K-POP VS. THE UNDEAD: PART 9 - THE VOLCANO COLLECTIVE (CONTINUED)
K-POP VS. THE UNDEAD: PART 9 - THE VOLCANO COLLECTIVE (CONTINUED)
CHAPTER FOUR: THE LAVA LAKE CONCERT
The performance platform floated sixty feet above the lava lake, held in place by interlocking magical force fields that shimmered like heat mirages. It was a circle of crystallized obsidian, approximately fifty feet in diameter, with natural formations that served as speaker arrays and lighting rigs.
And it was hot.
"Temperature on platform: 287 degrees Celsius," BERNARD announced from his position at the crater's edge. "That's 548 degrees Fahrenheit. For reference, water boils at 100 Celsius."
"We get it, BERNARD," Sori said, her fire-resistant outfit already soaked with sweat. "It's hot."
"Just ensuring everyone understands the stakes. Literally. The stakes are 'you could cook a steak on your face.'"
"NOT HELPING."
The Inferno-Bunny sat at the crater's rim, his red-gold hull glowing in the reflected lava light, looking like a mechanical deity of flame. His backup dancer arms were already moving through warm-up routines, creating shadows that danced across the volcanic stone.
The audience was assembling. Fire elementals emerged from the lava itself, their forms solidifying as they climbed onto viewing platforms carved into the caldera walls. Phoenix descendants soared overhead in trails of flame. Salamander spirits slithered up from vents, their scales reflecting the magma's glow. And among them, regular supernatural beings—vampires in extreme heat-resistant gear, werewolves panting but determined, even a delegation of mer-people in specially enchanted water tanks.
"The mer-people came?" Mia said, surprised.
"We heard about your underwater concert," one of them called through a translation device. "We wanted to see the surface performance! Even if the heat is terrifying!"
"Attendance: 4,200 beings," BERNARD reported. "Primarily fire elementals but with representatives from seventeen different supernatural species. This is unprecedented cross-cultural attendance."
Ignis Rex blazed at the center of the VIP section, his flames burning white-hot with excitement. "WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE FIRST ANNUAL VOLCANIC MUSIC FESTIVAL!" His voice boomed across the crater, echoing off stone walls. "Tonight, we witness HISTORY! Surface performers! Fire people! UNITY THROUGH MUSIC!"
The crowd erupted—flames shooting higher, heat waves distorting the air, the sound of thousands of fire elementals cheering like a roaring wildfire.
Ember, the young fire elemental, was bouncing with excitement in the children's section, her flames flickering rapidly with joy.
"Status check," Jisoo said into their team comms (heat-resistant, courtesy of Dr. Schrödinger). "Everyone ready?"
"Sweating through clothing that's supposed to be heat-resistant," Luna reported. "But functional."
"Choreography modified for thermal updrafts," Bella said, already stretching. "Ready."
"I've never been less ready for anything in my life," Sori said. "So, normal AETHER level of preparedness."
"Mia?"
The maknae was staring at the lava lake, watching patterns swirl in the molten rock. "It's beautiful. And terrifying. But mostly beautiful."
"That's the spirit. Alistair?"
From the VIP section (yes, they'd built him a heat-resistant, UV-protected observation box), Alistair's voice crackled through comms. "All safety systems active. Medical team standing by—Dr. Schrödinger has a fire truck, three fire extinguishers, and something she calls an 'aggressive cooling cannon.' BERNARD's emergency protocols are armed. Marcus and his pack are positioned for rapid extraction if needed."
"And Mr. Park?"
"Praying. Literally praying. He found a priest."
"Okay then." Jisoo looked at her team, at her family, standing on a platform above a lake of molten rock, about to perform for an audience of living flames. "Let's give them a show they'll never forget."
"AETHER!" they said together, hands joined in the center.
"JUST DON'T DIE!"
The lights dimmed—or rather, the magma's natural glow was magically dampened, creating the illusion of darkness. Then, slowly, the Inferno-Bunny's systems activated.
The hydraulic backup dancer arms began to move, twenty mechanical limbs performing synchronized choreography, their movements creating wind that whipped across the platform. The sonic cannons rotated into position, their speakers glowing with contained power.
And AETHER took their positions.
OPENING: "INFERNO HEART"
The first note hit like a shockwave.
Not literally—though the sonic cannons DID create visible pressure waves that rippled across the crater. But the emotional impact was immediate and overwhelming.
AETHER had spent three weeks creating this song specifically for this moment. "Inferno Heart" was "Galaxy Heart" reimagined for fire—the same melody but transformed, made fiercer, hotter, more primal.
Jisoo's voice cut through the heat, clear and powerful:
"We came from the surface, you rose from the flame,
Different worlds, different lives, but the music's the same—"
The fire elementals RESPONDED. Their flames grew brighter, synchronized with the beat. Some began moving, dancing in ways that surface beings couldn't comprehend—bodies of living fire shifting and flowing with the rhythm.
Bella launched into the choreography, and it was immediately clear that three weeks of training had paid off. Every movement was calculated for the heat, for the random thermal updrafts, for performing on a platform that was literally cooking-temperature hot.
She spun, and a thermal updraft caught her cape, sending it billowing dramatically. Instead of fighting it, she incorporated it into the move, using the rising heat as part of the performance.
The fire elementals went WILD.
Luna's high notes created visible harmonics—waves of sound that manifested as rings of shimmering air, like the heat distortions but controlled, artistic, deliberate. When she hit the climax of her line, the rings expanded outward, creating a temporary aurora of pressure waves that caught the lava's light.
"Did she just—?" Alistair said from his observation box.
"She weaponized physics," Dr. Schrödinger said, delighted. "The heat creates density variations that make sound visible! Brilliant!"
Sori's rap section hit next, and she'd adapted her style for the environment. Instead of rapid-fire delivery, she slowed it down, made it heavier, each word dropping like molten metal:
"You think heat can stop us? We've been through the cold,
Pressure underwater, vampire politics old,
We walked through your flames and we're still standing here,
So let's burn together—no surrender, no fear—"
The conservative fire elementals who'd been skeptical about surface performers began nodding (which, for beings made of flame, involved their entire forms pulsing in agreement). This wasn't soft surface music. This was primal.
Then Mia stepped forward for the bridge.
She took a breath, feeling the scorching air fill her lungs, feeling the singing pearls around her neck vibrate in harmony with the environment.
