5 5 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The transport craft lifts off at the speed of a rocket. The number on the altimeter climbs; by the time you soar above the clouds, moonlight floods the windshields as if welcoming you to a whole new world.
6 6 301 And yet, you are in no mood to appreciate the scenery or to celebrate being free.
7 7 301 Your body is hit by a massive force several times your weight from the thrust. It presses against your chest, making it hard for you to breathe.
8 8 301 The old wound below your chest aches once more, while your stomach feels like it's being tossed around. It has been quite some time since you last ate, fortunately. You would have thrown up already otherwise.
9 9 301 Vera might be an exceptional fighter, but an excellent pilot she is not.
10 10 301 The acceleration has barely affected the Construct. Glancing at you, Vera sees your pale, wrinkled face, and instead of her usual mockery, she makes a quiet "Tch" before pulling up the craft for an easier climb angle.
11 11 301 She has not slowed down the aircraft, however. The dots representing your pursuers are still behind you on the radar, the Mach number on the monitor rising with a clattering sound.
12 12 201 1 500168
13 13 301 1 Vera Tough it out. We're fleeing right now. I don't have time to worry about your physical condition. 1
14 14 301 Where are we heading?
15 15 301 —That is what you wanted to ask Vera, but you barely have the strength to open your mouth right now.
16 16 202 1 1
17 17 301 Your pursuers' dots on the radars, however, are disappearing one by one.
18 18 301 It seems that the Kurono forces are not as persistent as you have thought... Something does not line up, but you will have to worry about that later.
19 19 301 You tilt your head slightly and notice Vera's striking profile.
20 20 301 Unlike everyone else you know, she has never treated you with kindness. If anything, she has directly or indirectly clashed with your team on occasion.
21 21 301 Still—helpless and alone, your only option right now is to trust her.
22 22 302 AniZhuanchangBegin (Close your eyes.) 23
29 29 301 DialogEnable You must have passed out once temporarily.
30 30 401 1 208
31 31 301 Because you find yourself lying down in the cabin when you open your eyes again.
32 32 301 Vera kneels next to you, her hand holding up an IV drip. A tube connects the bag in her hand to the needle attached to the vein on the back of your hand.
33 33 301 You feel a breeze over your chest. Looking down, you find Vera's other hand resting there. She seems to have been examining your conditions while you were out.
34 34 301 Noticing that you are awake, she lifts her hand slightly, her fingertip gliding to the side along your ribcage from the center of your chest before pressing down with a slight force.
35 35 301 RImgBg1Shake The piercing pain makes you curl up involuntarily. Immediately, your body shoots up, and you sit on the floor, Vera's hand sliding off you.
36 36 201 1 500168
37 37 301 1 Vera Hmph. You look perfectly fine to me. Hold this yourself. 1
38 38 202 1 1
39 39 301 She throws the IV bag to you before heading back to the cockpit.
40 40 301 The fluids in the IV bag are almost empty. You must have been injected quite a while ago.
41 41 301 Removing the needle and wiping away the blood where it was attached, you find yourself much more spirited when you stand up.
42 42 301 The plane is on autopilot right now. The low hum of the engine gently rocks you in a way that feels comforting.
43 43 301 The radar is clear. Vera seems to have shaken off your pursuers long ago.
44 44 301 She is sitting on the pilot seat now, polishing her long sword quietly.
45 45 302 What exactly is going on? 46 You performed first-aid on me? 49
46 46 201 1 500168
47 47 301 1 Vera No idea. I'm just following orders. 1
48 48 54 301 Vera The Chief Commander asked me to get you out and take you to the designated location. 1
49 49 201 1 500168
50 50 301 1 She raises a brow, seemingly surprised that this is your first question.
51 51 301 Vera I did, yes. 1
52 52 301 Vera What's with the look? Do you not believe that I'd do it, or do you think I'd do a piss-poor job of it? 1
53 53 301 Vera Don't worry. I didn't put a bomb inside you if that's what you're wondering. We'll table that idea. 1
54 54 302 Thanks. 55
55 55 301 Vera's eyes widen for just a little bit. She narrows them again immediately and teases you.
56 56 204 1 1
57 57 301 Vera Do you think a simple "thanks" is enough? 1
58 58 301 Vera I saved your life, after all. You should present something more important as a token of gratitude, shouldn't you? 1
62 62 301 Her blade swings toward you right as you stop speaking.
