Main Story

The Main Story is a focal point of gameplay within Love and Deepspace. Upon reaching a certain level, the next chapter will open up to allow the player the ability the explore the story with either visual novel-like storytelling and/or with combat.

Under Deepspace

Chapter 1: To Begin

01/story: Deepspace Hunter

The President of the Deepspace Hunter’s Organization presents himself in front of a large number of recruits who have passed the selection process. They are waiting for their badges to become full-fledged hunters and be assigned to a squad. He begins by opening up with a dialogue on the history of Linkon and the creation of the Deepspace Hunter. Fourteen years ago, the Deepspace tunnel opened above Linkon City. Deepspace hunters were created in response to the threat of wanderers. By extracting the protocores from the Wanderers, the hunters hope to destroy all the Wanderers.

During the president’s speech, she is approached by an unknown girl who is nervous during the ceremony. The protagonist is the first candidate to be examined by the President.  She places her hand on the podium to confirm her personal information. The examination says that she has Anhausen class Evol which has a lot of potential for growth and new abilities. The president says that he understands why Jenna picked the protagonist due to her Evol. The President’s podium attempts to read the protagonist’s Evol level, however, it is unable to be detected. The screen says “Lost.” The protagonist is unsurprised and says that her Evol level is unable to be read and is unstable due being attacked by a Wanderer fourteen years ago. Despite her Evol being unable to be read, the President says that the criteria for becoming a Deepspace Hunter is due to ability and skill. She is then presented with a badge welcoming her as a full-fledged Deepspace Hunter.

Jenna is the UNICORNS captain in charge of the protagonist and Tara’s squad. Tara was the girl standing next to the protagonist during the badge ceremony. Tara says that her tarot reading said that she would be super lucky and is excited to work with the protagonist. The Hunter’s Watch rings and shows that a Threat Level/ C-B Wanderer has been detected and the protagonist accepts the mission. Tara goes to scout the perimeter while the Protagonist goes inside. A metaflux explosion occurred that did not match the Wanderer’s threat level which causes distress to the protagonist. As she journeys in the Abandoned Research Base: Deep, she keeps her pistol at the ready.

02/story: Mysterious Light

Further into the building, she finds a young adult man snoozing peacefully amongst the plant life which has reclaimed the concrete building. Upon looking at him closely, she realizes that he is a hunter. She moves closer to him and detects metaflux on his person as if he had been attacked but he doesn’t seem to be injured. The protagonist attempts to call for emergency backup, and then the mysterious man abruptly awakens and tells her to be quiet. The fluctuations suddenly increase, and the mysterious man leaps into action. Blades of light strike through the air, but the mysterious man grimaces in pain and a strange collar of red light surrounds his neck. The mysterious man says a Protofield has been created and asks the protagonist to fight with him.

03/battle: First Trial

For my first battle as a hunter, I encounter a strong Wanderer and an even stronger mysterious person. Could he be a newbie like me?

Lv. 1 Luminivore

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 20%
• Win in 240 sec

04/story: Heart Towards Resonance

After defeating the Wanderer, a pink Protocore floats towards the mysterious man. He grabs and then crushes the protocore while muttering “This isn’t it.” The protagonist gets upset and tells the mysterious man that they could’ve received important information from and reprimanded him for destroying it. The protagonist tells the mysterious man they should escape, but he says they have been trapped and takes the protagonist by the wrist. The protagonist questions how the mysterious man got trapped, but he only responds he was sleeping. The protagonist learns the Luminivore Wanderers do not emit fluctuations which makes them difficult to detect, and they eat light. The mysterious man has a light Evol so it seems he was set up to be trapped. The protagonist decides to change the mysterious man from being trapped to becoming the bait to lure the Luminivores out of hiding. The mysterious man uses his light Evol to lure the Luminivores but is concerned the Luminivores will respawn with his light. The protagonist requests to use her Evol instead. The mysterious man requests forgiveness and then takes the protagonist’s hand over his chest. Swirls of light and wind wrap around the duo.

05/story: Light Fades

The strength of the Evol Resonance between the mysterious man and the protagonist defeats all the Wanderers, destroys the fluctuations, and the Wanderer’s Protocores. The mysterious man introduces himself as Xavier and requests his presence to not be revealed to anyone else. Xavier promises to explain himself the next time they meet and disappears before Tara runs up to the protagonist. Tara is surprised the Wanderers have all been defeated and is happy to see the protagonist alive and well.

06/story: UNICORNS

The protagonist and Tara return to Hunter’s Association. The protagonist and Tara wonder about the Metaflux data they sent to Data Analysis and are eager to hear the results. Tara explains how worried she was when she lost contact with the protagonist. Captain Jenna meets with the UNICORNS recruits with excitement and explains how performance is recorded using the Hunter’s Watch. The results will determine which sector the recruit will participate in, the assignments, and scope of work. Captain Jenna is very proud of the recruits first mission results. After Captain Jenna leaves, each individual gets a message to report to their respective sector at 8am the next day. Tara gets assigned to the squad Data Analysis with Captain Andrew. The protagonist gets assigned to the squad Alpha Team with Captain Jenna. Tara gets excited at the protagonist's assignment under Captain Jenna and requests to visit her at any time.

07/story: Ripples

Tara and the Protagonist leave the Hunter’s Association and enter into the Heart Of Linkon, Azure Square. Mini drones patrol the sky to monitor Wanderer activity. Tara has great admiration for Captain Jenna due to being saved by her when she was young. Captain Jenna is Tara’s role model and she hopes to be as “badass” as her one day. Tara asks the protagonist why she wants to be a hunter and she has a flashback to when the Wanderers first invaded Linkon. As a child, she ran through the city while being chased by a monster. When the monster caught up with her, she felt a piercing pain through her heart. While hiding from the Wanderers, the protagonist has thoughts about not wanting to be the prey.

Mr Guidey, a guide drone, interrupts Tara and the protagonist's conversation by announcing how the past and future coexist in Linkon, the City of Innovation as well as the Tide Street’s marine-themed exhibition. Tara and the protagonist decide to go to their own homes and say goodbye.

