Soon, Rapi had assembled the Nikkes in the Daedalus health center. Yuu stood beside Yuuki, accompanied by Vestal and Akashi. Even the newer doctors, Pinkashi and Asahi, had joined them to observe the procedure.
Those gathered before Yuuki included Rapi, Anis, Neon, Mary, Pepper, Ade, Soda, Cocoa, Cinderella and Nayuta—the Nikkes who had already attained their freedom.
Standing opposite them were Diane, Eunhwa, Vesti, Emma, Privaty, Velvet, Ludmilla, Alice, Tove, and Neve.
Ten Nikkes.
Each of them had agreed to undergo the process of bonding with Yuuki through his blood, freeing themselves from the Ark's control. Once the procedure was complete, they would no longer be bound by the limiters imposed upon them. They would be able to live without those restrictions, experiencing life as freely as any ordinary human.
Eunhwa watched Yuuki closely as Yuu carefully extracted a small vial of his blood.
They had already been informed of what would happen once the process began. The existing bonds between Yuuki and the Shipgirls would destabilize temporarily, alerting those connected to him. The resulting disturbance would likely draw a swarm of Shipgirls to the health center.
Yuuki had already warned Yorktown about the procedure. She and the other Shipgirls who sensed the disturbance had agreed to accept it, but the newly revived Shipgirls might not be quite so understanding.
That was a problem for later.
For now, the Nikkes needed to concentrate on the procedure itself.
Each participant would consume a single drop of Yuuki's blood orally before lying down in one of the medical bays. Once they were ready, Yuuki would enter the Nikke Void World and meet them there.
Within that space, their memories would be revealed—their pasts, their regrets, their mistakes, and the experiences that had shaped them into who they were. Nothing would be hidden, whether those memories were good or bad.
And no one would judge them.
The process was more than a simple exchange of blood. It was a way for their souls to synchronize with Yuuki's, allowing the bond to form on a deeper level. Those who accepted their own painful histories rather than rejecting or concealing them could establish an exceptionally strong connection with him, much like the Nikkes who had already completed the process.
Eunhwa stepped forward.
"Commander..." She paused briefly before meeting his eyes. "When you see me in that place, I want you to understand something. I've done some questionable things in the past. My history with Rapi, my hatred of human commanders... I used to let my opinions control the way I treated others. I've learned to keep those opinions to myself instead of shouting them at everyone, but that doesn't change who I used to be."
She took a breath before continuing.
"Back then, if you had found me, I probably would have told you not to speak to me. I might have considered you a weakling. Just because we fought on the same battlefield wouldn't have made us equals in my eyes. I would have looked at you and thought you were nothing more than a pathetic fool surrounded by other pathetic fools."
Yuuki blinked.
"That's a bit direct."
"Please don't misunderstand me." Eunhwa's expression remained serious. "That was the person I used to be. But after seeing you command all of this, I've come to realize something."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"You're not even someone I can consider my equal anymore. You're far above me, while I'm still standing here."
Yuuki stared at her for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Hey, now. You're talking to me, aren't you? I don't see you as someone inferior to me. You're just a human being, same as anyone else. As long as you don't go around treating others harshly or acting like you're better than them, we'll get along just fine."
He paused, then added with a faintly troubled expression, "Besides, remember Hood? I don't want you getting scolded by her for being harsh to people. Trust me, you really don't want to piss her off."
Eunhwa raised an eyebrow.
"Even you can't handle her?"
"I can." Yuuki answered without hesitation. "That's because she's my Lady. If she weren't, well..."
He trailed off, looking as though he were recalling something particularly unpleasant.
"She can stare you down and make you realize exactly where you stand."
Vestal, who had been listening nearby, nodded solemnly.
"He's not exaggerating. Hood was one of the most feared Shipgirls in the Azur Lane Combined Fleet back then. Even Akagi knew when it was better to back down whenever Hood was around."
Eunhwa looked at her in surprise.
"Really?"
"Absolutely. Everyone respected Hood as a lady. She was kind, compassionate, and always treated others with grace. However, when it came to discipline..." Vestal paused, choosing her words carefully. "Let's just say that nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of it."
"Oh..."
Eunhwa's expression grew noticeably more cautious.
Yuuki chuckled.
"I once had a Royal Navy Shipgirl stand me up, and Hood gave that girl an earful afterward. She doesn't tolerate people disrespecting me when I've treated them with kindness and they've chosen to return it with contempt."
He folded his arms, his expression turning unusually earnest.
"So, for the sake of your own mental health, don't piss her off. She's genuinely kind, but that stare of hers can make even the bravest person question every decision they've ever made."
Vestal nodded again.
"That is an accurate description, Commander."
Eunhwa fell silent for a moment, seemingly reconsidering several things about the woman she had only recently met.
"...Understood. I'll be careful around her."
Yuuki smiled.
"Good. That's one less problem for me to worry about."
He glanced toward the medical bays, where the preparations were nearly complete.
Next was Vesti's turn.
The petite Nikke stepped forward, fidgeting nervously as she looked up at Yuuki.
"Umm... Commander? If I used to be a crybaby, please don't hate me."
Yuuki blinked, caught off guard by the question.
"Why would I hate you for that?"
Vesti clasped her hands together, her eyes wavering.
"I... I used to have no friends. But then Javelin, Laffey, Nimi, and Ayanami started calling me one of them. And last night, Unicorn even had a sleepover with me..." Her voice grew quieter, and she lowered her head. "Suddenly, I have friends. I don't want them to disappear."
For a moment, Yuuki's teasing expression softened.
"Then stay with them, Vesti. You have friends now, and you don't have to be afraid of losing them just because you're worried about your past."
He smiled reassuringly.
"One day, I want to see you fighting alongside them. I hear Javelin clings to you whenever you watch horror movies together."
Vesti's expression brightened.
"Yes! It's the best! They depend on me!"
She paused, her cheeks turning pink.
