Vera watches the dust settle as the power engines throughout her body finally emit a high-pitched warning of imminent overheating—she drops to one knee at the center of the platform.
Cough...
Gotta... get... further away... otherwise... something worse will happen.
She tries to prop her frame up with her weapon, still intent on moving further away, but the red light emanating from her entire body tells her this isn't going to happen.
Vital fluid leaks from every port in her frame, all circuits unable to bear the strain of her berserk mode any longer.
She can feel herself succumbing to a terrible state of "Haywire," her vision growing increasingly blurry as her fingers violently dig into the metal floor, carving a chilling black gash.
No... I absolutely won't...
...end... so pathetically here.
As sunlight gradually creeps over the horizon, her knees buckle as the engines in her legs completely melt down.
As she collapses completely to her knees, Vera can't help but concede that those bastards were right—she really does hate the feeling of going "Haywire" most of all.
A sharp pain surges through her M.I.N.D., as if some irritating beacon is repeatedly attempting to connect.
She instinctively begins dragging herself in the other direction, trying to put more distance between herself and whoever owns the beacon.
...Stop... connecting... me...
The lingering flames of fury will scorch everything.
...I'm... dangerous...
Reconnecting, reconnecting, still reconnecting.
...
Vera's vision dims completely.
Before her consciousness dissipates, she hears familiar, hurried footsteps, with a slight limp. She feels a tightening around her waist, just like when that person would grip a rope and climb toward her.
...
Are you tired, Vera?
...!!!
Upon returning to the vast, seemingly endless hall of her true self, Gwynneth supports Vera's arm, carefully examining her metallic body.
...So you've gone and turned yourself into this after all. When you first asked me about this technology, I knew this day would come.
You really are... so single-minded in everything you do. Such a worrisome girl.
The moment she sees Gwynneth, Vera's eyes widen with shock.
Don't worry about me, I'm not tired. Now that I'm a Construct, I could walk through a burning building a hundred times and not have a single scar on my arm.
She grips Gwynneth, whom she hasn't seen for ages, and a flood of words flow out all at once.
I was among the first to voluntarily undergo modification. My initial model was a Support type... very much like you.
I've left all those fools in the dust. I joined Kurono and then left... Now I command my own Construct squad in Babylonia, and they all follow my orders.
I'll never make you... or the Instructor... worry about me again.
Her words grow slower, as if she's carefully observing her old friend's reaction.
Gwynneth gently releases Vera's arm, offering only a soft smile in response.
I see... Have you found your true path? Are you burning bright for a cause you believe in?
Is what you're doing now something you'd willingly dedicate your entire life to?
...Yes, I've made up my mind.
As long as you're sure. You've always been like this, a devoted soul through and through, yet with a small spark of rebellion burning inside.
But even if you lived a thousand or ten thousand lives, you'd still willingly let yourself be "swept up" in heroism—as long as it leads to the ending you desire.
...Will I ever reach the ending I desire?
Yes, you will.
Vera's eyes briefly light up at the "happy ending" within her grasp, but then suddenly dim again as something crosses her mind.
Even if the ending is good, I've made too many wrong choices along the way. I've lost so much.
I know I can't simply dismiss everything casually with "it's fine," but understand this. Your entire life has been an exploration of heroism, and that journey of questioning is itself blameless.
Everyone you've ever met has wrestled with this same question, offering you countless different answers. Take some time to reflect on them.
I can do that...
She closes her eyes in her boiling M.I.N.D., allowing the waves to carry her to the side of each traveler in her memories.
Setting aside those irritating relatives from my childhood, you were the first one, Gwynneth.
You were the quintessential hero—sacrificing yourself to block the doorway, protecting me from those Corrupted. Without you, I would have died right there.
Yep, that's me.
The Instructor was like that too. Always looked serious, but he was constantly helping me escape those "troublemakers." I'm grateful to him.
Unfortunately, after the Punishing outbreak, I never heard from him again.
Knowing his personality, he's probably holed up somewhere safe. Being a "Behind-the-scenes Hero" suits him much better.
Next is... "Average Joe." Before joining Kurono, that was the most brutal battle I'd ever experienced. I even dismantled my own arm to give to that Attacker-type "Average Joe."
What was his choice?
He dealt with the ambushing Corrupted for me. He died.
...Sounds a bit like me.
After that, I joined Kurono. I didn't get along with most people there, except for Little Mute and "Hey."
Little Mute was too young, didn't understand anything. She was a victim of conflict, like a lamb for sacrifice.
As for "Hey"...
She was a coward, always thinking about running away. Even died without dignity. But she was the one who stole the real "key" and took revenge. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here today.
Vera's lips curl into a slightly mocking smile.
I didn't like her, but she really had guts. That's why I crowned her the "Cowardly Hero."
Gwynneth responds with a resigned smile.
You still love giving people nicknames.
Who else? Including those you met during that escape. What about Granny Wang?
"The Old Hero." She and that old Teddy dog of hers are still running around, bothering Bridget every now and then. Living long certainly has its perks.
Haha...
They both laugh, as if transported back to an ordinary afternoon at the end of the Golden Age. They basked in the tepid sunlight, chatting idly about nothing in particular.
What about Leia? She's already joined Egret now.
What is she? Just a self-proclaimed hero and a thoroughbred specialist in making a mess of things—thankfully she's working under Vanessa now.
As for Vanessa, Simon, and the like, I'd already made up my mind about them long ago. They're just a bunch of Babylonian trust fund babies, insufferably full of themselves.
