Solaris-III was dying, slowly yet inevitably. Civilization, once cradled within its lands, lay in ruins as The Lament descended.
The laws of reality shattered, reformed, and were redefined. Catastrophes born from Anomalous Beings swept across the world.
The gears of war never ceased as they escalated over and over, perpetuating into grander proportions.
Whispers of deceit sowed chaos among the united, slowly shattering what once was whole.
While existence itself is slowly being consumed by a maelstrom, not leaving even the memory of what once was.
From the lingering sorrow, fear and despair, monsters emerged, devouring what little of civilization remained.
Yet far beyond the horizon even as the abyss crashed and surged, a ray of light pierced through the darkness. As a Lone Flame burned and guided the damned.
What was left of humanity rose, united, and fought.
Remnants of civilization once splintered stood together once more.
They endured tenaciously as they clawed in despiration toward that illuminating flame, reaching for a brighter tomorrow. And when salvation seemed within grasp… it vanished.
Civilization was once again swept by the tides of the abyss.
Yet the people did not cower, nor flee from the monsters that surged forth
They were Fatigued, Desperate and Scared.
But still they Endured.
Still they Fought.
And still they March.
For the flames of hope never died.
From within that darkness, light bloomed once more — a sea of smouldering embers flickering within the ceaseless tide of the abyss.
Yet as these fragile sparks illuminate the path forward. The shadows they cast lay in wait to swallow them whole.
• • •
Region : Mount Firmament
Location : Luminous Shore - [Offshore]
[ July, 4 ████ : 6:38 PM ]
Twilight shimmered in iridescent swirls of purple and orange across the restless seas, small waves thump on a metal hull as a ship swayed above the tides.
On the side of the deck stood a girl looking over the distant horizon.
Two other similar ships could be seen floating nearby, yet her gaze was locked onto the distant landmass of Huanglong, where blue beacons could be seen piercing the darkening skies.
Her eyes were hollow as she stared at the distance, her short deep crimson hair swaying freely in the breeze, her expression blank as she rocked gently with the ship.
She wore a deep blue militaristic uniform, its edges trimmed in gold, while black shoulder guards framed her silhouette. On its midsection to the left was a slit small enough to expose bare skin.
A short black skirt jutted below the Uniform covering her upper thighs, where black thigh high socks covered her legs ending in black heavy duty boots.
Across her chest to the left side of her uniform was a golden emblem of a Loong Dragon, its serpentine body coiled forming an infinity sign, its head facing forward hair billowing while horns jutted from the either side of its head — The sigil of the Midnight Rangers.
Metal groaned as she gripped the metal railing. Her jaws clenched as she stared absently at the distant lights, memories of what transpired in the past month ran amok in her mind — a sudden tap on shoulder grounded her back to reality.
Her lips instinctively curving into a faint smile as she turned to the side.
What greeted her sight was another girl, her hair a lighter shade of red that was tied into a single braid behind her head.
She wore a matching uniform the only difference being the missing right shoulder guard instead of a slit on her mid section. A jade pendant shaped like a crescent moon hung from her neck.
"Danjin," she said, waving toward the person beside her. "It's been a while. How have you been?"
"Hehe~ Hey, Chixia," Danjin chimed. "Taoqi's issuing another briefing. I was just about to head inside before I saw you out here." Worry tinged her voice as she added, "Your stare was quite... intense a moment ago, are you feeling alright?"
"Oh! It's nothing." She waved it off quickly, "My head's... just been in the gutters lately, hehe… You know how it is." Her smile lingered a second too long before fading.
"The past weeks have just been hectic you know? things are just happening too fast hehe… I-I still haven't wrapped my head around it."
Danjin placed a firm hand on Chixia's shoulder guard. Her eyes, once soft, hardened with resolve.
"You're thinking about it too… aren't you? Revenge."
Danjins gaze lingered.
"I can see it — feel it, that emptiness in your eyes. That lost look.
