chapter 6 - Life or death

Life and death are on the same side of the line, passing the border between life and death just a little bit and you might just see life differently. The same analogy can be used for Time, passing the line between past and present might make you question life. All the memories in your life - the fun, boring, fleeting, unforgettable memories. What if... what if all of it is just a lie?

Rewinding time to a few days before...

"Captain, there seem to be traces of a Magic battle here at District 36" one of the soldiers pointed out.

"There are traces of Edioson - disrupted eido particles in this alleyway and it seems it's pretty recent, the distortion is pretty strong" Another soldier pointed out

Captain's lifeless black eyes scanned the tablet, taking in the readings with a detached indifference. The traces of magic, the disrupted eido particles, all pointed to a minor user, hardly worth his time.

"Another weakling," he muttered, but his mind drifted back to the days before the ban when magic was a revered force. He'd believed in magic's potential to elevate humanity. But those days were long gone. The horrors he had witnessed, the lives destroyed by unchecked power, had left him hollow.

He sipped his coffee, the bitterness mirroring the taste in his mouth. Now, capturing these "illegal" magic users was just another way to maintain order in a world teetering on the edge of chaos.

Shaking off the thought, he returned to the task at hand. "Don't need to care about that at all," he said, dismissing the second magic user as inconsequential and Grinned. "Just kill anyone you see"

August 9th, 2050, around 1 hour and 58 minutes before the incident, Near District 37 of Mysteria at 2.37 pm.

Aiko, Takashi, and Sakura landed in a dimly lit hallway that exuded an air of secrecy. The walls are lined with reinforced steel panels, and the floor is dark, polished concrete. Security cameras are discreetly placed in the corners, quietly observing everyone passing through.

"what's the plan now, Shingo" Takashi asked while crouching trying to evade the cameras

"We have to slowly get to the surveillance room before going to the Main research lab on the third floor, and the only way up there is the stairs next to the room at the end of the hallway. on the right"

"Why can't we just zipline onto the third floor" Takashi was confused about their plan

"...There are no windows on the third floor" trying his best to hide his disappointment

Aiko sighed while trying to talk to him

"Oh, I see"

As the three slowly walked through the poorly lighted corridor, they saw multiple labs with giant metal doors surrounded by steel bearings. "Advanced machinery lab, Weaponery lab, Storage room, There Is a lot of weapons in this room," Takashi mumbled while walking past the room

"Takashi, move faster, My barrier won't last long much longer " Misaka whispered to him

Amid their conversation, a sudden shiver ran down Aiko. He started looking around frantically while sweating profusely. looking at his situation, the two suddenly stop their conversation and look at Aiko.

"Haha, Shingo, you feeling cold?" "You are feeling okay, Aiko" Misaka and Takashi said respectively

"It's nothing, let's continue " He played it off but thought something did not feel right The air felt heavy, and he felt a strong presence nearby. Looking left and right, only endless empty hallways can be seen.

As they continue down the hallways, Aiko feels the same atmosphere throughout the entire journey. Even though they almost reach the surveillance room, it feels like a mile away. 

"Takashi, you go in first and signal to us if there is no one inside" and "Misaka, We stand next to the door and wait for his signal"

"Got it" Takashi and Misaka said respectively

When Takashi entered the room, no one Was inside. The chair is empty, and half of the hundreds of security camera screens are glitched. signaling the two to come in. As they walked in, AIko look left and right again. The feeling of being watched never left Aiko. Every shadow seemed to shift, every corner held a threat just out of sight. He could feel the eyes on him, even if he couldn't see their source. It was as if the facility itself was alive, aware of their every move.As nother sudden shiver ran down Aiko, but it was not just him who felt it.

"I don't like this atmosphere," Misaka said while slowly walking behind Aiko while grabbing his shoulder.

"There is nothing to be scared about" Takashi laughed. He suddenly bumped into the chair which made Misaka jump. "Eek, there is a ghost in here"

"There no such thing as ghosts" He giggled and take out the hacking device to turn the surveillance cameras off.

They closed the door behind them. felt like the mission was easier than they thought despite their uneasiness. A bit too easy

As they waited out at the survillence room, Aiko's thoughts consumed him .

 is it the shadow manipulator earlier? is it another presence we do not know about? Has the enemy already discovered us? A million questions go through his mind on guard. His thought is interrupted by Misaka. Sweat and tears dripped down her face.

"Takashi, I. I think my barrier is g.. gone"

Aiko's heart pounded as Misaka's whispered words hung in the air. The barrier was gone, and with it, their protection against the security cameras and the prying eyes of anyone in the facility. Panic surged through him, but he knew there was no time to think—only time to act.

Suddenly, the blaring of sirens filled the air, a deafening sound can be heard reverberating through the facility's walls and floors. Red lights flashed in chaotic patterns, blinding their eyes and disorienting their senses.

"How is that possible? Are you sure, Misaka?" Aiko's voice was laced with urgency, struggling to stay calm.

"YOU THINK I'M LYING? " Misaka shouted, her voice cracking under the pressure. "I cannot reactivate it anymore, What do we do? We're screwed, aren't we?" She put her hands on her head, pacing back and forth in a frenzy. Tears streamed down her face, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I don't want to die yet!"

Takashi stood frozen, watching in shock as Misaka, usually so composed, unraveled before his eyes. It was the first time he'd seen her like this. 

Aiko grabbed Misaka by the shoulders, his voice firm but gentle. "Listen to me. The only thing we can do is run!". Rushing out the door running as as their legs could carried them, Aiko banged the door opened leaving the device behind.

"Where are we running to, Shingo?" Takashi's voice wavered. "There's nowhere to hide!" Misaka exclaimed

"Change of plan," Aiko snapped. "We need to abort the mission. Now!"

"But we came so far, Aiko... we..." Misaka whimpered, her voice small and desperate. "And what about Yuki, we cannot just abandon her"

"We don't even know if we can survive or not"

"But that is just too... cruel" Misaka wails at the thought of losing her friend. As Takashi hears his words and see Misaka's reaction, he snaps and slapped him on the face "Shingo, I never take you as the type to just abandon people"

Aiko's eyes softened for a moment. Misaka had always been the strongest among them, the one who never faltered. Seeing her break down like this, the thought of losing Yuki was unbearable for her. And yet, Aiko had to consider the harsh reality: they might not be able to save everyone. "Of course, The last thing I want is for neither of you to die..." His words hung in the air as they rounded a corner, blindly stopping at a rounded corner without any semblance of safety.

"I... don't understand, i won't understand, i don't think its right to see my friends abandoned" 

Staying silent seeing him breaking down, Aiko knew their mission had turned into a fight for survival. and the odds were stacked against them. Every corner they turned, every door they passed, felt like a potential trap. It felt like an endless maze with no exit and only an entrance. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in on them i, the unseen presence stalking them through the labyrinthine halls. It may be dangerous. But there was no turning back now; the only option was to survive this mission. 

The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, the kind that made every breath feel heavy. Every footstep echoed ominously, as if the walls themselves were listening. After running through countless corners and doors, it felt like an endless amount of time had passed, they ran into the staircase that leads to the 'third floor'...