#2, Vions'e

Chapter 2

Revelations of Chaos

The night was thick with tension as Meito, Nodo Sei, and Kishimata Lan found themselves deep in the city's underbelly—a place forgotten by the world above, where broken streetlights flickered and cast eerie shadows across the cracked pavement. The air was damp, the kind that clung to your skin like a bad omen, and even Meito, usually carefree, could feel the weight of something sinister creeping around them.

Lan, always the calm in the storm, took the lead as the trio walked deeper into the abandoned district. His sharp eyes scanned every corner, every flicker of movement. Beside him, Nodo Sei shuffled his deck of Uno cards, his lips curled in a half-smirk, as if he was waiting for something fun to happen. Meito, however, was unusually quiet, feeling a pit form in his stomach as the reality of their mission began to sink in.

"Alright, listen up," Lan finally spoke, his voice low but steady, breaking the silence. "We're after a dangerous man. A psychopath who calls himself The Architect. But he's no ordinary killer—this guy's been making moves that could lead to something catastrophic."

Meito blinked. "Wait, catastrophic how? Like... someone's gonna have a really bad day? Or we're talkin' end-of-the-world, doom-and-gloom kind of thing?"

Lan shot him a sideways glance, his expression deadly serious. "End of the world, Meito. The Architect has been plotting something bigger than just murder. He's been targeting specific people—key figures in both government and underworld syndicates. Each of them had knowledge about certain magical artifacts. From what we've gathered, he's been collecting these artifacts for some kind of ritual."

Nodo tossed a card up in the air, catching it lazily. "Yeah, dude's not just some nutjob with a knife. He's got a plan—a messed up one. And if he gets his hands on all the pieces for this ritual, boom." He mimed an explosion with his hands. "End times."

Meito's eyes widened. "So, like, we're dealing with magic now? Real magic? Not just the cool combat stuff?"

Lan stopped walking, turning to face him fully. "Yes, real magic. Not everyone can access it, but The Architect… he's one of the few who can. He's planning to merge this world with another dimension, one that's pure chaos. If he succeeds, it won't just be a few bodies dropping—it'll be reality collapsing in on itself. Imagine a world where time, space, life, death—all of it gets warped and twisted. That's what we're up against."

Meito's stomach did a flip. Magic? Sure, he'd always known the world had strange powers, but magic? Actual spells and ancient rituals? It was like something out of the comics he used to binge-read, but this wasn't fun and games—this was real.

---

As they moved through the shadowy alleyways, Meito's mind drifted back to his childhood. He had always been the kid with his nose buried in a comic book, obsessed with stories about wizards, spells, and epic magical battles. His favorite characters were always the underdogs—the ones who discovered they had hidden powers and used them to save the day. He remembered staying up late, imagining himself casting spells, conjuring fire from his hands, or flying through the sky with nothing but sheer willpower.

He laughed under his breath at the memory. Man, those were simpler times.

"Something funny, kid?" Nodo glanced over, raising an eyebrow.

Meito shook his head, a grin forming on his face despite the looming danger. "Nah, just... remembering how I used to wish I could cast spells when I was a kid. Y'know, like in those comics and anime. Thought it'd be cool to be a wizard, save the world with magic and all that. And now, here we are, chasing after a lunatic who actually knows how to do it."

Nodo chuckled. "Well, dreams do come true, don't they? Too bad it's more of a nightmare, huh?"

Meito shrugged. "Guess so. But still... kinda wild to think magic's real in this world. I mean, I figured it was all about strength and brains, right? Punch harder, think faster—that's the game, right?"

Lan, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke up. "Strength and intelligence are important, but magic... Magic changes everything. It's not just about raw power—it's about bending the rules of reality itself. A single spell could turn the tide of battle, erase someone's existence, or even reshape the world."

Meito's heart raced a little at the thought. So, this is real? This isn't some fairytale or game?

They reached a rundown building, its windows shattered, the doors hanging loosely on their hinges. It looked abandoned, but Lan raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

"This is it," he whispered, eyes narrowing. "The Architect's last known location. He's in there, and if we're lucky, we can catch him before he completes the next phase of his plan."

Meito swallowed hard, the weight of the moment hitting him. This wasn't just a random mission anymore. This was life or death. The Architect wasn't just a murderer—he was a threat to the entire world. And they were the ones standing in his way.

Lan motioned for them to move forward, but before they did, Meito couldn't help but ask, "So... you guys ever thought about what you'd do if you had magic? Like, real magic?"

