The streets of Skyridge operated at full capacity, citizens moving in predictable flows through the bustling city. Lin moved through the crowd alone, having separated from Saturu. A doubt lingered heavily in her system. Part of her wondered whether she should disengage entirely and run or continue to find Saturu.
That was when a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Lin? Is that you?"
Riona Ayane — S-rank adventurer, high-value asset, and one of Lin's old associates — approached with unexpected enthusiasm.
Long time, no see…" Riona said as she waved her injured arm casually, her tone upbeat as she guided Lin toward a nearby bar.
Lin's eyes narrowed at the sight of the injury. "Riona…" she muttered, concern flickering under the surface.
"This?" Riona shrugged. "Just standard operational fallout."
"You're still risking your life," Lin replied, her voice flat. "What do you want?"
Riona's posture shifted into something more serious. "I'm more concerned about you. You don't look well."
Lin looked down, offering no response.
Riona pivoted the topic with precision.
"I didn't just come here for drinks. I'm here because one of my teammates, Luna, has gone missing for a week. I came to ask for your help." Her voice softened. "I know our relationship wasn't… friendly. And I don't blame you for your resentment. But this is my request. Please help us."
She bowed her head, a gesture Lin didn't expect from someone with Riona's rank.
Lin raised her tea to her lips, but her hand trembled and a small amount spilled onto the table. Her face stayed unreadable as old memories surfaced — Riona dragging her by the hand long ago, shouting, "Lin, we have to go!"
"So that's why you came here," Lin said, setting the cup down and rising to her feet. "You created this scenario yourself."
Riona looked up, stunned.
"I understand your situation," Lin continued, touching her right arm, "but I won't be able to help you. I'm sorry."
She walked out.
Riona sat alone at the table, staring into the steam rising off her tea.
"What happened to us, Lin…" she whispered.
A teammate approached. "Did she agree to help us?"
Riona didn't answer. She just stared at the tea, letting its fading warmth speak for her.
Outside, Lin processed the conversation internally. Rumors of disappearances had been circulating for days.
"Hm… these cases sound too aligned. I'll need to run deeper investigation cycles," she muttered. "Why does it have to be her…"
Her teeth clenched — then her stomach rumbled as she spotted a cake shop.
Day transitioned into night. Skyridge normally operated with high foot traffic at this hour, yet the streets were suspiciously empty.
"It must be because of the disappearances…" Lin murmured.
Then she overheard voices around a corner:
"We need to transport these people now, or we'll end up like those things from earlier— throw her in."
Figures in dark clothing shoved a girl into a barred carriage.
Lin's eyes sharpened. "Looks like I've found my lead." She prepared to intervene — until she sensed a presence behind her. As she turned, pupils shrinking, a blunt strike hit her head. She collapsed instantly.
"Load her in with the rest. She'll be a premium bonus unit."
The carriage rolled through the night as Lin eventually regained consciousness. The moment the man who hit her recognized her, his expression shifted.
"Wait… aren't you—"
Lin eliminated him in a single movement. Blood flowed beneath the carriage boards.
"Hey! Jimbo? What's going on back there?" the driver shouted.
The captured civilians trembled.
"Shhh… you're noisy," Lin warned.
The driver jumped off his seat. "I'm coming back there—"
Lin stabbed him through the heart before he could finish, tossing his body out of the carriage.
The remaining driver panicked as Lin leaned into view, knife in hand.
"Continue driving unless you want to end like them."
Terrified, he complied, sweat pouring down his face.
They reached the forest. He waved his hand and the trees shifted, revealing a hidden passage.
"Don't try anything," Lin said, her pupils glowing red.
He ran for his life as Lin pushed the carriage forward alone.
Inside the hidden facility, Dorama was draining energy from captives, cycling it through his core. His body shifted from old to youthful as he absorbed more.
The carriage arrived.
"Took you long enough," Dorama said — then froze when he saw who stood beside it.
Lin stepped forward. "So you decided to use this century for your experiments."
She blitzed in and punched him across the room.
She freed the captives, recognizing the woman from earlier.
"I came to rescue you."
"A knight in shining armor," the woman whispered.
"Get out," Lin instructed.
Dorama rose, licking the blood from his lip. "Where's the boy you were with earlier? Shame. He's going to miss what I'm about to do to you."
"Are you responsible for the injuries?" Lin demanded.
"Responsible? Yes. They're my experiments. So what?"
Lin's expression hardened. "So it was you."
She charged, but Dorama evaded and kicked her clean out of the building. She landed safely but recalibrated her stance.
He pursued, slamming down from above. "Isn't it fun killing unarmed women?"
"Who said I was unarmed?" Lin drew her two Shaman blades.
Dorama's grin widened, eyes bleeding red as he accelerated. His claws stretched out like blades. Lin dodged and countered, but he blasted her back with rapid strikes, sending her crashing into a nearby building.
She rose, chaining her blade, then launched herself into the air and spun. The chained blade struck the ground with massive force, catching Dorama off guard and slicing his cheek.
"How dare you mark me!" he roared, releasing a surge of purple energy. His body thinned, speed increasing dramatically. He teleported behind Lin — she dodged, pulling the chain toward herself.
Dorama grabbed it, yanking hard and pulling himself in at lethal speed.
Dust cleared. Lin's body was weakening, blood trailing down her back and leg. She spun the chain, generating a wide defensive arc.
Breathing steady, she prepared the next strike.
Dorama lunged — but Lin vanished.
He froze. Blood poured from new wounds across his body.
Lin reappeared behind him, retrieving her second Shaman blade and attaching it to the chain. She threw the next weapon with full force.
"You— don't mess with me!" Dorama shouted, punching the blade aside — but that was the opening she wanted. Lin appeared on his opposite side and kicked him across the field.
BOOM.
"My experiment— crush her!" Dorama roared as humanoid beasts erupted forward.
Lin spun her chain around her, activating her unique factor: Void Orientation. The blades glowed with sky-purple energy. She fired a devastating void blast directly at Dorama.
"It's over."
The beam tore through him and shot toward the sky, leaving a thin, searing line before fading.
Dorama collapsed, defeated.
"Finally. You got what you deserved," Lin exhaled.
One of the missing teammates — the one Riona begged her to find — emerged, recognizing her.
"Lin? Is that you?"
Lin's legs gave out, but the girl caught her before she fell.
The rescued captives looked on in awe.
"She saved us."