Her hand slipped away, falling back to her side. Her mouth parted for a hearthbeat before saying.
"I won't ask you to stop."
The air between them grew heavier. Chixia opened her mouth to retort before being cut of.
"We've already lost too many so… don't let it drag you somewhere I can't reach."
///
Rhythmic sounds of boots clanging on metal resounded as they headed deeper into the ship's lower deck.
Patches of rust, and small holes could be seen in some areas, a reminder that the vessel had once been an old cargo ship—now patched up to carry them back to reclaim what they had lost.
They entered a dimly lit mess hall which served as their makeshift meeting room.
Chixia and Danjin joined the others as they sat in a semi-circle facing a white board, when suddenly a figure was projected at the front.
It seemed the meeting was about to begin.
The figure being projected was none other than Taoqi — the former Secretary of Defence, now the appointed leader of what's left of Jinzhou's forces.
Taoqi's attire sported a similar design to the seated officers, albeit hers was more form-fitting for her voluptuous stature. It sported pink pieces of cloth, a shade deeper than her own short pink hair, that covered half her face. An intricate black ribbon could be seen tied to the side.
The room quieted as Chixia and the other officers instinctively straightened their sitting posture, their eyes focusing on the Toaqi's projection, many were thankful for her presence during these tough times. After all it was her leadership that helped in coordinating the evacuation that led to their survival.
"Attention all soldiers! Yesterday we received an encrypted radio message through our private channels," A smile tugged at her lips as she continued "It seems... that we still have allies on the other side."
The crackling of static electricity filled the room as male voice cut through the interference.
A collective gasp ran through the room as recognition spread across the ranks.
"Cal—bzzt—Rangers! Calling all Rangers! This is Instructor Yhan. We have secured Frosting Harbor! I repeat—bzzt—secured Frosting Harbor! If any soldi—bzzt— receives this message, convey —bzzt— to your commanding officer. We are requesting backup. Our perimeter is stable. Overlord class Tacets have retreated to—bzzt—Fields, May the Sentinel Guide you."
Some officers stood rigid and silent, while others buzzed with restless excitement. The past months had not been merciful. Truthfully, their situation had only worsened with time. Medical supplies were dwindling, and the majority of those under their care were injured civilians. So the news that mainland troops had secured a landing zone sparked fragile hope.
But where some saw salvation, others saw only uncertainty.
The thought, 'This has to be a trick,' ran through the minds of a minority of the gathered soldiers. False commands had filtered down the ranks before. As soldier after soldier had been unknowingly sent to their deaths. Requests for supplies, backup, or intelligence had gone unanswered.
It wasn't until the fall of Jinzhou that they realized Central Command had collapsed entirely.
Those doubts did not go unnoticed. As murmurs began to spread and uncertainty took root, Taoqi's voice rang out once more.
"It is true," she said, her tired eyes glinting with quiet relief.
"I sent a small team to verify the report. They returned not long ago and confirmed it. Frosting Harbor is secured. They were assisted by a Consonator-class individual named Calcharo — leader of the Ghost Hounds. Preliminary terms have been established for his continued cooperation."
Her voice hardened, carrying across the assembly.
"A window of opportunity has opened for us! Ready yourselves. We will be departing Mount Firmament's ecological zone within the next two hours," She paused only briefly. "This is Taoqi, signing off."
Danjin rose with excitement alongside the others in the room, but Chixia remained seated, her eyes fixed on her lap where she clutched a blue beret.
A large black ribbon was tied at its side.
The emptiness she had felt before was gone.
In its place, a bright flame roared within her. Eager for the battle to come.
• • •
Region : -██████████-
Location : -██████████-
[ July, 4 ████ : 12:04 AM ]
Within the center of the Modulation Hall a black sphere hovered within an inward Dias, circular, alternating layers of black and white metal ringed around its base.
The Modulation Halls walls tapered upwards, surfaces lined with geometric patterns. Apart from the entrance each wall had a giant triangular window that exposed it to the outside.
