3 3 301 DialogEnable Alpha stands on the barren scorched earth, taking in the chaos around her.
4 4 301 Since that incident, she has been running around subterranean city number 075.
5 5 301 She has left no stone unturned in her search, going through the hidden corners and paths, through the ruins that only they knew about, and has even checked on the Constructs that were swarming the place.
6 6 301 But she does not find even the slightest trace of Luna.
7 7 301 There is only one possible conclusion. Luna is not here.
8 8 301 With the answer staring her right in the face, Alpha ponders where she should go next.
9 9 201 1 500100
10 10 301 1 α ...Where are you? 1
11 11 202 1 1
12 12 301 As she turns the question over in her head, countless memories of Luna surface.
13 13 301 The clearest memory is of the moment when she leapt through the darkness, her hand outstretched.
14 14 301 There was a girl standing atop the white snow.
15 15 201 1 500316
16 16 301 1 Roland? The series of campaigns was called the Project Winter. It seemed that the task of naming it was dumped on the Executor. 1
17 17 301 Roland? But if the Executors can come up with such methods, I should say they really do deserve naming rights. 1
18 18 201 1 500100
19 19 301 1 α Roland? 1
20 20 202 1 1
21 21 301 Noise and memories were jumbled together, flashing through her M.I.N.D.
22 22 201 1 500100 8
23 23 301 1 α No, this is just noise. 1
24 24 301 Since Luna disappeared, these muffled voices have been ceaselessly haunting her.
25 6001 204 1
26 25 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She looks at the wide expanse of yellow sand before her, and her thoughts return to the past yet again.
77 80 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Luna That's enough, Gabriel. 1
78 81 301 Luna Even if you slaughter all these humans and Constructs, there is no one among them that can pass the filtering. 1
79 82 201 1 500101
80 83 301 1 Gabriel But they'll become a threat. 1
81 84 201 1 500238
82 85 301 1 Luna As long as the source remains, they won't give up, no matter how many of them you kill. 1
83 86 301 Luna All we have to do is find "the seeds" and guard this place. 1
84 87 201 1 500101
85 88 301 1 Gabriel Understood. 1
86 89 202 1
87 90 301 Gabriel bows respectfully and vanishes into the horizon.
88 91 201 1 500238 450
89 92 201 2 500100 -450
90 93 301 1 Luna Something you wanted to comment on, Sister? 1
91 94 301 α ... 2
92 95 301 Alpha has not opened her mouth, but Luna smiles as if she knows what she was about to say.
93 96 204 1 1
94 97 301 Luna Do you remember the fairytale you used to tell me? 1
95 98 301 α I've told you many fairytales. Which one are you talking about? 2
96 99 301 Luna The Evil King and the Elixir of Life. 1
97 100 301 α ... 2
98 101 301 Luna I still believe what I did then—That it's the only way forward, Sister. 1
99 102 204 1 7
100 103 301 Luna Drinking the evil king's elixir may kill you, but this is the path of evolution and selection. With this, one can safeguard life from complete annihilation. 1
101 104 301 Luna Of course, that person will become a monster, just like the evil king, but so what? 1
102 105 301 Luna "Monster" is but a term defined by human standards. If seeing the filtering through means I'll be called a monster, I'll treat it as my crowning glory. 1
103 106 301 α Will you want others to survive? 2
104 107 301 Luna Of course. 1
105 108 204 1
106 109 301 Luna Even if I become a nefarious villain in the eyes of the humans, a villain needs people to be subjected to their villainous deeds. 1
107 110 301 Luna Not only is this wish mine, but it's also the very purpose behind Ascnet's filtering process. That's why I have to complete Ascnet's mission. 1
108 111 301 Luna But the humans who are still flesh and blood, with their deep-seated prejudice, aren't able to even pass the preliminary filtering process by the Punishing Virus. 1
109 112 202 1 2 1
110 113 301 Luna turns around and gazes at the fiery-red clouds in the distance. After a long time, she gently shuts her eyes.
