Halochassis

Lireina presented the notes Shin had painstakingly scribed from the Abyssal Dungeon to Croft inside the dimly lit office of the Empyrean Police Department. The room smelled faintly of old parchment, candle wax, and freshly brewed coffee that had long gone cold. Stacks of documents cluttered Croft’s desk like miniature towers ready to collapse at the slightest touch. Rain tapped softly against the tall glass windows while the orange glow of the lamps cast long shadows across the room.

Croft adjusted her glasses and flipped through the copied writings, her brows knitting together in concentration. Beside her, Lireina leaned over the desk, her long golden-blonde hair spilling over her shoulders like silk as she scanned the ancient text. Despite the effort Shin had put into recording every symbol and sentence, most of the information was frustratingly repetitive. The notes spoke again and again about the Halochassis—the mythical power armors forged from the powers of the fallen angels, weapons once used in the ancient era to seal away Satan himself.

“There were five Halochassis,” Croft explained, tapping one of the papers with her finger. “You fought one in the Iron Bandits’ headquarters, and another was destroyed in the Abyssal Dungeon.” She leaned back in her chair, which creaked softly beneath her weight. “That leaves three remaining. And based on everything we know so far, Empyrea is most likely hiding them.”

“That’s what I thought as well.” Lireina rested a hand beneath her chin, deep in thought. Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled the previous investigation. “After the Iron Bandits stole the Halochassis, I surveyed the Empyrean Laboratory myself. But during that raid… I never saw any trace of the other three.”

Croft opened one of her desk drawers and pulled out a thin bundle of documents tied together with a faded red string. The papers rustled sharply as she spread them across the desk. “I recently received reports from several checkpoint officers,” she said. “According to them, multiple carriages from the Laboratory were seen heading north shortly before the incident was covered up.” She pointed toward a marked location on the map. “The only place I can think of where they could be hiding something that important is the Northern Fortress. It’s not certain, but the chances are high.”

Lireina gave an impressed smile. “I didn’t expect you to get your hands on reports like these.”

Croft smirked proudly and crossed her arms. “I’ve got friends in border patrol. People talk when you know who to listen to.”

“So…” Lireina muttered as she straightened herself. “Should we investigate the Northern Fortress?”

“Yeah, sure.” Croft stood from her seat and grabbed her coat from the nearby rack. “An on-site investigation sounds better than sitting here drowning in paperwork.”

Not long after, the two women changed into their combat attire. Lireina emerged wearing her blue-and-red battle uniform beneath her short green cape, the silver insignia of the Celestial Wardens glimmering faintly against the fabric. The fitted attire emphasized both elegance and practicality, while the twin pistols strapped at her waist reflected the warm light of the room.

Croft, meanwhile, wore her long brown trench coat uniform of the Empyrean Police Investigation Unit. Her metallic badge rested near her chest, polished enough to catch the light whenever she moved. She checked the ammunition in her revolver with practiced ease before slipping it back into its holster.

Prepared for the journey, the two left the department and headed toward Cathedral Exa. The massive cathedral towered over the district like a monument carved from moonlight itself. Its towering white spires pierced the cloudy sky, while stained-glass windows shimmered with hues of crimson, blue, and gold.

Inside the cathedral rested one of the city’s teleportation gates, an ancient magical device that saved travelers days of dangerous travel. The circular platform beneath their feet glowed with intricate runes as priests activated the mechanism. A low humming vibration filled the chamber, growing louder until the air itself trembled.

Then, in a flash of pale blue light, Lireina and Croft vanished.

A sudden rush of icy air greeted them the moment they arrived in the northernmost district of Luminous City. The temperature difference was so sharp that Croft instinctively pulled her coat tighter around herself. Their boots crunched against a thin layer of frost coating the stone pavement.

Towering in the distance stood the Northern Frost Mountain Range. Jagged white peaks stretched endlessly beneath the gray sky, their snowy summits partially hidden behind drifting mist. The cold northern wind howled between the streets, carrying with it the scent of snow and burning firewood.

Unlike the bustling central districts of Luminous City, the Northern District felt quiet and harsh. Fewer people walked the streets, and most buildings looked worn down by years of enduring brutal winters. Smoke rose from chimneys in thick gray streams as residents struggled against the freezing climate.

