Chapter 7 The Woman From the Arena

Jun pressed his back against the blood-streaked wall, claws fully extended. His breath came sharp and fast. “Come on then. I’m done running.”

The shrine door creaked open.

A woman stepped inside alone. Tall, mid-twenties, with short-cropped dark hair and sharp eyes that scanned the room in one sweep. She wore scavenged Wild Net gear, scarred leather and reinforced plates, but moved like someone who once wore corporate armor. No visible weapons in her hands.

Jun lunged without hesitation.

She sidestepped fast, grabbed his mutated wrist, and twisted. Pain flared up his arm as she slammed him against the opposite wall. “Easy. I’m not here to kill you.”

“Bullshit,” Jun growled, trying to break free. His new strength surged but she knew exactly how to counter it. “Three steps and I’ll paint these walls with you.”

“Relax.” She released him and raised both hands. With quick, precise movements she reached into the shadows near the ceiling and yanked out three small tracking devices. She crushed them under her boot one by one. “Corporate hunters planted these while you were having your little breakdown. You’re welcome.”

Jun lowered his claws slightly but kept his distance. “Who the hell are you?”

“Kira.” She wiped tracker residue off her hands. “I was there. In the arena. Lower-ranked enforcer during the culling game. I saw them inject you.”

Jun’s stomach dropped. “You watched it happen.”

“Yeah.” Kira’s voice stayed flat, but her gaze flicked away for a split second. “I had orders. Stand guard. Don’t interfere. I followed them.”

“You stood there while they pumped that thing into my blood?” Jun’s voice rose. “While Mei watched from the tower like it was just another Tuesday?”

Kira finally met his eyes. There was something heavy in them. Guilt. “I didn’t know they were going to pick you specifically. Not until later. Look, I defected after that shitshow. Been running solo in the Wild Net ever since. Most people don’t last long out here without help.”

“I don’t need help,” Jun snapped. “Especially not from someone who wore their armor.”

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “You’re leaking Beast signature all over the Mid-Net. Every bounty hunter and corporate patrol within three layers is locking onto you. You have maybe twenty minutes before they tighten the noose. I know safe routes. Quiet nodes. Places where the glitches hide your new… modifications.”

Jun stared at her. “Why? Why help the monster on every screen?”

Kira’s jaw tightened. She looked at the glowing words on the wall , [WE ARE ALREADY MULTIPLYING], and her expression darkened. “Because I watched them do this to you. And I didn’t stop it. Call it guilt. Call it whatever you want. But I have intel you need if you’re planning to survive more than a day with that thing inside you.”

Jun paced the small shrine, mind racing. Every instinct screamed trap. But she had disabled the trackers. And he was tired. So damn tired. “Temporary. You give me routes and information. I don’t owe you anything. First sign of betrayal and I test how well these claws work on ex-corporate muscle.”

“Fair enough,” Kira said. She almost smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “We move together until you’re stable or I’m dead. Whichever comes first.”

Jun exhaled slowly. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Kira nodded once. As they stepped toward the exit, she paused. “Then there’s something you need to see.”

She raised her wrist rig and projected a small holographic feed into the air between them. Security footage. Recent.

The First Son stood in the middle of a ruined plaza, surrounded by flickering neon. He looked straight into the camera like he knew it was there. Same face as Jun. Same dry half-smirk.

“Tell Father I’m disappointed he’s hiding.”

The Son turned and walked away as the feed ended.

Jun’s blood ran cold.

Kira killed the projection. “He’s already building something out there. Using your face. Your mind. We need to move. Now.”