— Andreas, you're left with the NexOil Horizons Petroleum Institute in Texas, which produces a significant portion of the oil in the states. It shouldn't be heavily guarded. We'll hit it at the foundation, but it's not that simple. Our people in the East—well, one of them—is also interested in the oil sector and wants to eliminate the competition. Apparently, the Westerners are using some artificial intelligence to influence the market. This individual suspects that part of the AI's code is stored there. He wants that code to build a similar AI. That's all I know.
-Kharatsumi Hamura
"At the same time, somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico"
Only the boat's engine could be heard. The radar showed we were approaching our destination. A soldier signaled us to stop. I adjusted my mask and entered the water. I reopened the radar and signaled the three ahead. The area was filled with sea mines. We kept swimming, eyes on the radar, until we found the first pillar. We planted the bombs one by one. The soldiers went to the other pillars to do the same. There were five platforms supported by four massive pillars each. In the middle was the chamber where we'd find the AI code. Half the mission was done; now for the second part before detonating. I climbed the ladder followed by my teammates. One of them used a tablet to disable the surveillance cameras. We were in extraction zone C1, and I had to reach A5, the level below sea level in the central pillar. Letters marked the pillar, and numbers marked the floor. I was instructed to plant explosives inside at level A5 to ensure nothing would remain. We had to reach level C2, then move directly to A2 from there. I moved slowly, hiding behind crates and machinery. My soldiers took alternate routes. As I slipped between a crate and a building wall, I saw stairs.
— Bingo…
A guard passed in front of me. The first I had seen—and something about her gave me pause. She was heavily armed. They seemed ready for an attack. I waited for her to leave, then continued undetected. Apparently, I was the last one. When I got downstairs, my soldiers were waiting. We moved on through the C2 level hallway. At the end, a ventilation duct led to A2. One soldier pried it open, and I crawled in after him. As we moved through, I saw cobwebs in the corners.
— They could use a cleaning—or better, a renovation.
A soldier chuckled at my comment. So, they weren't just soulless shells.
We kept moving until we reached A2. I could tell we were in a different zone, and the digital map showed we were on track. Below us, through the vent grates, we could see a hallway. We paused—footsteps approached. I peeked and saw a tall man in a white coat and mask, revealing black armor beneath. On his back were two large swords with white hilts. A soldier was telling him they were searching the entire perimeter but found nothing, even with the cameras offline for a while.
We were suspected, clearly. We moved on—apparently in the same direction as them. The man, referred to as "White Death," ordered the soldier to continue searching. I had a feeling we'd meet again. Our paths diverged. At one point, we stopped, and the soldier ahead opened a vent. According to the map, we were near the elevators. A staircase was at the end of the duct path. The soldier signaled us forward. It was the back area of the elevators. One hooked a rope and we descended one by one. As we reached the lift, the second elevator began descending. It stopped at A5. We waited for the occupant to leave, then jumped in. I opened the emergency hatch and entered.
We waited a few moments, opened the elevator door, and checked the hallway—empty. We moved on and reached a crossroads. I activated the tracker from the map—it detected small signal sources. We went right. The signal grew until it stopped in front of a door. I opened it—it was a server room. Inside were two people working at a monitor. A soldier and I synchronized our pistols and shot them simultaneously. I inserted my USB stick into the central unit and started copying the code. Meanwhile, the soldiers planted dynamite in the room. Once copied, I retrieved the stick. One soldier went to the door, opened it gently—but something yanked it open.
It was White Death. We started shooting. He pulled a sword and cleanly decapitated the soldier and destroyed his weapon. Bullets didn't affect him—his armor was obsaiadan. His swords too. He tried to strike another soldier, but the third intercepted the blow—he was the one who had chuckled earlier. The last soldier stood up, backed away, and kept shooting. White Death struck with the other sword—a lava-like substance splashed from the blade.
His armor gave him superhuman strength, and his sword let him hurl molten obsaiadan.
