Everywhere I went, soldiers scattered across the city. Patrols on every corner. Eyes sharp. Armor gleaming in the afternoon sun.Not ideal for someone like me.
How am I supposed to escape this place…?
If I had a map, maybe I could figure out a safe route out of the capital. But asking for one would raise too many questions. Questions a Resistance sniper couldn't afford.
I stopped in a quiet alleyway, catching my breath.
I hope Blaze is okay…
I forced myself to push that thought away. Blaze was strong. Ridiculously strong. He could handle a dozen of elite players and still find time to tease me in the middle of it. If anything, he was probably enjoying himself right now.
Still…
I didn't get the chance to say goodbye.Or even thank him.
Not the way I wanted.
Focus, Ryze. One thing at a time. Escape first.
SK's last words echoed through my mind—"Trust me."
I wasn't sure if I was betraying her by running alone… or if she already expected this. SK might be an Empire officer, but she had tried to help me. I didn't know how to feel about that.
I shoved the thought aside and stepped into a busy street, letting the crowd hide me. The city marketplace was bustling with voices, footsteps, and the scent of food. Vendors called out to buyers. Children ran between carts. It was the perfect place to disappear.
"Hey, miss! Care to try some of our menu?" a waiter called out from a stall.
"What—oh, no thanks," I said quickly.
Then my stomach growled so loudly even I jumped.
I hadn't eaten since… when? Blaze and SK were the only ones feeding me back in the Empire facility. And now I was starving.
I sighed."Actually… maybe I will try something."
"Great! I'll get you a table," he said happily.
I followed him inside. The stall was cozy, warm, and filled with the smell of cooked meat. I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu—mostly because I technically had no money.
When the food arrived, I devoured it. It wasn't fancy, but at that moment, it tasted like heaven.
Then it happened—
Two armed soldiers walked in and sat at a table directly in front of me. Too close. Way too close.
My heart dropped.
If I run, they'll chase me.If I don't pay, the owner might report me.If they look closely enough, they'll notice my face—
I froze, gripping the table.
A waiter suddenly approached me.
"Ah, miss, do you have a moment? The owner wants to speak with you."
"What? Why? I didn't even do anything yet!"
But I had no choice. I stood up and followed him. The soldiers didn't react. They were too busy chatting.
Good. Good.
We moved deeper into the back of the stall, then into the storage area.
"Hey… where exactly are we going?" I whispered.
"Almost there," the waiter said calmly.
"That doesn't answer my question."
He just smiled.
Before I could react, he pushed a hidden panel on the wall.Click.
A secret entrance opened.
Inside was a room lit by monitors, wires, and signal equipment. A man stood at the center, his back straight, his coat marked with a familiar emblem—
The crest of the Resistance.
My breath caught.
"A-ah…"
The man turned.
"Ryze. Finally," he said.
My mind blanked.
"Welcome to Resistance Outpost 0-7.Right in the Empire."
I stared at him.
"Wait… what—how—this is—"
He placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Captain Chaxti, head of the Resistance's spy division."
My eyes widened.
"Chaxti… the one who leaked all the info on Empire experiments? The one who sends live intel to HQ?"
"That would be me," he said with a proud smile.
He tapped a monitor showing a map of the city.
"Thanks to our hidden cameras, we tracked your movement. You managed to avoid every checkpoint. Truly remarkable. You live up to your title—Starlink Sniper."
I opened my mouth to tell him—I didn't escape on my own.
Blaze helped.SK helped.I never meant to—
But he cut me off before I could even speak.
"Don't be modest. You did great."
I exhaled slowly.
At least now… I wasn't alone.
High above the city, atop one of the Empire's watchtowers, Blaze and Commander Vortex stood under the fading light of sunset. The city was quiet from this height, the orange glow reflecting off rooftops and steel.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Vortex broke the silence.
"So… you really don't remember who you are, huh?"
He sat on the edge of the tower. Blaze leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"You're talking like you knew me," Blaze said.
"We had a neutral relationship back then," Vortex replied casually. "Not friends. Not enemies."
Blaze looked away.
"So what else do you remember?" Vortex asked.
"Like I said… not much," Blaze muttered.
"Nothing before the Great War? Nothing about yourself before the collapse? Or even outside this virtual world?"
Blaze didn't answer.
Vortex watched him quietly.
"Relax," he said finally. "It's normal for people with memory loss."
Blaze didn't trust him—not fully. Vortex caught his gaze drifting toward the handle of his sword, fingers brushing the hilt ever so slightly.
Vortex sighed.
"Like I said… I'm not here to fight you. I just wanted to talk."
Blaze didn't relax.
"So," Blaze said slowly, "if you really knew me… was I part of the Empire?"
Vortex stared at the horizon.
"It's complicated," he said. "But… yes. You could say that."
Blaze didn't react. He waited.
Vortex stood up, dusting off his coat. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a card.
He handed it to Blaze.
"What's this?" Blaze asked.
"A formal invitation," Vortex said, already walking toward the exit. "To join the Empire's ranks."
Blaze stared at the card.
"Think about it," Vortex said as he pushed the door open. "You might find more answers with us than wandering alone."
The door closed behind him.
Blaze looked down at the card again.
Then at the sunset.
And he smiled—that same carefree smile he always wore when things got complicated.
— End of Chapter 46 —