Chapter 93 — The Reunion
The warehouse echoed with the sound of gunfire.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The hooded bounty hunter rushed toward me with incredible speed, his massive axe carving through the air.
I leaped backward.
The axe slammed into the concrete floor.
BOOM!
Cracks spread beneath my feet.
"So that's your strength..."
I muttered.
Without wasting another second, I fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bullets forced him to raise his axe and block.
Good.
Distance was my advantage.
Ever since sparring with Sylph...
And training with Blaze...
I had become much better in close combat.
I wasn't the helpless sniper I used to be.
If he closed the distance—
I'd fight back.
The hunter swung again.
I sidestepped before driving the butt of my rifle into his shoulder.
He stumbled.
I immediately spun around and kicked him backward before creating more distance.
The hunter laughed.
"Not bad."
I reloaded while retreating.
"...You're stronger than most bounty hunters."
He dashed again.
Too predictable.
I ducked beneath the axe before sliding between his legs.
A quick elbow.
A sweep kick.
Then another rifle shot from point-blank range.
The blast forced him backward.
As we exchanged blows...
Something felt...
Wrong.
His movements.
His rhythm.
His fighting style.
"...Why..."
"...does this feel familiar?"
Every strike...
Every dodge...
It was almost like...
I'd fought this person before.
But where?
I couldn't remember.
The hunter swung once more.
I jumped backward onto a stack of cargo containers.
There.
An opening.
Now!
I fired a flash round.
The explosion briefly blinded him.
Without hesitation, I leaped down.
Using the momentum...
I tackled him to the ground.
BAM!
His axe slid several meters away.
I twisted his arm behind his back.
"Got you."
I said while breathing heavily.
"You won't beat me."
The hooded figure remained surprisingly calm.
Then...
A familiar voice spoke beneath the hood.
"...You haven't changed one bit..."
"...Starborn."
...
That voice...
My eyes widened.
No...
It couldn't be...
Without thinking...
I immediately let go.
The figure slowly reached up...
And lowered the hood.
Long blonde hair flowed down her shoulders.
Cold red eyes.
"...SK..."
I froze.
"...You're..."
"...alive?"
She smirked.
"You really thought one strike from that Void Shard would've killed me?"
"You should know me better than that."
Before she could finish...
I stepped forward.
And lightly punched her shoulder.
"...Idiot."
She blinked.
"...Huh?"
I looked away.
"...Don't..."
"...ever do that again."
"..."
"I thought..."
"..."
My voice refused to come out.
I didn't want her to see my face.
Didn't want her to see the tears beginning to form.
SK smiled softly.
"...Yeah."
"I know."
"...Sorry."
She slowly tried to stand.
But suddenly—
"...Tch."
She grabbed her side.
Her body twitched painfully.
"SK!"
I immediately supported her.
"Are you okay?"
She forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
"...Looks like wounds from those Void creatures..."
"...don't disappear so easily."
As she adjusted her jacket...
I finally saw it.
A massive scar stretched across her side.
It looked horrifying.
That kind of wound...
Should have killed any player.
I silently stared at it.
"..."
She really had survived...
Barely.
After helping her sit down...
I finally remembered the other two bounty hunters.
I turned toward them.
"...Who are they?"
SK simply gestured toward them.
The two figures lowered their hoods.
"..."
"...No way."
One wore heavy fortress-like armor.
The other carried a massive tower shield across his back.
"Blockade..."
"Arctic Templar..."
Both of them were soldiers from Commander Vortex's division.
My eyes widened.
"Wait..."
"You two defected too?!"
Arctic Templar immediately crossed his arms.
"W-We didn't betray the Empire!"
"We're just following Commander Vortex's orders!"
Blockade nodded.
"Exactly."
"We're only here because Commander Vortex told us to assist Lady SK."
SK sighed.
"They're loyal to Vortex."
"Nothing more."
Arctic looked toward SK.
"SK."
"We'll leave the rest to you."
"Good luck."
Blockade gave me a small nod.
"...Take care."
The two quietly walked toward the warehouse exit before disappearing.
Soon...
Only SK and I remained.
Silence filled the warehouse.
I crossed my arms.
"So..."
"This whole thing..."
"The bounty hunters..."
"The chase through the city..."
"You planned all of it?"
SK couldn't help smiling.
"...You should've seen your face."
"You almost cried."
"I did not."
"Oh?"
She laughed.
"You absolutely did."
I sighed.
"...Who came up with this ridiculous plan?"
"It wasn't me."
She answered.
"It was one of your companions."
"...What was his name again?"
"...Volt?"
The moment she said his name...
I could already picture him laughing the moment I got back.
"...That idiot..."
SK chuckled.
"I'll admit..."
"It worked."
Then...
Her expression slowly became serious.
She looked directly into my eyes.
"...So."
"...How's Sir Blaze?"
I blinked.
"...What?"
She repeated herself.
"...Sir"
"....Blaze."
"...How is he?"
I tilted my head.
"...Why do you want to know?"
"Just answer."
There was something strange in her voice.
Almost...
Hopeful.
I smiled.
"...He's fine."
"...Just like always."
"He hasn't changed."
"He still smiles."
"Still acts like nothing bothers him."
"Still helps people whenever he can."
"...Still travels wherever he wants."
SK quietly lowered her head.
"...I see..."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"...Good."
She slowly stood back up.
Despite the pain...
She remained as composed as ever.
"Come on."
She adjusted the hood over her blonde hair once more.
"We should head back."
I looked at her.
"...Back to the café?"
She nodded.
As we walked toward the warehouse exit...
I couldn't shake the feeling that SK wasn't asking about Blaze out of simple curiosity.