Runebelle’s sciousness drifted in the void of her mind, a silent, dark abyss. The st thing she remembered was the brutal csh with Dark Whirlwind, and now she found herself here, floating aimlessly within the ing darkness.

  [System Alert]

  Runebelle’s Life Force: -55% (Critical dition - Close to Destru)

  Immediate intervention required to stabilize her dition.

  Suddenly, a cheerful chime echoed within her mind.

  [Cheerful System Initiating...]

  The darkness began to melt away, repced by a vibrant meadow covered in warm sunlight. Flowers of every hue swayed gently in the breeze, which carried the sweet st of blossoms.A figure appeared in the meadow, a bright and eic cheerleader with pom-poms, radiating positivity. “gratutions, Rune, on successfully using Project Ruransformation!” the cheerleader excimed, boung on her heels and shaking her pom-poms. “You were amazing out there!”

  Runebelle however, was far from joyful. She looked down at her hands sadly. “If I’m here,” Runebelle murmured, “it means we lost to Dark Whirlwind.”

  The cheerleader’s smile faltered slightly. “But you gave it your all, and that ts for something, right?”

  Runebelle shook her head. “We had a strong bond, my sisters and I. We worked as a team, used everything we had, and still, we failed. I failed.”

  The cheerleader approached her gently. “Runebelle, it’s okay to feel disappointed. But remember, failure is just a stepping stone. Your bond with your sisters is yreatest strength, and it’s not over yet.”

  Runebelle trembled while speaking, “I don’t uand, System. We were supposed to be strong. I was supposed to be strong. I’ve seen my sisters fight so hard, and I’ve witheir pain. I thought that with the Project Ruransformation, I could finally tribute, finally make a difference... finally protect them for a ge.”

  The Cheerful System nodded. “You stood by their side and helped them out with everything you had.”

  Runebelle’s eyes welled with uears “But what good am I if I ’t help them when it matters the most? I just…. I feel like I’m not enough. I’ve felt happiness, hope, and fidence. I felt all of these things just for someoo pull them away, leavih this overwhelming sadness. Why does this always happen? Every…siime…”

  The cheerleader system, sensing the depth of Runebelle’s despair, shifted from exuberao a more somber tone. “I uand this is difficult,” she said gently. “But there’s something I need you to see.”

  With a soft chime, three translut ss materialized before Runebelle. They dispyed different ses from the battle. The first s showed the trio—Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle—united in their fight. Their movements were synized, yet Roselle’s as bore a hint of hesitation.

  The sed s highlighted Risebelle. She shed out in anger with every attack she made. . Herher fury propelledher forward, but her anger also seemed to be overheating her own systems, which clouded her judgment and coordination.

  The third s focused on Runebelle herself, dispying her valiant efforts during the fight. Despite the chaos caused by Dark whirlwind, her resolve remairong. She tried to assist her sisters with everything she had.

  The Cheerful System spoke softly, “These ss are here to remind you that the battle wasn’t solely your responsibility. Roselle was grappling with her own uainties, and Risebelle was ed by her rage. Each of you had your struggles, and none of you are perfect beings.”

  Runebelle’s eyes followed the ss. Tears streamed down her face while seeing herself in the moments of struggle and attempting to protect her sisters.

  “Ruhe Cheerful System tinued, “you did everything you could. Your tributions were signifit. You fought bravely and stood by your sisters. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things don’t go as pnned. But that doesn’t mean you failed. It means you o find the strength to tio learn, and to grow.”

  Runebelle’s sobs began to subside. The meadow’s vibrant colors seemed to shift, embrag her with a sense of calm and uanding.

  “I… I just want to be strong for them,” Runebelle said .“I want to protect them, no matter what.”

  The Cheerful System smiled gently. “And that desire to protect is your strength. It’s not about never falling; it’s about getting up each time you do. You’ve faced immense challenges, and you’ve shown ce and resilience. Remember, your strength isn’t defined by a sitle, but by your heart and your will to keep moving forward.”

