Data Synchronization Progress: 95%
Amidst you and Haniff's desperate life-or-death struggle, Vera's data synchronization accelerates frantically, going faster and faster.
Punishing fluid and blood splash onto her, pooling into a single droplet of liquid, slowly trickling from the corner of her eye to the corner of her lips.
The data synchronization between her old and new frames is nearly complete—After traversing all of "Vera's" memories, that haunting story she can never forget has turned once again to its final chapter.
That chapter reads as follows:
"And so began their final desperate flight together."
Fortune showed them no favor. The transport vehicle, which they had expected to run normally for some time, unexpectedly broke down shortly after they set out.
After checking it, Vera concluded, "Well, any vehicle I drive never survives more than two hours anyway."
You stood silently in front of the vehicle for a moment, accepting the reality, and then the two of you began their journey on foot earlier than planned.
However, even though you could mentally accept this situation, physically you were reaching your limit.
Tiny snowflakes landed on your body, quickly soaking your clothes into a cold, rigid shell. Your mind grew foggy as your wounds became infected, sending your body temperature soaring.
...You should rest a bit. Close your eyes for a while.
Seeing your pace gradually slow down, she reaches out unprompted and wraps your arm around her shoulders for support.
The M.I.N.D. connection is holding strong. You're... doing well.
She even attempted to give you an awkward "compliment."
I can... I'll... keep... going... with you...
Days of arduous travel have left you utterly exhausted. The moment Vera gives her approval, you eagerly close your eyes without a second's delay.
A sudden tug at the waist. Vera yanks the rope just before you collapse.
Then comes the sensation of being dragged.
Enveloped in darkness and pain, you lack even the strength to struggle. You're only vaguely aware of being hoisted onto someone's back, feeling a momentary stagger before being carried forward with jolting steps.
Gunshots ring out through the haze. Blades scrape against metal. Corrupted creatures shriek in the distance.
Fine snowflakes continue to fall, soaking your hair and dampening the bandages wrapped around your face. The wet, stifling sensation makes it difficult to breathe.
In your discomfort, you attempt to call out that name.
After being briefly laid on the ground, you feel the bandages around your mouth and nose being loosened. Then you're lifted again, this time cradled like a fragile infant.
Soon, you hear the humming of the Construct's power core running at high speed within her chest cavity.
It's no different from listening to a heartbeat.
You finally surrender to your fatigue, sinking completely into a feverish slumber.
Time passes in a blur—until you are startled awake with a deep, gasping breath.
Darkness surrounds you like death itself. Pain radiates through your entire body, especially the unbearable agony in your abdomen.
Piercing through the haze of pain, a faint sound reaches your ears.
...Where's the fire?
As your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, you realize you're leaning against something, and that a small lock of soft, crimson hair is in your palm.
Vera's voice breaks the silence again.
...Fire... where is it?
Where did it go... It was just here...
She's muttering to herself, searching for something.
...Oh, you're awake.
The blurry red figure shifts—she reaches out and places her hand on your cheek.
It's me. I'm here.
You slowly raise your aching arm, pointing at the red blur, but she grabs your fingers and firmly pushes your hand back down.
I didn't ask you. You're hallucinating from the fever.
...The fire is here. Found it.
Click.
Hff.
She's holding a primitive lighter in her hand. With a click, a small, flickering flame appears.
We have fire now.
I found a lighter, but all the firewood got soaked. Not sure if it can still be lit.
The lighter's flame licks at a bundle of sticks and dry grass, but the wood refuses to catch.
Uh, I knew it.
The red figure grows irritated and puts away the useless lighter.
She frowns at you for a moment, then heaves an uncharacteristically deep sigh before extending her arms and pulling you completely into her embrace.
I guess we'll have to make do with a Construct's "body heat." Keep losing temperature like this and you'll actually die.
Oh, while we're at this...
Vera lifts the rain-soaked bandages on your face slightly, finally allowing you to breathe in the cold air.
You were unconsciously pulling at your bandages earlier. Looked uncomfortable. I checked and I think... we can try removing them.
Her voice can't hide her exhaustion, lacking the energy to form her usual arsenal of sharp words. This long, grueling journey has worn down more than just you.
Don't freak out. If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it a long time ago. Besides, I was a Support Construct for a long time.
There, all removed.
