บท 21: 17. Brewing Storm
The cold sterility of Anti-Entropy's underground base stretched endlessly beneath the surface of the earth. Fluorescent lights cast a harsh, white glow over rows of monitors and consoles. The rhythmic hum of machinery intertwined with the quiet tapping of keyboards and the occasional shuffle of boots against metal floors. The heart of Anti-Entropy's operations was always alive, a labyrinth of relentless activity.
In the heart of this organized chaos was Cocolia Buran, her silhouette sharp against the pale glow of the screens. She sat at the head of a long, polished table, her chair slightly elevated to look down on the researchers and officers gathered before her. Her fingers drummed rhythmically against the armrest, the sound slicing through the room's oppressive silence like a metronome ticking away their time.
Her icy blue eyes swept over the assembled team, each of them avoiding her gaze with a mix of fear and respect. She held the room in her thrall, her commanding presence leaving no room for error or excuses.
"Report," she said, her voice low and authoritative, yet it carried a weight that demanded instant obedience.
A thin, wiry researcher with thick glasses stepped forward, his data tablet clutched tightly in trembling hands. His name tag identified him as Dr. Levin, but to Cocolia, names were secondary to competence. He cleared his throat nervously, his voice wavering as he began. "D-Director Cocolia, we've conducted an extensive analysis of the events surrounding the Third Honkai Eruption and… our failed attempt to awaken the Herrscher of Thunder."
Cocolia leaned back in her chair, the faint creak of leather filling the room. Her gaze never wavered from Levin. "And?"
Levin swallowed hard, swiping on his tablet to project a hologram in the air. A glowing map of Nagazora flickered to life, lines of data scrolling along the edges. "As you know, the eruption should have created ideal conditions for Raiden Mei's transformation into the Herrscher of Thunder. We executed the plan to isolate her emotionally, pushing her to the brink through despair. However…" He hesitated, glancing at his colleagues for support that didn't come.
"Spit it out," Cocolia said coldly, her tone like frost on glass.
Levin flinched but continued. "Something interfered, ma'am. Our monitoring systems detected an anomalous energy signature during the eruption. It… disrupted the Honkai Beasts and zombies. Instead of spreading and overwhelming the city as planned, the creatures were drawn to specific locations, away from populated areas."
The hologram shifted, showing pulses of energy radiating outward, diverting the Honkai forces from their intended path. Levin's voice grew steadier as he explained, "This energy wasn't entirely Honkai in nature, yet it interacted with the Honkai as though it was. The creatures behaved erratically, as if something was luring or they were attracted towards something."
Cocolia's gaze narrowed, her fingers pausing their rhythmic tapping. "And this anomaly is why the operation failed?"
Levin nodded hesitantly. "Yes, Director. The conditions necessary to awaken the Herrscher were diluted by this energy. Raiden Mei's emotional state didn't reach the critical threshold."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words hung in the air. Cocolia's expression remained unreadable, but the sharpness in her eyes betrayed her growing frustration. "What do we know about this anomaly? Its source? Its purpose?"
Another researcher, a woman with short-cropped hair and a calm demeanor, stepped forward. She carried herself with more confidence than Levin, though her voice held a similar caution. "Director, we've analyzed the data extensively. The energy signature doesn't match any known Honkai or natural phenomena. However, traces of it appear in historical records, dating back thousands of years."
"Thousands?" Cocolia repeated, her voice low and dangerous. "And we're only discovering this now?"
"Yes, ma'am," the woman admitted, her tone firm despite the tension. "The energy has been dormant for most of recorded history, leaving only faint traces that were easy to overlook. But something… woke it up approximately nineteen years ago."
Cocolia leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table as she steepled her fingers. "Nineteen years ago. What happened then?"
The researcher hesitated. "We… don't know. The energy's reawakening doesn't correlate with any known Honkai eruptions or significant events. It's as if it simply… woke up."
Cocolia's jaw tightened, her mind racing. "And why is it concentrating in Nagazora now?"
Levin spoke up again, his voice steadier. "We believe it's been building over time, pooling in Nagazora. But we didn't detect any significant surge until a few months ago."
"A few months ago?" Cocolia repeated sharply. "What changed?"
Levin swiped on his tablet, bringing up another hologram. This one showed a timestamped timeline overlaying a map of Nagazora. "The energy spiked on the night of a Honkai attack at a local mall. Valkyrie Himeko Murata was reported on the scene, and while she successfully neutralized the threat, the anomaly coincided with her arrival."
Cocolia's eyes narrowed. "You're suggesting the Valkyries are involved?"
Levin shook his head quickly. "No, ma'am. The timing is likely coincidental. What's more relevant is what happened after. The energy has been stabilizing and concentrating in Nagazora ever since."
