Story Reader / Main Story / 31 Shaper's Ripples / Story
31-1 Echoes of Nightmare
>The hero finds a raw, primal joy in their own destruction.
They could yield to the decadent comfort that pity brings, but they continue to dwell on the exact price of that ecstasy, trapped in their pain.
In Socrates's time of ruin, a stark tragedy stands as the only beacon of hope.
Terry Eagleton, Radical Sacrifice
No one really knows when it begins, but you, as Gray Raven Commandant, keep having strange dreams.
In the dream, your vision drifts free from your body, floating over the world like a ghost.
Sometimes, it slips back into the body it's bound to, letting you personally relive the distant past of <phonetic=Chaos>"her"</phonetic>.
Occasionally, the dream faithfully replays a companion's memories, revealing the life she once described.
Or it might show a tranquil, stable world that feels both comfortable and strangely alien.
But more often, you find yourself relentlessly chased by eerie shadows, your body slowly dissolving, forcing you to turn away from the light and plunge into darkness.
You ascend this strange staircase, pushing onward until you reach the very top...
Again and again, you glimpse the genuine end.
Again and again, you make almost the same choice.
Again and again, you head straight for the same sacrifice.
Gray Raven Commandant... who are you, exactly?
Can you see beyond the ordinary world, like me?
Is all that's left here just a projection, like me?
Come, step up to the <phonetic=Truth>Mirror</phonetic>, lift your head, and tell me...
Your vision is murky, and the buzzing in your ears just won't fade. You awaken from a long nightmare to find an unfamiliar street in front of you.
It seems there's something you should remember, something scattered at the far edge of this darkness, still slipping away from your grasp.
Where is this?
What date is it today?
You can hear your ears ringing as you glance around, realizing once again that you've ended up somewhere totally unknown.
Commandant!
Before the nightmare's icy grip reaches your spine, warm hands settle gently over your face.
That same familiar face, that same familiar voice—unlike those solitary nightmares, she's here, looking at you with worry in her eyes.
That same familiar face, that same familiar voice—unlike those solitary nightmares, her touch in your palm feels so real, so warm, just like she is.
Are you alright?
Her question draws your attention to the ground, where you notice tiny drops of blood—coming from your nose.
Lucia quickly stops you, takes out some gauze from the medical kit, presses it against your nose to stem the bleeding, and then gives you a thorough once-over.
Lucia fumbles through the medical kit with worries, pulling out a piece of gauze. After staunching the nosebleed, she carefully inspects the situation again.
Lucia hears that question and momentarily freezes, obviously caught off guard.
...Commandant?
...
She wears a conflicted look, unsure how to start. Beneath it all lies a worry that words can't fully capture.
...Is this still about the side effects...?
When we use the "Key" to rewind time, it affects both of us, though it's more severe for you. At first, it's just dizziness, but then you lose a small chunk of memory—or can't figure out if it happened before or after the rewind.
The M.I.N.D. shift and overload issues; they aren't a big deal as long as the M.I.N.D. connection stays intact... so don't worry only about me.
We ended up fighting Agent Vonnegut inside the <b><ud><color=#34aff8ff><link=12>Inver-Hetero Tower</link></color></ud></b>. <i><color=#a8a8a8><size=30>(Tap the underlined text for details)</size></color></i>
It's time to bring this drawn-out feud to a close.
Vonnegut's voice flashes through your mind.
One by one, those memories triggered by that short statement flood your mind, each wave bringing a sharp jolt of pain.
Commandant...
...
On the way, Cradle joins the fray. I have no idea what Vonnegut did, but he ended up shoving all of us—Cradle included—right out of the Inver-Hetero Tower.
You still remember what Lucia said, though the recollection feels like an all-too-vivid dream, blurring the line between what's truly real and what isn't.
Do you recall anything else?
What happened before we went into the —like my frame?
You follow the thread of your memories and recall March 30 with ease. By then, it was already been about a year since Lamia carried the <b><ud><color=#34aff8ff><link=11>"egg"</link></color></ud></b> away from the depths of the sea. <i><color=#a8a8a8><size=30>(Tap the underlined text for details)</size></color></i>
We've finished refining the <b><ud><color=#34aff8ff><link=13>Ω Weapon</link></color></ud></b>, and Lucia's frame is now fully adapted. She's set to switch into her new frame before April Fools' Day. <i><color=#a8a8a8><size=30>(Tap the underlined text for details)</size></color></i>
In light of that, the Science Council calls everyone together for a quick briefing in the meeting room.
As you just saw, the Omega Weapon now has an even greater effective range and improved efficiency.
But it still only works on frames. We're not yet at the point where the Omega Weapon can establish its own purified zone, and we have a lot of technical challenges to overcome first.