111 114 201 1 500238 3
112 115 301 1 Luna Perhaps... 1
113 116 301 Luna It's because I hold the same beliefs as Ascnet that I was chosen to become an agent. 1
114 117 202 1 1
115 118 301 Even as an agent, Luna does not think highly of humanity.
116 119 301 But originally, her intention to move the filtering forward was simply to "let those deserving to live continue living."
117 120 301 Even though she had her own reasons for doing it, it was not born out of hatred and chaos.
118 121 301 At least in the beginning, that was how it was...
124 127 301 Roland ...Relax, fate has too much in store for me to let me die so quickly. 1
125 128 301 Gabriel For someone like you to be talking about fate... What exactly happened? 2
126 129 301 Roland Heh, someone taught me a lesson. 1
127 130 202 1 2 3 1
128 131 201 1 500238 5
129 132 301 1 Luna ... 1
130 133 202 1 1
131 134 201 1 500008 4 -600
132 135 201 2 500101
133 136 201 3 500165 600
134 137 301 1 Roland This time it was a Construct who brought a "gift." 1
135 138 301 Roland They hid it really well, I have to give them that. Those humans are also constantly changing up their tactics. 1
136 139 301 Lamia They had their comrade blow himself up? 3
137 140 301 Roland That's right. And he didn't know what he had on him. Otherwise, I'd have been able to sense that something wasn't right. 1
138 141 301 Lamia ...You survived the encounter, but what about him? 3
139 142 301 Roland Dead as a doornail. I only survived because I was far away. 1
140 143 202 1 2 3 1
141 144 201 1 500100
142 145 301 1 α ... 1
143 146 202 1 1
144 147 201 1 500008 4 -600
145 148 201 2 500101
146 149 201 3 500165 600
147 150 301 1 Lamia That guy was who Roland was working on recruiting, wasn't he? It wasn't easy getting him on board. 3
148 151 301 Gabriel Even after sustaining such huge losses last time, the humans still aren't giving up on trying to get a glimpse of the secrets of the Ascension-Network. 2
149 152 301 Gabriel What are they really after? 2
150 153 301 Roland Perhaps they wish to make their Constructs immune to the Punishing Virus and instead, have their bodies augmented by it, just like an Ascendant? Or maybe they simply want to be able to control an Ascendant, or even an agent... 1
151 154 301 Roland There is so much they can gain from it. They are the puppet masters, having their underlings kill one another while they reap the benefits. That's their modus operandi. 1
152 155 301 Roland Although I still don't know what exactly they want, or how close they are to their goal. But things seem to be going according to plan, aren't they? 1
153 156 202 1 2 3 1
154 157 201 1 500238 5
155 158 301 1 Luna It's precisely because of this that we have to keep moving the filtering process forward. 1
156 159 202 1 1
157 160 201 1 500008 4 -600
158 161 201 2 500101
159 162 201 3 500165 600
160 163 301 1 Lamia However, they have been obstructing our progress. People die without us knowing how. How can we even hope to offer up anyone for filtering...? 3
161 164 301 Gabriel Miss Luna wants us to keep increasing our numbers to deal with the losses. 2
162 165 301 Gabriel Appropriate seeds must be found as soon as possible. For those who aren't yet aware or don't have the necessary conditions to pass the filtering, we'll have to create those conditions. 2
163 166 301 Gabriel If we can get ultimate power that is impervious to these despicable ploys, there won't be any more humans standing in the way of the Network's mission. 2
164 167 204 3 8
165 168 301 Lamia Yeah... yeah... Call me when you find that sort of power. 3
166 169 301 Gabriel ... 2
167 170 202 1 2 3 1
168 171 301 Such things have become a normal part of their daily lives.
169 172 301 The humans' offensives last too long, just like the winds blowing through the abyss, and just as relentless.
