Carthaki Satellite City
Eastern Outskirts
About 193 minutes since Operation Hebron commenced
After seeing the green signal flare from the "Graveyard", the military and civilians of the Satellite City immediately proceed in groups along the path cleared by the special task force and begin their race against time.
Just after the main force has evacuated the city, they suddenly hear an explosion coming from the "Graveyard", followed immediately by a blinding fireball that soars into the sky and lights up the barren hills.
Commander Li orders the communications officer to fire three yellow signal flares in succession, but the "Graveyard" has fallen into an uncanny silence.
Just as he decides to lead the entire army in an assault on the "Graveyard", the unexpected happens.
The Red Mist blankets the sky and comes howling toward them at an unbelievable speed, sweeping over their heads like a plague of locusts darkening the heavens.
H-how is this possible?!
The mist is moving faster than our vehicles...!
...
Terror spreads instantly as countless minds, already scarred and fractured by the Red Mist's previous assaults, finally shatter at this nightmarish sight.
Ellie... Ellie!!!
What are you doing? Let go! Get a hold of yourself!
A woman sees her daughter in the mist and lets out a heart-rending wail, desperately grabbing at a soldier's weapon.
I'm here! I'm right here!!
Someone help! Grab him! Pull him out of there!
A man sees his parents in the mist, tears off his clothes, and recklessly rushes toward a stream, plunging his head into the frigid water.
No, you don't exist! You are me, you are nothing but me!
What are you supposed to be? You're nothing but an illusion created by my mind! You can't even see the divine!
Someone in the mist comes face to face with his true self...
They've lost their minds! They've all lost their ****ing minds!
Put those guns down right now! Do not open fire!
The mist rolls silently onward as the crowd descends into chaotic panic, their formation all but disintegrated.
BOOM—
A gunshot splits the air like a stone breaking the water's surface, sending ripples across the lake of chaos.
People of Carthaki! Stay calm!
A commanding voice calls out, striving to salvage the last shred of sanity among the people.
We've successfully taken the "Graveyard"! Victory is within our grasp, and we'll be evacuating from here soon!
The crowd turns to look at him as Li raises his right fist. He is no stranger to situations like this.
The Punishing Virus seeks to crush our will, but we are descendants of the people who went back! The indomitable spirit of Carthaki cannot be matched!
Think of our fallen heroes, they...
Li...
His eyes suddenly widen as his rousing speech dies on his lips.
Why...
Y-you...?
The countless faces before him twist and blur, gradually transforming into grotesquely mutilated forms.
Why didn't you... come with us...?
No... you're all dead... how can this be...
You are... a coward...
A blood-soaked arm seizes his left leg.
I'm not a coward! Your children have lived on to this day because of me!
You are... a traitor...
A putrid, rotting head clamps onto his right arm.
I'm not! I did everything I could!
No one remembers our names... How could you forgive Babylonia...?
That's because...
Fetid, rotting flesh swarms over him, smothering his mouth and nose.
Why didn't you come with us?
No... I couldn't...
AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!
About 206 minutes after the commencement of Operation Hebron, the Golden Oak completes its catalysis, releasing highly concentrated Red Mist that spreads across the river almost instantaneously.
In rapid succession, the "Graveyard" loses all communications, and the main forces are engulfed by the Red Mist...
The operation, having been anticipated by John Doe, is doomed to failure from the very beginning.