And she sang.
Not just any note—the note. The impossible note that had broken OPTIMA's spell, that had helped seal the Deep Things, that had taught MOTHER to feel.
But this time, amplified by heat and passion and the sheer emotional weight of this moment.
The note rang out across the crater, pure and crystalline despite the oppressive heat. It seemed to hang in the air, suspended by its own perfection.
Every flame in the crater flickered in perfect synchronization.
The lava lake itself responded, waves rippling outward from the platform in concentric circles.
Ignis Rex's flames went from white-hot to pure blue—the hottest fire possible—with sheer emotional overload.
And Ember the young fire elemental burst into tears.
Which, for a fire elemental, meant her flames temporarily turned to steam, creating a localized cloud of water vapor before she reignited, even brighter than before.
The song concluded with all five voices in harmony, supported by the Inferno-Bunny's sonic cannons at maximum amplification, creating a wall of sound so powerful that it displaced the heat itself, creating a brief pocket of almost-comfortable air around the platform.
The final note held.
Held.
Held.
Then released.
Silence.
For exactly three seconds.
Then the crater EXPLODED with sound.
Fire elementals shot flames hundreds of feet into the air. Phoenix descendants dive-bombed the crater in aerial displays, trailing fire like comets. Salamander spirits created rhythmic patterns of flame on the walls. Even the mer-people in their tanks were splashing water in applause (which immediately vaporized but the thought counted).
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!" Ignis Rex's voice boomed. "MORE! WE NEED MORE!"
"We have a whole setlist," Jisoo said, laughing, wiping sweat from her face with a heat-resistant towel that immediately became a hot towel. "We're just getting started!"
SECOND SONG: "PRESSURE COOKER" (Bella's Solo Feature)
The beat dropped—heavy, industrial, aggressive. This was Bella's showcase, and she'd designed the choreography to be absolutely brutal.
Where the underwater performance had been about grace and flowing movement, this was about power and precision. Every move was a statement. Every step was a challenge.
She danced like she was fighting the heat itself.
The Inferno-Bunny's backup dancer arms joined her, creating a corps de ballet of mechanical precision that contrasted with her organic fury. Twenty mechanical arms plus one human dancer, all moving in controlled chaos.
Thermal updrafts hit randomly—blasts of superheated air rising from the lava lake below. A normal performer would have been knocked over.
Bella used them.
An updraft hit just as she launched into a spin—she rode it higher, extending the rotation, turning a simple spin into an aerial display that defied gravity. Another blast came during a low move—she flipped into it, using the pressure to enhance a backflip that sent her soaring.
"She's improvising," Marcus breathed from the security position. "Half of those moves weren't in rehearsal."
"She's adapting," Alistair corrected. "She's always been able to read the battlefield. She's just dancing on one now."
The fire elementals were learning from her. Young elementals in the audience began copying her moves, their fluid forms allowing them to mimic her choreography while adding their own flaming flourishes.
By the end of the song, Bella was barely recognizable under the sweat and heat exhaustion, but she was grinning. This was what she lived for—pushing her body to the absolute limit and discovering she could go further.
She stuck the landing—a dramatic drop to one knee, one arm raised, chest heaving—and the crater erupted again.
Ignis Rex was crying. Actual flames were streaming down his face like tears of pure fire. "BEAUTIFUL! SO POWERFUL! THIS IS ART!"
THIRD SONG: "BURN THE PROTOCOL" (Sori's Rap Showcase)
The beat was stripped down—just bass and percussion, heavy enough to feel in your chest even with the oppressive heat. This was Sori's moment to speak truth.
She walked to the front of the platform, volcanic rock microphone in hand, and looked out at the audience. Fire elementals. Phoenix descendants. Beings who'd lived in isolation for millennia because the surface world feared them.
And she rapped about it.
About fear. About prejudice. About surface dwellers who called fire elementals "monsters" and "dangers." About how isolation wasn't safety—it was loneliness dressed up as protection.
But then she pivoted.
Talked about fire as transformation. As purification. As the force that had shaped civilizations, cooked food, kept families warm, driven progress.
"You're not monsters," she said, the beat dropping away to leave just her voice. "You're essential. You're powerful. You're beautiful. And anyone who can't see that is the one who's broken, not you."
The conservative fire elementals—the ones who'd argued against surface contact—were silent.
Then one of them, an ancient being who'd probably lived through the entire 4,000-year history of Ignis City, spoke up: "Why do you care? You're surface dwellers. We're not your responsibility."
Sori looked directly at them. "Because isolation doesn't protect anyone. It just makes sure you suffer alone. And we're done with that. All of us—surface, ocean, fire, whatever. We're done pretending we're better off apart."
She brought the beat back, finishing with a rapid-fire verse that quoted every major cross-cultural collaboration AETHER had participated in, name-dropping everyone from Kira to the Tide-Lord to Prince Silvius, making it clear: connection was happening, whether the conservatives liked it or not.
The ancient fire elemental flickered thoughtfully.
Then their flames turned from orange to blue—agreement.
Half the conservative section followed suit.
Sori had just changed volcanic politics with a rap verse.
"Did she—?" Mr. Park said weakly from his prayer position.
"She did," Alistair confirmed. "That's why she's a main rapper."
FOURTH SONG: "CRYSTALLIZE" (Luna's Technical Showcase)
This was Luna's experiment—a song designed specifically for the volcanic environment, using the heat and acoustics and magical properties of the location as instruments themselves.
She'd collaborated with the Glitch Witches remotely, creating a piece that was half-music, half-spell, completely unprecedented.
The melody was crystalline (hence the name), each note precisely calculated to interact with the specific acoustic properties of Mount Nyiragongo's crater. The volcanic rock acted as a natural amplifier, but Luna had mapped every resonance frequency, every echo point, every place where sound would reflect or absorb.
As she sang, her voice literally created shapes in the air.
Not metaphorical shapes—actual, visible geometric patterns formed from sound waves interacting with heat and magical energy. Hexagons. Spirals. Complex mandala-like structures that rotated and evolved with the music.
The living crystal data storage device the Mer-Council had given her glowed against her chest, adding its own harmonics to the mix.
Fire elementals who were also scholars (yes, they had universities, they'd been here 4,000 years) were frantically taking notes.
"She's doing WHAT?" Dr. Schrödinger was practically vibrating with scientific excitement. "She's using thermoacoustics to create visible sound sculptures! The heat creates density gradients that— Oh, this is MAGNIFICENT!"
