Chapter 31
At this moment, Yoren felt that Vina was acting strangely. He couldn't find the words to answer her questions. He knew that Frost Nova wouldn't lie to him, but he had no way to explain this trust to anyone else—especially to someone who had already lost faith in him.
Vina's cold words cut deep, leaving behind a trace of disappointment.
He liked Vina. He liked every Operator in Arknights because he knew that, three years from now, these young men and women—each carrying their own burdens—would board the Arknights with a shared belief. They would become knights, willing to sacrifice everything to protect the Ark.
In Yoren's original world, these Operators were nothing more than images on a screen, dropping onto the battlefield like reinforcements summoned from the skies with a swipe of his finger. They repeated the same motions, standing as barriers between enemies and the blue exit. When their health bars depleted, they would simply disappear.
But now, in the real world of Terra, those very Operators stood before him—alive, breathing, real.
It was only then that he realized the truth. Behind each battle was more than just a cleared stage—it was a fight for survival, a hard-won victory paid for with blood and sacrifice.
He loved Arknights. He didn't want to see any Operator suffer. This feeling was foreign, one-sided even. If he had to compare it to something, it was almost like family—an unshakable bond that only he understood.
Vina's hostility weighed on him, making him feel dejected, even a little angry.
He struggled against her grip, trying to break free, but she was far stronger than him. After several failed attempts, frustration boiled over.
"Let me go! If you don't listen to me, you'll all become infected."
"Stop acting like you're in charge," Vina shot back.