Far from the safe zones, Vonnegut searches for traces of the Hetero Tower, accompanied by the newly hatched Chaos.
Ever since Chaos was born, the dark agent has been obsessively looking for the hidden Hetero Tower deep within the Earth, like a child digging for potatoes farmers missed.
As expected, he hasn't had any luck.
Mister, I've looked in a lot of places, just like you asked.
The third basement level of the Copperfield Aquarium... it's been completely wrecked beyond recognition by a Construct named Bianca.
The small island near the aquarium is practically clear. After Bianca and the Gray Raven Commandant left, it's as if the Punishing Virus was never there. Even the Red Tide you left to nurture Chiko has completely dried up.
The Pulia Forest Park Ruins? That place is a complete wasteland now, Mister. There's absolutely nothing left there.
And Fort Winter? No signs of Punishing concentration there either.
Gazing into the distance, Vonnegut's expression is as still as a pond.
What about the Red Tide? Any progress with the Hetero-Creatures?
If they keep "evolving," they could potentially be vessels to summon the Hetero Tower.
No, Mister...
The Hetero-Creatures' evolution has hit a snag. Someone higher up than me has taken over their development—most likely that girl, "Cradle."
She's not quite what he'd documented before. Her appearance hasn't changed, but she doesn't have the formidable power he expected.
The world is getting more and more unpredictable, and none of it is good news.
So, what's holding back the Hetero Tower?
Ever since the Copperfield Aquarium incident, he's completely lost touch with his counterpart in the "Tower."
To avoid catching the eye of higher powers, his counterpart in the "Tower" always plays it close to the vest when sharing information about this world. But because of that, his current self has completely lost any edge in understanding what's going on.
He's like a blind man feeling an elephant, just helplessly grasping at this world. Who changed the "future"?
He probes the Gray Raven Commandant, who genuinely seems to know nothing about it.
He also sought out Luna, but she remains trapped by the Ascension-Network's crystals. Besides, she would never sacrifice herself for human civilization anyway.
Who on earth is pulling the strings from the shadows?
The agent ponders for a moment, trying to come up with a plausible "answer," but once again, he draws a blank.
Cradle went into the Dead Zone a few days ago, and I haven't been able to track her movements since, so...
She's not worth your concern.
She's nothing more than an ordinary Hetero-Creature incubated by the Red Tide now. Her existence is inconsequential.
Yes, Mister.
The young man trails closely behind the agent, continuing to relay the rest of his unfinished report.
As for Babylonia... <phonetic=the contaminating memetic>Dark Star</phonetic> has fallen into the Dead Zone.
<phonetic=Contaminating Memetic>Dark Star</phonetic>...
Vonnegut stops dead in his tracks, straining to pull a word from the depths of his memory.
It's that contaminating memetic Dominik sealed away...
Looks like Dominik's plan has failed as well.
Containment and avoidance have never really worked against contamination.
After a long, heavy silence, Lithos finally raises his head and looks at the Agent, a question in his eyes.
...Mister?
Are you leaving?
I'll leave this place, but not yet.
His only <color=#ff4e4eff>return ticket</color> is still in his possession.
A pale, diminutive doll is clutched in his arms.
I need to embark on a long journey.
He contemplates for a moment, then his decision is made in a flash.
He has to find the Hetero Tower, no matter what. Once he locates it, he can use the return ticket to enter and finally put an end to all of this.
He doesn't know why, but this return ticket feels almost perfect this time—yet, without the Hetero Tower, all his carefully laid plans are nothing but a pipe dream.
He's been stuck in this loop for what feels like forever—he needs to find a way out, the way out.
You will take my place. Bring this gift to Luna and become an Ascendant under her command.
Only through Luna can you maintain your status as an Ascendant, and when necessary, intervene with Lilith's affairs.
Go to Luna, Lithos. This is your final mission.
Once this mission is done, you're free to do as you please—seek your own death... or choose to live on.
Now that I've heard Rose might still be alive, I'll stay alive—at least until I can verify it myself.
Vonnegut gives Lithos' frail shoulders a final, knowing pat.
This could be their last "goodbye."
In the forest, right on the edge of the Dead Zone, the vegetation whispers and rustles in the cold December wind.
Fingers dance across the keyboard, pulling up encrypted documents. Events recorded by both Asimov and himself are connected by lines of various colors, weaving a complex web.
