The world blurred as Led_ZD dragged me through the back alleys of the Empire city, Cass shoving me forward whenever I slowed. Every turn they took pulled me deeper into the Empire's territory, away from the crowds, away from Volt, away from any chance of slipping free.
"So you manage to escape, Starlink Sniper," Cass muttered. "Wandering around like it's your playground."
I gritted my teeth. "I told you—I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah," Led said with a cold smirk, "and I'm a healer."
We crossed a checkpoint—quiet, guarded by soldiers who stepped aside the moment Cass flashed a signal badge. That meant one thing:
This wasn't a prison.
This was a facility—the kind where people didn't walk out.
At least… not alive.
My heart thumped against my ribs as they hauled me down a long metal corridor, doors hissing open one after another until we reached a secured interrogation chamber. Cold. Empty. Sterile.
They shoved me into a chair bolted to the floor.
Clamps snapped around my wrists and ankles.
I sighed through the pain. "Again? Seriously? This is becoming a habit."
Cass scoffed. "You'll get used to it."
Led leaned close. "Or you won't. Depends how this goes."
They stepped out, the door sealing behind them with a heavy thunk.
My chest tightened.
Great. Another room. Another pair of cuffs. Another day in the wonderful Empire.
I exhaled slowly.
"Volt… if you're watching… you better not ditch me for real."
The door opened.
Cold air swept in.
And then I saw him—
The one person I didn't want to see.
Commander Frostbyte.
His cloak swayed, crisp white with the Empire crest gleaming. His eyes—calculating, sharp—studied me like I was a puzzle piece he finally got his hands on.
"Well," he said, stepping inside with slow, confident strides. "We finally have a private moment, Starborn."
My jaw clenched. "What do you want?"
He smiled.
"Funny. That's usually my question."
He circled me like a predator, hands behind his back.
"No Blaze. No Reaper. No distractions. Just you… and the information I need."
My pulse froze.
"What information?" I demanded.
"Oh, you know," Frostbyte said lightly.
"Where the Resistance is hiding… how you slipped through the Void… and your relationship with Reaper SK and SkyRealm veteran Blaze."
My stomach tightened.
So that was his true objective.
He tapped a holo-screen on the wall.
Images flickered into view.
Me.
Walking through the city beside Blaze.
Another: Blaze cutting open my cell door.
Another: SK walking just behind us.
Frostbyte's smile widened.
"You have… interesting companions."
"So that's what this is about," I said bitterly. "You want to know what I am to them."
"Correct," he said simply. "And what the Resistance plans next."
I glared at him. "Then you're wasting your time."
His smile faded.
With a single gesture, he changed the holo-screen—
Claymore.
HCz11.
Callix.
And others.
Resistance soldiers who had vanished.
Bruised.
Broken.
Barely recognizable.
My breath stopped.
"No… no, this is fake—"
"It's very real," Frostbyte whispered, leaning close. "The Empire is… efficient."
My chest burned. "Y–You monster… are you even a human being?!"
Frostbyte paused.
Then he laughed—slow, mocking, cutting.
"Haven't you looked in a mirror?"
He stepped closer, eyes gleaming cold.
"Haven't you killed Empire soldiers? Haven't you fought in the battles that spilled blood across these lands?"
His voice dropped lower.
"You think those weren't people too? In case you forgot… this is the virtual world now. Code or flesh, pain is real. Death is real."
He leaned in until I could feel his breath.
"You are no different, Starlink Sniper."
My hands trembled—anger, fear, all tangled together.
Then—
Pain exploded up my arm.
BANG.
I gasped, stumbling as the bullet tore through my sleeve.
Frostbyte lowered the pistol like it was nothing.
"I don't have patience today, Starborn."
My chair crashed over as I hit the floor, metal biting into my wrists.
"A–Ah—!"
Blood dripped down my arm, warm and dizzying.
Frostbyte crouched beside me.
"You will talk. One way or another."
"Go to hell," I hissed.
Another shot fired—
BANG—
It hit the floor beside my head.
