3 3 301 DialogEnable The screen emits blue glimmers of light, and brilliant stars can be seen through the dome glass.
4 4 301 This is one of the few places in Babylonia where you may gaze up and observe the universe. It is not staring at the earth, but at what is beyond it.
5 5 302 A view that ought to be shared. 6
6 6 301 Female Construct I strongly advise against bringing anyone here. Without a permit, entering this restricted area puts both parties' lives in danger. The Purifying Force does not require permission to open fire in this spot.
7 7 302 Is that a threat? 8 ... 8
8 8 301 Female Construct Sorry, this is just a friendly reminder.
9 9 301 Female Construct If you don't have a permit, even a Boss like you can be shot on the spot. That's how default settings work.
10 10 302 Is this why it requires so many levels of review? 11
11 11 301 Female Construct Exactly. We appreciate your understanding.
12 12 301 The female Construct with long black hair taps away at the screen. The logo of the Purifying Force floats in midair, projecting various beams that surround the two individuals.
13 13 301 System Verifying access...
14 14 301 System Purifying Force Level 3 Access Permission detected. Purifying Force subordinate: Chiko. Task Force subordinate: 【kuroname】. Welcome.
15 500 401 2 1509
16 15 301 The screen gradually fades away. Then a machine's whizzing sound is heard, followed by a thud. A stream of frigid air gushes from the cutoff where the screen used to be.
17 16 301 Chiko Please enter.
18 17 301 Chiko takes a step to the side, one hand behind her back, the other stretched to the front, gesturing to enter the room.
19 18 301 AniZhuanchangBegin You take a deep breath and enter the room for the first time since joining the Task Force.
28 27 302 Should I say, "Long time, no see?" 28 This is my first time here. 29
29 28 27 301 Bianca It's been a while. But now is not the time for small talk. 1
30 29 301 Bianca Most people will never have the chance to visit here. They are neither willing nor entitled to be aware of its existence. 1
31 30 301 Chiko Captain, this is the research data of the Virtual Horizon.
32 31 301 Chiko proceeds to unlock all of the suitcase's security locks before handing it over to Bianca.
33 32 301 A monolith-patterned mechanical arm emerges from the darkness, retrieving the contents from the suitcase, while thousands of pop-up windows hover around it.
34 33 301 Bianca swiftly scans the pop-up windows and then swipes the virtual screen to the side. The mechanical arm then vanishes into the darkness.
35 34 301 Bianca I've added it to KI.GAL Archives. You may proceed to the next assignment. 1
36 35 301 Bianca then drags and taps on a virtual screen to transfer the data to Chiko's data terminal.
37 36 301 Chiko Understood.
38 37 301 Chiko packs her suitcase and walks toward the door. She smiles and nods faintly as she walks past you.
39 38 302 Hmm? 39
40 39 301 The moving mechanical gears can be heard from behind. Before there is any time to consider the implication of Chiko's glance, Bianca first breaks the silence from afar.
41 40 301 DialogDisable Bianca Chiko has always been this way. Hope you don't mind. 1
42 41 302 She showed up in front of me, bringing President Hassen's order. 42
43 42 302 Then she brought me here without giving me a chance to argue. 43
44 43 302 It's difficult to ignore her. 44
45 44 301 DialogEnable Bianca I can only imagine. 1
46 45 301 DialogDisable Bianca Because of her past experiences, she finds it difficult to communicate with people. If she has offended you, please accept my apologies. 1
47 46 302 It's fine. 47
48 47 302 But I digress. 48
49 48 302 I wasn't expecting your archives room to be that gloomy. 49
50 49 301 DialogEnable Bianca This is more than just an archive room. It also keeps a record of the Purifying Force's targets. 1
51 50 302 Fully understood. 51 Your words have made me even more anxious. 53
52 51 301 Bianca But that is not the message conveyed by your expression. 1
53 52 302 What was it, then? 59
54 53 301 Bianca Relax. Your name is not on the target list. 1
55 54 302 Phew, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to walk out this door today. 55 For now. 57
56 55 301 Bianca Hehe, you've definitely developed a better sense of humor. 1
57 56 302 What was it, then? 59
58 57 301 Bianca I can guarantee your safety. For now. 1
59 58 302 What was it, then? 59
60 59 301 Bianca The experiment record of Virtual Horizon and the recordings of some abnormal noises. 1
61 60 302 ... 61 Those are not noises. 61
62 61 301 Bianca Whatever they are, they have already been purified and will be held permanently within the core of Purifying Force. But... 1
63 62 302 It's not that simple? 64
64 63 204 1 4
65 64 301 Bianca Right. There are still some unanswered questions. And then there's Commander Nikola's agenda... 1
66 65 302 Bianca, we are soldiers. 66
67 66 301 Bianca ... 1
68 67 301 Bianca shakes her head after a moment of futile contemplating, as if chasing the tangled thoughts out of her M.I.N.D.
