The transport pod hummed softly as it cut through the barren landscape, its sleek, silver exterior reflecting the eerie twilight. Inside, the atmosphere was tense—or at least, it was for most of the team.
Kaito Sora, sandwiched awkwardly between Yuki and Victor, fidgeted with his gloves. Yuki, ever the picture of confidence, twirled a combat knife between her fingers, while Victor seemed lost in silent meditation. Across from them, Celeste tapped away on her holo-tablet, her expression locked in an unreadable frown. Aria, ever the quiet one, was engrossed in monitoring the team's equipment from her portable console.
"Remind me again why I'm here," Kaito muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the hum of the pod.
Yuki didn't miss a beat. "Moral support. If things go south, we'll need someone to panic on our behalf." She shot him a grin.
"Gee, thanks," Kaito deadpanned, earning a soft chuckle from Victor.
"Focus, everyone," Celeste said sharply, her tone cutting through the budding humor like a whip. "We're about to face a Class-6 anomaly. This is serious."
"Relax, boss," Yuki said, leaning back in her seat. "We've handled worse."
"Not with him on the team," Celeste snapped, her eyes narrowing as they landed on Kaito.
Kaito shrank back, his cheeks burning. "I'll try not to mess anything up."
"See that you don't," Celeste replied, returning to her tablet.
————————————————————
The anomaly site was a sprawling expanse of cracked earth, its surface marred by deep fissures that seemed to pulse faintly with an otherworldly glow. Above them, the sky churned with storm clouds that didn't belong, their edges fraying into static like a corrupted file.
"Energy levels are stable for now," Aria's voice crackled through their comms. "But don't get too comfortable. This place is volatile."
The team disembarked, each member falling into formation with practiced ease. Celeste took point, her movements precise and deliberate, while Victor brought up the rear, his imposing presence a silent deterrent to any unseen threats. Kaito, meanwhile, lagged behind, feeling increasingly like a third wheel.
"Stick close," Yuki said, nudging him lightly. "Wouldn't want you wandering off and getting zapped by anomaly lightning or something."
"Is that a thing?" Kaito asked, eyes widening.
"Probably," she said with a shrug, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"Yuki," Celeste said without turning around, her voice clipped. "Focus."
"Yes, ma'am," Yuki replied, though her smirk didn't fade.
————————————————————
The team began setting up scanning equipment, each member working efficiently within their designated area. Kaito was assigned to deploy a beacon near the edge of the anomaly, a task that seemed simple enough—until his glitch powers decided to intervene.
As he placed the beacon into the ground, a faint crackle of energy sparked from his fingertips. The beacon whirred to life, its lights flickering erratically before spinning like a top.
"Uh… guys?" Kaito called out, stepping back nervously.
"What now?" Celeste demanded, marching over with an exasperated sigh.
Before anyone could react, the beacon shot into the air like a firework, spiraling out of control before disappearing in a flash of light.
Victor arrived just in time to witness the spectacle. "Did you just delete our beacon?" he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and amusement.
"I didn't mean to!" Kaito protested. "It's the glitch!"
"Great," Celeste muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "One less beacon, thanks to you."
Yuki's laughter echoed through the comms. "Well, at least he's consistent."
"I swear, I'm trying," Kaito said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Try harder," Celeste snapped before storming off.
————————————————————
Despite the setback, the team continued their scans, though the tension was palpable. Kaito did his best to stay out of trouble, keeping his distance from the equipment.
As they worked, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. The air seemed to vibrate faintly, a sensation that resonated with the chaotic energy within him.
"Hey, Yuki," Kaito said quietly. "Do you feel that?"
"Feel what?" she asked, glancing at him.
"Like… I don't know. Static? Or… something pulling at you?"
Yuki tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Can't say I do. Maybe it's just you."
"Maybe," Kaito said, though the feeling didn't fade.
————————————————————
Just as the team was wrapping up, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The faint glow from the fissures intensified, bathing the area in an unearthly light.
"Energy levels are spiking!" Aria's voice came through the comms, tense and urgent. "Something's happening!"
At the heart of the anomaly, the swirling energy began to coalesce, forming a massive sphere that pulsed with raw power. Lightning crackled around it, and the oppressive weight in the air became almost unbearable.
"Fall back!" Celeste ordered, her voice cutting through the chaos.
The team scrambled to retreat, but Kaito found himself frozen in place as his glitch powers surged uncontrollably. The chaotic energy resonated with the anomaly, pulling at him like a magnet.
"Kaito, move!" Yuki shouted, grabbing his arm and pulling him back.
But it was too late. The anomaly erupted, sending out a shockwave that knocked everyone off their feet. Kaito's vision blurred as he was enveloped in a swirling vortex of light and code.
[SYSTEM WARNING: ANOMALY INTERACTION DETECTED. USER KAITO SORA AT RISK.]
"Kaito!" Yuki's voice was distant, distorted.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then, the world snapped back into focus, and Kaito found himself lying on the ground, dazed but unharmed.
The anomaly, however, was no
longer dormant. Its energy pulsed rhythmically, its shape shifting like a living thing.
"What did you do?" Celeste demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
"I… I don't know," Kaito stammered, his hands trembling.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ANOMALY DATA SYNCHRONIZED. FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED.]
Celeste's glare bore into him, but before she could say anything, the anomaly let out another pulse, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
"Retreat now!" Victor shouted, hauling Kaito to his feet.
The team retreated to the transport pod, their minds racing with questions as the anomaly continued to pulse ominously behind them.