Chapter 2: Testing

Aren't you worried about what's hiding behind my headset?

Don't worry!

I don't think you're a bad person, Captain...

Whatever is underneath your headset, it won't hurt anyone.

(Sachiko might trust me a bit too much.)

(I wouldn't hurt her, would I?)

Alright, enough of that! I brought a surprise for you today!

Look!

Huh?

It's a personal communicator! I requested it for you from Miss Raven!

You can send messages to your friends like this...

If you ever have a question, just ask me on your communicator!

Or you can ask Mr. Drew, too!

Don't worry about his serious face. He's actually really nice!

And he knows tons of stuff!

He can explain the details of lots of things!

Okay, thanks!

Right, so if you ever need anything, you can reach us with your communicator!

But Sachiko, I'm staying right here in the Esper Union Tower.

If I need something, why would I need to use a communicator?

Or are you giving it to me because...

The Union plans to let me leave?

Aha!

That was my surprise, but you already guessed it!

The reason you've been held here these days is because Miss Raven is preparing a test for you.

Once you're done with the test, you can do as you please!

A test... What's the test for?

It seems to have something to do with Miss Raven's powers!

But it's super secret, so I don't know any more than that.

Miss Raven's a nice lady, okay?

Don't worry about it...

First, just get familiar with your communicator!

I'm not taking the test.

For what reason?

Because... l have no reason to.

What's the test for, anyway?

There is much at stake for this test. It has the potential to affect the survival of this entire world.

I come from a different world, you know.

I can't say I'm as attached to this world as you are.

After you complete this test, we will no longer restrict your movements.

That sounds pretty nice...

But even if I could go wherever I want, I wouldn't know where to go, would I?

What do you want, then?

I want to know where Yamato is.

If you're asking me what I'd want to do if I were free, I'd want to find Yamato.

This test is more important than you could ever imagine, Captain.

It's not a matter that should be used as a bargaining chip.

Moreover, no one can promise you Yamato's whereabouts. At least, I cannot.

I can.

Mr. Gaius?

I promise, you'll get the intel you need to track down Yamato.

You'll have the full power of the Union's intelligence network at your disposal.

After you finish the test, you'll receive the intel on Yamato.

Thank you, Mr. Gaius.

You drive a hard bargain.

I had no choice. Fact is, I didn't have many bargaining chips to play with. My apologies if I've offended you.

On the contrary, my friend. I admire you.

I'm no bootlicker. The Union can't force everyone to get on board with their plan to save the world.

And besides, resourcefulness is a sign of strength, is it not?

I admire people who can get things done.

Let the testing begin.

Perhaps you really are the one...

Get ready for the final test.

Raven cannot fail.

She doesn't possess the might of Feng Nuxi, nor the wisdom of Pritzker, nor the determination of Luo Yan.

But out of the entire Esper Union, she's the one that troubles me most...

Fate is on her side.

Pardon my ignorance.

Raven has the power to predict the future, but that's not the same as controlling fate, right?

All things must perish in time. No one can triumph over death forever.

In her predictions, hasn't she already seen that death is inevitable?

A good question.

And so, even though death is inevitable...

Why would one with foreknowledge follow their predestined path to death, refusing to resist?

Fate is a predestined path.

If the path can be altered, then what does fate even mean?

You mean...

That's right. Of course the foreseer will meet their fated end.

And as they traverse their predestined path toward death, they do it because...

A "better future" lies ahead.

Such a fate need not be resisted at all.

She would lay down her life happily for her cause.

And so, what troubles me is not her power, but her ideals.

When combined with her power to foretell the future, her ideals become nearly as powerful as fate itself.

And if she's determined to resist the coming of the new world...

Then even if she dies...

The old world will still be saved.

This is a fate that will soon come to pass.

Councilor, how can we even fight an opponent like that?

Hahahaha! Have you all forgotten why we tread the path of shadows?

It is the beauty of chaos that we seek.

Chaos cannot be restrained by something so trivial as fate.

If Raven is determined to stand in our way...

Straight ahead?

That's right.

Walk straight ahead. This is the final test.

The test must be free from the divine interference of other Espers, so we have to do it here.

Just keep walking straight ahead and you'll understand.

Don't worry, you're safe.

We've set up a Divine Wall, which is entirely sufficient to withstand all Miramon attacks.

Path analysis complete... Specimen activity is correlated with target movements.

Specimen Divine Power fluctuation analysis complete... 50% higher than average.

(So this test is about...)

We're just checking to see if the Miramon are more aggressive toward you, Captain.

Power supply unstable! ... Activate backup power, now!!! Checking Nexus Crystal conversion rate!

How is the Divine Wall holding up?!

We're seeing de-coherence! Restart pre-heating! Start from Ops Manual page 32, operation number 7!

It's too late!

Captain!!!

That power surge caused some unexpected fluctuations. The engineers are working on it now.

Our sincerest apologies. We didn't want this accident to happen either.

What the heck is going on here?

Captain was about to be killed by Miramon!

Do you really need to do such a dangerous test?!

Explain yourself, Mr. Drew!

Tell them.

It's not every day you get to see Sachiko so angry.

Miss Raven?!

Secrecy is meant to be used against enemies hiding in the shadows.

