Story Reader / Main Story / 33 Wither to Shine / Story
Muddled consciousness drifts in the ocean's depths.
Waterlogged vision, waves crashing, whispers and howls in bubbles hitting your brain with every tide—
Cold air fills your lungs, the taste of dust snapping you back to reality.
The tent is empty.
The feeling of drowning still lingers.
Was it a nightmare, or a real glimpse of what happened?
Are you the Commandant the Gray Raven team is desperately searching for? Or just one of the five they don't care about?
I remember that Valeria gave me a whole pack... there were over a hundred candies in there. But I only recall eating two and giving you one.
Red Tide Projection... can record...
If... if you can see this...
And then there's that figure, blurry but familiar.
Who is she? Why does it feel like... she sees everything?
And what did she mean, "it's not the right time"?
After quickly writing down the key phrases and double-checking them, you look around.
By the bed, your boots are caked with ice and snow. To avoid getting sick and another lecture from Vanessa, you'll skip those for now.
This is a basic tent, nothing but the bed you were on. Through the entrance, faint light shines from the snowy outside.
Before you blacked out, you were carrying Vanessa, heading to meet Emma and Discord, but judging by this...
Muffled voices drift in from outside. Before you can make out what they're saying, the tent flap opens.
Thank goodness, we were worried you'd never wake up...
She quickly checks the readings on your suit.
Your suit was damaged, causing hypothermia and Punishing Virus infection. If you didn't have any serum left, you wouldn't have made it.
Your injuries were bad, so we moved to a safer spot and set up camp, trying to stabilize you.
Discord went back to Aerospace City for help, while I... stayed to watch you.
Discord will be back with a rescue vehicle soon...
Emma's acting weird, talking fast and making no sense while jamming the serum into your suit's port.
When Discord gets here... Huh?
Hearing your call, she looks up, worried.
...
Like a switch flipped, Emma's face goes pale, and her fingers start shaking.
She lowers her head, plugs the serum into the right port, and injects the whole dose. Then she stares at the infection readings.
Emma's lips are pressed together. Only when the readings start to drop does she look up, tears silently falling.
Vanessa... she's gone.
Vanessa... [player name]!
During the search, the orange-haired Construct spots someone moving through the snow.
Discord, over there!
Discord, who was searching elsewhere, hears Emma's call and looks toward her.
The dark figures stumble before collapsing into the snow. Fortunately, they're close enough that Emma and Discord reach them with little effort.
How could this be...
Two people are down in the snow. Vanessa's a mess, big wounds on her arm and leg, and the commandant...
Don't just stand there! The commandant has a damaged suit and is showing infection symptoms. Serum's in the kit—inject it now.
Right, right...
Seeing her rock, her support, in such a state throws Emma for a loop. Despite her panic, she follows Vanessa's orders, finding the serum and injecting it into the commandant's suit.
Do you have a spare suit?
Here.
They grab a backup suit and quickly put it on the commandant. Then, they push through the wind and snow, heading fast for Aerospace City.
Cough... Where are the others you brought?
After getting the commandant's message, we came right away. We sent the others to gather supplies nearby.
Tell them all to turn back and return to... Aerospace City.
Vanessa's breathing gets heavy and fast.
Vanessa, stop talking. You're still losing a lot of vital fluid...
Emma pulls out a vital fluid pack and tries to hook it up to Vanessa, but Vanessa stops her.
Save it... We won't need it yet.
Emma, keep an eye on the Punishing Virus levels around us.
Vanessa squints, thinking fast.
Agent Zero's already spotted the commandant. It won't let go of such easy prey. They are not likely to get everyone out of here alive.
Copy... understood...
She bites her lip, puts the vital fluid pack away, and turns on the virus monitor.
The blizzard's getting worse, howling and hitting everything.
Carrying an unconscious human and an injured Construct slows them down a lot.
Discord, the Punishing Virus is spiking. How far to the rescue vehicle?
Emma glances at Vanessa, unsure if she's unconscious or simply resting with her eyes closed, then lowers her voice to ask Discord.
From here... at our current pace, it'll take about two and a half hours.
Did the others get the message?
Yeah, they didn't venture deep into the snowplain. The faster ones have probably already returned to the safe area around Aerospace City.
—Watch out!
During their conversation, the Mutated Red Tide has silently crept to their feet, unnoticed until now.
Bang!
Emma pulls Discord away, nimbly dodging the tide while carrying the commandant. She spins around and fires at the tentacles emerging from the thin crimson tide.
Though not as potent as the Omega Weapons in the past, Rosa's custom firearm proves more than sufficient against these small mutated tentacles.
The mutated tentacles recoil in pain, emitting a hoarse, mournful cry before retreating back into the puddle of liquid on the ground.
However... it has already located them. How far could Agent Zero be now?
...
In the shadows behind the rocks, the new Agent Zero stares in their direction with cold, lifeless eyes.
