The Sinful Spiral of Fate

Oh Aldo, ye Time-Traveling Knight. Listen well, for there is something I wish you to know.

What's the matter, Suzette? You seem a little on edge.

The time has come for you and I to part!

What? You mean you're not going to travel with us anymore?

......

When I look out upon these pitiable ruins, I start to remember... The day I left the netherworld to be reborn into this realm. I was only five years old.

Suzette... (Phew, it's just her usual ramblings.)

On that day, I was standing amid rubble and destruction at the edge of this world. But I'd lost all other memories of my past. The journey between realms must have been so exhausting I was forced to revert to this inferior state.

Riiight... But what does this have to do with us parting ways?

I've done my best to get by, but there's only so much I can achieve with my true power sealed away. But the seal will soon be broken! The time has come for the Dark Princess's revival.

I will ascend to a new state of being. Alas, this means I will no longer be able to live among normal humans.

Breaking the seal, huh? Did you find another weird old spell book or something?

Nay, nothing so commonplace. I used the power of my cursed left eye and heard a voice from beyond the wretched veil...

You...heard with your eye?

Okay, fine! I used the clairvoyance bestowed on me by my stygian sense of hearing, is that better?

All right, all right. So you heard a voice. What did it say?

"Unravel the helix curse. Awaken to your destiny."

Uh-huh. And how exactly are you supposed to, uh, "awaken"?

Heh heh heh... I had a message just this morning from someone who wishes to help. It must be from an emissary of the netherworld!

Yeah. Of course. Why not? And you're meeting this guy out here?

No, he told me to meet him outside the entrance to Xeno-Domain.

Wait what? Then what are we doing standing around talking all the way out here? You could have told me all this once we got to Xeno-Domain.

No way, that place is too well lit, it feels all sterile and functional and blah. Important news like this should be delivered in a place with a little more character, don't you think?

Whatever you say... Want to head over to the Xeno-Domain Entrance now?

Hey, Suzette. Is that your emissary over there?

Um... Yes, it must be!

He doesn't look any different from the people you see around here every day...

Obviously it's a disguise. He'd cause too much of an uproar if he assumed his true form.

Are you the denizen of the netherworld?

Huh?! The what now?

Are you not the one who offered to break the seal on my dark powers?

Oh, right. Yes, thank you for lending me your aid. We'll have these seals released in no time.

See, I told you it was him!

Really? I kinda get the feeling you two are talking about completely different things.

No mystery can remain hidden in the presence of my cursed left eye!

Now, bare your soul and tell me all. Firstly, reveal your identity. What is your true name? Which circle of the netherworld do you hail from?

Uh...I work at KMS. What's this netherworld you keep mentioning? A project codename?

What? KMS?!

I got in touch because I need your help uncovering some research from a number of years ago. The facility where the research was conducted was destroyed under mysterious circumstances. In fact, at least five of these labs went out of operation practically overnight.

The Lost Laboratory?! That's where Isuka and the others were...

So you know about the Lost Laboratory... I guess that makes this easier. But you, Miss Suzette, may hold the key to recovering data from one of the labs.

Y-You're saying I do?

Whoa, that must have been some risky experimentation they were doing.

So it would appear. All information on the lost labs is kept strictly confidential. But you, Miss Suzette, may hold the key to recovering data from one of the labs.

Me? I don't understand.

We recovered some of the research, but it's heavily encrypted. And the security seals are, for some reason, tuned to your biometric data.

My biometrics...?

Hey Suzette... You mean...

......

My biometrics?

Ah, I see it all now! This research must be related to the netherworld. It makes complete sense that my body, the body of one who once inhabited that infernal plane, would be the key to it!

Well...I don't know about any of that, but I did recover an abstract describing the origins of the research. Take a look.

There once existed a spirit that took the power of the blood of the gods and sought to use it as its own. After a nigh-endless struggle, the spirit was cast into the abyss and sealed away, along with its stolen power. It left behind a prophecy. "If you desire power, unravel the secret of the helix."

This is part of a legend passed down in the lands to the west. I believe the "secret of the helix" must be at the heart of what we called Project Eugenes.

Say no more. There's no doubt in my mind, this project was seeking to gain access to the netherworld. Harnessing its power would truly bring about a New Genesis for all humanity.