69 68 301 Bianca Soldiers must adhere to our superior's exact orders. 1
70 69 301 Bianca Concerns and troubles, on the other hand, allow us to think rather than blindly follow. 1
71 70 302 That is what distinguishes us. 71
72 71 301 Bianca Exactly, 【kuroname】. Reasonable questioning is also needed in the military. 1
73 72 301 Bianca After you leave, I suppose I should talk with Commander Nikola. 1
74 73 302 That's the Bianca I know. 75
75 74 204 1
76 75 301 Bianca appears to have subsided after hearing your words, motioning you to stand by her side.
77 76 301 Bianca Although there are many unanswered questions, at least the participants of Virtual Horizon are safe. 1
78 77 302 We may now close the chapter. 78
79 78 301 Bianca Should we begin today's mission? 1
80 79 301 Bianca President Hassen has not imposed a time limit for your viewing. It's fine if you want to take a longer break. 1
81 80 302 That's not necessary. 81
82 81 301 Bianca You are right. It's not fair to keep the Gray Raven members waiting for too long. 1
84 83 301 As Bianca speaks, a sea of data flashes on numerous half-transparent virtual screens that are hovering around you. At the heart of the data lies a common objective: Roland, the Ascendant.
85 84 301 Bianca This is all of the data concerning Roland that the Purifying Force has gathered. Level Two access has been granted to you. 1
86 85 301 Bianca It contains all the relevant footage, audios, and even rumors recorded by Babylonia squads, surface forces, and AI surveillances. 1
87 86 302 Thanks. 87
88 87 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Bianca Glad to be of assistance. 1
102 101 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Palex This is Palex of the Ouroboros squad. 1
103 102 301 Palex I'm about to enter Copperfield Estate. It's the eleventh hour since Gray Raven left the estate. Commencing the recycling mission. 1
104 103 301 The first scene is the familiar estate, where Gray Raven first met Roland.
105 104 301 Looks like the soldier named Palex was the one who cleaned up after that incident.
106 105 301 The soldier's weapon was designed to fire quick, muffled shots while emitting no visible sparks.
107 106 301 Palex was purging the estate's roaming Corrupted as he made his way to the center of the ruins.
108 107 201 1 500013
109 108 401 2 1508
110 109 401 2 10001004
111 110 301 PanelActor1Shake 1 Corrupted —! 1
112 111 202 1 1
113 112 301 After the last Corrupted in the area collapsed, Palex slung his gun over his shoulder and surveyed the area with the camera.
114 113 201 1 500246
115 114 301 1 Palex Purification complete. The recycle item not found. 1
116 115 301 ??? Are you looking for this?
117 116 301 Palex Who's there?! 1
118 117 301 The camera was quickly directed to the source of the voice. Slowly emerging from the shadows, the speaker tossed the item in his hand into mid-air and caught it again and again.
119 118 201 1 500008
120 119 301 1 Roland Why don't you ask the grownups who are hiding behind your camera? 1
121 120 201 1 500246
122 121 301 1 Palex That's not necessary. 1
123 122 401 2 10001004
124 123 401 2 10007502
125 124 301 Palex quickly lifted his gun to shoot, and the bullets ignited the roaming dust in the target area, followed by a second explosion. The speaker had vanished before the dust had settled. 1
126 125 202 1 1
127 126 401 2 1512
128 127 301 RImgBg1Shake AniZhuanchangBegin A loud thump resounded just as Palex was about to take a closer look. The camera was now aiming at the damaged ground of the estate.
154 152 301 RImgBg1Shake The camera slammed to the ground once more, followed by the sound of fighting and rapid rifle firing, before all sounds were drowned out by a loud explosion.
155 153 301 Roland It appears that I am not welcome in hell.
156 154 301 Palex It doesn't matter. My mission here has been completed.
