4 4 301 DialogEnable 1 Nikola How's it going...? 1
5 5 301 The Kurono researcher briefly salutes Nikola as he enters the research lab before shifting his gaze intensely back at the modification bay separated by a pane of glass.
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7 7 301 1 Researcher Looks like everything is going surprisingly smoothly. The orphans have already completed body modifications. 1
8 8 202 1 1
9 9 301 Nikola nods as the corners of his tightly pursed lips seem to relax ever so faintly.
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11 11 301 1 Human Soldier Hmph... Even if the modification is successful, are these kids really suitable for combat? 1
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13 13 301 1 Researcher We have no other choice. They will serve as test subjects for Tantalum-193 affinity. Most of our data has been collected from orphans like them... 1
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15 15 301 1 Nikola How long until modification is complete? 1
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17 17 301 1 Researcher Um... Well, all that's left now is to install the Inver-Device... 1
18 18 202 1 1
19 19 301 The Inver-Device serves as the Constructs' vital defense against the Punishing Virus. It helps stabilize their M.I.N.D. and resist corruption.
20 20 301 This is humanity's only glimmer of hope in the fight against the Corrupted.
23 23 301 A deafening silence falls upon the research lab as everyone nervously awaits the final results. This is the closest they have ever come to success.
25 25 301 The researcher eagerly issues the report, but the others stifle their cheers. If it had not been for Nikola's presence, they would have jumped for joy.
26 26 201 1 500012
27 27 301 DialogDisable 1 Nikola Alright, carry on... This time we can finally... 1
28 28 202 1 1
29 29 401 1 202
30 30 401 1500 2 1501
31 31 301 DialogEnable Without warning, an ear-piercing alarm erases the hard-earned smiles off their faces.
32 32 301 Even though all of the children should have still been under the effects of anesthesia, a feeble body on the operating table curls up in agony and lets out a blood-curdling scream.
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34 34 301 1 White-haired Girl Aaaargh!!! 1
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36 36 301 1 Nikola Hey! Get away from her! 1
37 37 202 1 1
38 38 301 Nikola is the first to react, but he is too late. The girl bursts out from the incubator and sends a nearby bewildered researcher flying into the wall.
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40 40 301 1 Researcher Corruption... critical... and rising! 1
41 41 301 Everyone can tell that the little girl has already become a Corrupted.
42 42 203 1 0.25 400
43 43 201 2 500012 -400
44 44 301 1 Nikola ...Was she corrupted by the Punishing Virus? 2
45 45 301 Researcher Impossible! The CPF is operational, not to mention the multiple Iso-Devices in the operating room. How can... 1
46 46 301 Nikola Impossible? How dare you have the audacity to say such a thing in the face of that? 2
47 47 301 Humanity has the faintest idea about the Punishing Virus... and the intel available is no doubt partially hidden, intentionally or not.
48 48 301 Researcher Sir... What should we... 1
49 49 301 Nikola looks at the little girl struggling from the effects of Punishing Virus—her name is Luna, the younger of two sisters who just so happen to come to the foundation.
50 50 202 1 2 1
51 51 201 1 500254 19
52 52 301 1 Luna Argh... S-sis... Ahhh! 1
53 53 202 1 1
54 54 301 With such a high failure rate, Nikola never bothers to remember their names. But for some reason, the sisters have left an impression on him.
55 55 201 1 500012
56 56 301 1 Nikola Take her out... before the virus spreads. 1
57 57 301 Bitterly, he issues the order through gritted teeth. The surrounding soldiers quietly grip their guns—perhaps out of habit, not compliance.
58 58 202 1 1
59 59 301 ??? Look here, minions. Enough chit-chat and freaking out. Your business is done here. Get out of here!
60 60 301 The door of the research lab is kicked open as a squad of heavily-armed soldiers pour into the room. A tall middle-aged man stands in front of them, hunched over with a wretched demeanor.
61 61 202 1 1
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63 63 301 1 Human Soldier Hey! Who do you guys think you are! 1
64 64 202 1 1
65 65 301 Nikola immediately stops the commotion, shakes his head and motions for them to comply with the order. Only once all of the soldiers have exited the premises does he speak to the man who burst into the room.
66 66 201 1 500012
67 67 301 1 Nikola Collins... What brings you here? 1
68 68 203 1 0.25 -400
69 69 201 2 500258 400
70 70 301 1 Collins These veterans have all passed the test for Tantalum-193 affinity. They are ready to undergo surgery and form a task force to fight the Corrupted. 2
71 71 301 Collins I will be in charge of this squad for the time being. Consider me your superior, boy. 2
72 72 301 Although he hates being called "boy," he does not want to waste any more time with him.
73 73 301 Nikola Sorry, I don't have time to reminisce with you, sir. We were just... 1
74 74 301 Collins I know, I know. You just had an incident with the Punishing Virus. A Corrupted appeared here, did it not? 2
75 75 301 Collin pushes Nikola aside and saunters into the research lab, approaching the corrupted Luna.
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78 78 301 1 Luna AAAAGGHHH! 1
79 79 301 Unable to control herself, Luna waves her slender arm and smashes it against the reinforced glass separating the operating room and the laboratory. The superhuman force of her arm cracks the multi-layered glass.
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82 82 301 1 Collins Hmph... You see, dear boy. Isn't she a cutie? She wants to kill me with every ounce of her being. Such pure and unbridled malice. 2
83 83 301 Collins gently rubs the cracking reinforced glass and looks at Luna. Nikola can even see some semblance of "craving" in his eyes.
