"Okay, I've got all the fragments that I need."
I counted all of them. Twenty, with an average percentage of 75%.
This was quite good.
'I'd like it if I could get higher, but this is still very good. Maybe next time, I'll try aiming even higher.'
I took out a book and placed it next to me. This was all the information that I had managed to gather about nodes.
There were three types of nodes.
Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.
From First to Second Order, one would unlock the first two Basic Nodes. Following this, they would unlock the Intermediate Node when reaching the Third Order.
'It says right here that there's quite a bit of a difference between Basic and Intermediate nodes.'
Basic nodes were harder and less fragile than Intermediate Nodes. However, it was also true that Intermediate Nodes were a lot more powerful.
They served as connecting nodes for the truly powerful Advanced Nodes.
Their method of unlocking was also subtly different from Basic Nodes. It wasn't as simple as just using the fragments and going to the next level.
'...I have to apparently choose the path within the lattice.'
I scratched the side of my head at this part. I was quite honestly confused about this aspect. From what I understood, the lattice was essentially the neuron path of the brain.
'In essence, I have to choose which path to take.'
It sounded simple enough, but I had no clue which path to take. There was no clear explanation for it in the book. I had even tried to research more on the topic, but there was nothing.
I even thought about asking Kyle, but he just answered with a, 'Huh? Why are you looking at this stuff? Well, it's kind of a thing that you just figure out when it happens. Still, I didn't know you were interested in this. Do you want to awaken?'
I simply shook my head.
Talk about useful...
"Something you figure out when it happens, huh?"
I looked at the shards in front of me before walking up to the door and locking it.
Shortly after, I checked the time.
[15:33]
"...Okay."
Without further ado, I turned back and headed for the other door in the room. Reaching for the doorknob, I unlocked it and then pulled it open to reveal an empty classroom.
"....."
I didn't know how to feel while staring at the room, but I didn't have much of a choice.
Even though the door of the office was locked, there was no guarantee that nobody would try to force their way in, especially since there was a chance I might end up making a lot of noise.
'Maybe not even noise, but they might feel some sort of strange energy which might force them to do something.'
Whatever the case was, I needed to be careful. As such, I decided to use the classroom that the Section Chief had been so kind to give me.
Stepping into the place, I looked around. Nothing much had changed. Besides the fact that the tables and chairs were missing. It was all the same as before.
I had removed them before in order to make space for the game studio that I was planning.
There was still no progress on that side.
"Let's not waste any more time."
I placed the fragments on the ground, and then hovered my hand over them.
A notification appeared before me shortly after.
[Twenty fragments have been located!]
[You have met the criteria to advance]
[The purity level is 75.3%]
[Do you wish to advance?]
▶[Yes] ▷[No]
I looked at the notifications with a complicated look, recalling the pain I had experienced back then after I pressed yes. In the end, I was back to the same point. It was probably going to hurt even more this time.
And knowing this—
I still pressed [Yes].
The fragments flared into life, flooding the entire room with a blinding light unlike the previous time. It was sharp and took hold of the entire room. I didn't even have enough time before a sharp pain pierced through my mind.
It was intense!
So intense that I didn't even have the time to scream. It came quickly and flooded my mind immediately.
In just a few seconds, the world turned dark.
I lost consciousness.
*
Long white lines, formless and shifting.
They faded in and out, like ghosts trying to take shape.
Then, two bright orbs appeared, connected by a single white strand.
It wasn't just a simple connection. It was a fragment of something much bigger.
A lattice.
All around me, black orbs emerged, scattered across a vast, complex web. But ominous of all was the dark mist that covered a major part of the lattice, its presence sending shivers down my mind.
'Where is this...?'
I stared at the sight in confusion, but it didn't take long for me to understand where I was.
'Right, this must be the lattice that they were talking about.'
It was massive.
There were orbs everywhere, each black. The only two that stood out were the bright ones ahead of me.
No....
I looked towards the distance.
Towards the massive red orb that appeared, hidden behind the mist. It was small and faint, but I could see it.
I felt my mind stir at the sight.
That red orb...
It was almost as if it was calling for me.
I felt tempted to reach for it, but it was way too far for me. However, a part of me told me that I needed to go for it.
'I think I finally get it.'
What Kyle had been trying to say to me.
That I'd just understand.
I understood, now.
I looked at the numerous paths in front of me. It was like some sort of maze. Each node needed to be connected in order to create a path for the red orb.
That was the end goal.
But—
Staring at the numerous black orbs scattered around, and seeing the path ahead completely covered up by the strange mist, I understood that reaching the red orb was easier said than done.
I had a sudden understanding.
'That orb must be the final point, and up until then, I must connect the orbs in order to reach out.'
Unfortunately, with the mist blocking the sight, finding the right path to reach the red orb seemed incredibly hard.
'...what exactly is this mist? And what will happen once I reach the red orb? Is the mist possibly connected to the mist that surrounds the island?'
I looked around. At all the dark orbs, and understood something.
Those were probably the other Decrees. Everyone had the same starting point. However, what differed was the path that one took to reach the red orb.
Everyone went blind, including me, as I looked at the numerous paths ahead of me. There were so many dark orbs that I could connect with, but had no idea which one to choose.
'What's the right path? Is it just random? No, it has to be more than that?'
I tried to see if there was a definite path, but there wasn't. It just seemed like a sort of endless maze that I could only choose randomly, hoping for the best result.
...Or at least, that was how it seemed to be at first.
The fog began to stir unknowingly.
'Hm?'
It was subtle, but as the fog stirred, a path appeared before me.
And so did a certain black orb.
I didn't know what was happening, but I didn't hesitate. In that moment, I felt it.
That path...
It was the right path.
A white light beamed from one of the bright nodes and connected the dark orb as it suddenly stirred, springing to life.
The world was engulfed in white, and before I knew it, the same went for me as my eyes flared open.
"....!?"
A familiar ceiling appeared with it.
Alongside it was a notification.
I stared at it and froze.
"...Oh."
That's...
-x-X-x-
D – 3
Even more people had gathered around the island.
The atmosphere was heating up. Journalists from all over the world had started to cover the situation at the gate.
Central Times — [The rise of a potential S-Ranked Gate?]
Sun Daily — [The disaster of Malovia Island. Evacuations have already started. Will the residents be able to return, or will this island be abandoned?]
GateNews — [Who to watch out for in the upcoming gate? Which Guilds to watch out for, and the potential Dark Horses]
A new headline appeared every day.
Each headline growing more and more somber in tone.
"This is ridiculous."
So much so that even the Section Chief found it to be ridiculous.
"The situation isn't as bad as they make it out to be. It's not like we haven't cleared an ranked gate before. This gate is still rank. There's no guarantee that it will evolve into an rank. Why are they speaking as though it's almost guaranteed that it will be?"
Based on all the information that they had gathered, it looked unlikely that the gate would immediately jump into an ranked one. As a result, the Guilds coming from outside the island weren't allowed to interfere.
It was only when the gate reached the rank that they'd be allowed to interfere.
At least, this was what the bureau had decided.
'I'm sure these news outlets are all paid by those Guilds.'
The Guilds were trying to force their hand into the matter. After all, who wouldn't want an ranked gate under their control? This gate would provide them with a lot of high-quality fragments.
"Tsk."
Clicking his tongue, the Section Chief closed off the page and checked his messages with the bureau. He had reported to them about the anomaly they had spotted in the ranked gate, and he was hoping that they somewhat figured something out.
