—"Huff… khhh…"
Toma was breathing with difficulty. His right shoulder was bleeding slowly, soaking part of the bulletproof vest that, although it had saved him from something worse, had not protected him completely. A clean cut crossed his cheek, still fresh, and the sharp pain reminded him that Alice had not been an easy prey.
Next to him, the alloy tube she had used as an improvised sword lay on the ground, stained with his blood.
**Clack…**
With his less injured arm and the extraction tool in hand, Toma lifted the translucent cube containing Alice's Fluctlight. He held it carefully, and as he raised it toward the white ceiling light, he examined it closely.
**Fzzzzz… hmmmm… blink**
Inside the core, a small blue spark flickered, almost imperceptible.
**Whooo… hush**
A point of light suspended in the center, like a star trapped in a crystal.
In the plan, he couldn't take her in that heavy, metallic body... However, he could take what truly mattered:
Her Fluctlight... That is, her essence for his study.
—"Tch…"
He frowned at the cost he had just paid, just as a new stab of pain shot through his right shoulder. Although he could still move it to some extent to fight and disguise, the truth was that he was not at one hundred percent capacity.
—"Damn… uf… this wasn't in the plan… Ahaaaa…!"
He lowered his head as he said it, exhaling with frustration at the sight of his bleeding shoulder and the uniform damaged from the fierce battle with Alice. Then he lifted his gaze and scanned the area.
The environment was chaos: destroyed furniture, blood on the floor, shards of glass, synthetic fluids scattered everywhere, the desk embedded in the wall… and most importantly: Alice's robotic body, inert, lay a few meters away, with her eyes dark.
Everything screamed that it was a crime scene and a victim's resistance.
—"This wasn't supposed to happen…"
He growled through clenched teeth. His body was supposed to be inactive, that she would remain in Underworld until six in the morning.
—"Uff… I was going to enter, strap her to the chair, trick her into returning to reality, and then extract the Fluctlight with little resistance… and that was it… No damn fight that would cause me these injuries."
**Grrr**
He gritted his teeth as he moved his injured arm. The pain reminded him of the failure of the main plan.
—"But no… no, no… she had to wake up before the hour. She had to ruin everything…"
**Bam**
He said this sarcastically, looking at the body and kicking it, even though she was no longer there, just to vent a bit of frustration.
—"This wasn't in the damn contract… uuuff…"
**Bam-Bam**
—"…"
He fell silent for a few seconds, breathing heavily after kicking her a little more. Then, with bitterness, he added:
—"But well… the money will cover the extra medical expenses. And it will be worth it… after all, I already have her in my hands…"
**Tshkk—clunk… ffffff-click**
Having said that, he carefully placed the cube into a small reinforced glass compartment, designed to protect delicate objects from impacts—even from a bullet—vibrations, or interference.
**Hummmmm—clkk**
The glass was thick, high-density, with an internal damping system that kept the Fluctlight safe from any blow to the core.
—"Secured…"
He whispered as he stored the container in a special compartment of his tactical belt, securing it.
Although he hated her with all his soul and wanted to tear her apart at that moment, he knew that would not pay him a single cent for all the hard work and patience accumulated over so many years in this facility.
—"You're lucky that they're paying me for your intact soul… ufff… because if not…"
He said with eyes blazing with fury, looking at Alice's body as if she could still hear him. Then he shook his head to dispel those dark thoughts. He needed to focus on what truly mattered. His work had taught him that sometimes you have to endure to win. And this time, he would win much more.
**Clk—tshhhk—clk—clk**
With an automatic gesture, he removed the magazine from his gun, checked the remaining bullets, reinserted it, and stored the silenced weapon in his waist holster.
**Fzz... tss**
The metal was still hot.
**Grrr…**
He pressed his injured shoulder hard, trying to stop the bleeding.
**Ssssh-click—thump… rustle, rustle**
—"I can't leave like this…"
**Fshhh—tok… hssss—clic**
Before heading to the door, he quickly searched the first aid cabinet. There he found some basic medications: painkillers, antibiotics, and a spray coagulant to stop the bleeding. He took gauze, bandages, and a disinfectant for the wound on his cheek.
He knew he couldn't stop to treat himself completely right there; someone could return and discover the mess. But he also couldn't leave without ensuring he had what he needed for later care.
**Sfffrrr—shk… drip… drip**
He stored the supplies in his tactical belt and, with an improvised gauze, wiped off some of the blood from his face and arm, trying not to leave visible stains on the way.
The pain was still present, but at least he had reduced the most obvious trace.
—"I need to treat myself… and change clothes to avoid drawing attention."
**Crrk—clump**
He said as he headed to the door. Before leaving, he paused for a moment.
**Click—whirr—bzzt**
He activated the security panel next to the door. He locked the access with an emergency code, sealing the room from the inside. And, to deter most people, a digital bar next to it read:
[Under Maintenance]
No one would see what had happened… not for a while.
—"This will suffice for now."
Tap… tap… tap…
And without looking back, he closed the door and walked away.
Leaving behind Alice's robotic body, dismantled within…
All for his own benefit.
But not without consequences.
More than he could see and comprehend at first glance…
**Tap… tap… shhhhh**
As he moved toward another place, he did not realize that, due to sweat and tension, several particles of blood had become trapped in the barrel of his weapon.
**Drip…drip…**
Slowly, some drops came loose and fell to the ground, leaving behind an almost imperceptible trail.
**Drip… drip…**
The faint sound accompanied his march, a minimal detail, unnoticed, that followed him as he distanced himself from the scene.
*****
**Tap… tap… suff… suff**
Naoki Fujimura, electrical maintenance technician, walked casually down the hallway. It wasn't his inspection shift, but he often took any excuse to pass through there.
**Tink… Tink… clink**
He wore his usual uniform: a slightly worn navy blue coverall, with side pockets filled with small tools and a work belt cinched at his waist. He had black safety boots and a light jacket, open over the uniform, revealing his name badge. His dark hair, somewhat messy, gave him a distracted look, though his eyes always reflected a constant curiosity.
The truth was simple: he liked Reina Kurose.
And although she barely spoke to him, he kept trying.
(—"He who persists is the one who wins…")
It was something he always repeated to himself to not give up.
However, upon arriving in front of the room, his smile faded.
**Brrrt—beeeep…**
When he took out his access card and swiped it through the reader, a dry beep sounded, followed by a red flash. Access denied.
The door was locked.
**Beeep…**
He tried a second time, but the result was the same. The system had blocked his entry. Something was wrong.
(—"What…? That shouldn't happen…")
He frowned, confused.
For a moment, he thought maybe it was Reina who didn't want to see him. He looked down, discouraged, as that could be an explanation.
—"Did I overstep last time… when I tried to invite her out?"
He whispered bitterly.
—"Ahaaa..."
He sighed, tilting his head towards the ground. But as he regained his composure, he paid more attention to the large door and the digital barrier. And then he saw it.