It is newly born, knowing nothing except for the ceaseless urge to chase power, to endlessly consume, to devour this world whole.
Everything in this world is supposed to serve as its nourishment.
Its hollow eyes focus on the silhouettes in the distance.
And that human... will become its most delectable feast.
We must move faster...
Pushing her frame's output to maximum power, Emma anxiously glances behind her.
They're still more than two hours away from where they parked the rescue vehicle. Emma isn't sure if she can safely bring Vanessa and the commandant back to Aerospace City...
Cough.
The sound of gunfire jolts Vanessa awake, pulling her back to reality.
The commandant has fallen unconscious. Without suppression, Vanessa's M.I.N.D.'s getting more unstable. She's using all her energy just to keep it together.
How far are we from Aerospace City?
At this pace... about four hours.
Her words come out breathless, leaving it uncertain whether it's from her continued movement or from a profound sense of concern.
But we could reach the rescue vehicle in two hours...
Not enough time.
Even if you two pushed your systems to the limit... you still wouldn't make it.
The Red Tide's spreading fast, covering 40 to 50 kilometers a night.
...
Discord silently raises her weapon and fires, pushing back the Red Tide creeping toward them.
It's caught up.
Those things... they're like parasites, sticking to you. Once they find you, they won't stop until they get a piece of you.
Vanessa seems to be thinking, but her eyes are unfocused.
As her M.I.N.D. is being hammered by waves of corruption, her body's screaming death from the cold.
Deploy... deploy Omega Weapons at the escape point, with plenty of explos...
She unconsciously gives the right orders for their situation.
But... we're out of Omega Weapons.
Babylonia's Omega Weapons ran out a decade ago. They can't perfectly recreate them with what they have now.
...
Hah... right, those are long gone.
She snaps back to reality with a bitter smile. Her vision blurs as her M.I.N.D. fades into darkness...
Ahem...
A wave of deathly exhaustion washes over her. She bites down on her tongue, using the pain to force herself awake.
If we cut through the southeast...
It's no use. It's already locked on.
Discord and Emma sprint forward, desperate to outrun Agent Zero's "gaze".
But no matter where they go, the cold, creeping Red Tide follows like a shadow, impossible to shake off.
At this rate... it won't do...
Weighted down by a heavy burden, it's just a matter of time before the Mutated Red Tide overtakes them.
Spitting out the vital fluid that's filling her mouth again, Vanessa calmly assesses her frame's damage before speaking slowly.
How's... the commandant holding up?
While running, Emma quickly checks the commandant's suit for infection.
After the serum, infection levels are slightly high, but vitals are stable. Mild hypothermia too...
...
Her frame's about 70% damaged, her left arm gone, and her right leg wrecked and barely held on by bandages.
You two go on. Leave me here. I'll cover your escape.
Have you lost it?
Emma stares at Vanessa, incredulous.
You're the ones who've lost it.
She says it as casually as if she were saying, "I'm going to find supplies".
At your current pace, we'll all be that thing's lunch in half an hour.
Not a bad way to go, actually. Rosa can watch us wave from inside the Red Tide back in Aerospace City.
No, absolutely not. We're not leaving you here alone...
I agree.
Discord cuts in. Her breathing's erratic. For an older model like her, this pace is way past her limits—she's running on fumes.
I'm not asking for your permission.
With an annoyed wave, Vanessa fires her sidearm at a Hetero-Creature creeping up behind Emma—before Discord can react.
!!!
Emma jumps, nearly stepping into the Red Tide that's already seeping toward them.
Without them noticing, the Red Tide's slowly closing in from all sides.
Agent Zero won't let its prey get away.
The snow field's still peaceful, but there's a deadly trap hidden beneath the snow.
No, there's gotta be another way...
She bites her lip, trying to find the best option.
For example, I could draw the Red Tide away while Discord gets you and the commandant out. I can still fight, after all...
You're suggesting Discord carry both a cripple and an unconscious human, pushing her systems to the breaking point, and then keep that up for two hours?
...
Or, or...
—Ugh!
Mid-sentence, Discord groans as she lifts her foot—the bottom of her shoe already stained with Red Tide.
Do you see?
Covering her mouth and nose, Vanessa coughs, vital fluid leaking from the corner of her lips.
We don't have time to argue. If we wait, we all die here.
Vanessa says, stating the damage to her frame.
Even if we got back to Aerospace City in time, they don't have enough to fix me.
The snow's falling harder now.
I don't have the energy to convince you. Two choices.
A, we all die. B, I stay behind to cover you.
As they speak, Mutated Red Tide tentacles silently reach out, wrapping around Emma's ankle.
Ugh—!
Emma stumbles, and Vanessa cuts the rope, jumping off her back.
Barely steady on her left leg, Vanessa tightens the bandage on her right leg with one hand. Vital fluid stains the ground.
I'll say this one last time. You and Discord take the commandant and leave. I'll cover your retreat.
Don't worry about how I'll do it, and don't worry about whether I can still fight.
