3 3 301 DialogEnable With your combined efforts, you have defeated the last of them. However, among their familiar mechanical bodies, you find some unfamiliar Corrupted.
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5 5 201 2 500166 0
6 6 201 3 500026 600
7 7 301 1 Liv What are these things? 1
8 8 301 Lucia Looks like the fused Corrupted on the train. 2
9 9 302 Does this have anything to do with the Red Tide? 10
10 10 301 Liv We still don't have enough intel. Lee, can you use the Spear of F.O.S. to restore their memory? 1
11 11 301 Lee I'm trying. 3
12 12 301 Lee I can pick up their data, but it can't be deciphered. 3
13 13 302 Are there any other clues? 14
14 14 301 Lucia Once we've watched the final segment, this area will be clear. 2
15 15 302 Let's proceed to the next area. 16
16 16 202 1 2 3 1
17 17 301 At that point, your comms indicator flashes again.
54 54 301 Asimov These bodies... They're starting to show biological signs never before seen in Corrupted. 2
55 55 301 Asimov Perhaps we should no longer call them Corrupted. Based on their composition, it would be more appropriate to call them "Hetero-Creatures". 2
56 56 302 They're evolving biologically? 57
57 57 301 Asimov Correct. However, based on the intel you sent back, there are still a lot of unknowns. 2
58 58 301 Asimov But after breaking down the components of the Red Tide by their functions, we can determine that it closely resembles the primordial ocean on Earth. 2
59 59 302 So, the Hetero-Creatures are born from the Red Tide? 60
60 60 301 Asimov We still can't say conclusively. But given how related they are, it is highly possible. 2
61 61 301 Asimov How large is the Red Tide now? 2
62 62 203 2 0.25 400
63 63 201 1 500166 -400
64 64 301 1 Lucia It can already cover an entire city block. We've also used the Spear of F.O.S. to uncover records of a missing squad. We've only just sent their discoveries back because of the signal issues. 1
65 65 301 Lucia According to them, the Red Tide was more like a red fountain previously, and it was hiding underground. But in just a short amount of time, it turned into a rising tide that could submerge an entire block. 1
66 66 301 Asimov lowers his head and shifts his glance from the report on Hetero-Creature to the information on the missing team.
67 67 301 Asimov The rate of expansion... 2
68 68 302 You worry that it might cover the entire planet? 69 Will Hetero-Creatures replace humankind? 69
69 69 301 Asimov ... 2
70 70 301 Asimov We can't rule out that possibility, but we also can't panic just because it's possible. 2
71 71 301 Asimov We must investigate further. Aside from this report, do you have any new information on the Red Tide? 2
72 72 302 There's only one more thing. 73
73 73 201 2 500146 1 400
74 74 301 1 Murray Well, tell us. 2
75 75 301 Lucia While investigating the missing team, we also found out that the Red Tide can retain the consciousness of the dead. 1
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77 77 301 1 Asimov Yes, I saw this information in the report. 2
78 78 301 Asimov Whether the Red Tide is imitating the dead, or it really does retain their consciousness, the situation looks bleak. 2
79 79 301 Asimov It means that it can lure unwitting people into the Red Tide. 2
80 80 302 ...Lure people into it. 81
81 81 301 Asimov Also, it may be able to use the data it collects from their consciousness to evolve its own consciousness... and become a real living organism. 2
82 82 301 Lucia ...It's still expanding. It even actively moves to places where Corrupted gather to devour them, growing even further. 1
83 83 301 Asimov Predatory behavior... 2
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85 85 301 1 Liv However, the Corrupted don't completely dissolve. Rather, they're... dismantled in the Red Tide. 1
86 86 301 Liv They become parts. 1
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88 88 301 1 Lucia If the Red Tide crashes into humans, they will be hit and maybe even killed by these scraps before they drown. 1
89 89 301 Asimov Dismantled... into parts? Is it because they can't be dissolved, or... 2
90 90 301 Asimov keeps his unproven speculation to himself before throwing out a question.
91 91 301 Asimov What do you think the Red Tide will evolve into? 2
92 92 301 Lucia It'll accelerate the spread of the Punishing Virus while continuing to expand. 1
93 93 201 2 500146 400
94 95 301 1 Murray Is that all? 2
95 96 302 Is that... "all"? 97
96 97 301 Murray nods. Asimov stops his work and turns to see him smiling by his side.
97 98 301 Murray I just received a report from another team. They were stationed further away, and they hadn't had direct contact with the Red Tide, but they spoke with the scavengers nearby. 2
98 99 301 Murray Recently, a large number of Corrupted have been gathering in the ruins, where there have been reports of unused supplies. 2
99 100 301 Murray However, no one that ventured into the ruins has ever returned. Who do you think is responsible for this? 2
100 101 302 Could it be the Ascendants? 102
101 102 301 Murray It's highly likely. The scavengers gave a vague description, but early accounts seem to share some resemblance. 2
102 103 301 Murray At this rate, even if Huaxu didn't lead us here, we would've investigated this area due to the rumors or the sheer number of teams that would have gone missing here. 2
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104 105 301 1 Lee This means they have a trump card in their hand. Once it matures, they will have something as powerful, if not more, than the Ascendants. 1
105 106 201 1 500166 -400
106 107 301 1 Lucia Matures? 1
107 108 201 1 500026 -400
108 109 301 1 Lee They needed to keep it a secret in the past, but now they're no longer afraid of people spreading rumors or our squads going missing. That can only mean that their trump card is almost ready to be deployed. 1
109 110 301 Lee In other words, although the Red Tide and Hetero-Creatures pose a threat, they can't overpower us any time soon. And yet they still carry out their plan, which means there must be an even greater threat. 1
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111 112 301 1 Asimov I think so too. Now that we have obtained this information, we need to destroy this immature trump card before they can play it. 2
112 113 201 2 500146 1 400
113 114 301 1 Murray Of course it didn't take you long to figure it out, Lee. 2
114 115 301 Lee Anyone would have come to the same conclusion with this information. 1
115 116 301 Murray But we don't have enough intel yet. Commandant, Lee, please report back if you have any new information. 2
118 120 301 1 Asimov Can you leave my lab first? 1
119 122 301 Murray Alright, alright. No problem. 2
120 123 301 Murray I was just here because you looked anxious from all the news on the Red Tide, so I wanted to coordinate with you on the new information as soon as possible. Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. 2
121 124 301 Asimov ... 1
122 125 301 Asimov I appreciate the gesture, but you can sort out the information later and give it to me then. 1
123 126 301 Murray Alright, I'll be going now. 2
124 127 301 Murray nods to Asimov, then waves to the camera.
125 128 301 Murray Be careful, everyone. Especially you, Lee. Don't get carried away. 2
146 149 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Following the direction of the projection leaving, you see Roland smiling as usual while talking with a boy.
147 150 301 Lucia Who's the boy?
148 151 301 The four of you look at the boy, who stares at Roland angrily and appears slightly injured.
149 152 302 They don't look like they're companions. 153
150 153 301 Perhaps because they have distanced themselves from the Corrupted at the scene, you only see them gesturing in conversation without hearing what they are saying.
151 154 301 Suddenly, the boy angrily smashes his fist against the wall, forming a crack in the projected wall.
152 155 302 This strength... 156
153 156 301 Lucia Looks like the boy is a Construct, too.
154 157 301 Their conversation does not appear to be a pleasant one. Despite Roland's dissuasion, the boy runs to the end of the street out of sight of the onlooking Corrupted. At this point, the projections disappear.
