Arknights Chronicles One

TG - 12 Promise

Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 29 PM
Location : Abandoned Azazel Clinic



Ace stood frozen, his gaze locked on the figure before him. It was impossible—or so he'd thought. The sight left him questioning everything he knew and had buried and moved on from. A ghost? An illusion? Maybe even some hidden truth that had slipped past him all this time?

But no, none of those explanations felt right. This was real. Ace knew it. He'd only ever hallucinated under the influence of late nights and too many drinks with a certain feline friend back at Rhodes Island. This, however, was different. The man standing before him was flesh and blood.

The mysterious figure, the one who had been saving them from the shadows, holding back the relentless onslaughts of Reunion—it was him.

He was here.

Ronin's gentle smile softened as he looked at Ace, who stood there frozen in disbelief, unable to process what he saw.

"Ronin?" Ace's voice was a mixture of shock and hope, the disbelief still evident as he searched Ronin's face for some sign that this was real.

The silence between them stretched, broken only by the distant rumble of the city's turmoil and muffled voices drifting up from below. Neither moved, one caught in the gravity of the moment, the other waiting for it to settle. Finally, a small, awkward smile began to twitch on Ronin's lips as he raised his hand in a little wave.

"Yeah...um. Hi," Ronin said, his voice sheepish, a bit of embarrassment peeking through.

"Yeah, um, hi? What kind of greeting is that?" Shinji's voice echoed in his head, equally mocking and incredulous.

Ronin cursed inwardly. "I'm sorry! This wasn't supposed to happen—I wasn't planning to reveal myself! But then I heard him ask what I'd do in his position, and I... I just said it out loud instead of keeping it in my head!"

In his mind, Ronin could practically see both Takeo and Shinji shaking their heads. "Dumbass." They muttered in perfect unison.

"Okay, well, I'm so sorry for—"

Ronin's self-rebuke was cut short by the sound of rapid footsteps, and in the next moment, he found himself wrapped in a fierce hug. Ronin stilled, momentarily caught off guard, then relaxed, resting his chin on Ace's shoulder. Ace held him tightly, one hand protectively cradling the back of Ronin's head while the other pulled him close, as though he feared he might disappear again.

"You're... alive. I'm so glad." Ace's voice was quiet, but his body trembled with the emotions he'd kept bottled up. Ronin's eye widened, taken aback by the intensity of the hug. This wasn't the reaction he had expected, but the relief in Ace's voice was unmistakable.

"I'm so glad you're alive!" Ace said again, his voice louder now, but still low enough to keep this reunion a moment just between them.

Ronin winced as the sound of a light crack echoed between them. "Yup... this hug is maybe a little stronger than It needs to be." Ronin joked.



Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 30 PM
Location : Abandoned Azazel Clinic



Voices echoed from the lower floors—the murmurs of medics tending to the injured, guards discussing their next moves. Nearl's footsteps resonated down the hallway as she approached Dobermann, who stood leaning against the wall opposite Amiya's room, a mix of concern and patience etched on her face.

Hearing the footsteps, Dobermann looked up and saw Nearl's expression, sombre yet determined. "Ah, Nearl," she greeted quietly. "How did your search go?"

Nearl shook her head, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "No luck. I asked everyone on my team, yours, and Ace's if anyone had come across a military dog tag. None of them had seen or picked one up."

Nearl's gaze swept around, her expression subtly tense as she looked for familiar faces. "Where are Ace and Doctor Aaron?"

Dobermann nodded toward the door she'd been watching. "Doctor Aaron went in a while ago. He said he wanted to stay by Amiya's side, maybe lift her spirits a little."

Nearl followed Dobermann's gaze, thoughtful. "I suppose he feels guilty, not remembering anything of their past together. He and Amiya were close once... Maybe he even knew the one she thought of as a brother."

"Maybe," Dobermann agreed softly, a hint of sadness in her tone as they both continued to watch the closed door in silence.

Nearl broke the silence, glancing back to Dobermann. "And what about Ace?"

Dobermann's gaze shifted from the door to Nearl briefly, before settling on the stairway behind her. "He went up the stairs, searching the upper floors for Amiya's brother's dog tag."

Nearl nodded, her expression resolute as she looked toward the stairs. "I'll go help him with the search. My team reported no signs of Reunion soldiers nearby, and there are still plenty of injured who need attending."

