The air around the portal shimmered with violet static, and I pressed my back against the cracked wall of a half-collapsed structure.
From the gap between the stones, I could see them—Empire soldiers. Six… maybe seven of them, emerging from the portal's light like ghosts. Their armor reflected the strange glow of the Void sky. I could feel their power even from here. Not normal soldiers—these were high-rank operatives, stronger than the mercenaries I fought on the train. Their aura pulsed through the air like heatwaves.
My heart pounded.
What do I do?
My rifle was still back at the camp, not far from here—too far to grab without being seen. Blaze was resting there too. He'd barely recovered, even if he tried to act strong. If they found him now…
I peeked again. The captain stood in the center, scanning the ruins. His armor was a strange mix—half medieval plating, half tactical tech. A Dominion crest glowed faintly on his chestplate.
I swallowed hard.
Can I beat them?
No. Not alone. Not without a weapon.
Maybe if SK was here—
Wait. Where was she?
Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth, pulling me back from the wall.
"Mmmph—!"
Before I could yell, another hand twisted my wrist behind my back. In a heartbeat, I was pinned down. My heart jumped as I looked up—White armor, crimson glow.
"SK!?" I hissed once she loosened her grip. "What the hell are you—"
"Be quiet," she cut me off, voice low and sharp.
I glared at her. Was she working with them again? Was this the plan all along? The Reaper of the Empire—still loyal, after everything we'd been through?
I tried to pull free, but she moved faster, looping a thin cord around my wrists. My arms jerked tight. "What the hell are you doing?!" I hissed again.
She didn't answer right away. Her eyes flicked toward the soldiers moving closer to the structure. Her expression wasn't cruel. Just… focused.
"SK, untie me right now or—"
"Listen to me," she whispered suddenly, grabbing my chin so I'd look at her. "This isn't what it looks like."
Her tone was calm, almost too calm. The kind she used when things were about to go bad.
I froze. "Then what is it?"
"The best way to help Sir Blaze…" she said quietly, "is through the Empire. They can heal him. The Death Bleed can be treated—if we get him back."
I stared at her, my mind twisting. She wasn't wrong—the Empire's tech and magic were more advanced than anything we had. But the cost…
If Blaze went back with them, he'd be theirs again. Another weapon. Another puppet.
I shook my head furiously. "No. I can't let that happen—"
SK sighed, her eyes flickering with something like regret. "I know what you're thinking. But right now, I need you to trust me."
Then she pressed a strip of Tape over my mouth.
"Mmmph—hey!" I tried to protest, glaring up at her.
"Relax," she murmured, a small smirk forming on her face. "It's just for show."
For show? Was she enjoying this?
Before I could think further, she hoisted me to my feet like a prisoner and started walking toward the soldiers.
"Hold it!" one of them shouted, raising his rifle. "Identify yourself!"
SK stopped a few meters away, her hand resting on her scythe. She swung it once, slicing the dust-filled air, and the fog around her dispersed like mist burning away under sunlight.
When they saw her face, the soldiers froze.
"I'm SK," she said clearly, her voice carrying across the ruins. "The Reaper."
There was a pause—a long, stunned silence.
Then the captain lowered his weapon slightly. "Impossible," he said. "So, you are really alive!"
SK gave a faint smile. "You think that can kill me easily?."
She tossed me forward, and I hit the ground hard, rolling in the dirt with my hands bound. "Brought a gift," she added coldly.
The captain walked closer, looking down at me. His visor glowed faintly, scanning my code. "Who's this?"
"Resistance sniper," SK said, her tone all business now. "Captured her near the Rift."
One of the soldiers knelt beside me, tilting his helmet. "Wait—I know her. That's the Starlink's sniper. The one from the rebellion ops."
Another whistled. "You outdid yourself, SK."
Someone else muttered, "Should we just execute her right here. Save us the trouble."
