Arknights: The Miserable Doll of Pain and Suffering Vol 1(Being Revised)

Chapter 3

"We'll leave the place once the wounds have been patched up. We're almost out of the city so bear with it for a little while."

Setsuna listened as the green light from her bare shoulder started to recede and once gone, they pulled their sleeves to hide the skin. The healer in front of them stood up. "That should be fine. If you're feeling anything wrong, tell us."

"Alright." They nodded as they flexed their formerly damaged hand, finally having full control on their hand rather than having parts of it be numb.

"So, how does it feel?" They turned to Nearl, standing at the entrance of the doorway, looking at them with hints of gratitude but also suspicion.

"Good as new." They stood up from the chair and walked to a window before slowly opening it for a bit.

Nearl looked at them with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing?" She only understood when they pulled out a pack of cigarettes and grabbed one from the pack, putting it on their mouth. Setsuna looked at her and raised it to her.

"Want some?"

"I'll pass." Nearl watched them shrug and pocket the pack of cigarettes, grabbing a lighter in exchange.

They lit the cigarette and after inhaling, they exhaled a puff of smoke at the open window. Their eyes turned to Nearl, who was watching them. "You look like you have something to ask."

It seems she decided to spill the beans. "I'm thankful for your assistance but I'm just wondering why a Fallen Sankta is in Chernobog."

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Intermission
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There was silence in the air as they registered the sight of Crownslayer's body hanging from Setsuna's shoulder. The last time they saw her leave was moments before Mephisto initiated the fight.

Now, someone seems to have ambushed her on her way out and even subdued her. That probably explains the explosions that happened a couple moments before.

"Sorry to interrupt your game but I'm gonna need you to stop fiddling with your toys and listen to me." Setsuna said.

"Oh? What for?" Mephisto smiled towards her. "Do you want me to release Rhodes Island in exchange for Crownslayer?"

"Yes." Setsuna pulled her goggles to reveal her purplish eyes, staring right at Mephisto's own hazel eyes.

There was a moment of silence before Mephisto burst into laughter. It took him another moment before he calmed down enough to speak. "What makes you think I'd comply to that decision? Crownslayer can go ahead and die right there. I'll just kill you right after."

"Ah, but Talulah wont be happy, will she?" That seemed to make Mephisto freeze. "If Crownslayer died in combat, she'd probably understand but what if she finds out she died because you couldn't put aside your pettiness for Reunion's cause?"

"Well-"

"That's not even going to Patriot's view of you." She grinned. "What if he just decides to cut it then and there and execute you? He'd probably care less about Crownslayer but if you leave your precious little assassin to die because of a grudge?" One of her eyes squinted and one of her eyes widened. "You're only setting up a precedent. You'll willingly leave your comrades in arms to die, even its most useful assets and commanders, just to satisfy your sick satisfaction of inflicting pain on everyone, non-Infected or even Infected. What then, will you leave his daughter to die in the event something like this happens again, only this time, it was Frostnova?"

Mephisto took a step back, something that only caused Setsuna's grin to widen even more. "What's wrong? It's possible that everything I just mentioned might not even happen but there's also the possibility they could. They can. What matters is, will you be willing to test if they will?"

He grit his teeth before shouting out. "Faust, I want her dead!"

She sidestepped the shot meant for her, whizzing past and through a building. Following after, she grabbed a pistol and aimed it at Crownslayer's temple, making her groan and grunt. "Go on, fire another shot. See what happens. I was already aware of your sniper before I even stepped in."

That seem to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Mephisto took a step back. "Hand Crownslayer over and we'll leave you."

"I don't exactly trust you not to stab me in the back when I make the transaction, so..." Setsuna turned over to Rhodes Island and gestured for them to leave. "Go."

They took the gesture as it was. First, the nearby wounded group left, walking past her while carrying stretchers, followed by the combatants, eyeing her with distrust and suspicion.

"Now that I've let them go, hand her to us now." Mephisto ordered.

She rolled her eyes, walking forward before letting her down in front of the group of Reunion members before walking back, eyeing them. The standoff was tense, as if the Reunion Soldiers are trigger-happy now that her leverage was gone.

That was the case, at least, until a gauntlet manifested in Setsuna's left arm as she stopped near the entrance/exit of the park, letting out bits of flame and fired just before she punched the ground, flames bursting out just before it grew large enough to block the entrance.

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Intermission
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They met Nearl and her squad on the way to the location, one called Azazel's Clinic.

It was a mess in all honesty but by the state of the city, it was no surprise it was one of the many buildings that were an absolute mess, outside and inside.

They stared at Nearl, after asking that question. "There's no reason for why I was here. I just thought I'd make a stop at Chernobog before going on my lonesome ways but this happened."

"You travel on your own?" Nearl inquired further.

"Yes." Setsuna exhaled a puff of smoke again to the window. "Well, I used to have some... close companions but you can guess what happened to them, considering they're not here."

She flinched. "...Very well, I'll leave that matter alone."

Silence settled in, nothing but the sounds of smoke being exhaled accompanied the room before Setsuna started it again. "Well, I guess you could say I was also travelling to find Rhodes Island."

That piqued her curiosity. And also alarmed her. "What for?"

"I need to get checked out." Setsuna said. "I've been in contact with raw Originium a couple times. I haven't displayed any symptoms but I need to see if I've contracted Oripathy during my travels."

"I see."

It was then that one of the Operators walked in. "We've finished treating the wounded. We're moving now."

Setsuna stood up and dropped the cigarette. Their stomped on it and dragged their foot across the floor.

"Alright, let's get going."