Story Reader / Main Story / 33 Wither to Shine / Story
Prefab houses, like shipping containers, stand in neat rows behind barbed wire and guard towers. As far as one can see, snow-covered mountains stretch on forever.
The gray walls still keep out the cold but look pretty small against the mountains and wilderness.
Putting up thicker walls to keep the heat in is just a quick fix—the generator fuel will run out eventually.
But first, there is an even bigger problem—
In this endless winter, ice is the only water source. Breaking and getting ice is how they get clean water.
The water collection crew is back.
Before you can focus again, the armed water collection team has already returned to camp as promised.
Hook the pipe up here.
The leader puts the rifle under his coat, giving quick orders to the others.
A young man turns on the pump and connects the worn hose to the water tank.
Same old, some small stuff needs filtering out.
The middle-aged man breathes on his hands, rubs his stiff fingers, and opens the report.
The ice melter's acting up. We'll send it for repairs later.
Also, parts of the river's melting, so it's risky to walk on. That's causing problems with the digging.
The river's melting?
Vanessa frowns, thinking.
The outside temperature hasn't gone up, so this shouldn't be happening...
It's probably not the Red Tide. If it was, we'd see something weird in the ice with our own eyes.
He nods to the young man, who pulls a metal tube from his bag.
We took the temperature of the meltwater and collected some samples.
This warm water is 5.8 degrees warmer than the freezing point.
Considering the rate of the heat loss... there's probably a hot spring upstream.
His breath turns into tiny ice crystals in the air, then disappears as he stops talking.
Same as always, send the samples to the lab.
She stares blankly at the far-off mountains covered in pine trees—where the river starts.
If the Mutated Red Tide really starts messing with the water, you can use the stored ice for a bit, but once the contaminated water gets into the system...
Humans might never find clean water in this area again.
The pump's quiet now, and the ice melter's empty. The clean water's filled that huge tank, like an old grain silo, to the brim.
That water tank is the only thing keeping this camp alive.
The young man drags the hose back to the vehicle, but the team leader still won't move.
[player name], Ms. Vanessa...
The middle-aged man took off his gloves at some point, his rough fingers nervously rubbing the rifle's stock.
?
Can't we at least check out that possible hot spring?
He anxiously cranes his neck forward, trying to read Vanessa's face.
If it really was a hot spring, we wouldn't have to melt ice anymore. Collecting water would be way easier...
No.
But, last month, Mrs. Jones' little girl... she died because we didn't have enough water...
Sadness fills the middle-aged man's eyes, his eyebrows covered in frost.
No.
Vanessa turns away, annoyed.
No one's explored that mountain. No one knows if it's got the Mutated Red Tide or some other monster in it.
Risk losing a whole team for a "possible" water source?
B-but...
He cracks his knuckles, wanting to argue but not knowing what to say.
I just wanted to...
Don't even think about it. Now, go back and eat.
She says coldly, shutting him down.
If the tests show the river's melting isn't from the Mutated Red Tide, and if there's really a hot spring, it could actually help us.
...I understand. Thank you.
The man's shoulders slump in defeat. He nods to you and gets on the transport vehicle with heavy, weary steps.
Watching the team head to rest, Vanessa impatiently checks the water tanks.
It's Joe. Joe Williams.
After a moment, she adds...
Mrs. Jones' youngest daughter, Liata, is his kid.
Makes sense?
This kind of thing... you think it's unusual?
She smirks coldly while recording the water storage.
After checking the Punishing Virus level around the tanks, Vanessa puts away her logbook and heads back to the outpost.
Back inside, the frost on your eyelashes and face melts right away. A sharp pain hits the back of your head, but you quickly warm up.
It would only be a short-term fix.
Even if the hot spring isn't contaminated, it's still groundwater. The Mutated Red Tide can get through anything.
The Red Tide will get into the water cycle eventually since it can penetrate rock formations easily.
She snorts, like she's laughing at the idea.
False hope is useless. We need to find ways to clean the water...
The Red Tide's slowly spreading across this dead land, ruining every bit of clean ground.
Humans can't fight fate anymore.
