Story Reader / Main Story / 33 Wither to Shine / Story
Cradle enters the Hetero Tower. Cradle has "returned" to the Hetero Tower.
The Hetero Tower trembles slightly, welcoming the one who once was its master. Before long, Cradle locates the core within the tower.
...
The familiar sensation makes her consciousness tremble. She reaches out, attempting to touch the azure core. However...
A force field suddenly expands, repelling her away from the Hetero Tower's core.
Agent Zero.
I still prefer the name Cradle... I haven't had the chance to thank you yet. After gaining Agent Zero's authority, I've started to remember things—at least a part of it.
Very well... Perhaps we can save some time.
Radiant light flashes in the agent's hand, lunging toward Cradle.
Chaos' consciousness is <color=#ff4e4eff>complete</color> enough to bear Agent Zero's authority, regardless of any issues unnoticed. There's no need to waste more time with this "anomaly" before him.
I thought you'd want to chat with me a little longer...
Cradle's form flickers as she darts behind the red crystals for cover.
You <color=#ff4e4eff>changed</color> something, didn't you?
Her rose-colored eyes lock onto Chaos standing aside.
The petite doll nimbly weaves around the crystals, striking at Cradle's exposed flank.
Can't we really just sit down and talk this through?
...
There's clearly no conflict between us...
Or rather... who... exactly are you?
The crimson crystals screech as they grind against each other. A swarm of red butterflies emerges, surging toward the agent and the doll.
You'll soon have no need to know.
The three rapidly through the tower.
Unable to match Vonnegut and Chaos' combined assault, Cradle continuously flees away from the core area.
She thought that by leaving the core area, the agents wouldn't rashly pursue her, but for some reason, even after she has moved far from the core, Vonnegut shows no intention of stopping the chase.
...
After several moments, she finally manages to temporarily evade the two pursuers, hiding behind a cluster of crystals.
Cradle must seek aid; despite the Hetero Tower being her home field, without regaining sufficient authority, she cannot single-handedly oppose the two who depend on the Hetero-Core.
Well, then...
Her palm releases thin trickles, letting the Red Tide spread in all directions.
...Ahah. Found you.
She has already heard the "wind" coming from a wall of the Hetero Tower.
Though unclear who left it there...
She feels her way to the edge of the tower wall, aiming her gleaming scythe at the tiny wound.
...You won't say no, right?
A crimson light flashes brilliantly as the tiny fissure rapidly expands, and the Red Tide surges into the Hetero Tower like it's returning home.
Over there.
The moment the Hetero Tower sustains damage, the agent immediately discovers Cradle's whereabouts.
Using a force field as a springboard, Chaos leaps upward, sweeping aside the red butterflies obstructing her vision, and strikes directly at Cradle.
The Red Tide surges forward as Hetero-Creatures savagely bite into Chaos' flesh, but the doll shows no sign of feeling pain, precisely striking toward Cradle's head.
Step back!
Although her strike lands as planned, Chaos also has her forearm severed by the scythe.
The limb of the Hetero-Creature born from the Red Tide is instantly absorbed, immediately merging back with the Red Tide.
Cradle, appearing from another direction, momentarily freezes after devouring the part of Chaos.
Dominik...
Fragments of information flow from the Red Tide, as Cradle dodges Chaos' next attack with a terrified jolt, an unusual fear visible in her eyes.
Agent Zero, stripped of authority, has been banished by the Inver-Hetero Tower, now wandering in the wastelands of the Red Tide.
The vanguard team... force fields...
Chaos pierces through Cradle's chest, but the doll's flesh is also sliced by her scythe—
Earth Date: November 21, 2198, Node 201 Record: Humans developed portable force field devices capable of preventing the Chaos Contamination from spreading...
Vonnegut's golden crystal pierces through Cradle's skull, but both he and Chaos are wounded by Cradle to varying degrees—
Earth Time: November 22, 2198. Node 371 Log: The vanguard team led by Dominik continued to explore the Hetero Tower. Due to interference from the force fields, their specific plans remain difficult to ascertain.
The Red Tide, having made contact with Chaos, endlessly absorbs and digests everything. From these fragments of "information", Cradle slowly recovers memories of the past through repeated battles and rewinds.
