Story Reader / Main Story / 34 Dream till the Timeless End / Story
Selena—
—Iris
The memories of fighting beside Selena feel close yet worlds away. They are shattered chips sliced by distorted time, interweaving and rising in your mind.
We found them... Mr. Asimov!
The Task Force members brought the "White Noise" devices they found!
Rosa trots along, cradling several more "White Noise" sealed in boxes.
We have... 6 in total!
That's good enough.
Asimov takes the devices and pauses for a moment before turning toward Hamlet, which is connected to various cables.
Not long. I planned for "more than one White Noise," so now I just need to add connection ports and increase the computing power.
Get ready and stand by... if you're sure about going through with this.
Night smears the sunlight by your ear into a piercing white, as discordant voices urge you to hurry... hurry...
Remember... it's the final cycle.
"The final cycle"... which specific time does that refer to?
Going through all memories that are still clear, you search desperately for the most likely answer...
Um... really? I thought, in the beginning, you told me...
That it's only "over" after the formal signing of the codex? Don't we have one more week...?
One week...
After leaving the "Time Prison", you and Asimov determined that the flow of time inside the "Time Prison" should match the flow of time here.
Today... marks the 7th day since you returned to Babylonia.
Asimov calmly yet quickly assembles the components, attaching them to the other end of Hamlet's connection cable.
Preparing to connect White Noise No. 2. First test preparations complete. Recording data.
Starting first data recording—
White noise imperceptible to humans echoes through the room.
You're falling behind, Iris.
...
Hidden under the theater steps, a familiar melody in her mind urges her to press forward.
Almost...
Line Spacing: 4
Data recording complete. No anomalies detected.
Preparing to connect White Noise No. 4. Third test preparations complete. Recording data.
Starting third data recording—
It's too late, Iris. Even if you had double the time, it still wouldn't be enough.
I can easily crush you to pieces before I sink into the abyss.
...
Iris stays quiet under the relentless pressure. Her breathing grows increasingly loud as the strain on every part of her body intensifies.
Gears spin fast. Cracks grow bigger. The light on the surface of the body dims for a moment and suddenly shines bright.
Almost there... Iris... Hang in there...
Iris bites his lips as they tremble. Vital fluid comes out, but he looks more determined.
Line Spacing: 4...
Final confirmation.
I'll use the seven White Noise we have to pinpoint locations using three-phase noise patterns to reverse-trace the coordinates of their parent device.
This might disrupt your Mind Beacon. You need to keep your mind clear while you search for signals from the Construct and figure out if the signal is the correct one.
Once the connection is established, you'll be able to use the Mind Beacon for communication.
In theory, as long as her M.I.N.D. is still active, your Mind Beacon should be able to find her.
Be careful out there.
All preparations are complete. You connect with Hamlet once again.
Remote connection technology allows you to synchronize with Constructs, but I'm not sure if it's possible to use "White Noise" at this distance.
This is our only chance.
Your eyes close, and an intense buzzing jams your ears as your brain seems to tremble with the vibrations.
Countless vague images flicker before you, then everything plunges into darkness.
A whale song resonates from the depths of your consciousness.
BANG—
What's happening...
A violent explosion slams Iris into a wall. Debris rains down, leaving hideous wounds across her body. Her arm was nearly torn from the joint.
Without giving Iris a break, Lueya's steps close in on her again.
It's time for your curtain call, no matter how reluctant you are. A performer should know when to exit the stage.
Hnngh—hnngh—
Iris lifts her head with great effort. Her unfocused pupils look past Lueya at the dome beyond, where the artificial starry sky slowly detaches from the true universe.
Light and shadows shift. Time stretches.
The "branches and leaves" are about to split from the "trunk." This space... this theater, is about to become the final prison that traps Lueya.
Conductor... I'm sorry...
In her hazy vision, the silhouette of her beloved disperses into mist.
I'm sorry, my love, please forgive me...
I'm sorry, my love, please don't be sad...
Iris whispers as she closes her eyes, her arm falls limp, stirring dust as it hits the ground. She can feel the cold light of a blade closing in on her face.
Conductor...
Line Spacing: 4...
An epic whale song suddenly erupts from her Deep M.I.N.D., dispelling the farewell on her lips.
The familiar lighthouse shines blinding rays through her muddled consciousness. Echoes reach her ears, and Iris feels confused for a moment.
