Morimens story ยท Main Story
Paradise
27 scenes, 1,503 lines
1. Murmurs, before the fight
81 lines
Esteemed Divine Mother, you are here watching the lights again.
Get some rest early, for tomorrow is the Day of Stellar Alignment, and you still need to guide the Seafarers on their path with your holy blood.
Murphy stares intently at the flickering flame of the lantern. Her black veil sways with her movements, casting curtain-like phantoms on the cabin walls.
Miryam, have you ever had a dream?
Of course, Divine Mother. In countless dreams, I see great Lemuria rising, reborn under the sunlight.
The eternal radiance sweeps across the distant seas, guiding our course to a new age.
Miryam instinctively gives the answer, but the question that follows reveals an unmistakable surprise.
Why do you ask so, Divine Mother?
Last night, I had a dream.
In the dream, with that ritual dagger...
Murphy raises her hand and points at the dagger that Miryam always carries. The blade shimmers with vibrant colors, exuding an eerie, poisonous glimmer.
I pierced my own chest.
He won't be born...
Murphy murmurs to herself, her fingertips gently tracing the blood-soaked scar on her chest.
It was only a nightmare.
Miryam steps forward, kneels before Murphy, and gently places her palm on the back of Murphy's hand to offer comfort.
Rest assured, we Seafarers' long-held wish has been fulfilled. He exists. He has arrived in this world.
And you and I will ultimately arrive at the Eternal Divine Realm, sharing the glory of the divine before His throne.
Her words sound like prayers offered before an altar, filled with reverence and devotion.
What if we can't reach the Divine Realm? I mean, if...
Miryam immediately interrupts Murphy's hesitant inquiry.
Such matters were never conveyed in the prophecy of the God-King. The next time the stars align is tomorrow, and His blood will surely guide us to the promised land.
Murphy frowns.
I'm going to rest now, Miryam. You should go back and rest too.
I will pray for you until dawn, so you may have a peaceful sleep throughout the night.
Murphy doesn't respond, her deep gaze following Miryam's silhouette until the door's creaking sound closes.
She turns despondently to the altar in the shadow, closing her eyes to pray.
Tomorrow, the day of stellar alignment...
The strange offerings on the altar give her no response, silent like fossils beneath the ice. Murphy finally opens her eyes with determination.
For the continuation of this dream...
She straightens her slender arms, heavily veiled in black gauze, raising the ceremonial dagger high...
The candlelight reflects the dagger's shadow, fiercely stabbing into the sleeping swaddling on the altar.
A sickening squelch sounds as the blade pierces the thick flesh. A dark slime weeps from the wound, soaking the glaring Seafarer runes on the velvet swaddling.
Another night is about to arrive...
She lets out a sigh of relief and closes her eyes, but what engulfs her is not an abyss of darkness, but yesterday's dream.
...
(The moment the dagger pierced me. There was someone there...)
(Who was it? I never met them before, but I feel somewhat nostalgic...)
...A spider?
A tiny dark purple spider is staring at you from the mast. Seeing you awake, it raises its front leg and greets you.
In the dream, I heard someone singing...
Ethereal, soft, like the singing of a siren, lingering endlessly in your ears.
Tragic children, the fabric of fate has already been woven, and you will inevitably embark on your destined journey.
And you, the guest from another world...
As the moment of the stars' alignment returns, please mark the end of the cycle of tragedy.
With a long, mournful sigh, the woman's phantom vanishes.
?!
Once the momentary feeling of fear dissipates, you finally calm down and observe your surroundings.
Where am I...?
Soft mattress. A tranquil space covered in a black canopy. The faint scent of sage and incense floats in the air.
Previously... I...
Doll! Can you hear me? Doll?
Keep your voice down. You're disturbing my voice waveform receiver.
I've caught up with the ship that William boarded according to the fishermen! But that ship has sailed into the storm!
Let me guess. Your next sentence will be...
I'M GOING AFTER HIM!
You plan to charge into the Bermuda Islands' trench with this little boat? Aren't you afraid of capsizing in there?
I can't afford to lose another clue; this is the only real and valid information we've encountered in months!
May the Silver Key light our way!
You didn't hear the expected phrase "May the Silver Key guide us," but instead, you heard the crackling sound of a disrupted link.
What came next was a towering roar of waves, followed closely by the engulfing endless darkness...
Three months ago, following the news of a mysterious blonde man setting sail from Innsmouth Harbor, you set off to track William's whereabouts.
Recently, you finally saw the flags of the fishermen described on the sea surface, but a sudden storm swept you off course.
When you opened your eyes again, you found yourself in this room.
Are you awake? We're all waiting for you.
The black bed canopy is gently lifted, accompanied by a familiar yet strange female voice.
We...? Who are you...?
Four familiar faces surround your bed, making you feel very uneasy.
By the Divine Mother's command, the Seafarers have been awaiting your waking for a long time. Drink this medicine. Our Divine Mother prepared it personally.
Caecus presents a finely crafted glass cup; the murky, bright yellow liquid inside is unsettling.
What is this...?
You've lived, and that's luck enough. Stop with the questions.
The Divine Mother bid me prepare it. Drink it, and be grateful, human.
Under their watchful eyes, you hesitantly take a sip.
BAH! That's sour! Is this just pure lemon juice?!
You bolt upright, your face twisted in a grimace of pain.
Since He is safe and sound, I want to go to the deck and receive the call. The Divine Realm is calling me.
(This world is insane, or I am... One of us has to be.)
Uh... where exactly am I?...
You are aboard the Paradise, the Seafarers' most cherished maritime haven.
We are sailing towards Lemuria, the Eternal Divine Realm.
2. A Traveler, before the fight
101 linesThe speaker sits quietly at your bedside, her face obscured by a hazy black veil.
(A familiar voice... Who is this...)
Your aching arms strain as you prop yourself up, trying to make sense of the situation.
Stay still, fool.
The maiden anxiously rises, the veiling black gauze swaying uneasily.
This ship hosts many sensitive to the deep sea. Before you adapt to the "Paradise," stay still, or your spirit will get further disturbed.
You come face-to-face with a pair of familiar red eyes.
Thump. Thump.
Your heart pounds with a sudden, frantic rhythm, and you open your mouth, already knowing the identity of the one behind the veil.
Murphy...
Between the gauze, her pale and bluish skin is exposed, white as a drifting corpse on the verge of disintegration.
How dare you utter the Divine Mother's name so casually!
It's fine, Caecus. {Male=He,Female=She} is a guest of the paradise and will join our great voyage.
Five pairs of eyes fix on you intently, forcing the words you were about to say back down your throat.
...Murphy, can I speak with you alone?
...
...
Murphy...
If your questions aren't ready, I actually have one for you.
Why did you come to the Paradise? To approach it, one must survive the storm.
To take such a risk, you must have a request.
So... have you seen a man half a head taller than me with golden hair?
Murphy casts you a sidelong glance and scoffs.
Given your height, that description fits quite a few crew members.
No, you'd recognize him instantly... He has a mechanical arm, he's very handsome, and he smells faintly of cedar.
...Then I can confirm, I've never seen anyone like that. Those crew members always emit a foul and dirty fishy smell.
So, Murphy, there's one more key thing.
Hmm?
Do you want to escape with me?
Hah?!
Murphy recoils, then rage colors her cheeks. She struggles to regain control, finally releasing a mocking snort.
What do you mean, "escape"?
Literally. We need to find a way to leave this ship and break free from the Seafarers' control.
Why would I run away with you?
Because you don't like your life here.
You don't like Miryam's fabricated doctrines, the followers' hypocritical worship, or those hollow honors.
