Star Rail: The Aeon Hunters

The Trailseekers ran through the corridors of the Backwater Pass. They don't know how long until Cocolia can break free from her cage and demand their arrest, but they really wish to get to the Underground before they showed up.

"Okay, we're in the Backwater Pass, did anyone remember where exactly we need to be?" March asked.

"Serval didn't say it, I can only assume that the escort will find us," Dan Heng replied. "It's part of information safety,"

The group stopped in front of a large gate. "Do we need to go deeper in?" March asked.

"The deeper we go, the more likely we can shake off our pursuer, if any," Dan Heng looked back just to be sure. He then took out his spear. "This shouldn't take long,"

The man was about to swing his spear, when Pela pushed him aside. "Wait! I can open it, no need to do ceaseless damage on public property," she sighed. "Anyway, this is one of the gates used to stop the Fragmentum creatures from attacking the city."

The girl walked towards a device near the gate and it opens. The group stepped through the gate and it closed behind them. "Alright, we're almost to the end of the Backwater Pass, where's our escort?" she looked around.

As they head deeper in, a guard showed up, followed by another and another and another…

"Uhh… Pela…" March said. "You didn't… put us in a trap, do you?"

"Not… intentionally…" Pela replied, taking out her tome. "You guys can fight, right? Like really good at it?"

March rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but not fighting humans, that's not easy at all," she sighed a little. "We are so used to fighting monsters, you see? So we're not good at holding back."

Pela nodded understandingly. "Don't worry, I can provide support."

The group made a circle around Pela as they readied their weapon. Some Silvermane Guard charged at them, but Stella simply bat him away. Another one tried to shoot them, but a floating ice deflected the bullet. One even tried sneak up from above, but Dan Heng swiftly kicked him away.

The onslaught continues until…

"Enough," a voice called out to the guards. A woman stepped out from behind the alley, her dark grey eyes pierced through the group. Her rifles gleamed brightly as she stood proud and mighty between them and freedom.

Bronya then set her eyes on Pela, who couldn't even meet her gaze.

"I was here to capture a fugitive and a traitor to our people," Bronya spoke. "I can hardly believe when mother told me, that the person I trust with my life is a traitor to our people," she glared at Pela. "What do you have to say for yourself, Ms. Sergeyevna? Are you proud of yourself?"

Bronya's words hurts far more than any bullet. Pela found herself hyperventilating as she tried to calm herself down. "Judgement…" she whispered to herself. "I can't control what happened, but I can control my judgement…" she remembered Lynx, who comforted her that day. "Judgement…"

"If you lay down your weapon, mother might pardon you for your grievous action," Bronya exclaimed.

Pela shook her head. "Before I do that… Lady Bronya… what did Madam Guardian said I did, in the execution platform?" she asked her.

"Execution Platform?" Bronya asked. "Nonsense, you assaulted her on the way to the judge, you even tried to kill her!" her voice start breaking down. "I trusted you Pela! I elected you to be the Intelligence Officer for a reason! How could you do something like that!?"

Unexpectedly Pela began to smile and then she laughed, tears of joy streamed down her face. "Thank the Aeons…" she whispered between her sobs. "You don't know anything, you're innocent…" Pela wiped some tears off her face. "You're not like your mother… There's still hope for Belobog…"

Bronya paused, unexpecting that sort of reaction. "What are you talking about,"

"I'm sorry Lady Bronya, but at this moment, I can't tell you the truth, you won't believe me," Pela raised her hand and numerous turret-like devices came floating up from her sling bag. "I will have to fight you and beat you, but… I also promise you that… I will cheer you on when you take on the mantle of the Supreme Guardian, I look forward to seeing your reign!"

Beams of white light shot out of the turrets, shooting all the Guards around them. The beam gave the guards Freeze burn, making it hard and painful for them to walk, but not enough to actually does any lasting injury.

"Pela…" Bronya raised her rifle. "It's…" she took a deep breath. "It's also nothing personal…"

The Trailseeker decided to focus their attention on the guards, letting Pela and Bronya fought in earnest. Ice cold turrets against deadly rifles, Bronya's deadly accuracy against Pela's ancient architect technology.

And at that moment, during the peak of the battle…

"Ooh! Sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the intensity of the moment~" a playful voice suddenly appeared from a far. Explosions of smoke followed shortly after, knocking out half of the guards and Bronya. The trailseekers managed to grab Pela and jump away from the smoke.

"Sorry for being late! There was some traffic of Fragmentum kind!""

The Trailseekers watched as a man stepped out of the smoke. "The name's Sampo Koski! An escort from the Wildfire for our VIP by the name of…" he took out a card of sorts. "Trailseekers?"

Stella coughed and waved the smoke. She felt light headed but managed to nod.

"Alright, follow me, to the underground!" Sampo picked up Bronya's unconscious body as he did so.

"Wait, why are we taking her?" March asked.

"Hmm? Chief Oleg's orders," Sampo replied.

"You know that her abduction will be on us, right?"

"Relax, what's abduction on top of acts terrorism, hmm?" Sampo waved off her worries and led the group away from the smoke. "In any case, I'm a big fan of you guys! Taking on all these guards, killing monsters so easily!" he made a swinging motion with his arm. "Oh, what a delight!"

"You've been watching us?" March asked.

"Yep! See I have a little base near the Snow Plains, there's a cute girl who camp there every night and I just can't help but watch her…" Sampo's words faltered when he realized that March is aiming her bow right on his face. "Uhh… Miss… March? Was it? The guards are all unconscious, you can put down your weapon,"

March gave her a sweet smile. "No, no, keep on your story. So you've been stalking, I mean, observing Lynx and…"

"And that's it! Sampo Koski is a distinguished gentleman, he never once gave in the urges to play pranks on little Lynx,"

Beside him, a few turrets are aimed at his cranium.

Pela straightened her glasses. Looking more pissed than when she was fighting Bronya. "What sort of pranks did cross your mind?"

"Oh, w-well… You know…" Sampo tried desperately to scramble out of the 10 feet grave he's digging. "Like, throwing snowballs, pretending to be the Belobog Caveman and scaring her while she was asleep…"

"You watch her sleep?" Stella asked.

Sampo could only laugh weakly. "Friend, I can explain…"