[Physical Access Room to the Lightcube Cluster]
**Poom… vmmm…**
The device lit up with a faint green pulse.
Transfer complete.
The micro-AI notified that it had successfully extracted the Fluctlight data from Underworld with that green light.
**Clink… bzzt…**
Aya, with a swift motion of her right hand, disconnected it from the side port of the console, as if it had never been there.
**Shhh-click… fwip… clink**
The advanced USB retracted to its smallest size before being inserted into the hidden compartment of the elegant watch she wore on her wrist, becoming completely invisible.
**Hmm… smile… swoosh**
This caused an almost imperceptible smile on Aya's face as she confirmed that everything had gone well. Naturally, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
**Tap-tap… tic… bzzt**
Then, she sent a series of small coded taps in Morse code: a positive confirmation signal of the process, directed at her partner on the other side.
**Click… whir… beep-beep**
Immediately afterward, she resumed her usual work, focusing on system analysis and diagnostics, as part of her routine tasks within the Ocean Turtle. She couldn't disappear now, as that would raise suspicions from the security room, put her partner in a tight spot, and worse, ruin the plan she had been waiting for years to execute.
*****
[Ocean Turtle Security Room]
**Tap-tap… tic… bzzt**
Toma remained standing in front of the control panel, blocking the view of the camera he had diverted minutes earlier. His posture was firm, but his discomfort was evident. At that precise moment, he received Aya's confirmation: everything was done.
—"It's alright, Nishikawa…"
The deep voice of Sakamoto, the veteran, resonated from his seat without taking his eyes off the main monitor.
—"We've already said we won't look anymore. You can move away from there..."
Toma barely turned his face, raising an eyebrow cautiously. Sakamoto's gaze was neutral, but there was a hint of suspicion in his tone.
**Gulp**
Toma swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure.
—"Yes… alright. Just… they promised me."
**Tshk tshk... frrrrr**
He scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed, and added with a forced smile:
—"Sorry if I reacted like that. It's just that… I'm a bit jealous. And I don't think anyone would want to see their partner in that situation…"
—"Calm down, we understand."
Kobayashi said, raising his cup with a conciliatory smile.
—"If she were my girlfriend, I probably would have done the same. It's part of growing up, right? You're becoming more of a man than you seem, Toma."
—"Yeah, but he still lacks… Ha, ha, ha!"
Inoue burst out laughing.
—"Still too shy. You should be braver, Toma. That way your girl will fall more in love with you."
**Thwack!**
—"Ha, ha, ha!"
Nakano erupted in laughter, giving him a pat on the back.
—"That's it! Listen to the romance master!"
**Skreeek!**
—"Enough nonsense!"
Sakamoto growled, interrupting and turning sharply in his chair.
—"Get back to work, everyone!"
Kobayashi, shaking his head and already used to his boss's changing humor, said:
—"You've heard him… get to work."
The others nodded in agreement and returned to their posts.
Sakamoto, fixing his gaze on Toma, said with the same authority:
—"And you too, Nishikawa… your break time is over…"
**Fwump**
—"Yes, boss… sorry about earlier…"
Toma nodded quickly, still embarrassed, and slumped into his work chair as usual.
**Click… tap… tap…**
He began reviewing the routine logs, mimicking the concentration of his colleagues.
**Frrrrp**
From his seat, appearing normal, he glanced down for a moment and discreetly touched the lobe of his left ear.
A spark of satisfaction crossed his face.
But this time, his smile was not the usual: neither humble nor nervous.
It was different. More contained and dark.
A smile that showed to no one in this place… but spoke within.
[4:47 A.M.]
**Bzzzzzz... tiktiktik... ták**
About thirty minutes passed. The room remained calm, with the constant hum of the monitors and the occasional typing of the operators. Everything seemed in order.
Sakamoto, the shift leader, was reviewing the cameras with a fixed gaze. But for some reason, his mind returned to the earlier scene: Toma diverting the camera with such insistence. At the time, he hadn't thought much of it… but now, in retrospect, something did not add up.
He frowned.
—"How strange…"
He murmured to himself, shaking his head as if wanting to shake off the suspicion.
It was then that he felt it.
**Thump…**
A sudden dizziness forced him to bring his hand to his forehead.
**Throb… pulss…**
His vision blurred. His strength began to abandon him. His fingers trembled. His body did not respond.
—"What… what the hell…?"
He stammered, his voice slurred.
He turned his head with effort… and what he saw froze him.
His colleagues—Kobayashi, Inoue, Nakano, Fujita—were slumped over their desks, inert, with their faces buried in keyboards and consoles. Even one of the guards by the door lay fallen, motionless, outside the room that showed the monitor.