Murphy slowly lowers her gaze.
Seeing her silence, you quickly press your advantage.
In another world, I met you, and I knew you instantly. We experienced the same dreadful circumstances, and you found a way to escape...
Hmph...
Wrong, wrong! You are completely mistaken!
Murphy...?
Murphy's reaction catches you totally off guard.
She begins to chuckle, and the sound spirals into hysterical laughter that fills the room.
After a time, she seems to have exhausted her mirth, and the laughter snaps off. She lifts her head and glares at you fiercely.
The God's holy embryo nestles in my chest. I am the revered Divine Mother, cherished by all. Why would I heed your mortal pleas to "escape"?
But when the God is born, you will die...
No need to wait for that, foolish one.
Murphy presents to you an eerie swaddling. What is supposed to be an infant's head is congealed with a familiar, purplish lump of gelatinous flesh.
The Divine Fetus?!
You recognize it as the malformed false god the Seafarers tried to summon on Sona-Nyl.
Has the Divine Fetus already been born in this world? But why is it... so small?!
Why is it so small... What a ridiculous question to ask.
If it stayed this small, it wouldn't be a swollen hydrogen balloon, greedily siphoning energy from the mother, relentlessly filling, expanding, and compressing my chest...
Then, at the moment the mother dies, it would break down, shatter, and turn to ash...
You have seen it. This is the Divine Fetus I have borne.
You call this... a god?
So what? Has anyone ever witnessed the Seafarers' god when He was born?
Who can assert that this stinking mass of flesh in our hands is not a real "God"?
The challenging voice booms like thunder, echoing in your mind.
I am not the Murphy you know; I am the Divine Mother of the Seafarers, the only one who shares His bloodline.
Do not make me regret bringing you into this Paradise. Now, take your ridiculous thoughts and roll out of this room. Leave me alone.
You wander on the Paradise cruise ship, following past memories, while the short fish-people sailors bustle around, ignoring you.
Until you see two familiar figures beside the engine room.
Kid, come at me! Give it your all!
Yes, sir!
CLANG!
Still blocked, huh... Curse it, will I ever be strong enough to see our plan through...
Quiet down, kid. Eavesdroppers are everywhere. If we're caught, neither of us walks away.
Lord Goliath, but you said our bloodline comes from the strong, and we should fear nothing...
Stupid boy. Even the strong must yield sometimes. On this ship, we pretend to obey those mad women.
But...
Shut it, someone's coming.
The giant emerges from the shadow of the engine room, the grinding sound of his heavy blade dragging across the floor nearly deafening you over the cabin's roar.
Hello again, little one.
Goliath... How did I end up on this ship?
Ask yourself that. Ordinary travelers are not welcome in Miryam's territory, let alone a small boat that crashed right into us.
I don't know what luck you possess, but that girl suddenly changed her mind a few days ago. We are strictly forbidden from touching you.
Otherwise, that woman would have already extracted the Silver from your body. After all, in a world where most humans are dead, Silver is a resource that diminishes with every use.
So what is your stance? The Goliath I know is not a weakling who can be easily manipulated.
Little one, you just boarded this ship. There is much you still don't know.
You only need to remember one thing: everything on this vessel is decided by that girl, the Divine Mother. Do not cross her, or at least, don't let her find out if you do.
The madwoman who is supposed to be in charge is completely obedient to her.
As for the rest, I'll tell you when we meet again somewhere else, if fate permits.
I need to clear my head... I'll go to the deck for some sea breeze.
You stand alone at the bow, gazing into the distance.
The sea is veiled in a light, pure white mist. The cruise ship navigates smoothly, slicing through the ocean's clamor and the sounds of machinery.
You take a deep breath of the salty air, trying to untangle your chaotic thoughts.
I chased William's ship into the storm, had an accident, and was rescued by the Seafarers' ship...
The Divine Fetus has been born, Murphy has become the Divine Mother, Miryam is collecting Silver, and Goliath is secretly planning something...
Click,
Huh, what was that sound?
You turn to trace the noise, but the deck is eerily quiet, with no one in sight.
(Was that just my imagination?)
Plop, plop, plop...
Huh?!
Deep beneath the surface, countless tiny bodies spread densely, their murky, floating halos resembling a festering rash on the water.
These are... fish?
A school of fish bursts free from the water, spasming and struggling in the thick air before crashing down beside you in a stinking, sticky downpour.
Accompanied by a chilling sound, the half-rotten fish bounce uselessly on the deck, the decaying slime at the point of impact releasing a suffocating stench.
Delicate, fragile tendrils tear through their pale abdomens, unnervingly crawling toward you...
3. A Traveler, after the fight
5 linesThere are too many of them...
Under the dim sky, the frenzy of fish swirls like an unending storm. You spot a rusty metal ladder in the corner and quickly climb to the second platform.
I should be safe hiding here for a while.
An eerie odor, mixed with a teeth-grinding friction sound, captures your attention.
Wait, that one over there is...
4. Rite of Navigation, before the fight
118 linesAmidst the overwhelming fish stench, the woman in the purple robe frowns and turns to Faros beside her.
Gather the spiritual energy here.
Yes, Your Holiness.
Faros kneels, carefully collecting the bloody remains piece by piece.
A soft glow emanates from her forehead. Seconds later, only some silver-colored remnants remain.
Miryam... did you and Faros summon these flying fish?
Miryam seems to only notice your presence now. She tilts her head slightly in your direction.
Should you not be in the Divine Mother's chamber? Why...
We prepare for the Ritual of Navigation. Spiritual beings naturally flock to the sacred energy, becoming the very nourishment for our ritual.
Ritual of Navigation?
The Divine Mother will guide us to the ascendant Lemuria.
Seeing your confusion, Miryam becomes surprisingly gentle.
You harbor many questions. Worry not; by the Divine Mother's decree, I will graciously answer them all.
...Honestly, I'm already shocked at your change in attitude.
In retrospect, your previous conflict with the Seafarers is revealed as utterly unnecessary.
No way. I witnessed firsthand how you Seafarers conducted a sinister ritual...
It was a misunderstanding. We held those rituals only to harness the energy needed to keep this vessel sailing.
Now that most humans are reduced to ash, such intensive rituals are unnecessary. The Silver accumulated from various places suffices for our needs.
Therefore, the Seafarers headed to Necrovia to gather Silver from the deceased. Unfortunately, our plan happened to conflict with the appetites of Doresain, the King of Necrovia.
Based on our understanding of Mythag University, you, too, utilize refined Silver as an energy source, do you not?
That Silver Key at your chest is a testament to that.
You instinctively disagree, but you can't think of a refute. Eventually, you change the subject.
Miryam... what is your goal?
To rebuild the Divine Realm and resurrect Lemuria, of course.
Now that our Lord has descended, nothing is more urgent than returning to the Divine Realm and seeing the glorious Lemuria revived.
Your Lord has descended... You mean, Tulu?
Yes. His consciousness remains in a state between dreaming and waking, but He will surely fulfill His promise and lead us back to the Divine Realm.
Lemuria... where is it located?
Above the heavens, beneath the sea. The oracle reveals no more.
Miryam falls silent after that.
After collecting all the Silver pieces, Faros stands beside Miryam, holding a wooden box filled with silver beads.
Faros, why did you join the Seafarers?
Is there any need to ask? Because Lemuria is right there. My homeland is calling me.
No matter where I go, I hear His call, like the relentless surge of the tide day after day.
She stares into the distance, her words sounding like a distant echo.
It looks like a lovely day today. Look, the sun is about to emerge.
The sun...
You follow her gaze...