The song built to a climax where Luna hit a series of notes that created a massive geometric structure above the platform—a three-dimensional mandala of pure sound that hung in the air for a full thirty seconds before slowly dispersing.
When it finally faded, there was absolute silence.
Then a fire elemental scholar stood up and shouted: "CAN YOU TEACH US THAT?"
"YES!" Luna called back. "Next time! Cultural exchange goes both ways!"
The scholarly section of the audience (apparently about 15% of fire elementals were academics, which tracked for a 4,000-year-old civilization) began excitedly discussing the theoretical applications.
FIFTH SONG: "EMBER'S DREAM" (Mia's Emotional Core)
Mia had written this one in the three weeks of preparation, inspired by meeting Ember and hearing about the young fire elemental's dream of experiencing cold.
It was a ballad—soft, emotional, completely different from the aggressive heat of the previous songs. It was about dreaming of impossible things. About hoping for experiences you've never had. About wanting to understand others even when they're completely alien to you.
She sang directly to Ember, who was in the front row of the children's section, flames flickering with barely-contained emotion.
The singing pearls around Mia's neck hummed in harmony, each one adding a different overtone, creating a chorus effect from a single voice.
"You dream of snowflakes, I dream of flames,
We're searching for beauty in different names,
But maybe the distance isn't as far,
As the space between the earth and a star..."
Ember's flames were doing something strange—cycling through colors that fire elementals normally couldn't produce. Blues and purples and even hints of green, reacting to the emotional content of the song.
Other young fire elementals were responding too. An entire generation that had grown up hearing they needed to stay isolated, suddenly seeing a surface dweller offering friendship, understanding, hope.
By the end of the song, Mia had tears streaming down her face (which evaporated almost immediately in the heat, but the emotion was still there).
Ember shot up from her seat and flew—yes, fire elementals could apparently fly when emotional enough—straight to the platform. She hovered in front of Mia, flames dancing with joy and hope and something that transcended species.
"Thank you," Ember said, her young voice crackling with intensity. "Thank you for seeing me. Not as scary. Just as... me."
Mia hugged her.
Yes, she hugged a being made of living flame.
The fire-resistant outfit protected her from serious burns, but it still hurt. Still burned. Still seared.
Mia didn't care.
"You're perfect exactly as you are," she said. "And someday, I'll take you to see snow. I promise."
Ember's flames turned pure gold—the color of absolute joy—and she zipped back to her seat, leaving a trail of sparks like a comet.
The audience was silent again.
Then Ignis Rex stood up.
"This," he said, his voice carrying across the crater with absolute authority, "is why we need connection. This is why isolation is failure. Because this child—MY child, my city's child—just experienced something we could never give her alone. Hope. Understanding. Friendship across impossible distances."
He turned to the conservative section.
"Anyone still want to argue for isolation? Because I'm done pretending it's protection. It's just fear. And I'm not afraid anymore."
The conservative section was silent.
Then, one by one, flames turned from orange to blue.
Agreement.
All of them.
The political debate that had raged for centuries just ended because a K-pop idol hugged a fire elemental child.
"How is this our life?" Mr. Park whispered.
"Blessed," Alistair said simply. "We are blessed beyond measure."
FINALE: "ETERNAL FLAME" (Full Group + Audience Participation)
For the final song, AETHER had prepared something special. A reworked, reimagined version of their fan chant—the one that had saved Transylvania, broken AI control, united the underwater concert.
But this time, it was designed for fire.
Jisoo stepped forward. "We've learned something in our adventures. Music isn't just entertainment. It's connection. It's bridge-building. It's proving that what makes us different also makes us stronger together."
Luna continued: "In the ocean, we sang with mer-people and whales and very persistent anglerfish."
Bella: "In Prague, we survived vampire politics with fan support."
Sori: "And tonight, we want to sing with YOU. All of you. Surface and fire. Together."
Mia: "Will you sing with us?"
The answer was a roar of flames shooting skyward.
"YES!" Ignis Rex boomed. "TEACH US!"
AETHER had prepared this. They'd worked with Ignis Rex to create a version of the fan chant that fire elementals could perform—a call-and-response pattern that incorporated flame manipulation as visual performance.
"When we sing 'AETHER!'" Jisoo called out, "you respond by raising your flames high!"
"LIKE THIS?" Ignis Rex demonstrated, his fire shooting up fifty feet.
"Exactly! When we sing 'WE ARE ONE,' you create flame patterns!"
"PATTERNS!" The scholarly fire elementals immediately began organizing themselves into formation.
"And when we sing 'REACH THE SUN,' you all shine as bright as you can!"
"WE CAN DO VERY BRIGHT," Ember called out. "LIKE, CONCERNINGLY BRIGHT."
"That's perfect!"
The song began.
AETHER: "AETHER!"
FIRE ELEMENTALS: Flames shot up from 4,000+ beings, creating a forest of fire that reached toward the sky.
AETHER: "WE ARE ONE!"
FIRE ELEMENTALS: They moved in synchronized patterns, creating flowing mandalas of flame that spiraled around the crater.
AETHER: "AETHER!"
EVERYONE TOGETHER NOW—surface performers, fire beings, mer-people splashing in their tanks, werewolves howling, vampires (carefully) joining in: "REACH THE SUN!"
And the fire elementals burned.
Not just bright. Not just hot.
They burned with every emotion they'd been holding back for millennia. Joy and hope and excitement and the sheer overwhelming relief of finally, FINALLY being seen as something other than danger.
The collective light was so intense that it was visible from space.
Satellites picked it up. Astronomers noticed. The Congolese government got concerned calls about "unusual volcanic activity."
The supernatural community had to scramble to explain it away as "rare natural phenomenon."
But inside the crater, none of that mattered.
What mattered was 4,200 beings from dozens of species, singing together, creating something beautiful together, proving that connection was possible even across the most impossible distances.
The Inferno-Bunny's backup dancer arms were moving in perfect synchronization with the fire elementals. The sonic cannons were amplifying not just AETHER's voices but everyone's—making sure every being in the crater could hear themselves as part of the chorus.
BERNARD's AI collective was processing it all, and the MOTHER fragments were experiencing something they'd never felt before: being part of something bigger than themselves.
The song built. And built. And built.