The protagonist notices a kid hiding behind a bush and asks if the kid needs help. The kid overheard the protagonist is a hunter and requests her help. He offers Super Hunters AR cards with the limited edition Hunter Lux as a reward. The kid asks for help getting a little red fish and gives the protagonist a net and tank, but he gets caught by a little girl who is upset he asked for a hunter’s help for fishing. A tourist stops by and makes a comment about the red fish being only able to survive on land for a week. The tourist takes the net and with a flourish of his hands easily catches a red fish. The tourist judges the owner for using the fish for aesthetic purposes and says the red fish is a real Flammula from the Lemurian legends. The protagonist puts the fish in the portable tank and sees a brochure in his hand about Hat Island. The protagonist tells the tourist to avoid Hat Island due to reports of Wanderers invading it. The tourist thanks the protagonist and just as he’s about to leave, she presents the red Flammula in the portable tank and requests for him to take the fish since it seems like it will survive longer with him.

08/story: Doctor

The protagonist receives a notification on her phone for a routine check up and grimaces. She heads to Akso Hospital to meet with Dr. Zayne. Yvonne, the nurse, checks the protagonist in and assures her Dr. Zayne is in the office. Dr. Zayne and the protagonist have known each other for years, but didn’t meet up again until half a year ago when she needed check ups for the Protocore fragments in her heart. Dr. Zayne playfully counts down the time to the protagonist’s no show time. The protagonist reprimands Dr Zayne for working too hard and talks about his secret project in the Arctic to which he responds “patients shouldn’t be too nosy.” The protagonist tells Dr. Zayne she had been pulling all-nighters for her exams which he responds with by questioning why she is going through the motions of visiting the doctor’s office. Dr. Zayne checks her heart with a stethoscope and mentions she has heart arrhythmia, premature ventricular contractions, and heart murmurs. The protagonist explains despite the risks, she wanted to be a hunter to save people, and perhaps she will save Dr. Zayne one day. Dr. Zayne tells the protagonist to be safe.

09/story: Rainfall Curtain

The protagonist ends her days at home and contemplates officially being a hunter with tired excitement. She notices rain outside of her window despite rain not being in the forecast. She receives a phone call from Caleb and she explains how her day went to him. Caleb is a part of the Deepspace Aviation Administration where he was on a military flight operation in the Deepspace Tunnel where he could’ve encountered Wanderers. The protagonist was happy the mission went well so Caleb and her could visit their Grandma together, and she ends the call with Caleb. The protagonist wanders over to the window with droplets of rain peppering the glass. When she stares outside the window, she notices a giant red mechanical eye staring back at her. As fast as she saw it, the night enveloped the image and she was plunged into confusion.

Chapter 2: The First Mission

01/story: In UNICORNS

The protagonist heads into work in the 20-story Hunter's Association Headquarters the next day. An OTTO-CSE robot introduces the building and comments about the protagonist's lack of sleep. The OTTO-CSE attempts to give a pill of Draumil to the protagonist. The protagonist recalls how after she saw the ominous red eye that she thought there were Wanderers so she immediately rushed out of her apartment to try to find the threat. However, no threat could be found.

The protagonist makes her way to the Alpha team office located on the third floor near the Movere Bridge (which allows for quick access to anywhere in Linkon City). The protagonist scans her surroundings at a near-empty office until her eyes land on a dark-haired bespectacled man named Nero with a sour face hidden behind multiple monitors in an office cube. Nero’s monitors are considered archaic technology meant to ward off talkative individuals. The protagonist notices multiple notes and drawings of Wanderers on pieces of paper which litter the monitors. She thinks Nero might have knowledge about the strange red eye she saw the night prior.

When the protagonist asks Nero if he knows of any type of Wanderer which can disappear quickly, the questions immediately pique his interest. Nero hands her a Braimago, the latest technology which can reflect the image in one's mind to paper. Taking the pen, the protagonist uses the device to translate the image of the fearsome giant red eye to paper. After completing the drawing, Captain Jenna approaches Nero and tells him Andrew is looking for him as well as that he should be on the fifth floor with Analytics instead of hiding from people. Nero runs away, but not before grabbing the drawing made by the protagonist.

Captain Jenna warmly welcomes the protagonist to the team and offers help and advice about Alpha team. She explains most of the Alpha team does not linger in the office as they are usually in the field. Captain Jenna explains how Advanced Tech Labs takes in consideration all the abilities of the Hunter in order to assign missions but the Hunter still has a choice to accept the mission. In fact, during this conversation, the protagonist gets assigned her first mission. Captain Jenna cheers the protagonist on and tells her a 270HM motorcycle is parked by the Movere Bridge to help her get to her location.

02/story: Close Encounters

The protagonist accepts her first solo mission from the Client Henry. Henry has requested the aid of of the Hunter’s Association with the task of a Wanderer's inspection on behalf of Mr. Raymond, a renowned collector who has been exhibiting signs of mental confusion and other abnormal behavior. On a motorcycle, the protagonist zips her way through the southeastern suburbs of Linkon City where the wealthy elite of the city live. As she approaches the western suburbs where Mr. Raymond lives, she comes across a smoking car with a familiar tall figure, Zayne. Zayne comments on the protagonists working a mission after her encounter with Luminivore Wanderers two days beforehand. The protagonist comments she is only checking to see if a house has Wanderers in it. In shock, the two realize they are going to the same house in the same direction. The protagonist offers Zayne a ride on the backseat of her motorcycle after giggling at seeing the stoic doctor in an uncomfortable position on the side of the road. Zayne takes the suggestion uneasily, but once the AR Navigation system of the motorcycle says it will take 13.5 km, Zayne quickly changes his tune and hops onto the backseat with some grievance.

The duo pass through an ornate iron gate and are greeted by a desolate courtyard and large pool in front of a vast mansion with modern architectural style. The protagonist asks how Zayne knows Mr. Raymond. Zayne responds that Mr. Raymond was a former patient of his with a serious congenital heart disease. Zayne jokes with the protagonist about her nervousness with meeting Mr. Raymond.

