[Underlevel 7, Void Plaza Perimeter]
The air underground felt heavy and stale, mixed with the scent of ozone and rusting iron. Neon lights flickered regularly, reflecting bright red from the puddles that pooled on the metal floor. With a hiss of steam breaking the silence, the spiral lift finally stopped, its doors sliding open slowly.
"Target at thirty meters," Lyria reported, her voice firm though it couldn't fully mask the tension simmering beneath it. "Nullborn detected: three core entities. There are armed humans behind them. Remember, we cannot kill—this is a non-lethal directive concerning humans."
Fitran stepped out, his Voidwright cloak sweeping the floor with a confidence that radiated strength. "I understand, Lyria. We must keep them alive," he replied seriously, his eyes scanning the area for any potential risks.
Beside him, Echo-12B stood, his gaze sharply focused on an armed man roughly gripping a witness by the shoulder. "I'm taking that witness. You handle the others, Fitran. Now." His voice was steady, without a hint of doubt.
"All right," Fitran responded, his attention directed toward the noticeable group. "I'll make sure they can't move."
"Every second is invaluable," Lyria asserted, her gaze fixed on the shimmering holographic display. "Our time is running out."
Echo-12B nodded, ready to move, "Let's go, we don't have time to waste."
"On my count, we attack," Fitran planned the assault amid the tension that enveloped the atmosphere, his breathing heavy.
"I'm ready, Fitran," Echo-12B called out, determined to face the surrounding silence with burning courage.
"Now!" Fitran commanded with fervor, adrenaline coursing through him. "Aim at the target!"
With palpable tension, the three prepared themselves to confront the approaching threat. Every heartbeat seemed to resonate with the increasingly charged atmosphere around them.
Echo-12B surged forward, as if emerging from the shadows, "We need to secure the witness. Remember, it's not just our lives at stake here."
Fitran gazed into the darkness ahead, almost sensing the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders. "I understand. Let me handle it. You focus on the witness."
"Maybe we'll uncover something bigger than just answers here," Lyria interjected, daring to prepare for the unseen threat. "Be cautious."
"Always," Fitran said with unwavering confidence, his pace steady but unhurried as he moved through the silence.
Fitran smirked slightly, feeling satisfied. "A favorable deal."
Primary Target: Nullborn (3/3)
Secondary Constraint: Human assailant unharmed
Allies: Echo-12B (Manifested), Lyria Support Drone
NR Gain: Pending
TFR Gain: Pending
The Nullborn glided like dark smoke dancing, their bodies forming strange curves, as if their bones were not attached to any living creature. Blue light flickered from within their transparent bodies, sharply radiating through the gaps in the vibrating misty skin.
Fitran watched intently. "Lyria, what can you tell me about their attack pattern?"
Lyria replied calmly, "This Nullborn model—Pattern 'Curved Predator'. They can cut off opponents by creating pathways and encircling using high-speed rotations."
Fitran smirked slightly. "Good. I like enemies who feel overconfident. Let's make them feel the consequences."
He raised his hand, the Void rune flashing briefly before spreading into an extremely thin arc of energy. "Let them feel the power hidden behind the Void." His eyes focused outside the shield, feeling his heartbeat pulse with excitement and anticipation.
📜 Combat Panel — Fitran Fate
Void Mastery: 95/100
Stamina: 80/100
Special Skill Ready: Voidlight Slash (Cooldown: 15s)
Constraint: Non-lethal vs Human — Active
"Come on, unleash your strength!" Fitran shouted as the first Nullborn shot forward, forming a blue scythe that spun arrogantly in the dark air. "I won't let you escape!"
Fitran stepped forward, confidently slicing through the motion with Voidlight Slash—"Feel this!" a beam of light tore through the fog's body in silence, forcing its core energy to explode into fine particles that vanished.
Lyria's voice was calm yet firm: "Target confirmed destroyed. One remains!"
"Continue, I won't stop until everything is erased," Fitran replied, his eyes shining with determination. "Every step I take will mark their fall."
Lyria looked at him, her warning clear in tone: "Be careful, Fitran. Mistakes are not an option."
Fitran nodded, his determination unwavering. "They don't realize what they're up against."
"The first Nullborn surged forward," Fitran observed intently, his heart pounding, signaling the seriousness of the situation. "It formed a blue sickle that spun silently in the air." With steady steps, he moved forward, feeling the energy flowing around him, as if the world vibrated in sync with his struggle. "There's no turning back," he murmured with burning resolve. With that, he swung his sword, the sound ringing sharply as he shouted, "Voidlight Slash!"
The burst of light struck, injuring the misty body that obstructed him, while the core energy within shattered into fine particles that danced in the darkness.
Lyria assessed the situation with the precision of a general. "Target one neutralized. Emotional stability: intact," her voice was flat yet soothing, as if trying to balance the increasingly tense atmosphere.
The darkness in the background receded, closing the gap between the threat and them. "Echo-12B moved at a staggering speed, heading towards the armed man," Fitran watched closely, his hand steady despite the adrenaline rushing through him. "Let him go!"
The man aimed his weapon, his face ablaze with uncontainable anger. "Back off! I will kill him!"
"Listen, I can help you!" shouted Echo-12B in a calm voice, even though the tense atmosphere weighed heavily around them. He raised his hand, trying to explain while furrowing his brow. "If you kill him, the Nullborn won't stop. But if you're willing to surrender, I can ensure you get out of here safely."
