Because Love Won’t Lose
Because Love Won't Lose - Chapter One - Chord Liner
Synopsis
In the Year of 1999, a Shaman by the name of Yoh Hakurei won the war for the Great Spirit. With control over the strongest spirit in the world, he created worlds: entire pocket dimensions where Magic never died. Years later, they formed and began to flow on their own time: their own histories.
One such world is the world of Steel City. The western counterpart to the Eastern Land, which a previous RP was about. A world filled with the most advanced science brought about through Magic means. High speed railways, flying cars, giant farms and space travel have all been invented.
And of course, robots.
The question of whether or not they could coexist with humans was obvious. They can: there’s a robot for everything nowadays. For trains, caretaking, some even perform in theaters and compete in sports.
But the question of if robots could be equal to humans…
Such was the question asked by a young doctor, who awakened a robot said to have equal emotional and intellectual capabilities to a human. Unknowing that this action would change Steel City forever. (edited)Frontispiece: Become as Gods
1-1: Awakening
1-2: Coexistence
1-3: Bonds
1-4: Breaking and Misfortune
1-5: Renji Tenma
1-6: Seren Astoria
1-7: Back Up
1-8: Confrontation in Space
1-9: Noei Maeda
Placebo: Embryo in the Artificial World (edited)
Glossary of TermsCirculation: Main power system of the world. Involves unleashing the spirit energy, Furyoku, within a person to achieve multiple effects. A rare ability, only 30% of the world possesses this.
Furyoku: Spirit energy harnessed from all sentient beings. Even those made of steel can somehow grow Furyoku inside of themselves. It seems to be a natural phenomenon should one gain sentience.
Can be manifested in an aura around oneself to gain enhanced power, durability and speed: effectively turning one superhuman. The aura looks different per each person and reflects their personality and temperament.
Being: Explained in the story itself, but is the "inner makeup" of a person. A hidden compulsion or a "default state." A Being can be anything: from a verb, a concept, an object, an element and even the Void itself. Typically dictates their subconscious and can be defied fairly easily.
For example, a person with "Sword" as their being may be very knightly in personality.
A person with "Revolution" as their being may subconsciously seek to be a contrarian, always challenging the norm.
Craving: Explained in the story itself. The basis of Base Circulation: the deepest most visceral Craving of a person, to the point where they wouldn't feel alive should they not achieve this Craving. Hard to defy. (edited)Base Circulation: Sometimes just called Circulation. Those awakening Circulations inhibit supernatural effects that alter and warp the world to fit their Craving. Vary very wildly from person to person. Base Circulation combines their Craving + their Being.
A Seventh's base Circulation is often called a Factor.
Spirit: Spirits of the dead, nature and gods. Naturally formed phenomenon, though spirits of the dead are rare.
Oversoul: Combining one's Circulation with a Spirit and a physical medium, combining the three into one new unit. Rare in Steel City.
Relic: An especially strong Circulator who dies leaves behind a relic. It contains their Circulation and Spirit in an item that represents them.
Races: There exists five races in the world.
Factor: The state of a Seventh's supernatural abilities being unlocked. Needs to be authorized by their Doctor or Creator, then it's unlocked permanently for them to toggle at will. Can't be locked ever again.
Izumo: Where a great war between Circulators occurred. Alternate version of Okinawa, located in the same place: but is instead an independent citystate. The result of the war caused the creation of many alternate worlds where magic (and in turn magical science) could flow freely. This is how Steel City was made.Steel City Districts: Districts of Steel City.
Governance: Steel City is not led by a single president or a prime minister, but its laws are decided between a census between the Ministry of Defense, Neuron Orbal Electronic Institute and the Culture Department.Chapter 1 - Chord Liner
"Awakening Ignorantly / A Silver Indecisive Star - Theme of Chapter 1 and Seren Astoria" (The Pillows - ROBOTMAN)
"Watch me, mother. Today, I finally fly."
This is a story of a robot who was forced to take in all of reality.
"It was a feeling she held on for a long, long time.
She was used to holding onto feelings of hatred, sorrow and anger at the others around her.
In addition, she was very used to lashing out on others.
However, she was most troubled on what would happen if others saw that rage.
She was supposed to be a star.
And no star in the world is ugly.
Chord Liner.
With wings to fly, what form does her emotions take?
Will it be one of resurrection, or one of annihilation?"
- A poem by Polaris de Camp (edited)Frontispiece:
Become as Gods
-------------------------------- + 21 Years Ago, Year 94 of the Cyber Era + ------------- (edited)------------- + Mercurial University, Krypt District + --------------------------The streets of the city were awfully dark.
Normally, one would associate a metropolis with always being awake.
And this place, the entire city... A city of Steel, where every tower and building either pierces the sky or puts the size of a football field to shame...
One with gigantic roads, a flying car here and there... Roads are even being formed in the sky, made out of EM Wave Projections. Holographic-like substances which form in an instant, yet are physical and tangible.
Each tower a different color, size and shape too. Nowhere in the city becomes monotonous, even though it is undeniably a metal city. An unbelievably advanced city.
Railways everywhere to look.
Some entire buildings where an entire floor is the size of a town. One could even be tricked to thinking they were at ground level in some floors due to how vast they are.
Stand in the middle of it, look up, left, down, right and you'll be amazed.
Even if you look at the ground you might be amazed. Maybe you're on a moving walkaway to make commuting easier: which is common throughout Steel City. Maybe the ground is just too clean.
And yet, in the hour of the devil, at 3 AM, a specific part of this city remains sleeping.
Barely any lights are on. The only people travelling at this time are shady men in suits and delivery trucks that use the main road in the ground.
In other words, this is an hour for the ghosts and wicked.
So one might be confused when they see a single auditorium in a university fully powered.
That is because a brilliant scientist...
... Was making a revolutionary speech. (edited)It was 3 AM in the morning. A single man, who seemed to be spouting nothing but a crazy yap was standing in the middle. Surrounded by holograms...
And other people.
Students. Faculty. Even some business men and scientists from the biggest science corporation.
The man was young, though old enough to have a child.
- And in every sense of the word, a genius.
"Let us examine history, shall we? More specific- let us name individuals.
The person who invented the wheel. The person who invented the lightbulb. The one who discovered electricity. The one who invented gunpowder.
I can name millions of other examples.
How many people in this room can confidently say they can make a revolution that will change the world forever?"
And many people at that gave disgruntled or even conflicted looks.
No one was able to respond or raise their hands.
All they were able to do was to crunch their face up and accept that such was an impossibility for all of them.
An old man, clearly a scientist, spoke to himself.
("It's obvious why.
The world's running out of revolutions we can make.")
As an innovator...
... Those words were perhaps the biggest words of defeat anyone could utter.The man in the middle rotated.
"For our families? Who will not help us in any way to achieve greatness?
For our friends? Who will come and go?
For ourselves? As we watch potential futures and passions erode?
If we are to to define greatness as this needle in a desert, then there should be no point. We should not need to answer for anything nor do we have any real responsibilities.
Nor should humanity have to keep moving forward.
The struggle of evolution would be an illusion. A journey and rollercoasters of ups and downs, but with no light at the end of the tunnel."
With the mention of responsibility...
It got a certain man to grunt. An officer and a fighter.
He had an eyepatch from a battle long ago. Though he looked young, his appearance was deceptive.
And so was the growl and grunt he just made.
He was not disagreeing with the student in the middle.
- Rather, he had questioned his responsibility once... And it caused him to spiral.
He was just dissatisfied at being reminded of that spiral.At first, everyone's mouths were wavering.
But the student considered himself a part of the audience too.
"... No.
Never in my life would I accept such a fruitless existence." (edited)
And after such a declaration...
Even though many of the room were well thinking individuals-
One would be forgiven for mistaking the room to be filled with nothing but lambs.
As they all cheered, saying their own objections in their own ways.
Though some reserved. As they just wanted to know where the student's speech was going.
("You say that, but...
... Surely you're not suggesting there is a way to overcome this?")
A well dressed lady spoke. She looked as if she was a noble pulled straight from the fantasy books.With everyone cheering, the student had no choice but to raise his voice.
And such an act caused the cheering to dampen.
"Even if it was the truth, that does not make it acceptable!
There is no feeling worse than stagnation. Nothing that echoes deeper in our ethos than to not move.
Our very being is to evolve! We are a species that has come so far, breaking past the limit of what was feasible each time.
No one said that cars should fly. No one said that carriages should be automatic, without relying on horses. And no one said that we could use horses to travel in the first place.
This may be hard to claim in the face of an ever approaching ceiling.
We have invented flying cars and are on the breach of teleportation, but we may go no further than that.
We can have vacations in space, but we may go no further than that.
Robots automate our daily life, but we may go no further than that.
But!
There is one thing that we have not done.
And that is to perform a miracle that once, only a God could perform!"- Clap.
All of the holograms...
... Changed slides and began to show schematics.
Blueprints.And rising from the centerpiece was something-
- An object.
"I am not suggesting bio-engineering. Others have tried that before and have only been able to bend and blend what has already existed.
And if you look at these schematics, I am not just suggesting robots. We live among them already. We know full well their limitations.
No. What I am suggesting goes beyond the 5 races of the world and what we have done.
One that is so advanced, it skips the sixth position.
Our light shall become endless.
Us humans age and lose golden opportunities. We lose the ability to evolve with old age.
Similarly, robots cannot evolve. They can only do as programmed.
What I am suggesting may sound insane. But there is a method to combine both.
A way to make steel crave.
A way to make a steel that will evolve endlessly, like a drill.
A way to pierce the heavens.
A way to fight against the ceiling, the limit of humanity.
I introduce you, the Seventh Concept.
I introduce you, a new pathway. We are not the ones who will be remembered, but we will become the concept of memory and origins itself. Every single one of us.
I introduce you, the Sevenths!" (edited)Such was the speech that changed the world forever.
As the "Sevenths" were introduced and let out into Steel City.
The speech was made by the great Doctor Renji Tenma.
- However.
Though it changed the world...
He would disappear two years after.
And his name, alongside being credited for the Sevenths, would be forgotten.
It was as if he was erased from existence. (edited)----------------------------- + Present + ----------------------Chapter 1-1:
Awakening---------------- + Neuron Orbal Electronic Institute, Krypt District + ----------------
Bright lights, a big city.
It's the middle of the night and yet the city won't sleep.
Which only makes sense for the metropolis this young man is in.
A young man wearing business clothing is sprinting across a massive city. One where every tower and building pierces the sky and breaks its limits.
A city that knows no monotony too. Each street having at least one strange building. Perhaps it's in a spiral or has a ring orbiting around it like the planet of Saturn. Or perhaps it has tons of holograms and screens in front of it, presenting an odd item.
He's sprinting alongside two other people too, but he's lagging behind them. It's clear this man doesn't exercise much.
- Nonetheless, their direction is clear.
Skeeting past small marketplace, large crowds and huge gatherings, swimming through the sea of people that seem to be everywhere- no place, even down to the alleyways, not being empty...
A gigantic dome rests in the middle of this steel city.
With signs, gateways and holograms all around it showing its name.
"Neuron Orbal Electronics Institute - Home of all Technology in Steel City!"
And around it, despite everywhere else being lively: even the buildings seeming alive...
All electricity has been shut down near that giant dome.A man with an eyepatch who commanded him with a stern voice was running ahead.
In terms of the 3 people running, he was in the middle. And he seemed fit too.
Wearing gloves, with an eyepatch and a built body... It is not hard to imagine this man being in combat.
If one were to see him, they would definitely be off put by his readiness to spring into combat at any moment.
And spring into things he did. The moment the three of them arrived at a gateway to enter the Giant Dome...
The eyepatched man had already unleashed a keycard, swiped it across a door in the entrance, and dashed straight through a scanner through that door.
"Move it, will you?!'
He also stylishly put his keycard back into his wallet too.
The person who was leading at first, but fell behind due to watching Kilian's swift motion was a person who looked to be a woman.
She was wearing a heavy coat despite the temperature not being that low.
Combined with her silver hair, it almost made her look like a ghost.
Or a meeting fated to be ephermeal. Almost as if she didn't belong in this plain.
Especially due to her serene look, contrasted by the panicked faces of the two men.
When she moved to the door of the gateway- a security guard saluted her.
And she didn't need to use a keycard.
All she did was to place her palm in front of the door, and it opened.Taking a moment to catch his breath...
The security guard of the gate handed him a water bottle. "O-Oh, thanks."
After a very brief rest, he got his keycard and walked right in.
The three stood in front of a vast courtyard with all sorts of tech in front of them.
Strange machines that did strange things.
Simpler ones displayed holograms. Other ones seemed to be demonstrating short length teleportation. Others displaying a strange energy that could resize crystals.
The man named Ether briefly looked at all the machines-
- Then they all stop. "...! Electricity's been drained from the dome itself too?!"
So did the lights. All the lights, all the holograms from the dome stopped all at once.
In frustration, Ether gripped his knees while exhausted. "Either Doctor Etsuji's making his magnum opus, or someone DID hijack the Institute like Kilian suggested!"After that panicked statement from Ether, the girl in the coat gave the man a light elbow.
She did an about face to fully face the man.
Still with her calm voice, she spoke. "Keep a cool head. Kilian's just a bit antsy- we all are after the War.
But speaking of..." She raised a finger.
- And a mechanical whirring could be heard, as if the joint of a machine was being moved.
"The War's also given Neuron an energy crisis as of recent. Let's review the situation, shall we?
Doctor Etsuji randomly messaged you that he was going to make a big breakthrough. Then the electricity went out all of a sudden in a lot of places.
I believe the former may be more likely than you think. Thus, there's no reason to panic, no?" A smile formed on her face. (edited)At that remark, the officer only clicked his tongue.
With his hands in his pockets, he stared at the only rooms with electricity left, peering through its window... There were two. He stared at one in the first floor...
... As it went off too. With his single eye, he could see that it was a room with emergency generators.
Which meant there was only one left. Peering through the window of that one,. from what little he could see- it seemed to be an experimentation room.
Such got him to tap his feet.
"Still, for Doctor Etsuji to request so much power at such a short notice... It's not illegal. But I sure as hell am gonna reprimand him. And fast. You better not be nice to Doctor Etsuji by the way, Winter."
He turned back to Ether.
Kilian took a deep exhale and asked something he's been holding off on. "Ether. Might sound dumb for asking this, but do the elevators here still work if your emergency generators've gone out?"At first, he was gonna question why and how Kilian knew this...
But then he remembered the moniker he was given by all of his coworkers.
"The Dead Eye."
An officer with a gaze so keen, that not even the most hidden of plots can escape him.
After that, the realization sunk deep into Ether.
As he was practically on the verge of falling over and just giving up.
"That means... That means...!!!
We have to use the STAIRS!!!!!!!!"The officer gave Ether a bump on the shoulder with his fist.At this, the one named Winter had a realization.
Looking at Ether, a slow smile played on her mouth. "Ether. Authorization to use my Factor? I won't be doing anything big- just giving us a shortcut to Doctor Etsuji."He shouted like his life was on the line.Winter crouched down...
... And on her pupils, a UI flashed. As if her pupils were only a screen.
Her hand began to change shape. To morph.
But what was moving wasn't flesh. For her hand...
It was steel.
Winter's entire body was metal after all. For she wasn't human.
- But rather, a Seventh. A type of highly advanced robot.
Her entire hand morphed and changed to the shape of a shield. She planted that shield to the ground...
"Factor Authorized.
To freeze a moment in eternity, forever unchanging yet always differing in meaning. Those who stare at the sculptures of the past lose the regard for the world of the author.
Yetzirah - Dear & Hate."
As the robot of steel chanted, something that was undeniably life surrounded her.
A strange white energy that welled up from where a human heart would be.
Coating her like a warm blanket, looking a lot like the fall of snow.
Her entire body was glowing. And as soon as her chant finished...
A giant pillar of ice began to rise from the ground, lifting the three up. (edited)As soon as the three were lift up...
Ether began to throw his arms wildly, as it was taking all of his focus to NOT fall.
This was supposed to be a shortcut, but it seemed like he was as tired as ever.Kilian only pinched his nose in annoyance.
Seeing as they were approaching the top of the dome, and Ether was still panicking...
His frustration got even higher. "Is it really that hard to stand still?!"Winter said, still focusing on creating the pillar.Instantly, he cast his gaze away.
"- Do not believe her. Such is just false conjecture."Winter said, turning her head to the two while raising her eyebrows up and down.Kilian cast his gaze even farther away.Eventually, the pillar made it to face the window of the floor where Doctor Etsuji's project was ongoing.
Getting up, Winter examined the window...
As she lowered her legs. "Alright. Get ready to jump in three, two, one..."Putting his embarrassment to the side...
Kilian also readied to jump straight into the window.- Which left behind just one person.
"W-Wait.
What about me?"The two leaped.Leaving behind the one who was both unfit and tired.
Stranded on top of a giant ice pillar.
With no way down.------------------------ + Neuron Interior, 32nd Floor + ------------------------------Though the window to the room in which the two jumped in was small...
The room they were in was anything but small.
It was almost like a jungle of giant wires and cords. All leading to something in the middle- a giant machine.
Every wire and cord is for the sake of that machine. All wires coming from terminals, generators, power sources... To that one machine.
All sorts of hydraulics and steam was emerging from it. It's as if the machine in the middle was a factory of its own.
- Kilian had no idea what that was. But Winter was intimately familiar with just what that machine was.
On a platform, dozens of scientists were gathered.
All of them were working. Not a single one was slacking off, as if it was the project of their lives.
Some typed away at a control panel or a laptop. Others eyes were glued onto monitors which measured various things like parameters.
And all around strange poles on the ceiling, electricity was pulsing uncontrollably.
The one at the forefront of it all was staring at what was atop the machine. It was a container that looked more like a casket or a coffin, but it was shaking.
"...?"
The old man at the front noticed a window shatter. At first, he was cautious, but... "Officer Kilian?! And Officer Winter too?!"The silent rage that has been brewing in the man unleashes all at once.
- As Kilian formed an aura of white just like Winter.
A quick leap, and he jumped from the lower part with all the wires to the platform.
The white aura that surrounded him was a lot like steam. Steam which made his rage evident- even shocking some of the scientists and doctors as he landed right in front of Etsuji.
"Doctor Etsuji. What the actual HELL are you doing that requires you to siphon electricity from the whole city?!"Although startled by the officer, Etsuji quickly recomposed himself.
As he saw another person jump up to the platform.
Landing with a hard metallic sound of two metals crashing against each other, he looked at Winter.
"I believe she may be able to explain."Winter landed on one knee...
As she stood and looked to the machine in the middle.
Although she always tried to keep any sort of expression regardless of the situation...
For a single moment, she looked hollow. Looking like a total robot, unable to express anything.
Unable to feel anything.
Or perhaps-
"That machine...
It's what gives birth to Sevenths."
- It's her way of feeling nostalgic.Kilian looked at the machine- which honestly looked like a hill of parts, presses and wires that he couldn't comprehend.
It looked like a total mess. The only thing he could comprehend was that shaking coffin-like container at the top.
His mouth wavered.
"..."
"It's ugly."
That was his only thought. For the officer stopped thinking for a moment.Winter noticed Kilian's apprehension.
She didn't get it, but she decided to let him bask in it. So she turned to Etsuji to continue the job.
"But to use this much energy for ONE Seventh..."
When she spoke, she returned to her expression looking more human.
"I understand the War has cut down on Neuron's budget and energy, but you've abused your position as Vice Chairman to gather this much energy.
The last time this much energy was used, although I wasn't there for it...
... Was to create Shiori Hashimoto, the queen of all Sevenths."
Step.
Winter looked up at Etsuji with a judgmental look. "Are you sure that whatever you're doing here- whatever you're creating is worth it?" (edited)The Doctor bit his lip for only a split second.
He cast his gaze away from everything. Perhaps he devoted his entire being for this one moment.
"I'm sure.
It was a long time ago, so I'm not sure if you remember..."Raising up two of her fingers, she tapped the side of her head.
As it made a metallic echo. "Sevenths, while mimicking humans, are still robots. We have perfect memory."
Though she was stating a fact, Winter sounded even more distant than ever.Etsuji shook his head.
"But I was there for your creation. If you have perfect memory, you should be able to recall.
The goal of all Sevenths is to coexist with humanity.
What I am making here is the Seventh that will be unbelievably close to that."Unknowingly, the officer was holding onto the railing of the platform.
His eyes too could not look away from the machine.
After all, a new Seventh was going to be born.The old man nodded in response to that.
"This perhaps may be my final project."
Though they had questions on where Doctor Etsuji's sudden inspiration came from...
Everyone ultimately decided to remain silent.
Because the passion that was in his voice for this single Seventh triumphed over all.
So they left on those somber notes.
All eyes were on that container.
Until.
Etsuji pulled on a lever...
And a lot of electricity was discharged at once. "!"
It didn't surprise him nor the scientists. At least, the outcome didn't.
But anyone would flinch at such massive energies being gathered.
A flash of light filled the whole room.
- Then, other lights began to fill the room.
The lights of many buildings turning on. The whirring of machines and lightbulbs from other rooms.
Slowly, the barely lit room- the Seventh Creation Room- began to light up.
But the lights in this room did not turn on. No.
A light from the casket was being formed. "... !!!!!"
The first one to make it to the casket was Doctor Etsuji, who made a mad dash to the casket. Climbing the machine.
No one made an attempt to stop him. Kilian was the only one to even consider it.
Taking the lid off of the container...
What was in the container was of course a Seventh. They all knew it- that was what this project was for.
Long orange hair. Already pre-equipped with headgear.
Slowly rising up from the casket...
... What Kilian, Winter and the other scientists asked at this moment on what they did was worth it.
- For they looked like a totally ordinary Seventh.
A steel robot that mimicked humans.
Etsuji was clearly passionate about this specific Seventh. But they couldn't see why.
". . .
Are you...? Are you my parent?"
- However, with that first question...
They understood something that Etsuji had for every seventh.Etsuji took the hand of the new Seventh, gripping the cold metal tightly.
In this moment, even the cold hearted Kilian felt it.
To create a Seventh was like creating a life.
And for the former Chairman...
Each new Seventh was like a child to him.
For a moment, they felt such intimacy.Nodding up and down, they repeated it over and over.
"Etsuji... Etsuji... Etsuji...
Etsuji Maeda... That should also make me Maeda too, but..."
As if a lightbulb flashed in their head, the new robot looked at Etsuji.
"Ah- wait. Do I have a name???"Winter- the other Seventh in the room- muttered to herself.
This wasn't a meaningless action though. She intended for Kilian or perhaps a scientist or two to hear her.For a moment, Etsuji made a poker face.
"Shit, wait. I ALWAYS make this mistake. I forget about the most important things right until I actually need it!"
His eyes darted all over until his eyes casted on the model of the machine.
"PROPERTY OF NEURON ORBAL ELECTRONIC INSTITUTE - SEVENTH CREATION MOUND V5
MODEL MU"
As he coughed.
"Noei. It's Noei.
Your name is Noei Maeda.
And welcome to Steel City." (edited)-------------------- + Neuron Interior, 1st Floor + ---------------------------------
Sometime after the awakening of Noei...Etsuji had stepped out of a room with lots of toys, books and machines.
It was a room on the first floor which was used to test the temperament of the early Sevenths.
But due to how the development of Sevenths changed, especially due to the War, it's one that hasn't been used in a while.
Leaving Noei in the room, Etsuji entered a door, climbed some stairs...
And went to an elevated room with a window that overlooked that room.
"Well- now that I've gotten Noei activated and settled down, I suppose we can discuss what I was intending to do with...
... Oh, wow, there's a lot more of you in this room than I expected."
Due to the sudden activation of Noei, causing energy to be siphoned from the entire city...
A bunch of people had gathered just to question Doctor Etsuji.There were five of them gathered to question Etsuji.
Three humans and two Sevenths, actually.
Ether, whose legs were still shaking (he recently has developed a fear of heights), scratched his chin.
"You DID kinda cause a citywide shock. Brown outs haven't happened in years, so people were dooming on social media about like "this is the end of the world!" and all that..."
He sat down, exhaling. "But that's all I can really say. If it was to make a Seventh, then I'm all for it. I'm sure Arisa has more to say, though." Smugly, he looked to the side...
As the one named Arisa coughed. Loudly.
She was sitting on a chair which had her nameplate on it. With the title...
"ASSITANT TO CHAIRMAN - ARISA MISO."
Standing up, she got a book... And hit Doctor Etsuji on the back with it.
"Do you have ANY idea how much worry you caused everyone in Neuron?!"Etsuji reeled over, rubbing the back of his head.
As he slowly looked up at Arisa. "I-I thought everyone, especially you, knew me well. I've had a pretty good track record for all my projects, y'know...?"Arisa said, insinuating her point with wide arm movements.
Though this sort of attitude was something Etsuji was used to.
"In other words, why the heck didn't you tell us this in advance???" (edited)This was what Ether was worried about the most.Etsuji readjusted his glasses.
In shame, he looked slightly downwards. "Noei's creation involved something I had to keep confidental to even Chairman Ether..."Kilian sighed as the conversation topic went to him.
Rolling his eyes, he said, "Yes. Yes it is. And you're probably going to need to get a lawyer for all of this."
Stepping forward...
He looked down at where the Seventh was. In what was essentially a children's playground.
With his arms behind his back, he exhaled.
"Is this Seventh even supposed to be special? All I see is just a normal teenager."Looking down at the Seventh Playground...
There were toys strewn about. As well as different clothing, as some Sevenths when they are newly born like to play dress up.
Though currently, Noei was on a swingset.
While also reading the latest teenage boy's magazine. "That's coooool!!!"
If it wasn't for the slight robotic pitch in their voice that hasn't been ironed out...Then Kilian's observation would be correct. (edited)Interjecting, Winter was staring at Noei playing wistfully.
"Isn't that the point though? If a Seventh looks indistinguishable from a human, then Etsuji quite literally has made his magnum opus."
