Story Reader / Floating Record / ER11 Begin Anew / Story
As you continue along the Matrix pathway, the schematics you just passed show there's a central core facility there that hasn't been explored yet.
This facility is the hub that consolidates all computing power. Even though it's no longer operational, it is still connected to numerous computational nodes.
The Matrix covers an extraordinarily vast area, just as we saw during our last operation, with computational nodes spread throughout every corner of the city.
If that sneaky character really is after something here, they'll most likely come to this location—
After searching extensively, you find almost all paths to the central hub blocked by heavy metal doors. The doors are covered in scratches and dents, as if they'd previously withstood serious attacks...
Exploring in all directions and following the accessible pathways, you finally arrive at a laboratory deep within the facility.
Starkly contrasting with the cold, sterile atmosphere of the entire Matrix center, this aging laboratory is adorned with colorful streamers and garlands, as if decorated for some festive celebration.
Jetavie appears surprised by the scene before her, slowing her pace upon entering the room.
She wanders around the room, occasionally reaching out to touch the faded streamers hanging throughout the space.
No... it's just...
She answers in a distracted murmur.
This is...
Beside the lab bench, Jetavie picks up a small, Rubik's Cube-like mechanical box from the floor and stares at it, completely transfixed...
Not just a Rubik's Cube, it seems to be some kind of...
She gives the white "cube" a gentle twist.
VI... happy birthday.
A girl's cool, clear voice emanates from the cube.
This voice... though she is certain she has never heard it before, it somehow feels strangely familiar.
...
The girl's pupils constrict as if she's just heard something utterly unexpected.
Carefully, as if handling a precious treasure, she twists the cube again—
VI... happy birthday.
...
VI... happy birthday.
Yui... Yui...
Her voice grows hoarse as she clutches the white cube tightly, twisting it again and again, over and over—
It's... it's Yui...
I don't remember, I don't remember, but, but this is Yui's voice...
I shouldn't have forgotten, Yui... where are you...
Jetavie shakes her head uncontrollably as tears well up in her eyes.
Why would hearing an unfamiliar voice stir such powerful emotions within her?
Streamers and flower wreaths cover the laboratory, and the words "Happy Birthday" are displayed.
VI... does that refer to Jetavie? Looking around for more clues, she catches sight of an overturned photo frame on a nearby table.
Her keen eyes catch a familiar figure—Martha.
The background of the group photo is none other than Gestrig, with Martha standing in the center, surrounded by many young people in lab coats.
She brushes aside the broken frame and removes the photo for closer inspection. Besides Martha, she shouldn't recognize any of these people, yet they give her a strange sense of déjà vu—
—they're the mechanoids currently studying at Gestrig.
Those mechanoids bear some physical resemblance to the researchers in the photo.
I, Jetavie, was originally a mechanical consciousness model generated from a human consciousness sample.
Matrix, mechanical consciousness model generated from a human consciousness sample, mechanoid, Martha, students...
The fragmented pieces of information seem to form a hazy outline of the truth.
Trying to continue piecing together the truth, her gaze is drawn to another figure in the photo.
Distinctive long hair interwoven with black and white strands, the same crimson eyes...
But judging by the expression, it's almost like two completely different people...
Hm?
...I don't know.
Still clutching the white cube tightly, Jetavie sniffles.
But someone told me that I was generated with a high divergence factor, giving me a personality completely different from the original consciousness sample.
Why ask that all of a sudden? Did you find something?
Jetavie curiously leans in closer to the photograph.
...Is this... Yui?
I... I don't know, but when I saw her, this name immediately surfaced in my core processor.
Jetavie shakes her head again, staring somewhat bewildered at the girl in the photograph.
She had heard this voice, but forgotten the emotions it carried.
She had seen these features, but forgotten the warmth they held.
She remembered the name, yet had completely forgotten...
forgotten the "person" formed by these elements combined.
Composing yourselves, you gather the scattered clues around the area and continue forward, following the traces on the ground.
—Found it.
Following the damaged ventilation duct, you unexpectedly reach the deepest part of the Matrix.
Whoa—
Before you stands a mechanical behemoth strikingly similar to Gestalt—most likely developed from the same source of technology.
However, like the other halted computational nodes, this mechanical beast has also ceased functioning, now nothing more than a lifeless husk.
You and Jetavie split up to search. You find a chip in an inconspicuous corner and insert it into your portable terminal, but a data lock prevents you from reading it. You have no choice but to pocket it for now.
