3 3 301 DialogEnable The massive frame in front of them crumbles into a pile of countless remains, scattering on the floor. Numerous neuro-cables and parts protrude from its hulking arms—some of which are still covered with Babylonia's manufacturing logo.
4 4 201 1 500155
5 5 201 2 1081001 -600
6 6 201 3 500273 600
7 7 301 1 Chrome ... 1
8 8 301 Kamui It's not like you to frown at Corrupted, Captain. 2
9 9 301 Chrome ...They're already Corrupted. 1
10 10 202 1 2 3 1
11 11 301 Suddenly, they hear a round of applause from above. The trio looks up to see Gabriel clapping at the edge of the platform lift.
12 12 201 1 500179
13 13 301 1 Gabriel If champions such as yourselves are willing to stay and offer your strength to the Ascension-Network, I'm sure der Meister would welcome you with open arms. 1
14 14 202 1 2 3 1
15 15 201 1 500155
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17 17 201 3 500273 -600
18 18 301 1 Kamui To hell with that! 2
19 19 301 Wanshi If I'm off every day of the week, I might be willing to consider it. 3
20 20 301 Kamui Are you out of your M.I.N.D.? 2
21 21 301 Wanshi I'm just saying... Only if I don't have to work. 3
22 2001 204 1 1
23 22 301 Chrome ... 1
24 23 301 With their usual banter, Chrome manages a smile despite their current predicament.
25 2002 204 1 5
26 24 301 Chrome Well, there's your answer. We won't stay here, nor will we serve the agents. 1
27 25 202 1 2 3 1
28 26 201 1 500179
29 27 301 1 Gabriel Since you've rejected my kindness, I'll leave you in the elevator shaft to become nutrients for the Red Tide. 1
30 28 202 1 1
31 29 301 The platform begins to shake as the surrounding Punishing concentration begins to skyrocket.
32 30 201 1 1081001
33 31 301 1 Kamui We're going to drown here! I don't wanna become a fish, Captain. Get out your grappling hook! 1
34 32 202 1 1
35 33 301 Gabriel looks down coldly from the rafters of the shaft as if waiting for the opportune moment to strike them midair.
36 34 301 Regardless, being attacked by Gabriel midair is preferable over drowning in the Red Tide.
37 35 301 Chrome takes out the rope, quickly grabs his comrades, then leaps into the air.
38 36 301 Right as Gabriel is about to strike the coupling, the feeling of indescribable oppression comes from above. He takes two steps back, then looks up with Cinderelik and salutes.
39 37 301 AniZhuanchangBegin ??? What brings Babylonia here?
69 67 301 AniZhuanchangEnd AniZhuanchangBegin The trio quickly climbs up the rope to the top of the platform lift. Vonnegut once again gives them a welcoming gesture, like that of a kind and dignified lord receiving guests at his estate.
72 70 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Vonnegut Welcome to my temporary base. I assumed Alpha was going to bring the Gray Raven Gabriel has mentioned. I wasn't expecting the likes of you. 1
73 71 301 Vonnegut But considering that Gabriel advocates on your behalf, I'm inclined to trust his intuition. 1
74 72 203 1 0.25 450
75 73 201 2 500155 -450
76 74 301 1 Chrome Alpha? You mean the Ascendant that serves Luna? 2
77 75 301 Hearing this name, Chrome's palms begin to sweat. If Alpha is here too, she is likely to be with Luna.
78 76 301 If they can locate Luna, 【kuroname】 will be free of some suspicion...
79 77 301 Vonnegut Hm? Seems like you've still got a lot to learn about her. 1
80 78 301 Chrome had received intel on the Ascendants prior to the mission. However, the report on Alpha only stated that she serves Luna and that the two are sisters. As for her combat ability, it was only marked with [WARNING] in red letters.
81 79 301 If such a powerful Ascendant wanted to destroy them, why would Alpha let them waltz right into the base?
82 80 301 As if noticing Chrome's contemplation, Vonnegut begins to speak of Luna.