—"Guys! What's happening?! React!"
He shouted desperately, trying to get up… but…
**Crash—thud**
The chair tipped over. Sakamoto fell to the ground with a dull thud. His legs did not respond… in fact, his whole body did not respond.
—"This…"
Panic seized him.
**Tump... tump... tump...**
It was then that he heard footsteps.
Slow.
Firm.
**...shhhh**
He forced himself to lift his head.
**Tump... tump... tump...**
Toma approached.
But he was no longer the same.
His face had changed.
There was no trace of shyness, nor humility.
Only a cold, confident… and cruel expression.
As if everything he had been for years was nothing but a mask.
—"T-Toma… You..."
Sakamoto could barely articulate words.
—"How… how could you…?"
Toma crouched down in front of him, looking down with a mix of pity and superiority.
—"I'm sorry, boss. But the other business pays better. It's nothing personal."
Sakamoto blinked with difficulty.
—"It was… the coffee… right?"
**Tsk, tsk, tsk... hmmph...**
Toma slowly shook his head, clicking his tongue with a twisted smile.
—"Of course. I just had to get them used to the routine for years. Knowing when they let their guard down, when each would fall… Even I would have fallen for it without any warning. So don't worry about not seeing it coming."
**Thsssss—khhh...**
He stood up calmly, observing the inert bodies of his colleagues with coldness.
—"And you know what? I won't kill them. No need. Just… sleep, like the others. That way you won't suffer. You'll just be another victim of all this."
**sht-thunk**
With that, Toma pulled out a weapon: a silenced pistol, and aimed it at Sakamoto's head.
—"Though I have the power to kill them… I won't. For old times' sake."
**clak—zzzip**
Immediately afterward, he mockingly holstered the pistol.
**Grrrrr… khhhh**
Sakamoto gritted his teeth as he understood why, and with the last strength he had left, murmured, barely audible because he could no longer raise his voice:
—"You're… a demon… how could you… betray like this…? To your country…?"
**Tump... tump...**
Toma shrugged as he moved behind him and said:
—"I already told you. The other pays better. Let's say… a few million more..."
**Crack—thud**
The blow was dry, precise.
Toma left him unconscious with a sharp blow to the back of his neck.
—"Rest, boss. You won't need to blame yourself…"
**Shhhk—shhhk—tic**
He straightened up, calmly adjusted his uniform, and brought his hand to his ear.
**Tap… bzzt…**
He activated the communication channel.
—"This is Toma. The target is secured. Proceeding to the next step."
Aya's voice resonated in Toma's earpiece, with a restrained tone but loaded with tension.
[—"I've been waiting for a while… You didn't kill them, did you?"]
**...hmmm... click, click, click...**
Toma smiled to himself, continuing to check the systems of the computers with a hint of sarcasm.
—"What do you think? Of course, I killed them all... You have no idea how much I wanted to."
[—"Toma, please. This is not the time for jokes."]
—"Yeah, yeah… Of course not. I'm just teasing you, my dear girlfriend.
[—"You know we're just pretending, right? I wouldn't go out with you if my life depended on it... I've told you hundreds of times..."]
Toma frowned. Although she could not see him, his expression hardened. He responded with forced indifference:
—"Sure… that's what they all say. Until they see how popular and wealthy I am... And now, even more when I leave this odious country after this long job..."
[—"Hey, you were born here, just like me. There's no need to insult your homeland."]
—"Yeah, yeah… save your educational hypocrisies. You're nobody to lecture me, Aya..."
[—"You don't know what my reasons are or why I'm doing this. I'm sure it's not just for money… like someone like you."]
—"Ha, ha, ha… Let's save this talk for another time, shall we, Aya?"
[—"…It's best for my health. First, before leaving here discreetly, we need to gather the accumulated information and destroy everything necessary."]
—"Yes. Let me take care of these bodies, arrange everything to look natural… and do one more little thing. Something that's going to add a few million extra to the account, remember?"
[—"I remember. However, you haven't told me what that extra job really is, Toma…"]
Aya's voice sounded distrustful and annoyed; she did not like that their escape was being prolonged, much less without knowing the risk of wanting to obtain more.
—"Those are matters that come from above, and I haven't been given permission to talk about it… not even with you, dear."
Toma's voice made clear his intention not to reveal anything about his other stop. Aya had no choice but to respond:
**—"It's fine, but don't take too long. We have little margin to get out of here. If we delay, they might discover us. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that this will spiral out of control."**
—"I promise it will be quick."
**Click**
The line was cut.