Lan's expression didn't change, but Nodo grinned, flipping another card. "Oh, I know exactly what I'd do. I'd make my deck unstoppable. Imagine pulling a 'Draw Four' on someone and then watching them disappear into another dimension. That'd be fun."

Meito snickered. "Of course you'd say that."

Lan's voice, though, was more somber. "Magic is a tool, just like anything else. But it's dangerous in the wrong hands. We have to stop The Architect. No matter what."

Meito felt a chill run down his spine. He nodded, more serious now. "Right. Let's do this."

As they entered the darkened building, the air around them grew colder, more oppressive. It was like stepping into another world, one where the rules didn't apply anymore. And Meito, despite his nerves, couldn't shake the feeling that something much bigger than just strength or smarts was at play here.

Magic, he thought again. This was the world he had always dreamed of as a kid, but now, standing on the brink of something far more dangerous than he could have ever imagined, he realized... this wasn't a dream. This was the real thing.

And the stakes were higher than he'd ever thought possible.

Shadows and Misdirection

As they stepped into the building, the eerie silence wrapped around them like a blanket of tension. The only sounds were the creaks of the old floorboards under their feet and the distant hum of the city, far beyond the forgotten district. Meito's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through him as the weight of the situation settled in. His fingers twitched at his sides, ready to grab his weapon at any moment. He had never felt this much pressure in his life.

Nodo Sei, still casually flipping his Uno cards, whistled under his breath. "Man, for a place that's supposed to be crawling with danger, it's pretty quiet, huh?"

Lan, leading the way, remained stoic, his eyes sharp as ever, scanning the area for any sign of movement. They passed empty rooms with walls covered in graffiti and shattered glass. The deeper they went, the colder the air seemed to grow. Meito couldn't help but feel like they were being watched, but every time he turned, there was nothing—just shadows dancing against the flickering lights.

Lan stopped abruptly, his hand raised in a signal for them to halt. Meito's heart jumped into his throat as he prepared himself for the worst.

"This is it," Lan whispered, his voice barely audible. "We're close."

Nodo chuckled softly. "Close to what, exactly?"

Meito frowned. "Is this… where the Architect is? Is he hiding somewhere, waiting for us to make a move?"

Lan remained silent for a moment before a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He turned to face them, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Nah. He's not here."

Meito blinked, his brain short-circuiting for a second. "Wait—what?"

Lan chuckled lightly, the tension suddenly dissolving like mist in the morning sun. "I said he's not here. We're not here to fight him. We're here to look for clues."

Nodo snorted, his grin widening. "Ah, you should've seen your face, Meito! You looked like you were ready to wet your pants."

Meito's jaw dropped. "Wait, hold up! You were messing with me this whole time?! I thought we were about to go head-to-head with a freakin' world-ending maniac!"

Lan shrugged, his usual calm demeanor returning. "We're not that reckless. This was just his last known location. He's long gone by now. But this place could still have valuable intel about his next move."

Meito groaned, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. "Dude, you guys need to work on your communication skills. I almost had a heart attack back there!"

Nodo laughed, giving Meito a playful punch on the shoulder. "Hey, relax, rookie. You gotta learn to keep your cool under pressure. Can't go losing your head every time things get intense."

Meito glared at him, but the frustration quickly melted into a sheepish grin. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. But seriously, next time just tell me what's going on. I don't do well with surprise near-death experiences."

Lan, who had been scanning the room again, spoke up. "Keep your guard up, though. Even if he's not here, The Architect could've left traps or clues. This place is too quiet for my liking."

Meito swallowed his pride and nodded. His instincts told him Lan was right. Something felt off about the whole situation, like they were being led into a maze with no clear exit. And that's when it hit him—this whole thing, the atmosphere, the sudden silence—it felt orchestrated.

"Wait a sec," Meito muttered, his brows furrowing as his eyes scanned the shadows. "You guys feel like... we're walking into a setup?"

Nodo tilted his head, giving Meito a curious glance. "Setup? What do you mean?"

"I mean," Meito continued, "what if the Architect wanted us to come here? I don't know, it's just a gut feeling, but… this place feels like bait. Why leave this place untouched if it's his last known location? Wouldn't he wipe everything clean or leave traps?"

Lan raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're not wrong. That's why we're not dropping our guard. The Architect's smart—he wouldn't leave a place like this exposed unless he's planning something bigger."

Meito felt a chill crawl up his spine. "So… what do we do now?"