"B-but horror movies are scary..."
Yuuki stared at her.
"Wait, The Nun is scary? It's not that frightening."
"Lies! It's scary!" Neon immediately protested from the side.
She clenched her fists dramatically.
"If I had firepower, that ghost would be dead!"
Anis snorted.
"You should've seen her screaming yesterday."
Yuuki turned toward Neon, looking genuinely surprised.
"Really? I thought you weren't afraid of Raptures. I mean, those things are basically people wearing makeup."
Neon's jaw dropped.
"That's what everyone says about clowns!"
Yuuki tilted his head.
"Wait. You're afraid of clowns?"
"Clowns are the worst!"
Neon looked as though he had personally insulted her ancestors.
Yuuki rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a mischievous smile slowly spreading across his face.
"Hmm... In that case, perhaps I should let you watch IT. You know, the movie about an alien clown."
Neon's eyes widened.
"THERE'S A MOVIE?!"
Anis immediately burst out laughing.
"Oh, you're absolutely watching that!"
"Commander! When are we watching it?!" Neon demanded, suddenly forgetting her fear in favor of her curiosity.
Yuuki could barely contain his laughter.
"Pfft—hahaha! Vesti can watch it with you."
Vesti stared at him, then glanced at Neon, who was already imagining an entire arsenal of weapons to use against the fictional clown.
"...Can I sit next to Javelin?"
"Of course," Yuuki replied with a grin. "Just don't be surprised if she ends up hiding behind you again."
Vesti giggled, her earlier nervousness fading. She seemed less concerned about what Yuuki might discover in her memories and more excited about the friends waiting for her afterward.
And that, Yuuki thought, was a pretty good start.
"Umm... Commander, there's something I wish to tell you."
Emma spoke up, her usual gentle smile carrying a hint of uncertainty.
Yuuki turned toward her. "What's up, Emma?"
"I'm actually part Northerner. In my past life, I used to be a Northern Nikke."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"No wonder you can speak Northern."
"Yes." Emma nodded. "I'm one of the older-generation Nikkes whom the Ark brought in to help introduce Northern culture into society. So... yes, I'm a Northerner."
She hesitated, her expression growing more complicated.
"You said being a Northerner was a bad thing," Yuuki replied. "Then I'll make sure not to judge you for it. Besides, I have Avrora, Diana, Pallada, and Lützow with me. Why would I judge you just because you're a Northerner?"
Emma lowered her gaze.
"I'd rather you find out for yourself in the Void World. You'll understand when you see my memories."
"Oh..."
Yuuki didn't press her for details. From the way Emma spoke, he suspected there was more to her past than she was comfortable discussing. Whatever it was, it clearly wasn't something she wanted to explain in front of everyone.
He decided to respect that.
"All right. I'll find out when the time comes."
Emma offered him a small, grateful smile before stepping back.
Another Nikke then moved forward.
"Umm... I haven't introduced myself properly, Master."
Velvet straightened her posture, giving him a polite curtsy.
"I'm Velvet, your new Nikke royal maid. Please go easy on me, okay?"
"I will." Yuuki smiled. "If I don't, Bel won't be pleased with me. Besides, I heard she changed your outfit to something more appropriate."
"Yes..." Velvet's expression turned slightly awkward. "It seems she was worried I might distract you."
"Distract?"
Yuuki looked genuinely puzzled.
"Nah, things like that don't work on me." He waved the concern away before adding, "Still, be mindful of how you dress when you're outside. You're part of the Royal Maids now, so you shouldn't wear anything that might tarnish their reputation."
"Understood, Master."
"Also, I heard you're an agent-type maid. You and Sheffield would—"
"Yes, I am." Velvet nodded, smoothly picking up where he had left off. "I'm specialized in sniping, much like Eunhwa. My Nikke weapon, Femme Fatale, is a heavily modified Dragunov sniper rifle originally used by the Northern Parliament. I'm also a Northerner, like Emma, so I'm accustomed to Northern weapons."
Yuuki gave her an appraising look.
"Oh, I see. That explains your specialization."
He paused, noticing the way Velvet carefully avoided saying anything about her own history.
"I take it this is something you'd rather I discover for myself, too?"
Velvet fell silent for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, Master. I'd prefer it if you found out on your own."
Yuuki studied her expression. She remained composed, but there was something guarded about her eyes, as though she were carefully keeping a door shut.
"I see..."
He folded his arms, thinking back to what Neon had told him about Velvet.
"I get the feeling you're holding quite a lot back. Neon described you as someone who used to be just like Eugen, but..." He tilted his head slightly. "From what I've seen so far, you seem rather different."
Velvet didn't answer.
Her silence was answer enough.
Yuuki's expression softened. He wouldn't force her to explain herself, not when he was about to see the truth with his own eyes.
Whatever happened to her, I hope this process can help her finally move forward.
He glanced toward the medical bays, where the other Nikkes were preparing themselves.
Soon, the bonds would be formed, and the truth behind their pasts would be revealed.
And when Velvet was finally free from the Ark's control, Yuuki hoped she would be able to leave some of that pain behind—and begin living for herself.
Velvet stepped back, returning to Privaty's side.
Yuuki watched her quietly. Something about the way she carried herself suggested that she was keeping an enormous part of her past locked away. Whatever had happened to her, she couldn't bring herself to speak about it—not even when given the opportunity.
Yet, despite everything she was hiding, one thing was clear.
Velvet wanted to be free.
She wanted to leave her past behind and start over, even if doing so meant finally confronting the memories she had spent so long suppressing. Whatever those memories contained, they had left a deep enough mark that she still couldn't bring herself to talk about them.
Privaty gently patted Velvet on the back, offering her silent reassurance.
Yuuki noticed the gesture. The two seemed to know each other well, suggesting that Privaty understood more about Velvet's circumstances than she had let on.