  As it spoke, a notification appeared in Runebelle’s virtual space:

  [System Message]

  Fragmented Memory Found - Project Rua Colle: 60%

  The Cheerful Systemstated with a smile, “This is good news, Rune. We’ve found another Fragmented Memory. Up to now, these memories have shown you things you had fotten, which tributed to your sadness. However, they also helped you e to terms with your emotions and uand yourself better. The Fragment Memories are crucial, and with them, we’re getting closer to reag 100%.”

  Just then, another notification appeared:

  [System Alert]

  Repairs Detected - Life Force: -45% (Stabilizing - Positive Trend Noted)

  Runebelle’s could feel her lifeforce slowly regeing. The pain that had been a stant presence began to dull. It was repced by warmth.

  “This feels... different,” Runebelle murmured. “Am I... gettier?”

  The Cheerful System nodded. “Yes, Ru seems Dr. Kintovar has begun her work on your repairs. Your lifeforce is stabilizing, and with time, you will recover.”

  “What about my sisters?” she asked with worry. “I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.”

  The Cheerful System responded. “Hold onto hope, Rune. Believe in your bond with Roselle and Risebelle. You will see them again when you are repaired. For now, focus on your recovery and trust that they are doing the same.”

  Runebelle nodded slowly. She shifted her attention back to the notification about the Fragmented Memory. The Cheerful System also ged focus towards it, “Ruhis Fragmented Memory is essential. It will help you uand more about yourself and your past. you stay strong for me and e?”

  Runebelle took a deep breath. She remembered what the Cheerful System had said earlier. “Yes,” she replied. She shook off her sadness as much as possible and attempted to wear a face of fidence. “I want to get up stronger after every defeat I suffer. I’ll e.”

  With a supportive smile, the Cheerful System activated the memory fragment. The meadow’s vibrant colors faded, repced by the flickering images of Runebelle’s past.

  In this memory, Runebelle, her mother, and Mrs. Pearls faced off against Bossman and his crew, who had iheir home. Runebelle and her mother Rune fought with all their might, defending their home and each other. But Bossman and his followers were very powerful, and the odds were stacked against them.

  At the very st sed of the battle, Rune unleashed a supernatural power. This was a result of the sheer insanity and rage she had for what Bossman had doo her and her family.

  Bossman was caught off guard by Rune’s sudden burst of power and the fury in her eyes, but he mao nd a lucky blow on Rune, knog her unscious.

  The se transitioo Bossman standing over Rune’s unscious body. He muttered to himself, “That Unnatural power... It was hidden all along, and now it’s been revealed.”

  He turo his followers and issued orders. “Secure them both. We’ll take them to our facility, and the real work will begin.”

  In the depths of the Shadowcroft’s facility, the atmosphere was cold and sterile, with the pervasive hum of maery and the flickering of harsh fluorest lights casting a ical pallor over everything. The facility itself appeared to be a massive plex.

  Runebelle found herself within one of many ominous chambers which each housed a vertically orieranslut tube of advaeology. Ihese transparent enclosures, human subjects were suspeheir unscious forms eerily illuminated by the soft, artificial light.

  Runebelle slowly regained sciouso discover herself trapped within one of these tubes. Her heart raced with fusion and fear.

  The sound of approag footsteps echoed in the chamber. It grew louder with each passing sed. A man dressed in a pristine, dark suit ehe room. The man regarded Runebelle with a look of mild i.

  “Ah, Runebelle, isn’t it? You’ve awoken just in time,” the man said with a devilish grin. “Wele to the Shadowcroft facility. You’re about to bee the first subject of our soul-harvesting experiments. A signifit honor, I assure you.”

  Runebelle’s gaze darted around in fear. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw her mother, Rune, suspended in aranslut tube nearby. The sight of her mother in such a state sent a wave of panic through her.

  Runbelle immediately attempted to break free from the fines of the tube. She was frantic, but the man began to speak, interrupting her efforts.