However, it didn't look to be the case.
'The same goes for the people I sent, just in case. Nothing from the Guilds on the island as well. Looks like everyone's focus is on the situation over here.'
This didn't sit well with him.
The situation was rather urgent. While everyone was busy focusing on the gate, an anomaly was roaming freely in the world. While there wasn't much detail about the anomaly, nor what its class was, the Section Chief wanted to be on the safe side.
'...I'll send more men for now. I'll go visit myself when all of this is over.'
In the meantime, he had to focus on the gate at hand.
"How troublesome."
Sighing, the Section Chief was just about to toss the phone to the side when he received a sudden call.
Trrr!
"Who—"
The Section Chief's face changed upon seeing the identity of the one who had called him.
He quickly sat up straight and answered the phone shortly after.
"Guild Master?"
His tone was low, and while it still carried its usual traces of laziness, there were still hints of respect in his tone.
"Yes, yes."
He quietly nodded his head as he listened.
Then—
"Huh?"
His face changed again.
"Announce the list of participants tomorrow?"
***
D — 2
A crowd had formed in the Containment Department.
Everyone was huddled together at the main entrance. Walking into the place, Kyle paused in confusion.
"What's going on? Why is everyone gathered here?"
His words were drowned out by the noise.
In the end, Kyle had no choice but to force his way into the crowd before he finally caught a glimpse of what was stirring the crowd.
The moment he did, his expression froze.
"That..."
A long list of names appeared stuck on the wall.
The list was simple. All it had were names. No fanciful title, nothing. It was just a bunch of names.
And yet, the moment everyone read the list, they all understood what it meant.
Kyle's expression grew grim the moment he saw his name, alongside that of a few people that he was familiar with. However, what truly made his expression darken was a specific name.
Right at the last row.
Seth Thorne.
Before he even had the chance to think about protesting, a hand grasped his shoulder.
Kyle turned his head to see a familiar pair of eyes staring at him. However, looking at those eyes, a certain unsettling feeling settled in his chest.
They seemed different than before.
'Right, he's been a little weird recently. And just when I thought he got back to normal. It looks like he's back to that weird version of himself.'
Kyle's eyes narrowed subtly as he looked at Seth.
Seth stared back, cocking his head in confusion.
"Is something on my face?"
"Mh, no."
Kyle shook his head before turning his attention elsewhere.
"I'll go talk to the Section Chief. Hopefully, I can get you off that list."
"Can you do that for me?"
"Yes. It shouldn't—"
Kyle stopped as he turned back to look at Seth. He had a surprised look on his face.
"Wait, you don't want to participate?"
"I don't."
Seth shook his head.
"This is too much for me. Why would I want to go?"
"That's..." Kyle felt stumped. On one hand, he agreed. However, he also found it odd that Seth would want to actively not participate in the gate, especially due to his past behavior, where he chose to directly involve himself in troublesome things like this.
This felt more in line with his old character.
'Oh my god, why am I starting to get surprised with him acting like he's supposed to?'
Kyle scratched the back of his head as he looked away from Seth.
Seth...
He was really starting to confuse him.
***
D — 1
It was the last day before the start of the gate.
Things were heating up on the island.
Even more reporters started to flood, and helicopters started to roam the skies of the island, focusing directly on Zone 2, where the opera house was located.
It had been a very long time since such a massive event had occurred.
Especially for an ranked anomalous gate. While they were rare and often treated with the utmost care, never before had an ranked gate garnered national headlines.
This was the first time.
People from all over the world were tuning in for the upcoming expedition.
"The gate will be televised and streamed for everyone present. After checking with the scouts, we've been able to determine a connection. The broadcast will also be entirely safe. No effect will be transmitted through the stream."
A young female reporter stood before the large opera house within Zone 2.
Holding onto a microphone, she turned back. The entire place was sealed by yellow lines, and standing within the lines were agents all dressed in black.
The place was guarded with incredible security.
"...Many of you may not feel it, but look."
The reporter raised her hand and pulled down her sleeve to show her hand. The camera zoomed in, displaying her hair. They were all raised.
The camera moved out.
"I've visited and reported many gates in my life, but.."
Turning back, the reporter's face turned grim.
"This is the very first time I've ever felt like this."
Her voice lowered.
"Dread. Absolute dread."
-x-X-x-
D — 0
A crowd had formed in front of the opera house.
The entire Zone 2 was shut down. One black SUV after another came into view, elite members coming out from each car, their gait poised, and their backs straight.
Along the barricades, journalists clustered with cameras and microphones, their voices cutting through the air as they pressed in with questions, eager to capture every word.
Suddenly—
"It's the members of Crownfall!"
With the shouts from one of the reporters, all attention fell on the most recent van as the reporters surrounded it.
The door slid open, and a man emerged, dressed in a loose shirt patterned with flowers, casual shorts, and dark sunglasses. The moment he set foot outside, the air itself seemed to shift, the atmosphere tightening as every eye turned toward him.
The air itself seemed to tighten, pressing down with an invisible weight.
For a brief moment, it all turned quiet.
But then, slowly pushing his glasses up to his thick red hair, exposing his deep brown eyes, he suddenly smiled.
"Looks like it's quite rowdy today."
His words shattered the silence, echoing through the space for several seconds.
The silence carried on for a few seconds, until—
"Cairon! Cairon! What do you think about the chances of the upcoming gate increasing in rank? Do you think it'll reach the Tier? If so, do you have anything prepared for it?"
"What do you think Crownfall will do to stand out compared to the other Guilds?"
"Are you confident in clearing the gate?"
The reporters began to bombard him with questions. And yet, Cairon seemed completely unbothered by all of the chaos before him.
As the Team Leader of the Cointament Department of Crownfall, he naturally had been exposed to many situations such as these.
This was nothing new to him.
He waited for all of them to finish speaking before finally speaking.
"...We've prepared quite a lot for the upcoming gate. I'd say that we're more or less ready to tackle whatever comes for us. With regards to whether we're confident in the gate?"
Cairon smirked.
"Of course we're—"
"Yes, sure."
A voice suddenly rang out, slicing cleanly through the chaos. Somehow, it carried to every corner, reaching every ear. Instinctively, all eyes turned toward its source, where they were greeted by a man with slicked-back hair, square-framed glasses, and a suit so immaculate it seemed almost unnatural.
For a moment, the noise died down.
But then—
"What is it that you just said?"
"...Do you believe the Ivory Dominion will be able to take the upper hand at the gate? What makes you so confident?"
"Is this a declaration of war on the Crownfall Guild?"
The reporter's eyes shone as they suddenly exploded with questions.
Just like Cairon, Marcus was used to such a crowd. As the Section Chief of the Containment Department of the Ivory Dominion Guild, the only other King Grade Guild within the island, this was a given.
He lifted his frames while answering flatly.
"The answer is yes. We're confident in the upcoming scenario."
He was a man of few words. Following a brief exchange, he led forward with his group as they followed behind him in an orderly fashion.
The scene was caught by one of the nearby cameras, broadcast to the entire world.
"Wow."
A voice whistled while staring at the scene from a distance.
Zoey turned to look at Kyle.
"Talk about making a scene the moment they come. They really love being the center of attention."
"....Yeah."
Kyle answered with a weird expression on his face. In all honesty, they had also been barraged by questions when they had first arrived. However, it was clear that the pull of two King-Grade guilds was much higher.
