Summer

The subject has lower-than-average physical health statistics but her intelligence far exceeds the mean, the upper limit of her IQ indeterminable by any currently available tests. Uses a personally developed drone-like Ring Weapon to aid fights.

As reported by the Ring Research Institute, the subject carried out multiple unauthorized experiments during her tenure in the institute and purposely approached sources of contamination. It's believed that the accumulation of contaminants in her body reached a breaking point and triggered the awakening.

Relies too much on the Ring Weapon to move around, leading to muscle degeneration and a weaker body. But the growth of her Mania level is significantly lower than that in normal people, so it's believed that the subject was born with higher compatibility with the Ring Substance.

Suspected to be a dangerous scientist spy with some anti-EDGE tendency. Once praised as an extremely rare genius, the subject was the Ring Research Institute's youngest member. The subject was exposed for owning the core technology of a classified forbidden weapon without permission. She refused the institute's collaboration request and betrayed the institute. The subject's behaviors directly led to the leak of Ring Weapon technology into the market and facilitated the creation of Mania Weapons, greatly worsening the violence in Syndicate.

It's now been proven that the Research Institute violated the regulations early on and sold Ring Weapon-related technology to Parma. The contamination-loaded Mania weapons available in the market are products of Parma's evil research. It's confirmed that the subject has invented a contamination-free Ring Weapon. Her invention has improved the lives of many and she provides essential support behind various major missions of the Bureau.

Following an order from the top, the MBCC spent a long time tracking and observing the subject and finally arrested her when she attended her graduation ceremony while still injured. The subject had prepared close to ten escape plans but still ended up being captured by the Chief personally.

Born in an Eastside family with a scientific and engineering background, the subject has demonstrated incredible intelligence and a gift for mechanical engineering since a young age. At fourteen, the subject had already mastered all doctoral courses and was exceptionally accepted into the Ring Research Institute by recommendation as a junior high school student, making headlines in Eastside.

As one of the youngest researchers in the Ring Research Institute, Summer picked Ring Weapon as her research topic and quickly achieved monumental breakthroughs in the field. The research was then suspended for some unknown reason, while the subject was transferred to Project Genius by the institute.

The institute passed the Ring Weapon to the Laboratory of Parma without Summer's agreement. She was enraged by this action and subsequently dug out the truth about the human experiments. After destroying the Parma lab, the subject escaped with the research result. She was charged with multiple crimes by the 9th Agency and included on the wanted list.

After the events of Unclaimed Crypt, the Chief contacts the Ring Research Institute regarding the nature of Mania Crystals. The scientist they speak to over the phone doesn't have the answers, instead pointing them to Summer, and provides them with an item they can use to pique her interest. Some time later, the Chief meets a disinterested Summer in the interrogation room, who dodges the question after the Chief shows her a Mania weapon. The Chief then produces the item: a heavily encrypted data drive that no one in the MBCC could crack. Summer lights up, promising to answer any question in exchange for it, and the Chief agrees. Summer cracks the code in seconds. The drive contains a video, a storyboard for the first episode of an animated series titled The Age of Youth. It is based loosely on her life, beginning with when a young, sickly Summer saw an anime that first motivated her to become a hero, launching her on her impressive early tear through academia.

The Chief asks once more about Mania Crystals and the nature of the "Ring substance" that they are made of. Summer likens the situation in the crypt to a glass of water: much like a lower temperature would cause more ice to form in the glass, a higher contamination rate would cause more Ring substance to form inside the crypt. A Mania Crystal, she explains, is what happens when Ring substance absorbs a Sinner's spiritual energy. Unlike regular contamination from Manic humans, the Ring substance seems to draw its power from elsewhere, though she has yet to find out where. She knows that PARMA has some means to force Sinners to maintain a Manic state in order to lengthen the time in which the Ring substance can form Mania Crystals, citing Ninety-Nine as a victim of such experiments. On the topic of PARMA, the Chief produces a distress signal that came from one of their labs, supposedly related to Mania weapons. When they question Summer on whether she knows about the incident, she arbitrarily decides to end their so-called "Q&A session," instead rushing off to watch more anime.

Mania Crystals, the Ring substance.... These mysterious and deadly substances seem to be mere playthings in Summer's hands. No one expected this mad genius to have such a deep secret. The videotape has resolved the question that no one could answer. At least for now, you want your relationship to be one of mentor and friend instead of Sinner and warden.

