The forest burned red. Every breath Nash took came out as smoke through the porcelain mouth of Hina's body. The ground shook under the molten weight of Jack's steps. The frost-haired man's wings sliced through the air, scattering freezing mist that turned the trees into crystal pillars.
Hina's crimson chains dragged through the soil, glowing with power. The air hissed as molten heat met freezing frost, steam twisting between the combatants.
Jack stomped forward, swinging his hammer in a wide arc. "I'm done playing, puppet!"
The hammer came down with the weight of a meteor. Nash caught it mid-swing with both arms, porcelain hands locking against the burning steel. Cracks spread up his arms, glowing red from within, but he didn't let go. The cracks then immediately regenerate back to pristine form.
Jack grinned with molten teeth. "You're not getting away, pretty doll."
Nash growled. "You talk too much."
He twisted, chains exploding outward. The impact sent shockwaves through the trees, throwing Jack off balance. The warhammer flew from his grip, crashing into the dirt and sinking half its head into the earth.
The frost-haired man shouted, "Jack! Fall back!"
But Nash was already moving. His body flickered like a red blur. Phantom Stride carried him forward, each step leaving behind a ghostly afterimage. He appeared behind Jack and drove his knee into the transcender's spine.
Jack roared in pain, flames bursting out of his back. "You piece of shit!"
The frost-haired man spread his wings and launched several ice spears at Nash. They tore through the air like shards of frozen death, but Nash twisted his body midair, chains whipping out to deflect them. Each impact sparked a burst of crimson and blue light.
He landed on a frozen boulder, porcelain feet cracking the ice beneath him. His breathing was steady, but he could feel the toll. The longer he stayed in Hina's body, the more his consciousness trembled. His head pounded with the voice that now lived inside.
"Nash," Hina's soft tone whispered inside his mind. "You are holding back. They will capture you and will not hesitate to kill you if you keep on hesitating."
Nash clenched his jaw. "I'm not killing anyone, especially since these dumbasses are just doing their thing. Just like us trying to capture some supernaturals. Besides you're basically a immortal. After merging your body can now be damaged but it would immediately regenerate so it's basically the same though."
"They will not show mercy."
"I don't need their mercy," he said, eyes narrowing. "I just need time."
Jack hurled another molten punch toward him, but Nash sidestepped and slammed his elbow into the man's ribs. The crack echoed through the forest. Jack coughed blood, molten cracks dimming slightly.
The frost-haired man tried to retaliate, sweeping his arm to conjure a wave of frost. "Cryostasis Field!"
The air turned white with frostbite. Everything froze, the ground, the trees, even the falling embers. Nash's porcelain body started to stiffen, his joints icing over.
He gritted his teeth. "Damn it…"
Hina's voice echoed faintly. "Do you want my help?"
Nash hesitated, feeling the cold sink deep into Hina's puppet form. "What are you planning?"
"I can kill them for you."
The way she said it made him flinch. Her tone was too calm, too certain.
Nash said quickly, "No killing. Just help me use your body and abilities properly and maybe also dodge."
"Understood," she replied softly, but there was something in her voice, a hint of disappointment.
The crimson veins under Hina's porcelain skin flared brighter. The chains vibrated with energy. A low hum filled the air as Aetherium flared through the puppet's veins. The frost melted off her joints, and she broke free with a violent shatter.
Jack's eyes widened. "She broke the frost?!"
Before either of them could react, Nash moved. He sprinted low to the ground, each step cracking the earth. He slammed into Jack, driving him through a frozen tree. Bark and ice shattered in all directions.
The frost-haired man tried to intercept, wings beating, but Nash's chain lashed out like a serpent and wrapped around his neck. He yanked him out of the air and slammed him into the ground.
The frost-haired man gasped, struggling to breathe as the chain tightened. "You're fucking something…"
Nash swung his hand, and the frost-haired man was sent crashing through several trees, landing face-first into a mound of snow. Blood splattered across the white.
Jack roared and rushed again, lava bursting from his arms. "You bastard!"
Nash blocked his punch with both arms, sliding back several meters. The ground beneath them melted from the heat. Their blows clashed again and again, each impacting a blur of motion and sparks.
Jack grinned through the flames. "You can't run forever! You'll supernaturals will eventually run out of aether and be unable to use your abilities!"
"I don't need forever," Nash said coldly. "Just long enough."
Chains burst from Hina's back and legs, wrapping around nearby trees. Nash used them to propel himself forward, his knee colliding with Jack's face. The transcender staggered, molten blood dripping from his nose.
"Still think I'm running?" Nash asked.
Jack snarled and raised his hammer again, but Nash was already moving. He spun, sweeping his leg low. The kick cracked Jack's knee, forcing him down. With a twist of his wrist, Nash sent a chain spiraling toward the frost-haired man, binding his wings midflight.
Both transcenders were now struggling. Jack was kneeling, blood boiling from his cracked armor, while the frost-haired man tried to cut through the chain but couldn't.