Still, he wasn't one to care much about this stuff. He was just happy that he had somehow managed to convince the Section Chief not to bring Seth. At the end of the day, Seth didn't want to go, and the Guild couldn't force him to go.
As such, he got to stay back at the Guild.
This made Kyle feel a lot better.
"Let's not bother with stuff like this. Let's focus on the up—"
The crowd stirred once more.
This time, more than before, as he felt the atmosphere shift.
Feeling a bad premonition, Kyle slowly turned his head. It was in that moment that several SUVs suddenly appeared at once, each stopping at the same time before the doors suddenly opened and several individuals walked out.
Almost immediately, the atmosphere shifted.
The air grew stale, and Kyle's expression couldn't help but change as he set his gaze on a certain individual.
As if noticing his gaze, the man slowly turned his head.
A smile immediately formed on his lips as he raised his hand and waved.
But not for long. He was soon immediately surrounded by the reporters, including several others.
That was the last that they saw of him.
However, just a glance was enough to turn the atmosphere heavy.
Kyle looked around him, and just as he tried to lighten up the atmosphere, a certain noise grabbed his attention.
Not just his...
Trrr—!
It was soft at first, but it grew with each passing second, and the noise around ceased as all attention turned towards the broken-down opera house. An invisible pressure began to spread out from the opera house as the place began to shake.
The hair on several people rose at the same time.
And then—
Clank! Clank!
The doors of the opera house slammed wide, unveiling a darkness that seemed to spill out from within.
Everyone seemed to understand what they needed to do from that moment, as everyone began to move forward.
Towards the doors of the opera house, their figures slowly began to fade within the darkness.
One by one, the groups stepped forward, their bodies dissolving into the gate as the camera captured each body fading into its darkness.
That very moment.
It marked the start of the gate.
The world held its breath.
***
"....."
It was absolutely quiet in my office.
I stared at my phone in front of me without much of an expression. I watched as the figures slowly entered the opera house, their bodies slowly melting into the darkness.
I took a deep breath.
The moment the last person entered the gate would be the moment that I also entered it.
Was I ready?
No.
I wasn't ready.
However, I had done everything possible to make sure that everything would flow smoothly. From the hypnosis to the sensations that I felt back during the looping gate. I had all the means to complete this trial.
And—
'There's also the new skill, yeah.'
Looking at my new skill and thinking about its abilities, I felt a lot better.
"Almost there."
Standing up, I reached for the white mask on the desk.
I also put on the Quickstitch Outfit. It fit snugly on my body as it eventually morphed into a tuxedo. A pair of white gloves also formed on my hands.
I turned my attention back to the phone.
The last person had finally entered the gate.
It was at that moment that I brought the mask to my face, and it was also in that moment that my scenery changed.
-x-X-x-
A large stage, red curtains drawn.
Balconies.
Thousands of velvet seats.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
One person after another began to appear, their bodies forming from out of thin air.
"...This should be the place."
"Stay on guard."
The number of people grew with each passing second. Almost immediately, the atmosphere grew tense as they all focused on the view before them.
"It's just like the initial scouting reports."
The Section Chief mumbled, scanning the surroundings.
The layout was exactly the same as the abandoned opera house. The only difference was that it looked newer, grander, and more imposing. Each seat was empty, seemingly waiting for everyone in attendance to fill the seat.
"Have some people scout the perimeter. Go."
None of the teams immediately sat.
Instead, they each sent a small team to scout the perimeter.
The Section Chief looked around, but didn't assign a team to do it. He didn't feel the need to, considering that they were doing it for him.
He turned to face the seat, and set himself to sit on one when—
"Hm?"
He felt a small tug on his sleeve, and he turned his head to see Clara looking in the distance, her face somewhat pale.
The Section Chief looked confused.
'What's wrong with her? We've already gone through this scenario before. She should've expected things to be like this.'
His mouth parted, the words ready to leave his mouth. But right as they were about to leave, Clara's voice echoed.
"...This is... why..."
Her state immediately made the Section Chief alarmed as he looked at her.
"What's wrong? What—"
"No."
Clara swallowed, just barely recovering herself.
Taking a few deep breaths, she forced herself to calm down as she looked at the Section Chief.
"What's wrong?"
"It's... nothing. I was just reminded of the ranked gate from the past. This layout is almost identical."
"Yes...?"
The Section Chief thought about that gate. He had seen the clip, and as such, he was aware. However, it was also true that they had gone through the information about this gate beforehand. The layout was something that she should've known.
And as if understanding this, Clara clarified.
"...I know. I think... I was just reminded of that time. The general vibes feel the same for some reason."
"Mhm."
The Section Chief nodded without saying anything else.
That gate was a sort of trauma for Clara. Never in her life had she experienced such a massive setback. It had helped her grow, but at the same time, created cracks in her iron mask.
"Don't worry. It's not the same gate. That gate has disappeared after being cleared. It shouldn't be possible for a similar one to appear."
There had never been a precedent in the past where the same gate appeared twice after clearing. This was why the Section Chief was sure that it was just Clara's trauma playing tricks with her mind.
"...You're right."
Seemingly understanding this concept as well, Clara nodded her head.
The Section Chief turned his attention towards the others in the group and pointed at the seats.
"For now, all of you grab a seat. Get everything that we've previously talked about out. In the meantime, I'll go and check out the situation with the other Team Leaders."
This was technically a joint operation.
As such, they were all supposed to help each other. At least, outwardly. The Section Chief knew that things weren't going to be so easy. Every Guild was extremely competitive, and they weren't going to just easily help each other. Only when the situation turned dire would they try to help each other.
This was the nature of how Guilds operated.
Survival of the fittest.
'I'll still give it a shot. We're being recorded throughout the entire world, so it shouldn't be a problem if I use this—'
"Ah, Tea-Sorry."
A certain voice shook the Section Chief out of his thoughts as he slowly turned his head. The moment his gaze fell on the figure that had spoken, his face fell slightly.
"...You're a Section Chief now, aren't you?"
With soft blue eyes and blonde hair, alongside an appearance that could captivate anyone who looked at it, Hermes appeared before the Section Chief.
He smiled.
"I'd like to congratulate you in advance on your achievement. It wasn't even long since you were my Team Leader."
Hermes laughed softly. There was no real malice in his words. He genuinely meant his words, and it was this 'genuineness' that made the Section Chief's stomach flip.
He nodded quietly.
"Thank you."
Though the Section Chief's expression didn't show much, his thoughts were rather complicated.
Hermes...
He was once someone he had nurtured extremely carefully. He was someone whose talent could only be described as monstrous. In a way, he was like Kyle and Zoey. But he was also different.
He was a lot more daring than Kyle. He was like a battering ram.
...The type that would do things that were entirely outside the box, and with extreme efficiency.
He was also the reason why he was so interested in Seth. The two of them... They were almost made of the same mold. In the Section Chief's eyes, Seth was the young and inexperienced version of Hermes.
But Hermes was also his biggest regret.
Without a single mention or goodbye, he directly left the Guild to join another one. This left the Guild scrambling, and it wasn't long before the Containment Department started to decline compared to the others.
"It's honestly quite a pity that we can't interfere with the gate just yet."
Taking a look at his surroundings, Hermes shook his head in disappointment. Lowering his head to check his watch, he turned his attention towards one of the chairs.
