"Initiate all procedures, quickly!"
Everyone was at their station…
Zack was inside the capsule…
His consciousness was still shut down…
Four large tubes were connected to the side of the capsule—ready to inject whatever was needed…
Everyone was doing their part, waiting for the command from above—where Brody and Ghost were watching everything.
It wasn't long until everything was finally ready.
Yes… everything was ready.
But who would've known that this building, which looked like a storage unit, was actually hiding a secret facility underground—now surrounded by NWC forces, who were silently taking out everyone upstairs.
"Now!!!!"
"Nowww!!!"
Two identical voices…
But with different purposes—and owners.
The first came from Ghost—to initiate the project.
The second from Ayato—giving the order for a full assault.
Ghost knew… he knew they were here.
As soon as he gave the order, he turned back, grabbed his sword, and ran outside…
Injection initiated.
The Macu flowed from the pipes into the capsule—straight into Zack's body.
But it was too much… far too much…
Admiral Anchor took care of the guards on the side and began sneaking in through the back.
Liv was on sniper duty and acting as a scout.
Krauser, along with Ayato, was attacking from the front gate.
The men at the front were being taken down with crossfire from the flanks.
As Ayato approached the main entrance, it suddenly shattered with immense force.
Ghost stepped out slowly…
"So it's true… the loser really does want another match… This time, I won't let you live, brat."
"Satellite," Ayato said, calling upon the power of his fragment—and took a stance.
Krauser tried to circle around from the back—
But with a single stomp from Ghost, the ground shook and stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going? Do I look like your sergeant's donkey?"
Krauser clenched his teeth.
Apparently, he'd have to face this monster…
⸻
Inside… the injection process was still going smoothly, but Zack remained unresponsive.
⸻
What is this?
Nothing makes sense…
What am I seeing?
I don't understand.
What are these?
The past? The future?
Why?
Then… something becomes clear.
Zack starts to see… to hear… to understand…
He remembers the past, hears the present, sees the future…
"HHHHHAAARRRGGHH!!"
He screams and opens his eyes.
He's there again…
In the white vision.
But this time, the girl isn't there.
"Shit… Shit… SHIT! DAMN IT!!"
What was this?!
Were all of these real?
How could it be?!
This…!?
No!! It can't be!!
"Hah..!"
A sudden pain grips Zack—
"Aaargghh!"
The white vision begins to crack…
"W-what's happening?!"
Cracks spread rapidly, growing larger—
"Zack!"
He tries to stand—but can't.
"Zack!!"
Who is that?
Why are they calling him?
The vision completely shatters—and explodes.
"HHHHHAAAAAAAA…"
Zack is now floating… in a vast, endless void.
What's happening?
Why is this happening?
Where am I?
Suddenly, he feels something—
Something snake-like slithering toward his head…
A disgusting, thick, gelatinous black thing—like a serpent.
What? A Kaishi?
"Wait… what is a Kaishi? How do I even know that?"
"Listen to me… Zack…"
"Who are you?"
"You…"
"Huh?"
"Y-y-you are t-trying to s-s-say w-w-w-what…?"
What's happening? Why can't I speak?
"…So the Macu overdose is taking effect…"
"W-w-w-what…?"
Suddenly, more of those black disgusting things appear…
They begin to wrap around Zack…
"N-n-n-n-n-nooo…"
They cover him completely—spreading across his face…
They seal his mouth—and coat his entire body.
Zack vanishes into the darkness…
Forever…
⸻
Brody realizes things are spiraling out of control.
All systems begin to fail…
An OptiPax member approaches him—
"Sir… it's not my place to say but maybe we should—"
A massive explosion interrupts him.
The entire lab is destroyed…
⸻
Outside, during the clash above the underground facility—
The explosion is clearly felt.
Since the lab was under the warehouse—the blast hits it directly.
The warehouse explodes.
Everyone, terrified, stares at the burning wreckage…
Then suddenly, from the flames—a roar. A howl.
"HHHHAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHH!!"
Despite being gravely injured, Ghost starts laughing maniacally:
"HAHAHAHAH!! AHAHAHHAHA!! So it worked!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Krauser, bloodied, staggers over to Ayato:
"W-what… is that?"
Ayato glares at the fire, furious… and after a long pause, he says:
"We're too late…"
Krauser's eyes widen…
The scream stops…
And then another, even larger explosion erupts—
Throwing everyone into the air.
Ayato instantly realizes what's happening—and shouts:
"EVERYONE, PUT ON YOUR MASKS!! THIS IS RADIOACTIVE ENERGY!!
IT WILL POISON YOU—AND MAY TRIGGER MUTATION!!
MOVE!! FALL BACK!!"
The units retreat…
⸻
Meanwhile, at The Hawk's Nest
Bifrat was sitting at a table with Denis and Emily.
It was well past midnight…
"I understand, dear… Ask whatever you want. Don't hold back."
Emily hesitantly asks:
"Are you his father?"
"I'm not his father… but he's like a son to me."
"Then… where is he now? What's he doing?"
"Well… right now…" he looks at Denis—
He knew the answer. But the words about to leave his lips…
Might carry the weight of everything.
⸻
From within the wreckage, behind the rising flames—a shadow emerges.
Ghost, even more deranged, screams:
"YESSS!!! YES—MY DEATH!!
YES… HE'S AWAKE!!!!!!"
Everyone looks on, terrified…
But Ayato?
There's no fear in his eyes…
It's something else entirely…
So this is the future? (Yes.)
So this is me…? (Yes.)
But… why me? (Because I felt something in you. That's why this is my third try…)
WHO AM I?!
(THE DARK ANGEL!)
⸻
File #025
The Ancient Dynasty of the Aid Monarchy
The ruling dynasty of the Aid underground kingdom has been in power since its founding day.
While "democratic" nations have changed hands multiple times—
Only one remained unchanged:
The nation of Taka.