Chapter 80: Small Bounty and Stabilizing Kynara

The soft hum of holographic displays filled the guild hall as Ethan scanned the D-Rank mission board. Mercenaries of all ranks bustled about the room, discussing contracts and missions, but Ethan's focus remained steady. After the intense battle against Vela Drasik, he felt the weight of the conflict pressing down on him. He needed something simpler, manageable, yet still meaningful.

His eyes settled on a bounty for Jareth Lorne, a rogue ex-mercenary who had gone off the rails, raiding outposts and terrorizing their inhabitants. The bounty notes mentioned theft, destruction, and even murder. Ethan frowned, tapping the entry to pull up more details.

"Well, well," Kael's familiar voice drawled behind him. "Didn't I tell you to take a break?"

Ethan turned to see the older man standing with his ever-present tablet in hand, his sharp eyes glinting with mild amusement.

"I'm not ready to sit still yet," Ethan said with a faint smirk.

Kael chuckled. "You're a stubborn one, I'll give you that. But rogue ex-mercs are unpredictable. Desperation makes them reckless. Don't let your guard down."

Ethan nodded, filing the mission into his personal tablet.

"And Walker," Kael added, his tone softening, "you've done a hell of a lot for the guild and Kynara. Don't think for a second we don't see it. Just... don't let that drive of yours burn you out."

"I'll be careful," Ethan promised, his voice steady.

The desert stretched endlessly before Ethan as he navigated the hover truck across the arid landscape. The heat shimmered on the horizon, and the hum of the vehicle's engine was the only sound breaking the oppressive silence.

He clenched the wheel tightly, his mind wandering.

Despite the successes against the Syndicate, the toll of constant battle lingered in his thoughts. The memories of injured resistance fighters being carried off the battlefield, the grim faces of mercenaries mourning their fallen comrades, these images were hard to shake.

The dangerous nature of their work was an ever-present reminder of how fragile their lives were. He was trying to get used to it, but its never easy for a man from a peaceful country like Japan to accept all this misery and senseless death.

"I can't afford to show weakness or hesitation," Ethan muttered under his breath, gripping the controls tighter.

Kael's words echoed in his mind, alongside Nara and Kara's reminder to carry forward the memories of those they fought to protect.

Oasis appeared on the horizon, a derelict settlement surrounded by dunes. It had once been a thriving trading hub, but now it lay silent and abandoned, its rusted structures a stark reminder of Kynara's struggles.

Ethan parked the hover truck behind a crumbling wall and surveyed the area through his helmet's scanning interface. Heat signatures flickered faintly from one of the larger buildings near the center of the settlement.

"Found you," he muttered.

He moved cautiously through the streets, his plasma dagger ready at his side. The wind carried the faint creak of rusted metal, and the silence was unnerving. Ethan's training kept him alert, his steps light as he approached the building.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of decay and old machinery. Jareth Lorne stood at a makeshift workstation, his attention fixed on a device he was tinkering with.

"Jareth Lorne," Ethan called out, his voice steady.

The rogue froze, his hands hovering over the device. Slowly, he turned, his eyes narrowing as he took in Ethan's presence.

"Well, look who it is," Jareth sneered, his voice laced with mockery. "The guild's golden boy and Kynara's rising mercenary. Come to take me in, have you?"

"You've caused enough damage, Jareth," Ethan said, his tone calm but firm. "It's over."

Jareth smirked, his movements slow as he raised his hands. "Over? No, mercenary. This is just getting started."

In a flash, he activated a device on his wrist, flooding the room with blinding light.

The battle that followed was tense and brutal. Jareth was a desperate man, using traps and gadgets to his advantage. Explosive charges rigged to doorways forced Ethan to move cautiously, while Jareth darted through the shadows, taking potshots with a modified energy rifle.

Ethan relied on his training and reflexes to stay ahead. His helmet's scanning system tracked Jareth's movements, and he used his plasma dagger to disable the traps as he advanced.

"You think you're so different from me, big shot?" Jareth taunted, his voice echoing through the building. "The guild doesn't care about you. You're just another pawn in their little game against the Syndicate."

Ethan ignored the words, focusing on the mission. When he finally got a clear shot, he didn't hesitate. A precise blast from his laser pistol hit Jareth square in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Ethan stood over the rogue's lifeless body, his breathing steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He retrieved a data chip from Jareth's workstation, containing evidence of the rogue's crimes.

"Another one down," Ethan muttered as he left the building, the sun beginning to set on the horizon.

Back at the guild, Ethan handed the data chip to Kael, who scanned it with a practiced eye.

"Efficient as always," Kael said, nodding approvingly. "You're making a habit of this."

Ethan gave a faint smile. "Just doing my part."

Nearby, a group of younger mercenaries watched the exchange. One of them, a young woman with short blonde hair, approached hesitantly.

"Walker," she said, her voice tentative. "Any advice for someone just starting out?"

Ethan regarded her for a moment before responding. "Stay focused. Learn from every mission, big or small. And never forget why you're doing this."

She nodded, her confidence bolstered by his words.

As Ethan returned to his ship that night, he felt a sense of quiet resolve. The fight against the Syndicate was far from over, but every mission, no matter how small, was a step closer to a better future for Kynara.

He sat by the window, gazing out at the city lights of Valeris, his thoughts turning to the battles ahead.

"I'll just have to keep moving forward until the end," he murmured. "For them and myself."