《s0ulless》 CHAPTER 1: THE MACHINE March 1, 2142, at Battlefield No. 7. Black smoke engulfed everything, the ground trembling violently as fireballs rained down one after another, incinerating all within their impact range. Scattered around were corpses that looked human on the outside but revealed charred machinery within. We were accustomed to this. Whenever a body was destroyed, our consciousness would automatically transfer back to the Server via signal towers, preserving our memories before uploading them into a new body. Then, we fought again. ¡°This is CBT-002. Target detected in the air. Deploying W4RDOG.¡± Years before launching total war against Midgard, the Olympus Federation reached the pinnacle of magic¡ªnot only by creating powerful Homunculi but also by summoning Mythical Beasts, creatures thought to exist only in legends. Kulshedra, the red dragon now raining fire on us, was proof. For massive targets like this, heavy weaponry was essential. W4RDOG¡ªa cannon firing a beam of light capable of completely obliterating anything in its path¡ªwas a fitting choice at this moment. ¡°Target locked¡­ 100%... awaiting firing command.¡± ¡°Fire.¡± A pillar of light shot straight into the sky, reducing the once-rampaging red dragon to ash in an instant. ¡°This is CBT-002. Target neutralized. Awaiting further orders from Command.¡± ¡°This is CMD-006. Reinforcements are en route. Continue the assault.¡± The strength of Androids lies in our immortality. We can fall countless times¡ªas long as the Server endures, so do we. I charged into the fray, standing amid the enemy. For an ordinary human, rushing into a warzone rife with danger like this would be sheer madness, the line between life and death, recklessness and courage, razor-thin. But I¡¯m not human. I¡¯m an Android. A second-generation combat model, designation CBT-002. Our mission at Battlefield No. 7 was singular: eliminate all Olympus Federation forces and protect the signal tower. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Deploy ST1NG and ELIT3 shields,¡± I commanded. ST1NG¡ªa submachine gun fitted with a heat-emitting bayonet, boasting terrifying firing speed. Paired with the ELIT3 anti-magic defense system, these were standard gear for combat Androids. While ELIT3 was active, we closed in on the enemy, blasting their chests apart with gunfire until their cores were exposed, then piercing them with the heat bayonet to finish them off. This method was brutally effective against Homunculi¡ªpowerful at range, even surpassing W4RDOG, which required a brief charge-up and at least 24 hours to recharge after each shot. ¡°This is CBT-002. All targets within radar range neutralized.¡± ¡°This is DEF-129. I¡¯ve eliminated all targets as well. Awaiting further orders from Command. Glory to Midgard!¡± ¡°CBT-148 reporting. Wiped out all those test-tube freaks in range. They squealed like pigs when I crushed them¡ªmusic to my ears,¡± came a voice, followed by a savage laugh over the comms. ¡°This is CMD-006. Thank you all for your excellent work. However, Android CBT-148, I request you report with professionalism,¡± a cold voice responded. Second-generation Androids like me and 006 were upgrades over the first, with superior performance but retaining the emotionless demeanor of our predecessors. Third-generation models like 129 and 148 not only had enhanced capabilities but also varied personalities and emotions. 129 was serious and zealous, while 148 was the opposite. To him, war was a game¡ªkilling freely, heedless of all else, just to sate his bloodlust. The Aesir Council, Midgard¡¯s leaders, believed that allowing newer Androids to express personalities and emotions, rather than restricting them like older models, would improve efficiency. ¡°Emergency support requested!¡± a voice crackled through. ¡°This is CBT-122. Repeat, emergency support needed at my coordinates. A black-clad Homunculus has wiped out my ent¡ª¡± The transmission cut off abruptly, silence descending. ¡°All Androids at Battlefield No. 7, listen up. Those near 122¡¯s coordinates, move to assist immediately,¡± 006 ordered, her usual calm fraying. ¡°Be cautious. The Reaper may have appeared.¡± I knew that name. Every Android on these battlefields knew that name. I was the first to arrive at 122¡¯s coordinates, being the closest. Chaos greeted me. Two Androids, burned beyond recognition. Three others, including 122, with gaping holes in their bodies, surrounded by melting ice spears. The last one, as I arrived, had his head shattered by lightning, black smoke rising from what remained. Behind the smoke, I glimpsed her. Long black hair blending with her dark combat attire. She wore a mask covering half her face, and beneath it, a pair of glowing purple eyes shone brightly, as if symbolizing the abundant mana dwelling within her. A surge of anomalous data disrupted my system. The Reaper had appeared. CHAPTER 2: THE REAPER Twenty years, for a human, might be the most beautiful stretch of life. Twenty years, for a Homunculus, is the moment we bid this world farewell. I¡¯ve existed in this world for twenty-two years. They call me by grand titles: Miracle of Olympus, Wonder of the East, Guardian Angel of the Federation¡­ The machine enemies know me by a simpler name: Reaper. To the Homunculi, I¡¯m Kira¡ªlight, hope. ¡°Have you two made your choice?¡± I asked them slowly, deliberately, trying to hide my pain. ¡°Yes,¡± Iris replied. ¡°If we choose sacrifice, we can depart like humans.¡± She and Joshua, inseparable from me since birth, saw me as their older sister. Yet now, I stood powerless to save my little siblings. Both Iris and Joshua were nearing twenty years, their time running out. They faced two fates: killed, their blood and flesh fused to birth new Homunculi, or joining the summoning ritual. In the ritual, Homunculi linked their remaining mana to form a wall of fire around them. When the wall fell, a Mythical Beast would be born. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big sis,¡± Joshua said with a carefree smile. ¡°Humans have a custom¡ªwhen someone dies, their body¡¯s cremated and buried. The ritual¡¯s kind of like that.¡± He was always so nonchalant, unlike cautious Iris. I bowed my head, struggling to hold back tears, and pulled them into an embrace. ¡°I pray to the gods to guide you to paradise,¡± I said, though I no longer believed in them. We could never be saved. Because we aren¡¯t human. We¡¯re Homunculi. We have no souls. March 1, 2142, at Battlefield No. 7. Smoke clouded the air, the ground shook violently, fire raged everywhere. Kulshedra, the dragon summoned from the mana of Iris, Joshua, and other Homunculi, was tearing through Midgard¡¯s lines. ¡°Everything¡¯s proceeding as planned,¡± Commander Serah announced. ¡°Keep formation and maintain distance from the Androids. Don¡¯t let them close in, or all our efforts will be for nothing.¡± Serah, a young Homunculus and Summoner, conjured crows from her mana to monitor the battlefield. Her caution reminded me of Iris. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Kira, how¡¯s your mission?¡± ¡°The path¡¯s clear. No obstacles.¡± Two days before the battle, Druids¡ªHomunculi skilled in shapeshifting¡ªstumbled upon a forgotten cave. If the intel was correct, it led behind the Androids¡¯ camp, a route even Midgard seemed unaware of. I¡¯d been assigned to guard it to ensure the plan faced no disruptions. ¡°Good work. Now just wai¡ª¡± A deafening blast cut her off. Sensing trouble, I bolted out of the cave. A pillar of light pierced the sky, reducing the red dragon that had been rampaging moments before to a pile of ash. ¡°Iris¡­ Joshua!!¡± I screamed in despair, tears streaming down my face. ¡°Where are you going!? Your orders¡­¡± Serah¡¯s telepathic voice echoed in my ears, but I ignored it. Though I knew Iris and Joshua were truly gone, for some reason, a surge of rage began to consume me. I dashed through the forest, stumbling upon a group of Androids amid the bodies of my fallen comrades. ¡°Looks like we missed one,¡± a red-haired Android sneered arrogantly. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem like a normal Homunculus,¡± a blonde one added. ¡°Be careful, or¡ª¡± Before she could finish, I turned her into a torch. The redhead roared, activating his shield and charging at me. That shield might trouble ordinary Homunculi, but to me, it was child¡¯s play. As he closed in, I grabbed his fiery red hair. ¡°Nice hair,¡± I taunted, melting him slowly with flames. Three others rushed me. One seemed to be calling for backup¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. With my left hand, I summoned ice spears that pierced him and the two Androids beside him, while my right hand still gripped the redhead tightly. ¡°Die!!¡± Suddenly, an Android ambushed me from behind, unloading bullets relentlessly. Dust clouded the air. ¡°Next time you ambush, keep your mouth shut,¡± I said, tossing the bullet-riddled remains of the redhead aside and striking the sneak with a bolt of lightning. He collapsed instantly, black smoke rising from his body. Through the haze, I glimpsed her. Platinum hair, silver eyes glinting like metal. Unlike the blue-uniformed Androids I¡¯d fought recently, this one wore white¡ªthe uniform of an older generation. Judging by her approach from the direction of the light pillar, those cold hands likely bore the blood of Iris and Joshua. A torrent of tangled emotions surged within me. Madness. Fury. Hatred. CHAPTER 3: TAG TEAM 101 ¡°CBT-002 reporting: all Androids at 122¡¯s coordinates eliminated. Target confirmed as a black-clad Homunculus, 98% match with Reaper profile. Requesting support¡ª¡± An ice arrow whizzed past my shoulder at blinding speed, exposing the metal frame beneath my synthetic skin. ¡°I have a question,¡± the Reaper spoke. ¡°Was it you who destroyed that dragon earlier?¡± ¡°Kulshedra was a priority target per Command¡¯s orders¡ª¡± Another ice arrow grazed my shoulder, widening the tear. ¡°I won¡¯t miss again. Answer properly,¡± the Reaper said, her voice icy. ¡°Target locked¡­ 100%... awaiting firing command.¡± A W4RDOG fired from behind, aimed at the spot where the Reaper and I faced off. In a split second, I leapt aside, narrowly escaping disaster. Everything in the beam¡¯s path was flattened, including a section of the forest, revealing a hidden cave entrance. I scanned the area and checked my radar¡ªno trace of the Reaper remained within range. ¡°Farewell, Reaper,¡± 148 smirked, his twisted glee barely concealed behind that repulsive grin. He¡¯d do anything to feed his bloodlust, even harm his own teammates. ¡°148, you¡¯ve violated Android protocol¡ªattacking a teammate and using them as bait without consent!¡± 129 rushed in, her face brimming with anger. ¡°Your actions will be reported to Command. Prepare for punishment!¡± ¡°Relax, we¡¯re in a warzone,¡± 148 replied smugly. ¡°Sacrifices happen in war. For a rusty heap like 002, being bait beats decommissioning, right?¡± He erupted into savage laughter. But his amusement didn¡¯t last long. The ground beneath him shifted, locking his feet in place. Panic flashed across 148¡¯s face, mirrored by me and 129. ¡°Target locked¡­ 100%... awaiting command.¡± ¡°Fire.¡± A voice rang out from above. The Reaper¡ªpreviously disguised as a crow¡ªclapped her hands together, unleashing a massive pillar of fire that crashed down on 148, mimicking W4RDOG¡¯s attack. In an instant, his entire body was reduced to ash. All that remained were his feet, still trapped in the earth. ¡°See you next time, scrap metal.¡± By transforming into a crow, the Reaper had masked nearly all her mana, making it harder for my radar and scanning systems to track her. 129 and I quickly regrouped. My analysis systems raced, searching for a counter-strategy. ¡°002, I have an idea¡­¡± 129 whispered, a spark flickering in her silver eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll buy as much time as I can. Whether this plan succeeds depends on you.¡± I nodded silently, relaxing my body and focusing my consciousness. Immediately, 129 charged recklessly at the Reaper, preparing to strike. The Reaper glided aside gracefully, hurling a barrage of lightning bolts at 129. Another Android might¡¯ve had their consciousness sent back to the Server by now, but for 129, it was nothing. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She might not be the strongest Android, nor the fastest. But she had the most advanced defenses. A third-generation guardian Android, designation DEF-129. In a flash, THE SHIEL2 armor strapped to her back enveloped her completely in blood-red plating, the eyes on her mask glowing as her strength and defenses surged. ¡°GLORY TO MIDGARD!!¡± 129 roared, landing a punch straight into the Reaper¡¯s face, deforming half of it. The Reaper seemed caught off guard, unable to fathom how 129 withstood her attack. 129 pressed forward, hammering the Reaper with earth-shaking blows, tearing her body apart, blood splattering everywhere. For a moment, the Reaper could only curl up defensively, focusing on regenerating her lost flesh. No matter how powerful she was, the Homunculi¡¯s shared weakness in close combat shone through. ¡°TAKE THIS!!¡± 129 channeled her strength into her right fist, driving all her power toward the Reaper¡¯s core¡ªthe heart of a Homunculus. The blow was so forceful that 129¡¯s arm pierced through the Reaper¡¯s body, her head dropping instantly, mask falling away. It seemed the Reaper had been defeated. ¡°Maybe I worried too much. We didn¡¯t need¡ª¡± A faint sound cut her off. The Reaper, hands drenched in blood, gripped 129¡¯s arm still lodged in her chest, radiating immense heat that slowly melted the armored gauntlet. As 129 tried to pull back, the ground had already locked her feet in place, just like 148¡¯s. Her gauntlet melted completely, synthetic skin blistering from the intense heat. Without hesitation, 129 tore her trapped arm free, activating THE SHIEL2¡¯s emergency escape mode. A thrust propelled her into the air, strong enough to crush her legs, and she crashed down behind, lying motionless. ¡°You¡¯re not like the others. You¡¯ve earned my respect. Good fight,¡± the Reaper said, pulling the remnants of 129¡¯s arm from her chest, her torn body regenerating swiftly. She approached slowly, raising an ice blade high, ready to finish 129. ¡°Not so fast.