Zayne and the protagonist enter the mansion and notice a fish tank in the center of the hall. A skeleton of a human with fish like appendages and a long swooping tale sits in the center of the large waterless tank. The light shines over the skeleton in an eerie paleness which is surrounded by a spiral staircase extending to the ceiling. The protagonist stares at the skeleton with a mixture of disgust and awe which the butler, Herman, notices and comments that she shouldn’t think too hard about the art. Zayne asks if Mr. Raymond is in his collection room on the third floor which he confirms. Herman the butler asks if he needs to accompany the protagonist for the Wanderer Inspection which she rejects.

03/story: Powder Keg

The butler and Zayne leave the protagonist to her own exploration. She takes a closer look at the skeleton but the Hunter’s Watch and her Evol cannot detect Metaflux, As the protagonist approaches the collection room, she overhears Mr. Raymond lamenting on if Zayne sees him as a patient or as a subject for observation despite numerous invitations to Mr. Raymond’s home without the pretext of sickness. Zayne does not respond and instead comments on the overall health improvement of Mr. Raymond. Mr. Raymond brutally asks if the doctor was curious as to why he hasn’t died yet. Zayne remarks that he did not give it much thought after a time.

The protagonist is uneasy from listening to the conversation and stops when she hears an eerie laugh followed by a weak coughing fit from Mr. Raymond. Mr. Raymond starts telling Zayne that he is wasting his potential by not joining Xander Sciences which allegedly has the best of the best. Zayne coldly wishes Mr. Raymond the best.

Listening to the conversation has the protagonist lost in thought and she doesn’t notice Zayne walking down the stairs until his footsteps are close. On the handrail of the stairs, she notices Zayne has many faded scars littering his hands. Zayne asks if she was eavesdropping, the protagonist remarks how admirable Zayne is for not giving into temptation. She quickly changes the subject by talking of Zayne’s accolades such as receiving the Starcatcher Award and being the youngest person to receive the Linde Award.

All of a sudden, a ripple penetrates through the air, a sure sign of a Metaflux fluctuation.The protagonist follows a Resonance Trail to the collection room. She sees Metaflux circling around the door and kicks it down, only to see Mr Raymond passed out on the carpet. The heavy feeling in the air points to a Wanderer in close proximity. The protagonist shouts at Zayne who has followed closely behind her to move the doctor away, only to have an icicle from Zayne’s ice Evol fly past.

04/battle: Glowing Frost

I have to say that even artsy Wanderers know how to make an abstract entrance! It’s fine, Zayne and I will make this quick

Lv.1 Herte Knave: Original (Elite)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 240 sec

05/story: Artsy Dreams

The butler and Zayne move Mr. Raymond away and call for a rescue helicopter. The protagonist scans every nook and cranny of the room. The painting calls to her. As she glances at the oil painting, her vision is filled with bright blue waves and the brush strokes which remind her of fairies. However, the blue hues shift into a violent crimson blood clot overtaking her mind.

When the protagonist attempts to resonate with the painting, she is transported to a watery world. The lament of a siren rings through her head. In her mind, she sees a vision of a girl half submerged by the water with a dueling conflict of tears and laughter reflected in her face. A fog rolls in as the protagonist attempts to move closer to her until she is consumed by the cold.

Zayne yells at the protagonist to awaken and comments on the daze she was in. She wakes up and realizes the cold feeling on her neck was from Zayne freezing a cup of water and hitting her neck with it. The protagonist looks at the painting again and determines the hallucinations were caused by the Metaflux-infused pigments. Mr. Raymond gets picked up by the rescue helicopter. Zayne decides to accompany Mr. Raymond and says his farewells to the protagonist and kindly reminds her to remember her doctor’s appointments. The protagonist calls the Hunter’s Association to tell them to take the oil painting away.

06/story: Next Target

The protagonist receives help from Tara in Data Analytics. Tara says not a lot of Metaflux data could be extracted from the painting, but they can tell the painting came from an art gallery called Flux Arts which is owned by an art broker named Thomas. The artist's name is Rafayel who is known as a once in a century genius but not much is known about his background. Tara has high praise for the value of Rafayel's art and mentions how he broke the record for highest selling painting at Lizio Auctions. The protagonist looks at a photo of the artist and gets a sense of deja vu before realizing he was the tourist who helped to capture a fish a few days ago.

The next day, the Hunter's Association arranges a meeting with Rafayel's agent, Thomas. Rafayel does not typically accept visitors so all initial contact is done through Thomas. Flux Arts is located on the highest floor in the central business district. The protagonist finds Thomas is unable to meet right away, so she wanders around the art gallery. The art gallery is pristine and white which evokes a sense of loneliness. She notices a large oil painting which uses fine brush strokes to represent the sea.

A voice radiates around her calling the painting, "The Day of Ebbing." The voice comes from a sort of speaker and explains the meaning of the painting with a small anecdote about how sea creatures come to the shore one day a year after battling a maelstrom of currents, only to return to the sea, and then the memory of the surface world becomes a distant memory. This is Rafayel's Art Exhibition.

07/story: Heard About It

There are no humans in the Art Exhibition hall. The protagonist asks if the voice is Rafayel. The voice coldly responds that he is the embodiment of his inspiration and thoughts (aka artificial intelligence, AI). If the AI knows an answer to a question, then he can respond as if it is actually Rafayel. The protagonist requests the AI to give a tour of Rafayel’s Art Exhibition. The protagonist wanders to an empty location which once housed the painting Mr.  Raymond purchased. AI Rafayel projects a hologram in place of the painting of an ocean scenery which reflects the depths of the water.

The protagonist learns the story of the painting. AI Rafayel responds sadly. The painting is based on a dream where as a kid, Rafayel turned into a fish, and he tried to swim from the deep depths of the water to the surface but found he could not. He only found himself in “blood-red seawater.” The protagonist sees a shift in the hologram from glittering waves to a dark crimson.