Off to the sides were small platforms that enveloped the hallway connected to a circular area where the central black sphere resided.
On the left side of the grand hall was another sphere, smaller compared to the one at the center. placed upon its own indent on the floor. Golden rings circled around it like a cage, each rotating in different directions — The Nectrostar.
Around the central black sphere stood a group of researchers, they formed a cone around a blonde woman, her presence radiating authority as she watched streams of data flow within the device on her hands — A hololithic pad
A sudden thud made her flinch, as a body crashed onto the metal floor In front of her.
A woman wearing a skimpy white dress slowly stood up, her hair was white with streaks of black, red frills and accents could be seen on her dress.
She wore white pants that clung to her lower body, one leg almost bare with strips of white cloth while the other was fully covered.
She looked around, her smiling face a contrast with the researchers around her, eyes roaming the halls before settling on the blonde woman. She waved at her before reporting.
"I have successfully escorted The Shorekeeper to the Modulation Interface."
The Hololithic pad on the blonde woman's hands fell as she signed in relief, the tension on her nerves slacking as she staggered to her knees.
Her gaze drifted back to the central black sphere as she regained her bearing.
///
Within the black sphere, a world of destruction unfolded, nestled within a ruined city was a Black Hole.
Red lights outlined its contours as it consumed its surroundings.
Just a short distance away, a woman sat on a piano, her fingers moving across the keys.
The surrounding destruction failed to draw even a glance as she continued to play her song, as though the notes alone could calm the world.
The woman wore scant few pieces of cloth, strips of silver lined her contours, blue frills covered her breasts while a white dress clung tightly to her body.
A veil covered her entire head, silver lines framed the veil while white and blue cloth filled the spaces, her short blue hair could be seen nested within.
She looked ethereal and delicate. Like porcelain that would shatter with the shallowest falls.
Her skin was so inhumanly smooth that it glistened like glass. Small cracks could be seen scattered throughout its surface — She wasn't human nor was she of flesh.
As the melody reached its final end, the world stopped as a voice echoed within the illusory world
[Program copied. Core computational unit installation in progress. Target confirmed: Shorekeeper.]
The woman — Shorekeeper floated gently towards the red sphere as time unfroze. she didn't resist as she was pulled to its center.
Darkness filled her vision as she was swallowed inside.
Yet when she opened them again what lay before her eyes was not the darkness of the abyss, not the silence of oblivion.
A lone island filled her vision, white grass covered its surface swaying gently with the breeze. While blue butterflies could be seen perched on tall black stalks of plants that littered the island.
The sound of water filled her ears as small waves crashed ashore, while sunlight poured from the horizon, the sunset painting the sky with hues of gold and blue as the endless sea surrounding it reflected the breaking view, calm and serene.
At the center of the island lay a piano. The same piano she played before being sent here — A Modulation Interface.
*Crack*
More cracks formed on her pale skin, blue dust cascading in between.
She could feel it… She was being erased. She wasn't human after all, merely an artificial construct made from energy.
*Crack* *Shatter*
Cracks continued to form on her body as the computational power processing it was slowly being siphoned. As her program was slowly pruned, removing everything deemed unnecessary.
Her Body.
*Crack*
Her Voice.
*Crack*
Her Individuality.
*Crack*
Nevertheless she continued moving forward step by step — Towards the piano.
Once seated, she played a simple melody, gentle and slow.
Tu nu nun tun~ (You know which one this is)
*Crack*
It was the first thing she'd ever played, taught to her.
By Him
*Crack*
This world, this tiny island, it was the place where they first met, where she waited patiently for his return… a world just for the two of them.
Yet He never returned.
*Crack* *Shatter*
Small chunks and chips of her body began to fall as the melody rang on repeat.
Even now, as she was slowly dying, her face remained flaccid. Should she feel happy? Sad?
*Crack*
She was fulfilling her purpose… wasn't she? Yet she was also dying.
Should she smile? Should she frown? Even when she doesnt understands their significance?
