Arknights: The Life Inside

"Ouch!"

Yoren felt a sharp jolt in his head, his vision darkening as a ringing noise filled his ears.

Vina hadn't even swung hard—she had only tapped him lightly with the hammer, as if expressing her dissatisfaction. But even that was enough to send him crashing to the ground.

Lying there like a lifeless ragdoll, Yoren could barely make out the voices of the two women conversing above him. Their words drifted in and out, erratic and distant.

"Is this infected person one of your Glasgow gang members?"

"That's right. And I won't let you hand him over to the Ursus military police. I'm taking him with me, Winter. I know you're strong, but I suggest you don't do anything pointless."

"Vina, tell me—why is a member of the Glasgow gang infected with Oripathy? And why are you in Chernobog?"

"That's none of your business."

"I've been hearing rumors. Foreign gang members have been showing up in Ursus lately. Is that your Glasgow gang?"

"I said, it's none of your business."

"King of Advancement, Vina—answer me. Are you smuggling Originium to some underground faction within Ursus?"

"I'll say this one last time: it's none of your business."

Winter's voice turned icy, her presence commanding and absolute.

"If you don't give me a straight answer, no one is leaving this place."

Boom!

A deafening shockwave erupted next to Yoren, the sheer force shaking him from his daze and jolting him upright.

Dazed, he clutched the fresh lump on his head, barely registering what was happening before another impact sent him sprawling backward. His ears rang, his mind reeled.

Then he looked up—and his breath caught in his throat.

Winter stood firm, gripping her axe with both hands, while Vina's black warhammer pressed against the handle, unyielding.

The ground beneath them had caved in, deep cracks splitting the walls around them. The sheer force of Vina's strike was staggering—this wasn't just brute strength. This was raw, unrestrained power.

Vina's golden hair was wild, standing on end, her wide eyes burning with fury.

"I said, stay out of my business! Don't piss me off, Winter!"

Winter, unwavering, held her ground despite the floor beneath her feet sinking. Her legs didn't buckle, her stance remained firm. But her expression had changed—her usual composed demeanor replaced by something graver.

She had underestimated Vina.

That hammer swing hadn't been precise, hadn't relied on technique—it was pure physical force, and somehow, it matched her own. That alone was unsettling.

More than that—

Vina had done it one-handed.

Realizing the fight was escalating beyond control, Yoren ignored the throbbing pain in his head and rushed between them.

"Enough! Vina, back off! Why are you two actually fighting?!"

"Tch."

The two women, though appearing lean and wiry, were like two freight trains colliding.

Yoren threw himself into the chaos, shoving at their weapons, wedging himself between them, forcing them apart despite the very real risk of being crushed.

Winter stepped back without a word, her face unreadable.

Vina, scowling, exhaled sharply before finally lowering her hammer.

She turned to Yoren and shoved the weapon into his hands.

"Hold this for me, kid."

The moment Vina let go, the warhammer plummeted straight down with a heavy thud, nearly flattening Yoren's foot.

"Shit—"

The weight was monstrous.

"Oh my god, how do you even lift this?!"

"Just rest one end on the ground and hold it steady."

"...Oh."

From his spot against the wall, Lin Dong snorted, looking at Yoren with barely concealed disdain.

"Pathetic."

Meanwhile, Vina shrugged off her leather jacket, rolling her shoulders before crouching near the wreckage. Steel beams had collapsed over her injured companion, trapping him beneath the debris. But Vina didn't hesitate—

She grabbed hold of the twisted metal and ripped it away like it was made of paper.

Despite her slight frame, she bore the title of King of Advancement for a reason. One by one, she tossed aside the heavy debris, flipping over steel beams like they were mere building blocks.

Soon, she had freed the injured man underneath.

The infected man blinked groggily, eyes glassy, his voice hoarse. "Boss… Boss, I'm sorry… I got infected. It's my fault…"

"Shut up. I'm getting you out of here."

"There's… another one…"

"I know. I'll find them after I get you to safety."

Tears welled in the man's eyes as he nodded weakly.

Vina turned back to Yoren, retrieving her hammer from his grip.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Yoren. Yoren—like summer's wind."

