Freedom. What is that word to people? It could be the power or right to act, speak, or think without hindrance or restraints. Maybe it is the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. Others think that is just a computer program that helps you concentrate on writing, analyzing, coding, and creation. All of those answers...are correct. However, Where it starts depends on the human who is seeking it.

“Papa, what is Freedom?” Asked the young pink-haired girl to her father. Looking at her beaming daughter chuckles. Sometimes he wonders if her daughter ever gets bored of being curious about things. Not like he ever mind, no this helps him too from discovering new codes and helping his best friend and colleague in creating something that will change the world.

“Oh! It can be interpreted in different ways. It could be a program that helps you concentrate on work, or it could be freedom of speech the right to express oneself without the interference of the government. Not being enslaved to someone can also count as Freedom!”

“Are you free, Papa?”

“Yes, Although...hmm…”

“What is it, Papa?!” Professor Russo shook his head. Nah, even thou his wife and his daughter makes him stay home and work in his office he still has the freedom to walk outside or even work inside the company he is helping with. He just chooses to spend time with them...you never know when you will no longer see them again.

“Is nothing...Your papa has freedom just like you do. Now the freedom of having someone to married...well that will have to wait until you get older.”

“Don’t worry I will marry papa!”

“Fufu, you will have to compete with your mother for that.” Russo joked with a laugh. Sometimes kids have the wildest imaginations...but someday his daughter will find someone and then she will be completely free to do whatever she wants. Hopefully, it will be the correct path.

()

“Father.”

“Yes, what is it, Kula?”

“What is Freedom?” That caught the bespectacled male off guard. Why is his daughter asking that question?

“Hmm...Freedom has many options thou it can be defined as the state of being free, independent, without restriction, or being imprisoned. A good example a bird in a cage, if you open the door to the cage and let him fly away to the outside that is defined as freedom.”

“Do you have Freedom?”

“...In a sense.” In a sense? What does that mean?

“Professor.” One of the assistants called Professor Rowan.

“Is he ready?”

“Yes...Commander Knight will be there to witness too.”

“I see…” He looks at his daughter.

“Never Forget this Kula, Freedom is not given, is earned by hard work. Once you have it...never let go of it, you have the right to fight for your freedom that is what true freedom is.” True Freedom...yeah, maybe her father hasn’t reached that level of Freedom yet hence why he said in a sense. Now she understands.

“Yes, Father.”

()

Kula remembers what her father said a few years ago. She has her freedom back, however, True Freedom has yet to be archived. No, not until she and Rusher get their revenge on the people who took her True Freedom away from her. Her mazes...they were a prison that she can freely deactivate. Now here she is fighting someone who is preventing her from achieving True Freedom.

“Looking around will not do you any good.” Said the now-adult orange-haired teen. Retracting her long needle nails and touching one of her chainsaw wings before ripping it off. No pain nor scream was emitted from her as some blood gushed out of her wound before it closed quickly. Aeris was getting desperate Kula could see it in her eyes. She cannot blame her this is what being a prisoner looks like. Devoid of freedom, no one to help you. Desperation, anxiety, fear...fear of not having your freedom. It is everyone’s worst nightmare. Not having a choice to decline. But...she must know, her brain is curious. What does it take to create a bracelet like this? A bracelet that can give you the powers that you have in a video game in the real world.

*BZZZT*

The sound of a chainsaw emitted from her wing. Luckily for her, there was a handle that prevented her from cutting her very own hand in half. She can’t say the same for the one she is going to use this on. The things a human will do...for science and True Freedom.

“Oh!” Kula said amused by a flashed of energy that emerged around the now immobile Aeris preventing her from executing her dissection of the pink-haired teen’s arm. She had to back away too otherwise who knows what that pillar would’ve done to her as she sees her chainsaw wing burning slightly before she threw it away and it burst into flames.

“Interesting...is this her legendary piece protecting her?” Said the orange-haired girl as where she had her wing slowly grew another one just to test it she ripped two this time and then threw one. The result was the same it burst into flames and ricochet to another direction. Now Kula was even more interested in the legendary piece. She wonders thou...how long can this thing withstand. She will break this...then take everything from the pink-haired girl. The legendary piece Rubik Cube of Knowledge and the D.O.B.I. they will be necessary for her to achieve True Freedom.

()

Opening her eyes the pink-haired teen looked around to see she was back inside La Biblioteca.

“Why…?” Aeris was bewildered. How did she get here?! She didn’t use her legendary piece to get her here...Heck!! She could even move to do so!!

“I sent you here?” Who is that voice?!

