Story Reader / Main Story / 26 Cradle Parade / Story
At the bottom of the well, the commandant has a dream related to "Mother."
Her appearance is still that of a young girl, making her anything but a "mother." It is, therefore, logical to conclude that she was merely assigned the title "Mother".
And that's that. It's got to be that.
My dear baby. My precious one...
She has a delicate string of flowers tied to her hand as she sits in the room imprisoned by the shadows of the window bars.
And yet, the gentle afternoon sun streaming through the window carries with it peace and serenity.
I love you. Mommy loves you...
She's caught between dreams and reality, her figure torn into pieces alongside her thoughts. They then merge with all these concepts named "Mother" and take on an appearance that's both familiar and barely recognizable.
Welcome back, my child.
She settles down.
Look at you getting yourself hurt so much again...
"Mother" picks up the hot soup from the table and kneels before the person covered in scars.
But I know... that it's not your fault.
There are just so many troubles and unbeatable monsters out there, and it's truly remarkable that you've come this far.
Now, forget work and training and stay home for a while... Mommy really missed you.
Don't worry. I'm going to help you figure things out.
She carefully blows on the spoonful of soup until it's cool enough to drink, then passes it over.
A familiar taste awakens a sense of security. Long drowned by pain and the instinct to survive, you grasp her hand.
...Still hurts, doesn't it? I'll buy some painkillers and call the doctor.
She sets down the bowl, dialing the hospital's number over and over, only to be met with a busy signal.
Uhm, that's not good...
A helpless reality seeps into the dream.
Don't worry. Mommy will always be with you. Rest now and leave the rest to me.
No way. You're never a trouble. I can't tell you how happy I am seeing you back home.
...Don't say that.
"Mother" chokes up for a moment.
You've saved so many lives. You're the best...
All I'll ever ask of you is you come back home safe and sound.
If I could have a wish... I just wish I could be part of your happiness.
Don't blame yourself for the scars...
She embraces the injured child, taking on the child's pain as her own as she sobs to the wounds, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She is a mother through and through—and she can't imagine herself being anything other than a mother.
Even so, for a child covered in wounds, this is the ideal cradle, an absolute sanctuary.
Yes, come back to me.
"Mother" embraces the child's wounded body with all her love, her gentle skin numbing you in a way you can't quite word when it comes in contact with your wounds...
...reminding you of the accounts provided by those who have encountered the Red Ride.
Sanity peels away further with the corruption of the Mind Beacon.
A humble plea for help mocks your past efforts, rendering everything insignificant and everyone dispensable.
Now, behold the fate of this "hero" groveling on the ground, and witness what years of pain and perseverance have yielded.
Why not cast aside all necessary responsibilities, mandatory efforts, and the mission to save the world—and instead beg for "Mother's" mercy?
Dignity is almost too little a price to pay if her pity can alleviate even a fraction of this tormenting agony.
Because... you are a human who has fallen into the kingdom of the deep sea...
Bringing up the tale of The Little Mermaid, she flips the story around so the "human prince" falls into this strange kingdom of the sea.
Did the mermaid princess ever ask these same questions and feel as helpless walking amongst humans?
It's okay, close your eyes, my child. Don't think about all those things that make you sad...
She bends down to kiss the child's blood-stained cheek.
Come back into Mother... where I will keep you safe.
I really missed you. Oh, how I've missed you so...
I've always prayed for heroes and God to protect you, to save you from peril, and to bring you back safely...
I've always prayed for heroes and God to protect you, to save you from peril, and to bring you back safely...
The corruption of your Mind Beacon and nightmares linger, dragging you into a still deeper whirlpool, putting out the Mind Beacon you've been holding on to with all your might.
There is no time to figure out who she truly is and how this dream—brought up on more occasions than one—has to do with Project Cthylla.
Fortunately, the painkillers and the gradually blurring consciousness are working together to offer you a bit of relief, saving you from the excruciating pain that's been keeping you awake.
Within the lullaby weaved by them, you, severely injured and feverish, curl up at the bottom of the well, falling into a deep sleep.
Until 24 hours later.
The collapse from the distance finally awakens you from the slumber.
Looking up toward the well's mouth, you find the upper layers no longer unobstructed. Having rested sufficiently, you feel physically replenished.
Cautious and prepared for yet another shake and any sort of abnormality, you pick up the dagger and start climbing upward.