Nngh...
Struck once again by Vonnegut's golden crystal, Cradle sinks back into the Red Tide.
Under the control of its former master, the Hetero Tower gradually reverses the hands of time.
Slowly, Cradle regenerates within the Red Tide, but... she has already recalled almost "everything".
The vanguard team... Project String... Dominik...
Nemo...
...
<color=#ff4e4eff>It's been a while</color>.
From within the blood-soaked Red Tide, she smiles at the agent.
Through endless cycles of death and destruction, within the very flesh of Chaos, she has reclaimed "<color=#ff4e4eff>everything</color>" that belongs to her.
Truly a story that deserves to be named "hard work"...
Crimson butterflies gather, lifting their master from the tide.
You need to fulfill your mission, so I should continue to carry on mine as well.
As the gleaming scythe reflects red crystals, Vonnegut activates his force field, his expression darkening as he locks eyes with Cradle.
You remember now.
...And I must thank you for the memories you fed to Chaos.
Cradle, who appeared weakened just moments ago, springs forward, her scythe slicing through the silent air.
But... I'm also quite curious to know.
With such a hasty attack, are you really prepared for everything?
Cradle's "memories" are gradually being restored through Chaos' flesh, and she has now obtained the authority that rightfully belongs to her.
The roles of hunter and prey reverse in an instant.
...
Outside the Hetero Tower, Vonnegut gasps for air, using the Punishing Virus to mend his body.
Leveraging his familiarity with the Bridge Across Dreams, he uses his force field to evade Cradle's onslaught, pushing all three of them temporarily out of the Hetero Tower.
The uncertainty of Cradle's landing poses a threat, yet... Vonnegut cannot allow her proximity to the Hetero-Core.
With her memories restored, Cradle regains almost all the power she commands as Agent Zero within the Hetero Tower. With Chaos temporarily unable to seize control of the Red Tide, they are left with no option but to endure their disadvantaged position.
...
Vonnegut lets out a deep sigh, anxiety creasing his brow.
No, this is taking too long.
Time flows chaotically in the Hetero Tower. Amid the constantly rewound battle, Cradle eagerly absorbs the fragments of "memories" that belong to her from within Chaos' shell, while Chaos gradually devours the authority of the Red Tide in return.
But it's still not enough—Chaos' rate of growth falls far short of keeping pace with Cradle's recovery.
...I was too impatient.
Vonnegut places his hand on his forehead, trying to calm his restlessness and restructure his thoughts.
Having finally found a genuine return ticket, he was too eager to pursue the ultimate answer... too impatient to witness the "result" of his plan.
This is my fault.
The doll silently observes the agent's figure. Perhaps because she has already acquired a portion of the Red Tide's authority, your gaze continues to watch this place even after leaving the Hetero Tower.
This is an "ending" that has never appeared in <phonetic=Commandant's>your own </phonetic> memories.
In your previous journey inside the Hetero Tower with Lucia, Vonnegut behaved like an erratic madman, utilizing Chaos in a repeated attempt to take you away, as Cradle relentlessly pursued behind, targeting the tower's core directly.
This time, the agent, having perceived Chaos' completeness, forsook all strategies and faced Cradle head-on, only to find himself unable to withstand her incessant growth through death.
What must be done... to completely break this closed loop?
...It's fine. I still have a contingency plan.
He thoughtfully gazes at the gradually growing doll before him.
Since there isn't enough time for Chaos to mature, then...
It's time to use... the "fruit".
Having made the decision unilaterally, he ponders for a moment, then reaches out to touch Chaos' brow.
Whatever the agent is doing, it feels as if her consciousness is being carved open by a dull knife. A deep, throbbing pain radiates from within her body, nearly causing your gaze to fade...
After she regains consciousness, Vonnegut opens his palm, revealing a small, delicate "fruit".
It turns out that the "fruit" you once swallowed is created just like this.
...Hmm?
While the tiny Hetero crystals repair Chaos' damaged consciousness, the agent notices some barely perceptible wounds.
Your consciousness has experienced similar damage...
What else haven't you told me?
The agent shifts an inquisitive gaze toward Chaos.