Nash stood still, chest rising and falling. His crimson eyes burned under the moonlight.
"This ends here," he said quietly.
Jack spat blood. "Then let's go fucking bitch!"
Nash flicked his hand, and the chains constricted sharply before throwing both of them in opposite directions. They crashed into the trees, their armor shattered, blood mixing with frost and ash.
The forest fell silent except for Nash's ragged breathing.
He looked at his hands, trembling slightly. The cracks along Hina's porcelain arms began to heal, sealing with faint red light.
Hina's voice returned, soft and calm. "You could have killed them."
"I know."
"You chose not to."
"I won't kill unless I decide or have to."
There was a long silence. Then Hina's voice came again, quieter this time. "Then I will follow your will."
Nash's heart softened slightly. "Good."
He turned and ran. The forest blurred past him as Phantom Stride activated again. Branches shattered behind him. Snow exploded in clouds of white dust as he sprinted through the night.
Minutes turned into an hour. The city lights faded behind the thick canopy. The sky turned darker, stars swallowing the horizon. Nash finally slowed down, his porcelain body coming to a halt beside a stream. The reflection of the moon rippled across the water, catching the red glow in Hina's eyes.
He looked around. Nothing but endless forest. No city, no lights, no familiar sound. Only the faint whisper of wind brushing through the trees.
"Great," Nash muttered. "Now we're lost."
Hina's voice spoke again. "You ran without direction."
"Yeah, I noticed." He sighed. "Do you by any chance have any ways to know where we are?"
"I can feel the pull of Aetherium nearby. It is faint but alive."
"Probably a supernatural or something," Nash said, rubbing his temples. "I can't get near that right now, I'm too mentally exhausted"
He sat down on a rock, the porcelain surface of Hina's hands glimmering faintly under moonlight.
"Listen, Hina," he said after a moment. "You're… conscious now, right?"
"I am," she answered softly. "I understand what I am. And what you are."
Nash looked at her reflection in the stream. "Then I need to ask something important."
"I am listening."
He took a slow breath. "I don't want you to act on your own too much... Well, no killing without my permission. If you find the city in the distance, you will not move too far from the city or too close to the city. You got that?"
Hina was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I understand."
"Promise me."
"I promise, Master."
Her voice softened, almost human. "I will not harm any people without your word."
Nash nodded. "Good. Now, here's what you'll do. You'll hunt down a supernatural, but you'll capture it through the system. The system is with you, right?"
"Yes. The System is ingrained to my core."
"Then use it to capture one, save the rune artifacts for now. When I'll finally get a supernatural, I want it to be at least powerful... Well... you Hina is an exception. We need more data and power if I'm going to survive in this world."
"I will do as you command."
Nash stood up, brushing snow off Hina's porcelain knees. "Alright then. I'll be heading back to my body. Can you contact me once I'm out?"
"I can try," she said. "Our bond is stable. I will reach you through the system's channel."
"Good. Let's test it."
He closed his eyes. His vision blurred. The crimson glow began to fade from Hina's body. Chains unraveled around her limbs, sinking back into her form. Her eyes dimmed, and Nash's consciousness started to drift.
The world turned dark for a moment. Then a faint light appeared.
Nash gasped as his eyes opened. He was back in his apartment. His real body lay sprawled on the bed, drenched in sweat. His heart was pounding like he'd run a marathon.
He stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily. "Finally I made it back…"
For a few seconds, there was only silence. Then a faint static sound echoed in his head.
"Testing… testing… Roger Roger…"
Nash blinked, then laughed under his breath. "Hina?"
"Yes," she replied. Her voice was still soft but had a teasing note this time. "Connection stable. You are alive."
"Of course I am alive," he said, chuckling. "You sound like a radio."
Nash smiled, sitting up on his bed. "It works. You should focus on capturing supernaturals for now. Contact me when you find or capture one, alright?"
"Understood, Master."
"Good girl."
There was a brief pause. Then Hina said quietly, "I am... not sure how to respond to that."
Nash laughed again. "Just don't blow up the forest, and we'll be fine."
"As you wish."
The connection faded into silence.
Nash lay back on his bed, exhaustion catching up to him. His body ached everywhere. He stared at the ceiling until his eyes began to blur, the adrenaline fading into a heavy drowsiness.
As he drifted into sleep, he whispered, "I hope Hina's would do just fine"
Far away, deep in the silent forest, Hina stood at the edge of the moonlit stream. Her chains shimmered faintly, and her scarlet eyes glowed under the stars.
The wind carried the scent of Aetherium through the trees. Somewhere nearby, something stirred—a faint pulse of supernatural life.
Hina tilted her head, listening. The night was quiet except for the soft chime of her chains.
She whispered to herself, "Capture… not kill... tsk."
Her feet moved soundlessly across the snow.
The forest trembled as she began her hunt.