Story Reader / Main Story / 21 Spiral of Chronos / Story
Lee stands on the highest spot of the Hetero Tower, staring at the giant core emanating a dangerous glow.
But because you're so close to succeeding, it's the most dangerous... You should know that.
Yes... It's the same this time.
As the last part of the trial, they will materialize an enemy from your past whom you hated, feared, felt regret, and were weak to the most.
I don't know which enemy you'll see, but... I believe that this time...
His phantoms slowly merge together. In the end, they overlap Lee, signifying that all causality is conjugated here.
...This time, I will succeed.
Lee turns to face the ever-changing space inside the tower and waits in silence—he seems to already know who will appear before him.
Thick red Punishing Heteromer drips down from the skies, slowly forming into two pale humanoids.
Although they may look no different to humans, it is clear that the male and female beings in front of Lee are the enemies of the origin of humanity.
...
Imitating the appearance of humans... Imitating the intelligence of humans... Imitating the closeness of humans...
The twins slowly get up from the ground and coldly look at Lee. He feels even more uneasy than the first time he saw them.
Lee knows they are merely replicas the Hetero Tower created according to his memories, but they feel just as threatening, if not more, than the originals.
You imitate all that is human except for emotions... I bet you can't relate to what I'm feeling right now.
The female twin lifts her left arm at Lee. What should have been an arm has been modified into a bow.
...
As the female twin slightly moves her arm, an arrow formed with a high concentration of Punishing Virus strikes Lee at high speed and explodes.
She shows no emotion—no joy nor excitement—and just lowers her arm mechanically, trying to confirm the death of the Construct in front of her.
Unfortunately for her, after the dust has settled, only a blurry illusion remains where the arrow exploded, the Construct that was supposed to die is nowhere to be seen.
I've failed numerous times... Humanity has also failed numerous times...
The male twin hears Lee's voice from above him and immediately swings his fist upward, blocking Lee's aerial attack with his firearm case.
Simultaneously, the female twin dodges backward under the cover of her teammate and swiftly fires a few arrows at Lee's back.
Although this attack comes from a dead angle, it is blocked by Lee with his firearm case at an impossible angle.
Numerous failures... It has drowned humanity in despair but also strengthened their determination...
Lee rapidly fires several shots at the male twin. Even though he raises his arms to guard himself, he is still pushed back by the force of the bullets.
...Constant observation, constant research, and constant innovation.
Thanks to the enhanced speed from the rapid-fire, Lee is already next to the male twin and kicks his sturdy arm into pieces.
...?!
But this short period of time he focused on the male twin is enough for the female twin to conjugate a new arrow. This time, she is sure that she will not miss.
However, before she can fire, a heavy firearm case plows into the female twin from an impossible angle and sends her flying through the air.
...Small advances accumulate into big leaps.
—Without the twins noticing, an illusion has already taken the place of the Lee who kicked the male Hetero-Creature. The real Lee is currently high up in the air, his rapid-fire pistol and firearm case completing their transformation in an instant.
I've already seen and simulated this moment in my mind a million times—this moment when we meet again.
Tips for shooting? Why would you need to know...
There's not much to it, really... Just don't fall asleep while aiming, I guess...
You have to be familiar with your firearm, and... just have the confidence you'll hit the target.
Graviton bombs? Shhh... How'd you know I have that...
Making high-energy bullets...? And how'd you know the Science Council's File IUO-9 is flawed...
Never mind that... I don't know what you want them for, but if you ever let your commandant know I was the one who gave it to you, you better watch your back!
A weapon that can handle multiple situations... What induced you to consider that?
No... Of course it's possible, but these kinds of weapons usually lack balance, and they're not very useful in most situations.
What kind of enemy... are you planning to fight?
Hypothetically... if I had to face an enemy I have no chance of winning against alone, what do you think I should do, Commandant?
You're right, but what if... I really did find myself in that situation, just hypothetically, of course.
Offence?
Leaping into the air, Lee aims his sniper rifle at the twins and he waits—he waits for his only chance.
All causality intertwines through time and space, sand in the hourglass slowly drops, until...
The bullet of everything will eventually pierce through all.
And then... I pull the trigger.
Lee grasps that second of a chance and fires a bullet through the heads of both of the twins, turning their heads into dust.
Hmph... Of course they don't die so easily.
As they are simulations of the tower, their heads do not seem to be a fatal weak point like other Hetero-Creatures. The thick red liquid composing their bodies stirs and forms new heads.
Come on then, no matter how many times you revive... I'll shoot you off into the end of spacetime.
