-A teardrop fell from the child's dewy eyes, as stars showered from the sky. The world falls into a slumber, trapped in an ecstatic lullaby.

-Even if this turns to be a curse, I will love this curse like a blessing.

After what felt like a full hour spent recovering my emotions, I wiped away the ugly tears lingering in my eyes and stood up. I was standing in the middle of pure darkness and yet, despite not being able to see anything, a voice in the back of my head whispered me where to go. With not much of a choice, I followed its instructions.

Following behind my footsteps was the one who saved my life during the ordeal I went through. Without it being there, I would definitely had died back there, no questions asked. For that reason, my distressed mind was stopped by a frail barrier, stopping me from breaking under the pressure. Said barrier was that the sentient and moving liquid was still on my side, protecting me even when I was afraid of it.

Y/N: Please tell me something.

I slowly turned my head to glance down at the "floor" I was standing on. To prove that it heard my demand, its body began to stretch until it reached the height of my face, causing shivers to go through my body. No matter how hard I try to remain composed, it was something beyond my willpower, I was terrified to see it do any sort of movements, scared of the thought that it might try to jump onto me again.

...Its filth touching my skin, an invader breaking apart the defenses of my sanity and plunging me into the depth of madness and incoherent mumbles. I hated it, I hated it so much, I just- No, nonono, calm down Y/N, don't let it overwhelm you!

Y/N: What lies beyond this point? You sound like you know what's about to happen.

When I asked if this ordeal was done, the only words I got back was "for now", meaning that they must know something about what's about to occur. Taking a moment to process my question, it soon slumped back into a puddle on the ground.

"Death, the only thing waiting for us at the end."

"...Sadly."

"Goodbye."

Many voices spoke up in order, finally learning that all of them speaking at once would only make the information given worthless and incomprehensible. I solemnly nodded and resumed my walk. Staying here would only make me lose my will to continue, I had to keep going. After everything I went through, I couldn't break under the pressure.

It was a sign, I'm sure of it, I was stepping into a new territory that is unknown to me! A tightened fist raised, I heaved a sigh and took hold of my E.G.O weapon, loading a bullet in the chamber. Looking back at how effective some of the weapons I wielded in that battlefield covered by my past failures, the rifle that I was holding felt weak compared to them.

However, regardless of my feelings, it remained strong and saved me more than once, even if not via its intended use. Which is why I don't particularly yearn for a new kind of weapon, I've grown attached to it, its warmth giving me a source of comfort in a place as unforgiving as this place.

...Stay strong Y/N, you have to be prepared for what is waiting for you, no matter how hopeless it may be.

"Y/N?"

Y/N: ...I'm fine.

Just hearing its voice without expecting it was enough to raise the hair on my arms. I don't think I truly will get used to it.

My hands placed around my weapon, we pursued our walk, none of us speaking a single word the entire walk until I could faintly see a source of light in the distance. The sight was making me remember how the previous ordeal began, a single light in the darkness, a corridor leading me with no other choices offered to me except lingering in this eternal shadow forever.

...I wonder how many times "I" chose that path, deciding to not advance further and simply let myself walk until the end of time in this void, refusing to face the next challenge.

I suppose now isn't the best time to ponder about that idea unless I want to be added to that number. I silently shrugged off that thought and quickly made my way into the safety of the light. Once inside its reach, I was immediately struck by a wave of uneasiness, my temperature dropping severely for a second before adjusting itself.

Y/N: ...What was that?

I looked back at the darkness that I emerged from but nothing was visible, it was like a cold breeze grazed me and left. I was a little unsettled by it but tried my best to compose myself. I turned back around and made my way closer to the source of light that I was following but soon found myself stopping in my track.

It wasn't out of fear or something like that. No, I was physically unable to go forward, I could go sideway or backward but everytime I tried to get closer to the light, something would obstruct my path, something that I couldn't see. I tried walking backward into, charging and even attacking what was stopping me but nothing changed, I was truly met with an immovable obstacle.

