The crystalline sewers beneath the city of Larimera shimmered with a faint blue light, reflected from the crystal ceiling like a poisoned aurora. The stench of decay mingled with chlorine and rust, while the sweating walls wept droplets like tears from the city's hidden soul.
In a dark corner, where sticky puddles gathered, Kyle knelt before the headless corpse of the governess, black blood oozing from her neck, staining the stagnant water.
His trembling hands slowly raised the severed head. Her glassy eyes were still wide open, and the disfigured mouth was frozen in a scream of terror. Kyle's mad laughter echoed through the narrow tunnel, the head spinning between his bloody fingers.
"Use that whip in hell, you wretched filth." His voice was a twisted mix of whisper and roar, as if two personalities were speaking within him.
The corpse began to melt slowly as a thick blue liquid poured from a small vial in Kyle's hand. The flesh turned into a gelatinous mass, while the bones crackled, dissolving like sugar in boiling water. In the corner, the bloodstained whip lay still—yet Kyle's shadow moved on its own, as if another entity was watching the scene unfold.
"One by one…" Kyle whispered as he wiped blood across his jacket, leaving dark red streaks. "Anyone who dares touch the children… will end like this."
Deep in the tunnel, the faint sound of footsteps echoed, but Kyle was alone in the sewers. At least… not truly alone—ancient whispers filled his mind, voices from the orphanage days, from the era of brass whips and collective punishment.
—
Lea hurried down the narrow passage leading to the military housing. Her breath raced to catch up with her heartbeat. The buildings around her looked like stacked crystal boxes, their rectangular windows glowing with a sickly yellow hue, like tired eyes watching passersby. The air was saturated with the scent of burnt metal and blue salt, making her throat tighten.
Suddenly—she collided with a solid body. Her shoulder struck a soldier's armor, and she nearly fell but caught herself on the wall.
"Sorry! I didn't see you—" She looked up quickly, then froze in place.
Standing before her was a soldier with shining yellow hair—a strange and rare color among the troops—and a wide smile that sharply contrasted with the dark uniform.
Lea (confused): "When… did you dye your hair?"
Soldier: "Is this some new flirting method?" His voice was smooth and charming, unlike the usual dry tone of soldiers.
Lea (staring at him): "How did you change your voice like that? And that yellow… it doesn't suit you."
Soldier (laughing): "Am I that irresistible? Looks like I've caught another one in my net."
Lea (beginning to realize): "What are you talking about, exactly?"
Soldier (rolling his eyes mockingly): "If you like how I look, just admit it. No need for excuses."
Then… he suddenly paused. His eyes locked onto her neck, where a broken pendant dangled.
Lea felt a shiver crawl down her spine.
Soldier (reaching out): "Is that—"
Kyle (appearing behind him, gripping his wrist): "What are you trying to do?"
Soldier (yanking his arm back): "I don't know… Were my belongings stolen? I thought geniuses only stole ideas, not personal items."
Lea (shocked): "You mean the pendant?"
Kyle (shouting): "Get out of our sight!"
Soldier (whispers): "If I don't find it, I'll take it from you... it's very precious."
Kyle (attempts to strike him): "Just get lost already!"
Soldier (seriously): "You reek of cat blood. Did you step on one?"
Kyle (mocking): "I did. And looks like I'll be killing another yellow cat today."
Soldier (turning away): "As if you could touch me."
Lea (trembling, clutching her head): "did you do that again? Did you hide the evidence?"
Kyle (approaching her): "Are you confusing me with a banana?"
Lea (screams): "He's your exact replica! Could he be—?"
Kyle (interrupting): "And if he is… what's the difference?"
Lea (angrily): "Didn't you once say blood ties are sacred? That you'd search for them?"
Kyle (rubbing his head): "I was a kid… There's no family now."
Lea (softly): "But we… are family."
Kyle (looking away): "You're… an exception."
Kyle: "Where's the M16? I really need some sleep."
