Vol. F Ch. 4 Ep. 1: An Immovable Destiny

Utnapishtim's Ship was hacked by the Ark?

Yes, we've been forcibly connected to the Ark of Atrahasis.

Which means Utnapishtim has become the Ark's auxiliary computational device.

The Ark is now hijacking Utnapishtim's computational capabilities and energy and using them for multidimensional analysis!

What does that mean? What's going to happen?

It means if we don't disconnect, the enemy will get everything they want! They're restoring the destroyed dimensional engine as we speak!

The manifestation of the False Sanctums across Kivotos are accelerating! A sanctum could appear right now!

Execute Utnapishtim's final annihilation process. Self-destruct sequence reactivated.

S-Self-destruct? Again?!

Initiating self-destruct sequence in 800 seconds. All passengers are requested to evacuate quickly.

Is there anything we can do to stop them?

Repeat. All passengers are requested to evacuate quickly. Initiating self-destruct sequence in 793 seconds...

Not unless we solve this hack! All our systems are unresponsive!

I'm doing everything I can! I'm going to forcibly break the connection to the Ark!

I've got it. I'll do everything I can from here!

W-Wait! What is it doing now?

We can't keep up!

It's changing the algorithm in real time!

We can't let it beat us with its speed. Disconnect, Himari! Now!

Disconnecting!

Ugh?!

...Denied.

Repeat. All passengers are requested to evacuate quickly. Initiating self-destruct sequence in 533 seconds...

...

At this rate, we'll lose the ship entirely.

Argh! What should we do? What CAN we do?!

What in the world...

It's hacking our ship while losing most of the Ark's computational devices, restoring the dimensional engine, and accelerating the multidimensional analysis of the sanctums at the same time...?

Who would have thought the Ark had a control system capable of such a high level of computational processing?

I didn't even conceive the possibility of such a system... We... We've failed...

Is that...me?

Confirmed. Sunaookami Shiroko. The same existence from a different window of time.

Confirmed. You are correct, Sensei.

Partially positive. I'm the system manager and main OS, A.R.O.N.A., of the Shittim Chest.

What?!

I-I-I don't know what you mean. The system manager in the Shittim Chest... That's me! Why is there another me?

There are two Shirokos...? Th-That means...

No! This doesn't make sense!

How can the OS of the Shittim Chest materialize like that? It has to be some form of trickery or illusion!

Answer. Because this is inside the Ark of Atrahasis, where the quantum superposition state is maintained.

In particular, the Throne of Naram-Sin is a chaotic realm where dimensions, time, existence, and non-existence are mixed together without ever settling.

I don't have my classroom now, but this is possible because Sensei has distorted this place in a way that allows me to exist within here. It is neither trickery nor illusion.

J-Just now...

Did you just answer me? H-How? No one can hear my voice but Sensei...

Negative. I can hear you.

What is happening?!

You can log in here too...?!

...

...?

Positive. Yes, correct. Another version of A.R.O.N.A.

I'm speculating that mutual interference is possible because it's the OS of the same Shittim Chest.

...

I will always help and support Sensei, the owner of the Shittim Chest.

Sensei, what is your order.

"...That means..."

"Phrenapates is...me in another window of time?"

Partially positive. The target is confirmed as the same existence as Sensei of the Federal Investigation Club: Schale.

...However, differences exist in certain aspects.

S-Sensei...!

She's right. You're the same, but also different.

I also checked Phrenapates' biometrics. It's definitely the same...even though obviously the form and appearance have changed...

That Phrenapates...is S-Sensei, technically...in a different window of time...but...

Phrenapates...I mean...this Sensei in another time...

it's...

it's dead...

"Phrenapates isn't alive?"

"It's already dead...?"

That is correct.

Because I killed you, Sensei.

...What?!

I killed you, and you became the Guide of Chroma.

This appearance is due to the influence of the Chroma, most likely.

"..."

After that...Sensei brought me here...to fulfill my destiny of destroying all worlds.

You're...me...?

Yes.

I killed...Sensei...?

Yes.

My destiny...is to destroy all worlds?

Yes.

Shut your lying mouth!!!

You're lying! It's all a lie!

Me? Harm Sensei? Want to destroy the world? I won't tolerate your lies!

I killed and used Sensei as a tool to meet my ends?

That's not me! I would never do that!

Deny it all you want. It is a predetermined fact.

This is the path you will walk down.

As long as you exist within this world, I am your future.

U-Ugh... *cough*

This is the fate of Sunaookami Shiroko. We are the god who leads worlds to death. It is inescapable.

"Shiroko…!!"

N-No... Sensei... Don't come near me...

You cannot fight me.

I've experienced things you've yet to experience, I know things you've yet to learn. You cannot fill the gap between me and you.

*cough* You...*cough*

Why...?

Sunaookami Shiroko's existence...

I didn't know what variables you would introduce into Phrenapates' plan. Only one sublime of death and destruction can exist within a world.

For me to fulfill my purpose in this world, it was necessary for you, another god of destruction, to not exist.

So I kidnapped you and locked you in this ark, where existence and non-existence are one and the same.

But...

...I sympathize with you, Sunaookami Shiroko.

I do wish you could have quietly met your end while knowing nothing of your purpose.

Then, you would have never known the pain of your loved ones dying before your eyes.

And yet... You insist on your futile resistance. So you will suffer again and again and again.

Now, what will you do, Sensei?

"..."