"...Given the orders that we've received, we're only allowed to interfere if the situation becomes too much for you to handle. Otherwise, we're only supposed to spectate. It's a pity since I would've loved to work with you again."
Lowering his hand, he calmly turned around and walked towards the nearest chair. But right as he moved, he paused as he looked back.
"Oh, right."
He cracked a smile as he looked at the Section Chief.
"I've heard a lot of good things about Kyle and Zoey. I'm thinking of bringing them back with me. I hope you don't mind."
Raising his hand, he bid the Section Chief goodbye before sitting down on one of the velvet chairs. Crossing his legs, he made himself comfortable.
"....."
The Section Chief stood still on the same spot, his expression unreadable as his gaze wandered over to Hermes.
There were a lot of things he wanted to do at this very moment, but before he even had the time to think about them, a change occurred.
Flick!
The lights faded.
The opera house was plunged into darkness.
All noise ceased as a certain cold took over the surroundings.
The atmosphere shifted with just a change.
The eyes of many changed, with some heading for the chairs. The Section Chief remained where he was. Staring at the distant curtains.
And then—
Swoooosh!
The curtains opened, revealing a grand piano that gleamed under the bright lights of the stage.
Several seats appeared beside the piano, all empty.
All eyes were fixed on the stage, the silence suffocating.
It dragged on for several seconds until...
*Step*
The single sound of a step echoed.
But that was all that was needed to make the hair on every single person present stand, as even the Section Chief couldn't help but find himself turning extremely serious.
This...
What sort of monster was running this gate?
-x-X-x-
*Step*
The single step drew the attention of everyone present.
It resounded quietly throughout the theatre, and yet, it was almost as if it rumbled inside their minds.
*Step*
The step was soon followed by another.
*Step*
And then another.
Before anyone realized it, everyone's breath started to sync with the rhythm of the steps.
The tension rose.
It almost felt unbearable now.
And then—
Creeeeeaaak.
A loud creaking sound echoed.
A foot stepped on the edge of the opera stage. The moment it appeared, the tension rose even further.
In that moment, everyone shared the same feeling.
One of utter dread.
Creeaaaak—
The stage creaked again. This time, sharper than before.
And soon—
It arrived.
Crooked and towering, its limbs stretched far past what nature allowed, skin pulled thin as parchment over protruding, uneven bones. Where eyes and mouth should have been, rough black stitches sealed its lips and eyelids.
Yet it advanced without hesitation, each step calm and steady. As though it had always belonged beneath the theater lights, as though it was proclaiming this place to be its domain.
No.
This was its domain.
Everyone felt it.
Stopping right at the center of the theatre, the conductor slowly turned to face the audience. In that moment, the theater turned completely silent.
An invisible pressure spread, so heavy it could even be felt through the camera's recording of the entire interaction.
Be it those from the main island or those from Malovia Island, everyone felt the weight. Some more than others, as they paled considerably, struggling to remain conscious.
But of everyone present, a single individual was struggling the most.
Her eyes shook, and her body trembled. Staring at the figure that had been haunting her for a very long time, she felt her entire mind growing blank.
I-mpossible... no, why... why...
The conductor remained standing in the middle, before all, as its gaze swept the surroundings.
And then—
Its lips parted. The sound of skin ripping echoed throughout as the conductor forced its mouth open against the stitches.
Soon, its voice echoed.
"Welcome, everyone."
Like a whisper, the voice quietly bled into the surroundings, slipping through every corner of the theater.
"...I'm extremely glad that all of you accepted my invitation. Today, I will be performing before everyone present. The performance will be divided into two parts. The ensemble, which will be comprised of three sections, and the solo performance. I'd like for all of you to try your best to listen to the entire performance. But of course, I won't be the only one performing. There will be a special guest today."
The conductor stopped there, but soon its lips pulled up tightly, ripped flesh dangling in its mouth, the sight sending a cold shiver down the spines of many.
"...Without further ado, I will now begin to introduce the ensemble."
Turning his attention toward the side of the stage, the conductor extended his hand. The steps groaned once more as a figure stepped onto the stage, hands holding a small violin.
But the creepiest aspect of all...?
The figure had no face as it calmly walked onto the stage.
"Let me first present the violinist of my ensemble."
***
[The scenario is now starting...]
[Operation: The Conductor's Trial]
Class : ■■■
: The stage is set. The Conductor awaits. Survive his trial and claim his soul.
The trial will unfold in two movements:
[Scenario candidates will be joining shortly. Do you wish to purchase any item?]
[From the moment the scenario begins, you won't be able to purchase items]
[You have sixty seconds]
"...."
It all happened incredibly fast. In one moment, I was in my office, and in the next, I found myself in this dark space that felt a little cramped.
I felt disoriented at first, but the moment I came to, my expression changed drastically as I found myself standing in front of a group of figures.
'Fucking shit...!'
I nearly had a heart attack as I stumbled back a couple of steps, simultaneously raising my head to stare at the figures.
They each held an instrument in their hand, and after my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I finally understood.
They were the members of the Conductor's ensemble.
And sure enough...
"Let me first present the violinist of my ensemble."
With the Conductor's voice echoing, one of the faceless figures stepped up.
Creaaak—!
The wooden floor groaned under its step.
I understood immediately then where I was. I was backstage. Waiting for the Conductor to call my name.
"Next up, let's bring the cello!"
Another figure stepped forward. Time seemed to move incredibly fast in that moment as I hastily looked at the scenario once more.
It was also then that I finally took notice of the description.
'Two phases!?'
Wha...
I took a moment to look at the description again to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but I really wasn't!
'What sort of situation is this!?'
I had previously assumed that I'd only have to perform one piece before the bet was over. There had never been any talk about other things.
'No, no, no, no...'
The nerves were starting to get to me. This sudden situation threw me off, but only for a short while as I hurriedly calmed myself down.
'There's no use panicking. This situation is unexpected, but it's not impossible. Just take it as a warm-up for the final performance.'
I took several deep breaths before nodding.
'Yeah, this is just a warm-up. Warm-up.'
"Let me introduce the trumpet."
My heart raced.
Another one of the faceless musicians stepped forward. I looked up to see that only three members remained.
My breath paused for a moment as my mind stirred, and I hurriedly looked at the shop to see if there was anything I needed. But after just a few seconds, I realized something.
Even if there was an item I wanted, I was too poor to afford it.
The realization made me laugh bitterly.
Right...
I was very poor at the moment. I closed my eyes in resignation and got my mind ready for the upcoming situation. At the same time, I took out my phone and looked at it. On the screen, a certain clown appeared.
"Next up, the drums."
The last member entered.
The backstage was extremely quiet. It was just me and my own thoughts as I stared at the last member entering the lights of the stage.
I could see the Conductor from where I stood. He stood at the center of the stage, bathed in the bright lights from above. It was almost as if he were the main star of the show.
And soon...
His gaze turned to face my direction.
The world seemed to pause in that moment.
He smiled.
And—
"Lastly, let's welcome the Jester. The pianist and the special guest of this performance."
It was as if something took over my mind in that moment as I took a step forward, my hand pressing against the mask on my face as bells gently began to fall before my eyes, and I walked past the darkness and into the light.
[The time limit is up]
[The shop is now closed]
[Best of luck!]
-x-X-x-
Creaaak—!
The floor groaned under my step.
The lights shone bright from above. It rendered me blind.
And yet—
I continued to walk forward.
