"The music that wraps all around me... I want to hear it again... let me hear it once more..."

"All other music is nothing more than noise to me..."

"Don't look at us like that... you'll understand once you hear it..."

As the group of assistant librarians landed within the reality created by the Abnormality they were there to suppress, the sound of many voices immediately reached their ears, without giving them a second to breathe.

As they looked around, they could see that they were inside some sort facility. Light could be seen entering the room through massive windows installed, revealing many more machines similar to the one they had to defeat. All of them were completely rusted from all the blood covering them...

...All of them except one, which stood nearby, next to a group of shadowy figures blinded by its melody.

They all carried riot sticks in their hands and held smiles that a human should never be able to replicate. Their golden eyes revealed madness in them. There were 3 of them compared to the 4 librarians present, giving them a light advantage.

Zophia: Tch, thank god I downed a can before going in, the last thing I need is to hear that thing again.

Dana: You... Are you drunk?

Zophia: Oh relax, I'll be fine, I can still fight.

Yesod: ...I will deal with you once we defeat this Abnormality.

The words coming from the cold viper did not hide his discontentment at the blond woman who admitted to drinking right before a fight. Upon hearing his words, the woman's posture shifted slightly.

Dana placed a hand against her face and let out a sigh.

Y/N: Are those... employees?

Yesod: They must have been created from within this world to fulfill the Abnormality's needs. The employee we are looking is probably somewhere else.

Y/N: Should someone go look for them?

Zophia: And lose our advantage? That's the dumbest idea I've heard.

Dana: Let's focus on dealing with them first, we don't know where they could be.

As they were busy discussing amongst themselves, the entranced employees silently glanced at each others before shifting their focus on the one remaining machine not rusted from the blood. It was obvious what their intentions were and their constant smiles made it unnerving to think about it.

The trio addicted to the Singing Machine raised their batons and ran ahead in an attempt to satisfy their urge.

In response, the group scattered, forcing the entranced employee to do the same, limiting the chances they had to help one another.

Yesod, who took the lead, blocked an incoming hit with his arm before sending his opponent backward with a blunt strike.

Said enemy barely missed one of its allies, who charged onward at both Zophia & Dana. The both of them were prepared for the incoming swing and readied their stances. Once close enough, the duo thrusted forward and stopped the worker dead in its track.

"I must hear it again... the melody..."

Finally, the third minion was met with sharp blades coming from Angela's assistant. His mumbles were cut short by the assistant's swings with the weapons he held. With each cuts made, he could feel the manifested blades yearn for blood like a starved beast as if they were connected to his mind.

The sensation gave him shivers.

Thankfully, the feeling faded away as soon as his mind wandered off, forcing the blades to return to a regular sword. As it did, the former captain was immediately filled with dread and preemptively went for a second attack, causing sparks to flash in his sight.

Standing in front of him, the shadowed person was holding the stick directly above his head.

A bead of sweat fell from his face, realizing how close the blunt weapon was from his skull. With hurry in his movements, he shoved the employee away and took a few steps back.

The byproduct of the Abnormality's world quickly stood back on his feet and sprinted away, aiming for Dana who was busy dealing with another opponent.

His eyes widened upon realizing that and his voice broke the cacophony of battle to warn Zophia, the closest one to the targeted librarian.

Y/N: Zophia, there's one coming for Dana!

Zophia: On it.

She rolled her eyes and calmly opened a riposte against the incoming attacker, barring the way leading to the assistant librarian with red hair.

Unfortunately, her aim was met with only air. The figure standing in front of her twisted its body around the blade in her hand and retaliated with an horizontal hit against her ribs.

She grit her teeth for a second, only to get struck in the stomach by the same baton, leaving her on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

Zophia: Ugh... I can feel everything's trying to come out.

Dana: You kinda brought this upon yourself...

The ex-captain of the Information team's voice replied to her groans before jumping away from an incoming hit. As her feet landed against the wooden floor, the footsteps belonging to the director's helper grew louder.

The mesmerized employee ran away before he could receive the wrath of the arriving agent.

He was soon followed by the remaining duo in the same state as him, all standing near the Singing Machine. One of them silently kicked the side of the machine, causing it to let out a long and deafening noise.

The lid of the Abnormality opened, revealing many blades within, all stained with a crimson liquid.

Yesod: They are trying to recreate that melody. Remain focused.

His words were enough to make the assistant librarians tighten the grip on their weapons. All of them knew what would happen if they let their guard slip, even for just a brief moment.

"The air is full of erratic and filthy noises... I need gorgeous timbres..."

"Beautiful music must come with a price..."

In return, the addicted employees revealed a grin that was borderline eldritch. Their eyes began to leak a black substance and their movements became jittery, suffering from an apparent withdrawal.

