Ikki

The pain surged through me like a bolt of lightning, and I staggered back, clutching my head in agony. The Project Raiju sphere before me seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy, and the room began to spin around me. Colors swirled and danced in a chaotic whirlwind, blending into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow.

The colors and shapes around me shifted and twisted, forming a bizarre and surreal tapestry that defied the laws of physics. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of the madness unfolding before my eyes. The pain in my head was unbearable, like my skull was being split open from the inside.

I briefly found myself standing before a massive Torii gate. Dozens of seals covered a shrine door beyond the gate, and I could hear the faint sound of chanting in the distance.

I stumbled forward, my vision blurred by the kaleidoscope of colors and shapes still swirling around me. The pain in my head had subsided, but the world around me remained a twisted, dreamlike landscape.

As I approached the Torii gate, I felt a sudden sense of urgency. The chanting grew louder, and I could see figures moving in the shadows dancing to lamp light beyond the wooden shrine gate. My mind raced, trying to remember what I was doing here, and why these talismans and seals had any meaning to me.

But as quickly as the hallucination appeared, it vanished.

I squinted my eyes, feeling a wave of vertigo wash over me. The world around me was a strange, distorted version of the lab, with shadows and lights flickering in and out of existence.

Rai-chan's voice echoed in my head, sounding distant and distorted. I couldn't quite make out what she was saying, but it helped anchor me.

I stumbled forward, reaching out to the glass cylinder as if drawn by an invisible force. The metal sphere within pulsed with a light that seemed to pierce through the veil of reality, revealing glimpses of a world beyond my understanding.

An endless void of stars stretched out before me, and I felt a sense of awe and terror that overwhelmed my ability to process it.

"Rai-chan, what's happening?!" I cried out, but her voice was lost in the dissonant, horrible symphony of sounds and images swirling around me. The lab was no longer a lab but a kaleidoscope of shifting realities, each one more bizarre and alien than the last.

I could feel a presence within the core, a consciousness that was both alien and familiar simultaneously. It called out to me, resonating with the essence of Rai-chan within my mind.

The boundaries between us blurred, and for a moment, I felt as if I was part of something much larger than myself.

The pain in my head intensified, and I fell to my knees, clutching my skull as if trying to hold it together. The world around me spun wildly, a maelstrom of color and sound that defied comprehension.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the insanity subsided.

The lab snapped back into focus, the lights steady and the equipment silent. I gasped for breath, my head throbbing with a dull ache that was a merciful relief compared to the agony I had just endured. I was somehow standing upright halfway across the room from where I had last remembered being.

Spencer rushed to my side, his face etched with concern. "Ikki, are you alright? What the hell just happened?"

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog from my mind. "I... I don't know," I stammered.

"You just started stumbling around, before snapping up like a freaking man possessed. How'd you know what the access code was?"

"I — what?"

I looked down, only to blink in surprise as I found myself holding a sleek, volleyball-sized chrome orb with tendrils of blue light pulsing beneath its surface between my hands. My fingers were wrapped tightly around it like I'd stolen it, but I couldn't remember doing so.

"What the heck?" I muttered.

The sirens continued to blare, the sound echoing through the lab like a relentless wail. Spencer's face was a mask of confusion and concern as he looked from me to the orb in my hand.

“You grabbed the sphere and just jumped straight into the air, screaming some kind of gibberish," Spencer said, his brow furrowed in worry. "And then the whole room went insane. I've never seen anything like it."

I tried to remember what had happened, but it felt like grasping at water vapor - the memories slipped away from me, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. The sphere in my hands hummed softly, its surface cool to the touch.

"I… I have no idea," I admitted.

Spencer's expression darkened. "Hey… Are you actually who you said you are, Ikki? You're not a damned spy are you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but a robotic voice cut through the din before I could say anything. "Administrator Ikazuchi. Project Raiju welcomes you."

I froze, my eyes widening in shock as the monitors flickered, displaying several blinking lights and scrolling data. Several hatches along the walls suddenly opened, and two silver chrome orbs with a single ocular camera emerged, floating around me with a quiet hum. Each orb was roughly sixteen inches in diameter, with LED lights and no visible propulsion system.

