Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

Abigail's motorcycle roared loudly, the sound echoing around the now-quiet inn. I gripped the handlebars nervously, painfully aware that this was my first time trying to ride a motorbike. The cold key in my hand felt heavy as I slipped it into the ignition, a rising sense of anxiety tightening in my chest.

"I have no idea how to ride this thing…" I muttered, feeling completely out of my depth.

From above, a cheerful voice rang out. "Don't worry, Archemidas! I'll handle the bike for you," Lilith chimed in from the drone circling overhead. "Just sit tight, hold on, and let me do the rest."

I glanced doubtfully at the small drone. A soft blue glow pulsed from the motor as Lilith's drone connected to the controls of Abigail's bike. I watched as it circled the machine, its light fusing with the hidden tech components within the bike.

Suddenly, the motor shuddered, and without warning, the engine roared to life, propelling the bike forward on its own.

"Whoa!" I yelped in surprise, nearly thrown off by the sudden movement. I quickly tightened my grip on the handlebars.

"Relax! I've set the speed to something you can manage. We need to hurry if we're going to catch them," Lilith encouraged from her drone. "Now, Archemidas, call your AI. We need visual guidance to track down Abigail."

Nodding, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself despite the jarring ride. Clutching the handlebars tightly, I called out, "Neumann!"

In an instant, Neumann materialized beside me—a digital girl with an energetic glow, floating effortlessly as if unaffected by the speed of the moving bike.

"Command?" Neumann asked, her holographic eyes sparkling with data.

"Track the vehicle carrying Abigail," I instructed. "I need visual guidance."

Neumann scanned the surroundings immediately, her eyes flickering like thousands of sensors absorbing every detail of the environment. A soft blue light pulsed around her, and within seconds, a holographic projection materialized in front of us. It showed a large vehicle matching the description I'd seen earlier, speeding along a road as if it were right ahead of us.

"The vehicle is heading east along the main route. Distance: approximately five kilometers," Neumann reported, her voice steady.

"Incredible…" Lilith's voice was filled with awe from the drone. "How can you project a hologram with that level of accuracy? It's like you have access to every corner of this city."

I allowed myself a brief smile, even though the pressure of the situation weighed heavily on me. Lilith's amazement was understandable—Neumann was indeed extraordinary—but this wasn't the time for explanations. My focus was solely on Abigail.

"No time to explain," I responded quickly, my eyes locked on the hologram of the speeding vehicle ahead of us. "Lilith, keep pushing the bike. We need to get closer as fast as possible."

"On it!" Lilith exclaimed, and the bike's speed instantly increased. The wind whipped against my face, but I held firm, gripping the handlebars tightly as I tried to maintain balance, even though the bike seemed to be riding itself.

Neumann hovered beside me, continuing to monitor the data streams around us. "I'll maintain a lock on the vehicle and adjust the route as necessary," she said calmly.

Lilith's voice came through again, still impressed. "Your AI is really something, Arche. How does it have this much processing power? Is it connected to every system in the city? Holograms, precise calculations, tracking… This is like cutting-edge military tech!"

I took a deep breath, trying to stay focused on the road ahead despite the flood of questions. "Neumann is… different, Lilith. I can't explain it now. But trust me, she'll make sure we find Abigail."

Lilith chuckled lightly. "Alright, prince. I'll stop grilling you for now. Let's focus on the mission."

I nodded silently, my eyes glued to the road ahead. Every passing second felt more critical. My thoughts raced, imagining what might be happening to Abigail. Was she safe? Had they hurt her? The growing anxiety in my chest threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself to keep calm.

"Archemidas," Neumann's voice suddenly broke through my thoughts, "the vehicle is approaching a junction. We'll reach an abandoned factory area soon—most likely where they're hiding."

"Lilith, we need to speed up," I ordered, my voice urgent. "Cut through the junction. We can't let them slip away!"

Abigail's bike surged forward, its engine purring like a finely tuned machine built for speed. I tightened my grip on the handlebars, feeling more like a passenger than a rider, but that didn't matter. Whatever it took to save Abigail, I would do it.

Lilith swiftly adjusted the bike's course, maneuvering sharply through the narrow streets. I could feel the bike jolt beneath me, but Lilith handled it perfectly, as if she were controlling it directly with her own hands.

As we neared the junction, I spotted the vehicle Neumann had projected earlier—the one carrying Abigail. Lilith increased the speed, and soon we were right on its tail.

