Story Reader / Arcade Anima / Candle Light Torment / Story
Noticing that Palma and Simon have already moved to a secure spot, Noan immediately throws the flash grenades and hand grenades he had prepared beforehand.
By preemptively lowering the sensitivity of his visual and auditory receptors, he fights a way through the narrow prison corridor.
Just as Noan prepares to venture alone toward Bethe's location, the terminal dropped by the defector leader abruptly rings, indicating an incoming call...
Yes, Mr. Bethe. The commandant is with me.
...So, my replica has also come.
...?
Okay, I'll be waiting for your message here.
The young man resembling Noan puts down his terminal.
Through the camera's tilted angle, Noan catches a glimpse of the room's darkest corner, where the Gray Raven Commandant is seated at a desk.
Commandant... Commandant! [player name]!
Repeating the name over the secret channel, Noan calls out multiple times, but he never receives a response.
The feed cuts off right here.
Is the terminal taken away? Or is it inconvenient to talk right now? Anxiety turns into a sea of darkness, gradually engulfing Noan's sanity.
This is supposed to be a lone battle, his battle, and no one should be dragged into his problem that stretches back many years.
—Especially when he knows, more than anyone else, the loathsome nature of Bethe!!
Even though he couldn't decline the invitation, even though he made a promise, he knew Palma would still take back both commandants with her.
—Why does it still end up like this??
After all the lengths he went to ensure Simon's safe return, why is there another person becoming a victim of his actions?
[player name]! [player name]!!
Finally, an image appears on the seemingly dead terminal, jolting it back to life.
It's been a while.
Bethe's voice emanates from the other end, now raspier than ever, as if he had endured agonizing screams in prolonged torment.
For a long time, I've had this feeling that people associated with Rachel tend to bring nothing but misfortune.
Don't worry too much; nothing bad has happened. That person has been pretty cooperative and seems more interested in "the other you."
So this is your plan?
Bethe, are you this desperate already to the point of relying on "a chance encounter" to get yourself some bargaining chips?
...
It's about bargaining chips. My goal from the very beginning is to lure you out of the Clean Zone and buy enough time until the Ascendant gets here.
Can you pull it off though?
With a cold expression, Noan raises the terminal higher, ensuring that it captures the silent bodies lying on the ground behind him.
How many more are on the way?
...Tch.
He went and destroyed all the manpower and cargo I had been saving up, leaving me with nothing but these blockheads I found last minute. Yeah, that's right, but it doesn't mean I'm just gonna let everything go his way.
So that's why you didn't immediately inform the Ascendant but instead called me here for M.I.N.D. replication—because you found out that replicas can only be made from the original?
...
Is it also part of your plan to make "the other me" believe that he's the original?
I was just following Lithos' instructions to receive the "supervisor" he sent over!
When you mention Lithos destroying your cargo, does that include people treated as commodities?
Enough with the questions! Show some respect, Rachel's little brat! Don't forget the commandant is with me now!
...
Someone will go get you. Hand over the weapons and items you're hiding on you to him and come over quickly. I'll be waiting.
At 2 in the morning, after enduring hours of transportation, Noan finds himself setting foot once again in the coastal town that holds a sickening familiarity.
(Still here, huh...)
Before he joined Babylonia, Lithos had modified his memories multiple times in a base here.
During the interrogation at Babylonia, Noan had disclosed this particular location, urging the Purifying Force to conduct an investigation. However, now it seems... there were still things overlooked.
Veering away from the main path, they navigate a hidden trail amidst the ruins. After half an hour, Noan finally reaches an entrance concealed behind wooden crates and trash.
Following the "guide," he stoops down and enters the dark, narrow passage.
The air is tainted with the putrid stench of decaying blood and flesh, while the mutated plants sprouting from the sides indicate the presence of Ascendants here.
(Somewhere nearby... there must be corpses piling up...)
Maintaining a facade of nonchalance, Noan runs his fingers along the walls on both sides, assessing the materials and construction of the building.
(...Looks like it's a temporary base made from recycled materials, assembled in an abandoned underground structure.)
(...Lithos recycles Construct remains and hoards corpses to cultivate the Red Tide. Is this place also one of his "warehouses"?)
—Drip.
Red liquid drips from cracks in the ceiling above, landing on the drainage grid beneath his feet.
(Up there?)
Through the trail of blood, his gaze falls upon two blood-stained garments discarded in a corner. From the size, it seems that... they once belonged to some children.