The protagonist asks why the sea turned red but AI Rafayel did not respond. The AI continues by talking about how Rafayel has spent years trying to capture the shade of red he saw from his dream. The protagonist can almost hear the same faint melody similar to the lament of a siren which she heard from Mr. Raymond’s mansion.

A stranger interrupts the protagonist’s introspection. A sharply dressed man in a trenchcoat with an iridescent undershirt approaches her. He looks rather young but has an air of wisdom. Thomas introduces himself as Rafayel’s art gallery manager. Thomas takes the protagonist to his office where they talk about what happened at Mr. Raymond’s mansion.

When the protagonist mentions the association with the Wanderer and the painting, and says everyone involved in the situation could be in danger. Thomas recounts how Mr. Raymond came to Flux Arts and was immediately taken with the painting which had the Wanderer despite there being better paintings. The protagonist questions if the painting could cause hallucinations. Thomas does not take this suggestion seriously. Thomas recounts when Rafayel thought he heard strange noises at night, but he chalked it up to Rafayel being silly.

Thomas requests the protagonist to check Rafayel’s studio to see if there’s a Wanderer. The protagonist notices a Metaflux fluctuation and learns it is coming from coral stones which Rafayel puts in his paint. The coral stones are a vibrant red, almost like blood. She takes a coral stone with permission from Thomas. Thomas points out Rafayel’s house, a gorgeous ivory building on Whitesand Bay.

08/story: Studio Encounter

The protagonist finds herself in front of an iron black gate. A large address rock has the words Mo Art Studio. Behind the gate is a large ivory building with trees and what looks to be a domed greenhouse. The protagonist passes through the iron black gate easily and goes to the double door front entrance. She senses energy traces behind the door.

As she opens the door, she is greeted by a large room bathed in sunlight. Leafy plants are scattered around chairs and canvases. On her left, she notices a young man sitting atop a large ladder painting a blue scenery onto a large canvas 3 times his size. He has dark, violet hair and makes delicate brush strokes on a large canvas. The protagonist knocks over a bucket as she approaches the painter. Rafayel recognizes the protagonist as the hunter he met the other day. He makes a gesture with his paintbrush and falls over onto the protagonist from the ladder while shouting “MOVE”.

The protagonist closes her eyes in shock. When she opens her eyes, Rafayel is on top of her. She quickly flips him over with behind the back arm lock.

09/story: Coral Stone Mystery

Rafayel places a tea cup in front of the protagonist. His studio has high rise ceilings and a comfy couch for the two of them to sit on. The table setting is cozy and Rafayel sits next to her while sipping his tea.

Rafayel muses about how the protagonist and him have met for the second time in two days. The protagonist wants to deal with the Wanderer problem plaguing Rafayel’s work. He faintly recalls how he heard weird noises. Rafayel is nonchalant about the danger a Wanderer poses to his work and says Wanderers could be anywhere in the building.

Rafayel’s rambles about the different types of Wanderers people can encounter and talks about his strange Wanderer dreams. The protagonist shows the coral stone to Rafayel. Rafayel talks about the different ways one can obtain pigment from various objects such as mummy bandages. He seems to be avoiding the topic, but then he asks the protagonist if she’s really there to solve his problem. Then, Rafayel says he used the batch of coral stone pigment for only one painting.

10/story: Fiery Blood

The protagonist gets noticeably irritated by Rafayel’s responses. The protagonist doesn’t think she’ll get the truth from Rafayel, so she turns to leave. Rafayel believes the protagonist isn’t being patient enough, and then finally responds that he also wants to know if the coral stone is the problem.

Rafayel manifests a gleaming red blade and slits his pointer finger on it. Rafayel grabs the protagonist’s hand which is holding the coral stone and a droplet of blood falls onto the coral stone. The coral stone gets very hot, and then glittering blue waves with a fish swirl around the stone. “Illusions…” the protagonist says in awe. Rafayel says he understands why he was hearing voices after getting a papercut. The hunter’s watch interrupts them with beeping sounds.  It’s sensing Metaflux fluctuations! A Wanderer Protofield forms around them. The protagonist tells Rafayel to hide and asks if she needs to protect his valuables. Rafayel scoffs and says he can protect his house and valuables too. From his hand, a radiant red energy forms, and he throws it at the Protofield.

11/:battle: Fiery Blade

Is that the smell of grilled crab legs… No, it’s a Wanderer being burned alive by Rafayel! If we don’t hurry, his studio will be ruined!

Lv.1 Charybdis Rex (Boss)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage cleared
• Hp no less than 50%
• Win in 240 sec

12/story: Unfair Deal

The protagonist scans the coral stone and finds the Metaflux is stronger. She suspects Rafayel’s blood increased the Metaflux output. Rafayel is happy his paintings are unharmed. The protagonist asks where he got the coral stones. Rafayel responds you can’t buy coral stones so he might’ve bartered with Sardinian locals.

Rafayel says he has a Collection Log with millions of colors he has used over the years. Rafayel says he can’t give his log for free, because if there’s a problem with his sources, then it will be difficult to obtain the pigments. Rafayel complains he can’t hold a paint brush with his little finger injury. The protagonist asks what Rafayel wants in return for the Collection Log information. Rafayel’s face lights up and starts to compliment her fighting style and requests for her to be his bodyguard. The protagonist decides to play along with being his bodyguard. Rafayel gets close to the protagonist and says his safety is in her hands while closing her hand with the coral stone.

13/story: In Hot Pursuit

The protagonist leaves Rafayel’s house and finds herself on the train. The train speeds past metallic skyscrapers. It’s raining. The protagonist speaks with Tara about the coral stone’s Metaflux data. Tara talks about something they found from the abandoned research base. They found a stele which has weird patterns and symbols. The base was for researching Protocores. Part of the research base had been blown up. As the train enters a tunnel, she can’t hear Tara. Ripples fill the air, and the office workers and students start panicking. The Hunter’s Watch beeps.

