In the snow-covered forests of Siberia, a small figure darted through the wind and snow.
Xilin pressed on, carrying Bella deeper into the woods. The Siberian winter was long and merciless, as if it would never end.
Bella remained unconscious.
For the two girls, though, the danger they faced was far more terrifying than the bitter cold.
A stranger followed at a steady pace, like a predator waiting for its prey to exhaust itself before striking effortlessly.
Xilin's strength was nearly spent, but she gritted her teeth and drew in a deep breath. She stepped carefully on the thick snow, afraid of slipping.
It wasn't enough. She hadn't shaken the pursuer yet.
Why could she do nothing?
Why was it always her brother who stayed behind for her?
Why could she only run, only to fail to keep her promise to him?
Her breaths came faster, each one slicing through the icy air as if drawn through clenched teeth, yet the holy mark on her chest continued to silently lend her strength to move forward.
But what could she accomplish like this?
"Impressive, you've lasted this long. I'm starting to get bored.
The hunt ends now. Don't be afraid. Soon enough."
Akmon pulled out a stun gun, aiming at Xilin.
Her scream pierced the air.
The electricity struck both Xilin and Bella, and they collapsed into the snow. Xilin struggled to rise but was pinned down by Akmon.
"What a monster," he muttered. "Even after three hits, she refuses to go down.
I couldn't even survive one shot from this."
Akmon tied the girls with rough ropes and prepared to take them to the Babylon Experimental Base.
Turning Xilin over, her golden eyes locked on him, burning with anger and defiance.
"Good spirit," Akmon said. "Survive that hell and come back for revenge, little monster."
He ran with the two girls out of the forest.
Explosions thundered in rapid succession.
Then a violent shockwave knocked Akmon off his feet.
"What was that noise? Not even a missile strike sounds that intense. What is happening to this world? Monsters everywhere."
Rolling on the ground, Akmon narrowly avoided the spikes of several collapsing energy crystals.
A small figure, heavily cloaked, carried Xilin in one arm and Bella in the other, running straight through the chaos.
"Damn it! That was my target! My year-end bonus!"
Akmon got to his feet, but a wall of crystal energy blocked his path.
He maneuvered around it and continued the chase for his "prize."
Deep within the dense forest, footprints trailed into the shadows.
Xilin curled in Yuebo's arms, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart. Her tense mind finally began to relax.
But guilt surged immediately after.
"Sorry, brother. I couldn't get away."
"It's alright. As long as you're safe, that's all that matters," Yuebo said.
"But… Yuebo, can you tell me how I can face all this with you?" Xilin whispered.
She hated her own helplessness.
"It's okay, Xilin. I'll always protect you, so don't worry," Yuebo reassured her.
Listening to him, her desire for power grew stronger.
"Xilin, our pursuer is catching up. I need to move faster," he warned.
As Yuebo passed a large tree, Patrick, who had been waiting behind it, launched a surprise attack.
Yuebo was caught off guard. He was struck by the butt of a gun and then hit with four chained rifles, binding him tightly.
Patrick took Xilin while Bella lay in the snow, unconscious and now even harder to wake.
When Xilin realized what had happened, she had been taken by another person, a knife held at her throat.
"Monster, don't use your abilities. If you want this person to live, obey," Patrick ordered.
Yuebo, furious that Xilin was threatened, could only glare at Patrick with burning anger.
"To think a Valkyrie of Destiny would stop at nothing to achieve her goals," Yuebo spat.
"Dealing with someone who hides their identity from monsters what you do doesn't concern me," Patrick retorted.
At that moment, Akmon arrived.
"Well said, Valkyrie. Can you hand over my mission target to me?"
"Akmon, advisor to the transport squad, this isn't your place," Patrick warned.
"Don't be so wary. Aren't you curious about the Babylon Experimental Base's secrets? I can help just hand me the two girls so I can complete my mission."
"Empty words won't convince me," Patrick replied, quickly binding Yuebo with several energy restrainers, preparing to take all three away.
"I have proof, esteemed Patrick. You saw the cargo in transit. As soon as I tell Dr. Y you saw it, you'll be transferred."
"The data is on this USB drive. Work with me. That's your only choice, Patrick."
"Hope you mean it," Patrick said.
For the sake of his mission, Patrick left Xilin and Bella with Akmon. Akmon tossed the USB drive to him without hesitation.
Patrick carried Yuebo to the base, planning to examine the data with the proper tools.
Before that, he wanted to see what this "monster" looked like. He stopped and pulled back Yuebo's hood.
"Hmph, let's see what you really are…"
The figure revealed was not what Patrick expected.
A young boy with white hair and cute cat ears, bound and struggling, yet utterly defenseless.
Patrick felt a surge of excitement and delight at the sight. Ignoring the boy's angry expression, he found him almost endearing.
His hands moved involuntarily.
"Don't touch me!" Yuebo shouted.
Patrick, unbothered, kept touching him.
"Tell me your name, little cutie," Patrick said.
"Give back Xilin and Bella, you monster! How can you call yourself a Valkyrie!"
"Seems you know a lot, little cutie. Once I get new equipment, I'll send people to rescue them. Acting now would only save a few; who knows how many more are in the base," Patrick taunted.
"Take your hands off my ears! How long before then?"
"You really care about these girls, huh," Patrick smirked.
"What you need to do now is please me. Make me happy, and I can get you out of their experiments."
Patrick thought to himself: getting them out of experiments simply meant hiding them so they weren't discovered.
"So you'll be the one to rescue them, right?" Yuebo asked.
"Of course. Neither of us could do it alone," Patrick replied.
"So how long exactly?"
"About half a month. My weapons were all destroyed by you before. First, tell me your name."
"Yuebo," he said.
"Yuebo? What a nice name. Don't worry. Just wait and they'll be rescued."
"Half a month is too long. Do you have a large reserve of collapse energy?"
"Don't even think about it, little Yuebo. How could I give you something so important? Let me see if you even have a tail."
"Is that so? Then goodbye, Valkyrie."
"Wait, what do you mean?"
Yuebo de-materialized, vanishing from the physical world and returning to the Stigmata space.
Patrick stared at the empty arms where Yuebo had been, speechless.
"Damn it! You didn't even tell me your name!"
"Next time I catch you, Yuebo, you won't get away!"