Drip... Drip...
Liquid beads on the corroded walls, slowly running down.
The monster instinctively shrinks back into a dark corner, trying desperately to vanish into the Red Tide.
Drip... Drip...
Why are you running away?
...
This is for the best, don't you think?
Even those who can't become Constructs can seek their rebirth through this project...
Isn't this just amazing for humanity?
The execution chair, named Paper Crane, moves ever so slowly with the purple-haired Ascendant in it. Its joints groan with the soft shriek of protesting metal.
Drip... Drip...
You're not exactly happy, right?
...
Everyone you've ever cared about died right before your eyes, and you're the sole survivor. Everyone else considers you lucky, but only you truly get what that luck means...
The one left behind is the one who bears the heaviest burden.
The monster holds her breath, hiding and trying to dodge the purple-haired Ascendant's chase. She unconsciously soaks up "power" from the Red Tide as chaotic images flicker through her M.I.N.D. in slow motion.
...Yuko!!
A woman with blurry features stands on the other side of the impassable Red Tide. Her lips move as if she's saying something...
Yuko!!
Chiko still can't quite make out the woman's face, but somehow, she senses the woman is smiling from across the shore.
Speak up! I can't hear you!
The woman across the Red Tide raises a gun, appearing to say something else—
Yuko?!!
In a hazy memory, the woman known as Yuko collapses, hitting the ground hard.
Yuko... sister...
Drip... Drip...
Ah... you're crying.
You've remembered something, haven't you?
Someone is talking...
Nice to meet you, Ms. Chiko Kirishima.
Since we're family now, there's no need to be so formal. You can just call her Chiko, or Sis.
Chiko...
...Let's take care of each other from now on, Yuko.
Drip... Drip...
The sound of dripping water gets louder. The monster shivers, reliving what she's been through and all she's lost.
We're cut from the same cloth, Chiko.
Don't you want to break free from this endless sorrow? All you have to do is...
The monster trembles as grief washes over her M.I.N.D. like a tidal wave.
Sis, what's wrong?
...Your father passed away.
What are we going to do now...?
Chiko...
There's a cold sensation beside her. Someone's crying...
"The life insurance is for all of you. I hope you... can break free from me."
"Stop working near the public dormitory. Find a job that fits you better..."
"Goodbye..."
Every goodbye rings like a death knell drawing ever closer.
You want to see them again, don't you?
I can't quite access all your memories right now, but these must mean the world to you...
Don't be afraid...
Drip... Drip...
The sound of scraping metal gets closer and closer—
Forced to relive chaotic memories, the monster trembles in agony...
Drip... Drip...
Ah...
Drip... Drip...
There you are.
—!!!
The monster lets out a piercing shriek as her mutated armor shatters piece by piece under Paper Crane's attack.
Your incubation isn't complete yet. Even if you escape now, you won't survive.
Kill... me...
...Not just yet.
The experiment will work. Your life will ride on a higher form.
It can always be even better.
Paper Crane holds back the weakened monster while the purple-haired Ascendant makes his way onto the island via a hidden path.
This is it.
He gently and patiently lays the monster on the altar at the island's center.
Be patient. As long as the final step succeeds... it'll never hurt again.
You'll have a dream so sweet even death can't touch it.
Lithos looks at the "monster," recalling Chiko's memories that he has witnessed.
You must really miss her.
He twirls his long hair, as if seeing someone else through Chiko's memories.
It's all good now. It'll all be over in a blink.
You're going to be... reborn right here.
The Red Tide spreads out from below, slowly swallowing up the monster's body...
Glug glug glug glug—
Cough cough cough—!
I really should've slapped a propeller engine on my frame when I had the chance.
...
Karenina and Teddy drag themselves onto the beach, painstakingly clearing out the water from their frames.
Vonnegut was busy whisking the commandant away, so he didn't spare attention for them. The two got swept out to sea through the aquarium's busted outer wall and really struggled to get back to shore.
To think that an agent actually showed up at the aquarium... We gotta report this to Babylonia right away.
Karenina shakes the seawater from her hair while firing up her terminal.
Teddy, find our old campsite. We need to head back and back Gray Raven up as soon as we can...
...Teddy?
...Over there.
Crimson waves surge in the distance, building into massive swells.
...The Red Tide?! How's this even happening...
Vonnegut deliberately sabotaged the aquarium, causing the Red Tide inside to leak out...
...
...Karenina? Is there something you need to...
Agent Vonnegut just showed up at the aquarium, nabbed the Gray Raven Commandant, and wrecked the whole place.
The Red Tide's spilled out of the aquarium, and a huge wave of Hetero-Creatures is about to hit the shore!
We're running low on supplies from our initial deployment. We need backup, now!