Towards the conductor, as it watched my every movement, its smile widening with each step that I took until I finally stopped before him.
The surroundings turned silent for a moment.
But just for a brief moment.
The conductor soon turned its attention towards the audience once more.
"The Jester."
The words bounced off across the quiet opera house.
It was at that moment that I turned my head.
Towards the audience.
And it was also there that I noticed the numerous eyes that were fixed on me. Each gaze held a different feeling as they looked at me. From fear to anger to many other things. I felt surrounded by eyeballs, and I felt suffocated.
I wanted nothing more than to leave this place.
But I knew I couldn't.
Noticing the conductor's gaze again, I turned my attention away from the audience and moved towards the piano. There, I slowly raised the lid and stared at the papers in front of me.
I adjusted the papers, counting how many pieces there were.
'There are three pieces in total. I don't recognize any of them. Is it expecting me to play all of them perfectly?'
I frowned behind the mask.
This scenario...
It was so absurd.
Thankfully, I wasn't completely helpless. But that wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me the most was the audience.
Just what was the conductor planning with the audience?
And...
I also took note of the several figures that were making my very breath heavy with their gazes.
'How am I supposed to play with them present?'
It almost felt like they could get rid of me with just one look. Especially the Section Chief. In that brief moment, I looked at the audience, and I took notice of him.
Knowing he was no normal person, I felt extremely apprehensive about the situation.
But then again...
Maybe I was worrying too much.
While the Section Chief's presence was suffocating, it was nothing like the conductor's. The very hair on my body rose at the mere sight of the conductor as I felt a certain dread I had never felt before in the past or from anyone in the audience.
Something became clear to me in that moment.
The conductor...
It had gotten a lot stronger since the first time I had seen it.
Everyone seemed to be experiencing the same thing as me, and it was most likely this that was stopping them from downright attacking me from where they were.
Within the silence, the conductor eventually turned its head to face my direction.
The world seemed to freeze in that moment.
Until...
"Make sure you keep up."
Its voice gently whispered into my ears.
*Step*
Shortly after, it calmly walked towards the podium in the middle while taking out a baton.
The world grew silent.
All eyes on us.
The conductor raised the baton.
My fingers twitched, pressing onto the piano, sweat pouring down from the side of my face.
Calmly closing my eyes, I focused on the notes on the paper.
And then—
BAM!
The music flared to life.
My fingers moved on their own, and the first piece began.
***
The moment the music started, everyone tensed.
"Get ready. Do as previously planned. It's clear now. In order to clear the gate, we must last until the end of the performance. Do your best to resist!"
"...Quickly!"
Everyone quickly took out their own noise-dampening device, from headphones to earbuds. All of the Guilds were prepared.
Almost immediately, the noise ceased in the minds of everyone present.
For a brief moment, the tension in the opera house settled.
Everyone could finally, and clearly, look ahead at the performance before them. The one that stood out to them the most was the conductor. The Conductor basked in the lights, its movements fluid and soft as it raised and moved the baton in the air.
Every one of its movements caused the hearts of many to rise.
But ultimately, all they felt from it was... a deep sense of dread.
Although not to the same degree, the ensemble behind the conductor also carried a certain sense of dread with each one of their movements.
The strangest one, however, was the Jester.
Unlike the others, the Jester didn't give out the same feeling of dread.
In fact, it seemed to be the most tame of them all. Its presence was a lot more subdued, and as it sat by the piano, it quietly followed the rhythm of the ensemble.
Its presence was so subdued that after a brief moment, some started to forget about the Jester as they focused all of their attention on the Conductor.
With its baton raised in the air, it slashed down.
The music pace picked up slightly.
"Everyone, be careful."
As the Section Chief spoke, his gaze turned to his right, where a noticeably pale figure sat. His expression changed subtly at the sight. However, he couldn't blame her. The Section Chief was aware just as much as her what the situation signified.
This conductor. This scenario.
...It was almost exactly the same as the one that had haunted her in the past.
The only difference was the Jester.
Back then, the Jester was present as an audience member.
This time...
The Jester had become part of the performance.
'If everything is flowing the same exact way as the ranked scenario of the past, then...'
The Section Chief's eyes sharpened as he looked further to his left, where a figure with soft brown hair sat. He placed his hand over her shoulder before mumbling, "Get ready to activate your node in the next several seconds. I'll give you my command."
"Eh...?"
Team Leader Sanders was confused. However, upon seeing that it was the Section Chief, she hurriedly nodded her head.
"Understood."
The Section Chief nodded faintly while keeping his gaze fixed on the performance ahead.
The conductor waved its baton, and the music picked up the pace.
The Section Chief held his breath.
He could feel a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
'Almost.'
Chills slowly began to run down his back.
'...Not yet.'
He started to sweat.
'Not yet. Not yet...'
His fingers started to tense.
And then—
"Now!"
WAM!
Almost the instant the words left his mouth, the conductor snapped his baton in a sharp motion. The ensemble froze, then struck their instruments with sudden, forceful precision, unleashing a thunderous roar of sound.
The Section Chief's node flared to life at the exact time as the Team Leader's node similarly flared up, and a dome formed around the area where she and the others from their Guilds were seated.
All noise that tried to filter through stopped.
But at the same time, the Team Leader's face paled.
"Ukh—!"
Thankfully, if not for the Section Chief's help, she would've passed out on the spot.
"Just keep it steady. It won't last for long. Take deep and steady breaths." As the Section Chief's soft voice echoed, he slowly raised his head to look around him. The moment he did, his heart sank.
Although he couldn't hear.
He could see it.
And...
What greeted his sight was a scene of carnage.
He watched as several unlucky members leapt to their feet and hurled themselves against the nearby walls, slamming their heads into them.
Blood spilled, and the velvet seats grew a deeper shade of red.
'...This is very problematic.'
Pulling his gaze away from the scene, the Section Chief turned his attention towards the stage.
Towards the conductor, as it watched everything with a smile on its face.
This moment.
This very moment.
The Section Chief finally felt it.
This gate...
It was fast approaching the rank.
-x-X-x-
The first phase was divided into three sections.
The overtune, the staccato, and the requiem.
Each lasted for ten minutes, with the piece growing more and more complex with each section.
WAM—!
The music flared inside my ears.
Pressing onto the keys of the keyboard, I followed the music sheet in front of me.
Dang! Da—!
I didn't make a single mistake, but..
".....Kh!"
I felt breathless.
A sharp pain invaded my mind the moment I began playing and heard the music around me. I couldn't quite pinpoint where the pain came from, but for a brief second, I nearly lost the hypnosis effect.
Thankfully, I was just able to maintain it as I continued to press down on the keyboard.
Swoosh!
The conductor slashed down with its arm.
The tempo quickened.
I tried my best to keep up with the tempo. It was hard, but it was manageable.
'This isn't too hard just yet. I can do this. I can do this.'
I clenched my teeth and focused my absolute best on the situation. While it was true that I was currently moving thanks to the hypnosis, I still needed to maintain focus on the occasion that the hypnosis would snap.
'...There's seven minutes left to the overtune. This will be the easiest part for now.'
From the staccato onward, I knew that the situation would become more and more dangerous. For me and the audience.
I slowly turned my attention towards the audience, and my breath paused.
The lights were bright, but even amidst the brightness, I could see the red that spilled all over.
I turned my gaze away and continued to play.
'I hope he's okay.'