“Turn your head 90 degrees to your left.” She does and saw someone…wait...no way!! Is she seeing things!?

“You know you have to stop looking like you just seen a ghost every time, it does make you look very desperate.” Right there, there was a girl...it was Aeris herself...but she was just how she looked eight years ago well the only exception is that the girl is frowning and was reading a book. She was also sitting on a chair...a very comfy reclining chair with wheels. The small pink-haired 8-year-old stood up from the chair before she examines Aeris.

“Who...are you…?” It was all Aeris could say to “herself”. The small Aeris looked at her before shaking her head.

“Honestly you were here not so long ago and you already have forgotten! Well, it is not like we had a conversation before. Oh, and do not worry, Richard Kurosagi got out of here before you even activated your D.O.B.I.” Richard got out? That means he is right now with…but…

“Hmm...Ah, I see...so that’s what it does. Let me see there should be a book around here that brings back the nervous system to the body.” Said the pink-haired little girl before she starts climbing a book staircase as each step she took a new book created a new stair layer before she was 3 floors high on a tall bookshelf in the middle.

“Ah, there it is.” Picking a purple book title: “The Nervous System and the 1,000 Ways It Can Be Damaged &/or Cured” The small Aeris started looking through the pages until she found what she was looking for.

“Hmm...here, here and here.” Pressing on each of the quadriceps and in the middle of the forearms with hard pressure, the smaller Aeris started her treatment. She noticed Aeris wincing at the pressure she was administrating on her.

“Oh quit being a baby.” She is so rude! However, it seems the treatment was a success.

“There. See, wasn’t so bad, right?” Aeris could now move her limbs without any problems she winces a bit because she still has four holes one on each limb respectively. The important thing is that she is moving once again thanks to “herself”...She must have lost her sanity.

“No, if you lost your sanity completely you would be trying to burn La Biblioteca already.”

“...I must've lost it didn’t I?”

“HEY!!”

“Besides, you haven’t answered my previous question, Who are you and why did you have taken my appearance?!” Asked the now flustered pink-haired girl to the other pink-haired girl. After a while, the other Aeris just sighed in defeat.

“Fine! I guess being in here will not cut it, Seriously you must be the worse owner of myself.” Herself?! Wait!! It dawns on Aeris...How is she this stupid and not notice sooner!!!

The small Aeris appearance changed this one of a young man with white hair and red cubes holding his hair in a ponytail. His eyes had cubic pupils that were colored green on his left eye and blue on his right eye. His dress was a Yellow Hooded Robe while his boots were black. Around him, there were six cubes each colored differently, red, blue, yellow, green, white, & black. There was one on his neck...this one...it was…

“It took you even longer to now realize who I am...Humph, sometimes I swear that my owners become worse each generation...well except the last generation but she was an exception to that rule, the others including yourself except that one and the first are complete nimrods.” Said the boy before a book flew by and he took it to read it paying now less attention to the pink-haired teen.

“I guess introductions are in order...” He...he doesn’t like her that much, does he?

Instead of answering the question on her mind the boy ignored it and continue with the introduction...not like he needs to.

“I am...the legendary piece that knows all the history of the evolution of mankind. Past, Present, Future nothing has escaped me and my billions of books. My name is too difficult to pronounce for simple-minded people like yourself. So you can call me...Rubik Cube Knowledge.”

“You are...the Rubik Cube Of Knowledge.” Aeris got hit by a book on the head for her troubles courtesy of Rubik.

“OW!!”

“Rubik Cube Knowledge or Rubik you simpleton!!” Aeris starts rubbing the part where he hit her. He didn’t have to hit her for that!

“Now then now that introductions are done, shall we discuss the reason why you are here, Miss Russo?” He was still talking while ignoring her. Is the book very important? Or does he not like looking at her?

“Why look at my owner who didn’t even acknowledge my presence nor even remembers what I truly am.” A very rude legendary piece. The pink-haired girl sighed, no point in arguing with him.

“Rubik, Did...did you save me back there?” Rubik stops reading before he took a peek at his owner before closing the book.

“If you die then I will have to listen to an arrogant girl who will try and use La Biblioteca as a tool of war. I will not stand to see thousands of years of work and billions of books stored to be used or burned on nefarious deeds. I already had to restore this Biblioteca once...never again.” Restore?

“What Happened?”

“Do you think we have the time to be discussing this Miss Russo?”

“...I guess we don’t.”

“Good, now let’s discuss your current situation. You are being protected by the pillar of Last Resort. Your desperation and fear were able to trigger that defensive mechanism that protects my owners from a deadly situation. Think of it as your very own personal escape pod, well the exception is that you don’t escape anywhere just stalling for time until you find a solution to the problem, or by some miracle the problem solves itself.”

