Arknights - Unknown To Dawn

Ed: Hello everyone!! Sorry for the delays, me and author, with his and my family just move to a new house. Me and him are still neighbors because of his and my family jobs. Well anyway, author said he'll be back soon to maybe 4 to 6 days.

Well continuing on, i hope you enjoy this chapter because even i was kinda at lost on how to translate this correctly.

____________________________________

W's gaze was fixated on the crystal in Xian's grasp, her usually confident demeanor replaced with a subtle but unmistakable edge of fear. It wasn't just the object itself, it was the consequences of what it could unleash.

The way her eyes narrowed and her lips parted ever so slightly, as if to form a warning, revealed more than she intended.

Xian, as he observe her caught these details. Internally, he mused, She's rattled. Why? He replayed the moment she had almost shouted at him not to touch the crystal, her voice shaking just enough to betray her composure. It's either insanely valuable… or ridiculously dangerous. The thought made his pulse quicken.

Though he maintained his usual calm, his mind raced with questions. What exactly am I holding? What makes her act like this? And… what can I learn from it?

The storage room, once merely a backdrop to their tense exchange, now seemed to reflect the rising unease. W could feel the temperature inching upward, the sticky humidity pressing against her skin. The faint dripping of a leaky faucet echoed in the silence, amplifying the tension. Her brow furrowed as she fought the urge to wipe away the sweat forming on her forehead.

She cursed inwardly. This is ridiculous. The room's hot, I'm sweating, and that idiot is shaking the crystal! Her teeth clenched as she glanced at the Man, Xian. Who seemed far too casual given the circumstances. If only I wasn't so damn weakened… She reminded herself of the unknown substance still lingering in her system, robbing her of her usual strength.

W's mind wandered back to the crystal's terrifying potential. She had seen its effects firsthand during that warehouse mission. The swordsman who had tested it with a casual air came to mind as he had wielded it carelessly, using a reinforced metal box to handle it like it was some cheap experiment.

She clenched her fists. How did that box not succumb to the crystal's effects? The memory unsettled her further, as did the knowledge that the crystal wasn't just dangerous but it was also full of unknown characteristics. It could turn everything it touched into pure originium, a weaponized nightmare in a deceptively small package.

Her mission had been simple, deliver the crystal to Tallulah. But the more she learned, the more it felt like she was delivering a live grenade.

Her thoughts snapped back to the present as she noticed Xian giving the crystal another casual shake, the faint glimmer of light refracting off its surface. Her breath hitched. Does he have a death wish?!

Summoning the courage to speak, W hesitated. She wanted to ask why Xian wasn't affected by the crystal, but fear gripped her throat. The image of the crystal exploding and turning the room and her into a mass of deadly originium was too vivid.

Before she could muster the words, Xian's voice broke the silence.

"So, what's the deal with this thing?" he asked, tilting his head slightly as he stared at her with an unnervingly calm expression.

W's lips parted, but she hesitated. Her voice came out terse and hurried. "Just. Don't shake it."

Behind the mask, Xian's expression remained composed, a veneer of calm concealing the gears turning in his mind. He scrutinized W's every reaction and notice the slight tremble in her voice, the way her eyes darted ever so briefly, and the tension in her stance. Even with minimal dialogue, her body language betrayed more than she likely intended.

She's hiding something, Xian thought, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle. From the movies he'd watched, he remembered a particular tactic. Feed fake information to provoke a response. He considered trying it but hesitated. I don't have enough intel about this crystal, he admitted to himself. While thinking a fragment of a memory surfaced, it was a moment from his childhood.

In that recollection, one of his brothers had interrogated him about the whereabouts of some ice cream he had hidden. His brother had feigned disinterest, observing Xian's subtle reactions until he successfully deduced the location. The memory made him smirk faintly beneath the mask. It worked on me back then. Let's see if it works on her now.

With that thought, Xian spoke again, his tone casual, almost indifferent. "If you need it, take it. It's useless to me anyway." He stretched his arm forward, offering the crystal as though it held no value.

W's response was almost imperceptible, a flicker of fear in her eyes, gone in an instant. But Xian caught it. There it is, he noted. Her attempt to mask her unease was good, but not perfect.

