6 6 301 DialogEnable 1 No. 20 When you leave the institute... 21, what do you want to do? 2
7 7 301 No. 21 Want to do? I don't understand. 1
8 8 301 No. 20 Ugh... Don't you like doing anything? 2
9 9 301 No. 20 Like I wanna read tons of books... I wanna wear tons of clothes! I wanna go to the beach! I wanna lay in a field of flowers. I wanna... 2
10 10 301 The girl before her begins counting the number of things she wants to do on her fingertips.
11 11 301 No. 21 has never read a book. She has never worn any other clothes. She does not know what a "beach" is. She has never seen a field of flowers.
12 12 204 1 3
13 13 301 No. 21 When I leave... what do I want to do...? 1
14 14 301 No. 21 struggles to think of something. All she knows is what is written on her daily schedule. If there is anything that she could hope for, it might be new colors or smells other than what was in the institute.
15 15 301 No. 21 sees her reflection in No. 20's glimmering eyes, and she finds herself muted and dull.
16 16 204 1
17 17 301 No. 21 Experiments... 1
18 18 301 No. 20 Huh? What'd you say? 2
19 19 301 No. 21 ...Complete experiments. 1
20 20 301 No. 20 Huh? 2
21 21 301 No. 21 Complete all the experiments. That's what I want to do. 1
22 22 301 No. 20 That's so boring! You're just like all the other test subjects! All you guys think about is completing experiments. 2
23 23 301 No. 21 looks down. She does not quite understand what No. 20 is talking about, nor does she understand where the twinkle in her eyes comes from, or even why No. 20 behaves so differently from her.
24 24 301 She looks at the back of her hand. A bruise had formed after such a long period attached to an IV, and it's covered with medical tape. She never thought about what she should do if she left the institute, because she had no answer. Someone else would tell her what to do. She just needs to do it.
25 25 301 No. 20 Anyway... Even if you don't know, you'll leave the institute soon enough. 2
26 26 301 No. 20 It's almost time for my modification surgery... You might be a bit of an airhead, but I still don't wanna leave you. 2
27 27 301 No. 20 While I'm gone, you better think of what you wanna do! 2
35 35 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Vera Why are you here so early? 1
36 36 301 Vera interrupts No. 21's recollection. She looks up to see Vera standing at the entrance to the training room. Her eyebrows are raised as she asks.
37 37 301 No. 21 ...The hand is at the six, so I woke up and started the mission. 2
38 38 301 Vera Huh? You mean 6 o'clock? 1
39 39 301 Vera looks at the clock hanging on the wall in the training room. The clock reads 10 o'clock, meaning No. 21 had been sitting here for several hours.
40 40 301 Vera Next time you get here so early, start training by yourself. 1
41 41 301 No. 21 Oh. Understood. 2
42 42 301 Vera Also, when I say something, you better listen up. Don't make me tell you a second time. 1
43 43 301 No. 21 Oh... Okay. 2
44 44 301 Vera Well, let's begin. Put this on and warm up. 1
45 45 301 Vera throws her a small M.I.N.D. simulator. She follows Vera's instructions and attaches it to her temples.
52 52 301 The scenery around them begins to change. Weeds and rocks grow on the ground, the sun appears in the sky, and hot wind blows through the air.
53 53 301 No. 21 Where am I? 2
54 54 301 Vera It's just a simulated environment. Don't worry just yet... 1
55 55 401 1 40
56 56 301 No. 21 smells the air. She smells a hot, arid scent along with other peculiar smells. Her whole body is tense and excited by all the novelties around her.
57 57 301 Vera Let's make a few things clear. One, listen to all of my commands when we're in battle. Two... 1
58 58 301 No. 21 hears a faint sound from behind a rock. Turning around quickly, a mechanoid springs out from behind and rushes toward her.
72 72 301 Vera pulls out her blade from the back of the mechanoid's head, and smiles arrogantly. Her red eyes twinkle with a light more radiant than the distant sun. Her red frame glows like a goddess emerging out of flames.
73 73 301 The intense red dazzles No. 21's eyes. Her heart begins to race again. A voice in the depths of her M.I.N.D. screams for more.
77 77 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Vera finally realizes that No. 21 does indeed have unparalleled talent on the battlefield. She fights with the frenzy of a beast in an arena.