170 173 301 In comparison, being betrayed and abandoned back then was but the first step into the abyss.
171 174 301 And the hatred that inundated them was born from being hunted down and rounded up. Even more so from unexpected traps and conspiracies. Each drop of hate pooling together until it formed a river that flowed into the bottom of the abyss.
172 175 301 At first, it was just the usual ambushes and raids.
173 176 301 But soon, there was a chance of "gifts" being hidden close to the seeds they approached.
174 177 301 In this battle of wits, every attempt to throw the humans off their trail unintentionally provides them with ideas for improvement.
175 178 301 As a result, their methods have become more subtle and nastier with each iteration.
176 179 301 But for the Ascendants and those on a similar path, the memories hidden within their M.I.N.D. are filled with this torment.
177 180 301 These experiences are like layers of wounds inflicted on top of one another.
178 181 301 Single out any one of them, and it is simply a scar that poses no threat, a mark not forgotten with time.
179 182 301 AniZhuanchangBegin But now they have been accumulating for a long time, patiently waiting for the moment that will soon arrive—the straw that breaks the camel's back.
183 185 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 α Looks like this is the place. 1
184 186 202 1 1
185 187 301 In a bid to save the new recruits who have just passed the filtering, everyone steps onto the ice-covered plains.
186 188 301 Fresh blood stains the snowy white plains red. Researchers lay fallen all around, and a transport vehicle was torn apart in the attack.
187 189 201 1 500008 4
188 190 301 1 Roland Oh, it looks like we were too late. 1
189 191 202 1 1
190 192 301 Roland climbs onto the torn compartment and sees a comrade lying in a huge restraining device.
191 193 301 Going by the traces left at the scene, he was killed by the restraining device just as he finally broke free.
192 194 201 1 500165
193 195 301 1 Lamia How have the humans been able to come up with such a terrifying device? 1
194 196 202 1 1
195 197 201 1 500238 450
196 198 201 2 500100 -450
197 199 301 1 α This's due to what he's capable of. 2
198 200 301 Luna I was interested in seeing how he would develop over time, but given the current environment... he didn't even get that chance. 1
199 201 202 1 2 1
200 202 301 A brief silence falls over the group. Suddenly, a hulking figure lands beside them.
201 203 201 1 500101
202 204 301 1 Gabriel Miss Luna. 1
203 205 201 1 500238
204 206 301 1 Luna You've returned. How was the investigation? 1
205 207 201 1 500101
206 208 301 1 Gabriel This device was brought over from the Arctic Route Union. 1
207 209 301 Gabriel A new military post's been set up to the east. It's very well-hidden and there are similar devices within. There are also a few researchers stationed there. 1
208 210 201 1 500100
209 211 301 1 α A military post? To the east? 1
210 212 201 1 500008 4
211 213 301 1 Roland I previously carried out reconnaissance when Alpha came for the Narwhal, but I didn't see any military posts then. 1
212 214 301 Roland Besides, the people outside are ordinary folk, so why would they suddenly possess such a device? 1
213 215 201 1 500100
214 216 301 1 α Either they had been deliberately hiding something, or someone has shared the devices and technology with them. 1
215 217 301 α But there's a greater likelihood that it was a combination of the two. 1
216 218 301 α The local residents may not be aware of this, but there is a secret hidden beneath this snowfield. 1
217 219 301 α And it's because they are inherently capable that they've received visitors who want to share their technology and devices with them. 1
218 220 201 1 500008 4
219 221 301 1 Roland In other words, the Arctic Route Union is working with that group from before? 1
220 222 201 1 500100
221 223 301 1 α That's right. 1
222 224 201 1 500165
223 225 301 1 Lamia Don't those people fish for a living? What's there to gain from working with them? 1
