Story x Unlock Event 10: The Ark of Schism - C.O.R.E Route (Epilogue)
Event visual made in collaboration with @yulitanbo
Featured: Tomoko Daskalov, Saiun Amemori, Yuzuriha Kaede, Aleksandr Qian, Lynn Higgins, Iori Amemoto For Chrome users, click play to listen to the music and click the theme title for the lyrics!
Students and trainees that were gathered by Xiao Wen and his agents were kept in one of the lower floors of the large Russian vessel that left the docks of Kokoro Island on the evening of the same day they barged in. Amidst the troubled faces and unrest, a few students gathered to plan an escape while they’re still on water.
A lot of odds may have been against them, but seeing that they were also surrounded by an environment that could boost their fortes, a decision was reached to take the chance. Even if they wouldn’t escape successfully, some seemed to find satisfaction in the thought of causing trouble for Xiao Wen even a little.
The skirmish went for a good hour or two. The students’ uprising wasn’t exactly met with surprise. They were expected to cause trouble at the ship, and it was evidently shown that Xiao Wen allowed them to for his own agenda. This conveniently appointed the specific students involved as his first newly arrived experimental subjects at the Moscow HQ, as their ‘punishment’.
Fortunately, the Head of Reconnaissance Department, Laciann Vasiliev, interjected Xiao Wen’s plans in immediately throwing the freshly harvested students from the academy right into his reckless research. After a couple of debates, or banter, Xiao Wen relented to the senior agent’s idea of sending the batch out for harsh training so they could handle his brutal experimentation. Much like how Laciann’s agents had succeeded in enduring the twisted man’s cruel torture before becoming dangerous monsters themselves.
However, Xiao Wen demanded to have one of the students remain as his hostage as well as sent two of his own men to keep watch over the group in case the students would try anything out of line against him out there. On the next day, the selected students were sent towards the harshest camp set up by the HQ all the way in Oymyakon, Siberia. As dire as the situation sounds, this turn of events also gave them an opportunity to plan something away from Russia's de facto leader’s eyes.
IC
Fall 25-27: The Parted Hearts
Not long after the Russian vessels left Kokoro Island with the list of trainees and students under their custody, unrest heaved over Shinnou Academy. Having lost their students, and friends, to a former branch of their affiliated organization was one devastating blow. Yet, another blow came without much warning.
Of course, this presence had always made himself present without warning at all. As several students and a staff approached the Headmaster’s office to question Michael about the sudden turn of events, Johen made himself comfortable in everyone’s company amidst their conversations.
Not only was he there to disturb the already pressured crowd. The red-haired criminal sowed the seeds of further discord by offering the students assistance in retrieving their friends from the ex-C.O.R.E. branch of Russia. And what, with his wide array of powerful skills and resources, nothing can tempt most of them more than the one thing any other choice can’t provide… time.
Having given a night and a day to consider their choices, Johen left traces of clues for the students to find him in Kokoro Town-- at least, the ones who wished to take up his offer. A few of their own peers have reserverence towards this choice, and tried to find a safer, more sound route to pursue. On the flip side, a few trainees were investigating to track down the criminal so he can be apprehended.
By evening, these split sides raced for the last piece of clue that would lead them to Johen, the piece ended up claimed by the students who chose to go with the criminal. Thus, they parted physically from their peers, as well as their hearts as the group were whirled away into another space. The other sides left behind in Kokoro Island, some deciding to leave the island the next morning to pursue another route of saving their peers. The rest remained, to wait for everyone’s return- only to have to face a completely different problem on the island.