"Serval... why..." Dunn murmured as Caelus tied him up. He couldn't help but give the guy a look of pity, 'Damn, I can't tell who has it worse. The guard who jumped in the way, or this guy.'

"I'm sorry Dunn... time for a little nap." Serval murmured as Seele and March tied up the other soldiers who were gazing at y/n all starry eyed as she knelt beside Soren.

"He's just unconscious. Don't worry." Dan Heng told Serval before glancing over at y/n, "How about that one? Any serious damage, y/n?"

"None that won't fix itself with time. He definitely won't be able to go running around fighting for a while, though." y/n hummed as she frowned down at the unconscious Soren, 'I was actually worried I killed him.'

"Stubborn fool..." Seele mumbled before looking over to y/n as she carefully rolled the unconscious Soren onto his side so he wasn't too uncomfy while serval searched for the encryption key on Dunn.

"Got it, the encryption key!" she exclaimed, "Quick, before we attract attention, let's—"

Oop, there goes the alarm.
Maybe y/n wasn't quick enough in taking out Dunn and tying up the soldiers...

"I think we attracted attention..." March murmured, shuffling closer to y/n who took to stretching and flexing her arms to get herself nice and loose for the oncoming fights.

"That's the enemy attack alarm..." Serval said as y/n picked up on a bunch of approaching footsteps, "Every Silvermane Guard in the reserve zone just became our enemy."

"Oh yeah? Come on, let's take them out!" Caelus exclaimed, ready to go fight, but y/n held out an arm in front of him, "Hm? Y/n, what now?"

"Wait here, I'll handle it." she told him before glancing over to Dan Heng, "You'll know when I'm done."

And with that, she politely returned Caelus's hoodie before wandering off. The group stood in silence before Caelus gave Dan Heng a look, "Is this okay?"

All of a sudden, grunts and cut off shouts were heard nearby as well as light thuds and the somehow quiet clattering of weapons falling to the ground.

Silence.

Then more hushed noises of fighting.

More silence...

"She's done, let's go." Dan Heng announced, taking the lead with Serval close behind. The others all exchanged a look before trailing after him.

As they made their way to the energy supply hub, they got to see y/n's handiwork. Lots of Silvermane Guards were lined up on the sides of the pathways, slumped over and clearly unconscious.

Their weapons were neatly laid across their laps, skillfully shielding the very clear dent in their chest armor which served as a clue to what happened to them.

"Huh, guess she really doesn't have to hit someone twice when she's serious." March breathed before grinning, "Hehe, there's a our train guard!"

When they finally reached the hub, y/n was waiting for them while dusting snow off of Mimi. She stepped off to the side and bowed to Serval with a playful, "The energy hub, my liege. Free of Silvermane Guards."

"You didn't kill them, did you?"

"The hell? No! What do you think I am?"

After a couple moments of March showering a very pleased y/n with praises, Serval successfully reset the energy system, allowing them all to proceed.

"Um, Serval, won't more Silvermane Guards be waiting for us on the other side of the bridge?" March questioned as they hurried back to the bridge.

"Yup."

Hm. A quick and simple answer.

March didn't seem at ease with this confirmation of her fears, "There will-?! Then what's our plan!?"

"Welllll... either we reason with them or charge straight through the blockade..." Serval murmured before grinning, "Let's play it by ear!"

March slowed down a bit to let y/n run ahead with a little, "Maybe we should let y/n go on ahead."

"Careful! There's a big guy up ahead!" Seele warned as they rapidly approached a large automaton, similar to one of the many y/n had fought at the fight club.

"Got it!" y/n exclaimed as she charged ahead, headed right for the robot with no hesitation. It barely had time to focus in on her before she was close enough to hit.

'Huh. It's taller than I expected, maybe it's bigger than the types they have Underground.' she thought with a little blink, 'Ah, whatever, it's no problem.'

It swung, as expected, and she grabbed onto its arm and contemplated her options. Could she kick it? Sure, she could get her leg up there, but only her toe would hit it.

"Oh well." she mumbled before using the robot's arm to swing herself up to a height better suited for getting a direct kick in.

Her foot made contact with the armor that guarded its neck, causing it to cave inwards only for a force the others couldn't see to chop its head right off.

It teetered backwards and fell right off while y/n managed to get a safe distance away right before she could fall off the ledge along with it.