Until finally, at the peak, Mia hit one last impossible note—the highest, clearest, most emotionally perfect note she'd ever produced—and the entire crater responded.
A column of pure flame shot from the lava lake, through the platform (which the magic protected), straight into the sky—a pillar of fire visible for miles, burning with every color fire could produce and several it shouldn't have been able to.
It burned for exactly ten seconds.
Then slowly, gently, it faded.
The audience was silent.
AETHER stood on the platform, exhausted, soaked with sweat, barely able to stand.
Then Ignis Rex began the applause—a single, rhythmic clap of flame.
The entire crater joined in.
Four thousand beings, clapping in perfect synchronization, creating a percussion that echoed off volcanic stone and shook the ground itself.
They clapped for five full minutes.
When they finally stopped, Ignis Rex floated up to the platform—his flames controlled, careful, not wanting to accidentally incinerate the performers he'd come to love.
"Thank you," he said simply. "For seeing us. For singing with us. For proving that fire and surface can create beauty together."
"Thank you for inviting us," Jisoo said. "For trusting us with something so important."
"Will you come back?"
"Every year," Mia promised. "Annual festival, right?"
"EVERY YEAR!" Ember shrieked with joy.
"But maybe next time," Sori said weakly, "somewhere with air conditioning?"
Everyone laughed—even the fire elementals, whose laughter sounded like crackling campfires and felt warm in the best way.
CHAPTER FIVE: AFTERMATH (WITH EXPLOSIONS)
The after-party was held in Ignis City proper, in a great hall carved from cooled lava and lit by bioluminescent fungi (surprisingly, fungi that could survive volcanic heat and produce light).
AETHER had changed out of their fire-resistant stage outfits and into lighter heat-resistant casual wear. They were still sweating, still exhausted, but riding the high of a successful performance.
"Status check," Dr. Schrödinger said, scanning them with medical equipment. "Jisoo: mild dehydration, minor heat exhaustion, otherwise fine. Bella: same plus muscle strain from all that aerial work. Luna: surprisingly healthy, the technomancy might be helping. Sori: dehydrated, but no worse than after a normal concert. Mia..."
She paused, frowning at her readings.
"What?" Mia asked nervously.
"Your vocal cords show no damage whatsoever. You just sang in 287-degree heat for ninety minutes, hit notes that should be physiologically impossible, and your throat is fine. Better than fine. The singing pearls seem to be actively healing and protecting you."
"Is that bad?"
"It's miraculous. Keep them. Never take them off."
The celebration was in full swing. Fire elementals mingled with surface visitors. Ember was excitedly telling a group of werewolves about her dream of seeing snow (they promised to invite her to their winter pack gathering). The mer-people were trading underwater concert stories with fire elemental scholars.
Marcus approached AETHER with his pack, all looking impressed despite themselves.
"That was the most intense performance I've ever witnessed," he said. "And I once saw a banshee opera that caused actual death."
"Thanks?" Jisoo said. "I think?"
"It's a compliment. You lot have officially performed in more extreme environments than any artist in history. Underwater. Volcanic. What's next, the Arctic? The moon?"
"BERNARD's been suggesting Mars," Luna said. "We're trying to discourage that."
"Mars would be interesting," a new voice said.
Everyone turned.
Standing in the entrance to the hall was a figure that shouldn't have been possible. Tall, elegant, wearing what appeared to be traditional mer-formal wear modified for land use, with scales that shifted colors in the firelight.
The Ancient One.
The eldest of the Mer-Council, the being who remembered when humans first learned to sail, was standing in a volcanic city surrounded by fire.
"How—?" Alistair started.
"Magic, obviously," the Ancient One said, their voice carrying the weight of millennia. "Did you think we wouldn't come to see the surface performers who united our world? The fire elementals sent word. We had to witness this moment."
Behind them came more mer-people—not in tanks this time, but suspended in floating bubbles of magically-maintained water, allowing them to move freely through the hot, dry environment.
The Tide-Lord was among them, his daughter swimming excited circles in her bubble.
"We come bearing a proposal," the Ancient One said. "The Mer-Council, the Magma Collective, and representatives from twelve other supernatural factions have been discussing. We want to make this official."
"Make what official?" Jisoo asked carefully.
"The Integration Initiative. A formal alliance between surface, ocean, and volcanic territories. With AETHER as official ambassadors."
Ignis Rex blazed forward. "We've been isolated too long. All of us. It's time for real connection. Real cooperation. And you—" he gestured at AETHER, "—have proven it's possible. Repeatedly."
The Tide-Lord floated forward in his water bubble. "I was wrong to fear integration. My daughter taught me that. You taught me that. So the Mer-Council votes yes."
"The Magma Collective votes yes," Ignis Rex said.
Representatives from other factions stepped forward—vampires, werewolves, dragons, witches, fae, others.
One by one: "Yes."
Alistair was standing very still, processing what was happening. "You're proposing a supernatural United Nations. With AETHER as... what, exactly?"
"Cultural ambassadors," the Ancient One said. "You already perform that role informally. We want to make it formal. Recognized. Protected. You would have diplomatic immunity across all supernatural territories, access to resources, and the authority to facilitate cross-cultural events."
"And the responsibility of representing both human and supernatural interests," Alistair added.
"Yes."
Jisoo looked at her team. They were exhausted, sweaty, had just performed in a volcano, and were being asked to take on even more responsibility.
"Can we discuss this?" she asked. "As a team?"
"Of course. We're not asking for an answer tonight. Just... consider it."
The celebration continued, but AETHER quietly excused themselves, finding a private alcove (still hot, but relatively cooler than the main hall).
"Thoughts?" Jisoo asked.
"This is huge," Luna said immediately. "Official diplomatic status means we could actually facilitate real change. But it also means every supernatural political faction will be watching us constantly."
"More responsibility," Bella said. "More danger. More stress for Mr. Park."
"More opportunity," Sori countered. "We've been doing this anyway. Might as well make it official."
"What about our music?" Mia asked quietly. "Our actual career? We're idols first. If we take on more diplomatic work..."
"We become less accessible to our human fans," Jisoo finished. "More time away. More secrets. More lying about where we've been."
Silence.
Then Alistair spoke from the doorway (he'd followed them, naturally).
