusual prompt appeared on his screen:

    "Human, are you willing to change this world with your actions?"

    Two choices. "Yes" or "No."

    At first, he thought it was some kind of special event or maybe a prank from the developers. Just as he was about to tap "No" out of sheer skepticism, a flash of lightning split the sky outside his window, startling him so much that his hand jerked¡ªand the phone slipped, smacking him right in the face.

    Then, everything went black.

    Holy hell¡­ is that how I got there? Was that my method of traveling between worlds? Death by phone-to-face impact? How ridiculous could it get?!

    But no¡ªthere was no mistaking it now. The dull ache in his head, the soreness in his waist¡­ they were proof. Proof that everything he had experienced wasn¡¯t just some elaborate fever dream. The Terra world was real. Vina was real. Winter was real. Indra¡¯s brutal kick was real.

    He clenched his fists as the realization settled deep into his bones.

    Next to him, Zhang Yuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s with you? You look like you just figured out the meaning of life or something.¡±

    ¡°Shut up. Let me think.¡±

    Under the baffled gazes of Zhang Yuan and the school nurse, Yoren strode to the infirmary window, gripping the windowsill as if steadying himself against the weight of his thoughts.

    Two timelines. Two separate worlds.

    When he had first arrived in Checheng, the fruit vendor told him it was 3:40 in the afternoon. But in this world, he had left school at around 5:00 PM. Meaning, the flow of time wasn¡¯t exactly synced. The difference didn¡¯t seem drastic, but it was enough to confirm they weren¡¯t running parallel.

    That meant he wasn¡¯t just dreaming Terra. He wasn¡¯t living a delusion. He was actually existing in both places.

    But that also led to another pressing question¡ª

    What happened if he died there?

    Unlike some VR fantasy, this wasn¡¯t a game where he could just log off. If he got himself killed in Terra, he wouldn¡¯t respawn. He would disappear. No body. No funeral. Just a missing person report that would eventually be abandoned.

    So why go back?

    He had the choice to forget. To wipe the slate clean, delete the app, and live a normal, safe life. If he pretended none of it had ever happened, he could graduate college, get a stable job, live out his years in peaceful ignorance.

    Wouldn¡¯t that be the right choice?

    But¡­

    Yesterday, he had drawn ten Kings of Advancement.

    Yesterday, he had drawn ten Winters.

    Some people say that deep bonds transcend time and space. That even when separated by worlds, an unspoken connection can persist. Like how you suddenly think of someone, and moments later, they text you. Something unseen, something science can¡¯t explain, ties people together.

    Even across dimensions, across realities, that bond had called out to him. They were calling out to him.

    Vina, who told him to come to Victoria one day for a home-cooked meal.

    Winter, who was too proud to ask for help but always bore the weight of others¡¯ suffering.

    And Amiya¡­ the girl who had yet to appear, the girl whose dream was to save everyone, even if it meant burning herself away to achieve it.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Yoren exhaled sharply.

    He knew his answer.

    Of course he would go back.

    Because that¡¯s just the kind of fool he was.

    A grin crept onto his face, slow and reckless, before it erupted into laughter¡ªfull, unrestrained, almost delirious.

    Zhang Yuan flinched. ¡°Okay, I take it back. You are crazy.¡±

    Yoren wiped a tear from his eye and clapped Zhang Yuan on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy. I¡¯m just excited.¡±

    ¡°For what? Getting admitted to a psych ward?¡±

    Yoren smirked. ¡°Nah. I¡¯m just looking forward to seeing an old friend.¡±

    Zhang Yuan gave him a sideways glance. ¡°Bro, are you even listening to yourself?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I have a question for you.¡±

    Zhang Yuan sighed. ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°If you met your favorite operator in real life, what¡¯s the first thing you¡¯d do?¡±

    Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, then shrugged. ¡°I dunno. Take her to a supermarket? Buy her some good food? Gotta make sure she eats well, right?¡±

    Yoren nodded, a satisfied glint in his eyes. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    He stretched, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of his revelation.

    ¡°Zhang Yuan, lend me a hundred bucks.¡±

    ¡°What? Why?¡±

    Yoren grinned. ¡°I¡¯m taking someone out for dinner soon.¡±

    <hr>

    Yoren plopped down, hands planted on the floor in surrender.

    "Vina, I was wrong."

    Vina stood up from the sofa, balancing on one bare foot, the other still missing its slipper. She looked down at him with exaggerated disappointment.

    "First day in the gang, and you''re already slacking off? Tsk, tsk, Yoren. This is really disappointing."

    "Hey, sorry, sorry," he muttered, digging into his pocket. His fingers fumbled around before pulling out a red plum candy. He awkwardly unwrapped it, then paused.

    "Sister, smoking is wrong."

    He stuffed the candy back and pulled out something else¡ªa green-wrapped Alps lollipop.

