High-Priority Target (Who Just Wants to Nap)

[Underworld – Oblivis Closed Meeting Room]Location: Shadow Sector of Selvas – Temporary Headquarters

The neon-fogged skies of Selvas seemed darker than usual that night.Inside a shielded underground room reinforced with black metal and anti-signal plating, six hooded figures sat around an oval table, their faces obscured by flickering static holograms.

In the center of the table, a 3D projection replayed the bunker incident:Deren Arkwright, flanked by two cadets, stood before a Core module that had activated on its own.

One voice—flat, almost robotic—spoke:"The signal worked. Subject engaged. Visual confirmation achieved."

Another added, "His resonance pattern... aligns with Series-Z Projection. If the data holds, he's the key trigger for the legacy system."

A third voice, sharper, female:"Then we don't need all of Eidolon's designs. We only need his brain.Or at least… the parts we can clone."

A few chuckles echoed in the shadows."Our priority has changed. Arkwright is no longer a variable.He's a strategic asset."

The screen updated:TARGET: DEREN ARKWRIGHT

Status: Active

Location: Nova Academy (High Security)

Protection: Eidolon (Unconfirmed)

Risk: Unpredictable

"Activate Protocol GRIM. Start with indirect contact. Eliminate obstacles as needed."

🧠 [Transition to Clarice – Underworld, Eidolon Tactical Depot]

Clarice stood at her personal worktable, scanning the latest report:Oblivis had begun deploying field agents near Nova Academy.Several informants had spotted mercenaries—and even experimentalists from Orwyn—sighted in Selvas.

She closed the file. Her face stayed calm, but her voice shifted."They're moving too fast. Too coordinated."

She opened a private comm line."Wake the Phantom Unit. Activate Alpha-level protection for D.A.And tell him… in a way that won't make him flee into the forest and change his identity."

[Deren – Nova Academy, Dorm Room, Morning]

Deren had just woken up. His hair a mess, eyes half open.His communicator buzzed softly.

[NEW NOTIFICATION: Important Package Sent to Training Room, Sector 2]Additional Note: "Best not to sleep yet. The world's getting impatient to eat you alive." —C

Deren blinked."…Clarice. You serious?"He stared at the ceiling."Why does every day feel like the start of a horror movie?"

[Deren – Technical Hallway to Sector 2]

Deren shuffled slowly, like someone dragged out of bed for a tax seminar.Still rubbing his eyes, he walked the quiet corridor toward Sector 2—a training lab usually abandoned in the morning.

"They want me to check an error on a module that's never even used?" he muttered."This is clearly a trap. But if I don't show up, Clarice will probably send a drone."

On his mini-tablet, the academy's system showed:[CORE-17 Stabilizer Module experiencing irregular spikes. Technician evaluation required.]

He tapped the panel by the door.No sound. No usual system chime.

"…Why's everything silent? This isn't a training room. This is a Batman-villain-style interrogation room."

As the door opened, the room was dark—only one control panel glowed at the center.

His personal comm link died instantly.

[CONNECTION LOST. LOCAL NETWORK UNAVAILABLE.]

He stopped in his tracks."…Okay. This is that anime episode where the main character dies in Episode Five."

[Torren – Cadet Observer (Disguised)]

Behind a one-way mirror, a man in a black surveillance jacket stood with two armed operatives.He wasn't academy staff—he was an underground agent sent to "secure" Deren for scientific purposes.

"Target entered. Signal dampeners active. Extraction team, take positions."

One operative unzipped a case: tranquilizers, a neural extractor, and Core-resistant cuffs.

"Five minutes. One strike. We bring him out through the underground service path."

[Deren – Inside the Room]

Deren approached the glowing panel—but spotted a reflection in the side glass.

His expression went blank."…Please tell me you're not the evaluation assistant."

The door burst open from the side. Two attackers flanked him fast.

Deren dove sideways. A metal desk toppled, and one nearby tool flew across the room—WHAM!—electrocuting one of the attackers in the leg, making them collapse with a jolt.

"…Seriously? I just woke up," Deren muttered, rolling behind the desk.

[Clarice – Eidolon HQ, Monitoring Room]

Deren's signal had vanished—then flared up again in unstable energy spikes.

"He's been ambushed."

Clarice stood, slamming a red button on her console.

"Deploy the Phantom Unit. Send them to the academy perimeter.Authorization for intervention: minimum level 2.

