Story Reader / Main Story / 30 Stars Ensnared / Story
Agent Zero and Selene have become one, transforming into the "dark star" wreathed in electrical arcs, descending upon Babylonia in their newfound form.
The most peculiar-looking predator to date has broken free from its ancient chains, entering a pasture where it can hunt at will.
Piercing alarms echo through the spaceport, mingling with chaotic shouts—a maddening cacophony that sets everyone on edge.
Whoosh—
A fist hurtles toward the alarm, and just as it's about to strike—
Captain, Noctis is causing havoc!
The fist unfurls into an open palm, pressing against the alarm instead of smashing it. The warning sirens in this area become muffled and distorted.
Don't talk nonsense! This thing's just too noisy, I'm just trying to shut it up.
Where's the enemy anyway? Better not be a false alarm, or someone's gonna be in trouble.
The only one in trouble is gonna be Noctis... Rawrr—
What's your problem? Listen here, don't think I'll go easy on you just because we're on a mission... Hmm?
The growl provokes Noctis' anger, but as he turns around, he realizes No. 21 isn't even looking at him.
The smell... Something's wrong!
As soon as the words are spoken, red electricity flashes before their eyes, making No. 21's fur stand on end in alarm.
The Punishing Virus!
What's going on?! Aren't we in Babylonia right now?!
Bzzz—
The chaotic red currents freeze for a moment upon entering the spaceport, then—like sharks catching the scent of blood—surge forward in clusters, lunging at every piece of machinery in sight.
The metal constructs begin to mutate visibly the instant they're touched by the virus.
Clang—
A flash of steel cuts through the air behind them, shattering a machine that was about to complete its infection and spring into action.
Get ready to fight!
Rawr—
Let's not worry about where these enemies came from right now.
Caught up in the excitement, Noctis clenches his hand, crushing the alarm device in his grip into pieces.
I've been dying to cut loose and throw down here in Babylonia!
The usually bustling shopping plaza now lies in chaos, surrounded by a ring of Construct soldiers from both the Task Force and Purifying Force.
In the center of the perimeter, a massive mechanical statue—originally a promotional display for the shopping center—is now collapsing amidst a cacophony of metallic groans.
As metal shards rain down, four mechanical arms gracefully deflect the falling debris, revealing a girl's silhouette emerging through the chaos.
High-risk target No. 2 has been neutralized. How are things with you?
Swoosh—
The response is a faint gunshot. Behind Yata, a mechanical part that was not yet fully destroyed and was still attempting to function shatters completely.
All threats have been neutralized. The danger level in the residential district is low. The chaos caused by the panic among the crowd is proving to be more troublesome than the fighting itself.
A few warning shots and tranquilizer rounds should do the trick. The logistics teams from both the Task Force and the Purifying Force are moving in. They can handle the remaining security incidents.
Stay alert. The residential district was never meant to be a battlefield—we need to be even more careful here.
Let's move on. We need to do what we can to lighten the burden on the others.
Copy that.
Babylonia's response to the danger has been swift, but they face an enemy that defies all contingency plans.
The Omega Weapons cannot protect every corner of Babylonia. Beyond their purification range, mechanical equipment corrupted by the Punishing Virus has gone berserk, launching indiscriminate attacks at everything within reach.
This unleashed monster runs rampant through Babylonia, leaving no place untouched—the commercial district, combat preparation rooms, the resource processing center, and Star of Life have all fallen prey to its rampage.
This beacon of human hope now teeters on the brink of collapse.
Compared to other districts, the Engine Level remains relatively stable.
The Engineering Force is always on standby in these critical areas, supported by large-scale Omega Weapons for control. Any machinery showing the slightest hint of Punishing Virus contamination is quickly disconnected, dismantled, and replaced.
Well, we should consider ourselves lucky that things aren't completely terrible here.
Those Parliament fools, always talking about "for the development in Babylonia"... They do more harm than good when it comes to actual development.
...
Teddy?
When her companion doesn't respond to her casual greeting, Karenina turns her head. Noticing the movement, Teddy removes her headphones.
...What's wrong?
What's got you so absorbed? The network should be down by now, right?
I'm helping calibrate the emergency communication channels. Twenty-six nodes are up and running so far. Now checking the frequencies to make sure they're stable.
If we let the communication channels stay down, we'll be completely blind. I hate that feeling—that's why I need to get Babylonia's eyes back open as soon as possible.
So you're receiving messages from other areas now? What's the situation in Babylonia?
The local channels aren't fully operational yet, we're only getting basic reports... Hmm...?
Teddy squints at the data and text on the screen, her voice trailing off with uncertainty.
Noticing Teddy's change, Karenina leans in to take a closer look, but quickly pulls back after just a glance.
Is there a problem?
Not really... It's just that something feels off to me... The damage in other areas seems a bit different from what I expected.
