[ Next Night – The Argus CCT Relay Tower ]
The moon hung high in the sky, casting its silver light over the open metallic structure of the CCT relay tower.
The towering central core pulsed faintly, its glow illuminating the platforms surrounding it.
Akira stood in the shadows, his figure blending seamlessly with the darkness.
He adjusted the strap of his bag, his black coat flowing lightly in the cold breeze.
Akira: (murmuring to himself) "The first step to rebuilding my network… Let's hope these fools haven't upgraded their security since the last time I danced with Atlas tech."
He watched as the last of the tower's maintenance staff finished their checks and exited the premises.
As the door sealed shut, Akira moved silently, his boots making almost no sound against the metallic surface.
Approaching one of the side panels, he knelt and pulled out his Portable Terminal — an old, battered Terminal patched together with outdated parts.
He pried open the panel's access hatch, exposing a series of blinking lights and tangled wires.
Akira: "Outdated tech, meet Atlas' bleeding-edge security. Let's see who blinks first."
The Terminal hummed to life, its screen flooding with lines of code. Akira's fingers danced over the keys, bypassing firewalls and encryption layers.
Akira: (to himself) "Protocol authentication bypassed… There you are."
The screen displayed a web of connections—Atlas Military Servers, Database Nodes, and even restricted access files.
Akira's eyes lit up as he began downloading the data.
Akira's smirk widened as folders labeled "High Priority – Experimental Projects" flashed onto his screen.
Akira: "They really make it too easy. Let's see what secrets you're hiding."
As the download continued, a specific folder caught his attention: "Project P.E.N.N.Y."
Akira: (raising an eyebrow) "Penny? What kind of codename is that?"
Curiosity getting the better of him, he accessed the folder.
Blueprints, research notes, and test logs filled the screen.
His expression shifted from intrigue to astonishment as he scrolled through.
Akira: "'An android capable of harnessing Aura… designed with advanced combat and decision-making capabilities… A synthetic soul capable of achieving free will.' Well now, isn't this interesting?"
The blueprints displayed a sleek, humanoid android design with intricate core components labeled "Aura Integration Unit".
Akira leaned back, the gears in his mind turning.
Akira: "If they can build something like this… What's stopping me from making my own? A new kind of ally—no, an extension of myself. Something that's mine, untethered by morality or loyalty to anyone else."
He saved the data, closing the folder but not before a fleeting thought crossed his mind.
Akira: "What would it be like? To give life to something that isn't human or faunus… and yet, make it more alive than any human or faunus could ever hope to be?"
Switching his focus, Akira pulled up the schematics for the CCT relay tower itself. His lips curled into a satisfied grin.
Akira: "With these… I can rebuild my own network. Connect it back to the one I created but left incomplete back in Vale.
The 'CTT Ark Tower'—a system that doesn't rely on kingdoms, borders, or bureaucrats."
He downloaded the blueprints, pausing to glance at the central core of the tower.
Akira: "You'll be the template for something far greater. A network that spans the world, free of their control."
A sharp beep from the Terminal drew Akira's attention.
A warning flashed on the screen:
[ "Unauthorized Access Detected. Lockdown Imminent." ]
Akira: "Looks like the game's up. Time to go."
He disconnected the Terminal, quickly wiping traces of his presence from the system.
As alarms began to blare, Akira vanished into the shadows, his bag securely over his shoulder.
Akira stood atop a nearby building, watching as Atlas security forces swarmed the CCT relay tower.
The faint hum of airship filled the night sky, searchlights cutting through the darkness.
Akira: (lighting a cigarette, exhaling slowly) "Good luck finding what I didn't leave behind. By the time you figure it out, the 'Ark' will already be online."
He gazed at the Portable Terminal in his hands, the screen displaying the freshly downloaded data.
Akira: "An android with Aura… a new network… and a world in blissful ignorance. Let's see how long that illusion lasts."
Turning, he disappeared into the night, the wheels of his next project already in motion.
[ Time Skip: Akira's Hotel Room – Late Evening ]
The city's hum outside the window was a faint murmur as Akira returned to his temporary hideout, a modest hotel room he had secured for the week.