This time, however, the well seems as if it were dead, remaining still without any movement.
As the sun reclaims the sky, this absurd paradise becomes shrouded in a new layer of chaos.
In the distance is a building that has collapsed into a gaping maw with countless floating debris, bringing to mind a scab that's formed over a giant's wound.
Where to go next?
When you look around, you see the jellyfish-like phantoms once again.
The phantoms show no response.
Like a school of startled fish, the phantoms swim away.
At this moment, a woman's prolonged wail can be heard coming from the depths of the paradise.
The sound immediately triggers an earthquake, causing the entire space to shake violently.
The walls nearby crumble with the vibration, out of which deformed Hetero-Creatures emerge.
You immediately run for it in the opposite direction, but the creatures show no intention of attacking you...
And just as you thought, you see them everywhere as you run.
These twisted beings lack the intelligence for a full-fledged plan. There must be monsters or Ascendants lurking around that are far more dangerous than these creatures.
Hearing the word, a shadow on the ceiling sheds its disguise and lands lightly behind the human.
The bullet hits "it" squarely in the head—but passes right through as though "it" were a puddle of water, causing "it" no harm at all.
A split second later, Hetero-Creatures lurking in the ruins all swarm up this way...
The Hetero-Creatures hold you by the arm that's previously been pierced, while your skin festers the moment it comes into contact with them.
Already beyond exhaustion, you're unable to fight back, barely feeling anything but pain coming from your limbs as they quickly dissolve.
The world around you turns pitch-black all of a sudden. With an overcoat thrown over your head out of nowhere, you find yourself pressed tightly against the floor.
Struggling only brings you tearing pain, and it's impossible to see what's happening in the dark.
Before you can tell for sure, you hear the sound of something landing on the ground as the Hetero-Creatures let go of you.
Even with your legs all but completely numb, you manage to move a few steps with your knees and stand up against the wall.
It's only now that you see what's been discarded right beside you...
After the final shot, you will only have 48 hours left. Even if you make it back to Babylonia, they might not have the tech to save you.
Mission complete.
The Hetero-Creatures with human bodies declare their victory.
Following the prolonged wail coming from afar are earthquakes and collapses.
That, didn't, go smoothly.
Only, Mother, has, calmed down. Cradle, is, still, collapsing. The, controlling, joystick, is, dead.
Its neck rotates stiffly, like a robot observing its surroundings. Then, it turns its "face" toward you—battered and bloody beyond recognition.
Sea, Fairy, child, loved, by, Mother.
There, are, also, many, children, that, Mother, doesn't, love.
Mostly, are.
The Hetero-Creature with an odd appearance takes a step back in shock.
Got, proposed to, by, a monkey.
We, are, humans, of a, new time. You, are, an unevolved, monkey.
But, we, do not, love, you.
The humanoid creature takes another step back in horror.
They say alcohol makes people courageous, but you can't help but wonder if the corruption of your Mind Beacon has put you in a state similar to that Ravenge found himself in.
But anyhow, this is a glorious and great moment in a time of ruin.
Covered in wounds, you've just proven that vulgar language is an effective means to scare off Hetero-Creatures—which is truly a cause for celebration.
We, don't need, marriage. Those children, that, Mother, doesn't love. They, won't despise, you.
Says the Hetero-Creature calling itself the Sea Fairy as it points at its smaller kin around itself.
No, that's, not right, Mother, loves, all, children.
But, some, children—Lithos, cannot, love, themselves. They, refuse, to accept, Mother's, love, and, ended up, like that.
Yes, to humans, Hetero-Creatures, Hetero-Sapiens, are all, the dead, merged with, the Punishing.
They, too, are, the replicated, consciousness of, Lithos, after, he died.
No, our, consciousness, can, fully, merge. We, don't, become fragmented, like, the host. We, have Mother, to thank, for, harmonizing, resonance.
As long as, Mother, is there, we, will be born, repeatedly. The consciousness, of the humans, dead, is preserved, in the information, of the Red Tide, and, will continue, in us.
We, replace, people, of the old times.
Soon, everyone, will, be reborn, through, death.
You, too, will soon, join, us.
It extends its hand at you.
Come, follow me, to a safe room. You, just, had the last, dose, injected. You, need, food, and rest.
You, will be, reborn in, 47.7 hours.
You know that you aren't the toughest of people, but that doesn't mean you aren't going to fight back.