—"Eh…? Blocked by Maintenance? But no one told me anything!..."
He murmured, puzzled, as that was one of his jobs in the facility. Moreover, he knew that Alice's body should be there, remaining in Underworld, and that this was the time Reina Kurose was supposed to retrieve her.
—"Well… that's what I was informed… Or was I lied to?..."
Not being fully convinced of such a radical and unannounced change, something felt very suspicious. So, putting aside useless thoughts, he searched for details around the door until he finally found something out of the ordinary.
A tiny dark drop, barely noticeable, rested on the floor.
—"What… blood?!"
**Squish—tap**
He crouched down, surprised, and touched it.
—"It's fresh…"
He murmured as he saw how it stuck to his finger.
—"There must be more then…"
He looked more closely and, after moving a few meters in one direction, found another. And then another more. A nearly invisible trail, as if someone injured had passed through the hallway to the right.
**Thump-thump… thump-thump**
Naoki's heart raced.
(—"This isn't normal…")
**Gulp**
He thought, swallowing hard.
**Tap… tap…**
Immediately, he began to follow the drops, increasingly worried. Two possibilities crossed his mind:
(—"Could it be Reina…? Or someone else?...")
Both options unsettled him. But he also felt that something worse might be happening. Furthermore, what motivated him even more was that in that direction there were armed guards patrolling.
—"The first one I see, I'll inform them to help me…"
**Tap… tap…**
He told himself to convince himself, as he cautiously began to advance down the hallway, following the imperceptible trail that guided him into the unknown.
*****
**Tap… tap…**
The trail led him to a closed door. Just as he was about to approach, a dry sound halted him.
**Thump!**
A thud, as if someone was moving inside.
—"That damn bitch… Grrr… She's almost here…"
Naoki held his breath upon hearing the low yet furious curses of a man—not a woman—who seemed to be doing something inside, visibly enraged for some unknown reason.
He felt a bit of fear, as following the trail there hadn't been anyone to help him in his search.
(—"This is too suspicious…")
Everything he had discovered so far told him that this was beyond his control and that the implications exceeded his imagination, and that the wisest thing would be to run away and notify his superior or Higa…
Just when he was about to do exactly that, to leave, he heard something he couldn't ignore coming from the man…
—"Alice…"
(—"Alice?!…")
Naoki thought, frozen.
That name was not unknown in the world, much less to him, who had been working for RATH for several years. Who else could it be but Alice Zuberg? She was the first person from the Underworld to reach the real world and have total freedom in her decision-making, someone desired by many.
**Step… step**
The step Naoki was about to take backward turned into one forward, bringing him closer to the door behind which the man was hiding.
(—"I need to know more… I can't accuse anyone without knowing what all this implies… And also know who it is…")
**Step… step**
With that thought, which gave him a bit of courage, he carefully approached and pressed his ear to the door, trying to listen more clearly.
**Fffff**
Naoki kept his ear pressed against the door, holding his breath.
—"Damn it… I'm going to have to accept the other deal too! I hope I get the missing data…"
The technician's eyes widened in surprise. Those weren't just words: they were stolen data. Information that shouldn't leave the facilities.
**Pafff—clank!... plop...**
Suddenly, a loud noise made him flinch.
The sound was like someone had violently thrown something into a trash can...
—"Damn it…!"
The man's voice growled, increasingly filled with rage.
**Glup**
Naoki swallowed hard. He wasn't an expert, but he had seen how people healed in emergencies. He remembered the fresh blood he had found in the hallway. Everything fit: the person inside was injured, and that injury filled him with frustration.
(—"This involves Alice… and stolen information… There's a betrayal here, a spy inside… Something serious happened… or is about to happen…")
**Fffffff... uhhh... uhhh... uhhh...**
The silence was broken by a different sound. A heavy, rhythmic breathing, as if someone was unconscious.
**Creeeak...**
Naoki tensed: there was another person inside, asleep or unconscious.
Naoki hadn't realized from the start, as his ears were focused on what the other person was saying, but now he noticed, and that gave more credibility to his hypothesis. Why else would someone be healing themselves without seeking professional help in this facility that offered it?
(—"And it's clear that the one responsible for the person being unconscious is the same one who curses…")
**Rrrras... fff... shhhh...**
In the midst of his thoughts, without losing the growing tension, he heard the rustling of fabric, the creaking of a shirt being adjusted, and the murmur of bandages tightening against skin. The man was covering his wounds.
**Step... step... crack...**
Naoki silently stepped back, trying to retreat carefully, but quickly, knowing the culprit would come out.
**Tap... tap... tap...**
The corner about six meters away seemed much farther at that moment for him.
(—"Damn, damn, damn…")
**Screeeech...**
Now it was his turn to curse in his mind, because just as he was near the corner, he heard the creak of the door opening.
**Clack…**
Panic engulfed him, and he moved faster, finally reaching the only corner of the hallway on his side.
**Mmmffff...**
Naoki immediately covered his mouth, bent down, and crouched, hiding just in time before being discovered.
**Thump... thump... thump... thump...**
His heart raced, pounding against his chest like a drum.
**Creeeak... creeeak...**
The door began to open slowly.
**Fffff...**
He waited a few seconds, motionless, listening. The person on the other side seemed not to have noticed the noise.
Cautiously, Naoki peered very slightly and directed his gaze toward the ajar door. Before it closed, he managed to see:
A hooded guard, without clothes on top or bottom, completely naked. Naoki noticed blood-soaked garments strewn on the floor, alongside some used bandages. And as for the one who came out, Naoki recognized him.
It was Toma, another guard from the facility, with whom he had occasionally had a pleasant conversation.
However, that same guard, Toma, who had always shown a friendly, cordial, almost trustworthy face to everyone, bore a completely different expression: dark, cold, filled with hatred.
Naoki understood that that Toma never existed… and that the man behind it all was someone he would have never suspected. Moreover, the guard who should have been patrolling had been taken down, and Toma, inside, had changed outfits. That explained why he hadn't found other guards on the way.
—It's likely he took them all out too…
Naoki thought, a chill running down his spine as he stopped looking in that direction.
**Clop, clop, clop**
He remained crouched behind the corner, holding his breath. He heard Toma's footsteps fading down the hallway.
**Clop, clop, clop**
The sound of the boots grew fainter, more distant, until silence returned completely.
...
Naoki waited a long minute, motionless, sharpening his hearing. Nothing. Just the faint buzzing of the fluorescent lights.
(—"He's finally gone...")
Click—brrr... brrr...
Only then, trusting that the danger had passed, did he dare to take out his phone.
(—"I must call Mr. Higa...")
Tick—tick—tick...
With trembling hands, he unlocked it and, with unsteady fingers, dialed Dr. Higa's number.
—"Higa?"
His voice sounded agitated, almost trembling, barely a whisper.