The room was cluttered with makeshift workstations, scattered blueprints, and tools—each a testament to the mind of an inventor who thrived in chaos.
Akira tossed his bag onto the bed and sank into the worn-out chair by his workbench.
He reached for his Grimm Beowolf Progrisekey, studying its intricate design.
Akira (muttering): "Beowolf was a start... but it's not enough. Nevermore… that's the next step."
He retrieved a portable terminal, its screen glowing faintly as he began sketching the schematics for the new Progrisekey.
The outline of a Nevermore, a massive avian Grimm, filled the screen.
Akira's fingers moved quickly, refining the design and integrating a new attachment: the Assault Grip.
Akira (thinking aloud): "The Screech… a perfect blend of offense and mobility. But raw power needs control, or I'll rip myself apart. The Assault Grip should stabilize it."
He connected the Grimm Beowolf Progrisekey to his terminal, transferring its data as a base.
The terminal processed the input, and the room filled with the soft hum of Akira's portable 3D printer initializing the fabrication process.
Leaning back, Akira's gaze drifted to the ceiling. His mind, however, was far from at rest.
Akira's smirk faded as his thoughts turned to the past.
He remembered the confrontation with Raven Branwen. Her defiant gaze as he claimed her Maiden power.
The flash of her aura dissipating as he transformed the Maiden power it into a Progrisekey.
Akira (to himself): "Raven called me a monster. Guess she was right."
He could still hear Yang's voice, filled with anger and heartbreak, calling him the same.
Akira (coldly): "Would she follow her mother's fate? Or would she fight until her dying breath to kill me ?"
He dismissed the thought with a shake of his head. There were bigger things to consider.
Raven's powers were proof that the legends of the Maidens were real. If the Spring Maiden existed, so did the others.
Akira (thinking): "Summer, Winter… and Fall. If Cinder survived, she's still a threat. If not, there's a new Fall Maiden out there.
Either way, the Maidens are keys—keys to something greater."
The terminal beeped, snapping Akira back to the present.
He leaned forward, retrieving the newly fabricated Nevermore Progrisekey and the sleek Assault Grip.
The Progrisekey was black and crimson, with feather-like engravings and a faint glow emanating from its core.
Akira (grinning): "Screeching Nevermore… Let's see how you perform."
He attached the Assault Grip, feeling the Progrisekey hum with restrained power.
The transformation phrase echoed faintly as he activated it momentarily.
Nevermore Progrisekey: "Screech!"
Satisfied, Akira set the Progrisekey down and returned to his terminal, now compiling his plans for the next phase.
Akira (to himself): "The CCT system is a relic, tethered to the whims of the Kingdoms. Atlas, Mistral, and Vacuo—they all cling to control like it's their birthright. But control is an illusion."
His gaze sharpened as he pulled up the schematics for the CCT relay tower in Argus.
Akira: "If I can rebuild my network using these blueprints, I'll have something no one else can touch. The Ark Tower… a global network without borders or restrictions. And then there's 'Project P.E.N.N.Y.'"
He glanced at the downloaded data on the portable terminal, the schematics of an android designed to wield Aura staring back at him. The concept was both fascinating and dangerous.
Akira: "An android with a soul… If Atlas can make one, why can't I? A creation that answers only to me. No morals. No hesitation. Pure efficiency."
The gears in his mind turned, and a grin spread across his face.
He picked up the Nevermore Progrisekey again, feeling its weight in his hand. The room seemed to grow colder as he spoke.
Akira: "I don't believe in fairytales, but I believe in power so this has truly become 100% no 1000% more interesting
Author's Note:
Alright a new chapter is out hopefully you the reader is enjoying the story so far as much as enjoy making it for you as all aways here some questions for you the reader and some upcoming stuff:
Questions:
1. What would you like to see in the Future ?
2. Any suggestions to make the story more interesting for you the reader ?
3. When will you like Akira and Adam fight ?
4. Have Akira establish MetsubouJinrai net ?
Upcoming stuff:
The New character that's kinda like Azu is almost completed we just need to refine some details
Ark will be happing very soon
Also Apzeta should be back soon so for now I will be continuing the story hopefully you the reader is having a good day or night
Till next chapter - Bishop
Also if you want you can PM us if you want to ask something or suggest something