Director Shin sat at his desk, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. Papers were scattered before him, each one adding to the weight of the decision he knew was coming. The door creaked open, and Alice entered, handing him a document. Shin's eyes scanned the contents, his calm demeanor shifting as surprise flickered across his face.
"How did we miss this?" he demanded; his voice laced with frustration.
Alice, unfazed, replied steadily, "His father had a strained relationship with his mother. He only visited once every month or two. The connection was kept under wraps."
Shin’s gaze darkened as he processed the information. "Ethan Valen... and Jean Ashford," he muttered, the names sinking in. "So, his mother hid the father's identity all this time."
"Yes, she did," Alice confirmed. "No one knew his father’s identity until now."
Shin leaned back in his chair; his expression thoughtful. "Do you think Jean knows anything about the secret his father uncovered?"
"It’s possible," Alice replied. "If Ethan left clues, Jean might stumble upon them."
As Shin pondered their next move, the door swung open again, and Leon, another subordinate, rushed in. "Director, Jean has fled with the otherworlder he brought in. He destroyed several guard vehicles during the escape."
Shin’s eyes narrowed further, a calculating look crossing his face. "I see... This gives us grounds to dismiss him."
Alice's lips curled into a slight smirk. "And grounds to eliminate him for betraying the government."
Shin nodded, his expression cold and resolute. "Then let’s make it happen."
The room fell into a tense silence as the gravity of Shin's decision settled in. Just as Alice moved to execute the order, an unsettling feeling crept into the air—like something big was about to unfold.
Miles away, in the quiet of the safehouse, the door to the room burst open with a sudden crash. Mike stormed in, his usual confident stride faltering as his eyes locked onto the holographic screen hovering before Mira. His voice caught in his throat, his expression twisting into one of shock and disbelief.
“What… what is this?” he finally managed to ask; his voice shaky. He turned to Jean, his gaze demanding answers. “You told me she’s from another world. So how is she displaying magical abilities?”
Jean stood frozen, his mind racing as he stared at the glowing screen. The tension in the room thickened, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them. Mira’s face had gone pale, her lips trembling as she struggled to process the situation.
Jean was the first to break the silence, his voice tinged with fear. “Mira… are you really from another world?”
“Y-Yeah, I am…” Mira’s voice was barely audible, quivering with uncertainty.
“She’s not lying,” Mike interjected, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the data on the screen. “But this… this doesn’t make any sense.”
Jean’s heart pounded as he tried to piece together the puzzle. “Then what’s the explanation?”
Mike leaned closer, urgency in his eyes. “Her magical level… it’s 97. That’s… that’s incredibly high.”
Jean’s breath caught. “Level 97? But that means… she’s…”
Mike nodded; his face grim. “Only those born in this world possess magical power. Their level increases with age, experience, and mastery over spells. No one from another world should even be able to tap into magic here, let alone reach a level as high as this.”
Jean’s thoughts whirled, trying to reconcile the impossible. “But Mira comes from a world where magic doesn’t even exist… How could she possibly have these abilities?”
“That’s what we need to figure out,” Mike replied, his tone edged with determination. “Mira, I need you to be completely honest with us. How did you end up in that world? And how long have you been living there?”
Mira’s hands began to shake, her eyes filled with confusion and fear. “I… I don’t know. My memories… they’re all so fuzzy. Every time I try to remember, it feels like my head is splitting open… like something is trying to keep me from remembering.”
Mike’s gaze softened, but his voice remained steady. “She’s telling the truth. Whatever happened to her, it’s left her with a massive gap in her memory.”
Jean’s frustration boiled over. “None of this makes any sense! Mira, place your hand on the screen. Maybe it’ll reveal more about who you really are.”
Mike activated another holographic display, the screen flickering to life as it awaited Mira’s input. Hesitantly, Mira reached out and placed her hand on the cool surface. The screen buzzed with activity, processing the data before revealing a series of words that would change everything:
[Name: Unknown; Age: 18; Birthplace: Planet Elyndra]
Jean’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the screen, struggling to comprehend what it meant. “Planet Elyndra… but that’s here. She’s… she’s one of us?”
Mike exhaled slowly, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. “She was born here, but… the system doesn’t recognize her name. Someone went to great lengths to erase her identity. The real question is… why?”
Jean and Mike exchanged a tense look, the gravity of the situation settling in. Jean finally spoke, his voice steady but filled with unease. “One thing’s for sure: Mira’s from this world. That means she’s not eligible for the experiment, so she’s safe… for now. But we need to get back to the city and figure out what’s really going on before it’s too late.”
Back at Research Facility, Olive sat at his desk, staring at his screen. An urgent email from Shin had just come in. The subject line alone made his stomach drop: “Termination Notice - Jean Ashford.” The message was cold and direct: Jean was being fired for destroying government property and failing to hand over experiment subject. His actions were considered a betrayal.
