Arknights: The Life Inside-Chapter 95

On the bed in the second-floor room of Hurd's house, Yoren lay still, his legs wrapped in freshly changed gauze. He had been confined to the bed for two days now.

If you're wondering how he ended up in such a mess again, you'd have to go back to the night two days earlier.

It was Yoren and Ifrit who set fire to the chemical plant. They had snuck in under the cover of darkness, their intent unmistakably criminal.

Even though Yoren had warned her to hold back, Ifrit couldn't help but laugh maniacally. Flames danced from her fingers, weaving through the air like a dragon made of fire, devouring everything in its path.

She didn't even tap into the power of the Balrog—these were just ordinary flame-based Originium Arts. Even so, Yoren could only stare in awe as the facility was engulfed in a storm of fire almost instantly.

He thought to himself: this girl isn't just a weapon against people or cities. She's a weapon against wealth.

Soon, the inferno drew attention.

"Fire!"

"Get the fire brigade!"

"This was no accident—someone started this!"

Yoren scanned the chaos. Ifrit was powerful, but the factory was huge and her movement was sluggish. At this rate, they'd be caught. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Without hesitation, Yoren hoisted her up.

"Hey! Put me down!" she protested.

"Stay still. I'll move—you burn."

And just like that, they became a two-person wrecking crew. With Ifrit perched on his shoulder, Yoren sprinted through the factory like a madman. She hurled fireballs left and right, and he dodged and darted with precision. They were like a living, breathing war machine.

Everywhere they passed turned into a wall of flame. Explosions from volatile chemicals added fuel to the fire. The factory guards didn't even try to stop them—they just ran for their lives.

Once Yoren felt the mission was accomplished, he bolted for the outer wall, Ifrit still on his back. He leapt, tumbled, and crash-landed into the tall grass outside the compound.

"Ouch!" Ifrit groaned, spitting dirt.

She turned and saw Yoren clutching his leg, face contorted in pain.

"Are you okay?"

"Nothing serious. Just a sprain, I think."

Still wincing, Yoren sat up. The burns on his legs and hands had worsened from the flames.

Ifrit's irritation faded to concern. She moved to his side immediately.

"You're hurt. Let's go back."

"No. You go first."

"What about you?"

"Just go wait with ACE where we parked. Leave me the Originium bracelet—I need to go back in."

"What? Why?!"

"No time to explain. Just do it."

His tone allowed no argument. Reluctantly, Ifrit handed him the bracelet.

"Be quick."

Yoren rose, gritting his teeth, and limped back toward the fire. He wasn't going back for vengeance or pride. It was because, while carrying Ifrit, he'd glimpsed something crystalline through the flames.

Two days later—

Yoren lay calmly in bed. His left ankle was sprained, his legs and hand blistered from the fire. The shoulder wound, previously healing, had torn open again.

But none of that bothered him. He was grinning, eyes fixed on two glimmering stones on the table.

"Heh."

The reason he had risked going back? Those stones. Two glowing, unmistakable S-class Originium Stones.

It wasn't unusual for a factory to keep Originium Stones on-site—industrial machines often needed them—but S-class? That was luxury. Only a noble family like the Liye could afford that kind of wasteful opulence.

The door creaked open. Hurd stepped in, holding a large bowl.

"Feeling any better?"

Yoren pushed himself up.

"Come on, second uncle. You're overreacting. I'll be doing somersaults by tomorrow."

"Somersaults, huh? Your legs are peeling like old bark, and you still refused the hospital. Stubborn brat."

He passed the bowl over.

"Your aunt made rib soup. Drink it while it's hot."

Yoren took it with a grin and slurped loudly.

"Second uncle, I'm built different. These injuries? Nothing. I'll be up and moving in no time."

"Sure, sure. Just don't try any acrobatics until you can walk."

As he stirred the bowl, Yoren blinked.

"Hey... why's it all soup and no ribs?"

"Ifrit and the others already ate the ribs. Said the broth was too bland."

"..."

After Hurd left with the empty bowl, ACE came in next.

"Yoren, how are you holding up?"

"Doing fine."

He peeled back the gauze to reveal fresh skin already regrowing. The white energy within him was rapidly healing the burns. As for the sprain—it barely counted as an injury to him.

ACE nodded approvingly.

"The plan went well. That much damage to the factory... I doubt Mr. Tang De will be rushing to build a third one anytime soon."

That was precisely Yoren's goal.

Sure, he could've dealt with the thugs demolishing the neighborhood easily. He had a hundred ways to scare them off. But time was tight. He needed a more decisive blow.

Call it ruthless if you want—but they chose the wrong person to cross.

To Yoren, the Liye family's empire wasn't some immovable force. It was a feast waiting to be carved. And the Frido Chamber of Commerce? Just another mark.

It wasn't arrogance. It was clarity.

Those who have nothing don't fear those with everything.