"In a few seconds, we'll reach them. Be ready," Neumann warned. "The vehicle is straight ahead, maintaining a steady pace, no sudden movements, Archemidas."

Adrenaline surged through my veins. Time seemed to slow as I focused on the building ahead. We were so close—Abigail was right there.

My heart pounded, adrenaline surging as Neumann's calm voice echoed through her projection. Abigail's bike sped forward at a velocity I could barely comprehend. Neumann's flat expression, a floating blue hologram in front of me, made everything feel so real, so immediate.

"We're almost there. Impact in five seconds," Neumann stated, her voice composed, as if this were just another mathematical calculation. "There's a 90% chance you'll make it out unharmed, Archemidas. No scratches if the bike hits at this angle."

I swallowed hard. There was no time to hesitate. "Lilith, increase the speed," I shouted, not looking back. I could hear Lilith's drone buzzing behind me, quick to respond to my command.

"Got it, Arche. Hold on!" Lilith's voice crackled through the drone's speakers, vibrating with a mix of excitement and tension.

The bike responded instantly, accelerating faster than I imagined. The road ahead blurred, and the old building I was about to crash into loomed closer. I knew this was the critical moment. No room for doubt or mistakes.

"Three seconds to impact," Neumann continued counting down, her voice steady as if she controlled the entire situation.

I gripped the handlebars tightly, my breathing heavy. "Abigail, I'm coming," I whispered, almost too quietly for anyone but myself to hear.

The impact hit like a thunderclap. The bike crashed into the old wall with immense force, shattering it in an instant. Debris flew in every direction, the sound of crumbling concrete echoing all around me. In a split second, I caught a glimpse of Abigail—bound, bruised, and bloodied, slumped in a battered old chair.

Rage exploded inside me. Without thinking, I leaped off the still-moving bike, my body diving toward the man in military gear standing in front of her. Our eyes locked for a brief moment before I slammed my foot into his face with all my strength. "SIERRA ONE!" I roared, my voice boiling with fury.

My kick connected hard, sending him crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. He rolled to the ground but quickly scrambled to his feet, visibly shaken from the blow.

I landed lightly on the dusty floor, my legs poised for whatever came next.

"You…!" Sierra One spat blood, his face contorted in anger and surprise. "Prince Archemidas. You're faster than I expected."

I didn't reply, just staring him down coldly before my eyes shifted to another man standing in the corner. Beta. He was reaching for a weapon, his eyes sharp with intent.

Without hesitating, I pulled a dagger from my belt. With Neumann's guidance, blue lines projected in front of me, showing the optimal trajectory. I threw the dagger with perfect precision. It flew through the air and struck Beta's hand, knocking his weapon to the ground with a metallic clatter. He screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding hand.

"Damn it!" Beta shouted, retreating as agony flashed across his face.

I didn't give them a chance to regroup. My feet moved swiftly toward Abigail, still tied to the chair.

"Abigail, I'm here," I said hurriedly, my fingers working to untie the knots.

Her eyes fluttered open slightly, blood trickling down her temple. She looked exhausted, battered, her breathing shallow. Yet, even in that state, she gave me a faint smile. "You're insane, Archemidas… crashing through a wall like that," her voice was hoarse, but her tone held an undeniable strength.

I shook my head, guilt filling my chest. "I'm sorry. I should've been faster."

One by one, the ropes fell away, and Abigail was finally free from that cursed chair. But as she stood, her legs buckled, and I quickly caught her, supporting her weakened frame. She felt so fragile in my arms, and it made my chest tighten.

"No… this isn't your fault," she whispered, her voice soft but firm. "You're here now… that's what matters."

I could only look at her, the weight of guilt heavy in my mind. But we didn't have time to linger. Sierra One was already rising from where he had fallen, blood dripping from his mouth, his eyes seething with rage.

"You think you can walk out of here, Prince?" Sierra One snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "This isn't over. I'll make sure you and that girl suffer even more than this!"

I stared at him coldly, one arm still holding Abigail steady. "You're not touching her again," I said firmly. "I'll make sure you don't get another chance."

The fury in my chest was overwhelming. Seeing Abigail, beaten, bloodied, yet still managing a faint smile to reassure me that everything would be fine, snapped something inside me. Sierra One stood before me, his eyes filled with the same hateful glare. This wasn't about the mission anymore. This was about pride and vengeance for what he had done to her.

