The clockwork bell had barely completed its noon toll when the first shot reverberated through the Directorate Hall.
Glass exploded overhead, scattering shards in the bright light. Steam hissed violently from fractured pipes, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.
"What in the world is going on?" Fitran shouted, his heart pounding as he scanned the room, adrenaline surging through his veins.
He ducked behind the brass podium, the revolver already gripped tightly in his hand, even before the crowd erupted into screams.
"Get down! Everyone down!" he yelled, his voice frantic. Above the pandemonium, the ornate stained glass skylight splintered inward, showering the marble floor with glass. Through the billowing smoke, dark figures descended on steel cables—Black Faction soldiers clad in soot-stained trench coats, breath hissing from their masks with each sharp inhale.
A voice sliced through the tumult.
"North balcony! Move!" It was Rinoa, her commanding tone cutting like a whip.
"I'm on it!" Rinoa responded, already sprinting forward, twin steam-pistols barking with a lethal rhythm. "Cover me!" Her striking blue eyes gleamed through the haze as she leaped over a toppled bench, determination etched on her features.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Affinity with Rinoa +3 ]
Fitran's rifle was steady in his grip by the time the first trooper landed. "Not today," he murmured, deftly thumbing the lever to chamber a round before he fired—his shot tore through the attacker's chest plate, sending a violent explosion of steam and thick, black oil into the air.
The room erupted into chaos.
"Markova!" Iris barked orders from the balcony, her voice slicing through the gunfire like a knife.
"Seal the eastern gates! No one leaves unless I command it!"
"I'm on it, Iris!" Markova yelled, her voice rising above the cacophony as she struggled against the guards pulling her away from the dais.
"Fight back! Don't let them take you!" Iris urged, her tone laced with urgency as she watched Markova's predicament unfold, desperation creeping into her voice.
Fitran's frustration intensified as he continued to fire, his breath heavy with tension. "We need a plan, now!" he shouted, scanning the chaotic scene around them.
"Rinoa, cover me!" he called out, the resolve in his features unmistakable as he prepared to face the enemy.
"I've got your back! Just keep firing!" Rinoa assured him, her voice unwavering amidst the storm of gunfire and steam that surrounded them.
Suddenly, a rope dropped down behind Fitran. "What the—" he began, spinning on his heel just in time to seize the collar of a descending soldier, yanking him to the ground with a practiced motion. "Not today!" he snapped, twisting the barrel of his revolver with swift precision to fire a shot into the man's mask. The sound of escaping pressure filled the air, punctuating the soldier's last moments with an unsettling hiss.
Zephyra dropped down beside him, her grapple rifle swinging at her hip. "You're falling behind," she remarked, flicking the safety off a steam-charge grenade as a mischievous smirk played on her lips. "I thought you were quicker than this."
"Or maybe," Fitran replied coolly, sliding another round into the chamber with a focused glare, "I'm just giving you a chance to catch up. You know how I prefer to play."
Her smirk was fleeting, vanishing in an instant as she hurled the grenade into the throng of troopers gathered on the western steps. "Let's see how they enjoy this!" she called out, a thrill of mischief in her voice. The moment the steam erupted, it blasted outward, forcing the soldiers back with a brutal surge of power.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Affinity with Zephyra +2 ]
[ JEALOUSY TRIGGER – Rinoa vs. Zephyra ]
From her vantage on the balcony, Freya steadied her bolt-action rifle, her movements calm and deliberate. "Another one bites the dust!" she shouted, a fierce grin breaking through the intensity of her focus as each shot pierced through armor, sending enemies sprawling into the mist. "Three minutes until reinforcements arrive," she called down, her voice steady yet laced with urgency. "If we even last that long. Keep your wits about you!"
Oda's exosuit roared to life, the barrels of her rotary gun whirring with an ominous growl. "Everyone down!" she commanded, her fierce gaze sweeping the chaos of the room. "Get low or I swear I won't hold back!" With that, she unleashed a storm of gunfire across the chamber, the noise overwhelming. Brass casings cascaded to the marble floor like a rain of metal, and she reveled in the mayhem surrounding her.