    "Big sister eats candy. Apple-flavored. A token of friendship."

    Vina narrowed her eyes at him, but she plucked the candy from his fingers.

    "Tch. Fine. I won¡¯t pursue it this time. But don¡¯t make it a habit."

    "Oh my, my," Yoren teased, bowing dramatically. "Your kindness knows no bounds."

    "Yeah, yeah. Now go fetch my slipper."

    "Yes, boss."

    Yoren retrieved the slipper, crouching to help her slide it back onto her foot. He knew no matter how many times she had come to wake him up, he wouldn¡¯t have heard her¡ªbecause there had been no one in the room.

    "By the way, why didn¡¯t you just come in if I didn¡¯t answer?" he asked.

    "You locked the door."

    "Like that¡¯s ever stopped you before."

    Vina folded her arms, shifting her weight onto one hip. "Tsk. How was I supposed to know if you sleep naked? I¡¯d rather not be traumatized."

    At that moment, Kate pushed through the makeshift wooden planks hastily nailed over the shattered front door. Since Winter had blown the original one off its hinges, the gang had done a slapdash job patching it up.

    Yoren watched, amused, as Kate bent backward like a circus acrobat, squeezing through the narrow opening. He whistled.

    "Damn, didn¡¯t know you were that flexible. You hiding something from us, big guy?"

    Kate shot him a look before turning to Vina.

    "Found the cars. Two of them. They¡¯re parked outside."

    "Good," Vina nodded, all business now.

    Yoren scooted closer. "So what¡¯s the plan?"

    Vina pulled out a map, spreading it across the coffee table. Her finger landed on a marked point. "Victoria confirmed the coordinates at noon. The disaster site is here."

    Yoren leaned in, studying the map. "That¡¯s... not wilderness? What are those black marks?"

    Vina nodded. "That used to be Mandel City, a big Ursus settlement. Twenty-seven years ago, a natural disaster wiped it off the map. They didn¡¯t have mobile city tech back then, so the whole place turned to ruins."

    Yoren let out a low whistle. "And now, twenty-seven years later, the place gets wrecked again? Bad luck. Real bad luck."

    "No one lives there anymore," Vina continued. "The whole region is abandoned, so no one noticed the natural disaster when it hit. That¡¯s why we¡¯re getting in before anyone else."

    "Makes sense." Yoren sat back, processing the information. He could see it now¡ªan untouched land, raw Originium deposits waiting to be taken. But also, danger. "So, when are we heading out?"

    "Tonight. We¡¯ll meet up with the mercenaries Indra contacted tomorrow. We leave in a few hours."

    Midnight.

    Under the cloak of darkness, the Glasgow Gang slipped out of Chernobog.

    Two large jeeps carried them through the snowy roads, the engines humming low against the silence of the night. Eleven people, including the two infected members, were packed into the convoy.

    Yoren sat in the first car with Vina and Indra. The space was comfortable, and Kate took turns driving with another gang member.

    The journey would take two days. Two days through the cold, through uncertainty, through the danger that loomed beyond the headlights.

    Kate glanced back from the passenger seat. "The road ahead is smooth. If you wanna sleep, now¡¯s the time. I¡¯ll wake you if anything happens."

    Vina didn¡¯t reply, but her posture remained rigid, her attention fixed ahead. Yoren noticed she was still wearing that same thin black coat, her shorts leaving her legs bare against the Ursus cold.

    "Aren¡¯t you freezing?" he asked.

    "I¡¯m used to it," she muttered. "Victoria¡¯s not much warmer, anyway."

    "Still, cold is cold."

    "What do you want me to do? Knit a sweater on the spot?"

    Yoren grinned. "Nah, I got something better."

    He turned and rummaged through a plastic bag before pulling out a glass bottle.

    Vina took it, squinting at the label. "What¡¯s this? Water?"

    "That, my dear Miss Vina, is Niulanshan Erguotou."

    "...Is it alcohol?"

    "Oh, it¡¯s more than alcohol. It¡¯s warmth in a bottle. A gift from my homeland. Try it."

    Twenty minutes later.

    Vina had one arm slung around Yoren¡¯s neck, her cheeks flushed crimson.

    "Yorennn... you don¡¯t understand..." she slurred, gesturing wildly with her free hand. "Back in Londinium, I¡ªhic¡ªI was ruthless! I held up my hammer and went from the east square to the west! From west to north! BAM! One hit, one down! I was¡ªhic¡ªthe real terror of the underground!"

    Yoren struggled to keep a straight face as she practically hung off him. "That so?"

    "Damn right!" She hiccupped. "And you, you, my little underling, should¡ªshould¡ªrespect your boss!"

    Indra, watching from across the seat, sighed. "You and your bright ideas, Yoren."

    Yoren looked at the two empty bottles of Niulanshan rolling around on the seat and sighed dramatically.

    "Man, I should¡¯ve brought more."