A voice inside my head, my other self, spoke up. "Archemidas, you look shaken. Maybe I should take over. You know we can't act recklessly. You're too emotional right now."

I clenched my teeth, my fists tightening. "Not this time," I shot back, firm and unwavering. "I'm going to deal with him myself. With my own hands, I'll make sure he never touches Abigail again. I don't need anyone else's control. I know exactly what I need to do."

My other self fell silent, perhaps surprised at my resolve. Then, in a softer tone, it said, "Alright. It's yours, Arche. Do it your way."

The pain from my still-healing wounds faded into the background. My blood boiled, adrenaline coursing through every muscle as I fixed my gaze on one person—Sierra One. This was going to end.

"Neumann," I called out. "Full support. I want every one of Sierra One's movements tracked and every opening exploited."

"Understood, Archemidas," Neumann replied in her cold, steady voice. A blue hologram projection appeared beside me, mapping out the room and highlighting the enemy. Every movement, every heartbeat of Sierra One was now in my sight.

Sierra One sneered, as though he welcomed the challenge. "You think you can just beat me like that, Prince?" he taunted, stepping forward. His large frame moved with a heavy but deliberate power. "I'm trained to take down people like you. I'll make sure you regret every choice you've made."

I didn't bother replying. Words meant nothing here. There was only one thought in my mind now—make him suffer like he made Abigail suffer.

Sierra One lunged first, faster than I expected, throwing a hard punch aimed at my face. But with Neumann's visual aid, I saw the move coming before he even finished. I tilted my head slightly, dodging the blow with ease.

Before he could pull his arm back, I spun and delivered a solid kick to his stomach. He staggered back a few steps, but still stood tall, his expression showing a hint of surprise.

"You're quicker than I thought," he muttered before following up with another attack—a wide swing from his left. I anticipated the move, twisting my body to evade, but it was a feint. The real strike came in the form of a sharp kick from the opposite direction.

It connected with my ribs, hard and painful. The sharp ache shot through my side, but I bit down on the pain, clenching my jaw. **"It'll take more than that to stop me, Sierra One,"** I whispered coldly.

I stepped back to regain my stance, refocusing every thought on this fight. Sierra One came at me again, this time with a dual attack—one aimed at my head, the other at my stomach. I quickly raised both arms to block. The impact shook my arms, but I held firm.

In one swift motion, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward me, slamming my knee into his gut. The force sent him reeling backward, gasping for breath.

I didn't give him time to recover. I leaped forward, swinging my elbow into his jaw. The hit landed perfectly, sending him stumbling sideways.

But Sierra One wasn't done yet. With an angry roar, he came at me again, throwing a rapid series of punches. A couple of them landed—one on my chest, another grazing my cheek. The blows burned, but I didn't let them slow me down. I struck back with even greater speed and force.

With Neumann's help, I could see his patterns now. Each punch he threw was easier to read. As he swung another fist at my head, I ducked, twisted, and drove my fist straight into his face.

"This is for Abigail!" I shouted, rage pouring out as my punch connected with full power. Sierra One stumbled backward, blood gushing from his nose.

His face was now a mask of blood and fury. He raised his hands, ready to make one last attack, but I wasn't going to let him. Before he could move, I charged at him, landing a final, crushing blow to his jaw, sending him crashing to the ground.

Sierra One groaned in pain, lying helpless beneath me. I stood over him, panting heavily, but my anger was far from gone. This wasn't over.

"You'll never touch Abigail again," I muttered, my voice low but filled with seething rage. I reached for my dagger, and without hesitation, drove it into one of his eyes.

Sierra One screamed in agony, blood spurting from his ruined eye. He flailed, trying to stop me, but I pinned his arms down with my free hand. I wasn't finished. Coldly, and with all the hatred I felt, I plunged the blade into his other eye.

His screams echoed through the room, but I didn't care. He deserved every ounce of this.

Now, blind and broken, Sierra One lay at my feet, blood pouring from his face. I stood over him, my knife still dripping with blood.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The fight was over. But even now, the rage inside me still burned, refusing to be extinguished.

Sierra One's body lay motionless at my feet, his eyes oozing blood. I stood over him, the fury still pulsing through me, but with each passing second, a sense of calm began to creep back into my mind. As I caught my breath, I stepped away from his limp form, wiping the sweat and blood from my face.

