4 4 304 The impact from the orbital strike has greatly reduced the coverage and concentration of the Red Tide. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
5 5 304 But these losses are negligible because "that thing" has appeared deep beneath the scorched earth. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
6 6 304 The impact of discovering such a thing is no less than the moment I found the Hetero-Core. At first, I didn't even fully comprehend what "that thing" was. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
7 7 304 It's like a revelation, an affirmation of my long persistence. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
8 4001 304 Although it shares the same characteristics as the Hetero-Creature incubators, it must be completely different inside. I call it the "Mother". ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
9 8 304 It seems that "der Meister" is very interested in this new discovery. As one of the rewards for trading with him, I got a helpful assistant. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
10 9 304 She has a keen knowledge of Hetero-Creatures and is an intelligent candidate for ascension. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
11 10 304 Using her intellect, I found an incubation method to ensure that "Mother" can unleash its full power. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
12 11 304 Cinderelik calls it "maternal love"—the protective instinct of human mothers toward their children. She then implanted this data into "Mother"... ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
13 12 304 "Mother" has been an excellent incubator. It seems human emotions aren't completely useless. Maybe my previous directions were mistaken. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1 1
14 13 304 For this reason, I am simulating a special intervention to observe how "emotion" will affect "Mother" internally. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
15 14 304 Unfortunately, I do not understand "emotions." The data provided by Cinderelik is too unitary. I need more human specimens. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
16 15 304 —Intact low-risk human specimens must be introduced into the area where the test subject is located through non-combative means. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
17 4002 304 This is no easy feat. Besides, the surrounding area has been scorched by the orbital strike. As a result, humans avoid the area out of fear. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
18 16 304 I must admit, Roland is far more capable in this regard. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
19 17 304 It's a pity that after the battle with the Polyphage, I lost contact with Roland. I presume he has already become nourishment for the Red Tide. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
20 18 304 It seems that this experiment can only be carried out where the "Highly Differentiated Unit" is located. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
21 19 304 I released rumors to lure people to Pulia by taking advantage of humans' desire for gains. Just like how I spread the Red Tide's "Gospel". ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1
22 20 304 AniZhuanchangBegin Let these humans who are still struggling on Earth today witness the will of the Punishing Virus. ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory452.jpg 1 1
26 22 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Having made their way into the exposed ventilation duct, the Scavengers are crawling slowly inside the narrow and dark space.
27 23 301 After following Rolmo around and around for the umpteenth time, they finally find their way out of the ventilation duct.
28 24 301 Flickers of daylight shine through the dome. It's the only source of light inside this giant tower.
29 25 301 This magnificent facility, left behind since the time of the Great Evacuation, also falls victim to the ravages of nature.
30 26 301 Soft, moist grass covers the connecting passages. Vines and branches get all tangled up between the iron walls and staircases, opening the doors originally used to seal off the mysterious chambers and growing all the way up from the very bottom of the tower.
31 27 301 The Scavengers immediately see the boxes scattered across the bottom level. They bear the World Government icon.
32 28 201 1 500140
33 29 301 1 Beardy Over there! Supply crates! 1
34 30 202 1 2 1
35 31 301 The stairs down were destroyed by overgrowth, so they have to cling to the edge and gradually climb down using the bare vines.
36 32 301 Right as "Beardy" is about to reach the bottom, the vine snaps under his weight, causing him to fall to the ground with a heavy thud.
37 33 301 The broken vine begins to writhe like a worm. Suddenly, the red plant rapidly regenerates from the severed vine. Convulsing momentarily, the green cuticle covers the entire branch again.
38 34 301 Compared with the branches of ordinary vines or plants, this weird twisted thing is more like the tentacle of a mollusk.
39 35 301 Beardy screams and dumps the plant in his hand. He quickly takes out the gun that has been hanging on the side of his bag.
40 36 201 1 500140
41 37 301 1 Beardy What the hell is this thing?! 1
42 38 203 1 0.25 -400
43 39 201 2 500139 400
44 40 301 1 Kordes Seems like the vine has mutated, just like the plants in the forest. 2
45 41 301 Kordes If their suspicions are correct, destroying it will only increase the Punishing concentration, just like those monsters. 2
46 42 301 Beardy First Corrupted, now... I've had enough. 1
47 43 202 1 2 1
48 44 201 1 500136
49 45 301 1 Zack Rolmo. 1
50 46 203 1 0.25 400
51 47 201 2 500384 -400
52 48 301 1 Rolmo Yeah? I'm here. 2
53 49 301 Zack Are there any of the monsters we saw in the tower, too? 1
54 50 301 Rolmo I... I don't know... 2
55 51 301 Zack If I find out you're lying... 1
56 52 202 1 2 1
57 53 201 1 500140
58 54 301 1 Beardy Shush— 1
59 55 301 "Beardy", who was already leading the way over to the supply crate, suddenly turns around and gestures to be silent.