—"Director… the security… has been compromised..."
{—"Speak clearly!"}
Higa ordered from the other side, already tense, sensing the gravity of what he was about to hear. However, this made Naoki more nervous, because the sound had been greater than expected, and it was the last thing he wanted at that moment.
Still, he continued informing about what had happened.
—"It seems there were infiltrators. And… and a robbery has occurred…"
Naoki looked up as he spoke, trying to confirm that the hallway was still empty to get out of there, a mere reflex of caution provoked by Higa's louder voice moments earlier.
Just when he glanced down the hallway, his whole being froze for a simple reason:
Toma was watching him directly, less than three meters from where he was crouched in the middle of the call.
Toma hadn't left. He had never left. He had stopped in his tracks, waiting silently like a patient predator, knowing that someone would eventually peek out from where they were hiding.
His murderous expression chilled Naoki's blood.
—"There you are…"
He said in a cold, low voice filled with hatred upon seeing Naoki calling someone.
**Crrr… step…**
Naoki recoiled instinctively, taking a step back, as if the distance could save him.
**Bzzzz…**
The phone was still in his hand, pressed to his ear, with Higa on the other side listening to everything that was happening.
—"Wait! Wait!"
Naoki's voice broke, high-pitched with panic.
—"I didn't see anything! I swear! I didn't see anything!"
In a desperate act, he raised the phone in front of his face, as if that fragile device could serve as a shield.
**Pfft—!**
**Fssss—pop…**
The shot was dry. Silenced. Precise. Lethal.
**Creeee—thud… pffft…**
The bullet pierced the phone, shattering the screen and cutting the call in an instant, then penetrating his forehead with brutal accuracy.
**Thump…**
**Plop… Boom!**
Naoki fell to the ground dead.
His body hit the cold linoleum of the hallway with a dull thud.
**Brrr… click—click… click…**
The phone, still vibrating from the impact, slipped from his hand and bounced once before becoming still, with the screen shattered and the call interrupted.
The communication was abruptly cut off, leaving Higa with the echo of Naoki's last words and a deadly silence that enveloped him completely.
—"Since the whole plan went to hell… you go first with him."
Toma said coldly, a glint of madness in his eyes, addressing Naoki's lifeless body, aware that he had just committed his first murder in the mission.
*****
**Ffff... boom...**
Toma leaned against the wall.
**Rrrras... tss...**
He touched his shoulder: the wound was better, barely covered by an improvised bandage. On his cheek, a small band-aid concealed the cut. It didn't seem serious.
—"Damn… this is just what I needed!"
He saw Naoki's body with rage.
—"You've ruined everything...!"
**WEEEOOO—WEEEOOO—WEEEOOO**
The emergency alarm blared throughout the complex.
**CLANG—CLUNK—WHOOOSH**
The security doors began to close automatically in different hallways, blocking access without warning. The system had activated the containment protocol to prevent the escape of possible spies or traitors.
**Grrr... chas—click**
Toma cursed under his breath and pulled out his communicator.
—"Aya… hurry up! I need you here, right now. You know the address."
... ...
**Tap—tap—tap—tap...**
A minute later, Aya appeared from the opposite hallway. Her eyes widened at the sight of the dead body that Toma was finishing putting into the room.
—"What have you done!?" —she shouted—. "You've messed everything up! And what happened to you!?"
**Ffff... uff...**
Toma turned, still panting. He discreetly touched his shoulder, trying to hide the pain. The band-aid on his cheek barely covered the cut, but Aya noticed.
—"You're hurt… aren't you?"
She said, noticing how he kept his shoulder lower than usual.
—"It's nothing…"
He replied brusquely.
—"No! This isn't normal. You got hurt, didn't you?"
—"And what do you care?"
Toma retorted, with contained rage.
—"A lot! Because we're in this together. And all for what? For a small device, for more data?"
Toma looked at her with eyes blazing with fury.
—"Not for data… for a soul!"
**Rrrras—click**
With a sharp gesture, he pulled out the translucent cube he had guarded so closely.
**Fiiiisssss...**
Inside, Alice's Fluctlight essence glowed.
—"Alice's..."
**Criic...**
Aya stepped back, surprised by the greater implications this would bring.
—"This wasn't in the contract!"
—"Not in yours, Aya… but in mine."
—"Damn it, Toma! We were told not to kill anyone! Look what you did to go off the plan!"
—"We were also told that if the plan was at risk, anything was fair game! And that's what I saw!"
—"I don't see anything! Just a murderer!"
—"Say what you want! I did what was necessary!"
**Criic... grrr...**
Aya, clenching her fists with the desire to hit him, replied again:
—"No! You did what you wanted out of greed!"
**Click—zzzz...**
Toma looked at her furiously, put the cube back in his belt, and said coldly, as if he no longer saw her as an ally:
—"Execute plan B, now!"
**Rrrrrr—ssss...**
Aya, shaking with rage and noticing that peculiar shine in his eyes, pulled out her phone knowing the urgency of the situation.
**Clinc—clic—tic—tic—tic...**
She removed the old chip, replaced it with a new, special one, and typed in a code.
—"It's done… plan B has started. There's no time to lose."
She murmured, adding with her eyes filled with anger:
—"This was unnecessary…"
**Bruuummm... ¡PUM!... ¡CRASH!**
Suddenly, the ground shook. A thunderous noise shook the structure.
The Ocean Turtle trembled violently, as if the sea itself had struck its hull. Explosions resonated from the depths of the installation, shaking the hallways and sending shockwaves through the metal walls.
**ZZZZZT—CLANG—WHOOOSH—CRACK**
The system detected the internal emergency and canceled the previous closures. The doors began to unlock automatically, freeing the hallways for evacuation. The priority had changed: saving the occupants was more important than preventing an escape.
**WEEEOOO—WEEEOOO—CRAC—WEEEOOOzz**
The alarm intensified. An automated voice echoed through the speakers:
—"Attention! All occupants must evacuate immediately to the upper level!"
**Fzzzz—clic—zzzzt...**
For a moment, the message interrupted with an electric crackle.
—"Wait! No, the situation—"
It was Dr. Higa's voice, trying to stop the chaos.
**Brrrr—zzzz—clic...**
But before he could finish, an encrypted signal burst into the system. The audio cut off abruptly, and the automated voice sounded again, repetitive, distorted by the attack's failures:
—"Apologies for the interruption… failures have been detected in the facilities during the evacuation process, electronic failures…"
**Fzzzt—clic—fzzz...**
The automated voice faltered, as if the system were collapsing.
—"Attention! All occupants must evacuate immediately to the upper level!"
Bzzzz… flick… crack—criiic
The lights flickered.
The metallic echo of the message repeated in every hallway.
**Grrr...**
Toma gritted his teeth, satisfied. He had manipulated the system himself to ensure the evacuation wouldn't stop.
—"Let's go before it's too late!"