As the last bandage comes off, the scene before your eyes finally becomes clear. Haphazardly collapsed concrete blocks surround the two of you—you're likely underneath a pile of ruins.
Relax, your face isn't ruined. Not that I can find a mirror right now anyway.
...No memory resets this time?
Vera raises an eyebrow, slightly surprised to hear you address her by name.
Before, every time you fell asleep and woke up, your memory would reset to when you first arrived on the surface. I had no choice but to... fabricate some memories for you each time.
She suddenly gives a label to her actions: "fabrications."
Just as suddenly as when she admitted to being a Kurono Construct on the frontlines of Conservation Area 062 today.
I'll explain everything clearly from now on... At the very least, I'll lay out the most important things. There won't be a better opportunity than this.
Alright. This is my real appearance. The hair color and mask I wore before were just a disguise. I deceived you all.
You've already connected to my M.I.N.D., so there's no need for me to keep up this act—and you don't need to waste energy pretending not to notice anymore.
She remembers something else and lets out a cold scoff.
Besides, your head still isn't fixed. Once this whole mess is over and you return to Babylonia, you probably won't remember me anyway.
She sits up, helps you to do the same, then clicks the lighter on again.
She holds the lighter between the two of you, its flickering flame illuminating both your faces.
Only now are the two of you finally able to face each other with complete honesty.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am a Construct from Kurono's Special Operations Division, codename "Hound."
I'm not a Construct from Babylonia, and I wasn't supposed to have any contact with F.O.S. College students. But you possess test materials that I need to bring back to Kurono.
Vera points to the sample container still tightly fastened to your body.
Don't question the authenticity of those test materials. I didn't fake their function either. Otherwise, with your reckless behavior, your guts would be all over the floor by now.
Kurono's "Hound" nods, her tone turning cold as she seems to fully return to her identity as a "Kurono Special Operations Division member."
But you got lucky. The Kurono stronghold I was supposed to return fell to the disaster. With nowhere to report back to, I had no choice but to drag you around with me.
Departing from that field hospital, rescuing refugees trapped in panic, then coincidentally meeting a fellow student from F.O.S., receiving the key to solving this crisis from him, then continuing our journey after he passed the baton to us like runners in a relay race.
Of course I know, little Commandant.
Vera hesitates, a fleeting expression crossing her face. When she speaks again, she seems to return to being "Vera."
...It's my real name.
I didn't lie about everything. Shouldn't that make you happy? Haha.
...You don't seem particularly surprised?
You stare steadily into Vera's eyes, ultimately choosing not to answer her question, and changing the subject instead.
No, there's no need for that anymore.
I've assessed the situation. The other Kurono bases nearby have been equally devastated, so there's nowhere to submit the materials. This sample is extremely important. If it's not delivered to the right place, the disaster will never end.
When the Punishing Virus first broke out, I was a soldier who received a similar sample transport mission... Hah, come to think of it, your current situation is quite similar to mine back then.
Unfortunately, I was a few steps too slow, which meant I only received synchronized information about the Punishing Virus... seven days after the outbreak.
Vera lowers her head, remembering the last time... during the earliest days of the Punishing Virus outbreak, when she participated in that doomed "relay."
And because of that, I underwent Construct modification.
She ignores your brief moment of shock and begins to mock herself.
It seems I'm trapped in some mysterious loop of fate, doomed to tragedy every few years. Haha.
...
Stop. I refuse to be described with noble-sounding words, and save your niceties for next time—if we survive that long.
First, we have to face the most immediate problem: forget about me forcing you to some godforsaken place, we can't even get out of here alive.
At these words, you look around at your surroundings once more.
For now, we're underneath a collapsed basement. Just think of it as taking shelter from the snow. Ah, such annoying weather.
Vera says "just taking shelter from the snow," but in reality, even you can hear the Corrupted shrieking outside.
Yes. Our destination is right ahead, all we need to do is cross this last stretch of ruins, and we'll succeed in our mission.
We'll need to fight for our lives—and I'm not exaggerating.
Your brief exchange ends. Success is right before your eyes, but both feel the crushing weight of how difficult it will be to reach.
Any other questions? If not, save your breath. You need to conserve your stamina.
Vera points at the side of your abdomen. The crack in the sample container has been tightly sealed, but the sample inside has already begun to slowly corrupt your flesh.