He decided to push further, layering his strategy with subtle deception. "This crystal?" he began, his voice nonchalant. "It's nothing special. I've found something far more interesting than this."

That statement landed like a spark on dry tinder. W's body stiffened ever so slightly, her breathing hitching for a moment before she composed herself again. Her mind raced. What does he mean by that? she wondered, her thoughts spiraling into speculation. If there was something more dangerous than the crystal in his possession. She thoughts about it Then, what could it possibly be?

Xian pressed on, his tone now taking on a faintly cryptic edge. "The other item… now that's something worth testing," he said, letting the words hang in the air. He casually picked up a screwdriver from a nearby table, twirling it between his fingers as he paced slowly.

"It's powerful," he continued, his voice steady, as if narrating a thought aloud. "Destructive, even. I wouldn't be surprised if it could take out an entire nomadic city in one strike."

W's mind was in turmoil. A weapon that can destroy an entire city? She pieced together the fragments of their earlier conversation about explosives, linking it to his vague hints. Is he bluffing? Or does he really have something worse than this crystal?

Outwardly, W scoffed, her signature smirk reappearing as she crossed her arms. "You're full of it," she said mockingly. "You think I'll fall for some story about a superweapon? Keep dreaming." But the mockery was a facade. Inside, her nerves frayed further, her confidence wavering. What if he's not lying? What if he's planning something?

Xian met her challenge with calm indifference. "Believe what you want," he replied smoothly. "Whether you think I'm lying or not doesn't change the truth." His tone was measured, each word planted like seeds of doubt. Take the bait, he thought complaining, watching her closely as he tried to steer her into revealing more.

W's sharp eyes locked onto him, analyzing his every move. Her silence stretched on, as though she was carefully weighing her next words. But before she could respond, Xian moved abruptly. He walked over to the table and, without a word, set the crystal down with a deliberate motion.

The sound of the crystal touching the surface broke the tense silence, and W's gaze followed it instinctively. Her mind raced, torn between fear of what Xian might do next and frustration at her inability to regain control of the situation.

Xian didn't look at her. Instead, he leaned casually against the table, his hand resting near the crystal. "Now," he said with an almost lazy air, "what's your move?"

After Xian placed the crystal on the table, W's eyes lingered on it. She shot him quick, suspicious glances, her mind working overtime to decipher his intentions. Despite his calm demeanor, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was several steps ahead of her or at least trying to be.

Her focus shifted back to the crystal, its faint glow flickering as though struggling to maintain itself. Then, without warning, a faint crackling sound pierced the silence. W's gaze snapped to the source, her brow furrowing in confusion. The crystal's surface began to splinter, delicate fractures webbing across it like an intricate pattern of broken glass.

Xian, however, didn't react. Still leaned at the table, his mask hiding whatever expression he might have had, his eyes locked onto W instead of the crystal. He observed every twitch of her brow and every fleeting emotion that crossed her face.

The crystal continued to crack, its faint glow dimming further until it finally disintegrated into fine dust. The dust hovered for a brief moment, shimmering faintly, before dissipating into nothingness.

W's eyes widened slightly, though she quickly masked her shock with a more neutral expression, a faint scowl paired with a questioning gaze. Internally, however, her thoughts were a whirlwind. What just happened? she wondered. Did the energy leak out? Or… does it have some kind of exposure limit?

She instinctively reached out with her Originium Arts, honing her senses to detect any lingering traces of Originium energy. Nothing, she noted, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior.

Meanwhile, Xian remained quiet, his mind racing with panic behind the mask. Why did it break? he wondered. Was it unstable? Or is there was a duration of exposure?, Or is the... He considered the possibility that even the dust might hold clues and decided to act on it.

"Do you feel it?" Xian's voice cut through the silence, calm and steady, yet his words carried weight.

W turned to him sharply, her gaze now laced with vigilance and unease. Her instincts screamed caution, but there was also a flicker of doubt. How does he know? she thought. My Originium Arts allow me to sense energy, but I've never told anyone that. Did he guess… or does he already know everything about me?

Her lips curled into a scowl, her voice dripping with irritation as she replied, "You're such a creep, you know that?"