Thump. Thump. Your heartbeat is almost deafening.
Wait, what about the... sun in the sky?
The sun? Is the sun not right there?
No, no, that is not the sun I'm talking about!
What rises above the sea level is a ball of gentle, warm light, a sun you should have yearned for.
Not this sun? Which other sun is there?
The unusual heat from the warm light leaves you senseless and thirsty, and the words that escape your lips are hesitant and unclear.
It should be a pitch-black, lightless sun!
I have never heard of or seen a black sun...
Faros, what year is it this year?
1920 AD. Is something amiss?
A.D.... not "After Flood"... I truly am in the new world...
Do not be distracted. The Divine Mother is here.
As a guest sanctioned by Her, I grant you permission to observe the most sacred pilotage ceremony here.
But do not leave this place without my permission. Blasphemers shall be beheaded with their heads displayed to the public.
A small team in black and purple emerges from the stern, their steps bizarrely synchronized as they crawl toward the deck beneath your feet.
The girl at the forefront wears a pale white gown, cradling a bulky, swollen bundle. Her expression is indistinct and dazed beneath the black gauze.
...
The line quickly holds firm at the bow of the ship, each black-clad figure already familiar with their landing point.
A pair of bare feet steps into the narrow path left for her in the formation. Behind her, countless tiny silver fragments tumble down.
Divine Mother, receive our gratitude for the sacred blood! We swallow the flames of the spirit and drink the crimson prayer! Let a thousand devout souls now rise as the beacon light!
Monsters crawl on the ground, competing to pick up the silver beads on the floor.
...Miryam...
Miryam humbly kneels, holding up a silver platter covered in black gauze, upon which lies a shimmering dagger.
Esteemed Divine Mother, please guide the bloodline of the Godking to lead us lost Seafarers, and reveal the sacred path to Lemuria.
The girl takes the dagger.
O esteemed Godking...
The dagger pierces the swaddling. A drop of thick plasma gathers in mid-air, possessing a horrific will of its own.
<Change>I follow Your Divine Blood.
All believers kneel, their hands raised to the sky, using thin knives to cut open their scaled left wrists.
Countless silver threads twine around the blood droplet, spreading outward from the wrists of over a hundred believers, extending along an elusive trail.
<Change>Offer the spirits of the multitude as sacrifice.
The ink-colored blood droplet spins, condenses, and leaps onto a milky-white ivory sculpture, seeping into a dense network of fine blood threads.
Infused with life, the ivory sculpture soars over the steel behemoth and plunges straight into the silent ocean.
<Change>Please rend the false Abyss and guide us directly to Your Kingdom.
Instantly, the sea and sky tremble. The vast ocean surges with raging waves, emitting a wail like that of a giant beast in labor.
The wind and waves dance wildly, weeping, forming a terrifying, trembling wall of water.
Divine Mother, the amount of spiritual energy in this batch might be insufficient...
It is of no matter.
The maiden lifts her veil, turning to face the kneeling beings.
Divine Mother, bestow us your blood!
Divine Mother, bestow us your blood!
The sound waves rise higher. Amidst the shouts, the maiden's fingertips reach toward her chest.
Her nails, sharp as blades, tear open her chest along the purple scar, revealing the single, remaining heart.
Hunt! Feast! I offer you the flesh and blood of the Divine Mother, and you shall forge for me the reverse staircase to the Divine Realm!
The congregation surges forward. Their flippers and strange pincers eagerly reach out toward the Divine Mother's frail body.
They drain her blood and feast on her flesh. Crimson threads then violently proliferate, rushing into the deep sea.
Crimson waves of blood spread wildly from the ivory sculpture, solidifying into millions of blood corals amidst the turmoil.
The ritual is complete! Step back, all of you!
She steps forward, treading on the bodies of the Seafarers clustered in front of Murphy, wrapping the maiden's body in a heavy black robe. Beneath the robe, streams of blood continue to flow steadily.
Lemuria! Lemuria! Her Holiness Divine Mother's blood has revealed the path to Lemuria!
Among the thousands of bloodlines, you catch a glimpse of an unusual silver thread. That thread emerges from your own chest, extending upward... extending...
...until it vanishes somewhere beyond the heavens.
The maiden seems to realize that silver thread's existence. She looks up, her pupils suddenly trembling, and her horrified gaze pierces directly to your hiding place.
...
In the moment your gazes meet, an invisible, immense force pulls at you, disregarding your full resistance, plunging you straight into a terrifying, nightmarish illusion.
...You see the unclean black sun again.
A hand drum?
No. That is the sound of a heartbeat.
Long, suffocating, near-death; long gone before the ancient times, yet revived after the Long Dream...
That voice calls for you...
Help me.
Unable to contain the impulse, you leap down from the mast.
You must go help her. Release her from this bloody ritual.
Murphy, stop the ritual! You'll die! We are getting out of here!
Are you mad?! How dare you desecrate the Divine Mother!
I am not the Murphy you know, I have already made my choice!
I know you're not my Murphy, but I've met many Genesis Awakeners before, Ramona: Timeworn, Helot: Catena, Doll: Inferno...
They descend into madness because of the misfortune they endure. Their terrible experiences do not change the fundamental nature of their hearts.
Stop clinging to this wrong path. Let's escape together!
Escape...? Where are we going, then?
This is the perfect world. Any attempt to escape only plunges us into a deeper, more despairing cycle.
Look back at the towering waves behind you.
Accompanied by the sea's violent churn, thousands of Seafarers and serpents rise around the pale ivory sculpture, radiating an endless sense of menace.
Divine Mother... forgive me, but I can no longer follow your instructions, nor can I tolerate this foolishness that desecrates our Lord.
Miryam kneels at the bow, offering a reverent rite toward the direction where the horizon is divided.
O Lord, please bless us faithful ones. The desecrators attempting to obstruct the ritual have already appeared.
Please punish the impudent rogue who dares to offend the Divine Mother.
They step onto the cruise ship's deck with slippery, eerie strides, mounting invisible stairs woven from the surging waves.
Go ahead! Crush them! Tear them apart!
5. Rite of Navigation, after the fight
12 lines...
...
How long have you been fighting among the stinking piles of fish?
One hour? A day? Or an immeasurable amount of time?
(Rushing in when the Seafarers are collectively mobilizing for the ritual... This was truly an impulsive and terrible decision.)
The slippery sensation has become so familiar it's numb, and the stench of sticky mucus no longer troubles your congested nostrils.
๏ผIf I could try just one more time... What a pity...๏ผ
You strain to raise the Silver Key. The core that once shone with brilliance begins to tremble. You are on the verge of collapse, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
(So... This is it... Sorry... I couldn't get out...)
In the last glimmer of light before your vision falls into absolute darkness, a figure darts past.
A head of brilliant golden hair, his mechanical arm glimmering with a metallic sheen.
William...?
6. Shackles, before the fight
113 lines...A spider?
...A spider?
A woman gazes intently at you, her hands holding a spinning wheel. stacks of sheer fabric lie beneath her as she stands on the rusted deck.
This time, she does not sigh or speak; she is simply silent.
Why? I clearly remember being surrounded by countless Seafarers, and then...
You check your limbs. Although phantom pain still exists, there is not a trace of injury on your body; the battle you experienced before fainting seems never to have happened.
Was that... a nightmare?
The woman silently nods, her figure dissipating into the hazy mist.
...
You open your eyes again. You feel the bedding beneath you, soft and warm. Everything feels strangely familiar.
Tsk, do we really have to wait here for {Male=him,Female=her} to wake up?
Goliath, do not question the Divine Mother's decree.