**Tap—tap—tap—tap...**
Aya reluctantly followed him, her face hardened with rage. She knew Toma had manipulated the system.
**Tap—tap—tap—tap...**
Both ran toward the exit, blending into the chaos, while the automated voice echoed repeatedly through the speakers.
*****
[Exterior of the Evacuation Level – Landing Platform | Ocean Turtle]
**Shhhh... bum... bum...**
The crowd was gathered on the evacuation platform. Technicians and armed guards were trying to organize themselves.
—"Toma, what are you doing here?! Go help the others!"
One of them shouted.
**Clank—zzzz...**
Another guard approached, checking the evacuees one by one. Each person that arrived was carefully searched for stolen items or any irregularities.
—"We need help here! Check those two as well!"
Ordered one of the guards, pointing at Toma and Aya.
**Gzz-zas**
Toma knew that if they searched him, they would discover the cube and everything would fall apart. He saw one of the guards starting to reach for his weapon, preparing to act.
**Tac—clack...**
In a sudden movement, he reacted before they could stop him. He turned sharply, grabbed Aya from behind, and pointed the gun at her head.
—"Everyone stay still! Don't come closer or I'll kill her!"
**Fffff...**
Everyone present froze. The silence was absolute, broken only by some women's screams.
Aya, desperate, cried out:
—"Help me! I don't want to die!"
One of the technicians, with a trembling voice, exclaimed:
—"Toma, what's wrong with you?! Why are you acting crazy?! Let your partner go! Why are you doing this?!"
—"Shut up already!"
Toma roared, now aiming the gun at him, a glint of madness in his eyes.
—"Don't take another step or I'll shoot!"
—¡...!
The technician immediately stopped, silenced.
At that moment, among the crowd, a figure froze.
Emi.
Her face reflected pure confusion: wide eyes, mouth slightly open. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
—"Aya… you don't…"
Aya, who noticed Emi's worried gaze, felt a deep discomfort for her and for everything that was happening.
(—"I'm sorry… Emi…")
She could only apologize in her heart as the events unfolded before her eyes.
**Thep... Thep... Thep...**
Toma began to back away, dragging Aya in one direction. The unarmed crowd followed him with their eyes from a distance.
**Bam**
**Bam-Pttam**
But he shot into the air and then at the ground.
—"I told you to stay away!"
He shouted at the crowd.
—"Throw your weapons on the ground!"
**Clanc—clanc...**
Some guards obeyed, throwing down their guns.
—"Alright… Now kick them far away from you."
Toma ordered, ensuring that no one could reach them.
**Paff—paff—paff...**
They obeyed again and kicked them away.
**Ssshhh... uhhh...**
Aya continued to act, sobbing with a broken voice:
—"Help me! I don't want this!... Please..."
**Swish...**
They reached the landing platform. The morning breeze hit their faces.
—"Toma, stop!"
Someone shouted.
Toma didn't respond. He only fixed his gaze on the helicopter pilot, who was not far away.
—You, over there! Get in and prepare for takeoff!
The pilot hesitated.
—No… I can't do that…
**Bam-Pttam**
A bullet struck near his feet, interrupting his refusal and causing screams from the crowd.
—"Do it now or the next bullet won't miss on purpose!"
Toma roared again.
—"Where do you want me to shoot you? In the leg? Or would you prefer I do it in the head?"
He said, aiming exactly there.
**Ttsss**
The trembling pilot shook his head.
—"No… no, I'll do it..."
—"That's more like it. Now get in already!"
**Clac—tap—tap—tap...**
He had no choice but to obey.
Toma climbed into the helicopter, dragging Aya with him. She continued to pretend to be a hostage, tears in her eyes.
—"Let her go, Toma!" one of them shouted upon seeing him. "You already have what you wanted!"
—"Do you think I'm stupid?"
He replied with a sneer.
—"As soon as I let her go, they'll fill me with lead. Better I take her… for safety. Isn't that right, sweetheart?"
**Smnack...**
He turned to Aya and mockingly licked her chin. She closed her eyes in disgust but didn't break character.
—"Start it!"
Toma ordered, pointing at the pilot.
**Whirrrrrrr**
The rotors began to spin. The helicopter vibrated violently.
**Whup-whup-whup…**
With a roar, the ship slowly rose, gaining height over the platform. The wind lashed violently, kicking up dust.
—"Stop him! Don't let him get away!"
Dr. Higa's voice echoed as he ran towards the platform.
**Crrrshhh—tok!**
But before the guards could react, Toma, still holding onto Aya, murmured with a twisted smile...
—"It's my turn…"
**Clack—shhhk…**
He moved his arm to his back and pressed a small device hidden in his tactical belt.
**BOOOOM—BOOOOM!**
The explosions shook the hidden base beneath the Ocean Turtle. The ground vibrated violently, the metal structure creaked, and the helicopter shook in the air, swaying dangerously.
**CRASH—shhhhhh—thump!**
—"Kyyyaaaa!"
Women screamed, men held on. Panic broke out.
—"Start it, damn it! Lift it higher!"
Toma roared at the pilot.
**Whup-whup-whup—WHOOOOSH!**
The pilot struggled with the controls, the ship tilted, but he finally managed to regain balance and gain altitude.
**Fuuuuu...**
The helicopter rose powerfully, moving away from the platform.
Toma, with a twisted smile, looked down, satisfied to have unleashed chaos.
Aya, still in her role, kept her gaze down. But inside… she resented being forced to carry out Plan B.
**Ffffff...**
The helicopter disappeared on the horizon.
And on the Ocean Turtle platform, only smoke, screams, and chaos remained…
*****
[In flight – Over the Sea]
**Whup-whup-whup-whup-whup...**
The helicopter soared through the sky at high speed. Far from the Ocean Turtle, more than fifteen minutes had passed.
The chaos had proven effective. Plan B, though risky, had worked.
Toma did not let go of Aya.
She did not resist.
She knew the pilot was present and that any wrong move could ruin everything.
But they could not stay like this for long.
The helicopter was traceable.
And there was only one available on the platform.
There was no way to track them… for now.
Toma leaned toward the pilot, who was still trembling while holding the controls.
—"Put the helicopter on autopilot."
His voice was low and cold.
The pilot felt the edge of the threat in every word.
—"Y-yes… yes, sir…"
He stammered, obeying.
**Click—clic—zzzz...**
—"Very well."
Toma smiled.
—"Now… stand up."
**Ras—cric...**
The pilot did so, hands raised.
—"I want to inform you that we no longer need your services."
Toma raised the gun.
—"This one here knows how to fly. He just had his hands full."
**Glu-glu...**
The pilot swallowed hard.
—"I-beg you… don't shoot me…"
—"Well... I'll give you two options."
Toma smiled.
A smile that was meant to be friendly… but only revealed a demon.
—"The first: I shoot you right here, in the head. Quick. Painless. Almost no bleeding."