"Simple," Lan said, his voice steady. "We search for any leads. Even if it's a trap, we need to know where he's heading next. If he's planning something that could destroy the world, we can't afford to back off."

Meito sighed, his earlier fear now replaced by a strange mix of excitement and caution. This was the real deal—life and death, danger at every corner. And for the first time, he wasn't just a bystander in someone else's story. He was part of it.

---

The trio split up to search the building, combing through dusty drawers, overturned furniture, and scattered papers. The atmosphere remained tense, but Meito couldn't help but feel the rush of the investigation. This was what being a detective was all about, right? Solving mysteries, piecing together clues—he could get used to this.

After what felt like hours of searching, Nodo Sei suddenly called out from the other side of the room. "Hey, I found something."

Meito and Lan hurried over to where Nodo was standing, holding up a crumpled piece of paper. It looked old, like it had been left there intentionally. Lan took the paper from Nodo and unfolded it carefully. His eyes narrowed as he read the contents.

"It's a map," Lan said, his voice low. "Looks like a layout of the city's underground tunnels. The Architect must be using these to move around without being detected."

Meito peered over his shoulder. "That's… a lot of tunnels. How are we supposed to figure out where he's headed?"

Nodo tapped the map with his card. "There's a marking here. Looks like an X over a specific location."

Lan's expression darkened. "That's the old city cathedral. It's been abandoned for years, but if the Architect's heading there, it could mean he's preparing for the final phase of his plan."

Meito shuddered. "And by 'final phase,' you mean the part where he opens up a portal to some chaos dimension and wrecks reality, right?"

Lan nodded grimly. "Exactly."

There was a moment of heavy silence before Nodo Sei clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Well, looks like we've got a lead, boys! Time to head to the cathedral and crash this psycho's little party."

Meito tried to smile, but the weight of their mission bore down on him. This was no game. They were chasing a killer who could end the world, and they only had one shot at stopping him.

As they left the building and made their way toward the cathedral, the night seemed darker than before, the air colder. And despite the bravado, Meito couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far bigger and more dangerous than they could imagine.

No more jokes, he thought, stealing a glance at his partners. This is real. And if we screw this up…

He didn't finish the thought. There was no point.

They couldn't screw this up.

Not if they wanted to save the world.

A Glitch in the Plan

The night had dragged on, and after hours of searching the desolate tunnels, the trio found themselves standing in the middle of a dusty, dimly lit room. The damp walls echoed the sound of their footsteps, while the faint hum of the city's underbelly buzzed around them. They had followed every lead, scoured every corner, yet all they had encountered were dead ends—no sign of the Architect or his twisted plot.

Lan ran his hand through his hair, frowning as he looked around. "Nothing. This place is completely empty."

Meito leaned against the wall, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, we've been searching for hours, and all we've found is a bunch of dirt and... wait, what's that?"

He kicked something by accident—a small, battered object that had been buried under a pile of debris. It clattered to the floor with a metallic clang, and as the dust settled, Meito squinted down at it. His face twisted in confusion. "Is that… an old record player?"

Nodo Sei walked over, picking it up carefully. The device was a relic, covered in scratches and dents, the kind of thing you'd expect to find in a junkyard. "Yeah, but it's broken. Looks like it hasn't worked in years."

Lan's eyes narrowed, his instincts tingling. "Hold on. Why would this be here, in a place connected to the Architect? Seems too random, doesn't it?"

Meito snorted, his frustration boiling over. "Random? This whole thing's been random!" With a swift motion, he kicked the record player out of Nodo's hands, sending it tumbling across the floor.

"Whoa, easy!" Nodo shouted, but it was too late—the record player hit the ground with a thud. For a moment, it lay there, motionless, like an old relic finally resting in peace.

Then, without warning, the gears inside clicked, whirred to life, and the machine began to hum.

"What the hell?" Meito stepped back, eyes wide. "I-I thought that thing was broken!"

Nodo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Well, looks like your kick fixed it, rookie. Nice going."

Meito scratched his head, utterly bewildered. "What… how? Is that—Is that the Architect's power? A magical, self-repairing record player?"

Lan crossed his arms, watching as the needle of the player dropped onto an unseen record, and a low, crackling voice began to emerge from the speaker. The sound was distorted, but it was clear enough to make out the words.

"Vionse," the voice crackled. "A criminal empire built on shadows and blood, hidden beneath the fabric of society. Let me tell you about the structure of this… machine of chaos."

The voice sent chills down Meito's spine. "Vionse? Who the hell is Vionse?"

