Story Reader / Main Story / 24 Chaos Unsnarled / Story
Bzzzz—bzzzz—
Odd, the communication signal is disrupted, but it was still working yesterday.
Is this stuff jammed?
It's been stored in an exclusive box all this time, so technically, this can't happen.
Bzzzz—bzzzz—
While the two of them talk, the Construct persistently attempts to adjust the equipment's parameters, only to hear static noise off and on.
How about this? Since there's no other option right now, I'll stay here and try my luck with it.
And I'll keep you updated once there's any progress.
The Construct gives you and Noctis a nod before turning back to work on the malfunctioning device.
Showing no objection, Noctis shrugs and proceeds to follow you out of the transport craft.
Eek! I'm sorry, Commandant! Did I hurt you?
As you step out of the craft, Liv rushes over, almost colliding with you, while clutching a medic box in her hand.
The medics said that they've already provided treatment to all the wounded after the incident.
But we just noticed varying degrees of deterioration in everyone's wounds. Even with sufficient doses injected, the serum seems to be not working as efficiently as expected.
And one of the medics accidentally came into contact with an infected patient's body fluid, so I'm bringing medicine over.
After giving you a brief nod, Liv hurriedly departs, grabbing the medicine box tightly in her hand.
Hello, Officer...?
Officer [player name], is there anything else I can help you with?
Salans' expression shows genuine sincerity.
Before arriving here, your squad and Noctis ran into a search group in the south of the conservation area.
After Noctis exchanged information with the Construct in the group, they decided to let one of them escort Noctis and you back.
After learning about what happened in the campsite from Salans, you intended to contact Vera for a discussion regarding the next step. However, you soon discovered significant signal disruption in the vicinity.
As if enveloped by a veil of mist, the entire area suddenly lost all communication signals, casting a sense of unease over everyone present.
I can send my men to assist if you plan to rendezvous with Captain Vera.
You're right. I'm just worried about the kid's safety. If they do run into any danger...
Yeah...
Knowing that believing in someone and worrying about him is not contradictory, as the leader of the conservation area, however, Salans has to maintain a composed demeanor for the sake of his people.
The other thing is, my men noticed some unusual activity in the south, and we're going to check it out. Can you assign a Construct to come with us?
I heard you guys bumped into some monsters on the way over, so I'm thinking that they might've wandered somewhere nearby.
Oh? I was kinda expecting you to let me search for Vera and 21 so that I could see them burst into tears upon my arrival.
Anyways, dealing with those Hetero-Creatures is also part of the gig that Vera gave me.
As Noctis moves his shoulder around, he follows Salans away with his weapon in hand.
Vera's team has already relocated their tents from the military encampment to the conservation area. With the aid of their devices, Lee is running a thorough analysis of the available data.
I've been trying all the way here, but the videos can't be uploaded with the low-level channels on and off.
But I've had all the data sorted out for our squad as you asked. Now, tell me about your speculation.
You see three dots flashing on the screen before you, representing the three Central Purification Filters located near the mission points.
The dots marked with numbers 1 and 3 are emitting a green glow, suggesting the CPFs are operating normally, while the other dot appears grayed out, which means the CPF near mission No. 2 has shut down.
Using each of the three dots as the center, Lee highlights the range of influence for each CPF. Coincidentally, all three of your mission points fall within the boundaries of their respective circles.
Our current location is right here.
With that said, Lee marks the conservation area with a new dot.
You take the operation terminal from Lee and hide all the other marks, leaving only the three mission points and the conservation area on display.
The possibility stands.
Since similar situations haven't occurred here, the Command Center didn't include this area in our mission.
Shall we ask around about the CPFs? No...? So you think it has nothing to do with the filters?
You nod at Lee and slide your finger across the terminal, causing the map on the screen to zoom out gradually, revealing a wider area.
Hold on...
Lee immediately picks up your thought and takes the terminal back.
Two seconds later, a bigger dot is marked on the map—the Inver-Hetero Tower.
Then the Clean Zone centered around the Inver-Hetero Tower comes into view, in a ring area outside which the three mission points and the conservation area fall.
This means... Hetero-Creatures are gathering abnormally in the vicinity outside the Clean Zone?
If this is true...
If this is true, it means that the enemy has secretly started an even fiercer counterattack after humans just gained the upper hand in this war.
If events unfold as anticipated, the first area reclaimed on Earth, symbolizing hope for mankind, may become a secure but enclosed prison.
...The absolute safety of the Clean Zone will need a re-consideration, for sure.
Report!!! I picked up a signal!
The Construct, who had been occupied with the transmitter in the transport craft, bursts into the tent and almost stumbles upon entering.
Bzzz—calling—hear me bzzz—we—bzzzz—
The transmitter plays a captured call, but only a few words can be discerned from the audio due to the overwhelming static noise.
But there's no way we can reach her now with the current signal disruption.
Only more advanced communication devices can manage that. Unfortunately, this one we have on hand isn't one of those.
This was initially planned as a simple mission, so we didn't request any of the advanced equipment except for the standard ones.
If I could know this earlier...
Neglecting the Construct's complaint, Lee's focus seems to be drawn by something on the ceiling of the tent. Sensing his unusual behavior, you follow his gaze and direct your attention toward the same spot.
Having seen that, the Construct abruptly ceases his mumbling and joins you and Lee in looking up.
At the focus of your gazes is a capsule-shaped level vial attached to the ceiling.
The red liquid inside appears to be trembling slightly.
The tremor doesn't come as you expected. A few seconds later, the level vial already turns still again.
Was that... wind? But this tent is military-grade windproof...
As Lee lifts the tent flap, you expect to be greeted by a powerful gust of wind that would shake the tent. However, nothing has happened.
As you and Lee lock eyes in contemplation, a sudden tremor ripples through the ground beneath your feet, disrupting the momentary stillness.
Unlike the sensation of the ground being torn apart, you are bombarded by intensified small vibrations, as if countless insects are scurrying and trampling upon the ground. The peculiar sensation creeps up from your feet, crawling its way up your body until it permeates every inch of your skin.
Confused murmurs and noises reverberate throughout the conservation area as people exchange glances, searching for an explanation.
Before anyone can fully comprehend the situation, the ground starts shaking with even greater force as the true horror begins to unfold.
Amidst the rustling sound of vegetation, some of the grassy plants anchored in the shallow topsoil are effortlessly torn asunder, exposing their twining light brown roots.
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Earthquake! It's an earthquake!
Run to the open space! Don't get close to any buildings, and forget about your stuff in the tents!
Wh-wh-what is that?!
With the transmitter still in hand, the Construct makes an exaggerated lunge to steady himself, pointing toward something in the distance.
As you turn your gaze in that direction, a mesmerizing sight unfolds before your eyes: The treetops, adorned in a bright color, slowly emerge from the depths of the dark green woods.
Their growth defies all expectations, surpassing the normal dimensions of trees in a matter of moments, and their roots soon materialize above the woods without even touching the soil...
These roots are connected to stocky stems, originating from a central wooden "body" that appears unbending.
In other words, those tree crowns are branches extending from "one tree"—
No, it is inaccurate to refer to it as one tree.
It resembles a plant composed of various intertwined parts, chaos existing in the form of a living organism, and it can only be remotely categorized as a plant as it exhibits both wood-like texture and patterns.
—"A globular forest," this is the only phrase you can manage to form within your mind.