I started to worry about Kyle, but I knew that it was an unnecessary worry. I needed to focus on myself.
Daaa—!
The music continued to play.
The minutes ticked. One minute. Two minutes. Three minutes.
I had long forgotten about the situation behind the lights.
My back was soaked in sweat.
Even under hypnosis, my body strained to keep up.
There was something about the atmosphere and situation that was interfering with the hypnosis. I could feel the effect slowly starting to waver, with me focusing entirely on keeping the sensation.
My mind churned, and the sharp pain that I felt before grew increasingly more intense.
'Not now. Not now...'
I gritted my teeth and fixed everything on the keys.
A minute.
I had one minute left until the second phase. I could feel it in the piece. The tempo, which had been steadily increasing just a few moments prior, had started to slow down.
It was bracing for something.
Something like—
"Get ready."
A voice rasped through my mind, dry and monotone.
Huh?
I subconsciously raised my head.
There, greeting my gaze was the conductor's back.
The world suddenly grew silent.
And within the silence, the conductor slowly raised its hands.
"Haaa..."
The slow sound of my own breath echoed in my mind.
And then—
WAM—!
The silence was shattered immediately.
"....!?"
The instruments flared to life. My hands moved on their own, shooting towards the piano at a speed unlike before.
My heart raced inside my chest.
Da! Da! Da! Da! Da! Dang—
The pain in my mind intensified as my fingers began to move extremely quickly. The tempo had increased substantially and almost instantly.
I could even hear the screams from the audience.
And yet, I couldn't pay any attention to it.
The only thing I could do was focus on the keys in front of me as I focused my entire mind on keeping the connection with the hypnosis.
'Ten minutes. I need to resist for ten minutes...!'
But this was easier said than done. The more I played, the harder it became for me to keep focused. My hands started to tense as sweat dripped down on the keys.
Swoosh, swoosh—!
The conductor's movements were erratic and quick. With each swing of the baton, the music would shift.
Each movement signified a change.
A change that was felt by both the audience and me.
"Ukh."
I clenched my teeth, my hand shooting towards the other end of the piano as my fingers rolled across each key.
The movements were swift and fluid.
But at the same time, the ache in my mind increased. My vision suddenly grew hazy, and four hands overlapped in front of me. For a brief moment, I struggled to understand which one was my real hand.
That brief lapse in judgment nearly screwed me over as I felt the hypnosis wear off for just a second.
'No!'
I pressed down on the keys, keeping up with the momentum of the second.
Dang!
Thankfully, despite it all, I was able to remain alert. I didn't let the momentary lapse in the hypnosis affect me.
I managed to press the right key as the hypnosis returned.
My fingers started to move on their own again.
"Haa... Haa..."
In that moment, I felt it. My back... It was entirely soaked in sweat as I felt chills run down every part of my body.
'...This is ridiculous. Just what in the world is happening?'
It became pretty obvious to me that all of this was no coincidence, and as I slowly turned my head, I caught a glimpse of the conductor looking at me.
My heart sank in that moment.
Especially when I caught the subtle pull of its lips.
'It knows...'
I swallowed quietly, my throat constricting as my body tensed.
Dang! Da—!
Screams followed suit in the background. They grew louder, and I could see that the entire place had fallen into chaos.
And yet, I couldn't do anything about it.
To my horror, I found that the more I played, the more I felt the energy get sapped away from me. The lights shone bright, and breathing became more difficult. It was hot. My entire body was soaked in sweat, and my forearms started to sting due to the intense playing.
I felt...
Suffocated.
Wam!
But despite how I felt, the show continued.
It didn't stop for me.
It grew even more intense as I sat by the front edge of the stool, my fingers gliding across the keys, so intensely that it felt like they'd fall off at any second.
"Kh...!"
My vision was entirely hazy by this point.
I could hardly see.
...My mind stung, and the pain had grown to the point where I could hardly bear it.
Everything was working against me.
And yet, I persisted.
"Ukh!"
Dang!
I pressed the keys. I allowed the hypnosis to do the job, following the sheets fluently. I concentrated on everything I had and clung to the hypnosis.
And then—
Wam! Wam! Wam!
I smashed down on the keys three times before suddenly stopping.
"Haa... Haa..."
I nearly collapsed on the spot, feeling my hair cling to my forehead underneath the mask.
The hypnosis wore off shortly after, and the world grew silent.
All besides the sound of my own heavy breath as it resounded loudly within my mind.
In that moment, the silence took over the theater.
And as I looked at the conductor, I understood.
It was still not over. There was still one more part.
The last phase.
The Requiem.
-x-X-x-
Outside the Gate.
It was currently extremely silent. Every gaze remained locked on the conductor's image, flickering across the screens of those watching the broadcast. It's figure bathed beneath the bright lights, basking in them as its mere presence took everyone's attention.
But amidst its overwhelming presence, there was something else.
Something like...
Dread.
An overwhelming feeling of dread.
—H-ha... This situation...
A voice whispered in the broadcast.
—...So far, we have yet to confirm the number of deaths, but... it appears to have already passed the double digits.
Everyone had seen the deaths.
Many of the angles showed the brutal way in which they died.
It was a sickening sight, but one that everyone was accustomed to. This wasn't the first time a broadcast like this had been shown.
—...We still are unsure of the exact number, but... the situation looks to be extremely dire. The major Guilds have... yet to make any major move, but it's not because they don't want to, but because the anomaly's power appears to be far stronger than previously anticipated.
As the camera panned to the reporter who stood before the opera house, she described the entire situation in detail.
From time to time, she'd falter, but she was quick to recover.
—We've also been made aware of the fact that the Guilds from the main island will be given the green light to act. The current situation has spiraled beyond a point whe—Uh?
The reporter faltered, her voice breaking a moment later with a faint, unmistakable tremor as she pressed her hand against her finger.
—That's... a-re you...?
From her voice, one could visibly feel it.
The subtle hint of panic and fear within it.
—Are you sure...? Yes, yes... I will report it immediately.
The reporter visibly took a deep breath before staring at the camera once more. With her lips twitching, she turned back to the opera house before looking back at the viewers.
Her tone grew extremely grim.
—I've just received news that the scale for the gate has been slowly increasing. The gate's rank...
She paused, her face growing pale.
—...It's increasing at a rapid rate. I'm afraid we're soon going to have an ranked gate in our hands.
Her words made the hearts of many tighten.
Was this going to be the birth of the next ranked gate?
***
A short pause ensued from the second phase to the third phase.
No one knew how long the pause would last, but that didn't matter. They used whatever time they had to regroup and assess the situation.
"....Is everyone okay? How many casualties on our side?"
The Section Chief was the most alert of everyone present. Pulling his hand away from the Team Leader, he looked around to check on the situation. His heart sank the moment he saw the state of his team.
A lot of the members looked dazed and out of it.
Even Kyle and Zoey were struggling to keep focused. And this was in spite of the barrier that he had helped set up with the Team Leader to block out all the noise.
Thankfully, they were all still alive.
Dazed, but alive.
This was all that mattered to him as he continued to look around. Thankfully, not everyone was out of it. Some had already snapped out of it and were hurriedly helping the others recover.
They were quite orderly and methodical with their actions. The first to move into action were the Menders. With their Decree, which specialized in healing and clearing the mind, they were essential for the gate.
Knowing full well about their importance, the Section Chief had especially made sure to bring at least four to their team.