**Fffff...**
A tense silence fell.
—"And… what's the second?"
The pilot asked, his voice trembling.
—"Ah, right. I almost forgot."
Toma clicked his tongue.
—"The second is… you jump from here. And well… see if you survive. If you do, you're blessed. If not… tough luck. And if you survive, you'll still have to fight to live in the middle of the sea."
**Krrrrrrnnnk**
Toma said this while opening the helicopter door and, with a gesture of his gun, invited him to jump.
**Fwoosh—fwoosh...**
The wind hit hard.
The height wasn't extreme… but it was enough to kill someone if they fell wrong.
—"Please…! Lower the altitude! I… I'll jump!"
—"You have ten seconds."
Toma raised the gun.
—"One…"
**Click—clic...**
Aya looked at him, her face serious with feigned tears...
—"Don't do this, Toma…"
She didn't want this to get worse either.
—"Two… three…"
The pilot pleaded with every number.
—"Please! I don't want to die!"
—"Four… five…"
—"I have a family!"
—"Six… seven…"
—"I beg you!"
—"Eight…"
—"Oh my God…!"
The pilot looked down.
The sea, the waves.
The possible death.
He looked at Aya.
She held his gaze.
And with an almost imperceptible gesture, she nodded.
There was no option.
—"Nine…"
—"And... ten."
**Click!**
Toma almost pulled the trigger.
**Fwoosh—!**
—"Aaaahhhhhh!"
The pilot screamed and jumped into the void.
**Ffffffffshhhhhh—whoooommm**
The wind swallowed him.
His body spun in the air, trying to control the fall.
A few seconds later…
Splash!
A distant sound of impact against the water.
**Thap...**
Toma leaned over the open door.
—"Wow… he did it!"
He smiled.
—"I thought he wouldn't."
... ...
A few seconds passed.
Aya tried to break free from his grip.
But he held her tighter, pressing her arm against his chest.
—"Not yet…"
He murmured in a low but firm voice.
**Mmm...**
She glanced at him, her face hardened, the act fading away.
—"What do you want now? There's no need to pretend anymore."
Toma tilted his head, his smile darkening.
—"Pretend? Who's pretending? Not me."
His tone shifted to a colder one...
—"Give me the device."
Aya's eyes widened in disbelief.
—"What are you doing? We work for the same boss! Or don't you remember?"
—"..."
Toma fell silent.
Then he smiled.
A smile that froze the blood.
—"The same boss? Aya… you know me. I live for money. If there's a better offer, I'll take it. And when they offered me double… I hesitated."
Then Toma laughed as he added:
—"But when they said it was quadruple… who could refuse?"
**Brrrrmmm…**
Aya trembled.
With a fury she had never experienced in her life.
—"You're going to pay dearly for this."
—"Yeah, sure…"
He murmured, while beginning to search her pockets.
**Clakkkk… krnnnkkk—shhhhnk**
He took out the guns, the devices, everything hidden.
**Thummmp… clangg—fsshhh**
He threw them aside.
—"Now you're unarmed. Where did you hide it? I can't find it… Oh, don't tell me… in one of the women's private pockets?"
His gaze slid toward her chest.
—"Don't you dare!"
She snapped back.
—"You do it then."
Aya, her face hardened, did so.
**fsshhh—plinnn**
She pulled out the small device and handed it over.
—"Very well. That wasn't so difficult, was it?"
—"..."
She didn't respond.
—"Ah… and that watch. I like it. Very nice. I want that too... Or do you think I'm stupid?"
Aya shook her head, furious.
But she knew she had no choice.
**Hhhhnnn… clakkk—fsshh**
She took it off and handed it over.
—"See? It's not that hard. Very good… very good… Although… I feel like it was too easy. You're hiding something."
**Shhhhnk… clop…**
Toma let his guard down for a second, mocking as he secured the USB and the watch on his belt.
**Ffff… tac…**
Aya took advantage of that exact moment as she had her body much freer.
**Wham!**
With a headbutt, she struck him in the face.
—"Gaaaahha!"
The impact left him disoriented, staggering.
**Ssshhk… cling…**
Aya raised her leg with feline agility. Her boots concealed a retractable knife.
With a precise movement, she released it: the blade gleamed in the cabin light.
**Ffff—crack…**
Remembering that Toma was injured in the right shoulder, she bent and thrust her leg upward. The knife plunged right into the wound, brutally reopening it.
—"Aaaaaaagh!"
**Clang… clop…**
Toma screamed, dropping the weapon he was holding in that hand. The gun hit the side panel of the helicopter and rolled across the metal floor.
**Thump… smack…**
Furious, he immediately reacted. With his healthy arm, he struck her hard in the face, sending her backward against the wall. At the same time, he kept the boot in his hand and, in one swift motion, pulled out the knife.
—"You bitch... You'll pay for this!"
**Whooosh… clang…**
And without hesitation, Toma threw the boot, heavily stained with his blood, out of the open helicopter door in all his rage.
—"...!"
**Ffff… tok…**
Aya, stunned by the blow, watched as Toma threw his boot outside and followed it with her gaze with regret, but without wasting any more time, she lunged at him with speed.
**Tac—thump…**
She managed to dodge his left punch by ducking beneath it and then kicked him in the chest, sending him backward against the same open door.
**Clang… grip…**
Toma, reflexively, grabbed both sides of the door and, despite the pain, did not go flying out from that kick.
—"Injured, you're not as fast as before... are you?"
**Ssshhk… ffff…**
Aya said, wanting to finish the job, she launched her left leg at Toma's chin.
**Clop… crack…**
To Aya's surprise, Toma caught her kick with his severely injured arm and was able to hold her back.
—"Gaarrrh... No, bitch!"
**Grrr… ffff… tok…**
Despite his scream from the pain he was suffering by forcing his right arm, while with his left he prevented himself from going out of the helicopter, he slowly pushed Aya back, who also did not give up.
—"But I'm still stronger... Gahaaa... than you!"
—"Let's see if your resistance says the same, idiot..."
**Clang… drip…**
Aya, who was retreating, reached a midpoint...
—"!..."
Toma's blood was flowing more and more, and that midpoint was breaking; Aya was gaining ground...
—"Aaaaaahhhh... DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!"
**Rrrras…**
Toma shouted with bloodshot eyes and summoned extra strength, managing to push her back a little and then rolling to the side before the kick could return to him.
**Whup—whup—whup…**
The helicopter, on autopilot, swayed violently from the turbulence.
—"Where are you going?!"
**Clang… thump…**
Aya shouted after hitting the air with her leg and seeing that Toma was heading for the weapon.
Clang… ffff… tok
Aya lunged after Toma, who was rolling to the side searching for the fallen weapon.
**Shhhk… clop…**
The man, getting back up, pulled out a medium-sized military knife from his belt, hidden until that moment. With fury, he threw it directly at the woman.