¡± A massive machine crashed down from the sky, landing right where the Reaper stood. She leapt back instinctively as dust billowed thickly. ¡°You¡¯re late¡­¡± 129 managed a weak smile. ¡°My apologies. It¡¯s my first time syncing with this device. It¡¯s still experimental, but it¡¯ll handle the Reaper,¡± my voice echoed from within the machine. As the dust cleared, a towering robot emerged before the Reaper¡ªred eyes blazing, muscular arms equipped with weapons, wings spread defiantly. Carved across its chest: ¡°DEATH RIDER5¡±. CHAPTER 4: BLOOD, RAIN AND DREAM Whenever I close my eyes, I see a strange dream¡ªof myself in a tank, alongside other Homunculi. What¡¯s odd is, for soulless beings like me, are these truly dreams¡ªor mere fleeting memories of a newborn? I¡¯m terrified, not daring to share this with anyone, not even Iris and Joshua, my siblings, for our own safety. In that dream, a man with black hair and golden eyes, cloaked in a robe embroidered with a Phoenix¡ªthe emblem borne only by the Chosen, the East¡¯s mightiest mages¡ªreaches into the tank. He pulls my forming body upward, placing an object resembling a stone, half white and half red, inside me. The stone burns hot, making the tank¡¯s fluid bubble, then turns ice-cold. He gazes at me for a long moment, murmurs, ¡°My masterpiece¡­¡± then hurries off as the sound of rushing footsteps approaches. Today, I saw that dream again, amid a shattered, chaotic battlefield, facing an opponent I deemed worthy of the Reaper¡¯s recognition. The clash of metal yanked me from the dream. A blood-red arm pierced through my chest. It wasn¡¯t the first time my core had been destroyed, but each time, it healed itself, and I fought on. I seized that blood-colored arm, molten metal dripping under immense heat. The Android in the armor struggled to break free, but I manipulated the earth to clamp tightly around her legs. She sacrificed her right arm and both legs to retreat¡ªa choice I couldn¡¯t judge as brave or reckless. Then I realized what she¡¯d been doing all along: stalling me to pave the way for that black machine. An annoying Android, but a worthy foe. ¡°Aren¡¯t you that scrap heap over there?¡± I asked. ¡°Correct,¡± replied the white-haired Android within the black machine. ¡°In my original body, I¡¯d have a 25% chance of victory. With this, it¡¯s over 80%.¡± ¡°Absurd. You think my power can be measured?¡± I retorted, hurling twin lightning bolts straight at the enemy. Yet, it stood unscathed by my sudden attack. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The black machine roared and lunged forward, a frigid blade springing from its arm, aimed at my head. I raised an ice wall¡ªthe sound of shattering echoed as the sword struck. Before I could counter, a piercing screech rang out. Its other arm morphed into a cannon, firing a beam of light that nearly swallowed me whole. In an instant, my consciousness faded. When it returned, my lower body and left arm were gone. Gritting my teeth, I mustered my remaining strength, shrinking into a snake and slithering into the rubble, fleeing toward the forest to hide. Twice in one day, I¡¯d been utterly defeated. A sudden rain poured down, heavy drops stinging my broken, numb body. The hum of that black coffin echoed from afar. With all my strength, I dragged myself into a tree hollow. My eyelids grew heavy, the world sinking into darkness as old memories flooded back with the falling rain. That day, too, had a downpour like this. ¡°Sis, why are we gathered here?¡± Iris asked me. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I shook my head. Joshua, usually so carefree, watched in silence. Security was tighter than ever¡ªa public trial was about to begin in the square, judging criminals accused of stealing the Philosopher¡¯s Stone, the magical artifact with infinite power locked within. ¡°Lies! All lies! The truth¡ª¡± A woman in prisoner garb was silenced by burly guards before she could finish. She screamed in desperation, helpless as her hands were bound by special cuffs that blocked the flow of mana. Among them, I recognized a face from my tank dream¡ªthe man with black hair and golden eyes. Prison had worn him thin, but his resolute gaze still burned brightly. I suddenly realized this was the execution of the Chosen. The Philosopher¡¯s Stone was inside me. No one knew this secret. Some suspected, but most dismissed me as merely a marvel of magic. A bolt of lightning flashed across the dark sky, foreshadowing the fate of those Chosen. ¡°EXECUTION!!¡± Thunder rumbled through the forest, jolting me awake, leaving me wondering how long I¡¯d been asleep. My body had fully healed. A familiar voice sounded in my mind: ¡°Kira, return to your post immediately. The cave¡¯s currently blocked by a giant machine. The Illusionists have used cloaking spells to hide our forces, but with our current numbers, they can¡¯t breach it. The main force is still holding off most of the Androids, but I fear it won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Our fate rests on you. Hurry!¡± I took a deep breath, summoning my remaining courage. The weight of thousands of lives pressed down on me. I asked myself: Would I be their Guardian Angel¡ªor the Reaper to lead them out of this blood-soaked hell? CHAPTER 5: BLACK AND WHITE The rain grew heavier, thunder roaring across the battlefield. Kira advanced slowly toward the black coffin looming at the cave entrance. The Reaper, now channeling all her power, faced her sworn enemy. ¡°So, you¡¯re back,¡± CBT-002¡¯s consciousness spoke from the machine. ¡°Per my calculations, my win probability has risen to 95% after that last strike.¡± ¡°Snow White, still treating me like numbers you can measure?¡± Kira mocked. ¡°The Reaper¡¯s no empty title.¡± They stood face-to-face, mere meters apart. Neither moved, like two gunslingers in the Wild West awaiting high noon. Thunder crashed again. Kira struck first, unleashing twin lightning bolts toward her target. ¡°Useless,¡± 002 said, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated their unexpected effect. The heavy rain pooling on the robot¡¯s shell enhanced conductivity, briefly stalling DEATH RIDER5. ¡°Snow White, is that shiny shell of yours short-circuiting?¡± Kira taunted again. ¡°Electricity loves water¡ªdidn¡¯t your analysis catch that?¡± ¡°Tch,¡± 002 clicked her tongue, irritation flaring for the first time since her creation. She swung the blade from her right arm at the Reaper¡¯s head, just as before, while shifting her left into a cannon. ¡°Same old trick?¡± Kira provoked. An ice wall sprang up swiftly, but this time Kira was a step ahead. With one hand steadying the wall, she used the other to command the earth, sealing the cannon¡¯s barrel before it could fire. A deafening explosion shook the air, dust billowing as the machine¡¯s left arm shattered completely, toppling it from the blast¡¯s force. ¡°NOW!¡± Kira shouted. The Illusionists dropped their cloaks, and a small group rushed into the cave, carrying Olympus¡¯s last hope. ¡°Left arm destroyed, system damage 40%, recommendation: transfer consciousness out immediately¡ª¡± ¡°SHUT UP!!¡± 002 screamed. Anomalous data flooded her mind, her earlier irritation morphing into rage. ¡°Reboot system, resume combat,¡± she ordered. The black machine staggered upright, sparks from the blast doused by the rain. ¡°I¡¯m starting to like you,¡± Kira said. ¡°Beaten not once, but twice in a day. You and that red-armored Android both deserve my respect.¡± ¡°SHUT UP!!¡± 002¡¯s voice cracked with emotion as she charged with her remaining arm. Kira stood firm, unshaken, waiting for her foe to close in. She hurled a fireball at the black machine, its heat evaporating the cold rain on impact, creating a thick fog that shrouded the area. 002 frantically checked her radar and scans, the results baffling her. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Two blips representing her and Kira overlapped on the display. Using the fog, Kira shrank into a squirrel, scampering to the breach caused by the explosion. She morphed into a mole, burrowing inside the machine, inching toward its core. ¡°Alert: core under attack, system damage 45%, recommendation: transfer consciousness out immediately.¡± 002 faltered, the anomalous data multiplying. System warnings blared one after another, but she didn¡¯t know what to do. The chaotic, undefined data danced in her mind. At last, 002 tasted despair. DEATH RIDER5 shook violently, its remaining arm flailing uselessly. ¡°System damage 95%, consciousness transfer imminent¡ª¡± An explosion drowned out the alert. Kira, in the form of a Wyrmling¡ªa low-tier fire-breathing Mythical Beast¡ªburst from the wreckage, reverting to her original shape. She stood watching the flames devour the black machine¡¯s remains. ¡°I heard an explosion from your position. You okay?¡± Serah¡¯s voice rang in Kira¡¯s mind. ¡°Target destroyed,¡± Kira replied. Serah exhaled deeply, relieved. ¡°A large Midgard force is reinforcing the battlefield. I¡¯ve ordered the main force to retreat gradually. Get back here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why retreat now?¡± Kira asked, suspicion in her voice. ¡°Most of those who crossed the tunnel were Blood Mages¡­¡± Serah hesitated. ¡°¡­They¡¯ll sacrifice themselves to summon Ifrit, leveling this place, targeting the signal tower.¡± ¡°The Beast of Smoke and Fire!? What are you hiding!?¡± Kira snapped, unlike her usual Reaper calm. ¡°Only key personnel knew the full plan. We¡¯ve stalled Midgard this long to lure more Androids here. Destroying the tower and their bodies simultaneously prevents consciousness transfer¡ªthey¡¯ll die for real,¡± Serah explained, struggling to stay composed. ¡°Are you insane!? Ifrit will destroy everything¡ªthat crazed Beast doesn¡¯t distinguish friend from foe! Androids die, Homunculi die¡ªthis strategy¡ª¡± ¡°Please!!¡± Serah cried, tears breaking through. ¡°My hands are stained with too much blood today. I¡¯m just following the Elders¡¯ orders from Elysium.¡± Silence fell, words failing them. ¡°Kira, come back,¡± Serah spoke first. ¡°You¡¯re our symbol, our hope. As long as you live, we can one day overcome this cruel fate.¡± The icy rain eased, sunlight peeking through dark clouds. ¡°Time to go,¡± Kira muttered to herself. Suddenly, bullets struck near her feet. CBT-002, in her original body, approached from a distance, trembling hands aiming a gun at Kira. Her usually cold face twisted with anger and a hint of despair. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere!¡± 002 yelled. ¡°Right now, only fighting can answer my questions, and I¡¯ll fight you to the end, no matter how many times!¡± The chaotic data had seized her, shattering her emotional limits. Kira didn¡¯t respond, turning away coldly, stepping lightly on the wet ground¡ªuntil gunfire rang out again. She froze, frowning. Dozens of drones had surrounded her unnoticed. ¡°Reaper, prepare to be crushed!¡± a voice roared with a maniacal laugh. 148 strode forward arrogantly, a longsword with green-veined blade slung over his back, his left hand dragging the mangled body of 129 across the ground. ¡°The fun¡¯s just beginning.¡± CHAPTER 6: DUSK AND DUST The dark clouds gradually parted, giving way to the sun¡¯s final rays. The golden light of dusk bathed the ground, illuminating the chaotic battlefield. From afar came the sounds of shattered machinery and desperate screams. Fresh legions from Midgard, overwhelming in strength, pursued the retreating Homunculi, who were withdrawing under orders. ¡°Kira, what¡¯s happening!?¡± A barrage of bullets whizzed toward Kira, forcing her to step back before she could answer Serah. 6EEKERS¡ªspherical drones equipped with firepower¡ªclosed in, tightening their encirclement around Kira. ¡°148, you¡¯re breaking Android protocol¡­¡± 129 gasped, but before she could finish, 148 slammed her head into the ground with such force that half her synthetic face peeled off. He then tossed her toward 002. ¡°Listen up, I¡¯m the star of this show. You two just shut up and watch,¡± he laughed gleefully. ¡°Reaper, I studied all your data on the way back. Your core can be destroyed, but you¡¯ll heal, right? So I brought this¡ªperfect for freaks like you.¡± He drew the longsword from his back. ¡°Let¡¯s dance!!¡± 148 bellowed. The drones continued shrinking the circle around Kira, firing in unison. She raised an ice wall to shield herself, but it quickly shattered under the relentless gunfire. At that moment, 148 activated his shield and charged, delivering a vicious slash that severed Kira¡¯s right arm. She stumbled back, dazed, as a thrust came straight at her. In an instant, she tilted her head aside, the blade grazing her face, blood streaming down. She hurled fireballs to push 148 back, then summoned ice arrows to counter the drones, but their agility and compact size let them evade her attacks. Kira tried to regenerate her lost limb, but something strange happened. No matter how hard she tried, her severed arm wouldn¡¯t regrow, and blood continued to pour from her wounds. ¡°Strange, huh?¡± 148 chuckled. ¡°This sword¡¯s called TESTAMEN7. Its venom slows your healing!¡± He lunged again, the drones firing in tandem. All Kira could do was endure the onslaught, waiting for an opening. 002 stood silently, head lowered, her trembling hand still aiming her weapon at the Reaper¡¯s earlier position. 129 clung to her, dragging herself up on broken legs. ¡°002, listen¡­¡± 129 wheezed, grasping the gun. ¡°I¡¯m a Midgard soldier, sworn to the Kingdom. But 148¡¯s madness must stop¡ªit¡¯ll harm our comrades¡­¡± Her legs buckled, metal fragments falling, yet her eyes burned with resolve. ¡°002, help me do this¡­¡± Back in the fray, 148 pressed Kira relentlessly. His ash-gray hair and silver eyes gleamed like a predator¡¯s. Kira gasped, blood gushing from every wound, her severed arm barely regenerating despite her efforts. Cornered by 148 and the drones, she was in dire straits. ¡°Let¡¯s recap,¡± 148 drawled. ¡°First loss today was to that crippled runt, second to the white scrap heap, right?¡± He laughed, then continued, ¡°This last one¡¯s mine. Reaper, your luck¡¯s run dry!!¡± He raised his sword for the killing blow, the drones tightening their aim on Kira. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Not yet,¡± a voice rang out from behind 148. He turned¡ªjust as a gleaming silver plate slammed into him, pinning him to the ground. Behind it, 002, her face cold, unloaded bullets into his head. The drones flickered erratically, crashing into each other before dropping. Kira, stunned, didn¡¯t understand what was happening. ¡°6EEKERS are controlled by an implant in an Android¡¯s head,¡± 002 explained. ¡°Scan its location, destroy it, and they stop.¡± She kicked 148 aside, the force sending his body rolling away. ¡°148, hear this: I¡¯ve never liked you from the start!¡± 002 shouted. ¡°You called me obsolete junk, said 006 and I should be decommissioned. Now you insult 129. I¡¯ll show you why I¡¯m still here!¡± Rage erupted, her long-suppressed fury unleashed. 148 staggered up, half his jaw blown off, synthetic skin peeling around bullet-riddled holes. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ ou¡­ KILL¡­ OU!!¡± he roared, his silver eyes turning red, firing wildly with his left hand. 002 advanced fearlessly, raising her silver shield, charging her most hated foe. 8ODYGUARD¡ªdisguised as a bracelet on guardian Androids¡ªsynced with ELIT3, boosting her defenses. She closed in, aiming behind the shield at his chest. He dodged, swinging his sword in retaliation. She blocked, but 148 yanked the shield away, tearing off her hand with it. His red eyes blazing, he tackled her, sword poised to finish her. An ice spear suddenly struck, forcing him back. ¡°Snow White, I hate this bastard too. Mind if I join?¡± Kira grinned. ¡°Call me Snow. Your nickname¡¯s too mocking.¡± Kira¡¯s smile widened. She found this machine intriguing. ¡°So, Snow, got a plan to win this mess?