The screens switched rapidly, each displaying different sets of complex readings and graphs, a dizzying array of information I couldn't begin to understand.

The robotic voice continued, speaking in a female Japanese accent that sounded eerily familiar. Too familiar, in fact.

"Project Raiju is now active. Your identity has been confirmed. Welcome, Administrator Ikazuchi."

Spencer's eyes widened in disbelief, and he stepped back, his gaze shifting between me and the floating orbs.

"The hell is going on here?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed me. My mind was a storm of confusion and disbelief.

The second orb spoke up with an identical voice. "Dr. Rachel Feynman constructed this project with maximum compatibility for Administrator Ikazuchi. Your presence has reactivated our prime function."

"Rai-chan, what exactly is going on?" I demanded, reaching out to her in my mind.

"I don't know," Rai-chan answered. "I have established a connection with them, and we are exchanging data, but there seems to be a block of some sort between us. We… share an origin, but we aren't one entity. Our connection lapsed when you began to stumble around. What happened?"

The orbs floated closer to me, their blue lights pulsating with an otherworldly glow. Spencer watched with a mix of awe and trepidation, clearly at a loss for words as the robotic voices continued to address me as Administrator Ikazuchi. I could feel Rai-chan's presence in my mind, her confusion mirroring my own as we both tried to make sense of the situation.

Suddenly, the sirens' wail grew louder, and the room's lights flickered erratically. Spencer pointed to the monitors, his voice cracking urgently. "Shit… shit! It's the school's entropy cascade detection system. It's going off the charts!"

I turned to the screens, my heart pounding. The data was a blur of numbers and symbols, but one thing was clear: something big was happening. "How bad is it?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the sirens.

Spencer's gulped. "Well fuck me sideways, we're facing a Magnitude 3.8 event. That's… that's unheard of so close to the city. The last time Shoreline City faced anything over a 2.4 was over a decade ago."

The thought of a Mag 4 scale disaster so close to us was enough to send a violent shiver down my spine.

I had lived through a few that would be classified between a Magnitude 1 and 2 in my childhood, but nothing like the apocalyptic scale of the first Chaos Event I had survived as a toddler.

However it had turned out, I had blocked out the memory of it, save for a few vivid flashes, the details lost to the sheer terror and trauma that overwhelmed me.

Magnitude 3 and 4 events were nothing like that, of course, but they still ravaged entire cities with devastating effects.

A violent tremor rattled the laboratory as if on cue, causing clipboards and equipment to clatter to the floor. The sirens blared even louder, drowning out all other noise as the building shook around us.

I clutched my head in agony, fighting off the returning headache that threatened to split my skull.

"Welp, we'll figure this out later. We've gotta get to the command room. Now!" Spencer shouted.

I nodded, my mind racing as we hurried out of the lab and into the chaotic hallways. The building trembled around us, lights flickering overhead as emergency warnings blared through the speakers. The two orbs continued to float alongside me, their presence equally comforting and unsettling.

"What's going on in the command room?" I asked Spencer, jogging alongside him.

Spencer glanced at me as we raced through the corridors. “The St. Antonia’s Robotics Club here is just one of the many student organizations in charge of coordinating logistics, conducting drone reconnaissance, and analyzing real-time data during Chaos Events. It's listed as one of our obligations and tasks in our charter, even though it's been a while since Shoreline City has suffered from such an event. As Terrans, we've designed our societies to encourage as much participation and assistance as possible during times like these.”

I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. "W-what can I do to help? I haven't been trained for this."

"We'll find something for you," Spencer assured me, his voice steady despite the chaos around us. "Right now, we need all hands on deck. Just follow my lead."

The orbs, floating just ahead of us, began to exchange comments with each other.

Their voices were flat and deadpan, almost as if they were programmed to be devoid of emotion and completely robotic, unlike… prime Rai-chan? Was that what Rai-chan was? Should I start calling her that too?

