3.8: Another Predicament.

[Monsters! Run!]

Run... Run...

I can't be caught...

Rusty-red rain falls from the sky and seeps into every nook and cranny of the city. I step over the puddles running away.

I sense a powerful force. It's about to burst from my heart.

Then the moon appears. Magnificent, it descends before me. It flickers.

It seems to be blinking at me.

——————————

The green light flickers like a blinking eye. Immediately, people cross the street, filling it like a flowing river.

MC: (The same nightmare...)

I snap out of it and quickly fall in line with the rest of the crowd.

MC: (Speaking of which, I wonder if there are any updates about the "eye" I saw outside the window. I need to ask Nero next time I see him.)

After leaving No-Hunt Zone No. 7 last night, I sent the Protocore to Data Analysis.

I only got a few hours of sleep at home before being woken up by an early morning call from the squad.

MC: (The Flux Nexus, modified Protocores, and Onychinus...)

MC: (Xavier clearly knows a lot more than he's letting on. I shouldn't have let him slip away last night!)

Arriving at the lobby of the UNICORNS building. I see a few hunters have been dispatched on some urgent missions. On their motorcyles, they zoom by on the Movere Bridge overhead and vanish.

MC: (I just saw the 310HM! It's so fast... When will I get to ride one...)

Journalist: "Excure me, sir, could we have a short interview with you?"

??: "Sorry, I'm not interested."

I hear a familiar voice nearby. I look in the direction of where it came from. It's...

MC: "Xavier?!"

He's wearing his hunter uniform. A journalist microphone in hand, had stopped him by the road.

Journalist: "Why did you become a hunter? Is it a dream of yours?"

Xavier: "No... I don't really have dreams..."

Journalist: "Are you doing it for your family? It must be tough at your age."

Xavier: "No. Also, I'm the only person in my family."

Journalist: "That's... rough..."

Journalist: "Cut this out. Let's do another take."

Journalist: "Recently, there have been complaints of hunters destroying public facilities under the pretense of eliminating Wanderers..."

Xavier: "I'm sorry, my mission partner is waiting for me. I need to get to work."

Even with people around us, Xavier's gaze still finds it way to me.

Before I can react, he's already walking toward me. He leans down, his face very close to mine.

Xavier: "Help me."

Coming to my senses, I glance at him, then at the relentless journalists and photographers hot on his heels.

MC: "Beg me."

Xavier: "Please."

**********

MC: "It's sunny, the wind's nice, and the streets are busy. Wanderers aren't lurking around the corner."

MC: "Honestly, it's weird seeing you like this. I almost can't believe it."

MC: "What's next? A terrorist attack? Is this building gonna blow up? Or is there a new Wanderer getting ready to attack?"

Xavier: "...You're already formed quite the impression of me."

MC: "If you join the briefing, I might change my preconceived notions about you."

Jenna: "Looks like everyone's here. Come on over."

Captain Jenna's voice resounds from the command center. I look around...

MC: (One, two, three... Is it really just us for the post-mission briefing?)

——————————

Onychinus: A mysterious faction stationed in the N109 Zone. Unlike other shady groups, Onychinus is omnipresent. They have connections everywhere, forming a vast web of sin to control every illegal activity.

3.9: Invitation.

Xavier and I walk over to Jenna, who's leaning on the desk. Aside from a faint shadow under her eyes, there's hardly any sign of fatigue for her who just pulled an all-nighter.

Jenna: "We're been observing the fluctuations from last night. We also have the results from the Protocore data you sent back."

The light dims, and the command center projects a hologram of a Protocore.

Like a planet, the Protocore rotates slowly, enveloped by blue and red Protocurves.

Jenna: "This is the Protocore MC sent this morning. I'm sure you've noticed it's been modified."

MC: "Is it the work of Onychinus?"

Jenna glances at Xavier, then looks back at me.

Jenna: "Getting along I see."

Jenna: "The blue line is the Protocore's original Protocurve. The red one shows it's been modified."

Jenna: "We initially wanted to analyze the Protocurve to determine the Protocore's orgin, but after searching the system database three times, none of the data matched up."

MC: "How? Even if we can't find a perfect fit, we should at least determine its type, right?"

It's apparent Jenna thought of this before. She shakes her head.

Jenna: "Believe it or not, we're never seen anything like it..."

The Protocurve keeps changing. The red line is constantly flickering. It's a little unsettling.

Jenna: "It's possible there's a Protocore even the Association isn't aware of. It also might serve another purpose."

MC: (A Protocore with a different purpose...)

I glance at Xavier. He's sitting in a swivel chair. Hugging an OTTO pillow and spacing out. He's not joining our conversation anytime soon.

Jenna: "It's a gift from Onychinus. Obviously, they know more about this Protocore than we do."

The hologram on the command center fades, and the lights return to normal.

Jenna: "We need to obtain more samples to get more information about this unknown Protocore."

Xavier: "In order to do that, we'll have to use her Evol?"

The silent Xavier finally speaks. His face is expressionless as he rests his chin on the OTTO pillow.

Jenna isn't surprised. She just nods.

Jenna: "You know what MC's evol can do. It'd be good if she's willing to helps us."

Once again, Jenna turn toward me.

Jenna: "Since Onychinus is involved, it will be dangerous. Risks are par for the course."

Jenna: "If you help, we'll provide you full support and protection. You'll have a partner to assist you as well."

As I try to digest all the information, I realize something.

MC: "Can I ask a few questions, Captain?"

Jenna: "Speak."

MC: "Why does Onychinus modify Protocores?"

Jenna: "The benefits a Protocore provides are certainly tempting for groups like Onychinus."

Jenna: "But the exact goal Onychinus wants to achieve by modifying Protocores is still unknown."

Jenna: "We speculate it's not about money. Given Sylus's track record."

MC: "Sylus...?"

Xavier: "He's the leader or Onychinus."

MC: "Has the Hunters Association discovered modified Protocores before?"

Jenna: "Yes, but the methods used to modify them were crude. The potential damage they could've caused was minor at best."

Jenna: "This time is's different. The energy shown in that abnormal Protocurve is beyond our current understanding of Protocores."

Jenna: "Finding unknown Protorores isn't something that can be done overnight. Today was just a small glimpse of what the overall mission would look like. Think about it."

Jenna: "You worked hard last night. Take the next two days off."