¡± she offered her hand. Snow grabbed it, and Kira pulled her up. ¡°Third-generation combat Android, CBT-148. Bloodthirsty, relies heavily on brute strength, especially when his eyes turn red. Reaper, you¡ª¡± ¡°Call me Kira. Reaper¡¯s for enemies only. One life for one life¡ªwe¡¯re even.¡± Chaotic data danced in Snow¡¯s mind again, but this time, it didn¡¯t feel like despair. ¡°I¡¯ll ou¡­ KILL OU!!¡± 148 thrashed like a trapped beast. ¡°Slow him down!¡± Snow yelled. Kira nodded, blocking his sword with an ice shield, shards flying on impact. She reinforced the shield, encasing his sword and hand in ice. ¡°Now!¡± she signaled. Snow snatched up the fallen shield, slashing 148¡¯s arm in half, sparks crackling from the severed circuits. He roared, firing with his remaining hand. Snow leapt into the barrage, shielding Kira. Kira flanked from behind, blasting his other arm with a fireball, the explosion knocking him back. ¡°I¡¯LL¡­¡± he rasped his last as Snow and Kira struck together¡ªshield and lightning piercing his head. His body convulsed, then stilled. The mad Android was defeated. Snow and Kira stood, gazing at each other wordlessly. Suddenly, the sky darkened, black clouds rolling in. From the direction of Midgard¡¯s camp, a vortex rose, sucking in everything around it. Above the whirlwind, a horned Mythical Beast with clawed hands emerged, its head brushing the clouds. Ifrit appeared, its roar echoing across the battlefield as it clawed through everything in reach. After a spree of destruction, it paused, retracting its arms, wings spreading wide to block the last rays of sunlight. With a final bellow, it transformed into massive rings of fire that swept across the battlefield. ¡°GET DOWN!!¡± Snow shouted, pulling Kira behind a rock. Ifrit let out one last roar before vanishing into nothingness, leaving thick dust cloaking the area. Battlefield No. 7, alive with combat moments ago, fell silent. As the dust settled, a chilling stillness remained. CHAPTER 7: VAGUE HOPE CHAPTER 7: VAGUE HOPE A gentle breeze whispered through fallen trees and crumbled cliffs. A vast graveyard emerged in the crimson sunset¡ªmetal bodies strewn amid blood and flesh fused with the earth. Smoke rose from the ruins of the once-towering signal tower. Kira and Snow stood, surrounded by white sparks emanating from Kira¡¯s chest. The Philosopher¡¯s Stone had shielded them from the firestorm, restoring their lost limbs. ¡°What¡­¡± Snow stammered, her missing hand reforming, the gash on her shoulder sealing shut. Kira watched in silence, equally astonished. They stood quietly until the sparks faded. ¡°Snow, answer my earlier question,¡± Kira said, her blood-matted black hair clinging to her face. ¡°Kulshedra¡ªwas it you who destroyed it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Now I want to kill you. Will you still fight?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even knowing you can¡¯t return, you¡¯d fight?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Snow replied, her ash-streaked white hair fluttering in the wind. ¡°Only fighting can answer my questions, whatever the outcome!¡± Her fists clenched with determination. Kira frowned, her fingertips crackling with faint sparks. Then her expression softened. ¡°You¡¯ve saved me twice. I can¡¯t repay kindness with vengeance.¡± ¡°You saved me twice too. We¡¯re even,¡± Snow muttered, her hands clasped together. They surveyed the devastation around them. A faint sound came from beneath a thick layer of rubble. Snow rushed over¡ª129, battered in the wreckage, her face completely ruined. ¡°0¡­ 2, I¡­ Glory¡­ Midgard¡­¡± Her words couldn¡¯t form a full sentence, the light in her eyes fading. Snow touched 129¡¯s pink hair, gazing at her for a long moment. Chaotic data surged again, but she no longer cared. ¡°What if we call a temporary truce and search for survivors?¡± Kira asked, her voice tinged with compassion. Snow said nothing, only nodding gently. They set off together toward the battlefield¡¯s center. What greeted them was silence and desolation, painting a picture of despair. Corpses lay piled atop one another, steel mingling with blood and flesh. Kira moved quietly, examining each body, clinging to a vague hope that someone might still be alive. Snow checked her radar and scanned the area, but no signals responded. No one could say who won today¡ªor if both sides had merely edged closer to annihilation. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°This is¡­ CMD-006¡­ anyone still¡­ respond¡­¡± A distorted voice crackled through the Android comms channel. Snow spun around and ran, Kira following close behind. Rubble littered the ground, torn up by Ifrit¡¯s claws, Android bodies in the camp area crushed together from the vortex¡¯s impact. Snow raced to what was once the Command post, where 006 sat slumped in a corner, limbs shattered, a gaping hole in her body. ¡°002¡­¡± the Android Commander rasped, her golden hair obscuring her face. ¡°Anyone¡­ still alive¡­¡± Snow bowed her head, silent. Understanding, 006 forced a weak smile. ¡°You¡¯ve¡­ changed too¡­ like me¡­ limits¡­ broken¡­ this way¡­ better¡­ than decommissioning.¡± Snow embraced 006¡¯s broken form, her arms trembling. 006¡¯s eyes slowly dimmed, her smile lingering on her lips. Kira watched from behind, fists clenched, struggling to suppress the emotions welling up. ¡°Decommissioning¡ªwhat does that mean?¡± Kira asked softly, breaking the stillness. ¡°For Androids deemed inefficient, their data and consciousness are erased from the Server, as if they never existed,¡± Snow replied, still holding 006 tightly. ¡°She and I were the last second-generation Androids not yet decommissioned¡­¡± Her voice choked, her face hidden behind her platinum hair. The sky darkened into night, the moon rising as if signaling the end of a day of slaughter. Kira sat in a corner outside, reflecting on the earlier scene. She thought of her siblings¡ªIris and Joshua¡ªthe moment she parted from them, and questioned what she was fighting for. Though her emotions had dulled after years of war, for the first time, Kira chose her own fate. She strode back inside, placing a hand on Snow¡¯s shoulder as she still cradled 006¡¯s body. ¡°Snow, there¡¯s something I need to tell you¡­¡± Snow could hardly believe her ears. She stood, facing Kira, confirming what she¡¯d just heard: ¡°Let me confirm this. The Philosopher¡¯s Stone¡ªthe thing the Kingdom wants¡ªis inside you?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°The Olympus Federation has no idea about this?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°You want to end this war, and you need my help?¡± Kira nodded. Snow gritted her teeth, grabbing Kira¡¯s collar, her lips trembling as if to speak, but no words came. She glanced at her fallen comrade¡¯s remains, then slowly released her grip. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m tired of fighting too.¡± ¡°An Android feeling tired? That¡¯s a first for me,¡± Kira quipped. They looked at each other, then burst into laughter. The sound of two artificial beings laughing seemed to awaken a corner of the death-strewn battlefield. CHAPTER 8: UNDER THE MOONLIGHT That night, Snow and Kira talked for hours. Beside a campfire, under the full moon, they spoke freely, like old friends reunited after years apart. Kira shared stories of her siblings, while Snow dreamed of exploring places beyond her mapped data. A strange scene, considering they¡¯d been enemies mere hours before. ¡°Come with me for a bit,¡± Snow stood, extending her hand to Kira. Kira grabbed it, and they walked together to what was once the armory. ¡°The journey ahead will be long. We need to prepare,¡± Snow said, scanning the area. From the rubble, she pulled out two crates¡ªone smaller than the other. Snow flung open the larger one, revealing an array of clothing. ¡°These are disguises for recon Androids. To blend in, we need to change our appearances.¡± ¡°What about the other crate?¡± Kira asked curiously. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough,¡± Snow replied with a hint of mystery. After changing, Snow opened the smaller crate, retrieving a pistol and a nine-sided device. SHAD0W, compact in design, triggered small explosions on bullet impact. She tugged her collar, attaching the device¡ªN9NE LIVES, packed with nanites for rapid Android repair. These were recon gear, designed to minimize Server reliance if infiltration went awry. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Shall we take a walk?¡± Snow tucked the gun into her coat, waiting for Kira outside. They circled Midgard¡¯s camp, its scattered rubble like a mass grave for soulless machines. ¡°That¡¯s 105, the fastest Android¡ªthough he rarely controlled it. 192 was recon, but she always got caught¡­¡± Kira listened intently to Snow¡¯s tales, reminded of her own siblings and friends. War had torn them from her, turning her into the cold Reaper, burying her emotions. The despair of loss haunted her like a specter¡ªshe dreaded reliving it. Suddenly, Snow stopped. ¡°I want to visit the Command room again,¡± Snow hesitated. ¡°No rush,¡± Kira said softly, her eyes full of understanding. Snow stepped inside, approaching 006 gently, taking her comrade¡¯s hand with care. Bits of shattered metal fell like tears. ¡°When Iris and Joshua left, how did you feel?¡± ¡°Pain,¡± Kira answered, knowing Snow¡¯s turmoil. Snow let out a faint sound, as if realizing something, squeezed 006¡¯s hand one last time, then turned to leave, Kira following quietly. ¡°Kira, one last favor before we go.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Burn this place to ashes.¡± Kira said nothing. Clasping her hands, she unleashed a pillar of fire into the Command room. A deafening blast erupted, and in moments, crimson flames devoured what remained. She pivoted, splitting the fire toward both sides of the camp. The steel bodies melted, merging with the cold earth. Snow watched the blaze silently, the wind rustling through like a lament for the soulless. ¡°Farewell, my friends.¡± CHAPTER 9: RAVEN ¡°Help me¡­¡± ¡°Serah?¡± A faint voice echoed in Kira¡¯s mind. She spun around, racing back across the battlefield. Snow followed, silver eyes narrowing in confusion. They crossed fields of corpses, reaching the Olympus camp, where a horrific sight awaited. Serah, drenched in blood, impaled by spikes pinning her to the ground. Behind her, a cloaked figure blended into the darkness. ¡°Puppets of war, playing human games. One bears darkness, one bears light, defying fate together,¡± a shrill voice hissed. Gremlin¡ªa low-tier Mythical Beast with long ears and sharp teeth, capable of human speech¡ªcackled before continuing. ¡°Master finds you amusing. Master wants to test you.¡± It scampered back to the cloaked figure. ¡°Serah, are you okay!? Answer me!¡± Kira shouted, sparks crackling at her fingertips. Snow reached into her coat, aiming SHAD0W at the mysterious cloak. ¡°Brown-eyed doll, hands stained with blood. It feels remorse, drowning in guilt. Master, a fitting specimen,¡± the Gremlin screeched cryptic words. The cloaked figure raised a hand, revealing an object¡ªhalf white, half red. ¡°That¡­ How do you have the Philosopher¡¯s Stone!?¡± Kira yelled, but silence met her from the shadowy figure. The stone pulsed with strange purple energy, hovering briefly before surging into Serah. She screamed in agony, her eyes dimming. A ring of fire enveloped her, burning like a summoning ritual. From the flames, Serah emerged transformed¡ªbrown eyes now a bleak gray, clawed hands twitching like a bird¡¯s, her body adorned with white feathers. Branwen¡ªthe Mythical Beast of Tragedy and Sorrow¡ªwailed, heralding its birth. ¡°Painful! Joyful! Fight!¡± the Gremlin danced and shrieked as the cloaked figure vanished into the night. The Beast screeched, lunging at Kira with razor-sharp claws. ¡°Kira!!¡± Snow fired SHAD0W, bullets exploding in rapid succession. Branwen howled in pain, black tears streaming down its face. ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t just stand there!¡± Snow snapped at Kira, who stood frozen. She didn¡¯t know what to do, couldn¡¯t face reality¡ªthe specter of loss gripped her again. ¡°Tch,¡± Snow unleashed another barrage, but the Beast dodged. It leapt into the air, unfurling hidden wings, and fired a beam of light from its mouth. Snow dove aside, her arm¡¯s synthetic skin charred but healing via N9NE LIVES. Branwen roared, shifting its focus to Kira, hurling razor feathers at the motionless target. The ground erupted from the attack¡¯s force, dust swirling, revealing a silhouette with outstretched arms shielding another. ¡°I¡¯ve got a question,¡± Snow said, standing in front of Kira, feathers embedded deep in her back. ¡°Do you want to put an end to all of this?¡± She frowned, pressing her. Kira nodded faintly, dazed. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Then fight! Where¡¯s the Reaper in you!?¡± Snow slapped her teammate hard. The slap snapped Kira¡¯s head aside, jolting her awake. A flash lit her eyes, time seeming to freeze. Strange voices echoed in her mind. ¡°You won¡¯t face that Beast because you think it¡¯s your friend?¡± Kira faltered, speechless, as a gentler voice added, ¡°But she¡¯s not your friend anymore. She¡¯s been warped by another Philosopher¡¯s Stone.¡± An angry voice cut in, ¡°That traitor killed us, turned us into weapons, made us turn on each other!!¡± More unfamiliar voices clamored in her head, then fell silent. The first voice returned, slow and deliberate: ¡°The path you choose is paved with blood and fire. You¡¯ll face mighty foes and those you love. The Reaper¡¯s road leads only to ruin. If you want to end this age of slaughter, we¡¯ll guide and protect you¡ªbut know this: once you step onto this path, there¡¯s no turning back. You¡¯ll drown in suffering forever.¡± ¡°Will you walk that road?¡± the voices asked in unison. Kira took a deep breath, staring at Snow¡¯s frozen, furious face. She glanced at Serah¡ªnow a tormented Beast¡ªher expression steeped in pain and regret. She thought of Iris, Joshua, and farewells to past friends. She¡¯d made her choice. ¡°Let¡¯s walk it. What¡¯s there to fear?¡± ¡°Then fear no more. Reaper, don¡¯t look back¡ªstep forward!¡± Time resumed around Kira. She yanked Snow aside, hurling ice spears at the Beast. The white raven flapped its wings, countering with a volley of feathers. The projectiles collided, white smoke rising as a rain of crystalline shards¡ªshattered ice¡ªmingled with curling feathers, drifting slowly under the moon¡¯s glow. Branwen opened its mouth, gathering energy to strike, when a series of small explosions erupted. It clutched its face, shrieking, wobbling midair before crashing down. Snow lowered her gun, wounds on her back sealing shut. ¡°Thanks, Snow White,¡± Kira smiled warmly. ¡°Call me Snow,¡± she replied. ¡°We¡¯re in this together, remember? I won¡¯t let you suffer alone.¡± The burden haunting Kira¡¯s mind lifted. An enemy from hours ago was now ready to plunge into the inferno with the Reaper. ¡°Then help me free Serah.