I took a moment to ponder on the problem and soon found myself peeking downwards, trying to locate the one accompanying me in this long struggle. If I don't know how to proceed, maybe it does? With hope, I scanned the ground but instead of seeing that conscious abomination, I was greeted by a pair of legs standing beside me.

...Wait.

Y/N: What the-!

I jumped out of fright and locked my eyes directly at the newcomer. Standing still and looking back at me was the woman who's been present on this ordeal of mine, waiting for me at the end of each of them. It was the girl with red eyes and wearing a labcoat, Carmen.

Y/N: When did you get here, you scared the shit out of me.

Like a ghost, she simply appeared right beside me without a single sound made. She looked back at me with an emotionless gaze, her hands placed on top of each other against her body. Seeing her like this gave me cold sweats, though I couldn't truly understand the reason for it. Maybe it was the way she was looking at me? Was it the posture? I couldn't really pinpoint the reason.

Carmen: You're finally here.

She finally spoke after what felt like a full minute of silence, causing her lips to curve into a smile. Unlike the previous time I saw her, her face was completely pristine, even brimming with strength and confidence. Yet, with the way she was standing, said confidence was making me feel nervous.

God, it felt like facing Angela of all people, not a name I was expecting to utter right after coming out of the mess that the battle I just went through was. Great, now she's stuck in my head, exactly what I wanted, yep, totally.

Carmen: Is something wrong?

Y/N: Oh trust, a lot is but we probably both know that.

Focus Y/N. As I reminded myself that, I placed my hand on the invisible barrier separating me from the light on the other side. The researcher standing next to me followed my gesture with her gaze.

Carmen: You shouldn't interfere, not like we can in the first place.

Y/N: What do you mean?

I turned to face her once more with visible question marks around my head. Interfere? What the hell was going on in there?

Carmen: He's in there, struggling with his own demons.

Y/N: ...You gonna have to be more precise.

Carmen: Your "Manager".

It took me a moment to process the information given to me but my reaction was not as slow, my eyes widening and my hand pointing past the wall blocking us.

Y/N: The manager's in there?!

I remember briefly seeing the man in question, black hair with a face that wasn't the warmest I could think of. Despite that, he still gave me a smile upon seeing me along with a kind greeting. What was he even doing in there?

Carmen: Look and see for yourself.

She calmly raised her hand and moved my attention back to the light. Albeit obstructed by some obstacles that I couldn't clearly identify, my eyes were able to see 2 shapes standing and facing each. One of them was the one matching the previous description I gave while the second one was...

Uh... pale? I don't really have the  best words to describe them at the moment.

(I think it's really funny that the image was named "ChAdam" when I downloaded it from the wiki, got a chuckle out of me.)

Well, regardless of my poor commentary, the both of them were talking to each other but I couldn't hear a single word. Seems like that wall separating us was more than just blocking my progress, it also completely cut any noise.

Left speechless for a moment, I glanced back at Carmen, silently asking her what was going on. I guess I must have struck a cord since her eyes grew somber and her eyebrows lowered. She took a moment to inhale a breath of air.

Carmen: They must be discussing about the Light right about now.

Y/N: ...The Light?

I honestly don't know much about it, I was told that it would "save people from the disease of the mind" but that might as well be random words uttered by a lunatic to me. She was talking to me about it like I knew exactly what it was, which didn't help me understand in the slightest.

Carmen: He's trying to convince him to release the Light in its current state, incomplete.

Y/N: ...And what's going to happen?

She took a few seconds to answer, perhaps already knowing how I would react.

Carmen: The people exposed to it will soon shed their skins and turn into...

I didn't need to know the last part of that sentence, just hearing the term "shedding" when it comes to a human instantly brought back the subject of Cogito and its effect. Widened eyes coming from me, I glared back at the duo in the distance.

Carmen: This... This isn't what I wanted, I wanted to give hope to everyone. To give everyone a chance to fight, fight for their ideas without being forced to fit a mold and to discard their dreams.

Y/N: ...

I was left to think about the words she said. I suppose giving everyone a chance to pursue their dreams isn't so bad. Hell, even I have my own dreams that I wish to accomplish, one of them being to get out of here of course. It was my turn to frown slightly once I realized that my mind couldn't really find a way to argue with her words.

