The distant hum of Frostveil's skyline was muted as Ethan stepped into the factory where the others were waiting. The cold, early-morning light cast long shadows over the broken machinery and rusted walls. Ethan's expression was unreadable, but his presence carried a chilling gravity.
Marika and Lindiwe turned to face him, their breaths hitching as their eyes fell on Jake's corpse. His lifeless body floated behind Ethan, held aloft by the invisible grip of telekinesis. Blood was smeared across Jake's torn armor, the stark red contrasting sharply with the pale blue frost clinging to him. His head, which Ethan had painstakingly retrieved, rested alongside his body, the grim evidence of his final battle.
Without a word, Ethan reached into his pocket and withdrew a storage card. He murmured an incantation, and Jake's body was enveloped in faint glowing runes before disappearing into the card's holographic storage interface. Ethan pocketed the card as if storing equipment instead of a fallen comrade.
"Get ready. We're leaving," Ethan said coldly, his tone devoid of emotion.
Marika opened her mouth as if to protest, but Lindiwe placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head. There was nothing to say—not yet. Ethan's commanding presence made it clear this wasn't a moment for debate.
With Kalthorne still secured, the team split up. Ethan handed off the unconscious captive to Marika and Lindiwe, entrusting them to guard him in a hidden safe spot while he went alone to retrieve their vehicle. The streets of Frostveil were eerily quiet now, the chaos of the earlier chase having died down. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the crunch of Ethan's boots against the snow.
The two women sat quietly in the shadows of the factory, their breaths clouding in the freezing air as they exchanged somber glances. Marika finally spoke, her voice trembling.
"Do you ever wonder what all of this is for? Why we keep doing this?" she asked, her fingers idly tracing the glowing runes on Kalthorne's containment spell.
"All the time," Lindiwe replied softly. "We follow orders, carry out these missions, but at the end of the day, we're just tools for Elaine. Pawns in her game."
"Jake's gone, and we're no closer to getting free," Marika muttered bitterly. "Sometimes, I wonder if we'll ever have lives of our own."
Lindiwe didn't answer immediately. She glanced at Marika, her usual composed demeanor faltering. "Maybe… maybe we're better off just surviving. At least for now."
Their quiet reflection was interrupted when Ethan returned, driving the sleek transport vehicle they had stashed away earlier. He exited the driver's seat and gestured for them to get in. The tension lingered, but no one voiced their thoughts as they climbed into the vehicle with their captive securely stored in the back.
The drive to Sky City stretched through the night, the Arctic landscape gradually giving way to the towering structures and glowing skylines of the futuristic metropolis. The beauty of the city was undeniable—floating highways lined with shimmering mana conduits crisscrossed between skyscrapers made of glass and enchanted metals. The air hummed faintly with a mixture of mana fields and technological advancements, creating an atmosphere that felt alive.
"I don't care what anyone says—I'm glad to be back here," Marika remarked, breaking the silence as they entered the city. Her eyes glowed with relief as she took in the breathtaking view. "Frostveil was cool, but Sky City feels like home."
Lindiwe nodded faintly, though her mood remained subdued. Ethan didn't say anything as he drove the vehicle into the hidden access point to their base, concealed behind layers of holographic disguises and mana wards. As the vehicle parked, Ethan wasted no time heading straight to Elaine's quarters for his debriefing.
Elaine's office was as imposing as ever, with glowing mana scripts etched into the walls and holographic displays shimmering above her pristine desk. She barely glanced up as Ethan entered, her fingers typing on translucent screens projected midair.
"You're back," Elaine remarked dryly. "Give me your report."
Ethan recounted the events in Frostveil, his voice steady as he described the mission, the chase, and Jake's mistakes. He didn't flinch when he admitted to losing Jake, nor did he attempt to defend himself. Elaine listened in silence, her piercing gaze fixed on him.
"You're not making excuses. Good. But losing Jake wasn't entirely his fault, Ethan," Elaine said, her tone sharp. "You should have accounted for his tendencies—his recklessness was predictable, and you failed to control him."
Ethan stiffened slightly. "I understand. It won't happen again."
Elaine leaned back in her chair, her expression cold. "No, it won't, because you won't get another replacement for him. Extract Jake's mana veins and fuse them with Lindiwe's. That'll be your punishment for losing a teammate."
Ethan's jaw tightened, but he didn't protest. He simply nodded and left the room.
Back in his quarters, Ethan sat alone, the weight of the mission pressing heavily on him. The room's holographic interface projected scenes of Sky City's skyline, its serene beauty doing little to calm the turmoil within him. For a fleeting moment, he let his thoughts wander.
Ten years. Ten years of following orders, of being shaped into a weapon by Elaine—an ex-African Federation agent gone rogue, whose vendetta had consumed them all. Ethan had been sent to the future at such a young age, granted power he hadn't asked for, and chained to missions that served someone else's goals. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't even free. He was a pawn, just like Marika had said.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened quietly, and Dianna stepped in. She crossed the room without a word, her presence grounding him. As she reached him, she leaned down and kissed him softly, her touch warm against the coldness that had settled in him.
"I heard what happened," Dianna said, her voice full of worry as she hugged him tightly. "I was worried about you."
Ethan closed his eyes, his arms wrapping around her as he allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability. "It's over now. I'm just... I was undecided... Made a mistake... and..."
"I noticed," Dianna whispered, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "Just know I'm here for you."
They stayed like that for a while, the silence between them comforting. Dianna's presence reminded Ethan of what little humanity he had left. In a world filled with chaos and manipulation, she was his anchor.
As the morning passed, Ethan reviewed the next mission assigned by Elaine. It was to guard Victor, a key pawn in Elaine's schemes. Victor was the public face of Frost Pharmaceuticals, a recently established company dealing in mana-enhanced medical solutions. To the outside world, Victor was a brilliant entrepreneur. In reality, the company belonged to Black Wind, Elaine's underground mercenary group, and Victor was merely a puppet.
What Victor didn't know was that Elaine was fully aware of his secret plans to betray her. She had anticipated his schemes and was quietly preparing her countermeasures. To Ethan, Victor was just another piece on the board—a piece he now had to protect, even as the game spiraled further out of control.
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