224 226 201 1 500100
225 227 301 1 α A large number of Corrupted emerged from the sea some time back, and the Forest Guard lack the power to hold them back. As a result, they sustained some losses. 1
226 228 301 α I'd hazard a guess and say they agreed to work together in exchange for materials. 1
227 229 301 α There aren't many large human bases on Earth these days, and even fewer are willing to take part in a plan against the Ascendants. 1
228 230 301 α They must be hiding something we don't know about. They wouldn't take such a huge risk otherwise, no matter how generous the reward. 1
229 231 201 1 500008
230 232 301 1 Roland The military post seems to be merely a symbol of their cooperation. There must be another hidden facility. 1
231 233 301 Roland We should investigate that facility. Otherwise, even if we destroy the military post, another more hidden post will only be built in its place. 1
232 234 201 1 500238
233 235 301 1 Luna Could it be that simple? 1
234 236 201 1 500008 3
235 237 301 1 Roland What do you mean, Luna? 1
236 238 201 1 500238 3
237 239 301 1 Luna I can only guess, based on the Gray Raven's... no, based on my sister's investigation of that incident with Ravenge, that they may have started collaborating well before setting up the military post. 1
238 240 301 Luna The incident and that military post were merely newly run tests. The foundations were already in place. 1
239 241 201 1 500100
240 242 301 1 α That's right, the harsh environment plays a huge part in all of this. There's nothing but fish and a handful of local products. They've always faced a shortage of materials. 1
241 243 201 1 500008
242 244 301 1 Roland If they're really jointly doing research, what should we do? 1
243 245 201 1 500101
244 246 301 1 Gabriel Annihilate everyone here of course, and nip the problem in the bud. 1
245 247 201 1 500100
246 248 301 1 α There is no need to go that far. The vast majority are just fishermen, and are working with Kurono in exchange for the materials they need to survive. 1
247 249 301 α All we have to do is destroy the research facility. 1
248 250 201 1 500101
249 251 301 1 Gabriel Forgive me for saying this, but it was because they joined forces that we lost many good candidates. 1
250 252 301 Gabriel Those who can pass the filtering are few and far between. If these people are not completely annihilated, they will still pose a threat. 1
251 253 201 1 500100 8
252 254 301 1 α ... 1
253 255 301 Alpha closed her eyes and thought of the humanoid-hybrid constructs she had met on this vast snow field who had gone through experiences similar to hers. She thought of how they carried themselves in the face of the humans' fear and prejudice, and...
254 256 204 1
255 257 301 α I see great potential in the Forest Guards. With enough opportunities, there will definitely be some among them who can pass the filtering. 1
256 258 201 1 500101
257 259 301 1 Gabriel ... 1
258 260 201 1 500238
259 261 301 1 Luna Sister's right. You will continue with the previous mission. 1
260 262 202 1 1
261 263 301 Everyone salutes Luna and hurriedly disperse, leaving only Alpha and Luna on the silent snowfield.
262 264 201 1 500238 1 450
263 265 201 2 500100 -450
264 266 301 1 Luna Sister. 1
265 267 301 She turns around and gives Alpha a knowing smile.
266 4001 204 1
267 268 301 α I know what you want to say. 2
268 269 301 Luna hovers beside Alpha, looking at the snow and messy scene close by, and does not say anything more about it.
269 270 301 Luna Sister, did you meet "Lucia"? 1
270 271 301 α Yes. 2
271 272 301 Luna What do you think about her? 1
272 273 301 α Nothing in particular. 2
273 274 301 α She hasn't lost hope. 2
274 275 301 α That commandant looks pretty special too. 2
275 276 301 α Well, let her continue dreaming for a bit, at least until that day comes. 2
276 277 301 Luna Alright then. 1
277 278 202 1 2 1
278 279 301 The howling, frigid wind sends Luna's flowing locks flying behind her, and her petite figure sways in the wind.
279 280 301 Alpha closes the gap and takes Luna's arm.