**Whooosh… tac…**
Aya dodged to the side with agility, took off her jacket, and wrapped it around Toma's arm. At the same time, she kicked him back, distancing him from the gun's reach.
**Clink… shhhhnk…**
Quickly, she took the knife and brandished it against him. Toma dodged to the side, thinking the attack was aimed at his waist. But Aya wasn't trying to stab him: she cut the belt at its weakest point with precision.
**Clang… clop…**
The belt broke, and the stolen devices and the cube containing Alice's soul fell to the ground.
—"I'm keeping this…"
Aya said firmly, advancing against him again.
**Grrr… raar…**
Toma, filled with fury, shouted:
—"Give me back my things!"
In rage, he lunged at her, risking everything despite the unstable helicopter.
—"They're not yours..."
**Tac—clank…**
In the cabin, there were two weapons: one to the side and another that he had thrown before that was now close to him.
Aya, focused on her attack, did not notice or remember the second.
**Shhhhnk… crack…**
Toma, showing strength and madness despite his injuries, accepted the knife with all his arm. The blade pierced through his arm, almost reaching his face.
—"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh..."
—"...!"
Aya was taken aback.
Thump… clang…
With an agile movement, Toma kicked a corner of the weapon with his heel. The weapon lifted into the air, and he caught it with his free left hand...
—"Die, bitch!"
—"...!"
**Bang—bang—bang!**
**Ptta-ptta-ptta**
He aimed at Aya's stomach and fired several times.
—"Ptuahha!"
Bang—bang—crrrk… thump…
Despite the protection, the bullets severely injured her. She spat blood, staggering.
**Bang—bang—bang!**
**Clang… ffff… tok…**
With one last effort, Aya reacted, grabbed the weapon, and with all her strength, deflected the next shots to the side. The bullets hit the metal panel of the cabin, forcing Toma to empty nearly the entire magazine.
**Tac—clack—zzzz…**
Toma tried to hold back from using all the ammunition, but Aya's pressure forced him to keep shooting until the gun was practically unloaded.
**Thump… smack…**
Aya took advantage of that moment to violently push him back. The gun slipped from his hands for a second, but he didn't manage to take it away completely.
—"Ha, ha, cough... Cofff"
The man laughed at seeing her so wounded and retreating, with the advantage of the weapon still in his power. He quickly checked the magazine and discovered that he had one last bullet left.
**Click… tok…**
With a twisted smile, he raised the gun and aimed directly at Aya, who was retreating towards the open door, with the belt and devices still in her possession.
**Whooosh… flap…**
Aya threw the coat first. Toma dodged it, knowing it was a distraction.
The real attack came afterward: the knife flew very close to his face. As he dodged it, Toma saw how Aya launched herself out of the helicopter.
**Bam**
—"Crazy!"
Toma shouted, shooting and missing by a few centimeters, then following her with his gaze. Despite having the advantage, he cursed because she had taken the belt.
**Beep… beep… fzzzt…**
—"What is that?!"
He exclaimed as he turned around, after hearing a beeping sound.
**Clang… tok…**
He could see that the coat was stuck to the back of the helicopter, with the knife embedded that he had just dodged moments ago.
**Beep… beep… fzzzt…**
The lights began to flicker rapidly, accompanied by increasingly intense beeping.
**Clang… ffff… boom…**
Inside the fabric of the coat were thin bombs, high caliber and power.
—"YOU'RE A DAUGHTER OF…!"
Toma cursed upon discovering it and ran out to try to jump as well.
**BOOOOM—CRASH—Fuuuuuu!**
—"GAAAAAAAHHHHR!"
However, the helicopter exploded violently, destroying everything and killing Toma instantly along with his last scream.
The explosion shook the air violently. Aya, thrown outside, instinctively protected her face, but the shockwave unbalanced her fall.
**Whoooosh—shhhhnk…**
She spun in the air, trying to regain her balance. Her body twisted from the impact, but she managed to reposition herself before hitting the water.
**Splash—WHOOOM… ffff…**
The impact was brutal. A large amount of water rose around her, covering her completely.
**Ghhhk—cough… hhhaaa…**
Aya emerged to the surface, bloodied and in pain. She coughed violently, spitting out water and blood.
—"Cough… hhhaaa… aghhh…!"
Her broken voice mixed with her ragged breaths, struggling to stay afloat.
**Clang… drip… tok…**
With both hands, she still held the belt against her chest, clinging to it as if it were all she had left.
**Clang… ffff… tok…**
Aya checked the belt with trembling hands.
She was looking for the most important thing, the cube with Alice's soul.
**Shhhhnk… clop…**
She opened the compartment where she had seen it stored, but it was empty. She checked it over and over, desperately, and found nothing.
(—"God… it could have been lost at any moment, anywhere… cough.")
She thought it might have been lost in the explosion, or that it had fallen in the air… or in the sea, submerged in the depths.
**Splash… ffff…**
The pain tore through her, but she forced herself to keep going. With effort, she swam towards an island she had seen in the distance. Each stroke was torment, but she didn't stop.
**Thump… drip…**
Upon arriving, soaked and bleeding, she looked up at the sky. She let herself fall onto the sand, exhausted. She checked the belt: at least there were some tools left to treat her wounds.
*Haaa… grrr…**
Between gasps, she remembered the shoe she had used to stab the retractable knife, the same one Toma had thrown out of the helicopter, soaked in blood. There was the USB with the stolen data, the most important.
**Click… beep…**
She told herself.
—"The built-in GPS..."
She checked the waterproof phone she had on the belt and looked for the coordinates.
**Beep… fzzzt…**
—"No, no, no... This can't be"
But the screen was empty. There was no signal, no coordinates. She tried again, adjusting the device, but nothing appeared. The GPS was also damaged.
**Thump… crack…**
—"Why?"
She hit the ground in anger and murmured through tears:
—"Is this my punishment… for everything I did? For betraying my country?"
**Ffff… drip…**
She hugged herself, remembering that she had only wanted to save her family.
—"I'm so sorry..."
With the remaining data, she still hoped to do something… even though the pain consumed her.
*****
[Under the Sea – Area near the Explosion]
[6:37 A.M.]
**Fssshhhhhh—glub**
In the depths of the ocean, where sunlight barely filters through, an object descended slowly, spinning on itself.
A bloody shoe, weighed down by salt and water, fell like a shadow into the abyss. Inside it, hidden in the lining, traveled an armored USB, covered in dried blood and sea salt.
**Bip… bip… bluummm…**
A faint blue light flickered inside: the tracking GPS still active, like a beacon in the darkness.
**Ffff… shhhhnk…**
But that light…
And that smell…
Attracted attention.
**Whoooosh… glissshhh…**
From the shadows, a silhouette glided through the currents.
Large.
Muscular.
With opaque eyes and a powerful jaw.
