Story Reader / Main Story / 21 Spiral of Chronos / Story
The memories flood into Lee's brain all at once.
He realizes that this is his M.I.N.D. It is a M.I.N.D. that has recorded all failures and deaths, the M.I.N.D. of all the "Lees" in the past and the future fighting different possibilities.
Due to some unknown reason, they have all intertwined and connected here, creating this dimension of chaos in front of him.
He finally understands, the M.I.N.D. overload while adapting his frame and those fleeting flashes of memories—it was all because of this.
The existence of this place serves only one purpose, and that is to block all "his" future memories out.
All the messages sent into the past were to lead him to that one future, and now that he is in the future, he has blocked out all memories related to the actions of sending and receiving those messages.
Only leaving some "coincidental" hints to guide him here.
When numerous Lees were fighting for their desired future, there was one Lee who was dragging all the Lees who had broken down in this infinite loop of madness into this M.I.N.D., and destroying them himself in order to not cause a butterfly effect due to small changes.
In that moment, he sees all the possible pasts and futures through these memories, all is clearly displayed in front of him.
His M.I.N.D. should not have been able to load such an enormous amount of information, but right here, right now, with the help of his other selves, he can utilize the computing power of "himself" in all universes.
And in that moment, he remembers all the blocked and redacted memories.
One was from the bridge of Babylonia. He sees himself being surrounded by Constructs pointing their weapons at him, their eyes flash with frenzied redness, and all answerable communications emitted the same words.
He sees a familiar human, yet a mad and unfamiliar smile decorates their face, and their gun is slowly aimed at him.
So he also lifts his gun, but he never was able to pull the trigger.
One was from when Babylonia fell from the sky. What was once the Garden of Eden became the brightest shooting star, falling through the atmosphere. Lee sprints across the fiery hellscape of the surface, witnessing bullets piercing through the chests of his numerous teammates.
In the end, he did not make it in time to hold the pair of hands that were reaching out to him.
One was from when machines littered the skies and the ground. There was no more greenery on the planet, only metal and scorched earth.
Gray Raven was still Gray Raven, but they could not save their commandant, nor could they retrieve the body afterward.
He had lost his mobility, there was nothing he could do when his dear teammates left to lead the fight away but cry for them at the top of his lungs. His cries were never answered.
One was from when snow covered all. Calamity had fallen upon all beings, none were excluded from the icy path of extinction.
The Punishing Virus did not classify as a threat anymore in the face of this disaster. He saw people succumbing to the eternal cold one by one while fighting this lost battle. The future that the girl had traded her soul to save finally ends in eternal night after ceaseless battles.
Strings and strings of data appear around him, forming complete and fragmented figures. Numerous "Lees" from different universes materialize in front of him and observe him with different expressions.
...I wanted to change the past, but it led to an even bigger catastrophe.
In the end... I forgot what I was fighting for and trying to save.
You can't save everyone.
This is my advice for you.
Don't fixate on the unchangeable past. Don't try to change the past that has already happened before you entered the "tower."
Try to find the future that became a possibility when you stepped foot inside.
That's what I've been doing.
Lee clenches his fists, his gaze as determined as ever, as if he has never failed before.
Even though all these memories are fusing into one in his M.I.N.D., and all the sorrow, hatred, and regrets are becoming a part of him—
He does not feel despair, because he knows that his universe is filled with possibilities. The destined future is indeed changing thanks to the hard work of all the others.
Amidst the flow of all these memories, he is able to catch the key message hidden in the core of the "tower," and it originates from the last record of the perished "Lees".
They turned their own memories into a beacon, guiding him on his journey.
What all these "Lees" want to convey to him is not how many times they have tried to change the depressing past, but that no matter how hopeless the future seems, there is always one of "him" who keeps marching forward undeterred.
No matter how many battles he has to fight, he still perseveres in the infinite futures.
Lee looks at each and every version of himself in this unique M.I.N.D. Each one is covered in scars from battles with time.
Some versions of himself are battered to the point that they are nearly unrecognizable, but there is one thing they all have in common.
I'm sure you've noticed.
A version of Lee with faded white hair and only one eye comes before him. In his hand lays an object with a warm glow—Gray Raven's plaque.
No matter which universe, you will always be a member of Gray Raven.
No matter how your fate changes, you will always choose Gray Raven in the end.
So... "Your purpose is something only Gray Raven's Lee can fulfill."
His gaze on the plaque loses focus as if he is looking into the past instead and seeing the future that is out of his reach.
The cold sorrow melts away from his face and is replaced by a fleeting yet warm smile like illusory rays of the sun reflected on cellophane paper.
That chance doesn't belong to me anymore, but you still have the chance to go back and see them welcome you back with a smile.
What about you guys?
Even though he already knows the answer deep down, he still asks without much thought.
Of course, I have my own battle to fight.
I've already fulfilled my destiny.
I'm going to keep fighting.
I still have some unfinished business.
Some unspoken words.
Some people I want to see.
And a future I want to protect.
A version of Lee walks out from his side. Lee recognizes that this is the "Lee" who helped him in the tower and is the version who looks the most similar to him.
We're just "ghosts" projected in this M.I.N.D. Although the tower transverses time and space, we are all ones who would be obliterated in the end by the "rules."
Because "I" did not pass the filtering during the trial in the end.
Filtering... Rules? And who has the right to set these "rules"?
I've asked the same question myself.
He looks a bit helpless. Lee now knows what expression he makes when he does not know how to answer a question.
Lee thinks without much thought. He realizes that this is his usual expression when he is with Gray Raven or Strike Hawk.
...You will see it. As for the answer, it's something you need to find.
You've already solved the riddles you left for yourself. From now on, you can only move forward and not back.
There is still one last piece of memory sealed away in their M.I.N.D. It's an important one and it'll be unlocked at the time you had set for yourself.
There's only one chance for us to deliver it to you through this M.I.N.D. and it'll become your ace.
But before that, go upward. Stop that ray of destruction and reverse the "tower's" rules, only then will you be able to save everything you care about.
The first Lee smiles faintly and gives him a push, as if passing on all his regrets and hopes to Lee. At the same time, a familiar time rift appears in front of him.
You know what to do. Now go.
