NOVEL WEB Chapter 15
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[TEMPORARY INCIDENT REPORT] 769-C-8
WRITTEN BY: Researcher D, Member of FPL’s 6th Research Lab
INCIDENT OVERVIEW: On ■ Month ■■ Day at ■■ Hours ■■ Minutes, a containment breach of IF-769-1 occurred at the 4th Research Facility, resulting in multiple casualties. In response, the 6th Research Facility deployed the specialized rapid response team ‘Marizan Ballerina’ to handle IF-769. Approximately ■ minutes after the breach, at ■■ Hours ■■ Minutes, the body of IF-769-1 was discovered.
DETAILS: Below is the communication log between members of the ‘Marizan Ballerina’ team and the situation room located at the 6th Research Facility.
FPL 4th Research Facility rooftop—10 operatives from the IF-769 dedicated rapid response team ‘Marizan Ballerina’ descend from IF-401.
All members of ‘Marizan Ballerina’ are equipped with reinforced ballistic plates integrated into their armor and armed with ARX-420 assault rifles loaded with silver bullets (caliber 6.8mm). Each member has participated in at least 11 successful neutralizations of IF-769-1.
OPERATIVE 1: Successful descent at drop point. Conducting final checks before operation start.
OPERATIVE 2: All clear.
OPERATIVE 3: No issues here.
Voices of ‘Marizan Ballerina’ operatives continue.
OPERATIVE 1: All checks out. Since we’ve all heard what happened on the way here, I’ll keep the briefing short.
Holograms project onto the wrists of ‘Marizan Ballerina’ operatives.
The map displays the shortest route to Sector C-17 of the 4th Research Facility.
OPERATIVE 1: The target’s current location is Sector C-17, blocked off by containment walls. There’s no sign of movement toward other areas. Objective: Locate IF-769-1 and turn it into a silver-riddled beehive. Sector C-17 is residential, but as everyone knows, either the residents have evacuated or they’re already inside the wolf’s belly. Doesn’t matter either way. Any questions?
OPERATIVE 2: Question from Operative 2.
OPERATIVE 1: Go ahead.
OPERATIVE 2: Isn’t the standard tactic to first establish a perimeter around IF-769-1? Considering its past behavior patterns, the fact that it stayed in one sector this long seems… suspicious.
OPERATIVE 1: No traces of IF-769-1 were found in any connected corridors to Sector C-17. Unless IF-769-1 suddenly developed the ability to phase through objects or burrow underground, it’s definitely hiding in Sector C-17.
OPERATIVE 2: Understood.
OPERATIVE 1: Situation Room, we’re going in.
SITUATION ROOM: Confirmed.
OPERATIVE 1: Everyone, follow me inside. We’ve taken down this thing countless times, but don’t let your guard down—it’s still an unknown phenomenon.
OPERATIVE 1 leads the charge, followed by the rhythmic footsteps of the team.
Approximately 7 minutes later, ‘Marizan Ballerina’ enters the now power-dead Sector C-17. The sound of containment walls lowering echoes through the air.
Sector C-17 is eerily silent, devoid of any signs of life.
OPERATIVE 4: Ugh… smell like blood.
OPERATIVE 1: Looks like they cut the power first. Smart move. Everyone, activate night vision goggles.
Helmet adjustments can be heard.
OPERATIVE 3: Everyone, check this out.
OPERATIVE 1: What is it?
OPERATIVE 3: Footprints. They belong to IF-769-1.
OPERATIVE 1: Obvious trap, but following them will lead us straight to the target. Operatives 5 through 10, maintain constant vigilance behind and above us.
OPERATIVE 5: Roger.
OPERATIVE 8: Got it.
OPERATIVE 1 walks toward a room marked by a trail of blood, with the rest of the team slowly trailing behind.
OPERATIVE 1: The stench of wolf blood is overwhelming. Here we go. Everyone, prepare for combat.
Footsteps halt abruptly, and the bodycam footage shakes erratically. A massive silhouette about 3 meters tall looms on screen.
Murmurs ripple through the team.
OPERATIVE 2: … Am I seeing things?
OPERATIVE 4: Nah, I see it too. Same thing.