The stinging pain has turned to numbness. Even you don't know whether you'll deliver the sample first, or be killed by it first.
...Are you sure about this?
Forget it. You can't be a hero if you die halfway there.
No problem.
The world is full of roads you don't want to walk, but when fate puts you on one, you just have to accept it.
Anyway, you can't die until you've made full use of me.
After a moment of contemplation, Vera seems to have made a decision.
Vera grabs your hand and places it above her collarbone, where a subtle plug-like device is embedded.
Like this. Pull it out.
An uneasy feeling stirs within you.
But with Vera's fingertips guiding them, you are "forced" to pull out the device.
With this action, all engines in her frame begin to roar, and even the tips of Vera's hair emit a burning light.
...
...
A faint red glow slowly flows from Vera's collarbone, like a substance between gas and liquid, silently dissolving into the air.
Haha... those Kurono lunatics would be furious if they knew about this.
Yes.
We've been wrong from the very beginning. I realized that long ago. Might as well commit to our mistakes until the end.
Let's establish a signal, something we can use to contact each other.
You don't immediately respond as growing unease washes over you. Something feels wrong, as if a storm is brewing beneath the quiet ruins.
Cat got your tongue?
We won't. The damn rope is still binding us together.
Don't overthink it. It's just standard procedure before setting out. Didn't F.O.S. teach you that?
We won't be separated. The damn rope is still binding us together.
Vera tugs at the rope that has bound them together for who knows how long.
Come on, anything will do... Let's just whistle. I'm more used to that anyway.
Her gaze suddenly drifts off into the distance, lost in some unspoken memory.
Got it. What does that signal mean?
...Alright, I'll remember that. "The meaningless whistle."
Finally, Vera reaches out and touches your forehead.
Your temperature is still so high... You're quite tough to still be talking.
...Fine, this is our only option. We're leaving now. I'll carry you on my back, you're moving too slowly in your condition.
Let me make this clear, there are Corrupted everywhere outside. Stick your head out and you'll be a walking target. When I'm carrying you, keep quiet. When I put you down, run as fast as you can. If they catch us, we're finished. Got it?
...That won't be necessary.
Just take care of yourself.
Vera probably has many things left unsaid, while your fever-addled brain files it all under "we'll talk about this later."
You obediently climb onto her back, clutching the sample against your abdomen, like a newly christened hero setting off from a small-time village with a rusty blade.
The two emerge from the crevice, standing exposed atop the ruins.
Ha.
Your scorching breath forms steam beside Vera's ear, quickly swept away by the cold wind, along with the fading light from Vera's chest.
This faint red trace of life attracts all the wandering Corrupted nearby, and they surge toward the two of you from every direction.
...Little Commandant.
No matter what happens, even if you end up crawling pathetically, you must always drag yourself one step further.
As long as you refuse to be trapped by despair, someone will always be there to catch you.
She steps forward.
As the ragged hero embarks on their final journey, a nearby base faces its own moment of truth.
Large numbers of Corrupted detected approaching the base! Estimated time remaining... 50 minutes!
The soldier monitoring the detection equipment is the first to sound the alarm.
Still not getting through?
None of our rescue teams have returned, sir! It's been four days already!
All preparations are complete, we're ready to evacuate at any moment!
...
He needs to make a decision.
Behind the soldiers, a young face clutches a terminal, desperately pleading for something.
...Why can't I get through to them?!
Harley Jo holds the F.O.S.-issued terminal like a supplicant before a shrine, muttering desperate prayers.
Just give me something... please... if this base evacuates too, there'll be no way to get you out!
When the outbreak happened, he was lying low in a remote location away from populated areas, unaware he'd survived the Corrupted's first wave of attacks.
From his perspective, his classmates' signals all vanished at the same time. After that, he was like a child abandoned during hide-and-seek—he'd finally found the perfect hiding spot, only for everyone else to be called home for dinner.
Unable to contact anyone, he emerged bewildered from his hiding place and stood in an open area contemplating his existence, coincidentally blocking the path of an armored vehicle full of soldiers.
The adults picked up this dazed F.O.S. youth and brought him aboard. After a long, bumpy journey, he was stationed at this relatively well-equipped base.
I heard you got good grades in communications studies?