157 155 301 Roland Looks that way.
158 156 301 Palex Aren't you going to snatch it? You no longer have a bargaining chip.
159 157 301 Roland Repeating my words is pointless. I can give away things I don't need.
160 158 301 Roland Well, that's it. I'm quite busy. I have a meeting with a bigwig later.
161 159 301 Palex ...You were planning to give this to me from the get-go.
162 160 301 Roland Well. What do you think?
163 161 301 Palex Then why don't you kill me?
164 162 301 Roland Go figure.
165 163 401 2 10001004
166 164 301 Palex **** you!
167 165 301 Roland Save your bullets.
168 166 301 Palex I won't have it!
169 167 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland Haha, interesting fellow. I hope you survive till our next encounter.
190 188 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Thirty minutes ago, this place was still a deserted Asslam train station. However, it has been completely covered by dark Corrupted.
191 189 301 With their scarlet flames, two silver airdrop pods shattered the station's ceiling and crushed the platform, melting all Corrupted into a cluster of scrap in the immediate vicinity.
192 190 301 The commotion attracted a large number of Corrupted to the crater.
193 191 401 2 10001004
194 192 301 The bullets blasting from the airdrop jets demolished them into pieces before their newly manufactured memory shells had time to scan it.
195 193 301 Construct A Wow, so many Corrupted. What an incredible sight!
196 194 301 Construct B You'll get used to it. It is part of our job description to be surrounded and then burst through.
197 195 301 Construct A I know. Because we are always the first ones to enter the battlefield.
198 196 301 Construct A But, speaking of combat, it has only been thirty minutes after the Eternal Engine had passed through, and the place has already been overrun with Corrupted.
199 197 301 Construct B Think about the train's passengers. We're up against a small fraction of the Corrupted, and the majority of them are on the train.
200 198 301 Construct A Fair enough. The Gray Ravens, if my memory serves me well, were the ones who boarded the train.
201 199 301 Construct B Yes, they are the only ones who can deal with the most challenging core.
202 200 301 The two Constructs kicked open the door of the airdrop pod, conversing via comms and covering each other.
203 201 301 One batch of Corrupted after another fell victim to the firing. However, the number of enemies showed no signs of diminishing.
204 202 201 1 500028 -400
205 203 201 2 500019 400
206 204 301 1 Construct B The extermination of Hetero-Core is 10% complete. It should be 12% after the platform is cleansed. 2
207 205 301 Construct A Then we should move quickly. We cannot afford to fall behind other squads. 1
208 206 301 Construct B You're—! 2
209 207 401 2 1510
210 208 203 1 0.25 2000
211 209 301 The Construct's unfinished words were cut off by the gun blast from afar. The ally's abdomen was instantly disintegrated and the body knocked back into the crowd of Corrupted.
212 210 301 Construct B Who's there?! 1
213 211 401 2 1510
214 212 203 2 0.25 2000
215 213 301 The second gunshot was the reply to the Construct's question. Following that, the world fell silent for a little while. Surprisingly, the Corrupted were not charging forward. Instead, they were departing the station simultaneously.
216 214 301 ??? Bingo. You lot are not permitted in this station.
217 215 202 1 2 1
218 216 201 1 500008
219 217 301 1 Construct B R-Roland...
220 218 301 Roland You know me? Then I don't need to introduce myself. 1
221 219 301 Construct B What on earth...
222 220 301 Roland Hush. Corpses aren't supposed to talk. 1
223 221 301 Roland kicked the Construct to the ground, flipping him over and causing him to collapse to the ground face down.
224 222 401 1000 2 1510
225 223 401 2 1510
226 224 301 Roland's weapon fired a couple of bullets. Giant shell casings ejected from the chamber, scorching the Construct's delicate synthetic coating and exposing the white mechanical components beneath.
227 225 301 ??? Why are you here?
228 226 301 Roland I am not in charge of the railways. I am free to be anywhere I like. 1
229 227 301 ??? This doesn't make sense.