63 63 301 She holds the spine of her sword to your neck, lifting your chin ever so slightly.
64 64 301 The deadly weapon in her hand looks more like a cat wand that teases you right now.
65 65 301 You cannot tell if she is being serious or simply joking.
66 66 301 Vera Like you yourself. 1
67 67 301 Seeing your dumbfounded expressions, Vera grins mischievously.
68 68 301 Vera Don't take it the wrong way. It's just that everyone's trying to get a piece of you when I'm holding you right here. 1
69 69 301 The spine of her blade slightly "grates" your chin.
70 70 301 Vera What a predicament. Don't you think I can trade you for anything I want right now? 1
71 71 302 ... 72 You won't. 74
72 72 301 Vera (Laughs) I wish you could see your face right now. 1
73 73 78 301 Vera That's right. Keep your gullible expectations to yourself. 1
74 74 204 1
75 75 301 Vera What a humdrum response. 1
76 76 204 1 1
77 77 301 Vera I recommend against trusting someone like me so blindly. 1
78 78 301 Vera I'm not the kind and loving type like those on your squad. 1
79 79 302 How about those on yours? 80
80 80 204 1
81 81 301 Her grin instantly disappears. Expressionless, she retracts her blade and sheaths it, the sound it makes almost piercingly painful.
82 82 301 It does not seem like she is going to answer you, but it is not difficult for you to imagine what No. 21 and Noctis are going through right now.
83 83 301 Vera Enough with that expression. It's repulsive. 1
84 84 301 Vera My team isn't some loser squad like yours. They will take care of themselves. 1
85 85 202 1 1
86 86 301 Despite her words, her slightly furrowed brows have nonetheless revealed her worry.
87 87 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Just like how you are missing the Gray Raven, Vera must be feeling the same thing even when she refuses to show it before you.
88 88 401 1 10
89 89 301 AniZhuanchangEnd There is only silence between you once again.
90 90 301 The sky, the clouds, and even the ocean are dull gray outside the porthole.
91 91 301 The machine-like coldness fills your field of view.
92 92 301 The aircraft you are on becomes the only "living thing" in this monotonous world, tearing through the sky toward the horizon.
93 93 401 1 12
94 94 301 As your vision gets tired from the unchanging view, a small spike-shaped shadow pierces through the ocean surface in the distance. It appears so abruptly that the shock has you fully awake.
95 95 301 A second spike, and then a third one... Gradually they unveil before you.
96 96 301 Like witnessing the sunrise, something spectacular and overwhelming rises from behind the horizon and reveals itself.
97 97 301 What rises is not a star, however. It is a man-made structure so breathtaking that it might as well be a miracle.
98 98 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The shadow looms larger and larger. Before you realize it, you are already gasping in awe.
101 101 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Six metallic-gray spires form a giant circle on the ocean, surrounding the taller, seventh spire in the center. Just the sheer size of the shadow this group of structures cast is enough to humble you.
102 102 301 Verne's Mysterious Island could not hold a candle to this floating fortress even if it were real.
103 103 301 You can hardly describe your reverence with words. You imagine this is what western colonists felt when they first encountered the Mayan pyramids in the American forest.
104 104 301 AniZhuanchangBegin You instinctively hold your breath, stopping yourself from gasping again, fearing that any sound would awake whatever slumbers here.
105 105 102 The Last Spark Chapter 15 Assets/Product/Texture/Atlas/CommonLogo/BgLogo1.png
106 106 502 5000 ThemeEnable
107 107 301 AniZhuanchangEnd You cannot begin to fathom what kind of radiation-absorbent material was used to turn this metropolis on the ocean invisible to your radar.
108 108 301 Vera has only the slightest shift in her body when she lays eyes on it. Immediately she refocuses and heads for the display in front of the pilot seat, calibrating.
109 109 301 Vera You see that red beacon?
110 110 301 You look toward where she is regarding and notices a red beacon floating in the water, a cube-shaped crate tied beneath it near the seaborne city's landing pad.
111 111 301 Looking drastically different from the cold and silent city it swims beside, the beacon is easily noticeable.