He had met Privaty before, back when she had requested a custom GDI uniform. However, Velvet had been hesitant to introduce herself properly even then. Belfast had also mentioned something similar to him: Velvet's cheerful, carefree demeanor didn't quite match her enthusiasm. It was as though she were forcing herself to appear happy while keeping something painful buried beneath the surface.
Yuuki didn't know the whole story yet, but he had a feeling he would soon understand.
For now, he turned his attention to the assembled Nikkes.
"All right, everyone. Once you're ready, we'll begin. Remember, whatever you see in the Void World, don't be afraid of it. You don't have to pretend your past was perfect, and you don't have to justify every mistake you made."
His expression softened.
"I'm not here to judge the people you used to be. I'm here to help you decide who you want to become."
Diane nodded quietly.
For her, this would be the first step toward true freedom.
She had spent far too long working as an assassin, carrying out orders and living under the Ark's control. Now, she had the opportunity to sever those chains and finally choose her own path.
But she knew better than most that freedom came with a price.
Once her connection to the Ark's systems was severed, the consequences would be unavoidable.
Ludmilla, Alice, Tove, and Neve had already made peace with their decisions.
Ludmilla wanted to free herself from the burdens of her past and finally live without being shackled by them.
Alice wanted to become a true member of Rabbity's Rabbits, staying alongside the people who had given her a place to belong.
Tove wanted to prove herself as a genuine survivalist, someone capable of standing on her own rather than merely dreaming about it.
And Neve?
She simply wanted to see polar bears.
Yuuki couldn't help but smile at that. Even among all the complicated histories and difficult decisions, some dreams remained wonderfully straightforward.
With everyone prepared, all ten Nikkes were ready to proceed.
And once the process began, the consequences would extend far beyond the walls of the Daedalus.
Back in the Ark, chaos was almost inevitable.
Diane could already imagine the fallout. The Perilous Siege would lose its leader, and the moment the Ark's systems registered her departure, the organization would know something was wrong.
The Judges would not simply accept the disappearance of one of their most valuable assets. They would likely send the remaining members of the Perilous Siege after her.
They would hunt Diane.
They would hunt her Commander.
And they would hunt the other Nikkes who had chosen to follow him into freedom.
Diane wasn't naive enough to believe they would let her go without a fight. She might even become a target herself, branded a traitor for abandoning the organization that had shaped her life.
But she was no longer the same Nikke who had once served them.
Once the bond was established and the restrictions imposed by the Ark were removed, her potential would no longer be artificially constrained. With Yuuki's support, she expected to grow powerful enough that the Perilous Siege would eventually pose little threat to her.
Even so, the thought of fighting her former comrades wasn't pleasant.
She might be willing to fight them if they threatened her new life or endangered Yuuki, but she wasn't eager to kill people she had once worked alongside.
If possible, she would rather bring them into GDI and give them the same opportunity to choose their own futures.
However, if they came for her Commander and left her no choice, Diane would not hesitate to protect him.
She had already made her decision.
She would be free.
One by one, the Nikkes nodded and settled onto the medical beds. Vestal, Akashi, Yuu, and the other doctors began making their final preparations, ensuring that each participant was ready.
To minimize complications, the medical team would administer the blood directly into their mouths, carefully measuring the single drop required for each Nikke.
Yuuki stood nearby, watching as the preparations were completed.
Before he could begin, Cinderella reached out and gently held his arm.
"My prince, please be careful."
Yuuki turned toward her and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Cindy. I'll be all right. This is the fifth time I've done this."
He raised a finger as he began counting.
"The first time was with Rapi, Anis, Neon, Ade, and Soda. I got my backside handed to me by the Shipgirls afterward because I hadn't told them what I was doing."
Cinderella giggled softly.
"The second time was with Cocoa and Nayuta. Then came Pepper and Mary. After that, it was your turn."
He glanced at the ten Nikkes lying in the medical bays.
"And now... these ten."
Yuuki gave Cinderella's hand a gentle squeeze before letting go.
"Compared to everything else I've been through, this shouldn't be too bad."
Cinderella didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded and allowed him to proceed.
Yuuki took a breath and faced the medical team.
"All right. Let's get started."
The doctors prepared to administer the blood, while the ten Nikkes braced themselves for the journey ahead.
For some, it would mean confronting painful memories they had long tried to bury.
For others, it would mean finally letting go of the burdens that had defined their lives.
And for all of them, it would mark the beginning of something the Ark had never intended to grant them.
Freedom.
Akashi, Vestal, Mary, and Pepper were ready to begin the procedure. The other doctors, including Pinkashi and Asahi, stood by to monitor their condition, while the remaining Nikkes watched anxiously.
Akashi adjusted her medical equipment and gave Yuuki a concerned look.
"Be careful, nyaa..."
Pepper smiled encouragingly. "You'll be okay. We're right here if anything happens."
Mary folded her arms, wearing her usual composed smile.
"Just don't die."
Vestal turned toward her in disbelief.
"That's a bit scary, Mary!"
"What? I'm simply stating the most important precaution."
"That's not how you reassure someone!"
Nearby, Pinkashi nervously watched the preparations.
"Are they really going to be okay?"
Asahi adjusted her round glasses, looking equally uncertain.
"I certainly hope they know what they're doing..."
Rapi turned toward Eunhwa, who was lying on one of the medical beds. Despite her usual stern expression, there was a quiet understanding between the two.
"Good luck, Eunhwa."
Eunhwa met her gaze.
"See you on the other side."
The two exchanged a brief nod. There was no need for further words. Whatever had happened between them in the past, this was a new beginning.
Yuuki glanced around the medical center one last time.
"Everyone ready?"
"We're ready, Chief," Yuu confirmed, standing beside him.
Yuuki nodded.
"All right. Let's do this."
With the doctors' assistance, the measured drops of blood were administered to the Nikkes, one after another.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then, all ten Nikkes suddenly lost consciousness.
Their bodies relaxed against the medical beds as their minds plunged into the Void World, their consciousness synchronizing with Yuuki's.
