-CONTROL ROOM-
-1:16 PM, MARCH 10, 2017-
The system's resistance intensified.
Not just blocking—
But pushing back.
Forcing pressure into the room itself.
Rikuu held his ground.
Fingers steady on the interface.
"…It's adapting faster."
Ichika nodded.
"…We're forcing it to reveal its limits."
The screens flickered.
New pathways appeared.
Then vanished.
The system trying to hide its structure.
Ichika leaned in.
"…There."
She pointed.
"…That sequence—"
Rikuu followed immediately.
"…That's a core pathway."
Rikuu adjusted the input.
Carefully.
"…If we disrupt that…"
A pause.
"…We get closer to the core."
The system reacted instantly.
Locking that path.
Redirecting flows.
Trying to isolate the move.
The man spoke calmly.
"…You're getting closer."
Rikuu didn't respond.
His focus never broke.
Ichika's eyes sharpened.
"…But the closer we get—"
"…the more dangerous it becomes."
Rikuu nodded slightly.
"…I know."
The system surged again.
This time—
Stronger.
The screens flashing violently.
A sudden alert appeared.
"CORE ACCESS RESTRICTED"
Ichika's expression tightened.
"…It knows."
Rikuu exhaled slowly.
"…Then we force it open."
The man's voice remained steady.
"…You can try."
A pause.
"…But the system will respond accordingly."
Rikuu began executing a deeper sequence.
Ichika immediately followed his lead.
Their coordination—
Sharper than before.
For a moment—
The system wavered.
Just slightly.
A crack.
Ichika noticed.
"…Rikuu—"
He nodded.
"…I see it."
The crack widened.
Just a little.
But enough.
The system reacted violently.
Attempting to seal the breach.
But—
It was already unstable.
The man's expression finally shifted—
Very slightly.
"…Interesting."
Rikuu's eyes sharpened.
"…Now."
They pushed.
Hard.
Together.
The system trembled.
A critical point—
Was within reach.