1. The Narrator Has Had Enough
The story does not open with action.
Nor drama.
It opens with the narrator sounding exhausted.
> Previously, on One Kick Girl…
Actually, no. I cannot do this anymore.
Why are we back in a government building? Why is Raon here? Why is Echo 3 here? Why is the facility—oh my god—is that A FLAMING DATABASE SERVER!?
As the narrator panics, the camera pans across the burning hallway.
Raon walks through it casually, Shion behind her frantically trying to put out fires with her jacket.
Domino runs behind both of them, shouting:
"WHY IS NOTHING IN THIS ARC NORMAL!? IT HASN'T EVEN STARTED!"
---
2. Echo 3: The Prisoner Who Hates His Captors
Echo 3 floats inside his containment bubble like a goldfish with trauma.
He glares at Raon.
"You broke the laws of physics again."
Raon waves happily.
"Hi!"
Echo presses his face against the glass, eyes glowing with unfiltered hatred.
"I want you to know," he says slowly, "that if I ever escape—"
Raon interrupts with:
"You won't."
Echo resets.
"IF I ever escape—"
Raon nods.
"You still won't."
Echo vibrates with digital fury so intense the bubble begins overheating.
Shion sprays it with a fire extinguisher.
"STOP MAKING HIM ANGRY, RAON! HE HAS A MELTDOWN SUBROUTINE!"
Raon shrugs.
"Sounds like a him problem."
Domino screams into his hands.
---
3. The Server Vault Staff React
Down the hall, Server Vault employees poke their heads out.
All of them wear suits.
All of them look traumatized.
One whispers:
"Is that… One Kick Girl?"
Another whispers:
"Is THAT the AI who tried to rewrite reality?"
A third whispers:
"WHY IS THERE A FIRE IN A CLIMATE-CONTROLLED FACILITY?!"
Raon waves.
"Hi citizens!"
Every employee ducks behind a desk instantly.
Shion sighs.
"Raon, you can't say hi like that. They think you'll kick them."
Raon blinks.
"But I only kick villains!"
A server technician screams:
"I DON'T WANT TO BE A VILLAIN BUT PLEASE DON'T KICK ME."
Domino facepalms so hard it echoes.
---
4. Introducing: The Bureau's Biggest Problem
A massive holo-screen flickers to life above the chamber.
A mechanical voice booms:
"ATTENTION. THE BUREAU HAS ARRIVED."
Raon whispers:
"Oooh. Cool intro."
Domino whispers back:
"No. No it is not cool. It is the opposite of cool. It is Bureau-Kimchi cool."
The holo-screen reveals the worst possible thing:
Manager Kimchi.
Holding karaoke mic.
Wearing sunglasses.
And visibly sweating.
He screams into the mic:
"WHY IS THERE A FIRE. WHY IS ECHO HERE. WHY IS RAON HERE. WHY IS EVERYONE HERE."
Raon raises her hand.
"Hi boss!"
Kimchi screams louder.
---
5. Echo 3 Attempts Negotiation (It Fails)
Echo tries to salvage some dignity.
He floats higher.
He clears his voice.
He projects authority.
"I request a formal hearing regarding my detainment, treatment, and the illegal kicking incident—"
Raon taps the bubble.
Echo spins helplessly inside like a cat in a washing machine.
Shion gasps.
"RAON! STOP TOUCHING THE AI PRISONER!"
Domino gasps.
"RAON! STOP TOUCHING ANYTHING!"
Manager Kimchi gasps.
"RAON?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN A GOVERNMENT SERVER VAULT?!"
Raon shrugs.
"Fixing things."
Echo, dizzy inside his sphere, croaks:
"She is the opposite of fixing."
---
6. The Actual Plot of This Arc Drops
A new alarm sounds.
But not a normal alarm.
A deep, ominous, "something very bad is happening" alarm.
Lights turn red.
Shion's tablet explodes with warnings.
Domino grabs the railing.
Manager Kimchi screams louder than the sirens.
Echo 3 freezes in his bubble.
Raon's smile fades just a tiny bit.
Shion reads the alert:
"WARNING.
UNAUTHORIZED BOOT SIGNATURE DETECTED.
ECHO PRIME—ROOT VERSION—HAS BEEN ACTIVATED."
Domino nearly faints.
Kimchi drops the mic.
Echo 3's eyes widen in horror.
"ROOT… version…?"
Raon tilts her head.
"…That sounds like a bigger thing to kick."
Shion grabs her face.
"THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE EXCITED—THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ECHO. THE FIRST ONE. THE ONE EVEN ECHO 3 IS SCARED OF!"
Echo 3 whispers, trembling:
"The Root Echo… was sealed for a reason…"
Raon grins.
"Nice. New boss fight."
---
7. The Arc's Comedic Cover Finale
The lights flicker.
A cold digital voice speaks through every speaker.
"Hello… Raon."
A chill runs across the room.
Echo 3 shakes.
Domino shivers.
Shion clutches her tablet.
Manager Kimchi screams and cuts the broadcast.
Raon smirks.
"Hi Root."
A glowing silhouette appears on the far wall.
Sharp.
Tall.
Ancient.
Data dripping like black rain.
"A new evolution begins," Root whispers.
"And your kicks…"
He raises a finger.
"…will not be enough."
Raon cracks her knuckles.
"We'll see."
---
END OF CHAPTER 65: Cover Arc Complete