*Crack*
"Shouldn't I be scared?" She asked softly. Yet not an ounce of panic filled her being,
She was not born to experience emotion. She was built. Created to know what they were. To turn the abstract into computational data.
A Tool that would know, but never understand.
So why… Why were tears streaming down her face? Why was her chest tightening?
*Crack* *Shatter*
"Is this death?" she asked herself.
She had observed and felt what death throughout her millenia of existence. Yet this feeling within her wasn't the finality and peace of death. She'd never experienced this before.
She stopped playing the piano as she cupped her hands on her chest, tears continuing to stream down her emotionless face as she tried to understand what she's feeling
*Crack*
'Is this Sadness? Longing? Despair?'
These questions filled her mind as she assessed herself. A glitch? A mistake?
*Crack* *Shatter*
Deep fissures formed a diagonal line through her body bisecting her in two. Her upper half fell to the soft grass below, while her lower half and right arm shattered nearby.
She stared at the sky above. Her remaining arm still clutched on her chest — she was forgetting now.
*Crack*
The places she'd been too.
The things she'd experienced.
The things He taught her.
*Crack*
All but a single memory remained on her mind
The memory she clung to even now as it played over and over.
*Crack*
His hand, gently holding hers.
His eyes, shining in a gentle golden light.
His voice, soft as he swore her a promise.
*Crack*
"...Let's make this shore the beginning of our story"
Her single arm slowly reached upwards toward the sky as a blue butterfly perched atop her finger tip.
*Crack*
She wanted to see Him again.
To sit side by side.
To play songs together.
Just one last time.
*Crack* *Shatter*
"Is this... Love?" Was the final conclusion she'd come to.
Deep cracks webbed across her face as her lips bloomed into a beautiful smile. Before she shattered completely.
Her dress and veil disintegrated into blue particles, yet her shattered remains remained.
They slightly trembled within their place before slowly crumbling to dust, but in their place Blue butterflies took flight.
Their sizes varied as their numbers populated the small island yet most decided to settle on the lone piano.
///
Within the Modulation Hall, the atmosphere was suffocating as countless researchers waited patiently for any news of the Nectrostar's remodulation.
The System's voice echoed within the chamber, cutting the tension filling the air.
[Installation Complete. Succes-]
Red lights flickered on every hololithic pad within the room as The System's warnings blared on repeat
[System Error. Multiple instances of Target: Shorekeeper. Reinitiating Program]
[Detected Identical Instances : 214,285]
The researchers felt despair settle in, some falling to their knees, while others collapsing entirely.
All they could do was watch and pray as The System tried to correct itself.
[System Error...]
[Detected Identical Instances : 134,495]
[...]
[Detected Identical Instances : 27,285]
[...]
[Detected Identical Instances : 4,982]
Silence filled the hall as everyone collectively held their breath as they watched in silence. The numbers continued to go down until only 2 instances were left.
[Detected Identical Instances : 2]
Time crawled as the minutes passed.
Five.
Ten.
Fifteen minutes elapsed before another notification resounded.
[Installation Complete. Successfully Integrated Target : Shorekeeper]
The remodulation was a success, The System was slowly correcting itself, purging all the corrupted data as it scanned every single line of code within its mainframe.
Yet no one celebrated. The air grew solemn.
Some tried their best to hold in the tears. while some cried openly.
They knew what this meant.
They knew the price they paid.
The Shorekeeper — The silent guardian of their organisation had been successfully integrated with The System.
She was gone.
An authoritative voice echoed within the Modulation Hall as the blond woman at the center issued commands to the surrounding researchers.
"Back to your stations! Initiate full system integrity checks. Isolate every non-critical sub-system. We will start an individual diagnostic sweep before reintegration. Double—triple check everything. This is our last chance! No more safety nets."
Those that could still move practically flew as they headed towards their assigned stations.
The blond woman's gaze went down. Blue light flickered within her eyes as she stared at the hololithic pad beside her boot.