Their voices grew more excited, only to be replied by a singular voice coming from the Library's side.

"If I don't get this over soon, I can say goodbye to my head."

Confused for a second, Dana glanced in the direction it came from. The only person standing in that direction was the other ex-captain present. His left foot was impatiently tapping against the floor as sweats dropped from his face.

The signs of this sudden impatience left her confused for a moment but she sadly couldn't dwell on it, not with their lives on the line.

In fact, even if she could, her words would not have been fast enough to reach the man. His movements were swift and hurried, leaving the others behind to fully observe this sudden change in his behaviour.

With glee on their faces, the shadowed employees replied in kind and ran at him.

Once close enough, the eyes of the librarian wandered, scanning the trio to see who would strike first. The process took a second at most and allowed him to slide to the right to dodge the incoming blow reaching for him.

His evade also allowed him to slip past the second attacker, granting him the chance to counter-attack.

"Be a good instrument... I need to hear it once more!"

In response to his evasiness, the addicted employees began to grow agitated. Said emotion intensified as they were met with the remaining librarians, forcing them to divide their focus.

However, as previously mentioned, the number of figures was lower than the number of librarians present, leaving them at a disadvantage. This weakness was the one gap needed to push through.

The director's assistant charged onward and struck the nearest opponent right as they were about to clash with Yesod.

His intervention forced the mesmerized employee to stagger slightly, allowing the Sephirah to break through their guard and overwhelm them.

Y/N: Yesod, send him back!

Yesod: I do not see the point in-

Y/N: Do it!

The viper with purple hair looked at the agent questioningly but still nonetheless followed the demand and forced the entity to backtrack in his direction.

The golden eyes of the shadow landed on the Sephirah but as he raised his baton, a pair of arms wrapped below his, followed by a lack of stability coming from his feet.

His vision was soon turned and revealed the machine the addicted trio were attached to, soon becoming the last thing he saw as he was thrown in its direction.

Y/N: If you like it so much then make your own music!

Finally, the blades grew closer and closer... closer until-

Crunch, crunch

Creeeak

The lid of Singing Machine slammed shut, causing its blades to come to life while the dark figure was trapped within.

From the top of the machine, red began to spray in the air, followed by large chunks of bloodied meat. As this occured, a melody could faintly be heard amidst the many blades spinning.

The librarians present came to a brief halt, unlike the duo still standing. Their smiles remained unchanged and their voices reached true ecstacy, finally receiving what they were yearning for.

"Yes! This is it... Behold this powerful melody!"

"Let me hear this performance longer..."

Zophia: Creepy bastards.

Dana: They look eager to fight now, maybe we shouldn't have done this-

Yesod: Excitement will lead to recklessness, we can use this opportunity.

His words were soon followed by many disturbances coming from the Abnormality, forcing the former captain standing by to turn around and modify his sword into a chain. The many drops of sweat fell from his face as he wrapped it around the steel coffin containing one of their enemies.

His hands held the machine closed with his weapon wrapped around the lid.

Y/N: I'll keep this one locked up!

Despite saying so, clear signs of uncertainty showed in his face, practically screaming at them to hurry up. A sense of urgency rose following his words. Now was the best chance they had, they couldn't afford to waste it.

The echoes of their footsteps soon followed, allowing the lone librarian to focus on his main task.

The Abnormality shook again and again. From within, a voice could be heard, despite the many blades cutting the person inside apart.

"I must hear it! I must embrace the melody!"

Y/N: ...!

Pieces of red landed on his head as the ex-employee desperately tried to maintain his hold on the machine.

As long as he was able to maintain the figure inside it, the Abnormality should theoretically turn its minion into chunks.

Theoretically.

Unfortunately, in practice, the librarian could barely stop the trapped figure from pushing the lid open. This on top of his sudden and mysterious impatience, made him sweat bullets. However, in spite of that, he held on to the best of his capabilities.

While doing so, the remaining librarians were busy going toe to toe with the remaining workers addicted to the music.

Dana: How are they so strong..?!

Her voice was overtaken by the sound of clashes occuring around. The sword she held in her hands trembled as she struggled against the employee attacking her.

Sparks flew with each swings they shared, both sides trying to overpower the other with all their might.

Sadly, her case was not unique. The librarians fighting alongside her also showed surprise when met with this sudden surge of strength coming from their opponents, which made the advantage they had over them become a blessing.

Zophia: Tch, They're more persistent than my old boss. Take a hint, piss off!

The blond assistant clenched her teeth as she blocked an incoming strike. Once her action was met with the baton held by the shadowed person, she went on the offensive and began swinging the Stigma workshop blade, causing the one facing her to be sent backward.

