Story Reader / Floating Record / ER10 Deceivers' Rapture / Story
A sequence of precise spiderweb patterns flickers across her vision, finally halting on the fifth line.
Moments later, HER vision snaps back into perfect clarity.
Lilith instinctively stretches out her hands. The delicate lace gloves have vanished, revealing stark, mechanical joints in their place.
Here, have a sip—it'll do you good.
The doctor hands her a clear IV bag, a thin tube already attached.
...
Electrolyte. From here on out, we'll have to adapt to this.
She takes Lilith's hesitation for confusion.
I get it. I mean... do you have any "alcohol-flavor" options?
The newly formed Construct rises from the operating table, testing the flexibility of her wrists. She then looks to the nearby surgeon and voices a surprisingly bold request.
...?
She glances toward Monzano with a trace of confusion, clearly looking for approval.
If her frame can take it, then let her have the drink.
As you wish, Madam.
The doctor withdraws a slender, test-tube-shaped vial from the chilled cabinet beside the operating table.
In essence, it works just like standard medical-grade alcohol...
...A pain reliever and disinfectant? Excellent—just what I need.
She unseals it and downs the liquid in a single gulp.
Then she flicks out the tip of her purple tongue, licking away every last trace from the corners of her lips.
That subtle, artful disarray swiftly yields to the refined grace that comes so naturally to her.
...During my surgery, I must've blurted out some wild things to you, Aunt, didn't I?
If you're free later, maybe we can head over to that bar by Dominik Memorial Plaza...
Her apology is rudely interrupted.
You've survived a procedure that should have been impossible to pull off. The outcome I see is right before me. As for the unpleasant moments along the way, I'm willing to pretend they never occurred.
So spare me the phony niceties.
Before Lilith can speak, Monzano presses on with her words.
Compared to those trivial games we played before... the challenges to come are where real danger begins.
If you really believe you owe me a debt, then brace yourself—because you'll be the first to walk into hell.
All right, get up now.
She motions for Lilith to step away from the operating table, issuing orders to the doctors at the same time.
We need to gather the surgical data and reconstruct the M.I.N.D.'s data model, which is slowly succumbing to corruption.
We'll submit the report as soon as we can.
She departs the operating room with her team following close behind.
Challenges to come?
Come to think of it... are you actually moving forward with Construct experiments now, Aunt?
There's no judgment in her tone—just a cool, factual statement.
Principles are meaningless in a high-stakes power struggle. If one rule stands above all, it's that winning is everything.
In the brief span of the Las Prados blockade, the military wastes no time, swiftly sending combat Constructs into active battle.
Punishing knocked over our old chessboard, and now the Eden III—built for starbound travel with its advanced ecosystem—won't be launching anytime soon.
We used to stand on our own, free from Kurono and the World Government Parliament's grip. Now we may be under someone else's roof, but there's no way we'll become pawns for Hassen and his lot.
As you said, Aunt, they hold a stranglehold on Construct Technology. How are we supposed to stand a chance?
Dressing up blatant opportunism as "quick thinking" is something Lilith has seen over and over in Las Prados—an underhanded move she knows all too well.
Yet the truly perceptive ones always end up on top in the end, so she holds back the scornful remark on the tip of her tongue.
The first generation military Constructs were nothing more than a stopgap for fighting in high-Punishing zones. From the stability of their M.I.N.D. to their physical resilience, they all fall short.
The intel you've gathered on Project Winter is incomplete, and Kurono's technological progress—built up ever since Project Cthylla—has become remarkably advanced.
Just because Kurono may choose to conceal their power doesn't mean I will follow suit.
Hold your ace close, but never hesitate to demonstrate your prowess.
True strength is the bedrock of any fair competition.
She knows exactly what her aunt wants to hear, effortlessly repeating the lessons etched into her memory.
Good. Looks like the Memory transfer hasn't wiped out your memories.
Madam Monzano allows herself a satisfied smile.
Once they see our next-generation frames, the military has no choice but to join forces with us.
Monzano guides Lilith from the surgery suite into the hallway.
