6-3 Lost at Once

Mephisto?

What was that you just unleashed? Your... team is more riled up than before.

They're... they're in pain.

Oh, you can tell? The seeds I planted have finally bloomed.

Nothing to worry about, Faust. They won't hurt us.

You're still catalyzing their infection?

Mephisto... just stop. We have a chance to survive.

I am the only one who can perform such Arts! And it is only through my Arts that we can escape!

You saw with your own eyes. If we push through like this, the L. G. D. will kill us all long before we can reach the escape tunnel in the slums!

Have you ever seen those weapons before? Nobody in Chernobog had weapons like that!

This is their city, they know it far better than us! Where did they come from? Where do they disappear to?! There's no way we can take them on with this few of us!

The Chernobog Ursus are too weak... Lungmen treats us like an army, but we're no army. We're just a group of like-minded individuals trying to survive!

Quiet down. Morale is low enough.

But my herd will never waver in the face of such challenges!

...not to mention all the Reunion members who just joined us.

FrostNova will definitely help us.

FrostNova? That FrostNova?

Hah! Hahah! As if she didn't take her Yetis and betray us?

Mephisto!

If not, we can definitely crush our enemies with such strength!

But even if they did turn against us, I can't blame them for doing what it takes to survive.

FrostNova is no traitor. I told you. Look at the facts.

Indeed... we all do what it takes to survive.

Just calm down, and don't go stumbling into the L. G. D.'s traps!

I have it under control, Faust. I will ensure the comfortable survival of all my people.

What...? What are you going to do?

I'm going to show the L. G. D. something much more terrifying than an army. Just wait until they see the flowers that bloom from my people.

Mephisto?!

The L. G. D. must pay for their atrocities... And that Ch'en... She will pay for what she did to you!

My comrades, my people, heed my words!

......!

A magnificent vitality flourishes within you... Go forth and give in to your impulses, spread your seed, and seize your future!

No, Mephisto!

They're living beings!

(Chaotic howling and shrieking).

All of Lungmen is your garden! Go, now, spread the life within you to all the people! Go, go, go!

Huh? What?! What's happening?

Wh- what are you doing? You're not in our squad!

...What did I ever do to you?! Or Mephisto...?

Captain? Captain?! Captaaaaaain!!

Agh! A- are you... trying to... BITE ME?! Why a- aaaaaaaaagh!

Help! Somebody help me!!

Aaaaaaaaagh!

Heh heh...

They are far stronger than they were.

They can't hear my voice anymore, but they won't attack us again... They will grow stronger, more durable, and more numerous.

And they will completely consume Lungmen. Hah. If my people can't have this city, I certainly won't leave it to the Lungmenites!

Faust, come, it's time...

Faust?

......

What have you done?

......

(Pained wailing).

Faust? Where are you going?!

Faust!

Why are Mephisto's people attacking us?!

I saw it... It.. It was awful... Those things took Ivan... And... And then Ivan became like them!

Suka! What are you... some kind of monster?! They feel no pain. I stab them and they don't die!

They're getting stronger! We can't stop them!

Come with me!

Faust?!

No! It might be one of Mephisto's traps!

...He saved my life.

Mephisto's a piece of shit. He might be okay.

......

Get out of here. Hurry. The phantom crossbowmen will cover you.

Right.

Thanks... H- hey!

Look out!!

——Originium...?

Run! The herd's after you!

GreyThroat, the enemies movements are erratic.

The defenders will hold the line, while the casters cut down the enemy numbers. You and the snipers will take care of any Infected with Arts ability.

I'm allowed to shoot the Infected dead?

GreyThroat...

In principle, I can't allow anyone to harm the Infected.

Because, if I were to allow that, then wouldn't someone else allow the Infected to harm others? It's a vicious cycle.

But it's pointless. There's no room for the philosophy of ethics on the battlefield.

The ideal situation is that nobody hurts anybody. Regardless of their infection status.

......

Understood.

Gavial is providing medical support so... Watch yourself out there. Don't get hurt.

What's that...? It looks like... Mephisto's herd...?

But... I can't sense any emotion from them?

No!

GreyThroat, get down! Something's wrong!

They're... pulling Originium out of their bodies?

GreyThroat!

Doctor! Are you okay?

What's with this herd? They're acting completely different!

Doesn't matter. You're safe here. Kinda. Don't move!

I'll take care of them and be back in a sec!

......

(Speaking Ursine).

Of course. I will bring it back for you.

...... (Speaking Ursine)......?

No. I'm not going to Chernobog.

Rest.

......

You'll be safe here.

Get some rest.

Drop your weapon!

Just you...?

......

Move and I shoot!

Shoot first. Then ask questions.

What? He... disappeared?

No... I saw your file. You're Faust, one of their leaders. Your Arts won't fool me!

I know this is just an optical trick. If I shoot, you'll still have a bolt in your head.

Wrong.

——!

Can you predict my movements?

......

The two of us, lone crossbowmen. If we both pull the trigger at the same time, we both die.

What's your name?

Codename GreyThroat. When did you get behind me?

The third time you blinked.

You're pretty direct...

You've been separated from your squad. I'm not here to kill people who don't want a fight.

We're enemies.

Rhodes Island is here to save the Infected. I saw you helping them.

Those were my comrades. You're my enemy.

When did Rhodes Island hire someone so naive?

Yes, I'm naive. All I can do is follow orders. I freeze up whenever I have to make a decision for myself.

You need to be careful.

Watch your finger!

That's a single shot crossbow. If I dodge your bolt, you're dead. Don't pull that trigger.

If you only follow orders, if you rely on everyone else to tell you what to do, that can only end poorly.

Why?

Most of the sheep who blindly take orders aren't actually dependent on anyone. They just haven't started thinking for themselves...

And those who have no direction in life, they're just empty machines looking for a sense of accomplishment, and meaning.

You activate, and perform your function, you input a goal, you achieve your goal, until you consume everything around you, and you consume those you serve.

I won't.

You're inexperienced.

I saw your interaction with the Infected back there. You're doing the right thing.

Your opinion means nothing to me.

Faust, you've been avoiding the L. G. D. Even the ones who are out here on their own, you haven't shot at them. I've been watching you.

Don't take my patience for weakness. If I ambushed you, you'd be dead.

But you didn't.

You're exhausted. Take it from a crossbowman, your string is drawn too tight. It's definitely going to snap.

Take it from a crossbowman, you're too much.

You've also seen those... special Infected. We can figure this one out together.

Maybe you're right.

Wait!

But there's nothing I can do.

(He disappeared the instant he moved...? I can't figure his position!)

......

......hm?

Why haven't you killed me?

You didn't shoot. Neither will I.

But next time? If you don't kill me, I will kill you.

I don't want to hurt you!

That's too bad.

I guess you need someone to answer you. Without an answer, you can't understand.

Don't worry about it. Killing, dying, these are everyday facts of life. Even for Rhodes Island.

Why can't we work together to save them?

I really wish I could. But I know I can't.

Don't follow me.

You still don't know them. You don't yet have the whole picture.

...and me? There's nothing I can do anymore.