78 78 301 This is a sharp contrast from the clueless new recruit she had seen earlier.
79 79 301 No. 21's synergy with the Co-Bot is far greater than any team Vera had witnessed in Kurono. The silly little robot functions as an extension of herself.
80 80 301 ...At the same time, as their training progressed, she begins to uncover No. 21's issues in battle.
81 81 301 No. 21 has no understanding of the concept of "defense," nor does she know how to fight together with others.
82 82 301 As soon as she engages in combat, she becomes a rabid dog without a leash. She ignores orders and is unable to restrain herself. She fights without discretion until all Corrupted are destroyed.
83 83 301 Her combat module seems to only have one command: kill everything.
84 84 201 1 500168
85 85 301 1 Vera Enough... No. 21, stop! 1
86 86 201 1 500328 5
87 87 301 1 No. 21 Hiss— 1
88 88 301 RImgBg1Shake Right as No. 21's pupils narrow, she pounces on the nearest Corrupted. The Co-Bot traps the Corrupted in a force field, then the laser cannon floating beside her fires a beam of light, blowing up the Corrupted.
89 89 201 1 500168
90 90 301 1 Vera ...Just great. 1
91 91 301 Vera has no intention of stopping the combat simulation. Her first priority is to put the rabid dog on a leash.
92 92 301 Vera slashes an attacking Corrupted with her blade as she tries to close in on No. 21.
93 93 301 Sensing someone approach, No. 21 roars menacingly and launches an attack on Vera, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
94 94 401 2 10007501
95 95 401 2 10002001
96 96 301 PanelActor1Shake Vera blocks the blast from No. 21's laser cannon, then leans back to avoid the following blow from the Co-Bot. Right as the Co-Bot passes by, she throws her blade with all her might. The flying blade pierces through the Co-Bot's mechanical arm and nails it firmly to the ground.
134 134 301 The surrounding environment changes rapidly, turning back into the empty training room. The only sound is of the two Constructs struggling to catch their breath.
135 135 301 Vera relaxes her hold on No. 21, who sits motionlessly on the floor.
136 136 301 Vera Came to your senses, huh? 1
137 137 401 2 558
138 138 301 Vera pulls out her weapon sticking out of the Co-Bot. It twitches as it exudes a wisp of black smoke.
139 139 201 1 500328 5
140 140 301 1 No. 21 ... 1
141 141 204 1
142 142 301 No. 21 ...Yes. 1
143 143 203 1 0.25 -400
144 144 201 2 500168 400
145 145 301 1 Vera What'd I say? When we're in combat, you have to listen to my every command. 2
146 146 204 1 3
147 147 301 No. 21 ... 1
148 148 301 No. 21 ...I can't control myself. 1
149 149 301 Vera Then you better start learning. 2
150 150 204 1
151 151 301 No. 21 I can't... 1
152 152 301 Vera Don't say you "can't." 2
153 153 202 1 1
154 154 203 2 0.25
155 155 401 2 10002001
156 156 301 Vera slashes her sword, causing the sharp blade to slice through the air with a loud "shink!" She looks down at No. 21 with an expression similar to when they first met.
157 157 301 Vera On your feet. Keep going. 2
158 158 301 The tone in her voice... it sounds like there is nothing she cannot do. For some reason, No. 21 cannot help but believe what the Construct before her is saying. Is it because of her threatening color? Or the light in her eyes?
159 159 201 2 500328 5 1
160 160 301 1 No. 21 ...Understood. 2
161 161 401 1 31
162 162 301 No. 21 stands up. To Vera's surprise, she becomes reinvigorated with energy and a spring in her step.
163 163 301 Is this the "desire" that the Construct spoke of?
164 164 301 AniZhuanchangBegin If so—then this is what No. 21 wants to do.
181 181 301 Vera slashes downward. The Corrupted loses its balance and falls toward her. With a flick of her wrist, she adeptly pierces it's torso... and the head of the Corrupted behind it.
182 182 204 2 13
183 183 301 Vera Sometimes you have to defend in order to kill more Corrupted effectively—duh. 2
184 184 301 Vera Corrupted don't have minds of their own, but we do. Don't stoop to their level and fight like a rabid dog. 2
191 191 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Vera When I order you to defend—! 2
192 192 301 No. 21 I step back! 1
193 193 301 No. 21 rolls back toward Vera. The two Constructs stand back-to-back, surrounded by the approaching Corrupted like they're in the eye of the storm. However, they aren't afraid... On the contrary, they're filled with excitement and anticipation.