Vina raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You're not from Ursus, are you?"

"No."

"Then what are you doing here? Are you friends with Winter?"

"Well… that's complicated. I know her, but she doesn't know me. Today's our first meeting. As for why I'm here… Let's just say I was passing through."

Vina gave a small nod, as if considering his answer.

"Alright. See ya."

"Wait—"

Yoren almost called her Miss Wang—an old habit—but caught himself in time.

"Vina… You're leaving?"

"Yeah."

"Then… goodbye."

Without another word, Vina hoisted the injured man onto her shoulder and strode out of the warehouse, stepping over rubble as if it wasn't even there. Winter, who had been leaning against the wall, made no move to stop her.

Yoren watched her disappear through the doorway.

In his world, Miss Wang had always been one of his favorite Operators.

Winter finally spoke. "Yoren. It's time to go."

"Oh, so you did hear my name just now."

She walked up to him and rested a hand on his shoulder—lightly, almost reassuringly.

"You seem timid, but when it matters, you don't hesitate."

Yoren blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you hadn't stepped in, I would've fought Vina to the death."

He laughed dryly. "So that's what this is about. No big deal. I might be useless, but I couldn't just stand by and watch two of my favorite Operators kill each other."

"...What's an Operator?"

"Uh… Never mind."

Yoren glanced around at the ruined warehouse. "Winter, why did you let Vina leave with the infected?"

Winter scoffed, muttering under her breath. "That girl… Consider this me doing her a favor."

She wouldn't admit it outright, but Yoren could tell—

She knew she couldn't beat Vina.

As they stepped outside, a flood of Ursus military police swarmed the scene.

One of the officers—a broad, heavy-set man—eyed them suspiciously. "You two. What the hell happened here?"

Yoren jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "See for yourself."

The officers peered past him into the wreckage.

"What in the—"

Winter shoved her hands into her coat pockets, expression dark. "You idiots. Took you long enough."

"What did you just say, you little—"

Before the officer could snap, his colleague quickly pulled him aside, whispering urgently.

"Wait. That's her. Lin Dong."

"The Lin Dong?"

"Yeah. General Dong herself. I wouldn't pick a fight."

The officer paled, coughing awkwardly. "Ahem."

Yoren smirked. Seems Winter's reputation carried more weight than he'd thought.

Winter gave a brief account of what had happened to the military and police officers of Che City. She carefully omitted the identities of the Glasgow Gang and Vina, instead describing the infected as having been rescued by unknown, highly skilled individuals.

Yoren understood. In a way, Winter and Vina were alike. As the leader of a group that operated in the gray areas of the law, Winter had no reason to become an informant.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder—what had changed in the years ahead? What had happened when the catastrophe struck three years later? Why had Winter, instead of fighting to the death as she might have now, chosen to abandon Chernobog and lead her companions to Rhodes Island, an organization dedicated to helping the infected?

He studied her face—still youthful, still hardened by experience—and asked,

"Winter."

"Hm?"

"If one day, this city was wiped out in an instant... where would you go?"

Winter frowned at the seriousness in his tone. She looked up at the sky, as if searching for an answer in the endless gray expanse.

"If it were truly destroyed in an instant? Well... as the head of the Ursus Student Self-Government Group, it's not about what happens to me. I'd have to find a place for my people."

It was the answer Yoren had expected. The same response he knew he would have heard from her years later. This was the Winter he had come to admire.

"Winter, promise me you'll survive. We'll meet again in Rhodes Island in three years."

She shot him a puzzled look. "Hah? What kind of nonsense is that? How could I, Winter, ever die? And what's Rhodes Island?"

Yoren chuckled, shaking his head. "Never mind. Forget it."

The military police quickly cordoned off the area, collecting blood samples from the infected beneath the wreckage. Once the experts arrived, they launched their pursuit operations.

Winter dusted off her coat. "We're done here. I've got things to do. You should head home."

Yoren laughed bitterly. Home?

Winter caught the change in his expression and raised a brow. "What's wrong with you?"

He shrugged. "How should I put it... I don't have a home anymore."

