Arknights story · Episode 14: Absolved Will Be the Seekers
14-15 Linebreaker
The boarding party's plans aboard the airship are disrupted by the revenant, with the team separated from one another. W saves the Doctor from falling, while Kal'tsit is trapped by herself.
1 scenes, 161 lines
1. After Operation
161 lines
Alright, any more weird shadows that wanna get blown to pieces?
—
Well, shit. There actually is one.
Cutting down their numbers is most likely pointless, W. They're simply the projections of the revenant's power.
So long as the revenant dwells on the ship, there will be no end to its creations.
This is nothing more than a means to buy time.
Then how about I blow a couple more holes until the revenant decides to come out of hiding?
I'm afraid that won't work.
This whole ship is nothing but the revenant's husk. Even if you were to destroy the ship's outer shell or blow it, the revenant would still be able to keep it running with witchcraft.
It would only temporarily keep it functional, but it would be more than enough to take them to Amnannam.
To completely stop the airship, we must find and destroy the revenant's core.
Gotta say, we Sarkaz are up to some really weird shit. Keeps you up at night.
Can't we take care of this with a bomb?
The firepower of an entire fleet's main guns might break through its outer shell, stopping it from operating, even using witchcraft.
How do we find the revenant's core?
I'm not certain. As the true core of the airship, it is certainly protected by layers of defenses, hidden away carefully in some cabin.
We will only uncover it by infiltrating deeper into the ship.
This also means that our enemies will be able to defend it much more easily.
There is no time.
Is the revenant privy to everything about the airship?
Theoretically, but the airship is large in size. Its attention is limited.
Ines's been on this ship, and she still got out of here without a scratch, didn't she?
Well, it could also be because she's not a real Sarkaz and can't feel the mental pressure the revenant lays on.
We need to work with each other.
We must find a way to distract the revenant.
Doctor, you mean...?
When somebody's hurting real bad, they won't notice an insect crawling up their pants.
W, I need your help.
...Oh?
Come clean. Is this a trap you've been setting up for a long time, and you're only telling me about it now?
You're the best one for the job.
No one makes a ruckus better than you.
Hah.
Guilty as charged.
Alright, buy some time. Then buy some more.
Lemme get one thing clear, though. I'm not your bait this time.
If the revenant's really sharper than we thought...
You wink at Amiya, who stares blankly at you for a second before nodding.
Light it up, W.
That enough of a ruckus for you?
Alright, you insects. Don't get spotted too easily.
...Not until you find her.
Doctor, Amiya, we'll enter the airship through the opening W made.
Stay close.
This is our one and only chance.
It seems the Military Commission has already evacuated all the passengers. They knew how dangerous this mission would be.
Kal'tsit, if the airship's really going to collide with Amnannam...
Then what happens?
Amnannam will assimilate all information it comes into contact with.
That includes all materials, organic or not, even personalities and emotions... Everything will be engulfed in Originium crystals.
Then Theresa and the revenant...!
Yes, they chose to sail there, and it means they understand what this entails.
What do they want from the Originium?
A possibility.
A deep, sophisticated voice can be heard from within the cabin.
But there are no signs of life. The hallway is as empty as before.
This voice...
In Minoan legend, a hero stole fire for mankind, and for this, he was punished by the gods and set ablaze for eternity.
Very few know that this legend... originated among the Sarkaz.
But he is no hero.
His story thereafter is unworthy of telling.
In just the blink of the eye, countless strange shadows fill what was an empty corridor.
The revenant's words are emitted from their vibrations.
That explosion... It was indeed cause for concern and anxiety.
If it wasn't for the King of Sarkaz's reminder, I really would've forgotten all about you.
Oh, how forgetful of me... I've remembered more than enough, but I should never have forgotten.
False King of Sarkaz, how could I have ignored your existence—
Mon3tr, get ready for battle! Amiya, protect the Doctor!
Immediately, a pitch black spear solidifies at Amiya's fingertips before launching forward.
However, it is swallowed whole by the walls and stairs.
How can you possibly kill me while you're within me?
There are too many of them. We need to move!
Each and every corridor looks the same. Each and every staircase seems to be connected to the same space.
These are nothing but the revenant's blood vessels, and its will can manifest anywhere.
It's no good. We can't shake them!
Now, W!
You find it difficult to keep your eyes open because of the massive explosion, but the plan continues to be executed as expected.
Bunny, swap sides!
Kal'tsit, have your little pet hold onto the dead weight. We need to quickly—
Hold on, this place...
Suddenly, you are struck with a bad feeling.
Something's not right—
W's bombs can't be this strong!
Using the explosion's momentum, the entire corridor is being torn apart by its master's own will.
You feel yourself sliding down a corridor leading downstairs.
Hey, old hag—
You try your hardest to maintain your balance and look toward where you last saw Kal'tsit, only to find that she has been completely engulfed by the black shadow.
The revenant itself tore the structure here apart! It's trying to—
A loud bang can be heard, and Amiya disappears on the other end of the collapsing corridor.
A black shadow sweeps by, separating you and W. The moment you two turn around, a sharp blade made of witchcraft slices through where you two were moments earlier.
(Impatient braying)
It fails to hook onto your collar with its claw, and you tumble downstairs down the corridor.
(Impatient howling)
Before your crash into the floor of the area downstairs, a hand grabs you by your collar from behind.
*creak*... *creak*... *creak*...
The sound of steel being bent and twisted echoes throughout the narrow space. The ship is chewing apart the darkness inside its body.
...
You put in quite a bit of work simply to force me into this closed-off trap.
Revenant.
With the way you are, have you forgotten even your name?
There is no response.
*creak*... Nothing can be heard except for the sound of metal being torn apart. Sharp debris continue to peel and fall away from the ship's body...
Kal'tsit knows that if this unknown space is anything like a magnetic field—
She must be the center pulling in all fatal threats.
A threat?
It seems that even though you have burned away for years, you still have some sanity left in you.
But if your chaotic mind still holds a trace of memories in Kazdel...
You should be well aware that death threats are meaningless to me.
Silence.
But Kal'tsit can feel that the shadows that will engulf her here are still lurking in the darkness, watching her.
Waiting for the moment to strike.
...
No, you should know... After all, Theresa herself knows this well.
You are listening, are you not—
Theresa?
I can feel your will in this ship.
I thought you would be here waiting for me.
Kal'tsit reaches her hand out to the wall to feel the life in this ship.
Ice-cold, coarse metal... and Originium.
Despite the darkness, Kal'tsit is nonetheless able to clearly see the Originium growing and assimilating everything around it—
But it avoids the area her fingers touched.
...
To think you can now influence the natural growth of Originium to this extent...
If the Originium here continues to grow, the airship will be completely crystallized by the time it crashes.
And then everybody inside will also—
That includes me?
So is this what you are trying to tell me?
She gets no response.
...
The first Originium, you, Theresis, the Sarkaz... I used to think I knew enough about your plan.
But it seems you are much further down this road than I imagined...
...
You may have me locked away here, but I don't believe I am truly the one you should be vigilant against.
You've always been a headache, Theresa. Just like in the past.
Just like in the past.
Theresa, as you are now, do you still believe...?
...that Terra has a future?
A dark shadow extends underneath Kal'tsit's feet.
A jet black ocean gushes out from the darkness, ready to engulf everything in its path in no time.
Once again, silence has returned to the darkness.
As you wish.
You'd better have enough time with the Dame alone, without that one at her side.
Don't disappoint me again. Don't disappoint us again!
I've waited too long... I must witness this before my death—
The end of suffering.
Theresa...