Lan remained silent, listening intently. Nodo, too, was unusually quiet, his eyes fixed on the player.

"The hierarchy of Vionse is divided into four levels. First, there's the Sal—the lowest rung on the ladder. Don't underestimate them. These guys are thugs, sure, but they're still dangerous. Their leader is Weisto Von Gerald. No special powers, but that doesn't matter. He's a master mentalist, a manipulator who can turn the tide of any situation with just his words."

The voice droned on, sending shivers through the group. Meito leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. "A manipulator? That sounds bad. How do we fight someone like that?"

"Above them are the Priestess—mid-level operatives with real power. These are the ones who face the government on a daily basis, causing chaos wherever they go. Their leader, Norris Notru, possesses abilities far beyond the ordinary. His power is—"

Suddenly, the recording stuttered. A sharp screech pierced the air, and the words became garbled, distorted.

—glitch… glitch… glit—

The voice faded out before anything else could be heard. Meito winced, covering his ears. "What the… Is that thing broken again?"

Nodo stared at the record player with a frown. "No. Someone doesn't want us to know the full story. This isn't just a broken record—it's been tampered with."

Lan stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "Keep listening."

The recording crackled back to life, though more fragmented now.

"At the top of the hierarchy is the Rassione—the elite. These are the most dangerous members of Vionse, their true identities hidden, even from the world's most powerful intelligence agencies. No one knows who they really are, but they're rumored to have powers that defy explanation."

The room grew colder, as if the very air was suffocating under the weight of the information.

Meito's heart pounded. "Rassione… these guys sound like monsters."

But then, the recording began to glitch again, the voice garbling into nonsensical static. "7#+#! 2(#9#) #(4-3(2) 0#9"—and then silence. The machine powered down, leaving them standing in the eerie quiet of the underground room.

Meito looked at his partners, bewildered. "Okay… what the actual hell was that? Did that last part even make sense to anyone?"

Lan shook his head, his expression grim. "No. But it's clear someone didn't want us to hear everything."

Nodo Sei scratched his chin. "Sounds like Vionse has a lot more layers than we thought. This is no ordinary criminal gang. They've got structure, power, and secrecy on their side. The Architect's definitely working with them, but to what end?"

Meito crossed his arms, trying to piece it all together. "So, who recorded this, anyway? And why leave it here, half-broken, in the middle of nowhere?"

Lan knelt down beside the record player, studying it closely. "Good question. Whoever left this message wanted us to know about Vionse, but they didn't want us to know everything. It's like they were trying to give us a glimpse without revealing too much."

"Yeah," Meito muttered, his mind racing. "But why leave clues at all? What's the point?"

Lan stood, his face cold and unreadable. "Maybe they're testing us. Or maybe they're setting a trap."

Nodo shrugged, slipping his cards back into his pocket. "Either way, we've got a name now. Vionse. And we know the structure of their operation. That's more than we had an hour ago."

Meito nodded, though his mind was still buzzing with questions. "Yeah… but why glitch out the important stuff? What's this 'glitch' power that Norris Notru has? And what the hell was that garbled message at the end?"

Lan narrowed his eyes, as if piecing together a puzzle. "We need more information. Whoever this Architect is, he's tied to something much bigger than we initially thought. Vionse isn't just a gang—they're an empire. And if we're going to take them down, we need to know exactly what we're up against."

Meito stared at the now-lifeless record player, a knot forming in his stomach. "And we have no idea who's really pulling the strings behind it all."

The room fell into silence again, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them. This was just the beginning, and Meito couldn't shake the feeling that they were stepping into something far more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.

Whoever had left the recording knew more than they were letting on. And for the first time, Meito felt a chill of uncertainty creep into his mind.

This wasn't just about a serial killer anymore.

It was about the very balance of power.

A Clue from the Shadows

The eerie silence of the underground room hung in the air, broken only by the soft hum of the small drone Nodo had summoned. Its sleek, metallic form floated effortlessly above the cracked floor, its lights blinking as it scanned and recorded the surroundings.

"Alright," Nodo said, tapping on his wristwatch, "I've uploaded everything we found to the server. Government HQ will get the data in real time. And," he added with a smirk, "this little guy is taking the physical evidence back to base."

Meito blinked in disbelief as he watched the drone hover toward the doorway. "Wait, you're telling me… we don't even have to carry the evidence ourselves? A drone is doing the job for us?!" His eyes widened, and his voice jumped a notch. "That's freaking cool, dawg! Since when did we have tech like this?"