But if it disturbs the trust between partners, is it really worth it?

This test was necessary, Sachiko.

There's a limit to the number of times I can see into the future, and this will be the last time.

Miss Raven, you want to...

That's right, I want to see Captain's future, to glimpse his fate.

Before I do, however, I had to confirm that Captain is someone worthy of my powers.

In one of my past prophecies, I encountered the following description:

The enemy of all Miracles, a half-man half-monster hybrid...

... will protect this world.

... Captain... Your face, half of it...

... is Miramon.

When Mr. Yamato brought Captain to me a month ago...

I realized who my final prophecy should be used on.

And during this test, we discovered that you could enhance the combat power of Espers...

At the same time, you also provoke significant hostility from Miramon.

That makes you the "enemy of all Miracles" and the "half-man half-monster hybrid"...

I need to see your fate.

Because it seems likely that your fate is...

... to "protect this world".

Miss Raven, could I speak with you alone?

In your words, secrecy should be used against enemies hiding in the shadows.

But perhaps you've already noticed, in the Union...

All these people are involved in the prophecy?

Everyone here is a Union Hub Councilor.

I'm going to reveal your fate to them, Captain.

Don't be nervous. It will only feel like a passing moment to your future self.

And besides...

...no one in this room will remember exactly what happened here.

Oh?!

Fate is not a trifling matter.

To ensure that fate unfolds according to its predetermined path, no one can carry a complete picture of the future.

The Hub Council will discuss which parts of the prophecy to keep and make key decisions based on that.

Pritzker has the power of the wise giant Mimir.

Luo Yan has the power of the eastern Yanluo Wang.

Together, they will make a wise and righteous judgment.

Finally, Feng Nuxi will present the result to each of you individually.

Only those partial memories will remain, to be spread to the outside world as...

... "Raven's prophecy".

Aside from that, the memories of everyone in this room, including Pritzker...

... will be infused into the stone tablet in front of him.

The complete picture of fate is sealed within the tablet and may not be accessed without the joint approval of the Hub Councilors.

So the "Raven's prophecy" that circulates outside these walls... could be a ruse perpetrated by the Councilors.

Looks like your imagination's already running wild again.

Well then, let's get start...

Where's Captain? That intel he wanted on Yamato has arrived.

Dunno. Ever since they allowed him to, Captain goes out often.

And we don't keep track of him.

I think the last time I saw him was two days ago, so I guess he's been sleeping somewhere else.

What is it, Mr. Gaius?

If my guess is correct, Captain doesn't even need this intel.

What do you mean? Didn't he only agree to do the test in exchange for that intel?

You'll understand soon enough.

I'm afraid Captain is smarter than we thought!

If you see him again, try to invite him to join the Union!

He's really...

I'd like to ask you something, Raven.

If you add a single drop of ink to a bottle of clear water, can you still say the water is clear?

You must have already sensed it. The "half-man half-monster hybrid" in the prophecy.

Could he still be considered human?

The only reason I went along with your test was to get info on Yamato's whereabouts.

Yamato found me when I entered this world.

So he might know why I've become half monster.

And yes, my goal is to become fully human again.

"Half-man half-monster" is not at all a trait I want to keep.

Also, it's really hard for me to imagine... Am I really supposed to go and save the world?

I'm not even from this world, and to be honest, I don't have any interest in saving it.

Knowing this, do you still want to use your final prophecy on me?

Yes, I do.

I've seen the wonders of fate. Regarding your doubts...

Fate will provide answers.

Okay, so after your prophecy tomorrow, you can...

Tell me where to find Yamato?

Interesting...

You don't trust the Union's intelligence?

Correct. Someone was able to plant a map in my hospital room the other day and use fake intel to lure me out.

Then, someone caused a power surge right while we were doing the test today.

There must be a Shadow Decree spy in the Esper Union.

Let's say I try to find Yamato following the intel the Union gathered.

The Shadow Decree will get word and try to intercept me in advance.

So if, in your prophecy, you see me find Yamato...

... Please just tell me where he is.

If you can give me some "future intel", then I can beat the Shadow Decree to the punch.

Much safer that way, don't you think?

Hahahah! You know, before, I didn't really care much where you were headed.

I just leave things up to fate.

But you've got quite a head on your shoulders, Captain...

I hope you'll consider joining the Union. I'd love to have you on our side.

Sorry, but I can't trust the Union at this point.

But who knows how things will turn out, right?

I'll just leave it up to fate.

Nice working with you!

Likewise!

You're here...

For the stone tablet?

I see you've already sensed it. Are you really that eager to confirm it?

This was fated, was it not?

Narmer, Hyde, Embla...

One after another...

It seems like only yesterday we were adventuring together.

But in the blink of an eye, there's not much left of the Hub Council.

Sometimes I really question my path...

That comes as a surprise...

I thought you were the most determined of all.

If I were, what would I need with Pritzker's tablet?

I really... don't want to have to hurt you.

And how could I not feel the same?

But that's our path, isn't it?

I'm curious.

You've just finished making a prophecy. If you fight me in this state, you're certain to lose.

Was your arrival really written in fate?

The price of prophecy is fate itself.

Even if I die...

Oh... Why am I...

Crying like this?