A Signal from Someone Who Knows Too Much

[Underworld, Eidolon Safehouse]The holographic screen in front of her pulsed with soft light, but the data it displayed made Clarice hold her breath.

[New Signal Detected – Unclassified Energy Pattern][Pattern Match: 87% – Arkwright Resonance Design (DA-Type)]

Three blinking points appeared on the digital map:

An abandoned terminal in Selvas.

The neutral border between Thalros and Eterna.

And one... just two kilometers from Nova Academy.

Her eyes narrowed.The signal wasn't just mimicking Deren's pattern—it was calibrated to draw in any system familiar with it.

A call. But to whom?

Behind her, one of the analysts hesitated to speak.Clarice simply raised a hand.

"Don't report this to Central. For now, it stays off the grid."

"Lady Clarice... the signal is two-way. And just now... we got a response. From orbital space."

Clarice stood frozen for a second, then spoke quietly:"We've flown too close to the flame.And now... something is looking back."

[Nova Academy Technician – Energy Surveillance Hub]"Abnormal Core frequency detected—cross-network resonance. Unknown module emitting self-generating patterns."

The lead monitor stared at the massive control screen.The system logs displayed something they didn't own, didn't install, and never designed…

…yet it knew their system better than anyone.

"The signature matches 'DA-module' patterns. Is it Eidolon tech?""Not listed in any official registry," replied the analyst. "But the base structure is unmistakable. It's Arkwright's work.Or at least... someone who understands how he thinks."

[Nova Academy, Dorm Room, Night]Deren sat on the floor of his room, surrounded by metal components, cables, and heavily modified tools.

In front of him, a personal Core module glowed faintly—despite not being connected to any power source.

He stared at it.Unblinking.

Its pulses flickered rhythmically… almost like breathing.

"...Okay. That's not normal."

It had been glowing for two hours now. Not broken. Not technically. But something was... off.His head throbbed—like a frequency was disrupting his thoughts.

He tapped open a side panel and began typing an override code.

[Access Denied – External System Control Detected]

"…Oh hell no. Don't tell me… this thing's being hijacked?"

Suddenly, his door slammed open—of course, without knocking.

"DEREN!"

Kael burst in, plastic bag of snacks in hand, and a panicked look like he'd just watched a horror film.

"I saw the weird signal on the public panel! You haven't left your room all day! I thought you got POSSESSED BY A CORE!"

Deren gave him a flat stare."Kael... if you were five seconds slower, I could've escaped out the window, and you'd never have noticed."

Ryn appeared behind Kael, calmer but serious."You're not the only one affected, Der. Several Core frequency detectors in the lab also reacted. But only to one vibration type."

"And I don't even need to guess, right?" Deren muttered, pointing to the still-glowing module.

Ryn stepped closer, observing the signal. He squinted."This is... a call signal. But not from academy systems. This feels more like… an invitation."

"An invitation from who?" Kael asked.

Ryn stayed silent for a moment, then looked at Deren."Not who. Maybe... from something that understands how your mind works."

[Deren – Internal Monologue]"I understand machines. I understand systems.But now… the system understands me.And I hate that."

[Cadet Special Briefing Room]Tessan stood before a holographic strategy screen, arms crossed, wearing his usual unreadable expression.

Several cadets sat in the room. Ryn and Kael in the center.Deren... in the corner, hoodie up, face half-asleep.

The map displayed three marked points: unknown signal locations.

"We're sending a team to investigate the closest source," Tessan said.His gaze swept the room before settling on Deren.

"And since the signal operates on a frequency only one person can read, you're going."

Deren slowly looked up. "Me? A field mission? Outside the academy?"

"Join the team, help analyze the signal, and come back.Or I write a direct recommendation to put you in Special Isolation," Tessan replied, stone-faced.

Kael cheered, "FIELD TEAM! WOOHOO! ACTION TIME!"

Ryn frowned. "Isn't this a bit reckless? We don't even know if the signal is hostile."

"Exactly," Tessan answered. "And when we don't know—we go. We learn."

Deren rolled his eyes."All I wanted was sleep. But nooo. Of course the universe wants me to go on a nice little stroll toward a headache-inducing mystery signal that acts like a glitchy modem."

[Deren – En Route to Signal Site]The team traveled in a light transport toward an old bunker outside academy grounds, near the ruins of a former defense grid.

Deren, Ryn, Kael, and two senior cadets were assigned:Lena, an analysis expert, and Torren, the gruff, no-nonsense field supervisor.

Torren eyed Deren with disdain. "Core genius, huh? Can activate Colosia, but can't even carry his own backpack?"

Deren replied without looking up, "I use my brain, not my biceps, Budget Rambo."

Kael laughed too hard.

[Bunker Location – Underground, Dim, Signal Intensifies]They entered.The air was heavy—like invisible waves pressing against their skulls.

Inside, a lone Core module stood on a stone platform.Around it, glowing circles of alien symbols—not human, not from any known faction database.

Deren stepped closer. His chest tightened.The module… responded to him.

"Don't touch it!" Ryn shouted.

Too late.One of the senior cadets placed a hand on it—

—and a blast of electromagnetic force exploded across the room.

All electronics died. Lights out. Comms down.

Only the module remained lit… and began projecting a hologram.

[Hologram Display: Core Hybrid Weapon Blueprint]Deren froze.

The image—It was a weapon blueprint using Core resonance.And it included a stabilization layout only he would recognize.

One of his discarded designs…Perfected.

"...That's mine. But it's been... improved."

Kael stepped forward. "Wait, someone stole your design?"

Deren's voice lowered."Not just stole.They understand it.They connected the parts even I wasn't sure would work."

Ryn whispered,"You're talking about an enemy who can read your mind."

And maybe…Already knew you'd come here.

[Post-Mission, Nova Academy, Evaluation Room]Deren sat alone in a cold-lit room.Metal table. No communicator.His jacket was confiscated.And his sandwich… still left behind in the bunker.

The door opened. Nayra entered, face unreadable, holding a tablet.

She sat across from him and played a clip—The Core Hybrid blueprint projected earlier.

A watermark hovered in the corner:DA. R13 – Recompiled Variant

"This your design?" she asked.

Deren shrugged. "Failed draft. I trashed it two years ago."

"And now it's real. As a weapon.Attached to something living."

He gave her a sidelong glance."Two options: this world is either getting very creative... or very desperate."

Nayra didn't laugh.

"Who would know your work this well?"

Deren paused. His gaze drifted.

I wish I knew.

"Maybe… a former intern with a grudge because I never gave them a raise," he muttered flatly.

[Eidolon HQ, Underworld]Clarice replayed the bunker data—This time zooming in on the resonance signature.

Each wave… spiraled like sonar.And the center point clearly targeted one thing:Deren.Or more precisely, the energy DNA of his creations.

She stood.

"This isn't experimentation.This is a search.Someone is looking for him."

An analyst asked, "Are we taking over the next mission?"

Clarice's eyes locked on the signal map.

"No.We're not chasing them.

We set a trap.

And when they open the door…Make sure they know Eidolon is waiting on the other side."

[End Chapter – Unknown Location]A dark room. Transparent walls overlooking stars.

Someone sat before a data projector—face unseen.

Footage of Deren's mission played back.

A calm, heavy voice spoke:"Prototype response confirmed. Subject Arkwright demonstrates high compatibility."

"Link verification—positive."

They tapped the screen.

"Begin Phase Two contact."

In the corner of the interface, a new indicator flashed:Zeryth-Linked Node – Status: ACTIVE