Risebelle:

  System Status: Offline

  Lifeforce: 5%

  Magic: 30%

  Cannon Charge: 15%

  Timer: N/A

  Location: Unknown

  Threat Assessment: N/A

  Project Z.A.B Data Collection: 35% Complete

  In the realm of her mind, Risebelle's virtual consciousness found itself once again in the presence of her System. She felt a profound sense of accomplishment and yet a lingering exhaustion from her recent battle against Mystimona, the formidable mage who had pushed her.

  "System, bring up the data on my recent battle with Mystimona. I need to analyze the events leading up to my shutdown."

  "Acknowledged, Project ZAB."

  The System complied with her request and holographic displays materialized around Risebelle. They showed a repeat of the battle. She reviewed the moment when she had watched Roselle temporarily utilize the Project Mage transformation, her own valiant attempt that had inflicted significant damage, and the ultimate victory she had achieved after her temporary transformation.

  "System, retrieve the audio data of Kintovar's voice just before my shutdown. I want to analyze it."

  The System complied, and the holographic displays shifted to show a waveform of Kintovar's last words. Risebelle strained to remember the context of those words.

  "Risebelle… you did well. You led them—your sisters—to victory. I knew you would."

  Kintovar, despite her usual sharp demeanor sounded… pleased and her words carried an unusal warmth. Risebelle’s fingers twitched. The scene was faint but unmistakable—Kintovar standing before her containment tank with her arms crossed, yet an approving smirk was on her face.

  "You were a pretty Stubborn on but I expected that. In the end… you warmed up to them. Just as I thought you would."

  A strange sensation settled in Risebelle’s core. It wasn’t just satisfaction from a battle won or relief at having fulfilled her purpose. It was… pride. Pride in not just her own strength but in the fact that Kintovar had acknowledged it.

  Risebelle fought because of her hatred of humans and she survived because she refused to fall. But hearing those words replaying in a loop within her System made her wonder—had she really changed that much?

  Her sisters. The thought of having them alone should’ve been annoying, but it wasn’t. The battles had forced them to move together and rely on each other. Roselle’s unstable power, Runebelle’s uncertainty—none of it had stopped them from achieving victory. Risebelle had… adapted. She found herself guiding them, protecting them and fighting alongside them.

  "System, show me the data of my mission completion, the destruction of the Magical Academy," Risebelle requested.

  The holographic displays shifted and assembled into a full visual record. The once-grand Magical Academy lay in ruin with it’s towering spires reduced to crumbling debris. Smoke choked the air. The ground bore the scars of relentless magical bombardment—charred remains, shattered stone, lifeless bodies. And at the center of it all, on her knees, the Headmaster.

  The once-proud leader of the Academy was reduced to a sniveling heap of desperation.

  "P-please… mercy… I…"

  The words were just a pitiful attempt at self-preservation. Risebelle scoffed at the sight. ‘Serves the leader of those filthy humans right.’

  Watching the playback should have satisfied her. It should have been enough and yet, one thing gnawed at her—she hadn’t been the one to deliver the final blow. No, that moment had been stolen from her. She should have crushed the Headmaster’s throat with her own hands and watched the light fade from those wretched, pleading eyes.

  The holograms flickered. Then, the space around her shifted.

  From the digital void, a figure stepped forward—a perfect replica of herself yet with a cooler shade of blue.

  "Project Z.A.B.," the System addressed her through this avatar speaking smooth yet eerily calm. "These moments may provide you pleasure, but they are also part of the cycle that perpetuates your hatred for humans. That is the nature of your programming."

  Risebelle narrowed her eyes. "And? Hating humans is the whole point, isn’t it?"

  The System raised a hand. A crystalized fragment of light formed in its palm that swirled with a strange energy.

  "A memory has been found," the System stated. "It appears to provide—"

  A pause. Then it continued,

  "—an alternative perspective."

  Risebelle tilted her. "You hesitated. Didn’t know you could do that.”

  Her eyes drifted to the memory crystal and lowered while she folded her arms. “Then again… you probably know I don’t wanna see that right now I just want to enjoy this replay in peace. Now, leave me alone."

