Cradle unfurls her web of threads. She's nearly invincible—each time she approaches her limit, new puppets appear to reinforce her formation.
She can resurrect countless times, until her opponent's strength is completely drained.
33%. How about that, Countess? Are you satisfied with the power of my army yet?
Alpha tears away clusters of threads from her shoulder that cling like facehuggers as they rip open her wounds and root themselves into her body.
These threads are incredibly resilient. They regenerate endlessly, no matter if they are cut with blades, burned with fire, or pulled apart.
Do you know why I'm obsessed with making puppets?
The pain in this body was unbearable. I needed medication just to endure growing normally. I've tried every method humans could conceive to escape this suffering.
The worst thing I did was a bone-stretching surgery that nearly killed me with infection. I needed to create something beautiful to forget my own imperfections.
Cradle's attacks shift between swift and measured, and they are impossible to predict. Alpha's wounds multiply as threads silently weave around her like an invisible net tightening its grip.
I thought fate had finally shown me mercy after I was sold to the organization. I thought I would become an Aberration... until you took that from me.
Why you? Alpha, why did it have to be you? I've racked my brain and still can't understand why.
68%. How much better it would be if we'd both died in that experiment? I wouldn't have to watch your success unfold before my very eyes... just like your betrayal.
33... 68...
That's the progress of Alpha's next blood surge! That's what she's counting! She's draining Alpha's power, forcing her to transform into a beast!
Cradle is counting down to Alpha's death.
As you two attempt to reach Alpha, lurking threads ensnare your limbs. The strings weave a spider's web behind you, turning you into prey as countless puppets advance like arachnids.
She follows your instructions in unusual silence. Despite her pale face and tightly pressed lips betraying her fear, her eyes never leave Alpha as she steadily intensifies her attacks.
Oh dear, I've been found out. No matter. We're almost there... Let's speed things up, shall we?
Alpha! Alpha!
As Eileena's cry and an owl pierce through the Mist at the same time, Alpha gets ambushed. Daybreak slips from her hand, and threads impale her abdomen from behind.
Alpha hangs suspended in midair as Cradle glides sinuously before her, gently lifting her chin with calculated tenderness.
99%... 100%... Finally!
The bestial transformation is triggered passively when artificial Aberrations face mortal danger. All the doctor's knowledge of Alpha is now being used against her.
As the frenzied countdown ends, Alpha's humanity completely vanishes. Before her eyes even open, her claws have already lashed out.
Transformed into a hellfire demon, Alpha knows neither fatigue nor pain, fighting solely on primal instinct.
This is no fight for humans. Even Alpha's teeth have become weapons. Cradle frantically manipulates her threads, attempting to tame her prey.
[player name], remember our conversation in the prison cell?
If I lose myself during our journey, I need you to end it for me.
I've caught up with you at last, Countess.
Cradle weaves her threads into a massive cocoon that is just large enough to contain herself and Alpha, sealing them off from the outside world.
Once her power weakens, you finally manage to tear through the web. Eileena rushes forward to smash the cocoon, but she doesn't even make the slightest impact.
What is she doing?! What the hell is she doing?! She's gone mad.
Inside the cocoon, Cradle lifts her threads reverently, bringing this divine creation against the suspended Alpha.
Everything is ready. I will take you, me, and Luna...
And bind the three of our fates together as one.
Cradle's voice is gentle, yet tinged with an exhilarating glee.
You rush forward to retrieve Daybreak, biting your lips and tongue to draw blood like Alpha did and priming the blade with your essence.
Within the hilt resides Alpha's lingering will, and her determination to succeed or die trying...
Someone needs to fulfill the promise. As long as what emerges from the cocoon isn't "Alpha"... You keep adjusting your grip on the hilt, your palms sweating through as you calibrate the angle of your strike.
The threads have penetrated Alpha's heart and spread through her blood vessels to every end of her body. Cradle is "corrupting" her, and disrupting the synchronization process could tear them both apart.
You're mine now, Alpha.
We can't give up on Alpha like this.
After a brief contemplation, Eileena places the silk threads in her palm. With her permission, they propagate through her bones, attaching to the cocoon like roots until they reach its luminous core.
I won't let that woman devour Alpha. I'm going to do what we must...
Beams of silver and gold light begin to overwrite each other on the cocoon's shell. Eileena closes her eyes, calculating continuously until her silver light temporarily gains the upper hand.
Now! [player name]! Do it!
You cleave through the silken cocoon. Eileena collapses, wounded, while Cradle screams in excruciating pain, causing all puppets in the area to cover their ears.
As the cocoon shatters, Daybreak plunges precisely into Alpha's heart. Acting on instinct, Alpha protectively turns and grabs your shoulders, throwing you to the ground.
The puppets stagger forward around the cocoon, picking up the silk threads mechanically and attempting to restart the connection. Weakened, Alpha clutches her chest while the followers guard her protectively.
Eileena rushes over to help you up. Half-kneeling, you lean on Daybreak to support your body as you stare blankly ahead and mumble.
The agreement you made with Alpha was that she would be willing to stop the conspiracy around her with her death. Whether to kill her or save her, your blade needed to pierce the same spot.
You take a deep breath, your heart soaked in sorrow. Then, unexpectedly, Alpha's twitching fingers break the silence.
I've won. In the end, I've won, haven't I? The Countess will soon reclaim her throne, and the future awaits me.
Under the gaze of you all, "Alpha" rises to her feet.
She raises her hand, and Daybreak breaks free from your grasp, returning to its master's command.
She finally opens her eyes, revealing irises as blue as the azure moon reflected in the dreamy waters.
Hmm, we meet again.
The melody of a music box fills the air, the chilling yet tender tune crackling through the silence. That voice belongs to Luna, the same one you heard in Alpha's mind.
Your memories turn into chaos. For a moment, you wonder if you've left the world of Alpha's mind at all.
Hello there, cowardly little Cradle.
The puppets, sensing danger, scatter and retreat. Cradle attempts to back away as well, only to find herself blocked by an invisible force field.
A different identity? Obsession? Self-preservation? Luna has been dead for so long—
An invisible slap lands squarely across the doctor's face.
Don't say that. It would break Sis' heart.
Luna died that night long ago! Alpha devoured her to evolve!
I saw it with my own eyes! It was the organization's conclusion as well!
Is what you see with your eyes necessarily real?
Luna floats like a phantom behind Cradle and grips her chin firmly.
I'll tell you this, as a mercy before your death: Alpha didn't devour me. It was symbiosis.
Speaking with deceptive sweetness, Luna moves to face Cradle, still cradling her face.
Sis would never harm me for anyone, not even for herself...
We share our power on the ladder of ascension. It's just that between the two of us, one prefers the darkness, and one prefers the fight.
As Luna finishes her proclamation, her hand pierces through Cradle's chest, revealing only threads and no blood within. Luna withdraws her hand, and the remaining threads spontaneously combust in her palm.
Unfortunately, I prefer both the darkness and the fight.
Time for you to die now... Cradle.
