For the longest moment in his life, young Noel didn't really know how to react. He couldn't see the man that appeared ahead due to the hulking figure in front of him. Without a hiding spot present, he was just too vulnerable to being seen by anyone in that dilapidated, out-of-place looking hut.

That's precisely why he came up with an ingenious idea: use the hefty security guard with a bad attitude to conceal his himself!

Unfortunately, his choice of cover left him unable to react to the Professor's blast.

He definitely recognized that strained voice belonging to Molodov Watts, thanks to the voice recording attached to his mission file, which Boman handed over prior to coming here.

But because he was behind security guard #2 Noel couldn't see any movements in front. That's why such a fierce and powerful attack caught him completely by surprise.

Worst of all, was the scene of carnage literally surrounding him entirely. He's already been exposed to such actions in the past. He was prepared for this mission, but...

{...*HUOOOP!* Uggh. This...feels a lot harder than I remember. It makes me want to...*Huuurk!*....want to throw up, for some strange reason. So disgusting and...messy....

Just, why...why am I like this?! My limbs feel like jello, I keep remembering that sad expression on the little girl right before pulling the trigger...

Is it because of this murderous fool wearing his own scared expression before his death? Impossible!

He killed for pleasure! Where was that fear when his victims wished for similar mercy!? He deserved to die! He did, but...am I...really pitying him, now?}

Security Guard #1: “S-Sir please, spare me! I-I-I never knew he was following Felgore I-I swear! Y-You! Brat! Just h-how did you tail us for such a long...wait! I-I recognize you...yes! You were the one asking about the other prisoners! You must be an investigator working for the authorities in the states! Yes, tha-that's it! Bo--”

*SPLURT*

Without warning, the professor lifted up his hand-blaster and shot towards the remaining, rambling subordinate.

Security Guard #1: “AAAH! MY...MY LEG!!! AAAHH I DON'T WANT TO DIE!”

Professor Molodov Watts: “A child working for the police? How absurd. Huhuhu...but don't you worry, my loyal subordinate. I only shot your right leg so that you couldn't leave the 20 km radius necessary to begin the procedure. Thanks to my precious subordinates' efforts, we all get to witness a marvelous miracle, never before experienced by mortal human beings before! THIS DAY WILL MARK THE DAY OF RECKONING, MY GRAND SUCCESS IS AT HAND AND THE INCARNATION SHALL BE CHOSEN, AT LAST! HUHUHUHU-HAHAHAHAHA!”

The estranged cackling of the mad professor startled Noel awake from his frozen stupor.

{Dammit...what am I doing?! I need to KILL! Yes, that's right! Kill him! The moment I end this nutty professor, is the moment everything will correct itself. That's right! All of the victims will...will be freed! The others, well...those of them who commit crimes against innocent people can be punished together by the heroes after this psychotic man is dead! So he can't continue to cover things up...I must...act!}

As Professor Molodov basked in his glorious achievement, Noel shakily forced his traumatized body to stand up straight. Tucked within his right arm sleeve, 5 needles were strapped down and safely secured. After easily undoing the straps, young Noel removed two long, thin needles, precisely aimed them at Professor Watts's neck, and...

closed his eyes.

{...Stop! Stop closing your, damned eyes, me! This is shameful! I...I am a Malierano! I cannot shame my Father anymore than I already have! He is just...just ONE bad human! Look how little he cares for others' lives...he's a monster! A madman willing to sacrifice others for his own personal gain...doesn't he deserve death?!

...Wait, sacrifice?

What did he mean when he mentioned sacrifice...incarnation...and fragment? I don't see any...}

Just as Noel was considering his options, the entire island floor lit up.

{Damnit! I...I don't have anymore time! I hate this...but Father chose me for this mission. Whether or not I'm okay with doing this, Father...he knew I could handle this...so I'm sorry....big sister Alianne, but I can't disappoint him. I don't want Father to treat mwe like he treats...you.

... I don't want to be abandoned!}

With a quick yet forceful *SWISH*, the pointed needle tip slashed through the air, burying deep into the Professor's neck and cutting his cackle to an abrupt halt.

Just to make sure, Noel cautiously approached the man, firmly holding the other needle as if it were a dagger.

Professor Molodov Watts: “Now...this is...surprising...*Hack!* I thought...you genuinely couldn't kill me anymore...thanks to my subordinate's 'improvements'...to your microchip.

Slight...miscalculation I suppose. *Hack!* Huhuhu.

Unfortunately..for you...It makes...a major...difference. Without...my, control...Oh....well! Huhuhu...You will see...that this plan...can NOT be...stopped...any longer. My death...shall serve as...the trigger, We shall be...the first...sacrifices...of many!”

Noel/Tyler: "What exactly do you mean by 'sacrifices', weren't all those victims simply meant to be disposed of? What does all this have to do with me? Is it because I targeted you or something?”

Professor Molodov Watts: “Coincidence, perhaps? No...maybe..fate? Huhu. You suit the master's needs...so you, will become the fragment's...incarnation. Much different...stronger than ordinary...origin path...members.”