Following that, Yesod charged past her and raised his fists, hurling a jab at the lone target not just once, not twice and not even thrice. His momentum continued until a directed uppercut sent stars in the sight of the one with bright yellow eyes.

Upon seeing that, the one standing behind barely hid her surprise as she let out a faint whistle.

Zophia: You look like a natural.

Yesod: Please refrain from lowering your guard, this fight is not over.

Zophia: Right right, I'll go help Dana, you seem capable enough.

She shrugged off the cold look sent her way and ran towards the second foe present. Her blade cut through the deadlock made between Dana and the worker, forcing the latter to maintain a gaze on both of them.

It was an impossible task, especially once both separated in an attempt to exploit said weakness.

Both of them soon ran at their target, weapons readied. Their footsteps, just like their opponent's, unconsciously moved along with the melody produced by Singing Machine, boosting their morale.

In spite of the fact that the worker was overwhelmed, the smile held by them remained stuck, entranced by the music floating around. The strength gained by it made them blind to fear and they ran ahead, meeting their demise with an ecstatic grin.

In the meantime, the Sephirah of the Floor of Technological Sciences was focused on the staggered enemy in his grasp. With a tight grip around their neck, Yesod mimicked the moves used by the owner of the Key Page he wore.

Each punch sent was followed by faint grunts coming from within the back of his mind. The voice was easily recognizable for him, it belonged to the first Abnormality he had to confront on his floor alongside Angela's assistant.

The aftermath of his swings made him feel like his hands had turned into hammers. The air quaked with every impact.

Seeing this, the man with purple hair glanced in the direction of his assistants and saw them keeping the second member still standing at bay. The looks on their faces made him accept that they had everything under control.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Angela's helper, who was now covered with crimson as he held the lid of the machine shut. The blood on the chain made it harder to keep a strong hold on it.

Y/N: How is he still able to struggle?!

A voice of exasperation came out from him, shocked that some form of resistance could still be felt after minutes spent inside the grinder.

Yesod: ...

At this rate, it would take a minute or so before the chain holding the lid of Singing Machine would loosen and release the still alive being trapped inside.

The Patron librarian understood that and decided to act.

Without a word coming out of his mouth, Yesod shifted his attention to a nearby window and raised the addicted employee in his grasp before doing something that many would never believe someone like him would willingly do.

The Sephirah with purple hair threw the dark figure through the window.

Crash

The sound of the glass shattering made everyone jump and as they turned around, the last thing they saw of the shadowed worker was their feet going down, their body falling into the blinding light outside.

Yesod: One down.

He spun around and reached for the machine producing the music, putting his hands on the chains held by the director's assistant.

Yesod: Both of you, hurry up and put an end to this.

Dana: Y-Yes, sorry!

The girl with red hair stuttered slightly upon hearing the words of her superior, unlike Zophia who groaned before charging at the last worker.

Zophia: Thanks for the obvious.

She performed a downward slash with the blade she carried on the lone opponent, followed by multiple stabs coming from Dana standing behind her.

"I must hear it... more... more... more!"

Zophia: Throw him out at this point, would be much easier than killing him.

Dana: You... do make a point.

A bead of sweat formed on the ex-captain's face as both women worked together to send the last foe standing out of the building, through a different window. The sound of it shattering filled the eardrums of everyone present as they watched the worker fall outside.

...

Seconds passed and no signs of the thrown figures returning appeared, leaving one last person to deal with..

Y/N: Come on... Ah-!

Finally, the inevitable happed. The hands holding the chain slipped against the blood on the chain just as another shove came from the Abnormality. Yesod, now left with holding it on his own, was soon overwhelmed, leading to it sliding off the lid.

Like a vampire emerging from their grave, the metal coffin swung open and from within, a mangled body barely ressembling a human rose.

"The music will invigorate me... I must hear more-"

Zophia: Shut up!

However, before anything truly dangerous could come from this mistake, a pissed off assistant librarian lunged at them, grabbed them by the remainder of their head and slammed it against the spinning blade inside.

...But she didn't stop there, far from it. In a way that would have made someone unaware of what had unfolded assume that her intentions were sadistic, she reached for the lid and repeatedly slammed it against the legs of the shadowed worker, breaking them with each swing she did.

Yesod looked at the sight in cold silence, the man standing near him remained in a shocked silence and Dana was trying to let in a word to stop her, only to remember that this wasn't a real person.

The process continued until the ankles were chopped off with the metal of the machine. The feet combusted into golden pages.

Zophia: ...

The former office worker took a step back and watched the Singing machine do its job, observing a lack of struggle from inside, until the device turned off.

She then turned around and gave her coworkers a jaded look.

Zophia: I'm gonna need another drink to forget this.

Y/N: S-Sure...

Dana: We should go looking for the employee trapped here...

