3 3 301 DialogEnable Zero-point energy was once the ultimate vision of the future from the people in the Golden Age. Everyone knew about it. Everyone was staring at it.
4 4 301 However, the development of zero-point energy was always a mystery. The only foundation of all its research was that it existed. Even experts in the energy sector could only start with trial and error.
5 5 301 After countless failures, almost all researchers in the laboratory have lost patience, their spirits broken. Frustration fills every corner of the room.
6 6 301 Only one small figure stands before everyone else, boldly but carefully forming different solutions, hoping to recreate what happened to the Atlantis reactor as recorded in the Omega File.
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8 8 301 1 Karenina Right... The number of virtual particles detected is normal, which means it's probably the conditions for the output not being able to sustain... ****! It's still not working! 1
9 9 201 1 500499 2
10 10 301 1 Yarha Karenina... Still looking energetic, are we? 1
11 11 201 1 500495 13
12 12 301 1 Teddy I'm glad you're used to it... It pisses me off every time I see her all energized while I'm dead tired. 1
13 13 204 1 1
14 14 301 Teddy But I suppose a fool who won't quit is the only one who deserves to witness success firsthand. 1
15 15 301 Teddy dusts off the dirt from her clothes, having been resting on the floor, and stretches before standing up and operating on the terminal.
16 16 201 1 500494 5
17 17 301 1 Karenina Hey, you there! Go get a reading of the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and bring me another metal pipe. I smashed the last one... 1
18 18 201 1 500307
19 19 301 1 Kurono Researcher ... 1
20 20 201 1 500495 13
21 21 301 1 Teddy Ha! That lady there doesn't care who you are once she's in work mode. 1
22 22 202 1 1
23 23 301 That Kurono Researcher takes a look at Yarha. Although Yarha's role as research director is only nominal, the researchers still technically answer to him.
24 24 201 1 500499
25 25 301 1 Yarha We're all after the same thing here. Do as Karenina says. 1
26 26 202 1 1
27 27 301 Unlike its mysterious and elitist image, scientific researches are boring and fruitless 80% of the time. The celebrated successes are the results of tens of thousands of repeated experiments.
28 28 301 Karenina's grandfather had been doing all kinds of ridiculous experiments since she was young. Occasionally—most of the time, they ended in failure.
29 29 301 But sometimes—very, very rarely—after an alarming explosion, she would find Kalon covered in soot, grinning and showing his perfect white teeth, walking out the door with a piece of coal in his hands.
30 30 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The young Karenina would carefully hold her grandfather's hands, wiping off the topmost layer of dirt to reveal the glistening diamond hiding inside.
34 34 301 Having started working again for who-knows-how-long, the researchers are all startled by Karenina's sudden shout, stopping their work immediately.
35 35 204 1 4
36 36 301 Karenina is staring at a pencil on her desk until it slowly floats in the air. Even with only one-sixth of Earth's gravity, a pencil would not have levitated on the lunar surface out of nowhere.
37 37 301 Karenina Teddy, take this down! This is it! 1
43 43 301 1 Karenina I hooked up the zero-point reactor with the original engine as its most susceptive detector. 1
44 44 301 The zero-point reactor in the lunar base was created as the power source for Babylonia, driving the space-traveling gravitational wave engine.
45 45 204 1 1
46 46 301 Karenina This engine was designed for zero-point energy and zero-point energy only. Other energy sources wouldn't work, so it was left here with the reactor. 1
47 47 301 Karenina But that also means it will turn on with the slightest hint of zero-point energy—like this. 1
48 48 401 1 36
49 49 401 2 897
50 50 301 Karenina nods, motioning Teddy to enter the final commands. With a crystal-clear "Ding!" echoing in the laboratory, everyone and everything in the room is suddenly floating in the air as if they are in actual space.
54 54 301 1 Yarha D-does... does that mean we've succeeded?! 1
55 55 201 1 500494 1
56 56 301 Karenina Although the engine can only run at 50% of what it can theoretically do this way, without a doubt—the zero-point reactor has restarted. 1
57 57 202 1 1
58 58 401 2 2581
59 59 402 800 2581
60 60 301 All the researchers cannot help but cheer. Whether they are from Kurono or the Engineering Force, everyone floating is high-fiving and celebrating with the people around them.
61 61 301 Perhaps only now, laughing freely in the absence of gravity, can these people ignore each other's beliefs and factions to enjoy this technological breakthrough as scientific researchers.
62 62 201 1 500495 1
63 63 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Teddy cannot help but grin, either. But her smile quickly fades, as she knows there is a bigger question awaiting them after the zero-point reactor restarts.
69 69 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Collins Finally... Liszt, do I look alright? Should I put on something decent? 1
70 70 301 Liszt You're fine. 2
71 71 204 1
72 72 301 Despite Liszt's answer, Collins still straightens up his tie and cuffs patiently.
73 73 202 2 1
74 74 201 2 500499 -400
75 75 301 1 Yarha Collins, the Mega-Omega Weapon has been connected to a zero-point energy source. 2
76 76 301 Collins Karen, is the zero-point reactor running properly? 1
77 77 301 Karenina watches the Omega Weapon glowing blue upon receiving zero-point energy. Right now, it is only in standby mode.