Do you still think the same?
...
Vera tilts her head in thought for a moment, then shakes her head.
Now I admit that person was right—they really did dispel my prejudice through their actions.
I can say this: every single Commandant who graduated from F.O.S. is a true hero.
Even that ill-intentioned Haniff was more than just a shadow of a hero. If he survives, he'll probably be able to figure out what decisions he needs to make next.
As for the people of Atlantis... needless to say. I've eaten their cookies, I've taken up their cause, and I'll continue to carry their torch—except for that stupid fish, she's annoying, so she's an exception.
Gwynneth rests her chin in her hand, listening attentively to Vera's assessment before raising a new question.
What about... others? Like the two "Lloyds," and... the many "Haynes."
What kind of answers did they give when facing this proposition?
...
Vera falls silent once again for a brief moment.
...I feel regret for Lloyd, no matter which Lloyd we're talking about.
They never fell from grace, nor did they make wrong choices—rather, they never made any choices at all. They were simply swept to their deaths by the tide of heroism, yet not one of them died like a hero.
Putting an end to their stories was the only thing I could do for them.
As for Haynes... heh... just an insufferably arrogant old man, worse than even those young students.
He doesn't deserve to be mentioned alongside anyone I spoke of earlier, and he got exactly the end he deserved—killed by the next "version of himself."
Vera waves her hand dismissively in the great hall, excising Haynes from this blood-and-tears-stained discussion of heroism. She's never bothered to waste much attention on people like him.
Time to turn the page on all of this.
Yes, it's time to turn the page.
Having heard everything, Gwynneth nods and gently pulls Vera to her feet.
Their exchange, as warm and comforting as a beautiful dream, comes to an abrupt end.
Let's end our conversation here.
...?
I'm sorry that we all... left you behind back then. We all departed ahead of you.
We made you bear all the suffering.
But looking back now, perhaps... it wasn't all suffering.
She gently pats the back of Vera's hand.
Vera, none of us regret entrusting everything to you. We all want to see, through you, what lies beyond the end of this final stretch of the road.
Whatever you choose, do it now—just like that Commandant. No matter what path you take, carry your torch forward and don't look back.
The world outside belongs to you now.
...
Standing in her M.I.N.D., Vera slowly releases Gwynneth's hand.
Releasing her long-held obsessions along with it.
...Aren't you afraid I'll break myself anymore?
No. The sheath that belongs to you will embrace and cherish you no matter what, extinguishing everything that would burn you.
Your sharpness will never be dulled by a tragic ending.
Gwynneth offers her unwavering approval.
Dear Valkyrie, please wake up.
"Dear Valkyrie, please wake up."
The turbulent currents in her M.I.N.D. seem to pause, then rush forward.
—All her thoughts surge back into reality in a single moment.
...
The Construct whose sanity had been seized by power awakens.
Red light overflows from her chest, her escaping power, as she swings her fists high, savagely tearing at everything around her.
All the curses attached to her throughout her life seem to take effect in this moment, whether it's being a Harbinger of Disaster, going Haywire, or receiving Backlash.
She lowers her head deeply, baring her sharp canines at you.
The wounds on your ankle and side still radiate agony, your body weakened to the brink of collapse.
Through the endless night, this tug-of-war battle only now greets its dawn, but the final crisis clearly hasn't ended.
Connecting, connecting, yet another attempt at connecting.
Through repeated connections, you taste your first hint of dread as blood flows from your nose and mouth.
Endless hardship and wandering should not lead to this outcome.
One final connection—you desperately grasp at the broken rope between you, as if trying to piece together your shattered past, nearly overcome with sorrow.
...
Fangs finally impale you. Vera clenches her teeth tightly as vital fluid mingles with blood flowing down.
Connected.
...
Vera recognizes the pitiful human before her and instinctively tries to force a mocking smile, but fails.
...I told you... stay... away from me...
Do I... have to say "sorry"... before you'll get up?
Hearing her familiar mockery, you take a deep breath like a heavy stone sinking into the sea, instantly releasing all tension.
...Even at a time like this, you still spout noble-sounding platitudes... What's the point in keeping a haywire Construct around anyway?
Vera's voice catches slightly with emotion.
If you'd cut ties sooner, you wouldn't have to suffer like this...
You reach out, gently touching the corner of Vera's lips. Blood still trickles slowly from her mouth, flowing over your wounded hands.
Yet you persist, trembling hands gently cradling Vera's face.
！
These faint embers, in every sense of the word, are burning stubbornly in an open field. No storm can extinguish them.
<i>"No longer enemies, no longer opposed."</i>
<i>"Setting aside all prejudice and misunderstandings, embracing each other like true comrades."</i>
Vera suddenly clutches your wrist, overwhelmed by intense emotion upon hearing these words—
...You remember now... do you remember everything?
She fights back a sob, but tears still stream down from the corners of her eyes.
The light of dawn bathes their battle-worn bodies, illuminating the tear on her cheek as it slowly slides into your palm.
You gently pat her back, even more weakly than Gwynneth would.
...Of course it is!
You point to the terminal, where the icons for both Cerberus and Gray Raven are now illuminated.
...
Vera stares intently at the terminal, then turns her gaze to you—for about ten seconds, before finally allowing her eyes to close. The tears she had refused to shed now stream down freely.
Alright... then let me... honestly say something I haven't said in a long time.
Leaning against your hand, she remembers something you told her long ago: "You should try trusting others, relying on them for once."
You're still alive... thank goodness.