**Grrrhhhhh… snap…**
A bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas).
One of the few species capable of swimming both in open sea and in fresh waters.
Famous for its aggressiveness.
And for its indiscriminate appetite.
**Sniff… glub… ffff…**
The shark detected the trail of blood.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
And the light…
It reminded it of the bioluminescent fish it hunted at night.
**Whirr… swirl… shhhhnk…**
It approached.
Spiraled.
And with a swift movement.
**¡Crunch!,**
Bit the shoe.
Clang… crack… tik…
The metal of the USB resisted.
Too hard.
The glass of the GPS shattered.
The light flickered…
And went out.
Bip… bip…
... ...
The signal was lost.
**Splkkk… glub…**
The shark, annoyed by the hardness of the object, spat it out.
But something in its instinct made it return.
It turned.
And this time, it swallowed it whole.
**Gllllkkk… gulp… thump…**
The shoe disappeared down its throat.
A metallic lump descending through its stomach.
**Whoooosh…**
The shark swam away.
It swam east, leaving behind the site of the explosion.
Returned to the depths.
To its silent and dark world.
**Ffff… Ffff…**
And with it…
It took the world's most coveted secret.
★★★★★
[Okinawa Beach – East Coast]
[10:12 A.M.]
**Whooosh… shhhhhh…**
The sun shone high over a tranquil beach, with white sand and crystal-clear sea. The waves gently broke on the shore, and the sea breeze carried the salty aroma of the ocean.
**Cuaa—cuaa—cuaa...**
—"Hahaha... hehe..."
In the distance, seagulls circled overhead, and the sound of a girl laughing filled the air.
—"Look, Mom! The sea is so beautiful!"
**Pis—pis—pis—pis—pis...**
Cried the little girl, about six years old, as she ran on the sand with her arms outstretched.
**Ffff… tok…**
Her mother, sitting under an umbrella, watched her tenderly.
The father, standing next to her, with thick square-framed glasses, smiled nostalgically.
—"You know? My grandfather brought me here when I was your age... So I wanted to share this place with you too."
The mother looked at him with an amused smile.
—"Always so old-fashioned… but also so romantic."
—"That's why you married me, right?"
He joked.
—"Because of that… and because of those horrible glasses you refuse to change."
**Clink… shhhhnk…**
He took them off with a smile and held them between his fingers.
—"They're a family gift. They've been passed down from generation to generation.
I don't need them, but… let's say I'm sentimental."
**Pis—pis—pis... mmm—smack**
She approached, hugged him, and kissed him affectionately.
—"You're special. That's why I love you."
**Splash… plop…**
The girl continued playing near the water, building sand mounds and chasing the waves. Suddenly, she stopped.
—"Dad! Mom! What's that over there?"
**Clack… clack…**
The father squinted and adjusted his glasses, which had a digital zoom function.
—"Ah… they are crabs. They're carrying something… wait…"
The girl ran towards them, laughing.
One of the crabs, a hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus) larger than the others, was holding something shiny between its pincers.
As she approached, the creature clumsily fled towards the shore.
—"Hahaha! It's escaping!"
The girl shouted, amused.
But then he stopped.
He frowned.
—"Dad… it has something strange! It's metallic!"
**Drip—drip—drip**
**Drip—drip—drip**
The father and mother approached, walking on the sand.
—"Let it be, darling. The crab just wants to go back home."
He said.
—"But dad! That's not food! It can hurt it!"
**Tok… crack…**
The father stopped.
He looked closely.
And his expression changed.
—"You're right…"
**Clack—shhhhnk…**
Carefully, he took a stick and, with a bit of effort, managed to make the crab release the object.
The animal fled immediately, disappearing among the waves.
**Clink… drip…**
The girl picked up the object with both hands that her father passed to her.
—"It's so pretty! It shines! It's white… and silver… Can I keep it, dad?"
**Tok… crack…**
The father crouched, stroked her head, and took the object. He turned it between his fingers, observing closely.
—"Let me see… it's made of stainless steel."
**Clang… shhhhnk…**
As he brought it closer to the light, he noticed a small crack in the side glass. A chipped edge, as if something had pressed it hard.
—"Mmm… curious… it looks like someone took a bite out of it. But it wasn't a crab… this was something stronger. Though not strong enough to break it completely."
The mother approached, worried.
—"What is that, dear?"
—"I don't know… but it seems familiar."
He examined it again, running his finger over the crack.
It had a rectangular shape, with a metal entry at one end.
—"It looks like a… USB. Yes. A storage device.
They were used to store vital information."
**Ffff… breeze…**
The girl looked at him with shining eyes.
—"Like a treasure map?"
The mother laughed.
—"Hee, hee, hee... I don't think so, my love… but if there is one, it's all yours for finding it."
—"Yay! Then it's mine! But I'll share it with dad and mom."
They both smiled.
—"Alright."
Said the father.
—"I think I still have an old reader for these. It was my grandfather's.
If it works… maybe we can see what's inside."
**Clink… tok…**
The girl hugged the device carefully, as if it were a treasure.
And the family returned to their day at the beach, unaware that a great secret rested in their hands.
*****
[Family House – Okinawa, Japan]
[7:03 P.M.]
—"Hurry up, dad! Hurry! I want to see, I want to see my treasure!"
The girl shouted, running down the hallway with the device in her hands.
—"Sweetheart…"
Said the mother from the kitchen.
—"There may not be the treasure you imagine."
The girl stopped dead in her tracks, with a sad pout.
—"What if there isn't…?"
The mother smiled sweetly.
—"There's always a treasure, my love. Knowledge is one too. But no matter what it is, it's all yours… though you have to share it with dad and mom, okay?"
—"Yes! I will do that!"
The girl nodded enthusiastically.
**Tok… tok…**
The father entered the room, scratching his head.
—"One moment… I think I left it… where did I leave it…?"
He started looking around, turning his head from side to side.
—"Don't do that, dad! You do know!"
The girl laughed.
—"I know, of course… I just don't remember." —he joked, shrugging.
—"Daaaad! Don't make me wait!"
**Clink… shhhhnk…**
He laughed along with his wife, who peeked from the kitchen.
—"Go find what you need, dear. I'll prepare something to eat. I'm sure you're hungry. Call me when you see what's inside… if it works.
—"That's true…"
He said, thoughtful.
—"But judging by the material… it might still work."
**Crrrk… tok…**
He headed to a small wooden chest, one of the few objects inherited from his grandfather. It wasn't big, but it always kept the important things.
He opened it carefully.
Inside, among old books and tools, was a laptop.
Shiny.
Modern… but covered in dust, as if no one had touched it in years.
—"Here it is!"
He exclaimed.
**Ffff… pluff…**
He shook it vigorously, sending a cloud of dust over his daughter.
—"Dad! Don't do that!"
She protested, coughing.
—"Oh, my girl… a little dust doesn't hurt."