Nearl spoke as she moved past Dobermann, making her way up the stairs to join Ace in searching for the dog tag. Her steps were steady, determination evident in her stride as she disappeared up the stairwell, leaving Dobermann to watch her go with a quiet nod.



Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 31 PM
Location : Abandoned Azazel Clinic



Inside the room where Ronin had made his unexpected appearance, he and Ace sat side by side on chairs, their backs resting against the wall.

"I see," Ace murmured, his voice subdued. Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and hands clasped together, he stared down at the floor, processing everything. "So you've been living here ever since... since your supposed death."

Ronin nodded, his gaze distant.

Ace looked up, looking at Ronin. "But why Ursus? If you could've chosen anywhere else, any city, any country, I know you well enough to know you'd avoid Ursus like the plague."

Ronin held Ace's gaze for a moment, then looked away, seeming almost conflicted. "I can't answer that, Ace. As much as I want to, there are things Kal'tsit needs to explain herself."

At the mention of Kal'tsit's name, Ace snapped his head toward Ronin, his eyes narrowing in surprise. "Kal'tsit knew about you?!"

Ronin closed his eye, bracing against Ace's slightly raised voice. Though it wasn't harsh, hearing Ace's reaction tugged at something Ronin had tried hard to bury: guilt. "Yes. She knows I'm alive. But like I said, if you want answers, she's the one you'll need to ask."

Ace held Ronin's gaze, a mix of frustration and understanding swirling in his eyes. He knew better than to press further. Ronin was as unbreakable in loyalty as he was in secrecy; no one could get answers out of him without his consent—except one person. The one who wasn't there, kept on a separate mission, far from where the questions lingered unanswered.

Ace's question lingered in the air as he stared at the floor, piecing together what felt like a calculated move by Kal'tsit. "Doctor Kal'tsit could've requested them back from their mission since they weren't far from Rhodes Island. Did she... avoid it on purpose? Because if she did, they would've found out about Ronin." He closed his eyes, the possibility settling heavily within him, a quiet acceptance growing.

He opened his eyes and looked back at Ronin, who was now glancing toward the door, as though waiting for something. "So, how did you survive then?"

Ronin turned his attention back to Ace, a questioning hum escaping him.

"The ambush," Ace clarified. "The report said... that you were taken down by Nachzehrer's."

Ronin's face hardened, a shadow crossing his features as the mention of the ambush stirred up memories he'd long buried. He paused for a moment, his voice growing heavier. "The report was... mostly accurate. They did ambush me. How I survived, though..." He trailed off, his hand tightening around the fabric of his cloak at his left side.

Ronin looked at him briefly, then glanced down at the part of his cloak he was gripping. "Let's just say..." His voice faltered for a second before he pulled back the cloak. As he raised his right arm—or rather, what was left of it—Ace's eyes widened in shock.

"I'm... 'half' the man I used to be," Ronin said, trying to mask the gravity of the moment with a wry smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Kid..." Ace's voice cracked, shock melting into deep concern as he stared at the severed limb.

"Save it," Ronin interrupted, his tone flat and defensive. He could already tell what Ace was about to ask—he'd heard it too many times already.

"I used my art as a last resort. Delayed the Nachzehrer's from reaching Ghost's group," Ronin continued, his voice steady now, though the weight of his words hung heavily between them. He pulled his cloak back over the severed limb, hiding the reminder of his sacrifice, and the vulnerability it brought with it.

"You know very well, Ace, that I'm not the kind of guy who runs out of solutions in battle," Ronin said, his voice returning to its usual calm, his expression softening as he looked down at the floor. The tension in the room eased a little, but Ace's concern didn't fade.

Ace watched Ronin in silence, his mind slipping back to the countless battles they had fought side by side. That Art of his—or rather, one of the many abilities that defined who Ronin truly was.

Ace had seen Ronin's abilities in action countless times. His Art, in particular, was something Ronin relied on often—whether to strike or to defend. On the surface, it might've appeared to be a standard Art, something any skilled operator could wield. But when Ronin used it, the difference was unmistakable. It wasn't merely a weapon; it was an extension of him. The Art seemed to have been forged specifically for him, responding to his movements with unnatural fluidity. In his hands, it became something unique, something others could imitate but never truly master.

"Anyway," Ronin's voice pulled Ace back to the present. Ace looked over, meeting Ronin's tired gaze.

