After getting rid of Flame, Raven was now in Ark's HQ's first floor. She slowly advanced as she looked at her surroundings. She remarked that, apart from the front door, who was completely smashed, there was no apparent damage to the room. In spite of that, though, all the people present, except for her, were unconscious.

“...” Raven stayed silent, thinking of her next course of action.

Then, she picked up a presence from behind her.

“I'm surprised Ark sent a high level Elite like you around here.” Ursa spoke, a playful smile on her face.

Raven, still quiet, inspected the woman from head to toe with vigilance. To her surprise, Ursa was carrying the inanimate body of Flame on her shoulder.

With a frown on her face, the little girl faced the older girl with hostility. The shadow around her shook, responding to her emotion.

“Hey,” Ursa, however, wasn't disturbed in the slightest. Rather, she clearly seemed to be more amused. “Is some kind of ‘great disaster’ going to appear in this city?”

“...” Ignoring the word spoken by the blond haired girl, Raven changed the subject. “...Ursa Saith.”

“Ooh ! You know me ?!” Ursa cried out with surprise, growing happier by the minute. “As expected of a Rank II Elite ! Now, I kinda feel honored!”

“...Objective?” Raven ignored the woman's mood and pronounced a question.

“Hm?” Ursa wondered a little, not immediately comprehending the little girl's sentence. “Are you perhaps wondering about why we attacked this place ?”

The black haired girl nodded without speaking. Her apparent lack of social ability naturally showing itself.

“To tell you the truth, at first it was for money, but, now...” Ursa responded honestly as a somewhat devilish smile appeared on her face. “I just want to huge a cute girl like you!!!”

The woman spoke enthusiastically, letting Flame's corps fall on the ground and rushing toward Raven with wide open arm. However, upon taking her third step, a black tendril shaped shadow mercilessly transpierced her heart.

Taking time to realize what just happened, Ursa slowly looked at her chest. Horror filled her eyes as she saw the giant hole placed on her. Before long, blood gushed out from her mouth as she desperately placed her hand on the mortal wound.

“It...hur...ts.” She stuttered, life slowly escaping from her. “..wh...y..?”

Looking at the scene, Raven's eyes stayed unemotional. “...Stop.” She ordered flatly.

Responding to her words, Ursa's and Flame's bloodied body puffed up and disappeared. Then, as if nothing had happened, the blond haired woman suddenly appeared from behind Raven.

“Quite the fine acting, wouldn't you say?” Ursa nonchalantly said. “Perhaps I should seriously consider being an actress.”

Expecting the situation, Raven didn't show any sign of surprise and instead, fully prepared to fight. Going, once again, according her will, the surrounding area slowly became darker.

Seeing that, Ursa placed her hand in her pocket and took out something that resembled an interrupter. “I'd really love to fight with you, Raven, but,” The woman spoke with a mix of a sad and happy face. “Unfortunately, it's already time for us to retreat.”

◇

Ark HQ, second surface floor.

As the battle continued on, Rin's breathing became rougher and rougher. Her vision blurred at inopportune moment and her reflex hardly kicked in anymore. Honestly speaking, if not for Edward's current support, there would be no way for her to win against Lia.

‘This is,’ Rin thought, trying to make sense of the situation. ‘Unnatural.’

Certainly, between the constant hit she had received and her bleeding wound, it was to no surprise for Rin to be exhausted. Even so, however, she still felt it was too much. Her stamina was decreasing way too quickly. Up to just one week ago, she could've sworn she wouldn't feel this tired right now.

‘Is this because of Aiden's singularity.’ Jumping away from Lia, Rin took a time to catch her breath.

Cautiously looking at her hands, she could see that they were trembling. Accepting the conclusion she just came across to, she refocused her mind. Thinking about it again, Rin thought it wasn't too surprising. Upgrader's effect gave her an enormous amount of power. It was natural for one or two side effects to show themselves.

After all, a perfect singularity didn't exist.

Coming to term with her condition, Rin clenched her fist and leaped at Lia once again.

—Or at least, that's what she intended. She was stopped dead in her track when Ursa's figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

“Time is up, Princess !” The woman said, with yet another cheerful smile. “Brace yourself for the incoming impact !”

Then she disappeared like she wasn't even there to begin with.

“...Eh?” Rin let out her voice, utterly confused.

Before long, though, she understood Ursa's word when she heard the sound of explosion going off in chain. The ground beneath her rapidly followed and crumbled down, leaving Rin to fall toward the first floor.

Still confused and caught up in the sudden turn of event, she instinctively closed her eyes. However, the impact she expected never came as she was instead caught by someone.

“It's okay.” The man spoke, holding Rin in a typical 'princess carry'. “I got you.”

Nervously opening her eyes, Rin confirmed the identity of her rescuer. “...Stone.”

Taking this chance, Rin turned her eyes and looked at her current surrounding. It was a complete mess. With just one glance, she confirmed that the entire Ark building was destroyed entirely. Debris filled the entire ground, and even now, the wall and floor kept collapsing.

If not for Stone's help, she was certain she would be buried under the soil at this moment.

“Run for it, guys !!!!!” Suddenly, Ursa's playful voice resounded on the area.

Hearing these words, Stone heaved an exasperated sigh, before complying and dashing away while still holding on Rin.

Along the way, Rin locked eyes with another short and black haired girl. She didn't know why, but she was weirdly aware of the unknown presence.

Fortunately, the girl didn't seem to want to chase after them, and soon disappeared out of sight. Heaving a sigh in her turn, Rin had a weak thought.

‘Is this seriously supposed to be my happy new year?’