Olive frowned as he read the email, then turned to his assistant, Cora. “It’s so sudden, don’t you think?”
Cora nodded; her brow furrowed in concern. “Yeah, he’s destroyed vehicles before, but nothing like this ever happened.”
Olive’s gaze darkened. “I don’t know what the director is plotting, but it’s something big.”
Cora handed Olive a schedule. “You’ve got work this evening. We need to get moving.”
As they arrived at the prison where research subjects were kept for the time being, Olive entered cell no. 878, where a man sat, his presence filled with tension. This man was Damian Lysander, a former colleague of Ethan Valen, charged with conducting dangerous experiments.
“I’m Olive. And you are?”
“Damian Lysander,” the man replied, his voice flat. “If you’re here to kill me, get on with it.”
Olive shook his head. “No, I’m not here to kill you. I need answers. Why did you perform those experiments and why you fled to Earth?”
Damian’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you believe anything I say?”
Olive leaned in; his voice low. “Tell me the story, and I’ll decide for myself.”
Damian paused; his voice tinged with bitterness as he began. "Ethan Valen and I were accused of conducting dangerous experiments, but that was just a cover. The truth is, we uncovered the true identity of the governing board and their agenda for the next 15 years. Fourteen years have already passed... You'll see for yourself what happens next." He exhaled sharply, his tone darkening. "I fled to Earth because I knew they would kill me too. But my luck ran out, and I got caught in your summoning spell."
Olive's eyes widened in shock. He slammed his hand on the table. "What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind? What identity? What plans?"
Back at Mike’s house, Jean quickly snapped a photo of the holographic screen showing Mira’s ability and typed out a message to Olive, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he explained the situation in terse, urgent sentences. Just as he hit send, Olive’s phone buzzed.
“Excuse me,” Olive muttered, pulling out his phone. As he read Jean’s message, Damian caught a glimpse of the screen, his eyes widening in shock.
“What…?” Damian’s voice suddenly trembled, his earlier defiance replaced by fear.
Olive frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Damian stared at the phone, his voice barely above a whisper. “What is she doing here?”
“You know her?” Olive asked, his confusion growing.
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“She’s Mira… my daughter. I left her on Earth, but… how did she get here?”
Olive’s eyes narrowed. “Your daughter? She was brought here by Jean. One of our part-timers.”
“What… Jean?” Damian’s expression shifted to disbelief.
“Do you know him?”
“Yeah, Maybe I know him... can you show me a photo of him?”
Olive quickly pulled up a picture of Jean on his phone. Damian’s face drained of color as he saw it. “He’s… Ethan’s son…”
“What?” Olive’s confusion deepened, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle. But he quickly remembered Jean’s message and typed out a reply: “I see. She’s the girl he described…”
Jean’s brow furrowed as he read the message. “Who described her? What are you talking about?”
Olive’s response came quickly, the words cryptic and unsettling: “It’s complicated. I can’t share the details with you right now. But you should know… you’re fired, and I’m meeting you soon. I’ve uncovered something… something too serious to ignore. I’ll explain later.”
Jean stared at his phone screen, his mind reeling. “I’ve been fired,” he murmured to Mike, his voice heavy with disbelief.
Mike’s initial shock quickly turned to anger. “Why the hell—”
Before he could finish, Jean’s phone buzzed again. Another message from Olive appeared: "You’ve been fired by Director Shin for destroying those guard vehicles."
Jean’s eyes narrowed as he read the message, his frustration boiling over. “This is absurd. I’ve destroyed hundreds of those things before, and they never cared. Why now?”
Mike’s expression darkened, a sense of foreboding settling in. “Something’s not right here. This is getting weirder by the second…”
Jean’s phone buzzed yet again, Olive’s name flashing on the screen. "Return to the city if possible."
Jean turned to Mira, noticing the exhaustion etched on her face. “Do you want to head back to the city?” he asked gently, concern evident in his tone.
Mira shook her head, her voice soft and tired. “I’m too exhausted to go anywhere right now.”
Jean’s phone buzzed once more with Olive’s final message for the night: "But be careful."
Jean didn’t press Mira further. “Alright. Get some rest. Good night, Mira.” He offered her a reassuring smile before leaving the room.
Outside, Jean found Mike waiting, the air thick with unspoken questions.
“What’s Mira going to do?” Mike asked, his voice laced with worry. “Is she going to leave this world?”
Jean sighed, running a hand through his hair, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “I’ll ask her tomorrow. Right now, I need some sleep too. Good night, Mike.”
Olive returned to his office, his mind swirling with thoughts. He paused, a sudden realization dawning on him. “Hey, Cora, do you think they’ve figured out Jean’s real identity?”
