The world seemed to be spinning around.
Around and around.
Nothing stayed still, so it was impossible to discern where things were.
Where was the above?
Where was below?
Where was left?
Where was right?
Where was the front?
Where was behind?
….
Where was where?
Once I closed my eyes, everything changed again.
Again and again.
This perfectly described the feeling of being lost. Being lost within an unknown.
However, I felt no worry at all.
Nor fear.
Nor concern.
Nor anxiety.
Rather, what I felt was…, pure bliss.
And comfort.
And happiness.
And peace.
These feelings enveloped me as I drifted around this space with no clear sense of direction. Everything felt perfect as they were, fit right into their own places—me included.
To say I understood what was happening would be a lie. I realized that after reading the books my mother had—or the ones she'd read to me for my bedtime stories long ago—the universe had its own laws, and a mere human like me should just accept it.
Want it or not….
Then again, not everything needed an explanation. I felt comfortably numb here.
Speaking about mother, she was standing in front of me, floating along right by my side. Her beautiful blond hair was tied into a braid, quite long but still pale compared to mine. Although a dim shadow hid those eyes, her smile remained gentle and warm.
I loved it when she smiled. After all, it made me smile too.
She stretched her hand toward me.
"Bronya, now we're together again," she said. I couldn't hear her words, but the message got sent across just fine.
I smiled.
"Yes Mother, we're together," I said. I couldn't hear my own words, but looking at her nodding, I knew it got sent across. "Let's rest."
Our hands intertwined. Her warmth, her soft touch, her kindness….They put my heart in ease, as if nothing else mattered anymore.
Yes….
Nothing else mattered….
.
.
.
"Bronya fainted."
Serval's words were loud and clear. There was no hint of irony. What she said, from the first word to the second, did—in fact—happened, and her expression alone was enough to prove that, a distraught look.
Both Seele and Natasha were standing before her eyes. There was no doubt that those two heard what Serval had just said.
But instead of not hearing it, one girl didn't want to hear. The scarf on her neck brushed against the damp air.
Serval continued. "I was discussing the reparation for Engine of Creation with her. It happened suddenly. She looked fine too this morning."
"So it happened at Pillars of Creation?" The only one who replied was Natasha.
Serval answered with a nod. "But we've already brought her back to the fort. She is now on bed rest."
"Any dangerous complications?"
"We don't know yet. Lynx has done a bit of treatment, but I'm afraid it isn't enough."
None of those words reached Seele's ears. She was still in shock, hearing such bad news in the least moment she expecting. Her world seemed to crumble one by one, and when Bronya's face entered her mind again, she couldn't keep her feet still anymore.
Without a single word uttered, she walked past Serval. Her swinging bangs covered her eyes, moving back and forth, following her steps.
"Seele," Natasha said. "Where are you going?"
Seele stopped on her track. "To Bronya, of course."
"Calm yourself."
"I'm calm."
"Listen to yourself. Do you even realize how much you're hurting your right hand?"
Seele was too lost within her emotional turmoil and failed to notice her bleeding palm. She had dug into her skin using her fingers, tearing the outer layer until red liquid poured out drop by drop. They weren't long or sharp. It was all because of her strength, gripping her palm so hard it hurt herself.
Again, she felt nothing besides the countless thoughts running through her worried mind.
"First, we should bandage that wound before it gets an infection. Come here," Natasha continued.
"There's no time. We need to hurry," Seele answered back.
"This isn't the time to become stubborn, Seele."
"I'm not, Natasha. I'm just—"
"Can you imagine how guilty Bronya would be to see your wounded hand?" Sick of Seele's excuses, Natasha's voice grew more commanding. Her stare was sharper, too. "You know that she'd blame herself."
"….I'll make her understand."
"And didn't that side of yours cause the fight with her?"
Seele didn't say a word, or rather, she couldn't. Nothing she said now would change anything. The past had run its course, and in those moments, her argument with Bronya was inevitable.
She was the one who'd caused it.
The damage had been done.
The silence kept going for a while before Serval, who was done with listening, joined in the conversation.
"I did notice that Bronya hasn't been herself this past week. Having a fight with you would my last guess, honestly, but I can also see why it affected her so much," she said while looking at Seele.
"Then it's the more reason for me to go, right?!"
"No one is saying you can't. We're saying that you should calm down. Being in a panic doesn't solve anything. And as much as you're worried, Natasha is right," Serval said, seeing the conflicted look that still painted over Seele's face. "The last thing we don't want would be you—or any of us, really—to get sick as well."
