1. Mutation

Where are you, Rayna?

(Cough)... Brother...

You can come out now, girl!

Eriri! Are you okay?

I should be asking you that!

Rayna! It's good to see you in one piece.

I noticed the girl during reconnaissance. I didn't realize you were looking for her.

Damn it... What have we done to deserve this...?

I wonder the same thing. Have you two done anything to piss off Rasparta?

Rasparta? No, we were just digging ore...

That's it? No other clues?

Calm down, Sova. These two are troubled as it is.

Target verified. Moving in.

Them again! They just don't give up, do they...?

Locked and loaded, ready to fire...

Stun grenade! Watch out!

...Huh?

Target acquired.

N-no! Let go of me!

Don't you touch her!

Ha... ha...

You okay, Rayna?

The stun grenade caused a slight concussion to her head. Take a rest first.

Mhmm... Lie down, Rayna.

Mhmm...

dia_85_48_str

Now that we're resting, do you mind telling me what's going on?

...Okay, I'll start from the beginning.

Well, you see, 5000 years ago...

S-Stop!! I don't need a history lesson...!

Let me. Here's the gist: We and you two are on the same side. They... Rasparta... they're the bad guys!

We came here to look for the thing that caused the crystal mine to behave irregularly.

...The thing? You don't know what it is?

No, that's why we're here, to find out what that thing is.

Is that why Rasparta is after you...?

You really don't have any clue?

All I know is I've been finding a lot of Echo Crystals lately.

That's all.

Mhmm... I still don't get why they're after you. Are you special or something?

Say, you come from a family that has passed down superpowers through generations?

...I doubt it. I don't know much about our family anyway.

You and your brother seem to have a story to tell. Can you tell me?

I can, but there's nothing interesting.

I grew up in the orphanage with Rayna ever since I can remember.

I don't know what my parents look like. Rayna is my only family.

So you grew up in an orphanage. Sounds tough...

Life isn't particularly hard. It's just...

My poor health has caused my brother a lot of trouble.

Rayna! Get some rest!

I'm okay. I'm feeling a lot better.

...Has Rayna always been frail?

Yeah, the food in the orphanage is far from enough for her. She also needs a lot of nutrients and medicines.

So, my brother's been working for my sake since he was a kid...

Kids are usually protected by their parents. It's amazing how you've managed without your parents.

There wasn't a lot of work that a kid could do, though. Right?

The security guards in the orphanage taught me a lot. I did everything I was able to do.

He even taught me how to fight. I find it really useful.

That explains why you're a good fighter.

...If not for my health, my brother wouldn't have to do all that.

A brother is supposed to protect his little sister, right? Don't feel sorry.

But we're doing better financially because my sibling has been able to dig more ore lately.

Oh, so you sell ore.

That's right.

Speaking of the crystal mine, I think it's connected to Rayna's body.

...How do you mean?

You see... Parts of my body have been crystallized...

Really! What's this...?!

(...What's going on? I've never seen anything like this. Could it be...)

...! It's them again! Hide, Rayna, hide!

Strange. It should be around here somewhere.

Did they detect Rayna's crystal with a crystal locator? Is that why they could locate us?

Rayna, the bad guys have gone. You can come out now.

...Rayna?

What? Rayna is gone!

Impossible. We smashed those Raspartan Troops. No one laid a finger on her.

I'm gonna look for her!

Feet are definitely faster than the brain. Let's try to keep up.

Target 2 located. Careful. Threat level could be the same as Target 1.

Stay back!

I'm a monster.

I knew it when those red crystals started appearing on my skin like fish scales.

My brother is an idiot. He didn't notice anything unusual about me.

If I hadn't kept him in the dark, he wouldn't have been in such danger.

Then the mob came looking for the monster that makes crystals grow like crazy. But my poor brother had got nothing to do with it.

I didn't want my brother to get involved, so I ran away.

I'm not that strong. It was the only thing I could do to protect my brother.

Hey, Target 1 has slowed down. Everyone, surround them.

So this kid is the vessel of the Ancient One. She's weaker than I thought.

Don't underestimate her. She's a monster that controls crystals!

Don't you call my sister a monster!

The good news is, I found a way through their lines.

...So there's bad news as well?

Mhmm, the bad news is it's Wadjet who sealed off the combat zone.

Wadjet... Who is she?

Wadjet is a powerful figure, second only to Horus in the Nebu Alliance. She's also...

...Rasparta's officer. A strong opponent.

Eriri, can we pick another route to avoid her?

Okay. I'll do my best! This way!

(Grunt!)

Whatever stands between me and the vessel must perish!

No!

Rayna, stay back!

Let me protect you this time!