"Enough about me," Ronin said. "What about you and the others? What is this Rhodes Island organization that you and Amiya are part of? Tell me what happened after... well, after the fall."

Ace took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. "Not much has changed for me. I still have drinks with Scout and a couple of other operators—one from the elite team, another from Scout's. They're both hotheads, but still not as bad as you were." He ended with a smirk, earning an annoyed look from Ronin, whose eyes narrowed at the playful jab.

"Scout's been the same," Ace continued. "He's sharpened his skills over the years and built a solid team. He doesn't show it, but he cares about every single one of them."

Ronin hummed softly, a faint smile crossing his face. "Sounds like the Scout I remember."

"And Closure," Ace went on, "is still Closure. Without her, Rhodes Island would probably be in shambles."

Ronin chuckled. "Still the engineer nerd, huh?"

Ace laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah. She hasn't changed a bit." He paused before continuing.

"Mantra is still with us, though she's been assigned to longer missions. She's usually stationed out, helping other operators around Terra." Ace glanced at Ronin, who was gazing down at the floor, deep in thought.

"Her communication Art is useful," Ronin mused. "No surprise she's rarely on base, then." Ace nodded.

"Logos and Ascalon are still around too. I don't see Ascalon much, but when I do, she's always with Kal'tsit. As for Logos, he's like Mantra—often out on distant assignments. Neither of them has changed much, honestly."

Ronin hummed in understanding. "So, no one changed that much, huh?"

"Not exactly," Ace replied. "But something did shift in all of us. Everyone I mentioned, and even those I didn't... they all changed." His tone was softer, but it made Ronin look up, curiosity in his eyes.

"After that day, we all carried this weight—guilt, sadness—over not being able to protect her," Ace continued, pausing for a moment as his fists tightened. Ronin lowered his gaze, imagining the shock and pain everyone must've felt when the news reached them. He let out a quiet sigh.

"I can only imagine what a mix of sadness and guilt everyone went through after she died," Ronin murmured, breaking the silence briefly before Ace's fists unclenched.

"She wasn't the only one," Ace said quietly, drawing Ronin's gaze back to him. "You weren't just a comrade, you were part of us. When we heard you were gone... it felt like we'd failed you too, in a way we couldn't ever take back."

Ronin shifted his gaze from Ace to the floor, the weight of years of guilt settling heavily on his shoulders. It felt as though that guilt had taken on a life of its own, wrapping around his throat and squeezing, making it impossible for him to speak. He sat in silence, unable to find words that could bridge the depth of what he felt, and simply let Ace continue.

"Everyone that I mentioned... Some of us, like me and Scout, kept asking ourselves if there was anything we could've done," Ace said softly, his voice heavy. "If maybe we could have helped you... if we'd just known what was happening on your end."

Ronin's head dipped lower, feeling the weight of those words settle on him.

"And now, knowing that Kal'tsit knew you were alive... I don't even know if I can trust that the grief she showed that day was entirely for you as well." Ace said.

Ace took a deep breath, his voice lowering as he continued. "But I do know that three others were deeply, painfully hurt when they got the news about you."

Ronin remained silent, the room quiet except for the faint sounds beyond the door.

"Ghost and Rose..." Ace paused, his expression clouded with the memory. "They refused to believe it. Thought we were wrong, or that we'd made some mistake. They even went against Kal'tsit's orders, heading straight to your last location, hoping... hoping we'd just missed something."

The room fell into silence once more. Ronin kept his gaze down, his mouth shut, fearing that anything he might say would only open wounds further. Ace's voice broke the stillness again, gentler this time. "Then... there's your sister."

Ronin's head dropped a little lower, bracing himself to hear the toll his actions had taken on her.

"She took it the hardest," Ace continued quietly, his voice tinged with regret. "She didn't just lose a brother. She lost the person who gave her a home, who made her feel safe, who brought light and joy into her life when she needed it most."

When Ace glanced over, he saw Ronin's head bowed, his face hidden by his hair, his shoulders tense. The weight of his words settled heavily, and he realized with a pang that he might have hurt Ronin more than he intended. Ace looked away, guilt washing over him, until he heard Ronin speak.

"I know..." Ronin's voice was barely above a whisper, each word weighed down with regret. "I know the pain I caused... to those I left behind. And not just within Babel, but beyond." He placed a steadying hand on his knee as he rose to his feet, Ace following suit, his expression now softened.

