Arknights: The Life Inside-Chapter 37

"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

Ifrit stood before the sea of flames, laughing wildly.

Evening had fallen, but the inferno raging through the streets illuminated half of Mandel City. In the distant districts, people halted their work, staring blankly at the towering flames rising from City C.

Yoren scanned his surroundings. The helicopter was long gone, leaving behind no living souls except him and Ifrit.

Damn it...

What the hell was Rhine Life thinking? Dropping a living, breathing Charizard from a plane like some disposable weapon and leaving it to its own devices? Where were the adults? Where were Homer and Saria?

Wait—maybe Hemer wasn't with Rhine Life at this point in time? No... Ifrit had mentioned her name earlier.

So where the hell was everyone? Why was no one here to contain this?

Then it hit him.

Ifrit had mentioned testing. She probably believed the weapon in her hands was being tested, but in reality, Rhine Life was testing her.

She was a severely infected person, her body perfectly attuned to fire. Armed with that monstrous weapon, she was now a walking, breathing artillery strike.

Like tossing a lion into a pen full of sheep, the keepers didn't need to intervene—it would only put them at risk. They just had to observe from a distance, wait for the beast to tire itself out, then collect it.

For Ifrit, Mandel City was paradise. In the chaos left behind by the last catastrophe, life had already lost its value.

Yoren didn't know what to do.

With Ifrit setting the city ablaze, this might be his best chance to escape. But then another thought crept in.

He was infected now. Worse than that, his condition had mutated beyond ordinary oripathy. That mutation had kept him alive against Dark Crow Big Bob and Red Knife—but he understood none of it.

Maybe Rhine Life had the answers. As one of the world's top research institutions, they could at least help him suppress the mineralization spreading through his body.

Yoren reached out and gently patted Ifrit's shoulder from behind.

"Eve—"

"Get lost!"

She shook him off, her eyes fixed on the burning city, lips curling into a manic grin.

"Hahaha, it's not enough, it's not enough! No one can kill me! So much trash to burn! Burn them all to ash! Hahahahaha!"

The firelight reflected in her eyes. Her fingers trembled as they clenched around the barrel of her weapon.

Yoren's stomach twisted.

Was she about to lose control?

It made sense. Like keeping a high-energy Husky locked on a tiny balcony with only a mop and some dead plants for company—then one day, you unleash it on the Hulunbuir grasslands. The sheer space, the overwhelming stimulation—it would go completely berserk.

And Ifrit? She had the whole city to play with.

"Hehehe, give me more," she whispered. "More fuel. More fire."

Then, before Yoren could react, she broke free and dashed down the ruins, barreling toward the city center with flames licking at her heels.

Damn it.

Mandel City was too big. If he lost track of her now, finding her again would be nearly impossible.

He needed Rhine Life. A full day had passed—Vina and the others should be far away by now. If he could just get to Hemer and explain what had happened, maybe they'd help him. Maybe he had a chance.

Checking his wounds, he found that while serious, the bleeding had stopped on its own. Good enough.

He limped after her.

Ifrit stormed through the city like an arrogant crab, a broken stick in hand, setting everything ablaze. Anyone she found, she charred to a crisp, turning them into golden, fragrant remains.

Turning a corner, she ran straight into a squad of fully armed Ursus soldiers.

They reacted instantly, raising their weapons. Some of the front-line troops even carried Originium guns. But upon seeing the small, thin girl, the captain hesitated.

"Who are you? A civilian who got lost?"

A soldier at his side murmured, "She's not wearing a mask. She must be infected."

The captain nodded, stepping forward to put an end to her.

Before he could take another step, a dragon-like pillar of fire erupted toward him. Ifrit's shrill laughter cut through the air.

"Hahahahahahahaha! More bugs! Does it hurt? Does it hurt?! Scream for me! Scream louder!"

By the time she was done, all that remained of the Ursus soldiers were charred husks.

She vaulted onto a nearby rooftop, unleashing hell with every leap, her flames consuming the streets below. The entire city turned into a sea of fire, her cackling replacing the melodies of a sprinkler truck, the inferno replacing the cool spray of water.