¡± Snow nodded. As the Beast staggered up, Kira charged, commanding the earth to seize its legs. Snow fired at a wing, severing it, then joined her teammate. The raven flailed, slashing at Kira with its claws. She shrank into a mouse to dodge, while Snow leapt in, grabbing a claw with one hand and jamming her gun into its mouth with the other, firing relentlessly. As the raven struggled, Kira reverted to her original form, clasping her hands before Branwen¡¯s chest. A fiery pillar pierced its core, and the Beast collapsed. ¡°Target neutralized, confirmed,¡± Snow said after scanning the corpse. Kira slumped to the ground, exhaling in relief. This might¡¯ve been the wildest day of her war-torn years¡ªtwo defeats in a day, a current ally who¡¯d been an enemy hours before, and now teaming up to free an old friend. Snow stood beside her, the chaotic data in her mind partly resolved. Fighting the Reaper had answered some questions¡ªnot as foe, but as an ally. ¡°Philosopher¡¯s Stone¡ªwhite half heals, red half grants immortality,¡± the Gremlin hissed from the shadows. ¡°Death faces death; only one can remain.¡± Before Kira and Snow could grasp its meaning, white sparks emerged, enveloping Branwen¡¯s corpse, restoring its body. Then they turned red, merging into the Beast. Its wings spread wide on the ground, the white raven soared upward, eyes glaring down at its foes. The Reaper¡¯s wildest day wasn¡¯t over yet. CHAPTER 10: SOULS OF THE SOULLESS ¡°One black, one white, One cloaked in darkness, one bathed in light. Dancing under moonlight, Twirling with suffering. One black, one wh¡ª¡± ¡°SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!¡± Snow roared with fury, unloading a hail of bullets at the Gremlin, which danced and sang maniacally. It dodged with uncanny luck, vanishing into the shadows. Above, Branwen spread its wings wide, its mouth unleashing a beam of light that swept the ground with greater force than before. Kira swiftly raised an ice wall, while Snow fired relentlessly from behind. Branwen let out a piercing shriek, diving at its targets, claws slashing the wall¡¯s remnants and hurling a barrage of feathers forward. Snow shoved Kira aside, her arm bristling with razor-sharp plumes. ¡°Snow! Are you okay!?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Snow retreated, yanking feathers from her arm. Her healing was slower than before¡ªN9NE LIVES needed time to recharge its nanites, and she knew it. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless, Snow. You¡¯re healing slower now. You don¡¯t have the Server¡ª¡± ¡°I KNOW!!¡± Snow shouted again. ¡°But this data, these emotions¡­¡± Branwen screeched, sensing Snow¡¯s vulnerability, and swiped at her. Snow instinctively raised her arm to block¡ªher left arm shattered under the white raven¡¯s might. She flew back, crashing motionless. N9NE LIVES buzzed faintly within her, signaling its nanites were depleted. ¡°BASTARD!!¡± Kira¡¯s rage erupted. She channeled her fury into a fireball, hurling it at Branwen. The Beast took the hit but didn¡¯t flinch. Kira unleashed ice spears and lightning bolts, yet it remained unscathed. The white raven soared toward her, claws flashing. In a moment of carelessness, Kira saw herself falling¡ªbefore her stood her own legs, still rooted to the ground. Blood pooled beneath her, consciousness slipping away. Branwen approached slowly, black tears streaming anew. It planted a foot on her remaining torso, claws poised to end the Reaper. Kira¡¯s gaze drifted to Snow, still unmoving. A tear fell, and the Reaper shut her eyes, awaiting her end. The world around Kira froze once more. ¡°Get up. Your fate doesn¡¯t end here.¡± Strange voices echoed in her mind again. She scoffed, ¡°Can¡¯t you see my legs are gone? How do I stand?¡± The first voice replied, ¡°You chose a path built on blood and fire. You carry our will. You are death incarnate. Reaper, this isn¡¯t your end.¡± ¡°You, the Soulless, bear our souls. Reaper, we¡¯ll unlock your true power!¡± The voices rang as one. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Reality snapped back. Branwen¡¯s claws descended¡ªbut recoiled sharply. Flames engulfed Kira, and Snow¡¯s systems rebooted simultaneously. Snow stared at the fiery wall, chaotic data making her doubt her own sensors. From the blaze, Kira emerged. Her severed legs reformed, but shriveled and gray¡ªlike a corpse¡¯s. Her cold, beautiful face remained, but her purple, mana-filled eyes now glowed a demonic gold, her black hair half-silvered. She wore a gown dark as night, a closed book hovering at her right. Raising a hand, thick black mist eclipsed the moon, the flames behind her snuffed by an icy chill, plunging the scene into darkness. Hel¡ªMythical Beast of Hell and Souls, embodiment of death¡ªhad appeared. ¡°Kira¡­¡± Snow¡¯s lips trembled as she struggled to rise. Branwen shrieked, claws poised to strike its foe. But the Reaper paid it no heed. With a flick of her finger, the hovering book opened, pages flipping rapidly before stopping. Kira¡ªnow Hel¡ªspoke softly: ¡°Spartan.¡± From the mist, figures emerged¡ªlegendary warriors of history, bronze-red helmets masking their faces, armed with swords and shields, arrayed in perfect formation. Sensing danger, Branwen charged the shadows to escape. The round shields swiftly encircled it, spears stabbing into its white flesh. The pages flipped again, and the Reaper intoned: ¡°Knights Templar.¡± Knights of the Temple, clad in cross-emblazoned armor and helms, burst from the darkness astride horses. Two lead knights thrust lances deep into Branwen, dragging it along before halting. The others trampled its wounded body, swords slashing down. The raven wailed, tears flowing ceaselessly. It realized its wounds wouldn¡¯t heal¡ªstruck by spectral warriors. Snow watched, wide-eyed, tasting surprise for the first time. Hel¡¯s expression stayed frigid as she turned the pages once more: ¡°Lu Bu.¡± A lone figure appeared¡ªa warrior atop a blood-red horse, a massive halberd slung over his shoulder. Lu Bu roared, spurring his mount toward the Beast. His arm rose and fell, severing Branwen¡¯s legs. As it struggled to fly, he slashed through its flapping wings. The Beast writhed on the ground, screaming pitifully. Lu Bu drove his halberd through its chest with a final thrust, then vanished into the black mist. The icy Reaper approached the white raven, placing a hand on its chest wound. The dark mist swirled around the two Beasts, dawn¡¯s first rays peeking through, signaling a new day. The darkness faded. Snow rushed forward. Kira¡ªback in her original form¡ªcradled Serah in her arms. The Homunculus Commander¡¯s bloodied hands touched Kira¡¯s face, once cold as ice, now softened by tears. Serah smiled, whispering something before her hands fell, leaving bloody streaks on Kira¡¯s skin. The Gremlin watched from afar, its twisted grin turning to fear. It muttered incomprehensible words, then clutched its head and fled. ¡°¡­Kira, is it really you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. Are you okay? Your arm¡­¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine, just¡­¡± Kira wiped her tears, white sparks reappearing. Snow¡¯s arm began to heal. It seemed Kira had mastered her power. ¡°Listen, before she passed, Serah asked me something. That Gremlin with the cloaked figure wore an Elder¡¯s emblem. We need to go to Elysium¡­¡± Suddenly, Snow embraced Kira from behind, trembling. Startled, Kira gently touched her white hair. ¡°You don¡¯t have to bear it all alone. I¡¯m here too. I¡¯ll be your Guardian Angel, and in return¡­¡± ¡°¡­In return, she¡¯ll become the Reaper.¡± CHAPTER 11: HEART OF THORNS March 20, 2142. Paradise wasn¡¯t as beautiful as its name suggested. Elysium¡ªthe capital of the Olympus Federation¡ªstood with centuries-old architecture, cracked walls exposing inner bricks, and windows with shattered panes. Massive roots and thorny vines coiled tightly around the structures, moss creeping everywhere. War had drained this place dry. In the distance, small groups of gaunt figures from all corners gathered at the square. ¡°Kira, why¡¯s everyone gathering? What¡¯s happening?¡± Snow whispered. ¡°They¡¯re trading blood for food,¡± Kira replied, her gaze fixed on the growing crowd. ¡°What!? What do you¡ª¡± Snow exclaimed, stunned. ¡°Keep it down,¡± Kira pressed a hand to Snow¡¯s mouth. ¡°The Federation¡¯s been bankrupt for ages. They control the food supply and demand blood in exchange.¡± ¡°But why? Doesn¡¯t losing blood kill humans?¡± Snow pushed the hand away, lowering her voice. ¡°They¡¯ve no choice. Blood is the essence of magic. Mythical Beasts summoned from different bloodlines vary in mana strength¡ªlike Kulshedra¡¯s weaker compared to Ifrit,¡± Kira explained, her eyes still on the square. A desperate cry rang out¡ªa frail man clutched a burly guard¡¯s leg, collapsing as he begged: ¡°Please, give me more! My five-year-old son¡¯s starving!¡± ¡°Rules are rules¡ªblood for food. No blood, no deal. Get lost!¡± The guard kicked the man back. Undeterred, he crawled forward, pleading again. Irritated, the guard raised a baton to strike his haggard face¡ªbut froze. Snow had rushed in, seizing his arm, her face ablaze with anger, the father¡¯s sobs stirring her chaotic data. ¡°ANDROID INTRUDER!!¡± Panic erupted, the crowd screaming and scattering. Snow stood bewildered¡ªshe¡¯d only wanted to help the pitiful man. In moments, hulking guards in heavy armor surrounded her. ¡°Hmm,¡± Snow twisted the first guard¡¯s arm, forcing him to his knees, then kicked him hard enough to knock him out cold. The others charged. Unfazed, she punched one down and swept her leg, toppling two more. No matter how strong, a human couldn¡¯t match an Android¡¯s might. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The enemy swelled, tightening their circle. Snow reached into her coat for her gun when the ground beneath her caved in, dust billowing as the guards stumbled over each other. Amid the chaos, Kira darted in, grabbed Snow¡¯s hand, and fled, pursued by thundering footsteps. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to be reckless? We¡¯re sneaking in here,¡± Kira scolded. ¡°I¡¯m not a recon Android¡ªof course I got caught,¡± Snow retorted innocently, making Kira chuckle. The footsteps closed in, leading them to a dead end. ¡°Time to fight,¡± Snow aimed her gun back, but a strange sound came from her left. A figure in a tattered black cloak¡ªdifferent from the one at Battlefield No. 7¡ªemerged from a sewer grate, beckoning them closer. With the footsteps growing louder and no other options, Snow and Kira reluctantly followed, suspicion gnawing at them. Shouts echoed above, footsteps splitting to search. The trio waited silently until the danger passed, breathing sighs of relief. Suddenly, Kira pointed at the cloaked figure, sparks crackling at her fingertips: ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Reaper, still as hot-headed as ever. Back at Battlefield No. 2, I had to return to the Server three times thanks to you. 002, can you calm your friend? I¡¯m just here to help,¡± the figure said, lowering their hood to reveal silver eyes and platinum hair¡ªidentical to Snow¡¯s. ¡°Long time no see,¡± they greeted. ¡°013!¡± Snow leapt forward, hugging her old friend. ¡°Looks like your emotional limits are gone too,¡± 013 smiled, then turned to Kira. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m a second-generation guardian Android, once called DEF-013. Now, please call me Muse.¡± ¡°013¡­ Muse, I thought you¡¯d been decommissioned? Oh, and I¡¯ve got a name too¡ªcall me Snow,¡± Snow babbled, her data faintly buzzing. ¡°I escaped,¡± Muse replied. ¡°My emotional limits broke long ago. I wanted to choose my own fate. Reaper, you may not trust me yet, but come with me to meet someone¡ªyou¡¯ll understand soon.¡± Kira lowered her hand, nodding slightly, though doubt lingered in her eyes. The trio trekked through the sewer, Snow hand-in-hand with Muse, chattering about meeting Kira, their battles, and their teamwork. Muse listened intently, tossing in occasional jests. Kira trailed silently, wary of this Android hiding in enemy territory, questioning her motives. The two white figures stopped at a door. Muse¡¯s scarred hands unlocked it, revealing a simple room¡ªa rickety bed, a shaky bookshelf, and a man scribbling in the corner. His disheveled blonde hair and blue eyes briefly glinted with faint mana. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Muse said softly. The man rose with a cane, his pale face breaking into a smile. ¡°Welcome home.¡± He shuffled toward them under dim light. Kira¡¯s recognition dawned, her expression softening with emotion. A unique Homunculus, born with a flawed core that slowed his healing compared to others, compensated by masterful magical craftsmanship. A comrade who¡¯d faced death with the Reaper¡ªone of the few she called a friend. ¡°¡­Edward!?¡± CHAPTER 12: OLD FRIENDS Four pairs of eyes met, but no one spoke. They had much to share, yet struggled to begin. ¡°Pardon my rudeness, keeping guests at the door,¡± Edward broke the silence. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please come in.¡± Muse pulled Snow to the creaky bed, Edward hobbling behind with his cane. ¡°Let me help,¡± Kira offered, supporting her old friend. ¡°You¡¯ve softened since back then,¡± Edward said, grabbing a chair and easing into it. ¡°You two wouldn¡¯t believe it¡ªmy main job was dragging myself after Kira just to remake her clothes. She was so reckless,¡± he laughed heartily. ¡°No way,¡± Kira¡¯s face flushed, nudging his shoulder. ¡°Ed, where¡¯ve you been hiding all this time? I thought you¡¯d¡­¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Edward replied. ¡°Just not my time¡­¡± An awkward silence fell. Snow cut through it, ¡°How¡¯d you two end up together? How¡¯d you escape all the way here, Muse?¡± ¡°Humans say ¡®the most dangerous place is the safest,¡¯ right? Compared to your journey, our story¡¯s not much. Snow, tell Edward from the start,¡± Muse said, brushing Snow¡¯s hair. Snow recounted meeting Kira on the battlefield, their clashes, and their alliance against 148 and to free Serah. Edward listened intently, Kira standing beside him, arms crossed in silence. Abruptly, Edward interrupted: ¡°Kira, be honest. Is a Philosopher¡¯s Stone inside you?¡± ¡°¡­Yes,¡± Kira hesitated. ¡°Listen, I won¡¯t ask how you got it, but tell me¡ªhow¡¯d you defeat Branwen? A high-tier Beast like that shouldn¡¯t fall easily,¡± Edward pressed. ¡°¡­I absorbed its Philosopher¡¯s Stone.¡± Silence reclaimed the room. Edward sighed, turning to Kira. ¡°There¡¯s something you need to know. Lately, more people are vanishing, and trials happen constantly. I fear¡­¡± He faltered. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Ed, we came to Elysium for Serah,¡± Kira said firmly. ¡°If you still see me as a friend, don¡¯t hide anything.¡± Edward sighed again, asking Muse to fetch a notebook from the shelf. He handed it to Kira. She skimmed the pages, eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯ve secretly gathered this intel over time. If I¡¯m right, the Elders are rushing to craft more Philosopher¡¯s Stones for a final war with Midgard.¡± ¡°So the missing people might¡¯ve¡­¡± Snow¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Yes,¡± Edward continued. ¡°Those with strong mana, like the Chosen, become raw material for the Stones. Weaker ones are forced to supply mana, mostly for summoning low-tier Beasts.