"Besides, I need to bring my equipment and medicines first," Natasha added. "Don't act hasty. We don't even know if it's infectious."
Natasha and Serval were looking at Seele, waiting for her decision. A few seconds passed, and they could see Seele loosening her grip.
"….Sorry," she mumbled.
"Don't mind it. It's not like you're at fault to begin with," Natasha said. "For now, wait here and calm yourself. While at it, Serval, do you mind helping me?
"Right on your back."
Seele now stood alone outside the clinic. She appeared to be calm, but inside, her heart was still thumping. It was just like a hurricane of emotions, swelling second by second until it burst in the near future. Bronya's face kept appearing in her mind, and the more she thought about her, the bigger her worries became.
But she also knew that nothing good would come out of it. Different from a certain person, she wasn't as tough as her. Her feelings could crack at any moment. Despite of how rough she was, she could easily crumble.
"I wish I could be more like you, Bronya…." she whispered, saying those words to herself, admitting her own weakness. "I know nothing besides fighting, so I can't understand what you're feeling. It's too confusing, but I can confidently say that you want to scream as well, don't you? That's why you shouted at me…."
She closed both eyes with her palms. Although darkness was all that enveloped her sight now, she kept seeing Bronya.
"….Thinking about that, I'm really awful, isn't? Making you lashed it out to me although you were trying so hard to suppress it…."
She felt ashamed because of that, gritting her teeth until she heard her own crackling sound. After one deep breath, she let go of her hands from her face. She looked at them, her rough palms after holding the scythe for countless hours.
They slowly moved closer to her cheeks.
And with one swift movement—
—Plap!
The sound rang throughout the place. Some of the passerby even turned their heads to see what happened. Everyone paid her a weird look, but she couldn't care less about them.
"Did something happen?!" Serval rushed outside, thinking something bad had just occurred. In her hands was a small box containing Natasha's equipment.
"Nothing," Seele answered with both cheeks red. Her hands showed the same shade of color too, throbbing in pain, although no one noticed it.
Natasha followed behind Serval. She gazed at the blue-haired girl's face, realizing what she'd just done to herself. She smiled, pleased with the expression Seele was making now.
"I was worried for a second, but…." she said. "Seems like you're feeling much better now. Though I wished you hadn't hurt yourself just for that."
"Y-you slapped yourself?!" Serval asked.
"It hits the spot, though," Seele answered, this time with a confident smile. "Well, shall we get going, then?"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Pela, we're coming."
Serval opened the door to Bronya's room in the Qlipoth Fort. A girl was sitting down on a wooden chair. A small hat topped her small head. She glanced at them with the eyes behind those glasses.
"You finally arrived! I was dead worry if something happened," Pela said, her expression was the mix of worry and anger.
Despite her small stature, she was an important part of the Silvermane Guards. As the Intelligence Officer, many tasks she handled would determine the fate of Belobog's restoration.
"Sorry, something happened. But Natasha is here, and also—"
"—Sorry for intruding."
Seele stepped into the room, standing beside Serval. She'd only been there once, in a minimalistic room that resembled nothing related to a young girl. Gentle hush of wind entered from the opened window, serenading them with a soothing air.
"Miss Seele?"
"I hope I'm not bothering anyone," Seele said.
"Please don't worry about that," Pela answered. "I'm even more glad that Miss Seele is here. And I'm sure…."
Pela bit her own lips before fixing her gaze at the bed next to her. On it, someone was lying down, covered in a white-colored blanket until only her head was visible.
It was Bronya, closing her eyes shut. She was asleep, but her expression showed discomfort, as if she was in a never ending pain. It was much more pale in comparison than everyone's complexion.
"Bronya…." Seele furrowed her eyebrows. She'd anticipated that scene, yet it still broke her heart. "Thank you for taking care of her. Also just call me Seele."
Amidst their conversation, Natasha entered. She opened her bags, handing out a piece of mask to everyone in the room.
"It's better to be careful than sorry," she said.
After everyone covered their mouth and nose, Natasha didn't waste any time tending to Bronya, whose sweats soaked into the bed. She closed the distance, prompting the others to standby behind her.
That was the best choice for now. Sickness, an invisible enemy, that was what they were dealing with. One false move could be fatal.