Don't forget what I taught you—
Maximize the value of survivors.
With her last bit of strength, Vanessa leans against a nearby rock.
Snowflakes quickly cover her, turning red as they soak up her vital fluid.
Without another word, Emma and Discord salute her and follow her orders, heading back to Aerospace City with the commandant.
[player name]... hah.
She looks up at the gray sky, forcing a bitter smile.
The battlefield doesn't play nice. No one saves everyone, and everyone loses something—even you, Chief...
Using the ice as a mirror, she tries to smooth her messed-up hair and wipe the blood off her face.
Guess one good thing about being a Construct is that synthetic skin cleans way easier than human skin.
Her murmurs echo across the desolate icy ground, just as they did decades ago when she stayed in that dark underground chamber.
Back then, she at least had the unconscious Chief for company, but now, she stands utterly alone in this vast, empty world.
...
The Mutated Red Tide sloshes against the ice as Agent Zero slowly forms from the liquid.
It's moving pretty fast...
The purple-haired Construct gives Agent Zero a nasty smirk.
This is where it ends.
She detonates her frame.
The tent is freezing cold. The entrance is frozen solid, and the wind's howling against the tent, making muffled thumps.
We heard the blast but didn't dare look back. We got to the safe zone first. After getting you settled, I went back to see.
The explosion... did something. The Mutated Red Tide's backed off for now, but the ice is gone. Just dark brown rock left.
This... is all I found.
She opens her hand, showing a Scarab name tag, riddled with bullet holes and blackened by the blast.
You want to say something, but can't find the words. You open your mouth, but only a hoarse sigh comes out.
Let me re-introduce myself. My name is Vanessa, commandant of Egret and chief commander of this operation.
Regardless of your past accolades, Commandant, you better follow my orders as the chief commander.
[player name], you stupid and naive piece of trash. You're only respected by so many people because they're lost in their own ideals.
Now you have no one to count on. Let me tell you how to maximize the value of survivors.
This greeting comes 30 years late, Gray Raven Commandant.
I thought this time you were finally dead for real.
Go on then. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back.
I'll wait right here. Don't worry—when you open your eyes, I'll be the first thing you see.
...
Do ▂▄▁▅▇▅▃▆▅▄▁ realize it has been ▇▅▃▆ already?
All this time and still no news. If we follow the usual ▁▅▇▅▃▆▅▄▁ we would have already declared you dead.
How hilarious, ▁▃▆▃▆▁▂▄▁▁▃▆▅▄▃▆▁
The voice seems to emerge from underwater waves, while the mini-terminal emits intermittent white noise.
Commandant... Commandant!
Serum... Is there any serum left?!
The last dose is already gone...
Over here!
The tent flap opens briefly as someone comes in, letting in a blast of cold wind that clears the air for a moment.
Cold liquid flows into your vein as the blurry underwater scenery fades away once more. Emma looks at you with urgent concern.
You're in rough shape, Commandant.
You force yourself to sit up, fighting against your exhaustion and ignoring the dizziness.
A dark, deep sea follows you like a shadow, an inescapable cage weighing you down as it churns through your M.I.N.D.
Your infection levels are spiking... Commandant, can you hold on?
Rosa's waiting for those core parts. You can't... let Vanessa's sacrifice be for nothing.
Alright... let's get ready to go.
The team loads the supplies into the rescue vehicle while Discord and Emma wait by the car.
This place... is really close to Aerospace City, less than half an hour away.
Aerospace City's "filter" reaches this far, keeping Agent Zero out for now.
If only Vanessa hadn't been hurt...
However, "ifs" don't exist in this world.
You clutch the metal Scarab tag tightly, so much so that its sharp edges nearly pierce into your palm.
Commandant? It's time to go.
She must be so tired, carrying humanity's torch for thirty years. She did more than enough.
A torch with leaping red-gold flames suddenly lights up the area, held high like a relay baton.
As long as that fire burns... humanity's hope lives on.
You won't let the civilization Vanessa saved fall apart.
The engine breaks the silence, and soon, heavy snow hides all their tracks.
Like you were never here.
...
The pink-haired Construct stands on the mountaintop, watching the rescue vehicle disappear.
It's all deja vu, but... something feels different this time.
Red-gold flames seem to dance in her eyes. After a moment, old memories surface in her deep M.I.N.D.
Another pioneer member... gone?
...Yes, it's 253...
His name was Iel·2·Hithe, an immigrant from planet Bola. He had a lover who was... Pioneer 142.
Once... as the "heat death" approached, they seemed to have lived through a similar "story".
Pages turn, but the memories are fading.
Stars blinked out one by one as ships fled into deep space, never to return...
The story's always the same, but will these humans... share that fate?
Even if they escape this loop...
Who can escape eternal darkness?
The dice collide with a crisp sound as the pink-haired Construct gazes at the departing rescue vehicle before vanishing into the snow-covered plain.
