While Jampa is duelling with Major Nawang, Milla is making her way down the emergency escape tunnel, doing her best to ignore the sounds of combat echoing along its length. But it's when those sounds cease halfway along the tunnel that she really begins to worry. Unsure what to do, she hesitates. Jampa wants me to escape, but I want to help, but I know if I try to help, I could get captured or even killed, and then there'd be no‑one to stop the Nine Tails… I'll wait a few minutes, then go back and see what's happened.
Five minutes later, Milla arrives at the entrance to the emergency escape tunnel, only to find it sealed shut. What‽ How‽ Did I trigger something? Did Jampa trigger something? Is there a way to reopen the tunnel? A quick search reveals there's no way to open the tunnel again. Then I have no choice: I must complete my escape.
Meanwhile, Mipham is racing towards the other end of the tunnel as fast as she can on her ATV.
As Milla approaches the other end of the tunnel, she hears a two‑stroke engine approaching. Maybe someone else escaped? Wait… Is that the ATV that passed me before, the one that white vixen was riding? As she recalls that day, another memory pops into her head. The same vixen from the museum… Oh Ancients: she's one of them!
Milla hides behind a suitably large rock as the ATV halts in front of the tunnel exit, the engine falling silent a moment later. I shouldn't have waited.
"I know you're in there," Mipham calls into the tunnel. "Surrender, and I'll make it easy for you."
Milla doesn't reply. Last time I answered a call like that, I nearly died. This time, I'll remain silent.
But Mipham's clearly not the patient type: barely thirty seconds of silence later, she speaks again. "The Order has fallen, and you won't win. If you surrender now, this senseless conflict will be over immediately."
Milla wisely continues to remain silent.
Just outside the tunnel entrance, Mipham's patience is running very thin. "OK, this is getting silly," she growls. "Just get out here so we can end this."
Once again, her words are met with silence.
Hmm… Maybe I missed her? If so, tracking her down is going to be tricky. I better make sure. "Since you refuse to co‑operate, I'm coming to find you, and I promise you won't make it out alive!"
Hiding in the tunnel, Milla hears the threat all too clearly. Staying silent didn't work either. That leaves only one choice: I must fight my way out. Unless I can still talk my way out? Worth a shot.
Milla watches as Mipham enters the tunnel. It's her alright… Oh Ancients: they've been watching me since I arrived a year ago! Knowing she has no choice, Milla steps out from the behind the rock she was hiding behind.
"I honestly expected hunting you down to be harder," Mipham greets as she approaches Milla. "Allow me to introduce myself: I am Mipham, Xia Nuhu of the Nine Tails, and your executioner."
"Major Nawang tried to kill me already," Milla replies. "He didn't succeed. You won't succeed either."
"Shang Nanhu Nawang was unaware of your abilities," Mipham explains. "I, however, am fully aware you have access to your Shade Form."
Milla blinks in surprise. "Wait… If you know about my Shade Form, then why are you so eager to fight me? You know you can't win, and I don't want to hurt anyone. Please, allow me to pass: I promise I'll leave the Empire and never return." Trying to talk my way out of danger didn't work last time, but I must try.
"You really don't know much about the Nine Tails, do you?" Mipham replies, her hands starting to glow as flames manifest around them. "You're not the only one with hidden powers."
The sight of the flames reminds Milla of Hanna Skarlett's abilities with the Fire Elemental Crystal, a Crystal it's obvious Mipham doesn't possess. "But… how‽ You don't have the Fire Crystal!"
Mipham stops in her tracks. "Why would I need a crystal?" she asks, confused. "What crystal are you talking about, anyway?"
"Oh, uh… Nothing important," Milla attempts to dismiss. Me and my big mouth…
She knows about a crystal that can enhance pyrokinetic powers… My Huxian will want to know all about it. "I assure you, it does matter," Mipham corrects. "It also means I must now take you in alive, so you can tell my Huxian all about this crystal."
I keep digging myself deeper… Really need to stop doing that. Milla swallows hard and draws her piandao, energising the blade with Phantom energy.
Mipham eyes the sword suspiciously. "Is that what I think it is?"
Milla doesn't answer.
