Story Reader / Main Story / 24 Chaos Unsnarled / Story
A slimy, sticky crawling sound echoes through the dim room.
Inside a simple "corral" made of piles of boulders and rebars, a few flora and fauna-like Hetero-Creatures are wandering about.
The monsters walk past one another without any aggression. Instead, they move together as a group toward the edge of the "corral."
Within one meter of the corral is a house-cleaning robot that is dead from running out of power.
The Hetero-Creatures reach out their limbs hysterically at the slumbering machine and keep ramming into the fence that is stopping them.
Gradually, the commotion slows to a halt.
Two plant-like Hetero-Creatures extend their "crown" upward and grab onto the highest rebar of the "corral."
Next, three amphibian-like Hetero-Creatures slowly climb upward along the bodies of their kind.
After some struggle, they "realize" that the slimy skin of their kind is not suitable for climbing.
The Hetero-Creature leading the procession extends its concealed blade on its limb and stabs into the body of one of its "friends," pushing this affair up another level.
When the last Hetero-Creature climbs onto the "branch" leading to the "crown," the thin "branch" finally splits straight down the middle from the weight.
The unfortunate climber and the two plant-like Hetero-Creatures tumble onto Earth, their crowns still clinging to the top.
The two Hetero-Creatures that made it over the enclosure close in on their prey and begin their aggressive attack on the silent machine.
Sir, a call from Lithos.
Gray Raven... they have left, sir.
But they left the "eye," which I asked Mr. Monster to remove.
Everything else... is as you've predicted. Your "cargo" is ready in the paper crane.
I don't think we need the batch to know what this means.
Yes, social activity also appeared in City 027.
That means we should prioritize projects related to Cthylla.
...Right.
We can let Mr. Monster join the project if that's okay with you.
Lithos glances at the man beside her, but he is looking downward and is as quiet as the long winter night.
Maybe... meeting him was destiny steering us into the future we see now.
Cinderelik and I couldn't be more thankful for the projects related to Cthylla, but... they might not be the best for you, if I may. Are you sure we want to initiate the backup plan?
They are backup plans precisely because they will achieve the results we desire. Don't worry.
Then I know what I should do next... I really hope she will become the "key" that you need.
Are you going to keep observing them?
Cinderelik points at the Hetero-Creatures that are still attacking their prey.
Get rid of them. There's no room for doubt.
But only a proportion of samples displayed "cooperative" behaviors.
That already proves that it's possible.
Go and turn them into Earth-like creatures. That will make it easier for Ascendants and humans to understand and manipulate Hetero-Creatures.
You also need to start preparing items related to Cthylla.
Yes, sir...
Vonnegut looks at the girl with wings to see if she has any other concerns.
...I was thinking about what Lithos said earlier, that Project Cthylla might not be the best choice for you.
Because the project will destroy the "original" person in the survivors—and that would mean a higher risk with Haywire.
...
That tower is evidence that humans discovered the "key" before us, but lost control of it.
If we don't do anything, unusual concentrations of the Punishing Virus will only create more chaotic Hetero-Creatures.
And creatures created from the Red Tide are difficult to predict and control, like the test samples Lithos left at the Copperfield Aquarium.
Confining them to Earth's natural laws before they go Haywire is the better choice for us and for humans.
So go and make your dream come true.
Yes, sir.
Hey, hey, hey! Over there, over there! Go right over there!
BOOM—!
Behind a scary-looking guy is a group of four or five Hetero-Creatures. After luring the monsters to a specific spot, the muscular Construct gives them an aggressive punch, sending them flying a few meters backward.
Before the monsters could get back up, they were already engulfed in flames from the explosion.
Mr. Noctis! Too close!
What—?
The explosion! Too close to Commandant!
Huh? There was enough time for 21 to run three laps while carrying Vera!
A Construct might be capable of that, but shards from an explosion can totally kill a human!