Nodo shrugged, as if it were no big deal. "Welcome to the 21st century, rookie. This isn't your regular detective job. We've got top-tier government tech. Get used to it."

Kishimata Lan, standing at the far end of the room, chuckled under his breath. "You should see what the drones in combat missions look like. These are just delivery boys."

Meito stared at the drone in awe, his mind spinning. "Man, I was expecting to have to carry stuff in dusty bags like those crime shows, but this? This is on another level." He shot a glance at Nodo and Lan. "You guys are holding out on me."

"Focus, Meito," Lan said, rolling his eyes. "We still haven't found the Architect's trail."

Meito straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Right, right. Sorry."

Just as they turned to leave the room and follow the drone back, Meito's foot slipped on the uneven floor, sending him stumbling forward. He flailed his arms, desperately trying to regain his balance, but he crashed down with a heavy thud.

"Ah, crap!" he muttered, wincing in embarrassment. "Why is it always me?"

Lan looked over his shoulder, a teasing smirk on his face. "You good, clumsy?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine…" Meito grumbled, pushing himself up. But as he stood, something caught his eye. A strange marking on the wall. Faint scratches, barely visible in the dim light, arranged in an oddly deliberate pattern. His heart skipped a beat.

"Hold up," Meito said, his tone suddenly serious. "Guys… look at this."

Lan and Nodo turned to see what Meito was pointing at. He stepped closer to the wall, narrowing his eyes as he studied the scratches. "This… this looks like some kind of code. Morse, maybe?"

Nodo raised an eyebrow. "Morse code? You sure about that, rookie?"

Meito nodded, excitement bubbling up in his chest. His mind worked fast, piecing together the dots. "Yeah, I used to be a bit of a nerd for this stuff. You know, all those late nights reading mystery novels and decoding secret messages in anime. Let me see…"

He squinted at the scratches and began tracing them with his finger, muttering softly under his breath. "Dot, dash, dot, dot… dash, dot, dot…"

Lan and Nodo watched silently as Meito worked, their curiosity piqued. After a few moments, Meito stepped back, his eyes wide with realization.

"It says… ITALY."

Both Lan and Nodo turned to him, their expressions shifting from confusion to excitement. "Italy?" Lan echoed, his brow furrowing. "That's our next lead?"

Nodo let out a low whistle. "So the Architect's trail leads to Europe, huh? That's one hell of a leap. But it makes sense. If Vionse's network is international, Italy could be a hub."

Meito grinned, feeling a rush of accomplishment. "Looks like we're going to Italy, boys!"

The trio exchanged glances, a shared spark of excitement lighting up their faces. For the first time since their mission had begun, they had a solid direction—something tangible to follow. And though they still didn't have all the answers, the idea of tracking down the Architect across the world felt like a real shot at victory.

"We need to report this to HQ," Lan said, already moving toward the exit. "They'll want to know about this lead. If the Architect is working out of Italy, there's a whole network we'll have to dismantle."

Nodo gave a playful salute. "And hey, maybe we'll get a vacation out of this. I hear the food in Italy's insane."

Meito, still buzzing with energy, couldn't help but laugh. "Vacation, huh? I wouldn't mind checking out the Colosseum or grabbing some pizza. You know, in between saving the world and all."

As they made their way back to the surface, the underground air growing cooler and the weight of their discovery settling in, Meito's mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. Italy. A new chapter in their mission. New dangers, new challenges. And possibly even new enemies.

The drone had already flown ahead, delivering the evidence back to HQ, but the message in Morse code felt like the true prize. It was a clue—a hidden breadcrumb leading them to something far bigger than any of them had anticipated.

They emerged from the tunnels, the night sky sprawling above them, and headed back toward their transport vehicle.

"You did good, Meito," Lan said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Looks like you're more than just comic relief after all."

Meito grinned, still riding the high of his discovery. "I told you, I'm not just a pretty face. I've got brains, too."

Nodo rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice as he replied, "Alright, genius. Let's get back to HQ and brief the higher-ups. Italy's waiting for us."

As they drove away from the city, the looming shadow of their mission still hung in the air. Vionse, the Architect, the cryptic clues—they were all pieces of a much larger puzzle. And now, with Italy on the horizon, the game was truly afoot.

But none of them could shake the feeling that the road ahead would be far more treacherous than they imagined.

For Meito, though, one thing was clear: This was no ordinary detective gig. This was a full-blown adventure.

And he was just getting started.