Lena Ishmael

Just thinking of someone is a small kindness... For my hopes for the future before me, I must—!

Slow footsteps crunched across the ground. Ahav dragged his battered body along as though he might collapse at any moment, and pointed the muzzle of his gun at me.

"In order to manifest our ideals..." he rasped, "I shall dispose of this insect barring our future, here and now."

"I'll never let you. I made a promise with everyone."

I took my small gun and aimed it at Ahav.

This was a bullet to end hatred. It would be my farewell to Ahav, tied down by his tragic past in his quest to destroy me.

And so, I pulled the trigger. For those important people I wanted to protect. To fight those who would deny me. I'd defy them to my last breath! I was determined! I'd made my choice! So I wouldn't give up!

"Yonah, Gideon, Miriam—"

I put my feelings for everyone into the muzzle. I'd shoot through that man who was ruled by his own hatred! We would be the ones to decide our future!

The supercontinent of Emerg. In this electronic paradise comprising many worlds, it was one of the continents that had been reorganized into a new world. After numerous conflicts over a long, long time, the people had begun to join hands and walk the road to peace. Thus, in accordance with their wishes, the tower of light known as the Resurrection Gate that once manifested at the World's End appeared before them once more.

Twelve boys and girls walked through that tower. There was a weight to their steps as they were unable to hide their tense expressions. Even so, among them, Lena Ishmael alone felt her heart pound with excitement. She was headed for the outside world that everyone had only dreamed of.

The group arrived at the edge of the gate. In the open doorway, a dazzlingly bright vortex of light wavered.

"When you pass through the light before you, your bodies will disappear from this world."

"However, at the same time, new bodies will be created for you in the real world," inorganic voices spoke from nowhere.

Those voices belonged to the administrators of paradise, who had become part of the core system. The twelve boys and girls all listened to the system's voices with nervous expressions. Even Lena, for all her excitement at crossing to the other side, made a tense face when she actually looked at the light.

"There is no need to fear."

"When next you open your eyes, you will be greeted by green land and blue skies."

Spurred on by those words, they touched the light one by one, and disappeared from the world. When their fingertips touched the light, they blurred into particles and became one with the light. And so...

"...hup!"

Lena made up her mind and leapt into the vortex. Before long, her consciousness melted into pure white light...

...

......

.........

"...nnn, where...?"

Propellers clattered in front of her line of sight.

"I had that dream again."

When she woke up, she felt the weight of her body. She still needed time to adjust to her body's proportions, which felt different from the world she came from.

"Whew...how long was I out...?"

Yonah, who should have been sleeping next to her, was gone—but a slight warmth told her she had been there not long ago.

As she suppressed the urge to doze off again, a faint scent wafted by.

"Ooh...something smells good..."

"Lena! It's about breakfast time!"

Lena snapped awake at Yonah's bright voice.

"Coming!" she called.

Lena donned her coat and headed to the dining table where Yonah waited.

After finishing breakfast, I visited an observation deck outside Ionia. Soaking in the gentle morning sunshine and listening to the birds chirp, I felt my steps lighten. Looking at the clear blue sky, I wondered whether or not it was bluer than Emerg's, where I came from. The sensation of ground under my feet...I still wasn't used to it.

As I walked along, taking in the abundant nature around the city, I heard someone's voice behind me.

"—hey, heeey, Lena! Wait up!"

"Oh, Gideon. Good morning!"

It was Gideon. He hadn't been at breakfast—did he go out to train?

"Not 'good morning'! You had my sister worried sick when you up and disappeared."

"I'm sorry... When I saw the view outside, I just had to go, so..."

"Ughhh, what am I even supposed to say to that? You're too damn wholesome."

"...Want to join me on my walk, Gideon?"

"Yeah. Let's do it! How 'bout I take you on a scenic tour of the city!?"

"Yes, please!"

I smiled wide, but Gideon looked the other way for some reason, avoiding eye contact. It seemed like his ears were turning red.

After that, Gideon led me on our walk around Ionia. The sights he showed me were places only someone who knew the city as well as him would know. I got lost in them, forgetting the passage of time. The final spot was a hill on the edge of town with a view of the sea, and the many towers jutting out of the distant wasteland.