You've all done a great job. Starting next week, we'll give everyone some time off.
Mm.
He keeps his eyes on the monitor in front of him, never once looking up.
Lucia's new frame is fully adapted now, so she can swap into it starting tomorrow.
There are a lot of unknown variables. Before we attempt entry into the Inver-Hetero Tower, I'd like to conduct at least three months of standard mission tests.
As we saw before, deploying a frame in an emergency without proper trials is not only risky—it violates protocol.
Pulled into their memories by that statement, no one around the table says a word. As a result, Asimov carries on with his explanation.
Unlike the Heteromer Shard from the Hyperreal frame era, this "egg" is basically powerless aside from some lingering memory data. However, we've discovered it's highly compatible with the Hetero-Creature technology.
Using the data from Project Winter, the Hyperreal frame's records, the Phantom Tracer, and our enhanced Omega weapon...we combined everything to use that "egg" as the carrier for creating an "Omega Core."
Beyond granting immunity to the Punishing Virus, the "Omega Core" lets the body harness Punishing as an energy source—like an Ascendant—so it no longer needs stasis pod recharges and can operate continuously.
So, what's our plan once we're in Babylonia?
When there's no Punishing Virus around, the Omega Core automatically switches to its backup mode. At that point, just head to the hibernation chamber for a regular recharge.
Alright. Go on.
By building in technology from Phantom Tracer, the Omega Core lets the user tap into some of the data carried by the Punishing Virus, much like we saw before with Liv's Dawn Frame.
It's also easier to control—whenever you don't need that data, you can switch the feature off at will.
In addition to the Omega Core and upgraded combat features, this frame can turn completely invisible, making it ideal for stealth missions.
It packs numerous features—most of them cutting-edge tech used for the first time—so I'm asking for at least three months of testing to ensure it remains stable.
From behind the screen, he raises his exhausted eyes, only to lower them again.
...We currently know next to nothing about the Inver-Hetero Tower or its internal design. Based on our findings, we suspect it has a strong connection to the Punishing Virus at its source.
We must be fully prepared before stepping inside.
Once Lucia completes her transfer to the Pyroath frame, we will bring Plume back in for another round of repairs and upgrades. If anything seems risky, she can switch back to her old frame anytime.
On March 31, after Lucia successfully transitions to Pyroath, the Science Council starts an extensive testing phase, steadily fixing any issues that surface.
Like Asimov says, throwing an untested frame straight into combat is loaded with hidden dangers.
In the first three months, to put the frame through its paces, all her missions involve simple exploration and rescue tasks. Thanks to that, those three months become a rare and laid-back time spent with Lucia.
During this period, you also went on support missions to hot springs, tree planting, and wine brewing and visited a variety of scenic spots you'd usually never have the chance to visit.
Do you remember what happened afterward?
From that point on, the world steadily marches deeper into the abyss.
Seems like we overlook a crucial problem and don't prevent it in time. Then everything unfolds so abruptly.
...Just like Pulia Forest Park, at first we're only assigned a straightforward, safe operation.
Let's call it a night. Everyone's exhausted.
Today, you and Lucia are on a routine escort mission set up as a test, just like you always do.
Your goal is to help evacuate the residents from the conservation area closest to the Hetero Zone—right now, you're still 50 kilometers away.
By the time you finish helping them pack up, it's already late. The caretaker brings out piping-hot tomato soup and savory, crispy pastries, then shows you over to a cot in the corner.
It's dangerous to go out at night, especially since we've got a bunch of kids here.
He gestures toward the little girl in the corner of the tent, who's dashing over with bright enthusiasm.
Miss, there's also...
She doesn't even finish before tripping right into your arms, almost sending the hot soup on the table flying.
Wahhh!
N-no worries. The soup... it's still okay, right
It's saying it's all good.
Lucia gently pats the little girl's head to reassure her. The girl turns to make sure the soup bowl is intact, then holds out the rose she was hiding behind her back.
This is for you. Thanks for helping out!
She hands over the flower, then quickly scampers off—nearly tripping again as she reaches the doorway.
Take it easy, Aina!
Sigh... These kids are always so reckless.
Commandant, heading out after dark really ups the danger. Besides, our mission is slated for tomorrow.
Sounds good. I'll let the others know. Don't forget to drink your soup while it's hot.
No need to say that—we're the ones who owe you our thanks.
The manager chuckles as he rubs his hands, his broad smile deepening the lines on his face.
Who would've thought Babylonia would actually send Gray Raven to see us safely through? Everyone's breathing a little easier now.
That night, no one in the Conservation Area senses the coming catastrophe—nor do you, lost in your own nightmare.
