Section 8: Thy Haploid Paradise

The enemy's gone silent.

Its magical energy signal has faded, and all the fires around here have gone out.

The battle is over, Master!

Fou! Fou!

We did it! Phew... I almost feel out of breath.

That was one hell of an opponent. I really, really liked that sword, too.

But it still wasn't as strong as the real one, huh?

Right, Master?

？！

I knew it.

Too bad. If that had been the real giant and sword, I might've fallen in love with him...

Kidding! Kiiidding! Heh...

Did I surprise you, Master? Honestly, I was kind of surprised myself, even the as I was saying it.

...Man, now I'm thirsty.

You have a strange way of showing excitement, dragon. Did the giant's heat get to you?

Here's a canteen. Have some water.

Mmm, ahhh!

I feel like a new woman! You're very kind, aren't you, Nikitich?

All my fatigue just melted away in an instant. I'm impressed.

Like I said, I can do just about anything.

Fou fou!

？！

Right, Senpai.

I'd like to rest up to recover from our exhaustion, but I also don't think the Death Zone's the place for that.

It's your fault we're here, Taigong. Fix it!

Yes, yes, you're right. Once again, I'm very sorry.

You'd better pay us back in a big way. You know what'll happen if you don't, right?

This. (Punching the air)

Fooo...

Hm...?

Well, it's not entirely Taigong Wang's fault, right?

I mean, there were a ton of perception-inhibition spells cast on those tough guys' bases. Real serious ones, too.

What? What'd I say?

I mean, those three giant generals were cloaked in perception-inhibition spells, too, right?

Really!?

I didn't know that.

Wait, none of you noticed?

Exactly!

？！

So despite what you said, Taigong, I'm guessing you probably forgot he was even there until the last second, no?

I mean, you even said you had just remembered right before he showed up.

But I just remembered that I had another reason as well. I didn't tell Nikitich about this either, but...

Honestly, it's gotta be hard for humans and related beings to notice these things, and you're a Heroic Spirit of humanity, right, Taigong Wang?

So I don't blame you for not noticing.

It wasn't hard for me to notice, though. But then again, I'm not human, sooo...

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？！

Huh?

Well, if it was obvious to her, she'd probably assume it was obvious to us too. Her fuzzy memory issues probably aren't helping, either.

So I don't think there's anything she could've done differently...but still, that was one heck of a headache.

Now I see. Hmm.

Still, you did mean what you said about wanting to take that Lostweapon out sooner rather than later, right, Taigong?

I did.

Then you still need to make amends. Come on, let's get out of here.

As long as we stay in the Death Zone, there's no telling when more of these things might show up.

Of course. I promise I will make amends.

Starting right now.

Okay, everyone, get in close! I'm going to use an earth evasion spell!

I can't use it frequently since it takes a fair amount of magical energy, but seeing as you're all exhausted right now, I'd say now is a perfect time!

Okay, here I go!

Wah! What is this!?

Fooou!?

It feels like I'm in an elevator! Are we floating!?

This is just my earth evasion spell.

Fou, fooou!

Wow! I'm being flown around!

Ahahahahaha, this is amazing! I've never done anything like it before!

I can't believe I'm flying in formation with so many other people!

Senpai, look!

The very ground we were standing on is flying!

？！

I'm afraid this isn't nearly as maneuverable. All I'm doing is connecting two places and sending some ground along that connection.

So as I've said, it's an earth evasion spell, nothing more.

So you're not actually using any application of wind at all? Veeery interesting!

I'm very curious as to how it works, but I'm even more impressed that it can transport large groups across long distances! I-I-I must say, this is quite the sage art!

Super high-speed group transportation...

I remember reading about this in the Investiture of the Gods, too. It described a number of situations where you used earth evasion to move around.

So, if you were really able to use this technique back in ancient times

I could bring an army to fight on even ground against any sort of opponent, even Phantasmals or evil sages?

Just like what's described in the Investiture of the Gods?

Hahaha, indeed, I could, and I did!

I used to use this spell to move groups of people around all the time. And away we gooo!

Zooom!

Mo. Mo.

Fou?

Mo. Mo.