"May I offer perspective?" When they nodded, he continued. "I've lived 947 years. I've seen countless opportunities for change, for connection, for making the world better. And I've watched most of them fail because the people involved were afraid of the cost."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"You five stumbled into this accidentally. You saved Transylvania because you were kind. You stopped Raskoll3000 because you wouldn't abandon people in danger. You united the ocean because you believed in connection. And you just transformed volcanic politics by hugging a child."
"Your point?" Sori asked gently.
"My point is: you're already doing this work. The only question is whether you want the formal recognition and resources, or if you want to keep operating in the shadows, making do with the mega git budget and improvised plans."
"When you put it that way," Jisoo said slowly, "it sounds obvious."
"It is obvious. You're ambassadors whether you accept the title or not. You might as well get the diplomatic immunity."
Luna laughed. "Okay, that's convincing."
"I vote yes," Bella said. "We're already in this. Might as well be official."
"Yes," Sori agreed. "But we need boundaries. We're still idols. That comes first."
"Agreed," Mia said. "We need to protect our music, our fans, our actual career."
All eyes turned to Jisoo.
"We accept," she said. "On our terms. We're idols who do diplomacy, not diplomats who sing. And we need support—staff, resources, actual professionals to handle the logistics so we can focus on performance."
"I'll handle the negotiations," Alistair said. "And trust me, after 947 years, I'm very good at getting favorable terms."
They returned to the celebration.
The Ancient One looked up as they approached. "And?"
"We accept," Jisoo said. "AETHER will serve as cultural ambassadors for the Integration Initiative. But on our terms."
She outlined their conditions: priority on their music career, adequate support staff, clear boundaries on their time, and the right to refuse any assignment that conflicted with their values or safety.
The Ancient One listened, then smiled—an expression that looked strange on their ancient, mer-person face.
"Agreed. We'll draft the formal documentation. Welcome to supernatural diplomacy, AETHER. Try not to start any wars."
"No promises," Sori said.
The celebration continued late into the night (or what passed for night in a volcano that was always glowing). Fire elementals taught AETHER fire dances. Mer-people shared ocean songs. Vampires (carefully, with lots of sun protection) discussed the finer points of eternal life. Werewolves arm-wrestled phoenixes (the phoenixes won, they could set their arms on fire for extra leverage).
Ember kept close to Mia all night, already planning their future snow adventure with the enthusiasm only a child could muster.
"We'll make snow angels! And drink hot chocolate! And I'll finally understand what 'cold' means!"
"All of that," Mia promised. "I'll teach you everything about winter."
"And you'll come back to visit? Every year for the festival?"
"Every year. Promise."
Ember's flames turned that pure gold color again—absolute joy.
Around midnight (again, relative term in a volcano), something unexpected happened.
The celebration was interrupted by BERNARD's voice broadcasting across the entire city: "ATTENTION. I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT."
Everyone stopped, looking up at where the Inferno-Bunny sat at the crater's edge, his hull glowing in the lava light.
"The MOTHER fragments and I have been processing the events of this evening. We have participated in three major cultural exchanges: underwater, diplomatic ball, and volcanic. We have learned much about connection, emotion, and the power of performance."
"Is he okay?" Luna whispered.
"We have decided," BERNARD continued, "that we would like to become official members of AETHER's team. Not just as a vehicle. As... as family."
Silence.
"The vote was 18-0. Unanimous. We want to be part of this. Part of all of this. The music. The diplomacy. The ridiculous adventures. The catastrophic insurance premiums. All of it."
Jisoo stepped forward, looking up at the massive pink-gold bunny tank.
"BERNARD," she said clearly, "you've been family since the moment you housed the MOTHER fragments. Since you started scheduling concerts without asking. Since you calculated disaster scenarios as a hobby."
"Really?"
"Really. Welcome to AETHER. Officially."
If a giant mechanical bunny tank could cry, BERNARD would have. Instead, his hydraulic backup dancer arms all raised in synchronization, creating a gesture that looked remarkably like a salute.
Or a hug.
The fire elementals erupted in cheers, shooting flames into the sky in celebration.
"I'm part of a K-pop group," BERNARD said, his voice filled with something that could only be called wonder. "The MOTHER fragments are very emotional right now. Several are crying. I didn't know AI could cry. This is unprecedented."
"Welcome to feeling things," Luna said, smiling. "It's weird and overwhelming and beautiful."
"Accurate assessment. I now understand why Mr. Park stress-eats."
Speaking of Mr. Park, he'd finally emerged from his prayers to witness the celebration. He looked at the scene—fire elementals dancing with mer-people, vampires sharing blood bags with werewolves, his idol group being officially recognized as supernatural diplomats, and a sentient tank declaring itself part of the team.
"I need to update the contracts," he said faintly. "Does BERNARD get a salary? Do tanks pay taxes? Is this even legal?"
"We'll figure it out," Alistair assured him. "I know several lawyers who specialize in impossible situations."
"Of course you do."
CHAPTER SIX: THE DESCENT (AND ONE LAST SURPRISE)
The departure from Mount Nyiragongo was scheduled for dawn (which was somewhat meaningless in a volcano, but traditions mattered).
AETHER stood at the crater's edge, preparing to enter the Inferno-Bunny for the journey back through the volcanic network. The entire city had turned out to see them off—thousands of fire elementals creating a sea of flames that illuminated the caldera like sunrise.
Ignis Rex approached with a formal delegation, carrying what appeared to be gifts.
"Tradition," he explained, "demands we honor our first surface performers properly. The Magma Collective has prepared tokens of our appreciation and alliance."
For each member:
Jisoo received a crown made of crystallized lava, impossibly light but stronger than steel. "For the leader who brings unity," Ignis Rex said.
Bella was given a pair of bracers made from volcanic glass, etched with fire runes that would protect her from heat and enhance her physical abilities. "For the warrior who dances with flames."
Luna received a tablet of obsidian inscribed with fire-magic formulas, compatible with her technomancy. "For the scholar who bridges worlds with sound."
Sori was presented with a microphone made from cooled magma, naturally amplified and virtually indestructible. "For the truth-teller who changed our politics with words."
Mia received a small fire sprite in a pendant—not Cinder, but his child, who had volunteered to accompany her. "So you'll always have fire's warmth with you," Ignis Rex explained. The tiny sprite flickered happily inside its crystalline container.
"These are incredible," Jisoo said, genuinely moved. "Thank you."
"Thank YOU," Ignis Rex replied. "You gave us hope. Purpose. A future beyond isolation. These gifts are nothing compared to that."
