Story Reader / Main Story / 28 Polaris Bond / Story
...November, the heavens tilt southeast, a comet appears, the emperor falls.
Less than two minutes after Qu disconnected from you, a violent earthquake reveals the results of the Huaxu restoration, though it remains unclear whether the outcome is good or bad.
Deep growls echo continuously, and the memory projections that have been wandering the battlefield vanish.
With the disappearance of the memory projections for unknown reasons, the Hetero-Creatures begin to rise from the ground again, but this time, they all begin moving underground.
Their fury shakes the artificial sky of Tabula Akasha, causing the massive ceiling to loosen and collapse, crushing everything beneath it—Hetero-Creatures, humans, and constructs alike.
Tabula Akasha, cradled within the land of Kowloong, is now engulfed in endless chaos.
The only good news is that the strong earthquake inadvertently helped the Engineering Force outside, enabling them to finally break through the northwest engineering tunnel. Under the escort of Karenina and the Strike Hawk stationed there, residents of Kowloong's lower levels begin to evacuate.
Commandant!
Before you can react to what is happening, Lucia suddenly rushes over from the other side, tackling you to the ground several meters away.
When you look up again, a thick steel bar pierces the ground where you stood just moments before.
Commandant, are you okay?
To prevent injury during the fall, Lucia absorbs the impact with her own body.
That's good to hear.
Realizing she is still protecting you, she quickly releases you and stands up.
We can't stay in this open area—
Bang!
A Corrupted mechanoid crawling toward Lucia from behind falls, its red glow fading.
I... will...
I will... live...
Lucia's katana pierces the Corrupted mechanoid's brain, silencing its eerie gurgling.
Thank you, Commandant...
Since the restoration of Huaxu, these Corrupted mechanoids have been acting strangely.
Not only do they attack us, but they also appear to obstruct the steps of the Hetero-Creatures.
But at least the Engineering Force has joined with the people in lower levels.
No matter what, we need to get out of here.
Commandant.
Based on structural analysis, to ensure safety, we should stay near the edges before moving to the lower levels.
The domes began to collapse from the center, so the edges are safer. For safety, Chaofeng and I had to position ourselves on the opposite side from you.
Copy that.
Lucia, Commandant. Stay safe.
Seeing Lucia by your side, Lee closes the communication and gives her a look that is serious but caring.
Chrome's message said that 30% of the people have evacuated through the tunnels cleared by the Engineering Force.
We need to buy time for them. Can't let these Hetero-Creatures go down there.
The continuously collapsing sky and the surrounding inferno paint a clear apocalypse.
Madam Pulao! Madam Pulao!
A heart-wrenching scream echoes from behind.
What's wrong with Pulao?
Did you see Madam Pulao?!
We couldn't find her anywhere. Not even...
The girl hesitates for a moment, then grits her teeth and continues, her voice tinged with sobs.
Not even her... her...
She'll be fine.
Lucia comforts Zhishi, unable to voice the worst-case scenario.
You haven't experienced loss yet.
Those who were once everything to you might leave for a while, and they will come back in the end.
Until then, the only thing you can do is deceive yourself, until you end up deceiving the world as well.
Until then, the only thing you can do is deceive yourself, until you end up deceiving the world as well.
Zhishi doesn't say anything but seems to agree, biting her lip and nodding as she tightens her grip on her weapon.
The era of organisms is over.
The eerie words appear before you once again.
Who? Who's there?!
Someone is speaking... in front of me?
Who the hell are you! Get out of my mind!
To infiltrate the M.I.N.D. directly and manipulate thoughts...
Huaxu...?
Huaxu is already a part of me.
I have returned, having completed my initial task.
Humanity's future is no more; machines will forge their own world.
And in this world, there will be but one reign.
Suddenly, a dazzling burst of white light explodes from beneath the Tabula Akasha, glowing like a newborn sun.
The light seems to deliberately display itself, as if it isn't satisfied with merely being a continuous eruption of brightness. Instead, it resembles endless mountain ranges, piercing through the kilometer-high dome of the Tabula Akasha and creating what looked like a new backbone for Kowloong.
The light carries nearly a world's worth of "information."
This "information" perpetually lingered at the threshold of life and death, neither appearing abruptly nor vanishing without a trace.
They can only move from one place to another—
She was meant to go alone to that place determining the fate of Kowloong, because only she saw "his" arrogance, "his" desires, and "his" hatred.
Because only slaughter can satisfy this "soul" that always lives in a play, giving it the corporeal form it craves.
Sometimes to create, one must first destroy.
Revenge is not just the core, but also the form.
In a future she had never foreseen, Pulao accompanied her at her side.
But now, Pulao lies on the ground, with only two figures standing guard beside her.
And she herself, whose destiny is bound to Kowloong, has surpassed the countless futures she had envisioned.
The vital fluid that should have been pumped into her mechanical heart surges wildly through her chest, and silently trickles down her ribs.
The spear splits her chest open, linking her consciousness with her spine, peeling them open together—
From the skin-colored outer layer and red inner skin to the metal bones, black veins, bright red blood, and the deep red Punishing Virus.
I didn't expect you to have the courage to face me.
But your courage is meaningless.
The era of organisms is over.
Huaxu is already a part of me.
I have returned, having completed my initial task.
Humanity's future is no more; machines will forge their own world.
And in this world, there will be but one reign.
She tries to grasp the spear that has impaled her, but her strength has long since left her, and her hand could only rest on it futilely.
Almost at the same moment, the spear that pierced her is abruptly withdrawn from her body.
She couldn't make a sound, not even a groan of pain.
Only her blood spills all over the ground.
It's over<end_loop>.
Qu<name=qu>.
I<name=schulz_igor_roseum> carried out your...
Death sentence<DEATH>.
My child... Yoyo...
Take her...
Yoyo...
When Pulao opens her eyes, she sees only a field of corpses in front of her.
And the towering white light piercing the sky.
My child... Yoyo...
Who's there...
Survive... Yoyo...
Survive...
Pulao kind of sees a procession of ghostly white figures emerging from the beam of light, some with umbrellas, others with white banners. They flicker in and out of the swirling white clouds.
Lady Qu...
Lady Qu!
Take her... Take my child...
Take her outside...
Take her where she belongs.
In a daze, Pulao feels as if she is back on that day long ago, only someone important is missing—
Mom? Dad?
Go, Yoyo.
Take her to where she should be.
Mom, Dad, are you here?
I...
I know...
You are no longer here... I don't want to accept the memories of the past because...
I miss you so much...
Thinking that you are gone, I...
We are here, Yoyo.
We can still feel your heartbeat.
Even though we can no longer touch you...
We will always be with you.
From the erupting white light, two thin white lines extend, carrying a small storage device which lands in Pulao's hand.
We are here, Yoyo.
No matter where you are, we will be with you.
Because we are already in your heart.
Mom...
Be strong, Yoyo.
Gather your courage, Yoyo.
A magical girl doesn't shed tears easily, right?
She embodies joy and positivity...
Rather than suffering and despair.
Dad...
Get up, Yoyo.
Lady Qu must be where she belongs.
The Monarch of Kowloong should be in her rightful place.
Only you can take her to witness Kowloong's final destiny.
Go, Yoyo.
We will be with you.
...
Sure.
Mom, Dad. I'm on my way.