OPERATIVE 1: Silence.
OPERATIVE 1 aims their ARX-420 rifle at the silhouette.
OPERATIVE 1: Everyone, step back three paces.
Two gunshots echo, but the muzzle flashes are invisible due to suppressors.
A sizzling sound emanates from the black silhouette where silver bullets struck, yet it doesn’t move.
OPERATIVE 1: … Hmph. Situation Room, you seeing this?
SITUATION ROOM: Yes.
OPERATIVE 1 lowers their weapon, pointing the flashlight instead.
OPERATIVE 1: That’s just a corpse, isn’t it?
SITUATION ROOM: What does that mean? We need more details.
OPERATIVE 1: Nothing fancy. Exactly what you see.
OPERATIVE 1 shines light toward the silhouette and approaches cautiously.
The remains of IF-769-1 appear on screen.
The IF-769-1 ‘Werewolf’ entity responsible for the containment breach is cleanly severed into two parts—its torso and lower body sliced apart with surgical precision—and is rapidly decomposing, losing vertebrate characteristics.
OPERATIVE 1: This clean cut… Could it be Robert Riston’s squad? Must’ve been tough work. Why did they call us if the job’s done? Total waste of time.
OPERATIVE 1 taps their communicator irritably.
At this point, the only external personnel dispatched were the 10 members of the ‘Marizan Ballerina’ rapid response team. No reinforcements were sent from either the 4th or 6th Research Facilities.
Urgent updates come through from the Situation Room.
SITUATION ROOM: Marizan Ballerina, listen up. We didn’t contact anyone besides you.
OPERATIVE 2: What do you mean…
SITUATION ROOM: Immediately evacuate Sector C-17 and return to IF-401 waiting on the rooftop.
Muttering voices ripple through ‘Marizan Ballerina’.
A calm curse escapes OPERATIVE 1.
OPERATIVE 1: Hah, great… another mess.
SITUATION ROOM: We’ve remotely opened the nearest containment barriers for your escape route. Follow the path we’ve set.
Holograms project from the wrist units of ‘Marizan Ballerina’.
The map shows a red line marking the shortest route to the rooftop.
OPERATIVE 1: Everyone, retreat as fast as possible. No time for responses—just follow me.
OPERATIVE 1 immediately turns and strides away.
Though no verbal confirmations are heard, the synchronized footfalls indicate the team is following OPERATIVE 1.
OPERATIVE 1 taps their communicator again.
OPERATIVE 1: Situation Room, anything seem off?
SITUATION ROOM: We haven’t identified the entity responsible for triggering the ultra-hazardous anomaly lockdown system at the 4th Research Facility yet.
OPERATIVE 1: You’re telling me some mysterious force just showed up and bisected this werewolf kid? Why are you telling us this now?
SITUATION ROOM: No other plausible explanation exists. We just received the information ourselves.
OPERATIVE 4: If there’s an unidentified ultra-hazardous anomaly appearing and disappearing without us knowing, shouldn’t the entire facility be shut down? How could the 4th Research Facility cover something like this up, and why hasn’t HQ said anything…
OPERATIVE 1 signals silence. Both voices and footsteps cease instantly.
SITUATION ROOM: According to position trackers, you’ve all stopped moving. What’s going on?
OPERATIVE 1 silently shines a laser pointer forward.
Sector C-17 remains pitch-black without additional light sources, though the ‘Marizan Ballerina’ team’s night vision goggles allow them to see clearly.
Breathing becomes erratic among ‘Marizan Ballerina’.
OPERATIVE 9: Strange. IF-769-1 usually only hunts to feed, but this body is intact. The cuts aren’t gnawed or crushed… Wait. It’s not a body.
OPERATIVE 4: It’s a kid. Looks like a girl around elementary school age.
Judging from the dialogue and reactions, ‘Marizan Ballerina’ appears to have encountered a young girl roughly 8-10 years old.
OPERATIVE 1: Infected? Someone, show me a silver bead. If she’s infected, we’ll terminate and withdraw.
Only quiet whispers and clinking sounds are heard.
After the sound of a bead rolling, a sigh follows.