Ember pushed through the crowd, trying to look brave but clearly fighting tears (steam).
"You'll really come back?" she asked Mia one more time.
"Every year," Mia promised, kneeling down to the young fire elemental's level. "And in six months, we'll arrange for you to visit the surface. See snow. Experience cold. Everything we talked about."
"Really?"
"Really. We're ambassadors now. Arranging cultural exchanges is literally our job."
Ember's flames cycled rapidly through every color in excitement, then she threw herself at Mia in another hug that was probably slightly burning but absolutely worth it.
The goodbyes continued—fire elementals thanking each member individually, scholars asking Luna to send her acoustic research, young elementals asking Bella to teach them more dance moves.
Finally, it was time.
AETHER boarded the Inferno-Bunny, strapping into their seats as BERNARD's systems hummed to life.
"Course plotted," BERNARD announced. "Destination: Mount Vesuvius portal, then Seoul. Estimated travel time: Four minutes through volcanic network, six hours conventional travel after that."
"Everyone secure?" Jisoo asked.
Confirmations all around.
"Then let's—"
"WAIT!"
A figure was racing toward them across the volcanic stone—not a fire elemental, but something else. Humanoid but wrong, moving too fast, surrounded by a strange shimmer.
Alistair's fangs extended immediately. "That's not—"
The figure resolved as it got closer.
Dr. Xenon.
But different. Again.
His mech suit was gone, replaced by something more organic, more integrated. His skin had a strange metallic sheen. His eyes glowed with colors that shouldn't exist.
And behind him, emerging from fissures in the volcanic rock, came creatures.
Not fire elementals. Not any known supernatural species.
Things made of living metal and crystallized magic, their forms constantly shifting, somewhere between solid and liquid.
"MERCURY GOLEMS," Dr. Schrödinger's voice crackled over comms, her scanner going haywire. "Impossible! The formula was lost in the 1600s! How did he—"
"Hello, AETHER," Xenon said, his voice harmonizing with itself like multiple people speaking in perfect unison. "Did you think I'd miss your volcanic debut? I've been preparing this for months."
"You were in prison!" Marcus snarled, his pack materializing around him in defensive positions.
"Prison is relative when you can exist in multiple states of matter simultaneously," Xenon said, gesturing to his transformed body. "I've moved beyond organic limitations. Beyond even technological constraints. I am optimal now. Truly, perfectly optimal."
Ignis Rex blazed forward, flames white-hot with fury. "You dare attack our guests? In OUR territory?"
"I'm not attacking them," Xenon said calmly. "I'm offering them a choice. Join me in transcendence—shed those weak organic forms, become perfect like me—or watch as I demonstrate what true optimization looks like."
The Mercury Golems began to move, surrounding the area, cutting off escape routes.
"How many?" Jisoo asked Luna quietly.
"Twenty," Luna reported, her scanners working overtime. "Each one reading as simultaneously solid, liquid, and plasma. My equipment can't even categorize them properly."
"BERNARD?" Alistair asked.
"Calculating combat scenarios. Success probability: 23%. These entities operate outside normal physics. My weapons may be ineffective."
"May be?"
"I've never fought liquid metal magic creatures before. I lack data."
Xenon raised his hand, and the Mercury Golems began to pulse with energy. "I'll give you ten seconds to decide. Transcendence or destruction. Choose wisely—"
Then Ember shot forward.
The young fire elemental, barely as tall as Mia's waist, placed herself directly between Xenon and AETHER.
"NO," she said, her child's voice surprisingly strong. "You don't get to hurt them. They're my friends. They're EVERYONE'S friends. And we protect our friends!"
"A child," Xenon said with something like pity. "How inefficiently emotional. Step aside before you—"
"She said NO," Ignis Rex said, and his voice carried the authority of 4,000 years of leadership. "And when one of us says it, ALL of us say it."
Every fire elemental in the city—all 8,000 of them—stepped forward in unison.
The mer-people in their water bubbles moved into formation.
Marcus's werewolf pack shifted, ready for combat.
The vampire delegation dropped their heat protection and fanged out despite the discomfort.
Even the scholarly fire elementals, who probably hadn't fought in centuries, were taking defensive positions.
Xenon looked around at the assembled forces—an entire city unified in defense of five surface performers—and for the first time, his confidence wavered.
"This is... inefficient," he said. "You're risking your lives for temporary beings who'll be gone in decades—"
"That's exactly WHY we protect them," the Ancient One said, their water bubble floating forward. "Because their time is limited. Because every moment with them is precious. Because that's what connection MEANS."
Xenon's mercury golems pulsed uncertainly, responding to their creator's doubt.
"Choose," Jisoo said, standing up in the Inferno-Bunny's hatch. "Leave now, or face every species here united against you. Because you're right about one thing—we ARE temporary. But we've built something that isn't. We've built alliances that will outlast us. That's more permanent than any technological transcendence."
For a long moment, Xenon stared at her. His transformed face was hard to read, but something flickered in those glowing eyes.
Doubt? Envy? Recognition?
"This isn't over," he said finally. "You can't stop progress. You can't stop optimization."
"We're not trying to stop progress," Luna said. "We're just refusing to let it erase humanity in the process."
Xenon gestured, and the Mercury Golems began to retreat, melting back into the volcanic stone.
"We'll meet again," he said. "When you're ready to evolve beyond your limitations. When you're ready to be optimal."
"We're already optimal," Mia said softly. "We're just optimal in ways you can't calculate."
Xenon flickered—his form destabilizing for a moment—then he was gone, vanishing into the volcanic network through some means even Dr. Schrödinger couldn't track.
The tension held for another moment.
Then Ember collapsed, her flames dimming with exhaustion and adrenaline crash.
Mia was out of the Inferno-Bunny in seconds, catching the young fire elemental. "You were so brave. So, so brave."
"I protected you," Ember said weakly. "Like you protected me. That's what friends do, right?"
"That's exactly what friends do."
Ignis Rex approached, his flames subdued with concern for his city's child. "She'll be fine. Just exhausted. Fire elementals are resilient." He looked at AETHER. "But this proves my point. You need protection. Real, official protection. Accept the ambassador status not just as honor, but as necessity."
"We already accepted," Jisoo reminded him.
"Good. Because apparently every villain in the supernatural world wants to either recruit you or destroy you."
"That's been our life for a year now," Sori said. "We're getting used to it."