“Have anyone else used...this pillar?”

“...Hmm, the last person to be in a dangerous situation like this was three generations ago and it was during a tsunami created by Silent Birds in 1811, let me see if I can find the record here...ah here it is!” Rubik touched a brown book with the name “Gamow Duvalier Russo 1785-1870” and the book flashed before it became a huge screen. Because of the brightness, Aeris had to shield her eyes before she saw the screen. She instantly recognized the legendary piece right away, the individual that had it was a tall black male with short black hair. His eyes the color of ruby while he was dressed in a simple brown shirt and ragged black pants with roughed out leather shoes that could break at any moment notice. He must have been a very poor man.

“He was...Gamow was born into a poor family for years. When he hit 18 he decided to work as a farmer to help the best he could for his mother after his father died from a mysterious illness by that time that got his father and half the village. His mother caught the illness during this year, he heard of a cure near the city of Spain, so he set out to find some sort of evidence to the claim.”

“When did he find you?”

“Oh he had me ten years before this incident, it just we didn’t speak at all during that time…similar to your current situation. In any case, This was the incident that triggered the other members of the legendary pieces of the awakening of a legendary piece.” She saw hundreds of people running for their lives...all these lives...the man screamed before he was surrounded by the pillar of last resort...the other people...they weren’t lucky. Aeris had to look away. Noticing this Rubik snapped his fingers and the screen split into hundreds of pages before they unite and create the brown book back.

“If he didn’t trigger the pillar of last resort right there he would’ve been the youngest legendary piece owner to die. Luckily, it didn’t happen that way and thanks to that he was able to meet not only me but the other owners of the legendary piece.” He told the pink-haired girl. He saw her expression...he can tell that the girl was feeling sorrow, he can’t blame her the entire town population was wiped out by that big wave. Gamow was fortunate to have him by his side and that the pillar activated and he was washed ashore on a nearby river. 4 days that was the amount of time that passed during his conversation with the low-class male. Although, it was very annoying when the man asked him every question under the sun! Right, the girl.

“There is a happy ending to Gamow thou. He did manage to get the cure for the illness Maxurdiama in Spain and came back in time to administer it to his mother and the rest of the village. In the end, he manages to save the people that he held dear to his heart.” That seemed to make the girl feel a bit better to hear that the owner of the legendary piece manages to live a happy life until the end.

“I’m...glad.” She wiped some tears.

“...Right. Now that you know a little about how the pillar works and a bit of history of a previous owner of mine how about we solve this little dilemma of yours.” He is right. Now that she can move, she needs to find out a way to defeat Kula. Hmm, with those paralyzing nails of hers she will have to avoid those. That will be easier said than done the way they quickly got to her she can tell that Kula’s speed, currently surpasses her even with her Heaven’s gift activated.

“There you go self-doubting again.” Rubik once again was taking her appearance when she was 8.

“What else can I do? My opponent is a lot faster than me!”

“What about that form?”

“Huh?”

“You know the one I am talking about, your very own last resort that your mother taught you.” That one!?

“But…”

“But…?”

“Is not the best thing to do, what if the fight lasts longer than the time limit?!”

“Then make sure you beat her before that limit is reached, simple.”

“Is not that Simple!!!”

“For me it is…”

“YOU ARE AN ARTIFACT!”

“HEY! I like to be called a sentient being, thank you very much.” He gave her this option...but the risk is too high. Although, he is correct...there is no other option isn’t it.

“No other choice, is there?”

“Not that is recorded, remember this is your enemy, your history, your legacy. Whatever is written here...” Rubik was back to himself but now holding a pink book title in Bold letters “Aeris Russo Ranee 2020-” This was her book...her very own history it was thick but not as wide and big as the previous one he showed and from the way the pages were glowing, it was waiting for her to create a new chapter in it.

“Is cemented in La Biblioteca History...just make sure you don’t make me write the other year soon. Otherwise, you would make history but not for the right reasons that you will like...it will also be a disappointment.” Aeris sweat-drop at the last comment. But he is right, she is not dying anytime soon...she will not allow it!! There are so many things she wants to do before her end days so much that it will fill the book to the brim with knowledge.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Good.” He opens the book and went through the pages until he found the chapter he was looking for.

“Um, what are you…?”

“Looking for the chapter your mother told you about that form in case you forgotten.”

“I am Not that forgetful!!” Aeris said with a scowl on her face. Does he think she is that much of an Idiot?! She is not Richard!

()

Meanwhile, During the stare-down, the brown-haired boy sneezed.