OPERATIVE 2: No reaction to silver. Doesn’t seem to be IF-769.
OPERATIVE 1: Situation Room, aside from Code Blue triggered by the IF-769-1 containment breach, did you receive any emergency alerts from the 4th Research Facility?
SITUATION ROOM: Checking quickly… Aside from today’s Code Black alert automatically triggered by detection systems, which was dismissed as a device error within 7 seconds by the facility director, nothing else stands out.
OPERATIVE 1: So this kid is either an innocent survivor left behind in such a dangerous place or an unconfirmed anomalous threat of ultra-hazardous level. Let’s investigate carefully.
Shuffling footsteps and equipment activation sounds are heard.
During subsequent interviews, OPERATIVE 1 revealed they conducted a basic humanoid anomaly test at this point, commonly referred to as the “Legacy AI Picture Test.”
OPERATIVE 2: No finger distortion, hair isn’t detached, no extra limbs. Visibly, she’s fully human.
OPERATIVE 6: Unconscious, normal body temperature… Hey, what’s under her head? A cushion…?
OPERATIVE 5 mutters thoughtfully.
OPERATIVE 5: That pillow… isn’t it IF-098? We’ve got a few at the 6th Research Facility too. But why isn’t it mimicking anything even though we’re watching?
OPERATIVE 1: Tsuchinoko… must be.
It was confirmed that Sector C-17 housed a single specimen of IF-098 ‘Tsuchinoko.’
K Researcher, who resided in Sector C-17, testified that IF-098 was “popular among residents despite being a venomous snake due to its docile nature and round shape.”
OPERATIVE 1: Mystery solved. If this kid were the monster that cleaved IF-769-1 in half, there’d be no reason for her to cradle IF-098 so carefully.
OPERATIVE 2: Then…?
OPERATIVE 3 shines a light.
Next, OPERATIVE 1 retrieves a pristine stretcher unused until now.
OPERATIVE 1: Survivor.
OPERATIVE 4: Whoa… never thought we’d rescue a survivor while wiping out nearly a hundred werewolves.
OPERATIVE 1: Probably the sibling or child of a Beta Rank staff member. Let’s keep her on IF-401 until she regains consciousness, then hand her over to the 4th Research Facility once her identity is confirmed. Load her up quickly.
OPERATIVE 2: What about IF-098?
OPERATIVE 1: Situation Room, you hearing this?
SITUATION ROOM: IF-098 antivenom is also stocked aboard IF-401. Prioritize returning swiftly.
OPERATIVE 1: No need to separate unnecessarily and waste time. Load it together. Then we’ll exit via the shortest route.
Sounds of loading the stretcher with the survivor are heard. She remains motionless and silent.
For approximately 3 minutes, only footsteps are audible.
OPERATIVE 4: Here (sound of breaking glass) (unintelligible)… why is the vending machine so thoroughly destroyed? Are anomalies drinking soda these days?
OPERATIVE 8: We’re pretty far from Sector C-17… looks like the anomaly had a wide operational radius. It might’ve already swept through the entire 4th Research Facility by now.
OPERATIVE 1: Ignore it. Move faster.
About 12 minutes later, ‘Marizan Ballerina’ reaches the rooftop of the 4th Research Facility.
OPERATIVE 1: Situation Room, ‘Marizan Ballerina’ team fully assembled on the rooftop of the 4th Research Facility. All ten operatives accounted for, plus one survivor recovered. Requesting permission to board IF-401.
SITUATION ROOM: Permission granted.
OPERATIVE 1: Everyone, board IF-401.
‘Marizan Ballerina’ moves toward the entrance of IF-401.
RECORD TERMINATED.
INCIDENT RESULT: As the incident is ongoing, the result section will remain blank.
However, considering the survivor was found clutching IF-098 and IF-098’s well-documented mimicry abilities, the possibility of IF-098 ‘Tsuchinoko’ possessing reality-distortion capabilities related to perception interference has been raised.
ANNOTATION: I’ve studied IF-098 for four years, and none of that is true. Was almost excited to finally get back to my main research area. Really, though. – J Researcher, IF-098 Project Lead
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