Impatient, I reached the 21st floor, which appeared to be the last floor due to the lack of stairs below. The room itself seemed to be some kind of surveillance chamber, covered in cameras, which were now in pieces, a reinforced glass cell that had been reduced to shards, and there was debris from the ceiling on the floor—I wouldn't be surprised if this room collapsed.

  The only things that weren't completely destroyed were an old TV and an SV card (Secure Video, an older storage format), titled "Enlistment." My hand was trembling, but there was no choice. It was that or die in doubt.

  So, reluctantly, I inserted the card into the card player. It started with a slideshow that said the following:

  "February 19, 2208"

  After months of searching, a volunteer for the "Metallic Hope" project was found.

  Subject: Lotte Hideaki — Age: 23 years old.

  Now we will have an interview with our director, Lotus.”

  …

  What?

  No, no. It must be someone else named Lotus, there's no way my sister would be involved in this.

  “Good evening, Lotte, all of humanity is immensely grateful for your initiative against those beasts. But tell me: what has led you to this decision?”

  Yes… it is her. The voice I know, but this time with a hint of hope, unlike her current melancholy. Okay, Cacto, focus on the video for now, you can have a crisis later. hic.

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  Hideaki, on the other hand, was a tall, handsome man with a slender build. His hair was black, and his eyes had a glint… that was strangely similar to Aubrey's.

  “I’m tired of seeing those beasts tearing the whole city apart, taking all those victims, and I’ll do whatever it takes to stop them!” Hideaki said, raising his fist in the air.

  "We all hope that our efforts will lead us to a prosperous future, far from those animals."

  The video then cuts away.

  It seems like my whole life up to this point has been a lie. I never thought there wasn't at least a grain of truth in what Kassidy says about the Cogs, but Hideaki was identical to me, and things have only gotten worse since I turned into this; it's only a matter of time before I become a maniac like him.

  And the person I trusted most, my own sister, was actually the mastermind behind the misfortune that gave rise to this whole nightmare. (Damn, I'm even starting to sound like Kassidy now).

  As I began to cry, I felt a sharp pain in my forehead leading the way to Hideaki:

  “If it's of any consolation, that cowardly sister of yours quit as soon as she realized her creation was heading down a dark path.”

  "I-it doesn't matter how powerful I am... what matters is what I do with it..." I tried to defend myself through tears.

  “Everyone hates us, we are portrayed as desecrated beings. The only Cog who remains in good condition has only managed to do so by isolating themselves from everything, living in exile.”

  “I can do things differently; there are still people who care about me… they want to see me doing well.”

  “They're all clueless and naive, once they realize what you're truly capable of, they'll all abandon you, just like your sister did to me…”

  "Please, shut up!!" I gripped the limiter’s panel, my hands trembling. I wanted to smash it, but common sense prevailed.

  "If that's the case, then enjoy your life in ignorance while you still can!" He vanished.

  I took my SV card with me—I've already seen everything I needed to see and I can't stand this place anymore!