Time: May 2, 2032. 04:15 AM.
Location: Bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The Ruins of Prison "VOID."
In Sector X, Rynna (The Admin) danced her fingers across the virtual keyboard.
"System defenses breached," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "We're activating the 'Cargo Elevator.' It's the only one large enough to hold all the prisoners."
Kenji, Odin, and Zero stepped onto the platform.
"How fast?" Kenji asked.
"Very fast. Your stomach might end up in your mouth," Rynna smiled and slammed the red button.
WHOOSH!
The massive platform shot upwards at terrifying speed.
Sector -5 (Main Hall).
The elevator doors blasted open.
They found themselves in the middle of a war zone.
Chaos reigned supreme.
On one side, the Government's artificial S-Rank Guards (doped on serum) fought like rabid dogs.
On the other side—the Abyssal Monsters summoned by Laylo and the torrents of water rushing through the breached walls.
But most importantly—the Prisoners.
The 500 former heroes, guild leaders, and "inconvenient" legends rotting in "Void." They had already broken out of their cells.
They were unarmed, half-naked, and emaciated. But the hope of freedom burned in their eyes. They fought with batons stolen from guards, pieces of scrap metal, and even their teeth.
Odin (The Strategist) took command the moment he stepped off the platform.
"Attention! Listen to me!" his voice cut through the noise of battle. "'Iron Wall'! Cover the left flank! 'Wind Mother'! Move the wounded to the rear! We are breaking through to the 'Night Owls' ship!"
Seeing Odin, the prisoners' spirits soared.
"General Odin! He's alive!"
"And Shadow! The Legend is with us!"
Kenji stepped forward, wielding a plasma rifle (found in Sector X).
"Clear the way!" Kenji shouted. "Anyone left behind—dies! Move!"
Zero (Shiro) took the vanguard. He held two simple pieces of rebar, but in his hands, they were deadlier than the sharpest swords.
Using his "God Step" technique, Zero slipped between the guards, shattering their formations.
"Go! Go!" Odin led the crowd of 500 toward Dock 7.
Dock 7. Evacuation Point.
Water was filling the bay. Through a massive breach in the wall, the pitch-black, military-cruiser class submarine of the "Night Owls" was visible. Its hatches were open, with Kaito and other Owls pulling prisoners aboard.
"Faster! Faster!" Kaito yelled. "The government is loading torpedoes!"
Prisoners leaped onto the ship one by one.
But Kenji... he was looking for his sister.
"Laylo! Laylo, where are you?!"
Kaito stood in the ship's airlock and waved frantically.
"Captain! Over here! I have Laylo!"
Kenji, Rynna, and Odin were the last to jump onto the ship.
Zero blew up the bridge behind them, cutting off the guards, and nimbly swung aboard.
Hatches sealed.
Water purged.
Inside the Ship. Medical Bay.
Kenji ran straight to where Kaito stood.
In the corner, Laylo lay on a stretcher.
Her condition was... bad.
Her face was as white as gauze, her lips blue, and thin streams of blood trickled from her nose and ears. Her body was ice cold.
"What happened?!" Kenji grabbed Laylo's hand. "Why is she like this?!"
Kaito bowed his head.
"She... she went past her limit, Captain."
"Controlling thousands of sharks, Megalodons, and Abyssals simultaneously... the human mind isn't built for that. Her brain overloaded. She used the last of her strength to buy us time. She spent her own Life Force to break the prison."
Kenji trembled.
For eighty years, he had blamed himself. Now, his sister was sacrificing herself for him.
"Laylo..." Kenji stroked her face. "Open your eyes, you stupid girl. We made it out. It's over."
Laylo's eyelashes fluttered weakly.
She opened her eyes—dim, unfocused, barely there. The "Spiritual Fire" was gone, replaced only by exhaustion.
She saw Kenji. Her lips moved.
"Brother..." her voice was fainter than a whisper.
Kenji leaned his ear to her lips.
"I'm here. Speak."
"No matter... what happens... run..." Laylo gasped, her breath hitching. "They... there are too many... Don't... look back..."
And Laylo's head fell back onto the pillow. She lost consciousness.
The monitors showed her heart rate slowing down.
Kenji stood motionless for a moment.
Then he stood up.
There was no grief on his face. There was only Pure Rage.
Not the madness of "Shadow-17," but Kenji's own cold, calculated hatred.
He looked at Rynna.
"Rynna. Where are the government ships?"
Rynna checked her tablet.
"They have us surrounded. 20 nuclear submarines. They are ready to fire."
Kenji marched toward the command deck (The Bridge).
"Odin! Zero!" he commanded. "Arm the prisoners. This ship isn't just a transport."
"Rynna, you hacked the prison's defense systems (Turrets), right?"
"Yes," Rynna said, understanding Kenji's intent. "I still have control."
"Then," Kenji slammed his fist onto the console panel. "Show them hell."
"Turn all of the prison's missiles against their own ships."
"Laylo said 'Run.' But before I run... I'm taking half of them with me."
Rynna smiled.
"Order received, Captain. 'Friendly Fire' mode activated."
Outside, on the ocean floor, the cannons and missiles of Prison "Void" rotated, locking onto the surrounding Government fleet.
The Government captains were bewildered.
"What's happening?! Why are we being targeted?!"