Looking at Etsuji, she gave him another warm smile. "After all, that's our purpose. That's why you invented the first Seventh."For a moment-
Etsuji did not speak. "... Yes. That was the design process behind Shiori, the first Seventh."
But the moment he cast his gaze back to Noei, his oddly melancholic tone changed.
"It required hours upon hours of research, reverse engineering and calculations... But Noei's AI is extremely advanced. Even among Sevenths, who've already integrated into society. This is because their AI contains the personalities of-" (edited)
And interrupting Etsuji was the 5th one to confront Etsuji.
The other Seventh, who looked like a nurse.
But it seems she forgot all about confronting him because of Noei. Her face was glued to the window.
As she looked back, with stars in her eyes. "She's soooooooooo cute!!! I've never seen a Seventh so adorable in my life!
Officer Winter, Officer Kilian... Can we keep her?!"Marika said, whistling.As Kilian interjected, with both his hands pointing to Etsuji.
"For crying out loud, their dad is LITERALLY right here! They can hear you!"Etsuji could only simply chuckle.
He had no remarks to say, because...
... Seeing a Seventh be so lively is everything he had ever wanted.
"Well, depending on how that court case goes, I MAY be spending a few weeks in prison...
So Noei may be able to spend some time with you."Steam started to come out of the nurse Seventh's ears.
She was overloading.After the room showed signs of quieting...
The Chairman of Neuron finally stood up, his legs no longer shaking.
It was as if he completely shifted moods. Though his face and mannerisms were still the same...
"... Doctor Etsuji. I believe we've held onto this question long enough, but now's as good of a time as ever.
Just what were you intending with making Noei?"
... The moment Ether decides to talk fully seriously is when everyone listens. (edited)Etsuji tightly gripped his fists. "Where many Sevenths I've helped with the creation of-
Shiori, Rene, Lukia, Hibiki, Allan..." He looked at Winter and Marika. "And you two.
The fact that you were forced to conscript in that war without your own consent..."Marika said, saluting.
- A hollow motion.Ether crossed his arms.
"You do understand, that if something like the Whitebell War ever happens again, you have no say on what your creations are used for? It's a part of Neuron's contract that our creations ARE used for Steel City."
He met Etsuji's stare with one of his own.
For a while, they merely just confronted each other.Etsuji gave a slow nod.And Ether stepped past Etsuji.
Adjusting his collar, he gave a long hard look at Noei...
And grinned while looking back at everyone. "Let's support Doctor Etsuji, everyone. If he can't change the laws, he can change people's perception.
As Chairman, is there anything you need me to do?"Winter was shocked at first.
Not at Ether. But at what Etsuji was trying to do.
"Change the perception of how people see Sevenths...
... You do understand that means changing how we see ourselves then, Doctor?"
She could only cast a skeptic look at Etsuji.Arisa had no choice but to give her begrudging respect to Ether.
("You're nowhere near the scientist Etsuji is, but at least ya' know how to talk, new Chairman...") (edited)Etsuji faced everyone and met everyone'e eyes one by one as he spoke.
"But I'm not doing that for Noei. Noei will grow up as a human. Learning things through books, experiences, other people... And will go to school and make friends just as a normal human would.
Noei- a Seventh, a robot... Will totally integrate with the masses.
Will you grant me at least this wish?"1-1: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-2:
Coexistence--------------------------- + One Day Later + ---------------------------
------------------------- + Steel City, Krypt District + ---------------------CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/12/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Sunny (edited)And now-
- As the Stranger has finally awoken, the view and focus will shift to them.- Schwiiiiiing.
The two gates of Neuron Orbal Electronic Institute opened up.
They were massive gates, as they usually hauled in trucks and trucks all carrying tons of equipment.
As day broke, such was the case.
Four small individuals stood in the middle of the opening gate as massive trucks started streaming past them, those four being in between them.
The trucks were enough to catch one person's eyes. Each of them were carrying something different. Parts, scrap, trusses, furniture, even some livestock for some strange reason... As well as things covered by tarp.
But for Noei, there were too many things to stare at.
"W-Woww......
WOWWW!!!!!!" With no concept of inside voice, they shouted.
Surrounded by them were many things.
Towers that pierced the sky. EM Wave Projections forming roads in the sky, where flying cars followed.
Holograms left and right, each advertising different products.
And that's just in the sky.
On the streets. Open air marketplaces. Moving walkaways with people standing on it, checking their phones, reading devices.
In another part of the street, kids had dominated a park. Playing a card game which projected the arena and monsters in the card as EM Wave projections and holograms.
Flying hoverboards were also common in that park.
Suffice to say, stars filled Noei's eyes.
As they couldn't sit still, constantly darting their eyes and body to get a better look at whatever caught their attention.
"Doctor! Doctor! What's that?! Those cards- and in that, er, um, market! They're selling some strange powder thingy! Oooh! And over there! That burger store- there's a weird looking metal thing in it!"Etsuji, the second person in this group, was caught off guard by Noei's hyper energy.
Perhaps he did inject too much energy into them.
"We can't just go anywhere you want. I told you yesterday. We're going to SCHOOL no? School." The old doctor made sure to repeat what he was saying twice.
As Noei was practically bouncing up and down in excitement, their long unkempt hair also bouncing everywhere in response.- By the way, there were ACTUALLY stars in Noei's eyes.
The Eyes of a Seventh can sometimes display icons and emoticons. Though many of the newer ones don't have this option.
Noei's eyes shook up and down as they pointed. "Look!!!" To a store that was way too far away.Arisa, the young assistant of both the Chairmans- old and young coughed.
As she scooched over and whispered to Etsuji. ("Doctor Etsuji. We're ACTUALLY doing this... Huh?")Etsuji said in response.An interruption.The fourth person in the group, the other Seventh pointed to where Noei was pointing to.
"That's a Cat Cafe! You pay for the service, and they give you unlimited coffee and drinks... As well as tons of cats to goof around with.
Don't tell anyone, but Officer Kilian LOVES Cat Cafes."
Marika of the Ministry of Defense, was somehow here.Noei scratched their chin.Marika said, patting Noei on the back. "C'mon, let's get a closer look! It's on the way to your school anyways, so let's go!!!"
Pointing on ahead...
With equal energy, the two Sevenths went ahead.Etsuji gave the two chase. Marika and Noei were practically running to the cat cafe.Arisa said, following after them.
But she trailed just behind Etsuji.Etsuji said, looking at Noei and Marika advance...As the doctor saw the two Sevenths rush ahead.
But every now and then, Noei would stop and point. "M-Marika! Marika! What's that?"And due to the fact that Sevenths had more advanced senses, neither of them could be sure at any time what they were pointing at.
"Dark alleyways like those are where criminals usually do bad stuff. Me, Winter and Kilian usually go in 'em to bust up some illegal action. You wanna join us one of these days?" (edited)Noei responded innocently, despite not knowing what it is.And at that...
Arisa gave out a sudden burst in speed as she dashed forward.
Catching up to the two Sevenths, her hand was covered in a strange aura... As she bonked Marika on the head. "Don't be giving any ideas to Noei 'ere!"
Despite the fact he didn't understand WHY Etsuji was doing this...
... Arisa did understand WHAT he was doing.Despite Marika's head being steel and Arisa being a normal human...
She recoiled.
She stumbled back, rubbed her head... "Okay, I know I was getting a liiiitle ahead of myself in explaining everything, but Noei's just sooooooooo cute! Can you blame me?!"In annoyance, Arisa pinched her nose.Marika slowly stood up. "And you already know how I was programmed." Tapping her forehead... "I was given the Being of Nurse. It's my instinct to care for cute little vulnerable critters like Noei, you know?"Noei tapped their chin, looking confused.
But they also had another question too. "Hm..."
Etsuji caught up last.Doctor Etsuji caught up to the three.
Tired, he put his hands on his knees, lowering his head...
And as soon as he did...Noei raised up their hand...
And a hand of steel slammed down like a hammer down on the back of Etsuji's head.
"Like this?"The force hit him like a mallet hitting a table.
Or an anvil falling on him all at once.
He spat out all the air in his lungs as he slammed to the ground.
Head first, then his full body.
There was even bleeding- and a bruise where he was hit.
Basically-
It hurt. Quite a lot.Noei looked at their hand...
... And gripped it. "But he didn't- wha..."The impact could even be heard.
And with that shout from Arisa...
It was as if everything froze. Everyone's gazes- even some of the people hurriedly rushing to work...
Stared at the ongoing scene.
Arisa stared at Noei, fists gripped. "What the hell?! Why did you just hit Doctor Etsuji like that?!?"Noei's hands subconsciouslyraised.
As they stammered all over their words. "U-Um! When y-you hit Marika! H-Her face was f-funny!
I wanted to see Doctor Etsuji make t-the same face, b-but..."
- They did not understand the concept of shame.
That did not stop Noei from feeling it.Despite the pain...
Etsuji stood up. His first instinct...
Wasn't to care for himself, despite the blood rolling on the back of his head.
"But the result wasn't what you expected, no?" He nodded up and down.
As his first instinct was to finish Noei's statement, despite the ringing in his ears.Marika walked over to the back of Etsuji.
Then. Her legs began to lengthen, the steel and carbon in her legs being exposed and lengthening.
As her hands of steel morphed and changed, a healing salve spraying on the back of Etsuji's hand in one... And the other applying a gauze all around Etsuji's head.
Her reaction was instinctual. The moment she saw the wound, she already acted.Noei slowly nodded up and down.Etsuji said, reaching out...
And patting Noei on the head. "But this is another way of learning that. Living and learning.
There's something you must understand, Noei. I'm a human- and you're a Seventh.
Sevenths are much more advanced than humans. They think faster, are stronger, process things faster and like what Marika is doing here right now- can do things we can't.
I mean, look at her. I can't change my height! And it'd be incredible if I could- I would've been able to fill my dream of being a basketball player."After a moment of silence...
Arisa chimed in, looking at Noei directly. "But because you're a Seventh, it means you have a responsibility to upkeep that comes with your strength. Got it?"Noei felt guilty when Arisa looked at them.
Their gaze cast to their legs. "I got it..."Arisa faked a smile in front of Noei.And for a moment...
Noei just stood there. Recalling things in their mind.
Processing both Etsuji and Arisa's words.
Noei poked their chin... And a lightbulb icon flashed in their eyes.
"I got it! That means I have to go to school, yeah?"- ZOOM!
Noei started dashing at speeds that would make even Olympic Award winners jealous.
And they weren't even putting their all into it.
Without regard for the people in front of them, even bumping past many people and splitting an entire crowd.
They were like an unstoppable train.Arisa said, looking back at the Doctor.
"This sort of thing is exactly why all Sevenths are pre-programmed with knowledge. Like how Marika here's supposed to be a nurse- people like Lukia and Winter are designed for the law... And how you made Shiori to be a symbol for all of them."
Her gaze casted to a building. A tall one, but one that was in less than stellar condition to the many buildings alongside it.
Which meant it stood out. It was a tall auditorium- clearly a concert hall.
Her gaze was casted to a statue.
One depicting a twin-tailed blue haired woman, doing a peace sign.
Where many Sevenths were gathered to it, just hanging out, singing and playing games on some sort of portable game device together.
They all had wistful looks. Arisa, despite not being a Seventh, got one too.
("Just where in the world have you disappeared to anyways, Shiori...?")Etsuji said, tightening the gauze around his head.
Marika returned to her normal height once this was achieved.
He looked down at his feet. "When we make a Seventh, we're not surprised but what they achieve because they just do what we built them for.
To give them a life, pre-determined like that... Is that really living?"As if she's dealt with this side of Etsuji many many times...
She instantly shut the Doctor down and moved ahead without looking at him.Etsuji kept walking forward, motioning for Marika to follow silently.
"This is no longer a case of what my personal philosophies on what Sevenths should be. This is my final project, the last thing I'll develop before I retire...
So let me live out this dream, Arisa." (edited)Arisa muttered to herself. ("That dream could easily turn into a nightmare too, y'know.")While silently walking ahead to Noei's school...
Etsuji looked down over to the person walking with him.
"... Marika. What do you think of the situation?"Marika gave Etsuji a thumbs up. "I don't entirely get what you're doing, but if Noei gets to be cute by doing it, then I'm alllll for it."------------------------------ + Sapphire High + --------------------------The three had finally caught up to Noei.
After dashing through a very obvious trail of accidents... Either bumped over furniture, signages, people and even an entire fire hydrant being knocked over...
They went to a rather modest highschool, located in the middle of a vast plain.
Although Steel City is called Steel City, it is not a metropolis only.
It has been the case ever since its conception. But there were huge swaths of nature, the size of two entire districts dedicated to untouched nature.
The only things allowed to be built there were things for sports, reservoirs, and schools.
According to the third ruling party of Steel City, the Culture Department...
"Kids deserve to grow up surrounded by nature and their loved ones."
"Noei! Noei! Wait uuuup- aaand they finally stopped, nice."
However. The three caught up to Noei only because they decided to stop. (edited)Their mind was caught by all of the nature.
First, they were overwhelmed by the urban jungle before them.
Now they were overwhelmed by an actual jungle in their face.
The highschool was in front of them. But also, a deep jungle with tall trees.
Due to their advanced vision, they could even make out the animals in it. They saw many insects.
And a lake was near the highschool too. They could see the fishes too.
And as per usual...
Point. "Marika! What's that in the thing that's like water but biiiig?"Marika's irises looked at the lake...
And she spoke.
"Salmon. Noun.
A large edible fish that is a popular game fish, much prized for its pink flesh. Salmon mature in the sea but migrate to freshwater streams to- hey, wait!"
She got her focus back and slapped her cheeks.
As she looked to Noei with a cheeky grin. "You're at school anymore. Can't tell you these things anymore~."Etsuji and Arisa arrived shortly after Marika.
And Etsuji was looking gassed. ("Is this divine retribution for making Chairman Ether run ALL the way from the Higashi Suburbs all the way to Neuron...? Because I think it is...")On the contrary, Arisa didn't look tired at all.
As she followed up on Marika. "Cause you're gonna go to school now, Noei.
I think only Doctor Etsuji's following in. And even then, he's gotta leave to do work.
So from here on out, you're on your own."And a quick response was given.Etsuji said, reaching for something on his sides.
As if expanding from a projection, a light shone from his belt.
And a water bottle seemed to expand- being ejected from a tiny space within his belt.
He drank it slowly. "Noei. Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"Another quick response.Point. "Can't have Marika to ask whenever there's something I don't understand."
Then to Arisa. "Can't have Arisa scold me when I do bad things."Noei said, their expression unchanging.
As they looked up at Etsuji, the only one in the group taller than them.
They turned to Marika. "Marika, can you tell me?"Sliiiide.
Etsuji slid directly in front of Marika.
"That's for you to find out.
You don't need Marika for you to get answers of your own."------------------------- + Sapphire High, Interior + -----------------------
The classrooms and hallways of Sapphire High were clean- just like the rest of Steel City.
But surrounded by nature, and being taller than it is wider...
Its unique design is that all of its important rooms, including all the classrooms, are circular shaped.
Being like bubbles that hang suspended in the air, in a highschool that was almost shaped like a tree.
For it was a seat of learning, where the seeds of the future were planted.
And in a particularly rowdy classroom-
"- Yooo hooo!!! How's another day of school for our most rebellious class this semester!
Sorry to get all your playing disturbed, but I ACTUALLY have some announcements to make instead of just making gossip about what's going around school!"
The entrance of its homeroom teacher immediately got all of them to quiet down.
For the students in it were all playing games, gossiping, roughing each other up in play fights or somehow all 3 at once. There were kids crazy enough to do all 3, believe it or not.
Navigating her way to the podium, the teacher stayed quiet becuase she knew there would be questions from this rowdy bunch.
The first one to speak up was the most talkative of the bunch.
Raising up her hand... A well dressed woman with green hair spoke.
Every person in the class was unique to some extent. But this person is about to make it blatantly clear.
"Ms. Watcher! My divine eye intuits that you are being quite serious here!" She said, covering her eye.
"Despite your usual demeanor, I can feel dark energies surrounding you..."
This person, Pharma Diethel, was an utter geek. There was no other way to address it.
The next one to raise their hand was a kid who could only be described as a delinquent.
He had his legs on the table, his hair was dyed flashily (which isn't bad, he just dyed his to INTENTIONALLY stand out and be bright)...
And... He was doing the most heinous act of them all.
Eating a pocky and positioning it in a way that it looked like a cigarette.
"Oh? If it's interesting enough, I might not skip class for the day."The delinquent immediately slammed his hand down on the table, sitting normally.
Elka Brinker WAS genuinely interested in what Ms. Watcher was going to say, but he always had to put up a tough guy act.
The last one to speak of the "big three of the rowdiest in Ms. Watcher's class" was the A-Student.
Every single motion he did exuded a holier-than-thou attitude.
As he even chose to speak more formally than Pharma.
"... If it's changes to curriculum, then I'll be the one to tell you all- I called it. More and more Robots and even Sevenths are taking our futures.
I just hope it wasn't Philosophy that was taken..."
Okino Fuji, an honor student, spoke with clear contempt to the steel that walked Steel City.She is not serious right now.
And...
With the mention of the news being related to the Sevenths...
The quietest person in a room filled with rowdy and noisy people, even with the Teacher being upbeat and bombastic...
A girl with strange long hair, looking foreign in many ways. Almost like an alien.
She never seemed interested in anything. In fact, the entire situation before, the situation right now... She wasn't listening to any of it.
But Seren Astoria paid close attention once Takane Watcher revealed that a Seventh was related to her news.Step. Step. Step. Step.
With every step they made, the sound of steel could be heard.
They were simply just wearing a t-shirt and some black pants, so the steel joints that would normally be hidden were shown.
(Most Sevenths choose to wear long sleeved clothing or jackets and coats.)
Their irises showing a question mark, also obviously being that of a screen.
And then their voice. Which was still unrefined and even downright scratchy.
"Hello! How do I meet them?" Tuuuurn. "Oh, they're all in front of me! Cool!"
The person in front of these students was undoubtedly a Seventh.And instantly with their entrance...
... A multitude of gazes were shot straight to Noei.
All of them judgmental. In many, many ways.Elka instantly stood up.
As he slammed the table, again. But this time with the intent to practically crush it.
He stood up, as he glared at Ms. Watcher. "New classmate?! A Seventh?!
Are you shittin' us right now, Ms. Watcher?!"Raising up a teaching stick, she also pointed to a hologram that appeared with a thought alone.
It showed 3 symbols- one of a tower, one of an atom and another of a bonsai tree.
"And if you've been skipping class lately, Neuron is one of the 3 institutes that decide the law and how things work. Alongside the Ministry of Defense and the Culture Department.
They're also in charge of everything technologically. Bet y'all can see a Neuron logo on your laptops, huh? In other words, we owe 'em a lot."The honor student stood up.
As he pointed to his laptop, which did in fact have a Neuron logo.
"For a Seventh to be in a school- it's not breaking the laws, but...
The very reason why schools exist nowadays is to teach students things that Robots nor Sevenths can't do.
History. Philosophy. Law. Research. Management. Biology. Environmental Sciences. Psychology..."
He tapped the side of his head. "A Seventh being here goes against everything school is even for." He showed Noei clear animosity with a stare, but...No reaction.
Perhaps they didn't see it, or if they did...
They don't know what a stare like that means.
":D"Takane exhaled. "This Seventh doesn't have any info loaded in 'em. They're practically like us, if we were just made out of steel.
So as much as you can, treat 'em like a normal student." Reaching for her stick, she smacked it against the podium. "AND if you dare bully them, I'm going to fight the entire school to make sure Ethics Class is taught first semester of highschool instead of second."Pharma shot up a raise of her hand.
As she looked more worried and scared than anything else. "Sevenths have superior capability to us humans! W-Without my Dark Magic amplifying things of course. I-I still beat out an average Seventh with my magic!"
- It's worth nothing that Pharma is bottom 5 in the class rankings.
"And they have feelings that are untrue! Hearts made out of um... Wires and stuff. Rather than blood and dark energy!"Takane said, pressing on the podium.
As she gestured over to her eyebags silently.
"And those were all the details I got. Wanna know what I think about all this?
I dunno!!!" She shouted, raising up her hands. "Cause we haven't given 'em a chance yet.
So. Kids. Report to me at the end of the day on how you feel about the Seventh being in class, and I'll relay it back to Doctor Etsuji. That good with y'all?"Takane closed her eyes hard. ("Oh. Right. Etsuji did say this Seventh knows nothing, so uh...")
Pat. "New guy. State your name and what ya' like. It's called an introduction. You gotta do it so that everyone knows who you are."Raising their voice... They spoke too loud.
Because they don't have a concept of an inside voice. "I am Noei Maeda. I like Doctor, Marika and Arisa!"Takane said, closing her eyes.
Everyone also did too. "Maybe town it down a little...? And I meant like- your hobbies, interests...
... Gosh, do you even HAVE those?"Elka leaned over in his seat.
As he whispered to Okino. ("Shiiiii man, I don't think this is gonna work. You think you could calm your Robo-Racism for one day and then make up something fake to get Noei out of here?")Okino crossed his arms.
As he slowly grinned. ("And why do we need to make something up?
After all, I'm talking to the school's biggest troublemaker right now.")Okino pressed on his palm.
Watching a confused Noei discuss with an extremely confused Takane, clearly out of her element.
As a sly grin slowly formed on his lips. ("You want to skip out on school, right? It might hurt at first, but...
There's no better place than an infirmary.")Elka bumped Okino's shoulder...
As their scheme begun.1-2: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-3:
Bonds--------------------------- + Later in the Day + -------------------------------CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/12/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Afternoon
WEATHER: Clear Skies (edited)With the full integration and acceptance of technology into society...
As well as many jobs, such as factory working and menial jobs being taken by robots...
Education had to rapidly change. It had to grow to suit the modern needs, or else the future would plateau.
One such result of improving technology was the improvement of how classes were taught.
As in a giant auditorium, a hologram and effects were being displayed.
Rather than just a simple powerpoint presentation, the students of class 1-B were watching an entire scene unfold in the form of holograms.
Complete with effects too.
The lecture that was going on was beginning to close.
"... And due to the brilliance of Doctor Etsuji Maeda and director of the Culture Department at the time, Naoko Ishida, who we hear has passed away...
They discovered something fundamental within humans.
Beings."
A hologram of a human appeared... And that hologram expanded to the Heart.And Noei, who still hasn't grasped the concept of when to speak...
Exclaimed their interest loudly.Of course, they had been doing this throughout all the classes.
And just about every student was fed up with it.
"Will you quiet down already? Some of us are trying to learn for the future. While you're out here treating this lesson like a museum exhibit." (edited)Noei looked sad at being shouted at.
Looking back at Okino, they continued the conversation. "I dunno what a museum exhibit is, but this is pretty fun!"
They said with a naive smile.Okino said with a cross of his arms.Pharma shouted from the back.
As even she was beginning to get tired. "Oh my god, yes!"And the quiet onlooker, who sat in the direct corner of this auditorium...
Her gaze was fixated on Noei only.
But the complaints of the students entered her ears.Takane stepped in front of the hologram.
As she pointed at it, the heart zooming in... "You all are aware that supernatural forces exist. Hence why flying cars, EM Wave Projections exist. Here's something else you may or may not have known."
That projection expands... Into millions of things.
The heart turned into a lot of things. Someone jogging, a burger, a policeman, a sword, strange symbols, space, stars, dust, a dying plant, a house, an old photo, rain, a stop sign, someone cooking...
"A Being is decided at birth. To put it simply, it's one's natural instinct. It can be anything from an object. A feeling such as sadness or anger. An action like cutting or walking.
That Being decides your natural compulsion. Your natural mood and instinct. Of course, since it's instinct, you can defy it pretty easily. That's what growing up is for. These describe your precise details as a human."
She shrugged. "So you might be wondering. If all of this is defied easily, then why did Doctor Etsuji and the late Naoko Ishida study it so much?" (edited)And...
Jumping up and down, Pharma looked eager. "Ooo!" She raised her hand. "I know!"
She was pointed to.
"Cuz... Cuz Beings power up people's magic!"The hologram changed to multiple people.
A man in a black and orange jacket wielding a katana, unleashing some kind of blue aura of flames around that katana.
A mage with a hat on, holding a grimoire as fire, ice and lightning surrounded her.
A boy in a pink tracksuit, wielding a fan that commanded winds.
A man with a burning flame in his hand, half his body in the process of transforming into a demon...
"We covered this in a previous lesson, but a few of us humans are capable of awakening Supernatural abilities. We call them Circulators.
Those are the Shamans of the East and the Mages of the West, in case you're related to any.
And their Being shapes their abilities alongside their Craving, which we'll get to another day.
For example..." Pointing over to the hologram of the katana boy, he slammed the ground.
And holograms of earth ruptures were created.
"This boy has the Being of Earth. Giving him the ability to mold the Earth with his strikes. I'm told that this boy was also quite calm and serene, unchanging and forever reliable. Also like the Earth." (edited)She said, sighing.
"That is..." She formed a new hologram. This time...
... Of robots, and then Sevenths. "... Unless we programmed them ourselves.
This is the basis of why Sevenths were invented. To create living people with Beings that we choose.
Hence why most Sevenths for example are made for specific purposes. Nurse Sevenths, Investigative Sevenths, Fighter Sevenths... They've all become the best at their job because their Beings were programmed to collerate to what they do."And of course...
... After watching Pharma, they had to ask too.
They mimicked Pharma and raised their hand. Though they didn't know they needed to be pointed at first.
"Ms. Watcher!
What is my Being?"Takane said, scratching the back of her hair.
"Aaanyways, you know how I like to do my classes. Ten minutes earlier than the bell, unless you guys got any questions, in case you guys WANT to use up those ten minutes.
Any questions about the lesson? Orrrr- yeah, I knew it."
And already...
The rowdy class of 1-B were rushing straight out the auditorium.