I mean, it sure sounds nice and from the way she talked about it, it was nearing its completion. Crossing my pink sleeve, I remained quiet as I imagined a few possibilities, being able to pursue my dreams huh...

Carmen: I may just simply be a ghost, something separated from my own self, but this is what I want, I want to see the project reach the end of the journey instead of stopping near it.

In the distance, the one with dark hair and wearing a labcoat just like hers shook his head, denying the offer given to him by the one with white hair. The one rejected simply responded with a wide grin as a shadow loomed over him. Seems like she was right, he was "trying" to convince him but the Manager decided to aim for the end instead of stopping in front of the finish line.

Carmen: Y/N, I know you must not have the best opinion of me, especially after the previous days but I want you to do something for me.

Y/N: ...?

She slowly reached for my hands and held them between hers, as if covering them. Her eyes were shining with an energized focus, giving me the energy to overcome the fatigue plaguing my mind. It was akin to a switch being flipped, a reset button immediately removing my exhaustion and bringing me back at the top of my strength.

Carmen: Please, help him, the Manager. Do what you know the best, for the sake of completing the Seed of Light and granting strength to those in need of it. That's all I ever wanted, what "I" want.

I was unable to say anything back after hearing her demand. Frozen in place, my dazed eyes blinked and returned to reality. A smile followed as I freed my hands from hers and placed one on her head, a firm yet kind pat.

Y/N: I don't need to be reminded, I'm doing this to reach the end of this cycle, to bring everyone out of this hell. If this Seed of Light is the signal telling us that our struggles have reached an end then I'll gladly do my best.

My hand sank into her hair and I observed her shocked eyes change, her smile returning as she responded to my gesture with a powerful embrace. It was now my turn once more to be left bewildered, unable to process her sudden action. Perhaps it was due to the lack of oxygen in my lungs, I couldn't properly take a guess right now with my lungs being compressed.

Carmen: I love you, though you already know that by now.

Y/N: Y-Yep... Can't breath, please let me go.

She quickly released me upon hearing my faint words, allowing me to gasp for air. I gave myself a good moment to recover my breathing but still returned a smile back at my interlocutor, albeit a pained one.

Y/N: Normally, I'd say that I will try my best but there's no point, I'm going to the end or I die. I'm not giving up at this point, not after all the losses we had to take to get here.

Hell, not even dying was even an option anymore, I'm pretty sure that my body would still carry itself out of sheer stubbornness if I were to perish, all for the sake of reaching the ending awaiting us.

My faith was solidified, my will set in stone and my soul blazing with the desire to finally see the end. Thinking back to all the people that are possibly looking for me by now, my fists tightened as I nodded to myself. I'm sure the Manager was also in that same state of mind, ready to confront the ordeal blocking his path for the sake of completing the project and end this cycle for good.

Although my own desires were not on the same level, at least I think so, I'd say they were worthy enough to be acknowledged. The employees were all fighting and giving their all for the sake of protecting the people that they care about or even just keep their own lives. A wish as simple as that was enough, as long as they had a reason to keep pushing onwards.

Y/N: ...I should go, the people under my care must be worried sick by now.

Letting out a simple phrase to tell her that I was ready to take me leave, I watched her nod along and place a hand on my shoulder. Her red eyes fixated on me, her smile remained. Time slowed down for a moment and I turned towards the darkness, the only way I could go.

Carmen: Still, please be careful, I don't want to see you get reckless.

Y/N: I'll keep that in mind, though it's not something in my control considering my position.

I was an employee, an agent, I was basically pressing a gun against my head at all time, playing a constant game of luck to determine if I get to survive the day or become nothing more than red stains on the floor and walls.

Hands against my back, I walked away but not without a final peek over my shoulder. Standing near the source of light that we couldn't reach, the researcher was waving back at me with a familiar substance at her feet, I guess that was where we were separating.