“What was that?” Using his instinct once again thanks to him feeling time slowing down Richard Kurosagi managed to barely dodge a fist from Rusher.

“Hmm, it seems you are getting used to La Estrella Del Leopardo's ability.”

“Took a few bruises here and there but…” He was not going to lie it was a pain to be on your toes every time. Time was starting to slow down. Even with his Omega Eyes activated the slow manipulation of time was interrupting his timing sometimes. Rusher has managed to get him a few bruises on his arms and body but he also was able to get the blue-haired on some occasions. Problem is...his opponent has instant regeneration, he does not. He was in a very huge disadvantage. Still...why did he sneezed back there…? Hmm, oh well!

()

“This place…” Salamander looks around the Training Field. An open space, very different than the closed HQ area they were in. So the group of teens plan is to give themselves as much space as possible so they can attack from afar and in all angles without the risk of them being in the proximity of himself and his weapon. He imagines this plan was conducted by either the blonde-haired girl or the elf in a mask. He doubts Kishima would think of this strategy from the way the fight was going.

“Humph!” Harry used his speed to charged toward the male with no remorse...typical his strategy is still the same. He is carefully observant of the others however, they haven’t made their moves be known. Blocking Harry’s buster sword the former prince bodyguard was able to create a pillar of flame. Harry noticing the ground creating a wheel moved out of the way before the flames surrounded both of them.

“Tch!” So he was inside that pillar of flame. No matter.

“Master Slash!” Unleashing his signature move the X formed slash clash with the pillar before this one breaks and forces Salamander to jump out of the way before blocking another powerful Master Slash from Harry.

Genre hearing an R & B song from her headphones create a path using the grass and condensing it until solid platforms. With said platforms, Frederick climbed them before he reached on top of Salamander and pulling a shiny blue arrow along with a yellow and red.

“Take This!!” Frederick yelled to Salamander who took all of them. As the man hit the ground he heard the beeping sound...no there were several?! Before he knew it he was instantly frozen but not before he saw that there weren’t 1 red arrow...there were 8 the yellow one chirped before yellow lightning surrounded all 8 arrows and this one like the ticking time bombs they were activated and created a huge explosion.

The three teens re-group.

“...Enemies Rhythm...is slow.”

“What the hell does that even mean?!”

“It means we hurt him,” Frederick answered to Harry, Genre just nodded in agreement. So using a combination of the split arrows, electric and freezing arrows will do the trick huh? That’s a lot of resources to use for just some damage. This Salamander, he is very strong.

Harry sensed something and just went in front of Genre to block an incoming spike made of lava.

“T-Thank…”

“Don’t even bother with that and Use your stupid barriers!!” Harry told the blonde-haired teen after deflecting the spike of lava to the right. Genre sensed the Rhythm of Salamander rising fast. But Harry’s Rhythm...if not for a split second Genre swore that his Rhythm…

Nevertheless, the blonde-haired girl Change the tune of her song into alternative rock before creating a barrier of solid stone from beneath them.

From the infernal fires that were created by Frederick out came out Salamander. Only this time he was different than before. He Had a tail that was surrounded by a ring of fire while he was wearing a red armor with shoulder spikes that went sideways. He also wore a red mask similar to an oni with horns that were very long and curved up. His eyes...they were glowing red and menacing and that is telling considering how menacing he was before.

“…” Salamander observed the barrier made out of stone before he rose his sword that resembles now a Blue Claw before unleashing a giant wave of Blue flames toward the barrier.

Even protected the two teens could feel the intense heat from the flames that were outside.

Frederick keeping his distance shot an arrow in the Armored male’s direction only for it to not even reach as the arrowhead melt before the entire arrow turned to ashes.

“Is useless...your arrows cannot reach flames that have the temperature of blue flames.” Said Salamander with a demonic rough voice. Salamander, however, was self-aware of 1 detail...This form he cannot stay in it for any more than 30 minutes before the M.I.S.T. inside him consumes something. Just like it happened to Rusher many years ago.

()

Observing this pillar of light. Kula was thinking about how much this pillar reminds her of the pillar of light that ran the entire Area. She misses that place...as much as she misses her father. It was also the first time she talked to Rusher.

()

[February 3rd, 2030 3:46:29 P.M.]

It has been two months, 13 days, 10 hours, 23 minutes, and 49 seconds since Rusher and Commander Knight have come to The Area. Yes, she counted them. Right now she was observing one of the pillars that generated energy to light the Area. This was the place that let her mind run freely. Solving these Rubik Cubes was starting to bore her out of her mind thou. What is this the 20th Cube she solved?! No new things to solve neither. Her father was so focused on this M.I.S.T. that he hasn’t bothered to go out and start discovering new mysterious languages.