She folded her arms. "You ran away, huh?"

"...Something like that."

Winter sighed, then waved over a nearby officer. A man in uniform stepped forward, looking attentive.

"This guy's got nowhere to stay. Find him a place for the night. Food, clothes—whatever he needs. Put it on the Student Government's tab."

"Understood, General Dong."

The sky darkened. Snow began falling heavier, blanketing the streets in silence. Winter turned, her back to Yoren, giving him a lazy wave as she disappeared into the storm.

Yoren watched her go, a strange weight settling in his chest. He had no idea when—or if—he'd see her again.

A firm hand landed on his shoulder. The officer gave him a small shake. "Come on, kid. Let's get you somewhere warm."

Half an hour later, Yoren walked alongside the officer through the dimly lit streets of Chernobog.

"So, kid," the officer said, adjusting his cap, "you're not Ursus, are you? How'd you manage to get General Dong to personally arrange housing for you? How do you know her?"

"Uh… is Winter really that famous?"

The officer gave him a look like he had just asked if the sky was blue.

"You mean to tell me you don't know?"

"I mean, I know she's the leader of the Student Government..."

The officer chuckled, the kind of laugh that said, Kid, you have no idea.

"Listen, no matter what country you're in, students are the future. But in Ursus, only the best of the best can join the Student Autonomous Group. And the ones who lead it? Those are the ones shaping the future of this nation."

Yoren blinked. "That's... a lot more intense than I expected."

"Of course it is! The Student Autonomous Group isn't just some club for overachievers. They go places the government won't go. They solve problems no one else can. Border conflicts, riots, infected uprisings—you name it, they've handled it. Some say their actions have influenced national policy more times than the public even realizes."

Yoren let out a slow whistle. "Damn. That's... kind of insane."

The officer grinned. "Now you're getting it."

They turned into a narrow alley, the officer pointing ahead. "Hotel's just through here. You can stay the night—"

A dull thud cut him off.

The next second, the officer collapsed, hitting the ground hard.

Yoren barely had time to react before a shadow moved from the darkness of the alley.

His stomach twisted. He wasn't being robbed.

He knew this figure.

"Vina?"

The King of Advancement stood there, her golden eyes burning in the dim light, gleaming like a predator's.

Her voice was cold.

"I thought it over. I really can't let you leave."

Yoren took a step back, his throat suddenly dry. "W-why?"

"Because you saw me. You saw my people. The infected are being hunted in this city. I can't touch Winter, but you—you're an unstable factor I can't ignore."

She tightened her grip on her warhammer.

Yoren felt his blood run cold.

She was going to kill him.

For a brief moment, he felt stupid—stupid for forgetting that this wasn't a game, that these people weren't just characters in a story.

Winter, Vina, all of them—they weren't just figures he admired from a distance. They were real, living people, operating in a world where survival wasn't a given.

In his mind, Vina had always been the lion cub with the hammer in one hand and a lollipop in the other, always broke, always complaining.

But beyond the jokes and the quirks—

She was the leader of the Glasgow Gang.

A real gangster.

And what did gangsters do?

Street fights. Turf wars. Smuggling. Murder.

He had heard her and Winter talking earlier—about smuggling Originium, about their illegal dealings.

It was naive to think she wouldn't kill an ordinary bystander for knowing too much.

Yoren stared at her. He clenched his fists—then loosened them.

What a joke. Was he really going to die here, for something so absurd?

He hadn't seen the Lamb. He hadn't touched the halo of the Archangel. He hadn't stolen a chocolate bar from Texas.

He hadn't even told Amiya to her face—"You're not a donkey. You're an adorable little rabbit."

The world was vast, and he hadn't even begun to see it.

Something inside him surged, a desperate, reckless desire to live. He clenched his fists again, his breathing steadying.

Vina raised the hammer, her golden eyes unblinking.

"Even a weak creature like you will struggle before it dies, huh?"

Yoren met her gaze, stepping forward.

His eyes were firm. His expression unshaken.

He squared his shoulders, drew a deep breath—

And in the calmest, steadiest voice he could muster, said:

"Miss Wang, please don't kill me, wuwuwu!"