Story Reader / Floating Record / ER02 Cinder Burns / Story
The battle has been going on for three hours, and individual Corrupted and Hetero-Creatures are still shambling toward Medical Center 09.
The defenses are all damaged, the corpses of Corrupted filling every street and alley. The Punishing Virus concentration has gone from bad to worse.
Adding fuel to the flame, the streets outside the medical center have cracked apart. Red Tide oozes out, obstructing the ways in and out.
Something's wrong. These things seem to know where they're going, unlike the barrage of Hetero-Creatures who attacked thoughtlessly.
How's the medical center doing?
Staying inside the center is still safe for now, but we've got a lot of injured. This is bad... The CPF's going to overload if the virus concentration remains this high.
We should evacuate everyone ASAP, or at least call in reinforcements.
We can't evacuate. There's nowhere to go.
I just came back from a patrol. The roads are damaged and covered in Red Tide. They're not completely submerged yet, but our defenses won't hold up for long. The others won't stand a chance.
We're trapped?
Something is seriously wrong! This isn't random! Talbot, did you lure an Ascendant here?!
That Ascendant only said he'd come for me. Why would he do something like this?
To destroy us, obviously! Did you think he'll deliver you a crown without hurting anyone else?
I'm sorry, Lillian, but we better kick him out!
But... he's heavily infected right now! Sending him out will kill him!
Well, his Ascendant buddy can save him!
Wait...
The young man defeats the last creature by the entrance before opening the door and going inside the medical center.
I might be the one who's connected to the Ascendants.
...?
I just remembered some things. Before I lost my memories... I might have met the Ascendants.
Excuse me?
Hey, this guy is almost clean. He's been fighting with us all this time... his infection should be way worse than this.
Maybe his Inver-Device was enhanced?
...
Can you control the Corrupted?
I don't know. I don't know how at the very least.
Maybe a Transcendant?
Can't be. His Punishing Virus concentration is way too low for that.
You aren't being serious, are you? That's wild. An amnesic Ascendant not realizing he is an Ascendant and got accepted by others... that's a plot straight out of a—
—Manga?!
Are you talking about the Cardman Rider who forgot he was a demonic scientist?
Eh, no? It's the one with the guy who picked up the Death Journal. He also lost his memories.
I can't believe you've read that...
Wait a minute—didn't you lose your memories? How come you can remember the plots of those mangas?
What on earth are you two yapping about?!
Sorry, sorry...
Is he the Ascendant you met, Talbot?
No. He was standing in the dark, and his silhouette looked like... a giant snake, I'd say?
What about you? Do you remember what your Ascendant looked like?
Not really, but I'm pretty sure mine wasn't a giant snake.
What did yours tell you?
...Mine wanted me to become one of them. I refused, and then I blacked out.
That was more or less what I was told as well. I guess they aren't that strict on who they choose?
Recruiting victims! Anyone will do! Fall into our trap!
Stop repeating what Anna said!
Let's just kick both of them out!
Stop! That won't solve anything! The Punishing Virus concentration is too high outside right now. We'll probably kill them if we send them away!
If they're the reason we're in this mess right now, why shouldn't we kick them out?!
Comms are down right now—we can't even call for backup! The way I see it, everyone remotely suspicious shouldn't be able to stay!
I know things are pressing right now, but that doesn't mean we should just take everyone in! We don't have enough medical supplies, to begin with!
...That's not fair...
We can't just kick them out! They're connected to the Ascendants! We've got to put them down!
Sob...
Do you think killing us will save you? If an Ascendant is after the medical center, you're still going to die unless there are enough people to protect this place!
It's all your fault!
The crowd begins to argue intensely. Watching the scene unfold, Noan can feel his non-existing heart aching.
He has been through something similar in his recovered memories.
The desperate folks who got involved with the wrong people.
The innocents who were branded "guilty" by association.
The powerlessness, birthed from years of oppression and fear...
...was sharpened into a knife going for their kin's throats the moment it exploded.
This tragedy will keep repeating itself as long as pain and suffering fill the people's livelihoods.
But something has changed. This time, Noan is not the powerless boy he once was.
...Let me make use of this "anomaly" before I "lose control."
I'll get you reinforcements.
Excuse me?
If comms are down and we're surrounded by the Red Tide, let me go out and find reinforcements.
But you aren't sure if you're an Ascendant. It could be a coincidence that you're immune! You won't make it alone if you're attacked by a lot of Corrupted or go somewhere with a much higher virus concentration!
Do or do not, there is no try, is there? Not to mention that I could possess powers I couldn't control—powers that could harm you all.
Why should we trust you?! What if you run away? Better we take you down now before you've recovered your full power!
You can kill me, but everyone here will die as well if they're trapped by the Red Tide. Didn't Lillian say the CPF won't run for long?
...
Let him go.
An elderly refugee walks up. His step may be sluggish, but his presence is profound.
Why?
He wouldn't have mentioned the Ascendant if he wanted to run away.
So? Maybe he was protecting Talbot!
Then Talbot can stay. He'll surely come back if he wants to protect Talbot.
That's... But...
I know we're all wary of enemies hiding in the dark, but this paranoia when we haven't even caught a glimpse of that Ascendant will only spell our defeat.
Talbot and this young man are just trying to help. They mean well, and they've yet to show any of the abilities you mentioned.
There are only so few of us left... What remains if we hurt those that stand by us?
Let him go. That's the only way.
...
Please trust me. Ascendant or not, I'll never use that power to do harm.
Noan has planned for the worst—if he loses control, he will do anything to stop himself from hurting others, even at the cost of his life.
I will come back with reinforcements.
You know what will happen, right? You're associated with the Ascendant. The Purifying Force will come for you when you come back.
Then let me do what I can to help you all before that happens.
He knows he might be out of time.
People hesitate in silence. Eventually, they nod at Noan, swayed by a tide they cannot cross and Noan's unyielding gaze.
...Alright, you're on. The other three will stay.
Noan nods back at the rest of them and turns to face Talbot. There is much he wants to say, but now is not the time.
All Noan can do is smile and wave at Talbot, Lillian, and Lithos.
Wait for me.