**Shhht—thump. Shhht—thump**
Toma got to work. With meticulous precision, he arranged the bodies of his fallen comrades, placing them in positions that simulated fatigue or mere drowsiness in front of the monitors.
He replaced the real-time feed with a loop of an old recording: any random night shift, with the guards awake, working, drinking coffee, checking screens. A perfect loop. A visual deception.
Everything seemed normal.
Everything was an illusion.
—"It's done..."
Toma paused for a moment with a slight dark smile. He looked around the room one last time. His comrades. His "friends."
—"Goodbye, comrades..."
He murmured with a more twisted smile.
—"It's been fun these years... but I have to leave."
**Clack**
He closed the door behind him.
And without looking back, he headed to his next target.
*****
[Diagnostic Center – Ocean Turtle]
—"Ahaaaa..."
Aya ended the communication with Toma and let out a long sigh, heavy with frustration.
—"I have no choice..."
She felt a deep irritation at having to work with him, but she had no other option. Pretending was her only way out. Not for herself... but for her own people.
She had been threatened. Her family, kidnapped and taken to a foreign country. And even though she didn't care about dying, she couldn't allow them to suffer the consequences of her double life.
It was her country... or her family.
And she chose her family.
Even if she sought help in Japan, how could she save them? They weren't there. They were far away. She didn't even know for sure where they were being held.
—"They're scum... How can they do this to innocent people?"
**...grrr... sssshh...**
She murmured with clenched fists, just remembering her family's situation as she continued walking.
It was impressive what a government could do to get what it wanted.
She was a field spy, but not a traitor by choice.
Just a prisoner with a well-rehearsed smile.
**Tap... tap... tap... shhhh...**
**Tik-tik-tik...**
With her face once again serene, she headed to the common area, where several scientists were working at their terminals. Among them, a young woman with light brown hair, just a few years younger, approached with a warm smile upon seeing her arrive. It was Emi Takasugi, her closest colleague and friend at Ocean Turtle, whom she had known over the years.
—"So? How did it go?"
Emi asked kindly.
—"Was there any problem? You know you can always count on me."
Aya gently shook her head, offering a calm smile.
—"No, everything went well. As always. The system... and the world... according to my records, everything is normal."
—"I'm glad. At least the usual. Although sometimes I feel they treat that supercomputer like a baby."
Aya chuckled softly.
—"Yes... they pamper it like a child. But well, that's what we get paid for, right?"
—"Exactly... not counting the logical reasons..."
Emi nodded, then focused intently on Aya, noticing something strange in her expression.
—"But... are you okay? You look a bit pale..."
**...hm ...shh...**
She said, concerned, as she gently touched Aya's arm.
Aya looked down, pretending discomfort.
—"Oh, you noticed... it's just that I've been feeling a bit unwell lately... I have a bit of nausea right now."
Emi frowned, thoughtful.
—"Nausea? You're not pregnant, right? You know how problematic that would be now, Aya..."
—"What are you saying, Emi? No, I don't think that's it..."
Aya replied, acting with a mix of nervousness and embarrassment, waving her hands in total denial.
Emi observed her with an arched eyebrow, maintaining her playfulness and not fully believing her, especially since Aya had a boyfriend.
—"I don't know... I've heard that your boyfriend Toma has been spending a lot of time in your room lately... Let's say a few hours..."
Aya feigned a blush, looking down.
—"It's just a chat to get to know each other better... Nothing more. Nothing less..."
—"Ha, ha, ha... Whatever you say..."
Emi laughed.
—"But you know, if anything or any secret... you can tell me. That's what friends are for..."
—"Thank you..."
Aya said, lowering her voice.
—"What I would need is for you to cover me while I go to my room. I'm not feeling well... I'd like to rest for a few hours. Could you cover me this shift, Emi?"
**Fwip— shhh...**
She clasped her hands in a pleading gesture. Emi looked at her with feigned haughtiness, crossing her arms.
—"Well, well... I've already told you that you can count on me. I'll do it. Just because you're my friend. And because you've covered for me before... Even though I've finished my shift, I don't mind staying a bit longer."
—"Thanks again..."
**Psshhhh...—ssshh—fff—**
Aya whispered, suddenly hugging her tightly.
—"I really appreciate having worked with you for so long, Emi... Don't forget it."
Emi frowned, somewhat confused by such words.
—"Hey... if I didn't know you, I'd say that sounded like a farewell from you..."
—"Ah? No, no... I just got carried away and wanted to say how grateful I was to have you."
**Tsk... hh—**
Aya smiled, somewhat embarrassed as she let go of her.
