"What? The Ancient One has taken over Ina's body?!"
Flare's voice cracked like glass. The half-elf warrior sank to her knees, her eyes wide with disbelief as Risu delivered the news. Her world—everything she had worked to protect—was crumbling around her.
Beside her, Anya clenched her right fist until her knuckles turned pale. Of everyone in Holocorp outside of Myth, only she truly understood the depths of Ina's struggle. How many nights had Ina battled that cursed being within? How many times had she silenced the screams of something unspeakable, just to preserve the peace?
"You're not joking, right, Tupaisen?" Anya asked, trying to steady her voice as she laid a hand on Flare's trembling shoulder.
Risu stood silently, her face solemn. She knew all too well how deep Flare's love for Ina ran. She hadn't expected this reaction. She hadn't expected the heartbreak to strike so visibly.
As a descendant of one of the oldest elven bloodlines, Flare understood the true terror behind the Ancient One. It was precisely because of that knowledge that she had kept Ina within her sight for so long.
"Flare-senpai," Risu said gently, "we need to return to Holocorp Headquarters and request Sora-senpai's permission to join the team battling the Ancient One."
"No… I can't," Flare replied softly, shaking her head.
Her voice trembled with conflict. She had sworn an oath—to protect this coastal city from beastly incursions. That vow was sacred. To an elf, a sworn promise wasn't just a contract; it was binding soulcraft. No matter how much the human part of her screamed to run to Ina, the oath chained her feet in duty.
"I'm sorry, Risu. Because of my obligations to Holocorp… I can't help you right now."
But Risu hadn't come for that kind of help. She understood.
"…Before we continue, Flare-senpai, can you tell me something?"
Flare slowly rose to her feet, her expression still shaken. "What caused the Ancient One to awaken inside Ina?"
"We're not sure," Risu admitted. "But our current theory points to the appearance of the dark portals."
Just hearing those words was enough for Flare to understand.
The magic from the portals… the echo of the void… that would've stirred the Ancient One's memory—an ancient yearning. It must have driven the beast into a frenzy, overwhelming Ina's will.
"There must be a mastermind behind the portals. Do you know who it is?" Flare asked, her tone sharpened like steel.
"We're still investigating," Risu replied. "Towa's group and Holocorp are both trying to uncover the culprit."
Unbeknownst to them, just beyond the closed door, Marine stood with her arms crossed, her back pressed to the wall. Her enhanced senses—remnants of old magic bound to her blood—allowed her to hear every word.
"So that's what's happening…" she muttered under her breath.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the lower floor.
"WHERE'S RISU, KANADUY?!"
It was Kobo—loud, impatient, unrelenting.
Marine sighed and retreated into the shadows. If Kobo caught her eavesdropping, things would escalate quickly.
Downstairs, chaos reigned.
Bijou and Kanade were locked in a desperate tug-of-war with Kobo, trying to hold her back from storming the upper floor. But the rain-wielding warrior was strong—and furious.
"Just a little more…!" Kobo growled, dragging herself forward.
"Pull harder, Kanade!" Bijou shouted, clinging to Kobo's waist.
"I am pulling!" Kanade's face flushed with effort.
The door burst open, revealing a breathless Kobo, with Bijou and Kanade latched onto her like anchors. The scene was absurd—two girls clinging to a third, panting, struggling.
From the shadows, Marine narrowed her eyes.
"Bijou? What's she doing here…?" she whispered.
Flare and Anya were stunned. Risu, on the other hand, looked like she was seconds from slamming her head against a wall.
"What is the meaning of this?" Anya asked, unamused.
Kobo squinted at Bijou. "Is it true? You're just catching a ride back to the Capital with Risu?"
"Yes," Risu replied flatly.
Flare and Anya turned to her, skeptical. The Council's decree was clear: Advent was forbidden from participating in matters involving the Ancient One.
"I ran into Biboo on the roadside. She didn't have enough for the fare, so I offered her a lift," Risu lied smoothly.
"See? I told you," Bijou added quickly. "She told me to wait by the beach while she handled her business."
Kobo squinted. Then, with a grin that spelled doom, she grabbed both Bijou and Kanade by the collars.
"Fine. But you're mine for the day. Both of you."
"What? No, wait—!"
"Kobo-senpai, let go—!"
Their protests fell on deaf ears as Kobo dragged them off like sacks of flour. The room was silent once again.
"…Okay," Risu sighed. "Now that we're alone—Flare-senpai, I need you to tell me everything you know about the Ancient One inside Ina."
Flare hesitated. Sharing such knowledge with someone who had left Holocorp? It was risky. But the situation was dire—and something in Risu's eyes made her believe.
"…Alright. I'll tell you."
The Ancient One—a harbinger of cosmic calamity, born from hatred, despair, and the agony of countless dying stars—was never meant to exist in this world.
Only someone with a pure heart, like Ina, could suppress its influence. That's why the Necronomicon chose her.
Risu blinked. That name—she had heard it before.
Back in Area 15, where she had been tested and tortured, one of the sealed vaults had contained a forbidden grimoire. The researchers had spoken of its terrifying magical properties. She was sure now—it was the same book.
"Did Ina have the Necronomicon with her?" Flare asked urgently.
"I'm not sure," Risu admitted. "But I can find out."
She reached for her phone, ready to call Towa.
"It doesn't matter!" Anya cut in. "Whether she had the book or not—what matters is that the Ancient One has awakened. We need to act."
"You're right," Flare said, "but if we don't locate the Necronomicon… things could get far worse."
Risu paused. Her phone buzzed with a reply from Towa.
Ina didn't bring the book with her during the dark portal mission.
"…Good," Flare whispered, relief flooding her voice.
She turned to her desk, pulled open a drawer, and wrote something on a sheet of enchanted parchment. Then, she handed it to Anya, who passed it to Risu.
"These are the coordinates. It's where Ina hid the Necronomicon. If the book is still there… I need you to deliver it to Sora-senpai. Can I trust you with that?"
Risu unfolded the parchment. Written in celestial sigils was a location tied to starmap constellations:
Celestial Point – Latitude 3, Longitude 7, Orbit 4, Nebula of Veyrin
Risu gave a small, sly smile. "You can count on me, Flare-senpai."
Anya, sensing danger, immediately summoned her spirit weapon. Her left arm morphed into a gleaming kris blade, blocking Risu's path.
"Are you seriously giving that coordinate to this insane squirrel?!"
Flare didn't flinch. "Let her go, Anya."
Reluctantly, Anya retracted her weapon, her glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"If you betray her trust, I'll chase you to the ends of the world," she growled.
"Relax," Risu smirked. "Even if I don't give it to Sora… I'll make sure the Necronomicon ends up in very capable hands."
With that, she turned, her laughter soft, and stepped out of the room—leaving behind two wary warriors… and the echoes of a destiny now set in motion.