Let's keep our voice down, Lord Goliath. This morning, Divine Mother called our High Priestess over for quite a scolding...
The muffled argument came from beyond the veil.
Cough, cough...
Are you awake? We're all waiting for you.
Faros lifts the bed canopy.
Did I... get saved from the sea again?
You've lived, and that's luck enough. We have no obligation to answer all your questions.
By the Divine Mother's command, the Seafarers have long awaited your wake.
This is the lemon juice that Divine Mother bid me squeeze. Drink it gratefully, human.
Since our guest is safe and sound, I will return to my post as navigator. The Divine Realm calls.
...
......
Did that truly happen, or was it a nightmare I had while drowning...
(I must find a way to verify it.)
If I remember correctly, the last person I saw was...
You step onto the deck.
Hey! William,
Stop hiding, I know you're here!
The only sound on the deck is the quiet tide. Your cries diffuse into the morning mist.
(Forget it, it really was just my dream...)
WHOAAAH!
The deck beneath your feet suddenly opens a hatch, and with a thud, you plunge into the darkness.
A bundle of straw cushions your fall.
Long time no see, %player%.
You know me. You are my Senior William, from our original world...
William ignores the surprise in your tone. His expression darkens.
I don't recall teaching you to act so boldly in the enemy's stronghold.
Even Dean Czort, the most headstrong one of us, probably wouldn't support your choice.
The familiar scent of cedar. The familiar upright posture. The familiar stern tone.
William...
I wasn't planning to show up before you yet. Not before addressing the key issue.
However, your recklessness forced my hand.
So you knew I've been looking for you?
William doesn't offer a word, only a sharp look that plainly asks, Do you think I'm an idiot?
We're already on the same ship. I might as well tell you everything to avoid unnecessary complications.
But first, mind sharing the intel you have?
...
...
From being turned into a brain vat by Doll: Inferno, to being trapped in Clementine's sanatorium, then through the customs of Necrovia, and finally the "nightmare" you've lived through on Paradise the cruise ship.
You recount the events you have witnessed, and William listens attentively with his head tilted, nodding occasionally to show engagement.
When you begin to narrate the young William you had seen, you hesitate for a moment, but William simply raises his hand to signal you to continue.
The information you provided is very useful.
William, what exactly are you chasing right now?
William ponders for a moment.
Let me think about where to start.
Ever since I fell into this world, I've been exploring two questions: why I ended up here, and how to return to my original world.
William solemnly draws out a Silver Key he keeps close to his heart, and a hint of nostalgia shines in his gaze.
This Silver Key was once shattered. I restored it myself. It belonged to Fingal, my former partner... People often call me the most legendary Investigator of Mythag, but to me, that's only because he passed away in his prime.
It wasn't until I fell into this world that I understand he merely gained Insight into the world's essence earlier, and fought as a pioneer on the front lines against Dissolution.
He traced the secret connecting two worlds and left behind a key clue, an ivory sculpture.
As usual, he always gets ahead of me.
William's expression grows wistful. He shakes his head and returns the Silver Key to his bosom.
...Have you seen the ivory sculpture in Miryam or Murphy's possession?
You nod.
If everything develops the same way as last time, Murphy is holding a ceremony with this sculpture on the deck above us right now.
That ivory sculpture seems to be connected with the truth behind this world.
So, if we want to go back, we need to obtain the ivory sculpture and analyze it.
The ritual is over. The ivory sculpture should be in Murphy's room...
It's very quiet inside. There shouldn't be anyone in there...
Better safe than sorry. We must try to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Alright, let's go take a look first.
You carefully push the door open slightly.
...
The air, mixed with an unpleasant odor, flows into your nostrils as you unconsciously take a deep breath.
What's the matter?
Sound.
A sound finally emerges in the quiet room.
The slow sound of liquid dripping.
Drip, drop. The liquid converges into a small, newly formed puddle.
Eight taut iron chains extend from Murphy's limbs, binding her tightly. A gaping, crimson cavity scars her chest.
Blood flows from the shocking wound, dripping into the pool, which is the source of the persistent ticking sound.
Murphy...!
You are too late.
Your heart aches, gripped tightly by an invisible hand. The familiar, suffocating pain is sharply pierced by fragments of memory.
The dazzling light stings your eyes, causing uncontrollable tears.
As the murky liquid drains away, your eyes finally refocus on the girl.
With a blade sunken deep into her chest, the moonlit girl opens her eyes.
The full moon, a symbol of death, looms close, yet not a trace of fear shows on her young face.
Her hand gripping the knife falls weakly, as thick, viscous, dark crimson liquid flows from the blade, dripping through her fingers into the sea.
Cough, cough...
You are... the person in my dream...
Don't talk yet! Let me help you...
Your anxious attempts yield no results. The chains emit faint squeaks as Murphy trembles with pain.
Murphy shakes her head dejectedly, her vacant eyes hollowly searching for your position. She faces you, tightly pursing her cracked, bloodless lips to force a faint smile.
You've come for me... I thought... it would be impossible to see you...
The hull suddenly tilts violently, and the salty, cold tide surges into the cabin.
What is going on?!
Did the ship run aground?
Impossible. The ship's deep draft means a leak wouldn't flood the top level this quickly...
Unless...
William rushes to the porthole. The bizarre sight before him is like the most absurd delusion: The Paradise sinks at an incredible speed.
Some enormous, irresistible force drags the ship rapidly downward toward the seabed with tremendous strength, as if pulled by a giant whale.
AAHHH...
Under the violent tremors, the chain piercing through Murphy's palm suddenly snaps.
Her sticky, damp palm explores the space, resting on the back of your hand. She endures the pain of the wound, gently gripping your hand and locking eyes with you.
She mumbles, her words carrying the metallic smell of rust, whether from seawater or blood, you cannot tell.
Help me... I know you can...
Her last words, along with the seawater flooding the cabin, are swallowed by the dark.
7. Tower Princess, before the fight
66 linesThe sea breeze is salty and fishy, bringing an indelible bitter taste when it blows into your mouth.
...
The woman holding a spinning wheel gazes at you with a sorrowful expression.
Is there something you want to tell me?
The woman nods.
Is it related to the time loop?
The woman shakes her head. Her fingertips brush over the yarn of the spinning wheel, making a clockwise rotation before stopping at the starting point.
As the spinning wheel turns, the original thread disintegrates and breaks.
You observe closely: there are two broken strands of thread, and four loops of thread are still wound on the spinning wheel.
I have... four chances left?
She nods, and then she shakes her head.
I've heard your singing. You're not mute... You are just not allowed to say anything...?
She opens her mouth, but all that comes out is an eternal silence.
She gazes back at the distant sky. You follow her gaze into the distance.
There is only a black sun submerged in the water.
Cough, cough...!
You suddenly wake up in bed, gasping loudly due to the pain of drowning.
I'm back... once again...
The four people around you, whether surprised, indifferent, genuinely caring, or feigning concern, you cannot bring yourself to care. The only thing lingering in your mind is Murphy's face before the last cycle ended.
Help me... I know you can...
Then darkness engulfs everything, turning into an indelible doubt in your mind.
In any case, you need to meet up with William first.
Goliath and Miryam walk down an empty corridor, their footsteps echoing in front and behind.
They pass the Baroque-style Divine Mother mural, the small lanterns replacing the brass wall sconces, and the quiet, empty dormitory.
They make no contact or speak; a tense atmosphere hangs between the two.
Miryam stops at the door of the captain's room and turns to push the door open.
Goliath catches up a few steps and stands behind her.
Hey, Miryam. That little girl is lying to you.
