The Red Tide surrounding the forest slowly pulls back.
The brutal onslaught of Corrupted and Hetero-Creatures finally eases up, and the dark clouds blanketing the sky start to break apart.
Everyone can finally catch their breath and turn their attention to the girl still swallowed by the Red Tide.
Luna...
When Selene shows up with her controlled Hetero-Creatures, Roland miraculously manages to bring—or rather, "lure"—the four members of Gray Raven to this spot.
Even though the Gray Raven Constructs don't jump into the fight and just stand guard over you, who's mentally connected to Luna, having you there to stabilize Luna's M.I.N.D. is enough.
What's the situation?
Selene, meanwhile, controls countless Corrupted and Hetero-Creatures to block everyone else's advance, while she herself makes a beeline for the "Red Tide" where Luna is submerged.
In another part of the battlefield, Luna defeats Selene's consciousness and reclaims her agent authority. But at the same time, her own mind is ripped to shreds by Punishing.
Luckily, the M.I.N.D. connection to her holds firm. As long as the beacon stays steady, she'll surely find all her consciousness fragments in that endless labyrinth and discover the way out.
Before you can even finish speaking, the savage crimson tide surges skyward, morphing into towering waves.
Commandant!
The three Gray Raven members cautiously shield you, holding their ground. The Red Tide surges but doesn't breach their defensive line.
Meanwhile, the girl, enveloped by the Red Tide, keeps her eyes tightly shut, suspended amidst crimson thorns.
Murky moonlight pierces through the dark clouds, instantly flooding the entire forest.
She won.
No matter how many times it falls, there is only one moon in the world.
The Red Tide and the rustling forest fall silent as Luna slowly opens her eyes.
...
The reborn girl stares up at the moonlight on the horizon, as if still lost in that endless hell.
The Ascension-Network's will is essentially information from the dead—clusters of similar desires or emotions. It uses this information to filter for matching Agents.
Luna, born from hatred, can only command information representing "hatred," so...
Luna quietly gazes at the sky, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes. After a long while, she finally speaks.
Now... I stand beside no one's will. My faith and emotions belong to me alone.
I simply ache for a real future. I'm using this yearning to call out to those who will follow me.
Luna, her agent authority revoked, smooths away the clusters of Punishing crystals.
No matter what, I owe you a thank you this time, [player name].
Yes, we both got what we needed.
Roland already tipped her off about the conditions promised to the Gray Raven Commandant—keeping the Punishing concentration in the Dead Zone in check and heading off the Red Tide's spread.
Even though Babylonia's new Central Purification Filters can now create areas that are almost like safe zones, a full-blown Red Tide invasion would still spell big trouble.
Compared to the unknown Cradle, teaming up with Luna just makes more sense and is the quicker path.
And there's still that promise between us, isn't there?
The girl's fingertips linger at her neck as she cracks a slight smile.
I'll hold up my end of the bargain.
Their brief encounter is cut short by the roar of Babylonia's transport crafts.
Looks like your "reinforcements" are about to arrive.
The Ascendants quietly fall back as the single wing behind Luna's back slowly unfurls.
I hope this cooperation doesn't cause you any trouble... I look forward to our next meeting.
Suddenly, a roar rips through the air, and violent winds surge forth.
When eyes open again, all that's left is the withered Red Tide and moonlight seeping into the soil.
In the desolate wasteland, starlight cascades down upon the plains.
Luna hovers in mid-air, her gaze sinking deep into the M.I.N.D. as she organizes the power extracted from the Red Tide.
The voices within the Red Tide are chaotic and overwhelming. It's like sifting through someone else's entire life; Luna examines the past through intricate, intertwined images.
Some images are picture-perfect, while others are completely shattered.
And some images... they're like "stories" she's never experienced.
The one-winged girl stands calmly in the high air, looking down at a phone booth illuminated by only a trace of warm light.
Another "her" is down there, dialing a number that should have no one to answer it.
...
She's certain of one thing: this is something she has never done.
At least for now, she has no way or means to return to the "past."
Carefully tucking this image away, she examines other information...
It's as if she's stumbled upon something that shouldn't be seen; a white mist shrouds a corner of her M.I.N.D., desperately concealing certain images.
Luna shrugs off the throbbing in her M.I.N.D. as she pushes through a swirling white mist. Hazy scenes suddenly jump out at her from the depths of her mind.
This is...
A crimson tower, piercing the clouds, an eerie Red Tide overflowing with strange information, and—
Their deaths.
...
Luna quickly shoves the disturbing visions deep within her M.I.N.D. before her eyes snap open in the soft moonlight.
Are you alright?
Alpha asks, seeing her stir.
Yeah, I've managed to filter out the clutter. I'll have this chunk of power from the Red Tide sorted out soon.
What did you see?
Alpha, who knows Luna inside and out, catches a flicker of something unsettling in her expression.
Nothing much. It's all still pretty hazy.
The girl tilts her head slightly, gazing into the distance.
Out there, she knows, a spiral tower should be stretching from the earth to the heavens.
Perhaps something's already changed, but...
It's alright.
Hearing their conversation, Roland and Lamia walk over from nearby.
Even if it costs me everything, I won't let that future happen.
Even if the price is her own life.
Specks of golden light drift down onto the quiet wasteland.
W-what just happened?
It's nothing. Let's get moving.
Stepping through the moonlight washing over the land, the Ascendants start searching for their future in this brand new world.
...
The girl in green robes sits perfectly still, waiting deep in the forest.
...
A Hetero-Creature tries to scramble away from her feet, but Cradle's sharp eyes catch it. She scoops it into her arms and pets it a few times, as if letting off steam.
Strange.
She senses that a chunk of power has been ripped right out of the Red Tide.
Who could have done it?
Her own power isn't strong enough to trace it back to the source.
Why do I keep getting this nagging feeling... that things shouldn't be this way?
She furrows her brow, sifting through her "thoughts."
I keep feeling like someone should be coming to find me...
But why... hasn't anyone come...
Why...
Who stole my "script"—
