-MAIN CHAMBER-
-11:41 AM, MARCH 10, 2017-
The air shifted.
Subtle.
But heavy.
Rikuu stood facing the man.
Ichika just beside him.
No one moved.
But everything felt ready to break.
The man exhaled slowly.
"…Then show me."
A pause.
"…What you're willing to risk."
Rikuu stepped forward.
"…Everything."
The word was simple.
But firm.
Ichika glanced at him briefly—
Then looked forward again.
The man studied them.
"…A strong answer."
A faint pause.
"…But incomplete."
Suddenly—
A faint mechanical sound echoed from above.
Rikuu's eyes sharpened.
"…What was that?"
Ichika looked upward.
"…Movement."
The man stepped back slightly.
"…You came here assuming this was the center."
A pause.
"…You were correct."
But—
"…You didn't realize what that means."
Rikuu's expression tightened.
"…Explain."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…This location isn't just a hub."
A pause.
"…It's a trigger point."
Ichika's eyes widened slightly.
"…Trigger… for what?"
The man smiled faintly.
"…Everything."
The lights flickered.
Once.
Then again.
Rikuu immediately moved closer to Ichika.
"…Stay alert."
A loud metallic shift echoed.
Somewhere above.
Something activating.
The atmosphere—
Changed completely.
The man raised his hand slightly.
"…Now."
A pause.
"…We begin Phase Three."
Rikuu's gaze sharpened.
"…Stop it."
The man didn't respond.
Instead—
He stepped back.
And vanished into the shadows.
Silence.
Then—
A low mechanical hum.
Growing.
Building.
Ichika spoke quickly.
"…Rikuu—this isn't just a conversation anymore."
He nodded.
"…I know."
A pause.
"…We need to move."
Rikuu turned toward the direction the man disappeared.
"…We follow."
Ichika nodded.
"…Now."
As they moved—
The building trembled slightly.
Not violently.
But noticeably.
Something had begun.
Rikuu slowed for a split second.
"…Ichika."
She looked at him.
"…Yeah?"
"…No matter what happens—"
A pause.
"…We don't separate."
Her answer came immediately.
"…We won't."
They moved forward together.
Into the deeper sections of the facility.
Closer.
To whatever had just been activated.
Behind them—
The lights flickered again.
The hum grew louder.
Something was waking up.