197 197 301 RImgBg1Shake As No. 21 roars, the Co-Bot leaps into battle, unleashing a force field that imprisons the Corrupted closest to them while Vera's blade severs their memory shells.
198 198 401 2 10007502
199 199 202 1 2
200 200 502 RImgBg1Shake
201 201 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The center of the storm begins to erupt with explosions, rippling outward in a dazzling display of fireworks.
214 214 301 AniZhuanchangEnd At 6 o'clock, No. 21 opens her eyes to see herself lying on a pure white bed.
215 215 401 1 208
216 216 301 No. 21 finds herself in a new room next to Vera's. The bedding in this room is pure white.
217 217 301 At 7 o'clock, No. 21 completes her routine frame inspection and maintenance. She opens the terminal Vera gave her. Even though she's still unfamiliar with how to use it, she's learned to record some simple notes on it.
218 218 301 "Inspect and repair frame" complete. Next is, "attack training."
219 219 301 No. 21 faces the wall and begins to practice.
220 220 401 2 10007502
221 221 301 Despite exercising caution... she accidentally shatters a glass wall.
222 222 301 At 8 o'clock, No. 21 sits at a desk in the break room. She takes a few small sips from a cup of piping hot black tea.
223 223 201 1 500168 -400
224 224 201 2 500328 400
225 225 301 1 Vera ... 1
226 226 301 No. 21 ? 2
227 227 301 Vera Why are you drinking that? 1
228 228 301 No. 21 Because you do. 2
229 229 301 Sitting beside No. 21, Vera resists the urge to smack her. Instead, she channels her anger into setting her own cup of tea forcefully on the table.
230 230 301 Vera Just do what I do in combat. Not everything else! 1
231 231 301 No. 21 ...Oh. 2
232 232 301 AniZhuanchangBegin No. 21 replies, then takes another sip.
234 234 301 AniZhuanchangEnd At 9 o'clock, No. 21 stands at the entrance to the training room, then turns to look at the red Construct approaching nearby.
235 235 301 Vera I wasted an hour of my sleep because of you. Look at me like that again, and I'll cut you. 1
236 236 301 No. 21 Time to start combat training. 2
237 237 301 Vera Are you really trying to hurry me along? 1
238 238 301 No. 21 ... 2
239 239 301 Vera For today's training, you need to learn to stop fighting at a moment's notice. If you can't, you'll just get thrown out with the trash. 1
244 244 301 AniZhuanchangEnd At 6 o'clock, they finish their training. Vera walks through the hall, only to be stopped by two Constructs.
245 245 201 1 500019 -400
246 246 201 2 500168 400
247 247 301 1 ??? Looks like you've got yourself a little pet. Not bad, Vera. 1
248 248 301 Vera Out of my way. 2
249 249 301 ??? Who knows, you might actually cry when you lose her. 1
250 250 301 Vera pulls out her blade. No. 21 arches her back and snarls, threateningly. The Co-Bot somehow manages to sneak up behind them and jumps on one of their heads, clasping his head with its mechanical arm.
251 251 301 PanelActor1Shake 1 ??? Huh? AHHHHHHH—! Wh-what is this thing?! I can't see! 1
252 252 301 ??? Wh-what the hell is that thing!! 1
253 253 202 1 2 1
254 254 201 1 500303
255 255 301 1 Kurono Guard Hey, you! Constructs, what do you think you're doing?! 1
256 256 201 1 500168 2
257 257 301 1 Vera (Scoffs) 1
258 258 301 Vera sheaths her blade.
259 259 202 1 1
260 260 301 The Co-Bot scurries off the Construct's head and returns to No. 21's side.
261 261 201 1 500328
262 262 301 1 No. 21 glares at the Constructs. Her cold eyes make the Constructs tremble.
263 263 201 1 500019
264 264 301 1 ??? Y-you guys are m-monsters... Let's get outta here! 1
265 265 301 Vera casts a sideways glance at the fleeing Constructs with disdain. Her glare burns like scorching fire.