...
What are you doing there? Bethe is waiting!
He lowers his head, following the other's steps amidst the whispers of blood.
Long time no see, Rachel's little brat.
I heard from Lithos that my little daughter died while with you? It was also in Bumblebee when my first daughter...
There sure is a long history between Akdilek and me.
He grins, and a hoarse and peculiar laughter escapes his lips.
...
Don't give me that look. Even I had once dreamed of a more ordinary life and having a normal father-daughter relationship with her.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have waited until she was 24 to think about leaving me.
The Purifying Force spotted you walking with Lithos near the river where the commandant disappeared.
After Bethe hears Noan's words, the smile on his face fades away.
Why did he let you take the commandant first?
Back then, I knew some people who could lend a hand, and I was the one who hooked him up with that machine. What, you're interested in this?
Were you on watch duty for those 16 days?
Let's continue this discussion you seem so fond of once your replicas start popping out of that pod one after another.
Bethe waves his hand, and two somber-looking researchers turn around, activating some program from a desktop terminal.
Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of oppression descends upon Noan, draining all his strength and rendering his body almost immobile.
...!
Can't move, right?
Put him on that machine Lithos brought over, and I'll leave the rest to you.
...
Okay.
I've learned my lesson from dealing with rabid dogs like the Cargo Crew—you will bite until your very last breath.
...
Well, what do you think? Didn't expect I had one final trick up my sleeve, huh? Where's that resentful look of yours now?
The old man, smirking triumphantly, leans down and pats Noan's face.
...
You want to know the methods for breaking free from devices like these?
Right. I stumbled upon this information in the database. It seems that they have the ability to restrict a Construct's movements indoors.
...That's correct. These devices were previously used by the Purifying Force.
They were primarily designed for indoor use, but later on, they proved impractical in the field and were gradually phased out. Right now, only a few of them remain in conservation areas for emergency defense purposes.
Given your current mission areas, it shouldn't be a concern for Dark Aries. Why do you ask?
I suppose it's time I share a secret with you.
...
Listen, Lee. Actually, about Dark Aries...
Lowering his voice to a mysterious tone, Noan revealed the concocted reasoning he had meticulously crafted.
...
Upon hearing the impeccably logical story, Lee fell silent for a few seconds.
This isn't the first time you've wanted to share a "secret."
I can create an anti-control device for you and try to make it as small as a bracelet.
Just don't use it for anything too reckless.
Rest assured. I will never...
I will never let you run away!!
Noan rapidly seizes the hand that was patting his cheek, rolls off the maintenance table, and tumbles to the ground together with the hand's owner.
Before the old man has a chance to scream, he is dragged up and hurled directly into the path of the oncoming Constructs.
The unarmed young man takes the opportunity to dash out of the lab, retreating down the narrow corridor.
As he turns around, the crowd that was surging together now stretches out in a line due to the varying speeds at which they give chase.
He nimbly evades the bullets fired from behind, only to find himself face-to-face with the first Construct that has caught up to him.
Just before the enemy's sword swings down, Noan grabs a nearby fire extinguisher and strikes it at his head, then immediately hurls the heavy object at the second enemy.
Stealing the gun and sword from the fallen enemies, the young man feigns a retreat to dodge bullets before leaping in front of the third pursuer.
The two swords collide in a powerful arc slash, creating a shower of sparks. Meanwhile, the sharp sound of a gunshot resonates near the pursuer's chest.
He's too fast! Hold him down!
Seizing the opportunity as they adjust their formation, Noan deftly kicks up the debris remaining in the corner. With rocks firmly grasped in his hand, he throws them at the person in the forefront, all while evading the barrage of bullets that assail him.
—Despite not hitting the intended target, some of the rocks bounce off the floor and unexpectedly strike the person aiming at Noan.
Before Noan can even relish the moment, his cape is abruptly grabbed from behind by a dying defector, and two other adversaries seize the opportunity to rush over.
With no apparent means of breaking free, the young man stoops to evade an attack from the left and turns around, employing his sword to block an incoming attack from the right. Then he unleashes a volley of shots while rising up again.
Having witnessed the young man's agile movements, the last pursuer decides to hastily retreat.
Set the disruptive device to the highest power level!! Quick!
As soon as he finishes speaking, a buzzing sound reverberates near Noan's ears.
...!
He quickly returns to the lab, rushing toward the now unguarded Rev Blade, but as he does, his vision starts to gradually darken.