112 112 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Vera That's an airdropped beacon from the Chief Commander.
115 115 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Vera We've arrived, 【kuroname】. Prepare to jump. 1
116 116 302 Jump? 117
117 117 301 Vera frowns and looks annoyed.
118 118 301 Vera We took a Kurono aircraft. Don't you think they'll try to track this plane's signal once they snap out of their snafu? 1
119 119 301 Vera I'll enter a new destination for the plane's autopilot system, but this will only delay Kurono for a bit. Once they track down its wreckage and pull up its track record, they'll find us, sooner or later. 1
120 120 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Vera So stop standing there like an idiot and go find a chute. We're jumping. 1
125 125 301 AniZhuanchangEnd A white parachute opens above Vera and you, like a flower blossoming.
126 126 502 RImgBg1BlowUp
127 127 301 Yes. "A" parachute.
128 128 301 Vera fastens you to her with a harness as if you are a novice skydiver, and you descend at the same time.
129 129 301 Vera Given the landing spot is only the size of the landing pad, I didn't want you to land in the ocean. I don't need the extra work saving you from drowning.
130 130 301 You have had parachuting training, but you must admit that Constucts' artificial skin is way more sensitive to airflow and wind direction. Their reaction and response speed is also unrivaled by humans.
131 131 301 Controlling the steering toggles, Vera guides the two of you to the landing pad slowly and precisely.
132 132 301 The city was impressive when you observed it from up high in a distance. As you descend, its shape becomes clearer and clearer.
133 133 301 It is like an amalgamation of a fortress, a pyramid, a city, and a mountain range, but it is also so much more.
134 134 301 There is nothing in real life that can compare to its majesty and mystery. It looks more like a myth realized by humans with science and technology—a legend that has come alive.
135 135 301 —Atlantis, resting upon the Atlantic Ocean.
136 136 301 Like the lost city in those stories, it is a "ruin" without a sign of life. There is no activity you can detect here—no sound, light, electromagnetic wave, radiation, heat signature... Nothing.
137 137 301 Far to the east, dark, menacing thunderclouds are heading toward you. They block the sun with their enormous mass and cast a giant shadow where you are.
138 138 301 A better metaphor appears in your head.
139 139 301 A grave.
140 140 301 AniZhuanchangBegin It is a grave on the sea.
144 144 301 AniZhuanchangEnd When your feet finally touch the ground, you feel a sense of relief.
145 145 301 Vera releases your straps the moment you land. She ties the strings of the parachute to her waist and swiftly dives into the ocean, swimming toward the red beacon.
146 146 401 2 721
147 147 301 With her impressive strength, she ties the crate that is twice her size with the string soon after before pulling it up to the landing pad.
148 148 301 The crate is an airdrop capsule with the logo of the World Government printed outside. You are familiar with it—supply crates like this were airdropped from Babylonia back when you were fighting on the surface.
149 149 301 Except this one has a few characters laser engraved underneath the World Government logo.
150 150 301 GARNET.
151 151 301 What does that mean?
152 152 201 1 500168
153 153 301 1 Vera operates the identification interface that opens the crate for a while before turning to you, frowning.
154 154 302 (Walk up) 155 (Stay put) 157
155 155 301 Vera's brows relax.
156 156 158 301 Vera Guess you aren't a complete moron. 1
157 157 301 Vera Get over here. Only you have the clearance to open it. 1
158 158 202 1 1
159 159 301 Only commandants have the authority to open airdrop capsules with higher clearance.
160 160 302 (Put your face to the interface) 161
161 161 401 2 1515
162 162 301 You complete the retina scan and confirm your identity.
163 163 301 With the sound of gears turning, the supply crate opens up from the middle, its covers unfolding to the sides.
164 164 301 A frame that looks identical to Vera's appears before you.
165 165 302 What is this? 166 Is this your backup frame? 166
166 166 301 Vera does not answer you. She just stares at her other self in silence.
167 167 301 "It" lies quietly within the crate like a blade in its sheath or a rose frozen in time—except each of its petals is stained with blood.
168 168 301 An unmanned frame is a non-living thing, after all. But the lack of humanity is what makes it appear even more beautiful and deadly.
169 169 201 1 500168
170 170 301 1 Vera ...We're using this frame, huh? How "generous" of you, Chief Commander. 1
171 171 202 1 1
172 172 301 She walks to the frame, her hands on the capsule, her head lowered.