230 228 301 Roland It makes total sense. 1
231 229 203 1 0.25 -400
232 230 201 2 500101 400
233 231 301 1 Roland Besides, aren't you responsible for Miss Luna's security? What brought you to this remote station, Gabriel? 1
234 232 301 Gabriel I'm here to confirm the status of the Hetero-Core. 2
235 233 301 Roland Is that all? 1
236 234 301 Gabriel Yes, that's all. 2
237 235 301 Gabriel Your being here without informing anyone, on the other hand, raises a lot more suspicion. 2
238 236 301 Gabriel What are you scheming? 2
239 237 301 Roland Shouldn't you first demonstrate your sincerity before you place an inquiry? 1
240 238 301 Gabriel This is not an inquiry. This is an interrogation. 2
241 239 301 Roland Who gave you the right to interrogate me? 1
242 240 301 Gabriel I'm taking the necessary precautions to ensure that parasites do not undermine the power of Ascension-Network. 2
243 241 301 Roland Undermine the Ascension-Network, rather than Miss Luna? Maybe you're the parasite. 1
244 242 301 Gabriel Your questioning is worthless, as Miss Luna epitomizes the power of Ascension-Network. 2
245 243 301 Roland Will you still be loyal to Miss Luna if she loses her power? 1
246 244 301 Silence. The passage of time seemed to stretch on forever, and the station was filled with a suffocating quietness.
247 245 301 After a long while, Roland broke the silence first.
248 246 301 Roland Don't worry. I'm just messing with you! 1
249 247 301 Gabriel Humph, my actions speak louder than words. You, on the other hand, have some explaining to do. 2
250 248 301 Gabriel Why didn't you finish off the Babylonia Constructs after you defeated them? The Construct near your feet is still alive, right? 2
251 249 301 Roland Uh-oh, you got me! 1
252 250 202 1 2 1
253 251 301 Gabriel sprinted over to Roland, who was standing casually with his arms folded.
254 252 401 2 1543
255 253 301 RImgBg1Shake Gabriel lowered his body and striked Roland in the stomach with a crushing blow. The sheer force of the strike even cracked the ground beneath their feet.
256 254 301 Gabriel had obliterated countless beings with this lethal close-quarters punch. Throughout this encounter, however, he never felt the anticipated impact flow through him.
257 255 201 2 500101
258 256 301 1 Gabriel H-how's that possible? 2
259 257 203 2 0.25 400
260 258 201 1 500008 -400
261 259 301 1 After the dust from the impact subsided, Roland could be seen with one foot on Gabriel's shoulder, maintaining his nonchalant pose. 1 2
262 260 301 Roland Phew, that was close. 1
263 261 301 Gabriel You have been hiding your true power. 2
264 262 301 Roland Have I? I have no idea. 1
265 263 202 1 1
266 264 203 2 0.25
267 265 301 Roland then lept off Gabriel's shoulder and walked out of the station.
268 266 301 Roland Okay, there concludes the excursion. I'll see you at the HQ.
269 267 301 Gabriel tidied up his robe and smashed the Construct on the ground into bits.
270 268 301 Gabriel Roland... 2
271 269 202 2 1
272 270 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The ominous words echoed around the desolate station. The black-clad Ascendant walked into the depths of station.
276 274 301 AniZhuanchangEnd You have no idea how long has been spent perusing the files as the info continues to flood the thoughts.
277 275 201 1 1091001
278 276 301 1 Bianca You've been reading the files for quite some time. What are your thoughts? 1
279 277 302 What is Roland's plan, exactly? 278
280 278 301 Bianca I'm wondering the same thing. 1
281 279 301 Bianca The more I go over the files, the more enigmatic he seems. 1
282 280 302 It's like sinking into a puddle of mud. 281
283 281 301 Bianca Yes, it seems like his inner core is in a state of chaos. 1
284 282 301 Bianca Also, take a look at the encounter records. 1
285 283 302 Our damages continue to go up... 284
286 284 301 Bianca He uses a variety of methods, including dueling, commanding the Corrupted to strike, and assassinations. The battles, however, always end with our victory. 1
287 285 301 Bianca As though everything has been choreographed. 1
288 286 302 It's beyond me. 287
289 287 301 Bianca Agreed... But regardless of the truth, he remains a target to be eliminated. 1
290 288 301 Bianca Now I'll show you a few battle scenarios when you encounter Roland. Are you ready? 1
291 289 302 What kind of battles? 290
292 290 301 Bianca Various types. We'll demonstrate as many scenarios as possible. 1
293 291 301 Bianca I've loaded the combat AI from Virtual Horizon into the system to let you adapt to the battle scenarios in KI.GAL Archives. Your experience may be similar to that of the experiment. 1
294 292 302 Understood. Then let's get started. 293
