Story Reader / Adaptation Fitting / Frost Oath / Story
Difference
>Under the flickering aurora, she lets the cold wind mixed with frost and snow beat on her body and looks ahead.
Nightfall drapes over the snowy forest in a thin veil of endless darkness.
She clenches her spear tightly in the blistering cold as she looks out at the dim red lights illuminating the forest like fireflies.
Lift. Aim. Throw. Her many battles had honed this skill into one powerful, fluid motion.
With each throw of her spear, the dim red lights drastically reduce in number.
However, many more still remain. The mechanoid creatures cloaked in darkness rush out of the forest and charge the humanoid hybrid girl standing in the middle of the snowfield.
Aside from the frigid wind, she is only accompanied by rows of spears standing at the ready.
She lifts up a spear from the snow, raises her front legs, then stomps on the ground with a heavy thud. The force from the impact sends a wave of snow billowing forward as it falls down.
Snow plasters her frame in the harsh wind, giving her armor a lustrous silver sheen.
The mechanoid creatures lay scattered on the ground, mottling the snowfield with their ink-black remains.
Before her, the rampaging mechanoids roar as if to devour all in their path.
Behind her, the faint flame of humanity glitters as smoke rises from the camp.
Following the lamenting cry of the last mechanoid, she plunges her spear back into the ground.
Rosetta and her spear have become an insurmountable gorge for the enemy.
Over what felt like countless years, this has been the day-to-day routine for the Forest Guard here in the snowfield—a battlefield for Rosetta to wander alone.
Under the night sky, Rosetta returns her gaze ahead once more.
What she sees is a new dawn, or perhaps the approaching dusk.
As the confrontation gradually settles, Murmansk welcomes a long-lost peace.
The reconstruction of the port is carried out in an orderly manner with all hands on deck. Naturally, the Forest Guard joins in the reconstruction efforts.
Working in teams, they vigorously transport building materials around the port on their backs in loads far beyond humanly possible.
A humanoid Construct is seen walking among the Forest Guard, which seems peculiar to outsiders.
Rosetta, let us carry your load.
It's nothing. After all, I'm already carrying way less than you because of my humanoid frame.
Don't worry. Go on without me. We have to stay on schedule.
Um... Okay. We'll proceed to the destination.
The humanoid hybrid guard nods to Rosetta before galloping and leaving.
She quickly disappears out of view. Rosetta tightens her grip around the materials on her shoulders and trudges toward the destination.
...
After completing today's reconstruction work, Rosetta returns to the camp only to discover that neither her companions nor their weapons are to be found.
Sensing the Punishing Virus looming in the air, she subconsciously grips her spear.
—!
The familiar mechanical creatures dart by outside the camp. The spear in Rosetta's hand quickly transforms and begins to surge with electric energy at its tip.
Stay there!
Her comrade's sudden shout stops her in her tracks.
...They're out of range.
The condensed energy at the tip of the spear disperses. Rosetta holsters her spear and gives chase.
Dammit... They got away.
What happened?
We found Corrupted tracks nearby when we returned to camp. Our comrades have split up and are hunting them down.
But it's not going as smoothly.
I see.
Hearing this, Rosetta takes a step forward to scan the surrounding area.
She focuses her gaze on a low-lying branch.
Did you just come from there?
Huh? No.
After hearing this and checking her surroundings, Rosetta motions for her to step back before raising her spear and unleashing a concentrated blast of electric energy in the direction of the branch.
—!
The blast obliterates most of the Corrupted. However, the Corrupted drags the remnants of its shell as it roars and charges at Rosetta.
Right as Rosetta lifts her spear to follow up her attack, another spear comes flying out of the forest and pins the Corrupted against a tree stump.
Hehe, you got slow, Rosetta.
You're not wrong. This frame focuses on firepower at the expense of mobility.
Your wounds...
Don't worry about it. A few cuts and bruises are nothing to us. Fortunately, we cleared out all of the surrounding Corrupted.
Rosetta looks at her comrades. Each member's frame shows signs of injury.
...
Hmm? What's wrong? Why so serious, Rosetta?
It's nothing. I'll lead everyone back to camp to get some rest.
After tending to her wounded comrades, Diana reports the situation to the port residents while the others return to the reconstruction team.
Seeing the orderly procession of comrades before her, Rosetta makes her way out of the camp.
What she sees is a new dawn, or perhaps the approaching dusk.
She drags her injured body back to camp. The image of her comrades resting, their condition now stabilized, is branded in her M.I.N.D.
Like a knight guarding her comrades, she had selflessly completed her mission and protected them once more. A warm current surges through her body, expelling the coldness she suffered from during the previous battle.
She retreats to an isolated corner of the camp to tend to her wounds before the others can notice.
How's the situation with the Forest Guard, Diana?
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Everyone misses you. When are you coming back?
...
I'll be back once I finish up work with Babylonia.
Okay. We'll be waiting for you.
You've gotten weaker.
I put my comrades at risk when I was supposed to guard them...
The old Rosetta wouldn't have...
Rosetta clenches her fists and reflects on herself.
Have I... gotten weaker...?