Some time after the Chief absorbs the Inheritance, they begin to experience a recurring nightmare in which they are devoured by a Corpseborne, demanding that they "accept the Gift." Despite the unsettling nature of it, the Chief describes the feeling of the corruption as natural and familiar. Upon waking up, they once again contact the Ring Research Institute, and before they can even explain, the scientist sends them to Summer once again, providing them with another encrypted drive. Not having shared the details of what happened with anyone outside the Bureau, the Chief suspects that the Institute may be spying on them. The next episode of The Age of Youth details Summer's progress on the Ring weapon after being expelled from the Institute. This time, having spent the last few months building up a rapport, Summer comments that the Chief is less anxious when they spend time together. She asks what difficult questions have been on their mind lately, and the Chief asks about the nature of Black Rings. As Summer begins to muse on the topic, the Chief recalls the feeling of absorbing the corruption at Keylan Square, almost vomiting in the process.

Summer describes how being stuck inside a Black Ring can lead one to becoming subsumed by the will of its host. She explains that the Ring substance is a byproduct of this will invading reality, saying that it contains "extremely strong mental power", hence why she chose it to power her Ring Weapon. The Chief asks how to stop spiritual contamination, and Summer replies that the only way to do so is to eliminate the source of Mania entirely: Black Rings. She states that the Inheritances are the sole cause of Black Rings, and that should she be able to get her hands on one, she would finally be able to learn "the truth of the world." The Chief tries to describe the Inheritance without revealing that they have absorbed it, but Summer, having already infiltrated the Bureau's intranet, has already figured out the truth. She becomes increasingly frantic and excited at the possibility of the discoveries she could make, turning her weapons on the Chief. When the Chief tries to call for help, they find that Summer has already disabled the security systems. Chiding that they have underestimated the power of Infinite Knowledge, Summer hits them with a tranquilizer shot, quickly knocking them unconscious.

The Ring Research Institute scientist, whose name is revealed to be Laplace, receives word that the Chief and Summer have gone missing. Having already anticipated this outcome, he suspects that they have gone to the ruins of the PARMA Laboratory.

Summer's senses are just too sharp. She catches on that something's wrong from just a few words. Her curiosity has been ignited after learning that you've absorbed the Inheritance. After bringing you under control, this mad scientist is now free of all restraints.

The Chief awakens in a glass containment tank, finding that Summer has somehow disabled the Shackles. She calls the Chief "the ideal candidate for the Inheritance," confident that they won't mutate into a monster. She explains that PARMA Laboratory was where the Inheritance was originally stored, making it the perfect testing ground for her own experiments on it. She fills the tank with a blue solution she calls "Inheritance Catalyst Number Three," which plunges the Chief back into the corrupting sensations of their earlier nightmare while somehow mitigating their anxiety. They deduce that Summer wants to replicate the Inheritance's original form, but soon, the holding tank begins to collapse. As the Chief attempts to persuade the panicking Summer about the dangerous nature of the Inheritance, Laplace emerges from the shadows. He makes Summer an offer: return to the Research Institute and he'll not only protect her from the MBCC, but give her all the funding and facilities she needs to finish her current project.

Summer calls Laplace boring. He says that the "tragedy of PARMA" won't happen again, attempting to entice her with the promise of making her a hero, but she refuses. She reveals that the Institute sold her research to PARMA and that she has no intention of trusting them ever again. After warning the Chief that a battle is about to begin, dozens of armed men open fire on her. Laplace taunts her, but Summer quickly turns the tides of battle, reducing all of his backup to ash. Laplace dons a strange glove that glows with a blue light, its aura reminding Chief of their battle with the Corpseborne. The Chief reaches inside their mind, digging for the "truth" that Summer has been searching for, and manages to harness the power of the Inheritance with the help of the state induced by the solution. Extending the Shackles through the tank, they empower Summer to be able to withstand Laplace's attack. The two scientists fire their weapons at the same time, filling the room with a blinding white light.

The Ring Research Institute anticipated all of Summer's actions. Even the research conducted on you is part of their plan. Laplace, or rather the Ring Research Institute, anticipated everything. They want to use you to lure Summer back to the Ring Research Institute. However, it seems that this genius doesn't have the best relationship with the institute. The blazing light that pierced the sky once again shines over the Laboratory of Parma.

The Chief awakens in an unknown infirmary with Summer standing over them. She informs them that while their body is in good shape, the Inheritance is still inside of them, and based on her research, she can't guarantee their safety if they either overuse the Shackles of get too close to another Black Ring. She warns the Chief that danger may accompany further learning on the subject, and in turn, the Chief warns her that the longer they spend away from the Bureau, the more likely that Summer's punishment will be more severe than a trip to the confinement cell. Summer says that they can do so after they finish Age of Youth. She takies the Chief downstairs, changes into a school uniform, and says that today, they'll be filming it in person.She has brought the Chief to a high school on graduation day, intending to finally gain the experience of graduating for herself.