...... What do you want Suzette to help you with?

Only a select few terminals in Xeno-Domain can access this data. You'll have to release their security locks to decrypt and download the research.

I'm sure that makes sense to you, at least... So, what do we do now?

Only a select few terminals in Xeno-Domain can access this data. You'll have to release their security locks to decrypt and download the research.

Sounds good. We'll handle this.

Come, Aldo. It's time to scour Xeno-Domain for the ultimate truth!

Hey Suzette... I was listening before, but is everything alright? The researcher was talking about the research in Lab 2 where Suzette was, right? Why should we help...?

That's exactly why! I told you, right? I don't have any memories before my reincarnation in this world.

What kind of research was being done in Lab 2?

Only by unraveling that can we unlocked the secrets of the Princess of Darkness!

That makes sense. Okay, I'll help you. What do I need to do?

Well, here we are. How do we know which terminals to check?

Hey Suzette... I was listening before, but is everything alright? The researcher was talking about the research in Lab 2 where Suzette was, right? Why should we help...?

That's exactly why! I told you, right? I don't have any memories before my reincarnation in this world.

It's just as we heard from Dr. Karin and the other me about the Twilight Time Layer and Midnight Time Layer...

I need to know what was going on in Lab 2 in this time layer.

That makes sense. Okay, I'll help you. What do I need to do?

Well, here we are. How do we know which terminals to check?

Well, here we are. How do we know which terminals to check?

Heh heh heh... My second sight will guide us to our rightful destination.

Do you...see anything?

Of course! The truth is laid bare before me.

I... Now, let's see. It's...

What the?! Did you hear something?

No, not really. My ears are ringing a little, though. Maybe we came up here too fast.

Did you see that? This terminal was sparkling!

Sparkling? I must have missed it.

Never mind, let's just try accessing it.

Opening Data... 1/287689 complete... Downloading Project Eugenus control module...

See? I knew it!

Wow, you're right. Nice work, Suzette.

Wow, maybe my cursed eye really is awakening to its second sight...

"Maybe"?

I-I mean, sometimes my powers of perception are so amazing I even surprise myself!

This screen is really weird. It just keeps flashing light and some strange images over and over.

Closing Data... 112155/287689 complete...

Are we done?

Probably not. The guy said there were several terminals we'd have to access, right?

Oh yeah. Guess we'd better search around for the others.

There's that light again!

Uh...what light?

Don't you see this terminal sparkling?

Yeah, but all these machines light up and stuff, don't they?

This is different! Can I really be the only one that sees this?

Opening Data... 112156/287689 complete...

I wonder what could have destroyed these research facilities in the first place?

I'll bet they stared into the void and, aaah!

Something wrong, Suzette?

......

The research at the lost lab. They sought to unravel the secret of the helix... Their goal was to unlock humanity's true potential and take our species' evolution to the next level.

Huh? How do you know all this?

......

Closing Data... 198152/287689 complete...

Suzette! Are you okay?

......

Huh? What have I been doing?

You had me worried. You suddenly started saying some really weird stuff. Even weirder than the stuff you usually talk about.

Even weirder, huh? Hey!

How rude! I never talk about "weird stuff"! You're the strange one here, if you ask me. Let's hurry and find the next terminal.

Opening Data... 198153/287689 complete...

......

Hey, Suzette. This is the third one so far. Any idea how many terminals are left?

This download includes the last segment of the control module. After this, we must relocate to the Terminal Core for the final phase.

And that will fully release the seal?

Affirmative. The Missing Number factor will be expressed according to plan.

Suzette! What's happening to you? You're going weird on me again!

......

Closing Data... 287689/287689 complete...

I hear the voice again... Unravel the helix curse...

Get a hold of yourself, Suzette!

Huh? Aldo? Come on, let's go to the Terminal Core.

Hey! Look out!

Scanning Bio Data... Gene Type...Match Found. Presence Of Perfect Genome Confirmed. Initiating Missing Number Final Phase.

Whoa! Unbelievable!

Suzette, have you always been that strong?

This is the power of a host implanted with the perfect genome. With the help of the control module we downloaded, this subject was finally able to access its latent ability.

Suzette?