Noel/Tyler: “I don't quite get your nonsensical rambling...but either way I refuse. Release the hostages and I'll let you live...I promise. (Kinda.)”

Professor Molodov Watts: “You cannot refuse...eheheh...uhuhuhu! Thanks to your...attack....my...connection..stirred it...sooner than...intended. The fragment...has already begun...awakening.”

{What does he...}

Just as Noel was about to question further...he heard a *THUNK!* originate from behind. He immediately turned around, only to witness the already bleeding security guard #1 flop to the ground and an irregular wispy energy escape from his head and chest.

{What's going on?! Did he...die? And why are so many clumps of that same exact energy coming this way from all over the island? Could this...have something to do with the 'sacrifice' he mentioned?!}

Noel/Tyler: “Stop this right now! Seriously! If you don't, I WILL strike an artery this time!”

Professor Molodov Watts: “My...intention...was to..only take...a little bit of their...souls...but IT...IT will be...much..greedier, without...my..interference.

Huhuhu...matters...not. Long...live...my life's success...and my...master's...glorious experiment!”

Without any more hesitation, Noel, who knew he'd receive no further help from this crazed maniac...took the needle in his hand and ran it straight through the Professor's neck.

Except, for this specific needle, young Noel Tyler actually struck with the intent to kill.

He watched on silently, slowly urging his body to quit shaking, as the old man's facial color faded and his once lively body collapsed to the ground.

Finally, he watched the very same irregular clump of wispy energy leave the old man's body. Following it's direction, his gaze immediately shifted until he came to see a bright small light at the shaky hut's doorway. The small building's entrance was akin to the gates of hell: absorbing countless wispy clumps of energy into that bright light whose form Noel just couldn't make out. The clumps began to surround it, rather than become its nutrients, forming an invisible shell only visible thanks to the small fragment of light's refraction.

It was then that Noel's heightened senses became triggered. The moment he locked eyes onto the strange light, the shell of invisible energy shot towards him in a flash, and his view of it grew increasingly different. What once appeared as a bright and warm spec of light, now looked like a pitch black silhouette with a faded purple outline...

...of himself.

The very instant his eyes received its image, bloody tears ran down his cheeks, his body involuntarily dropped to its knees in anguish, and his soul began to tremble.

Furthermore, he saw from a perfect radius ALL around his body, in a complete circle...people far in the distance began to gather: as if, lured, by the light.

---

Around the same time that Noel and the two security guards were about to meet with Professor Molodov Watts....

A coup d'etat started in various places within the central barrier.

?: “Go, Go! Hurry!”

?: “Free the others! The more help we have, the better!”

?: “Take their weapons and fight back!”

?: “We will no longer be suppressed!”

?: “CHAAARGE!”

A group of more than 20,000 kidnapped victims, ranging from very old to infancy, charged at a collection of 3,000 security and miscellaneous staff – each carrying some form of gun that could shoot unfathomably hot energy at those in front.

Security Guard #5: “Wh-What do we do? Mr. Watts said he NEEDED them alive before he disposes of them!”

Security Guard#6: “How th' heck should I know?? just keep shootin' at th' floors in front of 'em! He can't expect us to stop ALL of 'em wit' these dingy blasters, right?”

Security Guard #9: “Still can't get in touch with Boss Watts?!”

Security Guard #10: “No sir! He's not responding sir!”

Security Guard #8: “Should I go directly there sir?”

Security Guard #9: “No ma'am. Let's just procure some sleeping gas first, see if that's effective.”

Security Guard #7: “We already tried this tactic, sir, but there's a really powerful long-haired guy...or girl...sending them into the air whenever we throw 'em! He uses some weird magic that we can't identify!”

Security Guard #9: “...If they push too hard then shoot to kill! Just a little while longer before our project would've been finished, but now this...!”

Random Security Guard: “Boss! You have to see this!”

Security Guard #9(Boss?): “Dammit! *Bang!* WHAT NOW?!”

…

The battles were fierce – it was as if those suppressed for a long time had suddenly regained control over their long forgotten powers. How did they escape? The very same way the last shipment of humans broke free from their container by the dock! The long-haired man who actually faked being drugged!

Long Haired man: “Good work. I've already notified the proper heroes close by or who are already on this island for personal reasons. We WILL survive this, either once those guards are beaten and we deactivate the barrier, or when help arrives capable of overpowering it! All that we must do is stall for time!”

???(Drugged Fire user): “Thanks, your methods were really helpful to us after the drugs we took made us feel lousy and weak.”

??(Drugged Bubble user): “Yeah, I couldn't even control my powers like normal anymore. Usually I'd never lose to weakling thugs with guns...You really bailed us out!”

Long Haired man: “Don't worry about it. The name's Orobas, i'm a member of MOON: one of the Celestial Four organizations. If both of you are interested after this, we can discuss your future with MOON as permanent members. I am, after all, quite fond of your skills, now. The way you use heat in the air to spontaneously combust your surroundings and those bubbles that can neutralize low level magical blasts are quite...creative. Please consider my, no...Moon's offer!”

---