Story Reader / Extra Story / EX04 Echo Aria / Story
Looks like the battle here was especially brutal, even the foundation is deformed.
After confirming that there are no signs of life up ahead, Troy puts down his scope and walks out of the corner of the ruins.
Wanshi, everything checks out on my side. I'm going to head down the tilted foundation and investigate.
Alright... I've positioned myself in a vantage point nearby.
Wow, that was fast.
That just means I can kick up my feet sooner.
Troy checks Wanshi's coordinates on his panel, then looks up to see a sniper rifle nestled within a hole in the wall above. Wanshi leans up against the wall and yawns.
You've even set up your weapon. NOW I can count on you...
Troy leaps forward and arrives at a cluster of buildings under the deformed foundation.
But you noticed it too, didn't you? The marker for the file we've been looking for is flashing in the ruins.
We'll finish our mission once I collect it.
Copy that.
Let me check the scan... Alright, I should be able to enter from here.
Two collapsed stone slabs on the left and right support each other, forming a space just big enough for one person to enter and exit. Troy kneels down under the stone slabs and steps into the dark ruins in front of him.
However, just as Troy wants to move on, he comes into contact with something hard.
Huh? My panel isn't showing anything on the display.
Scusa, outsiders are not permitted to enter.
Who's there?!
Troy, get out of there!
A strong shock interrupts Troy's conversation with Wanshi. The building ruins that Troy entered suddenly shake violently.
Rubble and steel bars collapse for the second time. Troy and debris fly out of the collapsed ruins and hit the opposite building, stirring up a cloud of smoke and dust.
A dark figure exits the collapsed ruins. The mechanical grinding of machine parts can be heard coming from his torso.
Wanshi's vision module can only detect an intricate machine and a head tightly bandaged as if out of punishment or atonement.
But Wanshi and Troy's panels pick up nothing on the scan. The Babylonian equipment is useless in identifying the figure.
No Corrupted response. No Construct response. Not ever a human response. The flashing lights on their scanners indicate that the equipment is operating normally.
The position where the figure stands is devoured by thick darkness, even light cannot escape. The moonlight and remaining light within the ruins does not reflect any color.
(Clears throat) This is the first time... I've seen someone this strange.
Troy... Troy...
Wanshi... I'm okay. That thing... has what we need.
The dark figure inserts a chip into its chest, causing the mission icon to flash on their display panels.
Seems like we have our eyes on the same file.
Unfortunately, I cannot let you have it. I went through tremendous effort to unlock Gestalt's encrypted lock.
Who... are you?
Just an insignificant "gear." My job is to ensure that all operations run smoothly.
The dark figure replies and walks toward Troy who fell in the ruins. The gravel at its feet vibrates with each step like a pounding drum.
Step away from him.
Wanshi quickly rappels down as he empties his clip. Silver lights rain down on the shadow, only to be deflected in the air by blue lights.
Is that a threat?
It seems that you can't simply die without pain.
Ngh... Troy, hold on.
Outsiders must be purged.