At the same instant, Yuuki felt an overwhelming surge of connections forming within his soul.
Ten Nikkes.
Ten different histories.
Ten minds reaching out to synchronize with him simultaneously.
It was far more intense than anything he had experienced during the previous procedures.
His vision blurred.
"My prince!"
Cinderella's worried cry was the last thing he heard before his own consciousness began to fade.
Yuuki's knees buckled slightly, and the world around him dissolved into darkness.
"Cinderella, relax," Anis said, trying to reassure her despite the concern in her own voice. "He's fine. It's just that the bond is shaking up a little."
"A little?" Cinderella looked anything but convinced.
Anis scratched her cheek.
"Well... it's shaking up quite a bit more than before."
Nearby, Vestal watched the medical monitors carefully. The readings showed that Yuuki's condition remained stable, but the fluctuations in the bonds were considerably stronger than during the earlier procedures.
She let out a weary sigh.
Every time he synchronizes with more Nikkes, the bonds become more unstable.
The first procedure had been manageable. The subsequent ones had caused increasingly noticeable disturbances, but synchronizing with ten Nikkes at once was clearly pushing things to another level.
Vestal could only hope the bond would stabilize soon.
Then, she heard something.
Footsteps.
Numerous footsteps, approaching at a rapid pace from somewhere beyond the health center.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Vestal's expression stiffened.
She turned toward the entrance, already suspecting what was coming.
"Oh, no..."
The footsteps grew louder.
Someone was definitely running toward the health center, and judging by the sheer number of people involved, this was not going to be a quiet visit.
Vestal closed her eyes and sighed.
"This is going to be a pain to explain..."
She glanced toward Yuu.
"Teacher, I think we have company."
=====================
Aboard the Daedalus — Moments Earlier
The dining hall aboard the Daedalus was filled with lively conversations and the comforting aroma of freshly prepared food.
After their long-awaited revival, the five Shipgirls had finally reunited with their families and comrades. Now, they were enjoying a meal together, catching up on everything they had missed during their years of absence.
Hornet sat among her Eagle Union allies, flanked by her beloved sisters, Yorktown and Enterprise. She had also reunited with old friends, including Arizona and Pennsylvania, and was thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to spend time with them again.
Amagi was surrounded by her Sakura Empire companions, with Akagi and Kaga rarely leaving her side. Meanwhile, Hood and Queen Elizabeth had joined their Royal Navy allies, while Yat Sen was happily sharing a meal with Ning Hai, Ping Hai, Tai Yuan, Ting An, and Ying Swei.
For a little while, everything felt peaceful.
Then Hornet suddenly looked around.
"Hey, sis, where's Handsome? I saw him bringing those... Nik-kes? along with him earlier. I haven't had a chance to talk to that Anis girl yet."
Yorktown glanced at her younger sister.
"He went with Yuu. They seemed to have something to take care of at the health center."
She paused.
Then, a sudden realization crossed her face.
"Sis..."
Enterprise looked at her.
"What is it, Yorktown?"
Yorktown's expression stiffened.
"Oh, no..."
Before either of her sisters could ask what she meant, something stirred deep within their souls.
A familiar warmth spread through their bodies, accompanied by a sudden tug at the bonds connecting them to Yuuki.
The Shipgirls froze.
They had felt this sensation before. It was the unmistakable feeling of their Wisdom Cube bonds responding to Yuuki's synchronization with the Nikkes.
But this time, the sensation was far more intense.
It was as though an enormous wave had swept through their collective bonds, shaking them all at once.
Akagi immediately stood up, her fox tails flaring.
"Shikikan-sama!"
Her voice rang through the dining hall.
It wasn't just Akagi. Kaguya and Irisviel felt the disturbance as well, their expressions changing as the familiar connection surged through them.
For the Shipgirls who had experienced this phenomenon before, the sensation was alarming but recognizable.
For the five newly revived Shipgirls, however, it was an entirely different matter.
Hornet's smile vanished.
"Handsome? What happened?"
Amagi's ears twitched, and her nine tails swayed uneasily behind her.
"Shikikan-sama..."
Hood set down her teacup, her usual composure giving way to concern.
"Dear sir, you had better not be getting yourself into trouble."
Queen Elizabeth frowned, clutching her fork.
"That Consort! What on earth is he doing now?!"
Yat Sen looked toward the entrance, visibly worried.
"Is something wrong with Commander?"
The warmth of the bond was still there, but something about it felt different. It wasn't simply the familiar sensation of Yuuki connecting with the Nikkes.
There was a disturbance running through it, a tremor that seemed to reach deep into their souls.
Yorktown quickly rose to her feet.
"Everyone, calm down! He's synchronizing with the Nikkes. This has happened before."
Her words helped settle some of the Shipgirls, but her own expression remained troubled.
Why is the bond shaking so much harder this time?
Then she remembered.
During the first procedure, Yuuki had synchronized with five Nikkes at once. Even that had been enough to send a powerful ripple through the bonds, alerting the Shipgirls across the fleet.
And now...
Ten Nikkes.
Twice as many as before.
Yorktown's heart tightened.
Commander, what have you gotten yourself into this time?
Hornet pressed a hand against her chest, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar intensity.
"Handsome... what's happening to you?"
Amagi's usually gentle expression had grown serious.
"Shikikan-sama, please be careful..."
Hood sighed, though there was no real annoyance behind it.
"Dear sir, I sincerely hope you understand that we shall be having a rather serious conversation if you have overexerted yourself again."
Elizabeth huffed.
"That Consort! When I see him, I shall demand an explanation!"
Despite their different reactions, the concern behind their words was unmistakable.
The bond was stronger than before, and the disturbance felt more severe.
Yorktown could no longer sit still.
She turned toward the exit.
"I'm going to the health center."
Enterprise immediately followed.
"Sis, wait for me!"
But they were hardly the only ones moving.