Especially the delinquents of the class.Although everyone was basically rushing out...
Noei was making a direct beeline to Takane, which shocked her a little due to how fast they were.
Raising up their hand again, mimicking Pharma, they asked almost instantly.
"Ms. Watcher!
Where is everyone going???"Adjusting her collar, she coughed. "Maybe Etsuji didn't tell you, but this is lunch break.
We've got a pretty unusual lunch break though. Ours is 2 hours long, giving students the time to stroll about the city- or decide midway if they want to cut the rest of class."
She shrugged, walking out of the auditorium alongside Noei.
As Takane watched all the students go their own ways. All from different classes, though...
Her eye, even from far away, could spot her own students. "Some go to the school cafeteria and nap the rest of the day, some go into the forest to go play, some go into the city to goof off...
That answer your question? Or was your question instead, "where should I go", hm?"Noei poked their chin, nodding. "You know me better than I know me! Wow!"
... Thus, the truth of it was exposed.
Noei is lost.
And they don't know what to do."Damn. I'm good at this teaching thing."
"It's up to you, Noei.
But, y'know, seeing as you barely know anything- lemme be selfish and nudge you into a direction.
Make lots of friends, Noei.
And be a good person." Ms. Watcher gave Noei a slight push ahead. (edited)Stepping ahead, in the middle of a 4 way intersection in the halls...
They noted the signages and directions. A map on the wall.
One way lead to the cafeteria. Another to the forest. Another to the city...
And.
With their enhanced senses, perfect memory, greater sight...
They stood in the middle. Spinning and rotating. Accounting where everyone was going.
Finally... They made this conclusion. "... Most of the people are headed to the forest.
Going there now!" - ZOOM!
And with a mad dash... They set out to that goal.
To make lots of friends.------------------------ + Usui Forest + -----------------------------The first step into the forest- or rather, jungle...
They were already overwhelmed.
So many things they didn't recognize.
Strange plants. Flowers. Insects- a third type of creature that coexisted between Seventh and Human...
The sounds of those insects. To them, who has never heard insects before, it sounded like the cicadas were crying.
And for once- they couldn't see either a ceiling or the oh, so, blue sky.
Another thing. They were alone.
They were used to the sights of white, concrete, grey and blue. But not green.
". . ."
But they did see people in the forest.
Knowing that- they stepped in, and...Noei was interrupted before they could even venture deep into the forest.
As five men were approaching Noei.
All of them clearly delinquents. Two of them even had bats.
One of them... Being Elka from his class.:O
"!!! Oh! Yellow hair guy from my class!"
And immediately...
Upon the five delinquents approaching....
Noei's tense mood faded and was instantly replaced with a big smile. "Yaaay! Someone I kind-of know!
Hey, hey! What's your name!"And...
The five delinquents were immediately put off by Noei's liveliness.
One of them stepped back.
"... Okay, I know THEY'RE a robot. But."
As another delinquent gave the one who said that a hard elbow. ("Shush! Elka's orders, man! You don't wanna disobey the boss!")
One of the ones with a bat spoke. ("But...")Elka looked back at his men discussing.
- For he was the leader of the delinquents in Sapphire High.
Just his gaze alone was enough to intimidate them.
("...")Noei said, practically darting in front of Elka.
Their speed surprised all of them.And the delinquents gossiped.
("SEE??? I feel bad about this, that's literally just a guy.")
("But they're a Seventh. That liveliness is fake.")
("Guys, I dunno if my bat works on steel.")Elka looked back, shouting at his four men behind him.
As he gripped his fist, squaring up to Noei.
From his pockets... He was slipping in small gauntlets.
"Oi. Noei, yeah?
Let's get this straight.
We will never. EVER be friends with the likes of you!"Tuuuuuuurn.
They began to walk into the forest. "That means I'll make other friends!"And for a second, the delinquents composure was broken.
Before Elka shook his head, tightly stepping forward. "Wait, I mean- get back here.
I wasn't saying just us five. I was saying the whole school, idiot!"And...
It looks like that was what finally got Noei.
As with clear dread in their eyes, they turned and looked at Elka. "Wh...
Really?"Elka crossed his arms. "There is not a single student here who's a Seventh. Yer' the only one.
How do you think WE feel? Having a creep of metal living as one of us... And you heard the lecture too. You were made for a purpose, and yet here ya' are! Intruding on our school like some kinda damn rat!"
He raised up his fist in anger.
As he took a provocative step towards Noei. Little did they know...
Elka was getting in punching range. (edited)Noei raised their hand. As they asked...
"What's a rat?" (edited)Elka quickly shook his head.
As he glared. "Nevermind."
Elka raised up his fist again. "I'll just make this clear. You're. Not. Welcome. Here.
So get lost. And never come back to this school ever again."Something was boiling within Elka's stomach.
- Frustration.
As they tightly gripped both of his fists, now showing the small gauntlets he was hiding.
His arms were shaking, as was his eyebrows.
("Damn it! That's the type of person I look for when I'm looking for pals to join my crew... But Noei's a damn robot! All of this shit is fake, programmed into them! This ain't a real guy! But...!!! But...!!!")
As if a volcano boiled over...
... Going off script, his intent was for him to teach Noei how to punch...
And then for Noei to knock him into the infirmary, getting into disciplinary trouble day one.
Out of frustration, that plan was forgotten.
And he threw a wild punch over to Noei. "SCREW THAT!!!!!!!" (edited)The delinquents too reacted.
"Boss!"
"ELKA! THIS WASN'T A PART OF THE PLAN!"
"Oh, okay! So we're just normal bullying now!" (edited)But the punch that Elka threw...
Was stopped by someone who literally leaped from the trees.
The sound alerted all of them. Immediately getting everyone, even Noei, to look.
A long haired figure. Someone who almost never spoke or did anything...
Had jumped all the way from a tall tree, down to the ground...
And in one motion- caught Elka's punch. Despite him wearing anti-personnel self defense gauntlets.
"Yeah, no."
She finally spoke. Having a monotone voice that almost sounded more robotic than even the Seventh that was in this very situation.
"If you want to hurt Noei, you're going to have to get past me."Elka retracted his hand...
As he gripped his fists tightly.
All four of his men readying up too. "Why you...! You're that quiet girl from my class!
The hell are you doing...?! And why were you hiding in that tree?!"Noei's mouth fell in surprise.
To be protected...
It was a foreign feeling to them.Seren raised up her hands.
"And this person-
-Is my friend now."Elka pointed...
As his four men rushed ahead, all shouting.
The two with just their fists in the front. And the two with bats from behind.Seren looked back at Noei and grinned.
Though her grin was more like a smirk if anything. Her face wasn't very expressive.
As she held her fists up high.
The first one that approached her was really short, so... "!" Instantly getting into stance, she shifted her weight, switching footings. Left foot on the back, right forward.
She stretched her backfoot, swinging it high up. Thigh first, then the knee explosively burst up...
Hitting the man in the chin, sending him back and to the ground. "Ha!"
But due to that motion, the second person was approaching fast.
He threw a wild punch.
The moment Seren's foot reached the ground though... "!!!"
Her arm flared. The right arm. It shot out like a flash, the elbow of Seren meeting the man's nose...
Causing it to bleed with just one hit. The man stumbled back.
Two delinquents remained.The two were blown back.
One to the ground... "... HOLY SHIT!"
And the other, due to a bleeding nose. "I-I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE!"
Dash. The two left instantly.The two were armed. And had bats.
They both moved in at the same time, swinging it from the waist diagonally.
A full arc was done and... Seren stepped back.
They completed their swing. And were reeling back from the energy it took.
"Haaa...!!!"
In the time it took for them to recover, though...
Seren had already stepped forward and raised her arms...
As she threw a lightning fast jab to both of them. Two fast jabs for two delinquents. Dazing both of them.
It gave her enough time to perform two moves.
A stretch kick to one of their balls... And to the other one, a left hook. Followed by a straight punch to knock them down. (edited)And for the first time...
Noei was speechless.Elka rushed in, raising up his hands. As his entire knuckles covered his mouth.
He stepped in... And began to weave. Duck, weave, duck, weave.
Creating a strange motion. Moving in a strange rhythm. Gaining speed with every weave.Seren was intimidated at first. ("Shit. This guy's an actual fighter. But to use this as an opening, in a street fight...!!!")
But... Approaching the whirling Elka...
She glared what was practically the jaws of the beast.
And bet it all on speed.- Shoot.
Like a bullet, a raging right hook was thrown.
Boosted by his weaving and ducking, all the momentum was carried over to this blindingly fast hook.- Dart.
Like a gun, she was fired. Her foot sprung her forward...
And her other leg reached forth, ready to knee Elka straight in the gut.
Neither hit reached each other.As they both stopped themselves right before they hit.
"Yeah... I don't want to be seriously hurt either."Jump.
They both leaped off, with Elka spitting on the ground.
"We'll finish this some other day."Though Seren shared none of her enthusiasm.
While Elka had a bated eagerness.Elka began to wave.
Putting his hands in his pockets, he picked up both of the knocked out bat men as he started walking away.
It wasn't a happy defeat. But it wasn't a sad one either.
... This left just Noei and Seren.Noei took a second. Watching something they didn't understand wasn't new to them.
This entire day, Noei knew that they knew nothing.
That there was nothing they understood. No concept they entirely got.
They were explained things by Marika and Ms. Watcher, but at the same time, it's like they never entirely "got" it.
Thus, they had a feeling that life was just like this. That things were just like that.
- But...
Noei wasn't aware of it.
But this was the first time they were utterly fascinated with something they've never seen before.
"WHAT WAS THAAAAAAAAT?! THAT WAS SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!"
And in processing this feeling they couldn't understand, Noei quite literally forgot about their lesson about indoor voices.Seren stepped forward and pat Noei on the head. "Could you tone it down a little, if that's alright. Cause if you're loud..."
She pointed her thumb over to a tree...
And many birds were flying away. "You'll disturb the peace of the local nature here."With the same sort of bashfulness they gave Arisa and Marika when they injured
Doctor Etsuji...
Noei looked down, then to their sides. Then back down. Unsure of how to even express shame.Seren said, raising up a finger.Noei said. A brief moment of pride formed in them...
Then they realized with how they were interacting and talking.
A lighbulb flashed on their irises. "W-Wait! So you're, really, my friend?!"Seren stepped ahead...
For a moment, all Noei wanted to capture was the image of Seren's back.
For it was more fantastical than anything they have ever seen.
Due to being introduced to it all at once, the mundanities of the world, the high tech science and even the lesson on supernatural knowledge which fascinated the other students like Pharma and Elka...
All of that was new to Noei. They had no concept of what was fantastical or what was awe-inspiring and new.
This was Noei's first time experiencing it.
For a moment, the sight of Seren's back became a faraway image.
"I'll show you somewhere nice in the forest. My little secret."--------------------------- + Seren's Hideout + -------------------------------Of course, Noei would ask a question the moment they saw something they didn't understand. And also with the added attribute that they were with someone they trusted.
Deep in the Usui Forest (which was more like a jungle if anything, but if they knew the owner of the forest: they would know that the owner is HORRIBLE at naming things) was a treehouse.
Climbing up the unsteady rope ladder up, in that treehouse was an orbal device from Neuron. It was its own power source with things plugged into it.
And those things...Seren said, taking off her shoes once she got into the treehouse.
Because they were filled with mud. They crossed a swamp to get to the treehouse.
"This... Is where I practice music. Have you heard of that before?"
There were all sorts of instruments about.
The most common of which were different guitars- ranging from old to new.
Otherwise, other instruments were there. Drums, synths, keyboards...
Picking up a guitar and attaching it to an amp...
Seren already knew that Noei would want to hear the song no matter what.
Because she trusted them.Poking their chin... They said, "So music comes from stuff like this..."- She got her phone and began to play an instrumental.
After that... Seren began to play it.
What she was doing was only described as...
"Shredding it."
"Once upon a time, I thought I was an angel like everybody else
My skin, my eyes, my halo were the same as everyone else
Never had anything I was good at
Couldn’t do anything that I should have
Once upon a time, I thought I was an angel like everybody else-"
- And those words...The sound of the wind rustling through the air. That wind grazing past the leaves.
The beautiful instrumental that Seren was playing as well as her voice.
The mechanical movements within their body, even from something as minor as a blink.
The programs running in their brain.
Down to the sound of the cicadas, insects and animals in the forest.
Due to being a Seventh, Noei could hear it all.
And yet.
None of those sounds mattered to them.
They registered it, but it's like they weren't hearing it.
All they were hearing was Seren's song. The guitar, the instrumental and of course- her voice.
After hearing that song... ". . ."
Noei stood still. But this wasn't because they didn't know what to do.
It was something all of humanity- and even animals can appreciate.
Noei was memorized by the beauty of the song.
A voice that could only be described as a "star."
A heavenly feeling, one that sung with deep emotions.
Before they knew it, the song ended. (edited)With a slight blush in her cheeks...
Seren lowered her guitar. "How was it?"And that got Seren's blush to dissipate, replaced by laughter.
"Hahaha! Of course not! I just sang my heart out.
I picked this place for my hideout cuz' no kid with a thinking brain would go to a swamp. And this is past the swamp, deep in the woods...
... No one can hear us. Be as loud as you want."Every bird in the general vicinity went flying.Of course, due to being a metalhead...
Seren was used to this.
She only gave Noei a simple thumbs up and an honest grin.
After Noei finished shouting, she nodded. "T-Thanks for the compliment.
It isn't a song I made of my own- it's a cover. But I relate a lot to the lyrics."
She scratched the back of her hair shyly. "Don't think you'd get what they mean though... But it's alright."And...
"Is it really?"
... Noei let down the barriers to their heart too.
That song composed of Seren's everything. They could tell.
As they looked down.
"I get the feeling a lot of people expect me to know things. Then they get really disappointed when I just... Don't know them.""... I wasn't expecting them to be so upfront about it. Well, I guess it just further pushes why I like Sevenths so much."
Seren moved closer to Noei and pat their shoulder.
As they gave Noei a grin of her own. She was grinning for Noei.
"... There, there. It's only natural. Don't exactly know the circumstances of your creation, but... All of us were like that once. Not knowing anything at all, questioning everything...
No- we're all like that. We just get quieter about it."Noei said, meeting Seren in the eyes.Seren leaned on the wall, as she stared outside the window of her treehouse.
She smiled slowly. "I bet you've heard before from other people that your feelings are programmed, therefore they aren't real. Especially with the fact that all Sevenths are made with a purpose in mind."Noei nodded up and down. "Heard it before, but I don't really get it. As is with most things."Seren gripped her hands on the window frame.
As she looked out, a soft breeze blowing her hair.
"... Some people aren't given that privilege. When they're told to do something- but they're crap at it. Or if they're told to do something, but they don't wanna do it.
Most of the times, it's both times."Noei sat there, absorbing Seren's words.
And for a moment, they couldn't say anything else.
So Seren kept talking, noticing this.The wind stopped blowing.
But Seren didn't look any more amazing to Noei. "If you're good at something, then do it. If you're bad at something, then don't waste your time at it.
That's my philosophy. World only needs to end where you want it to end."Bashfully, Noei stared down. "I get that you're saying a lot, but I don't really understand most of it...
B-But I do feel it! These words, you've put everything into it!" Of course, due to the lack of their lived experience... There was no chance at all that Noei could understand.
Perhaps that's why Seren said it in the first place. She knew that Noei wouldn't get it.
Therefore...
"So... Um... Since we're friends...
I can come back here, right?"
... That would mean Noei would want to come back.Seren said, giving Noei a finger gun.
"I'm the only one here, so it might get a bit lonely, though."
Seren leaned back against the wall. "Though I get the feeling it'll be fine with just the two of us."CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/15/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Afternoon
WEATHER: CloudyOf course...
The Seventh Noei was talking about was the only other one they knew.
A few days later, they were given a day-off...
And Marika had arrived onto the scene during their lunchbreak, making it their way to the treehouse.
Of course, as a lover of Noei and all things cute... It took them no time at all to acclimate.
Gathered in the treehouse, Marika was at a keyboard.
Playing a simple, but elegant tune.
Where both Noei and Seren were listening.
After a while...
"... W-Well, err...! How'd I do?" She finished, looking back at the two.
"I'm a Nurse Seventh, so I'm not exactly programmed for this. A-And I know that most Sevenths that aren't Music Sevenths lack a certain humanistic edge to it, so it MAY sound a bit hollow..."Despite her anxieties...
All of those feelings were washed away when Marika saw Noei cheering with their fist.
Pumping up it and down.
"WOOOOO!!! That was so calming and cool, Marika! I know I say cool a lot, but I super mean it this time!"
- It's been a few days, so Noei's language has changed a bit.
They leaned over to Seren. ("By the way, did I use the word super correctly?") (edited)Seren clapped again and again.
"I knew Sevenths had insanely good hearing, since pitch perfectness is basically trained in them... But that was great.
I've seen Music Seventh concerts before, and you seriously made me believe you were a Music Seventh..."
After that, she responded to Noei. ("Yeah. You're doing great, Noei.")Marika sat down. She wasn't programmed with blush due to being a newer and more specialized model. Newer models get rid of more human features to focus on their job.
Even so, they could tell she was embarrassed.
Scratching the back of her hair, she said, "Still a nurse robot through and through! Look at this!"
From her chest, a lid opened up, as an extra hand stretched out a towel which wiped some of Seren's sweat.
It went back inside of her.
"Still, it was fun playing piano! I'm guessing with all these instruments here, you wanna be a musician in the future?"Seren said... As she grabbed onto a guitar.
Pointing to the sky, while looking down. "My catchphrase is gonna be like-
-Yo, what's good, everyone?!" Seren put a harsh voice on purpose. "It's me, the Rockstar from Outer Space, here to blow you to the NEXT GALAXY!!!"
And after that...
... Seren got so embarrassed, she shamed her way straight to the corner.
"T-That was cheesy. Please ignore that."Marika said, pointing to her chin.Noei pumped up their fist again.Seren finally got the courage to shuffle over to the two.
But she was still hiding her face somewhat by looking away.
Her dream was close to her. But she couldn't afford to be as genuine and open as Noei. "They also go around the world. Before the war, Shiori even toured all 5 countries... Steel City, Whitebell, Sergit, Subterra and Lucrece."Noei scratched their chin. "I dunno about Marika, but I can't imagine someone cooler than you.
You're the coolest guy I know."At that remark...
"Wha..........
Uh... Bwuh... Guh.........."
Seren became a steaming hot mess.
Her face blushing too hard, as she buried herself in her knees.Marika knew this and continued onwards.
"Guess we both have that in common then! We BOTH idolize Shiori! Though I'm pretty sure every Seventh does, except for..."
Marika looked at Noei, frowning. "Oh, man. You were born AFTER the Disappearance of Shiori Hashimoto. That blows. That reaaaaaally blows."Noei said, grinning.
Within the past few days, thanks to Seren... Noei learned something powerful.
The ability to INFER things.Marika said, rushing her fists up in frustration. "AND you're super adorable when you say that! I feel like I'm going under an overdose of "people I like!" And that includes you too, Seren! You're suuper cutr when you're bashful!!!"Seren's face couldn't take anymore.
So she just sat there, still red.
As she shook her head, twirling her long hair. "I-I'm really not used to comments like those.
Back in Gradeschool, I was bullied for being weird and all that... People used to call me an alien... Never have I..." ... Her voice trailed off, but it was obvious what she was going to say. She just can't say it because she's lost in her own memories.Noei said, pointing.She realizes...
Then Seren clears her throat. "... Well it's not like I look back at those days with disdain, you know.
I turned my weakness into my strength. What people used to make fun of me before is now my branding.
Besides." Seren looked outside. "I've always loved space. And I've always wanted to go there."
Staring and pointing at the skies above... She spoke wistfully. "When I was young, Dad promised to take me there. Showed me a hologram of what space looked like. But lately, inflation's been going nuts on vacations to space, so I'm not sure you'll see it any time soon."Seren dashed in close.
As she shushed Marika. ("Please, I REALLY don't want to talk about this stuff to Noei. I'm here in my hideout to avoid all of this...")Marika said, nodding in repsonse.
Then she raised up a finger. ("Sevenths have enhanced hearing though. Did you forget?")Noei clapped. "If you don't want to talk about, it's fine.
I get the feeling that when I ask questions, the answers I get aren't the full story.
So... I guess that means there are things I'm better off not knowing- or things I shouldn't know!" With a smile...
Noei gave a thumbs up. "But thank you for confirming it directly!"Without Seren even noticing it...
Her eyes got teary eyed. Fortunately, she wiped it on instinct.
As she twirled her fingers together. "I'm... I'm proud you realized that so fast."...
It took Seren a bit.
She opened her mouth, didn't say anything, closed it...
Ruminated on it... Even got in a thinking pose...
Then the question she posed was the exact same.
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Except more urgent.Nod nod.Sliiiiiiiiiiide.
Despite the hastily constructed ladder of Seren's treehouse being unstable...
Seren practically slid down that ladder like her life depended on it.
As she made a mad dash to a figure she saw in the distance. "HEY!
IF YA RUN, I'LL CATCH UP AND BLOW YOUR LIGHTS OUT!!!"And the person who has been eavesdropping on them...
... Was the delinquent who had tried to get Noei in trouble on their first day.
Creaaaaak.
Their head practically rotated to face Seren.
The moment their eyes met, Elka was filled with fear.
"Please don't mess me up. I'm REALLY not in the position to be fightin' right now, much as I like it."
Such was clear from his body.
He was muddy and dirty. And the lower part of his pants were torn open.
Revealing a light wound- a scrape on his knee.Seren cracked her knuckles. "Explain.
Now." No mercy was in her voice.The boy stammered all over his voice.
As his eyes moved left and right, wondering how to say things.
"I, er, um... I wanted to... Guh..." But the words were stuck in his throat.
Even moreso...When Noei and Marika arrived on the scene.
Innocently, they pointed. "Oooooh! The guy that bullied me! Hello!!!"
When Noei greeted Elka without a hint of shame.Marika said, arriving alongside Noei. "Why I oughta-"
- Pause.
First, there was anger in her voice. Then...
She dashed forward and moved past Seren, practically shoving her aside. "Move."
She said that as her arms began to morph. "And don't move either."
Some healing salve, a blue gel, extended from her arm and spreaded on the scrape.He flinched at first.
But... Upon noticing the salve, he stopped moving.
"O-Oi. That's the magic shit that they use in the infirmary to heal me!
No, wait, what're you doing?!" Elka gained clarity. "Aint'chou Noei's friend?! They just said it- I'm their bully!"Marika said, tying a gauze around Elka's scrape.
"I'm a Nurse Seventh. I heal humans, robots AND Sevenths alike.
You're no exception, bully of Noei or not." Clap clap.
Finishing it quickly, Marika crossed her arms. "Still doesn't mean you get to bully this little cutie pie!"At what Marika had to say...
Elka gripped his fists tightly. With frustration. Conflicted feelings.
After all-
He's been harboring that for the past few days.
Pushed to the brink...
He spoke honestly.
"... GODDAMN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!"This forest was no stranger to loud noises.
After all, a future rockstar was playing in this very forest.
But Seren wasn't expecting a sound like that to come from Elka of all people.
"... Eh?"Elka said, standing up.
As with a proud look, he bumped his chest with his fist. "People who stare at insurmountable odds, like Society and all that and how mad it gets the moment you even try to look different...
And go, "yeah! I'll still be me in spite of that!" And all that."
The boy pointed at all of them. "Or in other words, you guys!
Hate to say it, cuz' I'm best friends with the Robophobic of all time...
But Sevenths are actually kind of cool, you know!?
And you are too!"And at all of this...
Seren had nothing to say.
She simply had her mouth agape, unsure of how to even think of the situation at hand in the first place.orz
Elka instantly fell into a position that could only be described as an intense kowtow.
"I know I spread bad rumors about you, Noei! And I've been bad to you!
And I ALMOST Dempsey Roll'd you, Seren. Almost. It would've hurt REALLY BAD if it landed.
But your singing voice and rock and roll... Noei's honesty...
IT'S SO FRIGGIN' COOOOOOL!!!!!!" Elka burst up with even more enthusiasm.
Somehow, it calmed down.
As he exhaled. "... So what I'm saying is-
I'd rather be friends with you guys than hang out with some musky tryhard delinquents who're just with me cause I can box real well."Noei said, giving a thumbs up. "Dunno if Seren is okay with it, but I'll be your friend!"
With a pure smile, she chuckled a little. "I might not know much or be the smartest, but Seren taught me how to be a friend of someone. This time I can say it with confidence!"Before he knew it...
Elka formed a thumbs up of his own too. "Hell yeah.
Hell friggin' yeah."At that moment...
The animosity of Seren faded.
But it wasn't replaced with understanding. Rather, it was replaced with confusion.
As she stepped back, watching the two interact. "Well, if Noei's fine with it...
... Then I guess it'll be alright."Marika noticed Seren, who was standing back.
As she let out a mimicked exhale. Robots didn't need to breathe so Sevenths didn't either.
But they could still mimic the motion of sighing.
"Offput by the bully's change? He looked like a tough guy to me, so...
I was a little surprised at first.
But y'see... That's the reason I like humans too."- And to the one who loves Sevenths...
... Seren couldn't comprehend this.1-3: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-4:
Breaking and MisfortuneCURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/21/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Night
WEATHER: Rainy (edited)---------------------- + Astoria Household, V District + ------------------------------- (edited)Before, Seren Astoria would go home as late as possible.
When this was caught wind of, Seren Astoria got a curfew.
After that, Seren Astoria always made sure to only enter one minute right before the curfew.
She would spent as much time as possible away from home.
The district she lived in, rather than the tall towers of the Krypt District, was the V District.
"Smooth" and "utilitarian" was the best way she could describe it.
Rather than existing to wow people in its daily lives, its buildings were only the size they needed to be.
Design and art were still a big part of it, though. But now it was blended in with a utilitarianism that was in part ruthless. Devouring.