They stood in silence, their unspoken emotions filling the room.

"What I did that day... it wasn't something I fully wanted," Ronin said, his voice heavy with regret. "I never wanted to cause pain to the people who kept me close, who made me a part of their lives. But at the time... it felt like it was the only way. I needed to step away from Terra, to stay hidden for a while."

Ace studied him, trying to make sense of his words, a frown deepening on his face. "But you're here now, Ronin. You could come back with us. Your sister, the others... they'd be thrilled to know you're alive."

Ronin lowered his gaze, closing his eyes as he let out a slow breath. Ace watched him, puzzled by the heaviness in his reaction, so different from the Ronin he knew.

"Ace," Ronin said quietly, opening his eye to meet Ace's. "I can't go back to Babel."

Ace's brows knitted in confusion. "What? Why?"

Ronin looked away, searching for the words. He glanced out the window, watching the night sky rumble with the distant storm, streaks of lightning flashing against the darkness. "I have my reasons," he said finally. "I can't explain everything right now, and I can't tell you why I made the choices I did that day—not until Kal'tsit tells you herself. She knows... how I ended up here and why I had to stay."

Ronin's voice steadied as he went on, his words heavy. "One day, I know my actions will be judged. By my sister and the others... I'll accept that. But... I'm not sure if I can go back just yet. Not to a place where there are so many people you and the others hold dear." He finally met Ace's gaze, his single crimson eye filled with a mixture of determination and hesitation.

Ace watched him closely, something stirring in his mind as Ronin spoke. There was an understanding there, something deeper. "Kid... is this about what happened to your team?" Ace's voice was soft, and gentle, the question laden with concern.

Ronin's eyes fell to the floor, his silence speaking volumes. Ace recognized the answer in his quiet refusal to respond.

Before Ace could say anything, Ronin exhaled, the sadness in his expression shifting as he took a steadying breath. He placed a hand on his hip, his tone lightening. "Man... that catastrophe's a real pain, isn't it?"

Ronin turned back to the window, his gaze shifting to the storm outside, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. "You should get back to the others. Start planning your escape from this city."

Ace blinked, realization hitting him hard as his mission resurfaced in his mind. He'd come up here to retrieve something Amiya had lost, only to be sidetracked by the shocking discovery of Ronin's survival. "Damn... I didn't even find it," he muttered, pressing his palm to his forehead in frustration.

Ronin, overhearing, raised an eyebrow. "I did hear you searching around before I revealed myself. What exactly were you looking for?"

Ace scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "Funny you ask," he said, looking away before meeting Ronin's gaze again. "Your sister... she lost your dog tag."

"Oh." Ronin's reaction was surprisingly indifferent, as he calmly reached into his pocket while Ace continued explaining.

"I don't know how much it means to you, but it's important to her. That's why I came up her—"

"Yo, Ace." Ronin interrupted, a faint smirk on his face as he held something out. "Catch."

Before Ace could fully process it, Ronin tossed a small object through the air. Ace caught it instinctively, then opened his hand, his eyes widening as he recognized it instantly.

"Your... dog tag," he whispered, stunned.

"Where did you—" Ace started, but Ronin cut him off, already knowing the question.

"I found it near some fallen Reunion soldiers. Make sure to tell Amiya not to lose it again—or better yet, to tie it somewhere secure." Ace nodded, glancing at the dog tag in his hand before closing his fingers around it.

"I will." He looked up at Ronin, and for a moment, they held each other's gaze. Ace's expression was a mix of disbelief and relief, much like when he'd first realized Ronin was alive. "Kid... you know I can't keep this a secret forever. Not after all this. Once the mission's done, I'll be talking to Kal'tsit—and then I'll let the others know."

Ronin threw his hands up in mock surrender, a smirk playing at his lips. "Sooner or later, you guys would've found out anyway."

Ace sighed, rubbing the back of his head, clearly caught off guard. "You're putting me in a tough spot, kid. I don't even know where to start in telling everyone you're alive."

Ronin's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "You've got time, Ace... and maybe a little help."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Little help?"

Ronin nodded, his gaze shifting toward the door with a focused look. "Yeah. The person standing just behind that wall. They don't know who I am, but they might just be the help you need—considering they've been eavesdropping for a while now."

Ace turned to follow Ronin's gaze, eyebrows furrowing in surprise. "Someone's here?"