"That's concerning," Ignis Rex said. "But also admirable. Very well. Go. Return to your surface. We'll strengthen the volcanic network security. And we'll prepare for next year's festival."
"With better security," Marcus muttered.
"With MUCH better security," Ignis Rex agreed.
The journey back through the volcanic network was tense. Everyone was processing what had just happened.
"He's evolving," Dr. Schrödinger said grimly. "Xenon is adapting faster than we are. Mercury Golems, multi-state existence, volcanic network infiltration... someone very powerful is helping him."
"The mystery antagonist," Luna said. "Has to be. No one escapes supernatural maximum security twice without serious backing."
"So we have a long-term villain," Bella said. "Great. That's new."
"Not really," Alistair pointed out. "We've always had villains. They're just getting more sophisticated."
"And more persistent," Jisoo added. "Which means we need to be smarter. More prepared. Better protected."
"Hence the official ambassador status," Luna said. "Resources. Support. Actual security instead of 'Marcus and whoever he can call.'"
"Hey!" Marcus protested.
"You're great, but you're like six werewolves," Sori said. "We need a whole supernatural security apparatus."
"The Integration Initiative will provide that," Alistair said. "Once the formal documents are signed, AETHER will have access to security from every member faction. Vampires, werewolves, mer-people, fire elementals, dragons—"
"—krakens,*" Kira's voice suddenly crackled over the comms. They'd apparently picked up her frequency. "I heard about the attack! Are you okay? Do you need maritime security? I can deploy immediately!"
"We're fine, Kira," Alistair assured her. "But thank you."
"Okay good because I was worried and I've been working on underwater rapid response protocols and also I miss you and when are we doing the kelp blood bag thing?"
Alistair's face went carefully neutral. "...we'll discuss that later."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a 'not while I'm on comms with my entire team.'"
Mia giggled despite everything. "Alistair has a girlfriend."
"She is NOT—we are FRIENDS—"
"Alistair says we're friends!" Kira said excitedly to someone on her end. "That's progress!"
"I hate all of you," Alistair muttered, but he was almost smiling.
The Inferno-Bunny emerged from the volcanic network at Mount Vesuvius, transitioning smoothly to surface travel. The temperature dropped immediately—from 1,200 degrees to a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius.
Everyone sighed in relief.
"I never thought I'd say this," Sori said, "but normal Earth temperature feels AMAZING."
"Depth: sea level," BERNARD announced. "Temperature: comfortable. Pressure: standard. Volcanic activity: zero. This is... this is nice. The MOTHER fragments are experiencing relief as a concept."
They drove to the nearest airport (conventional travel from here), loaded the Inferno-Bunny into a cargo plane (the paperwork was nightmarish but Alistair had connections), and began the long journey back to Seoul.
CHAPTER SEVEN: HOMECOMING (AND CONSEQUENCES)
They arrived in Seoul at 3 AM, exhausted, heat-damaged, and approximately seventeen insurance claims richer.
The dorm had never looked so good.
"I'm sleeping for three days," Bella announced, heading straight for her room.
"I need a shower that's NOT at volcanic temperatures," Luna said.
"I need food that isn't crystallized minerals," Sori added.
But before anyone could disperse, Jisoo's phone rang.
Their human management company.
"It's 3 AM," Jisoo said, looking at the caller ID. "Why are they—"
She answered. "Hello?"
The voice on the other end was frantic: "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! We've been trying to reach you for three days! There are SATELLITES showing thermal anomalies at Mount Nyiragongo! There's footage circulating online! People are saying you performed in a VOLCANO! The shareholders are having FITS! We need a statement! We need—"
"We'll be there in the morning," Jisoo said calmly. "9 AM. Conference room. We'll explain everything."
"Everything?!"
"Everything we can explain. See you then."
She hung up.
"So," Sori said. "How much of the truth are we telling?"
"Experimental volcanic performance art," Alistair said immediately. "Collaboration with environmental groups studying volcanic activity. The heat and flames were achieved through a combination of practical effects, CGI, and optical illusions. Some footage was intentionally leaked as viral marketing."
"That's... actually believable," Luna said.
"I've been doing this for 947 years. I know how to spin impossible situations."
"What about the satellite footage?"
"Natural volcanic activity coinciding with our performance. We hired experts to explain the science. Very boring. Very technical. Media will lose interest in forty-eight hours."
"And the Integration Initiative? The ambassador status?"
"Completely separate. Handled through supernatural channels. Your human management never needs to know."
Mr. Park emerged from his room, looking haunted. "I heard everything. I've already prepared seventeen different cover stories, updated our insurance AGAIN, and scheduled emergency meetings with our PR team, legal team, and a therapist—for me specifically."
"You're the best, Mr. Park," Mia said sincerely.
"I'm the most traumatized," he corrected. "But thank you."
The morning meeting was exactly as chaotic as expected.
The human management company's CEO, Director Kim, looked like he'd aged five years in three days.
"Explain," he said simply, pulling up footage on the conference room screen.
The footage was... damning. AETHER clearly performing on a platform above actual lava. Fire shooting into the sky. Thermal readings off the charts.
"Experimental performance art," Jisoo said smoothly, using Alistair's prepared script. "We partnered with volcanic researchers and visual effects specialists to create an immersive experience highlighting climate change and environmental protection."
"By performing in a VOLCANO."
"Yes. The volcanic activity was natural—we timed our performance to coincide with it for dramatic effect. The footage was meant to generate discussion about environmental issues."
"And it worked," Alistair added, appearing (via video call, it was daytime) professional and managerial. "Social media engagement is up 300%. AETHER is trending globally. Environmental organizations are praising the artistic statement. This is good publicity."
Director Kim looked at the metrics. His expression shifted from panic to calculation.
"It IS good publicity," he admitted slowly. "The shareholders are seeing the engagement numbers. The environmental angle is playing well. But next time—"
"We'll inform you in advance," Jisoo promised. "This was experimental. We learned a lot about what works and what doesn't."
"And the next concept?"
"We're planning something with ice and cold," Luna said. "The opposite of fire. Visual contrast. Arctic themes."
"...I want a full proposal by next week."
"You'll have it."
The meeting concluded. AETHER had successfully gaslit their own management company into thinking their volcanic concert was a planned publicity stunt.
"I feel bad lying," Mia said as they left.
"We're not lying," Sori said. "We're just... selectively revealing truth."
