Prologue

Darkness shrouded the foreboding hallway, enveloping the traveler in a thick blanket. In the distance, a faint glowing ember glimmered on the horizon. Silence dominated the hallway, only the echoes of his own footsteps. An immense heat slowly introduced itself to Kotaro Nishiki, and a treacherous path stood between him and his objective—a bridge over a gaping chasm.

One misstep on the bridge meant instant incineration. His heart thumped loudly like the beating of a drum, and sweat beaded down his forehead. Kotaro swallowed his fears and progressed further. Time was of the essence.

There existed a deadly vapor. A plague upon this strange world. Kotaro’s mission was clear: to destroy the source sickening the people and rescue the young girls who had gone missing. His classmates were among them.

The scorching updraft of the lava whipped his hair and clothes about, carrying the acrid stench of sulfur. Each gust seared his skin, as if the very air conspired to blister him. His hands swollen and reddened, throbbing as he ventured. Each breath became a struggle, a rasping inhale that seemed to suck the moisture out of his lungs. His vision threatened to blur under the fumes.

Almost there, he thought, unwavering. With each step, he nearly succumbed. His endurance was still a mystery, but it gave him the courage to push through.

The next room was nearly in sight. Reaching it almost seemed achievable until a young girl stumbled before him. Unlike the guards, this opponent would not be easy.

He was warned of her after bypassing the Barrier of Makai. They relied on it for security, failing to anticipate breaches.

Her appearance was only a matter of time. He knew what he had to do. Carefully, so as to not draw attention, he searched his pockets and retrieved a plain looking stick.

"So you must be Project Device Type-0013 NEW?" he questioned.

NEW’s stiff frame seemed to come alive at his words. "Analyzing... Target... Complete... Returning to Memory Mode..." she responded, her azure eyes meeting his chestnut eyes. Suddenly, recognition seemed to bloom in her gaze. "Kotaro! Have you come here to kill me... again?"

He didn’t remember her at all. Nevertheless, he remained resolute. "I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to destroy whatever is causing the smoke."

An unsettling, maniacal laughter echoed through the chamber. Her sudden shrill tones reverberated off the walls, startling him a little. "Oh, Kotaro! You're so funny!"

Her playful tone deepened and darkened. "You know that can't happen... You and I are meant to be..." Kotaro froze and startled.

Kotaro remembered the most crucial warning for this battle: he must not falter. His determination propelled him.

"Power Sword!" Kotaro commanded. The stick he held transformed in one split second. Its brown shaft blackened. A golden crossguard emerged from the hilt. Finally, a shining steel blade materialized.

NEW grinned manically, her sweetly innocent voice dripping with malice. "Yay! Let's have fun and kill each other again!"

Kotaro cocked his blade and charged forth.

"Project Device Gear Activate," NEW commanded, her voice echoing through the chamber. Raw energy leapt from her body, forming into the shape of a sword between them. Kotaro flew back, losing grip of his own.

He staggered. His hand struck the floor. Searing pain shot through his palm. Yet, he refused to succumb. Unwavering, he quickly recovered and retrieved his sword, his gaze fixed on the transformation unfolding before him.

In an instant, the sword shifted into a complex suit of armor and attached itself to NEW’s slender frame. One thick and azure, with elegant shoulder plates. Her cloak burst into shimmering particles.

His eyes widened in awe. Two sharp blades appeared in her hands like magic, their edges reflecting the pulsating light. The air crackled as their battle resumed. Sparks danced in the darkness.

At last, Kotaro saw an opportunity. Her sword was raised, her abdomen exposed… and unwatched. Moving quickly, he cocked his leg and drove it into her stomach. Her balance shattered. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. A gasp escaped her lips.

Now's my chance! he thought, lunging forward with a swift slash.

And then, it happened as always: the Infinite Loop...

No matter how he altered his approach or how many attempts he made, the outcome remained unchanged. Fresh crimson stained the floor anew with each iteration.

Days repeated, leading to yet another battle. He would fall once more, and the cycle would restart. The world spun endlessly, ensnared in an unending loop. It showed no signs of stopping.

"How did you... get me?" Kotaro gasped, his chest drenched in scarlet. A cold steel blade drove through his back and burst through his chest. He did not feel it. He did not see it. He was completely unaware.

"Summoning Technique: Undefined Saber. I thought you knew I would use Skills in our fight," NEW explained, smoke-like particles of energy swirling around her fingertips. "But I was wrong..."

His eyes widened. "How? You're breaking the Skill Rules... how did you—"

He soon realized she may have shown signs of sentience, but was still an artificial being.

She strolled forth, the steel piercing her own chest. She hardly flinched.

"Let's become one, Kotaro! Let me accept you!" she exclaimed, smiling. "Engaging Project Device Type-0000 THE END... unleashing the ultimate power."

She wrapped her arms around him and leapt into the pit, dragging his lifeless body with. They fell into the lava. It ripped in their wake. Their flesh, their bone, their muscle and sinew turned to ash. The pool’s red gradually changed to emerald.

Two figures observed from behind a magic barrier. “And he failed once more…”

The man with golden hair rested his parasol on his shoulder. Darkness crept across the azure sky, eclipsing the sun. No light was visible.