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°We Homunculi are outdated against Midgard¡¯s tech. The Elders realized only Beasts can secure Olympus¡¯s victory¡­¡± ¡°¡­And the Stones embody that key,¡± Kira finished. Edward nodded faintly. She bowed her head, slamming a fist into the wall. She knew they were all war tools, yet couldn¡¯t fathom why she felt such rage. ¡°One more thing¡ªPoppy¡¯s still alive,¡± Edward touched her shoulder. ¡°Poppy¡¯s alive!? Where?¡± Kira spun around, her eyes softening. ¡°She¡¯s hiding in an abandoned factory nearby. Her time¡¯s running out,¡± Edward turned away, hiding sorrow in his gaze. ¡°I know that place. Snow, let¡¯s go,¡± Kira hurried toward the door. ¡°Wait,¡± Muse blocked her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you two on the run? Snow got exposed earlier¡ªgoing out now¡¯s trouble. Snow, didn¡¯t you want to hear our story?¡± ¡°True, but leaving Kira alone¡­¡± Snow hesitated. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be quick,¡± Kira reassured her. ¡°You¡¯ve got plenty to catch up on with Muse, right? I¡¯m just meeting another old friend.¡± She smiled warmly, stepping out into the sewer. Footsteps raced above, shouts of pursuit echoing. Kira shrank into a mouse, darting along the walls toward the abandoned factory. Once a bread factory, it lay deserted after the Federation¡¯s food control decree. A gaping hole pierced the ceiling, forgotten machines tangled with roots and thorns sprouting from the cracked floor. Poppy lay on a bed, eyes closed, brown hair fanning out like a sleeping princess. Kira approached gently, touching her to wake her, but Poppy didn¡¯t stir. Sensing something wrong, Kira sat beside her, shaking her shoulders. A shrill voice hissed from the shadows: ¡°A long kiss, good night to you.¡± The Gremlin reappeared, baring its grotesque teeth in glee. As Kira rose, Poppy¡¯s eyes snapped open¡ªpure white pupils¡ªgrabbing Kira and pinning her to the bed. Before she could react, roots coiled around her. Poppy¡¯s body melded with the bed, sinking to make way for Kira. Two arms sprouted from the headboard, covering her eyes and mouth. She thrashed and screamed, but it was futile. The Reaper sank into a deep sleep. Sleeping Beauty¡ªMythical Beast of Dreams and Vines¡ªcapable of slaying prey in slumber, a creature thought confined to human fairy tales. CHAPTER 13: LOW BLOW ¡°So how did you two meet?¡± Snow asked. ¡°It¡¯s like your story¡ªafter my limits broke, I wanted answers for myself, so I wandered everywhere,¡± Muse said, stepping beside Edward. ¡°I first met him in Neo Athens. He was being beaten by a group of drunken guards.¡± ¡°And she saved me,¡± Edward took Muse¡¯s hand, gazing at her tenderly. ¡°She¡¯s my muse.¡± ¡°Why choose to live here? This place is a mess¡ªyou¡¯ve both seen what¡¯s happening, right?¡± Snow pressed. ¡°It¡¯s the same everywhere. My time¡¯s running short,¡± Edward sighed. ¡°For years, I¡¯ve evaded the Federation¡¯s pursuit, refusing to be recycled like other Homunculi.¡± ¡°We moved here a few months ago. This is where Edward was created, after all,¡± Muse added. ¡°He still has a few friends in Elysium, so he won¡¯t be too alone before the end.¡± ¡°One last question,¡± Snow stood. ¡°Are you two connected to the cloaked figure and that Gremlin?¡± Muse and Edward exchanged uneasy glances, a flicker of fear in their eyes. ¡°Guess that settles it¡ªmy data analysis was spot on,¡± Snow turned toward the door, but bricks suddenly sealed the exit. Edward, seated behind, wielded his crafting magic, while Muse stepped forward¡ªher hands wreathed in red flames, revealing golden frames within, a creation of Edward¡¯s mana. ¡°How¡¯d you figure it out?¡± Edward frowned. ¡°How could a cripple like you gather all that intel? If you say Muse did it, this is Olympus¡¯s capital¡ªan Android moving freely without detection is impossible,¡± Snow analyzed, drawing SHAD0W from her coat. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Edward probed. ¡°When Muse said I¡¯d been exposed, it struck me as odd. We met her in a dead-end alley, far from the square. How¡¯d she know only I was spotted, not Kira too? Maybe she knew Kira aided me from a distance, drawing less attention. Plus, with an Android popping up in Elysium, who¡¯d notice a Homunculus?¡± Snow continued. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Interesting. Anything else?¡± Edward smirked. ¡°Yeah. Truth is, I didn¡¯t analyze anything¡ªjust threw the question out. Your faces and actions spilled it all,¡± Snow aimed her gun forward. ¡°Emotional limits just broken, and you¡¯re already lying like a human?¡± Muse hissed, hurling a fiery punch. Snow dodged, Muse¡¯s blow shattering the newly formed wall. Snow fired at Edward, who conjured a golden shield to block. She dashed for an exit, but Muse intercepted her. Edward limped out, wielding a freshly crafted golden ST1NG. ¡°I thought we were friends¡­¡± Snow¡¯s head bowed, disappointment lacing her voice. ¡°We were,¡± Muse replied coldly. ¡°Kira must die,¡± Edward added. ¡°Only the Reaper¡¯s death can save us.¡± Snow said nothing. She spun, firing again. The golden shield reappeared as Edward returned a barrage. Snow leapt aside¡ªthe bullets aimed at Muse were blocked by her flaming hands. Muse closed in, hooking a punch into Snow¡¯s side, denting her frame and igniting her coat. Snow dove into the water below, dousing the flames, leaving a gaping hole in her jacket. ¡°Snow, remember our sparring score?¡± Muse asked, eyes glinting. ¡°0-99, favoring you,¡± Snow murmured. ¡°And you think you can win now?¡± Muse pressed. ¡°Yes,¡± Snow replied, brimming with confidence. ¡°You¡¯re not the same you, and I¡¯m not the old me. It¡¯s anyone¡¯s game now.¡± Edward fired relentlessly from above. Snow dodged nimbly in the water¡ªST1NG was fast but lacked precision. She shot two rounds at Edward; his golden shield and the explosions clashed, obscuring his view. Snow seized the moment, leaping up, yanking Edward¡¯s leg into the water, then pinning his head beneath her foot. Muse charged with fiery hands. ¡°STOP!!¡± Snow bellowed, gun trained on Edward¡¯s core. ¡°Move closer, and I¡¯ll blast his core right now!¡± ¡°Muse, attack! Forget me!¡± Edward shouted. Muse froze, eyes wavering, torn with indecision. Her hands lowered, the flames flickering out. ¡°Tell me where Kira is, and I¡¯ll let him go,¡± Snow hauled Edward up, pressing the gun to his back. ¡°¡­South, 500 meters¡ªan abandoned factory. But I warn you, it might be too late,¡± Muse answered. ¡°I know,¡± Snow dragged Edward toward the surface. ¡°You¡¯re not the only ones who¡¯d do anything for those you treasure.¡± She shoved Edward toward Muse. ¡°You know, I still see you both as friends. Hope next time, the four of us can chat happily together,¡± Snow walked off, leaving Edward and Muse stunned. ¡°1-99 now, Muse!¡± her voice echoed down. They stared at each other, dumbfounded. Thorny roots encased Kira. Snow fired at them relentlessly¡ªeach severed root replaced by another. ¡°Too late, too late, too late¡­¡± the Gremlin hissed cryptic nonsense from the shadows, but Snow wouldn¡¯t let it gloat. She lunged, grabbing its long ears, jamming her gun into its mouth: ¡°Tell me how to save Kira, or I¡¯ll send you back to your cloaked master with an extra hole.¡± The chaotic data dancing in Snow had finally stilled. CHAPTER 14: NEVER FADE AWAY ¡°DAMN IT!! NOW¡¯S NOT THE TIME TO SLEEP!!¡± A loud shout jolted Kira awake. She blinked, disoriented¡ªbullets whizzed overhead, screams of agony piercing the air. Peeking over a trench, she saw a squad of white-clad Androids, faces emotionless, charging forward. Neo Paris, once a radiant city of lights, now lay in ruins¡ªrubble and ash all that remained of war¡¯s toll. September 13, 2120, Battlefield No. 4. ¡°Stupid Homunculus, what are you doing!?¡± A stinging slap struck Kira¡¯s face¡ªshe still couldn¡¯t grasp what was happening. A man bearing a Phoenix emblem glared at her, eyes dry from smoke and fire. ¡°Fight, or I¡¯ll rip your core out now!¡± he barked. Fear and panic gripped Kira¡¯s mind. Trembling, she thrust her hands forward to attack, but no power came. The white machines unleashed a barrage; Kira ducked in terror. A whisper brushed her ear: ¡°Scary, isn¡¯t it?¡± Everything froze. The charging Androids and Eastern coalition forces stood still, arms limp, eyes vacant. Sleeping Beauty¡ªin Poppy¡¯s form¡ªstared at Kira with milky-white eyes, smiling as it spoke: ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. They call me Sleeping Beauty. Welcome to my world.¡± The Beast pressed a hand to its chest, bowing to Kira. ¡°What¡­ Why am I here? What did you do to Poppy!?¡± Kira roared, her voice a mix of rage and dread. ¡°Poor Homunculus, thrown into war just a month after creation. It¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re clueless. This is my realm, built from your prey¡¯s memories,¡± it said, conjuring a teacup from thin air, sipping before continuing. ¡°Here, I¡¯m a god, and I want to play a game with you. Win, and there¡¯s a reward. Lose, and you¡¯ll stay forever¡ªuntil your life force drains dry.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± Kira¡¯s lips quivered, sweat beading on her brow. ¡°The rules are simple. My true name¡¯s hidden in this battlefield. Call it correctly, and you win,¡± the Beast explained. ¡°But to spice things up, you¡¯ll have no powers. In other words, you¡¯re just walking meat.¡± It giggled. ¡°Begin!¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Reality resumed. The Androids closed in, screams echoing endlessly. Kira curled up, clutching her head, shouting: ¡°SLEEPING BEAUTY!!¡± ¡°Wrong,¡± the Beast replied. ¡°That¡¯s a nickname, not my real name.¡± ¡°POPPY!!¡± ¡°Wrong. That¡¯s your friend¡¯s name¡ªthe one I¡¯ve possessed.¡± ¡°DAMN IT!! DAMN IT!!¡± ¡°Are you answering or cursing?¡± Poppy¡¯s voice reverberated through the air. Terrified, Kira crawled toward a wall to flee, ignoring the cries and curses behind her. Before becoming the Reaper, Kira had borne traumas too deep to fade. She stumbled into a building¡ªbeams of light pierced the walls, shaking it. She fell, narrowly dodging. The Androids breached the trench, slaughtering all around. She fled outside, running and yelling every name she could muster: ¡°LILY!!¡± ¡°Wrong.¡± ¡°JOHN!!¡± ¡°WRONG.¡± ¡°KIRA!!¡± ¡°¡­Are you so scared you¡¯re babbling nonsense?¡± The sounds of carnage faded into the distance. Kira slumped in a ruined church, hiding. Sleeping Beauty reappeared, chuckling gleefully: ¡°Here¡¯s a hint¡ªmy true name¡¯s from an old human tale.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll never find it¡ªyour mind¡¯s filled only with war memories!¡± The Beast laughed heartily. Poppy¡¯s gentle face now twisted into something grotesque. It vanished into nothingness, its wild cackle lingering. Sleeping Beauty was right. Since her creation, Kira had known only combat. She understood nothing of the world beyond killing. She tilted her head skyward, ready to accept her cruel fate, when a cry rang out. A white raven perched on the church¡¯s collapsed roof, turning its head as if beckoning her. Something clicked¡ªKira bolted outside. The Androids reappeared, hunting her. Ignoring bullets at her back, she sprinted after the raven. It led her to a library¡¯s entrance, then vanished. She rushed in, barricading the door with anything she could find, then ransacked the shelves. She flipped through books frantically as pounding echoed outside. Finding no fitting name, despair crept in. A blast tore the door apart; shadows advanced. As hope dwindled, the white raven returned, clawing at a book on a shelf. Kira grabbed it, flipping pages as the Androids caught up, guns raised. She screamed: ¡°AURORA!!¡± Silence fell. Suddenly, fireworks burst over Neo Paris¡¯s sky. The Androids lowered their weapons, clapping in unison. Sleeping Beauty emerged, exhilarated: ¡°Congratulations! You finally got my name. Here¡¯s a secret as your reward: Poppy nearly won this game too, but died before she could call my name. Want to know how she went?¡± The Beast bared its teeth in a savage grin. ¡°BASTARD!! LET ME OUT NOW!!¡± Kira roared in fury. ¡°I said there¡¯d be a reward for winning¡ªnot that I¡¯d free you.¡± Kira collapsed, her eyes dulling. Her last sparks of hope faded. ¡°Target locked¡­ 100%... awaiting firing command.¡± A beam of light blasted into the Beast and Androids. Kira recognized it¡ªa guiding light for her destiny. ¡°I won¡¯t say it again. LET MY FRIEND GO!!¡± Snow bellowed, W4RDOG trembling on her shoulder with her rage. CHAPTER 15: SNOW WHITE THE FEARLESS A few hours earlier. ¡°Tell me how to save Kira, or I¡¯ll send you back to your cloaked master with an extra hole!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know! Don¡¯t know!¡± The Gremlin wailed in terror, its oversized mouth drooling profusely. ¡°It¡¯s telling the truth. Its job is just to watch and report,¡± Muse spoke up, Edward limping behind her with his cane. ¡°This time, we genuinely want to help.¡± Muse raised her hands, stepping forward slowly. Snow tossed the Gremlin to the ground¡ªit scrambled out the door, trembling. ¡°I still don¡¯t fully trust you two,¡± Snow frowned, her grip tight on her gun. ¡°We know, but let us make amends,¡± Edward pleaded. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how to save Kira.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll help you rescue her, even if it costs our lives,¡± Muse added. Snow hesitated. Moments ago, they were her enemies; now they offered aid. She nearly told them to leave, but memories of her fateful encounter with Kira¡ªfrom foes to friends¡ªstayed her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you for now, but if anything¡¯s off, I won¡¯t hesitate to shoot,¡± Snow holstered SHAD0W. Muse and Edward sighed in relief. ¡°Sleeping Beauty attacks by dragging its prey into its world, subduing them with fear. The only way to fight it is with unwavering resolve,¡± Edward explained. ¡°Its realm is built on dreams and imagination. I¡¯ll get you inside.¡± ¡°How?¡± Snow asked, skepticism etching her face. ¡°I¡¯m an Alchemist. My power thrives on imagination too. I can link your consciousness to Kira¡¯s dream,¡± Edward replied, his eyes resolute. Muse¡¯s hands blazed anew, touching the thorny roots. They writhed upward, only to crumble to ash under her flames. ¡°Now!¡± Muse shouted. Snow hoisted Edward onto her back and leapt through¡ªthe gap swiftly closing. In the darkness, Kira faintly appeared, bound by roots, eyes and mouth sealed. Snow climbed onto the bed beside her; Edward discarded his cane, placing hands on their foreheads. Golden veins pulsed through him, flowing into his palms. Snow closed her eyes, relaxing, focusing her consciousness as she once did with DEATH RIDER5. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Tell Kira I¡¯m sorry¡ªit¡¯s my fault Poppy died.¡± A ruined city materialized before Snow, war¡¯s clamor ringing everywhere. Scanning around, she locked eyes with a brown-eyed girl¡ªsomeone she¡¯d seen at Battlefield No. 7 after Branwen¡¯s defeat. ¡°¡­Serah?