He wouldn't just take their shoes.

He'd break their legs and make sure they never walked again.

Of course, putting the opponent in a wheelchair might not be possible just yet. Because what Yoren needed to do next wasn't picking a fight—it was something far more important.

Right now, he was just an unknown rat. Even if he stood in front of Don De with a lighter and boldly declared, "Yeah, I set your factory on fire. Mad about it?" Don De might only blink in surprise, maybe even laugh. Because someone like Yoren didn't look like a werewolf.

So Yoren had to become a werewolf. Not just that—he had to build a pack.

This was also why he'd returned to the factory to steal back two S-Class Origin Stones. Maybe in the eyes of those high up, these stones were insignificant. But to Yoren, they were the engines that could change everything.

Because Origin Stones weren't just currency. They were also critical fuel—power for him and for Ifrit. If they were the most powerful pistols in the world, these stones were their bullets.

Of course, dreams are grand, and reality—well, it might not be cruel, but it's rarely ideal. That's just how it is.

Seeing Yoren so energized and focused, ACE finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

He walked over to the window and said calmly, "You've finally settled down. Mr. Hurd's a good man. You'll be safe here. Even if that noble comes back for trouble, I believe you can handle it with your own strength. Once you're used to this place... you can go find Miss Vina."

Yoren paused what he was doing and looked at ACE.

ACE turned, smiling wide.

"Alright, as agreed, my escort mission is done." He gave a thumbs-up, his signature move. "Yoren, you're my friend forever. From here on out, I wish you a smooth road."

His smile was bright, solid as a rock. But this time, Yoren saw something glimmer in his eyes—something hesitant.

"Brother ACE..."

ACE waved a hand. "Don't. I know what you're about to say. I've seen and done too much. I've basked in glory, and I've been through hell. I've taken lives and tried to save others. But in the end... I never really managed to do either."

His voice was low, almost heavy, and Yoren could tell the weight behind that simple statement was deeper than he could imagine.

"The Glasgow Gang is powerful. World-famous. But that's not where I belong," ACE continued. "Just like I turned down Ogur's offer. I only want to do what I want now—even if it's something simple, like escorting you like a supermarket delivery guy."

Just as Yoren had guessed—ACE wouldn't join Vina's gang. Not because he feared anything, but because that life just wasn't for him. He wasn't tired of the world or the fight. He just didn't believe in fighting someone else's war.

He and Vina had worked together before, yes. There was respect, some camaraderie—but it wasn't deep. Vina was a leader, and she had to think about interests and power structures. For ACE, joining the Glasgow Gang would've been for Yoren and Snowsant's sake alone, not because he believed in it.

Yoren stepped up beside him and looked out the window.

"Brother ACE, what do you think people should do with their lives?"

ACE thought for a moment. "There's a lot to do, right? Maybe fight for profit, protect the ones they love, or change something unfair. That's a tough question... a philosophical one. I don't have an answer."

Yoren smiled. "Everything you said is right. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing: doing what you want to do."

"What you want to do?"

"Exactly."

Yoren turned and looked ACE straight in the eye.

"If you want to eat braised pork or Xiaolongbao at midnight, go do it. If you want to fix something broken in this world or write your own rules to change it—do that, too. As long as it's what you want. You don't have to follow someone else's script. And sure, you might walk the road alone sometimes. But if you find people who believe in the same things—that's the best thing in the world."

ACE looked puzzled.

"Yoren... you?"

Yoren's face lit up with rare confidence.

"Brother ACE, I'm not joining the Glasgow Gang. I have my own path, and I'm going to walk it."

He extended a hand.

"Snowsant and Ifrit—they're clumsy, yeah. They need your protection. I'm not like Blacksteel International, ruthless and cold. I'm not chasing profit like the Glasgow Gang. I just want to correct the world when it veers from the path in my heart. And for that, I need strength. A lot of it. That's what I want. Brother ACE, if that's what you want too... stay. Help me."

Yoren spoke with conviction—but there was a truth hidden underneath that ACE didn't know.

Yoren remembered the riots in Qicheng, three years in the future. He wouldn't let that tragedy happen again. He wouldn't let Brother ACE die in Tallulah's flames.

He had to keep ACE close, no matter what.

Would ACE agree to stay?

Yes. Because even if he didn't say it aloud, the moment he entered the room, Yoren had already seen it—the reluctance in his eyes.

Unspoken but undeniable, a bond had formed. Between ACE, Yoren, Snowsant, and Ifrit. It wasn't something you could put into words. But it was there. And every one of them would give their life for the others without hesitation.

ACE didn't want to leave. Not really. All he needed was a reason.

And Yoren gave him one. A real one. They needed their big brother.

ACE smiled knowingly.

"You kids really are a handful. Alright, I'll stay. I'll be here to clean up the messes you make. After all... I'm your big brother, aren't I?"