84 84 301 Collins Compared with them, human beings are so much more twisted and complex... Even the act of killing requires them to find a good enough excuse. 2
85 85 301 Nikola pulls Collin a safe distance away from Luna and whispers—
86 86 301 Nikola What the hell do you know... Collins? What is the Inver-Device? Why does it trigger the Punishing Virus? 1
87 87 204 2 14
88 88 301 Collins Believe me, dear boy, I would love—absolutely love—to tell you everything I know. But, I'm sorry, you do not have the clearance... not yet. 2
89 89 204 2
90 90 301 Collins Please inform your subordinates that what happened here today is strictly confidential and should not be leaked in any form. Otherwise, we will meet again... in another form. 2
91 91 301 Collins puts his hand on Nikola's shoulder and whispers so that only he can hear.
92 92 301 Collins You and I have survived this long in Kurono because we understand what it means to "follow the rules." 2
93 93 301 Nikola shrugs off his hand and leaves without turning to look at him.
94 94 301 Nikola I see. 1
95 95 301 Collins Dear boy, don't show your teeth unless you know for a fact that your bite would kill... 2
96 96 301 Hearing this, Nikola relaxes his clenched fist—or rather, forces himself to.
97 97 202 1 1
98 98 203 2 0.25
99 99 301 Collins Well then, goodbye for now. I'll be waiting for you to reach my level—waiting for you to open your eyes and make up your mind. 2
100 100 301 After confirming that Nikola and the other researchers have left the room, Collins turns and stands before the squad members once more.
101 101 301 Finally, Luna manages to smash through the fortified glass with her continued barrage of attacks. Shattered shards fly past Collins, who remains unflinching as he lets out a wicked grin.
102 102 301 Collins Get to work. Kill the Corrupted and all the potential Corrupted. 2
103 103 202 2 1
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105 105 301 1 Operation Leader But... Sir, the other modified children aren't showing any signs of corruption... 1
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107 107 301 1 Collins Hehe, is there something faulty with your transmitters? Fine. Let me repeat myself one more time. Kill the Corrupted and all of the potential Corrupted. 1
108 108 301 Collins pats the leader on the shoulder, then grins.
109 109 301 Collins If I have to repeat myself one more time, I'll lose my already very generous temper. 1
110 110 301 The leader grits his teeth, then aims his rifle at the group of teenagers dreaming about their new lives as Constructs.
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112 112 301 1 Operation Leader Sorry... 1
113 113 202 1 1
114 114 301 The dense firepower smothers his words, making him inaudible. The others also join him in his apology, even though no one can bring themselves to say it out loud.
115 115 301 Collins gently hums among the flashing gunfire, as if reveling in an extraordinary performance. However, his smile quickly sours.
116 116 301 Although bathed in a storm of bullets, Luna remains standing and walks toward Collins, one step at a time.
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118 118 301 1 Collins What are you doing... Can't you just stick to the script... 1
119 119 201 1 500254 17
120 120 301 1 Luna Ugh... Aaargh! 1
121 121 301 Luna covers her head and unleashes a beastly roar, then rushes at Collins with unprecedented speed, but stops right before she can crush his throat.
122 122 301 Luna desperately grabs her hand in an attempt to suppress her desire to attack Collins, seemingly to Collins' dissatisfaction.
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124 124 301 1 Collins Hey, hey, that's it?! 1
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126 126 301 1 ??? Sir! Stay back!!! 1
127 127 202 1 1
128 128 301 A nearby soldier rushes forward, knocking Luna to the ground with his gunstock, steps on her, and unloads his magazine into her limbs.
129 129 301 He empties his magazine and pulls out his pistol to aim it between her eyes, only to discover that Luna begins to weep.
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131 131 301 1 Luna Lucia... Sis, where are you?! I wanna go home... 1
132 132 201 1 500005
133 133 301 1 ??? Corrupted... can cry? 1
134 134 202 1 1
135 135 301 Collins grabs the pistol from the dumbfounded soldier and shoots Luna until the magazine is empty.
141 141 301 Collins Hiro, my dear boy. Regardless if they look human or not, there's nothing human about a Corrupted. Any sign of emotion might just be a trick to catch you off guard. 1
142 142 301 Hiro But she was still human a few minutes ago... 2
143 143 301 Collins gives Hiro a swift kick in the rear.
144 144 301 Collins You won't have much longer to live if you don't quit acting so gullible. Or do you want to hurry back to Mommy? 1
145 145 301 Hiro Yes... sir... 2
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147 147 201 1 500005
148 148 301 1 Operation Leader About the Corrupted and potential Corrupted... How should we dispose of them? 1
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150 150 301 1 Collins Throw them in the trash disposal facility where they belong. I'll leave the trash to you... 1
151 151 202 1 1
152 152 301 Luna ...
153 153 301 Collins looks at the ravaged Luna and sighs before waving at his subordinates, then walks away.
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155 155 301 1 Collins Hmph... I'm always left to take out the trash. Can't something happen to get the blood pumping for a change? 1
156 156 301 Collins Like the arrival of mankind's true savior! Or... the birth of the last destroyer of mankind! What do you have to say about that? 1
157 157 301 The officer nods in confusion, not knowing what his superior is going on about.
158 158 204 1 7
159 159 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Collins Hmph... What a bore... 1