‘Level 21 complete. Proceed to the next level?!’

“*sigh* Very boring.”

“You know a kid like you should be roaming around like this so freely.” The orange-haired girl turned around to see the blue-haired soldier. He must have finished his training considering how he was drinking an energy drink.

“Oh? And I suppose someone like you should know where this “kid” you speak of should roam around?”

“Humph.” Rusher drank the energy drink before observing the digital Rubik Cube that was floating in front of him.

“What is that?”

“A Rubik Cube.”

“I KNOW WHAT IT IS IN FRONT OF ME! I meant the device that is making the Rubik Cube.”

“You mean this?” She signals to the small 4X4 box.

“Yes, that.”

“A puzzle box, it has many problems solving puzzles. From Rubik Cubes to Word Scrambles, there is no puzzle game that it cannot store.” Rusher whistle at that.

“That is a neat contraption.”

“Yes...Although, not a very interesting one.”

“Perhaps is because you never got out of this place. The outside world is really big you know.”

“Why are you here? Surely it was not because you were looking to chat with me.”

“Why not? But you are correct, your father told me to look for you.”

“Oh?”

“He said something important, something to do with a Thero, Dermo. Hermo…” Kula sighed seeing the man struggling to say the word.

“Thermostatic Ignitions.”

“Yeah, that thing.”

“I see…” She observes the male for a few seconds.

“What?”

“...Is nothing…” She touches a button and the cube entered the box and made a clicking sound. She took the small box and then stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“Just a question.” Again Kula sighed. These people and their questions.

“What is it?” it annoys her sometimes.

“This pillar…”

“What of it?”

“How does it creates energy?” Oh?

“Why do you want to know?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I am stuck here until I am ready for Project M.I.S.T. and maybe even further than that. I might as well know this Area from tail to head.”

“I see...That…” She signals to the pillar.

“Is The E.D.E.N.”

“E.D.E.N.?”

“Electrical Duple Energetic Nectar. It stores energy from the minerals and the soil. It also works if you put Thousands of pounds of Oaktree Nectar. This one uses the previous.”

“Is there one that uses Nectar here?”

“Yes, thou that one is used more on the cultivation zone a floor below us.”

“I see…”

“Anything else you will like to know?”

“Nope, that’s all I need to know. Let’s go.” With that, he and orange-haired left the room.

Rusher has been wondering...How smart is this girl? He saw that she solved the Rubik Cube without looking at it and explaining to him about the E.D.E.N. pillar. It said level 22 completed before she even finished explaining where the one powered by nectar was located. Kula Rowan...A mind like hers in P.E.P.A. would make tracking terrorists a lot simpler. Heck, she could solve any murder in an instant or even improved those Exoskeleton armors that they were building currently! That with Project M.I.S.T. Rusher will indeed be the ultimate super-soldier. But first, he must pass the trials. He will not lie thou, he was getting a bit impatient. But as quoted by Commander Knight: “Those who rush to the task, end up killing more than the lives they save...even themselves.”

()

“So Rusher and Kula have been together since that day.”

“Yes, according to the information that was gathered Miss Inès, Rusher stayed in the Area for more than 3 years. During that time he was tested in trials to see if he had the capabilities to hold the M.I.S.T. in his body without the results taking his sanity away. Kula officially met and talked to Rusher two months and almost two weeks after he was transferred to The Area where he will live until he mastered the M.I.S.T. and from the looks from how Sherri and Deanne described him, he almost failed the test.”

“The left hand that you mentioned earlier.”

“Correct, Miss Jessenia.”

“Troy, it says here that Kula didn’t get the M.I.S.T. until December 12th, 2032,” Xino said looking at the documents.

“Wait, when did the outbreak of the M.I.S.T. start?!” The president this time asked Troy.

“...Hmm, it was around that day to be precise it was announced three days later, after the Tabouillot Massacre.” Yeah, these days seem to match. That meant that someone must have interfered during Kula’s test. If that is the case then this entire thing was no accident. Someone must have manipulated this incident for political gains. But Why? Why unleash something as dangerous as this to the World? And what did that person end goal was?

()

“Gentlemen & Lady in this room. It is so good to have this meeting today with you all.”

“This better be good LeDutch! I had to cancel my appointment with my Board of Directors!” Said one shadow. The figure seemed to be very wide in size and the way he talked seemed a bit corporate.

“With your attitude, I am surprised that you still have a Board Of Directors left.” Told another voice to the Big shadow. This one seems more like he was on a radio broadcast. It had no image screen and where the screen will be is an audio-only voice.