Another officer stepped forward, his arms crossed. "If this energy is becoming more potent, why haven't we seen an increase in Honkai activity? Shouldn't it attract the Honkai, not suppress them?"
The short-haired researcher nodded. "That's the anomaly, Director. Instead of drawing the Honkai, it seems to deter them. Nagazora's Honkai incidents have dropped significantly since the energy began concentrating there."
Cocolia leaned back again, her gaze sharp as she considered the implications. "And this energy… you're certain it wasn't created by Anti-Entropy?"
"Yes, ma'am," Levin said quickly. "We've cross-referenced every known experiment. This energy is completely foreign to anything we've developed."
Cocolia's lips pressed into a thin line, her voice dropping to a dangerous calm. "Then what caused it to surge?"
Levin hesitated, glancing nervously at his colleagues. "That's where things become… complicated. We couldn't pinpoint a specific source until recently."
"Explain," Cocolia demanded.
Levin tapped his tablet again, and the hologram shifted to show a grainy video. The room fell silent as the footage played. A hooded figure darted through the dark streets of Nagazora, their movements a blur. They moved with inhuman speed, dodging gunfire and incapacitating gang members with precision. Each strike was calculated, their strength and agility far beyond normal human limits.
"This," Levin said, his voice steady now, "is the Night Runner. A vigilante who's been active in Nagazora for months. Wherever he operates, the energy spikes. We believe he's either the source… or deeply connected to it."
Cocolia studied the footage, her expression unreadable. The hooded figure was an enigma, their identity obscured but their actions undeniable. "And you're certain it's not Schicksal's doing?"
"No evidence suggests their involvement," Levin replied. "If anything, they're as in the dark as we are."
Cocolia's gaze hardened. "Find everything we can about this 'Night Runner.' His patterns, his movements, his targets. If he's tied to the anomaly, he's either a valuable asset… or a threat."
Levin nodded quickly, his fingers flying over his tablet. "Understood, Director. We'll begin immediately."
Cocolia's voice was cold and resolute as she delivered her final order. "If he's the source, I want him contained. If he's not, I want to know what he knows. Either way… bring me answers."
The room fell silent once more as the researchers and officers filed out, their footsteps echoing down the metallic halls. Cocolia remained seated, her gaze fixed on the flickering hologram of the Night Runner. The faint hum of the base filled the void, but her mind was already racing.
Whatever this energy was, it had thwarted her plans once. She wouldn't let it—or its mysterious source—slip through her grasp again.
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Theresa Apocalypse's office was a curious blend of warmth and professionalism. The soft scent of herbal tea mixed with the faint musk of aged books, and sunlight streamed through half-drawn curtains, casting golden streaks across polished wood furniture. A shelf brimming with framed photos of old comrades and a collection of small plushies offset the imposing Schicksal insignia hanging prominently on the wall. The room reflected Theresa herself—serious, yet undeniably human.
Himeko Murata, Valkyrie and ever the embodiment of composure, stood by the window with her arms crossed. Her fiery red hair caught the sunlight, shimmering like embers in a hearth. She gazed out at Schicksal's sprawling grounds, watching trainee Valkyries spar in the distance. Her presence exuded quiet power, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes as she turned to face Theresa.
"You've been unusually quiet," Himeko said, tilting her head slightly. "What's on your mind?"
Theresa leaned back in her oversized chair, her small frame almost swallowed by the leather upholstery. She toyed with a pen between her fingers, her expression unusually pensive. "Honkai activity," she said simply.
Himeko quirked an eyebrow. "Honkai activity? Theresa, you're going to have to be a little more specific. That's our job, after all."
Theresa gestured vaguely toward the stack of reports on her desk. "It's the lack of activity, actually. Have you noticed? Over the past few years, Honkai eruptions have become… sporadic. Less frequent."
Himeko nodded slowly, crossing the room to lean against the edge of Theresa's desk. "Yeah, I've noticed. The missions have been fewer, and even smaller outbreaks seem to resolve faster than usual. Honestly, it feels almost too quiet." She crossed her arms. "What are you getting at?"
Theresa exhaled, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I knew you'd notice. That's why I wanted to talk to you. But first…" She leaned down, opening a drawer in her desk. A faint clink of glass followed before she triumphantly produced a couple of wine bottles and set them on the desk.
Himeko blinked, then let out a hearty laugh. "Of course. Leave it to you to combine Valkyrie strategy meetings with happy hour." She leaned back, smirking. "So, what's the occasion?"
Theresa smiled mischievously. "Who says we can't have a serious discussion with wine?" She poured them each a glass, sliding one toward Himeko. The crimson liquid swirled invitingly as Theresa took a small sip, her expression softening.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Theresa set her glass down, her tone turning serious. "But really, there's something strange going on. And I need your thoughts on it."