83 81 301 Vonnegut I once saw Luna long ago. 1
84 82 301 Vonnegut She was an outstanding agent. Prior to that, she worked diligently to carry out responsibilities entrusted to her by Ascnet. 1
85 83 301 Vonnegut Additionally, having been selected as an agent during its preliminary development, she was able to witness the evolution of Ascnet. 1
86 84 301 Chrome The evolution of the Ascension-Network... You mean it's stronger than before? 2
87 85 301 Vonnegut Correct. It's not only more powerful but also more stringent in its demands for selecting agents. 1
88 86 301 Vonnegut Even though the concept of agents has changed, no one can deny her credit as a pioneer. 1
89 88 301 Vonnegut And to that, we owe our gratitude to Luna. 1
90 89 301 Vonnegut Now, she is most likely no longer eligible to serve as an agent... 1
91 90 301 Vonnegut But as one of our predecessors, not only has she aided in the evolution of the Ascension-Network, she has also been diverting humanity's firepower away from us, allowing the later generation of agents to remain hidden from view. 1
92 91 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Chrome She's been diverting their firepower? 2
104 103 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Chrome If agents are as strong as you claim, why worry about being pursued by humanity? 2
105 104 301 Vonnegut Do you think Earth fears humanity? 1
106 105 301 Vonnegut Most of humanity spreads, devours, pollutes, and destroys the Earth like a virus. They are full of cruel and cunning ideas, allowing them to find their way into every nook and cranny. 1
107 106 301 Vonnegut These people were responsible for the zero-point reactor meltdown that created the Punishing Virus. 1
108 107 301 Vonnegut Not only that, Earth has nearly perished several times at the hands of humanity over the course of its long history. 1
109 108 301 Vonnegut Even ignoring history, I'm sure you have experienced numerous disasters caused by humanity. 1
110 109 301 Vonnegut Therefore, we must separate the sheep from the goats, as the shepherds do, and bury the wicked in the shadow of history. Only then can the world endure the Long Winter and, one day, welcome the coming warmth of spring. 1
111 110 301 He stretches out his hand as if acting out an all too familiar script.
112 111 301 Vonnegut Until then, the whole world still fears the follies of man. Of course, agents must tread with equal heedfulness. Should they not? 1
113 112 301 He appears calm and speaks at ease. Although he says that they should "fear the follies of man," there is no look of tension or fear.
114 113 301 Standing among the group, he has the demeanor of an astute orator calmly sharing pearls of knowledge gathered through personal anecdotes.
115 114 301 Vonnegut Even as agents, we must continue to improve, learn, and adapt. 1
116 115 301 Vonnegut Much like the Dunning-Kruger Effect states, people will only step on the path to self-improvement once they realize their own shortcomings. 1
117 116 301 His words lack any sense of self-aggrandizing. He is like a modest teacher standing before the enemy. However, Chrome knows this modesty comes from the confidence of knowing that, no matter what happens, he can handle it with ease.
118 117 301 It is precisely because of his overwhelming power he is able to speak so freely about weakness and secrecy in front of his enemies.
119 118 301 If anything appears unnatural, it's that he keeps inadvertently glancing at Kamui's waist.
120 119 301 Chrome ... 2
121 120 301 Continuing to listen to Vonnegut's musings, Chrome turns his head slighty and glances at Kamui to figure out the cause of such an irregularity.
122 121 301 It appears that a buckle on Kamui's tactical belt had become loose during the previous ordeal.
123 122 301 ...Is that it?
124 123 301 Chrome ... 2
125 124 301 Vonnegut As an agent, I have long been searching for those worthy of building a better world with me. 1
126 125 301 Vonnegut However, few are capable of passing the preliminary filtering. Even fewer are willing to go beyond that. 1
127 126 301 Vonnegut Even though they are capable of becoming immune to the Punishing Virus, they lack the power needed to build a better tomorrow. 1
128 127 301 As Vonnegut speaks, he glances at Kamui's waist once more.
129 128 301 However, Chrome is able to catch the point of interest. His gaze does, in fact, fall upon the loose buckle.
130 129 301 Vonnegut These people are nothing but fragile eggs to— 1
131 130 202 1 2 1
132 131 301 Although a bit untimely, Chrome politely interrupts Vonnegut to confirm who he is dealing with exactly.
