Other Side of the Raid
Preparations (Part 3)
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Previously on “The Other Side of the Raid”
Chapter 11, Part 2: Preparations (Part 2)
Aria received her assembled international recruits outside an unassuming warehouse in London’s industrial district, where first impressions landed poorly in opposite directions. Thunder made his contempt clear from the moment he arrived, electricity crackling around his fingers as he dismissed the location as a “worthless dump” fit only for staging illusions. Ryusei took a more philosophical line, comparing the unremarkable venue to adding ketchup to fine wagyu. Aria absorbed both remarks without comment and led the group inside—where the interior immediately defied every expectation. The training space appeared at least twice the size of the building’s external dimensions, and the windows visible from the street had simply ceased to exist. Unbeknownst to the recruits, they had stepped into a dimensional Training Room existing in an entirely separate dimension from Earth.
Rather than drawing attention to the spatial impossibility, Aria pivoted to the project’s benefits. Kaoru had already read about training buffs in the brief and noted the space’s “secret dungeon vibes” with characteristic gamer enthusiasm. In answer, Aria produced a small crystal pulsing with unusual power—a preview of the generous ongoing supply participants would receive. The crystal immediately caught Ryusei’s attention; he recognized its extraordinary energy signature as identical to one Aria had provided him the previous week under peculiar circumstances. In tracing those circumstances aloud for the group, he casually revealed that Aria had been conversing at the time with a feline companion outfitted with more broadcasting equipment than a television studio—an offhand detail that sent a headache forming behind Aria’s eyes and threatened to surface questions she was not prepared to answer.
Aria managed the moment by producing a stack of NDAs and redirecting the group to paperwork before anyone could press further. Anastasia reviewed the documents with clinical precision and noted that the security protocols exceeded standard military classification parameters by a considerable margin—what Aria carefully described only as “unique” confidentiality requirements essential to everyone’s continued well-being. With all signatures collected, Aria took a steadying breath as the formal briefing prepared to begin.
Key Takeaways:
The training facility’s interior is a dimensional Training Room existing in a separate dimension, making it far larger than its exterior suggests—a fact the recruits are not told
Thunder remained openly hostile toward Aria from the first moment, dismissing her as a “former B-rank” playing at illusions while electricity crackled around his hands
Aria presented a supply of highly charged crystals as one of the primary incentives for joining the project
Ryusei recognized the crystals’ extraordinary energy signature immediately, connecting them to a crystal Aria had given him the previous week
Ryusei’s offhand account of witnessing Aria speak with a broadcasting-gear-equipped cat threatened to expose her connection to Captain Whiskers and her Federation ties
Aria deflected the dangerous detail by pivoting immediately to NDA paperwork before the group could ask follow-up questions
Anastasia assessed the NDAs as black-site-level security protocols that significantly exceed standard military classification parameters
All recruits signed the confidentiality agreements, but the true nature and full scope of the operation have still not been disclosed
Preparations (Part 3)
Aria: “Everything from this point falls under those NDAs,” she announced, manifesting holographic documents that shimmered with interdimensional energy. “Including the existence of these next agreements.”
Priya: “Double NDAs?” she adjusted her crystal-enhanced glasses. “Even corporate quantum research doesn’t require this level of secrecy.”
The moment the holographic documents materialized in front of each recruit, the room fell into stunned silence.
Marco: “Is this actually floating?” he attempted to dance around the hologram, his capoeira training evident in his fluid movement. “The energy patterns are unlike anything I’ve seen!”
Aria: “Please focus on the content,” she maintained her diplomatic composure. “Every clause is important.”
Hina: “Wait, wait, wait!” her eyes widened at the text. “What’s this about interdimensional prison and planetary annihilation? This is way scarier than my worst stream comments!”
Aria: “Think of it as an especially thorough confidentiality agreement,” she offered with a practiced diplomatic smile. “Compliance ensures a complete lack of cosmic consequences.”
Anastasia: “Fascinating escalation of security protocols,” she noted, analyzing the document with military precision. “Though the signing mechanism remains unclear.”