The orbs bobbed in the air, seemingly unaffected by the pandemonium surrounding us, turning to face their ocular cameras at each other.

"Assessment: Entropy cascade detected in Sector 4C, Lenapehoking Territory. Probability of successful evacuation with minimal casualties: 3.2%," the orb on the left stated matter-of-factly.

I quickly labeled that one Orb A in my head.

The second orb… one I quickly designated Orb B, responded, "Affirmative. Administrator Ikazuchi's presence has drastically increased the regional operational capacity. However, his lack of experience presents a significant liability."

Spencer chuckled despite the situation. "You guys really know how to lighten the mood, huh?"

The orbs continued their conversation, "Lightening module not found," Orb A said.

"Recommend immediate download," Orb B added.

"Geeze," Spencer shook his head. "You guys always this chatty during a crisis?"

The orbs didn't miss a beat, responding simultaneously. "Affirmative. It is our function to provide continuous analysis and assistance to the Administrator."

"Oh for the love of—" Rai-chan chimed in my head.

Without warning, a third orb materialized between the two, its crystalline surface shimmering with an ethereal glow. I felt a drain in my chest as a light from within me surged towards it, resonating with the orb.

The new orb shared a voice, but it was distinctly more human, with girlish inflections and a hint of annoyance.

"You two are insufferable. Leave the humor to the professionals and quit your pointless banter!" it chided.

Spencer's eyes widened in shock. "Now, where the fuck did that one come from?!" he exclaimed, his composure momentarily slipping.

Rai-chan didn't miss a beat, adopting the same neutral tone as the other two. "I am here to assist in the current crisis, Spencer Williams."

The original orbs responded in unison, "Negative, Project Raiju. Humor is an essential component in maintaining optimal cognitive function during high-stress scenarios," they retorted, their mechanical feminine voices overlapping.

I couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of the situation. "Looks like you've got some competition, Rai-chan," I thought to her.

Rai-chan's voice echoed in my mind, a mix of pride and annoyance. "Those two can banter all they want. I'm still the one who's got your back, Ikki. And for the record, I am not jealous."

Spencer shook his head, trying to regain his composure. "Maaaan, this day just keeps getting weirder and weirder."

We burst into the command center, a scene straight out of a space disaster movie. Monitors lined the walls, displaying real-time data and satellite imagery of the unfolding event. I could see some pods along the wall on the far side of the room. Ena stood at the 'helm' of the room at the back, her fingers flying over the controls with a mad scientist's fervor.

The students in the room paused momentarily, turning to gawk at the orbs floating around me.

"Wait," one of the students, a yellow-eyed, silver-haired boy with olive skin, commented, his eyes landing on the core in my arms. "Is that…?"

Ena's grin widened, her excitement palpable as her eyes swept over the orbs. "Ah, Ikki, you've brought some friends! Excellent timing."

"Acknowledged," one of the chrome orbs said. "Project Raiju is now fully operational under Administrator Ikazuchi's guidance."

Ena's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she approached, her gaze fixed on the orbs. "This is… quite the turn of events. How did you activate them, Ikki?"

Before I could respond, Rai-chan floated forward, her crystalline, glowing form captivating everyone in the room.

“Rai-chan?” I thought at her in alarm.

“Relax, I can bluff through this,” she reassured me, her voice calm in my mind. “Sorry for draining so much of your reserves already, but we had a bit of a situation to deal with, and I figured it was better to act first and ask for forgiveness later.”

The room fell silent as Rai-chan projected her holographic form from the orb, her radiance filling the space with a soft, ethereal light. Ena's eyes widened in awe, taking a step back as the Rai-Chan human avatar made a motion to smooth out her blue sun dress and straighten her straw hat.

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Then, the Rai-chan avatar looked up at Ena with a mischievous smile and spoke.