Serval headed right for the bridge control and started muttering stuff y/n didn't understand while Caelus, Dan Heng, and March all went to check on her.

"Phew! We did it! We've gained access to the gear bridge." Serval exclaimed as the gear bridge slowly turned, "Now, all that's left is for us to get to the front line."

"...We could have a problem." Dan Heng pointed out as they made their way across, "Your brother may be there."

"He probably is..." Serval murmured, "Hopefully, we don't bump into him, but if we do..."

"You talk to him?" y/n tried.

The woman gave her a meek smile, "I can try."

"Are you sure you can convince him? I mean, telling from that chat of yours earlier..." Caelus trailed off.

"I've probably got a 30% chance." Serval guessed before her confidence seems to waver a bit, "...or less."

Dan Heng frowned, "...so it could end in a fight."

"Is it really that much of a surprise? Most of our convincing ends in a fight, I wouldn't be surprise if this one ended the same." March sighed.

"We need to be sure, Serval." Dan Heng continued as y/n strolled on ahead and put a couple guards to sleep without a sound much to Caelus's horror, "If we can't reach a common understanding with your brother, will you stand with us?"

Serval was silent, the only sound filling the air being the quiet thuds of y/n knocking out more guards and setting them down gently, "...Of course. My word is my bond. I said that I'd stand with you to the end, and I'm going to stick with it."

Caelus gave her a warm smile, "Thank you, Serval."

As they approached the front line, Gepard visible in the distance, y/n positioned herself in front of her comrades just to be safe.

She already knew what was to come.

Upon laying eyes on the group, y/n realized the soft, cute little Captain she'd familiarized herself with was almost undetectable. Gepard was very good at getting into work mode, that was clear.

"Serval..." Gepard breathed, "It really is you."

"Wait, Gepard! Listen—!" Serval began.

Gepard was not having it, "When the sentry reported to me, I thought there must have been a misunderstanding. The enemy alarm had to be unrelated to your entry into the restricted zone. Perhaps the intruders had taken you hostage. And yet..." y/n raised a brow, "Step away from the intruders, Serval. Walk over slowly and stand behind me. You're different from them."

"EXCUSE ME?!" March demanded, "Y/n, let me-!"

March was grabbed by the top of her head, spun around, and wrapped up in Caelus's hoodie as a makeshift straitjacket. Caelus nudged her behind him as her insult quickly turned into a protest.

The situation still remained tense, even with March's muffled protests in the background as Serval shook her head, "I'm sorry... I stand with them."

Gepard did not say a word.

"Give me a few minutes, just a few!" Serval tried again, clearly getting frantic, "I'll explain every—"

"Enough, Serval!" Gepard snapped and Serval recoiled a bit, her eyes widening at the sudden increase in volume.

"Have you forgotten where we are?" Gepard demanded, "We Landaus ought to know this place better than anywhere... the outer reaches of the front line against the Fragmentum, Belobog's most strategic protective fortress."

Oh boy, here we go again.

"Every Silvermane Guard here, every person here, is ready to sacrifice themselves ready to spill their blood for Belobog at a moment's notice..." y/n pursed her lips and observed her nails while everyone else felt too awkward to interrupt the siblings' tense interaction, "Yet here you are leading fugitives into the restricted zone, attacking my Silvermane comrades-in-arms, hijacking the energy hub... are you really worthy of the Landau name?"

Ooo, damn. What does Serval have to say?

"Why do you think I've come here? We've found a way to dispel the Eternal Freeze, to seal the Fragmentum!" Several protested, "It might be the only lifeline this world has left!"

Okay, okay, slay.

"If that were true, why wouldn't you report to Madam Cocolia? Why would you sneak into the restricted zone and create chaos!?" Damn sheep, stfu.

"You don't understand. The one preventing us from getting close to the truth is Cocolia herself!" Tell him!

Gepard's expression was not very pleasant, and there seemed to be something teetering on the edge of anger in his eyes, "...You have all seen the supreme guardian in person. Do you think you can act as you please because she didn't recognize your version of events!?"

Oh good lord, he was one of those.

'I'm getting tired of this.' y/n realized.

"Listen to me, Gepard! The origin and spread of the Fragmentum is linked to the Stellaron. The meteorite in the Architects' records, it's—"

"I know about the Stellaron." No you don't. "It's exactly what the fugitives behind you are seeking. But the Madam Guardian has already revealed the truth to me! These people have ulterior motives, Serval. They want to steal this treasure from the Architects."