Himeko swirled her wine, studying Theresa's face. "Alright, you've got my attention. What's bothering you?"
Theresa leaned forward, folding her hands atop the desk. "You remember the Third Honkai Eruption in Nagazora, right? The energy anomaly we detected? The one that disrupted the Honkai beasts and minimized casualties?"
Himeko's expression darkened slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Of course I remember. That energy… it was completely alien. We couldn't even classify it."
Theresa nodded gravely. "Exactly. Well, it's resurfaced."
Himeko set her glass down, leaning forward slightly. "Where?"
"In Nagazora," Theresa replied. "It's been concentrating there for months now. Growing stronger."
Himeko frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Wait, if it's concentrating, shouldn't that be causing more Honkai activity? If it attracted the Honkai before, why is it repelling them now?"
Theresa spread her hands. "That's what we don't understand. Instead of attracting Honkai, the energy seems to suppress them. Nagazora's Honkai incidents have dropped significantly since the energy started pooling there."
Himeko leaned back, exhaling through her nose. "That… doesn't make any sense."
"Exactly," Theresa said, her expression serious. "We've been researching it with Schicksal's top scientists, trying to figure out what's going on. And after months of investigation, we may have identified the source."
Theresa hesitated, her fingers drumming lightly on the desk. Himeko raised an eyebrow. "Stop with the suspense already. What did you find?"
Instead of answering, Theresa handed her a tablet. "Take a look at this."
Himeko frowned but took the tablet, tapping the screen. Grainy footage played, showing a chaotic nighttime street in Nagazora. Police cars pursued a black vehicle that swerved wildly, its tires screeching against the asphalt. Then, a blur shot into the frame—an indistinct figure moving with impossible speed.
The figure intercepted the speeding car, lifting it effortlessly and flipping it onto its side. In the next instant, the figure yanked the stunned criminals out of the wreck and placed them neatly on the sidewalk. Before the police could react, the figure disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing but confusion in their wake.
Himeko's eyes narrowed as she replayed the footage, her analytical mind working overtime. "That speed… and the strength. That's no ordinary human. I haven't been back to Nagazora in a while so I'm kind of clueless. Who or what is this?"
Theresa smiled faintly, crossing her arms. "Locals have taken to calling him the 'Night Runner.' He's been acting as a vigilante in Nagazora for a few months now, and we've been monitoring his actions closely."
Himeko glanced up from the tablet, her expression skeptical. "A vigilante? What does he have to do with the energy anomaly?"
Theresa's tone grew serious again. "That's the thing. The energy spikes significantly whenever he's active. It's too consistent to be a coincidence."
Himeko studied the still image of the Night Runner, her lips pressed into a thin line. "So, you think he's the source of this energy."
Theresa nodded slowly. "It's a possibility. If he's not the source, then he's tied to it somehow. Either way, we need to know more."
Himeko leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she considered the implications. "And you want me to track him down."
Theresa hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I think he has good intentions, but we can't ignore the risk. If this energy is tied to him, it's only a matter of time before other organizations—Anti-Entropy included—take notice. And we both know what they'll do if they find him first."
Himeko exhaled, her fingers drumming against the tablet's edge. "You've got a point. If this guy is connected to the anomaly, we can't let him fall into the wrong hands."
Theresa's expression softened. "Exactly. I know it's a lot to ask, but you're the best person for this. You'll be able to handle him if things go south."
Himeko smirked faintly, finishing the rest of her wine in one gulp. "Alright, Theresa. I'll finish up my current assignments and head to Nagazora in a few days. Four days, tops."
Theresa smiled, relief evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Himeko. I knew I could count on you."
Himeko stood, stretching her arms above her head. "Just make sure there's more wine waiting when I get back. I have a feeling I'm going to need it."
Theresa laughed, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Deal. Good luck, Himeko."
As Himeko left the office, the image of the Night Runner lingered on the tablet's screen. Theresa stared at it for a moment longer, her thoughts heavy with the weight of what was to come.
---
Kenji strolled through the narrow aisles of a modest convenience store, a basket dangling from his arm. When suddenly his nose got itchy. "Achoo!" the force of the sneeze startled a nearby old woman who flinched.
Kenji wiped his nose with the back of his hand, his brow furrowed in confusion. " Is someone… talking about me?" The thought lingered for a moment before he shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Great. Now I'm buying into old superstitions. What's next? Horoscopes?"
He moved on to the bread aisle, muttering to himself as he examined the options. "White or whole wheat? Definitely not multigrain—too healthy".
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