78 78 202 2 1
79 79 201 2 500494 4 -400
80 80 301 1 Karenina Hmph. More proper than any of you... 2
81 81 301 Collins Haha! That's good enough for me. By the way, didn't you refuse to work with us originally? 1
82 82 301 Karenina The Cosmos Technician Union might be neutral, but it doesn't mean we're planning to work with Kurono. 2
83 83 301 Cosmos Technician Union's neutrality is part of why the Parliament has chosen Karenina to help Kurono after they agreed to work together.
84 84 301 Karenina We're helping you restart the zero-point reactor only because we need it to produce the Omega Weapon the surface desperately needs right now. Don't overthink it. 2
85 85 301 Collins But Hetero-Creatures and Corrupted won't sit and wait for the Omega Weapon to attack. Humanity needs a more decisive breakthrough to turn things around. 1
86 86 204 2 12
87 87 301 Collins sends a file to Karenina's terminal. It is the latest project the Parliament and Kurono have agreed to work on together.
88 88 204 2 7
89 89 301 Karenina A new specialized frame... In that case, the Omega Weapon can indeed be fully utilized. The base model is made from the data of an agent... 2
90 90 204 2 8
91 91 301 Karenina glances at the sleeping Luna. Lit by the soft, blue light, Luna's youthful face is the furthest thing Karenina would associate with what Luna is—an agent, the highest form of Ascendant.
92 92 301 Collins Even though the model we built from Luna's data performed better than regular Constructs, it couldn't achieve what the new specialized frame would require to absorb the Punishing Virus. 1
93 93 204 2 5
94 94 301 Karenina ****! No wonder you gave me that model. You were looking for more data, weren't you? 2
95 95 301 Collins Ha! You can think what you want. I just want you to understand that even the smallest treasure we take from that treasure trove is enough to make such an impact... 1
96 96 301 Collins gives Karenina a pat on her shoulder, revealing his usual malicious grin.
97 97 301 Collins As a researcher yourself, aren't you curious about what other secrets are hidden in that trove? 1
98 98 401 2 988
99 99 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Collins nods at Yarha, and the energy pulse device connected to Luna begins to work, injecting her with energy.
104 104 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The pale Ascendant slowly opens her eyes under everyone's watchful gaze. People have their hands on their weapons—even knowing that the Omega Weapon is there, they are still frightened by Luna.
109 109 301 Collins looks at Luna expectantly, hoping she will react, but Luna just looks at everyone there calmly and remains silent.
110 110 301 Collins Luna, that's your name, isn't it... Do you remember me?
111 111 301 Luna ...
112 112 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Collins I witnessed your birth on that day, transforming from that lowly Corrupted to the saintly, angelic being you are. I've been hoping to meet you again ever since.
115 115 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Luna is still expressionless, but her gaze seems to have shifted slightly.
116 116 301 Luna You... are the one who turned me into a Corrupted? 1
117 117 201 1 500319 14
118 118 301 1 Collins Of course not. It was an unfortunate accident that you got infected. Or... a necessary sacrifice. 1
119 119 301 Collins Even though Dr. Kalon had greatly increased the success rate of the Construct technology, it was still flawed... 1
120 120 201 1 500494 4
121 121 301 1 Karenina "Necessary sacrifice"... 1
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123 123 301 1 Luna Is that so? You think that was an "accident"... but it doesn't matter anymore. 1
124 124 301 Luna tries to connect to the Ascension-Network to no avail, as she expected. She has probably been deemed a threat to the network after her actions in City 075...
125 125 301 But the Punishing Virus within her has not overtaken her and turned her into a Corrupted, which means she is still an Ascendant for some reason, which surprises her.
126 126 301 Luna Perhaps you're hoping to obtain something from me, humans... but I'm sorry to tell you that I'm no different to your Constructs right now. All I have left is the power to draw in the Punishing Virus. 1
127 127 301 Luna raises her bounded right hand slightly. A dark, scarlet light flashes in her palm... causing all the soldiers to raise their weapons.
128 128 301 Luna There is no Punishing Virus here... 1
129 129 301 Luna is astounded to find that there is almost no Punishing Virus in the atmosphere except for what is inside her.
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131 131 301 1 Liszt Don't be rash. We're on the Moon right now... there is no virus for you Ascendants to absorb. And if you try to run, the Mega-Omega Weapon behind you will activate and destroy all viruses and you in one sweep. 1
132 132 201 1 500238
133 133 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Luna I don't plan to run... The person you call Luna is dead. There's no place for me to return to. 1
140 140 301 Luna Humans... are already capable of making something like that... 1
141 141 301 Luna But it's pointless. Humanity's end is destined. 1
142 142 301 At City 075, Luna chose to oppose the Ascension-Network, siding with her sister and the human her sister trusted despite being humanity's enemy... And now, Luna has nowhere to return as an outcast.
143 143 301 Luna But struggle all you want like that person, humans... 1
144 144 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Luna's final words might be uncaring, but it does not sound hostile at all. If anything, there seems to be the faintest hint of hope.
