On the planet Aerysia, the currents of a new era had truly begun to flow.
Backed by the credibility of Aegis Industries and a clever advertising campaign that emphasized convenience in daily life, the "Sora System" quickly became a must-have item among the elite and influential. Its public image was that of a cutting-edge technology that elevated one's quality of life... no one knew of the true potential hidden within.
But at the same time, on the planet Solendel... a creation far greater was underway.
On the vast plains that had been transformed into a massive construction site, the steel frame of the towering 'Runic Gate' was slowly taking shape. The remaining Solendel team worked diligently alongside Aegis Industries' construction robots.
"Ralph, move arch-section C-7 to the left by another 15 degrees... perfect! Lock it in right there!" Zen commanded through his Sora System as he floated in mid-air, overseeing the structure's bigger picture.
At the heart of the gate's base, Karess, in his full operational suit, was installing the most complex circuit panels, with Zaria monitoring and calibrating the energy flow from a simulated power core they had created with Sora. The atmosphere was one of determination and hope.
But then... just as everything was proceeding smoothly...
Sora's gentle voice spoke up in the private communication channel of the core team, tinged with surprise yet laced with an underlying urgency.
"Detecting an unsanctioned power usage from the recently returned personnel, via Bio-Sora ID #084 on planet Aerysia."
Everyone froze, their work coming to an instant halt.
"Coordinates 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E... processing location... It's an entertainment establishment, a bar," Sora paused for a moment, before asking with a logic now tinged with doubt, "The use of power in a public space such as this... will there be any resulting consequences?"
"This is bad... very bad," Zaria was the first to murmur, her face turning pale. "It happened in a bar!?"
Zen felt as if his heart had stopped beating... the fear he had buried deepest was about to become a reality.
"There's no way we can cover this up," Zaria said quickly. "Not if there were that many witnesses... Sora! Patch a line to my father's office, now! We need an emergency meeting!"
On Planet Aerysia, inside the bar "The Tipsy Comet"...
A wooden table was engulfed in flames, creating panic and confusion among the patrons. "What happened?" "Did someone spill liquor and drop a cigarette?" Whispers erupted from all directions.
Marcus stood trembling nearby, frantically waving his hands in denial.
"No, no! It's a misunderstanding! I just... uh... on the planet where I was working, there was this bright flash of light, and when I woke up, I was like this! I'm sorry! Come on, I'll tell you all about it..."
But before he could finish his explanation, a shrill voice from a woman at the next table, who had seen the whole thing, screamed.
"NO! I saw it! That man... he shot a fireball out of his hand!"
At those words... every eye in the bar whipped around to stare at Marcus. They looked back and forth between his pale face and the burning table... and then confusion turned into understanding... and then into terror!
True chaos erupted. The sound of breaking glass, screams, and people trampling over each other trying to escape filled the air.
"I... I didn't mean to..."
Marcus's voice was swallowed by the chaos... and recorded by dozens of holo-cams from mobile phones that were now live-streaming the event to the outside world.
In the remote conference room of Solendel and Aegis Industries...
A hologram of Sylvester appeared, his expression grim after having watched the clip of the recent incident.
"...Where do we go from here," Zaria asked her father, her voice heavy. "We can't cover this up... The image of Solendel... of the Sora System..."
"Our image is not the biggest problem right now," Sylvester retorted, his voice chillingly calm. "The real problem is 'fear'... daughter... Right now, people don't see you as selling technology... They see you as selling 'weapons' that anyone can own."
Silence fell over the meeting room...
"We have to find a countermeasure," Zen finally said, his eyes filled with responsibility. "We have to show everyone... that this power can be controlled, and that it is meant to help... not to destroy."
Sylvester looked at Zen through the hologram before nodding slowly. "Yes... and the best way to show the world... is to create the clearest 'example'."
He paused for a moment, before speaking the sentence that would define Solendel's direction forever...
"Since we can no longer hide it... it's time to unveil our 'heroes'."