—"Now let me find something on my computer. I need to check some files while I rest a bit in my room, and then you can take over."
Emi, forgetting the earlier conversation, nodded. It wasn't unusual to take some work to the room; she had done it herself on certain occasions.
—"Alright, Aya. I'm going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?"
—"No, thank you... right now I just want to take my medicine, which is in my room. But thanks, Emi..."
—"Don't worry. Then I'll see you, Aya..."
Emi nodded and walked away, unaware of anything.
**Tik-tik-tik...**
Aya watched her leave, and her expression turned melancholic.
—"I will miss you so much, Emi..."
Unlike Toma, she had felt camaraderie. She had shared laughter, sleepless nights, confidences. None of that was fake. Nothing... until today.
**Tap... tap... tap...**
Shaking her head, she began to walk towards her workstation.
Upon arriving, she approached her terminal and entered the password.
Click… tap… bzzt…
She accessed the files she had secretly gathered over months: records, reports, analyses from other scientists about the Fluctlight.
**Bzzzt... blip... zzzip.**
She transferred them to a second device, similar to the one she wore on her wrist, and tucked it into the inner pocket of her lab coat. Then she formatted the computer's disk, leaving it completely clean and unrecognizable.
**Tap... tap... tap...**
Without looking back, she headed to her room.
*****
[Residential Level Hallways – Ocean Turtle]
**Tap... tap... tap...**
Aya walked with firm steps through the silent hallways of the complex. At this hour, only a few employees crossed her path: maintenance technicians, two researchers returning from their shift, and a nurse yawning while checking her tablet. They all greeted her with brief gestures, some with a smile, others with a simple nod.
She returned each greeting courteously, although it pained her inside.
Every face, every voice, every gesture…
She knew she probably wouldn't see them again.
*****
[Door 3B-17 – Dr. Aya Shizuki's Room]
**Shhhk**
The door slid open with a soft sound, revealing her room.
It wasn't large, but it wasn't small either.
It was comfortable. Stable.
A space designed to make one not feel the need to return to dry land.
Anyone entering would think it was a small apartment: a spacious bed, a desk, shelves, a small integrated kitchen, and a window from which one could see the outside of the floating facility.
**Shhhk-Click**
Aya closed the door behind her and remained silent.
Her instincts screamed that something was going to go wrong.
She didn't know where that feeling came from... but it had never failed her.
That instinct had saved her more than once on different missions.
—"This is very strange..."
And now, with Toma hiding details from her, saying that his part of the mission was "confidential" and "special," the suspicion grew denser.
Something was slipping away from her... and it was very important.
**Frrrp— shhhk**
Without wasting time, she began to change out of her scientist clothes.
**zip— thud— fwip**
She took off her white lab coat and work clothes, and put on a tactical outfit she had carefully prepared that had been hidden under the floor, covered by a rug.
**clack— vrrrr— snikt**
First, a flexible bulletproof vest, molded to her body, invisible under her clothes.
**click click— kshhh— tak**
Then, lightweight weapons and miniaturized explosive devices capable of adhering to any surface, hidden in internal compartments.
**Shhhf— khhht**
She donned navy blue impact-resistant pants with a modern design, as if they were part of casual attire, and a jacket for greater coverage and matching.
**Clump— clump— snikt**
Finally, she put on black tactical boots with reinforced soles and discreet design, perfectly integrated into the outfit. Each concealed a retractable knife in the tip, long and sharp enough to be lethal in an emergency. A silent, unexpected... and deadly resource.
Everything was planned for combat... but also to blend in.
Then she stood in front of her desk and turned on her personal laptop.
**Click… tap… bzzt…**
She deleted all the history.
Before formatting the disk, she paused.
On the screen, a folder with family photos.
**Click**
She opened one.
**Click**
Then another.
Her mother. Her younger brother.
A picture of all of them together in a park, smiling.
—"I'm sorry for getting you into this mess..."
**khh… tsk**
She murmured, biting her lips.
**Shhh**
A tear rolled down her cheek as she held back.
Just one.
**fwip**
She immediately dried it with the back of her left hand.
—"This isn't the time..."
She did everything for them.
**Klik— bzzzz**
Returning to where she had left off, she inserted a small device that released a destructive virus: any future extraction attempt would trigger an internal short circuit, burning the circuits and releasing a code that would destroy any connected system.
Nothing would remain.
She knew she couldn't take much without raising suspicions.
She only took the essentials: what she could hide in her clothing, what wouldn't betray her true intentions for a short time, enough to leave the country.
Finally, she glanced down at her wrist.
The watch where the retractable USB device was located.