Natasha put her palm on Bronya's forehead. While at it, she also touched the other parts of her body—neck, arms, chest, and more. She observed them without any slightest hint of hesitation, fully knowing that life might be the consequence if she missed even a single step.
It took a few minutes before Natasha finished. She began to sweat too, anxiety and exhaustion blending in together. Trying to catch up with her breath, she pulled her mask down before looking at the others.
"It's not infectious, so mask won't no necessary." Natasha let herself being enveloped by the wind seeping through the window. "She has a fever, quite a dangerous one. She must've overworked herself too much. Something like this wouldn't happen just in a day or two."
"Is it that dangerous?" Serval asked.
"If not treated soon, yes."
"But you can cure her, right?" It was Seele's turn.
"…."
However, not a single answer she heard, only the hissing wind.
"Natasha?" she asked for the second time. Her expression became dimmer, lips trembling and eyes watering. Yet she pushed herself to utter the words in her mind. "Just say it. Be honest."
A sigh escaped Natasha's lips. "It depends."
"Care to elaborate, Miss Natasha?" Pela joined in the conversation.
"It's indeed just a fever. That alone is curable, rather easily, in fact, with enough rest and the correct medicine. To put it simply, as much as the body relies on the mind, our mind also relies on our body. If one is unhealthy, the other follows."
Natasha stopped for a while.
"One time, I had a patient who couldn't get better. Both medicine and resting wouldn't work, although my diagnosis was correct….In the end, what took his life was stress—his own mind."
The atmosphere surrounding the room turned even bleaker. Even if one had steeled their heart before listening to those words, it would still have been a shocking revelation, something that shouldn't be taken lightly.
"In this current situation, Bronya is similar. Her fever is one thing, but what is worse is her own mind—the stress that I believe has accumulated even way before she became our Supreme Guardian. That alone is already much more dangerous than the patient I mentioned before. Her spirit had burned out from a long time ago." Natasha paused, didn't have the heart to finish her sentence. "I'll do my utmost best to lower her fever, at least until it's dangerous no more. But everything still depends on her. If Bronya herself doesn't have the strength to fight back—or if she doesn't want to—I'm afraid to say that it's only the matter of time before she…."
No one said anything yet. Even after the doctor had ended her explanation, they were still lost words. It felt as if the gravity was pulling their spirits down, plummeted them into nothing but a sprinkle of dust.
Something dangerous befalling Bronya would mean the end of Belobog.
No one could breathe at the moment, as if the air had been sucked by an invisible black hole, only leaving tension that burdened their lungs.
That was how important her existence became for the planet's future. They understood how grave the situation was.
Natasha wasn't feeling herself too. Being faced with such a situation would make anyone nervous, even for someone as calm as her. She held someone's life in her hand, so a mistake couldn't be pardoned. Then again, it was something she must do.
At this point, hope got slimmer with every passing second. But before it completely faded away, a voice broke through the tension.
It was Seele's voice.
"It's fine," she said. "Bronya is the strongest person I know. She will be fine."
Amidst the crushing weight of despair, where the black clouds hovered above the ground, a faint light beamed through. Her tone was full of confident, and her eyes gleamed just like a beacon of hope.
Those words came from her heart, genuine.
It wasn't a mere pep talk to uplift the heavy air.
She did believe it from the deepest bottom of her heart.
Because of that—the conviction and sincerity delivered in every uttered word—her voice cut through others' worries. The fog slowly vanished, showing that there might be a path to safety.
Natasha's expression loosened up. "Seele is right. Serious or not, nothing is impossible."
"And Bronya is far from weak, too," Serval said. She put her arm on Seele's shoulder. "Worrying it over and over won't do anything good. Nice one, Seele."
"I'll begin the treatment, then. For now, I'd like to ask for you three to wait outside," Natasha said. Her bag was on the floor, full of equipment and medicines. "I'll try my utmost best. It may not cure her, but at least she'll escape critical condition."
"That'd be enough," Serval answered. "We're trusting you, Natasha."
Everyone left the room except for Natasha, who diverted her gaze to Bronya and her alone. Selle followed, taking a last glance to peek at the sleeping princess before the door was closed.
All they could do now was waiting for the good news while also preparing for the worst care scenario. This time, however, they could see the slightest sign of optimism.
Then again, they weren't out of the woods yet.
"Now, I believe there's another problem, right, Pela?"
From the way she spoke, it seemed that they hadn't left the dire situation.