But he's wearing a powered metal suit!
Well... at least count to three next time before you set off the bomb so people have time to ready themselves!
Oh! Sure thing! Next time I'll go... three!
BOOM BOOM—
Geez, we asked you to count to three, not say three!
Hahahaha, you moron! Don't you know I don't like to count?
...
Just kidding. I set up that one earlier, so that doesn't count. Next time I'll count properly, alright?
Are you alright, Commandant?
Air reeking of explosives rushes into your lungs as you take a deep breath. A shiver travels down your spine when you realize that it has already been filtered by the powered suit.
The Cerberus is notorious for their way of executing missions, but the way this particular mad dog pulled off his act just now is way beyond rough.
With his help, however, you managed to lose a great number of your pursuers just half an hour after leaving City 027.
You encountered some enemies here and there on your way to the Conservation Area where the Cerberus are stationed, but the Hetero-Creatures aren't much of a threat with the three Constructs around.
Is it just me or are these trash harder to get rid of than usual?
It's not. They are definitely stronger than before.
Are the enemies you fight on your missions also becoming stronger?
No! That's why I thought I was imagining things—but I think it's time to take my explosives to the next level!
...
I think so, but not to fight them. Vera is already having a headache dealing with people from the Conservation Area.
How would I know? But Vera hasn't sent me to beat anyone up, so I guess they're okay.
Oh, shit! Was I supposed to say that? Whatevs... If someone asks, I'll just say the little foolish girl said it.
Really? Boy, aren't you kind!
We've already sent our location to the transport craft. Should we ask them to pick us up later?
The sound of explosions and gunshots slowly vanishes—and before you know it, every last one of your pursuers has been eradicated.
That's the last of them. Now let's get you to work at the base.
Wait here for a bit. I know a secret shortcut, but let me go check its location.
The muscular Construct sprints straight into the knee-high undergrowth from the large road.
Commandant, what caught your attention exactly?
Maybe the heaps of Hetero-Creature corpses at the first and second sets of coordinates... are the result of mass suicides?
We haven't heard of the enemy committing mass suicides... But let's say this theory was true. Why did they do it?
The desire to survive is in the genes of every creature on Earth.
It connects every living individual, forming a web that instills the temptation to "live" into every creature.
Only blinking eyes can behold the beauty of a loved one.
Only a breathing nose can take in the aroma of delicious food.
And only moving arms can feel the warmth of another.
"Living" is the only way to experience what life has to offer, and lives on Earth fight endlessly for that right.
That is also why we remember those who give their lives for others as heroes and their deeds.
They went against the instinct to avert death, against their nature, against their fears—all for something greater.
Hetero-Creatures, however, simply live with the need to attack and are unbound by individual worth and the fear of death.
For them, the strategic goal of the group takes priority, so sacrificing the self to create a bridge is the most sensible choice.
And that... turned an otherwise disorderly group of individual Hetero-Creatures into an organized troop with absolute execution power.
Humans have been searching for solutions in waves of disasters with our intelligence and human nature.
But are we entering another deep winter just as we are turning this war around in this fight for survival?
Speaking of which... the camera robot is damaged.
You could see that the Hetero-Creatures in the area were all moving slowly in the same direction after we left. Then the robot went dead.
And the work seems a little too neat for it to have been the doing of a Hetero-Creature noticing and immediately destroying the robot.
Hey, Gray Raven! Over here!
Noctis hops down from a tree, crushing a handful of lush vegetation.
Hey, are we going to wade through this meadow?
Yep, you can't tell there's a path, right? I told you it's a secret shortcut.
Just follow me.
He strides confidently into the natural sea of green right away.
...Let's go. Commandant, please follow Liv. I'll be right behind you.
Lee says after a frustrated sigh.
At the other end of the meadow, with weapons in hand, the humans and Constructs are cutting a path through the tall grass.
The two groups will soon meet somewhere among the sea of green.