...
Sensing her reluctance, Vonnegut suppresses the impatience that has been building since entering the Hetero Tower and shakes his head.
Forget it, now is not the time to delve into this matter.
The Hetero crystals continue to repair Chaos' festering wounds as the agent masks the emotions in his eyes.
We need to find a way to send your consciousness into the Red Tide to hold Cradle back...
An ominous shadow tears through the air behind him, twisting into a bizarre trail—
Wait—
Vonnegut only has time to place the fruit in the doll's palm before his expression changes. A rift of the Hetero Tower silently opens behind him, and the agent instantly appears near the Tower's core with Chaos, who now has a significantly bigger figure.
Cradle—!
Golden crystals suddenly thrust toward the red-eyed girl who commands Hetero-Creatures to assault the Hetero Tower's core. Vonnegut deploys a force field and instantly strikes at the tide of Hetero-Creatures surging toward him.
Oops, I thought I could sneak in without you noticing.
She nimbly leaps away, seemingly unconcerned about the sudden appearance of the agent and the doll.
Did you leave something here to keep yourself updated on the situation?
Let me guess... Could it be...
...This?
She commands the Hetero-Creatures to precisely target the force field devices nearby, which swarm forward in unison.
...
The agent stops speaking as golden crystals violently erupt, trapping Cradle within.
What a shame...
But such a measure is no longer enough to counter Cradle, who has now recovered her memories.
The red-eyed girl's silhouette silently melts into the Red Tide.
Even though many of the Hetero-Creatures under her command have dissolved under the combined assault from the Hetero Tower's core and Vonnegut, Cradle—who was born from the Hetero Tower itself—remains a formidable opponent.
The Red Tide flows everywhere. She drifts through the viscous fluid, maneuvering against the two foes while constantly seeking an opportunity to strike at the core.
The pure core persistently cleanses the corruption of the Punishing Virus. Now it's just a matter of who falls first.
Better be careful. I'm about to catch your weakness—
The agent forcefully upholds a force field, endeavoring to push Cradle away from the core area. Seizing the moment, the doll utilizes the extended force field as a platform to charge directly at Cradle—
Hehe, just kidding!
Cradle whirls around, deliberately allowing her chest to be impaled as she embraces the pale doll with her bloodstained body.
You are my target all along...
Chaos.
Red Tide-like fluid seeps from her wound as Cradle's lips curl into a smile. Like someone who has obtained a priceless treasure, she begins to gnaw intently on the doll's flesh.
You didn't seriously think I wouldn't notice your attempt to steal Agent Zero's authority, right...
A thief?
Chaos!
The agent shouts sternly while upholding the force field. The doll's consciousness abruptly snaps back to alertness.
With fingers joined into a razor-sharp claw, the doll pierces through Cradle's chest, then viciously thrusts the "fruit" deep into her body with a backhand motion—
...
The girl is thrown off balance by the doll's counterattack, but only for an instant.
So this is... the plan you struggled so hard to come up with?
Not as impressive as I'd imagined, Nemo...
I guess your minds have also been worn down by those time loops...
She grins as she flings the weary doll at her feet, while the Red Tide gradually saps her blood. Just as Cradle reaches out her fingers to dig out the "fruit" lodged in her—
Ugh...
As if drawn by some invisible force, the "fruit" rapidly melts and vanishes into her body.
How... how is this possible...
A strange sensation of being controlled spreads throughout her body. Her power gradually drains away, and the "authority" she thought was completely hers begins to falter—
Has it... already scattered and hidden in Chaos' flesh...
She grits her teeth in fury, trying to locate the culprit, but those tiny fragments of power are too scattered for her to immediately extract the deeply buried, shattered roots.
Dammit...
In an instant, Chaos' "fruit" completely integrates into her body.
If she devours Chaos now, she cannot guarantee whether she'll be the one to "digest" Chaos, or if Chaos will turn the tide and eat her instead.
Should Chaos gain the upper hand, she would instantly lose her authority as Agent Zero—
The feeble doll rapidly repairs her body using the Red Tide, commanding the surging waters to cut off Cradle's escape.
But Chaos' authority is equally unstable, barely holding Cradle back for a short distance.
