Chapter 92: The Tree of Time: Iron Hearts Eternal

Who goes there?

Apologies. I didn't mean to startle you.

A mek? What are you doing here?

Um... I was looking for something and I got lost.

You're looking for something? By yourself? Out here?

Hmm... How do I explain it? I have a rather hot-blooded friend. I can't do things the way he does. So I thought I'd search for the dreams of the planet in my own way.

The dreams of the planet?

You could call it the hidden prayer of this world. It must be here somewhere.

I see...

Oh, I'm Yuki by the way.

I'm Minalca. An Imperial arb, soldier.

Heheh, I could tell that anyway. Nice to meet you, Minalca.

Likewise, Yuki.

Yuki, you'd be wise not to spend too much time around here.

Why is that?

The Empire will notice. This area is under special surveillance.

But you are an Imperial. So it would appear that I've already been noticed.

That's... That's different.

Is that right?

You're strange, Yuki. Has no one ever told you that?

I could say the same about you. You know, a little friend of mine's fallen in love with a noble girl. I want to do something about it, but love is blind. I hope he doesn't do anything stupid...

Machines can love?

I don't really know myself. But on that subject... Why do humans love?

How should I know?

You see, even you don't understand it. Love is blind, and love is hard.

Urgh, shut up.

*sigh* What should I have done, Yuki?

Hm? You okay, Minalca?

Ah, it's nothing. Let's go.

What is this?

It looks like an ancient mek cathedral or something.

If all those countless descendants of the mineral lifeforms that came from beyond this planet... ...had memories and souls within their bodies, then what if they are all connected as one? To create one grand, mysterious network, inside this Tree of Time...

This is certainly a sacred place for meks.

Let us go. We must uncover the secret that lies in this land.

Right you are. Let's get going.

Yuki?!

Yuki? You mean your and Darius' friend?

Yuki, are you all right? Pull yourself together! Can you hear me?!

Min...al...ca...

Yuki! I'm so sorry! I knew nothing about this, but I know that's such a cowardly excuse! I...I should have kept a closer eye on what the others were up to! Then this never would have happened!

It's fine...Minalca... I'm just glad it wasn't you who came to finish me off.

You idiot! You should have known I'd never do that!

Yes... I knew.

Now that I am one with the Tree of Time, I understand so much more.

This tree acted as a giant antenna to broadcast my final voice...

It was sent out on the mobile relay station, Steam Cat...

Are you talking about Ironheart?!

You heard my voice? Minalca, you heard it?

My heart has been calling out to you, my dear friend.

My friend, the power that lies in the Tree of Time must not be handed to the Empire!

So please... Take my memories... Take my mind... ......

Yuki?!

Thank you...and farewell... Minalca... You mean the world...to me...

Yuki? YUKI?!

I can't hand over the Tree of Time's power to the Empire. Not now that I have Yuki's mind. Whatever it is, we must take it. Are you all right with that, Aldo?

Yes. Whatever its secret, we will find it before the Chronos Empire does.

Let's go, everyone.

......

We appear to have reached the top of the Tree of Time.

Wow! Omegapolis looks so small from up here!

We've climbed all this way, but we still don't know what's up here...

Yuki's memories? What are they doing?

What is this?

Unknown wave energy detected. Phenomenon is spreading across the entire Tree of Time.

Ogre Rancorem?!

I hear them... Voices upon voices of meks that have slumbered here since the ancient times. Something is awakening within the Tree of Time.

Wait! I think something's approaching!

What is that thing?

That's Nidhogg, the legendary dragon said to protect the Tree of Time!

So it is a guardian deity of ze Tree of Time?

Looks like we're gonna have to deal with this thing before we can get any further. Let's go, everyone! But be careful!

Yuki's wishes live on in me.

Nidhogg, you'd better get out of my way! I'm will uncover the truth of the Tree of Time!

We did it! We scared off Nidhogg!

Aldo, prepare yourself.

*croak* What in the world is happening?

Look! The Tree of Time, it's...

What is that?

It is the hollow clock, a device to create the time of the gods.

What?!

I say "gods" because it's easiest, but I think of it as more like a higher dimensional system.

The hollow clock has finally been revived...but not as I expected. I never thought that it would be linked to a network of countless mineral lifeforms over this time.

And I got the key from Yuki. His memories, his Iron Heart...

You did well, Minalca. Now hand me the key.

Don't make me laugh. I'm never giving you Ironheart.

*sigh* What an inconvenience.

Who are you?

She is Professor Sebastia, scientist with the Chronos Empire.

Kamlanage?!

Long time no see. You're all looking well.

What are you doing here? And what do you mean, she's Professor Sebastia?

Professor Sebastia is the grown-up version of the Sebastia from our own spacetime. I myself was summoned to this hollow time layer too... Or rather, was called back by my father.

She's a grown-up Sebastia?!

You were called back by your father?

Yes, the Emperor of the Chronos Empire.

Welcome to the hollow time layer, children of another me.

Professor Chronos?!

Dad?!

Mon dieu!

At long last, our final battle is nigh! The time war with the Goddess of Time approaches!

What?!

Heavens! Is that what shot down Synth Hydra?!

It is the Chronos Empire's dimensional destroyer fleet.

Dimensional...destroyer...fleet?

You must be Professor Ashtear? It is a pleasure to finally meet you.

Long time no see, Professor Ashtear.

What?! You two know each other?! Then... Ashtear, what's going on?!

Professor Chronos, I'm afraid you took a wrong turn.

No, that was you. You're the one who abandoned all you had, crushed your own potential, and disappeared.

Perhaps. I shouldn't have run away back then, that much is true.

But now that it's ended up like this, I will fight you with all I have, Chronos!

Ashtear?!

Interesting. Sooner or later, time in your world will disappear. When the cross of god is smashed, and the seal of the hollow time layer is broken...

Now, we shall see...just what the Goddess of Time can do.

It seems that the chain of the wheel of time has broken...

You!

For now, you must rest and prepare for battle with a new enemy. Until the circle of time reconnects and opens a door to the future, that is...

I will.

We'll do what we can until the wheel of time reconnects.

Take care.

Is this Omegapolis Midlayer?

Okay, I guess we should see a little more of this world. Until the day comes when our time begins to move...