There were five of them, two of them toted plasma rifles and the others carried electro-spears. Regardless of how many there were, they were in quite the pickle.

"Down!" Libra shouted, tackling Cyne and dragging him behind his hoverbike. Cyne poked his head up and ducked back down instantly as the snow crawlers unleashed a volley of plasma bolts.

"What's the plan?" Libra asked, peeking over the bike to get a look at their ambushers.

Cyne ran through a list of possible scenarios. The snow crawlers had deliberately placed their hoverbikes in a half-circle formation to entrap them. Making a break for the woods would only get them cut down. Running back into the Prototek facility was too risky, and in terms of firepower, the snow crawlers took the advantage.

"Wait! I challenge you to a duel!" Cyne hollered, straining his voice to shout over the noisy blasts of their rifles.

"Hold your fire boys! I'll hear this kid out!" their leader shouted, gesturing for them to put their rifles down. His soldiers obeyed and put their rifles up, albeit reluctantly.

"This is a bad idea captain, these kids up to something," one of the snow crawlers with red face tattoos muttered to the man in front.

"No, this duel interests me, been too long since I've had a good melee. What's in it for me?"

"I'll wager the girl beside me!" Cyne said, skittishly breaking cover from the hoverbike.

"And if you win?" the leader asked with skeptical bemusement.

"You let us go," Cyne replied, drawing the electro-sword on his back.

The snow crawler raised their rifles in response but the captain raised his fist. "Hold, don't shoot the boy just yet. What stops me from just shooting you right now?"

"Where would the fun be in that?" Cyne said with a nervous smile.

"True. My name is Yanshin. What is yours?" the snow crawler took his helmet off, revealing a dashing young man underneath, He had long shoulder-length black hair and piercings in his earlobe.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Cyne," he replied, raising his sword high to eye level.

"I think I'm going to enjoy gutting you, Cyne!" Yanshin chortled, lackadaisically advancing forward. A snow crawler tossed his spear over to Yanshin.

Bursting forward with shocking speed, Yanshin caught the spear and thrust it at Cyne, the spears' blade flashing with electricity. Cyne ducked out the way, missing the spearhead by mere centimeters. Pushing off the ground, he returned the favor with a quick slash to the head, which Yanshin promptly blocked with a wave of his spear.

"Not bad, you've got the basics down at least," Yanshin sneered, confidently circling Cyne, his spear discharging sparks of electricity.

Yanshin's skill with the electro-spear was impressive. He was leagues above his sparring partners in New Belzan. A prolonged duel would only benefit Yanshin more, Cyne had to end it quickly.

The spear snaked out, nearly catching Cyne on the cheek. Cyne swore out loud as he reeled back from the near-miss. Balancing himself, he braced himself for the second attack. But the second blow never came.

Yanshin stood only meters away, beckoning the young boy forward, with his left hand around his back. With a spirited shout, Cyne threw his whole weight into a heavy strike aimed at his legs. Yanshin blocked his strike effortlessly and slammed the butt of the spear into Cyne's exposed face.

The boy reeled backward, his sword outstretched to catch any followup strikes. But once again, Yanshin did not make the fort of ending the job. "What's wrong? Giving up already? Well looks like it's time to finish this," he sneered, assuming a fighting stance.

Cyne bolted forward, kicking snow into Yanshin's eyes. He followed up with a four-move sequence, overwhelming Yanshin with swift strikes, causing him to open up his left flank for his electro-sword.

It was Yanshin's turn to curse out loud this time. The man slammed his spear into the ground, sending them both flying back. Cyne twisted in mid-air, rolling with the impact when he landed on the ground. By the time he looked back up, Yanshin was dashing towards him, his spear pointed straight at Cyne's heart.

Cyne dived underneath the spear, raking Yanshin across his thigh. Yanshin screamed, dropping his spear, and falling to the ground clutching his cauterized thigh.

"Kill him! What are you waiting for?" Yanshin shrieked, fumbling for his spear. The agony of the blow made him clumsy and desperate.

The snow crawler with red tattoos recklessly threw himself in front of Cyne and the captain but was rewarded by a pistol bolt that sent him sprawling back. Cyne looked behind him, Libra had his pistol in hand. How she had managed to sneak it off him he had no idea, but he was thankful regardless.

The other snow crawlers watched on with blank expressions.

"Help me! I am your captain, kill this scrap rat, right this instant!" Yanshin spat, slowly crawling to his compatriots.

"I am the son of chief Huruit!" he shrieked, fear and panic beginning to set into his face.

Cyne slowly walked over to the crawling man, his injured thigh leaving a trail of blood on the pure white snow.

"Crawl for me, that's something your kind can do well, isn't it?" Cyne growled, and with one last slash to the head. Yanshin's head toppled to the ground.