Vonnegut has left a force field around the Hetero Tower's core for protection. Although Chaos has intercepted the Red Tide's authority, she cannot fully devour it...
Weighing her options, Cradle suddenly turns around. Countless Hetero-Creatures surge toward the core behind her as she channels all her power and lunges at Vonnegut.
Red crystal spikes sprout in an instant. If he wants to maintain the force field protecting the core, he'll inevitably have to take this strike—
Um...
The crystal spikes violently pierce through his body. Though the Hetero Tower's core quickly dissolves them, a deep wound remains etched across his chest.
Although the force field has blocked numerous Hetero-Creatures, Vonnegut's power is now weakened, making him unable to fully uphold its defense.
The Red Tide under Cradle's control hammers at the force field's weakest points. Crimson butterflies, like fish slipping through a net, begin to fall around the core.
Heh...
Cradle follows the path laid by the butterflies, turns to take a decisive leap, and lunges directly at the Hetero Tower's core—
If she can corrupt the core, she will have enough power to completely purge that doll's consciousness from the body—
No way—!
A white light suddenly stings your retinas, engulfing the entire Hetero Tower.
A sharp buzzing resonates through your mind. Your gaze, attached to Chaos, grows unstable, threatening to detach from the Hetero Tower and plunge back into darkness—
The buzzing gradually subsides. The blinding white light slowly fades, leaving only a rift in the air leaking eerie white fog.
Cough...
Vonnegut uses his last strength to maintain the protection around the Hetero Tower's core before collapsing weakly to the ground.
The doll finally finishes repairing her legs and slowly moves toward him.
As the original "creator" of the Hetero Tower, Cradle naturally has ways to tear apart the Fog, or escape from it.
Behind Vonnegut, the rift responds as if on cue. White fog seeps out, tearing at the thin barrier.
Golden light emanates from the agent's palm, rising upward to tightly constrict the rift, thwarting the escape of the "thing" within.
...Just as I thought.
The breathless agent lifts his eyelids, looking at the doll beside him without surprise.
It's you.
You have been watching...
Gray Raven Commandant... [player name].
There's no point hiding it in this situation... You don't think I haven't figured it out, do you?
He lets out a mocking laugh.
I don't know what arrangement you struck with that lady to make her willing to help you...
But... considering the current situation, maybe it's not such a bad thing after all.
I want you to work with me.
Cradle must die here, or we can only return to that closed loop again...
The agent releases a long sigh as the rift behind him pulsates once more, with slender streams of the Red Tide trickling out.
Clearly, Cradle, trapped in the Fog, adamantly refuses to acknowledge defeat and is trying every possible means to break free.
The Red Tide corrodes the golden crystals, causing Vonnegut to wince in pain. He tenses his fingers, and light once again covers the crack, forcing the Red Tide to temporarily retreat as if startled.
Those spikes can only temporarily harm Vonnegut. In the "future" you have already experienced, he should not die from this injury...
Who can say?
He opens his palm, gradually healing his wounds.
Upon his form, the wounds pierced by the spikes are slowly festering, with tiny red butterflies constantly sprouting from his flesh.
These horrifying little creatures flutter their vibrant wings, feeding on Vonnegut's power.
Butterflies flap their wings, and the variables become unpredictable.
I think Cradle has "seen" something in your flesh.
The doll hurriedly approaches, trying to cover the wounds with her palm to absorb the red butterflies using her authority, but to no avail. She still hasn't mastered all the "authority".
Let's cooperate. I'll help you kill Cradle.
Otherwise, having one more person enter this time loop wouldn't benefit me either.
The Fog won't contain Cradle for long. The Hetero Tower's core absolutely cannot be corrupted by her again...
...I want you to take the core away.
A world that belongs to Chaos Contamination.
You even know about that...
He coughs, blood frothing at the corner of his lips, which he quickly wipes away. The agent gazes intently at the figure before him.
What else do you know?
...
It's Agent Zero's authority, isn't it...
What time did you come back from?
Well, I don't have any more information to exchange with you anyway.
A brilliant radiance flares as the agent once again seals off the butterflies and fog surging from the rift. Simultaneously, another red crystal spike slithers out like a venomous snake, piercing through Vonnegut's left arm.
