Stoker City. A land covered in ice and snow. Further inside.
Bifrost industries.
Inside a spacious, opulent office, floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across one entire wall.
The floor was of marble, and the walls were painted with epoxy. A desk stood at the back of the room.
Grand, oversized, and almost too clean.
Seated on this seat, naturally, was Adonis, the Supreme General of Bifrost Industries and the sub-organization under it, Teslovik.
Facing the floor-to-ceiling window, he gazed at the white expanse outside.
Pushing his back against his chair, he let out a faint sigh.
Adonis, a young-looking, nineteen-year-old young man with shoulder-length black hair tied in a low ponytail.
Possessing golden eyes, wearing a black military-like outfit, with an overall loose, hanging on his shoulder more like a cape.
'It's been a year.'
Tapping his forehead, starting with that thought, he let out a sigh.
Yes. It's been a year since he had suddenly appeared in this world, a planet plagued by calamity.
And upon arrival, he gained a unique power called [X], for reasons he had yet to fully understand.
However, its effect was enough for him to deduce what sort of power he had gained.
Awakened.
So they had called him.
Humans who themselves had gained supernatural abilities through unknown means, rather than undergoing the case transformation.
In the entire world, there were fewer than three people like him who had awakened.
Thus, he, being the first, achieving a feat before even the residents of this world could, had been blessed with more than he could imagine.
His first debut was in an operation against the corrupted.
Leading them was a figure from Rasparta, and then Adonis, who had just arrived at that time, dispatched her with relative ease.
Not long after that, he became a member of Bifrost, and within a few months, about three, he had completely risen to the top.
With that, he rose to become the Overlord. Bifrost's Fourth and Supreme General.
Knock–! Knock–!
Just as the male had finished recounting his experiences mentally, a knock resounded on the door, prompting him to raise his head towards the door.
"Supreme General, it's me, Niz."
"Come on in."
Adonis replied, adjusting his chair back to its usual position, all while the person outside the door entered.
It was a young, beautiful woman.
A silver-haired woman with hair that flowed in soft waves, pulled back just enough to show her polished obsidian horns, which curled back like a crown.
She wore a high-contrast outfit: a crisp, sleeveless white top with a large satin blue bow at the collar.
A coat hung over her back, one sleeve on, one off, and her legs were wrapped in dark tights with faint patterns.
Naturally,
Like her appearance, she gave off a military vibe, and true to her looks, besides him, she was also one of Teslovik's leaders.
"Niz, you're here."
"Mhm. Quite so, I've bought the reports of our latest experiments."
Niz said that with folded arms, eyes looking away, and if Adonis recalled correctly, it was Dr. Aiken's job, one of the other leaders of Teslovik.
Besides, Dr. Aiken rarely comes to him.
Details were always sent through either electronically, a courier, or one of his personnel would bring them, but this time…
Deep into it. Adonis also folded his arms thoughtfully for a moment before reaching a conclusion.
"...Don't tell me, you went out of your way to check up on me…?"
He said with widened eyes, and contrary to his words, she replied:
"Indeed. I am concerned that you may pass away soon. However, I cannot allow that to happen. After all, you are a valuable asset to Bifrost."
Adonis winced hearing that.
"It would not be good to entrust everything solely to Dr. Aiken. Given her busy schedule, I find myself here."
Hearing that, Adonis silently clicked his tongue, his eyes shifting to the sides for a moment.
As he did that, she casually strode past the center where two sofas faced each other, with a crimson rug on the floor.
Reaching the floor-to-ceiling window, she overlooked the entire Bifrost from there before turning to him.
"Well, truth be told, it wasn't because of [Brionac] that I came here."
Hearing that, Adonis, who still sat without facing her, let out a soft sigh, his expression turning serious.
"It's Yulia, isn't it?"
"It's that again, isn't it?"
"Mhm. She's escaped, currently in Vologda spreading civil unrest toward the central city of Stoker."
Niz glanced over at Adonis; she already knew that much. As expected of him, and at the same time, she was in awe of him again.
How he always knew things like this was not a mystery, as he'd told her already. But anytime he did, she always renewed her awe for him.
If he heard her thoughts, he'd reply with, "It's nothing special," or something along that line.
But that wasn't the situation right now. She turned fully to him.
"I came to plead her case. Adonis, please spare her."
As the Supreme General of Teslovik, he has supreme legislative and judicial rights over everything.
When you think about it, even their research has taken a huge leap forward because of him.
Law enforcement agencies have also become stronger as they received personal training from him.
While Niz and the other generals still had their administrative privileges, everything would eventually revert to him.
All final decisions, especially those regarding warfare, are his domain.
Not to mention, he was the only person in the world ever to have a "run on sight" order, should they encounter him on the battlefield.
After the Nebu forces were attacked once by a single attack from him, with that move on the verge of wiping out their unit, they gave him such a honor.
Yet,
"I've only had the chance to meet her a few times. After all, as the leader, I have to do the bare minimum."
"Safe to say I have an interest in her, but not her rebellious attitude."
Adonis's expression darkened as he said that; she could visibly see a faint golden glow begin to form around him.
"However, for your sake, Niz. Just this once, and also for her effort as Teslovik's former leader."