But with the limited capacity for sending and receiving information right now, I can't be sure about my judgment.
What do you mean? Can you explain it more clearly? I can't make sense of all that stuff on your screen.
Well...
Teddy glances at her companion with a patient sigh, searching for the right analogy to explain the situation.
You know how building a house starts with laying a foundation, right? Well, whoever is doing this isn't thinking along those lines at all—they've hardly even dug into the ground.
...Are you saying they might have some scheme already? That the foundation's actually been laid without us knowing?
Maybe...
Teddy's finger glides across the screen, her murmur carrying a hint of suspicion.
Or maybe... they never intended to build anything here in the first place.
Full communications haven't been restored, but basic status checks across different areas are now possible through the temporary channels.
Asimov stands before Gestalt to handle pop-up tasks on the control panel while monitoring the constant stream of regional updates from the terminal.
Gradually, Asimov's movements slow to a halt.
Asimov?
Noticing Asimov's change, Lucia, who is on guard, approaches.
Something wrong?
...
Asimov silently finishes something before turning toward the terminal and focusing on the reports coming through the channel.
Something's wrong...
You two mutter almost in unison. Your eyes meet and confirm your suspicions.
So is Babylonia.
But destroying the prison can't be their main objective... Gestalt, display Babylonia's three-dimensional map.
Compile data from the temporary communication channels. Mark all areas with different colors according to attack severity and classify them roughly into high, medium, and low.
Within moments, a massive hologram appears before them. The three colors spread across Babylonia's model like a chaotic patchwork without an obvious pattern.
The temporary communications are too limited, and with the possibility of error in human judgment...
[player name], I need your help filtering this data to reduce errors.
You don't need to give me explanations—I trust your battle experience and instincts.
Reduce the weight factor for Zone Z57... Recalculate the attack patterns for these three zones using this new standard...
Divide J89 into four sections... to include only the two attack points. Recolor their connection and mark the rest as null zones...
Reset the values for the most heavily attacked area to zero... Recalculat the color distribution with this building as the focal point...
You two work together to enter new commands. Babylonia's 3D model shifts in color like fabric in an artist's hands—until everything suddenly freezes.
The chaotic patterns become ordered, revealing a coiled, blood-red serpent bearing its fangs silently at its prey.
Seeing this, Lucia's grip tightens on her sword while Liv lets out a muffled gasp. The truth lies here before you.
When a prisoner breaks free, their first priority is to escape the even larger prison that awaits them.
Spaceport A1...? That's it. Spaceport A1 is its target! The other attacks were just a diversion. It's trying to escape from Babylonia!
Bang!
A charged punch sends the Corrupted flying in a graceful arc before crashing into the crimson horde in the distance.
BOOM!
Noctis triggers the bomb planted on the Corrupted. A massive fireball erupts, devouring all nearby enemies.
Perfect!
Hahaha! Never thought I'd get to blow stuff up in Babylonia like this! What a blast!
Captain, did you see that? We've cleared them all. Can we shut off that annoying alarm now?
You're making more noise than the alarm. I could barely hear the terminal's notification over your yelling.
Terminal? Isn't the comm system down? When did that piece of junk start working again?
You idiot. Even I know the things we dropped earlier were meant to help the terminals work. Only you are clueless.
Tch... Anyway, Captain, what did you get?
More enemies somewhere? Perfect! I'm not even done with my warm-up. Let's keep this streak going!
Two cryptic messages: "Stay alert" and... "Please be careful"?
Boom!
Before Vera could finish, the port's barrier—the strongest defensive wall in all of Babylonia—shatters with a deafening crash.
An ominous black sphere appears in the settling debris, crackling with intensifying electrical arcs. The air grows heavy as waves of pressure build around it.
BZZZZT—!
A blinding flash erupts with deafening electrical discharge, and every single alarm in the spaceport falls dead silent.
...!
Tch...
The three of them take a moment to recover from the shock.
Hmm, it's quiet now...
...You be quiet, too.
They bicker as they grip harder onto their weapons. They slowly move to flank Vera, taking up defensive positions against this unwelcome intruder.
Bzzt—
Out of the way!
The moment the sphere stirs, Vera springs into action. She draws her blade in one fluid motion and swings ruthlessly at Noctis. Noctis instinctively leaps back.
BOOM—!
A terrifying blast—far more devastating than it appears—obliterates the spot where Noctis had been.
...Whoa? ...That was fast. Looks like we've got ourselves a worthy opponent.
Save that for after we're done... No. 21!
The sphere launches another attack before Vera can finish her warning.
The electrical arc moves even faster than No. 21 could dodge.
BANG—!
A shot rings out from afar, striking its target. The black sphere shudders from the impact and its electrical arcs veer off course.
No. 21 is still sent crashing to the ground.
Cough... cough, cough...
Get her back.
Hah? Why should I...
