NOISZ STΔRLIVHT/Story/Chapter -1.II

Chapter -1.II
Level Requirements
45 45 45 45 10
Release date: December 31st, 2023

We pinned our hopes on the NOISZ, but that power had a terrible cost. And now, even that is lost to us.

Characters

Story

Arietta describes the NOISZ as the only weapon they had capable of fighting Noise Beasts, a device that could seemingly solve all their problems if they could defeat enough and gather their energy. However, they quickly learn the NOISZ binds itself to the user's soul, killing them instantly if removed, and consuming it to fuel it's power. Unfortunately, neither of the sisters can use it themselves, as it reacts poorly to their corruption, which Remora suspects could spread further if they try to use it.

Because of this, they're forced to find others willing to use it in their stead. This led to them mostly recruiting people about to be killed by Noise Beasts to ease their consciences. Ultimately, Arietta acknowledges they sent many people to their deaths, and reduced the number by reanimating fallen users into NOISZ Beasts to continue collecting energy. Eventually the two stopped telling new users the truth about the NOISZ, as once bound their deaths are inevitable. Arietta reiterates these sins do not belong to Joker, and that she is only telling her about them to explain how they got to the current point.

While Remora attempted to keep their operation secret, Gaius eventually learned of their plan through her data, and developed his own plan to save them. Since the corruption originated from the World of Music, severing it's connection to the human world would sever their corruption's link to the void-along with the very concept of music itself from the rest of the world. He would need the power of the NOISZ to accomplish this, so he waited for a chance to steal it back from Beyond and Arietta.

During a battle against a Noise Beast, Arietta notes they're about to lose another user. Beyond tells her to hide, and they'll retrieve the NOISZ and the body once it's safe. Arietta forces herself to watch the scene, and once it's over, goes to retrieve the NOISZ. She is interrupted by a tranquilizer dart hitting her arm as several armored men arrive on the scene-the Neo-Metro Police Department. One of them notes they've been given orders not to touch her, and takes the NOISZ as Arietta struggles against the effects of the tranquilizer. She attempts to warn them of the NOISZ, but they ignore her as they leave the scene with the device. Arietta relays the news to Beyond, who tells her that they're coming to get her.

Back at base, Remora recaps the situation; Gaius has stolen the NOISZ back, and is using it to sever the connection between the human world and the World of Music. This has caused the corruption in Beyond and Arietta to react poorly, which could be lethal since the corruption has effectively replaced several vital organs by now. Attempting to fix it now is not an option, since it simply assimilates whatever they try to fix it with. Remora suggests they could wait out the disappearance in stasis and fix their bodies afterwards, but Beyond refuses to give up. Remora admits she expected this, but that their options are low considering how it's spread to Beyond's heart; she'll need to be put into stasis soon or she'll die. Arietta's corruption, on the other hand, is in her brain-the human brain is shockingly resilient to damage, and Remora has an unorthodox solution to keep her stable. Regardless, the group has about a week before Beyond will need to go into stasis, and they'll need to come up with something before then.

The scene is suddenly interrupted by Byakko, admonishing Joker for sacrificing them like the other NOISZ users. She declares she wanted to live, and so did the others, before attacking.

After the battle, Joker says she'll accept whatever punishment Byakko wants to give her, but Hakuno appears and tells her that isn't something she'd do. She says she isn't someone who'll roll over and die, and that she won't let Joker beat herself up like this, telling her she deserves the trust that STΔRLIVHT put into her. Joker admits she still doesn't get it, but Hakuno assures her there's nothing wrong with that, before the scene falls away and Joker once again returns to the "present".

Drops

• Song: BADSECRET
• Void Crown x11

Song

Chapter -1.II's song is BADSECRET, as Joker in her STΔRLIVHT STΔFF style.

NOISZ STΔRLIVHT Story Navigation
Chapter 5.II (True Heroes)	Chapter -1.II	Chapter 5.III (True Heroes)
False Timeline Ch 0 Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6 0.I 1.I 2.I 3.I 4.I 5.I 6.I 0.II 1.II 2.II 3.II 4.II 5.II 6.II 0.III 1.III 2.III 3.III 4.III 5.III DE 0.IV 1.IV 2.IV 3.IV 4.IV 5.IV
True Heroes Ch 5 Ch VS Ch 6 5.I VS Prelude 6.I -1.I VS.1 6.II 5.II VS.2 6.III -1.II VS.3 6.IV 5.III VS.4 -1.III VS Postlude 5.IV -1.IV