He slashed—I blocked with my armor and punched him. Normally, it should have broken ribs, armor or not, but he remained unharmed. He sheathed his sword in a blink and started choking me. I struggled to breathe. With my last breath, I kicked him with my armored leg—still nothing. He grabbed my leg with one hand and hurled me into the wall, smashing through two. I vomited blood, bones crushed, struggling to breathe. A rib likely pierced my lung. If I were a normal human, I'd be dead. This guy… he was beyond that. With my last breath, I removed my helmet. My golden hair dangled messily—how I hate when it's messy and down. A sword flew and pierced my chest. Blood gushed from my mouth. White Death approached and drove the sword in deeper.
— Life fades from your eyes…
— …Sorry… Coloepy…
I had faint memories from childhood before I was adopted by the Hamura family—just childlike laughter or sounds. The next memories were after adoption. I was very small. I remember a beautiful girl with an angelic face rocking me. I later learned she was my older sister, Coloepy. A beautiful, kind girl—tall, with long, pure white hair and light blue eyes. Clearly a true Hamura.
Another memory: every morning, a sparrow came to my window, always watching me. One day, she brought a smaller sparrow—her chick. I leaned at the window and watched them. Then Coloepy entered. I told her about my friend and how she brought her baby today. She kissed my forehead and told me it was time for breakfast. Days later, my friend stopped coming. I told Coloepy, and she said we'd search the yard. We searched every corner until we found her at the base of a tree—wounded, near her dead chick. My sister said they were likely attacked by a hawk. That day, I vowed to always protect the weak. We took the bird, treated her wounds, and cared for her. One night, while praying for loved ones and the bird, Coloepy entered and asked what I was doing. I told her I read in a book that God watches over everyone, so I decided to pray for the helpless. She stroked my head and prayed with me. I later learned she and father didn't believe in God, but still she prayed with me every night for that bird.
Time flew. It was time to set the bird free. We did. Coloepy then said, "That little bird suffered more than just physical pain—the pain of losing someone." She told me, "Promise me, Andreas, that no matter how much you help others or what you go through, never forget yourself. That's the only way you could hurt me." I promised her then I would never make her suffer like that mother bird.
— I made a promise—and I'll keep it!
My vision cleared. I saw White Death before me, still gripping the sword lodged in my body. I grabbed the blade. He tried to push it in deeper—he couldn't. I held it. He looked confused. We made eye contact. He frowned. I grabbed his neck and flew through every wall, then the water, then to the surface. I smashed him through every pillar, breaking each foundation. We were above pillar A. Still gripping his throat, I threw him into the center. I pulled the sword from my chest and hurled it into his. My wound was healing. That's when I realized what I'd become. My body was covered in blue scales and armor—I had wings. I was a full hybrid. I looked at my clawed hands. I had never transformed fully before—only arms, legs, and tail. Then I saw White Death rising from the sword. I was shocked he could still move. Pillar A was nearly split in two.
I was much stronger—clearly. White Death jumped me, but a bullet flew past my face and hit him directly.
A helicopter approached.
— Kept you waiting, huh?!
— Took a while, Adams! Glad to see you brought an anti-material rifle!
— You know I'm always prepared. Hit him hard—eventually his armor will weaken, and then go for the kill.
I jumped onto the platform. We both readied for battle. We fought—fire and molten obsaiadan everywhere. My claws and his blades clashed over and over. A sword strike—I ducked. Another—I dodged and grabbed him. Three bullets hit him in the chest. He elbowed me, followed by a sword strike. Obsaiadan splashed everywhere. I noticed his armor began destabilizing—as if trying to leave him. I attacked from behind—he was ready. But I anticipated it—came from the front and shoved my hand through his sternum, out the other side.
The helicopter landed.
— How'd you find me?
— Your dad.
Adam Avex, my sister's best soldier, codename "DeadEye."
— Your sister asked me to check on you.
What a coincidence, I thought. Was it some sibling connection that made her sense I was overwhelmed—or just chance? I reverted to my human form.
— Last time we fought, you couldn't pull off that trick.
— Latest version. (a lame joke).
Then the ground began shaking.
— I don't think the structure will hold much longer.
He extended his hand. I turned back and saw the body of a girl—blonde, eyes closed, a hole in her chest. Who would've thought Death was such a beautiful girl? The armor and swords were gone.
— Andreas!
I grabbed his hand and entered the helicopter, closing the door behind me.
Shortly after, I pressed the detonator—and realized something in that moment:
— Hurry up—they know our plan!
-Andreas Shinja