"This one's my favorite."

The sea and wasteland spread out to the horizon. From the hill, we could see the area that had yet to be restored. Those lonely towers standing out there waiting to fill their roles made me think of the Resurrection Gate in Emerg. The sight of them standing there in the twilight gripped my heart and wouldn't let go. I don't know how long I stood there. Eventually, a cold breeze brushed past my cheeks.

"Achoo!"

"You okay? It's getting colder, so we should head home," Gideon said.

"Yeah. Gideon, I got to see so many wonderful places today. Thank you."

"Hehe, you think? Hearing that makes it all worth it."

We laughed a lot on the way back.

I was glad I came to this world. I wanted to keep on living in it, etching all kinds of scenery into my heart.

As Gideon and I returned home, I thought back on his words.

How'd you get to this world, anyway?

In truth, my memories were fuzzy, as if shrouded in fog. The things I remembered from Emerg were muddled, and images of past events I had never experienced sprang to mind instead. I couldn't tell which memories were right, or if they were truly mine.

"Earth to Lena. What're you standing there all serious for?"

"Oh...sorry, Gideon."

At my words, Gideon returned to my side.

"If something's worrying you, you can always rely on me, you know? That's why Yonah and I are here."

"...Yeah. I will."

When I smiled back, Gideon put a hand to his face and nodded repeatedly.

"Yeah, you look best with a smile. Hehe, I'll have to brag to Yonah later!"

Yeah. There was no point thinking it over on my own. When I was lost or didn't know the answer, I could be honest with Gideon and Yonah.

Several days passed. I befriended Yonah's mother, and we all lived a quiet life together. Living here with everyone brought me so much happiness. If I could, I'd want to stay forever, in this little sunny spot.

But the day of parting arrived so suddenly. The forces opposing the moderates who took me in—the Innovators—had planned a surprise attack on the city. I learned from Yonah that the colony's Machine overseer had predicted this and started preparing to transport me to another colony.

At the time, I had no idea how serious it was.

It happened when we went to hear from the overseer about the transport. The Innovators' attack. I didn't know what it would mean or what would happen until I saw for myself.

"No way...did they already break through the defenses!?"

"Let's hurry!" Yonah called.

----------

We saw it right after we left the tower. Angry red flames overtaking everything. The people affected by the surprise attack, cowering, sobbing, crying out in agony from their wounds.

My legs had no strength. My vision suddenly jerked downward and blurred. I heard the sound of something crumbling within me.

"How awful...it's too cruel...why? How could they do this!?" I screamed.

This city was precious to Yonah. Gideon showed me his favorite scenery here. How could they just trample over it? I just couldn't comprehend the feelings that would drive someone to do such a thing...

I sobbed and sobbed.

"Lena...I know you're hurting. But, right now, I need you to be brave and follow me," Yonah said.

I felt something soft wrap around me. Just that was enough to kindle a warm light in my heart.

"Ah...Yonah...Yonah..."

"Gideon! Carry her, will you!?"

"Sure thing! ...Wait, what!?"

"Now!" Yonah insisted.

I looked up and met Gideon's eyes for a moment.

"I hear ya! Lena, stay still for a sec!" he said.

"Huh? Waaah!?" I yelped.

"There! Hold on tight, Lena!"

"O-Okay."

"Gideon! Let's keep running!" Yonah called.

"Yeah!"

Yonah and Gideon raced through the city center. As screams and gunshots echoed behind me, I buried my face in Gideon's back, praying nothing even worse than this would happen.

Please, please. Don't take their precious home away—

"Just...a little more! Look! Turn the corner and—"

Yonah's voice caught in her throat. Her legs locked up, unable to take a single step forward. The spectacle before us dashed my prayers and Yonah's hopes like they were nothing.

"No...way..."

We had lived in that house just a little while ago. Now, it was a roaring blaze.

Vision dyed red. Screams, gunshots, heat on my skin. None of it seemed real. Maybe it was all a bad dream. I had to think of it that way.