The "invitation" is the key to unlocking the Hetero Tower. Vonnegut is on the hunt for the Hetero Tower. And Dominik? He vanished into the Hetero Tower's mysterious fog...
All these shifts, all these changes, they all lead back to one thing: the Hetero Tower never showed up.
So, if someone, anyone really, tweaked the Hetero Tower's manifestation from the future, when would it pop up now? And what was that future person really after?
After that future gets rewritten—what's next?
The fog in his mind starts to unfurl like silk from a cocoon, slowly but surely clearing. But before he can fully grasp what's happening—
Long time no see, Gray Raven Commandant.
Moonlight spills like liquid silver, bright enough to clearly show the Ascendant nearing in the distance.
Roland?
Lee, on high alert, raises his weapon, aiming it at the approaching Ascendant.
Easy there, I come in peace. I'm here to cut a deal, honest.
Roland throws up both hands, adopting an exaggerated pose of complete surrender to show he's unarmed.
Now, now, Gray Raven Commandant. Patience.
With a disarmingly friendly smile, he drops a specific time—
It almost perfectly lines up with when Dark Star showed up in Gestalt.
That's when the Ascension-Network anomaly happened—I'm guessing we're on the same page here?
Yes.
Beneath his friendly smile, a flicker of anxiety finally breaks through.
A while back, the Ascension-Network had an anomaly that completely trapped Luna...
Ugh...
After countless struggles that tore at her very being, the long-standing shackles that bound Luna finally give way.
As the crystal chains shatter and scatter, most of her power crumbles away with them.
...Luna?
Despite not being connected to the Ascension-Network, she immediately senses something is off with Luna.
It was... Selene.
She was the "noise" that once belonged to Luna, a part of her that was cut away. After this static is removed and gradually becomes independent, Roland starts calling her "Selene."
She's coming for me... she's breathing down my neck...
The Ascension-Network only throws its weight behind the strongest agent, plain and simple. It couldn't care less if that's Luna or not.
The instant the Ascension-Network starts shifting gears, Luna feels Selene slipping away from her consciousness.
Once Selene, a mere puppet of the Ascension-Network, merges with Babylonia's "Dark Star," the network will have no use for Luna anymore.
I'll buy you some time.
M-me too...
The timid mermaid shrinks behind the bushes, hesitantly raising her hand.
It's not enough... She'll just gobble up my power.
Luna's face drains of color, and she can no longer hold her hovering position.
In the blink of an eye since Selene merged with "Dark Star," the Ascension-Network has already stripped Luna of her agent privileges and handed them straight to Selene.
So, what's our play now?
The Red Tide.
Following the moonlight's lead, Luna bends down and scoops up the Red Tide gathered in a hollow on the ground.
When I was tied down by Punishing, I caught a glimpse of those Red Tide Projections.
That was when I realized the Red Tide's true purpose—to soak up the "information" stored within the Ascension-Network.
This is the only way Earth's "information" can be fully integrated into Punishing.
But how do you even tap into the Red Tide's power?
"Egg".
Luna closes her eyes, sensing the Punishing within the Red Tide, as if she's listening to their voices.
B-but there isn't enough time, Luna! Didn't you say she'd be here any moment?
The information in the Red Tide is chaotic, but it's not random. If we could just find the one who controls the Red Tide's will to help us, our chances of success would skyrocket, but...
There's no time left.
The girl's golden eyes fix on the distance. She can feel "interference"—a piece of her own consciousness—barreling towards her.
Only one "moon" can exist in this world.
This is the only way I can get enough power, and fast.
Crimson liquid drips between the girl's pale fingers as she suddenly clenches her fist.
Roland, track down Gray Raven.
Gray Raven Commandant?
Yeah, figure out how to get the Gray Raven Commandant here.
Luna stumbles back to where she was once held captive.
I'm going to use these Punishing crystals to link up with the Red Tide and pull power from it. That'll help me bypass the Filtering and get my agent powers back.
During this whole thing, I need the Gray Raven Commandant to help steady my M.I.N.D.
Roger that.
With clear orders in hand, Roland doesn't hesitate; he turns and heads out.
Sis, team up with Lamia and find a way to channel the Red Tide to me.
Guiding thin streams of Red Tide from the ground towards the Punishing crystals, the girl slowly sinks into the crimson bog.
I have to... immerse myself in the Red Tide right here.