...? Yes—that's right! Sir!
And so, through a series of fortunate coincidences, Harley Jo became a temporarily enlisted communications soldier.
Besides coordinating with nearby squads, Harley Jo never gave up trying to contact his classmates. But as time passed, his worst fears began turning into reality.
[player name], Vanessa, Simon... this is beyond disastrous, isn't it...? Three of our top ten students completely vanished without a trace!
Harley Jo!
Yes sir!
Harley Jo puts down his terminal and responds to his commanding officer.
Get ready, you're the youngest among us...
—Are we really evacuating?
Harley Jo feels tears welling up. He simply can't accept losing so many friends before graduation.
No. Harley Jo, you're...
The commanding officer wears a complicated expression, saying something to the young man, but Harley Jo doesn't catch it. His attention is suddenly diverted—
Because the terminal in his pocket suddenly emits an urgent series of beeps.
!! Wait! Commander!
It's them—it's my classmate! [player name]'s signal is approaching our location!
As Harley Jo holds up his terminal and shouts, Vera, sprinting with you on her back, begins to recall many things.
Or rather, ever since she met you, a strange human, she's been unconsciously recalling her own past in various ways.
First, she recalls her biological parents, whom she only met a few times. Unfortunately, these memories are from when she was too young. Only blurry shadows remain, along with the silken texture of her mother's red hair.
Skipping over her irritating distant relatives, she surprisingly finds the second memory is of her instructor and the doctor.
She knew her instructor had always looked after her, even helping secure a good position after graduation that would have kept her away from many unsavory situations.
She's also aware that Dr. Gwynneth was her sponsor. Despite having graduated not long ago herself and earning a meager wage, Gwynneth willingly took extra night shifts to support her education.
...How did you get injured during training again? Is it really necessary to push yourself this hard?
Just a simple bandage will do, thanks.
Be honest with me, did someone pick a fight with you again?
What, are you going to tattle to my "kindergarten"? I couldn't care less. Besides, they got beaten pretty badly too... It's military school, after all. It's bound to have a culture that values strength.
She lowers her voice and says with a smile.
<size=25>One of them... I smashed his tailbone. Now he waddles when he walks.</size>
Vera...!
Hahahaha...
Back then, she could still laugh heartily.
I haven't wasted my sponsor's money. I've learned to be tough, and I'll keep getting promoted from here on out.
Even if you think it's childish... Hey, wherever I get transferred later, you should follow me. I'll look after you, and you won't have to work these exhausting triple shifts anymore.
"Look after you"... Listen to yourself, making such childish talk... I'm going to reset the bone now, so don't make a fuss.
—Ouch!
There, there... After graduation, my little Vera... will live the life she wants. She'll be free then.
The doctor murmurs as she slowly applies the bandage.
...able to venture wherever you wish and make all your dreams come true.
Gwynneth offers her heartfelt blessing to Vera—a blessing given before the Punishing outbreak.
But when the Punishing destroyed everything, only one sentence of that blessing remained.
...Vera, promise me... don't ever... break yourself... for anything...
...
She never listened to Gwynneth's words.
On the contrary, she imitated Gwynneth, always holding back the "threshold" whenever crisis approached.
Before Average Joe was killed, she sacrificed her arm.
Before Hummingbird and Little Mute were killed, she sacrificed her left eye.
Not just once, but day after day, she tried to break herself, trading her flesh and blood to fulfill a dream—to keep more of the people she cherished alive.
It never worked.
"Able to venture wherever you wish and make all your dreams come true"... none of it came true.
Today, I'll be damned if I don't make at least one dream come true.
If an arm and left eye weren't enough, then I'll use something more important.
She listens to your shallow breaths beside her ear, while also hearing the shrieks of Corrupted drawing closer.
She looks down at the red light in her chest.
<i>My flesh and blood are yours to consume, and I grant you the freedom to bask in the sun.</i>
<i>If a small spark isn't enough, then I'll give you the entire sun.</i>
She suddenly pauses, setting you down on the ground.
In truth, when Granny Wang and the others brought her to you, she already realized the truth behind this entire "relay."
The you out there must be worried sick by now.
Not you right now, but <b>the future you</b>.
Looks like you really did it. Perhaps I might even rely on you a little in the future.
Eh...
