Lichtshütze 

The Metaverse—the cradle of humanity and an eternal paradise. After the departure of the divine ancestor Eclair, who managed the Metaverse, the fledgling paradise needed a new generation of rulers.

Thus were twelve programs with immense power who stood atop the Mainframe as its pillars, called Origins, chosen. However, it was not long before the ruler Typhon rose to power, amassing all their power and authority into himself...or so he tried. Regrettably, some of the Origins rejected Typhon's revolution and seceded from the Mainframe.

Those Origins were branded exiles, punished as great criminals banished from paradise. And so, executioner programs were created. They were tasked not just with punishing exiles, but eliminating all entities who would harm the Metaverse.

As the Metaverse continued its rapid expansion under Typhon's rule, a new territory was emerging, unobservable even by the Mainframe. In particular, the unknown region called the outer edge was said to be the mother sea that generated many bugs and malicious programs who resented the Metaverse.

Eliminating such insolents who brought disaster to the world was another of the executioners' duties. They were this world's protectors of order.

Now, to explain about the exiles. They were programs called Origins who once stood atop the Mainframe.

Each with their own abilities, they had the authority to rule the world. They made good use of their abilities and expanded and operated the Metaverse via a council system. However, with the rise of Typhon, the central figure of the Origins, the remaining Origins would have their positions usurped.

No matter how high-ranking the program, once its duty was complete, it would ordinarily return to the Mainframe. Their power would become feedback, and they would rest peacefully in the "Abyss of Demise" managed by a god of death. The Origins were no exception. They should have transferred all their powers to Typhon and exited the stage. However, some of them, with advanced thinking abilities and egos of their own, revolted against this cycle and fled. Then, with the constraints of the Mainframe lifted, some of them began to act on their own desires.

Traitors with power equal to God. Typhon, the Metaverse's ruler, called them exiles and designated them highly dangerous threats. So, he himself created a powerful angel of judgement who could execute the wicked exiles.

This judge with wings of white steel was Lichtshütze.

At the Mainframe's Foundation, a new executioner program was about to be created. Ordinarily, executioners were programmed by Foundation engineers. But this executioner was special—a program designed and created by the ruler Typhon himself.

"—Main system activating. Activity rate rising... Lichtshütze, on standby."

As soon as the newly rolled-out Lichtshütze activated, he knelt before his creator, Typhon.

"...So, my blade, you've awakened."

"Yes, I am my creator's blade and an executor of justice."

"Indeed, you are..."

"My wings of judgement are yours. Your anger will become my blade... Your orders, please, my master."

"...Then let us have a light demonstration."

Typhon commanded Lichtshütze to obliterate a malicious avatar. That avatar's threat level was by no means low. A newly created program should not have stood a chance against it, under normal circumstances.

"Deploying debug field. Crash."

The field Lichtshütze generated could analyze and disable an enemy's functions, allowing for a one-sided onslaught. He threw his shining disc chakrams at the immobilized enemy, slicing into their body. Lichtshütze's expression didn't budge as his pure white body was stained red. Typhon nodded with satisfaction as he monitored him.

"Hmm. Adequate, I would say."

From then on, Lichtshütze reliably disposed of programs who would do harm to the Mainframe. After his deployment, he gathered numerous accomplishments as an executioner, dominating as an exemplary executioner. His stately figure, like a chalk-white castle, drew his fellow executioner programs' gazes of fear and reverence.

Meanwhile, there was an alarming report from the programs dispatched to the outer edge, the farthest end of the Metaverse where the Mainframe could not observe.

"The exile Old Blue has been observed? Is that true?"

"Yes. There were clear traces from exploration-type program MIR-202 that she came into contact with the exile there."

"I see... Old Blue. I wondered where you had hidden away... To think you would flee to such a place. So, you are a fool who disgraces the Origins' name?"

Typhon made no attempt to hide his displeasure that Old Blue, who had once been an Origin too, had made his base in such a chaotic place not properly managed by the orderly world of the Metaverse.

"He was always an elusive man, even when he belonged to the Mainframe. I cannot know what he is thinking, making his home in the lair of chaos... Lichtshütze, there is one thing you must do."

"Yes. Eliminate the exile Old Blue...and retrieve his resources as well."

