"Arche! Two of them—30 meters! Closing in!"
I moved immediately.
Ran.
Looking for higher ground.
A three-story building ahead—I rushed in without thinking, climbing up fast.
From a gap, I saw them enter the supply area from earlier.
"Damn… why there."
"Focus," Reina said quickly. "They're checking the body. One activated a heat sensor."
I held my breath.
"Did they find us?"
"Not yet. Their range doesn't reach here."
I was about to move—
Grrrk—
A mechanical sound behind me.
I turned.
A mechanical wolf.
Close.
Too close.
"This is bad!" Reina shouted.
The wolf lunged.
I raised my rifle.
Bang!
Missed—only grazed its leg.
"Tch!"
I pulled the trigger again.
Bang!
Its head shattered.
The body was thrown back—falling down.
Crash!
A loud noise.
I froze.
Reina spoke quickly, "They heard that. We're exposed. Move now!"
I didn't reply.
I ran up to the next floor.
Fast steps.
"Status!"
"They're inside the building. First floor. Close."
I took out two thermal scramblers.
Threw them.
Left.
Right.
Far.
Then I repositioned, hiding on the other side.
"Good," Reina said. "But those are one-time use. And there are two of them."
I stayed silent.
Focused on the stairs.
Gunshots.
"They're shooting the scramblers," Reina said. "One is coming up."
Footsteps.
Close.
I raised my rifle.
A shadow appeared—
Bang!
My shot hit his arm.
He fell.
"Not dead," Reina said. "Still alive. The other one is coming up. Change position!"
I moved again immediately.
Taking cover behind a pillar.
Shouting echoed.
"Damn it! Who are you?! Come out!"
I stayed silent.
"Don't take the bait," Reina whispered. "They're using sensors."
I held my breath.
The man spoke again.
"You've got guts killing Jess… do you even know who you're dealing with?!"
Then—
Gunfire.
Continuous.
In all directions.
"Foolish," Reina said. "He's also hitting the scramblers."
I whispered,
"The other one?"
"Still downstairs. Alive. Minimal movement."
I nodded.
"Finish this one first."
I took a breath.
"I have an idea."
Reina responded immediately. "Say it."
"After he runs out of ammo… control my left hand. Use the wire hook."
Reina paused.
Then—
"…Interesting."
I waited.
The man kept firing.
Angry.
Impatient.
"Come out! Don't hide like a rat! I'll kill you!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then—
Click.
Silence.
"Damn—!"
I stepped out from behind the pillar.
Reina had already taken control of my prosthetic arm.
The wire hook aimed—
But—
The man smiled.
And raised his sidearm.
"—!"
"Arche!"
Too late.
He fired.
I dodged on instinct.
But the bullet still hit my arm.
"Ghk—!"
Heat spread through it.
But—
The wire hook had already launched.
Piercing his neck.
Perfect.
Reina pulled.
Hard.
Once.
His body jerked forward—
And—
Severed.
His head came off.
The body dropped.
Still.
Silence.
I stood there.
Breathing heavily.
My hand trembling slightly.
"One left," Reina said quietly.
I looked at the stairs below.
"…The last one."
I raised my rifle again.
"He's still here."
"Final target still below! He's moving—trying to escape!" Reina said quickly.
I ran down immediately.
Fast steps down the stairs.
Reaching the ground floor—
I saw a trail of blood.
Leading outside.
"…Back to the supply point?"
"Correct. Be careful, Arche. Don't rush."
I raised my rifle.
Slowly.
Following the trail.
Watching every step.
Silence.
Too quiet.
I approached the supply ruins again.
Reina spoke softly, "He's there. Standing. Still."
I narrowed my eyes.
"What is he doing…"
"He's taking out his A.R.M."
A few seconds passed.
My heartbeat quickened.
"…Reina."
"What is he doing?"
A fraction of silence.
Then—
"Damn it! He's calling for backup! Kill him now!"
I stepped forward.
Raised my rifle.
Aimed—
But—
The man turned.
Looked at me.
Smiled.
"Wait."
He raised something.
A grenade.
Below him—
A crate full of grenades.
"…Do you know what this is?" he said casually.
I stayed silent.
Didn't pull the trigger.
He continued, "You're finished. Backup is on the way."
I kept staring at him.
Reina shouted in my head, "SHOOT HIM NOW!"
My hand… hesitated.
The man spoke again.
"Who are you? Why are you hunting us?"
Silence.
I didn't answer.
"Did we kill someone you knew?"
I stayed silent.
He chuckled.
"Ah, whatever. Sooner or later, you'll die anyway."
He raised the grenade slightly.
"But i hope… you die with me—"
His finger tightened—
The pin slipped—
And.
BANG!
A shot rang out.
Not me.
Reina.
The bullet pierced his head.
He dropped.
Without a sound.
And—
My body was pulled back.
Jumped.
Took cover.
"—!"
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion.
Fire and debris swept the area.
My body was thrown.
Slamming into a wall.
"Ghk—!"
Dust.
Sand.
Broken stone.
I lay there.
Breathing heavily.
My body burned.
Pain in several places.
Reina immediately shouted, "Idiot! Why didn't you shoot him right away?!"
I grimaced.
"…Sorry."
I slowly sat up.
"…I hesitated."
"…that was so stupid of me."
Silence for a moment.
"…I didn't know what to do."
Reina let out a long breath.
Annoyed.
But holding back.
"…Forget it."
I stood up slowly.
Brushing dust off my jacket.
"What matters… is you're still alive."
I looked toward the explosion site.
The supply area—
Destroyed.
The grenade crates—
Gone.
The body—
Unrecognizable.
I raised my rifle.
"…All targets eliminated."
Reina replied quietly, "Yeah."
I looked up at the empty sky above the ruins.
"…But now…"
I narrowed my eyes.
"…they know someone is hunting them."
Reina went silent for a moment.
Then answered shortly—
"…and their backup is on the way."