—
In a deserted courtyard between the military barracks, Lea stood before a small control panel strapped to her wrist, her fingers flying across holographic buttons. Suddenly—
Thick air began to ripple, the space parting like a curtain, and from nothingness, a luxurious villa emerged, with glass walls and twisted towers, as if it stepped out of a dream.
Kyle (in awe): "Was it here this whole time?"
Lea (turning to him, eyebrows raised): "Optical illusion? This time I even fooled you—you didn't notice it at all."
Kyle (walking slowly, touching the villa's wall—it was solid): "It's evolved… terrifyingly. You actually earned full marks. This time… I really couldn't see through it." His voice carried unintentional admiration.
Lea (smug, entering through the glass door): "I contributed the core ideas for this phase."
Kyle (laughing as he follows her): "You? You weren't even a secondary scientist on this project."
Lea (spinning around, eyes blazing): "You know they built it on my inspiration! If I hadn't been busy developing the sword you now use, I would've co-led the invention! The sword patent is proof enough."
Kyle (ignoring her, yawning dramatically): "I'm going to sleep… Tell the illusion not to make noise."
Kyle exited the bathroom, wet hair dripping onto his bare shoulders. His room in the glass villa was lit only by the blue flashes of surveillance screens. He dropped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, where artificial stars glittered through the glass.
Suddenly—
A sharp chime.
His military smartwatch vibrated on the bedside table, red lines flashing with an urgent call.
"Who's bothering me at this hour?" Kyle muttered, reaching for it slowly, as if hoping to ignore it.
Chloe's image suddenly appeared like a blue ghost in the center of the room. Her narrowed eyes and stiff posture left no room for doubt—this was official.
"In two hours, you are to escort Lea."
Kyle sat up immediately, water flying from his hair. "Why?"
"She's joining a mission with the City Battalion," Chloe's voice was dry as a report. "Handling smuggled materials and securing traffickers' tech."
Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose. "She's a scientist, not a soldier. You can't send her into the field."
"And who are you to decide?" Chloe snapped, her hologram flickering with her raised voice. "She volunteered. And no one else is qualified to handle those materials."
Kyle closed his eyes for a second. "I'll retrieve everything myself."
"You can't!" Chloe laughed coldly. "These aren't ordinary items—and we don't know what's in there. They're biological materials that require expert handling."
The call cut off suddenly, leaving the room in heavy silence.
Kyle stared at the smartwatch for a moment, then slammed his palm down on it, smashing it into fragments.
In the corner, where a hidden camera was placed, Lea watched the scene unfold from her lab. She smiled as she packed the final samples into her case.
"I'll show them who really needs whom," she whispered.
—
Six members of the City Battalion gathered in the underground equipment chamber, a round room with cracked black crystal walls, lit by flickering red lights like monster eyes. In the center, a holographic map of the building hovered over a metal platform, showing upper floors filled with red lines (enemies) and blue ones (targets).
Brian, the commander, stood before Kyle. He wore light armor marked with the City Battalion insignia, a matching sword like Kyle's, twin pistols, and a compressed vacuum bag.
He pointed at a route on the map:
"You'll stay with Lea in the lower floors, where the lab is. The rest will focus on capturing the criminals and clearing the upper levels. I'm heading up alone."
He gave Kyle a sharp look: "Stick to the plan… this time."
Kyle: "So all I have to do is watch your soldiers?"
Brian: "You're free to fight—but your priority is protecting Lea. Another thing: try not to kill the criminals. They've been sentenced to Flower Execution."
(That punishment involves feeding the condemned black flowers repeatedly until either they die… or they become Burnt Ones, cursed to live eternal torment on Earth.)
A soldier named Rico, his face covered in glowing tattoos, laughed as he polished his blade:
"Hahaha, nothing as fun as a Flower Execution! Don't worry, I'll keep as many alive… for a while."
Kyle (his eyes glowing dark violet) clenched his sword hilt until the leather glove cracked.
Suddenly, Brian turned at the iron door and said, "I'll go first."
In the corner, Lea tightened her utility belt while eyeing the pulsating black substance inside a tube in her bag. A brief glance met Kyle's…
They both knew: the plan wouldn't be followed.