As the ceremony begins, Summer reflects on the loneliness she felt in school. In her mind, Age of Youth has to end with Summer's return to normal life with her friends, but without any friends to speak of, Summer says that she'll make due the Chief. Once the last diploma is handed out, the Chief asks Summer if she wants to mingle with the students. She hesitates, and Nightingale finally gets through, promising that a rescue team will arrive shortly. The Chief apologizes, but Summer is understanding. In the car on the way back to the Bureau, Summer says that future battles will only be tougher, but that with the Chief as her companion, she will surely find a way to save the world.

Later, in the confinement cell, Summer complains that without chocolate, she won't be able to finish animating Age of Youth. Although the Chief threatens to lower her supply, they decide to raise it instead, hoping that this small act of kindness can begin to compensate Summer for once again missing the graduation of her dreams.

The last episode of The Age of Youth is finally released in a high school of Eastside. No special effect or expensive props. It just feels like some ordinary life moment, but it becomes a regret of Summer's that can never be compensated.

Everything the subject owns has been highly customized by herself: a computer that follows her around, a hovering platform that carries her everywhere, the detention room that's been immediately modified into a lab.... Even her utensils are equipped with an artificial intelligence speech recognition system.

Overly obsessed with the idea of a free and fun high school life. The complex and unusual personnel in the MBCC have never been able to satisfy her fantasy. She once attempted to create forty android classmates to be her companions but was stopped by the staff.

The subject has been specially allowed to visit her family. It's been observed that Summer is able to effectively hold back her uninhibited behavior a couple days before and after her parents' visits.

Has been strictly demanded by the Chief to swear off her Ring Weapon dependence and to train herself physically and walk with her feet. Summer has been following the training schedule very listlessly, keeping a record of four sit-ups in a minute. This is possibly the maximum compromise she's made in order to make the Chief stay and watch anime with her.

[Summer hands you a mechanical arm, brimming with anticipation.]

Summer: Chief, come try this!

Chief: ......

• Prompt: …I think this thing still has room for improvement.
• Summer: Well... I think you've got a point.
• Summer: 😥

• Prompt: Umm… do I have to chop off my arm to use it?
• Summer: Hehe… How are you going to put it on without cutting it off?
• Summer: 😦😏

[Summer is slumped down on her bedroom bed.]

Summer: Sigh…. Why do people feel tired…?

Chief: ......

• Prompt: Sleep early and wake up early. Exercise more.
• Summer: Huh? Well, in that case, you might as well just kill me.
• Summer: 😖😫😖

• Prompt: Working the brain can also be exhausting.
• Summer: Hehe. It seems someone finally knows how to appreciate a genius like me.
• Summer: 😉😏

⚠ Mysterious Hacker

The Supervision Center seems to have been hacked, but...

System Notifications: The Supervision Center was hacked but no information was leaked. On the contrary, the hacker optimized the internal code structure. The technical department discovered a string of mysterious codes in the database. After decoding the string, it was revealed as a picture of chocolate.

• Prompt: Buy some chocolate

System Notifications: Shortly after that, you discovered a smiley face on the Supervision Center's display screen.

⚠ Summer Stringy Special

Summer seems especially happy today.

System Notifications: Summer gave you a bag of speciality coffee from her latest research, and you were awake for an entire night after drinking it.

• Prompt: Nice coffee.

System Notifications: The coffee tastes really good, but after staying up for the entire night, fatigue suddenly takes over you.

⚠⚠ A Dangerous Invention

You discover that the Energy Furnace's production capacity has grown significantly.

System Notifications: Supervision System:
The Energy Furnace's production capacity has grown significantly. Go and check?

• Prompt: Go and check

Chief: What are you doing here, Summer?

Summer: Since you're here, it means you've already noticed my invention, Chief.

Summer: Ta-da! Summer's energy amplifier! With this tiny supplementary device, I've enhanced the Energy Furnace's production cycle and resource utilization. The average output is now more than 50% higher!

Summer: Only at a... very small cost.

• Prompt: What cost?

Summer: The Energy Furnace has a 0.003% daily failure rate.

• Prompt: And what are the consequences of a failure?

Summer: It'll instantly produce a large amount of energy, which will cause a certain impact on the closed underground environment it's situated in.

• Prompt: Which means...

Summer: To put it simply, the whole MBCC will blow up.

• Prompt: Stop Summer

Summer: Eh? Can't you support science with your actions, Chief?

Chief: I prefer to choose to stay alive with my actions...

⚠⚠ Machine Intrusion

Alert! An unknown machine has intruded into the Bureau.

System Notifications: Warning. Warning. An unknown machine has broken in. Security program has been launched to destroy it. View incident report?