  “I wouldn’t advise struggling, Runebelle. The substance you’re floating in serves as both a restraint and a medium for the process,” the man expined while pg hands behind his back. “If you escape, it will have... unpleasant sequences for both you and your dear mother.”

  Runebelle’s gaze flickered between her imprisoned mother and the unfeeling man before her. She felt like she was trapped, and her mother’s life was at stake.

  The man tio talk, “You see, we have a particur i in souls, especially those with untapped potential,” he began while pag bad forth. “In your case, we believe that your soul, when properly harnessed, be a source of incredible power. And your mother’s soul, Rune, has its unique abilities as well.”

  Runebelle looked at the man with fusion ing to her face amidst her desperation, “But I don’t have any abilities. I’ve never had any.”

  The man g her, “That’s where you’re mistaken, my dear. You may not have maed any abilities yet, but they lie dormant within you, waiting for the right ditions to emerge.”

  He paused, then stopped pag and turo look at Runebelle directly. “Our pn is simple. We will merge your soul with your mother’s, bining your tent abilities with hers to create a new, more powerful soul. This process will be the catalyst for unlog your dormant potential.”

  Runebelle trembled with fear, but protested, “Y-You ’t do this! This is cruel!”

  In the midst of her distress, the fluid-filled chamber prevented her from moving the way she wao. Runebelle’s heart ached for her mother, who was starting tain sciousness in the adjat tube.

  Rune’s eyes snapped open. Her disorientation quickly gave way to sheer panic. The once subdued figure in the adjat tube now began thrashing violently

  “Runebelle! RUNEBELLE!” Rune’s echoed with desperation and fear. Her eyes darted frantically around the chamber, seeking any sign of her child. “Where are you?! What have they doo you? I swear I’ll kill whoever put me in here!”

  In a frenzy, Rune began to sm her fists against the transparent tube, but the reinforced gss resisted her attempts with impassive ease. Her rage and fear seemed to fuel her strength, but the teology stood firm. She kicked and ba the walls of the chamber. Her cries grew more frantic with each passing moment.

  “Runebelle! Answer me!” she shouted while breaking into a sob.

  Runebelle’s heart ached at the sight and sound of her mother’s suffering. She struggled to reach Ruhrough the barrier of her own chamber with her words.

  “Mom, I’m here! I’m right here!” she called out.

  Runebelle’s mao pierce through Rune’s freate, but the sight of the aery and the realization that she couldn’t reach her daughter pushed Rune deeper inte. Her efforts to break free only seemed to reinforce the futility of her situation.

  “Runebelle,” Rune screamed. “Hold on, sweetheart! I’m ing for you! I won’t let them do this!”

  Rune’s fretempts to break free eventually slowed. Her hands were bruised and bleeding from the relentless assault on the gss. They now rested limply against the transparent barrier. Her breaths came in ragged gasps while looking across the chamber at Runebelle. She shifting from ao deep, heartbreaking sorrow.

  Tears streamed down Rune’s face. “I’m so sorry, Runebelle. I made all the wrong choices. I thought I roteg you… I thought I was doing what was best. But it led us here. I’m…I’m a failure as a mother!”

  Runebelle’s heart shattered at her mother’s words. She could see the immense guilt etched across her mother’s face, and it stung deeply.

  Bringing her own hands to the gss, Runebelle mirrored her mother’s posture “No, Mom, you shouldn’t say that….You did everything you could…. None of this is your fault.”

  The man overseeing the process spoke while turning to Rune, “sider yourself lucky you’re not dead for breaking the tract. That is only because we need you though. Now, enough of this seal nonsehe process will proceed.”

  A doctor ehe chamber, wearing a white b coat and carrying a tablet with various readings and data. The man overseeing the process turo the doctor and instructed, “Prepare Runebelle for ‘abilitization.’”

  The doctor nodded and then posed a question, “Shall we also test out Rosebelle for this process at the same time? It could be effit, killing two birds with oone.”

  The man snapped his finger with satisfa, “Excellent suggestion. Yes, let’s proceed with that pn.”

  Runebelle, who had been listening to their versatioioned, “Rosebelle?”