Fou, fooou!

You said you called this place the Life Zone?

Boy, it sure is a lot calmer around here. It's so much more...I think relaxing is the word?

Fou and Sì Bú Xiàng look a lot happier here, too!

Mo. Mo.

Fooou!

Mo. Mo.

Fo! Fo!

See what I mean?

You think?

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Nature can be awfully harsh for those used to civilization.

But I'm sure it must feel like heaven compared to the hell of the Death Zone.

What do you think?

Yes, it is...

The Death Zone...

I guess we didn't even realize how much pressure we were feeling over there.

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Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you guys come back to the Border for a bit?

I'm sure you're exhausted after all that fighting, and I'd like to make sure the Ortinax is still in good shape, too. You can even recover some magical energy here.

I've already entered the information Taigong Wang gave us about the Lostkin, especially their patrol routes, into our map data...

...so we can even come meet you guys as long as we're extra careful about avoiding any hostiles.

I think we can be there in about two to three hours. What do you say, Director?

...Good idea.

Very well then, now that we have information on the two zones here, our first order of business will be to rendezvous!

Then, once the field ops team has recovered, we will decide on our next course of action!

Fou, fooou!

Then why don't we make camp while we wait for them to arrive? Nikitich?

Sounds good. Let's go fishing!

...Mm, that smells good.

Are they ready? They must be done by now, right?

Not yet.

...

...How about now?

Not yet.

Mo. Momo.

There, now they're done.

Ooh!

Fou!

Okay, everyone, dig in!

？！

Thank you for the meal.

Fo fou!

Then while we eat, would you mind if I spoke for a bit, Lady Da Vinci?

Fine with me. Though the director and Meunière are busy driving and keeping watch for enemies...

...so I hope you don't mind if I'm the only one from the Border who can listen right now.

Not at all. Now, returning to what I was saying earlier...

First of all, Lady Da Vinci, let me say that you were right.

The combat beasts are indeed a means for killing humankind, and the Death Zone is the power of murder itself.

So, why do these things exist?

On this Earth where everything has been bleached away, in a Siberia after the Russian Lostbelt has faded away...

...this land of Tunguska is still rich with life.

Despite being like a Lostbelt in many ways, this Special Region contains two sides that could not be more unlike a Lostbelt.

One is abundant in unknown flora and fauna, a tribute to life itself. The other is a barren wasteland of unending murderous combat.

All in all, it is a biosphere of unique creatures; it rejects any and all beings having to do with humanity, even going so far as to refuse connections to the Throne.

This place does not reject humans, yet still loathes them in all shapes and forms. And it is awash with violence meant to be unleashed upon them.

So, what is it?

Let me spare you the suspense. This place is, without a doubt, someone's inner world.

A Reality Marble.

!

What!?

Fou!?

...

(Munch, munch)

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...A Reality Marble's the ultimate magecraft accomplishment.

A truly exceptional spell that creates a whole other world within our own.

Their effects vary wildly depending on the caster, but one thing they all have in common is making the impossible, possible.

There are some Heroic Spirits who use them as part of their Noble Phantasms, but their magecraft ratings are still off the charts!

A certain being's inner world. A mindscape made manifest.

Another world that could never be part of reality.

This all means one very simple thing.

This world belongs to Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya.

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？！

...

So, if her mind is creating this world

It would mean she sees no point in humans existing at all, and that she sees civilization through a lens of deep, abiding cynicism.

Looking back on everything Koyanskaya's said and done so far, that does explain a lot.

So that theory is almost certainly correct. But it also raises new questions.

For one thing, isn't it usually impossible to maintain a Reality Marble over an extended period?

If it's created in the real world, yes. But, there are ways around that.

I see. If it's created inside a living creature's body, then it's a different story!

Indeed.

So I suspect this entire territory, including its outer shell, is actually Koyanskaya herself.

Which would mean she's expanded her Spirit Origin to untold proportions and enshrined it in the old Tunguska Forest.

Fooou...

Now I see... That explains a lot.

I did consider whether this place might be a kind of Singularity or Lostbelt too, of course...

But if we think of this place as a Reality Marble, a lot of things start adding up.