Ugh...
The festering wounds on his body persist in their refusal to heal. The agent's frowns deeply, attempting to drive the Punishing Virus to mend the damage.
Since you already know everything, then you must also be aware that using the "key" to interfere with the Hetero Tower's core requires "sacrifice"...
That was why all members of the vanguard team became part of the tower.
Tiny red butterflies corrode his wounds, preventing the Punishing Virus from repairing his body. The agent speaks again, yet in a strange tone that doesn't belong to him.
I need you now... to help me.
Help me fulfill Dominik's original plan...
Kill Cradle and recycle the true core of the Hetero Tower.
Back in the Hetero Tower, Lucia used Dominik's "key" to absorb the core.
In this layer of time, Lucia didn't enter the tower, so naturally there's no "key" to contain the core.
That's right, so...
Dispersing the regenerated red butterflies, the agent produces a strange, golden square crystal from his wounds.
This is... the <color=#ff4e4eff>key</color> that belongs to <phonetic=Nemo>me</phonetic>.
This is also what I hate most.
Just like back then...
The vanguard team sacrificed everything, betting all hope on the Hetero Tower, paid every price possible, yet only managed to open one exit to Dominik's world.
Everything in their world fell into stagnation, firmly sealed away by the Hetero Tower beyond an unknown space.
In the end... does he, too, end up walking down the same path
Will this sacrifice... really make a difference?
After a brief silence, Vonnegut forcibly uses the Punishing Virus to seal his wound and slowly rises to his feet.
I can't tell which layer of the Hetero Tower you've returned from.
But I really hope that the Hetero Tower ends at this layer. With more and more divergence points showing up, someday, this place will either be explored... or destroyed.
You don't trust me, and I don't trust you either, but at this point... I have no choice but to place everything in your hands.
He laughs at himself.
To place hope in the person who was once an enemy...
...
The Hetero Tower trembles slightly. The rift of the Fog breathes slowly like a living creature. Vonnegut furrows his brow, his arm maintaining the golden crystals quivering subtly, clearly beginning to strain from the effort.
You've already merged with Chaos. I need not say more.
To return to the "previous layer" of the Hetero Tower requires Agent Zero's authority... and the Hetero Tower's core. Don't let the Hetero Tower collapse, or no one can survive.
All you need to do is retrieve the Hetero Tower's core and control the tower... but not now.
Remember, after taking control of the Hetero Tower, immediately seal the rift behind its core. The force field can only hold for a short time. You should be able to accomplish all this with Agent Zero's complete authority.
And... I'll hold her off for as long as I can. Now... everything else is up to you.
Before he can finish speaking, the agent's arms drop as if drained of all strength. The golden crystals suddenly shatter, and the rift expands in an instant.
The Red Tide condenses into razor-sharp spikes, shooting out from the fissure and piercing the agent's body in a crisscross pattern.
The doll, still clutching the golden cubic crystal, silently sinks into a small patch of the Red Tide and vanishes without a trace.
Sigh... We meet again.
You didn't actually think the Fog could contain me, did you?
...
The agent in black remains silent as golden crystals stubbornly climb up from behind the girl, refusing to admit defeat.
Still not letting go?
Amid the crimson butterflies' lethal onslaught, the crystals splinter into fragments, akin to a life marred by countless failures, eventually dissolving into the pooling Red Tide on the ground.
After changing time so many times, you are now far away from who you originally were, aren't you...
Fervently eyeing the agent like a butterfly specimen, Cradle suddenly seems to have lost interest in everything else.
Just a few breaths away from death... Is that little rat in hiding the only one left?
I'll let you play a little longer, then. The Hetero Tower... is my "child". What could you possibly use to take it away from me...
Amid countless crimson butterflies, the Hetero-Creatures steadily approach the position of the "core".
Before long, the girl's fingertips make contact with the "core".
The radiant blue light dissolves her fingertips, and this mild pain triggers an unexpected sense of agitation. It's as if she has eagerly awaited a long-anticipated feast, only to find it tasteless as wax when it's finally served.
The all-too-easy victory leaves her feeling unsatisfied.
...How boring.