“Oh, That’s rich coming from a dictator...President.”

“My way of ruling my nation has more dignity than your greedy ways. It is called Democracy something you of course lack of.”

“Enough you two.” Said another voice this one did have an image too. The most important feature of the calm male voice was the item it was holding on his hand. It looked like a cylinder with an eye in the center...at least it looked like one as it was moving left to right and was glowing orange. The two voices didn’t dare to talk back to the voice...intimidation maybe? The voice looked toward LeDutch.

“I assume you found Dionne and Ragnarok and that the Armageddon has been revived.”

“Yes...Everything is going according to plan. We will activate Armageddon soon and be taking course toward Japan in a few hours.” Told LeDutch.

“Your plan I assume. Well, so long as it doesn’t interfere in my companies’ businesses I could care less what happened to the other companies.” “Money Talks” that has always been the motto of the big shadow that was talking.

“It seems you have your very own revolution happening. We have talked about it in one of our meetings. Japan was one of the only places that refused the Equality Program, so I can understand your grudge for a country that will not listen to your request.” Said the one called President. He and LeDutch have talked about how much the world has changed since one was gone into hiding because of different Ideals and the other has to take care of the other side of a divided country.

“Canine, you have gathered your very own group. Are they aware of the situation that is currently occurring?”

“...They have. You don’t need to be concerned about it. They know exactly what to do to test The President of Omega and his anti-virus team.” Said a young male voice he was holding something in his neck. It looked like some sort of Wolf.

“I can’t believe we are letting a bunch of teens do such an important job as this one!!” Said the big shadow bewildered by this.

“The Youngs of today are our future Teeming. We should encourage and learn from their ways. I for once am looking forward to watching the future unfold.”

“LeDutch...Is she...alive?” She...ah he must be talking about the white-haired girl that escaped Salamander’s attacks.

“Ah, you mean her. Salamander was able to face her but...she escaped his grasp at the last second. She is currently on hiding in my Headquarters.” LeDutch said to Canine. Canine looked to LeDutch with his piercing violet eyes before he closes them.

“I..see...that is good.”

“Is that girl important Canine?” This time a female voice came this one was holding a necklace. Visibility was not possible as there was static before it went into audio-only.

“...She is...she was part of our group a few years ago.”

“...I see…”

“Other any luck with Miracle.”

“I am afraid he will not be available today, he is in the middle of a Sermon.”

“Hmm...I see…”

“However Bishop did receive a message from Miracle to delivered to you.”

“Oh?”

“The Enemies will gather to chase the tower that God rules over. We must be ready for the judgment day.”

“I see…”

“What does that even mean?” Said the big shadow.

“It means that Leos Kishima will get involve in this war soon.”

“Is he a threat?” LeDutch asked.

“A very dangerous one, He is the owner of the Hexagon Of Fate, you can say...he can predict the future of his fate for 2 weeks. That means he will know what to do in case we try to attack him. However, I have anticipated such an enemy to get in our way. You worry about fulfilling your revenge...We will take care of the rest.”

“...Understood.”

“Leader Has there been...any complications?” Asked Other. Complication what is the female talking about? After a few minutes Leader spoke.

“No...there has been none.” Answered Leader. After a few minutes, Other spoke.

“I understand. I will take my leave then. LeDutch, I hope this will not interfere or obstruct on Leader’s goal if you do...I will personally end your entire goal,” The way she said those words...with such threat...who is she…?! She has claimed to be the only one who has seen Leader. No one has not even LeDutch himself and he has been a mystery himself to the world. Mystery as in no one knows he is alive except the intruders inside this HQ and the members of this meeting. Every one of them has seen each other. Talk to each other. Teeming never seem to be eye to eye with almost everyone but he has the most respect for Leader. Besides, his wealth and company are essential to keep meddling people from finding out. Plus his founds help the members in here to create facilities such as the one he is currently in. President has ruled over that other side of the country since they got split. A leader with an iron fist and loyal fans. Teeming calls it dictatorship but he sees it as determination and as President’s words Democracy. Miracle is a messenger of God with his very own group of loyal members. He usually comes to this meeting but sometimes like it happened today he is giving his sermon to his loyal sheep. Canine is the youngest of the group and from what he has heard he is a great leader with experience. He was said to be the former co-leader of a group with another person. Perhaps that group is the one that the white-haired girl must’ve been involved with. What is the relationship between these two teens? Then there’s Leader and Other. He was called by Other who was instructed by Leader to recruit him in this organization. His presence...he could feel it. It was more powerful than anyone in this group. That cylinder that has an eye...it will look at your soul and his voice was so intimidating that he feels like if he ever sees him in person...he will not dare pick a fight against him...it will be foolish to do so. Finally, the one who was sent to lay the recruiting message. Other...She was...very mystique, the only one whose Leader seems to let talk over anyone in the meeting. She also seemed to be very loyal to Leader to a point that she will vouch for him and even defend him if anyone questions his actions. He feels that there is more than meets the eye between Other and Leader but it will be wise not to go any further than it is right now...it will be foolish to anger her and on that might anger Leader as well.