A soft white glow enveloped their hands as they activated their node and helped everyone recover.
The Section Chief took note of the sight before nodding.
Although the situation was desperate, everyone was still able to remain focused.
Taking a few breaths, the Section Chief took out a small device from his pocket. One that looked like a pocket watch.
'It still hasn't increased in rank. It's still rank. Good.'
From time to time, he'd check on it. He knew that it would be of no use, but it still helped him better understand the level of danger. He was saving up all his energy for that moment.
The moment when the gate increased in rank.
That'd be the moment he'd have to go all out.
Eventually, his gaze fell on Clara. She seemed to have fared better than the others, but even then, she was struggling.
Not because of the piece, but because of what was before her.
The conductor's presence was still rattling her.
The Section Chief felt a headache. At all times, this was one of the most important times when he needed her, but it was clear that she was in no state to help.
This wasn't something that the Section Chief could blame her for.
Such 'traumas' were extremely normal.
It usually took a little bit of time with some rehab and therapy, which Clara had been taking, but the sudden reappearance of the Conductor had caused her to spiral back to her old trauma, resulting in this situation.
Although unfortunate, the Section Chief could only hope for her to snap out of it.
'The Conductor has already explained the layout of the gate. The first part is divided into three phases, and the entire performance will consist of two parts: an ensemble and a solo. We've already survived the first two phases, but the third phase of the ensemble still lies ahead, followed by the solo performance.'
The Section Chief turned his attention towards the Team Leader. The moment he did, his expression turned grim.
Her face was ghostly pale, and it was clear that, despite his help, she was reaching the edge of her endurance.
'...This is not good.'
The Section Chief could vividly feel that the situation was starting to spiral out of his control.
Looking around, he could see that the other teams were also struggling.
No, not quite everyone...
Focusing his attention towards a certain section, he saw several figures sitting without much of an expression, their hands crossed as they seemingly watched the show without much concern.
And as if sensing his gaze, one of them turned towards the Section Chief.
Soon, their gazes met, and Hermes offered the Section Chief a smile.
"...."
The Section Chief only stared for a brief moment before looking away. It was obvious that those who came in smaller groups had an easier time, unlike the Section Chief, who had to ensure the safety of everyone present.
However, it was also clear that those from the central island were different.
From their composure to their demeanor.
He could tell that they were used to this type of madness.
Closing his eyes, he turned his attention back towards his team. They had all somehow managed to snap out of it and were quickly working together to recover their own energy.
But it was a little too late.
By the time they began to move, the air itself seemed to change.
"Hurry up! Get ready—!"
The Section Chief hurriedly pressed his hand over the Team Leader's shoulder. A dome once again appeared over their area.
Creaaaak!
The wooden stage creaked, and the conductor raised its hands.
WAMM!
The music exploded.
The third phase.
The Requiem.
It had begun.
-x-X-x-
I The Requiem.
The final part.
There was no hypnosis this time. No invisible thread guiding my fingers, no soft numbness in my mind keeping the pain at bay, no unnatural will dragging me forward when I faltered.
There was only me, my shaking hands, and the piano in front of me.
I could not miss.
I could not stumble.
If I did, the performance would end.
If it ended, so would I.
'Steady. Keep steady.'
"...Haa..."
The sound of my breath filled my head as the silence stretched.
The conductor stood in front of me, its back perfectly straight, the baton raised high. The air in the theater had grown heavy.
It pressed down against my shoulders, sank into my lungs, and coiled around my throat.
The quiet was suffocating, so absolute that I swore even the audience had stopped breathing.
My fingers hovered over the keys.
They trembled despite how hard I tried to steady them. I could feel the slickness of sweat forming between my fingers and the keys, as though my own hands wanted to betray me before I had even played a single note.
'Still. Remain still.'
I couldn't hit the keys prema—
Swoosh!
The baton slashed downward.
Wam—!
The orchestra thundered alive, a violent wave of sound that tore the silence apart.
My hands crashed onto the keys.
The tempo was merciless from the very start, faster and louder than anything that had come before.
The music sheet before me blurred, the black marks of notation writhing on the paper, sliding across the staves as if they wanted to escape the sheet of paper. My eyes burned, straining to force them still as they moved from one line to another.
Da! Da! Da-da-da!
Each press of my finger sent a sharp ache stabbing through my skull.
The pain had returned, but it was not the dull pressure from before. It was sharper now, cutting through the inside of my head with each sound I made.
My vision shook.
The keys doubled, then tripled, until I no longer trusted what I saw. My hands split into overlapping shadows across the keyboard, and I had to decide, desperately and without pause, which ones were real.
I couldn't fail.
The wrong note... meant failure
And failure meant death.
I clenched my teeth until my jaw hurt, forcing my body to keep moving.
I couldn't see properly, but I had burned the keys in my mind through the hourglass gate. I knew where each key was, like it was second nature to me.
Swoosh!
The conductor's baton slashed sideways, violently shifting the tempo.
The orchestra followed immediately, veering into jagged rhythms that threatened to throw me from the piece.
My chest trembled.
My wrist screamed as I twisted hard to keep pace. My fingernails scraped the side of the keys, a sharp sting following suit, but I did not stop.
'Stay with it. Don't slip. Don't slip—'
The audience had fallen silent.
I could feel the weight of their stares pressing against my skin.
Not a cough, not a whisper, not the sound of movement from a single chair... Their collective silence was unbearable.
Bang!
The key roared under my hand. Shit! Too forceful...! Too close to breaking the rhythm.
My stomach flipped with panic as the sound echoed louder than I intended, and for a single heartbeat, I thought I had lost it.
But I caught it.
Barely.
The rhythm held. The chain of sound remained fluent.
Sweat poured into my eyes, stinging, almost blinding me.
My arms burned as every tendon pulled taut and every muscle strained against the constant pace.
My bones felt brittle beneath the constant impact of my fingers. The skin at my fingertips split, hot blood smearing across the ivory, making the surface slippery, yet I forced my hands down again and again.
I could not stop.
I could not falter.
Not once.
Swoosh. Swoosh.
The conductor's baton moved in erratic arcs, slicing the air in patterns that defied rhythm and reason, but the orchestra followed without hesitation, dragging the music into uneven fragments.
My heart stuttered as I scrambled to match it, my mind splitting under the pressure. My chest burned with every note, and yet I refused to fall behind.
The conductor was laughing at me.
Not with sound, but through movement. Through the grotesque curl of its lips as it turned its head ever so slightly toward me. Every flick of its hand was a taunt. Every shift in tempo was on purpose. Almost as if it was trying to say, 'One mistake is all it takes...'
"Kh!"
I clenched my teeth, my breath coming out unevenly.
My body screamed to give up, to collapse forward onto the keys and let the piece devour itself without me.
But I did not.
I could not.
The piano was all I could see.
Da-da-da-da-da—!
The final sequence unfurled across my vision, the notes crammed together, faster than I could think.
My fingers flew across the keyboard, moving with desperate speed, scraping the ivory, slipping on my own blood, but never faltering.
The orchestra roared in its crescendo, the sound so vast it felt like it had swallowed the entire theater, pressing down from every wall, every surface, every shadow.
My vision swam with dark spots.
The world pulsed in and out of focus. My lungs begged for air that would not come.
I had long forgotten to breathe.
My arms trembled with exhaustion, yet still I forced them forward, faster, harder, because if I slowed for even a second, it would all collapse.