No... She should not have such emotions.
Having restored all the memories, Cradle furrows her brow, irritably contemplating how to excise the "noises" from her consciousness. However, the realization that she has such an "irritated" thought only fuels her anger further.
Damn you, Dominik...
Whatever.
She interrupts her train of thought and shifts her focus back on seizing control of the Hetero Tower's core.
If she can reverse the rules of the Hetero Tower's core and restore everything to its original state...
She will find a way to excise her "personality" in no time.
...But is excising her "personality" truly what she wants?
Irrepressibly, a faint voice emerges from deep within her heart.
After excising her "personality", who would she be? "Cradle" or "Agent Zero"?
Having already tasted "emotions", can she truly revert to being "Agent Zero" again...
...
With her attention drawn to the faint whispers in her heart, Cradle fails to notice that Vonnegut's body is quietly undergoing changes...
Golden crystals gradually spread across his body as the Hetero Tower's core trembles ever so slightly, as if welcoming its thirteenth guest...
This time... it's finally my turn...
He feels as if he has returned to that lone young man's side.
This time... can I really complete this... impossible mission?
The golden crystals bypass the bewildered Cradle, gradually climbing toward the Hetero Tower's core.
Or... see you on the next layer.
The agent's body completely vanishes as golden light erupts brilliantly. The Hetero Tower's core pulses with dazzling azure radiance, accepting the embrace of the golden crystals.
—!
Cradle abruptly snaps to attention and frantically reaches for the core, disregarding the torment of her disintegrating body. However, Chaos, emerging suddenly from the Red Tide, unmistakably outpaces her—
A sudden burst of light engulfs the entire Hetero Tower as an earth-shattering explosion echoes through all space—
Dammit!
The unexpected rays of azure light promptly reduce Cradle to a gory sight. She screams in agony, trying to retreat momentarily into the Red Tide, only to realize in horror that the expanded force field has already blocked her last means of escape...
...Hah... of all the places...
The doll, bearing your gaze, stands stoically to the side. Bathed in the purifying light emanating from the Inver-Hetero Tower's core, her body is equally exposed, yet she remains steadfast, firmly maintaining control of the force field.
...
Is it really... just a goodbye?
She suddenly flashes a twisted smile, offering no further words as her petite form rapidly disintegrates—
The doll tightens her grip on the golden cubic crystal containing the Hetero Tower's core, causing even more intense azure light to shoot forth from within.
Isolated outside the force field, Cradle fails to detonate her body. Cracks gradually spread across her form until, just as unexpected as her arrival...
Cradle gradually vanishes within the blue barrier, leaving behind only a butterfly with damaged wings, clinging to a narrow corner.
The doll picks up the red butterfly and, without a moment's hesitation, presses it into the golden cubic crystal.
The last red butterfly dissolves into a wisp of mist, completely vanishing within the Hetero Tower.
Fragmented buzzing sounds echo in the air as the tower trembles incessantly, as if lamenting the loss of its former master.
With the Hetero Tower's core now contained within the golden cubic crystal, space begins to slowly tear apart at its former location, strange colors flickering from beyond the rift.
The last force field left behind by the agent suddenly expands, temporarily holding back the assault from beyond the rift.
Now...
Clutching the golden cubic crystal in her arms, the doll slowly sinks into the undulating Red Tide.
...
Can this be considered... a success?
Unbeknownst to anyone, the pink-haired woman silently appears in a corner of the Hetero Tower.
Hmm... Let me see... How is this chapter of the "story" recorded in the book?
She opens the book, intending to find the corresponding record, but after hastily flipping through a few pages, she tosses it aside with apparent irritation.
Coming across such an entertaining spectacle is rare...
It's worth waiting with a little more patience.
An indeterminate amount of time passes.
The force field gradually thins, nearing its limit. Just as crimson spikes threaten to breach the faltering shield...
The Red Tide churns with gentle ripples, a mist of vibrant hues slowly ascending from its depths.
Wings carrying numerous hopes unfurl from the murky tide. The humming of the Hetero Tower fades as myriad crimson crystals solidify the rupturing space.
With the complete authority of Agent Zero, she once more returns to the tower that should rightfully be under her command.