“You do not need to worry about that. My very own personal grudge is between Japan and myself...Unless there is something in there that is important to you.”

“...No there is nothing...nothing left for me there.” Other told LeDutch.

“I see...then you don’t need to fret.”

“If that is all...I declare this meeting to be complete.” That was Leader’s Final Words before he logged off.

“This better not interfere in my very own businesses LeDutch. You do not want to feel the Wrath of my company. You might have your very own bodyguards but I have the one thing that can defeat all...You should remember that clearly.” Teeming threatened before logging off.

“Do not feel threatened by that simple-minded greedy nimrod. I for once endorse your actions and the justice that you will unleash on those who have to refuse your dream and ideals. It is a pity you weren’t born in our country, you would’ve become a great Vice-President.” Said President to LeDutch.

“I’ll take your endorsement as a blessing Mr. President, may you have 4 more years of your legacy as the greatest president of that nation.”

“I thank you. Now if you excuse me LeDutch there is a nation that needs me in this dark times, Farewell, my dear fellow comrade from France.” With that President logged off.

“...LeDutch...” This was Canine. He saw the necklace that Canine was holding glow.

“Do not kill Emuna Chariot...she has yet to atoned for the sins that she has committed.”

“...I see...I will be sure to capture her until the day we meet in person once more.”

“...Good…” Canine Logged off. There was a moment of silence before Other spoke her final words.

“The Legendary Pieces...Make sure you collect them. We need them for Leader’s plan.”

“...I will...if it is to fulfill the will of the leader. I will do everything in my power to get all of them and delivered them to you or Leader.

“...It will not be necessary, We will send someone who can take them to Leader. LeDutch...The Organization...And Leader’s end goal lies in your hands now.” With that Other logged off. The Organization and Leader’s end goal. Yeah, a world that is cleansed of light and only darkness rules, such a world...he can see and live in it just fine.

()

The Pillar, it was starting to dissipate. Being caught off guard. Kula got her shoulder wounded by a small pole size beam before she had to dodged multiple ones coming this time from the air before blocking an incoming pink beam sword.

(‘How did she…?!’) Questioned the orange-haired now young adult as she sees that the pink-haired was now clashing with her. Her eyes...they were like they are formed of crystal. Is that a halo floating on her head?! And what’s with these astral pink wings on her back? And her legendary piece...she can see it...has the pink-haired girl finally achieved awakening?! There were no longer cubes in between the books there thousands of them spinning now not only that but can see it. The rings...they have changed colors. Yellow, red, orange, blue, dark green, & white. The circle was black with a small pink spot in the middle that glowed intensively. This was indeed far more different than the one she saw before. There is no doubt is there? This was the true awakened form of the legendary piece The Rubik’s Cube of Knowledge.

“Svoboda.” Freedom?

“What…?”

“This form...The name is Svoboda...Nastoyashchaya Svoboda.” True Freedom? Before she could process the meaning any further Aeris vanished and then kicked Kula toward a building.

Coughing from the dust and bleeding from her mouth, the orange-haired female fallen angel struggled to get up.

“Damn!” Where did all this power come from? Even still a better question to her unanswered question: How did the pink-haired manage to neutralize her nerves paralysis injection needles?! She shouldn’t be walking at all!!

A light emitted through the darkness before Kula realized that a beam was going at lighting speed toward her giving her no time to react and get hit by said beam creating an even higher explosion than the one where she was hit before.

Outside, Aeris was looking through the rubles of the building she destroyed from the attack she unleashed on Kula. She knows it will take more than this to take her down.

“Hmm…?” She looks at her legendary piece. A small book flew in front of her before it expanded until it was visible to read. The title said “Kula Rowan 2024-”. This is Kula Rowan’s book?

The papers went wild until it landed in a chapter called “M.I.S.T.” she started reading before her eyes widened. She sees now...so this is why…?