No building could be too big. No building could be too small either.
It was all too uniform.
Even a grand mansion was uniform.
With an umbrella in her hands, that was what she was standing in front of.
A large mansion. Not a grandiose or a lavish one by any means, but still a mansion with two huge floors.
Seren's house was this mansion.
Unlocking the keys to the house...
"I'm hoooome~.
... Ah, of course." There was nobody there.
The grand entryway was empty with no lights on.
The hallways too. Empty.And even walking into the dining room of the household...
It was empty too.
It was huge too, with at least 20 seats.
The table could also support loads of dishes too. It even had a conveyor belt system like sushi restaurants.
The kitchen, too, was state of the art. There was even a personal Cooking Robot that was deactivated. It also hasn't seen use in a while, evidenced by the dust piling up on it.
But she would rarely ever see it filled. Only when her mother shook hands with other businessmen and politicians.
Most of the time, it was just...
"Today too, huh..."
... A note.
An envelope with a note that was written so much, that it's now printed.
Even reused.
"AT WORK. BUY YOUR OWN FOOD TODAY.
- Lyla Astoria."
Seren moved over tot he note and took the envelope.
Barely any Yen was was in it.
"Guess I'll just have the same snacks I always do." (edited)...
Tick, tock.After getting what was barely considered a meal from a local convenience store...
Seren thought it was funny. Her mother was a businessman, yet she didn't account for the very fact that inflation had caused the average meal prices to rise.
Therefore the same allowance she was given to buy her own dinners 8 years ago is not the same as it is now.
She headed up to her room. Which she never considered her room.
Her hideout was her room. Seren wasn't safe anywhere in this so called household of hers.
Which was evidenced the moment she got into her rooms.
"...!!!!!!"
In her room, which consisted of just a fancy bedroom with barely any furniture...
The lights were on.
In the middle of the room was a long haired woman who looked similar to Seren-
- But her eyes were more faded.
What she was holding was a receipt.
And what was behind her was a box. A delivery box.
"I'm not going to ask what this is, because the receipt clearly says it.
But a proxy address and a proxy purchasing account? You're getting cleverer by the ages.
If only you could use that cleverness for something useful."What Seren's face was mimicking... No...
The only thing it embodied as of this very moment was abject horror.
A face so deep in despair, it almost looked like her life was about to end at that very moment.
It was as if a puppet gained sentience and noticed its strings were about to be cut.
She lost all feeling. She lost all senses in that moment.
What was in that box was her next guitar. An expensive one.
When clarity hit her, she began to sweat.
"I... I can explain."Step. "Out of all the things you do to escape your role, I can't believe you'd go back to music. Wasn't the message I sent to you- getting rid of that piano you bought with your allowance enough?"
Another step.- Gulp.
At this point, she was so filled with despair that Seren thought to think.
"How...?"
She lost all senses of self preservation.
"How did you know?"Lyla stepped back.
Looking at the box... "Do you take me for an idiot? Of COURSE you'd go do something ELSE that would get in the way of your role.
I enrolled you in one of the best schools so you could properly inherit my company once I pass away. Which I believe to be soon.
I only look youthful because I am a Circulator."
... She lifted it. (edited)It's only then, Seren noticed...
Lyla was slightly wet.
The window was open. "Because you are my daughter. You're supposed to know this."
And...
With an effortless throw...
The box, the latest of Seren's hopes and dreams, were dashed out.
As they fell and hit the ground.
"Now then." (edited)- Watching the box fall out of sight, into the harsh rain outside...
Again. Seren had so much terror that she forgot how to scream.
Or she was conditioned not to scream. "......."Lyla turned back to Seren.
With an unchanging look too. What she did wasn't monumental to her.
Lyla was just going through the motions of what she considered discipline.
In fact, it was as if this action was pre programmed into her.
"... You go home late. So there's another thing we can conclude.
And you set up a proxy account too. For reuse.
Where are the other instruments, Seren?" (edited)And at that sheer pain...
Seren had howled.
The howl came from deep within her soul. The dream to be a rock star, crushed due to a mother.
Crushed, due to someone that was supposed to support her.
Seren's dream, her entire being...
...
It's said that a dream can sometimes be likened to a curse.For if one fails their dream, they are cursed forever.----------------------------- + Steel City Outskirts Mountain Road + ------------------------ (edited)CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/22/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Midnight, 3 AM
WEATHER: Heavy RainIn silence.
Seren had taken a motorcycle and driven off. One of the many vehicles from her household garage.
She had a license, so she knew how to drive.
The last time her mother had caught onto her fighting- which was years ago, she did the same thing to vent.
Drive.
It wasn't something she liked doing.
She hated the feeling of controlling something so powerful, but remaining tethered to the ground.
Seren wanted to fly.
If she was going to pilot something so powerful, then why not fly?
Unfortunately, licenses for planes, flying cars and spacecrafts took training and years to learn.
Something she was rejected by Lyla. Apparently it isn't too useful for a CEO.
So Seren was rejected the ability to fly too.
She didn't like driving.
So surrounding herself with things she disliked was perfect for her to bask in hate.
Seren didn't like lingering in hate for a while.
Especially...
("... I've got friends now.
Noei. Elka. Even Marika...")
... The moment she thought about them...
She sped her motorcycle up. "Damn it! I'm supposed to be surrounding myself in hate so I let it all out now, not thinking about them!"
She felt happy... Just by remembering them.
But she wasn't supposed to. She was supposed to bask in this rage so she won't feel it anymore.
Speed. Higher.
Get angrier so she won't have to feel angry anymore.
Get rid of all of this hate now, so it doesn't show to mother.
Get rid of all of this hate now, so it doesn't have to show Noei this si-...
"... GHH!!!!!!!!" - Higher.
She sped even higher. (edited)So much so...
That especially due to the heavy rain making it hard to see-
Neither side could see each other.
Due to her rage, Seren wasn't aware that the road went two ways.
Coming right her way...
Was a massive oil tanker.A speeding, angry, vehicle versus a massive oil tanker that also believed nothing was in its way.
A dwarf versus a goliath.
On a rainy day where nobody could be seen.
The result does not need to be stated.----------------------------- + Sapphire High + ------------------------ (edited)CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/22/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Rainy...
In the classroom of 1-B...
A normal day started like usual.
People came to class, started being rowdy, playing with each other...
Making gossip, even Noei started joining in on the fun too.
Of course. Due to the respect she garnered...
"Good morning~!!! Or maybe you'd hesitate to say good morning, cause it's RAINING!
Which NEVER happens in a morning in Steel City! I guess we can start expecting the ice caps to melt too, hm?"
... The moment Ms. Watcher entered the classroom everyone compsoed themselves.
"Aaalright, let's do our usual homeroom and headcount!"Elka was doing his usual pose.
His legs on the table, he had moved his seat to sit next to Noei.
Temporarily taking the pocky out of his mouth to speak clearer, he spoke. "Most o' us don't skip Homeroom cause of the interestin' stories you tell us."The A-student spoke, rearing in his head.
"What if someone were sick for example? We'd need to know."Noei said, nodding up and down...
As in their seat- they looked to the very corner of the room.
A table that hasn't been touched. A bag wasn't even on it.
A pensive look appeared on Noei.
"I wonder what happened to Seren, then."1-4: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-5:
Renji Tenma---------------------------------- + ??? + --------------------------------It was here-
That everything began to change.CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/24/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Evening
WEATHER: Still RainyHeavy rain.
Men in black, standing outside of a huge gate.
A gate with many scanners to boot too. It was equipped with state of the art technology.
What lied beyond the gate was like a blend between a haunted mansion and an old cathedral.
- For some reason, it just felt holy.
Yet equally cursed.
There were lights on, but those lights could barely light anything.
Only one floor existed to the vast manor beyond. But it was wide.
Some parts were messy. Some parts were clean.
And when lightning struck in the distance and lit up a bit of the dark, some parts were revealed to be covered in moss entirely.
It was a strange place that didn't seem to adhere to time.
Standing outside of it...
... Was Lyla Astoria. With men in black, armed too.
Some carrying a coffin.
"... OPEN UP!"
She was knocking again and again, speaking into the PR system.
"I know you're in there! If you do not open, I will NOT hesitate to use force!
And we're in the backstreets anyways! Hardly anyone will see nor notice this event!"
- Again and again.
She knocked over and over. "OPEN UP, RENJI TENMA!
The TRUE creator of the Sevenths!" Again. To the point where her hand was becoming numb.
"I know the truth! After all, I am connected to the underworld! Your name was scrubbed by the records! Forgotten by the world! And instead, your accomplishments were taken by that fraud Doctor Etsuji!
With that knowledge, will you let me in?!"
...
There was still no response.
To that, even though it was raining...
After enough time had passed, Lyla fell to her knees and said one word.
Out of pure desperation. "... Please ..." (edited)
- Slam.
The doors quickly opened. Without even suspense to see it open.
It was closed, then it was open. That's how fast it was for such a massive gate.
Thus, Lyla only looked up when the man revealed himself.
Standing in front of the doors to this wide manor, one that seemed haunted...
Was a man who was very, very alive.
A deceptively young looking man wearing shades.
"Leave your men outside.
If you feel unsafe, then you may bring bodyguards in. The discretion is up to you, but should I deem it unnecessary, I will cast them out."
He stated, arms crossed while looking down on the people before him. (edited)As if a sun shined through this heavy evening...
She stood up. Looking behind her... "Go.
I'll have this talk alone. If he ends up doing something suspicious, or I don't come back by 2:00 PM, you have the right to storm this place and raze it to the ground. Chase Renji Tenma to the ends of the Earth should it happen."
The men in suits saluted. "Ah- wait."
Pointing to the ones carrying the coffin... "... You will follow me." (edited)Stepping in, Renji removed his shoes.
Lyla almost forgot to until Renji gave him a hard stare.
He, Lyla and the men in black followed. "But I assume that's why you came to a Doctor whose entire existence was erased from both the present and history.
Although I'd like to question how you know me... As you weren't there for when I unveiled the first Seventh, it matters not."
Eventually, they went to a dining room.
One occupied entirely by robots doing the dishes, housework and ones that have already freshly prepared tea.
Advanced robots too. Who instead of having legs or wheels, floated using EM Wave projections.
Renji sat down. "Hope you like green tea. It's a family favorite of ours, so I only buy it."Lyla nodded, as she sipped the tea she was given.
"... This is actually good."
She met Renji in the eyes, or at least, where she thinks they are given the shades...
As she pulled out a phone, projecting a hologram. "I hope you don't mind the imagery, even though it's been censored.
But my daughter died recently in a car accident." (edited)Renji readjusted his sunglasses.
As he lowered his head. "My condolences to you, then."Lyla slammed her hand down on the table.
As she wasn't able to control her emotions. "Please!
Revive her!"
The words were caught in her throat for a bit... As Lyla was shocked at how desperate and pathetic she shouted.
"I... I know of the truth. That you actually made the Sevenths. Their equipment, the Being research and the brilliant AI that makes them close to human."
Those were words she had trouble saying.
"W-What I mean to say is...
Can you build her again?
An exact copy of her, as a Seventh?"She shook her head. "... It was my daughter's idea, actually. When she was very young."
And her voice got unstable again. "I'll take all of the funds from there and use it to pay you!"Lyla lowered her head.
As she started twirling a strand of her long hair. "She was fond of Sevenths. Very much so. I never understood why, but it was always the case."With a brief pause...
For some reason, Renji looked relieved.
So he spoke and answered Lyla.
"For free."
So Lyla did not ask again...
He gave a serious look, his entire body straight.
"I'll do it for free." (edited)Sadly, she did ask again. But luckily for him, he did not need to speak.
As Lyla readjusted herself. "I heard the rumors that you were a mad scientist, driven only to see the results of something new... But I had no idea they were true to this extent."
Lyla stood up, coughing. "B-But. That's why we have this body.
I've heard you can extract memories from a brain if they've died recently with the latest technologies. So... I will let you have her body, as much as it pains me to hand it over."Renji also stood up.
Still with a composed look, he shook his head.
"No- I'll need more than that." He put his hands in his pockets, smirking.
"Photos. Videos. Memoirs. Records. Journals. Things they cherished. Things they hated.
As much as you can give me.
Only then...
... Will your daughter truly be reborn."------------------------ + Zone Backstreets, Winter House + --------------------CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/25/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Evening
WEATHER: Still RainyCreeaaak.
A door was opened.
To Noei, this was the third district they've ever visited.
- On a whim, they also went to the V District while hanging out with Elka.
The Zone Backstreets were a place that was less grand than the Krypt District...
But it was also filled with lots and lots of expression.
Each house, even down to the residential houses, were different from the last.
It was undeniably a backstreet. Filled with grafitti and dirt.
But it was also the place of local markets with their own regional tech. Robot designs not seen elsewhere.
Strange roads and streets that looked improvised rather than planned.
A splash of colors, yet all forming something new.
As evidenced by the house Noei was going to.
Because it was like a huge dome- almost like an igloo due to how white it was.
"Wow..." Noei said, as the door to it was opened.
"The living room here's even bigger than the one in Neuron!"The one that was accompanying- or rather leading Noei...
Was Winter Kirchweger , one of the Sevenths who saw them first created.
She walked in, chuckling slowly. "Hehe... That's surprising, as this is the backstreets. And Neuron's a rich institute.
Oh- wait, do I need to explain what I mean by that...?"
Winter realized quickly.On instinct, Noei took off their shoes.
Though they didn't need to.
- Nor did Doctor Etsuji instruct them too. "I can't figure out why yet though. I just got here. But it isn't so bad either! More people are hanging out in the streets that aren't kids. And talking! Most of the people I see on the Krypt District are just rushing to work or a restaurant."Winter said, looking back with a smile.
She moved over to the kitchen, which was merged with the huge living room.
Even the dining room was. She began to prepare hot cocoa.
"I guess Doctor Etsuji's experiment IS succeeding. In just a week and a little bit beyond that, you've changed a lot."Noei said, tilting. "Noei is still Noei, from my eyes."Winter said, looking back at Noei.
"I don't know if you know this, but us Sevenths can eat and drink as normal humans do. We just don't need to and only do it for the taste."Noei said, practically hopping up and down. "My friend Elka made me try this really cool thing- I mean, a really cool burger!
Now I eat and eat!" Noei rubbed their stomach. "I-It's gotten to be a bit of a problem for Doctor Etsuji, though... But I can control myself!" Putting their hands on their hips, they let out a proud raise of the chin.Winter rubbed her nose wistfully. "Heh... Same case for me.
Wasn't the fan of doing useless things either. Then I saw Officer Kilian drinking coffee after work, and he forgot I was a Seventh. So he made me try it, and damn was it good."
Winter looked back at Noei, shrugging. "Though... I'm not sure if you'd like it. The bitter taste's not for everyone. So I got you somethin' everyone enjoys. Here."
She placed a mug of steaming hot cocoa on the dining table.
As she sat directly in front of Noei's seat with some cookies and milk.Noei reached for the mug, touching it... "O-Oh. Receptors say I should be feeling hot right now, but Doctor Etsuji turned off my ability to feel most pain before he... Went to court."
Which is the exact reason why Noei is staying at Winter's.
The sudden awakening of Noei, draining the city's energy- especially in not informing Chairman Ether...
Landed him in legal trouble, and now he has to settle it in court.
Lawyers say he'll likely be innocent, though. "... Well then! I've drank tea before, and this looks similar to tea! Here we go!!!"
Siiiiip.
"...!!!!!! Oh! This is good!!!"Winter smiled slowly. "Knew you'd like it.
But you might be disappointed if I have it elsewhere. My friends say that I make hot cocoa better than some Chef Sevenths."For a second...
Winter was frozen. Before she regained her composure, remarking in her head at how observant Noei's become.
She looked at Noei's mug. "... Of course." It had Winter's name on it.
And in the kitchen, there were three other mugs.Noei nodded up and down.
"Hey, if you have three other people living with you, where are they right now?"Winter said, munching on a cookie.
"Damn. This tastes good. I should bake for myself more." (edited)Noei leaned in.Munch, munch, munch.
Winter... Was intentionally trying to keep her mouth full.
So she wouldn't be able to speak.
She was stuffing an abnormal amount of cookies in her mouth.And figuring out quickly that Winter wouldn't speak...
Noei quickly walked over to the mugs before Winter could protest.
As they turned around the mugs revealing the names "Lukia", "Cybil" and "Marika."
Upon seeing her name...
Stars formed in her eyes.
:O "Woaaaaah! So Marika lives here?!?!?!?!"
Quickly- Noei darted back in their seat. "I like Marika a lot! She's a super good friend!!! We hang out, she plays music with me, Seren and Elka...! And we have lots of fun!"- Gulp.
Swallowing all the cookies at once, Winter drank a lot of milk.
As she put her cup down. "Y-Yeah...
... She, uh, talked about you a lot. She really liked you."Noticing a disrepancy in Winter's voice- the sudden shift in tone...
Noei tilted their head curiously. "Uh-huh...
Where are they now? Pleaaase tell me we can sleep over!!! I promised I'd sleep over with Elka, Marika and Seren all together one of these days! But Seren was reaaally sad for some reason and didn't want us to come over...
I... I haven't seen her in the past few days either. I wonder if she's really sick...!"At that...
Winter's artificial heart twisted.
As the words that she wanted to let out got even harder and harder to say.
Gripping her cup tightly, Winter grit her teeth.
And through an even quieter tone than usual, she forced herself to speak.
- Down to reaching to the mechanical workings inside her programming to force her to say it loudly. As Sevenths can toggle if they wish to be more machine-like than usual.
"Ma... Marika...
Marika was killed."......
Noei reacted the same way...
When encountering things they didn't recognize.
"Killed?
What does that mean?" (edited)Winter tried to look for a cookie.
But she ate it all.
So she was forced to speak. "It means she's not coming back."...
Of course, Noei could not fully understand it.
They knew Winter was sad.
But not the weight or depth of that sadness. "You can come over to hang out with me, Seren, Marika and Elka though! She likes playing piano now!"Another gulp.Pause.
"Why?
Did... Did something happen to her? Did she get sick too?"Winter put her hands on the table.
Staring at Noei's eyes. Watching for even the slightest change in emotion.
She had a feeling she had to see it all.
"If you die, you can't talk anymore. You can't be with the ones you love anymore. You can't eat your favorite food or your favorite drinks and you can't meet anyone new either.
To die, it means... You're gone. You can't do anything else anymore, cause you're dead.
And to be killed-
-It means someone made you die. They caused the death of that someone."Death is already enough to introduce to one who knows nothing.
But due to this unfortunate situation...
Noei had to be introduced to two concepts at once. Two concepts which bent their mind harder than anything else before.
The concept of someone dying...
... And the concept of murder.
Winter watched Noei to see the slow change in their face.
From confusion. To sadness...
And now to a swell of both. "... Why?"Nod.What was shown from Winter's phone, with projected a hologram over on the table...
Was Marika.
Cut into 17 pieces.
Her hand- her left arm, split into two, her leg, her head into many pieces, her entire body a disheveled mess...
Wires, electricity, and... A strange aura pouring out of her.
- Little did Noei know, it was a life force that all sentient beings had. Furyoku.
The fact that it was guzzling out of her, forming wisps in the sky, was proof that she had passed.
"It was to an assailant in the middle of the night, in the Krypt District oddly enough. Near the airport. Estimated time of death was between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Autopsy report and the body suggests it was done with a bladed weapon.
... There were also hints of a struggle.
She went out fighting until the very end."Winter put her hands together. "I'm... So, so sorry.
The investigation is still ongoing, and I was forced to drop out of it..."
Her body was shaking.
But upon seeing Noei, looking like they were on the verge of snapping...
They regained their composure. "... B-But.
We do have a lead.
Similarly, near the airport is one of the most famous resort places. Astoria Beach Resort.
And... It was destroyed. All in one day.
The suspect is believed to be a rogue Seventh."1-5: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-6:
Seren Astoria (edited)--------------- + Astoria Metro Resort, V District + --------------------------CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/26/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Drizzle, but the sky is dark (edited)The Astoria Brand Resorts were always a highlight to go to regardless of place or country.
Located in all countries except Whitebell, due to the war between Steel City and Whitebell...
They always have different themes and are places of equal exploration and relaxation.
For one, they all had different themes.
And another thing is- they went above and beyond in terms of what they offered.
The Astoria Metro Resort is meant to be a lower budget more cost efficient resort. It's located near many anusement parks and attractions in the V District, so it's more of a normal hotel.
Despite that, it provides 2 whole water parks, a mini amusement park, connection to a mall and also hosts for shows. All while being well maintained.
That said mall also being partnered with Astoria Metro Resort.
The Astoria Resorts are an extremely lucrative and seemingly wholesome chain.
But its meeting rooms were ripped straight out of a spy film.
In the basement of the Astoria Metro Resort, which were often vast and wide...
Meetings were often held. In dark rooms, with papers, bulletin boards that detail all sorts of information...
And the people in the very room were smoking, gathering paper.
The one at the head of the meeting was Lyla Astoria.
Putting down a cigarette at the ashtray, she exhaled.
"Well. Is that all the information you have to offer, Meinster?"There were only 3 people in this meeting.
The second person spoke. She was wearing a formal and regal dress.
One that stood out in a crowd, but in a way that would intimidate a person.
Rather than a cigarette, she was smoking a pipe.
And on her gloves were strange, intricate, sigils.
"Yes.
Even with my Magic, it seems the Seventh who blew up your entire Resort has abilities that either relate to obscuring of information... Or they destroyed it entirely."
- As she spoke, her voice was beautiful. Almost like an opera signer that could take people's hearts away.
Or rather, a siren.
"I'm sure you're disappointed in me, but I digress. I have reason to be disappointed in you as well, what with the recent production issues with your Space Resort and the months of delays it's gotten."An eyebrow fell down in frustration.
"Now is not the time to bring up the issues with that Resort. And just so you know, nothing will stop me from completing that project of mine."
Looking over to her right...
She looked at the third person too. "And I'm going to assume the science of the Ministry of Defense has failed me, or you're here to reject me. I've heard that officers work in pairs, and you seem to be alone."
A man with pale skin and heavy armor spoke.
Despite the fact that the army looked like it was made of heavy metals and state of the art technology...
The man could move freely in it.
As he let out a clear of his throat in shame.
"I was supposed to come here with my assigned partner, a Seventh by the name of Winter Kirchweger. But situations came up and she wasn't able to come for the day.
And unfortunately, you're right. The camera systems and tracking devices were all broken in that Resort with no signs of tracking it.
All that we know is that a Seventh caused it."Lyla crossed her legs.
As she glared. "Even if Steel City is at stake with such a powerful Seventh running around, you still won't be of any use, hm?"The one named Meinster spat on the ashtray.
As she stood up. "We've simply reached our investigative limit. But it can't be helped. We're only human.
And we may be dealing with a Seventh with destructive power equal to the first, Shiori Hashimoto."The officer also stood up.
Putting his hands in his armor's pockets, as he let out a sigh.
"We protect the civilians of Steel City. The both of us." He cast a taunting glare to the one named Meinster.
"So we'll offer you our protection from that Seventh. That's all we can give. I assume this meeting is over?"Slam.
With a raise of her fist...
She shook the entire table just with the force of her fist. "Just your protection, really now?!
These resorts are my life and my dream. One was destroyed leaving nothing but rubble.
And you mean to tell me all you can do is to prevent the others from turning into ash?!
A Seventh is out there, with the ability to do the same to all the others!
You should be seeking revenge! Hunt them down! Chase them until they turn to scrap metal!"
With sheer rage in her voice...
It caused the two to stop, though they had their backs turned to Lyla.
But...
Before the two could turn around to face Lyla with scathing words of her own...
A woman walked into the meeting room.
- It was Seren Astoria. Lyla's daughter.
With distinct steps.
Steps that sounded like steel walking. Despite the fact she was only wearing light clothing.
Carrying a tray with tea in it, she carried some green tea over to the table.
"Such shouting is bad for your high blood pressure. I'm not telling you to calm down, but...
It would be bad if you aren't able to do as much work as you can. Not with that Seventh still out there."Both of them...
Were intrigued by Seren's appearance.
And immediately sat down to drink the tea.
"... Good. Better than what Arwest makes."In frustration, Lyla lowered her eyebrows. "You should know better.
My preference is black." In spite of that, she took a sip.
"... This is really good."
Lyla was able to hide her surprised expression at the quality of the tea, though.
"And when did you have time to learn how to make tea this go- in general? You've never made tea before. And I thought I told you to only work on becoming a good CEO."Seren looks at Lyla with a serene smile.
An offputtingly serene smile that only the officer and Meinster caught.
"I know you have told me many times to not speak back to you, but I believe it is necessary for a CEO to know how to serve as well.
We may lead, but to our potential partners and those above us... We must show that we are loyal. Worthy of trust and worthy of lending support."Lyla scratched her chin in surprise.
- As even she wasn't sure of what to think of this.
But she did grin. "I suppose you are learning of how to properly run a business in school. Even to the point where you're learning things that I haven't learnt..."Greta cast a gaze other to Lyla.
With a suspicious, almost predatory, grin.
As if her question was about to eat Lyla whole. "... Lyla. Who is this?"Lyla said, caught off guard by the question.
"I've raised her to be my successor. Her progress is very astonishing, and I believe she may even surpass me once she takes over."
Those were not empty words coming from Lyla.
It was genuine pride. And her genuine wishes as well.Greta stood up after quickly finishing the tea.
"It was so good, I forgot to savor it and just kept drinking..."
Quickly, she gave the officer a knowing glance. "But we'll be back once you've sorted things out. Perhaps include Seren in your next discussion as well. She seems to help you with negotiations."
Taking a hat on the table, the regal woman began to leave.Mazda stood up.
Bowing in front of the two, he silently made his exit as well.
However, to the perceptive eye, it was clear he had a lot of thoughs ruminating.
His exit was made in haste.Shortly after those two leaved...