As she mumbled those words, she scanned the facility and immediately located a figure standing in the back, hiding behind of the rusted Singing Machines. Their eyes were fully wide, probably from witnessing what had just occured.

They swiftly raised their hands once everyone where she was looking at.

"I-I'm normal, p-please don't hurt me!"

...

...

"Uh... My name's Vince. I-I was a clerk working for the Training team before everything went down."

Dana: Wait, you're a clerk? I mean, were?

Vince: Yes, I was Alpha44, that was the nametag they gave me.

Hava: That's a lot of Alphas~

Vince: I... guess? I never met anyone else with the same name, not that could when the facility broke down.

Y/N: ...

As per usual, a small group of assistant librarians were gathered together to greet the new face while the Patron librarians were busy having a conversation. Among that group, a certain blond could be seen downing a 3rd drink in a row.

The eyes of the clerk wandered on said girl as he began to sweat bullets.

Vince: I-I'm sorry but I'm still shaken up by what I... saw.

Zophia: You'll get used to it.

Vince: I-I don't want to hear it from you...

His voice lowered considerably as he made his reply, making sure that she couldn't hear him.

Hava: Sooo, how did you go out?

Vince: I'm sorry?

Hava: How did you die? I'm sure you had plenty of opportunities, right~?

Y/N: Hava, that's a bit much to ask.

Hava: You have to break the ice somehow~

Cereb: That's the worst icebreaker you could come up with. You could've asked about hobbies first.

Hava: That's boring.

Vince: ...I don't really know. I remember hiding under a table, I could hear fights happening all around me alongside screams from my colleagues... and then I heard an explosion. I woke up in that weird world afterwards.

The clerk slowly began to describe their last moments to the group paying attention to him, who saw how conflicted he was about the situation as a whole.

Sitting behind, the duo working under Hod's orders looked at each other. Confusion was plastered on their faces, clearly showing that they did not understand what they were talking about.

Vince: I remember the words the captain gave me, she told me to hide and to not move from there.

Y/N: ...She probably tried to keep you all safe, to the best of her capabilities.

Vince: Miss Cirno was... a bright person. She was confident that we would all live and she believed her own words as she told me what she said.

Patchouli: !

Upon hearing that word, the librarian silently reading a book on her lap raised her head. Her attention was moved towards the conversation.

Vince: She told us: "The strong has to protect the weak. So, as the strongest, I have to protect everyone.", that's the last I've heard of her....

Dana: ...

The eyes of the ex-captain of the Information team shifted to the side as her expression turned sour, keeping something she knew to herself.

Vince: Now that I'm here, I'll try my best to be helpful, it's the least I can do.

Hava: Heh, don't worry, you'll fit right in~

A grand smile was on Hava's face during her reply. She lightly tapped the shoulder of the former clerk, only for him to lean forward under the sudden pressure. The sight forced a laugh out of the one who caused this to happen.

Y/N: I know it's a lot for you but I'm sure you'll be fine. For now, we should just enjoy the day.

Cereb: Oh, I know, how about we do a game to change the mood?

Y/N: ...What kind?

Cereb: Follow me, I'll show you!

Without waiting around, Malkuth's assistant ran out of the room, leaving everyone present slightly confused. Following after him, Angela's helper stepped outside, causing a chain of reaction where everyone present began to follow along.

Some did out of curiosity, while others did as a way to change their thoughts, even if briefly.

The one named Vince was one of the last people to make his way out, only to be stopped by a voice calling him.

He turned around and saw a girl in the back look at him. In her hands was a large book with a bookmark inside.

Vince: Uh... is something wrong?

Patchouli: ...Could you tell me more about that captain of yours?

Vince: ...

The man watched her step closer as she raised a hand to tell him to step outside. He followed her request.

Patchouli: I need to know about her for my own curiosity, please forgive me.

Vince: Oh, it's fine... uh, where to start?

His voice grew quieter as the both of them walked away from the room, in the direction where everyone went. On the way, the both of them began to discuss about the past, with one intently listening to the other's story.

Singing Machine's suppression completed!

Y/N's existence has been stabilized.

???'s existence has been stabilized.

A new exclusive Combat Page has been added!

(Sorry for the slight delay. I was busy with some stuff while also writing the next chapter of Lobotomi High. I'll try to maintain the consistent update whenever possible...

...Don't count on me to follow that statement too much though, laziness gets the better of me sometimes.)

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Mah! I'm doing it, I'm playing the video game. I finally decided to not half-ass the joke and play the actual game.

Zeta19 will now suffer permanent damage for my sake, a sad clerk's life. Anyway, that's all from me for now, buh-bye.

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'Blacksoul story when?', I'll think about it once I get far enough into the series. It'll depend on how many people would bother reading it since it's not PM stuff.

Anyway, NOW that's everything, bye for now.