Thirty chapters and we aren't even close to the end of the second arc.


The ten test subjects gather in a briefing room. A large screen projects a large airship. Next to it is Dr. Artemis.

"That's your target." Dr. Artemis says, "Take a good look."

The screen switches between three images, the ship, it's blueprints, and a map showing the airship's current location.

"Zero-Two, begin the briefing." Dr. Artemis orders.

A girl the same age as the test subjects walks out from behind Dr. Artemis. The girl looks similar to the doctor.

"This is the FAC Requiem." Zero-Two

"Nice name." Volt comments.

"Quiet." Night orders.

"Your primary objectives are to infiltrate and disable the airship, without destroying it. Your secondary objectives are to download the FAC Requiem's network database and to capture the captain of the airship. How you complete these objects are up to you." Zero-Two states.

"Any questions?" Dr. Artemis asks.

Night raises his hand. Zero-Two nods for him to speak.

"Why are we engaging this airship?" Night asks.

"The FAC Requiem is equipped with a prototype Fusion Cannon." Zero-Two answers.

"What we intend to do the weapon is classified." Dr. Artemis states.

The test subjest gear up and get inside of a dropship. The dropship takes off and flies the test subjects to their target.


-Present Day-

The group exits the portal in an apartment building. They see a hooded man sitting on the couch.

"Flame...?" Volt calls as he touched the man. The hooded man falls over, revealing his pale face.

"He's dead." Brass states.

"That is not Flame." Light says.

Onyx stares out a window to see a man on a rooftop, armed with a sniper. The man is wearing a gas mask, a black armored utility vest over a grey turtleneck, and grey utility pants tucked into black boots. The man sees Onyx turns and runs. Onyx jumps through the window and grapples to the rooftop before chasing after the assassin.

"Where's he going?" Volt asks.

Light points out a window where Onyx and the assassin are visible. Brass, Volt, and Silicon jump out that window to follow assist Onyx in the chase. Light stares at the dead body, before watching the chase as those involved leave his line of sight.


Onyx, Volt, Silicon, and Brass runs after the assassin, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. The assassin jumps off a rooftop towards the highway below. When Onyx and the others reaches the rooftop, he loses sight of the assassin. Onyx focuses his senses and spots the assassin on top a bank truck. Onyx opens a portal and teleports onto the truck, closing it before the others can follow or see where he teleported to. The assistant turns to see Onyx on the truck behind him. The assassin immediately jumps off the truck onto a nearby car. He continues to jump from vehicles to vehicle until he gets to the edge of the highway, with Onyx following behind. As Onyx reaches the highway's edge, the assassin jumps down opening a portal beneath him, revealing himself to be Flame. Flame escape is intercepted by another portal opening next to him. Light comes out of the portal and kicks Flame away from the portal. Flame crashes onto the ground, while Onyx and Light land perfectly. Onyx draw his blades and holds them towards Flame.

"Why did you kill him?" The Rider asks.

"Do you even know who he is?" Flame responds.

"His name was Maize Magnolia. He was a former Atlesian soldier, discharged due to smuggling equipment. Magnolia escaped from Atlesian custody two days ago." Light explains.

"Guess you would, Light." Flame says.

"You haven't answered my question." The Rider states.

"I killed him because that's my job." Flame states.

Onyx takes out Flame's scroll and looks through it. He finds a contract to kill Magnolia for ten thousand lien.

"Who hired you?" The Rider questions.

"I maintain strict client warran..." Flame begins.

Onyx grabs Flame by his collar and slams him against a wall.

"Red Mordant, that's the name he used." Flame confesses.

"Red..." The Rider repeats

"Interesting." Light says, "Your childhood mentor."

Onyx stares at Light.

"When you said 'Red', your voice lowered and you unconsciously looked up, the same way a child would look up to an adult. If I were to guess, you and Red worked together when you were a child, during the time in between Umbra and Beacon." Light explains.

"Wow..." Flame comments.

"Did he come to you or was this an open bounty?" The Rider asks.

"Open." Flame answers

"You're coming with us. We'll discuss the details later." The Rider says.

Light opens a portal to the others' location. Volt, Brass, and Silicon walk out and wait. Onyx opens another portal to the location of the last test subjects, Camo.