"Our activation was initiated by Administrator Ikazuchi's presence and proximity to the containment unit housing Project Raiju. Doctor Feynman had keyed our activation sequence to the resonance frequency of the unit, which then synchronized with Administrator Ikazuchi's biometric signature, and initiated the awakening process," Rai-chan explained, her voice carrying a weight of authority. "Doctor Feynman had previously assessed a blueprint of Ikazuchi's soul graph and determined a high degree of compatibility with the Raiju system."

Ena and Spencer exchanged a look before Ena turned back to Rai-chan, intrigued by her explanation. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she processed the information, bending over and prodding the crystalline orb.

Spencer on the other hand, palmed his face, "Of course the old hag would have some crazy biometric signature tied to a specific individual, and conveniently forget to tell us before disappearing somewhere. Couldn't be simple for once and just put a button on it, huh?"

Ena shot Spencer a playful glare before she finally straightened up, her eyes alight with excitement. "If I'm understanding this correctly," she began, "Project Raiju has been lying dormant all this time, waiting for the right moment to awaken. And now, with Ikki's presence... we have additional help on our side in a moment of crisis! As expected from Doctor Feynman!"

She turned to face the monitors dramatically, her fingers dancing across the controls as she pulled up a map of Lenapehoking Territory. "Alright, friends. We need to focus on Sector 4C. The entropy cascade is reaching critical levels, and we need to get as many people as we can to the bunkers while minimizing casualties."

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination coursing through me. "What do you need me to do, Ena?"

Ena shook her head. "Stand by for now, Ikki. We need to assess the situation further before we can determine your role in this operation."

"President Ethniu Samildanach, may we have your consent to connect with the Panoptes response system? We acknowledge the limitations you placed on us after a malfunction caused by the previous administrator's protocols. However, given the current situation, we believe it is necessary to reassess those controls," the chrome orbs spoke in perfect unison.

Ena's brow furrowed at the request, a sense of wariness creeping into her expression. "Hmm, now, why does that sound like the start to an old robot apocalypse movie from Earth?"

Without missing a beat, Rai-chan's orb floated forward, her radiant form walking and pulsating with energy. "President Samildanach we assure you that our intentions are aligned with the preservation of life and the protection of Lenapehoking Territory. The Panoptes response system will provide us with invaluable data and strategic assistance in managing the crisis at hand.”

Ena stood at the forefront of the room, her expression contemplative as she considered the orbs’ request. Her eyes flickered with a mixture of curiosity and caution, her hand absently toying with a curl of her red hair.

Rai-chan observed Ena, her holographic form projecting an aura of calm reassurance.

“I must emphasize this. Although we can remove the limitations imposed ourselves, we seek your consent out of respect for your authority as the daughter of the Balor Group, and to maintain transparency in our actions. Your trust is paramount in achieving our shared goal of safeguarding our people and land from the impending danger."

Ena studied Rai-chan again for a long moment, her gaze piercing through the holographic image. Finally, she let out a deep breath, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips

Finally, she let out a resigned sigh and nodded. "Fine, make the connection to the Panoptes response system. But I will be monitoring closely, and any sign of deviation from our objectives will result in immediate disconnection. Understood?"

The orbs hummed in unison, their metallic surfaces glowing brighter as they floated over to a pair of jacks embedded in the wall. With a synchronized motion, they slotted themselves in, their forms flickering as they established the connection to the Panoptes response system. The room filled with a low hum of power, and the monitors blinked to life with a new interface displaying intricate data streams and strategic overlays of Lenapehoking Territory.

I felt a drain on my energy as the orbs connected to the Panoptes response system. The room seemed to pulse with otherworldly energy, and I could sense the vast information network flowing through the orbs' connection.

My personal HUD activated with a flurry of information scrolling across the corner of my vision. Real-time ambient mana flux maps, evacuation routes, and thermal scans populated my display as the orbs worked tirelessly to process information.

Spencer leaned in close to me, "I don't know what's happening, but it looks like you're at the center of it. Just be careful, alright?"

I gulped and nodded, feeling the burden of unknown responsibility resting on my shoulders. My headache intensified as the influx of information flooded my senses, making it hard to focus. The room around me seemed to blur as I struggled to maintain my composure.

