Story Reader / Main Story / 29 Source Beacon / Story
You are the doves returning with olive branches.
You are the adventurers paving the way to gold and glory.
You are the "Heralds" sent by Norman Mining Corp.
You will carry everyone's dreams and bring back the sparks of hope.
You will be Norman Mining Corp's pride.
Amidst cheers, the most elite Constructs of Norman Mining Corp, equipped with the most advanced protective suits and high-end weapons, have boarded the transport ship bearing Norman Mining Corp's emblem.
These "Heralds" will be divided into small groups and deployed in the areas near Reactor 1.
...
Victoria remains silent as she watches the transport ship disappear into the distance.
They will become glorious leaders. The light of the Golden Age will shine on the Norman family crest again.
This is an honor, Victoria.
Back in the day, I once did the same, sending your father aboard Norman Mining Corp's transport ship.
And he lived up to expectations, bringing back crucial information about Dominik.
You must always remember the first creed of the Norman family, Victoria.
...By any means necessary, for the sake of Norman's tomorrow.
For the sake of Norman's tomorrow.
According to the map... this is it.
With Reactor 1 at the center and a radius of nearly 1000 kilometers, this entire area is shrouded in high concentrations of Punishing Virus.
The Heralds' radar went haywire almost as soon as they left the shuttle. For some unknown reason, their terminals also only had intermittent signals, barely maintaining communication with Babylonia.
Is this... Reactor 1?
Given her young look, she was probably turned into a Construct not long ago.
With a mix of excitement and fear, she cautiously separates the dense dark shrubs ahead.
Are you sure there won't be any danger?
According to the map passed down by our predecessors, this area should be a safe zone...
There is nothing unusual behind the shrubs.
Don't worry, we are Norman Mining Corp's latest version of Constructs.
This area is on the outermost edge of Reactor 1. As long as we follow the map and explore, there shouldn't be too many problems.
This mission is all about exploration. Norman Mining Corp will reward us as long as we can reach the point marked on the map, even if we have only pushed a little further from where we landed.
If we could even bring back other information about Reactor 1...
Already imagining the cheers and flowers he would receive, he coughs to mask his excitement, but cannot hide the thrill in his voice.
Forget promotions and raises, my boss said even Miss Victoria would personally meet us!
Wow...
Has anyone ever received such a reward?
I guess so... shh, be careful.
Following the map, they bypass a mire covered in Red Tide.
Gurgle—
Before they realize it, a thin mist has quietly spread across the ground.
Uh... does the map indicate any "mist" around here?
Mist? That's nothing. Probably not important enough to be marked on the map.
After going around this corner, we should see the city's edge...
Wait... hold on...
Silent tides are dying the overgrown shrubs a vivid red.
Wait... did we take the wrong path?
He furrows his brow, quickly scanning the map.
...This way!
Confirming the new route, he swiftly takes the other Construct to relocate.
Can the map be wrong? Wasn't it all top-secret data compiled and uploaded by our predecessors?
There was probably some error. Who doesn't make mistakes in their work?
Seeing the city's vague edge appear not far away, he lets out a breath of relief.
Just a little further, and they will reach the farthest point marked on the map. Just a little further...
Gurgle—
What's that noise?!
...Don't tell me those Hetero-Creatures have come back.
Though those bizarre Hetero-Creatures cannot cause much harm, when they are killed, their Punishing Virus-filled fluids can corrode the Construct frames.
Anyway, let me transmit the real-time data back to headquarters first...
Before she can even open her terminal, the Punishing Virus concentration alert on her protective suit begins to flash.
What is going on...?!
The Punishing Virus concentration nearby is rapidly increasing.
Gurgle—
Vines are crawling deep into the tree trunks. The tide silently approaches, almost at their feet by the time they have noticed.
No—this is a wrong way!
Retreat! Request backup! Quick, call for help!
The sharp alarm blares, endlessly echoing in the deathly quiet forest.
But who can come to their rescue?
As if responding to some command, numerous Hetero-Creatures have surged from the tide, murmuring undecipherable whispers as they lunge at the Constructs who have just activated their short-range propulsion devices.
Ugh...
The high concentration of Punishing Virus has corroded his frame, leaving his metal skeleton barely holding together. He struggles to pull the Construct behind him but only feels a sudden loss of weight on his hand.
Requesting backup...
With his vocal module deteriorated, he can only helplessly slump in the Red Tide mire.
He wishes he could die right away...
But the frame specially modified by Norman Mining Corp would ensure this death would be a lengthy one.
...There's something I need to tell you.
Why so sneaky? Just spit it out, Boss.
Miss Victoria has a special message for us. In this safe area of the frame, when you open it...
See this button inside? Don't press it unless absolutely necessary.
Oh? Could it be the "secret weapon" Miss Victoria installed for us?
No... it's not. Just remember what I said.
The captain gives him a meaningful glance.
Until now, he has suddenly truly understood the purpose of that button.
