In the twilight city thick with the smell of soot and blood, several "Tuning Officers" lay beyond the rubble of a collapsed building, gasping for their last breaths. What lay in their line of sight was the shadow of a black, grotesque "Aberration (Bug)" that continued to swell while distorting space itself. "R-Retreat...! That thing is no longer a mass we can handle...!" A man screamed, his face twisted in terror—just then.

A sharp, hard clicking sound of footsteps echoed.

The girl didn't even spare a glance at her fallen comrades. Her voice contained no anger toward the enemy, no pity for her allies, no fear of death—not a trace of "warmth." The Aberration let out an ear-splitting roar and brought down countless tentacles upon her. Without even a hint of dodging, the girl silently placed her hand on the black ribbon at her chest.