Beyond The Breach

CLASSIFIED FILE - ECHO ORIENTATION

HOLLOWS OF ECHO INSTITUTION

Access Level: 2 - Authorized Hollow Personnel OnlyAssigned Agent: Hikari AmaneSubject: Echo Identification, Classification, and Containment ProceduresFile Status: Restricted

[CLASSIFIED FILE ACCESSED]

Agent Recording: Hikari Amane

Hey there, curious minds, future agents, readers, writers, and... unfortunate souls who’ve stumbled into something far more dangerous than you realize! Hehe! Welcome!

If you’re reading this, you’ve either found something you probably shouldn’t have, or you’re the kind of person who enjoys chasing the unknown despite the consequences. Either way, you’ve certainly caught my attention!

My name is Hikari Amane, and I’ll be your guide through this little introduction to the wonderful, mysterious, and occasionally horrifying world of Echos. Now, before we get started, I should probably warn you that some of the information contained in this file isn’t exactly pleasant. But don’t worry! I’ll try to keep things simple. After all, we wouldn’t want our newest trainees running away before their first assignment, would we? Hehe!

Anyway, welcome to the Hollows of Echo Institution, where the impossible is real, the unknown is everywhere, and sometimes even the most harmless-looking things can become your worst nightmare. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? ...Right? Ahem! Moving on!

01 - What Is an Echo?

An Echo is the term we use to identify an anomaly that defies the natural laws of our world. Simple enough, right? Well, not exactly. You see, Echos aren’t limited to terrifying monsters or strange creatures. They can manifest in many different forms, including living entities, ordinary-looking objects, unexplained phenomena, and things that don’t fit neatly into any known category. Some are physical. Others behave in ways that make their very existence difficult to explain. And a few? Well... we’re still trying to figure out what they even are.

As for where Echos come from, that’s one of the many mysteries we’re still investigating. What we do know is that their behavior can range from completely passive to extraordinarily dangerous. Some can be observed without much difficulty. Others require specialized equipment, trained personnel, and carefully designed containment procedures. And then there are the ones that make you question whether you should have gotten out of bed that morning. Hehe... those are always fun. Not really.

To give you an idea of what we deal with, imagine encountering something like:

A swarm of crow-like entities capable of merging into a single, monstrous body when threatened.

A shadowy figure that stalks its victims through darkened rooms, moving whenever their attention is elsewhere.

A parasitic worm that burrows into a living host, consuming it from within before abandoning the remains in search of another victim.

Terrifying, isn’t it? And those are only a few examples of the kinds of anomalies our agents may encounter. I’ve personally faced Echos that were fascinating, frightening, and sometimes completely beyond anything I thought possible. Some encounters were relatively straightforward. Others... well, let’s just say there are certain incidents even I prefer not to revisit. Anyway!

The important thing to understand is that an Echo should never be judged solely by its appearance. Something that looks dangerous might remain passive unless disturbed, while an ordinary household object could pose a far greater threat than anyone realizes. Remember that, trainee. It might save your life someday.

02 - Who Handles the Echos?

That would be us! The Hollows of Echo Institution, or simply the Hollows.

We’re an organization dedicated to investigating, securing, containing, and, when absolutely necessary, eliminating anomalous threats. Our personnel include scientists, researchers, soldiers, containment specialists, and many others who work together to protect humanity from dangers most people don’t even know exist. Pretty impressive, huh?

Of course, being a Hollow isn’t all exciting discoveries and heroic adventures. Sometimes it means spending countless hours studying an anomaly that refuses to cooperate. Other times, it means entering a containment chamber knowing that one mistake could be your last. And occasionally, it means making decisions that aren’t nearly as simple as we’d like them to be. But regardless of our individual responsibilities, every Hollow shares one fundamental mission: Protect humanity from the dangers posed by Echos. To accomplish this, the Institution has established a standardized operational procedure known as the E.C.O. Protocol. And yes, before you ask, I think the name is rather clever! Hehe!

03 - Echo Capture Order (E.C.O.) Protocol

The E.C.O. Protocol establishes the three primary stages of Echo containment operations. Every Hollow Agent is expected to understand these procedures and follow the Institution’s authorized containment guidelines.

E - Echo: Identification and Assessment

The first stage involves locating, identifying, documenting, and assessing a suspected Echo. Agents must gather information regarding the anomaly’s appearance, behavior, abilities, and potential hazards. Once sufficient information has been obtained, the Echo receives an official codename based on its identifiable traits or observed characteristics.