Fitran ducked behind an overturned table as a stray bullet zipped past, grazing his coat. "Oda!" he yelled over the din of gunfire, straining to make his voice heard amidst the turmoil, "are you trying to take them out or us?" His heart raced as he cautiously peered over the edge, taking in the chaotic scene.
"I'm not particular!" she shot back, her laughter ringing out in the storm of bullets, her eyes sparkling with reckless joy. "Just find cover!"
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Affinity with Oda +1 ]
Something bright flashed before him — Iris, a graceful figure, soaring down from the balcony and landing in a crouch that showcased her acrobatic prowess. "Look who finally decided to show up," she teased, the hum of her saber slicing through the air as she effortlessly drew it from its sheath, the blade severing the barrel of an enemy rifle with precision.
Her gaze locked onto Fitran's for a brief moment, intensity radiating from her. "Just wait until this is over—you're mine," she declared, a mischievous spark igniting in her fierce look.
"Is that a promise or a threat?" he retorted, the tension in his voice a blend of admiration and caution.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Affinity with Iris +2 ]
[ JEALOUSY TRIGGER – Rinoa vs. Iris ]
Alea flowed through the chaos like a wisp of smoke. "Reload," she commanded, materializing at Fitran's side without as much as a whisper. The barrel of her shotgun pressed firmly against the chest of an oncoming trooper. "I'll cover you. Move it!"
"On it!" Fitran called out, his heart racing as he fumbled his magazine. He worked quickly to insert a fresh one, the urgency palpable, but Alea's unwavering presence calmed his nerves amid the chaos.
With practiced ease, Fitran slotted a new magazine into his rifle, his movements smooth and calculated, honed through many conflicts. He shot a brief glance over at Alea, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Careful there, Darkrealm. You know how rumors start when you cover me like this." Despite the lightheartedness of his words, the glimmer in his eyes spoke of the unspoken bond they shared in the face of danger.
Alea's lips formed a knowing smile, a mix of mischief and excitement. "I'm counting on it. We have to keep things lively, don't we?" Her eyes darted toward the bedlam unfolding ahead, her expression hardening with resolve as she clutched her shotgun, ready for whatever came next.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Affinity with Alea +3 ]
[ JEALOUSY TRIGGER – Iris vs. Alea ]
The troopers gathered near the main entrance, and Fitran sensed a charged atmosphere, a palpable tension hanging thick in the air as they began prepping the portable gatling gun. The ominous grind of its gears reverberated, like a dark omen foretelling the chaos to follow. "They're getting organized," he murmured, his gaze locked on the barrels now beginning to whir into action. "This is bound to get messy."
"Then let's show them exactly what we're made of!" Alea's voice rang out, unwavering and full of fire. Fitran felt adrenaline coursing through his veins, matching the fierce spirit that emanated from her.
"Down!" Fitran shouted, instinct kicking in as he threw himself around Rinoa, pulling her behind a solid stone pillar just as the weapon erupted with noise. Chunks of marble burst apart, showering dust and debris in chaotic clouds that swirled around them.
Rinoa's back pressed firmly against his chest, her breaths quick and shallow, the tension of fear mingling with a thrill that was hard to ignore. She cast a glance over her shoulder, a mischievous spark in her eyes that defied the danger they faced. "Not a bad start for a first date," she joked, her voice barely cutting through the cacophony.
Fitran couldn't suppress a chuckle, even with the mayhem unfolding around them. "Let's survive this little adventure before you start planning for the kids," he shot back, his heart racing not just from the rush of battle but also from the undeniable connection blossoming between them.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Affinity with Rinoa +4 ]
[ JEALOUSY TRIGGER – All Active ]
Amidst the gunfire, he adjusted his grip on the rifle, peeking around the pillar to gauge their surroundings. "This spot's about to get crowded," he warned, noting the gunner's exposed position, stealing glimpses only in the brief pauses between the explosive bursts.
"Zephyra!" he called out, urgency threading through his voice. "Get the gun hooked!"