"Treasure?!" y/n sputtered, earning looks of alarm from Caelus and even March who was still wrapped up, "You're calling a Stellaron, a seed of disaster, a treasure?! Are you 🚚ing insane?"

'Y/n this isn't your argument, stfu-!' Caelus thought frantically, giving her a look of shock, 'The hell are you doing?'

Y/n was just as confused as he was—

'Where the hell did that come from? Why did I say that?' y/n wondered, '💩, I should've kept my mouth shut. Whatever, I'm too far gone anyways. Mr. Yang, Miss Himeko, give me strength.'

"I don't know what's going on in that woman's head, but whatever it is, her word cannot be trusted! That Stellaron isn't a treasure, it's the very thing that will kill you all someday!" y/n shouted, "Out of the way, Captain 🚚-up, or you'll regret it!"

"So much for brainwaves..." March groaned after Caelus had unwrapped her, preparing for the worst.

Gepard's eyes were like ice as he glared at the h/c haired woman, y/n almost 🚚ing shivered, "You... what would you know? I wanted to trust you, but you've done nothing to prove that you're worthy of that trust!"

"Take my word for it, or get stomped, ♀🐶!" y/n snapped back, before turning her gaze to Serval, "I want to trust those brainwaves, Miss Serval, but brainwaves don't reach boneheaded sheep who are too reliant on their shepherd to think for themselves! The only way for these brainwaves to reach him is for us to knock some sense into him! I won't do it if you don't want me to!"

"I..." Serval seemed uncertain.

"Guards, formation!" Gepard ordered as y/n maintained eye contact with Sevral, unmoving, "Arrest these people.We could be inundated with Fragmentum monsters at any moment, we have no time to waste on them!"

Let me try, Serval's eyes seemed to plead.

Y/n would respect Serval's wishes.

"The forbidden is only forbidden to conceal the truth within." the blonde woman said as the guards around them prepared to advance, "Cocolia is afraid that the truth will spread far and wide: To save the world, we must risk it all. I've said my piece, whether you believe it or not is up to you. Regardless, you should know by now your sister's never been one to back down. If there's something or someone you can't abide, you should stand up and resist... and if there's something you uphold, you should uphold it to the very end!"

(Time to give my fingers a quick break)

Gepard showed no signs of budging whatsoever,
"Save your explanation for the judge. You are charged with sabotaging the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone. In my capacity as captain, I hereby order that these fugitives be arrested!"

Serval nodded to y/n, "Go ahead."

Y/n's eyes lit up as she faced Gepard and the guards, prepared for the fight that was coming, "You heard the lady! Up for round two, Captain 🚚-up?"

Gepard didn't reply, his expression cold and his conviction unshaken as he faced her without hesitation.

. 　。　　⋆　　•　 　ﾟ　　。 .　.　.　。 .　。
⋆　　　。　　 ⋆。　 ඞ 。　 . • . . ⁎ 。　. 　。　.　　⋆. 　　。 .　 .　　 . ⋆. 。. ⁎ 。•　 　ﾟ　　。

Caelus had never had a dream while awake.

Was this a daydream?

No... he wasn't spacing out, he was paying full attention as Captain Gepard and y/n battled it out.

But he could've sworn y/n wasn't the only one fighting. The figure was barely visible through the snow, the outline of them being like silver which could've easily been mistaken for the light bouncing off of the little ice particles which made up the snow flakes, but it was there.

Wielding a large greatsword and striking when y/n struck. Their moves mirrored her's, only delayed by a couple moments.

The other guards were unable to get close, nor were they able to approach the group as the two focused combatants were going all out.

When I say all out, I mean all out.

Caelus kinda felt that 💩 when y/n was struck across the face with he damn guitar case *that rhymed*, and he was very sure that blood flew, '💩! Is she okay?'

Okay? Y/n was 🚚ing amazing.

Despite just getting whacked across the face with a heavy weight guitar case, there was a grin on her face as she used the brief moment of weakness in between attacks to throw a punch headed right for the young man's face.

It barely grazed his cheek but the moment her fist flew past, as large cut was left in its wake, immediately beginning to bleed as y/n grabbed onto the Captain and pulled him closer as she gut checked him with her knee.