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134 133 301 1 Chrome Pardon me. Kamui. 1
135 134 202 1 1
136 135 301 Chrome turns around and fastens the loose buckle on Kamui's tactical belt.
137 136 201 1 1081001 1
138 137 301 1 Kamui Huh? Why does that matter at a time like this?! 1
139 138 201 1 500273
140 139 301 1 Wanshi ... 1
141 140 202 1 1
142 141 301 Seeing this, Vonnegut lets out a hearty laugh in satisfaction.
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144 143 201 2 500155 -450
145 144 301 1 Vonnegut Hahaha! Either you have an eye for detail, or you're a perfectionist just like me. 1
146 145 301 Vonnegut Seems Gabriel's intuition was right. I think you and I will get along swimmingly. 1
147 146 301 Vonnegut As I was saying... 1
148 147 301 Vonnegut opens his arms to the trio cheerfully and looks them over.
149 148 301 Vonnegut I hope you can also pass the filtering. Each splendid seed should be sowed on the road to tomorrow. 1
150 149 301 Chrome I refuse. 2
151 150 301 Vonnegut Your answer comes at no surprise, but tell me why. 1
152 151 301 Vonnegut Perhaps, we don't need to fight each other. After all, everything I am doing is to provide a future for Earth. 1
153 152 301 Chrome A future that only belongs to you? 2
154 153 301 Vonnegut How do you define "you"? 1
155 154 202 1 2 1
156 155 201 1 1081001
157 156 301 1 Kamui I'm obviously referring to the Ascendants and Corrupted. 1
162 161 301 Vonnegut Don't forget that we were once human. We were once Constructs. 1
163 162 301 Vonnegut Even machines created by humanity have gained sentience. They have feelings and minds like us. 1
164 163 301 Vonnegut For hundreds of millions of years, microscopic organisms, such as harmful bacteria and viruses, inhabited the Earth alongside animals. 1
165 164 301 Vonnegut Prior to the Punishing Virus, how do you think life managed to survive infection and disease? 1
166 165 301 Chrome ...Evolution, or rather, the filtering? 2
167 166 301 Vonnegut Correct. I assume you're their captain? 1
168 167 301 Vonnegut Organisms that can resist disease give birth to offspring with higher immunity. Those that are weak, regardless of their time of birth, will only rot, thereby becoming nourishment for the land. 1
169 168 301 Vonnegut During the filtering, organisms will gradually evolve. This is the order of the world. 1
170 169 301 Vonnegut Now, the Corrupted have evolved into the Red Tide. The likes of which has turned into a breeding ground for new forms of life. 1
171 170 301 Vonnegut The "dead" become nutrients for the creation of new "life." This is the will of the Punishing Virus. The Ascension-Network is no different. 1
172 171 301 Chrome However, this "filtering" will come at the cost of most people. 2
173 172 301 Vonnegut Life must be cruel only to be more beautiful. 1
174 173 301 Vonnegut smiles as he focuses his gaze on Chrome.
175 174 301 Vonnegut It seems your Inver-Device is different from others. Interesting. 1
176 175 301 Vonnegut Humans still manage occasional moments of brilliance in their struggle. But alas, this brilliance is too insignificant to assure victory. 1
177 176 301 Chrome But even with the slightest ray of hope, we will await the day it expels darkness. 2
178 177 301 Vonnegut Wait. Ah, yes. Wait. 1
179 178 301 Vonnegut places his hands behind his back and ruminates over the word.
180 179 301 Vonnegut And if the Punishing Virus shows no signs of subsiding, you'll take solace in such frivolity as you wait. 1
181 180 301 Vonnegut However, there is no such room for leisure now. 1
182 181 301 Chrome Humanity will stop at nothing. The people you've deemed unfit continue to make changes. 2
183 182 301 Vonnegut But I only see that they are complacent and stuck in the ways of the past. 1
184 183 301 Vonnegut Not to mention, some have not given up killing each other in the name of science. 1
185 184 301 Vonnegut How long can your persistence and stubbornness last in this struggle while still upholding these pedantic ideas? 1
186 185 202 1 2 3 1
187 186 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin He averts his gaze from the three faces and lowers his head in disappointment. In the dark waterway, the dusty lights begin to flash...