The conductor moved with growing frenzy.
Its baton whipped through the air like a weapon, dragging the music into sharper peaks, harsher turns, trying its best to make me falter.
Its head twisted further than it should have been able to turn, the curve of its neck grotesque, its empty eyes fixed directly on me.
The smile widened... and I shuddered.
I could feel my mind tearing. My body had been reduced to nothing but a vessel for the keys, my thoughts consumed entirely by the need to play the piano.
Faster!
Harder!
Louder!
The piano rattled beneath the sheer violence of my playing, my fingers sliding across the red-stained keys.
My shoulders spasmed, my back bent forward.
The final pages of the score fell to the ground, but I no longer needed to see.
I played by instinct, by fear, by the desperate need to keep up.
This...
This was no different than my experience in the hourglass.
The sound rose to its peak, the notes vibrating in the air. The orchestra surged in a storm that threatened to crush me, and I slammed my hands into the keys with everything I had left, dragging the piece to its last, violent breath.
WAM!
And then—
Silence.
The final chord rang out, trembling, reverberating through the theater until it faded into nothing.
My hands froze above the keys. My chest heaved so violently I thought it would burst. Sweat dripped freely from my chin, darkening the wood below.
My vision swam, the world tilting continuously beneath me.
"...Haa... Haa..."
And amidst my heavy breaths, a smile formed.
I had not made a mistake.
Not one.
I forced my gaze upward, my muscles trembling and tensing.
The conductor was looking at me.
Its lips were no longer smiling. It was just staring at me, its entire demeanor and presence different than before. I knew that I had passed its test.
I had not broken.
But that was never the point.
The Requiem was never about the music.
It was about breaking me.
And as the silence lingered, heavier than the sound had ever been, I realized that while the piece had ended, the performance had not.
One more.
There was still one more piece.
Mine.
My perfect piece.
-x-X-x-
The curtains closed.
In the moment they did, the audience area turned extremely quiet. The sound of heavy breathing echoed amidst the silence as all eyes remained fixed on the stage.
"How is... everyone doing?"
Taking deep and steady breaths, the Section Chief looked around.
His face turned grim when he saw that several of his members had passed out. Despite the barrier that they had managed to set up, the numerous equipment that they had used to dampen sound, the sound still managed to filter through and get to their minds.
"Menders, please handle the situation."
With everything being said, however, the situation was still not dire.
They had yet to suffer any casualties from their side. This was good. However, the fact that a lot of the members were currently struggling to maintain their consciousness was not good.
They had only just cleared the first part.
There was still a second part to come.
Thinking about the second part, the Section Chief's expression turned grim.
'At the rate that we're sustaining ourselves, it won't be long until the entire squad falls apart.'
The Section Chief turned his attention towards Team Leader Sanders. It was obvious from her pale face and trembling body that she wouldn't be able to sustain the barrier for much longer. Even with his help.
He had to quickly think of another way before the scenario started again.
"...Se... section Chief."
"Yes?"
Turning his head, the Section Chief looked at Kyle. His complexion was relatively pale, and his breathing was rough, but he was still hanging on as a Mender stood behind him, carefully helping him recover.
Taking a few deep breaths, Kyle mumbled a few words.
"That's... ha...."
"What? I can't hear you?"
"I..."
Pausing for a moment, Kyle looked at the Team Leader before pressing his lips and looking back at the Section Chief with a resolute expression.
"...Me."
"Hm?"
"You can amplify me. I can... take her role."
The Section Chief's lips parted for a moment, but the words that were about to come out of his mouth stopped completely.
That's...
He looked at Kyle again. He wanted to reject him directly, but then he thought about his Decree and realized that if the Team Leader couldn't keep up any longer, the next best alternative was him.
The Section Chief's expression turned complex at the realization.
While on one hand, he wanted to agree, on the other, he thought about Kyle's current condition and had second thoughts about it. Kyle, while strong, was still only at the Fourth Order. He was close to reaching the Fifth Order, but he was still not there yet.
He was unsure if he'd be able to protect everyone present.
But before the Section Chief could fully think about the situation, something in his pocket vibrated.
"....?"
He raised his hand at Kyle, telling him to hold on for a moment before taking out a small walkie-talkie. The moment he looked at it, his expression changed as he turned his attention towards the other groups.
—All... the agents that we've sent to directly interfere with the performance have died. There's no way to get in. The second part is about to begin, and I'm sure it's going to be even more difficult.
A somber voice echoed from the walkie-talkie as the Section Chief's grip over it tightened.
The walkie-talkie fell silent for the next few seconds.
Until—
—...It looks like we'll have to cooperate.
***
"Haa... Haa..."
My chest rose and fell as the curtains drew to a close. My entire body was soaked in sweat, and my vision was shaky. I could hardly keep focused as I looked at the blood-stained keys in front of me.
"T-that's..."
A lot of the keys were stained in my own blood. I hadn't even realized the situation was so bad until the pain finally kicked in and I stifled out a groan.
'I don't know if I have much left in me.'
The hypnosis was entirely gone, and I could only rely on myself. The conductor had pushed my body to the utmost limit.
"H-haa..."
Taking another deep breath, I tried my best to calm down.
I knew my part was set to come. I needed to be clear-headed for it.
'Just another... push. Anoth—'
"Not bad."
"....!?"
A hoarse, almost brittle voice whispered from behind me, causing the air on my body to rise as my back stiffened.
"You were somehow able to keep up. You have... exceeded my expectations."
Despite the praise, I didn't feel great at all. In fact, I felt like my entire body had been soaked in a pool of cold water, plunging me deeper and deeper into it.
'No, calm down. Calm down.'
I didn't look back, but I didn't really need to. I could see right from the reflection of the piano.
In its reflection, I saw it standing there. Behind me.
Its face bent at an unnatural angle, lips curling wider than they should have, eyes gleaming with a certain glint that made my skin crawl. The conductor's form wavered in the reflection, distorting slowly, as though the piano itself rejected the thing it was forced to show.
But eventually, a long and sickly hand pressed against my shoulder.
My entire body tensed.
"...Are you ready?"
The Conductor's soft voice whispered into my ears.
I didn't reply. I couldn't reply. I swallowed nervously while training to maintain my composure.
"You've managed to pass the first part. The next part will be the most important part. I'm hoping to see something amazing from you. I... No."
The Conductor shook its head, its voice lowering.
"I am expecting perfection." It whispered, my spine tingling as its voice reached my ears. Sweat continued to pour down from the side of my face as I swallowed once again, trying my best to quell the rapid beat of my own heart.
What followed was a brief moment of silence.
One that seemed to last for an eternity.
But then—
"Time's up. I am looking forward to seeing your performance."
Pulling its hand away from my shoulder, the floor groaned under the conductor's movement as it moved back to the podium, facing the red curtains. As it did, it raised its hand, displaying the baton in all its glory.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
My heart raced rapidly. So loud that it was all I could hear.
Eventually, the curtains drew open, and the weight of the stares returned to me once more.
My heart raced even more.
In that moment, it felt like the eyes of the entire world were on me.
No, that was most likely the case.
A tremendous pressure weighed down on me at the thought. However, I didn't get much of a chance to think about it as I saw a subtle movement from the conductor.
My hands hovered over the keys.
And as the conductor's hand was just about to move down, my node churned.
[Intermediate Node : Anamnesis]
My vision darkened.