Lireina’s expression softened slightly as she noticed a small group of children huddled around a bonfire near an alleyway. Their cheeks were red from the cold, and their tiny hands stretched desperately toward the warmth of the flames. One child coughed weakly while another wrapped herself in a tattered blanket far too thin for the weather.

Life here was not as lawless as the slums, but hardship lingered in every corner nonetheless.

Eventually, the fortress came into view.

The Northern Fortress stood like an immovable giant at the center of a frozen lake. Massive stone walls rose high into the air, layered in two enormous defensive rings lined with watchtowers. Snow clung to the dark gray bricks while banners bearing Empyrea’s crest fluttered violently in the freezing wind.

Armed guards patrolled every visible section of the walls. Their armor gleamed beneath the pale daylight, and the sharp spears in their hands reflected cold flashes of silver. The only entrance into the fortress was a long land bridge stretching across the icy lake, making the stronghold nearly impossible to approach unnoticed.

Ordinary adventurers would never be allowed inside such a heavily restricted location. However, the moment the guards recognized Lireina’s Celestial Warden insignia and Croft’s investigator badge, their attitudes changed immediately.

The gates opened with a deep metallic groan.

Inside the fortress, the atmosphere felt strangely tense. Scholars and researchers hurried through the halls carrying books, scrolls, and stacks of documents. The scent of machine oil mixed oddly with the smell of dust and ink.

Lireina and Croft spent hours questioning professors and researchers throughout the fortress, but each conversation led nowhere. Most of the academics looked utterly confused whenever the term “Halochassis” was mentioned. Some shook their heads apologetically, while others simply claimed they specialized in unrelated fields of study.

Frustration slowly crept across Croft’s face as another dead end greeted them.

Then, at last, one elderly professor paused mid-conversation and adjusted his spectacles thoughtfully.

“If you are searching for something mechanical in nature,” the old man said in a raspy voice, “perhaps you should stop asking scholars like us.” He pointed deeper into the fortress compound. “You may find better answers from the mechanics working in the lower workshops.”

The two headed toward the warehouse district of the Northern Fortress, where the atmosphere changed completely from the scholarly halls above. The sharp scent of grease, burning coal, and heated metal filled the cold northern air. Massive industrial engines lined the cavernous workshop like sleeping steel beasts, their pipes hissing clouds of steam that drifted toward the ceiling. The constant clanging of hammers against iron echoed throughout the area, mixed with the grinding noises of gears and rotating machinery.

Workers moved tirelessly between half-disassembled wagons, generators, and mechanical constructs. Some mechanics carried toolboxes blackened with soot, while others tightened bolts with oil-stained gloves. Sparks occasionally burst from welding stations, briefly illuminating the dim warehouse with flashes of orange light.

Near the far corner of the workshop, Lireina spotted a blonde man lying beneath a cargo wagon while tightening something underneath its chassis. Only his boots and lower legs were visible at first.

Croft approached him calmly. “Excuse me. I am Detective Croft of the Empyrean Police Department. Can I have some of your time?”

The mechanic slid himself out from beneath the wagon with a metallic screech of wheels against the floor. He was a young man with messy blonde hair, rectangular eyeglasses, and grease smeared across his cheek and forehead. Letting out a tired sigh, he wiped his face with a dirty cloth before looking at them curiously.

“Yes?” he asked. “How can I help you?”

Lireina and Croft proceeded to explain their investigation. They described the Halochassis, the mysterious power armors connected to the fallen angels, and asked whether he had seen anything resembling such technology within the fortress.

However, no matter how they rephrased the question, the mechanic’s answer never changed.

“I’m sorry,” he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. “I don’t know anything about it.”

Croft narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to gauge whether he was lying, but the mechanic only looked genuinely confused.

Then Lireina suddenly leaned forward with a playful smirk. “I’ll give you candy if you tell us anything about Halochassis.”

The mechanic blinked once in disbelief before his face turned red in irritation.

“I’m not a kid!” he snapped. “Get lost!”

Croft immediately turned away to hide her laughter while Lireina innocently shrugged her shoulders, clearly amused by his reaction.