Akagi was already hurrying toward the door, with Kaga close behind. Kaguya and Irisviel followed, while Friedrich der Große and the other motherly Shipgirls began making their way out as well.
Hornet, Amagi, Hood, Elizabeth, and Yat Sen exchanged worried glances before joining them.
Within moments, the dining hall had erupted into motion.
Chairs scraped against the floor. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Shipgirls abandoned their meals and hurried after Yorktown, each one drawn by the sudden disturbance in the bonds connecting them to Yuuki.
Some were concerned about his well-being.
Others were worried that he had pushed himself too far.
And a few already suspected that their beloved Commander had done something without telling them again.
Yorktown marched at the front of the growing crowd, her expression filled with concern.
Please be all right, Commander.
Behind her, nearly every Shipgirl in the dining hall was heading toward the health center.
Whatever awaited them there, Yuuki was about to have a great deal of explaining to do.
=====================
Back in the Ark, alarms began sounding across the headquarters of the Big Three.
In the span of a relatively short period, the three CEOs had watched their Nikkes disappear from the Ark's systems in waves.
First, five.
Then two more.
Another two followed, and finally, Cinderella—one of the legendary Nikkes from the Ark's oldest tales.
Now, ten more signatures were beginning to disappear.
Mustang's eyes widened.
"NON!"
Despite his flamboyant attire and his habit of gratuitously mixing multiple languages into his sentences, Mustang remained the ruler of one of the Big Three—the only three corporations authorized to manufacture Nikkes. His usual theatrical mannerisms did little to disguise the alarm in his voice.
"TEN?! How in the world do we lose TEN Nikkes at once?! C'est impossible!"
Ingrid stood beside him, her arms folded across her chest. The Elysion CEO, usually the very embodiment of military discipline, looked increasingly troubled as she examined the reports on the display.
"Even D?" she asked sharply.
The name alone was enough to make the situation worse.
D was no ordinary Nikke. As one of Elysion's specialized operatives, she was an assassin capable of infiltrating targets and carrying out missions that few others could handle. Losing contact with her was already concerning. Losing her alongside nine other Nikkes suggested something far more serious was happening.
Ingrid's expression hardened.
"This is getting out of hand! We're losing our Nikkes on the surface, and we still don't know how they're disappearing!"
Across the room, Syuen slammed her hands against the console.
The petite CEO of Missilis Industries looked furious. Her short black hair framed her face, and her purple eyes burned with indignation as she scanned the list of missing Nikkes.
"We need to reopen the elevators to the surface! Issue an emergency broadcast and contact every Nikke currently operating aboveground!"
She pointed accusingly at the display.
"If this keeps happening, we'll lose every Nikke we have out there!"
Mustang adjusted his flamboyant outfit, his expression unusually serious.
"Then perhaps we should send the Perilous Siege. If anyone can track down the culprit, it would be them."
"No." Ingrid immediately rejected the suggestion.
Her gaze remained fixed on the reports.
"We lost D. The leader of Perilous Siege herself. We'll lose even more if we send them in blindly. We have no idea what we're dealing with, and throwing another squad into the same situation would be reckless."
She paused before adding, "If the Perilous Siege is taken as well, we'll have an even bigger disaster on our hands. Let the Judges decide how to handle this. Even D's disappearance is something we need to investigate carefully."
Syuen stared at her.
"Oi, this is bad, right? Our top Nikkes are being taken away one after another!"
She began scrolling through the missing personnel list, her expression becoming more horrified with every passing second.
"Look at these names! Absolute squad, Unlimited squad, Maid For You, and even former members of Triangle..."
Her eyes widened further.
"Wait a minute. Privaty?!"
Syuen hurriedly opened another screen, checking the permissions associated with Privaty's credentials.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me! She has access to practically every major infrastructure system in the Ark!"
She turned toward Ingrid and Mustang, her voice rising into a near-shriek.
"THIS IS REALLY BAD!"
Mustang's flamboyant expression had finally given way to genuine concern.
"Mon Dieu... If this continues, we'll have a crisis of unprecedented proportions!"
Ingrid pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Stop shouting and start thinking. We need to determine whether these disappearances are connected, establish what happened to the missing Nikkes, and secure the Ark's critical systems before this escalates any further."
Syuen crossed her arms, visibly seething.
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that when we can't even get a response from the people disappearing?!"
For once, neither CEO had an immediate answer.
The three of them stared at the growing list of missing Nikkes.
They had no idea that, far beyond the Ark's reach, those same Nikkes were taking their first steps toward freedom.
Nor did they realize that the very systems they depended on to control their assets were about to become the source of their greatest headache.
=========
Meanwhile, deep within the Ark, high above the ordinary citizens and hidden behind layers of security, a council of men had gathered inside a dark tower.
The atmosphere was tense.
Holographic displays illuminated the chamber, showing classified personnel records and the growing list of Nikkes who had vanished from the Ark's control systems. The council members watched the reports with mounting unease.
"How in the world did we lose D?"
"We don't know. She was assigned to track down those Nikkes. Now, even she has disappeared..."
One of the men slammed his fist against the table.
"We need to send more people after her! D knows our deepest, darkest secrets. If we can't retrieve her, then terminate her before she has the opportunity to reveal anything!"
"That's no longer possible," another council member replied grimly. "We've lost our connection to her through the Ark's control system. We can no longer issue the command to terminate her."
The room fell silent.
For an organization that had spent years operating from the shadows, the loss of control over one of its most valuable assets was a serious blow.
D wasn't merely an assassin. She was a repository of secrets that could threaten the entire council if they fell into the wrong hands.
And now, she was beyond their reach.
"Who is our best remaining option after D?" one of the men asked.
"Codenamed Y."
Several council members turned toward the speaker.
"She's currently stationed in the Lawless City, operating under the influence of the Briar Family. She's made quite a name for herself there and serves as the second-in-command of the Perilous Siege."
