Shimmering shards of ice surrounded him, the crisp chill of the frozen air reaching every corner of the chamber; each fragments refracted the light like a kaleidoscope, a beautiful carpet of glimmering ice which seemed to wrap around him. Silence reigned within the room, not even the slightest whisper of wind caressing his ears, as if time itself had halted in reverence for the scene before him.

He slowly surveyed his surroundings and set his gaze upon dozens of people, each one encased within their own translucent tombs — each one imprisoning a soul within its confines, their faces etched with a blend of sorrow and torment, trapped in a poignant tableau of suffering. For a fleeting moment, he closed his eyes, the weight upon his chest pressing down with a gravity beyond measure.

These people would survive, for such is their fate, yet the guilt he felt is often too much to bear. What he had done was nothing more than a necessity, an agonizing choice made for the sake of the greater good, and yet the remorse lingered like a specter, refusing to dissipate — hope intertwined with the guilt, a desperate yearning that his actions would bring solace to more lives than they had scarred.

A breath escaped from his lips, expelled as a wispy vapor that curled delicately into existence; its ghostly trails meandered through the air, an ephemeral dance before it vanished into the ether. The wildcard, a figure of enigmatic power, stood in reverent stillness, his mind adrift in aimless contemplation — his thoughts through the labyrinthine corridors of his heart, silently pondering what his comrades would make of him now.

Would they even recognize him as the same person that stood beside them as they climb and fight their way through that infernal tower?

Would she?

He could almost feel her presence standing beside him in that moment; a faint, melancholic smile made its way onto his lips.

Mitsuru...

He could still remember how firmly she defended him back then, her eyes ablaze with burning anger as she confronted her fiancé who had spoken ill of him. The way she boldly stood in front of him before unleashing a flurry of words that he had never expected to hear.

Even now, the mere thought of her caused his heart to swell with longing…

With a feeble motion, he lifted his hand, the tip of his finger slowly brushing against his lips. Memories came flooding back as he recalled that day when she asked him to stay with her just a moment longer — the subtle blush on her cheeks as she peered upon him with those crimson eyes of hers; how it had felt as her supple lips pressed onto his own, a single kiss that seemed to last an eternity, until finally, it melted away into nothingness.

The memory of that bittersweet embrace was something not even time itself can take away from him...

Oh, how he yearned for her… for them.

A fragile sigh escaped from his lips — quivering and laden with emotion — as he acknowledged the impossibility of reclaiming those cherished days, the loss of that irreplaceable presence that he had continued to hold dear. Time had stripped those moments away, relegated them to a realm beyond reach, forever stuck to the recesses of nostalgia.

He had done what was necessary to protect the world and those few souls who meant everything to him… and yet, his heart bore a weight of anguish that could never be assuaged — a sorrow that seeped beneath his skin, a haunting specter that loomed with every thought of them.

Perhaps this was to be his fate, to carry a burden that will last an eternity...

"I chooseth this fate of mine own free will..."He whispered to the empty air, determination lacing his voice, resonating with the resolve that burned deep within.

No… he had made that fateful decision, and he would embrace the consequences, no matter the hardships that lay ahead. There was no time for dwelling in sorrow, no room for the caress of regret; in the end, it was for their sake — the very people he held dear, those whose existence had shaped his destiny — that he had relinquished his everything. It was only fitting for him to shoulder this weight and honor their legacies, utilizing every fiber of strength woven within his being.

And so he shook his head, casting one last lingering gaze upon the multitude of frozen souls scattered around him, fortifying his spirit before pivoting on his heel; with resolute steps, he ventured deeper into the labyrinthine facility, the path ahead beckoning him to continue his solitary journey.

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A hint of urgency began to pulse within their veins as they advanced further into the facility; the frigid air seemed to tighten around them like a vice, its icy tendrils began to haunt the group with its ethereal whispers — a foreboding tale of stillness and unease.

Their surroundings had undergone a chilling transformation since their initial arrival; the dimly lit hallways now adorned with a tangible sense of desolation — each exhalation materialized as a wispy cloud, an ethereal dance that mingled with the ambient fog. The cold clung to their skin like an icy hand, sending a shiver cascading down their spines and compelling them to draw their jackets tighter, their hand clutching onto whatever remnants of warmth they could salvage.

"It's too quiet…" a hushed whisper escaped from his lips, his voice a fragile thread against the backdrop of the echoing footsteps as they ventured deeper into the facility.

"Be on your guard," one of their instructors cautioned, the gravity of their tone hanging in the air as they cast a wary glance around. "We still have no clue as to what is happening here."

As they delved further into the labyrinthine depths, a suffocating ambiance descended upon them, enveloping their senses with a weighty oppression. Eventually, their path led them to a colossal chamber, its walls coated in a thick layer of hoarfrost… yet even so, their initial awe was swiftly transformed into horror and dread as their eyes beheld the grotesque tableau concealed within.

Dozens upon dozens of figures, frozen in time, encased within what seemed like solid blocks of ice — silent screams etched upon their faces, an eternal anguish immortalized within the icy tombs that held them captive.