My gaze shifted toward Beta. He was sprawled in the corner of the room, clearly stunned by an electric shock. Confused, I glanced up at the drone hovering above us, controlled by Lilith.

Noticing my confusion, Lilith's voice came through the drone. "Don't worry. Each drone can only deliver one electric strike like that. We were lucky there were only two enemies. No need to worry about more."

Her words caught me off guard, but I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Alright," I murmured softly, though my mind was already focused elsewhere—on Abigail.

I quickly turned toward her. Abigail lay slumped in her chair, her breaths labored, her body fragile and drenched in her own blood. Guilt hit me hard. The injuries she'd suffered—especially the bullet wound in her leg, courtesy of Sierra One—were severe. She was trying to stay calm, but the way she breathed and the faint groans that escaped her lips told me she was in immense pain.

"Abigail..." I whispered, rushing to her side, kneeling beside her. "You're going to be okay. I'm getting you to a hospital. You're strong... you'll pull through this."

She managed a weak smile. That smile, despite the pain behind it, only shattered my heart further. I knew this was my fault. I had failed her. I should have been there from the start.

"Arche, we need to get her to a hospital now," Lilith's voice cut through the air again. "She needs medical attention, fast."

Without hesitation, I carefully lifted Abigail into my arms, mindful not to make her injuries worse. She felt light in my arms, but the weight on my chest was crushing.

We hurried out of the building, heading for Abigail's bike, now under Lilith's control via the drone. "Lilith, take the bike. Get us to the hospital as fast as possible." I gently placed Abigail on the back seat, making sure she was secure before climbing on in front. The drone activated the bike, and the engine roared to life.

The bike sped through the streets, its control completely in Lilith's hands. I held onto Abigail, making sure she stayed steady throughout the ride. Each time I heard her groan in pain, it felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I couldn't let this happen again.

"You're going to be okay, Abigail," I whispered, hoping my words offered her even the smallest comfort. But deep down, I knew it wasn't enough.

The ride to the hospital felt endless, filled with anxiety and dread. Abigail's wounded face was seared into my mind, and each second that passed added more weight to the guilt crushing me.

When we finally arrived at the hospital, a medical team rushed over to us. They quickly took Abigail from my arms, carrying her into the emergency room. I stood there, helpless, watching as they wheeled her away behind closed doors. The sound of the door clicking shut left me standing alone with Lilith's drone in the quiet corridor.

The guilt gnawed at me relentlessly. I had failed. All of this happened because I let myself sink into my own despair, letting my guard down, and now... Abigail had to pay for it.

I leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the floor. "This is all my fault," I whispered to myself, though I knew Lilith could hear me.

"Arche, you can't blame yourself," Lilith's voice said softly through the drone. "My sister knew the risks that came with this mission. Abigail was always prepared for situations like this. This isn't entirely your fault."

"But I should've protected her," I replied, my voice low, filled with guilt. "I should've been faster... more alert. If I hadn't been so lost in my own helplessness, if I'd been stronger, none of this would've happened. Abigail wouldn't be in this state."

Lilith was silent for a moment, perhaps searching for the right words to ease my burden. But no words could take away this guilt.

"Archemidas," Lilith's voice finally spoke again, gentler this time. "My sister knew what she was doing. She chose this path because she believed in what we're doing. She believed in you. Don't let this break that trust. What happened to Abigail is part of the struggle we're in, and as painful as it is, we have to keep going."

I let out a long sigh, though her words didn't quite sink in. "Lilith... you might be right. But it doesn't change the fact that I failed. I failed to protect the one person who matters most to me."

The waiting room seemed to grow quieter, the only sound being the faint footsteps of nurses passing by outside the emergency doors. Each second felt like an added weight pressing down on me.

Lilith's drone hovered near me, but I could sense that even she knew there was little she could say to console me now. I stared at the closed doors, praying with everything in me that Abigail would walk out of there, smiling at me like she always did. But the fear of losing her loomed over me like a dark cloud.

I clenched my fists, feeling anger mix with helplessness. "I swear, Lilith..." I spoke softly, my voice full of determination. "I won't let this happen again. I'll protect Abigail. No matter what, I'll never let them touch her again."

Lilith's drone nodded gently. "I know, Arche. I believe in you."

Her words were reassuring, but the guilt still lingered. All I could do now was wait... and hope Abigail would survive this.

***