He brought up Y's classified personnel file.
"She's capable of handling this assignment. We should send her after D. If possible, she should eliminate whoever is responsible for these disappearances."
One of the council members nodded.
"Good. Issue the order immediately. Y is to locate D and silence her if necessary. We cannot allow the Ark's secrets to fall into the wrong hands."
Another man leaned forward, his expression darkening.
"Damn it! Who are these people capable of abducting our top Nikkes without leaving a trace? First, we lose several valuable assets, and now D has vanished as well!"
He gestured toward the display showing the Perilous Siege's organizational structure.
"We cannot afford to lose all twenty-six high-ranking members. If the entire council falls apart, who will maintain control over the Perilous Siege?"
His voice grew colder.
"D is one of our most valuable assets. She possesses information that could compromise everything we've built. Y must bring her back at all costs."
He paused, then added with chilling finality, "If she cannot recover D, then she is to retrieve D's Cube instead."
The other men exchanged uneasy glances.
"Should we deploy the Shadow Division?"
"No. Not yet."
The man at the head of the table dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand.
"Our priority is to retrieve D. We need to know what happened to her before committing additional resources. If the people responsible are powerful enough to sever her connection to the Ark, sending the Shadow Division in blindly would be an unnecessary risk."
He turned toward the display and studied the Perilous Siege's roster.
"Send Y. Make certain she receives her orders without delay. She is to locate D, secure her return, and eliminate any threat that might prevent her from completing the mission."
"And the council?"
"We need to reorganize the upper ranks of the Perilous Siege and appoint a new leader while D remains missing. Send word to every council member except Y. They are to assemble here for an emergency meeting."
His eyes narrowed.
"We need to review our security, determine how much information may have been compromised, and formulate a strategy before the situation deteriorates further."
The holographic display shifted to show the names of the missing Nikkes.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The council had operated from the shadows for years, manipulating events and treating Nikkes as assets to be deployed, controlled, or discarded whenever necessary.
They had never imagined that one day, their own assets would begin slipping beyond their grasp.
Now, with D missing and the number of vanished Nikkes continuing to grow, the council was facing a threat it could neither identify nor control.
And so, they issued their orders.
Y would be sent after D.
The remaining council members would gather to plan their next move.
And the Perilous Siege would prepare to hunt the very people who had unknowingly begun dismantling the Ark's control over its Nikkes.
The council had no idea that their greatest mistake had already been made.
They were treating this as a kidnapping.
But for the Nikkes who had disappeared, it was the beginning of their freedom.
==========
Lawless City — 15,000 Miles from the Daedalus Fleet
The Lawless City was infamous for its reputation as the global epicenter of criminal activity and vice. Its sprawling slums were a breeding ground for illicit trades, corruption, and violence, where criminals operated with impunity and the law held little meaning.
Yet, above the filth and chaos, there stood a tower overlooking the entire city.
At its summit lay a secluded garden, hidden behind a magnificent glass dome. Sunlight filtered through the curved glass panels, illuminating colorful flowers, carefully trimmed hedges, and winding pathways that contrasted sharply with the lawless world below.
It was a place of tranquility suspended above a city of depravity.
But appearances could be deceiving.
The garden belonged to the Briar Family, the organization that controlled the Garden, a clandestine order operating as part of the Perilous Siege on the surface. From this lofty sanctuary, the Garden manipulated the Lawless City from the shadows, maintaining its influence over the criminal underworld while concealing its true reach.
A woman entered the garden.
She stood approximately 170 centimeters tall, possessing a graceful yet athletic physique with a distinctly curvaceous figure. Her long, jet-black hair fell to the middle of her back, while short bangs framed her forehead beneath a golden headband adorned with thorn-like spikes.
Her crimson-red eyes were sharp and alert, set against her pale complexion and striking features.
She wore a form-fitting, sleeveless black dress with a high collar, complemented by thigh-high black leather boots and fingerless gloves. Spike-and-rose-themed earrings dangled from her ears, matching the thorny ornamentation of her headband.
Every aspect of her appearance conveyed elegance and danger.
She was the Thorn Princess, the most renowned assassin in the Lawless City.
As she approached the garden's central pathway, a middle-aged man tending to the flowers looked up from his work.
"Ah, Thorn Princess. You've made your way here."
The Shopkeeper greeted her without putting down his gardening tools.
He possessed tan skin, sunken black eyes, and long, shaggy white hair that reached his waist. His beige shirt had its sleeves rolled up, and a black apron covered his work clothes. Gardening gloves protected his hands, while sturdy boots kept the soil off his feet.
A brown gardener's hat rested on his head. Two strings hung from it, each ending in a small golden figurine shaped like a spike. Their design closely resembled the ornaments worn by the woman standing before him.
Despite his unassuming appearance, the Shopkeeper was no ordinary gardener.
He was the leader of the Garden—and one of the Judges of the Perilous Siege.
The woman stopped before him.
"What do you need from me, Shopkeeper?"
The Shopkeeper's expression turned serious.
"D has fallen."
The Thorn Princess froze.
"What?"
"You heard me." He set his gardening tools aside. "D's signature disappeared from the Ark's control system moments ago. She vanished alongside nine other high-ranking Nikkes."
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"How...?"
"Unknown. We have no confirmed information regarding the identities of those responsible or how they managed to accomplish this."
The Shopkeeper reached into his clothing and produced a sealed envelope.
"You are the Perilous Siege's second-in-command after D. Your codename is Y. Effective immediately, you are being assigned to track her down."
He held out the envelope.
"Your orders are simple. Locate D, dead or alive, and retrieve her Cube. You are to depart in three days."
Y stared at the envelope without taking it immediately.
"Even D couldn't defeat whoever was responsible for the disappearance of the other Nikkes?"
"We have no evidence that she fought them, much less that she was defeated in combat. All we know is that her signature vanished."
The Shopkeeper's sunken eyes remained fixed on her.