Their enemy isn't just a Corrupted, a Hetero-Creature, or some weird Hetero-Sapiens, but this whole frozen wasteland, the dark sky, and the mountains they can't cross.
The enemy is the frozen rocks. The enemy is the melting ice caves.
The enemy is the Mutated Red Tide spreading across the planet, and the new "life" it's making.
Don't look so defeated.
...
Her eyes tell you to stop lying.
You thought getting the Hetero Tower core would fix everything, but now...
Looks like you haven't gotten anywhere.
I've told you before, this world doesn't need a hero.
She glances over, then changes the subject.
Has Rosa been in touch? How's the Hetero Tower core coming along?
Ever since she got the <b><ud><color=#34aff8ff><link=17>Hetero-Core Shard</link></color></ud></b>, Rosa's been locked in the lab, trying to make the filter better to fight the evolving Red Tide.
I'll head out—oh, it's already 12 o'clock.
If you forget to eat, I'll toss you into the Red Tide before you starve.
She shows that familiar smirk and then heads out of the outpost.
Just as Vanessa leaves, harsh static crackles through your crude communication device.
A faint voice fights through the static, forming clear words after a few broken ones.
...wa...cam...cal...
...Aerospace City calling Commandant. Is the camp's water supply still safe?
You brief Rosa about the melting of the river's surface.
If it really was a hot spring, that'd be a rare bit of good news...
A soft sigh comes through your comms.
Unfortunately, the decoding's still not going well.
Getting past the outer layer wasn't the problem, but we've only managed to get less than one percent of the data from the Hetero Tower core.
The technology's incredibly complex. With what Aerospace City has right now... I can only do a basic exploration, trying to get whatever I can.
I'm hoping we can unlock some filter-related things next. We need to strengthen the filter barrier, or I'm worried the Mutated Red Tide will keep evolving...
Time...
She falls silent.
Time's the thing you have the least of.
Oh, right, I actually called about something else...
She perks up, and you hear the sound of pages turning.
I've put together a list of materials we might need to strengthen the filter barrier.
The red items are crucial, and the rest are things I think we might need based on what I've learned from the Hetero-Core Shard.
If you find any of these while gathering supplies, help me collect them.
Thank you.
If that's all, I'll get back to the lab...
She made the call, but you do have something you need to confirm with her.
I need to stress again, that was just a theory from Mr. Asimov. The technology's super complex, and we barely have the materials or environment to make it...
Commandant, what are you planning to do with the consciousness enhancement device?
Her calm voice comes through the speaker.
It's definitely a possibility.
No one knows what kind of monsters the Mutated Red Tide might throw at you.
...
The sound of pages turning comes back; Rosa's probably checking the supplies for Aerospace City.
The supplies from Aerospace City give you a chance to test things out...
But I can't promise it'll work, and I don't know how reliable it'll be.
Alright, I'm heading back to the lab.
Take care, Commandant.
Her voice cuts out. Static fills the speaker as the device loses signal.
The room goes quiet and humid. You sit for a moment, thinking, then get up and leave.
This place, called "canteen", is basically a big makeshift building made of shipping containers. It's also the camp's meeting hall, storage, and sometimes, even a place where people can relax for a bit.
Against all odds, a small community based on helping each other has sprung up in this barren place.
It's already afternoon. The refugees who were assigned tasks should be back by now.
When you walk into the canteen, there are only a few people sitting at the tables, waiting for the night shift.
I heard Joe volunteered to lead some crazy water-finding team, and Vanessa really yelled at him!
It's all because of Mrs. Jones... Geez, everyone wants to live, right?
Yeah, Liata... she's the youngest here, isn't she?
She's only eighteen.
...
The young men's discussion brings a brief silence to the table.
Alright, let's change the subject.
Still, Vanessa really put Joe in his place with just a couple of words...
He fiddles with a small package, looking excited.
Vanessa's so awesome! I want to go with them next time they look for supplies...
Hey, don't think of something impossible. Vanessa wouldn't send you on a suicide mission... Anyway, want some lemon slush?
He seems bored of the gossip and starts talking about food.