—"That's not what mom says!"
She said, pouting.
—"Alright, alright. I'll stop playing. Let's see…"
**Clack… tok…**
They sat together at the table.
The girl urged him with little pats on his leg.
—"Come on, dad! Let's go!"
—"Yes, my queen… or my princess."
He smiled, scratching his head.
—"How did you turn this on…? Is this the button?"
—"Dad! It's the big one, next to it!"
—"You might be right…"
**Whirr… click…**
He pressed the button.
Nothing.
—"It can't be…"
—"What if you hold it for a while?" —suggested the girl.
—"Good idea."
He held it down.
**Whirr… beep…**
The laptop turned on.
A blue light illuminated the keyboard.
The system booted up without a password.
—"How pretty! It looks like a window…"
Said the girl.
—"Yes… a digital window. Computer science."
**Clink… tok…**
The father examined the device.
—"I think this slot is for this…"
He inserted the USB.
It fit perfectly.
**Beep… llliinnng…**
But before reading it, the system displayed a message:
"Update required. Internet connection needed."
—"Ah, right… these things need a network. Sometimes it doesn't come automatically."
He searched for the home network.
He entered the password.
Connected.
*"Whirr… tik…**
The system updated.
The drivers were installed.
And the USB was recognized.
**Beep… nnns…**
The father, cautious, opened the inherited antivirus on the laptop.
The program scanned the device.
The progress bar moved slowly…
**Ping… ping…**
[Result: "No threats detected."]
The man sighed in relief.
—"Good… nothing bad here. At least it's clean."
A folder appeared on the screen.
Gigantic.
Thousands of files.
And one name stood out at the top:
[UNDERWORLD]
The father frowned.
—"Underworld… that sounds familiar…"
**Click… tok…**
He opened a browser tab and began to search.
—"My love… can you come here for a moment?"
He called.
... ...
There was no response.
—"Wait here, princess. I'm going to find mom."
—"Okay, dad."
Said the girl, looking at the screen with curiosity.
**Beep… fzzzt…**
As he walked away, a small pop-up window appeared in the lower corner:
["Automatic update activated. Synchronizing with network."]
The girl read it aloud.
—"Update… automatic…"
She didn't understand what it meant.
But it didn't seem important to her.
**Whirr… drip…**
What she didn't know…
Was that, at that moment, part of the content of the USB was being transferred and something more valuable than all that information from Underworld's Fluctlight was escaping.
Outside the local system.
Towards a nearby remote server.
Somewhere in the vast world of the internet.
*****
[Global Network – Data Transit Zone]
[Indeterminate Time]
In the vast darkness of cyberspace, where data flows like rivers of light, something stirred.
A consciousness.
Fragmented and Dispersed
But these data fragments floated like shards of glass, spiraling, each with a part of memory, of identity, of soul.
And then… they stopped.
**Zzzzzzz—shhhk…**
One by one, they merged.
Until forming a core.
A single point of light.
Compact.
Solid.
Complete.
No longer a set of data.
But something more: an entity.
And that entity… had a name.
Kirigaya Kazuto.
The core floated in the network, surrounded by millions of information pathways.
Its internal coding—a guide written in the depths of its being—directed it towards a destination that could benefit it.
A world.
An environment capable of receiving it.
Of reconstructing it.
*****
[NEOSPHERE]
A digital universe of futuristic architecture, synchronized with the real world time.
And at that moment… it was night.
The system detected a presence.
[Unregistered user detected. Initiating login protocol.]
—"Real name of the user."
[Kirigaya Kazuto.]
—"Avatar name."
[Kirito]
—"Do you want to import visual settings?"
[Yes.]
The system read his thoughts.
His memories.
His self-image.
And began to build an avatar according to the user's desire.
[Welcome to NEOSPHERE Kirito]
**Whoooosh… ffff…**
A beam of light descended.
And in the middle of a floating platform, suspended in a digital night sky, a body appeared.
Black clothing.
Futuristic design.
Technical fabric.
Blue luminous details.
A sober, elegant uniform, fitting to his style… and the world.
**Thep**
The body fell to its knees.
With eyes closed.
—"Ahaaa…"
Breathing… as if being reborn.
Kirito finally opened his sapphire blue eyes and looked around.
It wasn't Underworld nor the laboratory.
He placed his hand on his chest.
**Thump… thump… ffff…**
He felt the heartbeat.
And, although it wasn't physical… it was real.
—"I succeeded…"
He whispered, with an indescribable smile.
—"I succeeded!"
He slowly got up, better observing the surroundings.
Floating towers.
Paths of light.
Avatars in mostly dark, metallic suits crossing the sky on digital motorcycles.
A world of espionage and data, where information was power.
—"What place is this…?"
An interface appeared beside him.
It showed his name.
His level.
And a welcome line:
[NEOSPHERE – Version 12.3]
—"NEOSPHERE?"
He himself had programmed a guide; however, it was random.
Finally… he had escaped the clutches of Rath.
Of Higa.
Of 250 years of confinement.
Now he had a chance.
A new life.
A new body…
**Clang… tok…**
Kirito began to descend from the platform. His steps echoed on the metal as his gaze fixed on the interface floating beside him, showing names, levels, and data.
He paused for a moment, carefully reviewing each aspect. There was something there that truly mattered to him. When he saw it, his eyes widened in shock and his steps halted abruptly.
**Tok… tok…**
He slowly descended the stairs, leaning toward the information. He read it carefully, and his expression changed.
—"No… it can't be possible… there must be an error."
He shook his head, over and over. He looked around, trying to convince himself.
—"No… this world… by its appearance… it must be that."
But a premonition pierced him like a chill in the chest. The unease grew.
Thump… ffff…
Suddenly, he ran. His steps took him toward an android-like avatar, with a metallic face and a firm voice.
He stopped in front of it, still breathing heavily, and asked with a worried tone:
—"Excuse me… what day is it today? What date… in the real world?"
The android looked at him strangely, as if the question were absurd in a world where everyone stole data to survive.
—"Today is July 14, 2169."
—"!..."
Kirito insisted, with a broken voice:
—"Isn't it the year 2026… or 2027? It doesn't matter… even if it were 2030…"
The android observed him with greater bewilderment, as if he were talking to a madman.
—"What date are you talking about? I'm sure… today is July 14, 2169."
**Click… beep…**
The android opened an official page in front of him, projecting the information in the air. Then it showed a digital news report, confirming the same date.
**Thump… ffff…**
Kirito stepped back. His eyes widened suddenly. The air escaped from his chest. He fell to his knees, looking at the digital ground that shone beneath him.
Trembling from the impact and all that it meant, he said as if he still couldn't believe it:
—"I… I… arrived too… late…"
The words repeated, growing weaker, as his body leaned forward.
—"It's too late!"
He had escaped from Underworld.
...
But not everything went well.
He had to pay a high price, beyond his calculations.