"I—I want to avenge Mom! Even if it only helps a little, I wanna take as many of 'em as I can out with me!"

A voice suddenly pulled me back to reality. I looked to its source and saw Gideon and Yonah arguing.

"Lemme go—"

"I won't."

"Don't you hate them!? They killed Mom!"

"Of course I hate them! But I can't let you go and rush in blindly to your death!"

No. Something like a premonition was born within me. If I let them go like this, they would never be reunited again. They had become so important to me. I had to do what I could for them. So, I'd do it right now—

"Fine! Then come with me—"

My body moved before I could think. I felt an impact, and their warmth.

"L-Lena?"

"Both of you...calm down..."

I had to tell them my feelings!

"If you go now, you'll definitely regret it. I...don't want to be separated from both of you forever... I'm sure your mother would want you to live on."

Before I knew it, I was crying like a little child.

"Let's live together, okay? I'll never, ever, ever let you die!"

"Lena...don't cry..."

"You know what you need to do now, right, Gideon?"

"Yeah...just, let me say one thing. I've got to."

His voice trembled.

He turned to the burning sky and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Shit...shit, shit, shit! We can't do anything on our own! I can't fucking take it! Shit!"

"...Sorry for losing it," he finished.

"Feeling better, Gideon?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Lena. Anyway...let's think up a way to escape for now."

Yonah and Gideon began making a plan to escape the city. Then, as if she just remembered it, Yonah took some kind of device from her pocket and shouted into it. Just then—

Boom! An intense sound shook our surroundings. In the direction of the sound, I saw the tower snap in two. Our last hope came crashing down.

"No way..."

"What should we do, Yonah?" I asked.

We couldn't think in this situation. If things kept up, even we would—

"There she is! It's the Returnee!"

A voice rang out. It was one of the Innovators here to kill me.

"Yonah! We've gotta prepare ourselves and fight!" Gideon called.

"But—What are we supposed to do...?"

"Your skills are first rate! You wouldn't have been picked as Lena's guard without 'em! Is that gun for decoration or what!?"

"You can do it, Yonah," I said. "Believe in yourself."

"You two...yeah. You're right."

Yonah nodded sharply and stepped in front of us.

"Gideon! Can you hang on just a bit longer?"

"Yeah! There's a whole lot of barricades up!"

Gideon readied himself to fight as well. That meant...I should too...

"Come at us, Innovators!" Yonah cried.

Just then, gunfire rang out from somewhere. From just a few gunshots, the enemy fell one by one.

"A rescue!? Now we can fight!"

Gideon and Yonah continued their assault on the shaken soldiers. They fought so everyone would survive. So, I had to fight too. There was no way I could just watch.

...Right, my gun! I had been taught how to use it. If I could just find it...

Clink.

My hand touched something hard. It had completely vanished from my memory until now. It was given to me when I crossed to this world from Emerg—a small, pitch-black gun.

It was before I crossed through the Resurrection Gate.

"As you embark, let us give you this."

"Please raise your hands."

The administrators' voices rang out from everywhere. As they spoke, I raised my hand, and a faint light shone above my palm. Then, it slowly took shape.

"Is this...a gun?"

It was a strange gun, small enough for even me to use. Its black, boxy shape reflected very little light.

"That is a Ninth Phoneme Critical Accelerator. Its name is 'Daybreaker.'"

"It is a special gun that requires your biometrics to activate."

A boy in glasses next to me who was fiddling with the gun raised his hand.

"I can't find the safety or magazine—how do we use it?" he asked.

"Whenever you truly need it, it will respond to you."

When we truly needed it...? What was that supposed to mean? Was the other world such a dangerous place that we would have to use these guns?

----------

Back then, I had been excited about an adventure in another world, so I didn't think too deeply about it. If there was ever a time, it was now.

I had to fight too! I pulled it from its holster and held the grip. Then, I pointed the muzzle at the enemy... I calmed myself, aimed...and pulled the trigger.

Click.

What? Why wouldn't it move?

Click. Clikclikclik.

