Story Reader / Main Story / 25 Everglowing Justice / Story
In Utopia's lab, Pickman looks happily at the "sample" before him.
...
Subpar and definitely nowhere close to Alisa, but this... makes a bare pass nonetheless, I suppose.
Alisa is no doubt one tough act to follow.
How's everything coming along with the M.I.N.D. fusion?
Fusing selected M.I.N.D.s... 23.45%, 33.63%...
As the progress bar on the screen slowly fills the empty space, the Construct in the vessel struggles violently in silence—which quickly comes to a stop.
A slight rejection reaction is detected, but the majority of the M.I.N.D.s have been fused successfully.
Keep going.
Y-yes...
Answers the researcher as his hand trembles. Right then, two members of Aurora Squadron appear from the other side and open up the vessel to drag out the Construct that looks long-dead.
Is it really right what we're doing... Dr. Pickman?
Of course.
It's going to be a whole new world where everyone will stop aging—meaning that we won't be dealing with deaths or sadness.
And that... is the world where we'll be seeing one another and making contact with a greater power.
But we don't have sufficient theories to...
Son, here is something I want to share with you.
Soft-spoken, Pickman doesn't seem offended by the researcher.
See, I once did some research on Ascendants. One of the reasons the Ascension-Network chooses them is because their M.I.N.D.s are stable enough.
And when you put together countless stable M.I.N.D.s together and have the most powerful consciousness lead the rest of them to make contact with the Ascension-Network...
Almost as though he could visualize the picture in his head, Pickman breaks into a smile.
Why exactly are we limiting human evolution to Constructs?
I... see.
Through the horrendous test subject, the researcher seems to see the cosmic tomorrow of humans that Dr. Pickman is speaking of.
Keep going. We're running short on time here.
You quickly assign work to the Constructs staying behind at the conservation area and notify nearby squads that offer support. When you finish all the preparations, you see Lee already in the vehicle waiting for you.
All set, Commandant.
...Commandant!
I-I'm back, Commandant!
Lucia of Gray Raven, reporting for duty!
Lucia salutes you ceremoniously.
Never been better, Commandant. Please rest assured.
Lucia looks at you, her eyes brimming with the same loyalty and courage as always.
Yeah.
You and Lucia never had much interaction in the few times you saw each other after the battle at Fort Winter ended.
All fixed.
Commandant... it must have been tough for you.
Please tell Lee, Liv, and my commandant...
...That I will be back... no matter how long it's going to take.
She kept her promise.
As much as you all would like to take some time to catch up with them, the clock on your terminal seems to be telling you that time awaits no one.
Right!
I'm at your disposal, Commandant.
It's great... that we're all together again.
Not to mention that we'll all be arriving at the place as a team rather than separately. Then...
Roger!