¡± Snow asked, startled. ¡°We¡¯re not Serah. We borrow this form from the Reaper¡¯s mind,¡± the figure replied flatly. ¡°White machine, help the Reaper. If she falls, we vanish too.¡± ¡°Who are you? Why are you in Kira¡¯s mind?¡± Snow pressed. ¡°We¡¯re the Philosopher¡¯s Stones within the Reaper¡ªsouls bound to them. In this world, we¡¯re severed from her. We¡¯ll guide you to her¡ªhurry!¡± The figure morphed into a white raven and flew off. Snow chased it to a library, where it vanished. Moments later, fireworks lit the sky, applause echoing from inside. Peering through a window, she saw Kira kneeling helplessly before the Beast and Androids. Planning her move, a W4RDOG materialized from thin air. Startled, Snow recalled Edward¡¯s words, grasping how to wield power here. She stormed the front door, firing into the enemy, obliterating the Androids in her line of fire. ¡°¡­Snow?¡± Kira gaped, bewildered by Snow¡¯s arrival. Sleeping Beauty shared her shock¡ªunbelieving someone dared challenge it in its domain. The Beast shed its guise, revealing a grotesque form of twisted roots, its ugly face belying its nickname. Snow discarded the cannon; a ST1NG appeared, peppering the Beast with bullets, cracking its shell. The gun vanished, replaced by TESTAMEN7. Fearlessly, Snow slashed off its arms, forcing it back in agony. It roared, hurling thorny roots at her. The ground quaked¡ªSnow emerged from the dust, THE SHIEL2¡¯s blood-red armor encasing her. A massive object crashed down, pinning Sleeping Beauty. DEATH RIDER5 stabbed its sword through the Beast, blasting its head with the other hand. Kira watched, speechless with awe. ¡°How¡­ how are you not afraid¡­¡± Sleeping Beauty rasped. ¡°Here, I¡¯m the strongest¡­¡± ¡°Androids know no fear,¡± Snow replied coldly. Channeling THE SHIEL2¡¯s power into her right fist, Snow shouted, lunging to punch through the Beast¡¯s chest. It shrieked, collapsing. The white raven returned, reverting to Serah¡¯s form, absorbing the Beast¡¯s Philosopher¡¯s Stone. Cold black mist swirled, the Beast¡¯s corpse shattered, revealing Poppy within. ¡°Snow¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t be afraid anymore, Kira.¡± Cracks fractured the space, the sky crumbling in pieces. Sleeping Beauty¡¯s nightmare world met its end. ¡°Kira, wake up. Can you hear me?¡± Kira¡¯s eyes fluttered open, Snow¡¯s worried face filling her view. Beside her lay Poppy, serene as if asleep. Kira sat up, spotting Edward resting on Muse¡¯s lap, eyes closed, a content smile on his lips. Muse¡¯s golden hands dissolved¡ªEdward¡¯s mana depleted. She gazed at him tenderly, unable to touch him with her vanished hands. Night had fallen, moonlight streaming through the ceiling¡¯s hole, illuminating the tragedy of old friends. CHAPTER 16: LIFE IS STRANGE Life is strange indeed. In one night, Kira and I went from battlefield foes to inseparable allies. We reunited with old friends, were betrayed by them, and now mourn their loss¡ªall in a single night. A new day dawned. Kira sat silently beside Poppy, wordless. Muse grinned awkwardly, recounting her and Edward¡¯s tales through the night. I understood their pain¡ªlosing loved ones cuts deep. I didn¡¯t know how to comfort them, to ease their grief. I could only watch the survivors, seething in silence. I blamed the cloaked figure and that idiot Gremlin; I blamed myself for not going with Kira. She rose slowly, saying she wanted to cremate her friends. Muse¡¯s face twisted, tears welling¡ªthough Androids lack tear ducts. We can¡¯t cry. Kira and I gathered the factory¡¯s roots, piling them around the cold bodies. Muse sat helplessly in a corner, handless and powerless. We stood before Edward and Poppy, their faces still as if sleeping. ¡°Sweet dreams,¡± Kira whispered, raising her hand to ignite the pyre¡ªbut something was wrong. I scanned her with my system, the results baffling me. Her body held no trace of mana. Muse seemed to notice too. Kira gritted her teeth, focusing, but nothing happened. ¡°Let me,¡± I said, firing at the roots. Small explosions sparked, flames roaring to life. Muse cried out in despair; Kira stood motionless, watching. She¡¯d lost friends, lost her power¡ªand I could only stay quiet. The fire consumed Edward and Poppy, ending a sorrowful tale. We returned to the sewer hideout. Muse said she had something to tell us. Kira sat silently in Edward¡¯s chair, where he¡¯d once scribbled tirelessly. Muse explained how the Gremlin approached them, promising the cloaked figure would save Edward and Poppy from death and upgrade Muse¡¯s body if they helped. They refused at first, but Poppy secretly sought the Gremlin, receiving a Philosopher¡¯s Stone¡ªand was tricked into becoming a Beast, as we¡¯d seen. Edward saw Poppy as a sister; he agreed to the terms, adding that the cloaked figure must free her from the Beast. Their sole task: eliminate the Reaper. The Gremlin tracked and reported our positions to Edward. They lured Kira into Sleeping Beauty¡¯s world, where she¡¯d be vulnerable. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°So where¡¯d your intel come from?¡± I asked Muse curiously. ¡°That Gremlin¡¯s dumb and greedy. Feed it sweets, and it spills everything,¡± Muse chuckled faintly. ¡°Edward planned to use that info against the cloaked figure after freeing Poppy.¡± ¡°Do you know who he really is?¡± I asked again. ¡°Only that he¡¯s a man tied to the Elder Council. I tried infiltrating the Meadow once, but it¡¯s heavily guarded¡ªmy frame couldn¡¯t handle it,¡± Muse sighed, her expressions strikingly human. ¡°True enough,¡± I replied. Guardian Androids have thicker frames, slowing them compared to others. ¡°And Kira¡¯s current state¡­¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Muse glanced at Kira with concern. ¡°Edward¡¯s notes never mentioned a Homunculus suddenly losing mana like this.¡± I looked at Kira, still seated, head bowed, toying with Edward¡¯s pen, staring blankly at it. Nothing seemed to reach her ears. ¡°Listen, I have to go,¡± Muse said abruptly. ¡°Stay here as long as you like¡ªI can¡¯t bear another moment in this place¡­¡± ¡°Where to?¡± I asked. ¡°Anywhere. Too many memories here¡­¡± Muse¡¯s voice choked. ¡°¡­I¡¯m truly sorry for everything.¡± ¡°Muse¡­¡± ¡°Take care, both of you. Snow, I left something behind the bookshelf¡ªhope it helps.¡± Muse departed. Kira remained oblivious, fixated on the pen. I wanted to hug her, to voice my thoughts, but something held me back. Following Muse¡¯s hint, I found a crate tucked in a wall nook. Inside was a note and a black device resembling THE SHIEL2. ¡°BR1SC0E¡­¡± I muttered after scanning it. I equipped it, activating a black armor suit that encased me, a sword at my hip. Deactivating it, I picked up the tattered note¡ªMuse¡¯s intel on the Meadow. An idea sparked. ¡°Kira, stay here. I¡¯ll end this¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Kira gripped my hand tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡ªI can¡¯t lose anyone else¡­¡± Her voice trembled. I hugged her¡ªsomething I couldn¡¯t do before. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m your Guardian Angel, remember? In return, become the Reaper again,¡± I smiled. Kira looked at me, tears streaming. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± I brushed her black hair gently, then turned and left. The Meadow¡ªwhere the cloaked figure hid¡ªlay encircled by towering walls, isolated from Elysium. I activated the armor, approaching the sealed gate. Guards swarmed me, but I paid them no mind. They were mere pebbles in my path¡ªtoo weak to stop me. ¡°Second-generation combat Android, once called CBT-002. Now, please call me Snow.¡± CHAPTER 17: BANQUET OF MASSACRE The guards outside were no match for Snow. She dispatched them swiftly, smashing through the gate. Inside, another squad awaited¡ªbows drawn, formation tight, ready to intercept her. ¡°BR1SC0E: Bladesworn,¡± Snow commanded her armor. As arrows flew, the suit shifted to yellow, the sword morphing into a katana. She assumed a stance, slicing arrows aside mid-flight. The panicked soldiers loosed more volleys. Snow leapt into the air, dodging. ¡°BR1SC0E: Willbender.¡± The armor turned blue, the katana replaced by dual swords fused together. She vanished midair, reappearing behind the squad. The blades split, striking with precision, felling them like straw. Per Muse¡¯s intel, the Meadow had one outer wall; inside stood a temple atop a rise where the Elders convened. Heavily guarded with few hiding spots, the front gate was the best entry. Snow charged the stairs to the temple, enemies pouring out in droves. ¡°BR1SC0E: Reaper,¡± she ordered coldly. The armor shifted to a grim green, a greatsword materializing. With a shout, she swung it forward, ascending step by step. Blood cascaded down, mangled bodies piling up¡ªeach wave felled only for more to block her path. ¡°BR1SC0E: SOULBEAST!!¡± Snow roared. The dark green brightened, the greatsword shrinking to a dagger. Her speed surged, the blade flashing under sunlight as she neared the temple doors, leaving a river of gore behind. Elite guards stood before the entrance¡ªhandpicked, moving in disciplined formation. A wall of shields advanced, spears thrusting through gaps, forcing Snow back. She gritted her teeth, ramming into them with BR1SC0E¡¯s defenses. ¡°BR1SC0E: WEAVER!!¡± A bolt of lightning surged into the metal wall, startling the guards into dropping their shields. A bizarre sword with entwined twin blades emerged; her armor now shimmered purple with mana, streaked with blood-red hues. The guards rallied, counterattacking. Snow plunged her sword into the ground, cracking stone and toppling them. Survivors thrust spears forward¡ªan ice wall rose, snapping their weapons in half. BR1SC0E¡¯s true strength lay in its vast nanite reserves, enabling constant form-shifting and even mimicking magic. Gripping the sword with both hands, Snow raised it high. A colossal fire pillar erupted, embodying her fury. The guards panicked as the blaze crashed down, reducing them to ash and incinerating the closing temple doors. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Inside, portraits of Elders lined the walls. At the center, a long marble table bore twelve chairs, laden with lavish food and fine wine¡ªall drenched in blood. Snow rushed in, following a crimson trail to the rear garden. There, Elders¡¯ corpses lay stacked. Before she could process it, the Gremlin appeared: ¡°Master¡¯s taken a liking to you.¡± A firewall flared, engulfing the bodies. Dark clouds rolled in, eclipsing the sun. Kulshedra returned¡ªnot as before. Longer, it coiled midair, shrouding the temple. Multiple heads sprouted, wielding whirlwinds, lightning, and fire. The Beast of Calamity and Chaos roared, eyes fixated on Snow, eager to devour its conqueror. Four days had passed since Snow vanished. Kira scoured Elysium, finding no trace. She¡¯d lost friends, her power, and now feared Snow was gone forever. Trembling, she bit her finger, drawing blood. After Snow left, Kira tested her abilities¡ªstabbing her hand with Edward¡¯s pen¡ªbut the wound didn¡¯t heal. Not only had the Stones¡¯ power abandoned her, but her Homunculus regeneration too. Overhearing guards whisper at a street corner, Kira learned of dark clouds over the Meadow four days prior. One recounted a massacre¡ªmost soldiers slaughtered, bodies still uncleared. The timing matched Snow¡¯s disappearance. Kira raced to the Meadow. Oddly, the gate guards let her pass unhindered. A horrific sight greeted her: corpse mounds flanked the temple, stairs stained red with a bloodfall. The rear gate slammed shut; soldiers swarmed, encircling her. Bewildered, she saw a figure descend from the temple. He approached, soldiers parting respectfully. His black cloak concealed him, the Gremlin trailing behind. ¡°Last we met, were you still in a tank, or was I at a trial? Or perhaps Battlefield No. 7?¡± he murmured. He removed his hood, revealing black hair and golden eyes. Glancing at the trembling Kira, he turned back to the stairs, raising a hand to the troops: ¡°SOLDIERS OF THE FEDERATION, SEIZE THE TRAITOR!!¡± CHAPTER 18: MORDRED Three days have passed since I was locked in this dark dungeon. I know the exact time because each day, the cloaked man visits. He carries a silver spear imbued with mana, using it to rip open my chest and insert a Philosopher¡¯s Stone. Oddly, though my powers have vanished, I absorb them naturally, and the wounds heal afterward. Once finished, he sits and chats with me for a while, as if he has no one else to confide in. His name is Arthur¡ªhe calls himself the Chosen among the Chosen. He¡¯s the one who created the Philosopher¡¯s Stones and the Homunculi. In a way, Arthur is my father. He told me how he yearned to climb to the pinnacle of glory, to become a legendary king like in the tales. But it all fell apart when the Elders discovered his work. Greedy and spineless, they lusted after the Stones¡¯ power, ordering the capture of those with high mana and confiscating all records on Homunculi and Stones for themselves. Arthur, forewarned, hid the first Stone¡ªacquired long ago by forging the Elders¡¯ orders and sending comrades to their doom¡ªinside me. He then crafted a Homunculus doppelg?nger to take his punishment while he hid under the protection of Cacus, a corpulent Elder obsessed with immortality. Arthur convinced Cacus his dream was within reach with enough Stones, suggesting an army to serve him once immortal. For years, Cacus secretly amassed blood to spawn Beasts. The other Elders eventually caught wind, summoning Cacus to the Meadow to settle matters¡ªnothing more than power-hungry squabbles. Arthur slaughtered them all, Cacus included, using their mana to forge another Stone and summon Kulshedra. After Snow battled the red dragon and was defeated, she leapt below¡ªher fate unclear. Arthur took her severed arm, spinning a lie that an Android had infiltrated and killed the Elders, and that he¡¯d avenged them. Now hailed as the Federation¡¯s savior, his dream came true. Yet he stands alone¡ªhaving stabbed his comrades in the back and murdered innocents, all as rungs on his ladder to the top. ¡°This is the last Stone.¡± ¡°¡­How many lives have you snuffed out for this pile?¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Not as many as you¡¯ve taken in your years of war.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t equate me with you¡­ I fought to protect¡­¡± ¡°My creation, playing at being human. I must admit, that white Android threw quite a wrench into my plans.¡± ¡°Snow¡­¡± ¡°Even giving each other names. I never approved of Homunculi having names¡ªthough I created you, I couldn¡¯t control your emotions, so I stopped bothering.¡± I wanted to punch him¡ªdesperately wanted to smash his face¡ªif these chains weren¡¯t holding me back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t die just yet,¡± Arthur said slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve placed Stones in you containing the mightiest Beasts I can summon. We¡¯ll crush Midgard soon enough.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. Snow took down Kulshedra with a single cannon¡­¡± I mocked. ¡°¡­Summoned by dying Homunculi,¡± Arthur retorted. ¡°The Elders¡¯ mana brought forth its true form. You¡¯ll see soon enough, Hel.