Why? I kept pulling, but it wouldn't budge. What was wrong? If not here and now, when was I supposed to use it? Please...work...!

"Lena? You okay? Are you hurt!?"

"I-I'm okay."

----------

Despite me slowing us down, the battle was over before I knew it.

Daybreaker never activated even once. I knew that nothing would happen if I called out to it. It wasn't just that the gun wouldn't activate—I felt like it was telling me I wasn't even qualified to use it. That was sadder than anything.

The sniper who saved us was a petite girl named Miriam. She had arrived here at the overseer's request via ferry ship from a neighboring colony. We planned to escape from here by that same ship, and hurried deep inside the forest.

"Yonah...are you safe...?"

Yonah was buying time for the rest of us to make it safely to the ferry.

"This place is practically her backyard. I know she'll stop 'em in their tracks and make it back to us."

Gideon's words helped to put me at ease. Still, an indescribable anxiety was whirling in my chest.

"Gideon! That's my ship!" Miriam shouted.

We dashed through the dim forest and into a clearing. A small silver airship sat enshrined there, as if waiting for its owner.

"Whoa! Pretty sick ride!" Gideon exclaimed.

"Take that ladder to the bridge!" Miriam ordered. "I'll see how Yonah—"

Her words were cut off by the sound of several gunshots. Yonah was getting closer!

"This looks bad. Gideon, I'll go get Yonah. You two wait here!" she continued.

"Roger that! No dying out there!"

"Hah! Who do you think I am!?"

Miriam boldly took off back into the forest. With no power to fight, I could only sit here and pray.

"It'll be okay, Lena. We've barely known her, but I know she's skilled. She's definitely coming back."

Gideon took my hand, and we headed below the ship. When I reached out to the ladder, I saw a bright light at the corner of my vision.

"Get down!"

Gideon quickly pushed me away.

"Wh...What was...?"

"Lena, stay in the shade! There's an enemy!"

The ship shook. I heard rumbling, and a red-haired man riding a giant motorcycle appeared.

"Ha ha! Finally found ya!" a voice as loud as the bike yelled. The large, cannonlike gun in his right hand emitted a dim light.

"So you charged through the darkness at top speed to get here...you're crazy, old man!"

"That's my trademark, kid!"

Gideon slowly moved away from my hiding spot. He was really going to fight this frightening man.

"That so? Well, it ends today. I'm gonna be the one to kill you!"

"Ha, nice to hear! I like gutsy brats like you...shame I'll have to kill you now."

Fire burst from the muzzle.

Furious gunshots echoed through the darkness of the forest. Bullets swept through the air, mercilessly gouging into the trees and rocks.

"Tch! Firing at random!?" Gideon cried.

"I don't give a shit if you live or die!"

Gideon ran in an arc around the man, drawing his line of fire so he wouldn't damage the hull. He tried to find an opening to attack.

"Shit, no way I can get close with him firing this fast..."

He had to deal with that huge rotary cannon. It was the only way for Gideon to win this fight.

"For my prey, this is the only option."

Gideon held a pistol in each hand—they were partners: Vambraze and Brigandine. Gideon specialized in close quarters combat where he could draw out their full power, but their effective range was extremely short. The red-haired man's gun had well over twice that. It was clear that Gideon would be riddled with bullets before he could get in range.

"Tch! I'm just gonna get killed at this rate!"

"What's wrong, kid!? Gonna keep hiding or man up and fight!?"

He kept mercilessly mowing down the trees Gideon hid behind. Once he was out of hiding spots, it would be the end.

"What do I do? Think, Gideon, think! Yonah and Miriam are fighting back there—if I lose here, we're back at square one!"

"Please put down the gun!"

A voice rang out, out of place on the cutthroat battlefield. Gideon turned his face from the tree where he hid to see Lena aiming her Daybreaker at the red-haired man, her hands trembling.

"Came out to get yourself killed, eh?" the man taunted.

"Wha... What are you doing, Lena!?"

"D-Didn't you hear me? I'll shoot!"

"A little weakling like you's gonna stop me?"

"I-I said I'll shoot! Huh...!?"