Seren looked at Lyla. "Shall I trail them, mother?"With a proud gaze, though no smile...
Lyla lowered her chin. "Make sure you aren't spotted."Seren gave a nod...
And left the room.
Once she was alone, she began to walk.
Step. Step. Step.
In an empty, underground hallway... Her steps were clear.
She spoke with an emotionless look.
"That fool.
You revive me, and yet you haven't changed at all."
Once Seren spoke that-
-All the anger shot straight to her back.
As she keeled over, hunching down. Seren's hand met her eye.
"Yet I've changed in ways... You could never have imagined in your life."
Once she did-
Aura started leaking out of her. A white, pure energy. Almost like mist.
As...
... From her back, the mirages of two silver wings of terror appeared.
Dark, silver, wings.
As sparks started appearing all around Seren. Her circuity fired up. Her arms visually looking more steel.
"I've been reborn once again. Not as a human, but as a Seventh.
A living being of steel, far more capable than humans.
One that can chase their dreams without worry. One that can chase their dreams better than everyone else.
I can finally pierce the heavens!"
The wings fully manifested behind her.
The sign of her freedom.
The sign of rebirth.
The sign of Seren Astoria's awakening as a Seventh.
As her aura stabilized... Her wings began to spread, the mist becoming calmer...
... Then it erupted into a volcano-like pillar, engulfing everything near her.
"Watch me, mother. Today, I finally fly." (edited)Seren Astoria, the Silver Nephilim, was reborn. Awakening for the first time.
Though it wasn't their first time-
At the same time, another Seventh also awakened. (edited)------------------------ + Zone Backstreets, Winter House + --------------------
At the same time...- In terms of charging, there come to mind two big reasons why a Seventh would charge manually.
Because of the brilliance of Doctor Etsuji, according to Winter, Sevenths are like hybrid cars.
They have a perpetual motion engine inside of them powered by working, walking and activity. It generates Furyoku and electricity inside of them which powers them up.
Thus, by simply living, the Sevenths recharge themselves.
So there are two cases where a Seventh needs to manually recharge.
1. They expended a lot of energy all at once, more than their Perpetual Engine can generate at once.
2. A long day is coming and they need an excess of energy in order to get the job done.
This case, for Winter, was the second.
As she was plugged up to various cords, powering her up...
... But there was also something else clinging onto her.
"Not going to let go, even while I'm charging? You're greedy today, hehe."Noei was clinging onto Winter.
The entire time, even when she cooked breakfast (for Noei, she didn't eat herself)...
Noei did not let go of Winter. This is an exception.
As they nuzzled their head into Winter's shoulder as she charged.
"I don't want to.
I don't want you to die..."Noei's said that over and over.
For every time they expressed that fear... Winter reached over and stroked Noei's hair.
A wistful look appeared on her face every time she did. "No one wants to die, really.
If someone says they want to, that means they're letting others know. Which means they want to be saved.
No one... No one wants to lose everything they have." She still wasn't sure of what she SHOULD be saying to Noei.
But she knew she just had to.Pause.
For a moment, Noei stopped moving. "Save...?"Winter looked down.
She was being powered by energy right now. Invigorated to be better than ever for a long day of investigations.
Yet deep down, she didn't feel energized at all.
"If someone's going to die, then there's always a chance that you can save them.
F-For example. With Marika... Someone killed them.
If I was there, if I was just there when it happened then I would've...
I would've stopped it." Winter's fists tightly curled. "But I wasn't. I was too late. I'm always too late.
I didn't even see it as a problem that she went missing. All because of my Being of Ice. I kept thinking- I shouldn't go. I don't have orders to act. That maybe Marika just got sidetracked, as she's more of an impulsive Seventh than I am.
I... I should've..."Noei didn't let Winter continue.
As they clung onto Winter harder. "Then I won't let go, no matter what!
If I don't, then there won't be any would've and should've. Because I will definitely, no matter what, save you!"
It was a cry of desperation rather than any heroism.
One of loyalty and sadness.
- But it was there, somewhere.
Her true nature.Winter put her hand on Noei's own.
As for the first time in a while-
She had felt warmth. "... Thank you."
That's all she could say.
Before the rest of the moment was spent in silence.
Once Winter finished charging, a little jingle was played. One that got Winter to smile.
- But it was only because of Noei that she was able to smile in full.
Winter stood up.
"You know...
You have school today, right? You can't keep clinging onto me FOREVER... And I have to...
I have to find out who killed Marika."At that...
Noei let go, as the reality set in them.
They bashfully looked at Winter, but not in the eyes.
"R-Right...
B-But! You can take a leave, right?!" Desperation sunk in...
... Then it went away. "But you said you have to work...
I-It's a shame. We're supposed to go on this big field trip today to the V District...
Seren's still sick... Elka usually skips stuff like this... And Marika..."
Noei frowned deeply. "T-They said we can bring our parents, but, um... I'm a Seventh. I don't have parents.
I bet though if Doctor Etsuji wasn't in court he would come along. Maybe Arisa would, but I get the feeling she doesn't like me very much..."
Essentially...
What Noei was doing was something they weren't even aware of.
They were expressing loneliness.Winter realized this.
As for a second, her mouth was left open.
But she came to a conclusion rather quickly.
"..."
"There are other officers on the job.
But only one person can take care of Noei right now."
Patting Noei on the shoulder... "... I change my mind.
I'll accompany you on this field trip."-------------------------- + V District + ---------------------------
And now-
The moment of union. (edited)The streets of the V District were of course very different to the Krypt District.
Uniform buildings, that aren't much alone.
But when put together, they form a brilliant design.
For example, on top of a hill, a set of buildings that seem to form a symbol. Such as a set of mansions that look rather plain and generic, but when put together, are in the shape and arrangement of a top hat.
That sort of imagery is what V District is known for.
Its uniformness was also clear in what it offered. There wouldn't be a cafe anywhere outside of a restaurant district.
An electronic store outside of the electronics district. All the workers went to one place and sleeping would only be done in other places.
It was brutally efficient.
And on a field trip, the class of 1-B is wandering the streets each with a journal in hand.
None of them were carrying umbrellas, as wheeled robots were carrying umbrellas for them. And in certain streets, EM Wave Projections covered the entire streets..
"- And I was all like, DAMN! I came ALL the way to the Museum District of the V District, and the closest restaurant that's worth a damn is like, a BUS trip away?
Now GET THIS.
I go over to the bus. There's a sea of HUNGRY people in it too, all wondering why the hell the nearest restaurant is soooo far away. Like, brother, just ONE McEmiya's in the Atelier District or Working District wouldn't hurt, right?"
Ms. Watcher was leading the group.
And displaying why she's garnered the respect of her students. She's personal and real with them.
Often- the highlights of her classes are the various side tangents she goes on about that topic. (edited)Interrupting the story, Okino was the closest to Ms. Watcher.
Because of course he was, he was the top reciter of the class.
He also looked back to make sure everyone sees his smug face.Ms. Watcher said with a raise of a finger.
As she chuckled... Taking a sharp turn. "See, GET THIS.
If you want proof of it, my ass has the news article saved. We started RIOTING. Like- big time rioting.
I don't even know how it started. I'm pretty sure I might've started it, but it's such a blur that I totally forgot.
I wake up the next day after one hell of a day, think I got drunk out of my mind again, and bam.
They're opening up a restaurant in that EXACT spot we started rioting."
Takane put her hands together. "So if a bunch of angry drunken individuals can make an impact on society, that means you can too!"Noei was near the back of the group.
As the days passed, they luckily learnt how to use their inside voice.
- Two other people were walking with them. One of them was Winter, of course.
And the other...Was Elka.
Noei was shocked that he was there too, as he usually skips class...
But because Noei was going, he went.
Elka leaned over to look at Winter. "Hey- so, uh... Yer' an Officer, yeah? Noei's friend too.
Did that story actually happen?"Winter was mostly admiring the rain.
She was quite fond of when it rained, as it usually never did in Steel City.
And when it rained, it would either pour heavily or rain for many days straight.
Both seemed to happening.
Looking at Elka, she let out a wry smile. "......
I think your Teacher describing them as angry may be understating it."Elka said, raising up his fist in awe.
"Wait- that means... You were there?!
And you controlled them?!" His awe only seemed to increase.Winter said...
Her smile this time wasn't wry or faked.
It was real.Elka put his hands in his pockets, as he walked on ahead.
"I thought she was cool already. But she just got even cooler in my book!"Noei stared off at the distance, gripping their fist tightly...
But they let it go.
As they noticed something once Elka finished talking.
"Winter seems happier now."
That single thought made Noei lighten up a bit too.
They continued walking forward, until...- It happened.
From the distance, there were amusement parks. That was one of the V District's many draws.
And near it, a large resort hotel.
A massive burst of white energy, a pillar that shot to the sky and shook the Earth.
It was the very first time Noei had experienced an earthquake.
Some buildings even lost their power.
From the resort, it split in half as it rose.
Despite destroying, splitting the resort in half in burning energies...
Every Seventh who could see the pillar noticed something.
That it was a pillar of pure passion in its most undistilled form.
For the humans, it was something else.
A pillar shot up.
Yet it was almost like a heaven descending down.
Especially due to the faint figure of black that can be seen in the pillar of light itself.
It was too fast for anyone to form any coherent thoughts.
That pillar which both amazed and destroyed forced everyone to instantly think, shooting everyone in a moment of panic.Every student reacted at once.
First, to the pillar.
Then, to much of the electricity around them shutting down.
Then, to its destruction.Takane couldn't look away from the pillar...
But she was forced to.
As she looked at every single one of her students.
"Alright, guys! I was not prepared for this, but you know what they say! Life comes at you fast!
Follow me, we're getting the hell out of here and to safety! Do not run, stray or get distracted! Only run if I run, and only scream if like- a rock falls on you or something.
Let's go!" Takane began to jog out, making sure to not speed up.Elka nodded.
As he was the first one to start jogging.
"L-Let's get the hell out of here! I dunno what that is, and I'm not sticking around to find out!
I ain't man enough for this shit!"
After Elka, the tough guy of the class started running...
... Everyone naturally followed. His action unintentionally making everyone more panicked.
... Then he stopped. "Noei?"The only one who ran to the pillar of light was Winter.
As she already readied herself. Her aura surrounded her, a white mist like snow.
From her body, it began to morph. The steel parts extending and changing shape.
From inside of her, she pulled out something- a bulky rifle.
A beam rifle. As lights began to light up on that rifle, with mechanical humming as it powered on.
"People are in danger. And I'm going on the job."
Once her armament was retrieved, she began to run to the pillar.
Then she stopped once she noticed something.
"... Noei?"Their gaze was solely fixated on who was rising out of the pillar.
So they spoke.
"That's Seren.
... But she's a Seventh."
Without speaking-
Noei sprinted.And...
As the one who had her gaze on all of her students even as they jogged...
Takane stopped... As she was able to hear what Noei said.
"... You're sure that's her?!" As she shouted.Skiiid.
Despite their high speed, Noei stopped themselves.
Only side-eyeing Takane, they spoke.
"I'm sure. I don't know how she's a Seventh though, as she was human last I checked.
But she's one of your students too...
And she looks distressed."Takane shouted.
Stopping their entire jog out of here for the sake of one student. "Don't you see what happened?! An entire resort was just split in half! P-People... People died!"
- That word got Noei to halt for all of one second. "You could die!
Normal humans can't survive that!"Noei stopped...
And looked to Winter. "Will you let me go?"An interruption.As Okino spreaded out his arm in front of Takane.
He lowered his head, not speaking.
"Let them.
Noei's a Seventh too. Not a human."
He decided to meet no one's gaze.Takane grit her teeth...
Before a shake of her head cleared up her mind.
She readied to jog. And gave one last message.
"Noei! There's a test tomorrow about today's field trip.
Skip it, and you get even worse than an F Grade! Got that?!"Noei nodded. "Is today's disaster also on the test coverage?"Takane also grinned...
... As that response settled all of her worries.
Noei was planning on coming back. "... Sure! And you get the best shot at answering the questions!"Noei nodded.
As the sight of Class 1-B slowly got out of sight.
Leaving... Only Noei and Winter again. "Winter, I don't know what to do, so I'll leave it with you!"- Dash.
The two began running, though Noei had to slow down to compensate for Winter's slower sprinting speed.
After getting close enough...
Winter's pupils began to dilate. Yet they also became darker, but bluer.
Her aura fully surrounded her... "Activating my Factor right now.
Don't get up. Just stay on the ground and avoid danger."
And with a plant to the ground-
A pillar of ice, a giant one, slowly began to rise from the ground to meet the flying Seventh.Noei shouted to Winter, giving a thumbs up...
As they watched Winter get higher and higher.
One thing was in their mind though. To which they verbalized in a whisper.
("... How is she doing that?")Eventually...
Seren was getting into view.
The sight of a Seventh with dark silver wings made of energy.
Both physical and immaterial at the same time. A paradox that is only possible by the magic that backs this world.
As she floated with a monotone face, at such a height where she could see the entire V District.
Little seemed to be passing through her mind.
But many things were passing through her heart.
"..."Soon after...
Winter's pillar finally caught up to Seren.
As several helicopters also began to surround Seren.
Men in full military suits. Some armed with guns... Other with beam rifles and a few even with a missile launcher.
And some of them had specialized equipment to deal with Sevenths. Seventh Suppresison guns, which shoot out electricity.
"Stop!
You are under arrest for severe property damage, destruction- and of course, the killings of both Sevenths and Humans!"
Winter stood up on her pillar...
As a bit of her body began to open up- projecting a hologram of her police badge. "Standing against the Ministry of Defense is a grave offense as well, as well as everything you've done.
We highly suggest to stand down if you don't want things to get messy."Inhale... And exhale.
Seren raised up her hand...
And pointed it to the resort behind her.
She chanted.
"I am the Star of the Evening..."
...
That simple chant was enough to create ball of destructive energy in front of her hand.
Pulsing with unstable black and white colors. Looking like it could burst at just a poke.
She didn't acknowledge Winter nor the Ministry of Defense.
They almost fired, until they saw how unstable that ball was. They simply aimed.
- It shot.
The ball of destruction started flying to the resort... (edited)And Winter acted first.
Throwing up her arms, she curved the pillar. The entire thing shifting.
She began to surf down it, and once she accumulated enough speed...
"Can I make it in time...?!
No... I have to!"
Jump.
Winter leaped off of her pillar and began to fly.
Like she was flung, she reached it in front of the resort before the blast could.
Stretching out her arms, then curling them all in like a ball...
"Freeze into an eternity, and remain an unchanging reminder."
A massive amount of aura poured inside of her, turning her into a glowing blue...
Until it unleashed all at once.
To a massive, impenetrable wall of ice. One bigger than any ice cap.
And one to match the skyscrapers of the Krypt District.The blast of Seren met the wall of Winter.
And it was clear which one prevailed.
As soon as the blast hit the wall, it erupted.
A blast of nothing but total absolution. The ice shattered, then turned into nothing.
Shards of it were sent flying, but it was tiny shards.
Practically turning into snowflakes and tiny hail. Effectively coating this rainy weather now into a weather of snow.
- The ice was strong enough to make it snow in Steel City for the first time.
Which meant that...
The blast was hundreds of time stronger than the ice.As Winter was inside of the ice wall herself...
She started to fall to the ground.
- But her objective was complete. She protected the resort.
Her descent began. And she landed.
Winter fell hard, straight into a fountain in the entrance of the resort.
"Guh... Ghgh..." The water did not help with her condition. Sevenths are fine underwater, but they're weakened by it.
And in the case after expending so much energy, that her body is sparking...
It weakens her heavily.It was this action...
That Seren finally paid attention to Winter.
- Winter was too damaged to see it happen or to look up.
But when they finally did, they saw smoke. Smoke where the helicopters used to be.
And of course, the Ministry of Defense helicopters no longer being there.
Like an angel...
Her body never hit the ground.
Her black silver wings spread across. Huge in size, they covered Winter from seeing the world in front of her.
But Seren spoke.
"Another Seventh.
This will be good. I can test how I compare to my new contemporaries.
... And I'll be fulfilling another dream of mine. To fight a Seventh."Winter slowly stood up.
Holding her right arm- which was sparking uncontrollably.
A bit of her insides were exposed, wires poking out of her.
Her face scraped, the steel fully revealed. Half of her face looking robotic, the design to make her mimic a human being damaged.
In rage... She shouted.
"What...?! What the hell are you?!
Who created you?! What were you made for?! What's your Being?!"Seren shouted...
As she floated back. "With a Dual Being! Of "Rebirth" and "Destruction", here at my command!"
Around her two wings...
Two more blasts of energy were formed, but ones looking less stable.
"Past destruction, there is absolution. Chaos. When both the energies of life and death are forced to become one.
Show me if your ice can overcome chaos itself, Seventh!"With too much energy having been used to shield the resort...
Winter couldn't use as much ice as before. Her aura was noticeably weaker, now like a thin blanket.
But that didn't mean she couldn't use it at all.
To dodge, she formed ice in a slope. Upon her legs touching it, it was like she was forced on it, as she dodged to Seren's flank.
The two blasts shot. Rather than balls, they shot as huge lasers...
Which pierced the ground. Digging deep into the crust.
"...!!!!!!!" In one blast-
Seren had practically made a mineshaft. "GH!"
Taking her beam rifle in hand, she fired.Weave.
Simply shifting her head to the side...
Seren dodged the beam. As her wings readied four lasers rather than two, her gaze following Winter...Winter flipped two of her fingers up.
As a bit of her aura detached- flying faster than the bullet...
From that detached aura, an ice wall flew up.
The beam that was shot met the ice wall... And ricocheted.
Flying back at Seren at higher speeds! To her back!But she wouldn't take shots from the back.
Her wings merely flapped...
And a strange pulse of energy was released.
Dissipating the beam into nothing.
Then. Seren's four blasts of chaos shot.
All in curved angles. Meant to hit Winter in strange sides, curving towards her.
Not directly at her head. Not at her front.
- Because it doesn't matter where it hits. If even just one hits Winter, it's over.Inhale... "Haaaah...."
Exhale.
With a big burst of air, another ice wall was formed. This one, more solid. Not translucent.
Yet even so...
The lasers pierced through it effortlessly. This time, rather than piercing the ground...
They blew up. Exploding into a mass of energy. Once again...
Spreading a huge amount of mist from the ice.
Winter was nowhere to be seen.At this...
Seren wasn't even surprised or disappointed.
Such was an expected outcome. Seren knew from her creation that she far surpassed any Seventh.
- Doctor Tenma told her that the only Seventh capable of defeating her was Shiori Hashimoto.
With a caveat of one named Arwest Meinster being capable with preparation time.
So unless they were one of those two- in which one was missing... She knew she wouldn't be stopped.
Seren floated ahead. Without saying anything. Without changing expressions.
This was just as easy as breathing to her. (edited)But...
... From behind Seren, a speeding Winter was heading to her back.
- The mist she used was powerful enough to obscure even a Seventh's senses.
Such was the nature of her ice. After all, she was made to mimic the best ice user in the world.
"Seventeen Disassociation - Boundary Peek."
A knife was in her hands, one from a clan of Time Manipulators.
A magic sigil located in it boosted her very movements. So she could keep up with Seren.
One leap. Her body acted on mere instinct and programming weaved into one, forming something beyond the reaction time and senses of any human.
The ultimate synthesis of human and steel.
This was Winter's ultimate attack. A Factor Unleash.
The best move of every Seventh. Each one has one.However...
Such a powerful move... The weight of Winter's everything.
From her lived experiences to her very origin itself...
It was defeated with one simple move.
A blast formed on the back of Seren's wing this time.
- It flared up. Shooting quickly.
It wasn't as powerful as before due to its speed. It didn't break the entire resort that the other blasts and lasers did before... As it even stopped because of the wall of the resort, only breaking a single wall and no more than that.
But what it did manage to...
... Was to obliterate Winter's arm.In total defeat...
Her knife arm fell to the ground.
And she halted the momentum of her leap the very moment she felt her arm disconnect.
She turned off her pain receptors the very moment she felt even a hint of pain.
- For Winter, this is the same as surrender.
As her leap, which was supposed to lead into a brutal amount of slashes to totally kill and dismember the enemy...
Turned into a fall to her knees. Her head pointed straight to the ground.
The mist cleared.
"H...
How...?"A quick answer came.
Seren held up her hand... And this time, charged.
Another ball of energy appeared in her hands. The same unstable one that was about to destroy the resort.
"My wings act as eyes for me. Hence why I wasn't turning around to stare at the resort before I fired... Not to mention how I saw the ricochet.
You can't take me from surprise. Because a star needs to engulf all.
If I can only see forward, then that isn't being a star."- Seren readied to fire... "...!"
But with a quick, almost panicked movement...
She turned behind her.
And instead fired the blast of chaos right behind her. To the opposite direction.- Three people were now standing in front of Seren.
All armed with weapons. And all of them...
Were men of the Ministry of Defense.
The one at the forefront of it all... Was Kilian Hoelder.
He's seen what the blast was capable of. Everyone can.
It was snowing in a city where it isn't supposed to be snowing. So everyone in the V District could.
Yet with his lone eye, he stared at the blast of chaos with no hesitation.
No fear whatsoever.
The words left him simply.
"A shield to defend. A shield to break. And a shield to end. This era shall never end and that shield will never bend.
Yetzirah - Magna-Fi!"
Similar to what Winter did to defend the resort...
... Kilian formed a barrier right in front of him. A barrier of a thin, star-like, pattern.
It was much smaller than the sheer ice wall. And yet.
The barrier stopped the blast that even ice strong enough to cause snow to fall couldn't.
"I am Kilian Hoelder. Officer of the Ministry of Defense.
... Also known as the Shield of Steel."
And...
... The energy of the blast was absorbed into the barrier. (edited)Seren, too, made a mistake in firing that blast.
- Sevenths were powerful. And could use supernatural abilities far beyond any human.
But that didn't mean that humans WEREN'T able of using abilities.
Out of sheer instinct- her wings flapped. Shooting her far to the side- dodging on instinct alone.Kilian smirked...
As he aimed the barrier upwards- shooting a black lightning bolt to the sky.
He was thinking of firing it at Seren, but such would compromise the resort...
And the potential of the entire district while he was at it. Redirected shots from his barrier grow exponentially in power.
In his hand was a large and rare automatic pistol. He pointed it at Seren, murmuring something...
("... She dodged.")
Killian glared, shouting. "Lukia! Now!"
And...
A new entry amongst them all, carrying no weapons, but instead gloves with intricate sigil designs on them...
A long pink haired woman with a cheerful face nodded. Her body was covered, but from the aura around her and her dilated irises...
It was clear this person was a Seventh.
"Understood.
I drink from the endless possibilities of our birth. A yggdrassil tree that far extends beyond the scope of the world.
Yetzirah - Extenstion of You."
As soon as she finished announcing and chanting her ability... (edited)Seren noticed it due to her wings.
But on the ground and walls she flew to...
Sigils made out of energy were glowing. Geometric and harshly designed.
From it- fire began to erupt. Bursts as powerful, if not more powerful than a volcano.
As soon as her wings registered it... She forced herself to flap again.
Shootingg to the other direction. "!!!!!!!"
But it was clear she was being winded. "- I am the Star of the Evening, Meteor to the Steel City..." She chanted as she moved.And...
The third person leaped behind them.
The armored officer. Holding a strange custom silver pistol.
From his armored back, jet wings were extended. Thrusters already having flared up. He already predicted Seren to dodgde.
He fired a bullt of energy from it.The bullet hit her...
As it instantly turned her arm to an obsidian color.
Out of instinct, she shielded her wings- spreading them far.
As that obsidian color began to spread. Her obsidian arm fell flat... "!!!"
Thinking quick, Seren cut off her shoulder.
Her left arm fell to the ground. "What...?!
I was told that there was no one but Shiori who could compete with me...!"
- Beneath everyone's breath, she muttered.
("... Cutting through light and darkness, I will shine.") (edited)The pink haired woman introduced herself.
"But there is a reason I, Lukia Sudou, lead the Ministry of Defense.
In terms of raw power output- I can respect it. But...
Abilities are vast and complex. Even the most powerful of storms can be stopped if one can stop the heart of the storm."
Lukia gave a confident smirk.
As she also muttered. ("The Seventh is chanting. Mazda, prepare to fire again. This time I'll be the one to attack- don't let her get used to our rhythm.")Mazda readied his pistol.
As if he's already making his threat before even pulling the trigger.
The jets on his back retracted. "And even humans can stop a Seventh with planning and proper counters.
If you don't know- I am Mazda Fuji of the Ministry of Defense.
Otherwise known in the Underworld as the Seventh Ripper."
In terms of disposing of rogue Sevenths, which have happened...
None can match Mazda in number.And in awe… Winter observed
Thankfulness filled her, as she reached her lowest point.
Having most of her energy expended, with an arm lost… Gratitude was the only thing she was calable of showing and doing,
“Lukia… You came all the way from Sergit for this… K-Kilian, you were on leave… And Mazda- you were also busy protecting the other Resorts..”Lukia readjusted her gloves...
As she readied to snap them, aiming at Seren.
They were waiting for Seren to make the first move. ("We force her to move, predict her trajectory, then Kilian blocks. Stick to the plan, we just change the order of our attacks.")
Lukia kept planning. (edited)Kilian held his palm forward.
His aura was calm and focused. No barrier formed yet.
But he readied to form it at a moment's notice. He, too, was also planning because of this.
("I'd like to make a theory as well. With that destructive power this Seventh gives, I don't believe she can TAKE it either. In fact, I'd wager she can barely take a hit. Even a breeze would knock her over.
So rather than focusing on subduing her... We can focus on offense.")
Kilian grinned.And as they finished planning...
Seren's chant finished, as her hand covered her face.
"The star thrown will judge hell and destroy the heavens.
Factor Unleash."
And from her entire body, not just her hands and her wings...
The convulsing, unstable, black and white energy formed like a singularity around her.