The investigation continued for hours after that.

Lireina and Croft searched through nearly every accessible section of the fortress. They questioned workers, researchers, guards, and engineers alike, but every conversation led to another dead end. Either the people truly knew nothing about the Halochassis, or they were too afraid to speak about it.

Unfortunately, the deeper sections of the fortress were completely off-limits.

Large steel doors guarded the lower levels, and armed soldiers stood watch day and night. Even with Lireina’s authority as a Celestial Warden and Croft’s position in the police investigation unit, neither of them possessed the clearance required to enter. Whenever they attempted to inquire further, the guards would immediately shut the conversation down with cold, rehearsed responses.

“Restricted government territory.”

“Access denied.”

“No unauthorized personnel beyond this point.”

The secrecy only made Lireina more suspicious.

By the time evening arrived, exhaustion had begun settling into their bodies. The freezing wind outside bit against their skin as snowflakes drifted lazily from the darkening sky. Deciding to take a break, the two women left the fortress and headed toward the northern district’s night market.

Despite the brutal cold, the market remained lively. Lanterns hanging above the stalls painted the snowy streets with warm shades of orange and gold. Vendors shouted loudly to advertise steaming food and winter goods while the smell of grilled meat, spices, and soup filled the air.

Lireina and Croft eventually settled at a ramen stall near the edge of the marketplace. The warmth radiating from the cooking pot felt heavenly against the freezing night air.

The cook served them large bowls of ramen with thick noodles swimming in rich broth. Steam rose continuously from the surface, carrying the savory aroma of garlic, soy sauce, and slow-cooked meat.

Lireina wrapped both hands around the bowl, allowing the heat to warm her fingers before taking a sip. The broth spread comforting warmth through her body almost instantly.

Even while eating, however, her attention remained fixed on the towering silhouette of the Northern Fortress looming in the distance. Under the pale moonlight, the castle looked even more imposing, its walls standing like a silent giant watching over the frozen land.

“If there’s a Halochassis hidden here,” Lireina muttered quietly, “then it’s probably underground. Somewhere beneath the fortress where we can’t access.” Her emerald eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “And definitely not something surface-level employees would know about.”

“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Croft replied before blowing carefully on her noodles. Steam swirled past her face as she leaned forward cautiously. “Still hot.”

Lireina nodded slowly. “For now, I think the best option is to monitor the fortress from afar.” She glanced toward the western side of the stronghold where a snowy hill overlooked the area. “There’s a hill over there that could serve as a good vantage point.”

“Or…” Croft mumbled between bites, “you could save us all the trouble and bring the entire Celestial Wardens here.”

She swallowed her noodles and pointed her chopsticks toward Lireina.

“We’re dealing with relics connected to fallen angels. Those things are supposedly strong enough to rival Demon Generals.” Croft sighed. “Your entire party would definitely help. Hell, even His Divine Holiness himself could probably handle it.”

Then she snorted lightly.

“Though I suggest leaving Qinglong behind. That guy’s basically a walking disaster.”

Lireina let out a soft chuckle before her expression turned gentler.

“I can’t bring Alexander or the others into this,” she said quietly. “I made a promise to Shin.”

Croft raised an eyebrow.

“Anything related to Professor Gagarin’s work is to remain confidential,” Lireina continued. “The fewer people involved, the better.”

“Eh, fair enough.” Croft shrugged casually and took a large sip from her bowl.

A second later, her eyes widened.

“Hot!”

Lireina covered her mouth elegantly as a small laugh escaped her lips upon seeing Croft burn her tongue for the second time that night. The sight briefly lightened the heavy atmosphere surrounding their investigation.

After calming herself, Lireina brushed her long golden-blonde hair behind her ear and resumed eating quietly.

Yet deep inside her chest, an uneasy feeling lingered.

An invisible tension hung in the air around the Northern Fortress, subtle yet impossible for her instincts to ignore. As an elf, Lireina had long learned to trust the strange sensations that warned her of danger long before it appeared.

Something terrible was coming.

She could feel it as clearly as the freezing northern wind brushing against her skin.

A great battle would soon unfold within the Northern Fortress.

She simply did not know when.