**Frrrp— thump**
Then, she touched her jacket, where the other one was hidden in the lining, perfectly camouflaged with her outfit.
—"..."
Something told her she needed to do something with them.
She still didn't know what.
**Shhhk-Click**
**Tap... tap... tap...**
After spending a few more minutes in the room, preparing and noticing it was getting late, she left her room to look for her "partner," Toma, with that silent assurance reflected in her gaze for a brief moment.
*****
[Fluctlight Robotic Support Unit – Ocean Turtle]
[5:31 A.M.]
**Bzzzz… shhhh...tmmmmm…**
The faint buzzing of the support systems filled the room with a constant hum. In the center, on a padded containment bed, lay a figure with long, golden hair, shining like the spring sun. Her body, although robotic, retained every detail of her appearance in Underworld: smooth skin, human proportions, serene expression.
She wore a modern outfit in dark blue and ivory white: a soft-fabric blouse with golden details on the edges, and fitted trousers of elegant cut, all custom-designed to make her feel more comfortable in this world.
**Hmmmmmm— tunk**
At that moment, the bed rose slightly and then tilted about 45 degrees smoothly, almost sitting up its occupant. Thanks to this position, a connection located behind her golden hair could be clearly seen: the only physical link that connected her to the machine. That connector allowed her Fluctlight to be transferred from the Underworld to the real world, to a core housed in her robotic body, which stabilized and adapted her consciousness so she could manage that artificial form.
**Beep**
A soft beep sounded, and someone approached from behind.
**...shhhh... tik...**
With utmost care, she removed the connector from her head.
—"We're done with that..."
The voice that spoke while storing the connector was feminine.
—"Can you hear me, Miss Alice?"
She asked upon not seeing any movement in the body on the bed.
**Shhh… fff… click**
Then, Alice Zuberg slowly opened her eyes.
**Vrrrr… fwip**
Her blue pupils contracted as they adjusted to the artificial light while the optical sensors calibrated her vision.
—"Ahaaa..."
She breathed… or at least simulated it.
Although it wasn't necessary for that body, for Alice —a virtual human— it was a natural gesture.
A learned reflex she couldn't forget.
That gesture had also been programmed for her comfort. It would be very disturbing not to do so, even for those around her.
—"Yes, I can hear you… Sorry for the trouble."
Her voice sounded calm, but her gaze did not.
It was charged with urgency.
She had discovered something in Underworld just moments ago.
Something important.
Something about Kirito… that changed everything.
And she needed to tell the others as soon as possible.
Especially Asuna… now that she was married.
—"It's no trouble at all. However, do you feel unwell, Miss Alice?"
The soft, professional voice of the woman interrupted her frantic thoughts.
The name of this woman was Reina Kurose, personal assistant to Dr. Higa. With dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail, immaculate white coat, and a tablet in hand, Reina observed her with a mix of curiosity and concern.
—"You have a... worried face."
Alice blinked once, then averted her gaze and replied:
—"It's nothing. Just... emotions I brought from Underworld. I encountered old friends."
Reina nodded in understanding, although she noticed Alice's desire not to delve deeper into the subject.
—"It's normal. Emotions from the other world... are very real. And more so for you, who are from there. Although this is the physical world, they cannot be ignored..."
—"Yes... that's true..."
Alice didn't say much more. She lowered her gaze and nodded.
—"I was surprised that you asked to be awakened before the scheduled time, Miss Alice. You said to activate you at six... but then you changed to five-thirty. Why?"
—"I don't know. I just... felt I had to do it..."
Alice couldn't say more without revealing too much. She was already beginning to distrust, after what she had discovered about Kirito.
—"That's fine..."
Reina smiled gently.
—"We all have our secrets. And you have yours… from your own world. But if it's something important, you shouldn't keep it to yourself..."
Alice shook her head and this time looked directly into Reina's eyes.
—"It's not a secret I should hide. It's something… for my friends."
—"..."
Reina observed her for another second, then sighed.
—"If that's the case, I'm glad. So I won't insist..."
**Shhhh— clask**
With that, she turned around upon seeing that everything was in order with Alice and her return to the real world. Stopping just at the door, she said:
—"Now, Miss Alice, I bid you farewell. I have to go do other important things... you know, secretary life. Ha, ha... But don't forget you have an appointment with Dr. Higa at 7:30 a.m."
Alice gave a slight smile as she watched her bow at the door and nodded gently.
—"I understand. And thank you very much."
—"You're welcome..."
**Shhh...**
Reina turned and exited the room.
**Clack… hiss…**
The door opened and closed automatically behind her.
**Tap... tap... tap...**
Alice heard her footsteps recede down the hallway.