Pela let out a sigh. "I hope that wasn't the case, but you're correct."
"I'd guess it's about the Supreme Guardian…."
"It's indeed that."
Seele, who couldn't follow the conversation, got confused. "Are you talking about Bronya?"
"You're not technically wrong." Serval shifted her gaze to the Wildfire member. "For now, it may be better to call it as the Acting Supreme Guardian."
"Acting…, what?"
Pela went on with the explanation. "Long story short, we need someone to substitute Bronya as the Supreme Guardian. Without a leader that oversees everything, our restoration plan will halt, and under any circumstance, we can't afford that to happen. That's why we need someone to handle Bronya's responsibility for a while. Hence, we call it the Acting Supreme Guardian."
"But where can we find someone like that? I mean, even someone like Bronya still got overwhelmed," Seele said.
"That's true. The truth of the matter, no one in Silvermane Guards is capable enough. I'm certain my ability still lacks too, as my work rather puts me behind the scene, so handling matters that need me to be in front will be out of my expertise," Pela said. Her stare moved to the person next to Seele. "But luckily we've Serval here. As far as I'm concerned, she is the only who has the qualification to take over Bronya's position, especially looking back at her history."
Both of them stared at Serval, waiting for her response. In the end, with her arms crossed in front of her chest, she just sighed.
"To be honest, I'd like to refuse, but beggars can't really choose," she replied back. "Also, I can't really say no after seeing Bronya's sacrifice for all of us."
"It's determined then," Pela answered. "Then I will—"
"M-Miss Pela!"
As their talk nearing its end, a Silvermane Guard approached them in hurry. He was breathing heavily under the helmet. His legs were wobbling, taking him a few seconds until he could compose himself.
"What is it?" Pela asked. Her mind ran through all different possibilities, but they reached the same ending—something problematic.
"The f-fragmentum on Snow Plains is still attacking, a-and our defensive line starts to collapse one by one!" he reported.
"What about Gepard? Can't you ask him for help?" Serval asked, mentioning her own little brother.
"Captain Gepard is still stationed on the other side, and waiting for his arrival would be too risky."
"That's quite troublesome…." Serval continued. "What shall we do—"
As Serval turned her head, she saw Pela with an ominous look on her face, one that made Serval shudder.
"Pela?" Serval called again.
"S-Serval, sorry…." Pela began to speak, her voice trembling a little. "I didn't think this would happen, but I-I asked Lynx to help at Snow Plains…."
"You did what?!"
Serval's expression turned into panic as well, similar to Pela's. Seele, on the other hand, was quite lost.
"Who is Lynx?" she asked.
Serval, still had her hand on her temple, answered. "She is my little sister….Asking her to go to Snow Plains…, what were you thinking, Pela?!"
"I didn't want to, okay? But the situation was the same as now. The guards needed a support, and I couldn't really leave Bronya alone," Pela answered. "If could, I didn't want to. But that was the best that I could think of."
"That's….I know that it's not your fault, but…." Serval felt her head turning upside down, the worry clashed against her duty. She asked the exhausted guard. "I-is she fine at least?"
"M-Miss Lynx is currently tending to the injured."
That added to Serval's concern. She gritted her teeth and made a fist, trying to control her emotion before it burst outside. "Sorry Pela, but I'll go to Snow Plains. Lynx needs me."
While both of them were arguing, Seele just simply raised her right arm. Her gesture captured everyone's attention, and after they became quiet, she spoke.
"I'll go."
Outside the tall and majestic wall surrounding Belobog were the Outlying Snow Plains, an uncharted territory for hundreds of years. The soft and white snow covered the entire landscape, stretching from one end to another with just the husk of trees protruding from the ground. That would be the spectacle that greeted everyone trying to roam this place, if anyone dared step a foot into.
With lack of preparation, even the coldness could kill, freezing flesh and bones before prickling them inside out with sharp, everlasting pain. The harsh weather was something not to be taken lightly. And as if the fate wasn't cruel enough to them, fragmentum—monsters born through the existence of Stellaron—roamed around, posing threats to those who were lucky enough having survived the harsh cold wind.
Indeed, with the help of Astral Express Crew, they could defeat and seal the Cancer of All Worlds. Still, the calamity had happened. It couldn't be reversed as easy and fast as snapping fingers.
The Eternal Freeze would still linger for years—maybe decades.
This was what Bronya fought for. She carried many hopes and wishes, burdening everything on her own shoulders.