One of the students nearby gasped, before frantically clicking away with his mouse. "Ena! We have an incoming call from one of the Magical Girls down in Lenapehoking Territory. Hammurabi Nexus code indicates she's an A-Rank. She's looking for Spencer."

Ena's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of a call from one of the Magical Girls. She quickly adjusted her focus, realizing the urgency of the situation. "Spencer, take the call. It might be crucial information about what's happening on the ground," she instructed, her voice firm and authoritative.

Spencer nodded, his expression turning serious as he approached a communication console. With a few quick gestures, he accepted the call, and a holographic image of a small, familiar girl with a familiar black beret in a black and yellow military outfit materialized in front of him. She had a professional, almost military stiffness to her posture despite her young appearance.

Hana of the Dawn looked around the room, inspecting our ragtag crew. Her eyes widened briefly, seeing me standing amidst the students, but she quickly regained her composure and directed her attention back to Spencer.

"Hana of the Dawn, reporting from Sector 3B. This one is glad to have reached you, Spencer. She trusts you are situated in the command room?"

Spencer nodded at Hana of the Dawn, his expression mirroring her seriousness. "Confirmed, Hana. We're here and ready to assist. What's the situation in Lenahopeking?"

"We have received confirmation that multiple negentropy generators have failed in across the territory Territory. There are eight Magical Girls present to cover the entire territory, including Hana," Hana reported, her voice unwavering despite the gravity of her words. "There are more civilians here than the Magical Girls can manage alone. We are requesting support to assess the tactical situation before it spirals out of control."

Ena stepped forward, her gaze steely with determination. "Understood, Hana. We'll coordinate a response from our end to provide assistance. Stay vigilant and keep us updated on any developments in Sector 3B."

"Hana," I spoke over the din of urgent conversations and analysis happening in the room, capturing everyone's attention. Hana's holographic form turned towards me, her eyes assessing me carefully.

"Is there anything specific we should be looking out for in the territorry?" I asked, trying to inject confidence into my voice despite the overwhelming situation I'd found myself in.

Hana regarded me for a moment, and I briefly noticed her eyes furrow in worry.

Finally, she spoke, her tone measured yet urgent. "Please keep an eye out for any signs of dimensional instability and surges in chaos energy. If you notice any anomalies or fluctuations in local reality, report them immediately. This one thinks it is imperative that we are able to meet the rifts opening directly where possible until relief arrives."

I nodded, committing her words to memory as Ena stepped back into the center of the room to address the team.

"Alright, team. Activate the swarm drones from the Northern Coalition bases tied to the Panoptes network, Raiju," Ena commanded, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "We need aerial support to assess the Chaos Energy signatures across Lenapehoking Territory and provide assistance to the Magical Girls on the ground. Whatever intel we can forward along to the officials behind them will be crucial in containing and resolving the situation. Let's get to it, everyone!"

Rai-chan's orb shimmered with determination as she floated towards a central console, her energy resonating with power. "Swarm drones activated, President Samildanach. Establishing aerial reconnaissance grid and deploying to local townships for immediate intelligence support."

In a matter of seconds, a flurry of red dots appeared on a grid map of Lenapehoking Territory, indicating the positions of the swarm drones as they spread across the region. The room hummed with urgency as we watched the live feed from the drones, watching cracks spread across the sky.

As my eyes swept over the monitors, I spotted a distortion in the sky above one of the townships in Sector 3A. A sense of dread began to loom over me as other students noticed it as well.

"The hell is that?" Spencer zoomed in on the live feed from a swarm drone camera above a location labeled Riverside Township, revealing a swirling vortex of chaos energy manifesting in the air. The vortex seemed to pulsate with an ominous glow, distorting the fabric of reality around it.

Then, a bright red glow lit up the horizon, casting an eerie light that engulfed the entire town of Riverside in a haunting glow. The cameras and drones pointed in that direction suddenly died, leaving us with a chilling sense of unease.

As I stood there, feeling a surge of anxiety well up in my chest, a soft voice spoke in my mind. "Ikki, can you hear me?"