"But the Ark has classified the unknown party as a high-level threat. Your orders are to identify the person responsible and terminate them if necessary. Recover D, dead or alive, and bring her Cube back."
Y finally accepted the envelope.
Three days.
That was all the time she had before she was expected to leave.
Her thoughts returned to D's previous assignment. The Perilous Siege leader had been scheduled to rendezvous with the Garden in three days, following an infiltration mission at the Eagle Union's naval base. D had gone there to investigate the growing number of missing Nikkes and uncover potential leads.
Now, instead of receiving her report, the Garden had received news of her disappearance.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
Y opened the envelope and examined the documents inside. The orders were explicit, leaving little room for interpretation.
Find D.
Identify those responsible.
Retrieve her Cube.
Eliminate the threat.
She closed the envelope and tucked it away.
"Understood."
The Shopkeeper nodded.
"Do not underestimate your target. Whoever is responsible has already taken numerous Nikkes, including D. We cannot afford to make the same mistake. Should you fail, we won't hesitate to terminate you."
Y turned toward the exit.
"I won't."
Her heels clicked against the garden's stone pathway as she walked away, leaving the flowers and neatly trimmed hedges behind.
She was the Thorn Princess, the most famous assassin in the Lawless City. For years, she had operated under the Garden, carrying out assignments with a reputation that made even the city's most dangerous criminals think twice before crossing her.
But beneath that identity was another.
She was a Nikke.
Her codename was Y, and she had served as the second-in-command of the Perilous Siege for a considerable time.
Now, she had been ordered to hunt down the very people who had apparently taken her superior.
And with D missing, the responsibility of leading the Perilous Siege would fall upon her.
Y had spent so long living as an assassin that the distinction between her mission and her life had become almost meaningless. She had followed orders, eliminated targets, and survived in a world where hesitation could prove fatal.
This assignment should have been no different.
Yet something about it troubled her.
D had been one of the most capable members of the Perilous Siege. If someone could make her disappear without leaving a trace, then this mission would be far more dangerous than the orders suggested.
Y stopped briefly at the garden's entrance and looked back toward the glass dome.
The Shopkeeper had already returned to tending his flowers, as though their conversation had been nothing more than an ordinary exchange.
But Y knew better.
The Garden was preparing for something serious.
And she was about to walk directly into the heart of it.
She adjusted her gloves and continued toward the exit.
Three days remained before her departure.
By the time she reached the Eagle Union's naval base, she intended to have a clear picture of what had happened to D.
Whether her former superior was alive or dead, Y would find her.
That was her mission.
And as the newly appointed leader of the Perilous Siege, she would see it through.
============
Yuuki slowly opened his eyes.
"Back here again..."
He found himself standing in the familiar grassy plain, an endless expanse of green stretching toward the horizon beneath a clear, boundless sky. A gentle breeze swept across the field, stirring the grass around his feet.
It was the same world he had visited during his previous synchronizations with the Nikkes.
The Void World.
Yuuki pushed himself upright and looked ahead.
Ten dark crystals stood before him, each one suspended slightly above the ground. Their surfaces were shrouded in a faint, murky haze, concealing whatever lay within them.
Ten Nikkes.
Ten souls waiting to be reached.
Yuuki studied the crystals in silence.
The Ark had placed obstructions between these Nikkes and their freedom, restrictions that prevented them from living as ordinary human beings. Through the synchronization process, he could remove those obstructions and establish a direct connection with their souls, freeing them from the control that had governed their lives for so long.
But this wasn't something he could accomplish merely by severing a connection.
He needed to understand them.
Their memories, their experiences, their pain—all of it formed part of the people they had become. To establish a lasting bond, he would have to reach them where they were most vulnerable and help them confront the things they had buried deep within themselves.
Yuuki exhaled slowly.
"All right... Where should I start?"
His gaze moved from one crystal to another.
Then, he remembered Velvet.
The cheerful royal maid had been strangely reluctant to speak about her past. Even when given the opportunity, she had preferred to let him discover the truth for himself.
Privaty's reassuring gesture had only reinforced his suspicion that there was more to Velvet's story than she was willing to reveal.
And Belfast had noticed it long before he had.
Her cheerful demeanor didn't quite match her enthusiasm. It was as though Velvet had spent so long pretending to be happy that she had forgotten how to express what she truly felt.
Yuuki's expression softened.
"Let's start with you, Velvet."
He approached the crystal that belonged to her.
Up close, he could see faint distortions moving beneath its dark surface, like shadows struggling to escape from behind an invisible barrier. The Ark's restrictions had kept her memories and her true self locked away, preventing her from fully confronting the past she had tried so desperately to bury.
Whatever awaited him inside, Yuuki knew it wouldn't be easy.
He had no intention of forcing Velvet to relive her pain just for the sake of understanding her. If she had spent so long keeping those memories hidden, there had to be a reason.
But she had chosen to take this step.
She wanted to be free.
And he would help her achieve that, even if it meant facing the darkest parts of her past alongside her.
Yuuki stopped before the crystal and slowly raised his hand.
"Velvet... let's find out what you've been carrying all this time."
He placed his palm against its cold, dark surface.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, a faint pulse of light emerged beneath his hand.
The crystal trembled.
Thin cracks of light began spreading across its surface, illuminating the darkness trapped within.
Yuuki felt the connection forming, drawing his consciousness toward the memories sealed inside.
The grassy plain began to fade around him.
And as the world dissolved into darkness, he prepared to witness the truth Velvet had kept hidden for so long.
===
Yuuki's consciousness materialized within Velvet's memories.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a vast underground construction site. Workers and heavy machinery filled the area, while enormous structural supports stretched into the distance. Far behind him stood a massive elevator leading toward the surface.
He turned slowly, taking in the surroundings.
"So, this is how the Ark was built?"
Before him lay the foundations of what would eventually become humanity's last great refuge.