Cora looked up from her work, her expression serious. “There’s a possibility. Director Shin’s team is known for being thorough.”
Olive’s eyes narrowed, his concern deepening. “If that’s the case, they might be planning to kill him… And if that happens, it’ll prove that Damian was telling the truth.”
Cora’s expression darkened. “We’ll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.”
A cold shiver ran down Olive’s spine as he remembered that he had advised Jean to return to the city. He quickly took out his phone and sent a new message: "Don’t come to the city before morning and don’t forget to replenish your MP. You might be attacked."
But Jean was already asleep, the sound of his phone notifications going unnoticed in the quiet room.
The next morning, Jean awoke to the sound of hushed voices. Groggily, he checked his phone and saw Olive’s message. His lips curled into a knowing smile. He knew something was up.
He emerged from his room to find Mira and Mike deep in conversation. Mira’s expression was contemplative as she recounted memories of her previous world.
“Your previous world sounds a bit... old-fashioned, doesn’t it?” Mike remarked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Mira nodded; her tone tinged with nostalgia. “Yeah... I guess it is.”
Mike leaned in slightly, his voice gentle. “Do you want to go back there?”
A shadow passed over Mira’s face as she spoke. “I’m completely alone in that world... I hardly have any friends. Can I... can I stay here?”
Mike’s eyes softened with understanding. “Of course. This is your world too, after all.”
Just then, Jean burst into the conversation with a teasing grin. “Hey, lazy Mike, breakfast better be ready—I’m starving!”
Mike chuckled, the tension in the room dissipating. “It’s ready whenever you are, Mr. Fox.”
Jean laughed too, the playful exchange lifting the morning mood. They all headed to the dining table, where the meal awaited them.
After breakfast, Jean stood up, his expression turning serious. “I’m heading back to the city. I need to find out who Mira really is and why her identity was erased.”
Mike nodded; his tone supportive. “Alright. Call me if you need anything.”
Jean glanced at Mira, who looked back with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Together, they walked out to Jean’s car, the morning air crisp and cool. As they started their journey, the white clouds surrounding the floating island parted, revealing a stunning view of more islands scattered across the sky. Mira’s eyes widened in awe, mesmerized by the breathtaking sight.
The city awaited them, but so did the mysteries that lay ahead.
Before leaving, Jean remembered Olive's message. He turned to Mike, “Mike, can you give me the Magic Point Booster potion?”
Mike raised an eyebrow. “Why? Something up?”
Jean nodded slightly. “Feels like it.”
Mike didn’t question further. He opened a holographic screen, selected MP BOOSTER, and with a blue spark, the potion appeared in his hand. Jean took it and downed the entire potion in one gulp.
“Status open,” Jean commanded. His stats flashed before him: [Level-254; Magic Points: 100,000/100,000; HP: 100/100]. He smirked. “Looks good. Let’s go. See you soon, Mike.”
Jean opted for the car this time, setting it to autopilot.
“Mira, do you know how to use magic?” he asked, glancing at her.
Mira shook her head. “No… not really.”
“Open your stats.”
“Status open,” Mira said hesitantly. A holographic screen appeared in front of her.
“Click on the abilities tab at the bottom.”
Mira did, revealing [Abilities: Blue Flame (100 MP/sec) Lv-90, Lightning (10 MP/sec) Lv-67, Instant Teleportation – Passive—All deactivated].
Jean whistled. “You’ve got some pretty strong abilities, but they’re deactivated. Command ‘Activate all.’”
Mira took a deep breath. “Activate all.” Blue sparks crackled around her hands. “I feel… different.”
Jean nodded. “Good. You won’t be able to use them at full power yet, but it’s a start.”
As they neared the city entrance, Jean’s eyes narrowed at the sight of sleek, black vehicles speeding toward them. “Looks like they’re waiting for us,” he muttered.
The elite guards surrounded them, their vehicles cutting off any escape. Jean chuckled, adrenaline starting to pump through his veins. "The game’s on."
He turned to Mira. "Stay in the car. I need to handle this. The autopilot will take you to my house—wait there until I get back."
Mira’s eyes flashed with determination. "No way. You got into this because of me. I’m staying."
Jean hesitated. "But—"
"No buts," Mira interrupted. "It feels like I can do this."
Jean saw the resolve in her eyes and nodded. "Alright, watch my back."
With synchronized precision, they jumped from the car into the open air. Jean snapped his fingers, and neon-colored hoverboards materialized under their feet. The guards' vehicles hovered around them, and one of the guards shouted through a loudspeaker, "Surrender now, or we’ll use force!"
Jean’s eyes narrowed. “Force it is, then.”
"ATTACK!" the lead guard commanded.