¡± He smirked, brimming with self-assured omniscience. ¡°Branwen was just a test. Hel¡¯s book doesn¡¯t only summon souls from the past¡ªit calls forth Beasts it¡¯s absorbed,¡± he went on. ¡°But your power¡¯s unstable now, which wasn¡¯t in my plan. No matter¡ªI¡¯ll make you the Reaper again soon.¡± Arthur¡¯s been gone a while. I still can¡¯t believe what he said. In the end, I¡¯m just a puppet dancing to his tune. Whether this war ends by my hand or someone else¡¯s, it no longer matters to me. The only thing I care about now is whether Snow is alive or dead. ¡°Snow¡­¡± ¡°SNOW!! Can you hear me!?¡± A familiar voice jolted Snow awake. Muse sat beside her, worried, sporting a new pair of hands. Snow sat up, realizing she was in a tent, her body hooked to repair devices. ¡°Snow! I thought you were¡­¡± Muse hugged her tightly with her newly acquired arms. ¡°Muse, why are you here? What happened? Where am I¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s been nearly twenty days since you shut down¡ªI was terrified,¡± Muse¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°They found you drifting in a stream. They saved you, and these hands¡ªthey made them for me.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®they¡¯!? Is Kira still in Elysium!? The cloaked man¡­¡± Snow bolted up, yanking off the devices around her. ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything, but first, meet the ones who saved you,¡± Muse said, pulling Snow out of the tent. The scene unfolding before Snow was unbelievable. Androids and Homunculi lived together peacefully in a forest, showing no trace of enmity. A Homunculus approached her slowly¡ªblack hair, golden eyes¡ªmaking her wary. She¡¯d seen this face beneath a black cloak, advancing to finish her after Kulshedra¡¯s defeat. ¡°I understand how you feel, but I¡¯m not that cloaked man. I¡¯m Mordred, leader of the Knights of Treachery.¡± CHAPTER 19: SAFE HAVEN Muse led Snow into a large tent filled with machinery¡ªcommunication devices, repair tools, and combat gear. ¡°Cindy, she¡¯s awake,¡± Muse called. An Android emerged from under a table, orange hair braided on both sides, wearing glasses. Her silver eyes lit up at the sight of Snow, adjusting her frames as she approached: ¡°You recovered faster than I expected! The materials I used to fix you could¡¯ve made two brand-new THE SHIEL2 suits! I repaired your armor too¡ªthough it¡¯s a prototype, it¡¯s pretty handy. Where¡¯d you get it, Muse? How¡¯re the hands I made you? Still good? Should I¡­¡± ¡°Slow down, Cindy, my hands are fine,¡± Muse interrupted with a smile. ¡°Snow, this is Cindy. She handles Android repairs and crafts gear here. She fixed you up, and my hands are her work too.¡± ¡°Thanks, Cindy. I¡¯m Snow,¡± Snow said with a slight bow. ¡°No problem, no problem¡ªI love fixing things! I¡¯m a third-generation labor Android, once called WRK 555, now Cindy. Sorry if I talk too much; I¡¯m just excited. It¡¯s my first time seeing second-gen Androids with emotions like you two. Muse brought you for a check-up, right? Let me start the scan¡­ Done! No issues¡ªyou¡¯re fully operational!¡± Cindy chattered, making Muse and Snow chuckle. ¡°Cindy, why wear glasses? Android eyes can see far, can¡¯t they?¡± Snow asked, curious. ¡°For style! My old owner loved me in glasses. She treated Androids well, but after bankruptcy¡­¡± Cindy slowed, sadness flickering in her eyes. ¡°Anyway, when debt collectors came to repossess Androids, I accidentally hurt one and fled. Lune found me and brought me here.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the chatterbox Android talking about me?¡± A Homunculus entered, purple hair tied high. ¡°When I found you, only the core was intact,¡± Lune said with a warm laugh. ¡°Snow, this is Lune, an Illusionist. Most folks here were rescued by her, including me,¡± Muse introduced. ¡°Lune, Cindy, thank you both. If not for you¡­¡± Snow hesitated. ¡°No need to thank us¡ªwe¡¯re just doing our jobs. When I found Muse, she was fighting guards outside Elysium like a lunatic,¡± Lune grinned carefree. ¡°Besides, the Reaper¡¯s companion is quite the character.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You all know already?¡± Snow asked, surprised. ¡°Muse told us. Honestly, we admire you two. From enemies to friends¡ªyou even faced Beasts without Server support. I¡¯d love to be that cool; I¡¯m really good at¡­¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Lune covered Cindy¡¯s mouth. ¡°This is a haven for beings like us¡ªhuman creations tired of pointless slaughter. Mordred has something to tell you, Snow. Meet him at the camp gate.¡± ¡°Let me come¡ªI wanna hear too!¡± Cindy whined. ¡°Have you finished Lockheed like Mordred asked!?¡± Lune grabbed Cindy, dragging her out despite her protests. Snow met Mordred at the gate as Lune instructed, still wary. Sensing it, Mordred spoke first to reassure her: ¡°Though I look like him, I swear the only thing I want right now is to drive a sword through his heart,¡± he said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m a victim of Arthur too.¡± ¡°So his name¡¯s Arthur¡­¡± Snow muttered. ¡°How are you and Arthur so alike?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a Homunculus made to take his punishment¡ªa walking corpse,¡± Mordred recounted. ¡°I escaped thanks to a Chosen One causing chaos at the execution. He broke his cuffs, blasted lightning at the guards¡ªI seized the chance and ran.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you build this place?¡± Snow pressed. ¡°I wandered battlefields, originally seeking death,¡± Mordred replied. ¡°But fate wouldn¡¯t let me die, so I gathered Homunculi and Androids sick of war here. Like you and Kira, we want to end this conflict.¡± ¡°Any news of Kira? She might still be hiding in the sewers¡­¡± Snow said, anxious. ¡°Snow, listen¡ªKira¡¯s in danger. We just learned she¡¯s been captured by Arthur and is likely en route to Neo Babylon,¡± Mordred said gravely. ¡°Midgard¡­ She¡¯s powerless now¡ªwhat can she even do!?¡± Snow shouted. ¡°Our intel suggests he¡¯s turned the Reaper into a vessel for high-tier Beasts. If he unleashes that power, it won¡¯t just be Midgard¡ªOlympus will fall too,¡± Mordred added. ¡°I¡¯m going to save Kira,¡± Snow clenched her fists. ¡°I¡¯ll save her no matter what.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Mordred placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Not just Kira¡ªyou¡¯re our hope too, Snow. Your emotional journey inspires this camp. The Knights of Treachery stand with you!¡± ¡°I fixed Lockheed¡ªpraise meeee!!¡± Cindy waved from afar. ¡°Come with me, Snow. Our ticket to Neo Babylon¡¯s ready,¡± Mordred said. Lune rallied everyone per Mordred¡¯s orders. He explained the mission, stressing it was a suicide run¡ªanyone could stay if unwilling. Eyes met; a Homunculus spoke first: ¡°Kira saved me once at Battlefield No. 8. Time to repay her.¡± ¡°Me too¡ªat No. 12,¡± another Homunculus added. ¡°002¡ªI mean Snow¡ªshielded me at No. 6, though she might not recall,¡± an Android chimed in. ¡°If everyone¡¯s in, we head to Neo Babylon at dawn!¡± Mordred raised his fist; the camp roared in unison. Snow felt gratitude. Cindy ran to her side, joined by Muse and Lune. Once soulless creations forced to fight, they now shared one goal. A suicide mission loomed, yet smiles graced every face. CHAPTER 20: AUTHORS OF OUR FATES ¡°Lockheed¡ªfull name Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, one of the largest, most powerful military transport planes ever built, first flown in 1968, capable of¡­¡± ¡°CINDY!! YOU SURE THIS WON¡¯T CRASH!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Lune¡ªI replaced all critical parts and reinforced it with shields in case it falls¡­¡± ¡°THEN WHY¡¯S IT SHAKING LIKE THIS!?¡± Lune and Cindy¡¯s bickering drew laughs, easing the prior tension. Muse sat beside Snow, pensive. She recounted how Lune found her when she¡¯d lost the will to exist. The Knights of Treachery gave her a second chance, a reason to live. Snow squeezed her friend¡¯s hand, promising that after it all, they¡¯d travel the world together. ¡°We¡¯ll land in five minutes!¡± Mordred stood mid-cabin, a golden sword materializing in his hand. All eyes turned to their leader. ¡°Many of us may not return from this. I thank you for humoring my selfish request¡ªrisking your lives for someone I¡¯ve never met. But remember: Kira and Snow are our inspiration, our hope. Write your own stories¡ªbecome the authors of our fates!¡± Mordred raised his sword; cheers erupted, morale blazing. Beyond the clouds, Neo Babylon emerged. Hours ago, it thrived, fueled by Babel Corporation¡¯s Android production. Now, ruins bore Branwen¡¯s razor feathers, Ifrit¡¯s whirlwind ravaged afar, and Sleeping Beauty¡¯s thorny roots sprouted amid corpse piles. From dark clouds, Kulshedra loomed¡ªits heads spewing fire and lightning at Lockheed. Explosions and impacts tore the plane apart, smoke trailing as it plummeted. ¡°CINDY!! YOU SAID IT HAD SHIELDS!?¡± Lune shrieked. ¡°NO SHIELD CAN TAKE THAT MANY HITS!!¡± Cindy yelled, frantically tapping controls. A faint barrier enveloped Lockheed¡¯s remnants, skidding across a plaza before crashing into a building. ¡°¡­Everyone okay!?¡± Mordred scanned around. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine¡ªlost an arm, but it¡¯ll regrow,¡± Lune replied. ¡°We need to move now.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. They retreated into the building. ¡°We¡¯ve lost over half our forces and gear,¡± Cindy reported. Homunculi focused on regenerating, Androids self-repaired with N9NE LIVES. Outside, Kulshedra¡¯s heads roared, eyes fixated on Lockheed¡¯s wreck. ¡°With such losses, we avoid fights where possible. Androids lead and protect; Homunculi support from behind. Cindy, check remaining gear and distribute it. Lune, scout for Kira¡¯s location,¡± Mordred ordered briskly. Everyone prepared in silence. Cindy approached Snow with BR1SC0E: ¡°I fixed it and added a new form. But you can¡¯t use it freely¡ªit drains all nano reserves. Save it for the final moment.¡± ¡°Thanks, Cindy,¡± Snow said, equipping it. The new form¡¯s data surprised her. Lune returned, reporting a horde of ancient warriors guarding Babel¡¯s headquarters. ¡°Kira¡¯s there,¡± Snow affirmed. Mordred updated the plan: ¡°We move in formation¡ªLune and Illusionists disguise us. Muse and I guard Snow in the center; her armor¡¯s key to this.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Cindy asked. ¡°With me,¡± Snow offered her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s end this together.¡± ¡°Some won¡¯t make it back¡ªready?¡± Lune asked. ¡°Are you kidding? I died once before you found me,¡± Muse nudged her. ¡°We¡¯ll carve a bloody path straight in. I swear on my sword¡ªyou won¡¯t be forgotten! Knights of Treachery, be fearless!¡± Mordred raised his blade; cheers rang out, heedless of danger. Lune and the Illusionists led, casting disguises. Nearly fifty beings marched to their doom, yet fear was absent. They crept through ruined streets teeming with low-tier Beasts, crossing fields of corpses. Babel¡¯s tower loomed, its gate guarded by ancient warriors in diverse historical armor. ¡°Enemies block the entrance¡ªwe can¡¯t proceed,¡± Lune whispered. ¡°THEN BREAK THROUGH!! KNIGHTS OF TREACHERY, SHOW THEM OUR STRENGTH!!¡± Cindy bellowed, THE SHIEL2 encasing her as she charged, swinging TESTAMEN7 into the foe. ¡°¡­That¡¯s my line,¡± Mordred smiled. ¡°KNIGHTS OF TREACHERY, ATTACK!!¡± ST1NGs fired relentlessly; fireballs, ice spears, and lightning surged. 6EEKERS pressed from above, spears and swords flashing. ¡°Don¡¯t let the spectral warriors hit you¡ªwounds won¡¯t heal!¡± Snow shouted. Muse deployed 8ODYGUARD to shield her; Mordred wielded sword and fire, clearing Snow¡¯s path. Chaos erupted. ¡°ANDROIDS!! RAISE SHIELDS!!¡± Cindy yelled. ¡°ELEMENTALISTS!! BIND THEIR FEET!!¡± Lune coordinated. 8ODYGUARDs formed a wall, funneling spectral warriors aside as earth rose to trap them. Though ethereal, they were still physical. ¡°GATE¡¯S BLOCKED FROM INSIDE!!¡± the front reported. ¡°DRUIDS!! BREACH IT!!¡± Mordred roared. Two Homunculi morphed into rhinos, smashing the gate¡¯s sides. The Knights retreated inward. ¡°HOW MANY LEFT!?¡± Mordred bellowed. ¡°ABOUT THIRTY!! I¡¯LL HOLD HERE¡ªKEEP GOING!!¡± Lune replied, casting illusion clones that charged into battle. The rest raced up the stairs, grabbing debris and corpses to slow pursuers. At floor twelve, thorny roots blocked their path. A tree-like Beast with a grotesque face emerged from a corpse pile. ¡°Sleeping Beauty¡­¡± Snow gritted her teeth. ¡°Leave it to me,¡± Muse stepped forward. ¡°For Poppy. For Edward!¡± CHAPTER 21: (DON鈥橳 FEAR) THE REAPER Muse and Mordred led half the force to hold off the Beast, while Snow and Cindy took the rest to clear the thorny roots blocking their path. ¡°They keep growing back!¡± Cindy panicked. Sleeping Beauty roared, and the piled corpses twitched to life, dragging mangled limbs to surround Mordred and Muse. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! Sleeping Beauty thrives on its prey¡¯s fear!¡± Snow shouted from afar. Muse took a deep breath, steadying herself, and pressed the fight. Mordred charged fearlessly, beheading the shambling dead. ¡°MORDRED!!¡± Thorny roots shot toward his back, but Muse raised her shield just in time¡ªlosing an arm in the process. ¡°You okay!?¡± Mordred asked, voice tinged with guilt. ¡°Fine¡ªstill fighting,¡± Muse grinned. The remaining Knights swiftly dealt with the corpses, encircling the Beast. ¡°The path¡¯s almost clear!¡± Cindy reported. ¡°Go with them,¡± Muse said, kicking Mordred toward the stairs. Stunned, he understood¡ªif no one stayed, none would advance. Snow¡¯s group moved on, but the roots kept sprouting. ¡°Mind if I join you?¡± a familiar voice made Muse turn. Lune, drenched in blood, wounds regenerating, grinned. ¡°Finished the gate crew?¡± Muse asked, gripping her shield. ¡°Nope¡ªtoo many, so I ran up here,¡± Lune bared her fangs in a cheeky smile. ¡°Back at Battlefield No. 11, I faced something like this. You¡¯re bringing back memories,¡± Muse returned a grin. ¡°Handle the warriors for you guys¡ªLune and I¡¯ll take this wretch,¡± Lune sneered at Sleeping Beauty, spitting on the ground. ¡°Round two!¡± The Knights retreated toward the stairs, ready to intercept the spectral warriors. Lune and Muse flanked the Beast, striking simultaneously. Muse leapt, aiming her shield downward, but roots pierced her from behind, shattering her into pieces. Sleeping Beauty¡¯s twisted face smirked¡ªbriefly. Muse reappeared from Lune¡¯s illusion, slamming her shield into its face; the broken form was a decoy. Lune split into clones¡ªshadows of her and Muse danced around, bewildering the Beast. Its roots lashed out chaotically, shredding illusions. ¡°Buy me some time!¡± Muse fell back, focusing her consciousness as if summoning something. Lune charged in, illusions swirling. Outside, the Knights held off the past¡¯s phantoms but were pushed back by sheer numbers. Time dragged on, their resistance seeming futile¡ªuntil a black shape crashed through the wall, towering amid the dust. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to pilot this thing,¡± Muse¡¯s voice rang from DEATH RIDER5. ¡°Lucky me¡ªthis is Babel Corp¡¯s HQ. CAVALRY¡¯S HERE!!¡± Morale surged; the Knights rallied. Metal clashed, guns blazed, shouts mingled with roars. Sleeping Beauty¡¯s roots struck relentlessly; DEATH RIDER5¡¯s cannon swept the battlefield. The clash echoed so far that Snow¡¯s group on floor 40 could hear it. ¡°They¡¯re still holding,¡± Mordred sighed, his sword dripping with Harpy blood¡ªlow-tier Beasts with bird bodies and human heads. ¡°Babel¡¯s HQ is being renovated; the top¡¯s floor 74 now. Kira might be there¡ªwhy¡¯d the elevator break now!?¡± Cindy grumbled. ¡°We¡¯re over halfway, but I¡¯m still worried¡­¡± Snow faltered, hands clenched. ¡°Don¡¯t be. Even if we fail here, we¡¯re still victors,¡± Cindy patted her shoulder. ¡°They¡¯ll tell tales of us¡ªstupid, reckless creations who dared defy the Reaper!¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Mordred added. ¡°We¡¯ll never be forgotten.¡± They pressed to floor 59, Beasts lunging as if to devour them, corpses and blood piling high. Outside, a white shadow soared closer, its razor feathers shattering glass. Branwen appeared¡ªSerah¡¯s face replaced by a wretched victim¡¯s head. ¡°Careful! Branwen¡¯s power¡ª¡± ¡°Birdbrain¡ªflying in here with nowhere to maneuver. Mordred, take Snow¡ªgo!¡± Cindy adjusted her glasses, THE SHIEL2¡¯s red glow encasing her. Mordred pulled Snow upward. ¡°Don¡¯t look back¡ªdon¡¯t let their efforts be in vain,¡± he said. Snow nodded, resolve in her eyes. As they left, Harpies joined Branwen; Cindy and the Knights faced the Beasts. ¡°My turf now,¡± Cindy smirked. Metal orbs floated outside¡ª6EEKERS¡¯ barrels spun, firing in unison. Harpies screeched in agony. Ambushed, Branwen faltered. Cindy led the charge, forming a pincer. ¡°Hold them as long as we can!¡± she yelled. ¡°KNIGHTS OF TREACHERY!! CHARGE!!¡± ¡°Will Cindy be okay? She¡¯s not combat-grade,¡± Snow fretted. ¡°Every piece of gear we have¡ªshe made it,¡± Mordred replied. ¡°By human terms, she¡¯s a genius. She upgraded her frame long ago¡ªdon¡¯t worry.¡± Snow and Mordred climbed the tower, blood-soaked from the bodies they¡¯d crossed. ¡°One floor left,¡± Mordred said. Suddenly, stakes¡ªlike those that tortured Serah¡ªshot toward him. He parried with his sword. A dark figure emerged, silver spear in hand, the Gremlin grinning behind. ¡°My creation, hasn¡¯t your time run out?¡± ¡°Soon¡ªafter I end you.¡± Arthur shed his black cloak. Mordred readied himself, sword aimed at his foe. ¡°Step back, Snow,¡± he said calmly. ¡°This fight¡¯s mine alone.¡± CHAPTER 22: CAMLANN Spears thrust with deadly precision; swords swung with masterful grace. Snow watched from behind, awe plain on her face. A Homunculus stood against his creator¡ªa mighty mage, the Chosen among the Chosen. ¡°Not bad for a Homunculus in close combat,¡± Arthur taunted. ¡°You¡¯re not half-bad yourself¡ªmage with a spear?¡± Mordred shot back. ¡°Almost forgot!¡± Arthur unleashed sharp stakes. Mordred twirled his sword to deflect. Fireballs followed; Mordred retreated, raising an ice wall. The clash birthed a misty haze. Arthur seized the moment, stabbing Mordred¡¯s shoulder with his spear. Smirking at the reeling Mordred, he gloated: ¡°Mage or Homunculus, mastering two magic schools is no small feat. Yet you and the Reaper did it¡ªyou¡¯re my masterpieces!¡± Arthur laughed wildly. ¡°I don¡¯t know about Kira, but aren¡¯t we identical?¡± Mordred smirked. ¡°Only in face,¡± Arthur replied. ¡°But I¡¯m sick of this face¡ªsince it¡¯s on you too.¡± Cracks split Arthur¡¯s visage, fragments falling away. Black hair turned silver-gray with age, a wrinkled face emerged, shocking Mordred and Snow. ¡°Surprised? I¡¯ve lived over a century¡ªaging¡¯s natural,¡± Arthur charged again, stakes flying. Mordred sidestepped, firing lightning into the stakes. They absorbed it, then redirected it at Arthur, catching him off-guard. Mordred lunged, aiming for his head¡ªbut something, or someone, intervened. A towering knight in silver armor, missing his left arm from fierce battles past. Long, lustrous brown hair tied neatly, emerald eyes narrowed on a simple yet striking face. Bedivere¡ªKnight of the Round Table, Beast of Loyalty and Courage¡ªraised his sword to shield Arthur. ¡°Fun, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arthur¡¯s aged face beamed. ¡°The Reaper¡¯s power is fully unlocked. Bedivere blurs the line between Beast and spectral warrior. Puppet, thinking we¡¯re alike was your biggest mistake!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Bedivere surged forward, guarding Arthur. Relentless strikes forced Mordred back; Bedivere¡¯s cuts wouldn¡¯t heal, blood flowing freely. Cornered, Mordred faced Bedivere¡¯s blade aimed at his core. ¡°BR1SC0E: REAPER!!¡± A grim green flared in Bedivere¡¯s emerald eyes. Snow¡¯s greatsword deflected the blow, pushing the Round Table Knight back. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t just watch,¡± Snow snapped, furious. They moved to the center, balancing the odds. ¡°Thanks,¡± Mordred nodded slightly. ¡°Stay in this form¡ªwe save the last one for the end.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Snow replied. ¡°Stay behind me¡ªI¡¯ll clear your path upstairs,¡± Mordred whispered, charging with his sword. Snow followed close. Bedivere countered swiftly. Mordred dodged, letting Snow¡¯s greatsword crash down. Tiles shattered under its weight, forcing Bedivere back. Arthur thrust his spear from behind to aid; unnoticed, Mordred closed in, grabbing Arthur¡¯s head and unleashing fire, scorching half his face. The mage screamed in agony. Bedivere kicked Snow¡¯s sword, throwing her off-balance, then rushed to Arthur¡¯s side. Flesh and blood melted from Arthur¡¯s face, revealing a metallic skull beneath. ¡°What¡­ You¡¯re an Android!?¡± Snow gasped. ¡°DON¡¯T LUMP ME WITH YOU MACHINES!!¡± Arthur roared in rage. ¡°I¡¯m still human, still a mage¡ªbut I couldn¡¯t beat time, so I replaced my body. I¡¯M STILL HUMAN!!¡± ¡°No way¡ªMidgard wouldn¡¯t aid an enemy!¡± Mordred¡¯s face twisted in disbelief. ¡°Of course not,¡± Arthur regained his composure. ¡°I did this before Midgard and Olympus existed, before the war. I chased immortality¡ªthat¡¯s why I rebuilt myself with steel, why I made Homunculi and Philosopher¡¯s Stones. As long as my heart beats, I¡¯m human!¡± ¡°So we¡¯re just experiments¡­¡± Mordred pointed his sword at Arthur. ¡°You¡¯re like us¡ªsoulless!¡± ¡°BEDIVERE!! DESTROY THEM!!¡± Arthur bellowed. Bedivere charged at his command, Arthur hurling fireballs and stakes from behind. Mordred gritted his teeth, taking hits to close in. Bedivere¡¯s sword slashed; he dodged. Snow¡¯s blade blocked Bedivere¡¯s advance. Mordred reached Arthur, who stabbed his spear into Mordred¡¯s gut. Undeterred, Mordred pressed forward, the spear¡¯s shaft slick with blood, Arthur¡¯s grotesque face turning to panic. ¡°Thanks for the tip,¡± Mordred whispered, plunging his golden sword through Arthur¡¯s heart. The mage crumpled instantly, the Gremlin cowering in a corner, shrieking. ¡°NOW!!¡± At Mordred¡¯s signal, Snow dashed for the stairs. Bedivere pursued, but Mordred blocked him, yanking the silver spear from his body and hurling it forward before clashing swords with Bedivere. Their duel echoed below. Snow finally reached her friend. Kira¡ªin Hel¡¯s form¡ªhuddled amid black mist, a floating book flipping chaotically. Hearing footsteps, Kira looked up, tears unstoppable. ¡°Snow¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kira. Your Guardian Angel¡¯s here!¡± CHAPTER 23: SEIZE THE MOMENT ¡°Kira! Come to me!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t! This mist is trapping me¡ªI can¡¯t control my power anymore!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll come to you¡­¡± ¡°DON¡¯T!! It¡¯ll destroy anything that tries to enter!¡± ¡°Then how do we stop the Beasts and spectral warriors!?¡± ¡°The book¡ªjust destroy the book! But this damned mist keeps holding me back!¡± Kira¡¯s words rang true. Scattered around were the corpses of unlucky black birds that had tried to cross the mist, alongside Androids tasked with building the tower. Snow stood unsure, when suddenly feathers shot toward her, forcing her to retreat. Branwen circled the tower¡¯s peak, a 6EEKERS tangled in its claws. The white raven opened its mouth, firing a beam downward. Snow ducked behind her greatsword as a shield, huddling defensively. ¡°SNOW!! BE CAREFUL!!¡± Thorny roots surged from the tower¡¯s side, aiming for Snow. She rolled away¡ªKira¡¯s warning had saved her. Sleeping Beauty climbed up with its roots, while Snow felt the tremor of approaching spectral warriors. ¡°Cindy¡­ Lune¡­ Muse¡­ everyone¡¯s¡­¡± Snow¡¯s voice trembled. Ifrit closed in from the city¡¯s edge, its whirlwind sweeping everything in its path. It roared, swiping a clawed hand at Snow¡¯s head as Branwen¡¯s feathers and Sleeping Beauty¡¯s roots struck. Snow struggled to defend, BR1SC0E crumbling under the onslaught. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°¡­Snow¡­¡± Kira sobbed silently, desperate to shield her, but the black mist anchored her in place. Helpless, she watched as dark clouds regathered above. Kulshedra emerged, its heads spewing fire at Snow, who stood frozen, awaiting death. ¡°IT¡¯S NOT OVER YET!!¡± A golden dome enveloped Snow, expanding to repel the attacks. Mordred stood before her, bloodied and slashed, his pale face signaling his end. ¡°Mordred¡­¡± Snow leaned on her sword, struggling to stand. ¡°Snow, for some to move forward, others must stay behind,¡± Mordred smiled. ¡°You¡¯re brave¡ªknocked down countless times, yet you always rise. We admire that. Keep going¡ªdon¡¯t look back.¡± As the dome faded, Mordred collapsed. Bedivere stood afar, eyes closed, bowing in respect. The warriors¡¯ footsteps neared¡ªthen halted. The Beasts retreated, yielding to Bedivere, who approached Snow. The Round Table Knight raised his sword for the killing blow. Kira sank, covering her face, unable to face reality. It seemed over. Or so Kira thought. ¡°BR1SC0E: CHRONOMANCER!!¡± A strange shield blocked Bedivere¡¯s sword, gears whirring within. BR1SC0E shattered, its fragments forming a massive pink halo around the tower¡¯s peak. Nano-particles froze everything in range, as if time itself paused. A clock face appeared in the halo, its hands ticking toward the final moment. Three. Snow snatched Bedivere¡¯s sword, sprinting forward without looking back. Two. She breached the stilled black mist, which tore at her, shredding her body. One. Snow gazed at Kira, cowering with covered face. Her silver eyes gleamed in the dark. Smiling, Snow drove the sword through the book. Zero. The halo dissolved, time resuming. The mist flared briefly, swallowing everything nearby before retracting into the book. One last time, the book opened, unleashing a black fire ring that engulfed Neo Babylon, annihilating all¡ªscreaming Beasts, fleeing warriors, and the few surviving humans. In an instant, everything crumbled. Kira cradled Snow, tears unending. The moment Babel¡¯s tower fell was Snow¡¯s last. FINAL CHAPTER: DEAREST SNOW WHITE ¡°Dearest Snow White, I know you never liked that name, so I¡¯ll toss in an apology here. I can¡¯t recall how many letters I¡¯ve written you or when I last sent one, so let¡¯s revisit the old days a bit. I awoke amid the tower¡¯s ruins, surrounded by nothing. Everything was leveled¡ªa true deadland. No Beasts, no spectral warriors, no humans, no friends. It felt like no one remained. For days, I dug through the wreckage, hoping for survivors. I found Muse and Lune¡¯s bodies side by side and laid them near Mordred¡¯s. I gathered all the Knights of Treachery around him¡ªnot alone, but with Cindy¡¯s help. She¡¯s the chattiest Android I¡¯ve met, yet the smartest. Her rebuilt frame¡ªtwice as thick as a guardian Android¡¯s¡ªlet her survive. After burying you and the others, Cindy and I rebuilt the Knights of Treachery. Neo Babylon¡¯s fall didn¡¯t end the war. Babel Corp, backed by the Aesir Council, churned out fourth-generation Androids¡ªcold, emotionless. Cindy and I roamed battlefields, rescuing friends weary of fighting, hiding them in the forest. Olympus weakened after the Elders¡¯ deaths, losing most territory to Midgard. But it didn¡¯t stop there. Before Midgard could reach Elysium, a massive meteor struck, ravaging the world. I thought it was divine wrath¡ªthough I¡¯d never believed in gods before. As it fell, Cindy and I held hands, bidding farewell. I thought my fate was sealed. Yet again, I awoke in rubble, alone. The voices in my head were gone, but I felt Hel¡¯s presence within as I revived. When you destroyed the book, I thought you¡¯d destroyed all the Philosopher¡¯s Stones¡ªbut Hel¡¯s Stone, it seems, wasn¡¯t among them. It¡¯s always been inside me. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I endured endless solitude. Hundreds, thousands, millions of years passed until humans reemerged. Wars persisted¡ªfrom crude weapons to advanced tech, with faint traces of magic lingering, though not as prevalent as in our time. I wandered, sharing our story. I translated it into countless languages, spreading it across history. Some embraced it; others deemed it fiction. I¡¯ve been burned as a witch, beheaded a few times. It didn¡¯t faze me¡ªHel¡¯s Stone always brought me back. I met friends across eras but kept my distance. Loss still haunts me after all this time. Once, I joined knights in Europe to stop a mad mage reviving Beasts. He succeeded briefly, but my friends and I ended him. As I write this, rain falls outside¡ªnot the downpour of Battlefield No. 7, but a gentle spring shower. A few years back, I adopted three kids from an orphanage when it closed. They call me ¡®Mom,¡¯ though I¡¯m still adjusting. Raising kids isn¡¯t my forte, and I dread the day I¡¯ll lose them too. I can¡¯t forget you. Though we were together briefly, you¡¯re one of the most important parts of my life. I¡¯ve wanted to say this forever but lacked the courage. I love¡ª¡± ¡°Boring!¡± ¡°Kiddo, didn¡¯t you beg to watch Iris and Joshua play basketball? Now you¡¯re bored?¡± ¡°You got here two hours early, Mom! It¡¯s raining outside, so we¡¯re stuck, and you¡¯ve been writing that letter forever. Who¡¯s it for?¡± ¡°A friend of mine.¡± ¡°Who? Are they nearby?¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s probably still roaming the world.¡± ¡°I wanna travel everywhere someday too!¡± ¡°Finish your cake first, then go wherever. Don¡¯t you always rave about this shop¡¯s pastries?¡± ¡°Eating it now! The rain¡¯s stopped¡ªlet¡¯s get ready!¡± The sky cleared post-rain, a soft breeze tousling my hair. I took the little one to the park where Iris and Joshua played basketball. I¡¯d never been a mom, nor good with kids, but I¡¯m lucky they¡¯re growing up strong. ¡°Mom, I wanna play basketball too!¡± ¡°Sure, but be careful¡ªeveryone¡¯s bigger than you¡­¡± ¡°I know! Wish me luck!¡± She reminds me of my old friend¡ªplatinum hair, innocent yet fierce. Those sweet memories make me smile. ¡°Good luck, Snow!¡±