Her body became that of a star. Shining, but burning everything near her.
The debris and road they were standing on started turning into dust. Then that dust, into nothing.
The sheer rage and frustration of her entire being. The star she wanted to be.
- It's said that a Factor Unleash embodies the Seventh's entire self.
"Evening Star - Stardust End."But before Seren even had the time to unleash that finishing move...
Mazda's jet wings burst up.
He flew upwards, shooting and unloading his entire clip.
8 shots of black energy were shot. The same one that subdued Seren.
Aiming to cover all possible angles of retreat.As Lukia raised up her hand.
Only she could see it while they were being prepared.
But Furyoku only visible to her were drawing Sigils on the ground.
Ready to ignite, regardless of where Seren went.
The bullets covered the sky. Then, the sigils, the ground. All while Lukia's gloves began t oglow.
- There were also other places she could go.Such as, instead choosing to tank the attack (unlikely due to Kilian's observation)...
And firing the attack straight forward.
That was what Kilian was for. Just with the threat of his palm held upwards...
A barrier ready to expand at any time- at even the slightest twitch...
"..."
Seren had no place to go to.
That is...... If her attack wasn't aimed somewhere else.
She did a speedy about face.
Her wings curled.
And they all aimed at Winter. Her entire body facing the defeated Seventh.
"DISAPPEAR!"
Seren Astoria's target changed at the last second.The first one to register this was not the advanced Seventh, Lukia.
She had better senses than a human did.
But Kilian's heart forced him to notice it before anyone, even Winter, did.
He dropped his arms. He sprinted. "NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"
As he shouted.
He leaped over to Seren...
As the Officer threw out his arms.
A barrier was formed. But rather than just a straight shield...
A dome was formed around Seren and Kilian. Entrapping the two.
"GET YOUR HANDS... OFF OF HER!"And watching behind some fallen debris...
Noei shouted. "N... NOOO!!!"From Seren... The ultimate discharge of chaos was shot.
A destructive force more than the blasts before- combined.
All contained within a barrier.
A mass of unstable, uncontrollable energy, contained in a small dome.
Kilian and Seren could not be seen behind the sheer destruction being unleashed in that dome.
But as if expecting this, the four watching still held on.
Because...
The dome-like barrier began to shatter.
And once it did- the energy did not unleash.
But a shockwave did. It began to ripple across the V District.
The resort began to collapse. Many buildings near it did.
Though only the ones in the epicenter were destroyed... The buildings around it began to fall too.
Some crumbling in half. Others, the luckier ones, only losing a part of their structure. Such as just a floor, or having a hole in them.
And even the roads at the edge began to morph and twist due to the intensity of the shockwave. (edited)- The ground around them became a total wasteland.
Though buildings that weren't either dust or rubble could be seen...
But that's what the four, who were blown away by the shockwave, did not want to see.
They wanted to confirm where he was.
All of them got out of the ground, some tossing rubble off of themselves...
As they saw him.
Kilian. The brave Officer who had shielded Winter.
His body battered and beaten up. Scarred and charred.
He was bleeding in a pool of his own blood.
It was not an act of martyrdom, though...
As there fragments of a barrier all around him too.
". . ."Despite having the least energy out of all of them...
"KILIAN!!!"
Winter was the first one to rush to Kilian.
Her usual calm and glacial face, even while facing the end...
Broke. As Winter experienced panic for the first time in her life.
"You... You idiot...!!!
Look what happened...! Why...?! Why did you save me?! Why did you choose to take on the damage for yourself?!"Kilian coughed up some blood.
As he was slowly fading in and out of consciousness.
"I a-admit. It was an act of impulse on my end too"
His body was pale. "But I didn't d-do it with the intention to die. I shielded myself at the last second. And who knows what would've happen if I wasn't able to contain the blast..."Winter put her finger on Kilian's pulse, on his wrist.
As she scrunched up her expression. "You'll likely be in a coma for weeks. Even months after taking such a blow..."- Zooom.
Having been blown back the farthest...
Mazda had to fly over to Kilian. Already picking him up. "AND you'll die if we don't get you to medical safety. There's a lot I want to say about what you just did.
... But good job. That's the only thing that matters right now."He was using all of his Furyoku to even speak.
But even that was fading. "I... I saw...
She's... She's still..."
- That's all he needed to say and all he could say.
Before his only eye began to close.At that...
"!"
Lukia noticed. As she looked up to the sky.
It was no longer raining- or rather, snowing. "How..."
Such a change cannot happen to weather. It can stop all at once, but there are signs of it happening.
But it was as if someone flicked a light switch, then it stopped raining.
That was because...
... The sky was split. By something flying to it.
A ball of uncontrollable energy. A star.
The same attack- Evening Star. The same appearance.
That star slowly descended.
In sheer frustration- Lukia shouted. "HOW DOES SHE STILL HAVE ENERGY?!"What they were seeing before them was no different from the grim reaper.
For the star of the evening did descend to judge hell.- Seren Astoria, like an angel, descended again.
Luckily for them, they got a bit of morale back after seeing her condition.
Her arm was gone. Blown away and dismantled by the shotgun, so he had only one.
Her wings were flickering. She was sparking- which was often the sign of risky energy levels ofr a Seventh.
And a bit of her circuitry was exposed.
"Y-You... You can't stop my revenge.
Not until I've blown every single last bit of my Mother's resorts to the deepest gates of hell."
Her voice was starting to get scratchy, but...
Her only arm was already charging a blast.
"Then the world will know... Evolution.
The true power of Sevenths...!!!"Mazda made an subconscious motion.
Reloading. He always needs to do that.
But the fact that he had to reload, while Seren's blast already looked charged... ("No...!!!")
... He might've been too late.So did Lukia too.
Throwing up her hand, invisible Sigils were already forming in the ground.
- The simplest ones. Of very simple designs.
("Shit...!") But she was already cursing. ("I don't know if I have enough time! It takes time for me to set up my attacks...! Please...!!! Please be faster...!")But...
The one to step in first- before all of them.
The one who did anything before anyone.
Was Noei. With her arms stretched out.
"SEREN!!!
Why?!
Is this really what you want?!"Seren hadn't seen them.
Because they were too busy digging themselves out of rubble. Therefore, they were out of sight.
Noei talked before everyone- and her charged blast began to weaken.
"Noei...
... Don't stop me. I've been reborn as a Seventh and I've seen the Light.
That this is the true path we must take. Look at me.
I've destroyed so much!
And I've put most of my energy into fighting! Imagine what I could do if I was unopposed!"Noei stood their ground.
Still shouting at Seren. "I thought you said you wanted to be a star!"Seren pointed to the clouds that they split.
Where the very sun was shining down on them.
"And it burns, consumes everything near it. This is who I am. This is my Being!
I'm going supernova, Noei Maeda! And you can't stop me!"
- Point.
The blast changed and became more stabilized...
As it unleashed like a shockwave before. Because...
Seeing Noei didn't distract her from the others.The shockwave blew them back.
Mazda's shots were thrown off. Even with his auto-aim system in his armor...
They missed the mark. Seren was able to dodge all of them by weaving.Lukia's focus was thrown off.
As soon as she makes even a single mistake in drawing Sigils...
They reveal themselves, and combust in unharmful smoke. That shockwave threw off her balance, revealing the Sigils. Setting them off and stopping them. "Damn it!"Winter just fell over.
Hitting the ground.
As her focus went to catching Kilian's body- which fell off of Mazda.
"...!" Then she noticed something else.When Noei fell and hit the ground...
Their full body and back hit the ground. Just with that simple fall and shockwave that everyone else was starting to get back up from...
... Their body sparked. Taking heavy damage.
Winter realized at that moment.
Noei... Was not meant for combat. She was there for their awakening.
Winter saw how Noei was just ordinary. Noei likely did not have the specs they had.
Even so.
They were also the first to stand up, despite their body sparking. "Please...!!!
I thought the star you wanted to be was the one who performed in front of thousands! And more worldwide!
And Doctor Etsuji, who created me... Said that I can coexist with humans! So can you!
You don't have to destroy everything! Please!"Seren's wings curled...
... As the uncontrollable energy from her Evening Star returned.
- How she still had energy left... Was that she stopped the Evening Star midway.
She didn't unleash the full brunt of its energy.
But now, she was going to.
Before even unleashing the discharge, the pit that she had formed from the shockwave was getting deeper.
The ground before her, crumbling and cracking.
- It was as if the very air was crying due to the intensity of Seren.Noei... When faced with things they didn't understand or situations they didn't know how to handle...
They would also look all around them.
Their eyes, looking for an answer. Somewhere. Anywhere. Even if it never came.
But this time-
- Their eyes stopped. As they found it somewhere.
There was a man standing on top of a tower far behind Seren.
As their pupils shrunk.That man...
A blonde haired man who looked young, but his build defied his face.
The wind flowing on his long hair and clothes. Standing at the peak of the V District. Unharmed and unbothered.
With shades on as well.
Noei has never seen that man before.
- He stretched out his hand...
And spoke, as if he knew he was being watched.
"Rei."
A name that belonged to no one in the vicinity.
No one had that as their name.
And yet...
With the mention of that name, Noei's pupils shrunk.
They seemed deader than before.
...
But in truth, she had never been more alive in her life.
As if the only thing that existed in this world was that man, she stared dumbstruck...
And spoke.
"- Father."
She was speaking in a trance. She didn't fully understand what was going on.
Like a puppet being controlled by strings.- For a second, the energy that Seren was about to unleash controlled itself. Being still.
This was a sign, that only in a second...
It would erupt. "IT ENDS HERE!!!"
But her shouts went unheard by Noei.As her look was focused on the only person that existed as of this moment.
The man stretched his arm out.
As he let out a grin only a devil could make. "I authorize your Factor.
You have the power. Unleash it...!
Show it to the world, REI!"
Throwing out his arm... A direct command led to an instant response.And for a moment...
The Abaddon Duelist was truly awakened.
Other Sevenths have done it before.
But she didn't. Not until now.
She raised and pointed her arm. As her arm began to morph.
But the mechanism for her arm morphing was smoother than any other Seventh seen.
It even glowed. The inside of her body had lights in it, as it looked more fanciful than something to be looked away from. A beautiful process.
The arm morphed... Into a buster. An arm cannon.
"Factor Authorized.
Belial Buster - Authorized."
It took her a few seconds to charge.
3 only. Compared to the 5 it took for Seren to charge her fully charged blasts...
- This time, she won the race of time for charging against Seren.
- Blast.
A straight shot was unloaded from her buster.
A similar blast, yet its energy was pure. Not sparking or convulsing uncontrollable.
Pure and utter focus.
One that flew faster than Seren's discharge.As soon as it hit Seren-
She screamed.
"!!!!! AUUUUUUUUGHHHH!!!"
As Kilian's observation was correct. She couldn't take much hits, if any at all.
But what surprised her was that the shot pierced through the energy all around her.
Or in other words- it overpowered her.
It hit her in the side of her stomach. Blowing past a huge part of it.
And sending her flying back. (edited)With a huge part of her stomach exposed, even missing...
She stood there for a second. Everyone did.
All eyes were on Noei.
... Which Seren noticed first. "Guh... Ngh!"
Saying nothing...
Seren's wings took flight, despite flickering in and out of existence.
As she shot to the skies...
With a gleam of light in the air confirming that she made it past the stratosphere.As soon as Seren took flight, all but Noei thought the same thing.
"She ran away."
Everyone was too exhausted or tired to even think of why or how.
Especially due to Noei's showcase.
- Throughout that entire time... She wasn't sparking.
But now they were.
"Noei..."
"... I thought Doctor Etsuji designed them to be an ordinary person. But they have a Factor.
As all Sevenths do, but... That power output..."
"What... What was that?"Noei's eyes returned to normal. So did their habits.
As it was only now they could fathom the amount of destruction all around them.
Noei tightly gripped their fists.
"I don't know.
I don't know... What that was."
"... Or who I am."1-6: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-7:
Back UpEXTRA:
Power Bio: Seren Astoria - The Silver Nephilim
TYPE: Factor Focused Seventh.
PROFILER:
Seren Astoria is a Seventh designed by the disgraced Doctor Renji Tenma. The true inventor of the Sevenths, whose name was scrubbed from history for unknown reasons.
She was made after a request from her mother, Lyla Astoria, to revive her. An almost-exact copy of Seren was made with her brain and the "memorabilia", physical objects that Seren related to.
A copy was created, but with her rebirth came extreme power. Power which Seren unleashed fully.
BEING: Dual Being.
Rebirth and Destruction.
Seems to make her enjoy using her powers.
EQUIPMENT:CRAVING AND FACTOR: "I want to become a star."
FACTOR UNLEASH: Evening Star - Stardust End. Discharges all of the chaotic energies of Seren as a huge burst, like a supernova. In truth, it is three bursts, and she can store bursts if she chooses to. A total destructive nuke- but if hit during it, she'll take massive damage.
PARAMETERS:
------------------------- + Neuron Orbal Electronic Institute + ---------------------------CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/26/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Afternoon
WEATHER: Clear Skies, but the sky is dark (edited)After the event....
... Neuron was where the combatants gathered.
The institute of all technology in Steel City. For most of them either needed checkups for their tech...
Or were in fact, the representation of technology itself.
Thus, Neuron was the first place that they all went to.
Surrounded with state of the art technology, even a maintenance room where many of them were getting repaired or their tools repaired seemed like a wonder.
With robots and machines that can fix up scraps into something that looks brand new in even a second.
And those with human hands... Could somehow work even better.
Operating a terminal, Etsuji was helping fix the most damaged one out of all of them.
"You fought hard, Winter.
You really broke past your limits to fight Seren."Due to heavy internal damage, Winter practically had to be taken a part for all of her individual parts to be fixed.
She was just a head at this point, while the rest of her body was strewn about.
Though this was enough to function. Sevenths don't need to be PHYSICALLY connected to all their body parts to still make full use of them.
They couldn't move it of course, but the sleeping Heart of their AI which lies in a separate part- different for each Seventh... They could still access that no matter how far a Seventh got away from it.
Winter exhaled. "I may have pushed myself too hard, but it worked out in the end.
You really pulled through, Captain Lukia." Winter looked at the new entree.Having only light damage from the shockwaves...
She was just plugged up to an auto-maintenance device, not needing precise repair.
Lukia however managed a smile. "All things considered, we did a good job. Considering her destructive potential, such damage was avoidable. Don't you agree, Doctor Etsuji?"Being put on the spot...
The old doctor was surprised. "Ah- yeah...
... Were I not in court, I likely could have mobilized the Defender and Builder Sevenths to make the damage less worse, though."
Etsuji said, lowering his hands... As he also spoke to Lukia. "Thank you for bailing me out, by the way. I owe you."After hearing about a would have from Etsuji...
It got Winter to think about one of her own.One of the only non Sevenths in the room spoke.
He was undergoing maintenance for his battle armor and weaponry.
Especially his gun, which he abused heavily.
A robot was doing all the fixing. "... He did what he could." For some reason though, he really didn't want to take off the armor.
"More importantly, let's look towards the future. We've exhausted the Seventh's energy to the point of sparking.
Not only that, but she's lost an arm. Not that she really NEEDS it, because of her main method of attacking, but an exposure in their body means they'll waste more energy.
The question is, WHERE are they running to."The last one of the group...
Was Noei. Who was undergoing also auto-maintenance under a machine.
They were remaining silent.
Only staring at the ground, not having uttered a single word.
It's not like Noei's a stranger to not understanding things.
But now they had a daily life.
With Elka, Seren and Marika.
Now they had a jumping off point to compare the things they didn't know with the things they did.
Which made it even harder for Noei.
"Who knew... Living was so hard?"
...Etsuji nodded. As he looked at another window in the terminal he was operating.
Etsuji was a master of multi tasking. "It's likely they're heading to the Astoria Space Resort.
Which is an issue. One. They have a headstart.
Two- they've dodged even the Defense Satellite's lasers. They're faster than any spacecraft, which is to be expected- they're still in their infancy. Which leads to three.
We can't catch up to her. Seren's likely going to make it to the Space Resort, and the people in it..."
A shadow covered his face.Mazda's heart also fell.
As he put his gun down, doing maintenance for himself.
His pupils shrunk. "That's pretty bad.
I was in charge of escorting Lyla Astoria out once the disaster started. A mafioso Capo helped me out, and we both agreed that the best place for Lyla to hide was in her Space Resort.
We tried to get her to an evacuation center, but... She said that in the off chance, the 1% off chance the Seventh goes to the Space Resort... Lyla would defend it with her own two hands.
Suffice to say, that outcome might come true."Letting out her anger... Lukia almost hit the wall.
But she simply disengaged the auto maintenance machine, standing up.
Reaching for her sigil gloves on a table, she strapped them all on. "Etsuji, authorize me to your FASTEST spacecraft. I'm going. Even if I'm late, I still need to launch!"Etsuji faltered.
Nobody spoke. It was prime time for someone to step in, derail it, motivate them, demotivate them... Do anything.
However.- It was Noei who stepped in.
The last person they expected to speak up.
"Are you telling the nice lady to give up?"
Noei stood up.
With their usual innocent intonation, they said that.
"Because I'm going too. If she's going, I'm going."Etsuji's expression said everything Noei needed to hear and see.
It was of utmost fear and worry. Then, it shifted into one of rejection.
He spoke up, but...
"Noei, I-"Noei cast a gaze to Winter's destroyed body.
"Seren's gonna destroy the Space Resort. Marika's dead. And Elka's... Okay, he's fine. That I'm glad about. And you're... In court."
Without changing looks.
Without changing their tone. They pressed onwards.
"- And... I've been lost too.
Etsuji. Who is Rei?"Such heartbreak fell under Etsuji... With the mention of a single name...
That he almost crouched over and fell.
His eyes became watery in a second- but his whole arm rubbed it.
A croak came out.
"I... I can't answer that.
Not right now. Maybe not ever."
He clenched his beating heart. He stared at Noei.
And everyone else. Then to the terminal.
To the window that was open. A window showcasing Seren, en route to the Space Resort...
"But I can guess what you're going to say too. You want to fight.
Are you sure?"Noei stepped forward.
As they glared. "I want my life back. I want my friend, Seren back...! I don't want her to die, to be killed!
I...
I will save Seren, no matter what."Such a display of compassion...
Coming from a Seventh no less...
It stunned everyone.Despite it being such dire times...
Noei could only be Noei.
Lighting up on their eyes were the same starry eyes that they had every time they were excited.
As Noei pumped their hands up and down, excited.
- But it was clear they knew the full ramifications of this.Winter's head rotated to look at Noei.
With a concerned look, she asked. "You remember it, right? The power that you displayed against Seren...
That power is going to be yours to command." Just one shot was enough to pierce through Seren's power.
She remembers it well. They were all stunned in that moment.Opening up a lid with a tool in Noei's head...
Etsuji, with shaky hands, connected a cord to the terminal.
As he took heavy steps back to the terminal. "You gain the power to harness Furyoku. The life energy of all sentient beings. Using it in an aura that you've seen everyone else use.
Making you superhuman. You can outrun cars. Punch holes through buildings. Even the weakest Seventh with a Factor can do that.
... You'll gain so much power, Noei.
That means you have to do something with it. Once you know that you have this power, you can't look back."Noei said, looking at Etsuji.
As they tightly held up their hands.
A determined look passing through them. "What I'm going to do is to bring back Seren.
I'm the only one who can.
Because I heard her song."Pressing a button on the terminal...
Running through many prompts, three of which were just windows saying...
"PERMANENTLY UNLOCKING FACTOR. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS?"
Once Etusji got past the first prompt...
... He didn't stop.
Press.A wellspring of energy shot from Noei.
Like a geyser that refused to stop.Many instructions filled Noei at once.
As their limiter has been unlocked. A power they've been holding back.
A white energy that filled the room.
Eventually calming and stabilizing into an orange aura of an impossible serenity and rage at the same time. Looking like a paradox.
Noei looked at their hands. They morphed without them thinking.
To a Buster. To a gauntlet with a Drill. To Thrusters.
"...!!!" All Noei did was to psyche themselves up. Returning their hands to normal, then gripping them as they always did.
And that action alone let out a burst of wind.Lukia commented, leaning on the side.
As she nodded up and down. "Every Seventh has an Armament and their own personal Factor. But depending on your type, it changes.
Default Types get 3 Armaments and an average Factor.
Factor Focused types, like me and that Seventh, get only 1 Armament but a strong Factor.
And Tool Focused Types like Winter get 5 Armaments but a weaker Factor.
And... Judging from what I saw against Seren, you've got some powerful Armaments." (edited)Etsuji pointed.
As he spoke about each one, Noei demonstrated each. "Your Ranged Armament is the Belial Buster. It's an old style buster often seen with older Seventh models.
It's a simple weapon that can fire rapid fire energy blasts made of Furyoku, or can be charged for a devastating blast. The weakness is that it's quite obvious- it literally becomes your hand."Winter said, trying her best to nod.
"It's useful for dark places, concealing action and some of us just prefer aiming with a firearm. Not to mention how potentially destructive the Busters can be." (edited)Noei showcased it next.
As he pointed to it. The drill practically covered their entire hand.
"It's great for melee combat and grows stronger the longer it rotates for. It can gather the debris it drills through, using it as a shield, or convert that energy directly into making that drill even bigger, faster and more powerful."
... Mazda was beginning to notice a theme.
"The last of your Armaments is an Extra Armament, a type of Armament that doesn't really fit any categories. Yours is the Eyes of Add, a basic scanner function that can scan the inside of machines and Sevenths given focus. Useful for judging damage.
Got that all, Noei?" Etsuji said, giving them a thumbs up.
He tried to fake a smile, but it just wouldn't come out.Noei said, turning their arm into a thruster.
"I have instructions about these in my head, but I'm not too sure where they came from..."Such an ability...
It got a reaction out of everyone. Even Noei.
Mazda crossed his arms, looking at the terminal.
It confirmed Noei's type of Seventh. The very purpose they were built in the first place.
Noei Maeda was a Fighter Seventh. Made directly for combat.
And their title, their codename... Was the Abdaddon Duelist.
"... Combined with the fact that all of their weapons relate to either hell or demons...
That title makes sense, what with such a frightening ability."Lukia noted to herself.
As she looked at Winter. Stepping over to her with a murmur.
One so low that even the Sevenths with advanced hearing would struggle to hear it.
("... Those Thrusters are a Copied Armament. You saw their awakening, yes?")It's then Winter realized.
If she was there for Noei's awakening, seeing the moment of their birth...
Then... ("... Where did they get those Thrusters...?")Noei said, nodding up and down like a puppy. "The instructions say I can!
So I can can catch up to Seren, right?!"Etsuji said to Lukia.
As she scrunched up her face in frustration. "... I know. It's a big time loss. But this is all we can do..."Mazda stepped forward.
As he looked and met Etsuji directly. "I'm going to suggest something that you might call me crazy for.
But then again, I wouldn't be in the Ministry of Defense if I didn't have a few screws loose.
Do we still have that railgun that Shiori helped us build?"- Pause.
The gears in his head starting turning.
Etsuji lowered his hand. His head also lowered for a moment...
Before looking at Mazda.
"- My god, it might actually work."Noei said, scratching their chin curiously.1-7: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-8:
Confrontation in Space---------------------------- + Neuron Front Yard + --------------------------- From the yard of the Neuron Domes...
A huge platform of metal was splitting open.
And out of it... Came a massive railgun. One that looked like a massive, intimidating cannon.
Its position already angled and calculated. Already rotated while it was underground.
And of course- already on.
In a control panel...
A reluctant Etsuji, but one with eyes on fire with a burning desire, was manning a mic.
What was going on was improvised.
But it was still something that they decided upon. A name for what was going on.
"Our counterattack begins against the Seventh that razed the V District!
Seventh Sortie, beginning 10...! 9...!!! 8...!!!"
A military sortie.
A counterattack from zero. One using an insane method of even doing in the first place.On the ground...
Many people- not just the combatants, but scientists of Neuron and members of the Ministry of Defense gathered to watch this sortie.
Choosing to leave it all to Noei, Lukia decided not to leave.
With a cigarette in her hands, since she was a Seventh, she could smoke without worrying about lung problems.
"Jealous that I can smoke again?"Talking to Lukia...
And standing next to her was Mazda.
As he shook his head. "It's not that.
It's just...
In order to make this work, I had to give Noei some of my expensive armor so that they can survive being shot..."
Mazda's arms fell. "I spent half a year working on that specific set of armor..."Lukia pat Mazda on the back.
As she looked at the railgun with a smile. "But- if Noei wins...
You, Winter and even Kilian are getting the raise of a life time.
... And the rest of the unspent money will go to Noei."On the other side of the railgun...
Arisa, the assistant to the Chairman, was holding the hand of Ether.
Her other hand had her hat put down due to apprehension. "Ether...
I wouldn't have imagined that Noei would have turned out like this."
- She had conflicted feelings.
Unlike everyone else, who stared in hope and awe. (edited)The Chairman on the other hand looked stressed.
As he held onto Arisa's hand tightly. "... If they achieve this, then what they'll become is obvious.
A hero. Who stopped the dark angel who descended in the V District.
Dare I say-
-They might even be known as the greatest robot in the world."
Ether adjusted his tie.
As now he could only stare at the charging railgun, humming and ready to launch...
"Right now, you're the hopes and dreams of everyone watching you right now- and for everyone who was involved in that incident with the V District.
Make us proud, Noei Maeda!" (edited)"- Touch the untouchable.
Break the unbreakable.
Set your heart ablaze and reach the unattainable."
Noei wasn't sure of where those words came from.
But coated in a heavy armor that was too big for them...
In a dark place that was whirring with electromagnetic forces, shaking...
Noei repeated those words which they've never heard before, yet ones that felt all too familiar.
"..."
("I have to. For Seren.")
- Then.After a brief delay, Etsuji's own hestiation...
Etsuji roared into the mic.
And fired the railgun.- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The resulting sound echoed throughout all of Steel City.