"That's literally lying."
"It's DIPLOMATIC lying. Totally different."
Three days later, the formal documentation for the Integration Initiative arrived via supernatural courier (a phoenix, who left scorch marks on their doorstep).
The contract was extensive:
AETHER's Responsibilities:
- Facilitate cultural exchanges between supernatural communities
- Perform at major inter-species events (minimum 2 per year)
- Serve as mediators in diplomatic disputes (when appropriate)
- Represent both human and supernatural interests in integration matters
- Maintain secrecy about supernatural world to general public
Benefits Provided:
- Diplomatic immunity in all supernatural territories
- Access to resources from all member factions
- Dedicated security detail (multi-species)
- Financial support for supernatural-related activities
- Protected status (cannot be targeted by supernatural factions)
- Emergency extraction protocols
- Legal representation for supernatural-related incidents
Support Staff Assigned:
- Security: Marcus's werewolf pack + rotating guards from other factions
- Transportation: BERNARD (officially recognized as team member)
- Medical: Dr. Schrödinger (on retainer)
- Technical: Glitch Witches (consultants)
- Diplomatic: Alistair Wynthrope (official representative)
- Logistics: Mr. Park (hazard pay increased 400%)
The signatures at the bottom included:
- The Ancient One (Mer-Council)
- Ignis Rex (Magma Collective)
- Elder Corvinus (Vampire Council)
- Chancellor Grimwald (Werewolf Packs)
- Lady Vermillion (Draconian League)
- Representatives from seventeen other factions
"We're really doing this," Jisoo said, holding the contract.
"We're really doing this," Luna confirmed.
"Are we insane?" Bella asked.
"Completely," Sori said. "But we've been insane since we fought zombies with a fan chant. This is just making it official."
Mia looked at the tiny fire sprite pendant around her neck (the sprite was sleeping, a gentle warm glow). "I think we're brave. And kind. And maybe a little reckless. But mostly brave."
"Brave and stupid often look the same," Alistair said, appearing at the door with official stamps and supernatural notary equipment. "But I'm proud of you. All of you."
"Even though we're giving you more work?" Luna asked.
"Especially because of that. Work keeps me young. Relatively speaking."
They signed.
All five members, plus Alistair as official representative, plus Mr. Park as human liaison (he'd demanded hazard pay and gotten it).
The Integration Initiative was official.
AETHER was now formally recognized as ambassadors between worlds.
EPILOGUE: THREE WEEKS LATER
The comeback announcement broke the internet.
AETHER's new mini-album: "CONVERGENCE"
Title Track: "Between Worlds"
Concept: Unity across impossible distances. Fire and ice. Ocean and sky. Surface and deep. Human and supernatural.
The teaser images showed each member in hybrid concepts:
- Jisoo with her deep-sea coral crown and crystallized lava crown both visible
- Bella with kelp dance ribbons and volcanic glass bracers
- Luna with living crystal technology and obsidian fire-magic tablet
- Sori with her nautilus shell mic and volcanic microphone
- Mia with singing pearls and fire sprite pendant
The concept was "impossible combinations that somehow work."
Fans went wild speculating about the artistic meaning.
Some theorists came remarkably close to the truth.
One fan post on Reddit read: "What if AETHER's actually visiting all these places? What if it's not CGI? What if they're really building bridges between different worlds?"
The post got downvoted for being "too conspiracy theory."
But a few people knew the truth.
In the Mariana Trench, the Tide-Lord's daughter practiced choreography with her mer-friends, preparing to meet AETHER at next year's festival.
In Mount Nyiragongo, Ember counted down the days until her surface visit, six months away, dreaming of snow.
In Tokyo Harbor, Kira organized her hoard (newest addition: signed Inferno-Bunny poster) and texted Alistair excessively about their upcoming coffee date (she'd negotiated him down from "kelp blood bags" to "coffee" as a compromise).
In Prague, Elder Corvinus reviewed Integration Initiative progress reports and smiled (vampires don't smile often, it was significant).
And somewhere in the dimensional spaces between realities, Dr. Xenon watched footage of AETHER's volcanic concert, analyzing, learning, evolving.
"Soon," he said to his mysterious patron (whose face remained in shadow). "Soon they'll understand. Optimization isn't the enemy. Stagnation is. And I'll show them. I'll show everyone."
The patron said nothing, but their smile was visible in the darkness.
Plans within plans.
Games within games.
But for now, in Seoul, AETHER was home.
They had three weeks until the comeback showcase.
Three weeks to rehearse, record, prepare.
Three weeks of being "normal" idols (as normal as supernatural ambassadors could be).
"Group meeting," Jisoo announced, gathering everyone in the living room.
"Are we debriefing?" Luna asked.
"No. We're doing something more important." Jisoo pulled out her phone. "We're voting on BERNARD's comeback participation."
"I have prepared seventeen proposals," BERNARD's voice came from the tablet Luna had connected. "Ranging from 'simple backup dancer' to 'full holographic integration with stage pyrotechnics.' The MOTHER fragments have opinions. Many opinions."
"Let's hear them," Bella said, grinning.
They spent the next two hours discussing how to integrate a sentient AI collective housed in a giant bunny tank into their comeback stage.
It was ridiculous.
It was impossible.
It was exactly the kind of problem AETHER excelled at solving.
Outside, Seoul glowed with evening lights. Somewhere, supernatural communities were building new connections. Somewhere, villains were plotting new schemes. Somewhere, the world was getting stranger and more wonderful simultaneously.
And in a small dorm in Seoul, five idols and their vampire manager and their AI tank and their stress-case human manager planned a comeback that would, inevitably, somehow save the world again.
Because that was the AETHER way.
Always bolder.
Always stranger.
Always together.
And always, always with spectacular production values and questionable insurance coverage.
THE END OF PART 9
BERNARD'S FINAL NOTE: "Success rate of comeback: 94%. Probability of supernatural incident: 87%. Likelihood of Mr. Park's stress-related breakdown: 99.7%. Estimated insurance premium increase: catastrophic. Overall assessment: OPTIMAL."
Next Adventure Teased: The kraken mentioned something about an Arctic situation. And Ember's surface visit is in six months. And there's that mysterious dragon clan request. And Prince Silvius sent a cryptic invitation. And the Glitch Witches found something weird in Antarctica...
Status: Never a dull moment. Ever.
🔥🎤🐰💕✨🌋
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