Whenever possible, agents should determine whether the Echo is passive, reactive, or actively hostile before attempting containment. And remember, just because something isn’t attacking you doesn’t mean it’s safe!

C - Capture: Suppression and Initial Containment

Once an Echo has been assessed, authorized personnel must determine the safest available method of securing it. Depending on the anomaly, this may involve specialized equipment, restraints, weapons, containment devices, rituals, or other approved procedures. Some Echos can be physically subdued, while others require entirely different approaches.

The primary objective is to establish control over the anomaly while minimizing unnecessary casualties, environmental damage, and the risk of further escalation. Of course, that can be easier said than done. Especially when your target decides that walls, gravity, or common sense are merely suggestions.

O - Order: Secure Containment and Long-Term Control

After successful capture, the Echo must be transferred to an appropriate containment environment. Depending on its properties, this may include a designated vault, specialized containment chamber, isolated facility, or another Institution-approved containment arrangement.

Each Echo is assigned procedures designed to prevent escape, suppress hazardous behavior, and maintain long-term control. Personnel are responsible for monitoring the anomaly and reporting any changes in its behavior or containment conditions. An Echo that appears stable today may not remain stable tomorrow. And trust me, discovering that the hard way is not an experience I’d recommend.

Institution Standing Directive: All Echo containment operations must follow authorized E.C.O. procedures unless an approved exception has been issued.

04 - Echolock Protocol

Now, here’s where things become a little more serious. Not every Echo can be successfully captured or contained. Some resist every known suppression method. Others possess abilities that make long-term containment extraordinarily difficult or dangerous. When conventional containment is determined to be impossible, or when continued containment presents an unacceptable threat, the Institution may authorize a procedure known as Echolock.

Echolock refers to the permanent elimination of an Echo through an authorized method, including destruction, dismantling, exorcism, or another procedure appropriate to the anomaly. However, there’s one very important rule: Individual Hollow operatives are not authorized to initiate Echolock independently.

All Echolock orders must be approved by the Hollows of Echo Institution, including situations involving an immediate or potentially catastrophic threat. Yes, even then. The reasoning behind this restriction is straightforward: destroying an anomaly without fully understanding its properties may produce consequences far worse than keeping it contained. Some Echos behave unpredictably when damaged. Others may possess characteristics that remain undiscovered until it’s too late. That’s why the Institution requires authorization before permanent elimination is attempted.

Of course... I can’t say I’ve agreed with every decision that’s been made. Sometimes, what we’re ordered to do and what we believe is right aren’t quite the same thing. But those decisions carry consequences, and there’s usually more involved than any one agent can see.

Anyway, that’s a conversation for another day! For now, remember this: Echolock is a last-resort procedure, not a substitute for containment. Our responsibility is to protect humanity, and that includes understanding the consequences of our own actions.

05 - Echo Classification System

Still with me, trainee? Good! We’re almost through the important stuff. Now, not all Echos present the same level of danger or difficulty. Some can be contained with relatively simple procedures, while others require constant observation, specialized equipment, or entire teams dedicated to preventing a breach. To help personnel understand these differences, the Institution uses a classification system consisting of four primary Echo Classes. Each classification reflects the estimated difficulty of maintaining containment, taking into account the Echo’s behavior, abilities, stability, and potential consequences should containment fail.

Let’s go through them!

ECHO - NULL

Order Rate: 90% - 99%

Null-class Echos are generally stable, passive, or comparatively easy to contain. They may display unusual properties without exhibiting consistently hostile behavior. However, this does not mean they are harmless. Even a passive anomaly can become dangerous if mishandled, disturbed, or exposed to unsuitable conditions. Null-class Echos typically require routine monitoring and established containment procedures.

Think of them as the ones that usually cooperate. Usually.

ECHO - DORMANT

Order Rate: 70% - 89%

Dormant-class Echos display unstable, reactive, or unpredictable behavior that increases the difficulty of maintaining containment. They may remain inactive for extended periods before responding to particular stimuli, environmental changes, or human interaction. Although they are generally manageable with appropriate precautions, their behavior can become dangerous if containment procedures are neglected. Dormant-class Echos require closer observation and additional safeguards compared to Null-class anomalies.

And yes, the name can be misleading. Just because something is dormant doesn’t mean it’s asleep. Or that you should try waking it. Please don’t.

ECHO - YUILA

Order Rate: 40% - 69%

Yuila-class Echos present significant containment challenges and are frequently associated with hostile, destructive, or highly unpredictable behavior. These anomalies may possess abilities that allow them to resist conventional suppression methods, damage containment equipment, or threaten nearby personnel. Maintaining control often requires specialized containment systems, constant monitoring, and trained response teams. A Yuila-class breach can result in severe casualties or widespread destruction if not addressed quickly.