A warning.
Or a promise.
"You have courage," Frostbyte said softly. "But courage fades. Pain doesn't."
He reloaded with a quiet click.
"Last chance. Tell me what Blaze and SK are to you. Tell me who the Resistance is preparing to strike."
I spat blood on the floor. "They're people you'll never control."
His eyes darkened.
He stood to aim—
But then he froze.
A voice crackled through his comm:
"Commander, high-priority alert! SkyRealm veteran Blaze has left the facility. Reaper SK is in pursuit."
Frostbyte's expression hardened.
"…Left? Explain."
"We don't know, sir. He just walked out. Past the guards. Without responding."
"And Reaper SK?"
"Sir… she followed him. Voluntarily."
Frostbyte's jaw tightened.
"The timing… why now?"
He glared back down at me, frustration boiling under the surface.
"I'll deal with you later."
He slammed a button on the wall.
Lights dimmed.
Restraints tightened.
My breath caught.
Frostbyte turned—
And walked out without another word.
The moment he left, I let out a shaking breath.
My arm pulsed with agony.
The cold floor pressed against my cheek.
But the fear…
the fear didn't come from Frostbyte.
It came from what I felt deep inside.
A strange ripple.
A whisper.
Like someone calling across the city.
Blaze…?
Outside the Empire facility, the evening breeze rolled across the city. Guards saluted Blaze as he passed, but he didn't even look at them. His stomach growled loud enough for three people to hear.
SK jogged up behind him, helmet under her arm.
"Sir Blaze! Where are you going?"
Blaze didn't even slow down.
"Food."
"…Food?"
"Yeah," Blaze muttered, pressing a hand to his stomach. "I'm starving. Those meeting snacks were tiny."
SK blinked. "Sir… you walked out of a high-level briefing because you were hungry?"
"Yes."
"I—I thought you sensed something! Or were planning something! Or—"
"Nope. Just hungry."
SK stared at him like she was witnessing a miracle of stupidity.
Blaze pointed down the street. "Pretty sure I saw a new restaurant open earlier. Smelled good."
"You smelled it from inside the facility?"
"I've got good senses."
SK sighed. "Sir, at least let me accompany you. You're technically a new officer now, and—"
"Sure," Blaze said. "You're paying though."
"What?! Why me??"
"You outrank me."
"No I don't!!"
They bickered all the way down the street until they reached a cozy-looking restaurant tucked between tall buildings. Warm lights glowed through the windows. A small menu board sat outside.
Blaze nodded with satisfaction. "Smells good."
SK puffed her cheeks. "Sir Blaze, what if this area isn't secure? Or what if the food is unregulated or—"
But Blaze had already walked inside.
A bell jingled.
Ding-a-ling.
The interior was quiet, almost too quiet for a dinner hour. Only a few customers sat at the corner tables. The air smelled faintly of spices and roasted meat.
Then a waiter turned toward them.
And froze.
Blaze froze too.
SK blinked.
The waiter stared wide-eyed, as if the universe had just slapped him in the face.
It was Volt.
Dressed in waiter clothes.
Holding a tray.
Looking like he just saw a ghost.
Or worse…
Two of the Empire's strongest players had just walked into the secret Resistance restaurant.
Blaze lifted a hand casually.
"Yo."
Volt's smile twitched in terror.
"...Welcome… to… uh… chax's Food Hub… table for… two…?"
SK bowed politely. "Yes, please."
Volt swallowed.
Hard.
Blaze leaned toward SK and whispered loudly:
"This guy's sweating too much."
Volt's hand shook. "I-I always sweat. Normal sweating."
SK glanced at Blaze. "Sir… do you think he's okay?"
"Nope," Blaze said cheerfully. "But I'm hungry."
Volt tried desperately to keep his voice steady.
"R-right this way… please…"
He guided them deeper into the restaurant—right above the Resistance's hidden base—heart pounding faster than a machine gun.
Behind him, Blaze and SK followed completely unaware.
And that's when everything began to go very, very wrong.