That was what Seele fought her. If she could lessen that burden, even just a little, she'd do anything for that, even to sacrifice herself….
.
.
.
"Shielders, hold your ground! Make sure none of those fragmentum bastards can breach through!"
A heavy man's voice echoed across the empty plain. He stood in the front line, preparing a shield bigger than himself, and yet he controlled it with ease. The other guards made a horizontal line with him being in the middle, placing the shields next to each other into a protective line.
Right before their eyes was a group of fragmentum monsters, marching towards them without any sign of stopping. Some of them were shaped just like birds corroded by a strange elemental energy, while others looking like humans whose minds had been eaten by the Stellaron. Anything in front of them would be the enemy, including the Silvermane Guards.
"Be prepared! Here comes the attack!" the same man shouted.
As soon as he finished his words, all of them clashed together into one mess. Both the Silvermane Guards and fragmentum monsters collided with the latter launching their attacks. Although their attack must be reckoned, none of the Silvermane Guards were backing down. They dug their legs to the ground, not planning to move even an inch until the monsters in front of them perished from their sight.
At the first glance, they appeared to be a stalemate—
—No, the monsters were slightly winning.
The Silvermane Guards' shields began to chip away one by one. As strong as their shields were, being attacked endlessly would result in that outcome. If they didn't make a move in just a few minutes, the only thing they would be holding was what remained of their shields.
No matter what happened, they needed to prevent it.
It was do or die—as simple as that.
"Now!" he screamed again, calling out to all of his subordinates.
As soon as his voice dissipated into thin air, every guard in his troop bashed their shields towards the enemies, knocking the monsters away until there was a distance separating them.
It wasn't the end of their plan.
That man shouted again, this time even louder. "Attackers, charge!"
Enemies that were still trying to get their footing on the ground couldn't react fast enough as multiple spears came straight at them, puncturing their bodies with every clean hit. What remained of them were fragments spread across the ground.
It was a successful attack, yet none of them lowered their guard. After all, their opponents were relentless entities with only one thought instilled in their long-frozen head, destroying everything in their sights.
"Keep on rotating between defense and offense!"
While the battle continued, the people at the rear were also fighting their own battle—not less important than the one on the frontline.
"Please get me a towel and hot water. Make sure both are clean."
A young girl kept her calm amidst the situation. Sweats showered on her body, yet she didn't show any sign of panicking. Her blonde hair, the one usually hidden under a cat-shaped hat, basked in the freezing air.
She settled in a temporary-built camp, where many injured guards were safely brought back. Some were struck with severe wounds, almost life-threatening and required first aid treatment.
It was the young girl's task—making sure that by the end of the fight, the casualty would be zero.
At this moment, however, the chance of that becoming reality also got closer to zero.
As she did every possible option that she could think of now, someone approached her. It was the captain of Silvermane Guard, the man who'd commanded the front line.
He stood tall before the young girl's eyes.
"Thank you so much, Miss Lynx. You've been such a help," he said.
"Please don't mention it, Captain Dunn. I'm just doing everything that I can now, the same as you and your men," the little girl said. "You being here means there's something I can help you with?"
"I'm just on my way to get a new shield. My previous one was broken, but after withstanding their attacks, that's given."
What left from Dunn's shield was just a piece of cracked metal, shattered into just a useless chunk that couldn't even hold one single attack. Lynx stared at it before shifting her gaze towards the front line, where many shouts and weapons clashing into each other resonated across the ground.
"How's the situation now?" she asked.
The answer didn't surprise her. "In this current moment, it's the battle of attrition."
"That's bad….Really bad."
"That's true…." Dunn answered back, looking at his subordinates who kept on even after their breaths and blood spilled on the snow. "Compared to our exhausted soldiers, those fragmentum bastards will keep on attacking. They will chip our defense one by one until nothing is left."
Lynx clicked her tongue. A bead of sweat poured down from her forehead to cheek.
"The worst-case scenario, all of us to evacuate," she said. "But the wall would be….Then again, if we don't escape, many would fall."
All choices led them to a dismay—one that couldn't be taken lightly.
"That's why. Until reinforcements arrive, we'll be holding on to this place with our lives. It's the least we can do for the future of Belobog," Dunn answered. He looked down. His face was hidden behind his helmet, but Lynx could sense him gently smiling. "In any case, please escape Miss Lynx and grab as many people as you can. If something bad happens to you, I won't be able to look at Miss Serval in the eyes."
