Story Reader / Main Story / 33 Wither to Shine / Story
The herbal tea releases faint, warm mist into the snowy air. The higher-dimensional being, who identifies herself as Ishmael, sits quietly across you, appearing in no rush to receive an "answer".
Gazing at the slowly rising sun in the distance, your thoughts are involuntarily carried to a place higher and farther by the chilling wind.
Should you choose to enter the Red Tide and compete with the newborn Agent Zero for authority, or choose to re-enter the Hetero Tower and attempt to "pass through the Gateway"?
The former seems to offer humanity a concrete way to survive stably for a longer period, but if you could truly "pass through the Gateway" and obtain the "higher-level power" Ishmael mentioned...
Could that mean a chance for everything to return to how it was before?
Time stands still in this moment, sunlight frozen on the tips of the pine trees, even the cold wind no longer blowing.
Ishmael holds her clay cup, smiling at you.
So?
Have you made your choice?
Ishmael may indeed harbor no hostility toward humanity, but she still isn't human herself.
Someone once saw her standing with Vonnegut, so you cannot fully trust her words either.
Moreover, her promises sound overly abstract, and these new "choices" seem like castles built on thin air.
I'm not sure.
The "trials" given by the Gateway are not always the same, and I cannot influence its will.
I suppose you can call it that.
Compared to "unknown" outcomes, perhaps you should stay more grounded in reality.
After all, when you entered the Red Tide before, beyond the excruciating pain that words could not describe, you did touch...
Chaos' consciousness that had not yet fully dissipated.
No... not yet... the time...
Like water dissolving into water, your consciousness seemed to merge seamlessly with Chaos', without any reservation.
In that moment—or perhaps longer—countless fragmented memories flashed through your mind, memories... that all belonged to Chaos.
Vonnegut, Ishmael, and... countless days and nights in the Hetero Tower.
How does "Billy Pilgrim" sound? Well, I guess this name suits you better now, doesn't it?
So this... is your choice, huh?
Even if we kill her here, she will reappear with a new identity—if not as Cradle, then as another "character".
Until the "right" person takes this position.
Exactly. But if there's even one approach we haven't tried, I know you'd never agree to let that commandant act as bait, right?
I hope those two can discern the true adversary during their stay in Constellia.
The memory fragments entangle like threads in your consciousness, but they also confirm...
After you merge with the Red Tide, trying to join forces with Chaos to fight against the newborn Agent Zero is a viable path.
...Looks like you've already made up your mind?
It's a "no", isn't it?
A knowing smile graces her face.
With Earth fraught with danger at every turn, you find it impossible to trust a "higher-dimensional being" under these circumstances.
It's alright, I understand why you come to this conclusion.
If it were my past self... I probably wouldn't have simply trusted some weird, hooded "higher-dimensional human" either.
Ishmael puts away the clay cup in her hand and stands up. With her hood obscuring her face again, she transforms back into the "Ishmael of the Control Court" once more.
Now, what do you plan to do?
Would you like me to give you a ride back to Aerospace City? After all, I'm the one who took the liberty of taking you out of the Red Tide.
Agent Zero has already had Aerospace City surrounded. In your current condition, I'm afraid it wouldn't be wise to return there.
Following Ishmael's words, you examine yourself. It's only now that you realize your protective suit has already been corroded beyond repair by the Red Tide.
I am at your service.
A dim veil obscures your vision, and when you open your eyes again, you find yourself back to the mountain peak from which you previously leaped into the Red Tide.
The pink-haired higher-dimensional being has already vanished, leaving only the lingering echo of her voice in the air.
If you change your mind in the meantime, you can still call my name.
My name is... Ishmael.
The morning light brings a slight chill. Despite the sky turning a bluish hue with dawn, the heavy snow shows no signs of stopping.
After checking your terminal, it seems time has ceased to flow since entering the Red Tide. Aerospace City remains in slumber, with only occasional sentries patrolling the walls, their thick-soled boots crunching against the snow.
There's probably no need to keep agonizing over this anymore.
All matters concerning Aerospace City have already been sent to Rosa, Emma, and Discord's terminals. Even if you disappear, you believe they're fully capable of managing everything in the city.
Rather than facing a trial with an unpredictable outcome, having everything under control feels much safer.
You mutter with self-mockery, and then—
In the faint light of dawn, you leap down toward the Red Tide below the mountain.
The Red Tide engulfs your vision, corroding your flesh and pupils.
Within it, you catch a final glimpse of Earth's sky.
The snow continues to fall.
It's now... the <color=#ff4e4eff>902nd</color> day since Commandant left the tower.
It's been <color=#ff4e4eff>62</color> days since Commandant left.
On the day you left, I received the message you had left behind.