280 281 201 1 500238 300
281 282 201 2 500100 -300
282 283 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 α We found the military post. Next up is the task of finding the other hidden facility. Leave this to me, will you? 2
285 286 301 AniZhuanchangEnd While investigating clues near the military post, she has a surprising encounter in the snow.
286 287 201 1 500019 -450
287 288 201 2 500019 450
288 289 301 1 Murol Lucia, you're still alive! 1
289 290 301 Xun Wait, no! Such concentration of the Punishing Virus... Has she become Corrupted? 2
290 291 202 1 2 1
291 292 201 1 500100
292 293 301 1 α Murol! Xun!
293 294 202 1 1
294 295 201 1 500019 -450
295 296 201 2 500019 450
296 297 301 1 Murol The Corrupted spoke?! 1
297 298 202 1 2 1
298 299 201 1 500100
299 300 301 1 α ...It's a long story. And don't get too close to me, or you'll be infected too. 1
300 4002 301 α She is secretly suppressing the Punishing Virus within her body while warning them, trying to prevent the virus from spreading to the two of them. 1
301 301 301 α Why are you here? 1
302 302 202 1 1
303 303 201 1 500019 -450
304 304 201 2 500019 450
305 305 301 1 Murol They said there was something strange with the Corrupted numbers here and sent us to find out what the problem was and return after obtaining clues. 1
306 306 301 Xun Lucia, do you want to return to Babylonia with us? 2
307 307 202 1 2 1
308 308 201 1 500100
309 309 301 1 α No, I have no place there anymore. 1
310 310 301 α There was no news for a long time after you said you wanted to be recalled. I thought you were already... 1
311 311 202 1 1
312 312 201 1 500019 -450
313 313 201 2 500019 450
314 314 301 1 Murol Haha! There were some technical issues, I heard. 1
315 315 301 Murol scratches his head, slightly embarrassed, but unable to hide the mirth in his voice.
316 316 301 Murol There have been a lot of casualties recently. It's getting very hard to create custom frames, and there are version issues as well. 1
317 317 301 Murol But the higher-ups said that they had to activate us at all costs so as to investigate what happened then. 1
318 318 301 Murol However, they haven't been able to solve version issue, and with the lack of manpower, they had no choice but to sign some contract with the humans on Earth and rope them in to help. 1
319 319 202 1 2 1
320 320 201 1 500100
321 321 301 1 α Contract? Do you mean to say there are people here who are able to support the research on Babylonia? 1
322 322 301 Hearing what could be a clue, Alpha tightens her grip on her weapon and her voice takes on a serious tone.
323 323 202 1 1
324 324 201 1 500019 -450
325 325 201 2 500019 450
326 326 301 1 Murol I don't know much about the research technology, but I did wake up in the military post over there. 1
327 327 301 Murol Agreeing on a contract and awakening us... Those are things we've heard from the researchers inside. 1
328 328 301 Murol They also had us stay temporarily in the military post for tests and to work with them on some simple missions. 1
329 329 202 1 2 1
330 330 201 1 500100
331 331 301 1 α (Murol and Xun don't know much about this either...) 1
332 332 301 Looking at the good-natured smile that Murol always has on, Alpha releases her grip on the hilt of her katana.
333 333 202 1 1
334 334 201 1 500019 -450
335 335 201 2 500019 450
336 336 301 1 Xun It's great that we're able to wake up again, but we still don't have any clues about what the boss wanted us to investigate. 2
337 337 301 Murol Yeah, we were attacked during recalling, and the data transfer was incomplete. We can't fully remember what happened during the incident. 1
338 338 301 Xun Do you remember what happened back then? If you can't go back to Babylonia, at least tell us what really happened then. 2
339 339 202 1 2 1
340 340 201 1 500100
341 341 301 1 α ...Alright. 1
342 342 202 1 1
343 343 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She suppresses the joy in her heart as she shares the buried pieces of her memory with her long-lost comrades.