Project Eugenes can finally be brought to a successful state of completion.

What's going on?! No way there's a control module in the Suzette here too?!

Affirmative. It was in sleep mode for a long time, but it finally got a reboot. This subject now has the potential to surpass all limits placed on normal human beings. Agility, muscle strength, reflexes, and perception have all been heightened.

Wait, what's going on here? Don't tell me...the research at the lost lab was all about you?

But what about Suzette?!

You mean the personality that originally inhabited this body? She cannot fully control the perfect genome. Accordingly, she has been deemed unnecessary. As a child, her cognitive functions were insufficient to harness this power, causing unmitigated disruption.

So you mean... When the lab got destroyed, that was...

Affirmative. This subject was responsible. The project had to be suspended until her brain reached a state of maturity.

Hey, where do you think you're going?

This specimen must be delivered to KMS. Project Eugenes has been held up too long already.

I won't let you do that.

All obstacles to the project must be eliminated!

Nrgh!

I...won't...let you!

Suzette may be kind of strange. What with her talk about the netherworld and everything. But she's our friend! I won't let you control her!

You have above-average battle potential...for an ordinary human. The only way to stop you interfering is to halt your vital functions.

That thought process. Why is the subject's original personality still active? It should have been overwritten!

Suzette, you're still in there! Can you hear me? You have to wake up, this isn't you! What happened to the Dark Princess of the Netherworld I know?

Inconceivable... She's linking a ridiculous fiction to her identity to take back control?! These stories, these images... They're overwriting the control module. This shouldn't be possible!

Suzette! Are you okay?

...... I remember now. I remember all the terrible things I did...

Aldo... I destroyed that whole facility. And not just the building, but the people working there, even the children!

Calm down, Suzette!

I repressed the memories. They were too much for me... And I filled in the gaps with that story about me being from the netherworld.

It wasn't your fault, Suzette! You were a kid yourself, you didn't know any better! You did the only thing you could to keep yourself safe, that's all.

That doesn't change what I've done. These sins of mine, they're unforgiveable.

I...I forgive you! Suzette, you should be forgiven! You can't erase what you've done, but I can take responsibility!

Aldo... You would do that, for me?

Right! After all... Just forget about it, Suzette. Just like when you were five.

Thanks...Aldo...

I see. All the research data has been lost.

Right, it looks that way. Suzette tried all she could think of, but nothing.

Okay. Then I'll report back as such. Thank you for your help.

Hey, Aldo? I... Just now... I don't remember much of what happened. What did happen?

Oh, well... A dark king? From the...netherworld? Something like that. In the end the Dark Princess, she unlocked her hidden power, and defeated the dark king...guy.

......

That's right! What was being researched in Lab 2 was my overwhelming demonic powers!

And the reason the lab in this time layer disappeared was because of my clash with the Demon Lord! In the end, my memory did not return... but that was probably the price of the battle.

The past is the past. No need to overthink things anymore.

I think that's a good idea.

But...were you glad? I didn't have to speak to the professor about that.

Oh, well... Because I didn't want them to take you away. If I told them the truth, you'd become another KMS test subject, and you wouldn't want that, would you?

......

That's right! And the reason the lab in this time layer disappeared was because of my clash with the Demon Lord!

In the end, my memory did not return... but that was probably the price of the battle.

The past is the past. No need to overthink things anymore.

I think that's a good idea.

But...were you glad? I didn't have to speak to the professor about that.

Oh, well... Because I didn't want them to take you away. If I told them the truth, you'd become another KMS test subject, and you wouldn't want that, would you?

...... I knew it! I knew the research was about the netherworld! But why didn't you say that to the researcher earlier?

Oh, well... Because I didn't want them to take you away. If I told them the truth, you'd become another KMS test subject, and you wouldn't want that, would you?

No, I wouldn't. Ordinary humans must never find their way to the dark realm.

(But more importantly, Aldo taking responsibility for my actions would have been in vain.) (So for Aldo... I have to stay as I have been. As the Suzette that he knows.)

Okay then. Let's go.

Ow ow ow!

Suzette, what is it?! Are you okay?

It's...my whole body hurts...

Ahaha! What, like muscle cramp? Must be because you used your full power. You were amazing back there!

Hey, don't laugh at me!