The air exploded with gunfire and energy blasts. Mira’s instincts kicked in, and a shimmering blue shield erupted around them, deflecting the first wave of attacks. Jean shot her an impressed look. "Nice one!"
Jean didn’t waste a second. “Time to end this.”
He sliced through the air with his sword, and portals appeared before each of the approaching vehicles. The sword multiplied, its enormous, glowing blades emerging from the portals with a flash. The swords sliced through the vehicles as if they were paper, each cut precise and devastating.
Explosions erupted behind them, filling the sky with flames as the vehicles were torn apart. The guards barely had time to react before their rides were obliterated, the debris raining down in a fiery spectacle.
“More incoming!” Mira shouted.
“I’ll take the left; you handle the right!” Jean called out; his voice steady despite the chaos.
Mira focused, commanding, “Activate all abilities!” Energy surged through her, and blue sparks crackled at her fingertips. As the guards opened fire again, Mira instinctively threw a bolt of lightning. It came out from Mira’s hand striking one of the vehicles with a deafening crack. The vehicle spiraled out of control, electricity surging through its systems until it exploded in a blinding flash.
Jean landed on another vehicle, his sword flashing as he cut through its armor. The guard inside fired at him with a pulse rifle, but Jean dodged, moving with the fluidity of a dancer. He spun, delivering a final blow that sent the guard tumbling out of the sky.
"Mira, on your left!" Jean warned.
Mira turned just in time to see a guard aiming directly at her. Without thinking, she thrust her hand forward, and a wall of blue flame erupted between her and the attack. The fire roared to life, engulfing the guard’s vehicle in a blaze that left nothing but ash.
"Not bad for a beginner!" Jean called, a grin on his face.
But the fight wasn’t over. More guards poured in, their vehicles closing in like a tightening net. "They just keep coming!" Mira gasped, her energy starting to wane.
"Hang in there!" Jean shouted, opening another portal and using it to gain a tactical advantage. He appeared above the battlefield, looking down at the chaos. With a deep breath, he raised his sword, channeling his energy into a devastating attack. "Vortex Slash!"
A whirlwind of energy spiraled from Jean's sword, cutting through the air and tearing through the guards’ ranks. Vehicles exploded, debris raining down as he landed back on his hoverboard, slightly winded but satisfied. Victory seemed within reach.
Back at the HQ, Alice and Shin watched the battle unfold on a large screen.
"Director, they’re stronger than we anticipated... We sent our elite guards, but they’re being overwhelmed. Should we... use him?" Alice's voice carried a note of hesitation.
The director leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "If you believe it's necessary, then do it."
Their gaze shifted back to the screen, where Jean and Mira were closing in on their victory.
"It seems the right time," Alice murmured, her fingers gliding over the controls as she brought up a holographic display. A human-like model appeared, the name Noctis Vayne flickering beneath it.
"Let’s see how they handle this," she said with a cold smile.
Just as Jean and Mira prepared to claim victory, a shadowy figure emerged from the smoke, moving with unnatural speed.
"Jean, look out!" Mira screamed, but it was too late. The figure unleashed a powerful spell, a burst of dark energy that slammed into Mira, sending her crashing to the ground. She cried out in pain, clutching her side where the blast had hit. Blood seeped through her fingers, staining her clothes.
"Mira!" Jean shouted; eyes wide with panic. He tried to rush to her side, but the figure was faster, appearing in front of him in a blur. Jean barely had time to raise his sword before a wave of dark magic struck him, knocking him back.
Jean gritted his teeth, pain searing through his body, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded; voice laced with anger.
The figure didn’t respond. Instead, it raised its hand, summoning glowing chains that wrapped around Jean and Mira, binding them tight. The chains pulsed with a strange energy.
Jean struggled against the bonds, but they tightened with every movement. "Let us go!" he shouted, but his words were met with cold silence.
Before Jean could even process what was happening, a portal opened beneath them, swirling with dark energy. The chains tightened once more, and with a sudden, violent pull, they were dragged down into the portal. The world spun wildly around them, and when the disorienting sensation finally stopped, Jean and Mira found themselves in a pitch-black room, the air thick with dread.
Mira’s breathing was shallow, her face pale as pain washed over her. Jean tightened his grip on her, his heart pounding with worry. His own injuries were forgotten in the face of her suffering. He leaned in close, his voice a desperate whisper, "Hang in there, Mira. I’ll get us out of this... somehow. Just stay with me."
Back at the HQ, Alice and Shin watched the scene on their monitors, the tension in the room slowly dissipating.
Alice smirked, leaning back in her chair. "It looks like we’ve won."
Shin glanced at her, a satisfied nod accompanying his words. "Yeah, great work, Alice."
But as they congratulated themselves, the screen flickered, and the battle took a sudden, dark turn...