The Ark was an underground city enclosed within an enormous dome, a structure so immense that it rivaled the size of an entire country. The sheer scale of the construction was staggering. Yuuki could scarcely imagine how many years, how much manpower, and how many resources humanity had poured into building such a colossal shelter before its first cities could even be established.
It was a monument to human ingenuity.
But it was also a monument to human desperation.
Originally, the Ark had been conceived as an underground bunker, built to protect the wealthy and privileged from the threat of nuclear warfare. Its advanced infrastructure, luxurious facilities, and sophisticated transportation networks had been designed to ensure that its intended inhabitants could continue living comfortably even if the surface became uninhabitable.
Then the Raptures came.
As their control over the surface expanded, humanity lost more and more territory. Once the Raptures had seized half the world, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Resources became scarce, military operations grew increasingly desperate, and the surviving human population began fighting among themselves.
Fear turned into anger.
Anger turned into riots.
Eventually, the people rose against the existing authorities, overthrowing the government and forcing the Ark to open its doors to the survivors who had been left outside its protection.
The underground refuge was transformed.
What had originally been designed for the privileged few became humanity's last sanctuary, housing survivors from across the world beneath its artificial sky.
Yet, as Yuuki looked at the construction around him, he couldn't help wondering how much of that original purpose had truly disappeared.
The Ark was an extraordinary feat of engineering. Its vast dome, known as the Dome of Eternity, projected an artificial sky across its inner surface, creating the illusion of an open world above the underground city.
That same dome also served as a massive power grid, sustaining the colony and its sophisticated infrastructure.
The Ark's transportation network connected numerous vertical and horizontal elevators, allowing people and supplies to travel between different sectors and access the surface. However, its labyrinthine design made maintenance difficult, and elevator malfunctions were a recurring problem.
From the day the Ark was established, humanity had continued extracting resources from the surface. Electricity, food, raw materials, and other necessities were all vital to its survival.
Yet surface operations remained dangerous, and their success rate was painfully low.
The Raptures and Sirens still ruled much of the world above.
Humanity had survived, but survival was not the same as victory.
Yuuki walked forward, observing the construction workers and the enormous machines moving throughout the site.
He could understand why people had once placed so much hope in the Ark. Beneath that immense dome, humanity had the opportunity to rebuild civilization, preserve its knowledge, and create a future beyond the reach of the Raptures.
For a time, perhaps, that hope had been genuine.
But he knew what had eventually happened.
He had already witnessed fragments of the Ark's darker history through the memories of the Nikkes he had synchronized with.
In Ade's memories, he had seen people deemed unfit to contribute to society being isolated from the rest of the population. They were abandoned in places where survival was nearly impossible, left to endure freezing temperatures until some of them died.
In Soda's memories, he had seen the exhausting reality of working low-end jobs, where even the simplest responsibilities could become overwhelming burdens.
And through Neon's memories, he had witnessed the death of her foster mother.
Different lives. Different tragedies.
Yet all of them had unfolded within the same civilization that claimed to represent humanity's salvation.
Yuuki's expression darkened.
The Ark had been built to protect people from the horrors of the surface. But somewhere along the way, its society had begun dividing its inhabitants into those considered valuable and those deemed disposable.
The people who possessed useful skills, wealth, influence, or power were given opportunities to survive comfortably.
Those who failed to meet society's expectations were pushed aside.
Even the artificial sky had once been exploited for profit. When corporations began placing advertisements across the Dome of Eternity, the consequences were devastating. The intrusion of commercial propaganda into the very sky that people relied upon for a sense of normality contributed to severe mental distress and suicides.
Only after the practice was discontinued did the dome return to displaying an open sky without commercial interruptions.
Artificial rain and snow could also be generated within the Ark, although such displays were rare because of the resources they consumed.
Even something as simple as looking at the sky or experiencing the weather had to be carefully managed.
Yuuki stopped walking.
He looked up toward the enormous structure that would eventually become the Ark's dome.
"So much effort... so much technology... all built to preserve humanity."
His hands slowly clenched.
"And yet, they still found ways to decide whose lives were worth protecting."
He remembered the people in Ade's memories, abandoned because they had been judged useless. He remembered Soda struggling beneath the weight of her responsibilities. He remembered the loss that had shaped Neon's life.
These weren't isolated incidents that could simply be dismissed as unfortunate circumstances.
They were symptoms of a society that had learned to survive without necessarily learning how to care for everyone within it.
Yuuki gritted his teeth.
"This isn't a place of peace."
His voice was quiet, but the anger behind it was unmistakable.
"It's oppression with a few extra steps."
He stared at the developing city, imagining the countless people who would eventually live beneath its artificial sky.
The old government had been overthrown. The people had fought for their right to survive, and the Ark had opened its doors to those who had once been excluded.
But changing who held power hadn't necessarily changed the system itself.
The wealthy and privileged had once designed the Ark to protect themselves.
Now, under a new government and new corporate powers, another hierarchy had emerged—one that still measured people by their usefulness and determined who deserved a place in society.
Different rulers.
Different justifications.
The same underlying problem.
Yuuki exhaled through his nose, his expression cold.
"Under new management..."
He shook his head.
"Whatever they want to call it, the result is still the same."
The Ark was humanity's last refuge, but its people had recreated the very divisions that had helped bring their old world to ruin.
And somewhere within that society, Velvet had lived her life.
She had served as an assassin, hidden behind a cheerful demeanor, and carried a past she couldn't bring herself to share.
Yuuki looked toward the elevator leading to the surface.
He still didn't know what her memories would reveal, but he was beginning to understand the world that had shaped her.
The Ark might have saved humanity from extinction.
But that didn't mean everyone living inside it had been saved.
Yuuki turned away from the elevator and continued deeper into the memory.
He had come here to free Velvet from the burdens she had carried for so long.
To do that, he first needed to understand the world that had made her who she was.
And he had a feeling that the worst parts of her story were still waiting ahead.