• Prompt: View

System Notifications: Intruder Identity: Micro-robot
Intrusion Purpose: To steal multiple chocolate sticks

System Notifications: Intruder Composition: electric watch part x5, resin figure part x17, unknown part x6, tomato x1
Casualties: 5, slightly injured

• Prompt: Send for Summer

Summer: Oh, are you looking for me, Chief? What's the matter?

Chief: Did you make that little robot that stole chocolate sticks?

Summer: What are you talking about? I'm not sure I understand.

Chief: Cut it out. There's only one person in the Bureau who can make a robot out of those materials.

Summer: Hey, you can't just put the blame on me based on that assumption. We should catch up with some detective anime this weekend together, Chief.

• Prompt: Scold Summer
• Chief: Someone got injured.
• Summer: What? I-I'm sorry... I already limited the robot's combat function. Was it still too strong?
• Summer: Are the injuries serious?
• Chief: No, but I'll have to put you in the Confinement Cell for a day.
• Summer: Sob...

• Prompt: Ask Summer
• Chief: Why did you need a tomato to make a robot?
• Summer: Well, I'll tell you when I'm in the mood. But of course, if you give me some more chocolate... I can let you have a peek at the trial version of my exclusive blueprint.
• Chief: Never do that again, or I'll send you to the Confinement Cell.
• Summer: Sob...

⚠⚠⚠ Scriptwriting Contest

Summer signs up for an anime scriptwriting contest.

System Notifications: Summer is concentrating on writing something with a pen and paper.

• Prompt: Approach and ask

Chief: What are you doing?

Summer: It's you, Chief. I've enrolled in an anime scriptwriting contest, but I'm struggling for an idea...

Summer: Why don't you help me think of the rest of the plot?

Summer: This is a story about a genius high school girl, and a transfer student who's lost memories!

Summer: First, the two of them are...

• Prompt: Friends
• Summer: Yup, alright, they're friends.
• Summer: The two of them develop a giant robot together and fight against all kinds of evil! I'm really psyched just thinking about it!
• Summer: The two keep on fighting until the story takes a wild turn! Haha, I love the final twist of the story.
• Summer: And the twist is...
• Prompt: The transfer student is a villain.
• Summer: Nice idea. Who'd have thought the transfer student was on team villain too?
• Summer: So the two have a destined battle, and finally the transfer student collapses in the genius high school girl's arms. Sob, how touching...
• Summer: I'll submit my entry right away.
• Chief: Isn't the story too simple?
• Summer: Come on, it's such an emotional story!
• System Notifications: A few months later, Summer receives a response from the organizer. As expected, her script didn't win any awards...

• Prompt: Lovers
• Summer: Oh my, they're lovers. My cheeks are burning.
• Summer: But that's right, every giant robot anime could use a romance plotline.
• Summer: The transfer student and the genius high school girl fall in love with each other, and then... they develop a giant robot together!
• Prompt: Express doubts
• Chief: Isn't this development a bit too abrupt?
• Summer: Oh, don't get bogged down with the details. We can fill them in later.
• Summer: Anyway, the two of them pilot the giant robot in different scenes as a couple!
• Summer: In the end, to protect her lover, the genius high school girl dies in the transfer student's arms. Sob... I'm getting a little teary-eyed.
• Prompt: Express doubts
• Chief: But how does she die all of a sudden...
• Summer: Never mind the details. Anyway, it's very touching. I'll add the details later.
• Summer: Alright! It's all done! Once I fill in the details, I'll submit my entry!
• System Notifications: A few months later, Summer receives a response from the organizer. As expected, her script didn't win any awards...

⚠⚠⚠ Time Machine

Summer is apparently researching the time machine.

System Notifications: Rumors about Summer researching a time machine are circulating in the Bureau.

• Prompt: Investigate

Summer: Oh? Are you looking for me, Chief?

Summer: Time machine? Hehe, are you into this kind of sci-fi too, Chief?

Summer: Theoretically, it's impossible to construct a time machine.

Summer: However, I've been researching the Hypercube's effect on particle acceleration lately, and I might just have made some progress.

Summer: If I succeed, I may be able to transport particles a few milliseconds back in time.

Summer: What do you think, Chief? Will you support my research?

• Prompt: Yes
• System Notifications: For the sake of science, you decide to support Summer's research.
• System Notifications: A month later, Summer finally obtains the data she wants, while you receive an astronomical electricity bill.
• Chief: Somehow I feel fooled...

• Prompt: No
• Summer: Humph. You're so stingy, Chief.
• System Notifications: You don't have adequate resources to support Summer's research, so you reject her request.
• System Notifications: A few months later, rumors begin spreading in the Bureau that Summer has successfully built a time machine but you've hidden it away.

On top of the school uniform from Eastside No. 23 High School, Summer put a coat from a research institute.

Steel and flesh, born in my whims.