Artery Gear: Fusion, Episode 2 - Turned to Dust

Author's Note
This is a fan-made story based on the world and characters of Artery Gear: Fusion. I've done my best to remain faithful to the canon, preserving the original tone, key events, and character dynamics.
Where the source material left space, I've added personal touches - new dialogue, scenes, and introspection - to deepen the emotional core of the narrative and honor the story as I believe it deserved.

This work was written by a fan, for fans. For those who still remember the mission, the music, the lengthy boss battles... and the characters who made this world unforgettable.
Thank you to the community that keeps Artery Gear alive in spirit, even after the servers were shut down, and especially WebSoul, for her assistance in gathering and organizing information about the world of Artery Gear. Your passion is the reason this story exists.

Future episodes will be published as separate volumes.

Disclaimer
Artery Gear: Fusion and all related characters, factions, and story elements are the property of BILIBILI and Access! Studio. This is a non-commercial fan work made for entertainment purposes only.
I am not affiliated with the original creators, publishers, or rights holders of Artery Gear. No copyright infringement is intended.
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The Union's mission to Frontier's Cold State headquarters tests more than combat skills.
As Nio investigates suspicious patterns and Zero Four tracks a determined medic through frozen streets, both confront the brutal reality of a war where the cost of compassion might be survival itself.
Old allies return, new threats emerge, and the Commander begins piecing together a puzzle that suggests the Union's enemies are closer-and more dangerous-than anyone suspected.
Some wars are fought in the shadows. Some choices can't be undone.