Story Reader / Interlude / Like Shadow / Story
Why... why...?
After they flee the city, Camu stalks off away from the other survivors under the moonlight.
He tears off his shirt, revealing his battle-hardened body—or should he call it his serum-ravaged body?
Even before his squadmate's "accident," Camu had already noticed certain abnormalities within his body.
I don't feel a thing...
Camu tries to touch the abnormal parts, but no matter what he does, he feels nothing and gets no reaction.
That part of his body can no longer be salvaged. Camu knows that, one day, he will end up like his dead squadmate...
An antibody experiment, huh? Serum.. mixed with the Punishing Virus?
Before they fled the city, the pilot called him "Corrupted". Though unacquainted with the relevant research, Camu can still easily come to the only possible conclusion.
That must be why the guards at the gate kept their distance from him, and why he was never allowed to enter the cities.
And why the body of his companions had to be preserved carefully and returned to Kurono.
——Because their squad had all been injected with the Punishing Virus.
The pilot also called them "flawed". Which meant that the superiors believed that this experiment could no longer continue.
They're trying to destroy all evidence that this experiment had happened by burying Camu's squad in eternal darkness.
What the ****? ****!
Camu already knew that, as low-level squads, they would never be treated well. They might even be deployed somewhere dangerous where they could easily die.
But he sure did not expect to become a test subject—a failed one, at that. One that would eventually become a Corrupted and die.
Dammit!
Camu! We thought you were captured by the Kurono guys.
The other survivors appear and interrupt him from his thoughts. They have all patched each other up and have came before Camu for further orders.
What are you guys doing with the luggage?
Fleeing, of course. We've still got some supplies. We should be able to survive if we find the right place.
Too bad we don't have our van anymore. If we go somewhere Kurono can't find us, we'll have to face lots of Corrupted...
But with the Corrupted, at least we can choose whether to fight or flee. If the opponent is Kurono... well, do you think we can survive a bombing like that a second time?
So is fleeing your only option? Don't you want revenge?
So... what do YOU want to do?
I want to get my revenge on Kurono. They have a base around here, right?
Rally all survivors, attack the stronghold, and destroy them all!
That won't work. We'd basically be walking to our graves. And even if it works, they'll send others after us...
Then we'll destroy the next base. And the next.
Huh?
Surely you must have noticed that the serum's mixed with something else! And the abnormal changes in your body!
Even if we don't get killed on the way, we'll die from the painful side effects of the serum, just like the others.
By fleeing, you're simply prolonging your suffering before you eventually die. I'm not doing that.
I'm not someone who'd just shut up and bear it when I'm betrayed. If I have to die either way...
I'll show them the true meaning of fear.
What—
The others stare, mouth agape, as a crazed expression begins to overtake Camu. But when Camu pulls out the greatsword he had stuck in the ground and steps forward...
They all follow.