Xian tilted his head slightly, unfazed by the insult.

"You even know about my Arts?" she continued, her tone rising as she pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You've been staring at me this whole time, haven't you? What's next? Going to admit you've been ogling me because of my body?"

Her words dripped with mockery, but beneath them lay genuine discomfort and a sliver of fear. He knows too much, she thought, her mind racing to piece together how he could have gathered so much information about her.

Xian let her rant, remaining silent for a moment as if weighing his response. His nonchalant attitude only served to irritate W further, her scowl deepening as she waited for him to speak.

Arknights: Unknown To Dawn

Xian's eyes remained fixed on W, his expression hidden behind the cold funeral mask. But when her mocking accusation hit, implying he'd been staring at her body he froze. A subtle but noticeable pause.

In his mind, he flinched. What?? The thought echoed sharply, confusion laced with irritation. That wasn't even remotely on my mind! His focus had always been on survival, reading her movements, and ensuring he wasn't at a disadvantage. Now, the idea of such a misunderstanding annoyed him.

Why would she even— he cut himself off, realizing her ploy. His thoughts turned inward, dissecting the situation. She's testing me, probing for weakness.

Meanwhile, W observed the subtle hitch in his demeanor, her lips curling into a sly smirk. She could sense it that her words had landed, albeit in a way she hadn't fully expected. Sensing an opportunity, she loosened some of her grip on the blanket she'd been holding tightly around herself, a feigned ease creeping into her posture.

"You know," she started, her tone casual yet sharp, "if you were really after information, you could've gone for the physical route. Threats, intimidation, violence. That's what most people in your position would've done. But you didn't." She leaned slightly forward, her golden eyes glinting with challenge. "So, what's the point of all this? Hm? Bluffing, maybe?"

Her voice carried a taunt, her words carefully chosen to probe at his intentions.

Xian remained silent, his gaze unwavering. Behind the mask, however, he was internally groaning. She knows. Damn it. She's trying to corner me with this act.

But outwardly, he refused to let her see even a sliver of vulnerability. He raised a hand, waving it dismissively in a lazy, almost mocking gesture, as though her words were beneath him. "Think what you want," he said cryptically, his tone light yet carrying an air of indifference.

The vague reply was deliberate, meant to give her nothing concrete to grasp onto.

W narrowed her eyes slightly, studying him. He's hard to read, she thought, irritation bubbling beneath her surface calm. Every reaction is a puzzle, every word a dead end.

Despite her frustration, she couldn't help but feel unnerved by his composure. The way he waved her off so casually only added to the growing list of things she couldn't decipher about him.

Her smirk faltered for a brief moment before returning, albeit slightly forced. "So, you're just playing games now?" she quipped, her tone laced with mockery. "Hmph. Figures."

But deep down, her thoughts churned. If he's bluffing then what's his position? And if he's not… what does he really know?

The room's atmosphere grew heavier with the silence that followed, broken only by the faint creak of the floorboards as Xian shifted his weight.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, their unspoken thoughts hanging thick in the air like a dense fog. W's fingers twitched slightly, itching for some sort of action, but her better judgment held her back. She cursed inwardly, frustrated not only with him but with herself for feeling cornered.

Xian, on the other hand, maintained his calm facade, though his mind raced. She's sharp. Too sharp. He knew he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a second. The tension between them was palpable, a battle of wills that neither was willing to concede.

Finally, W broke the silence, her voice softer yet still tinged with defiance. "You're really annoying, you know that?" She leaned back with her left arm at the back to support her. "Hard to figure out. Hard to take seriously."

Xian didn't reply immediately, letting her words hang in the air. Then, with an almost imperceptible shrug, he muttered, "That's the idea though."

Her eyes narrowed further, annoyance flickering across her face. She wasn't sure if he was genuinely this enigmatic or simply making it up as he went along. Either way, it was maddening. Damn it. Im getting irritated to your cryptic words, just talk normally damn it!

The tension between them simmered, an unspoken challenge lingering in the charged atmosphere of the room.

Xian gets up then began to step closer, his movements deliberate and unhurried. W immediately tensed, her fingers clenching tighter around the blanket draped over her body. Her right hand remained clutching it close to her chest as though it were a fragile shield.