"Very well," Mipham accepts. "Not that it matters anyway. I give you one last chance: surrender, and everything will go much smoother."
Milla adopts a combat stance, sword held high and pointing forwards.
Mipham doesn't hesitate: her hands wreathed in flame, she charges Milla, firing off a flurry of miniature fireballs to keep the basset occupied. Quick swings of her sword allow Milla to deflect some of them, but she's not fast enough: several fireballs make it past her defences, burning small holes in her outfit and singeing the fur underneath.
Wincing with pain, Milla does her best to ignore it. It takes considerable effort, but she manages to raise a small shield in her left hand, her piandao's glow dimming slightly. But the shield does the job: it blocks the last of the fireballs and collects the first punch thrown by Mipham. The vixen's second punch bypasses the shield however, connecting with Milla's right shoulder.
Mercifully keeping hold of her blade, Milla rolls with the punch and takes a few steps back, allowing her to get a firmer footing. Knowing she has no other option, she blocks Mipham's next punch, then counters with a thrust of her piandao around her shield.
The blade barely misses Mipham, tearing through her dress and lightly singeing the ivory fur underneath. Taken by surprise, Mipham backs away a few feet.
This gives Milla the opportunity she needs. It's now or never. Concentrating all her Phantom powers into her shield, her blade goes dark, the shield enlarging and thickening as Phantom energy flows into it.
Mipham senses her opportunity: she charges in, fists blazing‑
Milla unleashes the full fury of the stored Phantom energy in her shield in a searing blast that slams into Mipham, catapulting the vixen back over thirty feet into a heavy landing that breaks several ribs, dislocates her right shoulder, and triggers a yelp of agony.
Milla sheathes her sword. "I did warn you," she reminds, her voice weak, tears forming in her eyes. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"Bullshit!" Mipham growls, using her good arm to push herself painfully to her feet.
"Please, just step aside and let me go," Milla pleads once more. Finish her. Never!
Mipham concentrates all her pyrokinetic power into her left fist. "I won't stand aside and allow you to ruin everything we've worked for!"
"Mipham, please, just stop for a moment and‑"
Before Milla can finish, Mipham unleashes a searing fireball directly at the hound. Instinctively, Milla raises a Phantom Shield just in time to block the attack, but she has no time to stabilise it: it discharges the instant the fireball strikes it, throwing her back several feet.
Blocking out the pain from her cracked ribs and dislocated arm, Mipham takes full advantage of the opening and charges, pouncing on Milla with claws fully extended‑
A sudden Phantom Blast lifts Mipham high into the air, carrying her over Milla directly to an even harder landing that breaks her left arm and leaves her badly dazed.
Milla rolls onto all‑fours ready for a counter‑attack, but when she sees the motionless vixen, a wave of guilt crashes over her. Did… Did I kill her? Please, tell me I didn't kill her… Fearing the worst, Milla slowly crawls up to Mipham, prodding the vixen gently when she's close enough.
Mipham stirs at the contact. "You… You bitch," she growls, trying to focus on Milla and failing.
"I'm sorry to hurt you this badly, but you didn't give me a choice," Milla apologises, crying silent tears. "I promise, I'll find someone to help you."
Mipham spits in Milla's face. "Liar," she hisses.
"I didn't ask for any of this," Milla continues, her distress causing her voice to shake, tears soaking her cheeks. "I just wanted to know what happened to my parents. That's all I came here for. But I can't leave, not before I put an end to the Nine Tails' schemes."
"Knew it," Mipham sneers. "What are you waiting for? Kill me already."
"No," Milla refuses. "I promised I'll find help, and I will."
"Fuck off."
"Please don't say things like that. How badly are you hurt?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because I want to help."
Mipham narrows her eyes in suspicion. "Fine. Since you're so persistent: a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder, and several cracked ribs."
The news is almost too much for Milla to bear. "I… I didn't realise… I'm so, so sorry. Here, let me help you sit up against this rock."
Mipham remains silent, choosing not to fight Milla's attempts to help her any longer.
"Is there a first‑aid pack on your ATV?" Milla asks once she's managed to get Mipham sat leaning back against the rock. "I don't have mine anymore."