A shadow passes over the train. The protagonist tells Tara to sync with her position due to a Wanderer presence. They approach Universum station. The protagonist tells everyone to evacuate the train.

-Scene change-

Among the chaos, a young man with grayish-brown hair waits patiently for a drink at the vending machine. Jenna connects over the communication channel and tells him he has a new mission with his new teammate. He sees a figure gracefully jump onto a train from a few meters away. The hunter says nothing, but he straps himself onto a special hunter zipline and flies through the night sky. Xavier says they have already met, and Jenna responds that he needs to make sure to protect her because she has special abilities. Xavier responds, “She doesn’t need protection.”

14/battle: Herte Knave (Challenge!)

Herte Knaves are Wanderers who can influence the human Psyche. Hunters, head to the designated location to quickly put an end to their evil.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Emerald, 1 Amber

• Lv.2 Herte Knave: Original (Elite)
• Lv2 Herte Knave (Normal)
• Lv2 Herte Knave: Advanced (Normal)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 sec

15/battle: Ignis Golem (Challenge!)

An Ignis Golem is wreaking havoc, causing bridges to collapse and massive fires. Hunters, head to the designated location and end its rampage.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Emerald

• Lv.3 Ignis Golem

3 Stars Available:

• Stage cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 Sec

Chapter 3: Talented Hunter

01/Story: Order No.85

The protagonist receives a commission on her Hunter's watch, ordering her to investigate a sudden Metaflux fluctuation in No-Hunt Zone 7. Due to the severity of the situation, Jenna orders the Alpha Team to work in pairs. Over the comms link, the protagonist hears various Hunter pairs successfully rendezvous and move into the No-Hunt Zone to investigate, but the protagonist's watch showed an error message when trying to connect her to her assigned partner. The protagonist proceeds to her assigned sector, but her partner is still nowhere to be found.

02/Story: No-Hunt Zone No.7

The protagonist has been waiting at her assigned entrance to No-Hunt Zone 7 for a couple of hours, but her mission partner still has not arrived. She decides to proceed into the No-Hunt Zone alone, noting that the signals from the area are worsening. She puts on a face mask, unholsters her weapon, and enters.

As she walks around the forested area, she realizes that no matter which way she goes, the surroundings all look the same. The wind picks up, and she hears sounds in the distance. She runs to the source of the noise, and sees Xavier facing down a gigantic Wanderer on an outcropping in the distance, though she doesn't recognize him. Xavier emits a powerful burst of light from his hand, dispelling the Wanderer, and claims the Wanderer's protocore. He examines it before crushing it in his hand, destroying it, and a red ring of light appears around his neck briefly. The protagonist realizes the man is Xavier.

In the span of a second, Xavier moves from the distant peak to the ground where the protagonist is. Unable to identify her due to the face mask she's wearing, he holds her at swordpoint and asks who she is. The protagonist tries to back away, but accidentally springs a trap that leaves her dangling from a tree. She explains that she met Xavier a few days ago, at the research base.

03/Story: Reunion Under Moon

Xavier has helped the protagonist out of the trap. She rests on the ground and applies medicine to her ankle, which was sprained by the snare. Xavier expresses surprise that she would enter the No-Hunt Zone alone, and the protagonist explains that her partner didn't show up. Xavier advises the protagonist to leave the area due to her injury. In turn, she asks him if he's worried about getting lost, but she supposes he's not worried since he can always teleport out of trouble.

Xavier says the Metaflux surges aren't what make the forest dangerous. He tells the protagonist that Tenebra who entered the forest in the past to hunt for protocores were never seen again. Xavier claims that the forest itself consumed them, and reiterates that the protagonist should leave for her own safety. When she questions Xavier about what brought him to the No-Hunt Zone, he doesn't respond. Instead, he walks away, telling her to take care of herself.

04/Story: Maze

Reflecting on her interaction with Xavier, she wonders if he could be her assigned mission partner.

Xavier walks back into the clearing where the protagonist is, seemingly confused to find himself back where he came from. He walks away down a different path. A few minutes later, Xavier once again enters the area and seems surprised to see the protagonist. When it happens a third time, Xavier admits it wasn't a good idea to leave an injured teammate behind.

The protagonist attempts to use her Hunter's watch to verify Xavier's identity, but it's still unable to connect. Still suspicious of him, the protagonist and asks him to say something only a UNICORNS Hunter would know. Xavier begins to tell her about Tezcatlipoca, the first Wanderer killed in the Chronorift Catastrophe, but the protagonist points out that information is public knowledge.

Trying a different tack to prove his identity, Xavier uses his Evol to create an image of a Flux Nexus, a device that captures Metaflux. According to Xavier, that device is causing the fluctuations in No-Hunt Zone 7, and they need to find it to complete the mission. However, the protagonist is still skeptical, saying he could have made all of that up, as it was not in the mission brief.

As Xavier describes more about the Flux Nexus, the protagonist realizes the description matches what she learned in her conversation with Tara about the stone stele at the abandoned research base. Wanderers roar in the distance, and Xavier proposes they leave the area.

05/Story: Exit

Xavier and the protagonist try to find their way out of the woods, but are still lost due to the unpredictable energy fluctuations in the area. The protagonist laments that whenever she and Xavier meet, they are trapped somehow.

They spot several Wanderers nearby, which the protagonist identifies as B-rank: not that strong, but manipulate the space around them to tire out their prey. She hypothesizes that the Wanderers' powers are what is keeping her and Xavier from finding their way out. Xavier uses his Evol to take out the Wanderers, which puts a stop to the energy fluctuations and allows them to find their way out.

06/Story: Awakened Forest

As they walk, the protagonist reminds Xavier that he promised her an explanation of what happened the last time they met. He avoids answering by saying it's a "long story," but the protagonist says if they're on the same team, they have time to figure it out. Xavier expresses frustration at her suspicions, while the protagonist expresses frustrations about Xavier obviously hiding secrets, though she states that they can still find a way to work together.