173 173 301 All her usual sharp edges seem to vanish at this moment. Looking at the frame, she has shades of her past reflected in her eyes.
174 174 301 Except that past does not seem to contain any good memories. Shrouded all over her is a more dreadful sentiment.
175 175 301 Vera's red hair drapes down, tangled with the red hair of the lifeless construct in the capsule.
176 176 301 And then—
177 177 201 1 500168 1
178 178 301 1 Vera Are you going to keep staring when I "change"? 1
179 179 301 She looks at you from the corner of her eyes, her gaze and tone playful.
180 180 302 (Turn around) 181 ? 185
181 181 202 1 1
182 182 301 1 Vera Oh, getting shy, are we? How adorable. 1
183 183 189 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Vera I don't mind you looking. 1
184 185 301 Vera Are you pretending you don't understand me? 1
185 186 301 Vera I didn't realize that the Gray Raven Commandant is into this sort of thing. Do you also look at your squad change typically? 1
186 187 202 1 1
187 188 301 AniZhuanchangBegin You finally recognize what Vera is talking about and turn around instantly.
188 189 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Moments later.
189 190 301 Vera It's done.
190 191 301 You turn around.
191 192 301 You find Vera in her new frame holding her original one horizontally.
192 193 301 What seems to be a peculiar scene originally is strangely beautiful in a way.
193 194 301 Vera places her original frame back into the capsule and stretches.
194 195 201 1 500345
195 196 301 1 Vera The frame is well-adjusted. I should be able to continue the mission right away. 1
196 197 302 Is this an old frame? 198 Is this a new frame? 199
197 198 200 301 Vera Indeed. 1
198 199 301 Vera Obviously not. Would I be able to adjust to it so quickly if it's new? 1
199 200 301 Vera It's an old frame I've only used a couple of times in the past. It doesn't leave the closet except for special circumstances. 1
200 201 204 1 13
201 202 301 Vera After all, even my Support-type frame is far superior on the battlefield to those losers. 1
202 203 301 Right as she says that, the comms you both forgot about in the supply crate light up.
219 220 301 1 Replacing Nikola in the projection is none other than Hassen.
220 221 301 This time, he is not "conversing" with Vera. He is talking to you.
221 222 301 Hassen If you are seeing this, then the Cerberus captain has successfully rescued you from Kurono. So allow me to say this— 1
222 223 301 Hassen I'm glad to see you safe and sound, 【kuroname】. 1
223 224 301 Hassen If I had time, I would've loved to explain everything to you. The truth behind everything you have been through so far. 1
224 225 301 Hassen But my time is running out, and so is yours. You must have realized by now the lengths Kurono would go to keep you in their grasp. 1
225 226 301 Hassen They didn't even blink when they tried to sneak you away right under our nose after making a deal with us. 1
226 227 301 Hassen They never planned to let you go whether the search for the agent succeeded or not. We have anticipated that, of course. I apologize for not cluing you in earlier—it would've only burdened you should the moment arise. 1
227 228 301 Hassen Not to mention that you have already noticed one thing through this event... 1
228 229 301 Hassen's gaze turns more profound, but he does not seem like finishing his line.
229 230 301 He changes the topic as you have guessed.
230 231 301 Hassen Time is short, so I'll save you the exposition for now. It doesn't concern us right now. 1
231 232 301 Hassen The Cerberus captain and you should be standing on a seaborne metropolis in the Atlantic Ocean right now. 1
232 233 301 Hassen I can only pray that it's true. I believe the coordinates we deciphered are correct, and I hope our airdrop beacon has landed accurately. 1
233 234 301 Hassen If you are indeed where I think you are, please take a look around you. 1
234 235 301 Hassen You are standing on the greatest legacy left behind from the Golden Age right now, 【kuroname】. 1
235 236 301 Hassen Or maybe one of the greatest wonders of all human history, even. 1
236 237 301 Hassen This was where that glistening era ended and the dark age of the Punishing Virus started. 1
237 238 301 Hassen You can probably guess what I'm about to say. 1
238 239 301 He sighs.
239 240 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Hassen That's right. The city you're standing in was once a zero-point reactor. 1