60 56 301 "Beardy" Quiet. Looks like we're not alone here. 1
61 57 301 "Beardy" walks around the pile of supply crates and discovers a person quietly sitting in the corner behind the crates.
62 58 301 Or rather, it wasn't a "person."
63 59 201 1 500139
64 60 301 1 Kordes ...It's dead. 1
65 61 301 The corpse is leaned up against an empty supply crate. Its skull had been pierced by a branch, and its mouth hangs motionlessly agape.
66 62 301 Its decayed hands were in an empty grip, as if they were holding something tightly before they died. Scarlet plant branches entwine around its body, almost assimilating it with the surrounding environment.
67 63 301 The group falls silent at the horrific sight. "Beardy" curses, then walks up to the body.
68 64 301 Kordes Hey! Watch out for the plants! 1
69 65 201 1 500140
70 66 301 1 Beardy replies. He keeps a distance and pokes the corpse as well as the plants around it with his gun, then backs off quickly.
71 67 301 Beardy It's okay. It's not moving. 1
72 68 301 Confirming that the plants won't ambush them, "Beardy" kneels down next to the corpse and expertly pats it down, looking for anything useful.
73 69 301 Not finding anything, "Beardy" turns over the backpack that fell to the side, then shakes his head and throws it back.
74 70 301 The unidentifiable corpse has nothing that can be deemed "useful."
75 71 301 "Beardy" Nothing. Looks like there've been at least three other groups that came here before us. 1
76 72 301 He points at the bullet marks on the supply crates and grins.
77 73 301 Beardy I see three different kinds of bullet holes, new and old. Looks like there was a firefight here. This unlucky bastard didn't make it out. 1
78 74 301 "Beardy" Check the area. See if we can turn up anything useful. We can't go home empty-handed. 1
79 75 301 The other three nod. Readying their weapons, they spread out in opposite directions without having to say another word.
80 76 201 1 500139
81 77 301 1 Kordes ...Huh. A book. 1
82 78 301 Kordes stops in front of an unlucky corpse. He bends down to pick up a book that appears to have fallen out of his hand. He carefully turns the crisp paper. The sallow pages are stained with oxidized blood.
83 79 301 Kordes Looks like a religious text... 1
84 80 301 Kordes The Story of Genesis, Eden, the Tree of Life— 1
85 81 203 1 0.25 -400
86 82 201 2 500140 400
87 83 301 1 Beardy Why are you always so obsessed with weird stuff? 2
88 84 201 2 500136 400
89 85 301 1 Zack Take only the things that are really useful, Kordes. Don't forget our rules. 2
90 86 301 Kordes ...I know. 1
91 87 301 Kordes This area's clear. I didn't find anything. How about you guys? 1
92 88 202 1 2 1
93 89 201 1 500140
94 90 301 1 "Beardy" I found two boxes of military rations and one box of pistol ammo. Looks like they belonged to the ground troops. They were hidden out of sight. I almost missed them. 2
95 91 301 Beardy Zack, see something? 1
96 92 301 Zack remains quiet. He doesn't appear to hear what "Beardy" had said. He just stares at a spot on the tower.
97 93 301 "Beardy" Zack? You okay? See something? 1
98 94 301 Only until "Beardy" walks up to him and pats him does he slowly turn his head. His face contorts into a strange expression as he points to the area he had been observing.
99 95 301 That's the ventilation facility at the bottom of the tower, which hasn't been damaged by branches and vines yet. The tangled-up vines find their way around the fan blades on all the vents.
100 96 301 A gust of wind is coming from the depths of the vents, and along with it comes the noise of some large operating Mechanoid. The sound is a rhythmic beat, reminiscent of a heartbeat.
101 97 201 1 500136
102 98 301 1 Zack If I'm not mistaken... 1
103 99 301 Zack It's barely noticeable, but... 1
104 100 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Zack I think the tower... is still in operation. 1