()

[December 11th, 2032]

72 hours...it has passed 72 hours since Rusher lost his arm to the M.I.S.T. if it wasn’t for Commander Knight interfering on the simulation training Rusher would’ve become another victim to the mystical Mist. She was not able to watch the incident but has heard from the whispers of people in The Area. Her talking to the blue-haired male was not that bad throughout these two and a half years. She was able to have some knowledge of the outside world. At least until the day before he got here. There are some things that he learns from him thou. Like P.E.P.A. for instance, a military government specialized as a special task force to protect the people of the world from terrorist activities. She was curious about these special task force so she has been reading what they have been doing through the years. Right now they had improved the exoskeletons that they created two years ago. She has seen how many years you have to have of experience to be a lieutenant let alone a commander. 4 years for lieutenant 7 to become a commander of P.E.P.A. there were multiple of them around the world so Commander Knight must be one of many. Perhaps he is the Commander that is in charge of France P.E.P.A. unit.

“There you are.” She looked to see her father.

“Father.” Listo Rowan has been very observant of Rusher for the last 4 months after he took the M.I.S.T. inside his body. Unlike the others, he was seeing some progress controlling said mystical mist. His hopes, however, all came down to a halt when Rusher did this simulation. He was losing control of himself and with it, he lost his very own left arm. He would've lost more than that if it wasn’t for Commander Knight snapping the blue-haired out of his madness with power. This time it was his arm, next time if he loses control...he will become like all the soldiers that came before him. But...there was a positive despite the results from 72 hours. A voice of reason can stop one from going insane with the M.I.S.T. powers thus that “vessel” can stop the M.I.S.T. volunteer. If that is the case so long as Rusher has a voice that tells him to control himself and relax, they might be able to find a way to decrease the effects of a person losing his sanity. All the soldiers before did not have a voice of reason...someone they have looked up to. The connection Rusher had with Commander Knight...it was a connection similar to a parent and his/her son/daughter. He wonders…

“You are looking at P.E.P.A. information again?”

“Yes...I have been interested in how the task force has been evolving through the years without Rusher to witness it.”

“Hmm, yes they did upgrade the exoskeleton with a vitality patch that will make sure the users do not get tired as easy against multiple enemies.”

“Their armor is still fragile in these areas thou.” She signals to the left kidney and on the calf areas.

“Ah yes. Great observation my daughter. I will be sure to let Commander Knight know once he goes back to P.E.P.A. this weekend for his weekly report on the project.” Informed the bespectacled male before adjusting his glasses.

“How is Rusher doing?” After a moment of silence, Dr. Rowan answered his orange-haired daughter.

“He is recovering fine. At least physically, his mental state is still not in a good state. Losing your arm can take a huge toll on your mind. But, I am positive that he will have a normal mental state in less than 12 hours from now. That boy...he’s a very strong person both physically and mentally.”

“Yes...he does.” Kula was thinking...was there a way to connect with the man. If only she can know of a way that she knows how the blue-haired male felt. Maybe….

“Father...”

“Hmm?”

“I have been wondering...Is there a way for the M.I.S.T. to work on an individual that has strong mental capabilities?”

“What do you...Kula, you are not thinking of…?!”

“Father...how much would it cost to have true freedom?” True Freedom? ...He sees. So she has been thinking about this for years. It was not about the project anymore...it was about being able to get out of here...without any restrictions...be truly free.

“Kula...It is not going to be easy. Are you sure about this? Putting my daughter in danger…”

“I am tired of sitting here waiting for the day that I can go out outside and enjoy the life of a normal girl. I want to see the world freely...Have true freedom...with you also. Father you have tried so many years to create the ultimate soldier project that you have locked yourself inside of a cage and by doing so you have also done that to me. The least I can do is try and help you find a solution faster that way you can be truly free. You said to me before that you had in sense freedom but you haven’t had True Freedom, have you not?” That is true he will not lie. Sometimes he wonders what true freedom feels like? Not locked inside this facility for many months. Being able to get out without having soldiers protecting you 24/7. A normal life. Like those parents that can play with their kids in the park, watch movies, go to the amusement park...even play video games and solve puzzles together. He also has been thinking after this project...what is next for him? He has heard that a company has created a virtual reality game that has started to get popular with the kids. Maybe he could work in that company for the rest of his life. Yeah, a normal job. True Freedom...he will like to have that.

“...Alright. We will commence in 24 hours.” 24 hours...his father seems very confident that she will be able to control the M.I.S.T.

“Understood.” If that is the case then she could question Rusher for advice before she can get the M.I.S.T. herself.

“Kula.”

“Yes?”

“...Thank You...for making me understand the true motive of this project.” True motive? Oh, she sees...so that was his motive to doing all of this.

“...Yes…” They will find it...together...true...FREEDOM.