image [https://i.gyazo.com/cb58ab58498d3343489aa91d6cd0ed39.jpg]

“Are you able to piece these broken pieces together again?”

My body is shaking rapidly, I don't know what happened. It just happened suddenly, the blare of an alarm and the flashing lights weren't helping me either. I've got to help.

“I have to help..”

“I have to.”

Whenever I look at this moment my only words are, “Wow.. This guy must be an idiot, heh.” I wish I had thought of this more clearly.

But truthfully, I don't know if this is what I would have wanted.

I reached the room of ‘Project Multiplication’, I don't know what the purpose of the experiment was, all I cared about was getting paid.

I don't even know if that thing was human or not, I just didn't care. The ‘Head Scientist’ shouted my name.

“RAI!! YOU MADE IT JUST IN TIME.!” I don't know why the Head Scientist was so excited to see me, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed compared to the others. I don't even know if I'm any help.

The Head Scientist instructed me to focus on what's causing the errors.

I tried my best to figure it out, but I wasn't able to find out. Our time was running out, there was no time to waste. The Head Scientist was especially looking stressed out, and he could pass out at any moment.

The situation started to get worse, I started to get more and more anxious too. The pieces of the tube were starting to break, The Head Scientist was freaking out when he noticed.

“NO! THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN, IT CANNN'T.” He was freaking out to the point he started to hit the other scientists.

I changed my focus to fixing it instead of looking for the problem. However it was no use, we were just prolonging the inevitable..

A gust of wind embedded with ‘Cipher’ was emitting around the room.

We stopped what we were doing, we just knew there's nothing we could do anymore. I, myself, just stared at the tube as it breaks slowly. Some of the other scientists just prayed, some did nothing.

“Maybe, I should have stayed at home..”

I could've done more, but that's just how life goes.

“I-”

"BOOOOM!"

image [https://i.gyazo.com/90c606a971d4dabf7d01403aebd2d26d.png]

A naked woman was unconscious on the floor, the room was filled with rubbles and pieces of the tech that was imploded.

The bodies of the scientists were nowhere to be seen, there was just dust.

The woman's body was impaled with pieces of glass. Her lower leg was stuck between a huge piece of debris that fell down from the ceiling.

image [https://i.gyazo.com/90c606a971d4dabf7d01403aebd2d26d.png]

A voice spoke.

“Do you still remember me, S-, oh.. You're not her. Then who are you..?”

A pitch black figure appeared. It questioned the woman who she is. The woman didn't respond, she didn't know what it was doing.

“Won't respond, huh? Oh! ‘0×’, huh.. I see so you're her after all. Maybe it's not the right time to tell you, just yet..”

The figure started to walk away from 0×.

“Goodbye, S-.”

The figure smiled at 0× before disappearing, 0× stayed at one spot before sitting down and closing her eyes in the void.

“BAAMM!”

image [https://i.gyazo.com/90c606a971d4dabf7d01403aebd2d26d.png]

I don't know why they ordered us to go to a laboratory, all they said was to retrieve an ‘Artificial Human’ wearing a collar with the number code of ‘0×’.

We weren't informed of this laboratory nor an experiment beforehand. It seems shady.. I just wanna retire and live a normal life. But I needed the money.

“Owwuch!” Something just hit me..

A person in a battle suit hit me, the impact was painful due to the suit being made with steel.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“HEY! Can't a man get his slee-.. Oh…” It was the general, I should've kept my tongue.

“My apologies, ma'am.” I quickly apologized so I wouldn't get scolded again.

The commander told us to get ready as things could get dirty..?

“We're here, don't lose focus now.” I usually don't take my job seriously, but I have a feeling I should take this one seriously..

The door of the jet opened, I don't know what I was expecting when we arrived here.

The laboratory was in ruins.. I wonder what happened here to get in this shape.? The laboratory's mechanism wasn't working due to the rough condition of the place.

We used explosives to brute force our way in since the mechanism wasn't working. And just like that! We're in.

The interior was in a rough shape like outside either, it was fairly dark inside. Thankfully we brought some spare light cartridges, the laboratory was fairly big, a second floor and a basement… For some reason..?

“Stop, let's split up here.” The commander told us to split into three groups due to there being three hallways, and also to maximize the search efficiency.

We took the north side of the laboratory, we saw a room named ‘Project Sub…ct.on’ the name was cutted of. My subordinate said it's probably ‘Subtraction’ but unfortunately doesn't know what it means.

We couldn't access it either due to the other side being blocked due to the wreckage of the place, we continued but we met a dead end and still no progress.

We were going back to the original point, until the commander said something on the radio.

“We found something, go to the East of the building asap.” We may have found the target but we'll have to find that out ourselves, I don't know why she wants us to hurry up though..

“We're here.” We were out of breath due to the laboratory being huge.

“Good, good. You all are just in time.” She pointed to the debris and told us to carry the debris as the artificial human was stuck on it.

"Roger that."

Briefly, I don't know why she's even asking us to carry it. She's clearly stronger than all of us combined..