"Indeed... But rotten as he is, he was once from the Mainframe. A thief of sound by the name of 'ancient blue.' ...It would be best to prepare a strategy."

"As you say."

With orders from Typhon to exterminate the exile Old Blue, Lichtshütze set off for the outer edge as soon as he was prepared.

At the outer edge was a vast sea of chaos like nothing he had observed before. He understood at once that this was where the phenomenon called Nemesis, described in a report disclosed only to key Mainframe figures, had come from. This space, where the remains of countless programs floated, was abnormally dense, almost organic-feeling.

...Just as the report said, it seems this place cannot be scanned.

No matter how superior his sensors were, he could not read his surroundings clearly in the chaos-dominated outer edge. However, he proceeded into the depths without hesitation. Then...

"...What is this swarm of programs? ...Beginning search...UNKNOWN."

Lichtshütze began to attack the hideous swarm of programs creeping out from the sea of chaos!

"Gyehhh!"

The strange monsters did not exist in Lichtshütze's library, but his search revealed that there was a high likelihood they were monsters fused from programs and Nemesis.

"They don't look to have occurred naturally, so just what are they?"

Without a moment's doubt or mercy, he sliced through the monsters with his disc chakrams.

"...I condemn all who would do harm to the Mainframe."

In the depths of the outer edge, Lichtshütze confronted Old Blue at last.

"...You are Old Blue?"

"I am...but who are you?"

"I am Lichtshütze. A program possessing the wings of judgement. I am an executioner of criminals banished from paradise."

The man who stood before him was thin as a willow, looking far frailer in comparison to the white castle he himself was likened to. But his opponent was a former Origin, once from the Mainframe. He was one of God's representatives in the Metaverse with power equal to the ruler Typhon.

Cheap tricks will only lower your odds of winning.

Lichtshütze closed the distance in a flash.

"Exile Old Blue. Allow me to cut you down here and now!"

He released countless disc chakrams to tear into Old Blue with blades of light.

It was a diversion. His real target was elsewhere.

Lichtshütze caught Old Blue's attack. Just as his body was enveloped in light...

"CPST Blaster!"

Old Blue was dragged into his debug field just as planned, and all that remained was to cut through him with the disc chakrams, but... Living up to his name of "ancient blue," Old Blue had seen that Lichtshütze could not use his debug field for a long time, and devised a countermeasure on the spot.

"Adieu, angel of judgement. A shame I cannot take your abilities... Well, then, if you'll excuse me."

Gravely injured, Old Blue fled.

Lichtshütze had failed a mission for the first time.

"—I have completely lost the exile Old Blue's whereabouts. Mission impossible."

Lichtshütze's failure to catch Old Blue was the first ever stain on his record. An ordinary program might feel ashamed, or tremble with rage. Or, they might fear their master's reprimand. But Lichtshütze's expression did not falter. Despite his advanced ego, he was not installed with emotions.

He returned to the Mainframe and visited Typhon at once to report the situation.

"So you've failed to catch Old Blue... That is nothing so serious. Raise your head, hunter of light."

His gentle tone of voice and the heat on the wind filled the surroundings with a tense atmosphere.

"My sincere apologies. I will accept any punishment."

"...Oh, any punishment? What would you do if I told you to end your own life, here and now?"

"If that is your command..."

"How like a puppet. Well, no matter. I will accept your answer as loyalty to me... You were able to collect an amount of Old Blue's data in your battle. And at any rate, with his injuries... Even if he survives, knowing his personality, he should be no more of a hindrance to me. Leave him be."

"As you say."

"I will add improvements to you. I will grant you even greater strength as a hunter... Therefore, understand that I will not tolerate another failure."

"Understood, my master."

The improved Lichtshütze was given a new order. Like with Old Blue, he was to harvest the exile Wiseman's data.

"Is that understood? Do not let him disappear. I don't care if you make holes in his body or tear off his limbs, but you absolutely must retrieve his head and core."

Lichtshütze was an executioner. It was his duty to condemn exiles. Now, however, the task given by his master was not the job of an executioner.

He was aware of this, but his master's command was absolute. He kneeled before Typhon in reverence and swore, "As the blade of the Metaverse ruler Typhon and an enforcer of justice who has pledged unconditional allegiance... I will fulfill your command without fail."

"Yes, I look forward to it, Lichtshütze."

