CHAPTER 13: LOW BLOW

“So how did you two meet?” Snow asked.

“It’s like your story—after my limits broke, I wanted answers for myself, so I wandered everywhere,” Muse said, stepping beside Edward. “I first met him in Neo Athens. He was being beaten by a group of drunken guards.”

“And she saved me,” Edward took Muse’s hand, gazing at her tenderly. “She’s my muse.”

“Why choose to live here? This place is a mess—you’ve both seen what’s happening, right?” Snow pressed.

“It’s the same everywhere. My time’s running short,” Edward sighed. “For years, I’ve evaded the Federation’s pursuit, refusing to be recycled like other Homunculi.”

“We moved here a few months ago. This is where Edward was created, after all,” Muse added. “He still has a few friends in Elysium, so he won’t be too alone before the end.”

“One last question,” Snow stood. “Are you two connected to the cloaked figure and that Gremlin?”

Muse and Edward exchanged uneasy glances, a flicker of fear in their eyes. “Guess that settles it—my data analysis was spot on,” Snow turned toward the door, but bricks suddenly sealed the exit. Edward, seated behind, wielded his crafting magic, while Muse stepped forward—her hands wreathed in red flames, revealing golden frames within, a creation of Edward’s mana.

“How’d you figure it out?” Edward frowned.

“How could a cripple like you gather all that intel? If you say Muse did it, this is Olympus’s capital—an Android moving freely without detection is impossible,” Snow analyzed, drawing SHAD0W from her coat.

“That’s it?” Edward probed.

“When Muse said I’d been exposed, it struck me as odd. We met her in a dead-end alley, far from the square. How’d she know only I was spotted, not Kira too? Maybe she knew Kira aided me from a distance, drawing less attention. Plus, with an Android popping up in Elysium, who’d notice a Homunculus?” Snow continued.

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“Interesting. Anything else?” Edward smirked.

“Yeah. Truth is, I didn’t analyze anything—just threw the question out. Your faces and actions spilled it all,” Snow aimed her gun forward.

“Emotional limits just broken, and you’re already lying like a human?” Muse hissed, hurling a fiery punch. Snow dodged, Muse’s blow shattering the newly formed wall. Snow fired at Edward, who conjured a golden shield to block. She dashed for an exit, but Muse intercepted her. Edward limped out, wielding a freshly crafted golden ST1NG.

“I thought we were friends…” Snow’s head bowed, disappointment lacing her voice.

“We were,” Muse replied coldly.

“Kira must die,” Edward added. “Only the Reaper’s death can save us.”

Snow said nothing. She spun, firing again. The golden shield reappeared as Edward returned a barrage. Snow leapt aside—the bullets aimed at Muse were blocked by her flaming hands. Muse closed in, hooking a punch into Snow’s side, denting her frame and igniting her coat. Snow dove into the water below, dousing the flames, leaving a gaping hole in her jacket.

“Snow, remember our sparring score?” Muse asked, eyes glinting.

“0-99, favoring you,” Snow murmured.

“And you think you can win now?” Muse pressed.

“Yes,” Snow replied, brimming with confidence. “You’re not the same you, and I’m not the old me. It’s anyone’s game now.”

Edward fired relentlessly from above. Snow dodged nimbly in the water—ST1NG was fast but lacked precision. She shot two rounds at Edward; his golden shield and the explosions clashed, obscuring his view. Snow seized the moment, leaping up, yanking Edward’s leg into the water, then pinning his head beneath her foot. Muse charged with fiery hands.

“STOP!!” Snow bellowed, gun trained on Edward’s core. “Move closer, and I’ll blast his core right now!”

“Muse, attack! Forget me!” Edward shouted.

Muse froze, eyes wavering, torn with indecision. Her hands lowered, the flames flickering out.

“Tell me where Kira is, and I’ll let him go,” Snow hauled Edward up, pressing the gun to his back.

“…South, 500 meters—an abandoned factory. But I warn you, it might be too late,” Muse answered.

“I know,” Snow dragged Edward toward the surface. “You’re not the only ones who’d do anything for those you treasure.” She shoved Edward toward Muse.

“You know, I still see you both as friends. Hope next time, the four of us can chat happily together,” Snow walked off, leaving Edward and Muse stunned. “1-99 now, Muse!” her voice echoed down. They stared at each other, dumbfounded.

Thorny roots encased Kira. Snow fired at them relentlessly—each severed root replaced by another. “Too late, too late, too late…” the Gremlin hissed cryptic nonsense from the shadows, but Snow wouldn’t let it gloat. She lunged, grabbing its long ears, jamming her gun into its mouth:

“Tell me how to save Kira, or I’ll send you back to your cloaked master with an extra hole.”

The chaotic data dancing in Snow had finally stilled.