After receiving your messages, Discord, Emma and I rushed outside the city, but... we couldn't find any trace of you.
No one knows what exactly happened afterward.
Outside the city, the Mutated Red Tide churned violently, raising waves hundreds of feet high. If not for the new filters, Aerospace City would have been submerged long ago.
But this "storm" only lasted for a period before the Mutated Red Tide unexpectedly ceased its turbulence and even retreated from Aerospace City's original safe area.
Discord led the patrol team in a tentative outward expansion, and the Mutated Red Tide showed no obvious signs of aggression.
With the supplies brought back by them, we barely managed to survive this winter of hardship.
Commandant... this is Rosa.
I'm sitting here in Aerospace City, writing this letter to you.
After you left, I tried countless times to explore the Red Tide, to study it deeply.
Countless times I called your name at the edge of the Red Tide, but you never showed up.
Yet after you left, the "storm" subsided, and the newborn Agent Zero also vanished without a trace.
The Red Tide is no longer spreading, but it hasn't diminished either. Humans are still being lured by it, falling into its embrace.
Did you succeed? Did you take control of the Red Tide like you said you would?
I... I hope so.
I won't give up leading them to survive. I won't waste this precious time you fought for humanity with your life.
I will cast this letter into the Red Tide, hoping... you'll receive it.
We all believe that someday, you will return.
The flame of humanity... will never die.
Before her writing is complete, the ink has already run low.
Firmly engraving the last few words to make them clear, Rosa folds the letter paper into a small boat.
Outside Aerospace City, the snow remains unchanged.
The Mutated Red Tide lies dormant outside Aerospace City—not actively attacking, yet never showing signs of frailty.
Humanity's activity is restricted to a narrow area around Aerospace City, like those who can only glimpse a fragment of the sky from the bottom of a well.
The Mutated Red Tide still poses a threat, and no one knows when humanity will be completely submerged by it—
It might be today, or perhaps tomorrow.
Humanity's Ending: "High Wall"
Here, human civilization stagnates.
Ishmael... indeed harbors no hostility toward humanity.
Perhaps she's merely curious, or simply wishes to see new "stories" unfold.
Can she truly be trusted...
Whether you trust me or not, it makes no difference to your circumstances.
As if seeing your concern through, Ishmael speaks up, gently cradling her clay cup.
I cannot guarantee whether you'll successfully pass the "trial". The "trials" given by the Gateway are not always the same, and I cannot influence its will.
However... I believe you won't fail.
The power you possess far exceeds what you "think" you should have.
A sly smile briefly flickers across Ishmael's face before she returns to her calm and gentle demeanor.
No need to rush. You have plenty of time to think it over.
She cradles the clay cup in her hands, leisurely shifting her gaze away.
Chaotic thoughts flood your mind as morning light hangs suspended, draping like gossamer over the Aerospace City below.
If you could manage to enter the Hetero Tower, and even pass the "trial"...
Hm? Do you mean... that tunnel extending from the Hetero Tower?
Hmm... perhaps.
As always, she offers an ambiguous answer.
If you can "pass through the Gateway" and master the "higher-level power", even if you can't rewind time to the correct future, you could at least follow in Nanami's footsteps and attempt to send messages to the "past".
That way, there might still be a chance to make a "change".
Either way, the worst outcome is simply death.
Looks like you have made your choice.
Ishmael puts away the clay cup in her hand and stands up. With a gentle wave of her hand, an ancient and peculiar door silently materializes beside her.
To be precise, it's just a convenient passage to the Hetero Tower that I can access with my authority.
Are you ready? Or... do you need to return to Aerospace City to leave any final instructions?
Before entering the Red Tide, you had already prepared by documenting all possible subsequent events in detail and sending them to Rosa, Emma, and Discord.
The worst outcome remains death, albeit with a distinct destination. You have no final words that require changing.
Now...
The door slowly opens, blinding light spilling forth from within.
As if to assure you there's no danger, Ishmael takes the lead to walk inside.
The frozen time begins to flow once more, as the sky blushes with the azure hue of dawn. Wind whispers through the pine forest, creating a gentle rustling melody.
The snow continues to fall.
Countless thoughts flow against the long river of time, as innumerable scenes from the past resurface before your eyes.
Earth, Gray Raven, the countless battles fought, and every moment deeply etched in your memory...
The azure sky hides behind clouds of drifting snowflakes, no longer letting out even a single sigh.
Perhaps... this is your final glimpse of Earth.
You feel the urge to say something, your lips part, yet you don't know to whom you should speak.
The boundless daylight envelops the cliff face, and with it, your self that belongs to the "past".
The wind and snow silently carry away your final whisper. You turn around and embark on this solitary journey that is yours alone.
The ebony door closes once more without a sound, leaving not even the slightest ripple behind.