Copperfield Aquarium
First Basement Level
In the Ruins
Copperfield Aquarium, Lower Level 1, Ruins.
On the lower first level, the Engineering Force's heavy machinery has dug a massive hole, letting blinding daylight flood in.
I hear something! This is the spot!
He points the heavy machinery toward a weak point in the structure.
Everybody inside—spread out!
As soon as it gets the green light, the heavy machinery swings its excavator bucket.
BOOM—!
Let the injured leave first.
Under Chrome's direction, the Scarlet Revelation followers and injured Constructs from the Purifying Force crawl out one by one through the narrow passage.
It's... the sky...
Oh my Lord... thank you for your divine grace...
The followers drop to their knees, tears streaming down their faces.
Wow, you might as well be thanking me instead... If it weren't for me, who'd even bother with you religious nuts...
Lulu carries out the last injured follower, huffing and puffing from the effort.
...We also have to thank God for guiding these noble people from Babylonia our way.
It was His divine guidance that led us to them; they're truly messengers of the divine...
At Grace's prompting, the followers take turns expressing their gratitude to those from Babylonia.
Tsk.
Lulu rolls her eyes decisively and walks away, clearly not wanting anything more to do with anyone from Babylonia.
What's the situation outside?
We've deployed the Omega Weapons we brought. And now...
Huh? Aren't our captain and vice-captain with you?
They were transporting Bianca's new frame. They should be with Lucia and the Gray Raven Commandant.
The aquarium exploded afterward and seawater flooded in. I'm not certain about the current situation below...
Is this batch of backup only the Engineering Force? How many Task Force members have arrived?
I need some Task Force soldiers to come with me and...
You can't go any further down. It's completely flooded with seawater and the Red Tide.
Karenina and Teddy walk in from outside the ruins.
Karenina? Where are Commandant and Lucia...
We were swept apart by the rushing water. Teddy and I lost sight of them.
The lower second level and everything below it are completely flooded. Seawater is carrying massive amounts of Red Tide back into the ocean, and the Hetero-Creatures the Ascendants were keeping in the aquarium are now heading straight for the coastline.
...Has this been reported to Babylonia?
The first batch of Omega Weapons is expected in about 30 minutes. We need to get ready to deploy them right away.
Please help me with resource allocation. I'm taking a team down to find Lucia and the Gray Raven Commandant.
No problem. Supplies are right there—help yourself. After that...
Celica said support teams are on their way, so we won't be short-staffed on the ground...
Hey, look at you all in shambles.
The red-haired Construct stands on the ground, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
The two Task Force squads have divided their responsibilities—Chrome will lead Kamui and Camu to search for traces of the Gray Raven Commandant and the others inside the aquarium, while Vera commands Cerberus and collaborates with Karenina to deploy Omega Weapons along the outer coastline.
With the discussion wrapped up, Chrome, Kamui, and Camu head out immediately. As Karenina and Vera talk about staffing, Grace breaks away from the others and approaches them, speaking a little nervously.
Is there... anything we can do to help?
Are you... with Scarlet Revelation?
Karenina vaguely remembers seeing something about Scarlet Revelation in the mission briefing.
Yes, I am. And I'm really sorry for all the trouble we've caused, but I'm hoping there's still a way for us to help.
What's there to talk about with you folks who still thank their god after a rescue? If you're itching to help, go pray by the shore and see if your god can actually stop the Red Tide from spreading.
Praying... is just one way to find comfort. We can do much more than that.
Whether it's God or the Red Tide... our faith just grew out of our powerlessness.
I used to think we weren't meant to become Constructs. We were helpless against those monsters, and all we could do was run.
B-but...
She has seen humans fight desperately against impossible odds, and Constructs shield their comrades even when badly injured.
Without weapons, they brawl with fists, lash out with kicks, and when all else fails, they fight tooth and nail.
As long as they're still breathing, they just keep fighting...
If they can fight like that... why can't Scarlet Revelation?
Why can't Scarlet Revelation be like them, throwing everything we have at fighting for a "future" that's ours?
Her fingers tighten around the metal rune, the grooves of the M symbol biting into her palm like a vow.
M—Mannaz—humanity—<b>you</b>'re really important.
No matter what it is, please let us... fight with you.
Uhmm...
With things as they are, we've got a transport vacuum on the western coast...
Can you help get supplies over to the west side so the Engineering Force can get the Omega Weapons set up?
Of course!
Grace's eyes light up.
Hold on a minute.
Can you guarantee your followers won't stir up any trouble? That they won't just make off with the supplies halfway through?
You have my word.
She answers without missing a beat.
I'll tell them this is a test straight from God.
That if they pass it, they'll achieve true rebirth.