They reach an area that used to be a signal station, and find Metaflux converging on a Wanderer lying on the ground. Xavier identifies the Wanderer as an Aeonwyrm, "the most dangerous species of Wanderer," and says the Metaflux particles are being used to reconstruct the Wanderer.

They find a Flux Nexus nearby, and Xavier tells the protagonist to use her Evol on it. She does, destroying the Nexus and revealing a special Protocore inside. She keeps the Protocore, and Xavier deduces that someone was purposely trying to revive the Aeonwyrm, and notes that a Wanderer of that magnitude would have dire consequences for Linkon. The protagonist wonders if there are more Flux Nexuses in the forest.

Wanderers attack.

07/Battle: Sleeping Dragon

Xavier is right. Someone is trying to resurrect an Aeonwyrm… Wanderers have appeared as well. This isn’t good. We have to quickly deal with them!

Protocore Stellactrum: 1 Sapphire

• Lv.10 Foulwings (Boss)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 sec

08/Story: Where Light Vanishes

Xavier and the protagonist are holding their ground, but the Wanderers keep coming. Xavier teleports them out to a safe area, and the protagonist guesses that the special Protocore from the Flux Nexus is what was attracting all the Wanderers. Xavier inspects it and declares that it's been modified by Onychinus, an organization stationed in the N109 Zone, notorious for modifying Protocores.

Xavier tells the protagonist to leave it up to the Hunter's Association, but declines to return there with her.

From a nearby treetop, a mechanical crow with red eyes watches the exchange.

09/Story: Another Predicament

The protagonist has a vision while waiting to cross the street. The setting and time are unknown, but it seems likely to be the Chronorift Catastrophe: chaotic destruction in the streets, people running for their lives, and screaming about monsters. As the protagonist runs, she feels a powerful force within her heart, threatening to explode. She looks up at the sky and thinks she sees the moon descending and flickering at her.

In present day, the protagonist is jarred from the vision and implies that it's not the first time she's had that "nightmare." Reminded by the visually similar "moon" in her vision, she wonders if Nero has any updates on the "eye" she saw outside her window.

The protagonist is walking to work for an early morning squad meeting. As she muses that she should have pressed Xavier for more answers the night before, she happens to run into Xavier, who is being harassed by journalists for an impromptu interview on Hunters. Xavier spots the protagonist and begs her to help him escape the reporters and photographers.

At the UNICORNS office, the protagonist jokes that something dramatic will happen again now that she's met up with Xavier. She somewhat concedes that seeing Xavier participate in the squad meeting may change her suspicions of him. Captain Jenna calls the meeting to order, and the protagonist is surprised that the meeting is comprised of just the three of them.

10/Story: Invitation

Captain Jenna tells Xavier and the protagonist the analysis results from the special Protocore: the Protocore is confirmed as having been modified, but the origin and type couldn't be determined.

Jenna agrees it is most likely the work of Onychinus and says they need more samples to collect more data. Xavier points out that they would need to rely on the protagonist's Evol to get the samples. Jenna confirms this, telling the protagonist that it would be dangerous, but that if she chose to accept the mission, she would be assigned a partner to assist her.

The protagonist asks Jenna for more details about Onychinus and the Protocores, but not much else is known. It's speculated that Onychinus must have an ulterior motive for modifying the Protocores, as simply doing it for the money doesn't track with the known behavior of Onychinus' leader, Sylus. The recovered Protocore is much more sophisticated than other modified Protocores the Association has seen in the past.

Jenna tells her to take some time off and think about the mission offer.

11/Story: Selection

After the meeting, the protagonist chats with Xavier. She tells him that she always thought the desk next to hers (which is apparently Xavier's) was empty, though she had heard in the past that the best Hunters didn't normally need to report to the office.

Xavier tells her she needs to decide whether to accept the mission to collect more Protocores. The protagonist asks how he knew about the Flux Nexus, as no one else at the Association seemed to know anything about it. Xavier says he doesn't actually know much about them.

The protagonist asks Xavier if he can recommend any UNICORNS to be her mission partner, since he's been a Hunter longer and may know more people. Xavier's advice is to not take the mission at all; he tells her the Association may have other ways to get the job done and again insinuates how dangerous it would be. The protagonist asks why he's trying to hard to convince her not to take it, and he responds that he wanted her to really understand the risks and not just accept without thinking it over.

Xavier asks her to choose him as her partner, should she accept the mission.

12/Battle: Earthquake (Challenge!)

An unexpected earthquake struck the northern outskirts of Linkon, investigations revealed that it was not a natural phenomenon. It must have been caused by Wanderers!

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Sapphire

Recomm. Memory Level: Lv.15

• Lv:15 Velox Venator (Elite)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared

• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 sec

13/Battle: Destroyed Signal Tower (Challenge!)

Wanderers are attacking the ST-21 Tower. The building has already been destroyed. Stand your ground until reinforcements arrive to rescue you.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Sapphire

Recomm. Memory Level: Lv.17

• Lv.17 Herte Knave: Original (Elite)
• Lv.17 Velox Venator (Elite)
• Lv.17 Herte Knave (Normal)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• HP no less than 75%

14/Battle: Creepy Statue (Challenge)

An Ignitus Wyrmlord has sneaked into the statue gallery during an exhibition. It’s hidden among the statues. Head over there quickly to ensure the event goes smoothly

Stellactrum: 1 Sapphire, 1 Ruby

Recomm. Memory Level: Lv19

• Lv.19 Ignitus Wyrmlord (Boss)
• Lv.19 Foulwings Fledging (Normal)
• Lv.19 Ignis Wyrm (Normal)

3 Stars Available:

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 sec

Chapter 4: Under Twilight

01/Story: Family

The protagonist goes home to visit her grandmother, Josephine. The protagonist is pleasantly surprised to see her childhood friend Caleb is also there, a day earlier than expected. Over dinner, she asks about her grandmother’s health, recalling that the doctors had recommended that Josephine be hospitalized for observation. Josephine insists she will be fine just taking her medicines.

A news anchor on TV discusses recent explosions in Linkon City, attributing them to Wanderer attacks. Caleb and Josephine express concern for the protagonist’s job as a Hunter and urge her to be careful on missions.