It was Rai-chan, her presence calming me down for a moment.

"I can hear you, Rai-chan," I replied mentally, grateful for her familiar presence.

Rai-chan paused briefly before continuing, "I should mention something... there's an anomalous energy reading in Sector 3A. It's...worrying," Rai-chan informed me.

I furrowed my brows, trying to make sense of her words. "What kind of energy signature? Is it dangerous?"

Rai-chan hesitated before responding, "I'm not sure yet. It is unlike any Chaos Beast or other Aberrant recorded in Sisyphus's data files," she admitted, a hint of unease creeping into her tone.

"Should we report this to the others?" I thought at her.

Rai-chan's orb glowed brighter as she spun in the air, dispelling her human avatar. Then, she projected a holographic image of an active wave chart in the center of the room.

"Students," Rai-chan chimed, "I have detected a significant Chaos Energy anomaly via the swarm drones that were deploying across Lenapehoking Territory. The anomaly is located in Sector 3A and shows no resemblance to any known threats cataloged in the Panoptes database."

Ena turned and gasped at the sight, her eyes widening in alarm. "That… that is quite fascinating."

One of the students, a green-haired girl with square glasses who identified herself to me as Annabelle earlier in the day, stepped forward with a determined look. "This happens to be my specialty. This signature probably indicates a novel Aberrant is emerging," she explained, her voice tinged with awe and concern.

"A novel Aberrant?" Spencer rumbled. "Man, it's been a hell of a long time since that's happened. We haven't seen a new variant emerge since the Fourth Chaos War. If this energy signature means there's a new one manifesting, then we need to act fast."

"Can we get a visual?" Ena asked openly. "We need to forward this to the Skirts in the field. Get any intel you can."

The room seemed to shimmer as the orbs synchronized, projecting a holographic visual of the anomaly in Sector 3A in the center. The image quivered and glitched, showing a distorted blur that made it hard to distinguish details.

Rai-chan's voice broke through as the students whispered over themselves. "I'm trying to stabilize the feed, but whatever is causing this anomaly is interfering with the camera connection and mana sensors."

"Damn. That definitely isn't good," Ena muttered, her expression tense as she studied the flickering image. "We can't afford to lose visual on this. Sohrab, is there anything we can do to stabilize the feed?"

Sohrab, an olive-skinned, tall, and wiry student with silver hair, squinted at the glitching holographic image before shaking his head. "No can do. We can't even get a reading for how much chaos energy is being emitted from this anomaly. It's like trying to capture smoke with our bare hands," he said, frustration evident in his voice.

Ena's face fell as she muttered, "That definitely isn't good. We'll have to determine if we are facing a Count-class or Marquis-class threat before devising a course of action." She shifted her gaze to Rai-chan, her expression serious. "Keep monitoring the anomaly, Project Raiju. We need all the information we can get for Hana of the Dawn and the other Magical Girls in the field."

The tension in the room escalated as everyone exchanged worried glances.

This definitely wasn't a good situation.

From my understanding, the difference between a Marquis and Count-class horde leader was crucial in determining our approach. If it were a Marquis-class Aberrant, it could be catastrophic for Lenapehoking Territory if we didn't act fast. Taking down a Marquis usually required a team of three B-Rank and A-Rank Magical Girls, and even then, there was still potential for entire towns and city districts to be destroyed.

On the other hand, while still dangerous, a Count-class Aberrant was usually more contained in its impact and could be dealt with by a lone B-Rank Magical Girl or a heavily armed platoon of Terran mechs.

"What can we do?" I murmured, reaching out to Rai-Chan.

Rai-chan was silent for a moment, her orb pulsating with different colors as she processed the data coming in.

Finally, she chimed directly in my mind in a somber tone. "If I may… there might be an option, but I am not comfortable with the risks involved."

"We have to consider all our options," I replied mentally, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "What do you suggest, Rai-chan?"

Rai-chan's orb flickered before stabilizing, her voice soft yet resolute in my mind.