On one hand, my mind was relieved to know that, no longer stressed about being suddenly assaulted by its presence but on the other hand, it also meant that I wouldn't be able to rely on its assistance. I had to go through the next ordeal on my own, by my own power.

...Hey, I've gone this far, I should be able to endure what is waiting for me, especially considering that I'll be back in a place that I'm familiar with, surrounded by other people that I know, not an endless battlefield of bodies wearing my face and looking exactly like me. Both scenes were extremely different, I wouldn't have to do everything on my own, I could rely on others to reduce the weight on my shoulders.

Carmen: I'll be cheering for you Y/N!

Y/N: Thanks!

Hm, this version seemed much nicer than the others I've faced. No hidden intentions that are revealed at the last moment, simply asking me to help the Manager by doing my best, which wasn't much different to my ordinary schedule. Her kidness also seemed much more genuine than the others I faced. Yes, she did have that cold gaze when she first appeared but the fear I felt upon seeing it melted away with her bright face afterwards.

In short, what I'm trying to say is that she's probably the nicer one from the bunch.

Y/N: Come on, you can do it Y/N, just like the past days!

As I walked further into the darkness, the harder it became for my eyes to see my own body, as if I was vanishing. Yet, despite that, I kept going until the only thing I could see was... well, nothing I suppose.

...

Y/N: ...

Opening my eyes, I let out a yawn and looked around. My head was pressed against a desk and my arms serving as a makeshift pillow. As I stood up, I turned around and felt my heart stop, my body turned to stone.

Standing right behind me, her eyes wide open and her faced pressed against mine was BongBong, not uttering a single word and simply leaned against me to the point that the concept of private space didn't exist.

Y/N: Holy shit-!

I jumped out of fright, causing the workers around to look in my direction. The sight of my presence caused many of the clerks to widen their eyes in shock.

Clerk 1: C-Captain, you're back!

Clerk 2: He's back everyone!

Clerk 3: Someone call the captain of the Security team, she's gonna have a heart attack the moment she hears that!

Y/N: H-Hey, let's try not giving poor Alter Ego a panic attack!

???: A little too late for that.

...Oh. I slowly faced the doors leading to the upper layer and saw in the entrance 2 figures that I could remember flawlessly by now. Yep, you can guess by now, a certain woman with a smug smile and red eyes and one in charge of the Security team, the second one speechless while the first one spoke up.

Y/N: Hey Alter Ego.

I slowly waved back.

Hava: Aw, not even a greeting for me?

Y/N: Come on, give me a break.

A bead of sweat falling down my face, I placed my hand around my mouth and adjusted the mask gifted to me by Little Red. As I did so, the echoes of footsteps reached my ear just in time to see the one wielding a dark sword with golden eyes sprinting at me at full force, not even minding BongBong in the way.

Y/N: A-Alter Ego-!

BongBong: ...Lul.

Before I could comment on the fact that the blue haired weirdo working under me actually talked for once instead of repeating her name, we were both tackled by a speeding Alter Ego, forming some kind of weird sandwich.

Alter Ego: DID YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS?!

Y/N: ...A lot?

Alter Ego: ...Yea.

I guess I must have answered correctly since her emotions calmed down to an acceptable level. While she was doing so, BongBong swiftly slipped out of the situation, only to make her way around and grab my neck with her arms.

Y/N: Stop, you gonna strangle me!

BongBong: No.

Y/N: You little-!

That was how the day began, a day that would soon turned into total chaos and madness with screams echoing around the hallways like spirits yelling from their graves. Taking my time to calm everyone down, especially Alter Ego, I quickly took back commands of the department as the captain.

Y/N: Alright everyone, let's do this perfectly. Do not let panic set in, just like every other days.

I couldn't lie, I was still shaken up by the ordeal I went through but I tried my best to not let it show, simply saying that I couldn't remember what happened to me when someone tried to ask me where I went.

Like every other days before this one, it was necessary to lower the risk of errors and stressing out the workers. If everyone were to fall into a panic then things would only become worse and beyond our control. For the sake of everyone here, I had to remain strong, as the captain should be.

Finally, the day began.