The metal shell that was supposed to protect the button has been corroded away. He stares at the sky, struggling to move his arm to reach for that button of last resort.
A shadow silently flashes out from the shrubs.
Help—
...Ah, a survivor of the old civilization. In accordance with human etiquette, I greet you.
Help—us—
—My name? I am... Cradle.
Hmm... Right, that's how it would sound like in the language you can understand.
...An Ascendant?!
Even though his visual module is severely damaged, he could still faintly see a petite girl standing unscathed atop the Red Tide. She looks just like an ordinary human.
Nope.
In the "language" you can understand, I am the will of the Red Tide, the incubator of a new civilization...
...My name is "Cradle".
She gives a cheerful smile.
Gargh...
His voice module has now been completely destroyed by the Punishing Virus. In his remaining vision, he sees the girl who called herself "Cradle" gently lifting the damaged frame of his teammate from the Red Tide.
Don't be afraid, survivor.
By the plans "we" set in motion, you may rest peacefully in the Cradle, free from such suffering.
Flowers will bloom anew in the civilization as we take over, and you will awaken once more.
In the new world, you will find unparalleled joy and happiness.
Rgh—Aargh...
With a final burst of will, he struggles to move his arm, pressing the red button on his frame.
—What's that over there?!
...Sounds like an explosion, but it's still far from us.
The radar's gone haywire. The Punishing Virus concentration ahead is still rising... We can't keep going.
Liv anxiously looks at the refugees behind her.
Even with enough serum and protective suits, the concentration level here is still too deadly for ordinary people.
How's the communication going?
No good. We still haven't established any channel.
...
Two of them could have broken through the zone easily. But with all the refugees behind them...
She looks at the dotted scars on the legs and arms of Lucia's frame.
Even for a specialized frame, the Punishing Virus would still cause damage.
There aren't many Construct bandages left...
It's okay.
All the protective suits have been given out. You stay here on guard, I'll scout ahead.
In the camp behind them, refugees in protective suits are cherishing their precious rest time.
Put on your protective suit, Lucille.
No need, a mask is enough for me.
I'm way stronger than you!
She playfully raises her arm, striking a bodybuilder pose, then forcefully puts her suit on a child.
Wait... what's that?
She pulls the child back, takes two steps back, then pulls out something from the shrubs. It is a bag stained with the Red Tide's mud.
Is this... a "tombstone" left by other teams? But this symbol...
...That's Norman Mining Corp's emblem. How could they be here?
Could I take a look?
Taking the bag, Liv frowns as she inspects the items inside. Part of the supplies had already been consumed.
Could it be something left behind from a long time ago?
Impossible, this is a standard weapon Babylonia released less than two years ago...
From the bottom of the package, she finds a tattered map with simple messages on it, marking the locations.
X-X, X:00, arrived at the designated destination.
Next objective: Enter the city where Reactor 1 is located.
But how...
The malfunctioning radar left them completely lost on the ground. Their communication system also inexplicably failed, making it impossible for them to maintain contact with Babylonia.
According to the original plan, they should have been near the edge of the Clean Zone by now... But how did they end up in the exact opposite direction?
Herald...
She murmurs the words written on the back of the map.
We will carry everyone's dreams and bring back the sparks of hope.
We will bring back glory...
The latter part of the map is completely corroded.
...Liv? Liv? What's wrong?
I'm fine, but I must tell Lucia about this immediately...
Liv puts the map away. Before she starts walking toward the direction Lucia left, she sees Lucia rushing out from the shrubs.
Lucia? Your leg...
There is visible damage on Lucia's leg armor. It looks as if something has wrapped around it.
I saw the Red Tide at eight o'clock. It's moving in this direction. We must leave immediately.
The Red Tide... Is that really the Red Tide over there? But this wavelength...
This definitely isn't an ordinary Red Tide...
It doesn't matter what kind of Red Tide it is. Whether it's ordinary or not, it can still kill you!
Hurry up and pack! Get ready to leave!
I need to confirm what it exactly is. There must be something different in this Red Tide.
Wearing a ragged coat, he tightly clutches an old pen and paper, staring intently at the screen while continuously recording the frequencies displayed on the machine.
The readings are the same as the ones they detected last time...
...No more talking! Just get on!
I want to be the last to leave.
They sacrificed their lives for mine. I can't let them die in vain...
I must prove that everything they dedicated their lives to was worth it.
He loads the instruments onto the last vehicle and continues to jot down those complex frequencies.
While the refugees are packing up, Liv takes out the map from earlier.
Lucia, look at this...
...What's the status of the communication?
Whether it's the deviated route or the mysteriously appearing Norman Mining Corp emblem, it should all be reported to Babylonia.
Liv gently shakes her head.
...
Let's get out of here first.
Hey—we're ready!
Lucille's energetic voice echoes from not far away.
Alright! Let's get out of here first.
There must be a way!
Together, they have faced even tougher situations before.
So, there must be a way.
They will definitely be able to take everyone out of this place safely.