The two stumbled away from each other, Gepard taking a brief moment to feel his cheek and realize holy 💩, she just cut me with her bare fist.

Y/n, on the other hand, was wondering if she'd need to go back to Svarog and get checked for brain damage again.

Her vision was blurry, wavering and shifting in and out of focus as her head spun. Holy 💩, she was seeing stars...

A few direct hits to the head with a blunt object will do that to you, yeah? Regardless, she used the pain to ground herself as she prepared to go at the Captain again.

That guitar case of his was a pain in the 🍑.

'I could punch right through it, honestly, but then he'd just hit me with what's left. I... don't want that.' y/n thought irritably, 'A weapon would be really really nice right now...'

"Give up, dude, I don't wanna work any harder than I have to!" y/n complained, "Honestly, that Stellaron is only going to 🚚 this world over and eventually, it's going to get everyone here killed! I don't want that, not when there's so many amazing people living here!" 'And I just wanna get off of this damn planet already.'

Gepard showed no signs of hearing her as he charged again, leaving y/n to take a step back for even just another second to prepare herself.

"Stubborn 🍑..!" she forced out as she lifted her arms to guard her face, the guitar case striking her forearms *that was definitely going to bruise later*, "Listen, damn it! Your loyalty is always to the people, never to whatever snake ♀🐶 gave you your position! When your decision requires you to either do what that snake told you or do what's best for the people, your answer should always be the people! Every single time!"

"What proof do you have that Madame Cocolia is lying? What proof do you have that the Stellaron is as dangerous as you say?" Gepard shouted back as he struck y/n with the guitar case again and again, forcing her back and closer towards the gate separating them from the Fragmentum, "What proof do you have that your intentions are for the good of Belobog?"

One last hit sent y/n falling right on her 🍑 and she moved to get up only to find the Captain looming over her with that damned guitar case of his ready to hit her again.

He didn't though, he was... waiting.

For an answer, for confirmation that would either confirm his sounds or dismiss them as simply doubts.

Y/n blinked, wiped blood from her mouth, and sat back with a quiet groan, "Damn, about time you stopped. I don't mind a bit of pain, but still, it's such a hassle getting blood out of clothes..."

"That's what you're worried about?" Gepard asked quietly as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Y/n blinked, "Well, I'm also worried about not being able to continue trailblazing with the Astral Express. Can't do much trailblazing if we're stuck here trying to seal the Stellaron. Tell me, did Cocolia tell you how exactly the Stellaron is helping Belobog?"

Gepard hesitated and y/n tilted her head, "Mm, probably not, yeah? It's likely because she doesn't quite understand the dangers of the Stellaron, she's been pressured by its incessant whispers of false promises and all that."

"From my experience with Stellarons, I imagine that its whispers drove her mad and kept tormenting her for years and years. Breaking down her will bit by bit until..." y/n docked Gepard in the face, "She lost her mind and started manipulating mindless sheep like you!"

Gepard was not expecting that, but he steeled himself to continue the fight, only to stumble. Impacts to the brain are no joke, protect your head.

Before he could fall over completely, y/n was right there to catch him by the front of his clothing and pull him up so he was standing upright.

"So, now that you've gotten a few good hits in..." y/n grinned, "How about we try talking it out again, yeah?"

Gepard was speechless.

The woman really just sucker punched him then suggested that they "talk it out" with a smile on her face as if she hadn't just been fighting him. She was either extremely audacious or just lacked situational awareness.

Regardless, he agreed.

Y/n decided to leave the chatting to Serval, retreating back to her fellow Trailblazers with a, "Success!"

"Success, huh? You looked like 💩." March commented before lifting her camera and snapping a photo of y/n's face, "Hehe, this one's a keeper!"

"Are you alright, y/n? That looked like quite the beat down..." Caelus murmured as Dan Heng used a tissue to wipe blood off of y/n's face, leaving her to just squeeze her eyes shut and bear it, 'Definitely taking her with me next time I try World 3.'

"You're really something else, aren't you?" Seele mumbled as y/n swayed a little, 'I think she should sit down after taking all those hits to the head.'

She glanced back over to where Serval and Gepard were talking, brows raising when the young man took a deep breath and exhaled.

"The decision is yours, Gepard." Serval murmured.

When Gepard looked over to y/n, she