Mipham grunts an affirmative.
"I'll be back as quick as I can," Milla promises before dashing out of the tunnel, returning a couple of minutes later with the first‑aid kit.
Milla's return surprises Mipham. "You… You really want to help me, don't you?"
"It's my fault you're hurt so badly," Milla explains as she quickly fashions a crude sling for Mipham's broken left arm. "I should have held back more."
"If you did, then I'd have won," Mipham replies.
"And you'd have captured me and taken me to the Huxian," Milla guesses.
"You're right: I would have," Mipham confirms. "Not really in a state to do that now though."
"I'm really sorry I hurt you," Milla apologises. "Um… I've never relocated a shoulder before."
"Did the Order teach you nothing useful‽" Mipham snaps.
"I was taught how!" Milla protests. "I've just never done it before!"
Mipham takes a deep breath. "Sorry, I… Just get it over with."
Milla takes a deep breath, does her best to calm her mind, then takes firm hold of Mipham's right arm and, with one firm motion, relocates her shoulder.
"YEOW!" Mipham yells as the shoulder grinds back into place. "Did you have to be so harsh‽"
"I did say I've never done it before," Milla reminds. "Did it work?"
"…yeah, it did," Mipham admits quietly, the pain in her shoulder fading quickly to a mild discomfort. "Thanks, I guess."
Milla hands Mipham a small handheld radio. "I brought this so you could call your Huxian."
Mipham takes the radio in her right hand. "Thanks."
"I guess you're going to tell them what I said about the Crystal."
"Of course."
"And you're also going to tell them I won't leave the Empire until I've foiled their plans."
"Obviously."
"…you're going to shoot me in the back as I walk out of here, aren't you?"
Mipham opens her mouth to reply but stops herself at the last second. I can't believe I'm about to do this… Then again, she promised to help me, and she did. "Normally I would, but since you helped me, I promise not to shoot you in the back as you escape."
Milla has her doubts, but she chooses not to air them. "I hope that the next time we meet, it will be in peace."
"Don't count on it."
Milla decides not to respond, instead simply standing and walking out of the tunnel in silence.
Mipham watches her leave. I may have failed, but the others will not. Once Milla is out of the tunnel, she activates her radio. "Hey, Shangsi? I uh… have mixed news."
"You failed to eliminate the Tiāngǒu," the Husan Tainai replies, clearly displeased.
"She's more capable than I anticipated," Mipham explains. "Also, she appears to have the original Tiāngǒu's piandao."
"That saves us trying to figure out how to open that box the Order had hidden in their armoury," the Husan Tainai acknowledges. "However, it's not enough to atone for your failure."
"She knows about a crystal that can enhance pyrokinetic abilities," Mipham adds.
The Husan Tainai is silent for a moment. "Then we must bring her in alive. I shall inform the Huxian. Continue hunting the Tiāngǒu."
"About that… I uh… picked up a few injuries when I fought her," Mipham admits. "Broken arm and cracked ribs."
"You disappoint me, Xia Nuhu."
"My apologies, my Husan Tainai. So, when is someone gonna come get me?"
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, but‑"
"Then you can get yourself to a hospital." The Husan Tainai terminates the connection.
Mipham stares at the radio in disbelief for a few moments. Wow… the Tiāngǒu showed me far more compassion than my Husan Tainai just did. In fact, even though I tried to kill her, she showed me far more compassion than any member of the Nine Tails ever has… Mipham slowly pushes herself to her feet, wincing as her cracked ribs grate. Milla's so different from how the Huxian describes the Bái Shén… I have a lot to think about.
Once out of the tunnel, Mipham carefully mounts her ATV, fires up the engine, and gently rides towards Gyelsa.
A short distance away, Milla watches Mipham ride away from the relative safety of the thick bush she's hiding in. Why isn't she waiting to be picked up? Unless… Are the Nine Tails casting her aside? Milla shakes her head to clear it. I can't worry about that. The Nine Tails know I beat her, and their Huxian will now know about the Fire Crystal, which means I need to stay as hidden as possible while I work out how to take them all down… I've never wanted Lilac and Carol to be with me more than I do right now.