"The same as me, Captain." Lynx tried to put up a tough smile. "If I also run, I will be so ashamed to see my big sister and brother."
"I see….Then we're on the same page."
"Besides, won't Captain have any regret before confessing to her?"
Dunn coughed. "W-well, that's not really relevant to this, isn't?"
A soft chuckle escaped Lynx's lips. "Don't die, Captain Dunn. My sister still needs someone to help her."
"You too, Miss Lynx. Let's come back safely with every—"
Boom!
A loud noise interrupted his sentence, echoing throughout the Snow Plains. It came from where the battlefield was, followed by a large snow dust floating high into the sky.
Both of them didn't spare any time. Something as dangerous as that could only be caused by a fragmentum monster, particularly—
"—A big one," Dunn said before making a tch sound with his tongue.
Boom!
That sound appeared again, this time even louder than before. The ground shook a little, causing the snow to change position, as if the landscape had been changed.
Dunn put the new shield in front of him, preparing for any unexpected attack that might happen. With the young girl behind her, he couldn't move.
Boom!
The snow got pushed to his side, blurring his view. In just a split second, he felt a force hitting his shield, heavy and robust. It made his entire body tremble, yet his feet were still on the ground.
After a while, his sight came back to him, and standing before his eyes—or floating, to be exact—was a large fragmentum monster, one that shouldn't have roamed near the Belobog's entrance.
Its entire body was made of chunks of ice, assembled into one deranged-looking lifeform. The spiky parts of its body were sharp, and as Dunn looked into it, he saw the reflection of his body on the clear ice.
"I-Ice Out of Space…." Dunn said, calling to the name that had been given to the monster attacking him. "Miss Lynx, please order everyone to evacuate! I'll handle this one!"
Although Lynx could only see Dunn's back, she still nodded. She quickly got back up to her feet. They were trembling, but in this dire situation, being struck by fear would threaten everyone else's life.
She had to prevent it at all costs.
"E-everyone, run back to the gate! Bring the wounded with you, d-don't leave even a single person!"
Her scream rang in everyone's ear, prompting them to move even when fright had paralyzed them.
Still standing on the same spot, Dunn was taking the hit again and again. His body felt the immense weight behind those attacks. Every punch sent across by that monster spread to his entire body, causing his bone to rattle.
And yet, he didn't give up. He gritted his teeth. When the enemy launched another assault, he avoided it by stepping to the side, creating an opportunity for himself to counterattack.
Among the surrounding people, he understood the best that his attacks lacked power. Beating this monster by himself would be a tall order, even for a captain like him.
Then again, he had to do it.
So, casting his doubt and unease, he bashed the shield at Ice Out of Space with all of his might.
He must.
"I didn't know how you breached my men, but I won't let you move an inch from here!"
He put everything in that one attack, his strength down to the last ounce. The adrenaline rushed streamed through his veins. Amidst the cold, he felt his body burning tremendously. His feet were buried under the snow, penetrating even the solid ground.
That sudden burst of power was enough to knock the fragmentum monster back. Its legs got shattered, pieces falling to the snow as it also lost its balance. Dunn took the risk of attacking again instead of protecting himself. He swung the shield back, and although he'd lost momentum, his second strike still sent another body part of that monster flying.
His plan succeeded, but little did he know that the monster wasn't going to let itself treated just like a mere punching bag. As Dunn focused only on attacking, he didn't realize the ice projectile forming above him. The moment he noticed, it was too late.
The ice projectile was bigger than his head with its sharp edge aiming right at the captain. His arm, the one holding his shield, felt numb—the consequence of his two consecutive hits. For a moment, he saw the life he'd been through flashed before his eyes, just a few inches away from the death that would soon greet him.
He couldn't avoid it. What awaited ahead was an imminent danger. And yet, his soul still burned, scorched with the dying will of a soldier.
Biting his bottom lip until it bled, Dunn shocked himself with pain. His arms, although still stunned, followed his instruction.
One second before the ice arrow hit him, Dunn managed to put the shield in front of him, blocking his vital from being obliterated. Even then, he knew he wouldn't come out from that attack unscratched.
When Ice Out of Space's attack struck, Dunn felt the immense weight which further buried his feet on the earth. His arms withstood that attack, exceeding his own limits.
"ARGHHHHHHH!"