Lena squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the trigger, but the gun didn't react in the slightest. Just like before, there was no response no matter how many times she pulled it.

"Why won't it fire...!?"

"Hahaha! That's a real piece of junk you got there! Too bad—this is the end for you!"

Just as he leveled his rotary cannon at Lena—

"Aaahhh!"

Gideon dashed straight toward him.

"Idiot! You think you can make that distance!?"

"Now, Miriam! Fire!"

As Gideon roared, a metallic sound came from the bushes. Before taking off running, he had thrown Vambraze behind the man. The man quickly turned and fired back in that direction...but there was no one there.

"Wha—a decoy!?"

He twisted his body once more to aim at Gideon, but Gideon was already in firing range.

"Lena! Get down!"

"Got it!"

As Lena ducked down, Gideon fired at the rotary cannon with Brigandine. And again. Again, again, again. He unloaded all the bullets he could!

"Gh—aaargh!?"

Gideon shot the man's right hand along with the gun's grip, and he dropped it.

"Tch, outta bullets!"

"You little shit!" the man roared.

He reached out in desperation, but Gideon dodged behind him. Then, as the man turned, he smacked him in the face with a powerful roundhouse kick.

"Got your eye, old man!"

"Ugh...hah...it really is a shame..."

"What...!?"

Even with Gideon's foot smashed into his face, the red-haired man wore a fearless grin.

"I gotta give you credit—it takes some serious guts to risk your life on a feint like that—but it's not enough to kill me!"

"What the hell are you!?"

No matter how many times he kicked him, the man's solid body wouldn't give an inch.

"If you had a little more experience, we might've had a good match!"

"Shit—!"

The man grabbed Gideon's leg mid-swing, throwing him off-balance, and punched him square in the face.

"Gideon!"

Lena clung to Gideon as he tumbled dramatically across the ground.

"Le...na..."

"The strongest wins on the battlefield!" the man roared. "That's the one and only rule! I hope you learned well—not that you'll get the chance to make any use of it!"

Gideon's consciousness slowly faded, the man's laughter his lullaby.

"Gideon! Gideon!" Lena cried.

"Now I've just got you left to kill."

He cracked his knuckles as he slowly drew near.

Lena had no way left to fight back. She could only watch as death drew closer, about to mercilessly stamp out her life. There was no other option.

"Now I've just got you left to kill."

"S-Stay back! I'll really shoot you this time! I mean it!" I warned.

"Haha, you're still clinging onto that useless thing? Don't make me laugh!"

I was scared. Who wouldn't be? Even though I gripped the gun tightly with both hands, I couldn't aim it properly at him.

"Why won't you shoot? You want to end up like that brat with the glasses I killed?"

"No...!"

That was the boy next to me back then. He, too, was no longer in this world...

"Are you Returnees seriously supposed to be some kind of trump card? You just look like disposable pawns to me."

"For this world's future, we—"

"You're gonna change it with that broken toy? Don't make me laugh! You know what this world's future really needs!? It's called 'none of your business'! You're all just getting in the way of our ideals!"

...None of our business? Then what did we come to this world for? Just to be killed? To give someone an excuse for war? No. That was absolutely wrong.

When we get to the surface, let's visit all kinds of places. Then, we can talk all night about the worlds we saw with our own eyes.

Back then, I made a promise with everyone. We came here to learn more about the world. I had to know about it. Not just Gideon and Yonah, but the many more people I would meet in the future. I had to know. I didn't want to die without accomplishing anything! So I would live! Even if—even if I had to kill you!

"Confirmed. Synchronization with Lena Ishmael's mental wavelength confirmed."

"What...?"

"Huh?"

Suddenly, it transformed. In my hands, Daybreaker turned a glistening white as the unfamiliar voice spoke.

"Quit bluffing!"

"Waaahhh!" I screamed.

"Diiieee!"

My world was enveloped in white. As a momentary flash swallowed everything up, my memory became indistinct. All I remembered was a strong hatred for the enemy before me. A deep, intense sadness toward this world. And then, wishing to kill him of my own free will, I pulled the trigger.