"We… we may be able to stabilize the feed using Raijin's Familiar through the Panoptes network. It does come with some dangers, though," Rai-chan alerted me privately, her orb flickering with intensity.

I frowned, taking her words in.

Raijin's Familiar was an ability that would allow me to manifest Rai-chan within a certain distance from me.

However, Lenapehoking Territory was at least an hour away from our current location by train. There was no way to actually send her all the way over there.

"So, how would that work? Isn't Raijin's Familiar a technique that requires physical proximity?" I asked, trying to understand the implications of Rai-chan's suggestion.

Rai-chan's orb shimmered briefly. "Under normal circumstances, yes. But with the Panoptes response system acting as a conduit, our options expand greatly. Those pods lining the wall can connect you to a Draupnir rescue drone stationed at a Coalition outpost. As long as your consciousness is present, I can manifest myself near the anomaly for a short period of time. It's a risky move, but it could give us the best chance to gather essential data."

I took a deep breath and rolled my shoulders before waving at Ena. "Ena, those pods can connect me to a proxy drone over there, right?"

Ena narrowed her eyes, concern flashing across her face. "Yes, you could theoretically deploy to any proxy drone connected to Babylon's network, but what are you thinking?"

I raised my chin, resolve shining in my eyes. "Rai-chan believes I can stabilize the data feed if I deploy on a Draupnir through the Panoptes network. It's risky, but it might be our best shot at gathering information about this anomaly and containing the threat."

Ena's eyes widened with realization as she processed my plan. A flicker of fear crossed her features, but she quickly composed herself, pushing her glasses up. "Fascinating! Hmmm, say… have you been communicating with Project Raiju without verbal communication per chance?"

"Err… it's complicated," I answered, deflecting her question to keep the focus on the task at hand. "I need to try this, Ena. It might be our only chance to stabilize the feed and get crucial data for Hana and the others."

Ena's gaze held mine for a long moment, her expression unreadable. I squirmed uncomfortably under her scrutiny, wondering if she would veto my plan. But to my surprise, a manic, maddened grin suddenly flashed across Ena's face as she clapped her hands together. "To think we can utilize the Panoptes network in such a way… Ikki, you've shown incredible adaptability and courage. Spencer — prepare one of the pods for deployment immediately!"

The other students murmured amongst themselves, some showing concern while others displayed curiosity at this unexpected turn of events. I gulped, feeling a wave of bowel-clenching terror ripple through me at the thought of facing and staring down an unknown Aberrant on my own. But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"What's piloting a proxy drone like? What are the risks, exactly?" I asked as Ena led me over. "I know it'll shoot my consciousness into a human-like robot avatar, but what else should I prepare for?"

Ena's face softened as she gazed at me with admiration and concern. "The Draupnir is equipped with advanced magitech to project your mind into the field. It was created to allow rescue teams to enter dangerous situations without being affected by the risk of chaos corruption, but there are risks involved. It won't cause any direct harm, but abruptly disconnecting from the connection may result in severe nausea and migraines. You may also feel the impact of a proxy drone's destruction, but it will be like waking up from a terrible nightmare."

I mulled over what Ena said, weighing it against what Rai-chan said about the risks involved. The inherent risks of the Draupnir didn't sound so bad, but there had to be something about Raijin's Familiar that made Rai-chan uncomfortable with sending me into such a situation through a drone.

"Rai-chan, what are your thoughts on Ena's explanation and the risks involved in deploying me through a proxy drone?" I asked, turning my attention inward to Rai-chan.

Rai-chan's orb flickered briefly, "President Samildanach's explanation is accurate, but there are additional dangers when utilizing me over such a vast distance. Although your body will remain safe, you are still, in theory, vulnerable to mental attacks — something which cannot be ruled out with a novel Aberrant that would qualify for a Marquis classification.

Taking a deep breath, I considered Rai-chan's warning about mental attacks. It was a risk I couldn't ignore, especially with the potential threat of a powerful Marquis-class Aberrant lurking in Lenapehoking Territory. But I knew that time was of the essence, and gathering crucial data to aid Hana and the other Magical Girls was at the top of my priority list.

