Story Reader / Floating Record / ER05 Sands of Wrath / Story
As the light transport vehicle speeds through the wilderness, it sends dust into the air, greatly obscuring the view.
Your proud sense of direction as a commandant is completely useless at this moment. It does not take long for you to become completely lost.
Fortunately, your perception of time has not dulled to the point of not noticing anything unusual. It's already getting close to dusk. Based on your speed, you should have reached your destination 30 minutes ago.
...
Daemon just responds with a smile. He seems indifferent.
Don't worry. We'll probably... be there soon.
As if to reinforce his words, a view that you have never seen in Babylonia begins to loom at the end of your vision.
A golden wheat field is enveloped in the glow of the setting sun, rippling in the wind while bringing the muggy atmosphere exclusive to the dusk.
It might be a common scene back in the Golden Age, but it is hard to imagine such large farmland in a place like this nowadays, when the Earth is swarmed with the Punishing Virus.
Correct. Once we cross this wheat field, we will see our destination. Corrupted cannot easily break through the canyons, so the town is able to harbor such a large stretch of farmland.
Just like Daemon said, the edge of the wheat field is a large cliff. It only connects to the outside world through a simple suspension bridge.
You go to test the bridge. It is reasonably stable, but its appearance appears to be somewhat worrying.
I don't think our vehicle can go through the bridge... Commandant, shall we just walk across?
After parking the transport vehicle on the side, the two of you begin to walk slowly forward along the bridge.
Commandant... I heard you were once a Chief graduate of F.O.S. College. Is that right?
Hah, true. Luck... is very important. People like me ended up becoming Constructs because we weren't that lucky.
Daemon turns around on the bridge and looks at you with a meaningful smile.
Construct... Nobody would want to turn into that sort of thing if they could still live like a person.
Daemon turns around once again and slowly walks forward.
I have heard about another student who graduated from F.O.S. as a Chief just like you, but later turned into a Construct... How stupid.
He seems to have heard something about Chrome, and decides to belittle him without understanding the reason behind.
Oh, sorry. But I just couldn't understand. They could have become a wielder of weapons, but chose to become a weapon for others to control instead.
As Daemon speaks, he has arrived at the end point of the bridge. He then reaches out to you.
We have arrived, Commandant.
As well-exercised as you are, it still takes quite some effort to maintain balance on the swaying suspension bridge. You have to grab Daemon's hand to leave the bridge.
It's hard to imagine that the two sides of the cliff are connected only by such a narrow bridge...
Daemon stands up and gazes at the other side of the bridge. You can clearly see the transport vehicle parked over there.
Ever since the outbreak of Punishing, the fragile balance between humans and Constructs... is probably already on the verge of collapse just like this old bridge.
Humans without adaptability need Constructs as weapons. But Constructs, on the other hand, don't really need humans that much...
Don't you find it unreasonable that Constructs, who are supposed to have superior power, still have to listen to frail humans?
Daemon smiles and takes out an inconspicuous black device.
It's about time to break this false balance... Let's start with the disappearance of our forged "hero," Gray Raven Commandant!
Daemon presses the button on the remote, triggering a violent explosion in the transport vehicle on the other end of the bridge. The bridge nearby is also engulfed in flames.
Haha. I wouldn't ask such a stupid question if I were you.
You try to connect to Issarius' signal in secret, but there is no response.
Forget about asking for help. We are outside the signal range of your terminal's short-range communication... The Purifying Force would never hear you. Just surrender, will you?
No wonder he is so confident. Even if the Purifying Force members realize something is wrong, they will never find this place. And if they do... They will not be able to come over after the bridge is gone.
Daemon waves his hand. A few Constructs emerge from the wheat field. There are no clear signs of identity on their outfits... But you can easily tell that they all come from Babylonia.
Right, the Purifying Force is meant to exterminate all the defectors... That's the justice of you humans. You just stand on a moral high ground, making us kill each other. Who cares about whether a weapon is soaked in blood or not?
Shut up! She has a kind heart that shouldn't belong to the Purifying Force's captain... But that's what makes her vulnerable so you can use her. That's why you assigned her to the position in the first place.
The two renegade Constructs slowly walk to you, drawing their katanas. You have witnessed this scene numerous times, only that this time, the blades are targeting yourself.
You pull out the pistol and fire a warning shot, but they completely ignore it and even begin to sprint toward you.
I wouldn't do that if I were you. Generalissimo wanted to spare your life... But I can't guarantee they will still hold back if you resist too much.