344 344 201 1 500019 -450
345 345 201 2 500019 450
346 346 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Murol ...To think that something like this actually happened. 1
347 347 202 1 2 1
348 348 201 1 500100
349 349 301 1 α They also made a copy of 'Lucia' before I left, so you might see her if you go back to Babylonia. 1
355 355 301 He chuckles as he puts his hands behind his head and relaxes. Seeing that familiar action, Alpha cannot help feeling a tinge of nostalgia.
356 356 301 She still remembers how Xun was severely reprimanded during a military inspection for not standing up straight.
357 357 301 Xun Those things around your neck... Are those our name tags? 2
358 358 202 1 2 1
359 359 201 1 500100
360 360 301 1 α Hmm? 1
361 361 202 1 1
362 362 201 1 500019 -450
363 363 201 2 500019 450
364 364 301 1 Xun And the coating... the team insignia on the back has worn away! 1
365 365 202 1 2 1
366 366 201 1 500100
367 367 301 1 α Sentimental? No... 1
368 368 204 1 5
369 369 301 α This was just to remind me never to forget what happened. 1
370 370 202 1 1
371 371 301 Xun was unfazed despite the hateful tone in her words, and kept his good humor.
372 372 201 1 500019 -450
373 373 201 2 500019 450
374 374 301 1 Xun Oh, really? That sounds like sentimentality to me! 2
375 375 301 Xun By the way, can I have a look at my old tag? I'm feeling a little sentimental, heh... 2
376 376 301 He chuckles as he removes his current name tag and walks toward Alpha as if to make an exchange.
377 377 202 1 2 1
378 378 201 1 500100
379 379 301 1 α You're getting close. Aren't you afraid of getting infected? 1
380 380 202 1 1
381 381 201 1 500019 -450
382 382 201 2 500019 450
383 383 301 1 Xun Don't be a stranger now. It's just for a bit. 2
384 384 301 Xun Murol, you want to see it too, don't you? 2
385 385 301 Murol Yeah. 1
386 386 202 1 2 1
387 387 301 The two approached Alpha with complete trust, reaching out to take their name tags from her extended hand.
388 388 301 RImgBg1Shake But it was then that Alpha fell into a despicable trap.
389 389 301 The joy in reuniting with her comrades was merely an illusion.
390 390 301 Recalling is but false hope implanted to convince troops to keep advancing bravely. But just like a stone thrown into a deep lake, there has not been any sign from the other side.
391 391 301 The two teammates standing before her was merely an AI hologram recording—a program that has existed since the Golden Age, when people used it to remember those who have passed on.
392 392 301 As the illusions fell to pieces, so too did Alpha's euphoria, and all that was eventually left was the multiple force fields binding her.
397 397 301 1 Researcher A's Voice ...Is it really okay to do this? 2
398 398 301 Researcher A's Voice Everyone said that these guys are basically Corrupted that possess some level of intelligence, so there's no need for us to sympathize with them. 2
399 399 301 Researcher B's Voice I honestly felt the director's plan was foolish when he first came up with it. How can a Corrupted be sentimental? 1
400 400 301 Researcher B's Voice Sigh... If someone deceives me using my dead friends, I'll definitely... 1
401 401 301 Young, strict voice Take your bleeding hearts and stuff them somewhere else!
402 402 301 Researcher B's Voice Aah! When did you get here? 1
403 403 301 Young, strict voice These monsters are our enemies, just like the Corrupted and the Punishing Virus! Whether they have feelings or not doesn't matter.
404 404 301 Young, strict voice In order to survive, we must continue our research with these methods.
405 405 301 Young, strict voice If we are to live to see the next daylight, sacrifices are unavoidable. Instead of sympathizing with the enemy, why don't you have a look at your material reserves for next month.
406 406 301 Researcher B's Voice Sorry, Director Kaplan... 1
407 407 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Kaplan Continue your work, it's too late to turn back now.