Then, straining herself, she sat up from the tilted bed.
**Whirr… hiss…**
Her robotic joints responded accurately, but not with the same lightness she remembered from her virtual body.
Her body in the real world was heavier. More rigid. Much less efficient.
Not like in Underworld, where her strength flowed naturally, where her sword was an extension of her soul.
Here… everything was different.
Slower, limited, and complicated to perform.
—"This body..."
She murmured, examining her hands, which looked human but were metallic, coated in synthetic polymer...
—"What is possible there... would be unthinkable here."
**Hmm... thump**
She stood up, still readjusting to the weight of this reality once more.
But then, something changed.
Her eyes opened wide as she felt a danger in her soul.
A chill.
A sensation.
Like a sword drawn at her back.
**...shhhh**
Like a warrior sensing the presence of an enemy before seeing them.
**Fwip**
She turned her face quickly.
Nothing.
The room was empty.
But her instinct never lied.
With a firm, clear voice charged with authority, she spoke to the air while scanning every corner with her gaze.
—"Come out and stop hiding. I know you're there."
Finally, Alice could see the place where he was hiding: the corner of the entrance, just where the door hadn't quite closed all the way.
**Clack… hiss…**
The hatch finished opening with a soft sound.
From the shadow of that corner, a man emerged.
**Tap… tap…**
His soft, almost imperceptible footsteps accompanied him as he approached her.
—"You are..."
His face seemed vaguely familiar to Alice. She had seen him in profile a few times, crossing hallways or at the security controls. She had never paid more attention than necessary.
But now she examined him with extreme caution.
The man wore the standard security uniform, with the Ocean Turtle's black cap slightly askew. His expression was serene, almost humble, and his smile appeared harmless to most.
But not to her.
And less so in these circumstances.
—"I'm sorry..."
He said softly.
—"I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Toma. It's just that... I've always admired you, Alice. Your beauty... has always attracted me. But I didn't want to bother you. I just... wanted to see you from afar..."
But today I had a great need to approach you...
**Tap… tap…**
He took another step. Then another, getting closer to Alice.
**Thmp... thmp**
She, on the other hand, was cautiously stepping back.
—"I would like to shake your hand..."
Alice, now fully upright and several meters away, shot him a hardened look before responding in an equally firm tone:
—"I don't know you. You're just a guard in this place. You have no authority to be here… unless it's an emergency. And I don't think it is. Am I wrong?"
The man's smile faltered. For a second, he seemed hurt.
But then, something in his face changed.
His expression became colder.
—"You're mistaken..."
He said, in a deeper voice.
Yes, it is an emergency. And I would like to show it to you.
Alice felt a pressure inside her. Her instinct activated immediately.
—"And where is that emergency?"
She asked, with her robotic muscles tense.
The man smiled.
But it was no longer a kind smile.
It was an empty grimace.
**Shhhh…**
Slowly, she brought her hand to her back.
**Click…**
She drew a silenced gun.
**Shink**
—"Right here."
**Pfft—!**
The shot was silent.
**Ssshh— thwip!**
But Alice had already ducked thanks to her anticipation.
**Phut! — thunk**
The bullet passed over her head, embedding itself in the wall.
—"Damn it…!"
The attacker growled.
**Fshhhh... thump-thump**
Alice rolled to the side, seeking cover, heading toward a possible weapon she had seen out of the corner of her eye before Toma's first shot.
To her right, next to a medical emergency station, she saw the reinforced alloy support bar, part of the patient restraint system for rehabilitation.
It wasn't a sword…
But it would do.
**Clack—fwip!**
She yanked it hard, spinning around, and held it as if it were her sacred sword.
With a swift motion, she threw several objects from the nearby table: a lamp, a metal tray, a couple of saline solution bottles, all directly at Toma.
**Crash—clang—shatter!**
He ducked, covering himself and rolling to his right, which saved him: the tray embedded itself in the wall just behind his neck.
**Shhhkt-Shhhkt**
He backed away, knowing he was at a disadvantage at close range.
She had dodged the first bullet.
And now she was armed.
—"Really?"
He sneered, a crooked smile on his face.
—"Are you going to fight with that? A hospital bar? How disappointing… I thought you were a knight."
—"..."
Alice didn't respond.
**Fshhh**
But instead of running toward him, she moved to the side, where there was a large emergency button for the facilities.
Toma noticed it immediately.
—"Tsk…!
**Pfft—! Pfft—! Pfft—! Pfft—!**
**thump-thump**
He fired several times as Alice ran, using stretchers and columns for cover.