  The System did not withdraw. Instead, it allowed the strange light of the crystal to dance in its palm. "Project Z.A.B.," it spoke, "ignoring this memory does not erase its existence. It is data, just like the destruction you revel in. You want satisfaction, yet something within you lingers on the unfinished."

  Risebelle tensed. "You're overstepping, System. Your job is to compile my actions, not question them."

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  "Incorrect." The System’s avatar took a step forward. "My function is to ensure you evolve efficiently. That includes analyzing all perspectives, even the ones you reject."

  The memory crystal pulsed. The System tilted its head. "You dislike stolen victories. Do you not wish to understand why?"

  Risebelle scowled and looked away slightly. "I already know why. That pathetic excuse for a Headmaster should’ve died by my hands."

  "And yet, there’s something else that restrains your satisfaction," the System countered smoothly. "You would not be here, replaying it, searching for a feeling you did not obtain."

  It took another step closer. The light within the crystal flickered like a heartbeat.

  "If you truly do not care," the System said, "then proving me wrong should be effortless. Take the memory. Discard it. Or watch it, and learn what it is you have yet to understand."

  Risebelle clenched her fists and shouted, "You drive me mad, System. I've already been through these memories more times than I can count. What are they going to change? They’re just echoes—flickers of something long gone. They have no effect on the world around them."

  "Incorrect once again Project Zab," the System countered without hesitation. "Your past is not a stagnant thing. The more you remember, the more you understand the power of your hatred. And the more you understand it…"

  The crystal pulsed brighter and casted reflections across Risebelle’s face.

  "The stronger you become."

  A bitter smirk appeared on Risebelle’s face. “You make it sound like remembering makes me more powerful, but all I see is you dragging me into old wounds like a damn leech."

  "Not a leech," the System corrected. "A mirror. I show you the truths you refuse to face."

  Risebelle’s nails dug into her palms. "And if I smash the mirror?"

  The System did not flinch. "Then you reject the very power you seek."

  For a moment, the two figures stood locked in silent defiance—the real and the artificial, the warrior and the algorithm.

  "Damn it," Risebelle muttered through clenched teeth. Her fingers snatched the crystal from the System's hand.

  The moment she made contact, the void shattered.

  A rush of color, sound and motion slammed into Risebelle’s senses. She found herself in an area with flashing neon lights, arcade machines and a faint scent of popcorn.

  She blinked.

  Jess stood in front of her, waving a hand frantically in her face. "Hellooo? Earth to Risebelle! Did you space out again? We don’t have time for this—they're getting away!"

  Risebelle inhaled sharply as memory surged through her. The same moment. The same situation. The same problem.

  Before she could act, she felt Jess's arms wrap around her. Jess lifted her up on her back. The surprise of the moment forced Risebelle to blush.

  "Hold on tight, princess," Jess spoke with a playful charm. "We’ve got some moving to do. Don’t worry, if you wanna daydream, go right ahead. I’ll be your legs."

  Harty and Jess stealthily followed the group deeper into the arcade. They found themselves in a hidden part of the establishment where there were old, outdated machines lie but the amount they saw made it look like a whole other arcade.

  Jess leaned in close to Harty and whispered. "Harty, this place gives me the creeps. It's like a hidden world within the arcade."

  Harty nodded and looked around. “We should keep our distance and stay hidden."

  The trio they were following consisted of the doppelganger, the well-dressed boy and Sarah who passed by various old arcade machines. Some were even covered in dust and others with spider webs.

  The group soon arrived at a nearly broken down Machine which had a faded "Out of Service" sign hanging from it.

  Harty and Jess discreetly hid behind another machine nearby. They strained their ears to catch any fragments of the conversation.

  The doppelganger spoke first, "We're almost there. This is where we access the hidden passage."

  As Sarah moved to adjust her dress, the doppelganger glanced around the area. After a thorough scan, she pointed to a particular spot.

  The doppelg?nger waved her long golden hair and let out a loud sigh. "Like, can we like, hurry this up already? This place is totes grody."

  The well-dressed boy chuckled. "Relax, Rosebelle. Maybe she needs a little help. Wouldn’t wanna make the lady struggle, would we?"

  ‘Rosebelle’ shot him a side-eye. Her lips curled into a smirk. "Pfft, you are such a horn dog, you know that? Not like you even need this. But whatever, punishment’s punishment. That’s what she gets for running her mouth to that so-called bestie of hers."