Beyond the porthole, the sea of stars remains eternally still.
Come on—I'll show you the trump card that helped us win back Babylonia.
You're an exceptional breakthrough—but trust me, you won't be the last.
They weave through the ship's labyrinth of corridors, constantly passing mechanics, officials, and soldiers.
Everyone appears pressed by tasks too critical to pause for even a second—no one so much as slows down.
Lilith notices someone she recognizes among the crowd.
Ah, Mr. Kephart...
That's the last person who struck a deal with Auntie before everyone pulled out.
Hmm?
The blond man stands there in a daze for a full ten seconds.
Oh! You're... Lilith!
He quickly meets Madam Monzano's gaze.
So, the experiment was a success.
Madam Monzano stays quiet, offering him a noncommittal look.
The Construct in the magician's hat steps in with an old-fashioned display of etiquette, defusing the awkwardness hanging in the air.
Yes, I owe it all to my aunt's dedicated care... and we couldn't have done it without the groundwork Kurono laid back then. If my aunt hadn't held onto those old Project Winter files, I doubt I'd still be standing here today!
It's a genuine, radiant smile—even her slender lashes quiver softly with the delight in her voice.
In these grim times, uplifting news like this is exactly what we need!
A man's commanding voice echoes off the metal corridor walls and portholes, and for a split second, he feels like he's delivering a campaign speech.
All right, that'll do. We're in Babylonia, not some gated enclave on the East Coast.
Anyone still standing has been battered by this war to hell and back. I really doubt your tired slogans will land you any votes now.
She obviously has a hidden meaning behind her words, and Kephart is fully aware of it.
The blonde man lowers his voice.
Rest assured... as soon as the moment is ripe, I'll introduce a proposal before the Parliament to reassess Construct technology.
Naturally, that means I'll be severing all ties with Kurono and the military in one swift move.
A mischievous glint sparks across his face once again.
When the time comes... I'll be counting on your support, madam.
He brazenly takes Monzano's hand in his and bestows a hand-kiss that's short on subtlety yet bursting with theatrical flair.
Then he makes a brisk retreat, heading opposite the path the two have taken.
...
I know exactly what you're about to ask. Don't worry—I've already taken your reward into account.
Babylonia Orbital Transport System
A towering hologram flares to life at the corridor's far end.
Get in.
Around five minutes later, the ship's transport module eases to a stop alongside a platform.
In contrast to the earlier experimental facility, this spot is eerily silent—like a hospital basement morgue.
The place is deserted—no crowds, no announcements. Even the constant mechanical rumble from deep inside the massive hull is barely audible.
Monzano guides Lilith to the blast-proof door at the far edge of the platform.
Iris scan in progress... Madam Adriana Monzano, Construct code UAF-07. Welcome.
Construct...?!
She takes in a sharp, startled breath.
A metal exoskeleton, an over-the-top hat, and not even a single bird feather out of place. It's hard to believe that beneath such stately finery, every shred of flesh has been replaced by synthetic fluid and mechanical parts.
Hmph. Otherwise, why do you think you're Test Subject One instead of Zero?
You should be grateful, my dearest niece. Long before you set foot on the operating table, someone else went through every danger so you wouldn't have to.
Lilith seethes with anger, but she's not surprised. The imposing woman before her always believes she can bend everything to her will.
...That agony—Aunt went through it long before I did. I'm truly sorry for losing my composure during the procedure.
She takes satisfaction in knowing her frame M.I.N.D. can mimic speech just as seamlessly as a human brain.
I've already mentioned that you'll have plenty of chances to repay me down the line.
Monzano steps into the room beyond the threshold.
Voice-activated white lights flare to life with a steady crackle—like tiny bolt explosions—illuminating the pitch-black corridor step by step.
The incubation pods line up in perfect rows at the heart of the chamber.
The Constructs deployed by both the military and Kurono function in high-density zones thanks to something called Inver-Device.
Put simply, we introduce a minuscule amount of Punishing Virus crystals as an antigen. By calibrating the neutralization process in a confined space around the subject, we generate a bubble in which the virus concentration remains low—even absent.