Ronin raised his voice toward the doorway. "You can show yourself now! I heard you the moment you stepped onto this floor."

The silence broke as hesitant footsteps creaked closer. A figure emerged into the dim light, revealing none other than Nearl, her face flushed with embarrassment as she met Ace's startled look.

"I apologize for eavesdropping," Nearl began, her voice softening as she addressed Ace. "I was planning to help you find Amiya's dog tag, but when I heard you talking to someone, I couldn't resist trying to find out who it was..."

Her words trailed off as her gaze shifted from Ace to the stranger standing before them. Her eyes studied his features—his single crimson eye, the scar across his face, the slash that blinded his left eye, the wound on his cheek. Her attention dropped lower, catching sight of his severed right arm before her eyes returned to meet his. There was a silent tension between them.

"So... you're Amiya's brother," she said, her voice steady but curious.

Ronin tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, as he mirrored her scrutiny. "And judging by your voice—since I've heard it once before..."

"You must be Nearl," he said, a hint of recognition in his tone. Both Ace and Nearl blinked in surprise at his words, but Nearl's gaze sharpened with suspicion.

"What do you mean, you've heard it before?" she asked, her posture stiffening.

Ronin's answer came with a calm shrug. "I picked up one of your team's earpieces at a battle site."

"You were spying on us?" Ace turned to Ronin, surprise evident in his gaze.

"I needed to track you guys down somehow." Ronin replied with a quiet indifference.

"Tracking us?" Ace echoed, his surprise growing. "For what?"

"I just wanted to keep an eye on you guys." Ronin said simply as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ace asked. "So you've been watching us all along?"

Ronin smirked, his crimson eye gleaming with mischief. "Who do you think took out those archers on the roof? Or that Ringleader with the shotgun-blade combo?"

Ace's eyes widened in realization, a short laugh escaping him. He clapped Ronin on the shoulder with a genuine grin. "You did all that? You were right under my nose this whole time?"

Nearl shifted her stance, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "So, you've been looking out for us this whole time?" Her voice was quieter now, and there was an undertone of something close to gratitude—or maybe just surprise.

Ronin's gaze flicked briefly to Nearl before returning to Ace, his expression neutral but something almost like humour lingered in his tone. "Wouldn't say 'looking out' exactly. Just making sure you didn't get yourselves killed."

An awkward silence settled between them, with both operators looking at Ronin, who glanced back and forth between them. Finally, he broke the silence. "Anyway, you two should get back down there and return the dog tag to my sister," he said tiredly, looking toward Nearl. "And Nearl."

She blinked, surprised that he'd singled her out.

"If you want my sister to focus on the mission, don't tell her I was here. She would try everything to find me. After you finish the mission, you're free to tell her—or leave it to Ace. Your call."

Ronin picked up a Reunion mask from the nearby table. Nearl took a half-step forward, visibly unsettled by the mask, but froze as Ace placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a steadying look.

"He's not with them, Nearl," Ace assured her. "Stay calm."

Ronin nodded. "I only swiped this to keep my identity hidden. Nothing more."

He turned to Ace. "You two have a mission to complete. While you're at it, I'll keep an eye on your teams and make sure everyone's safe until exfil. So don't worry about getting outnumbered or wondering if someone's lurking behind you."

"After that... we go our separate ways." A hint of guilt crept into his voice, which Ace didn't miss, his expression shifting to one of disapproval and concern. But Ronin held his gaze, resolute, then let out a quiet exhale as he turned toward the window. Just as he was about to leave, Nearl's voice stopped him.

"Wait!" Nearl's voice was firm.

Ronin stopped, raising an eyebrow as he met her unwavering gaze. "What?"

"I know I shouldn't have listened in on your conversation with Ace, and I apologize for that."

Ronin blinked, slightly taken aback by Nearl's sudden apology. He waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. Like I said, one way or another, you all would've found out about me eventually."

"I see," Nearl said with a small smile. "But before you go, may I have a word with you?"

Ronin raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden request, hoping she wouldn't try to press him to join them. Before he could respond, Nearl turned to Ace. "Ace, Amiya and the others are probably ready to depart. Could you tell them I'll be down in just a minute?"

Ace looked between Nearl and Ronin, his expression turning wary as he caught the tension lingering between them. "Nearl?" He said her name softly, as if to ask what she was planning.