Yoren followed from a distance, the heat forcing him to keep space between them.

An hour later, Ifrit torched yet another squad, then collapsed in the central square with a dull thump.

Yoren arrived soon after, looking down at her sleeping form.

"Tired now, huh?"

He crouched beside her, gently tapping her face.

"Hey, hey, Eve. Time to go home, kid. Your mom's here to pick you up."

Ifrit didn't stir. A small, satisfied smile curled her lips.

Yoren exhaled.

She had turned the city into a wasteland. There was no organized resistance left—Rhine Life should have arrived by now. They had to know exactly when she would lose control. No way they'd just leave her here.

But something was wrong.

The sky had gone completely dark, yet the city was still ablaze. There should have been movement. Soldiers. Scientists. Anyone.

Nothing.

Yoren's heart clenched.

His left eye burned. That restless, alien power surged again.

He fell to one knee, gasping. His body knew before he did—something was coming.

But the city was silent.

Then he looked up.

His pupils shrank.

The sky was red.

At first, he hadn't noticed. The fires had masked it. But now, the full horror unfolded before his eyes.

Meteorites. Dozens. Hundreds. Burning through the sky, leaving long trails of fire in their wake.

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A meteor shower—aimed straight at Mandel City.

His mind went blank.

Super-tier tenth-level magic? Meteor Swarm? Right in his face?!

No wonder Mandel City was doomed. Two natural disasters in just over ten days? Who had pissed off the gods?

The meteorites grew larger in his vision. No escape. Nowhere to run.

Yoren gritted his teeth, glancing at Ifrit. Despair flooded him.

He couldn't save her.

Then—

Across the burning street, a small figure sprinted toward him.

His eyes widened.

A turtle?!

No. Snowsant.

She clutched her backpack, tiny legs pumping, terror in her eyes—but determination burning even brighter.

She looked up at the falling firestorm, then screamed through her tears:

"Yoren! I'm here to save you!"

On the empty street, Snowsant, carrying her backpack, clenched her fists and ran toward Yoren.

At that moment, Yoren felt that everything he had done was worth it.

He had come to the world of Terra in the body of an ordinary man, pushing forward through relentless dangers. In critical moments, he had been willing to risk everything to save those he cherished—even if it meant becoming an Infected himself.

To others, he might seem foolish, clumsy, or overconfident.

But now, Yoren realized that this was the same path Amiya had walked. Even if she was misunderstood, even if she was doomed to be consumed by the flames, she never hesitated to save others. And because of that unwavering belief, she had been surrounded by knights of the Ark willing to lay down their lives for her.

The world is cruel, but it is also fair.

If you seek to take a life, yours may be taken in turn.

If you strive to save others, you, too, will be saved.

Snowsant sprinted toward Yoren with all her strength. Above her, a meteorite shower consumed the sky, creeping closer with each second. She did her best to hide her fear, her face set with a stubborn determination.

"Big Windmill, I'm here to save you!"

Hearing her voice, Yoren felt tears sting his eyes.

Snowsant, my love for you was not in vain. All those elaborate strategies, all those desperate gambits—they didn't matter in the end. Because at the most crucial moment, you're still the one I can count on.

She dashed across the street, launching herself into his arms with such force that he nearly coughed up blood.

"Oof!"

Snowsant lifted her head, eyes full of worry. "Big Windmill, are you hurt?"

Yoren forced a smile, gritting his teeth. He didn't want her to worry.

"I'm fine."

There was no time for idle chatter, but Yoren had to confirm something crucial.

"Snowsant, have you seen Indra and Sister Veena? Where are the others?"

She nodded solemnly. "Yes. Everyone's already left Mandel City."

Relief washed over Yoren, but it was quickly replaced by another concern.

"Then why are you still here?"

"I didn't want to leave."

"Why?"

"No reason. I just... didn't want to."

Her voice grew quieter. She lowered her head, and Yoren saw the silent tears falling from her eyes.

He didn't need to ask to understand.