What do you wish to talk about? You should be guarding the bridge, should you not?
If anything happens to that woman sustaining the engine room, you know the consequence.
Stop talking nonsense. We have Caecus there. Those brainless crew members can't stir up any trouble.
The only crux is this: the little girl is lying to you.
Philistine. Slandering the Divine Mother is not your usual behavior.
You know this ship will never reach that Lemuria, right?
...Goliath.
You are merely my reared hound. Unless I command you to swing your blade at a specific enemy, you are not permitted to speak.
Before we reach the shore, your only order is to manage those sailors for me and ensure they do not disturb the Divine Mother's slumber.
If there is something you must know...
If this ship has even the slightest chance of reaching Lemuria, it is solely thanks to the blessing of our Divine Mother.
Tsk, you stubborn, vile woman...
I've already said what needs to be said.
Don't blame me for whatever happens next.
Caecus, execute the plan.
Yes, Lord Goliath!
Take control of the ship before the ritual is complete.
You wander the deck, struggling to search for clues that might lead to William's hiding place.
If I remember correctly, it's right here...
You pry open the hatch along the gap on the deck, grit your teeth, and leap down.
Cough, bleh...
You cough out the bulrush in your mouth, regretting your choice of a head-first landing.
William, stop hiding! I know you're here!
After a while, a few rustling sounds come from behind the thatch pile.
This doesn't make sense.
...If you had such precise ability to locate me, you would have already caught up with me on the streets of London.
Let's talk about it... What have you experienced since boarding this ship?
...
You briefly summarized what you experienced in the time loop.
Sorry, there won't be enough time once the ceremony starts. William, we must lift the ambush in the other Murphy's living room.
Go. Follow me, I know how to avoid the guards.
You mean Goliath is plotting a rebellion, and I have to go hide with you...
And you know all of that in advance because you experienced a time loop?
So absurd, so ridiculous... unless I'm not in my right mind... Mmpff!
Sorry, we're running out of time. You're coming with us.
William!
Don't worry, I anticipated this. I've already blocked the sounds from outside the living room.
Take her away first!
8. Tower Princess, after the fight
13 linesYou tear down the veil to bind Murphy with it, ignoring her struggle.
All set! Stop moving. Don't hurt yourself!
Ugh! I'm going to bite you!
It's more like you to be this way without putting on airs, Murphy.
Stop wasting time! Your punishment for insulting the Divine Mother will be executed once I regain my freedom!
The footsteps outside... Are they getting more frequent?
The sound of pattering footsteps converges into a sea, as short and stout bodies continuously slam against the living room door, producing dull thuds.
Let's go, we'll break the window and get out! Grab this, then jump onto the deck!
Tying knots with bed sheets...? William, you sound like a runaway princess from a fairy tale.
If you observe the three of us closely, you'll realize the real princess among us isn't me.
William tightly ties the rope around you and Murphy.
Take good care of our princess; don't lose her! There are lifeboats in the lower deck. I'll see you there!
Three, two, one, jump!
9. Windmill Knight, before the fight
19 linesYou leap down, feeling the sharp wind slicing against your cheeks, and then the rope around your waist suddenly tightens, halting your fall.
Hey! What are you doing!
You cut the rope with a small knife, and then leap to the ground.
Are you just going to run away with me on your back? They'll be catching up to us soon!
Ahhh, you're so stupid, it's killing me!
What was I thinking, to have had even a glimmer of hope for this fool.
This escape is more reckless than any I tried in the past.
If %player% exists in this world, will the direction of the story be different?
It is precisely with such hopes that I pardoned {Male=him,Female=her} for {Male=his,Female=her} rudeness.
(In the end... nothing changed...)
I knew it... You need my help.
Running around like a headless chicken! Where on earth are you going!
What William said earlier. We're gonna go take the lifeboat in the hold!
The deck's vision is wide open! You are trying to feed yourself to the fish-people!
In the last cycle, you were the one who got fed to them!
Don't you dare talk back to the Divine Mother! Run to the bridge! There's a structure that leads to the escape pod!
And let me down! My hair is already a mess!
You are my important hostage; this is not the time to worry about appearances! Please, dear Divine Mother, endure just a little longer!
Careful, Miryam's minions are catching up!
10. Windmill Knight, after the fight
54 linesYou close the cockpit door, secure the latch, and listen to the footsteps of the pursuers turn in another direction before turning around to observe your little hostage.
Hmph...
She pulls out a small mirror from somewhere and meticulously tidies the stray hairs at her forehead.
Where is that structure you mentioned...?
Right under the captain's seat, here.
She steps on the iron plate beneath her feet.
However, this place feels a bit strange...
At this time, Goliath and Caecus should be guarding the cockpit.
Before the ritual, the sea creatures become restless; we must prevent the fish from disturbing the ship's course...
If they are not on their duties... where would they be?
Given Goliath's personality, they're probably not slacking off at the underground casino.
He must be plotting something in secret...
Meanwhile, William prepares for the confrontation in Murphy's bedroom.
Even if it's just me, I can at least hold them off for twenty minutes... that is enough...
The footsteps suddenly become sparse.
We greet you, Your Holiness the High Priestess!
We have cornered the intruders in the Divine Mother's chamber! Just give the word...
No need. Divine Mother is no longer here.
(They found me?!)
Now, mister hiding in this room... why don't we have a talk?
What do you want to talk about?
Whether it is you or your friends, since boarding the ship, all the Seafarers have treated you with sacred respect.
Yet you repay kindness with enmity, kidnapping the Divine Mother, causing the crucial navigation ritual to be unable to take place on schedule.
If we miss this Stellar Alignment, our grand ambition will have to wait for another sixty stellar cycles.
There must be a reason for this impudence, and I would like to hear both of your explanations.
Because of the time loop the Keeper experienced? Because that girl was once a part of Mythag?
William has not yet sorted out a response when a nauseating, slippery, slithering sound suddenly comes from behind him.
He turns around, his pupils constrict in an instant. Several fish-people burst through the entire window like a flood of filth.
Twisted limbs jostle one another, forcing their way into the room; a waterfall of foul, viscous bodily fluid pours down, instantly soaking the carpet into a slick swamp.
He is firmly pinned at the point of death where two raging tides are about to converge.
How did you...
The porthole is over ten meters high from the deck, and %player% quickly cut the long rope after escaping.
How did they silently slip through the smooth walls and into the window?
The Divine Realm grants us the strength to withstand the cataclysm, and such insignificant obstacles cannot possibly hinder the Seafarers.
Marine life... They have suckers on their limbs?
Apart from the Seafarers stationed on the cruise ship, marine creatures surrounding this vessel are all drawn by the spiritual call of our Lord, obeying our command.
Even without this, you should know that you cannot defend against the entire Seafarer church from this small room...
An Investigator from Mythag should not be so reckless... Tell me, what else do you know?
BOOM,
A deafening metallic ripping sound pierces the sky, accompanied by a violent tremor, as if an invisible giant hand suddenly grips the ship and twists it mercilessly!
What is going on?!
Someone is changing the course by force!
The giant ship twists and rolls like an enraged, uncontrollable beast in the monstrous waves of the night sea, each violent tremor seeming to rend the hull apart!
Engine room... It is the engine room!
Goliath has taken hostages and occupied that place!
It's happening again...
Intense tremors come in waves.
Murphy...
I know. You're worried about your Senior William, right?
Of course you want to go help him. Everyone tells me I'm the most important person... right up until the moment they have to choose.
I...
Forget about it. It was just pointless rambling. We barely know each other anyway, do we?
Besides, if that engine room blows, it'll take the lower deck with it.