The protagonist gets an alert on her Hunter’s watch indicating Wanderers are in the area. She excuses herself to check it out, but Caleb insists on going with her.

02/Story: Interlude

The protagonist complains that she shouldn't bring a friend with her to handle a work matter, but Caleb says he just wants to go to the store. The protagonist ensures he actually goes into the store before walking farther down the street to investigate the alert; she warns Caleb not to follow her.

She searches the neighborhood and finds a suspicious man who seems to be the source of the Metaflux alerts. She tries to engage him, but he injures her arm with Evol before escaping.

Caleb finds her and asks what happened. The protagonist tells him the alert was just a false alarm, but he calls her out on her lie, noticing the injury on her arm.

03/Story: Within Reach

Caleb and the protagonist walk back home, and she continues trying to convince him that nothing happened. He counters that while he understands trying to hide it from Josephine, she doesn’t need to hide it from him. He wants her to trust him, but she says she’s an adult and that he can’t protect her forever. Caleb seems disappointed by that, but when the protagonist asks him what’s wrong, he tells her that she wouldn’t understand.

As they approach the house, Caleb tells the protagonist to hide her bloody sleeve before coming in so that Josephine doesn’t worry. He enters the front door, while the protagonist takes a moment to follow his advice. Almost immediately after Caleb shuts the door, the house explodes.

The protagonist regains consciousness, having been thrown backwards in the blast. She crawls towards the burning house, which is completely consumed in flames. Not far from where she landed, she finds a necklace with an apple charm and a tag with the inscription “When U come back.”

04/Story: A Real Nightmare

A Hunter’s Association confidential file describes an explosion in the Bloomshore District. Two deaths were declared, and the incident is ruled an “accident caused by Metaflux fluctuation.”

The protagonist sits at her desk in the UNICORNS office, holding the necklace she pulled from the wreckage. News coverage in the background talks about the success rate of clinical treatments after Protocol energy injections, as well as the increased number of Wanderers in Linkon, and Metaflux-related explosions.

Tara is surprised to find the protagonist at work, and expresses concern that she’s been overworking herself. The protagonist explains that she doesn’t believe the explosion was an accident, then almost faints when trying to stand up from her desk. Captain Jenna tells the protagonist to prioritize her health.

Dr. Greyson calls from Akso hospital, reminding the protagonist that she has an appointment with Zayne.

05/Story: Waiting

At the hospital, a nurse gives the protagonist her medical examination results. The protagonist looks over the paperwork, pausing momentarily when she notices her emergency contact is still listed as Josephine.

As they walk to Zayne’s office, the nurse tells the protagonist that Zayne has ben working overtime lately, due to the escalating Wanderer attacks. They cross paths with Zayne himself, who is on the way to an emergency operation. The nurse asks the protagonist to wait, since Zayne is busy.

The protagonist waits in the hallway, where she sees a poster of Zayne calling him the “leading expert in the study of Protocore Syndrome.” She overhears a conversation that reminds her of the loss of her grandmother and Caleb.

06/Story: Saying Goodbye

The protagonist remembers the day Caleb left home to attend Aerospace Academy.

Sad about Caleb moving all the way to Skyhaven, the protagonist asks what she should do if she misses Caleb’s cooking; Josephine says that she’ll get him to cook whenever he visits home. Caleb says that in return for cooking, he should get a going-away present. Though the protagonist says she didn’t get him one, Caleb uses his Evol to telekinetically grab the gift box, open it, and pull out the necklace inside: the same silver chain with the apple charm and tag that the protagonist pulled from the burning wreckage in “Within Reach.”

Caleb asks the protagonist to help him put it on. Miffed that he used his Evol to steal it off of her, she initially refuses, but eventually fastens it on his neck. She tells him that if it’s not with him the next time she seems him, he’ll be sorry.

07/Story: Frozen Greetings

The protagonist wakes up in Zayne’s office. Zayne says he moved her there after unsuccessfully trying to wake her up three times. Zayne seems frustrated that she’s not following her treatment plan by overworking herself, but he also empathizes with the fact that she’s grieving. He reiterates that she needs to take better care of herself.

08/Story: Returned to Sender

Going over her medical report, Zayne explains that the protagonist’s cardiac function index increased after the explosion, which would normally require at least three months of rest and observation. Zayne had discharged her early after the incident, but regrets doing so after seeing her current state.

Zayne hands her a device, which Josephine had asked him to give to the protagonist, saying it may have the answers she seeks. He then tells her to go home and rest.

The protagonist notices that something feels off; Zayne seems to notice it, too, but he pretends not to, and tries to hurry the protagonist away. Before he can, a Protofield starts to open in his office, and a Wanderer appears. The protagonist notes that it’s stronger than then Wanderers she’s faced before. She and Zayne prepare to fight the Wanderer.

09/Battle: Midnight Crisis

Wanderers have appeared in the office. Zayne sensed the danger and asked me to leave… but I refused to leave him behind at a time like this.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Violet

• Lv.21 Petro Golem (Boss)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 sec

Rewards

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

10/Story: Secret

The protagonist asks how a Wanderer managed to get into the hospital, past the building's flux stabilizer. Zayne clutches his arm in pain—his right hand is covered in ice, which appears to be spreading. He rebuffs her attempts to help him, and after a few moments, he seems to get it under control.

He once again hands her the device he offered her earlier, and the protagonist wonders why Josephine didn’t give it to her sooner if it was so important.

She tells Zayne she’s going home, and he advises her not to “stay trapped in the same place.” She asks that was him trying to make her feel better, and he says yes.

After the protagonist leaves, Zayne recalls a conversation he had with Josephine in the past: Zayne advised Josephine that her (unspecified) condition was serious and that she couldn’t delay treatment any longer. However, Josephine seems resigned to her fate, and she reminds Zayne that he promised to take care of the protagonist “if the worst-case scenario happens.” She also notes that by helping the protagonist, Zayne would also be helping himself.