Nearl nodded at him, a steady determination in her gaze. "Don't worry, Ace. I'll be fine. Just trust me."

Ace's gaze lingered on her, then flicked to Ronin, whose posture had subtly shifted, muscles tensed as if he was bracing himself. Finally, Ace nodded, his expression both tired and resigned. "Then... see you later, kid. Take care of yourself." he said quietly, sensing it might be the last time.

"Yeah... you too, Ace," Ronin replied, his voice carrying a weight that didn't go unnoticed. As Ace's footsteps echoed down the hall, fading into the quiet, the room settled into a heavy silence.

Left alone, Ronin and Nearl exchanged a look, neither willing to break the tension right away. Finally, Ronin spoke, his tone edged with cautious curiosity. "I don't know what you want to talk about, but it must be something important if you asked Ace to leave."

Nearl looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts. When she spoke, her voice was firm but gentle. "Yes, it's about whatever is keeping you from joining us."

Ronin exhaled sharply, the fatigue and frustration apparent as he closed his eye, bracing for the same conversation he'd been avoiding. "Look, please don't make me rep—"

"I'm not asking you to join us."

Ronin's eye snapped open, surprised by her interruption and the steadiness in her gaze. Her expression was unwavering, determined yet calm.

"Then... what is it you want?" he asked, genuinely curious now, sensing something deeper in her intent.

Nearl took a steadying breath before speaking. "It's true—I'm not here to ask you to join us. It's different with Ace; he knows you, but I don't."

Ronin raised an eyebrow, still puzzled. "Then what are you here for?"

"I'm here to answer a question you asked earlier," Nearl said, her gaze unwavering.

"A question?" Ronin asked, his confusion growing. He tried to recall his conversation with Ace, wondering if he'd asked something without realizing it.

"You asked Ace about Rhodes Island, didn't you?" Nearl prompted.

Realization dawned on him. "Right... I did. I don't fully understand what Rhodes Island actually is."

"We're a pharmaceutical company," Nearl replied smoothly, but before Ronin could question her further, she continued, "Our mission is to help the infected across Terra." She noticed his raised eyebrow and clarified, "Yes, a pharmaceutical company with its own armed forces." Ronin chuckled lightly.

Nearl held his gaze, her expression thoughtful. "But Rhodes Island is more than that. I wanted to tell you because... well, while I listened to you and Ace, I heard something that stayed with me. You mentioned your reason for not joining us, something that happened with your old team."

Ronin kept his expression neutral, though a flicker of curiosity sparked in his eye. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested in hearing more about this organization—especially one his sister was leading. "Go on," he said, his tone flat but attentive.

She took a deep breath and continued, "What I'm trying to say is, whatever happened in your past, whatever you did—none of that matters now. What truly matters is your present, and what you choose to do with your future."

Ronin's harsh glare softened, his brow furrowing in cautious curiosity.

Nearl's voice took on a gentler tone. "I may not know you, or what you've been through. But I do know what it's like to see someone haunted by their past." Her gaze dropped briefly, a touch of sadness flickering in her eyes. "A friend of mine... she carries something similar. And I could see it in you—the way you reacted. The weight you're carrying."

Ronin stood silently, caught off guard by her words but unwilling to show it.

"Rhodes Island welcomes people, no matter their past, infected or not. I'm not asking you to join us, brother of Amiya. I'm just asking you to think about your choices."

Her voice softened, looking at Ronin with a determent look. "You still have people who care about you, even after all this time. You're not alone."

Ronin stood still, his expression weary as he looked at Nearl. He lowered his gaze to the Reunion mask in his hand. With a sigh, his brow furrowing in frustration. He paused, exhaling deeply before reopening his eye, locking tiredly with Nearl's. "I—"

"Hello? Can anyone hear me?!"

A burst of static crackled sharply through their earpieces, cutting Ronin off mid-sentence. Both he and Nearl flinched at the sudden, urgent sound. Ronin blinked in confusion, caught off guard, while Nearl's eyes widened in alarm, her body tensing as the voice on the line continued.

"Hello, this is Ace. Michael, is that you?!"

"ACE! Thank god. Listen, I'll keep it short—Scout and I need backup!" Michael's voice sounded strained, urgency thick in every word.

Ronin and Nearl exchanged a tense look, the gravity of the situation dawning on them. Ronin straightened, his usual weariness replaced by intense focus as he tuned into the unfolding emergency.