We're out of choice now. Let's go.
11. Moskstraumen, before the fight
16 linesLook, someone is guarding the engine room.
Several hunched figures wander about. Among them, a young man with an upright posture tightly grips a membranous spear, cautiously alert to the rustles of the surroundings.
Keep your eyes open! This is an important task from Lord Goliath...
Caecus!
Hmm? You're that...
You try to activate the Silver Key, connecting with his consciousness to awaken your shared past memories.
Silver phantasmal tendrils extend and crawl along the surface of his body, covered in scales, delving deep into his spinal cord...
Caecus, we're friends. Can you let me into that room...
The silver thread instantly breaks with a snap.
Caecus is completely unaware of what just happened. He merely scans you with suspicion.
Friends? You and I? What are you talking about?
It must be a trick to confuse you! Don't listen to {Male=him,Female=her}, Lord Caecus!
Yes... I should focus on the order I received...
Caecus takes a deep breath, as if courage is being infused back into his body, and suddenly lifts his head.
All I know is that the Seafarers have temporarily placed you here, but that doesn't mean you can come and go freely in critical areas.
As per Lord Goliath's orders, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the engine room!
12. Moskstraumen, after the fight
58 linesThe sky is burning.
Not literally, perhaps, but everything you see is burning. Death and despair shroud this lawless place, a scar upon the vast sea.
A chain of explosions tears open the engine room; the burning deck twists and rises.
Comrades and enemies lie indistinguishable now, united in a final, scalding crimson embrace.
Sorry, Lord Goliath... If only I were a little stronger...
Severely wounded, Caecus drags his body across the floor, raking the ground with bleeding fingers toward Goliath's lifeless form.
Lord... Goliath...
No matter how he calls out, the man wouldn't respond.
A crimson slick of blood trails behind him, soaking into the deck.
Die! You bastard heretic!
With bulging eyes, a Seafarer priest raises Caecus's spear and mercilessly drives its sharp tip through his back, pinning him to the deck.
Caecus twitches and finally stops moving, his body just one step away from Goliath.
Haha! HAHAHAHA!
Oh Lord, our Lord, do you see? This is the Sacrament that I and the Divine Mother present to you!
Miryam, her face drenched in blood, stares at this hellish scene, laughing maniacally at the sky, her torn robe fluttering in the flames.
May Your Divine Realm rise again from the Abyss! May Your will be enacted upon the Earth!
The Priestess's triumphant gaze sweeps across her territory, sliding past Faros's body, which lies cleaved in two, past the two gravely injured Investigators, and coming to rest upon the young maiden, drenched in blood and venom.
Divine Mother, come to my side. I have sanctioned all the heretics who have forsaken the light and the fallen ones who have desecrated the divine!
The damaged hull of the ship loses its balance due to water infiltration. Half of the ship's body has already sunk beneath the surface, yet she remains completely oblivious.
Next, the two of us shall inherit the immortality of the Divine Realm. On the next eve of stellar alignment, His holy name shall be proclaimed throughout the universe!
The ship's slanted bow hangs like a guillotine. Miryam stands at the tip of it, stretching out her bloodied hand from above.
No, no... It shouldn't be...
Murphy's legs go weak, and she kneels on the ground. Her petite body has completely lost its former elegance, trembling in the light of flames.
Sorry, I shouldn't... I shouldn't have wanted to run...
Tears roll down, leaving mottled water stains on the deck, only to be licked dry by the heat of the flames.
I should have known. This is a fate I cannot avoid. I cannot escape...
Murphy... No, Murphy, there's still a chance...
You are anxious to step forward and comfort her, but your body betrays your will.
The excruciating pain in your ankle. The wounds you suffered in the recent battle pin you firmly in place, making it impossible to move a step.
Sorry.
Calmly, the girl rises to her feet, paying no mind to the blood flowing from her chest wound.
The pain can no longer hold her back. In her eyes, there is no hesitation, no delusion, and nothing left to regret.
Crossing over mountains of corpses and seas of fire. She walked solemnly, step by step, towards the Priestess.
No... it can't end here...
William... William! Can you still move?
What... do you want...
William lies in a pool of blood, fighting for breath.
...Kill me. Restart the cycle.
No... Why...
I can't let it end here... I can't accept such an outcome...
Hurry! I can't move anymore...
William's mechanical arm lay severed from his body. He barely extends his remaining arm, grasping the dagger that Miryam had thrown aside.
Sorry, I can't bear to let you see my face right now...
As he moves, a piercing pain radiates from your left lower back.
DON'T YOU DARE!
Priest! Capture {Male=him,Female=her} alive! Don't let {Male=him,Female=her} die!
At Miryam's command, another trident pierces William's chest. Stunned, you look back only to see his golden hair softly slump.
The Seafarer priest spins in an eerie circle, bursting into laughter.
GURGLE! Hehe, whatever you wanted to do, you can't do it now!
Grief tears at your heart, overriding the physical pain. Your bloodless limbs are icy and aching.
You must die. You must move on to the next cycle.
I... I can do this...
Press the dagger against the deck.
The dagger slowly sinks into your body, followed by a pain that pierces deep into your bones.
Fall back onto the dagger.
The sharp blade pierces through your chest, and the void of fleeting consciousness envelops your vision.
Murphy... William... Please, wait for me in the next cycle.
I will... get us out of here.
13. Time Loop, before the fight
85 linesYou sense that you are dreaming.
Dreams are the embodiment of inner desires and fears, while the dream realm consists of islands floating in the void.
In a chaotic dream filled with scattered fragments, countless colorful blades pierce your chest, refracting each other's shadows like bubbles.
You need a way to end the dream.
As the Weaver of Fate, I must remain silent and cannot speak the truth.
Therefore, I have extradited the one who can provide you with revelation.
In the reflection of the rippling dream, a solemn figure emerges.
The shadow ripples, fragmenting and reassembling, gradually stabilizing into the familiar calm visage from your memory.
Keeper...
Ramona!
Calm down and listen to me.
I have experienced countless time jumps and regressed through many loops.
I am quite sure that what happened to you is not a "time loop."
The time you have experienced is still naturally elapsed.
There is no "time loop"...
Then the strange sights I encounter every time I awaken, the cruise ship sinking and setting sail again, and the dead Murphy resurrecting without a scratch...
Why is that?
I don't have an answer.
And that sun in the sky...
Ramona falls silent. She doesn't have an answer to your question.
The water's surface gradually becomes turbulent, her shadow begins to sway from the edge, ultimately transforming into elusive shards of memory, scattering into the shimmering light of the waves.
Scorching pain. The flames lick every inch of your skin.
Your nerve endings curl from the stabbing pain, charred from dehydration, and you become light, so light that you turn into blackened, withered bones.
You cough violently.
Are you awake?
...One more time... back from the start?
If you've recovered, I'll go prepare for the ceremony.
Wait, don't go, Murphy...
They... where is everyone?
Murphy takes a deep breath and exhales slowly.
Everyone has their own things to attend to. You should rest well here.
When the next moment of alignment arrives, this ship will reach Lemuria, and everything will be alright.
With a creak, the door closes. You are left alone in the living room.
You can't just sit back and watch. You decide to take action.
Any conclusion so far? After going through three full cycles?
Since the number of cycles is certain, gathering information is far more important than attempting to escape.
In the first cycle, I gained a preliminary understanding of the Seafarers. The third cycle ended in a brutal failure, but I grasped the basic goals of the other people on this ship.
On the contrary, the time I spent during the second cycle was wasted for nothing.
Now, our immediate priority is to gather more information about the Paradise and the Seafarers.