Where am I? I couldn't see or hear anything. I was floating in pure blackness.

"Lena."

A voice called out to me. I moved my body as if guided by it—

"Lena."

—and I heard another voice from another direction.

What do I do? Which voice should I follow? One felt nostalgic, the other warm. Lost, I chose nostalgia.

"Lena. You shouldn't come to us."

The faces of everyone I parted with at the Resurrection Gate faintly emerged from the darkness.

"Why not? Why can't I go over to you? I hate being separated from my friends," I said.

"You'll be all right."

"But I don't want to lose you!"

"It's too late for that. Soon, we'll disappear from your world."

"No! What am I supposed to do...how can I keep on living!?"

"You have to move forward."

"Forward...?"

"Yes. Keep moving on, and you'll find it. Something you wish to protect, or something you'll come to love."

"But, if I'm all alone..."

"Don't fear. You aren't alone."

Just then, the warm voice shone with a bright light.

"—na! Wake up, Lena!"

I knew. I knew that voice.

"Gideon!"

"It's time. We hope you can carve out a future in this stopped world."

"Wait, you guys! I promise! I'll never give up. No matter how hard it gets, I'll carve out that future!"

"It's a promise. Goodbye, Lena."

"...Yeah. Goodbye."

With those words, I was drawn into the light of Gideon's voice. Before I knew it, I was wrapped in a warm light in his shape.

"...Gi...deon...?"

"Lena!? Whoa! Are you okay!? You're not hurt, are you?"

"I—I'm okay, so—please don't shake me like that..."

"Oh, uh, sorry!"

Gideon quickly let me go. Then, my eyes took in the scene before me.

"What...is this...?"

The lush trees were all gone, razed by a huge gash extending past the horizon, as if carved out of the earth by a giant spoon. Was this...really Ionia?

"No way...did I do this...?"

I couldn't stop trembling. My pull of the trigger destroyed everything. Fear ran through my body, and the gun I still held rattled in my grip. The little black gun felt heavy, its weight bearing down on me.

"Lena! Gideon!"

"Miriam! And Yonah! You're okay!" Gideon called.

"We have no idea what just happened!"

"Well, uh, about that..."

"Talk later! Escape now!"

I boarded the ship and fell flat on the floor. Powerless, I could only stare at Miriam and Gideon, when I suddenly felt a hand pat my head.

"Lena, I'm glad you're safe."

"Ah...?"

I slowly looked up. Yonah was injured all over, but she smiled at me. I felt an incredible warmth from her gentle smile. That was when my world began to blur as if rain was falling.

"Yonah...Yonaaah...!"

"Come on, don't cry."

I clung to her body as if making sure she was real. We're alive. Me, and Yonah too. Here and now, we're alive.

"Gideon, are you coming?" she asked him.

"Nah, I don't really—"

"Get over here!"

He looked embarrassed, but Gideon came up to me as well.

"We all survived somehow," Yonah spoke. "It's...like a miracle."

"Yeah...really is," he answered.

We all huddled together and cried. Soon, I felt small vibrations. The ship was rising.

"All right, let's get outta here! Hold on tight!"

Our joy, our sadness, our hatred. Carrying all those feelings, the ship took off into the eastern sky.

Lena is connected to OG Metaverse character Artemis Lena, likely in a similar manner to Mene and her predecessors. When Lena remembers things she couldn't have instead of her own past on Emerg, it's possible those are Artemis Lena's memories resurfacing—Artemis Lena also remembers things from her past human life in her own story. Their connection is further confirmed by the recent casting of Maaya Uchida (system voice of Artemis Lena) as Lena Ishmael in Chunithm's collaboration with Re:Stage Prism Step.

The World's End mentioned in the description of the Resurrection Gate comes up in some early Metaverse stories—I chose to capitalize it here for clarity, and as a little nod to Chunithm's own World's End.

In Yonah's glossary entry, I said that their surname comes from Pendulum Alter/Reise—her story involves her gaining her own will and traveling the Metaverse to see different kinds of scenery. Gideon's scenic tour of Ionia seems to be a nod to that!

See also: Lena Ishmael in the glossary