My eyes widened as a barrel pressed against my temple. "Hmmmmm!" I tried to yell through the gag, kicking my legs, but they only tightened their grip.
Before the captain could say anything, SK spoke up sharply. "No."
Everyone turned to her.
She met the captain's gaze. "Killing her now would be a waste. The Resistance must've learned a lot since they went underground. She's intel. We extract her—then execute her later if needed."
The captain thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Good call, Reaper. You've learned not to waste resources."
The gun lowered. My heart didn't.
As they regrouped, the captain asked, "Anyone else with you?"
SK hesitated. I could see her fingers tighten on the scythe.
Then she said quietly, "Yes."
The captain's visor flared. "Show me."
Oh no.
Blaze.
I struggled against my bindings as they dragged me up. SK kept her distance, not looking at me. Maybe she didn't want to. Maybe she couldn't.
They moved through the ruins, toward the faint glow of our campfire. The cold wind carried ashes from old structures, whispering through metal and bone.
When we reached the camp, I could see the tent—Blaze's tent. My chest tightened.
SK and the captain went inside, leaving the others outside to guard me.
I sat on the ground, wrists sore, dust coating my silver hair and uniform.
Minutes passed. No sound. Just muffled voices from within.
"What the hell are they doing in there…" I muttered behind the gag.
The soldiers nearby started talking among themselves, bored and restless.
One kicked a rock. "You ever seen a place like this? Looks like an old game map."
"Yeah," another said, scanning the horizon. "Heard it's called RimScape. Used to be a survival-RPG before it got shut down."
"No wonder it's so dead," the third replied. "Can't believe anyone's still alive out here."
Their words faded into static noise as I stared at the tent, trying to imagine what SK was saying.
Was she telling them Blaze was a survivor? A traitor? Or… was she buying time?
Finally, the tent flap opened.
The captain stepped out first, his armor streaked with dust. SK followed behind, her scythe strapped across her back. Her face was unreadable.
"Captain," one soldier asked, "who was inside?"
"A veteran," the captain replied shortly. "Skyrealm-born. Currently wounded with Death Bleed."
"Then he's one of ours?" another asked.
SK nodded. "He is. Sir Blaze of the Skyrealm. We're bringing him home."
My breath caught. Home.
No—this wasn't home for Blaze anymore. The Empire was the very thing he'd fought to escape.
The captain turned toward his men. "We finish the scan, extract, and return. The Reaper and I will handle the wounded. Move fast—the storm's starting to pulse again."
The soldiers split into formation, moving to secure the area. SK walked over to me, crouching down so her crimson eyes met mine.
"Don't do anything stupid," she whispered softly.
Her tone was calm, almost gentle. And for just a second, I saw the truth behind her mask.
I tried to speak, but the gag muffled my voice.
She looked away, then stood up, turning to the portal. The flicker of light reflected off her scythe, making her look half angel, half executioner.
Back at the Empire's command station, FrostByte stood behind the observation glass, watching the faint signals blinking on the screen. The silhouettes of the expedition team moved across a wireframe map of the Void region.
"Status," he said.
"All vital signals stable, sir," an operator replied. "Portal integrity holding."
"Good." FrostByte's tone was even, but his eyes didn't move from the display.
Beside him stood another figure—taller, wrapped in a half-tattered cloak, armor dark as blood. A black Great sword hung from his back, its edge faintly glowing. The figure said nothing, only stared at the monitor as if watching prey through glass.
FrostByte smirked slightly. "So… the Reaper found them."
The figure's hand twitched over the sword's hilt, silent as stone.
"Soon," FrostByte murmured. "We'll bring them all home—alive or erased."
The lights from the console reflected in his eyes, cold and blue.
And far across the Void, in the ruins of RimScape, Ryze sat bound in the dirt, SK standing beside her, and Blaze lying unconscious in the tent. The storm above began to move again—dark clouds swirling, thunder whispering across the broken horizon.
The Void was waking up.