Although that mysterious person hinted that there are a total of six cycles...
But have you considered that if this is the last cycle, you might be wasting a final chance?
If this is the last cycle...
You shake your head, brushing away all the ominous guesses.
In the dream at the beginning of this cycle, the other Ramona provided me with a piece of information: time was still flowing sequentially within me.
And you said you encountered the same events repeating in a loop...
!
So you have figured it out too, William.
This is not a "time loop." Rather, "the same events have been happening in repeat"...
In Mythag, I often found myself forced into similar predicaments.
The "Artificial Domain"...
Yes. This is most likely an Artificial Domain.
The Artificial Domain is merely a carrier of information; in the real world, we may be caught in a whirlwind of storms, swirling in mid-air.
How was this Artificial Domain created? Why does the Domain keep restarting? What is the catalyst for its end?
Without understanding all of this, our attempts in the Domain would just be a futile exercise.
We need Reason. For the past three hundred years, Reason has been helping Mythag combat the madness known as Dissolution.
I believe you have also noticed. The sun we've been staring at these days is not the black sun obscured by black mist, but the pure sun of the normal world.
This Domain was created before the black mist enveloped the world.
...
Did I say something wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?
...No. I just remembered our days back in Mythag. During the field assignments, you and Ramona were always by my side. With your help, I didn't have to think much at all.
Thinking is an essential part of the investigation.
So, William, who do you think is the master of this Domain?
Based on the principles of Domain formation and known information, my current hypothesis is that the Domain belongs to either Miryam or Faros.
The "core" of the Domain is the "Ritual of Navigation," and tracking the whereabouts of Lemuria should be the obsession of the Domain's master.
According to Mythag's records of the Sona-Nyl investigation, Goliath's goal is to seize more power. Caecus is obsessed with proving his noble bloodline. Only Miryam and Faros yearn for the glory of the Divine Realm.
So we'll keep close attention to the potential Domain Masters. And then what?
As the Domain Master's desire for their goal, the obsession sustaining this reality, falters, cracks will appear, and the Cataclysm will manifest through them.
However, since it's an Artificial Domain, the safety of our physical bodies can be ensured.
Don't let your guard down. Not to mention that the Artificial Domain is still just a hypothesis for us...
A.F. 306, Investigator Jude Bright broke his right leg after stepping into a hunter's trap while deep in a Domain. Upon returning to reality, his right leg gradually began to necrose.
The way the Domain influences reality is currently unknown, but caution is always wise.
Understood.
After the ritual, I will deal with Miryam, and Faros will be left to you.
May the Silver Key light your path.
The familiar tone momentarily leaves you in a daze, but you quickly reveal a genuine smile.
May the Silver Key guide us.
The solemn woman occupies a corner of the captain's cabin alone. The light above her flickers imperceptibly with her breath.
Faros...
The moment you open your mouth, you suddenly pause. You struggle to recall the information related to Faros, only to realize that Mythag has very few records about her.
She longs to return to the Divine Realm. She leads ships at sea astray with her light.
Aside from that, the other case files are all blank.
What's wrong? You look bewildered, are you feeling lost?
Perhaps... I can offer you a bit of guidance?
I'm afraid...
I know who the master of this Domain is.
14. Dream Core, before the fight
72 linesTap-tap-tap, tap-tap-tap.
A maiden is running in the corridor.
As she passes by the captain's cabin, a calm voice flows into her ears.
I know who the Domain Master is, and I can lead you to break through the boundaries of the Domain and return to the real world.
She pretends to be calm and moves quietly closer.
But my assistance comes with conditions.
What's your condition...?
Kill the Domain Master, seize the ivory sculpture, and transfer the ownership of this Domain to me.
I once allied with Goliath, but a barbarian who only understands war and violence clearly does not know how to uphold a contract, let alone lead the way to Lemuria.
How about it? Work with me, and I will reveal the identity of the Domain Master to you.
Her heart is in her throat.
Allow me to refuse.
I can't hastily agree to take someone's life without knowing who they are.
Moreover, since you have made such a request, it is clear that the Domain Master is not among you, Goliath, and Caecus.
And you have already revealed that the power of dream manipulation is related to that ivory sculpture.
Then the only remaining suspect... would be her.
Your taste in choosing a viewing spot is indeed commendable.
You tighten the rope, letting the sails on the mast shield you and William from view.
I noticed during the last ceremony that, compared to the Sona-Nyl, the Paradise retains a relatively ancient mast structure.
It's equivalent to a lookout tower that offers a view of the situation at the pilotage ceremony site.
When the Ritual of Navigation begins, Miryam will hand the ivory sculpture to Murphy, which is also the only occasion when we can access it.
Take the sculpture and parse it; perhaps we can grasp the method to undo the Domain.
Shh, they're coming.
William taps your shoulder, signaling you to turn around.
Keep a close eye on the position of the ivory sculpture... it is our lifeline.
The Ritual of Navigation continues, exactly as you remembered.
Esteemed Divine Mother, please guide the bloodline of the divine king, lead the lost seafarers, and show us the course to Lemuria.
Murphy bites her lip and takes the glowing dagger from Miryam's hand.
She raises the knife high, then doesn't stab down for a long time.
Divine Mother, haven't you already made your decision? Lemuria is still at the bottom of the Abyss, awaiting your arrival.
... I'll do that right away...
The latter half of the sentence is swallowed.
She lifts the blood-soaked ivory sculpture, allowing the deformed monster to drain her essence.
The river of blood spreads along the ship's railing, flowing to the left.
Turn! Helmsman of the Seafarers, heed the divine oracle, hard left!
A blade slices through the air, as if responding to her words.
I don't think that's necessary.
A sharp harpoon shoots out from the pitch-black night like the fangs of a giant shark, piercing precisely through the helmsman's throat.
A heavy giant blade scrapes sparks across the deck as the giant emerges from the depths of the night, crushing the helmsman's skull and revealing a cruel smile to the witch before him.
Behind him, a barbarian clad in a blue-gray oilskin raincoat holds a blade, eagerly waiting for the command to kill.
Goliath... you still refuse to give up, I see.
You rallied these sailors, orchestrated this chaos... thinking you could shatter the peace of our Paradise...
Unfortunately, I won't be a part of your peace anymore. This time, next time, and every time after... Philistines are done with kneeling.
Hear me, Philistines!
Answering his sinister call, the barbarian figures clad in oilskin raincoats emerge densely from the darkness behind Goliath, wielding sharp blades.
Their deep growls tremble with elation. They thirstily await the moment to reenact their glory, waiting for the command to slaughter everything.
Kill them all! Leave none alive!
Coarse war songs tear through the night sky over the sea, as the savage tribes swing their ropes, smashing into the crowd on the deck with blinding speed.
The Philistines, who have long survived by coastal raiding, swarm towards their prey like sharks sensing blood, thirstily and ferociously biting into the enemies' bodies with their curved blades like sharp teeth.
My Lord, please hear the calls of Your believers... Bestow grace upon Your people...
Miryam opens her arms, and the dark light gradually spreads.
The Seafarers in strange black robes make no sound, like a group of devout black phantoms, silently basking in the profound divine grace, silently driving their daggers into the enemies' chests.
Bluish gray and dark violet. Two distinctly different factions are engaged in a deadly struggle in this moving hell.
Slaughter, my kin... Reenact the glory of the Philistines!
His massive blade effortlessly severs the head of a Seafarer blocking his path. The gushing, salty blood stains much of Goliath's face crimson.
He licks the blood from his face, wielding the giant blade in his hand under the illumination of lightning, slaying every Seafarer in his way.