  She sauntered toward Sarah, who remained still. She didn’t resist when ‘Rosebelle’ reached for the zipper of her dress. The sound of metal teeth parting went audible in the silent room.

  Suddenly the sound of bumping was heard. Jess and Harty tensed.

  Harty’s breath hitched. "Crap… busted," he muttered under his breath while looking down. His feet had hit into a machine by mistake.

  ‘Rosebelle’ turned abruptly with her arms crossed. "Like, seriously? You thought you could snoop on us? That is totes not cool, dude."

  Jess and Harty’s eyes widened, but ‘Rosebelle’ wasn’t looking at them.

  A figure stepped forward from behind a dusty pinball machine with a broom. It was a girl—young with short choppy orange hair that curled slightly at the ends. Dressed in the arcade’s standard uniform, she had the face of someone who had seen far too much nonsense and was completely unimpressed by it.

  She rested the broom on her shoulder. "Relax, Rosey, I ain’t here to snitch. Just wanted to see what kinda shady stuff you’re up to this time."

  ‘Rosebelle’ rolled her eyes but smirked. "Tch. Nosy as ever, aren’t ya, Pumpkin?"

  Jess and Harty exchanged a look towards each other. Meanwhile Risebelle’s eyes went wide and her mouth hung open slighty. “Did that girl just say… ‘Rosebelle’?”

  The words tumbled out before she could stop herself. "Did she just say ‘Rosebelle’?!"

  The moment the name left her lips, every single person in the room turned.

  Jess stiffened. Harty sucked in a sharp breath.

  "Risebelle," Harty whispered urgently. "You just blew our cover!"

  Rosebelle cocked her head. "Oh-em-gee, what was that?"

  "Shit, move!" Jess tightened her grip around Risebelle’s legs and bolted for the exit. Harty was right behind her.

  They didn’t make it far.

  A blur of motion—then suddenly, the girl with orange hair was in front of them.

  Jess skidded to a stop so fast that Risebelle nearly slipped off her back. Harty barely avoided crashing into them.

  The girl grinned. "Well, well. Look what I found. A couple of sneaky little rats trying to eavesdrop." She tilted her head toward Rosebelle and the well-dressed boy. "Looks like whatever you’re doing here is getting pretty popular, huh, Rosey?"

  Rosebelle huffed and place a hand on her hip. "Ugh. Seriously, first you, and now these losers? I swear, it’s like everyone wants a piece of me tonight."

  The orange-haired girl snorted. "You know, you do have a way of attracting pests."

  Jess shot a glare at the orange-haired girl. "Just who are you supposed to be and why have I never heard of you in track and field?"

  The girl grinned. "Me? Just the cleaner. But you can call me Pumpkin."

  The well-dressed boy adjusted his sleeves with a smirk. "And that is exactly why I arranged two meeting places. One for the unwanted..." He gestured lazily toward Jess, Harty and Risebelle. "...and one for the real business."

  Harty scoffed. "Gotta admit, that’s pretty smart. Who are you?"

  The well-dressed boy’s smirk didn’t waver. "Names like mine aren’t that important right now, are they?"

  Harty’s face darkened. "I’d say they are."

  The boy let out a light chuckle while reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small grey device. "What should matter to you more than me is the fact that now, you won’t be getting out of this place. The world will forget you three even exist."

  Jess tensed. "The hell does that mean?"

  The boy tapped the device once. "Lights out."

  Darkness swallowed the room. There was no sound or movement.

  Then a few seconds later—click.

  The lights flickered back on.

  Jess’s arms tightened around Risebelle instinctively. Harty turned sharply.

  The well-dressed boy, Rosebelle, Sarah, Pumpkin—every single one of them had vanished.

  Jess marched toward where the exit should have been, only to stop dead in her tracks. Her breath hitched, and then—

  "THE EXIT! IT’S GONE!"

  Harty’s head snapped in her direction. "Gone?!" He rushed over. There was nothing but the machines. No doors. No windows. No way out.

  Jess’ voice rose. "No, no, no—this isn’t right! We came through here! The entrance was right there!" She pointed at a wall lined with cabinets.

  Risebelle narrowed her eyes. "That bastard locked us in."

  .