"What happened, Michael?" Ace's tone was sharp, urgent.

"We were ambushed! We're cut off and surrounded—Scout's injured... we can't make it out alone!" Static crackled intermittently, adding weight to Michael's words.

Ronin's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to Nearl, whose face was etched with concern.

"We need backup as soon as possible. We're on Korneychuka Street, near th—"

The signal abruptly dissolved into static, cutting Michael's words off mid-sentence.

"Michael? MICHAEL?!" Ace's shout echoed through, laced with growing panic. But after a final crackling beep, the line fell silent, leaving an unsettling stillness.

"Damn it," Nearl muttered, fists clenching. "Either the signal's lost, or someone's jamming them."

At the sound of footsteps, she looked up to see Ronin striding toward the open window, his expression steeled with purpose. "Hey, where are you going?" she called after him, confusion crossing her face.

Ronin turned, now wearing a Reunion mask over his face. Nearl took a step back, taken aback by the sight. "He said they're on Korneychuka Street—that's at least ten blocks from here. Your team can't exfil and rescue them at the same time."

Nearl's eyes widened as she looked at Ronin, her gaze shifting to his missing arm before meeting his determined expression. "Are you sure you can do this? After everything that's happened, it'd be a waste if you met your end now."

Ronin chuckled softly, lifting his severed arm with a casual shrug. "Oh, Nearl. This? Just a scratch. I've handled worse even with... this condition."

Nearl still looked hesitant, but Ronin's confidence was unwavering. "Now go," he continued. "Get Ace under control. I can practically hear him pacing, ready to rush out there himself." He smirked, somehow aware of Ace's agitation several floors below. Nearl looked momentarily puzzled at how he could know that but brushed it aside.

She nodded, giving Ronin a serious look. "Good luck. And please, keep those two and yourself safe."

"I will. Now, go and tell that knucklehead Ace I've got it covered—I'll get Scout and Michael back safe and sound."

Nearl nodded firmly, a silent understanding passing between them. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the staircase as she went to rally the team.

Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 36 PM
Location : Abandoned Azazel Clinic

"Get out of my way! We have to save them!" Ace's voice thundered, his face twisted with anger as he struggled against a group of operators trying to hold him back. Dobermann stood firmly in front of him, her arms raised in a calm but unwavering stance.

"Ace, I understand," she said firmly. "You want to help Scout and Michael. But if we go after them, we risk the entire mission. We might not make it to the exfil point."

Ace's face tightened, defiance flaring in his eyes. "Then I'll stay with them until another exfil can get us out."

"Ace, please," Amiya urged gently, reaching out to him. "We can't leave the others vulnerable. We have to think this through."

"Ace!" A voice called from behind, and he turned to see Nearl descending the stairs, her expression composed yet resolute.

"Nearl?" Ace's anger faded slightly, his surprise evident as he remembered she'd been speaking with Ronin.

Nearl stepped up to him, laying a steady hand on his shoulder. "I know you want to save them," she said quietly, leaning closer. "But we have a mission. They're counting on us, Ace."

"But, Nearl—" he began, his voice full of desperate frustration.

"Ace," Nearl called softly, resting a firm hand on his shoulder as she stepped closer. She leaned in, her voice low and meant only for him. The others looked on, surprised and puzzled by her sudden, private gesture. After a brief moment, Nearl drew back, her hand falling from his shoulder as they straightened.

The group watched as Ace clenched his fist, his expression shifting, confusion mirrored in their eyes. He muttered, almost to himself, "It's not fair to him."

"It's his choice," Nearl replied, her voice steady but laced with a hint of sadness.

As they regrouped, Ronin was already sprinting across rooftops, moving swiftly and silently through the shadows, his eyes scanning each street below. He was ready to find Scout, just like in old times.



To be continued in TG - 13 Distant Past



Author note :
I'm not proud of this chapter, the end is kind of rushed from my point of view. Then again not every chapter of manga or every episode of anime is perfect.

I fucking hate Writer's block and I seem to come across with it a lot of time while writing for this book.
So I decided to start working on another book for another fandom as well so I could somewhat keep my imagination fresh.

Keep a look out everyone cause I will write a book for a fandom that I always wanted to but never got the idea or the will to it.

When will I release it? Don't know yet, let me cook.