If you’re assigned to one of these, I sincerely hope you’ve read every page of your briefing. Twice.

ECHO - ZERM

Order Rate: 1% - 39%

Zerm-class Echos represent the most severe containment challenges recognized within the standard classification system. These anomalies may possess catastrophic destructive capabilities, reality-altering properties, or behaviors that make reliable containment extremely difficult. Some require extraordinary suppression methods, highly specialized environments, or procedures that remain only partially understood. In certain cases, maintaining containment may depend on delaying an anomaly’s activity rather than achieving complete control. A Zerm-class containment failure can pose a threat far beyond the immediate facility.

And if you’re wondering whether I’ve ever encountered one... let’s just say I have a very healthy respect for anything carrying that classification.

06 - Understanding Order Rate

Now, you may have noticed the percentages listed beside each Echo Class. Those represent what we call the Order Rate. Order Rate is the Institution’s estimated probability of successfully maintaining an Echo’s containment under its assigned procedures and known operating conditions. In simpler terms, it helps us evaluate how reliably an Echo can be kept under control.

The higher the Order Rate, the more reliable its established containment procedures are expected to be. The lower the Order Rate, the greater the uncertainty and risk associated with maintaining containment. However, there’s something important you should understand: Order Rate does not directly measure how dangerous an Echo is in combat.

An extremely destructive Echo might have a relatively high Order Rate if its behavior is well understood and reliable containment methods exist. Likewise, an anomaly that rarely harms anyone could have a low Order Rate if it consistently escapes or defies every available containment procedure. These percentages are estimates based on available research, observed behavior, and containment performance. They are not guarantees. Order Rates and classifications may be revised when new information becomes available.

And as for an Order Rate of zero or one hundred percent? Those values are not assigned under the standard classification ranges. Absolute containment failure or absolute containment certainty requires separate institutional review.

After all, when you’re dealing with things that defy natural law, claiming to be completely certain about anything is a rather dangerous habit.

07 - A Final Word From Your Instructor

Well, would you look at that! You’ve officially made it through your first classified orientation file! Congratulations, trainee! Hehe! Not bad at all. Now, before I let you go, there’s something I’d like you to remember.

The Hollows aren’t just scientists studying strange phenomena or soldiers fighting monsters. We’re people. People with families, friends, responsibilities, and lives outside these facilities. Some of us joined because we wanted to understand the unknown. Others joined because they wanted to protect people from it. And some of us simply found ourselves caught up in circumstances we never could have imagined. Whatever brought us here, we all carry the responsibility of dealing with things the rest of the world may never understand.

That responsibility isn’t always easy. There are rules we have to follow, decisions we don’t always agree with, and questions that sometimes remain unanswered no matter how hard we search. But despite everything, I still believe the work we do matters. Because every Echo we successfully contain is one less danger threatening the people we’re trying to protect. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned during my time with the Hollows, it’s that curiosity can be both our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. So stay curious! Ask questions, observe carefully, and never stop trying to understand the world around you. Just remember that not everything you discover will be pleased to have been found. Hehe!

Anyway, I suppose that brings us to the end of our little introduction. And since you’ve made it this far, I think it’s only fair that I welcome you properly. Congratulations! You’re now an honorary Hollow Trainee! Yay! Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re authorized to enter our facilities, access restricted information, or approach an Echo without supervision. Seriously. Please don’t do that. But hey! It’s a start! Thanks for reading, my favorite Hollow Trainee. Stay curious, stay safe, and remember...

Never assume something is harmless simply because it looks ordinary. You never know when an Echo might be closer than you think. Until next time!

- Hikari AmaneHollow Specialist - Echohold-09Hollows of Echo Institution

HOLLOW PERSONNEL DIRECTIVE

All Hollows personnel are bound by Institution oath and operational secrecy. Humanity’s preservation depends upon strict adherence to established E.C.O. procedures, authorized containment directives, and institutional security requirements. Any unauthorized disclosure, procedural violation, or deliberate interference with containment operations may result in disciplinary action under Article 7, Subsection Δ.

No personnel may independently authorize Echolock. Exceptions to standard containment procedures require explicit approval from the appropriate institutional authority. All undocumented Echo traits, behavioral changes, containment irregularities, and suspected breaches must be reported without delay. Failure to comply may result in suspension, revocation of clearance, or further institutional action.

END OF CLASSIFIED FILEFILE STATUS: CLOSED

Enjoy the novel, and Breach on!