The artificial human was bleeding blood too.. Wow, talk about detail, gotta give them credits. But there's just something bothering me… Where are the corpses of the scientists..?

They can't just disappear, this place is owned by the government after all.. I shouldn't overthink this, I'm not fit for it after all.

Phew.. We finally moved the debris out of the artificial human. I wonder what it looks like..

“Good job, get some rest before we move her in the jet.” Oh, it's a female one.. I should probably get some spare clothes in the jet to cover her up.

“Where are you going, soldier?” The general saw me leaving the room even though she told us to rest. “I'm going to the jet to get clothes for her.” She gave me permission after I told her what my intentions were.

image [https://i.gyazo.com/90c606a971d4dabf7d01403aebd2d26d.png]

I can't seem to find spare female clothes. Screw it.. I'm just gonna use these patient clothes laying around.

I heard a noise of footsteps on the exit, it looked like it was the general and the others. I handed the clothes to the general so she could put it on the artificial human.

Wouldn't it be weird for a guy to put clothes on a female? Yeah, I thought so.

“We're leaving in 10 mins.” Looks like I can finally go on with that retirement plan, thankfully. The general put the human in her room, it should've been-.. Mm-mm what am I thinking..

The jet took off safely. The general said to take some rest as she'll take over.. I mean, who wouldn't want that?

image [https://i.gyazo.com/90c606a971d4dabf7d01403aebd2d26d.png]

“Fra-..”

“Fraaz, HEY FRAAZ. WAKE UP..” Fivee more minutes.. “FRAZ.” Who-.. It looked like it was the commander waking me up again.

I opened my eyes to the commander without her wearing the battle suit, she was stressed out based on her facial features..

“What happened?” I asked the commander as I was confused on why she was waking me up. “T-the jet's… engine, it's failing.. I-I've also noticed a strong wave of Cipher energy..” I barely understood what she was saying.

“WAKE. UP.” She slapped me, I quickly apologized for my behavior.

She repeated what she said earlier, I thought of a solution to this, but I didn't wanted to use it.

In a person, there's a molecule called ‘Terminal’ on Humans, Elves, and other races brain's, it allows one to use Cipher to cast an ‘Iteration’.

I had no choice either way, I closed my eyes to focus on casting an Iteration technique..

“Prompt: Alteration.” I opened my eyes to cast a ‘Cipher Iteration’ called ‘Alteration.’ It can stabilize a phenomenon's rotation and movement by continuously altering its position.

It seems like it was working for a moment.. But the huge amount of Cipher leaking from something or someone is interfering with my focus.. I wouldn't be able to keep this up for long.

“Ak-.. Ma'am, I wouldn't be able to hold on for long… The Cipher t-that's leaking is interfering with my focus..” She seemed more worried when I told her. She was way more relieved when I had the situation in control for a brief moment.

I noticed flames bursting inside of the control room near where the artificial human is resting.. I didn't told the commander to not worry her more.

Our battle suits energy was out of energy and there was no way to recharge it in our current situation..

I looked at my comrades and nodded my head, they understood what my were intentions and agreed with it.

We made a promise to each other excluding the commander if she ever get in trouble, we would do anything to save her. Even if it kills us in the process.

The commander was confused on what we were planning, it is best that she does not know what it is.

“I hope you forgive me for what I'm about to do, Akyra..” I released my Iteration technique on the jet so I could focus altering the position of the commander.

"W-what are you doing Fr-raaz..?" She was confused on why I released my Iteration technique.

"Wh-hy are you pointing your hands towards me..? Fraaz, tell me..!" I can't... I just can not tell you.

“H-hey, let me go..! RELEASE YOUR ITERATION THIS INSTANT. THAT'S AN ORDER.” I ignored her orders. It wasn't the first time I ignored her orders, but it was necessary, just like last time..

I took her to the door of the jet. I altered my Iteration's technique to combine another one. It wasn't easy but I managed.. It doesn't come without a cost though.

"Nn-nggh!" I was coughing blood, my head was starting to shake too. The worst part is I'm losing starting to lose consciousness..

My vision is blurry.. Blood started to come out of my eyes.

“Fraaz.. Stop it, please…!” I ignored her request. This is for her and our sake afterall.. I struggled to open the door of the jet due to the side effect of overusing Cipher...

“So.ry, Akyra. I w.ll al..ys lo-..” My Iteration technique gave up.. However the second Iteration will stay temporarily even if I'm dead.

"I ... ...., ...ht?" Everything went blank, I'm satisfied with my decision..

'BOOOOMM!'

image [https://i.gyazo.com/90c606a971d4dabf7d01403aebd2d26d.png]

“Why... Whyy must you..” I've tried to not be a burden but in the end, I failed. Again.. You promised me you wouldn't die, Fraaz..

It's my fault.. That's why you couldn't keep your promise.

It's my fault. Isn't it..? Yeah, it's my fault. It's my fault, my fault for being a burden to them. I will do anything to fix you.. We will be together again.

‘Thuuuddd!’