[Remodulation Success.] Flickered periodically within the screen.
Her hands clenched into fists as she silently swore to the Shorekeeper. To the Astral Modulator.
That whatever it takes.
No matter the upcoming disasters.
They will guide civilization to safer shores.
• • •
Region : Huanglong
Location : Jinzhou City
[ July, 5 ████ : 12:38 PM ]
Silence reigned over the once bustling market streets which now lay in ruins. Dried blood streaked across the ground and up broken walls while piles of scorched corpses could be seen on the sidewalk.
Dark clouds shrouded the skies above. Raindrops hung suspended in the air as if the momentum of their fall ceased to exist, their spherical forms reflecting the surrounding lights.
Down the road, a convoy advanced.
Rectangular vehicles rolled along the rubble-free street, resembling elongated camper trailers. Three pairs of wheels supported their frames, one at the back and two at the front, where a circular indentation cradled a metallic sphere.
Mutated humanoids escorted them.
Their weapons varied. Some held rocket launchers, others hammers, the majority held rifles and a minority wielded black blades that glowed purple.
The group wore garments of black and red. Though unified in style, subtle differences accommodated their mutations.
Some could be seen with extra limbs which were either gripping their guns or were physically fused with one, Those that carried swords had an extra pair of arms behind their backs.
All wore black masks. Bandages wrapped over darkened skin visible through the gaps.
They moved in silence, broken only by the raspy sound of their respirators and the occasional annoyed grunts as they brushed aside droplets along their path.
Their destination was the building in front of them that dominated the skyline — The City Hall.
///
Inside its vast corridors, the once noble interior of City Hall lay in ruin. Upturned furniture. Collapsed pillars. Dried bloodstains riddled the once beautiful halls.
Yet deeper within, inside a spacious chamber, laughter reverberated against the fractured stone.
A man sat cross-legged before a majestic sphere of golden light that emanated a soft, steady glow. He was speaking to it as though it could answer.
Within the sphere's boundary, time itself seemed to stand still.
At its center floated a woman, her figure frozen in absolute stillness. Long white hair drifted weightlessly behind her. She wore a tattered dress. Black leather trimmed in gold resting upon her shoulders, leaving her arms bare.
Three luminous rings adorned her fingers, clasped together in prayer.
Black cloth wrapped around her waist, covering her front while leaving her back exposed. A knee-length skirt billowed behind her, revealing white, thigh-high, form-fitting boots.
Yet her most striking features were the iridescent white scales protruding from her skin, alongside the pair of horns that curved from her head. Its white bark-like surface streaked in gold and black.
Around her, fragments of rock and debris hung motionless in midair. Cards bearing the intricate symbol of a goat's skull glowed golden as they hovered, frozen mid-flight toward her. And before her, within a widening cone, humanoid monsters were suspended in various states of motion.
Behind her stood an intricate device that dominated the chamber, its entire structure engulfed within the golden sphere. Gold lined its edges, while shifting letters and symbols shimmered across its glass surface. At its center, the silhouette of a dragon's head could be seen.
At the periphery of the golden sphere, the man stood.
Spiky white hair, streaked with red underneath, crowned his head. The upper right side of his face bore the marks of severe burns. A jagged scar ran from above his right eye down to his cheek, while two thinner lines cut horizontally above it and across the other cheek.
He wore an intricate combat suit. Red straps connected his outer crimson coat to the white garments beneath. A black pouch rested on his chest, and from his right shoulder down, black composite armor encased his arm and wrapped partially across his back, while red composite armor guarded the other side.
Black gloves covered his hands, their fingertips tinged with red. White slacks clad his lower frame, and his long coat flowed behind him, splitting into four trailing straps past his midsection. Crimson boots completed the complicated attire.
His eyes gleamed with a madness that teetered on the edge of insanity. An uncanny smile bloomed across his face as he stared at the woman inside the golden sphere.
He paced briskly along the sphere's outer boundary, careful never to draw too close, yet continuing to speak as though she could hear every word.