The grapple line shot out like a striking serpent, wrapping deftly around the gun's base. Fitran held his breath, anticipation mounting as Alea tugged violently on the trigger. The mechanism protested with a piercing screech before being wrenched free. "Got it!" she cheered, her grin contagious as she watched the gunner stagger back. "Now let's end this!"
In that heartbeat, Oda unleashed a furious blast from his rotary, obliterating the gunner and showering the air with a chaotic mix of steam and shattered metal. "Brilliant shot!" Fitran shouted, adrenaline flooding his system as victory surged through him in the midst of the turmoil.
[ SYSTEM UPDATE – Combat Efficiency +5% ]
The air was heavy with the stench of oil and blood. Bodies lay scattered across the marble, their black uniforms in tatters and smoldering. "Get down!" Alea shouted, her voice slicing through the chaos as the last trooper made a desperate bid to escape through the wrecked skylight. With fierce determination, she raised her shotgun and fired, the sound reverberating with chilling finality. "Not on my watch!"
"Alea! That was spectacular!" Fitran exclaimed, stowing his revolver while surveying the aftermath, his eyes narrowing as he took in the destruction. An uneasy silence descended, interrupted only by the hissing of punctured pipes.
As he scanned the scene, his gaze fell upon six women standing resolutely before him, each breathing heavily, their expressions a mix of defiance and something deeper—something he couldn't clearly define. "What's next?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tension that hung in the air.
"Now we need to regroup," Zephyra said, her voice sharp and commanding, fists tightly clenched at her sides. "We can't afford to lose anyone else."
"I refuse to let them take us down," Oda asserted, stepping forward with eyes ablaze, his determination palpable. "Not after everything we've sacrificed to reach this point!"
Alea nodded in agreement, the weight of their collective resolve pressing on her shoulders. "We need to show them that we're not just easy prey. They're underestimating us, and that's going to be their downfall."
Before Fitran's eyes, the [ SYSTEM PANEL ] flickered to life, casting an ethereal glow in the dimly lit space:
AFFINITY STATUS
Rinoa Alfrenzo: 17 (+ Jealousy: High)
Iris Gaia: 12 (+ Jealousy: Moderate)
Lady Freya Valtheris: 6 (+ Jealousy: Low)
Oda Nobuzan: 5 (+ Jealousy: Low)
Zephyra Elyn: 9 (+ Jealousy: High)
Alea Darkrealm: 11 (+ Jealousy: Moderate)
PREGNANCY COMPATIBILITY: 100%
NOTE: Affinity affects consent windows. Jealousy governs the risk of sabotage.
The panel dissolved into shadows, unveiling the smoky remnants of the grand hall.
Rinoa stepped forward, her pistols now safely holstered at her sides. "You know, Fitran," she murmured, her voice a conspiratorial whisper meant solely for his ears, "you still owe me for that cover."
Fitran arched an eyebrow, a mixture of curiosity and caution flickering across his face. "What is it you want?" he inquired, the undercurrents of their conversation weaving a delicate dance of tension.
Her smile took on a razor-like quality, gleaming with an exhilarating thrill. "You'll discover that soon enough. Tonight." The promise in her tone was electric, charged with the allure of secrets yet to be unveiled.
"From behind them, Iris interjected, her voice cutting through the taut atmosphere. "No, he won't, Rinoa. Tonight, he's all Gaia's."
The air around them thickened once more, crackling with unspoken tension and rivalry, more perilous than the recent gunfire that had just echoed through the streets.
Fitran released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, the burdens of the day pressing heavily upon him. An insistent anxiety gnawed at him, suggesting that this was merely a prelude to a much larger game—one that could determine either the fate of humanity or his own grim end.
As their gazes clashed, he felt the stakes increasing, a visceral intensity charging the space between them. "Believe me, I didn't ask for any of this," he muttered under his breath, his eyes drifting toward the entrance. "But I can't simply overlook the peril."
Rinoa leaned closer, her voice a conspiratorial whisper laced with playful challenge. "But that's the thrill, isn't it, Fitran? You revel in the danger."