Vol. F Ch. 3 Ep. 16: Counterattack

...Hurry. Hurry up!

Run! As fast as you can!

...

...

Everyone, hurry...

...

I've configured the self-destruct sequence. All we have to do is run it.

Simulation results are looking good. With this, the Ark of Atrahasis should be destroyed.

It's time to go ka-boom! Fragments will fall down on Kivotos like fireworks!

All preparations are complete. Everyone, let me know when you're ready to escape.

Wait just a minute!!!

Rio?

Something's off... We should be in control of the Ark, but...

Himari! Check the core system of Utnapishtim. Now!

The core system...?

...

Oh... S-Something's...

...We've been hacked.

The data is entirely wrong... When did this happen?

The Utnapishtim's Ship has been hacked!

That would mean...?!

S-Something's wrong...! Th-The self-destruct sequence is active now!

Wh-Wh-What?! Are you serious? They're not ready! Why would you press it!

Sh-She didn't press it... This...

Self-destruct sequence activated. Execute.

?!

Huh? Self-destruct sequence activated?

That can't possibly...

I'm afraid... It is!

Everyone! Take cover!

...

What in the...

What in the world happened?

Did...the Utnapishtim's Ship...self-destruct? How? Why?

We didn't do anything on our end... What could be...

*cough cough* Is everyone okay?

Why did the ship explode?! What the hell?

Ugh...!

Fortunately, the explosion was relatively small...

Is anyone injured? Are we okay?

Himari, what happened? Do you know?

We were caught.

How? When?!

While we were occupying the Ark of Atrahasis...

The enemies... They launched a covert operation and occupied Utnapishtim through a back door.

Huh?!

Currently...the enemies have taken over Utnapishtim's Ship...

When did they have the chance? They would have had to make physical contact from the inside!

When did the enemy get inside...? Oh!

C-Could it have been when...?

Far from self-destructing the Ark, Utnapishtim ended up helping it perform multidimensional calculations...

At this rate...the False Sanctums will...

This...?

Th-The sky's turning red?!

The False Sanctums...again?!

What's happening?

The sky is turning red again...

...

...

Emergency confirmed.

...

Sensei...

Look at the sky! Wh-What do we do?

That would mean... Sensei... Yuuka...

It's red again...

D-Did something happen to Sensei...?

It...It doesn't look good...

...

S-Seia! Mika!

You're late, Nagi. Seia already left.

...What?

She said she had an ominous feeling and wanted to do what she could to prepare, just in case.

She told us to handle anything that came up while she was gone. I'd say this falls under that category.

I see. Then we need to mobilize now.

I'll get started right now.

After all, we can't let Sensei down! They'd be disappointed if we don't hold down the fort down here!

We can save our worries for after the crisis!

Oh, oh no! Oh, dear! Th-The sky!

Hiyori, please don't start.

What? What did I say, Misaki? Do I give you such a negative impression? Am I bringing down the mood? I'm making things worse by panicking, aren't I? I could see how I come off that way, but...!

...We need to move.

Agreed. No matter the situation, we won't stop trying.

Yes! Let's go!

...Right. We have to do what we can.

Our opponent's taken over Utnapishtim...

I'm tracking where the signal is coming from right now!

Confirmed. It's in the center of zone 4 of the Ark of Atrahasis.

This name is way too long!

Multidimensional Analysis Engine Control Room, Throne of Naram-Sin...

Utnapishtim is being hacked from there! We have to stop it!

Is everyone okay?

Ugh... I'm okay. I'm not hurt, but...

Are those...what I think they are?

...

I see... Shiroko was intercepting us so she could...

...Run out the clock? She was just stalling us?

Th-This means...

The operation will fail... Everything we tried to do... Everyone's effort...

No. It's not over yet.

Sh-Shiroko?

"Dust yourselves off. It's too early to give up."

E-Even Sensei? Wh-Where are you?

We're okay. Sensei and I are going to the location where Utnapishtim is being hacked from, the middle of zone 4.

What?!

...!

Are you serious?

...!

...Sensei.

I see the control room ahead.

I'll rush in and subdue the enemy.

"(This place is...)"

Enemy located!

It's the one who kidnapped me!

Stop!

Don't move a muscle or I'll shoot!

It's over for you! Don't even think about trying anything.

We have Schale's Sensei here. It's done.

So just give up now!

...

D-Don't move! Put your hands up where I can see them!

I'll shoot right now!

...Stop!

"...We thirst for the seven wailings. We bear the koan of Jericho."

Ugh...?!

All my attacks...missed?

At this distance...? How?

"(That was....)"

"(If I heard correctly, it must be...)"

S-Sensei...!

S-Sensei...!

Sensei... S-Something's off...

H-Huh?

Sensei, bio-verification confirmed. Complete.

The system manager and main OS in the Shittim Chest...

A.R.O.N.A., waiting for your command.

Ark of Atrahasis restoration system activated.

With the authority of the Shittim Chest, the destroyed Ark of Atrahasis will be restored by replacing it with an identical copy from another dimension.

Full recovery expected in approximately thirty minutes.

Utnapishtim's Ship that broke into the Ark will trigger its final self-destruct sequence after eight hundred seconds.

I've said it again and again.

The future is predetermined. You cannot fight fate.

Kivotos will be destroyed as intended.

...My Sensei.