11/ Battle: Strange Shadows (Challenge!)

Witnesses claim there have been strange shadows roaming around the construction site every night. Upon further investigation, these shadows are actually Wanderers . Hunters, proceed to the designated location to gather more information.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Violet

Recomm. Memory Level: 23

• Lv.23 Flamma Ignis (Elite)
• Lv.23 Ferrum Obscurum (Normal)
• Lv. 23 Herte Knave: Advanced (Normal)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 120 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

12/Battle: Lab Specimens (Challenge!)

Wanderers have sneaked into Lab L-05 again. They have destroyed specimens for a specific purpose. Put an end to this and ensure the research efforts continue unimpeded.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Violet

Recomm. Memory Level: Lv.25

• Lv.25 Herte Knave: Original (Elite)
• Lv.25 Thunderoar (Elite)
• Lv.25 Herte Knave (Normal)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 240 sec

Rewards

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

13/Battle: Plant Thieves (Challenge!)

A large number of green plants disappeared overnight from the Linkon Greenhouse. Witnesses claim to have heard suspicious noises during the night. Hunters investigate the matter and deal with it appropriately.

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Violet, 1 Pearl

Recomm. Memory Level: 27

• Lv. 27 Bruno Golem (Boss)
• Lv.27 Laminate Potentiae (Elite)
• Lv.27 Ferrum Obscurum (Normal)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 150 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• Amber Protocore - ү (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

Chapter 5: Eternal Aurora

04/Battle: Emergency Operation

The dispatch center reported Wanderer sightings, and the Polar Hunters are rushing to the scene. I've decided to grab hold of Zayne and join them, hoping that we might get their help. Protofield Stellactrum: 2 Sapphire, 1 Ruby

• Lv. 29 Elysian Cervus (Boss)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 90 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

10/Battle: Freezing Cold (Challenge!)

The protofield is going haywire, and quite a few Wanderers are loitering around Snowcrest. With numerous tourists around, we need to head out and eliminate them. Be wary of frostbite, though. Protofield Stellactrum: 2 Sapphire, 1 Ruby

• Lv. 30 Elysian Lacertus (Elite)
• Lv. 30 Gelidus Dentis (Elite)
• Lv. 30 Elysian Lupus (Elite)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 150 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

11/Battle: Snowfield Peril (Challenge!)

Some photography enthusiasts ignored the Hunters Association's warning and strayed into the icy plains below Mt. Eternal. They've captured footage of massive Wanderers roaming there. Hunters, proceed to the area quickly and eliminate the threat! Protofield Stellactrum: 2 Sapphire, 2 Ruby

• Lv. 31 Hoarfrost Wyrmlord (Boss)
• Lv. 31 Polar Wyrm (Normal)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 150 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

12/Battle: Arctic Depths (Challenge!)

The sky is engulfed in dark clouds up above Mt. Eternal, with thunder and lightning putting on a show. Strangely enough, the meteorological center has not picked up any unusual weather readings. It is suspected that this phenomenon is connected to that presence of those massive Wanderers. Hunters, it is time to head out and investigate with caution. Protofield Stellactrum: 3 Sapphire, 1 Ruby

• Lv. 32 Elysian Cervus (Boss)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 150 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

Long-Awaited Revelry

Chapter 1: Ambiguous Chaos

01/Story: Cage

The protagonist, still under the effects of a neurotoxin after being drugged, is being transported by an unnamed man in a car. She recalls deliberately using herself as bait to lure out Onychinus, a shadowy organization she believes is connected to her past and the Aether Core within her.

When the car breaks down in an abandoned yard, the unnamed man contacts someone for help. As he tries to inspect the protagonist for the Aether Core, he is injured by unseen forces. Two mysterious figures (known later as Luke and Kieran) working for Onychinus arrive, criticizing the man for kidnapping her without their knowledge. They mention that their boss, Sylus, is interested in her due to the Aether Core. Realizing the men were sent by Sylus, the unnamed man refuses to back down. He pulls out a gun and shoots at the protagonist.

02/Story: Alike

The unnamed man claims the Aether Core as his own and shoots at the protagonist. However, a dark force intervenes, disintegrating both the bullet and the man in an instant. This force is revealed to be Sylus, the head of Onychinus, who orders his henchmen to eliminate the remaining threats, and they comply without hesitation.

As the protagonist realizes who Sylus is, she recalls Zayne's warning that she might become Onychinus's next target if her condition became known. Sylus cryptically informs her that even if she wished to "sell her soul," she must find someone worthy enough to pay the price—implying that the Aether Core is far too valuable to be recklessly given away.

When the protagonist notes that his voice sounds familiar, Sylus forcibly compels her to meet his gaze. His right eye begins to glow, drawing her in and causing her intense pain while she experiences hallucinations of bloodstained hands. Desperate to escape the overwhelming sensation, she first shuts her eyes and then turns her head away. Upon reopening them, she spots a nearby knife, seizes it, and manages to inflict a minor cut on his cheek, which he heals instantly. Sylus mocks her feeble attempt, calling it a poor greeting.

He observes that the protagonist appears to have no recollection of her past. Grabbing her face, he ominously states that he will reveal the truth about her past, her future, and the inevitable choices she will make. He concludes by suggesting they are alike—true kindred spirits. The protagonist's vision then fades to black.

07/Battle: Strange Thrill

Behind mechanical door of the Odd Workshop, there's a massive Wanderer all souped up with Linkage Alterations. It seems that Sylus wants to give a real "stimulation" with this one!

Protofield Stellactrum: 1 Pearl

• Lv.15 G-2BW (Boss)

3 Stars Available

• Stage Cleared
• HP no less than 50%
• Win in 120 sec

Rewards:

• 10 Diamonds (1st Clear)
• 10 Diamonds (3-Star)

09/Battle: Linkage

Protofield Stellacrum: 1 Pearl

10/Battle: Strength Adaptation

Protofield Stellacrum: 1 Pearl

11/Battle: Combat Drill

Protofield Stellacrum: 1 Pearl, 1 Emerald