You have no time to wonder who this "Generalissimo" is, as the Constructs are already within the range of your pistol.
Bang! Bang! Two shots are fired, but they only hit the leg armor of one of the Constructs.
What? Still pulling your punches at this time?! How arrogant of you!
The renegade Construct sneers and tries to walk again, only to find his legs unable to move.
Crap... That commandant was aiming at our dust-proof device!
The design of these old model Construct frames never thought about the possibility of fighting in different surface environments. Their leg armor is meant to be dust-proof, but just barely.
However, these renegade Constructs have obviously been on the ground for a prolonged period without maintenance. A large amount of sand and dust have accumulated in their dust-proof devices.
—Once they are compromised, the sand and dust will enter the joints, significantly impacting the sensors within.
****! How did the commandant know?!
You fire again. The other Construct collapses to the ground.
Useless! Can't even get a human... Hey you! Keep going! He'll be out of ammo soon!
Daemon waves again, but nobody responds.
What are you doing? I said go! Are you deaf?
Hmm? You mean these guys?
Daemon turns around, only to find two of his subordinates being held up in a strange position. Their heads collide with each other, making a muffled thud.
N-Noctis?!
Dropping the unconscious Constructs, the red-haired Construct shows up with a grin.
Why are you here?!
Issarius was beyond the reach of the short-range communication, so we couldn't get to them... but we found someone else's signal by accident.
You did not know whether the "defected" Noctis would still respond to the distress signal... But you had to take the chance.
Huh? So you were the one calling for help...
Bloody idiot! Why didn't you destroy the terminal after deserting?!
Oops, sorry. I actually forgot... Besides, I wasn't deserting. Call it a tactical retreat!
Noctis approaches Daemon with a malevolent smile.
But I didn't expect to find the culprit who tried to set me up. What a coincidence, don't you think?
But you're not supposed to know the formula of my explosives... Unless...
Noctis has rarely looked so serious. His eyes lock on Daemon with a death stare.
Who's behind you? Tell me now!
Noctis continues to push forward. Cornered, Daemon looks at you, only to see a gun pointing at him.
Tch...
Daemon's figure becomes blurred in the next split second. You quickly fire at him, but the bullet just goes through him and hits the ground behind.
Holographic image... ****! He got away!
Considering you are standing next to a cliff... He could only have escaped to the town.
You wonder why Noctis is here, and what exactly he is up to... But you will have to ask him later.
Yup!
After crossing the wheat field, you soon see a sizable town... The buildings inside are mostly made of wood and look quite old-fashioned.
They look drastically different from the buildings in the conservation areas, which are either built with Babylonia's help, or have existed since the Golden Age.
Hey, have you noticed? The people here are all kind of strange...
Like Noctis said, although the local residents seem to be minding their own business, they are all glancing in your direction.
Not just humans... Some of them look like Constructs too. Where do they come from though...?
Noctis has no intention to respond to you as his attention is quickly diverted by the locals on the roadside.
Haha, look! There's even a super weird mechanoid! Do they all live here...?
Noctis pats on a mechanoid cleaning up dried wheat straws and bursts into laughter.
Stop calling me. What's up...?
Noctis turns around and realizes he has been surrounded by many locals.
Their empty hands are now wielding all sorts of weapons. Even the mechanoid has a clinking machete in its hand.
Are we... being surrounded?
Not surprised at all, Noctis strikes a combat stance, with his eyes rapidly scanning over the armed residents.
So, which one should I take on first? The masked big dude with a chainsaw?
What? They have already brought out weapons! Do you think they came to just chat with us?
At this moment, the crowd slowly moves aside to make way for someone walking toward you.
His steady footsteps carry indescribable prestige. When the footsteps stop, the surrounding residents begin to gather around this man.
One resident with an outlandish hairstyle kneels on one knee and lights up a cigar in his hand.
Who are you...?
What?! Who the **** are you then, acting pretentious?
The **** you just said? I'm gonna kill you!
****! ************! ****! ****!
The man remains silent, letting the people around him continue to buzz as the smoke from his cigar dissipates into the air.
You reach out to stop Noctis—who almost charged forward—and slowly walk to the man.
Name...
Your names...
You and Noctis exchange a look and nod to each other.
I'm Noctis. This is [player name]. What about you?
You can call me Max, or "Mayor" like everyone else.
I wanted to say, "Welcome to New Oakley." But unfortunately—
Max deeply inhales from his cigar and blows the smoke onto your face.
—You are not welcome here.