The group stood transfixed, terror and apprehension pulsating through their veins as they slowly comprehended the reason behind the eerie stillness that pervaded the surroundings… and before words could form upon their lips, their instructors barked orders, fracturing the silence, urging the group to divide into teams; some embarked on the daunting task of examining each frozen form, while others remained on standby, each prepared to face any unforeseen threat that may still linger in the room.

Nevertheless, it did not take long for the realization to sink in, a damning truth that rendered them speechless.

"They're still alive…" murmured a fellow cadet — a descendant of the Nord Highlands — his voice laced with a profound sympathy as he gazed upon the imprisoned souls, disbelief etched upon his face. "And it looks like they've been this way for a while now."

A solemn nod conveyed his agreement, their shared understanding a testament to the gravity of the situation. Their eyes then alighted upon another guard, similarly encased in an icy prison a few meters away from them — the soldier's countenance contorted in terror, his visage a portrait of fear-stricken desperation.

The black-haired cadet could only stand in silent contemplation of the matter while a million questions raced through his mind. Who was responsible for all that happened in this place? How did it come to pass? Why?

Before his thoughts could further drift away, a distant sound broke the eerie silence within the chamber; it came from further inside, reverberating through the air like a thunderclap. There was no mistaking it, for he, and everyone else in the group had heard it countless times before. It was-

"Gunshots!" One of the instructors exclaimed, the words resonating within the chamber like a clarion call.

Like a well-rehearsed symphony, the group sprang into action at the all-too-familiar sound, their training and reflexes kicking in and melding together seamlessly.

"Cadet Regnitz, Cadet Craig, you both stay here and inform the others of what we've found." The other instructor commanded, her gun and sword poised and ready, her stance embodying her unyielding resolve as she prepared for the unknown that lay ahead. "The rest of you, follow me!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" He acknowledged the command in unison with the others, his voice tinged with fear yet fortified with unwavering determination.

Before their minds could fully grasp the unfolding events, everyone had already taken their positions for departure and begun advancing deeper into the facility, racing forwards with urgency burning at their heels.

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The air crackled with a desperate urgency, propelling them forward as if guided by an unstoppable force — their pounding footsteps resonating throughout the chamber's frozen walls, navigating the intricate tunnels of ice with an unstoppable momentum similar to a raging wildfire that refused to be contained.

Hundreds of motionless figures lined both sides of their path, their form akin to frozen sentinels as the group ran passed them at a breakneck speed — their cold and lifeless gazes a mute witnesses to the tragedy that had happened moments prior; the weight of their somber expressions etched itself deeply within their memories, an indelible imprint that defied the passage of time, as if the entire realm had been swallowed by an everlasting stillness.

"Come on!" Bellowed one of their instructors ahead, her voice echoing loudly within the hallway. "Hurry! Keep moving!"

Though the gunshots had long since fallen silent, the lingering fear and panic continued to surge within their hearts, intensifying with each passing second. The group's collective determination propelled them forward even harder, their limbs pounding against the unyielding ice — an unrelenting rhythm that betrayed the tense atmosphere that enveloped them. With each stride, they raced toward an unknown fate, fueled by a desperation to avert the encroaching crisis that might befall the empire.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they arrived in a colossal chamber. At its epicenter stood a solitary behemoth of a computer terminal, its surface bathed in a gentle azure glow… yet even so, it was not the piece of technological marvel that seized their attention; it was the figure standing with unwavering poise in front of it, his back turned towards them.

Even without a visual to tell them who this person might be, an undeniable aura could literally be seen exuding from this enigmatic individual, the wispy blue thread of light capturing the undivided focus of the entire group almost immediately.

"Hold it right there!" One of the instructors called out, his voice laced with authority, yet tinged with a hint of trepidation. "Step away from the terminal! Now!"

Every eye fixed itself upon the figure in preparation for whatever the mysterious individual might say or do next; a collective chill coursed through their spine, breaths held in suspended anticipation as the stranger's silhouette stood motionless… and just when it seemed like everything had settled into an unbearably tense silence, an all too familiar voice filled the air.

"Class VII," the figure stated plainly without even turning around, his voice steady and resolute, devoid of any kind of wavering despite the precariousness of the situation. "You are finally here..."

Strength emanated from his words, a palpable undercurrent beneath his rigid facade as the intruder gradually pivoted to face their group, his gaze falling upon each and every single one of them without showing any sign of fear or hesitation in the face of their overwhelming number.

Shock reverberated through his entire being as he beheld the familiar figure, recognition flooding his senses at the sight of stranger's countenance. The person standing before him was none other than the enigmatic individual who he had first encountered years ago, at the fateful day when the jaeger had enacted their assault upon his home — the same mysterious man who had extended a helping hand in one of his darkest hour, who had rescued both him and his mother from the clutches of despair.

His savior, his hero...

"▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️ ▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️" He whispered, awe and gratitude intertwining within his voice as the realization struck like a lightning bolt, illuminating the memories that had been concealed in the depths of his soul.