Aria: “These particular agreements require signatures across several parallel dimensions,” she explained, maintaining a steady tone while ignoring their incredulous expressions. “Allow me to demonstrate.”
What followed was an exercise in interdimensional chaos. Marco accidentally merged two dimensions while attempting his signature, causing everyone’s pens to write in reverse for five minutes. Hina somehow signed in a dimension that only existed on Tuesdays, while Anastasia’s military-precise signature created a temporary quantum paradox that made everyone’s hair stand on end - literally.
Kaoru: “OMG, this is better than any raid glitch I’ve ever seen!” she exclaimed while trying to help Dusty down from where he’d somehow gotten stuck on the ceiling.
Aria: “Don’t worry about the floating signatures or the purple quantum residue,” she assured them with practiced calm. “That should fade in a few hours. Probably.”
After everyone recovered from the signing’s interdimensional side effects, Aria prepared to explain the project’s true nature.
Aria: “Now for the serious part,” she announced, gesturing toward the entrance. A young woman entered - tall and athletic, dressed in dark attire that emphasized her feline features. Her black cat ears twitched alertly while her tail moved with predatory grace. The metal baseball bat she carried seemed to radiate an ominous energy. “In one month, you’ll all be fighting this young lady.”
Rei: “Nice to meet you all,” she said with uncharacteristic shyness, her sharp red eyes briefly scanning the group. “I’m Rei “Nightmare” Nekohara, but just Rei is fine.”
Marco: “Something familiar about your rhythm,” he observed, his capoeira-trained eyes noting her fluid movements. “Have I seen you at the Cherry Blossom Symphony in LA?”
Aria: “You’re thinking of her twin sister, Mei “Sunshine” Nekohara,” she explained. “Rei is actually the final boss from the nearby ‘Midnight Crescendo’ raid.”
Anastasia: “Final boss of an S-rank Raid?” Her clinical tone couldn’t hide her alarm. “Probability of survival requires significant recalculation.”
Thunder: “Another of Aria’s pathetic illusions,” he sneered, lightning crackling more intensely around him as he strode toward Rei. “No cosplayer in a silly cat outfit could match my power.”
What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Rei’s earlier shyness vanished, replaced by cold fury. Her bat moved in a horizontal arc, too fast for human eyes to track. The strike bisected Thunder cleanly - but instead of gore, his form shimmered and dissolved like defeated dungeon enemies. A moment later, he reappeared at the entrance, whole but clearly shaken.
Thunder: “Every nerve is screaming!” he gasped, his usual arrogance replaced by genuine pain.
Professor: “Rushing in without proper analytical assessment? How depressingly predictable,” came a precise, academic voice. The Explorers turned to see a tiny figure hovering near Thunder. The pixie adjusted her wire-rimmed spectacles with scholarly precision, her miniature academic robes rustling with the movement. “One might think you’d have learned such basic tactical principles by now.”
Aria: “Everyone, meet your instructor.”
Professor: “I am Professor Rosepetal Quillscribe,” she announced, drawing herself up to her full (if diminutive) height. “Under my tutelage, you shall become warriors worth mentioning in the historical records - assuming your cognitive faculties survive the process.”
Kaoru: “OMG, an actual talking pixie! This is like the rarest spawn ever!”
Anastasia: “The instructor’s full designation exceeds tactical communication parameters,” she noted thoughtfully. “Field operations require more efficient nomenclature.”
Professor: “Very well,” she adjusted her spectacles with clear disappointment. “For the sake of expedience, you may refer to me as Professor, as do all my less academically-inclined students.”
Professor: “Now then, Aria, perhaps you should explain why our impetuous friend isn’t currently occupying two separate spatial locations?”
Aria: “While in this facility, death isn’t permanent,” she explained. “However,” she added with diplomatic precision, “the pain is very real.”
Marco: “Will we be training against Rei?” he asked, his capoeira master’s instincts already analyzing her movement patterns.