All the building's detectors seem tampered with, so not a single alarm goes off.
...In that moment, everything descends into tragedy.
A Red Tide pours out of the Hetero Zone like a flood, racing across 50 kilometers of wasteland.
Lucia picks up on the threat, but there's no way to save everyone in time.
After flooding the conservation area, the Red Tide presses on, taking out the vehicles meant for evacuation.
In just one hour, the raging current slams into the already battered buildings, bringing them down with a thunderous crash and leaving no survivors.
Immune to the Punishing Virus, Lee and Camu rush over to help Lucia look for anyone left alive amid the Tide and debris, but they find no one.
Lucia doesn't locate little Aina—the girl who brought her flowers—until daybreak, tucked away in a sturdy crate. Spooked by the booming surge of the Red Tide, Aina curls up inside. By the time Lucia finds her, Aina's body is already in a state of decay.
...
But now, there's no point dwelling on what might have been.
After that incident, the Inver-Hetero Tower sometimes shifts back into that blood-red, chaotic state from when it first appeared. Meanwhile, the Hetero Zone keeps expanding rapidly as the Red Tide spreads.
The Council puts forward two options: send Lucia out early, or step in themselves and collaborate with the Ascendants to buy more time.
Let's go now! We've already lost the Clean Zone, and we can't let what happened in Pulia Forest Park repeat itself!
But just when Lucia ignores her incomplete entry tests and prepares to go deeper, the Inver-Hetero Tower abruptly returns to its calm state.
After weighing the situation, you decide Lucia should hold off on diving deeper and stay in the Tower's upper levels for more testing.
To contain the Red Tide, you reach out to Luna for the very first time, hoping she'll step in to stop it or help investigate the Inver-Hetero Tower.
But she soon discovers she's been sealed out of the Tower entirely.
The entry rules have been changed.
Agent Zero's whereabouts remain unknown. Could she be connected to the Inver-Hetero Tower's anomalies?
As Lithos mentioned, Vonnegut is missing too. I suspect he snuck in while you weren't watching.
Luna coils a lock of hair around her fingertip and makes a proposal.
I'll help you keep the Red Tide in check and buy human some time to retreat. In return, once my sister is ready to enter the Inver-Hetero Tower, I want you to share whatever intel she uncovers with me.
Back then, its core was toxic to me. Just approaching it gradually robbed me of my Agent abilities, so I never got the chance to dig deeper.
And now the Tower is changing. It's not the same as before, and I really want to know who can bypass a core like that to seize control of the Inver-Hetero Tower.
Right. Since Luna and her team of Ascendants have managed to buy us some time, we need to kick off the new intake plan right away.
The Clean Zone was shattered when A1 Air Terminal and its contaminating memetic went down, leaving Babylonia as the only secure spot.
Babylonia can't hold too many people. We took in quite a few during the last Pulia Forest Park operation. Based on our previous records, I've put together a screening process...
He takes a moment, making sure no one has any objections.
The criteria are pretty straightforward: candidates must be under 36 and have at least one strong skill or exhibit copolymer adaptability.
Should we consider using the Longinus Arsenal again to disperse the Red Tide?
At the rate the Hetero Zone is spreading, it'd be pointless to try.
Based on Gestalt's estimates, how long until the Hetero Zones spread across the globe?
...Initially, we only had about a year. The region on the Arctic Route Union might hold out longer—maybe an extra two years.
Luna's agreed to help push the Red Tide back, and our engineering squads can build defenses to slow its advance. That's bought us quite a bit of time.
...But in the end, we still only have five years.
Whispers ripple through the dimly lit council chamber.
This isn't a proclamation of defeat. We already know how to get into the Inver-Hetero Tower.
Hassan's commanding tone quells the rising anxiety in the room.
Gray Raven has never failed us before, and they won't start now.
Didn't they miss saving a few people last time...?
In a council chamber that grows quieter by the moment, a sarcastic comment—meant to be whispered—echoes louder than ever.
We'll carry out this plan right now; as long as we keep this mutation under control, we won't be leaving anyone behind.
"A long, long time later"...
The Gray Raven Commandant "once again" faces the Hetero-Creature, Chiko, still shaken by today's events—and by all that follows.
Five years, and most people stand firm in their belief that's enough time for humanity to seize a lifeline from the ever-expanding Hetero Zone.
To them, the worst outcome of this battle would be no more than a hero's burial. Some would not walk alongside them into a world reborn from the ashes. It would be a victory paid for with sacrifice.
But if we ask the heroes who are still safe right now—if sacrificing really is the only way to stop all this... how would those heroes answer?
But in these times, disasters demand sacrifices that surpass mere loss of life; they rarely grant the comfort of a peaceful end.