The resulting sight, too, also was seen throughout all of Steel City. First, the pillar of light.
Then the shockwave that shook through the whole city. The whole city shook, but it wasn't a violent shake.
The railgun had simply gathered that much energy in order to fire Noei.
With Noei leaving trails in the sky.
At a massive speed, shot...
Once they entered the thermosphere, due to the speed they were travelling at...
The armor they were given to even survive the shot in the first place began to melt.
"...!
Just have to listen to Doctor Etsuji's instructions!" As soon as the first sign of this was shown...
Noei activated the thrusters. And with them, kept up their massive speed.
A speed so great that in just a few seconds... They were in the vastness of space.
"!!!!!!" Travelling at such a speed...
... They didn't understand anything again.
The stars. The sun. Everything, but... "... No! I have to focus! I...
I am unstopping!"
... They didn't do their usual habit.
Though they were slowing down, they were slowing down at such a rate that didn't matter.
They could make it. In fact, the Space Resort was even getting in view. Albeit as a small dot.
Of course.
There were barriers. "! Wha..."
Noei saw... Meteors. Debris in their way.
Since they were fired like a bullet, they couldn't just dodge, so... "... My own way, then! Like Winter!"
... They formed their drill. It activated, spun...
As they pierced straight through the satellite debris in their way.
Meteor after metoer. Debris after debris.
The drill spun faster. Its size slowly increased as orange energy began to gather to it.With their drill, in just a few seconds...
They pierced through space and slowed down.
Arriving directly in front of an under construction space resort.
They halted once they saw it was still in tact. Or well, as in tact as an under construction resort looks.
Only half of it was built.
It was also located on a rather large meteor to boot.
But it looked way more advanced than the one they saw in the V District. Way cleaner, way more grandiose...
("... And if I don't do anything about it, it's going to be all gone. Alongside...")A quick look at the outside...
And there were men standing in a parking lot. Terrified.
A strange translucent dome surrounded the Space Resort, so they assumed that it somehow let them breathe.
There was no time for hestiation.Activating their Extra Armament...
They began to scan the entire interior.
Seeing through walls, seeing its schematics...
... Seeing more people inside, terrified, crying, cowering... From Seventh to Human.
Even some robots were experiencing fear.
Noei blinked...
As they dashed straight into the Space Resort.
It was on command. "... Found you!"
Dashing through hallway after hallway...
They found themselves in the deepest part of the Space Resort.The final confrontation.
Located in a room... That was already destroyed.
With Eyes of Add, the room confirmed itself to be an "engine room."
One that had destroyed machines left and right. Burnt and turned to dust.
Standing in the middle of it all...
Was Seren Astoria, the Silver Nephilim.
Still with a hole in her stomach. Still with a sparking nub where her arm used to be, only having one...
Yet despite that, they caused this much damage.
"...
Noei.
Looks like you've finally gotten serious."Noei said, as they looked all around...
With Eyes of Add, they noticed somthing-
The entire Space Resort was falling. "...! No...!!!!!"Turning around...
They met Noei in the eyes.
"... And because of this, I've finally become a star. The star of the evening that will bring an end to the world.
Don't ask me the same question you did last time Noei."
Crackling with energy...
Her wings formed four charges of destruction around Seren.
She spread them wide, black feathers reaching to the ground... Then turning to dust. "This is what I want!"All four lasers fired.
And rather than stopping them, dodging them...
Noei met them.
They charged their buster. Unleashing a powerful charged shot to all four lasers as they reconvened.
The shot was large enough... To engulf all four of them.
"You wanted to perform in front of thousands of people, then the world!
To make them smile with your music! But all the people around her are crying! That's not what you wanted!"Seren flapped her wings and shot to the air, dodging the shot.
But it's clear the shot wasn't meant to hit her at all.
Flanking around Noei... Fast shots formed from her wings.
Weak ones, but plentiful. As she circled Noei in a big diameter.
It was like a rain of shots. "And isn't this performing in front of thousands- no, millions of people now?!
They're all hearing my suffering. They're all hearing my hate. I've...
I've finally become a star." (edited)Noei tried to meet every shot with a buster shot of their own...
But- "- Agh!" Some started hitting them.
There were too many bullets. It was like fighting the rain. Not to mention how fast Seren was circling them.
Scrapes formed on their body. The layer made to look like a human, damaged. Destroyed. Some parts revealing the steel layer entirely.
Noei stumbled back. Some shots even opened holes in Noei's body, exposing their circuitry.
"I... I'm not putting words in your mouth! And I don't want to fight you!
Just please...!!! Show me Seren again! I want to see- gh!" Stumble.
"The one who was worried about being like everyone else! The one who was worried about finding something they can do, just like that song!
The one who just wanted friends to belong with!!!" Noei shouted.
Despite being pelleted with hundreds of shots.Seren stopped firing weak shots...
As she flapped back- gaining distance.
Thrusting her only hand forward... An uncontrollable blast appearing in her hands.
The same magnitude and strength as the one that destroyed Winter's wall.Rather than forming their buster...
... They formed their drill. And Noei started to spin it.
The shot was launched.
And the drill met the shot. "You're hurting people!"
- Spin.
The drill stopped the blast... As it was absorbing the blast's energy.
Expanding the drill, as Noei slowly stepped forward...The moment Seren saw Noei take a step...
A charge formed on her wing...
As she shot it.
Shooting a laser straight to the shot.
- Exploding it.
- BANG!
It wasn't able to reach its full destructive potential.
Because of Noei absorbing some of its energy... But it was still an immeasurably powerful explosion.
It sent them straight through the wall- packing and entering another room.
Which appeared to be a mostly empty room, with just boxes in it.
One under construction or undergoing furbishing.
". . ."
Noei was against the wall.
Their right arm, having been destroyed totally in the blast. They shielded themselves with it.
The steel layer of half their face, exposed.
Now... Noei was sparking all over. Both the Sevenths were.Float.
Seren flew in front of Noei, never touching the ground once.
She scoffed on the ground.
"......."
Seren picked up Noei by the collar. "That's really all you've got, huh?
Maybe if you threw a punch or shot a single blast it would've been more fun.
But I guess this is goodbye, Noei."
They readied a charging shot on their wing...
... But they were the one shot instead. "...!!!!!!!!!!!!!"- From behind.
Lyla Astoria, holding two guns was standing at the hole.
One... Was a stun gun. Anti-Seventh guns. Though usually only working as a surprise attack.
Although it was an old model, electromagnetic waves shot from the gun like a beam.
Stunning Seren, forcing her to her knees.
"You...! You ungrateful child!
I should have never spawned you back into the world! Look at what you've done!"
The other one...
... Was a Beam Gun.
Three shots were fired over to Seren.Unable to defend against the blasts...
The two shots hit her body. A weak body, one intentionally designed with crap defenses.
As entire parts fell from Seren. Her eyes fizzling in and out of being on. "- GAH...!!!"But the last one...
... Was deflected by Noei. Stepping forward and knocking it away with their Buster.
They shouted. Stepping in front and to the side of Seren.
"Stop it!
Why...?! Why are you firing at your own daughter?!"
- Eyes of Add also gives basic profiles for humans too.
So they noticed their last name instantly. (edited)Lyla stopped firing once Noei was in range.
As she tried to aim past them. "Even before then... Seren was always disobeying me!
Spending time away from home, never coming back... Getting into fights, useless hobbies... All when she should've been studying to inherit my lucrative business!
But that doesn't matter now. That isn't Seren. That's a demon!"- However.
One thing Lyla underestimated about Sevenths...
Was that they had the unlimited capacity to evolve. "And...
Who made me into that, then?!"
- She raised a wing.
As a weak beam shot over to Lyla's hand.The stun gun was knocked out of her hand.
As the force of the beam shot straight to her hand. "Kgh...!!! AUUUUUGHHHH!!!!!"
Lyla stumbled back several times...Seren flew straight to Lyla...
As her wings were charging an untold amount of charged blasts.
- All of her hate. All of her history.Noei dashed to her...
As they attempted to hold Seren by the back.
Doing a full nelson, grabbing her by the shoulders from the back.
With one miscalculation. They only had one arm.With her only arm...
Seren turned around, shaking Noei off...
As they shot one laser straight at them. (edited)This time, a straight hole was made through Noei.
Due to the fact that Noei was sparking... Just one laser was enough to send them flying back.
A force so great... "!!!" They crashed through another wall.
But this time... It was the last wall.
As behind them was the vacuum of space.
Of course, since a hole was opened...
All the air from the inside was rushing out. Exactly like a vacuum, sucking everything out. "Wha-"
"But the barrier- ooooh."
Noei realized that it must have gone down with the engine too. "... Ngh!"
Noei's leg thrusters ignited...
But they were much weaker than before. They couldn't make it back in.Noticing the vacuum of space behind her...
Lyla was too sucked up by it.
But she held on. Holding onto the walls of the facility.
"No...! I can't die like this! Not like this! Not without someone to inherit all of this, not without someone to remember me...! No, no, no, no...!!!"This dread was not entirely due to the vacuum of space.
Because staring down Lyla was the devil that she created.
The one that was about to kill her.
- And yet.
The guillotine never lowered.
Seren never fired the charged shots.
Because her eyes were fixated directly on the stars past the hole.
"Ah..."
... Then, she remembered.
A memory that due to her parts being damaged, showed in her very eyes.
A small Seren. A young one.
In a birthday party, staring at the stars in the yard of their house...
With Lyla at standing in front of her, pointing at the skies.
"Your name, Seren... It's Welsh for Star.
Because that's my dream. We'll go to space together and pierce the skies.
Our light shall become endless."Lyla said. "On her 8th birthday, I..."
Her voice was a mess. Her thoughts too, in disarray. "Why...?! Why isn't she firing?!"Noei tried to put as much power as they can into their thrusters.
Slowly inching their way back to the room. The boxes began to fly out too.
But even if one hit them- they didn't stop.
"Seren's very first song she sung to me was about how she wanted to fit in! She REALLY wanted to be able to do what you were telling to, but she couldn't Seren's not good at it nor does she like it!!!
That's why she wanted to be my friend! Because I could do what I liked and wanted!
Isn't it easy to understand?! Seren... Seren couldn't do what you asked.
She couldn't carry on your dream.""That's still your daughter."
Raise. Lyla pointed. "... You're a Seventh, no?
If my recollection on what floor this is... Is correct... Then above this room...!!!"Noei readied her buster...
As she shot a brief charge shot. One not fully charged, due to her sparking condition.
But it was enough to make a hole in it. The things in that room started pouring out.
Falling into the room, and into the hole...
"...!!!!!!"
Noei recognized them.
They were the instruments from Seren's hideout.
A sign, too, also passed by and fell out of the hole.
"MUSIC ROOM - FOR MY DAUGHTER."The moment Seren saw this...
Her pupils stopped dilating and showing her past memories.
- Her face... No longer conflicted.
As her wings took flight.
First-
She pulled back Lyla with all of her might.
And embraced her with that one arm.
". . ."It was a body of steel.
But in that moment, Lyla felt no greater warmth in the world.Her dark silver wings...
Slowly turned lighter in color. "I know you wanted to be famous. She wanted to be famous for you too. Just in a different way." The Seventh hovered over to the hole...
"... But I am not Seren.
I'm just a Seventh that looks like her."Noei's thrusters gave out. "...!!!!"
As the vacuum of space fully sucked them out.
They began to drift slowly in space.
- But the resort was still in view.- Flap.
Seren shot out of the hole she made herself...
As she raised a finger, charging a beam at the tip of her finger.
One of pure white. "... Rebirth and destruction, here at my command.
Let's... Try something out."
- Shot.
A fast beam was shot to the hole...
And after a bright flash out light...
It was as if that hole were never shot in the first place.Seren muttered.
Her wings were practically the size of a chicken's wings now.
"Looks like rebirth takes much more than destruction. Fitting.
..."
Even so- she raised up a finger...
"... Engine room, too much to repair. And that wouldn't stop the crashing anyways- now..."
... Looking back-
The Earth was in view.
The resort was dangerously close to the Exosphere. So Seren made a quick choice.
"Watch me, mother.
I've become a star. Just like you've asked me to."
One shot.
The beam shot and curved- something it's never done before...
Hitting a certain room that even from the outset, looked destroyed.
She waited for a bit.
And the sight of it was confirmed. Spacecraft after spacecraft flew out.
Emergency pod, spacecraft...
Everyone on the Space Resort was now flying out.
"... Oh."
With their senses... They tracked each spacecraft.
Until no more flew out.
Looking behind her... She smiled.
"This is how a rockstar smiles, Noei.
Burn it into your memory." (edited)- For the second time since they've met her...
Seren's back... Was something truly awe inspiring.
All Noei wanted to capture was her smile and her back.
For it was more fantastical than anything they've ever seen. Even in spite of everything. Even in spite of how much they faced.
However, now...
There was an underlying sense of dread.
So Noei shouted. "... SEREN!!!!"Seren slowly floated forth...
And shouted. ".... Another experiment!" Seren reached out to her wing- which turned black.
She reached into her wing, crushing it...
Now coating her arm entirely in that black uncontrollable energy. "And now...
I am the Star of the Evening, Steel City's supernova!"
With a chant... They expended last of their energy.
A mad dash. A trail in space itself. Their sole wing, the one winged angel, shot to the crashing Space Resort...
And just with that hand coated in her energy-
- She started pushing it back. "NGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
All of her energy. All of her Being. Rebirth and destruction, beyond evolution.
Of course, with that chant...
"The star of space shall burn as a beautiful performance!"
... It meant only one thing.
The activation of Seren's Factor Unleash.
A massive discharge of both the white and black energies erupted...
Expanding, exploding. Just like a star's supernova.
Engulfing... Leaving nothing left inside.
Not a trace of the resort was left.
And not any trace from Seren, too, was left.
Like a supernova, it left nothing but stardust.
A true finish. A true stardust end.It was a performance... To thousands. No-
Millions.
As Noei had the front seat of the final gig of this rockstar.
In a place where nobody could hear them scream, drifting endlessly...
... Slowly being pulled back into Earth.
"Seren...
Seren...!!!
SEREN!!!!!!!!!!"1-8: CONCLUDE
Chapter 1-9: FINAL:
Noei Maeda------------------------------ + Neuron Orbal Electronic Institute + ----------------------CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/29/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Evening
WEATHER: Clear Skies...
Three days after the Silver Nephilim incident.
Where rebirth and destruction graced the lands of Steel City-
- Setting in a new age, a ripple effect that spread throughout the whole city.
From the top floor of the domes, it could be seen.
The destruction caused to the V District.
A giant blemish on the otherwise uniform district. What was practically a massive crater was in where one of its most prized locations was- the Metro Resort.
It wasn't just the V District that was damaged.
Various shards from destroyed satellites from Seren's rampage had crashed...
Forming small craters of their own.
What was supposed to be a city of sheer advancement, safety and leisure due to the existence of Robots...
One day.
One day left people wondering "what will happen to us?" en masse. (edited)The reason was obvious.
In an office filled with loads of paperwork, machines and decorations...
As well as a surprising amount of plants.
This was the office of the chairman, Ether Nett.
And of course, it was busy. Neuron was the head of technology.
So every tech related inquiry would go to them.
What was in the hands of Etsuji, the vice chairman... Was a newspaper in one hand.
In the other, a bill to be checked and stamped. He was reading and flipping through both.
"Ether. Looks like I was right on the dot.
62% of the articles in this newspaper are Seventh related. Both good articles, usual news articles, incident articles... Stuff like that.
That day..."On the other hand, Ether was taking a more chill approach.
A cup of tea in one hand. And in the other, they were stamping bills.
Making sure to read them over at least five times first.
But since Ether was a fast reader, this was no big deal. "No need to apologize or feel guilty about it. I know that look on your face, Sensei- I mean, Doctor Etsuji."
Stamp.
Another bill. "What Noei became was uncontrollable. The same goes for all Sevenths- which included the Nephilim too.
It took that to happen for all Sevenths to realize...
That they had the same limitless potential as everyone else."Etsuji gripped his legs. "But now they've been robbed of that."
The headline of the article they were reading...
"THE GREATEST ROBOT IN THE WORLD - NOEI MAEDA"
... Did not bring Etsuji any smiles whatsoever.
In fact.
The Doctor almost crushed that newspaper upon looking at it again.Ether noticed Etsuji's frustrated face.
As he looked at him, concerned.
"Doctor Etsuji... You became vice chairman so you could have less of a workload. Maybe you forgot about that today, or...?"His grip loosened.
As Etsuji got up from his seat. "You're right, you're right. Thank you, Ether.
I think I'm going for a walk."
The door opened automatically...
And Etsuji exhaled. Walking through the hallways of the top floor of Neuron.
Reserved only for its highest ranking members.
When Etsuji is stressed, there's somewhere he likes to go to a lot.
A large balcony. Where one can see the stars.
Etsuji didn't make it a habit of wistfully staring at the skies, as they only choose too in moments that were close to him breaking down.
Thus, the stars became special. A once in a while thing.
...
But. "... !!!!!!!!!!!"
Etsuji found someone waiting for him at the balcony too.- Renji Tenma.
The disgraced scientist of Neuron was at the railway of the balcony.
Drinking a glass of water, as they were staring at the sky too.
"Oh. Hey."
Renji waved with two of his fingers.
His eyes looked at what Etsuji was holding. "You read the news too? Personally, I disagree with the top headline."He shouted.
Not even caring if there were people near him.
As he looked all around. His eyes darting.
- No one in the yard this late in the night. But a faint figure, who he could tell was Noei by the orange hair.
And no one behind him as well. "How...? Why...?!
Neuron's defense systems were improved since you last snuck in!"
So it was practically just the two of them.Renji shrugged.
"As for why I'm here?
I came here to laugh at you."Etsuji only let out a simple grunt.
As he looked to the side, just accepting it.
- This has happened to him before. Doesn't mean he has to like it, it's just...
He's used to situations like these.
Etsuji moved over to the side as he exhaled.
"I wasn't expecting Noei to be so... Heroic. That's all."Renji turned his back on the railing.
As the two faced opposite directions. Renji stared at the stars.
While Etsuji at the ground. "You made a blunder just by expecting things in the first place."Etsuji grit his teeth. "Especially after what we made them do in the Whitebell war.
Do you think I forgot?! The look on Shiori's face after that battle?!"
Etsuji's fists quaked in anger. "How Ririan broke after the war?!
And now Noei..."Renji said.
No hard feelings were attached. He was simply just stating what he thought.
"Because the moment you interfere with that- the moment you force them on a path, guide them on one...
Then you've failed as a Seventh Scientist. You failed in understanding what they were for in the first place.
Do that, and Noei will never have a chance of really being the greatest robot in the world.
And I already think they aren't."Etsuji shouted.
As he looked at Renji in the eyes.
Whose expression still did not change. "Noei just saved us all! Not just Steel City, but this whole country!
They're a hero! The greatest!"That statement truly stunned Etsuji.
"Wh... What?"
He blinked several times to make sure he was hearing things right.
Even rubbing his own ear.
"... No, you're just messing with me. You always mess with me." (edited)Renji sighed. "Meanwhile, you're riddled with them so much to the point where it makes me sick."
Finally...
They faced the same direction. Ahead.
Renji continued speaking as they wordlessly took the same position. "But I mean it. I think Seren was more of an incredible robot than Noei was."Etsuji looked down.Renji slowly smiled.
He was still looking straight on ahead. "And you know what we humans are capable of?
Life. And death. We can do both. Some are even capable of doing both in a single life.
Seren Astoria killed a lot of people.
Yet she also saved many people with her last action." (edited)Etsuji said. "The laws of robotics forbids it.
A Steel that kills can't be the greatest!" As if forcing his own opinion down on Renji...
He shouted.- Freeze.Renji put his hands in his pockets.
As his entire body now turned to face Etsuji. "She was perfect. But now the world won't see that because the world was given a hero. A symbol.
Noei Maeda.
Because of them, only the bad of Seren will exist.
And Noei will represent only the good.
Your flaw, even back when I used to be your student... Was always the same.
It's always black or white. It's all binary to you."
Renji stepped forward.
Now taking a step past Etsuji, no longer content to look at the stars nor the ground.
Instead, he was signaling that he had places to be.- Renji smirked. "But if we take in the REAL big picture...
... The killing of the Seventh named Marika, the Nurse Seventh, was the real groundshaker."
As Etsuji's heart skipped a beat.
- In the chaos of it all... They had forgotten that.
"The cause of their death was a bladed weapon.
Therefore, it was not Seren Astoria who killed her." (edited)"How could I forget?"
Etsuji didn't like meetings with Renji for this very reason.
He knew how to pry into the worst corners of his own heart.
Making him feel terrible afterwards.Etsuji stared at his legs. "They've already started evolving. Noei will not stop."Renji gave a snicker.
As he left the balcony, casually moving into the halls.
"Least you recognize that."
Then...
Etsuji looked into a window on the side, leaning his entire body.
The body of Renji began to fizz and fade away... Just like a hologram.
Etsuji was speaking to a hologram this whole time.Etsuji exhaled. As he decided to continue his walk.
Seeing Renji only worsened his mood.
- But it did lighten his heart.
After the talk he had with Renji, he just had to confirm something with his own two eyes.
Something that was at the yard since they started talking.
He had to go see Noei.
With his hands in his pockets, he gave a solemn walk. To the elevator, down to the first floor...
Down the gates that were only manned by robots now due to how late it was.
To the empty yard in front of them, which was normally filled with machines for visitors to showcase what Neuron was capable of...
All empty.
But there was a sound. "...?
A... Guitar?" (edited)
One thing Etsuji saw before Noei...
Was the fact that their hair had fallen down to the ground.
Because it was cut.
In their hands, was a guitar.
They were playing something. An amateurish tune.
But one filled with undeniable soul.
Etsuji watched from a distance as Noei played.
They didn't sing, but...
...
Etsuji was sure that this was the very moment Noei truly awakened.
For the past few days, perhaps she was stlil half-asleep.
But with the choice of picking up that guitar...
Noei finally became herself.
". . .
Sorry, Seren.
I was playing that song for you, but I... It's not as good as how you play it. Not even as good as how Marika plays it.
I don't even entirely get this muttering thing either. I still couldn't figure out things.
I still am dumb. I'm not smart. I don't know things. I really don't understand this world at all.
And yet... I'm still alive."
With a look of pain, she grit her teeth.
"I don't get why, either...! Living is... Really really hard!
People start to want things out of you. But you don't know how to get it...
Then- people die if they're killed.
Everyone's doing it, but it's hard." - Raise.
Like a real rockstar... Noei raised her hand striaght to the stars itself.
An old guitar chip was in that hand.
She wasn't done just yet. "But I'm still here.
So until you forgive me for being unable to save you.
Until I can stand on my own two feet-
I will play for you."Etsuji turned around...
As he began to walk back into the Neuron Dome.
A satisfied grin formed on his face.
As his heart was doing fine.
"This act...
I have no right to interfere in."So she played.
Again and again...
Even to the hours of the demon. Ungodly hours.
Even until the sun rose... She played.
Noei didn't even understand why she chose to play.
But the reason was obvious to everyone but her.
It was love.This is a story of a robot who was forced to take in all of reality.
Noei Maeda was forced to take in all of reality within their very awakening...
... Yet she was able to overcome it all and was born anew.Chapter 1 - Finish...
------------- + Epilogue + ------------------------
------------------- + Zone Backstreets + -------------------------The Zone Backstreets aren't exactly the most lively of areas.
Though in the Krypt District, people were often just rushing to get to where they needed too...
They rushed in certain parts of the Zone Backstreets just because they didn't feel safe.
Gangsters existed in alleys. The mafia was very active in this place.
As the laws were less strict in the Zone Backstreets. Nothing could really be done about this.
The dour mood wasn't helped by the rain.
It was pouring hard, not even a few days after the last time it rained.
This is just how it was. That's just how things are in the Backstreets.
At the very least- its people were unique. Its buildings, all different.
It was a place where, even if all of its people vanished one day, it would still feel alive.
All but a single girl.
Who looked like she was a phantom wandering the streets.
She stopped, looking to a TV store that was showing the news.
It was a girl who looked like she didn't even fit in the same plain of existence, if one was being harsh.
For every part of her was uncanny. Out of place.
Looking at her was like looking at a ghost of something that never even existed.
Purple hair, a strange suit-dress combination.
An umbrella in hand and a briefcase in another.
She was a Seventh for sure.
"..."
She stopped to look at the news.
"Now! For the part you've all been waiting for!
I'm sure you've been dying to see it- so here she is!
An interview... With the Greatest Robot in the World!"
That orange Seventh came on screen.
With their appearance...
The purple Seventh only scowled. "The Greatest Robot in the World...
That isn't anything to be proud of. That's a joke.
Because that would mean you're the closest robot to a human.
-In other words, the saddest possible existence."Chapter 1 - True EndChapter 1 Placebo - Embryo in the Artificial World
The day falls. Even the Evening Star has fallen.
The White Executioner saunters into the starless sky. (edited)B-SIDE
CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 08/30/115 of the Cyber Era. It’s just another day.
TIME: Evening. The skies are filled with Stardust from that space station explosion. Honestly, I find it more unnerving than pretty.
WEATHER: Cloudy. Though I’d really prefer clear skies or even snow. But it doesn’t snow till December.
…
When day falls, night takes its place.
So when the hero, the Greatest Robot in the World, had vanquished the evening star…
What took its place was a starless sky.
A sky that could be filled by anything. (edited)------------------- + Zone Backstreets, Zone 1 + -------------------------- I’ve never liked being in the Shadow Crimes Unit.
Firstly, its name is stupid. Almost every crime committed in Steel City is done in the shadows.
You’re either a gangster or a mafioso trying to pull a fast one while no one’s looking, or organizing some big scheme underneath the ground or in the more neglected areas.
Bank robberies, terrorism and the like don’t exist. Even petty crimes like shoplifting- you can’t get away with that shit anymore.