Someone like you... When the day comes that you're ready to sacrifice yourself for something, there will surely be many people rushing to stop you.
You probably don't remember, but when we first met, I called you a fragile flower from Babylonia, and you countered that you'd prove me wrong.
You've proven me wrong many times already.
Now... I'll help you. Not just because I want to help you, but to help myself as well.
Vera kneels on one knee, looking up—sunlight traces your silhouette with unusual clarity, while the tearing pain in her M.I.N.D. becomes increasingly impossible to ignore.
I don't want to lose you to a bad end—I don't want you to end up like me.
I want my little Commandant... to be able to venture wherever you wish and make all your dreams come true.
I want your story to shine brilliantly from the very beginning, my hero.
Vera seems to understand, letting out a soft chuckle.
Haha... It's not much of a blessing after all.
...So, when this is all over, before your memory resets... let's give each other that moment. Let's put aside all prejudice and misunderstandings, and like normal comrades—embrace.
Vera tightens the rope around both their waists and takes the terminal that had been hanging at your side.
By the way, I'll take the terminal for now. I'd rather not have it handed over with all that information about Kurono Constructs.
After doing all this, she draws her weapon and faces the rear.
Ready. I'll count to three, then you run forward with the sample.
Don't worry, we're "bound" by this rope. I won't leave you.
Three.
Two.
One.
As the Corrupted attack, you force your aching legs into motion and runs forward with long strides.
The rope unfurls as you hear it whoosh, the rope rapidly extending through the air, followed by a sudden tension around your waist—Vera is on the other end.
The sounds of combat quickly reach your ears as Vera's blade slices through the disaster behind the two of you.
Without looking back, you push forward with the sounds of fierce combat behind you, spotting the base buildings ahead soon after.
...No, Harley Jo, I came specifically to inform you.
We're not evacuating.
Everyone grab all your gear. Consider yourselves the last line of defense for the safe area.
If we fail too, then bomb this place to the ground... We absolutely cannot let this disaster spread.
But you're the youngest, you could...
!! Wait! Commander!
It's them—it's my classmate! [player name]'s signal is approaching our location!
...I need to join the rescue! There's still time! Commander!!
Just before collapsing from exhaustion, you catch sight of your destination.
Perhaps having confirmed the state of the approaching figure, several fully armed soldiers rush out from the base ahead, sprinting toward you.
—In this moment, everyone welcomes the long-awaited hero.
—On this day, the hero finally arrives at the starting line of their destiny.
No one remains to bestow honors upon the hero, but this journey itself stands as the greatest testament.
"Student A," that mother and daughter, Vanessa, Simon, Granny Wang, Leia, the sheepdog...
...And a <color=#ff4e4eff>Construct</color> who doesn't belong to Babylonia, who also witnessed the hero's courage every step of the way.
Yes, and a <color=#ff4e4eff>Construct</color> too.
Thinking of that red figure, you stumble and crash heavily to the ground.
Names and fragments of memories scatter from your mind in the turbulence.
At the same time, countless hands reach out to help—
But you suddenly grab hold of the final question lingering in your mind, making you desperately twist to look back.
Is the rope even that long?
You see one end of the rope.
The roughly cut rope drags on the ground, stained with blood and vital fluid, but that figure is nowhere to be seen.
...
...Hah...
The battle-scarred Construct shakes off a Corrupted and stands once more.
Within her M.I.N.D., that person's Mind Beacon still connects to her, so stable and reassuring. Years of tempering have indeed shaped them into a better person.
She can still feel traces of anguish through the beacon, so she knows her "little Commandant" is desperately doing everything in their power.
I understand now.
A nearly frantic alarm sounds from the base ahead, the sound of your calls for her, but she has no time to respond.
Don't be angry, don't be sad...
Between you and me, a rough start was inevitable... Yes, that's how it was.
But we were both endlessly defiant, so we struggled on, until one day our story found its continuation.
That's why I say this isn't a tragedy.
She snaps her spear in two, wielding both pieces as her arms swing the weapons, their flames scattering the falling snow.
She performs her blade dance as an offering to a story with both beginning and end.
Even as her "life" drains from her chest, even as the darkness from her M.I.N.D. devours her, she refuses to stop.
"Grief can only last for one second"...
After that second, I will come back to you.
Data Synchronization Progress: 98%