**Clang! Thwack! Zing!**
The silenced bullets hit nearby, breaking panels, ricocheting off metal surfaces, whizzing inches from her body.
**Fshhh— thump!**
Alice slid across the floor, spinning around, and with a precise and strong strike of her improvised sword, shattered the protective glass of the red emergency button.
**Crack!**
Without hesitation, she pressed it.
**CLACK!**
Before she quickly hid under a desk while dodging a new shot from behind.
Taking a breather, she waited.
One second.
Two.
Three…
—"!..."
Nothing.
No alarm sounded.
No lights.
No signal.
Just silence.
And then, laughter.
—"Ha, ha, ha, ha.... Did you really think that would work?"
Toma said, mocking.
—"Did you forget I'm just a simple guard…?"
**Tap... tap**
He continued, slowly walking through the room.
—"I've worked here for years. Do you think I wouldn't know how to manipulate that damn button? I just made a few modifications…"
He stopped, savoring each word.
—"In short… no one is coming to save you, Alice."
From her hiding place, Alice gritted her teeth.
Fury ignited within her.
**Vrrrrm**
Her robotic body, although limited, still responded to her will.
—"Aaaaaahh...."
With a scream, she channeled all her strength.
**Hrrrgh—! Screeeak...**
She propelled herself from the ground, and with both hands, lifted the sturdy wooden desk that covered her.
—"Graaahh—!"
With a powerful twist, she hurled it at Toma, not giving him time to keep mocking.
**Wham—!**
The desk flew through the air.
—"What...?!"
**Khhh—!**
Toma, surprised, barely managed to dodge it.
**Fshhh— thump…**
He rolled to the side, gasping, as the furniture crashed against the wall with a thunderous sound that, hopefully, wouldn't escape the soundproofing of the room.
CRASH!
**thump-thump-thump**
But at that moment, something else was moving toward him… or rather, someone.
**Fshhh**
Alice launched herself at a speed that didn't seem possible for a robotic body. The alloy tube whistled through the air as Toma immediately backed away, rising agilely, surprised by her momentum.
He knew he couldn't waste time. Even though the room was soundproofed—he had made sure to close the door upon entering and had taken out the other guards—he couldn't risk her escaping to another place.
**Pfft—pfft—pfft!**
He fired several times with his silenced pistol.
**Phut! — thunk**
Alice rolled to the side, dodging with difficulty.
**Shhhhhrk!**
One of the bullets grazed her shoulder, tearing part of the fabric and leaving a superficial line on her synthetic skin.
**Fshhh— thud!**
Still, she didn't stop: she managed to get close enough.
—"Aaaaaahhh!"
**Shooo!**
Without hesitation, she raised the tube as if it were her sacred sword and threw it down with a battle cry.
**Fshhh**
Toma, alert, moved to the side.
**Fwip!**
But the trajectory changed at the last second, surprising him.
**Grrr!— clank!**
A feint.
Alice twisted her wrist and redirected the strike.
**Shhhhhrk!**
The metal tore through his jacket and opened a gash in his side.
**...drip... drip...**
A trickle of blood oozed out.
—"Damn it!"
Toma growled, retreating.
—"Even here… you're still tough!"
He fired again.
But this time, he aimed at a specific part: her legs.
**Pfft—pfft!**
Alice glared at him with fury.
—"Cowardly traitor!"
**Ziiiipp!**
He spat the word like a blade, launching a direct, fast, brutal thrust toward her head, disregarding the damage to his limbs. Toma was furious about the high risk of proximity. He knew that if she reached him, he would have no chance. He tried to shoot again, but Alice's speed threw him off balance.
**Phut-phut...**
He missed the shots, barely managing to throw his head back.
**Shrrk!**
The tip of the tube grazed his cheek, opening a clean cut that left a red line on his skin.
—"Do you really think you'll win by grazing me? This isn't your world! It's mine!"
—"Gaaaaahhh!"
**Thump!**
With a roar, he bent his legs and jumped back, propelling himself forcefully against one of the metal columns behind him.
**Fwoosh… click!**
In the air, he spun around with trained agility—like a military acrobat—and, while rotating, aimed downward.
**Pfft—pfft!**
Two shots.
**Clank!—Thunk!**
One hit the joint of Alice's right knee; the other struck her left thigh, right where the hydraulic actuators connected.
**Pshhhh—splat-splat...**
Small jets of synthetic fluid splattered on the ground, glistening with a bluish hue.
**Crack!**
Alice felt her legs fail.
**Vrrrrr—Bzzt!**
Her sensors shut down for a moment, and the balancing system destabilized.
**Thud! Clank!**
She fell to her knees, out of balance.
But her arms still responded.