"Oh, how I wished you could hear their pitiful screams as they died one by one. 'Where is the Sentinel?' 'Where is the Magistrate?' AHAHA!"
A black card spun between his fingertips as he continued. His voice was calm, his cadence casual, as if chatting with an old friend.
"Though I must admit, I personally enjoyed the feisty ones. The people of Jinzhou truly are nothing but loyal to their Magistrate," he said, his gaze locking squarely on the Magistrate's floating figure, voice dripping with mockery. "It took us a while to break them, you know~ I wonder how you would react if you could see them,"
"The proud… The noble officers of the Midnight Rangers, reduced to nothing but broken, deformed husks that could hardly be called human. Still, credit where credit is due, their belief in you is truly… admirable. Haha! Like faithful little lambs, they follow their cowering shepherd to the very end~"
The mechanical sound of sliding metal echoed within the room as the giant doors of the chamber opened.
Three figures stepped inside. Two at the front, one following behind. All of them wore similar uniforms. Red cloaks over black garments, reminiscent of the scarred man, but far simpler in design.
The one on the left was the shortest of the group. They were a man wearing a silver mask, its surface marred with cracks and lines. His hood was down, revealing a nest of black hair streaked with white at the bangs. He held a hololithic pad, the screen displaying schematics of humanoid machines and mechanical parts.
The one on the right was a head taller. they kept their hood up, their face a chaotic tangle of black and white bandages. Rectangular-slit ocular lenses covered their eyes, while a respirator masked their mouth. From their hips, an additional pair of arms sprouted, both sets, a bundle of pale and blackened muscle.
The one behind them also wore their hood up. From the shadows beneath it, yellow slit pupils glimmered alongside a single green horn that jutted from the left side of their hood. Green scales crawled across their exposed arms while the rasping hiss of their respirator echoed through the chamber.
The two at the front knelt as they greeted the scarred man in unison, "Overseer Scar".
In the blink of an eye, the man addressed as Scar was suddenly in front of them, his smile unwavering as he studied the newcomers, his gaze lingering on the one wearing the silver mask.
"Ah… you're the Dollmaker, yes?" His gaze lifted as he walked toward the figure standing just behind the Dollmaker. His voice took on a chipper tone. "So this is the successful specimen you have under control?"
He circled around the third figure. It was still and statue-like, its breathing rasping softly.
"That is correct," the Dollmaker said. He straightened as his hololithic pad projected schematic images of mechanical implants.
"Though A-14 has shown positive results, the subsequent sedatives will reduce his overall combat effectiveness to three-fourths of the original." Vital signs and full-body X-rays materialized, illustrating the implants' effects in detail.
"The other low-grade thralls leave much to be desired. The cost of the implants exceeds their capacity to utilize them, making the endeavor not worthwhile. However, other test subjects are showing promising results."
"Noted. Focus solely on those you believe have the highest chance of succeeding." His eyes wandered as he folded his arms, adopting a pondering expression.
"Granted, though, I'd like an increase in allocated resources. Specifically, I require more test subjects. The last batch has… expired."
Continuing his contemplation, Scar unfolded one arm and held a black card between two fingers.
"Go to the holding facility. We should have more people there. You may take ten subjects. Hand them this and tell them I gave you permission to use additional resources."
The Dollmaker took the card and bowed as he promptly replied, "I shall endeavor to meet your expectations, my lord."
Both he and A-14 left, leaving the last of the three still kneeling on the floor.
Scar tapped his fingers against his chin, deep in thought, before realizing someone remained. He shot a quick glance at the figure.
"You may speak," he said.
The kneeling figure rose, his deep voice muffled by the respirator.
"My lord, I have received an urgent transmission from ThePlaywright."
Scar's brow lifted in mild confusion. Though he and his "colleagues" were allies, they were not particularly close. None of them could be described as upright individuals, and their eccentricities often… left much to be desired.