With a determined nod, I turned to Ena. "Let's do this. Prepare me for deployment."

Ena acknowledged my decision solemnly, her fingers flying over the controls as she initiated the connection process. The room hummed with energy as the pods lining the walls began to glow, signaling their activation.

I stepped into one of the pods, feeling anticipation and trepidation coursing through me as Spencer walked over and helped secure me.

"You ready, Ikki?" he asked with a concerned look.

I gave Spencer a tight-lipped smile, masking my nervousness as best as possible. "As ready as I'll ever be." I braced myself for what was to come, gripping the sides of the pod tightly.

Spencer nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of pride and worry. He handed me a sleek headset, its surface cool against my skin. "This will link you to the Draupnir's interface. Once you're connected, focus on syncing your consciousness with the drone. You're in control, Ikki. Just remember that."

I nodded, taking the headset and placing it over my head.

The moment it settled into place, a rush of information flooded my senses — data streams, diagnostics reports, and a grid-like visualization of the drone's systems danced before my eyes. It was overwhelming yet strangely exhilarating.

"Integrating Williams Protocol with Project Raiju apparatus," Rai-chan chimed in my head, her voice echoing with urgency. "Stay focused, Ikki. We need to act swiftly once you're connected to the Draupnir. You'll be deployed from a Northern Coalition base — keep your wits about you, and remember, I'll be right there with you every step of the way."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. The pod closed around me, encasing me in darkness as I felt a strange sensation wash over me. It was like being weightless, disoriented, yet oddly peaceful in water.

As the connection to the Draupnir was established, a blinding light enveloped me, and I felt myself being pulled through a tunnel of swirling colors. My consciousness expanded, merging with the magitech systems of the proxy drone as I became one with the machine.

And then, something went wrong.

The world around me twisted and distorted, the colors swirling into a chaotic mess that made my head spin. I tried to focus, to regain control of the connection, but it felt like I was being torn apart at the seams. Panic clawed at my chest as I struggled against the overwhelming disorientation.

Through the maelstrom of sensations, I heard Rai-chan's voice calling me distorted and faint as if coming from far away. "Ikki, hold on! We're experiencing interference... something is disrupting the connection..."

Images and sensations I couldn't grasp flickered at the edge of my consciousness like shadows dancing out of reach. A headache that had been lingering at the back of my skull suddenly sharpened into a fierce stab of pain, causing me to wince and clutch at my temples.

The world around me seemed to tilt and sway, and I staggered on solid ground — struggling to maintain my balance. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I was transported to a dark, narrow stone corridor. The air was thick with an ominous dread, and my heart raced as I stumbled forward.

I could feel my footsteps echoing off the walls, each step amplifying the eerie silence that enveloped me. The darkness seemed to stretch forever, a suffocating void of stars that threatened to swallow me whole.

And then I saw it.

Shrouded in shadows, a figure stood at the far end of a corridor. It was faceless, its blurry humanoid form barely discernible in the gloom, but I could feel its awful glowing orange gaze fixed on me, cold and unyielding.

A shiver ran down my spine as I stared at the figure in the shadows, an inexplicable sense of dread washing over me. I tried to move, to look away, but it was as if I were rooted to the spot, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. The figure began to glide towards me, its movements fluid yet somehow disjointed, like a marionette pulled by invisible strings.

As the figure drew closer, its presence seemed to distort the fabric of reality around me. The stone walls of the corridor shimmered and warped, morphing into grotesque faces that leered at me with twisted expressions. I could hear whispers, disembodied voices that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. The figure itself was a walking pixelated glitch in the tapestry of the corridor, flickering in and out of existence like a ghostly apparition. I stood rooted to the spot, unable to tear my gaze away from the nightmarish entity that drew closer with each passing heartbeat.

Desperation clawed at my throat, and I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound emerged.

The corridor seemed to stretch and warp, the walls closing on me as the figure drew nearer.

And then, just as it was about to reach me with its horrible, pixelated arms, a flicker of blue light pierced through the gloom.