And send Tessan a message:If one hair on that kid's head is touched...Nova's going to lose more than just its reputation."

[Deren – Sector 2 Training Room, Nova Academy]

One attacker rose, limping. His light armor could subdue regular cadets.He pointed a compact Core weapon at Deren, who was crouched behind the training desk.

"Surrender. Or we disable you and take your systems."

Deren raised his hands.But subtly shifted his foot toward a hydraulic lever below the desk—normally used for Core pressure drills.

Click.WHOOSH!The desk launched forward, slamming into the attacker like a flying wall at a budget gladiator show.

Deren stood slowly, staring at the lever."…I didn't even know it could do that."

Another attacker lunged from behind.But stepped on a sunken floor panel—CRACK—THUD!—and fell through a forgotten maintenance shaft.

"THIS ISN'T A FIGHT! THIS IS A SITCOM!" the attacker screamed from below.

Deren turned to face the last one—a more composed operative.He didn't strike. Just spoke:"You're not just a target, Arkwright.We didn't come to kill you. We came to… borrow your brain."

Deren grabbed a handheld wave amplifier from the wall."You can't borrow my brain.But you can..."

He activated it—"…enjoy two hours of tinnitus."

VRRRRRRRRRRR—!

The attacker shrieked. Blood trickled from his ears before he collapsed, thrashing—accidentally kicking the device toward Deren.

He caught it."Nice. Alarm clock upgrade."

[Nova Academy Emergency Alarm Activated]

The door burst open. Two patrol cadets and one combat instructor rushed in.

They saw:—three attackers down.—one in a pit.—one under a flipped desk.—one writhing on the ground.

And Deren, standing in the middle, holding the device like some reluctant hero.

"…Can I go back to bed now?"

[Ryn – Hallway to Sector 2]

Ryn sprinted down the corridor, Kael panting behind him.

"You think Deren's okay?" Kael asked.

Ryn didn't answer immediately. Then said:"He might hate fighting...But people keep forgetting...

He's the one who built most of the tech in this place."

[Tessan – Nova Academy Interrogation Room]

Tessan stood with arms crossed, watching the two captured attackers.

Bound to steel chairs. Faces bruised.One still trembling from high-frequency resonance.

"Who are you?" Tessan asked.

They said nothing.

Tessan turned to the camera. "Activate Method Two."

The lights shifted.Core pressure waves filled the room—disorienting, maddening.

Finally, one attacker gasped, "We're… not assassins. We were… sent to secure Arkwright."

"For who?" Tessan pressed.

The man chuckled weakly. "We don't… even know their real name. Just… contact from the 'forbidden zone'. Big pay. Said that kid... holds the key to something bigger than Earth."

[Clarice – Underworld, Eidolon Command Room]

Clarice replayed the interrogation footage.Her face stayed cold.Fingers tapping the desk.

She hated acting from behind a screen—But now, she knew:All the shadows were starting to converge.

She opened a secure link."Notify all Phantom agents. Arkwright's protection status upgraded to: Direct Priority."

She paused. Then added:"If necessary, eliminate anyone who tries to reach him.Including… from inside the academy."

[POV: Deren – Dorm Rooftop, Midnight]

Deren sat on the rooftop again.A small cut on his temple still stung.But the most annoying thing—He hadn't slept since morning.

Kael joined him, carrying two buns and hot drinks."Thought you'd be traumatized or something. But here you are, just chillin'."

Deren didn't look over."I'm not traumatized.I'm just… done."

"Well, you're a genius. I bet you had all those self-defense gadgets ready, huh?"

"Kael," he said quietly."I threw a desk at someone.With hydraulics. While half-asleep.That wasn't strategy.That was desperation."

Ryn arrived silently, sitting beside them.

"Now… everyone knows who you are, Der.Even those who aren't from this world...are watching."

Deren stared at the sky."I wanted to be normal.But the world keeps pointing at me."

[End of Chapter – Orbit Above Earth, Zeryth Observation Command]

A floating station made of dark bluish alloys orbited high above Earth.

Inside, a figure in a purple cloak watched a large screen—Footage of Deren hurling a desk at his attacker on loop.

"He's… too accidentally effective to be fabricated.Which makes him even more dangerous."

Another figure behind him spoke."Orders from Zeryth confirmed.Initiate First Contact.With... Arkwright."