Professor: “That would rather spoil the culminating engagement,” she replied, adjusting her tiny spectacles. “Instead...” she gestured elegantly.
A figure materialized beside her with military precision. The newcomer stood tall and elegant in a crystalline uniform that seemed to flow like liquid while maintaining perfect rigidity. White cat ears peeked out from under a crystal-accented military cap, while her tail maintained perfect parade rest position.
Aria: “This is Lady Crystalline, tenth floor boss from Rei’s raid,” she explained. “Mastering single combat against her will prepare you for your group encounter with Rei.”
Lady Crystalline: “A pleasure,” she stated with crisp military courtesy. “Crystalline will suffice.”
Hina: “Wait, something’s weird here,” she frowned, her streamer’s attention to detail kicking in. “How are we understanding them? Dungeon bosses never talk!”
Dusty: “Strewth! The sheila’s right,” he added, survival instincts on high alert. “This ain’t your normal dungeon setup.”
Priya: “The crystal resonance patterns are entirely unprecedented,” she observed, adjusting her analytical glasses.
Aria: “This facility has... certain special properties,” she replied carefully. “The translation feature is just one of many.”
Anastasia: “The quantum-reinforced NDAs become increasingly justified.”
Professor: “Sufficient speculation! Time for preliminary combat assessment,” she declared as Crystalline manifested a massive crystalline wall with parade-ground precision. “Each candidate will attempt to breach this barrier.”
For thirty minutes, the Explorers unleashed their most powerful attacks. Lightning crackled, wind howled, and earth shook - yet the wall remained unmarred.
Rei: “Tch, pathetic,” she muttered, casually approaching the wall. Her hand shot out, crystal cracking under her grip before shattering into glittering dust.
Aria: “I had hoped...” she trailed off, realizing just how far her recruits needed to progress.
Thunder: “Like you could do better,” he sneered, static crackling around him. “Or are you planning to trick the wall with more illusions?”
Aria’s patience finally snapped. Adamantine nails extended from her right hand, gleaming with otherworldly sharpness. One fluid motion - more dance than attack - and the crystal wall separated along perfect diagonal lines. The pieces slid apart with mathematical precision, hitting the ground with musical chimes that echoed the stunned silence.
Professor: “Perhaps a more comprehensive demonstration is warranted,” she observed, noting the Explorers’ shock. “Aria, Crystalline - if you would?”
The two squared off in the training area’s center. Aria manifested her adamantine nails on both hands while Crystalline assumed a perfect parade rest stance. For a moment, perfect stillness.
Then chaos erupted.
Crystal shards filled the air like deadly rain. Aria met them with manifested machine guns, each bullet precisely placed to shatter incoming projectiles. She moved like water, every dodge flowing into a counter-attack. When Crystalline tried to cage her with crystal walls, Aria launched herself skyward, her form silhouetted against the ceiling.
At the apex of her jump, Creation magic blazed. Fireballs spiraled with ice lances in a deadly double helix. Grenades materialized in their wake, their explosions creating a cascading symphony of destruction. Crystalline’s crystal fortress became her prison, the confined space amplifying each blast.
When the smoke cleared, Crystalline reappeared at the entrance, her uniform somehow still perfectly pressed. The Explorers stood frozen, their expressions ranging from awe to terror as they processed what they’d witnessed.
Professor: “I believe our candidates require time for cognitive recalibration,” she noted, adjusting her spectacles which had somehow remained perfectly positioned throughout the chaos. “We shall commence actual training tomorrow, assuming you’ve all processed today’s revelations.”
Aria: “And remember,” she added as they prepared to leave, her diplomatic tone carrying steel beneath its smoothness, “the NDAs are quite specific about discussing what you’ve witnessed.”
The Explorers filed out, physically untouched but mentally exhausted. Their world had just become significantly larger - and considerably more terrifying.
📡 End of Transmission
Oliver here - That was quite a chapter! Our dimensional frequency is picking up intense emotional resonance from Aria’s world. What did you think of her decision? The comments below are buzzing with theories from other interdimensional travelers...