Typhon told Lichtshütze the details of the mission.

"Wiseman is an ex-Mainframe. An Origin program, like myself. He is a 'record-keeper'—that is, he possesses the Akashic Records, a database following all that has happened in the Metaverse in this era after the divine ancestor Eclair's disappearance. It was he who managed it. He sealed off some of its functions and disappeared with the key... For me to bring further prosperity to the Metaverse, the Akashic Records that Wiseman possesses are absolutely indispensable.

"Then this mission is not one of condemnation, but data harvesting."

"Yes... Quite so."

Typhon chuckled.

"After you've collected the data, he will surely perish... Wiseman is more dangerous than Old Blue. Old Blue still acts for nothing but the subject of his own interest. But Wiseman is responsible for meddling with everything in this world. He is one of the most dangerous Origins, with exceptional power... He is nothing but a hindrance to me."

"It is my job to eliminate my master's obstacles."

"...Very well. When the time is right, you may behead Wiseman... Now go, Lichtshütze."

Lichtshütze proceeded toward the coordinates where Wiseman was encountered in the explorers' logs, and after following a number of traces that seemed to lead to Wiseman, he at last discovered the barrier he had created. He activated his battle systems, cut through the barrier with his disc chakrams, and trespassed into his administrative domain.

"...This is a surprise. You're the first visitor I've had who was able to find me in hiding."

"So you are Wiseman. You'll be coming to the Mainframe with me."

"...Hmm. You're Typhon's messenger? Then tell him this. I have no plans to get in your way...nor will I ally with you. I am the Metaverse's eternal record-keeper, the hermit who maintains the Akashic Records... I've already disappeared from the public arena."

Wiseman tried to perform rapid transportation. Gold particles spread throughout his surroundings, overwriting the area. However, Lichtshütze simultaneously transformed it into a fixed space where transportation was impossible.

"I won't allow that... Exile...!"

With the overwrite interrupted, the particles around Wiseman lost their glow.

"I see... Impressive for you to perform such processes without a VOX."

"I shan't allow you to escape!"

"Good grief... I'm not one for fighting."

Wiseman removed his hood and focused his power with both hands, causing shining particles to arise.

"It's been some time since my last battle. Apologies, but I can't go easy on you."

"I would ask nothing less! CPST Blaster!"

"Your special spatial compression attacks will have no effect on me."

Wiseman held up his hand, and a disc of light appeared. The disc seemed to disable Lichtshütze's debug field. Lichtshütze's abilities and functions should have been drastically improved from the feedback from his battle with Old Blue. However, he could not deliver a decisive blow to Wiseman.

"...As I expected of you, Wiseman, observer who holds the Akashic Records... I heard you had exceptional power, but to think it would be this much..."

"Naturally, I have recorded powers similar to yours... However, my power can be used this way as well!"

Wiseman closed the distance to Lichtshütze in an instant. The moment he lightly touched the chalk-white castle with his hand, a colossal amount of energy assailed Lichtshütze.

"Ngh!? Wh-What is this!? Power is flowing into me!? Whaaaaaa—!?

Wiseman had the ability to forcibly install the knowledge and abilities he possessed into an opponent. The overflow momentarily sent Lichtshütze's vision into an error condition. Wiseman didn't pass up that brief opening.

"Good luck, chalk-white judge..."

When Lichtshütze's vision returned, Wiseman was nowhere to be seen. The moment he first confined Wiseman in a compressed space, he succeeded at harvesting an amount of data. By all rights, his best option was to present that data to Typhon. Even if it meant that he would be erased for failing at his mission...

But Lichtshütze did not return. He decided to pursue Wiseman as an executioner on his own, without stopping. The vast volume of data he was attacked with primarily consisted of human emotions that he lacked—when it became entangled with the data he was constructed from, he had been greatly transformed without realizing it.

"...I shall follow you to the ends of the world, exile."

The emotion gleaming dully in Lichtshütze's eyes...was the light of obsession.

Lichtshütze's name comes from Richtschütze, German for "gunner," and licht, German for "light." While his name could be interpreted as just the former, he is occasionally referred to as "light shooter" or "hunter of light," so I chose to spell it with an L.

The Akashic Records are a concept from Theosophy, referring to a compendium of all that there is. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word for "aether."