The man paused for a moment, his eyes widening in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Fitran seized the opportunity, a sense of hope starting to creep in as he stepped closer. "This is a chance," he thought deeply. "But every step must be precise."
📜 Live Metrics — Echo-12B
Affinity: 15 (+3)
TFR: 48 (+2)
NR: 62 (+1)
MVA: 54 (no change)
"The second Nullborn appears behind Echo-12B," Fitran shouted, his eyes darting swiftly to assess the situation. "It's forming mist claws ready to strike."
Fitran: "Echo, shift left! Now!"
He fired the Voidlight Scatter, shards of glowing energy shot forth rapidly, striking the Nullborn. "Come on, finish this!"
Echo-12B didn't look back, but a thin smile spread across his face. "You're shooting without aiming, aren't you?" He stifled a laugh, his tone cheerful despite the tense atmosphere. "Lucky for you, I'm not your target."
Fitran: "If I wanted to hit a target, you would have charged already."
Fitran bit his lip, faintly sensing the tension amidst the alien sounds echoing in his mind. "I won't let this continue," he said with a determined tone, a surge of power coursing through him. He lifted his hand, concentrating energy in the open palm, activating the Void Seal that sparkled with a mysterious light. "Not today."
Lyria looked at him, her eyes glowing with concern and resolve. "I hope so. I will always support you in this fight."
Confidently, he fired the light seal towards the core of the Nullborn, trapping the creature in a shimmering dark circle. Blue energy vibrated through the air around them, and as Fitran shouted, "Now, it's all over!" his voice resonated with power.
Lyria nodded, reminding him in a serious tone, "The fragments of memory that don't belong to you could change everything. The effects... are highly addictive."
Fitran took a deep breath, as if trying to manage the chaos pressing on his mind. "Not today," he said firmly, reigniting the Void Seal in the palm of his hand, his eyes shining with unwavering determination.
"We can't let it take over our lives." Lyria reminded him, her calm voice trembling slightly, though her heart raced. "Focus, Fitran."
"I understand," he replied, his gaze sharp as the seal was aimed at the core of the Nullborn. "This all ends here." Blue energy gathered, and his body glowed with a magnificent black light.
With a decisive motion, he released the seal. A black light circle formed an invisible prison around the creature. "Feel this!" Fitran yelled, his voice echoing with intensity as dark energy enveloped the Nullborn's body. The creature began to collapse, appearing almost transparent, vanishing like dust in the fog. "Done."
📜 Mission HUD — Completion
Primary Target: Nullborn (3/3) — Complete
Secondary Constraint: Maintained
Rewards:
+NR: +10
+TFR: +6
+Reputation (City Guard): +5
"Echo-12B, is the area secure?" Fitran asked, his tone tight with tension as he ensured the team's safety. He looked at the surrendered armed man, his breath ragged as if caught in a web of fear.
Echo-12B nodded, his gaze filled with determination and a calming presence. "He's yours now, Lyria."
Lyria moved closer, ensuring that the situation was under control, a bead of sweat clinging to her forehead. "Good, we need information from him." She glanced at Fitran, "Fitran, how do you feel after this direct encounter?"
"As always—they're all weak. The real threat is still ahead of us," Fitran said, his voice emphasizing the tension spreading between them.
Echo-12B looked at the fallen witness, seriously considering every possibility. "We need to be ready. They won't stop here."
Echo-12B stated, "He is yours now, Lyria."
Lyria replied, "The Guard will take care of him. Fitran, how do you feel after facing this situation directly?"
Fitran responded, "As always—an easy opponent. The real threat remains straight ahead."
Echo-12B stared at him intently, his eyes filled with hope and anticipation. "Today, you have kept your promise."
Fitran offered a faint smile, with unwavering determination. "Today, maybe. Tomorrow, who knows? We must be ready to face anything."
📜 Relationship HUD (Updated)
Active Partner: Echo-12B
Affinity: 20/100
TFR: 54
Jealousy Field: None
Notes: Personal Trial Completed — Eligible for Shared Choice
Lyria stated, "You now have one Shared Choice for Echo-12B. Use it wisely, or save it for later."
Fitran nodded, "Save it. I'm in no rush. Everything requires careful calculation."
Echo-12B looked at Fitran closely, trying to catch what was hidden in his mind. "That's the response of someone planning to endure in Nexus for the long haul."
Fitran only offered a slight smile, welcoming the challenge with confidence. "Endure… or dominate. It's my choice."
They walked back toward the lift, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. The atmosphere around them felt oppressive, and the underground lights dimmed, casting dancing shadows on the walls. In the distance, the creaking of metal resonated, like an endless scream that stirred the heart.
Lyria gazed at the holographic projector in her hand. "There's another anomaly signal. It's larger than Nullborn. Be prepared."
📜 System Alert
New Threat Detected: [REDACTED]
Recommended Action: Retreat or Confront
Fitran stared straight ahead, his expression firm. "We won't retreat. Whatever happens, we have to face this."
Echo-12B was doubtful, his gaze drifting. "But what we're facing is much bigger than we thought. Are we truly ready?"
Fitran straightened his back, gripping his weapon tighter. "We have no other choice. This is our mission—this is our only hope."
Echo-12B nodded slowly, the spark of determination reigniting in his eyes. "Agreed. Fear will only hold us back. We must confront the reality we face."
As the lift doors closed with a loud thud, they felt tension enveloping their entire bodies. Thoughts of what they might encounter ahead whirled in their minds, stirring a persistent sense of unease.