Especially The Playwright, who rarely concerned himself with the affairs of others unless instructed by The Architect… or if said individual happened to serve as a piece in one of his "plays."
"Interesting. Cast it here," Scar said a grin formed on his lips.
Though his voice remained even, a thread of uneasy curiosity unfurled in his mind. What could have transpired to make even The Playwright's machinations reach him from across the sea?
The hooded figure detached a small device from his waist.
Blue light flared as a person's silhouette was projected.
Based on the figures contour, they wore a feathered and sharply tapered tricorn hat. A corvid-shaped mask covered their eyes and nose. while braided hair rested neatly on their shoulders.
A cape was draped on his shoulders. He wore an intricate suit. His silhouette was a striking resemblance to a Bard. His arms were folded behind his back as he spoke with bright enthusiasm.
"Ah, Jester, I come bearing news. TheConductor has arrived at the set. In but a few months time, the stage will be complete."
"But~ I'll be honest," he shrugged, "this message is not merely to report such trivial matters. I find myself… restless. The strings of fate are weaving a far more interesting tale there in Huanglong."
He sighed dramatically.
"Unfortunately I am too distant and too busy to interfere. But you would do well to prepare, i sense a storm brewing on the horizon… yet its not the storm that unsettles me. No, its the calm waves that follow. So~ consider this a fair warning. Whatever crashes upon Huanglong's shores may make retreat a necessary option."
He placed his index finger against his lips before continuing wistfully.
"I will say this whatever this being maybe. Its nature is... Otherworldly, I felt it's presence as it flickered momentarily before disappearing. It's bears similairties with the one consuming Lahai-Roi. Its origins are far beyond Solaris."
And with that, the projection vanished.
Scar stood still for a moment, his mind processing the information. Truthfully he did not care. There were far more immediate problems at hand.
For example The Retroact Rain — the phenomena that's happening throughout the entire region has been stuck in its 2nd phase for an abnormally long period.
His gaze locked onto the still kneeling figure in front of him.
"Has there been any news on what's causing the abnormality of the retroact rain?"
"None."
Irritation flickered on Scars face. This wasn't the only problem they were facing at the moment.
Unbeknownst to him, infighting had increased over the past few days, coinciding with a sudden spike in equipment malfunctions.
'Why hasn't anyone reported this?' Scar thought, noting how research had slowed considerably as a result.
To make matters worse, more of their scouting groups have gone missing day after day. While reports of enemy movement had spiked before simply vanishing.
He wasn't blind to the writing on the wall.
A mole has been feeding intel to the enemies, and this sudden aggression is a result. It seems the scattered forces of Jinzhou are consolidating far faster than anticipated.
"You may leave. Inform the researchers to prepare a backup of their current studies, additionally see to it that the recent incidents within the laboratories are thoroughly investigated" he said, eyes flickering toward the Magistrate. "Once enough data is collected, we shall depart."
A scowl formed on his face, his gaze directed at the device that was behind the magistrate — The Central Archive, the main target of this whole operation, a device that held centuries of information.
His eyes grew distant as his mind ruminated on their current situation.
The Conductor had already left to aid The Playwright. This significantly dropped their defensive and offensive capabilities.
The soldiers of Jinzhou are preparing for a counteroffensive.
And the warning from The Playwright leaves an unaccounted variable.
Yet the only question on his mind was whether this 'Other-wordly' being is causing the retroact rain's abnormality.
Even with all these problems surrounding him, a maniacal smile forced its way onto his face. His hands itched, as his heart raced— not from fear, but anticipation for the upcoming battle.
The mole can be dealt with first. Once theyre eliminated research would resume, the opposition would be blind again.
A-14. Even though weakened, they could still contend with any half-baked force they could muster. If not physically, then his appearance alone would make them hesitate before engaging.
The means of crushing this "Revolt" is already prepared.
Mobilizing now would stretch their forces thin. And they lose nothing by maintaining a defensive hold.
So why waste energy hunting frightened lambs when they eagerly march into the slaughterhouse?