While the others escaped, Snowsant had ignored their protests and returned to Mandel City alone, carrying nothing but a backpack and her determination. He could picture it vividly—her small figure weaving through the ruins, evading enemies, scouring the city for a dying friend.

She must have searched for hours. Through the chaos, through the darkness, even as the enemy retreated and the looming disaster pressed closer, she never gave up.

Yoren reached out, gently resting a hand on her head.

"Thank you."

She sniffled and nodded. "Mm."

Yoren, who had nearly given up, steeled himself once more.

The game wasn't over yet.

He held Snowsant close and lifted his gaze to the sky, to the burning meteorites streaking toward them.

Now he understood why the city had been abandoned. Why Rhine Life hadn't come for Ifrit. They must have known.

In Terra, only the largest cities had the technology to predict natural disasters, and even then, only within a few kilometers. In a place like the forsaken Mandel City, no one would have seen this coming until the meteorites were nearly upon them.

By the time the warning signs appeared, it was too late.

Rhine Life had made their choice. They had abandoned Ifrit, unwilling to risk their lives for an uncertain rescue. Perhaps their calculations had shown that the probability of success was too low.

Three years before the uprising in Chernobog, Hemer may not have even been in charge of the Originium project. In that cold, calculating institution where logic far outweighed empathy, even if Hemer had wanted to save Ifrit, she might not have been able to.

Damn it.

There was no one left to rely on.

Except himself.

And Snowsant.

Yoren took her hand and stood up.

Running was impossible now. Hiding wouldn't help—these meteorites would flatten the entire city. There was no time to search for shelter.

He glanced at the unconscious Ifrit beside him.

Damn it.

He placed his hands on Snowsant's shoulders, looking her straight in the eye.

"Snowsant, can your Absolute Domain withstand a natural disaster?"

"If it's just me, yes. If it's two people... I'm not sure. Maybe."

"Snowsant, you have to believe in yourself. You're the toughest."

A flicker of resolve passed through her eyes. She hugged him around the waist.

"Yoren, I'll do my best to reinforce it. I'll shrink the radius as much as possible. But you can't move once you're inside."

"Wait."

Yoren pulled her hands away.

He turned, hoisting Ifrit up and pressing her into Snowsant's arms.

"Protect her."

Snowsant's eyes widened in horror. "No! No, I can't! My Absolute Domain can only protect two people at most! If I try to shield three, we'll all die!"

Yoren's expression darkened. "I know."

It was already incredible that she could withstand a natural disaster while shielding even one other person. Asking for more was impossible.

His hesitation lasted only a moment.

Then he stuffed Ifrit back into Snowsant's arms.

"Protect her."

She stared at him in disbelief.

"What about you?!"

"Don't worry about me. Just keep her safe."

"No!"

She sobbed, shaking her head violently. "I came back to save you! Now you want me to protect someone else?! What about you?!"

"I have another way."

"You're lying! No ordinary person can survive this!"

"I—"

A sudden gust of scorching wind roared down from the heavens. The heat slammed into them like a hammer, knocking them both to the ground.

Yoren struggled to lift his head. The meteorites were nearly upon them.

There was no time.

He grasped Snowsant's trembling hand and met her tear-filled eyes with a firm gaze.

"Snowsant, believe me. Didn't I promise you? No matter where you are, I will find you. And I, Yoren, will not die."

He gave her a thumbs-up, forcing a smile. He no longer cared about tempting fate.

He wasn't a hero. He wasn't fearless. If anything, he was terrified.

But he would rather face death than make a choice he would regret for the rest of his life.

Bracing against the heat, he lifted Ifrit once more and pressed her back into Snowsant's shaking arms.

"Snowsant, I'm leaving. Don't worry about me. I'll survive."

"But—"

"No buts. Do it. Open your Absolute Domain!"

"I..."

"Hurry! There's no time!"

Tears streamed down her face as she clutched Ifrit tightly and activated her Absolute Domain. A light blue barrier enveloped them.

Seeing them safe, Yoren let out a breath of relief.

Then he turned to face the storm alone.