Her eyes followed his every step with sharp vigilance. She had faced countless opponents before some stronger, some smarter but something about this man unsettled her. What's he planning now?

In Xian's mind, frustration simmered. I've already lost too much ground in this exchange, he admitted to himself. He'd run out of clever remarks and psychological tricks, and his inability to gain the upper hand gnawed at him.

As he reached her, he stopped just short of invading her space. Slowly, he leaned down, his masked face now close to hers. W's brows furrowed, her lips twisting into a smirk.

"Oh, so this is your grand plan?" she sneered, voice dripping with mockery. "Getting all close and personal? What's next? Harassing me?"

Her tone was sharp, but Xian could hear the underlying unease. Still, her words caught him off guard. Harass? His mind faltered for a moment, the accusation blindsiding him.

Without a word, he crouched slightly, reaching out not towards her, but to the blanket. W stiffened, her breath hitching, but Xian simply adjusted the fabric, tucking the edges of the blanket to cover the exposed parts of her legs.

"That's not my style," he finally said, his voice calm but with a hint of annoyance. He straightened up, brushing off her accusation with a tone both nonchalant and biting. "And besides, the fact that your mind immediately went there? Pretty dirty-minded, don't you think?"

He leaned slightly closer, tilting his head. "Specifically you."

W's mocking expression froze for a split second before her lips twitched in surprise. Then, her golden eyes narrowed, and a small laugh escaped her. It started as a soft chuckle, then grew louder, laced with both amusement and irritation.

"You're really something, you know that?" she said, her grin returning. "Interesting… irritating, but interesting." Her voice softened, though it carried an edge of weariness. "All this back and forth, trying to outmaneuver each other, it's exhausting." She leaned her head slightly back, exhaling dramatically. "And making a woman work while she's tired? That's just ungentlemanly."

Xian, near Infront of W his stance relaxed but his tone dry. "At this moment, I'm just a doctor. And you, the patient. A very stubborn patient, I might add."

Her smirk widened, and before Xian could react, her left hand darted out and touched his right shoulder. It was quick, too quick for him to process in time.

Then, a white flash erupted from the spot where her hand rested.

Xian's body tensed instinctively, his senses on high alert. He knew what this was, even before he turned his head. W had used her Originium Arts.

But the flash lasted only a moment, fading as quickly as it appeared. Nothing happened.

W's eyes widened in shock, her confident demeanor cracking. Her hand lingered on his shoulder as she muttered, "What…?" Her voice was low, barely above a whisper. Then louder, almost frantic, "Why didn't it work?"

She stared at her hand, then back at him, fear flickering across her face. For a brief moment, her facade of arrogance shattered, replaced by raw disbelief.

Xian didn't move immediately, his mind quickly piecing together the situation. It didn't work. That means… His thoughts drifted momentarily to the faint pain and itchiness lingering at his lower back. A realization struck him, but he kept it to himself.

Letting out a slow sigh, he tilted his head at her. "Is that all?" he asked, his voice calm, almost disappointed.

W flinched slightly at his tone, her expression hardening as she tried to mask her fear. She pulled her hand back and crossed her arms, forcing a mocking smile. "Tch. So, what? You've got some fancy Art that nullifies anything in your range?" she asked, her voice a mix of sarcasm and curiosity.

Xian's eyes met hers, and after a beat, he nodded. "Yes," he said simply, his tone flat and matter-of-fact.

But in his mind, he was already dissecting the truth. It's not that simple. Something else is at play here. His thoughts lingered on the sensation at his back, a reminder that the situation wasn't entirely under his control.

W narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him. "Hmph. Figures," she muttered, her voice quieter now. Her confidence had taken a hit, but she wasn't about to let him see that. Instead, she forced a smirk, leaning back as if nothing had happened.

The room fell into a tense silence once more, the air thick with unspoken thoughts and mutual distrust.

But this broke when W cut's the silence "Im hungry" She looks at the man, Xian. She smiles widely "As a doctor, shouldn't you be taking care of me" She moves her head near to him "You don't have a assistant so take responsibility."