Just do it!
Tch...
Noctis glares at the newcomer, reluctantly helps No. 21 up, and leaves the area for Lee and Vera.
Was it you who sent the messages?
Don't even bother. The commandant isn't here—I've been tracking it by myself the whole time.
Vera glances at her terminal screen, where two messages flash—one lit, one dim.
Humph, I wouldn't be so sure about that.
So, what exactly is this thing we're dealing with?
It's what reduced Babylonia to its current state. I don't know much more than that, but...
BANG—
Lee fires another shot as he speaks, forcing the sphere back just as it starts to move. The two fighters and their target continue their tense standoff.
This thing is trying to escape, without a doubt.
I see... That's why it showed up at the spaceport.
Vera quickly grasps the implications and lets out a scornful laugh.
Come and go as you please? Just who do you think we are?
Stay calm. We can work together to drive it back, or we need to at least keep it away from these spacecraft.
After that, you can do whatever you want with it.
Never mind. That's too much work.
...This is no time for arguments.
I'm not interested in playing games. If we could drive it back so easily, how did it manage to lead you all the way here?
...We still have to try.
That won't work. I'm only saying that because I have a better plan.
Noctis!
Right here!
Blow up all the spacecraft! We'll see how it can escape then!
Heh, now that's my kind of job.
You...!
Bzzzz—
As Noctis makes his move, the pitch-black sphere refuses to stay idle, sparking with renewed electrical arcs.
Knowing there's no other choice, Lee reluctantly creates an opening for Noctis with Vera.
BANG—!
I hope you realize we're here to solve Babylonia's problems, not become one of them!
CLANG—!
Troubles are all the same. Just tell me if this will stop it or not?
BOOM—!
Amidst blades clashing and bullets rattling, their argument continues as they trap the dark sphere through explosions.
The sphere can do nothing but watch as spacecraft after spacecraft breaks apart, until finally—
Captain! Just one left, I'll finish it off!
Noctis' words act like a trigger—the electrical arcs around the sphere suddenly intensify, crackling with growing density.
BZZZZT—!
It's about to burst! Stop it!
I can tell!
Bullets and blades tear through the air, but the dark sphere suddenly abandons its defenses and relentlessly charges straight at Noctis.
As if nothing exists in the world but the silhouette of the final spacecraft.
Noctis, move away!
Heh—bring it on!
Noctis does not retreat but lunges forward at the enemy charging at him at full speed. With a savage grin, he rips the safety pins from two explosives and hurls himself toward the target.
Captain, go and—
Ugh... Who—? Gah—
Noctis is shoved back in mid-air by a laser beam that suddenly pierces through the darkness.
A flash of steel catches the loose explosives, redirecting them toward the spacecraft.
BOOM—!
A thunderous explosion rocks the spaceport, sending violent tremors through the entire area once again.
Cough... cough, cough...
Commandant?
Tch, took you long enough.
The two squad greet each other briefly before emerging from the dust in small clusters and circling around the dark sphere slumped among the debris.
Nowhere to run now, eh? Heh, looks like you can't even move.
Quit it. A cornered beast is the most dangerous.
We have two squads here. What's it gonna do, turn the world upside down?
Keep dragging your feet and I'm going in without you.
Noctis slams his fists together and strides forward.
BZZZZT—
Leave it to me.
Heh, the same trick won't work twice on me.
The electrical defense barrier shatters in an instant as Noctis dashes to the sphere's flank.
BZZT—HSSSSS—
That's when the residual electrical arcs around the sphere emit an unfamiliar sound—one that none of you have heard before.
!!!
Everyone's hearts skip a beat at the same moment. The squads spring into action, but—
Ugh—
The electrical arcs emit a shrill hum, like a monster's wail, and an invisible force freezes everyone in place.
A blinding red light erupts as a familiar sensation hammers at people's senses. Space itself seems to warp, and even their vision begins to distort.
An overwhelming pressure as strong as the weight of a mountain suddenly crushes down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.
Only one remains unaffected—
Commandant!
Re... treat!
Vera grits her teeth as she forces out the word. She kicks Noctis toward the spaceport exit with her trembling body before grabbing No. 21 by the collar and making a dash for it.
Lucia lunges immediately at you, trying to drag Liv out along the way.
HSSS— HSSS—!
The black sphere trembles once more, this time with a force more urgent than before, its paralyzing pressure intensifying. Everyone but Lee suddenly loses the ability to move, collapsing to the ground.
The terminal emits a sharp alarm, one that usually signals only one thing.
The Punishing concentration has reached a critical level.
...
Crimson patterns rapidly spread outward from the sphere's center, making the entire port tremble on the brink of collapse.
Though he has no need to breathe, Lee's expression grows tense as he watches the scene unfold. His gaze shifts between the collapsed figures on the ground and the sphere, before making his final decision with visible reluctance.