And her spirit wouldn't surrender.
—"Aaaaaaahhh...! Dodge this!"
With a war cry, and taking advantage of her falling momentum, she launched the tube like a spear toward her enemy, who was still descending from the jump.
**Whump!**
—"Damn it!"
Toma tried to twist in the air, cursing, to protect his face, but he wasn't fast enough.
The impact hit him squarely on the right shoulder.
**Thud!**
—Gaargh!
He groaned in pain as he fell to the ground with a solid thud.
The tube had partially embedded itself, and although it wasn't lethal, the damage was real.
—Damn!... You really made me angry!"
He spat, his face contorted, as he pulled the tube out with a groan.
**Schlurp—thud**
The metal came out with difficulty, leaving a dark stain on his clothes.
—"Ssssss—huff… huff…"
His shoulder bled, and the pain made it hard for him to breathe.
But his gaze remained fixed on her, ignited by rage.
The bar had embedded slightly to the bone.
Her hair was disheveled, her clothes torn, and under her shirt, a bulletproof vest was revealed. But it didn't cover much of that area, as it wasn't considered vital.
—"If it weren't for my movement and this… huff… huff… you would have already killed me from blood loss... Damn you."
Alice, on the ground, unable to move, looked at him with a mix of anger and defiance. But she was also disappointed for having missed that great opportunity to end him.
—"Why are you doing this...? I haven't done anything to you..."
But in her mind, the answer was already clear.
She had heard rumors.
The world envied Japanese technology regarding Fluctlight.
And some would do anything to possess it.
In desperation, she searched for something around her.
She saw some pieces of wood from the desk she had thrown earlier.
She hurled them with force, though without precision, due to her awkward position.
**Clang—crash—whizz!**
Toma easily dodged them, watching her from above.
He knew she couldn't get up, not with the bullets in her legs that had hit the joints.
The bullets had done their job.
Pfft—pfft!
**Pshhhh—splat-splat...**
He shot at her hands.
Pfft—pfft!
**Pshhhh—splat-splat...**
And then at her arms.
Crack!
—"Grrrr..."
Alice growled. Not from pain—her body didn't feel it like a human—but from the loss of functionality.
She fell completely.
Motionless.
But her gaze…
Still burned with the desire to fight.
—"It's true, you haven't done anything to me before this… but your soul has a double payment..."
Toma answered her earlier question as he approached, bleeding out. But that didn't matter to him in that moment of triumph.
**Click-clack. —Shhhhk**
With speed, he reloaded the weapon and crouched in front of her despite his own pain.
**Clink**
He supported the gun's barrel under his chin, lifting his face.
—"One, for disappearing from your sight... and the other, for surrendering to him and being able to uncover your secrets..."
Alice's eyes widened in surprise at the first thing he said.
—"Does someone want me to disappear...?"
Toma smiled at her expression.
—"That's right. Someone you know paid me for this. You put up a fight… huff… huff… But I warned you. This is my world, not yours. If we were in yours... I would already be dead in a thousand pieces."
Alice, regaining her cold demeanor, did not look away and said:
—"You're mistaken. But I wouldn't leave anything of you..."
She did not yield or blink, refusing to further satisfy his ego.
—"You're quite the fighter. However… you've lost..."
He whispered.
—"And I… am the winner... And as the winner… I claim my prize..."
Pfft—pfft—pfft!
Precise shots.
Key areas.
Non-lethal… but completely paralyzing for greater safety.
Alice murmured, her voice barely audible:
—"Why… did it have to be today…?"
**Thump**
Her body fell, inert.
**Splosh… ssss…**
And the liquid slowly spread beneath her, forming an irregular puddle that extended across the metallic floor, tinting it with an oily shine.
…
As if she were dead.
But her eyes showed that she was still alive.
**...huff... khhh...**
Toma stood up with a cruel smile upon seeing her state.
**Click— zzzk**
He took a tool from his belt: a kind of precision extraction pincers.
**Shhhh… fwip…**
He carefully moved Alice's golden hair, locating the hidden port at the base of her neck.
**…zzz…**
Alice, seeing out of the corner of her eye the shadow of what was happening above her body, felt sadness knowing what would occur.
And before the extraction, she said:
—"I'm sorry, guys… Asuna… Kirito… I couldn't...
Certainly, she would have cried tears… if that metallic body allowed it.
**Click… hiss…**
Then, Toma extracted a small translucent cube: the Fluctlight Core, where Alice's digital soul resided.
Her Fluctlight.
And with that, the blue light, along with the shine of her eyes, went out.
... ...
The silence that followed was absolute.
The battle had ended.