Story Reader / Palette Clash / Travel with Vera / Story
A flashing red light slices up all the objects in the air.
Facing paints spilling out from their cans, Vera swings her blade while leisurely dodging away.
Stay away!
Surrounding an incomprehensible painting, awakened machines with different painting tools in their hands form a last line of defense and desperately try to deter the "Big Bad's" approach.
Your fighters have all fallen. Why won't you guys give up?
As she speaks, Vera shifts her body to avoid the can of paint aiming for her before holding her sheath against the recklessly charging awakened machine.
Seeing how casually and dexterously she moves, you cannot help but feel jealous.
Given that you are currently...
Ahhhhhhhh!
...being tormented by the mechanoids and their spray paints...
They are so similar to humans in the way that they are all trigger-happy when they are agitated...
Splash—
The paint hits you in the face.
Showered in "waves" of orange paint, you fire a few restraining straps in response.
Soon, the spray paint ceases as the subdued mechanoids fall onto the ground, spinning and squeaking.
You look down and find your body covered in paints of different colors.
If you had a paintbrush, you could probably paint something just by using your body as a palette.
You take out a spray WGAA uses to dissolve paint and give it a try.
WGAA's findings showed that the paints the awakened machines in Constellia use are similar to the paints humans used during the Golden Age. Their solvent spray makes quick work of them.
Since the awakened machines were not using lethal weapons, you had to suppress them through restraints only.
...Which posed some significant disadvantages. Not only did you have to fight "fully armed" metal frames with flesh and blood, but your restraining strap launcher also had a much shorter range than their paint sprayers.
You had to approach them through a storm of "gunfire."
Having removed the "colors" on your face with the solvent spray, you turn toward Vera and witness a similarly unlevel playing field.
Let me take a look!
Her blade slides across the tube the paint travels in while her other hand grabs ahold of the can of paint thrown toward her, hurling it back toward the visual sensors of another awakened machine.
Eventually, the last line of defense is destroyed by the "Big Bad".
Stop! We surrender!
Losing their ability to fight, the mechanoids pop out small white flags above their heads, waving them in the wind.
Better late than never, as anticlimactic as it is.
Vera sheaths her sword and pushes aside the mechanoids in her way.
She then leans forward slightly and rubs her chin as she checks out the canvases the awakened machines were guarding so vigorously.
Innovative lines and extravagant colors combine to form an extremely impactful painting.
The image it depicts has transcended mere imitations of nature.
This is the work of Surrealist Mechanical Fauvism. What say you? Pretty impressive, isn't it?
The leading awakened machine places his hands on his hips, looking proud.
It's a little baffling...
It feels deep, doesn't it? You're spot on.
Where should we start chopping to collect samples? The frame? The board?
You can almost see screws shooting out of the awakened machine's head at that moment.
He quickly rushes toward Vera and stands between her and the painting.
Right as Vera reaches for his head, the little white flag above him waves again.
Listen, my fellow machine.
You're here to stop the riot in the city, aren't you?
I know what's going on with the other two Schools. If you promise not to destroy our work, I'll tell you everything.
Vera, however, looks unimpressed, her hand remaining on the hilt of her sword.
The awakened machine begins to panic, his arms waving frantically as if gesturing something.
These are all Surrealist Mechanical Fauvist artworks! They are irreplaceable treasures!
Vera does not stop, slowly inching forward...
You won't find another one if you destroy them!
Vera does not stop, continuing to move forward slowly...
I'll follow you and do your portraits! Please spare them...
And Vera still does not stop until her shadow fully covers the awakened machine...
Honestly, I don't give a damn.
You purposefully cough to stop Vera from continuing and look her in the eye...
Are you unwell, Commandant? Give me a second. I'll be right there to provide medical aid.
Ah, what a shame. Next time.
The injector spins between her fingers before being placed back into its case. Vera takes a step back, allowing the mechanoid to look your way.
The awakened machine tilts his head, looking slightly confused.
Of course.
He looks even more confused now.
Regardless, avoiding unnecessary confrontations before you can break up the riot is undoubtedly your best option.
After all, you also have to consider the relationship between humans and mechanoids in the future.
As for Vera, you can only ease her impatience with your empathetic gaze.
May I ask you something?
Why is that mechanoid obeying your order?
She simply looks much more powerful than you in every way that counts.
Hearing that, Vera cannot stop laughing.
Unfortunately, I'm not the kind of machine you think I am.
Constructs like us might just be toys in the eyes of commandants.
The look she throws at you as she says that, however, is rather playful instead...