You might as well call it a blocking antenna.
I bet that type of frame can't stay in a high-risk zone for very long, can it?
I feel the same.
Thanks to Godwin's research, I come to understand that the M.I.N.D. functions just like any other organ—no different from the human brain.
If human organs are capable of generating antibodies, then Constructs can develop them as well.
What are you implying, Aunt?
If toxins are unavoidable, why not filter them out?
My Construct doesn't need one of those bulky antenna shields. I went with a dialyzer instead—there's a built-in suppressor in my frame.
That's also why you and I don't have that unsightly bump on our heads.
Though the Madam's arrogance is just as unrelenting as ever, ultimately, embracing the Punishing is still the right course of action.
Lilith barely bats an eye. If her aunt had arrived at the same conclusion as Kurono, that would've truly let her down.
Assume the built-in shielding allows the frame to endure longer in a high-intensity viral zone... but what if the virus density surpasses the circulation rate's threshold?
That's my next challenge to tackle...
The M.I.N.D. and the brain are one and the same. Of all people, you should know the brain can be transplanted.
Bodies are easy to produce—if you decide to make them, there's no limit to how many you can create.
Virus filtering. Memory backup.
Within mere minutes, Monzano puts forth two utterly outrageous concepts, treating them as if they were perfectly valid technical proposals.
Then... does Discord know about this?
She went ahead and shattered the unspoken taboo they both had silently acknowledged.
Oh, I almost forgot.
She's staying behind at the Kurono ground installation. Given how the fighting's going, she's likely wrapped up her upgrades by now. Then again, it's still just the outdated model.
Before presenting the new generation of Construct tech to the Parliament, I need a control group that will really sell the idea.
There's some data we can't get through official means in Babylonia, but Discord should be wrapping up that collection any moment now.
The surface is dangerous.
She offers no judgment, speaking in a cold, detached tone that only states the facts.
I have a reward set aside for you—but don't expect it to come free. You'll have to earn it on your own.
Kurono's Construct data alone won't suffice. I also need concrete proof that the internal suppression system is reliable.
I'm handpicking only the most capable civilians from the Babylonia for enhancement... Once modified, they'll deploy to the surface in these specialized frames, gathering real-time combat data.
And you... your last trial is to find her before the Punishing Virus engulfs Discord entirely. That alone will decide whether you pass.
...
Don't get me wrong. If she were to die, it'd be a lot harder for me to acquire that valuable data—now wouldn't it?
Our goals have always been in perfect sync. You know, that's actually quite rare for a family.
She continues to rile Lilith, convinced she's in the right at every turn.
No, that's not it. It's just that your plan covers every detail—I'm honestly taken aback, Aunt.
Monzano answers the praise with a frosty laugh. She then steps forward, letting her fingertips glide over the polished surfaces of row upon row of incubation pods.
Be it Project Bokonon or Project Winter, both are designed to help humanity conquer our final, imagined test...
That test has moved from the stars to the Punishing Virus, but the drive toward evolution will never cease.
Sometimes, Lilith can't help but admire her resolve. Beyond her careful planning, everything is guesswork—yet, through constant trial and error, she always manages to find that faint glimmer of a correct answer.
But in truth, it's barely more than a fleeting touch.
Wait—I'm feeling a bit dizzy.
It's simply your frame adjusting. Now, which of you was asking for that alcohol-flavor electrolyte?
Lilith doesn't bother acknowledging the sneer; she simply presses her fingertips to her temple.
She pulls a condensed data fragment from the backup in her M.I.N.D.—a single trace left by an unknown signal source during that seemingly successful modification procedure.
Axioms are always this straightforward.
It's a fragment of Punishing Virus code—Vonnegut's special gift to her, delivered through the Ascension-Network.
Babylonia stands as humankind's last hope, but together, we can make that hope dazzle all the more.
Whoever claims the city atop the highest peak will be the one to reign over the new world.
Aunt calls out once more, snapping her back from her brief daydream.
The time for our counterstrike... begins now.