It was yet the strongest moment of his life. The ice cracked alongside his shield, broken into a few parts that disappeared into the snow. He'd avoided a life-or-death situation. Then again, it'd be possible no more for him to fight.
His left arm was broken, hanging from his shoulder that became dislocated as well. The blood colored his skin crimson red. It was an odd yet also a familiar feeling, one he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"This…, might be the end of my road…." he slowly whispered.
Compared to him, Ice Out of Space was already preparing for its next attack. Neither dodging nor protecting was an option for him. He could do nothing about it, just waiting until his eyes were forced shut.
But before that happened, Dunn saw something. It flickered next to him, a small and faint image of something. The way it moved reminded him that he was still alive, hadn't kicked the bucket yet.
It flew, cruising against the cold wind, towards the fragmentum monster.
It got closer and closer, caring little about the surrounding. Even the menacing look of that monster didn't stop it from inching closer.
Gentle and calming. In the midst of danger, Dunn thought it would be his calling.
In reality, that wasn't the case.
In fact, it was a symbol of hope.
Slowly but surely, he saw what it was—clear to both eyes.
It was a purple butterfly.
As soon as he realized, a silhouette dashed past him. It was quick, a blur in the air that kept on moving until there was no distance left between that figure and the fragmentum monster.
In its hand is a scythe, bigger than the wielder itself. That imposed an image of a reaper, ready to claim any life standing in its path. What seemed to be strands of purple hair swayed with the wind.
"Disappear!" that figure shouted—a female's voice.
With a single quick slash, Ice Out of Space no longer moved. It split into two, with its upper half slid to the snow while the remaining part cracked, crumbling into smaller ice chunks. The impact created a snow dust, obstructing Dunn's view for a second. But he knew that move very well, ingrained deep in his memory.
After all, that move had beaten him one time.
"M-Miss Seele?" Dunn said.
That girl turned around. The snow dust covering her surrounding slowly scattered, pushed by the raging wind.
It was indeed Seele.
"She just arrived," Lynx appeared behind Dunn. "Most likely she is the reinforcement sent by my sister."
Seele covered the gap between them with a few steps. "Fancy seeing you here, Dunn. And this must be Serval's little sister?"
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Seele. My name is Lynx. I believe my big sister mentioned me before," Lynx said while nodding.
"O-oh, likewise." Seele awkwardly nodded. "Since you know my name, I guess Serval told you about me as well?"
This time, Lynx shook her head. Not what Seele was expecting. "It was Miss Bronya. You often become the topic of our conversation."
"I-is that so?"
With the cold air around them, Seele's blush looked more vibrant, two rosy marks painting her cheeks. She didn't notice it, but even if she did, nothing she could do to hide them. Both Dunn and Lynx saw it but said nothing—the best possible dialogue option now.
Seele let out a cough, controlling her own composure. "S-so, what's the situation here? I can see your arm is a mess now."
"The usual stuff," Dunn answered. "Didn't expect you to be our help. Awfully strong too, same as what I remember."
"The usual stuff," Seele answered. "I'm just letting the people smarter than me for the thinking stuff, like Serval and Pela. What I'm best at is here."
She glanced toward the battlefield. The fight still continued, with shrieks and war cries resonated throughout the ground. At least the noises hadn't died out yet, meaning people were still fighting. But it couldn't last forever. They knew that. The longer the battle took, the more dangerous it'd become—similar to an invisible dagger slowly pushed into one's neck. One misjudgement and they would lose their heads without being aware of it.
"If I've to be honest, asking help from someone outside of Silvermane Guards isn't our style," Dunn said, blood drenched his arm. "This time, however, I'll let it slide. Having you by our side is worth ten people alone—even more, I believe."
"Stop with the praises and get yourself patched up."
"Captain, Miss Seele is right," Lynx said. "We should stop the bleeding as soon as possible."
"Listen to her. Don't worry, I'll take it over from here."
"Are you sure? I don't know what the hell is going on, but these fragmentum monsters are much fiercer than before. You'd better be careful."
"Like I said, no need to worry."
Seele cracked her knuckles, warming herself up. Her mind was just like a whirlwind, emotions spiraling within her—especially her anger towards herself, the anger of not being able to stay beside Bronya.
However, it wasn't the time for that. Nothing good came from her mulling over what'd happened. She just needed to focus on what was in front of her.
She clenched her fist before sighing.
"Right now, I'm really in the mood to wreck things up."