For the former, if even just a single Seventh is in the area, they can spring into action and stop it.
You’d think that because most crimes are committed in the dark, then our unit would be the most funded, yeah?
Wrong.
The only redeeming factor of my office is the little cage my pet Dachscund is in. He’s called Big Mac.
It was Cybil who named him, so I don’t really care that the name doesn’t suit him at all.
But there’s stacks of unfinished papers. Unorganized documents all in the wrong drawers.
Case files that have gone unsolved. Old furniture- even our heater doesn’t work. Not that it really matters, as I’m usually the only one here now. Heaters don’t really affect Sevenths.
Especially now that Kilian’s comatose.
This whole place just reeks of the feeling that this is the neglected part of the Ministry of Defense.
The Counter-Terrorism Unit, the Autopsy Unit, the Abnormality Combating Unit… All much more funded than the Shadow Crimes Unit.
To be frank, it’s a load of shit. Makes me wonder if Lukia just has a grudge on this Unit in specific, or maybe even me. The third part though is the real kicker.
I’m the only one who puts in any real effort into this Unit.
Because Steel City is rotten, rotten to its very core. Its very conception is wrong.
But, well, I also live here. So even though I have many grievances with it, it’s alright.
Or maybe that’s just my Being of Ice speaking. I’m programmed to not really want change, and I don’t really have much questions about it.
This is this, and that’s that.
But being one of the only ones who acknowledges that, it’s put me in a situation where I’m the only one who can do this sort of work.
My coworkers describe it that I can look the depths of this city in the eye and look back.
In truth, I’m not really doing much looking back. I’m just staring at it: accepting it.
The others see it as me being invincible. Glacial. So they gave me this stupid nickname.
“The White Executioner.”
It’s this title that’s gotten others to shy away from the Shadow Crimes Unit.
“Oh, the White Executioner will handle it.”
“No need to join that unit. The great White Executioner’s already on the job.”
It’s a change that I wasn’t fond of at all. I was fine just being the sort of person who did the sort of work nobody else wanted to, but they had to go ahead and attach a title to that.
It’s not glamorous work either. So why have an intimidating name like that?
This goes into the fourth and final grievance I have.
This sort of work…
“… Are you serious with me right now?
THIS is the case that Lukia has deemed the most important for me to do?”… Is ridiculous.
Not even the good sort of ridiculous either. It’s the busywork type of tedious.
Because the Ministry of Defense is paranoid- with the mafia and corrupt scientists and all that…
Everything is taken seriously.
Even this email. This stupid, obviously a prank, email.
“TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
WHAT UP BIG BUTTS
IM 52
BOMB GONNA BLOW UP NEURON AND THAT NOEI PERSON IF YOU DONT SOLVE MY RIDDLES
SO SOLVE MY RIDDLES
GO TO YAMAZAKI WAREHOUSE IN ZONE 1 ILL PROVE IT
AS COMPENSATION I HAVE 325,000 YEN TO START YOU CAN HAVE IT IF YOU WANT
BTW THE PASSWORD IS A RIDDLE UHH
PUT IN THE OBVIOUS NUMBER”
“……..
There’s a serial killer on the loose, who just killed one of my best friends.
Not to mention, a rogue Seventh- the Evening Star. We still need to investigate Lyla Astoria and the circumstances behind the Evening Star’s creation. Especially due to their power output.
And THIS is what Lukia wants me to devote my everything into???
A fake bomb threat???”
If there is a single change that I do want-
- It’s for this sort of work to vanish. Move me to a different Unit already, please.
I’ll take being a literal janitor over wasting my time over on some 4/2Chan’s attempt at humor. And Lukia’s paranoia in thinking that this is serious.
That, or, if it is serious-
“- Then I know what you really want, Director Lukia.”
…
Right now. More than anything…
The Ministry of Defense needed a lot of money right now.Booting up my phone inside my head...
... Sevenths don't normally come with built-in PCs inside of their head. Though they do run on computers, operating systems to function as normal PCs are optional Modules.
Though most Sevenths have them. With the exception of Noei, who barely has any Modules. I'll never understand why Etsuji didn't implement her with some absolutely necessary ones though.
You'd think that she's an old model because of that. Many First Generation Sevenths lack a lot of Modules.
I opened up a certain app.
Despite being a commercial app, it's the most reliable for Sevenths to communicate with a degree of security as well.
I booted up Seventhcord. The go-to messaging service for Sevenths.
"SEVENTH CORD
The Big 4 (Groupchat between Winter, SudouBoss, Momotaro and NurseMarika
Winter: you motherfucker
SudouBoss: yes?
Winter: look at this shit
Winter: -Attached file: emailscreenshot.png-
Winter: do you really expect me to investigate this prank when like, literally everything is going on
Winter: i just got in for my night shift and like, there's already 10 seventh already related incidents. this bomb threat is so obviously fake that you can just send an automated robot to check it
SudouBoss: but that 325,000 yen though" (edited)Having that suspicion confirmed almost got me to slam a wall out of frustration.
However, especially due to my Being, my anger doesn't last for long.
I just put my hands on my forehead. After that, it was like I was never angry in the first place.
...
Yeah. For sure.
It dissipated pretty quickly as I went back to my messaging system.
Seventhcord was unique in that it was practically as close as one could get for telepathy for Sevenths.
Communication could happen extremely fast. And they're also free of most lies too, because of the rate of communication. (edited)Either way, I had to continue talking to Lukia.
Myself, Lukia, Cybil and formerly Marika often used the group chat to discuss work. Even though we're all part of separate divisions, our work intertwined often.
That's why we bought a house together.
I don't know if it's supposed to be fate or anything like that, but we just kept on working together for whatever reason.
Not to mention that the group chat was used to divvy up chores for our shared house.
"SEVENTH CORD
The Big 4 (Groupchat between Winter, SudouBoss, Momotaro and NurseMarika)
SudouBoss: and in case it is a trap we have you to like, discern it
SudouBoss: no matter how unprofessional and obvious of a prank this is we still have to investigate it for the 1% chance that this actually is a real bomb threat"
Such was Director Lukia's logic and why the Shadow Crimes Unit took all threats seriously.
Because of the unstable nature of humans, according to Lukia, even the smallest threat has a chance of being something really big.
"Winter: i get it youve said that like 1000 times
SudouBoss: and every time i've said it you've done it. what is the difference now?
Winter: marika
SudouBoss: this seriously can't be about revenge, can it?" (edited)Once again...
Lukia had hit a sore spot.
I know exactly the contradiction within me. My Being states that all things must pass.
Even ice melts at some point. And the status quo hasn't really changed all that much, has it?
And the fact that I know this contradiction means... I should be able to get over with it.
Marika is dead.
This is a truth that I'm supposed to accept.
Yeah. You can't bring back the dead, and there are laws against bringing back Sevenths. The cycle of nature and all of that would be disrupted if we did.
Revenge should be a concept I shouldn't even be programmed to do.
But I can't help but feel mad again.
So once again, I put my hands to my head. This isn't something I'm supposed to feel.
"... So stop thinking, Winter." Either way, I probably left Director Lukia on read for a while. She might be getting worried, so I'll respond as soon as I can.
"SEVENTH CORD
The Big 4 (Groupchat between Winter, SudouBoss, Momotaro and NurseMarika)
Momotaro: Winter, do you want a hug???"
Oh. Cybil responded.
Wow. I was really out for that long. Sergit has a whole 4 hour difference between us, so it must be really late for Cybil...
If I woke her up then, man. I really have to get rid of this feeling of anger in me if it's causing me to disrupt Charging Cycles.
"Winter: not really
Momotaro: Okay but every time you say that you're going through some shit >:(
Momotaro: Like when we had to deal with that Doctor from the CE Ward >:(
Winter: you mean jin?
Winter: where is he now?
SudouBoss: still serving one more year in jail. I'd say it should be longer TBH."
... That's a story for another day. I better steer things back on topic, or find a way to get Cybil sleeping.
"Momotaro: But yeah, I really do feel bad about Marika... We were like the Four Amigos, you know? With her gone, it's not gonna be the same. Even with we got another Nurse Seventh, Marika was really... Unique.
Winter: this gc is literally called the big 4
Momotaro: My point exactly!
Momotaro: So Director Lukia, don't blame Winter for her outburst or sudden want for revenge! And Winter, you didn't need to come into work today! Maybe use one of those leaves you've been piling up? :D
SudouBoss: i wasn't blaming anyone
Momotaro: Yes you were >:(
SudouBoss: when did i say that
Momotaro: You were making Winter feel bad for having feelings of revenge :(
SudouBoss: was i
Winter: you kind of were to be honest
Momotaro: SEE?! >:O
SudouBoss: well not my fault i'm harsher than most sevenths
SudouBoss: either way cybil i don't really see winter taking a leave. the one time she did was like for that new seventh
Momotaro: New Seventh?
SudouBoss: sorry i mean noei
Momotaro: :OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Momotaro: OMG YOU TOOK A LEAVE WINTER?????????" (edited)Thinking of Noei got me to smile.
I'm not really sure I can articulate why. She's pure, I suppose.
In ways most Sevenths aren't. Seeing her so earnestly talk about her friends, hold onto me...
I'll be honest.
Seeing her fight got me to feel real fear for the first time in a while. I can't explain it either, but it doesn't feel right that she fights.
But seeing how determined she was in the video playback in her second go against the Silver Nephilim...
... Not to mention how resolve-filled she was to go with me to see her friend for the first time...
I can tell.
Noei was scared.
But Sevenths, when receiving an instinct as primal as that... Their programming or Being takes over.
They reject it harshly, because they know that it will do more harm than good should they defy those feelings.
We're logically emotional- is how I'd put it.
Noei must have felt that approaching Seren in that moment would have caused her great pain. I know this, not just as a Seventh, but as a friend.
Yet she went past that to see Seren for herself.
That sort of resolve- I understand it.
But I don't have it myself.
I guess that's why I wanted to hang out with her so much.Back to the groupchat. Once again, I spent a while lost in my thoughts.
Marika used to tell me it was a really bad habit, but...
I'd consider programmed flaws different from bad habits. This is just something I have, and I can't really do much about it.
"SEVENTH CORD
The Big 4 (Groupchat between Winter, SudouBoss, Momotaro and NurseMarika)
Winter: noei asked me to spend time with her. shes cool so i did it.
Momotaro: Ha! I get it, it's cause you can control ice. :)
Winter: wasnt trying to make a pun there
Momotaro: Still got me to laugh though. :>
Momotaro: You're funnier than you give yourself credit for, you know that?
SudouBoss: perhaps unintentionally too lolololol
SudouBoss: anyways we got really off track there though. you taking that leave or not? if so, ill handle the 325,000 yen"
I'm noticing how she's talking about the money before the case itself. Not even giving itself a name.
I see right through you, Director Lukia.
"Winter: taking a leave. go for the money bossman."
So with that, I'll handle the case.I'm taking a leave and not logging in my results... Because out of sheer spite alone, I don't want Director Lukia to have that money.
I'll get it for myself.
With the money, I can probably fund my own private investigation of the Marika Case myself too.
Maybe contract a few Sergian Detectives. From the few times I've worked with them, they've been a huge help. The only problem is that they cost a fortune.
Which, with 325,000 Yen, won't be a problem at all.
That way... I can solve the case and take revenge on Marika as well.
"SudouBoss: roger roger
Momotaro: I'm very glad you're taking the time to rest for yourself now, Winter! Since we're Sevenths we really overestimate the work we do. We need breaks just like any other person out there, even if our bodies can take it!
SudouBoss: except me
SudouBoss: im built different
Winter: are you still haughty about the fact that youre the only first gen seventh here
SudouBoss: #BuiltDifferent #ImTheWiseOne #Mogged"
... Lukia works fast, though.
She somehow travelled all the way from Sergit, hours away from here, to here in a single day after hearing about Marika's death.
I don't know why she didn't bring along Cybil though. The two of them were working together.
... Maybe an emergency happened in the airport? Cause I know for a fact Cybil would be complaining about being left behind if the two didn't agree on it beforehand.
Which means, I should leave right now.
... Sorry Big Mac. I wanted to play with you tonight, but it looks like you'll have to sleep earlier.
Until the sun rises, I'm not coming back. (edited)---------------- + Zone Backstreets, Yamazaki Warehouse, Zone 1 + ----------------... Yeah, Yamazaki Warehouse was exactly what I imagined it to be.
A dingy, worn down warehouse probably used by mafia for meeting and exchanging goods.
Call it hypocritical, but even though Zone 1 is where the Ministry of Defense is located... But the Shadow Crimes Unit don't explore it that much.
I can't speak directly since it's more Lukia who knows how effective it is, but she believes that having the literal entire military and police force located in Zone 1 will intimidate people from stirring up crime.
Looking behind me, I can see the Jester's Casino in all of its golden and flashy glory going off. There's also the matter that THAT casino intimidates people from acting up...
... Really, Zone 1 gets its rep just because of that casino. I'm pretty sure that not a lot of crime happens here often.
It's the other Zones of the Zone Backstreet where the real stinkers happen. And in the CE Ward, the real evil schemes.
Of course, that's WHEN they happen. They're still pretty rare.
Regardless, I don't want to speak about it since it's embarrassing...
But it seems Lukia's thing about there being a 1% chance of this case being real might be true.
A bit.
...
"Okay.
Just because I'm staring at a locked door with the number 52 badly vandalized onto it, doesn't mean that there's an actual bomb planted in it."
Either way, it's locked. Locked by a numpad.
Since I have Modules for investigating and being a detective, I have things planted in me to make investigating easier.
Recorders, Sense Boosters, Fingerprint scanners, access to nearby cameras...
... And just with my Fingerprint scanner alone, I can tell that whoever operated the numpad used gloves. No traces of fingerprints anywhere.
Not to mention, a Module in me is telling that numpad was tampered.
Illegaly. Rules off whoever this "52" is being a part of the mafia. Which is a huge burden off my shoulders- I hate dealing with the mafia. EITHER of them. They both suck.In the numpad, I put in 52.
Email said to put in the obvious number, and that's pretty obvious. It's right in the door.
I press it, and...
... Huh.
Doesn't work. Door's still locked.
Another obvious number then.
1012. October 12..
... Didn't work either. Maybe 1210? Perhaps they do day and month.
...
It didn't work.
... 325000.
Damn. That also didn't work. What the hell is the obvious number then? (edited)Trying all the numbers in reverse didn't work.
Which meant, the only obvious number left...
- I reach out my hand and activate one of my 5 Armaments.
Armaments are made by the Furyoku within us mixing in with our steel and programming to create a weapon or a function.
In this case, the one I have manifested is The Blade of Kairos.
A fruit knife with a Magic Sigil implanted on it that boosts my movements when held.
Out of all 5 of my Armaments, the Ice Generator, my Beam Rifle, the Throwing Knives and that Umbrella thingy I use...
... The Blade of Kairos is one I'd consider my main weapon.
But it's for that reason alone that I don't use it much. I only use it when necessary.
As a Seventh who works in the public, it's disadvantageous for other Sevenths- criminal ones to know about my abilities. It means they have a better shot at defeating me.
And I'm pretty sure even Lukia and Cybil, the two people closest to me, aren't even aware of what I'm fully capable of.
The same goes for what I know about them too. You shouldn't even let the ones close to you know about your abilities.
"..."
Which is why, I feel what the humans describe as "shivers down their spine" thinking about this.
Marika was killed by being sliced into 17 pieces.
And that...
... Is the end result of my Factor Unleash. The secret killing technique that I have that can fell even a god.
...
No time to think about it.
- My eyes flare up, and I trace a line down the door. Cutting it in half cleanly, splitting the metal door to the floor.
No time to waste either. Quickly, I enter the warehouse. (edited)Entering the warehouse...
It's about as dark as I expected. Luckily, I have a Module that shoots out light from my eyes.
I light the way forward. Though, as forward as it can reach.
I'm not expecting a pair of two flashlights (which are my eyes) to light up a warehouse, but it's...
... Awfully empty. Not many boxes for such an old warehouse.
All recent too. I can barely notice any dust in it.
I take a few steps ahead, and...
...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Instinctively...
I pull up my knife.
- Only to feel a slight twinge of embarrassment.
One that is overtaken by an animalistic sort of fear.
Funny, since I'm technically a robot. With programming and all- even if my AI is close to a human. I shouldn't be compared to even an animal.
Sevenths aren't worth that.
Even so, that's the closest thing I can use to describe it.
Because even an ant would be scared when it sees a corpse of its kin lying in front of them.
That's what I'm seeing right now.
Another corpse... Of someone else I know.Luckily, it's not someone else I really care about.
Unluckily, this spurs up even MORE questions than answers. I thought this was just a bomb threat, what the hell!?
In front of me lies the mangled dead "corpse" of Seren Astoria, as a Seventh.
A face and body totally contorted and singed by embers and ash. Probably from that whole supernova she did.
An arm torn out, most of the lower body missing, wires poking out- with some even sparking (I'm surprised she had energy left)...
With a note on a metal forehead that barely resembles a face. With only 4 words on it.
"I AM REAL
52"
...!!!
Wait- now it's sparking like crazy! What the hell is this timing?!
With the same sort of energies that Seren used to blow up all my ice...!
Is THIS what the email meant by bomb?! (edited)It's times like these I'm very lucky that my ice is strong enough for even threats like these.
Only problem is, it takes a whole lot of Furyoku out of me.
Even so...!!! "Factor Authorized."
My eyes turn blue for a single second.
I leap forward because the life of everyone here depends on it. Well, most importantly, my life. I forgot about that for a bit.
I step forward and thrust my arms. The Ice Generator within me activates and forms a thick dome of ice in a single second around the sparking body of the Seventh...
"... But there's still time!"
... However, in case it's too strong, the dome turns into an orb- scooping up the body.
I plant my hands to the ground... "GH!"
And form a massive pillar of ice.
One that shoots out of the ground, piercing the roof...
Then launching the orb like a pinball machine. I see it fly as I stare out of the hole it made on the ceiling- causing the warehouse to shake a little. The hole it made was pretty big.
It flies for a bit. I count the seconds in my head, and...
- Boom.
It wasn't a very spectacular explosion. It would've engulfed the warehouse and the surroundings for sure...
But due to how high it flew, it looked more like a crappy firework than anything.
... Maybe it's a good thing that I didn't tell anyone that I was going on this mission. For all the world, and Noei knows, the last showcase of Seren was a supernova. A real star going out.
This is more like a pathetic whimper. Anyone would be heartbroken to find out that such a star actually went out like that.
"... Whew.
So the bomb was real. Bet that means the 325,000 Yen is, unless they were just luring us here..."
Sure hope it's real though.
Does that mean I'll have to keep searching, or...?...!
I notice something falling from the ceiling. A note.
Likely, there was a note attached to the ceiling. But it fell when it was shook.
I'm able to read the note as it falls.
"What did you think of the BOMB?
Also I am tired of writing and typing in caps. It is not like me.
Either way, I am 52. I will cut to the chase.
To you, who possess the silver eyes...
There's once a saying that when conflicting truths are put into question, all become valid.
In this case, I want you to find the singular truth.
There is a mystery I want you to solve.
And that is "who or what governs Steel City."
The first step will be in solving the death of Marika and the outburst of Seventh.
(More on the backpage)"
...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- The Silver Eyes.
That means they know about my true ability.
It's a secret only reserved for those in the Ministry of Defense- the higher ups. And also Cybil when she asked me to show it to her really nicely.
Ice... Is not my ability. It is my Being, but not what makes me truly fierce.
As much as I hate the title- it relates more to how I got the name "White Executioner."
Ice simply refers to "White." But the true ability I have refers to "Executioner."
In any case, this ability that I don't show to anyone...
... Not to mention, leading me on with a trail that might lead to me solving who killed Marika...
"... Whoever this 52 is, they're playing me for sure.
And yet..."
...
I reach out and jump up to the falling note, grabbing it.
That jump was several meters high, by the way.
I land and read the backpage tightly. I have to know where this note goes. (edited)The back page of the note read...
"Let me pull up what was so odd from the Silver Nephilim Case, things you may have not thought of.
- The existence of Seren implies a group who made her. She goes against the laws of reviving humans as Sevenths. Not to mention, it is incredibly expensive to make Sevenths: that's why they're only made in Neuron.
- Seren was much angrier than any Seventh. Even a Seventh with a programmed Being of "mad" would not be that mad. Recall your memory of the corpse of Seren: as you're a Seventh, I know you can do it.
- The death of Marika was timed so well with the outbreak of Seren. It's almost as if it was planned for you to throw your attention off of Marika.
- In that case, who was the group that made Seventh? I want you to investigate them.
Don’t worry. 52 will wait as long as you need to find out how trivial the answer is."
...
I'm very glad I'm a Seventh. Any human would find handwriting this tiny annoying to read. Who even writes THIS small? Not even doctors do. (edited)Recall their body, huh...
Sevenths have perfect memory, so it should be-
- ...!!!!!!!!!!
How did I not see it the first time...?!
No- it's because her body started sparking that I didn't see it.
But lodged within her exposed neck was a card. A purple card- one that looks like a 4 of Spades, except it's purple instead of black...
One with Furyoku emanating off of it.
And not just any Furyoku too.
A smog-like, unmistakable pattern of Furyoku.
Furyoku this ugly can only belong to a single person.
Codenamed the Queen of Paranoia in the Ministry of Defense Files-
Arwest Meinster.
A Seventh whose very presence drives everyone to insane acts.
Indiscriminate of Human, Seventh or Beastkin...
It is with no exaggeration to say that all those who get close to her are doomed to die. Of the Sevenths that exist, she's one of the nastiest ones out there.
And that card had her Paranoia oozing out of it.
... But from what our files say, her ability does not manifest in cards.
Is it more like...?
"...!!!!!"
- My senses flare up. Something was shot behind me. (edited)An unmistakable, black and uncontrolling shot of pure Furyoku.
One resembling a laser, or a black hole even.
A mass of pure destruction.
I know this shot- it blew off my right arm once.
A shot from Seren's Wings of Terror.
But how...?! I literally threw her body into the sky and watch it turn into space dust...!
Then again- she's always been a tenacious one, so maybe she... Ah, nevermind!
No time to monologue to myself!I don't want to get into the same situation I did before.
Where Seren was spacing me out. I was only able to get close in the last minute, and that last minute was the exact same time she adapted to my rhythm.
Which means I can't dodge. I can try to low profile it, ducking ahead...
But at the trajectory it's shot- it's been shot over to my lower body. Dodging to the side will workk, but-
"- I want nothing but to close this distance in a second."
So that won't work either.
- Luckily.
". . ."
There is another way.
Now that I've seen the playbacks of Noei fighting Seren... Now that I've fought her once-
- Even this uncontrollable swirl of mass destruction can be killed.
My true factor is authorized- "Yetzirah. Dear & Hate." - And I float closer to death.
Lines appear all over the floor, walls, the blast- and a point in the middle of that blast.
Everything in existence has a flaw.
Even something like this blast... Has flaws.
The more I understand that something- whether it be an ability, an object, or a person... From their past, to their relations, to their personality...
The more those flaws are exposed.
Then, regardless of what it's made out of, how strong it is, how durable it is, or how untouchable it is...
I can kill it.
I lunge forward, dashing forward with an unstopping speed.
At the same time, rather than dodigng- I unleash my knife... And stab at the point that appeared in the middle of the blast.
Dissipating it into nothing. I practically launched myself like a bullet to where the laser was shot at, and... (edited)... Nobody.
But there are dust clouds, suggesting that they left recently.
A swinging window suggests that they also escaped as soon as they shot that blast.
Damn. From the looks of it too, they're pretty fast. I jump up to look at the window, and I don't see anyone in the vicinity.
... A pillar was formed, and I go out of the hole I made of the roof.
Nobody.
..................
Guess I'll just go back down. They left something when they ran away like that.
Who that was... I can't tell if it was 52 trying to give me a clue, or someone trying to stop me from finding out the truth.
- If so, they must be an even better assassin than I am. I didn't notice anyone tailing me. Nor anyone in the warehouse.
Their ability to conceal their presence must be even greater than mine. (edited)On the ground was-
- Another card.
Alongside some coins, old receipts and stuff you'd find in a guy's pocket. Maybe I scared them off when I ran to them.
A black and white card. An ace of diamonds, with a black and white pattern.
With Furyoku oozing out of it too. Only a bit of it, though... A black and white aura.
Seren's aura. Even though she's long dead.
... "... Huh?"
Why is it... Reacting like a Module?
When a Seventh holds a Module, they can insert it into them to install it.
Out of curiosity, my arm opens up, I place the card in it...
"MODULE INCOMPATIBLE."
Damn.
- Wait, but this Module...!!!
It has no readme.txt instructions for it, but it does have the instinctual instructions that only we Sevenths can read.
This is...
A card that contains the Factor of Seren.
Effectively allowing whoever is compatible with this Module...
... To copy it.
". . .
What...
What a terrifying weapon."
The words came out of me without thinking. The implications came to me without thinking.
52 suggested that Seren was made by- or at least under the control of an unknown group.
That same group also has a card that has the Queen of Paranoia's ability...
Then-
- This group...
Are they the ones who really control Steel City?All I wanted to do was to avenge Marika.
What sort of conspiracy did I walk into?
- And more importantly, why was it me who was chosen for this conspiracy?And most importantly of all...
"... Where the hell is my 325,000 Yen?!"
Okay, perhaps this card can sell for 325,000 Yen-
-...
Why is there a small bomb on it?
Wait, how can bombs that small even exist?! That's something straight out of a cheesy mystery novel!
"...!!!!!! I've gotta throw it, I've gotta throw it!"
- Screw this hidden shadow organization! First they scam me out of 325,000, then they throw me in a conspiracy, and now I'm getting face to face with ANOTHER deadly explosion?! Twice in one day?!
I tossed it quickly.
Hopefully the explosion won't be as big as Seren's. I mean, it's a small bomb, how big can it-
- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!Chapter 1 Placebo - End