Did those stupid books rot your brain? You think you're some fancy guy from the old days?
Oh, my dear sir, is this your seat? One slush coming right up...
The young man theatrically mocks his friend with exaggerated loudness.
Take it or leave it—but check this out! This ice? I got it from the pipes around the canteen. Super clean, I promise.
He pulls out a small paper packet and carefully pours some yellow powder into the bottle.
Then he puts the lid on, shakes it gently, and gives it to the person next to him.
This is my secret recipe, you know—
The troublemaker takes the kettle, looks at it suspiciously, opens it, and takes a sip—then his face twists up.
Pfft! Yuck! What is this? These are just those vitamin C pills, right?!
It's called making the best of a bad situation! If you're so smart, go steal some canned fruit yourself...
He whispers, but someone cuts him off.
Are you crazy or do you have a death wish? Vanessa will kick you out if you steal anything.
Besides, the last can of fruit went to Liata. It didn't save her, but at least she got something sweet before she died...
Oh! Commandant!
You have overheard their whole conversation, but you don't need to tell them to stay away from the supplies.
Vanessa's strict rules have worked pretty well, and anyway... there's hardly anything worth stealing in this tiny camp.
Except for their food rations, the refugees only have weapons and some small things they cherish too much to give up.
Weapons keep order, and their trinkets remind them of what they live for.
After you say hello, everyone hurries to work, and you go to get some food.
Commandant! Working late again?
I've saved some hot soup for all of you. It's still warm on the stove.
Emma's been waiting for you and helped out while she waited...
Here, Commandant.
Emma comes out of the kitchen with some food.
We need to switch out patrol teams.
The medic from Anneva's team is hurt and needs to rest. We're thinking of pulling a medic from Isu team to fill in...
Guess we'll have to get some of the reserve medics.
Emma writes in her notebook while you eat some dry rations and water-thin soup to ease my cramping stomach.
Hmm... Oh, there's something else...
After we figure out the patrol teams, Emma moves on.
The river water samples are in, and we've got the results.
Emma looks worried—whatever she's about to say is definitely bad.
We didn't find any clear signs of the Red Tide, but the water's definitely contaminated in a weird way. I think...
Or, the Mutated Red Tide's already spread to those pine forests.
Either way, it means Great Tombstone Settlement's water's gone. That's the real problem.
Rosa says the Punishing Virus doesn't do well in really cold places.
Aerospace City's started putting up new filters, and people from Great Tombstone and other camps are moving there in groups.
But if there really is a problem with the water source, they'll have to move faster.
Got it. I'll tell Vanessa.
While you talk, people start gathering at the table. Soon, the scattered few in the canteen all congregate in one place.
We have to move again?
The young man's face shows a practiced fear.
How can this be happening? We just got here...
What are you waiting for? Go pack your stuff.
Even if we don't have much, we still need to sort through it.
People start talking all at once until Emma calms them down, and they head off.
Night falls, and people gather around the fire again to stay warm.
Gee, I thought we could stay here for a while...
Moving's actually good! Did you hear? Aerospace City's got new, better filters!
He tries to sound happy, to cheer everyone up.
...Fine, I'll go finish packing.
The young man sighs and walks away from the fire but suddenly bumps into someone in a long robe...
Oh, sorry, my bad...
It's alright. Where are you heading in such a hurry?
Ugh, haven't you heard? We're on the move again.
Seriously, when will this ever stop? Move, move, move...
Wait... has that Commandant—Gray Raven—come back yet?
The woman under the hood looks a bit confused.
Yeah, things have gotten a lot better since that Gray Raven Commandant showed up.
They've put up those filters in Aerospace City, and the camp's way more organized now, but...
Sadness fills his eyes.
No matter what, it's still just one human...
He says "one" with a bitter tone.
Just one human... However capable this person is, there is only so much that can be done.
...
Geez, I better get going, gotta pack... You should get your stuff together too.
If we get attacked again, you'll have to leave everything behind... That's how I lost the key my mom left me last time.
She said it was the key to the front door of my old home.
But... where does "home" even lie now?