Back when Niz had just become the leader of Teslovik, Yulia acted as her dark side.
She took care of matters from the hidden side, allowing Niz to use both the stick and carrot to keep her people in line.
"Thank you, General."
Adonis shook his head at her thanks. In one way or the other, he owed Niz plenty too.
"Even if I don't agree, you'll go against my orders and try to rescue her."
"Not to mention, as one of my women, you know I can't bear to punish you. It'll just be a pain in my gut."
Crimson rose up to Niz cheeks as she brushed her hair before shaking her head. An act of embarrassment.
She'd been caught. However, Adonis did not embarrass her further.
"So? How's [Brionac] coming along?"
Echo Particles.
During ancient times, several hundred years ago, calamity struck and the gods turned their backs on humanity.
A crystal particle spread across the world, turning people into grotesque monsters.
That same crystal is also the source of supernatural powers today.
Only those with an affinity for it can be transformed, wielding supernatural power.
"We did it just as you asked. Or so I learned when I visited Aiken."
"I see… she's still the same old Aiken, then. I never doubted her."
Adonis said this, his elbow resting on the armrest and his head propped on it.
In truth, Teslovik was a different organization from Bifrost.
However, because they needed supplies to continue their experiment, what better organization in Stocker City than Bifrost?
As a result, one could say that Teslovik and Bifrost are, in a way, the same.
"You're plenty strong on your own; what do you even need a Neolith for?"
"Niz, you don't get it, do you? It doesn't matter how powerful you think I am; all that matters is being able to use them."
Adonis said convincingly, with a constant nod of his head as though to enlighten Niz.
However, the Dragon Case was only more confused than understanding him.
"So, you just want to use the power of a Neolith?"
Feeling that was what he meant, she asked that, and Adonis naturally nodded, much to her silent judgment.
It was also then,
Knock–! Knock–!
"General~ it's me, Fenriru~"
Immediately, the voice resounded from behind the door. Niz immediately shot Adonis a glare.
Adonis, who was very innocent, looked back at Niz, raising his hands high to display his cluelessness.
"Haah."
She sighed and then gave up.
"Come in."
Niz answered. When she did, both could obviously feel that Fenriru behind the door froze up for a moment.
She would try to escape one way or another.
But having arrived and announced her arrival, she had no choice.
"H-hey, General Niz… you're here too. Hahaha, don't tell me you're here to visit the Lord General?"
With a wry tone and laughter, Fenriru said that as she entered.
A voluptuous young woman with blue hair and wolf ears, a white fur-lined coat hung off her shoulders, paired with a black fitted bodysuit that showed off her figure.
"…"
Niz didn't say anything, however, the intense stare said it all. Seeing this, Fenriru gulped.
"Oops. Slip of the tongue."
"I believe you have something to report."
"Cau—hnh. Yes." The moment Fenriru said that, the entire office became tense.
Echo Crystal.
A miraculous object that descended after the cataclysm many years ago, dating back to ancient days, possessing fusion properties.
Using it, they can fuse any type of substance or matter, whether organic or inorganic.
Due to that, scientists who studied this crystal carried out experiments, thus giving birth to CASES.
Beings with supernatural powers, as well as the powers of whatever beast they had fused with.
"So, you're telling me there's a new Awakener aside from me?"
"Rasparta is pursuing their sister for some reason, and they have been fused with an Echo Crystal?"
Fenriru nodded as Adonis recounted everything Fenriru had reported.
About two days ago, Sova squad was sent on a mission due to the increase in Echo particles on the border of Stocker City.
During their mission, they encountered members of Rasparta chasing a group of two.
Two females, one of whom was their target.
Having approached them, as it would turn out, their target was someone of high importance to them.
As such, they wished to capture the girl.
But then, thanks to the timely appearance of Niz, Mori, Fenriru, and Aiken, they were safe temporarily.
Adonis himself would have gone; however, the other three generals, not wanting to deal with the aftermath of his having a light spar, had been stuck here since.
Niz also let out a sigh, but she had been there during the fight with Wadjet, one of the leading figures of Rasparta.
However, the case with the targets was entirely left up to Fenriru.
"I was just pondering something. General, you have the ability to purify Echo Crystals and their particles, correct?"
"And I was thinking."
Fenriru said, her voice trailing off; however, in contrast to her expectations:
"No."
Adonis said, with a quite serious expression. Seeing that, Fenriru let out a downcast expression.
It wasn't as though he couldn't help.
"She'll die if I do."
"Eh?"
"[X]'s purification powers don't separate; they obliterate, hence purify. So, unless you want that, don't ask that of me."
Hearing Adonis say that, both froze, stealing glances at each other and then at him.
Afterward, he squinted at Fenriru.
"That's not like you, Lieutenant. Standing up for someone who isn't even part of Teslovik yet."
The moment he said that, Fenriru froze.
Also, at that time, Niz shot an unimpressed gaze over Fenriru, who avoided eye contact with both of them.
"Tutututu~ Oh dear, I thought to myself, why not just ask? You never know, she could be quite helpful to Teslovik."
Despite her almost convincing words, both generals didn't believe a single word she said.
"Fenriru, drop it."
"Yes!"
While the woman in front of them was indeed capable, to some extent, she was some sort of goofball.