Jetavie discovers a needle-shaped block node at the interface—the very node emitting strange frequencies through the central hub.
This signal... it's attracting the Corrupted!
Removing the node isn't difficult, yet Jetavie's expression remains extremely grave.
Removing one signal source doesn't mean the crisis is over... this thing exists because someone deliberately planted it here.
The most suspicious person is, without a doubt, the man who just arranged to meet with you.
Yet despite searching the entire Matrix with Jetavie, you find no trace of his skulking presence.
As long as whoever's planting these nodes doesn't stop, the Corrupted could attack again at any moment.
Judging by the intensity of previous battles, the eastern wall has already been breached—the entire city could be in danger at any moment.
<size=40>REINFORCEMENT REQUEST: LOCATION: CITY NO. 141</size>
<size=40>DANGER LEVEL: MEDIUM</size>
<size=40>SITUATION SUMMARY: Corrupted-attracting signal source detected. Deploy support forces in advance.</size>
After briefly outlining the potential crisis, you send the message to Celica and left.
Leaving the ruins behind, you skirt around the external barrier Jetavie hacked earlier and return together to the city center.
I just saw it, you know—Teacher was secretly sending some secret messages to someone!
Hehe, no need to explain. I couldn't care less about what Teacher actually came here to do.
As for me, once I find the Chosen One, I'll leave this place—
...!
As if sensing something, her tail stops its lively swishing.
An explosion—
Jetavie suddenly spins around and forcefully shoves you.
BOOM—
Flames shoot skyward as searing hot air roars like a wild beast, sweeping through the surroundings. Jetavie tightly shields herself, but even so, the blast hurls the two of you several meters away.
Fighting through the ringing in your ears, the two of you barely manage to sit up when several Corrupted emerge from the dust cloud and lunge forward—
The explosion's shockwave causes several bullets to veer off course, and the Corrupted's blades are once again within striking range.
Beat it.
Jetavie spins around and delivers a powerful slash—
But before she can reposition herself, the remaining Corrupted lunge at her with savage ferocity.
Ugh...
Jetavie forcefully throws off the Corrupted, vital fluid steadily seeping from her wounds.
Hahaha! How do you like it? Quite the showstopper, isn't it?
A raspy, high-pitched cackle echoes through the thick gunsmoke, coming from what appears to be a perfectly round gray sphere.
Without a moment's hesitation, Jetavie raises her gun and fires.
Can't hit me—
The gray sphere bounces up and down twice before vanishing into the thick smoke.
What on earth was that thing...
Brow furrowed, Jetavie looks in the direction from which the Corrupted emerged.
...Five, no, ten, twenty... What's going on? This is just the central district—how did they suddenly infiltrate this deep?
Then there must be more than one.
Tactical teacher 035034 calling Gestrig Headquarters.
Martha's communication suddenly connects.
A massive number of Corrupted signals have appeared on the city outskirts. The eastern breach has been completely overrun, and the walls to the southeast and northeast have also been breached.
The city center is no longer safe. Please evacuate to Gestrig immediately.
Ewig and the even-numbered units are guiding residents to evacuate to Gestrig, while the odd-numbered ones are providing cover.
According to Martha, if the central area is invaded, the students would likely be disposed of as waste.
Save the civilians first. Given the current situation, even if they were to take advantage of the terrain and make a last stand in the ring area, they would only face total annihilation against such an enormous number of Corrupted.
Gestrig is located in the western suburbs of the city. The narrow roads there will give us a chance to create a buffer zone.
But that's not something you need to worry about. Evacuate immediately, return to Gestrig, and a special vehicle will pick you up.
Jetavie, D-33 Street is where the Corrupted from the southeast and northeast converge. Slow down the advance of the main Corrupted force as much as possible.
This is an order. Instructors don't have the authority for field command. In exchange, your safety will be guaranteed.
You don't have to die here. This city is already finished and their test is doomed to fail. You, on the other hand, have only been here a short time. Even if you leave, you won't have to be responsible for what happens here.
...If you're so determined to become part of these ruins, I won't stand in your way.
You ask hurriedly while dodging and firing at the Corrupted, trying to get an answer before she hangs up.
...
Silence fills the other end of the communication line. Martha seems to be hesitating whether to speak or not. After a moment, she softly lets out a sigh.
They are... victims of the Seventh Matrix Project.