After all, its theme couldn't be more consistent!

On one side, we have a world filled with life! On the other, a world filled with death!

And the one thing they share in common is the rejection of humankind!

...Such a world is simply too forthcoming for a Singularity that used a Holy Grail to come about.

I can't imagine that fox woman ever being so willing to bare her inner mind like this...

...and there's also simply no way this world could be a hypothetical that diverged from human history to arrive at this state naturally.

Hang on.

I don't know about that last part. There must be hypothetical histories without any humans in them.

Though of course, if that were the case here, it wouldn't explain how the Death Zone ended up the way it is.

...Very well then.

Then I'll prove why I feel this place to be so unnatural.

Do you remember those animals we saw in that canyon in the Life Zone?

Y-yes.

You mean when we saw the parents and young of a new type of animal...

They weren't actually parents and their young.

Huh?

They were siblings.

Huh?

Everything here is siblings. The insects, the animals, the plants... Even the combat beasts.

The plants...and the combat beasts?

Lady Da Vinci. I take it you haven't yet been able to analyze anything here at the genetic level?

No, since I don't have the kind of equipment I'd need for that. Wait. Hang on.

Are you saying YOU can perform genetic analyses? All by yourself?

Well... Hahaha, this is embarrassing.

Suffice to say, I had a lot of time on my hands before you all showed up, so I tried a few things out with my fangshu.

So yes, I can say this unequivocally.

Not a single creature in this worldnot the plants, the animals, nor the combat beastsmates with any other.

They don't grow, they don't learn, they don't mix genes, and they don't evolve.

All the living things in this place...

...are siblings, born from the same mother.

But, that's impossible!

We've been observing and collecting data since we got here.

Every plant and animal we've seen has reproductive organs! Even those fish you were just eating!

They're all for show.

That said, there is a life cycle here. And a food chain.

Creatures are born, they live, and they die.

They devour and are devoured. They kill and are killed.

The only difference...

...is that they're all born from a single source: Koyanskaya.

Each and every one of them is created in a predefined form.

The same holds true for natural cycles, like the food chain, and even the cycle of cruel and brutal murder.

They're all exactly the same.

Everything is born from Koyanskaya, and returns to Koyanskaya.

This world is fundamentally closed off.

In one sense...it's more thoroughly closed off than even a Singularity or a Lostbelt.

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Oh yes. That much is certain.

It's a difficult question to answer in a philosophical sense, but in the biological sense...

...every creature in this territory is just as alive as you are.

And of course, with life comes death, and the cycle that goes with both.

However, at least based on what I've seen so far...

...none of them are self-aware, or possess a will of their own.

Huh?

As I said, I had quite a lot of time on my hands, so I performed enough tests that I can say this for certain:

These creatures are not self-aware, and have no will of their own.

I can only assume they don't need those traits, since they don't grow, pass on genes, or evolve.

Or at least...

...that's how Daji's shadow, Koyanskaya, sees it.

Yes, I have.

That's because she has a different scent about her than Daji herself.

I believe Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya is either another aspect of Daji, the Fair-faced Golden Fox, one of her Divided Spirits...

...or, a Heroic Spirit of hers with exaggerated traits.

Whatever she is, I do wonder what she was thinking when she made this world...

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No self-awareness, and no will of their own...

...

That's...really something...

But, still, you're right. If this place is a Reality Marble, a lot starts making sense.

However twisted that seems to us, if it's truly how Koyanskaya understands the world...

...then it's no wonder her mindscape looks like this.

Indeed.

...And in that case...

...we have to be ready for the possibility that Koyanskaya may throw something at us way beyond anything else we've seen.

If this really is a Reality Marble, we could even see things that are outright impossible.

So once we meet back up and start heading toward her in the center

Right. We can't let our guard down.

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Fou!

Don't worry, I'm not gonna lower my guard. I'll be super careful.

(Hic)

Hey!

You! When did you start drinking!?

Heh. I'm impressed.

...!

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Anyway, you're right; we have to keep our guard up! Being in a Reality Marble means we're right in the middle of enemy territory.

Be ready for anything!

Got that!?

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