The warm blood gushing out is instantly diluted by the downpour, mingling with the seawater, forming slick crimson rills on the violently shaking deck.
My Lord, I have heard your decree. Your believers shall return to the Divine Realm with you...
Ritual, storm, slaughter...
In the heart of this chaos, beneath the ominous ivory sculpture at the bow of the ship, Miryam stands, devoutly whispering in the storm.
She ignores the slaughter around her. A dagger whizzes past her ear, and the huge waves drench her completely, yet she is utterly unaware.
May your oracle guide us, may your body envelop us.
Miryam... Give up! We can't reach Lemuria!
No... He promised me, and you have heard His Divine Oracle, haven't you?
Miryam gazes devoutly at the horizon.
The storm is Your breath, the thunder is Your battle drum!
Please guide this lost lamb toward the course to Your Kingdom!
A pale bolt of lightning rends the heavens, instantly illuminating her fervent and devout eyes.
The girl in black gauze huddles silently in a corner of the bow, her hollow gaze hopelessly fixed on the battlefield of slaughter, like a rag doll discarded in a heap of trash.
Let's go down!
I'll take the ivory statue!
I'm getting Murphy!
15. Dream Core, after the fight
30 linesAfter defeating the last deformed Seafarer, you cautiously approach the girl in the corner while fighting your way back.
Murphy, come with me!
She jolts. Her gaze, unfocused, struggles to fixate on your face.
No, it's meaningless, it's all an illusion... Whether advancing or retreating, it's all...
As long as it's not the last moment, don't give up trying! Even if I fail this time, I will take your hand once again!
...
Murphy stares blankly at you.
You grasp her wrist with a firm yet gentle grip, pulling her out of that desperate corner.
Is there an escape route, Senior William?
William attempts to unveil the hatch leading to the lower cabin, but no matter how hard he exerts himself, the hatch won't budge.
No, it's been sealed shut from below!
The hull lets out a chilling groan as it struggles and resolutely begins to turn, charging towards the darker waters, where the storms are denser, amidst the towering waves.
Miryam opens her arms, embracing this destructive course. A smile of near maternal tenderness appears on her face.
The ritual is about to end.
Do you have a conclusion?
In the midst of the storm and chaos, no one can discern everyone's position...
As long as there is one more small boat...
Countless clues lit up within your mind...
The guards in the living quarters.
The navigation ritual on the deck.
The explosion in the engine room.
The lifeboat in the lower cabin.
The points of light linked together, interwoven, and extended... finally converging into a definitive escape route.
William nods.
Since you've found the answer, the goal of this cycle is achieved. There's no need for regret.
According to the pattern you've described, the ship is about to start sinking.
Are you ready?
The tide has already swallowed your chests. You gently grasp the Silver Key at your chest, whispering farewell words.
See you in the next cycle, William.
May the Silver Key light your path.
16. The Escape, before the fight
99 linesAnother cycle.
Sea birds circle above the mysterious woman, their mournful calls resembling a song.
Don't worry, this time our preparations are foolproof.
We know that the ship will capsize after the Ritual of Navigation is over; we know that the ivory sculpture can manipulate dreams.
We also know there is only one lifeboat in the lower deck. Once we leave this cruise ship, we will no longer be under Miryam's control.
Our plan is for me to crash the Ritual of Navigation and take advantage of Murphy's weakness to jump into the sea with her.
William will drive the lifeboat to pick up Murphy and me. After boarding, I will quickly unravel the mystery of the ivory sculpture and escape from the Domain.
The woman lowers her head, her fine bangs obscuring her expression.
She raises her pale fingertips and turns the spinning wheel again.
Although I still don't know your name, please bless me, stranger.
A flock of birds swoops by, stirring up waves of white feathers. After the waves receded, the woman also vanished.
You quickly outline the overall plan to William.
Sounds like a plan to win amidst the chaos.
When the ritual ends and the rebellion erupts, the Seafarers cult will be at its weakest.
According to the clues provided by Faros, perhaps all we need to do is acquire the ivory sculpture to escape the Domain.
Would taking Murphy with us further complicate the situation?
Senior William, you were the one who told me that the events in the Domain might affect the real world outside.
I can't just sit and watch what's happening to Murphy...
Goliath intends to seize the ship; he won't care about Murphy's escape. Miryam is exhausted from dealing with Goliath and will be too preoccupied to pursue us.
It's an excellent opportunity.
William closes his eyes, adjusts his glasses, and lets out a resigned sigh.
Fine. Your call.
You and William hide on the platform of the mast.
Goliath is busy orchestrating his rebellion. You leap down and grab Murphy's wrist.
Hurry! You're leaving with us!
Are you out of your mind? Why are you coming back? We can't escape. Isn't it better to just let everything continue smoothly?
Murphy tries to break free from you, but your insistence is impossible to refuse. A ring of light red appears on her wrist.
Murphy, the stability you wanted has long since ceased to exist.
Goliath and Caecus are plotting to seize the ship, Faros is scheming for the power of the ivory sculpture, and the entire Seafarer group is already in disarray.
Trust me, trust me one more time. I will definitely get you out.
We'll get out of here, and then what?
Then we will find a way to return to Mythag, and you will become a part of Mythag alongside everyone.
They often say my dreams are prophetic dreams; in distant dreams, I have seen that happen...
You feel that the strength to resist has weakened somewhat.
Come on, follow me. To the right side of the ship... Three, two, one, jump!
Splash!
You leap into the ocean together, your hands tightly clasped together.
Sunlight pierces through the surface of the sea, illuminating her floating hair and veil in the crystalline water. Her rose-colored pupils stare into yours, like a silent dream.
You are free now.
Splash...
A paddle pierces the crystalline seawater before you.
You nod at Murphy, and the two of you cling to the oars together.
Got a good grip?
He pulls you out of the water, and you climb up, holding onto the edge of the small boat.
Hey, give me a hand!
What's wrong? Can't you get up by yourself?
Stop wasting words; I haven't even finished punishing you for letting the Divine Mother fall into the water!
You gently grasp Murphy's shoulder as she floats, pulling her away from the water's surface with just the right amount of force.
Huff...
Alright, now we can have a proper talk. Where are we going?
While Goliath and Miryam are busy fighting, the three of us will pilot this ship together and sail out of the Domain's borders.
We will find the way back to my original world. You'll meet the other Murphy there, and the two of you will be living a safe life, bickering over trivialities in the cafeteria...
Pfft. Sounds like it will be a long journey.
Then... tell me all about that place you call Mythag.
...
...
And then? What happened next?
Then Ramona discovered the wine that Lord Dexter had hidden in the corner of her bookcase. To conceal the bottles, he had even carved holes into some of her books.
You catch a glimpse of William with his head down, frowning and rubbing his temples.
Burning with anger, she stormed into Lady Sorel's salon with her sword drawn!
And then what?
Murphy nervously clutches your sleeve, her appetite piqued by the intriguing story.
The laughter and chatter in the salon suddenly froze, and everyone stared wide-eyed at the uninvited guest!
That's right, just like the look on William's face right now!
%player%...
Assassin! It's an assassin! People started shouting all around!
Suddenly, your smile freezes on your face.
Behind Murphy, at the edge of the small boat, a towering monster made up of countless fused corpses suddenly rises from the sea.
...
It silently opens its gigantic maw, formed by writhing bones and a skull...
And swallows Murphy whole.
No... the Puppet of Putrescence... Didn't we defeat it in Necrovia...
At this point in this Domain... Goliath is still controlling the Puppet of Putrescence.
His main forces are engaged in combat with Miryam, so he dispatched this external lineup to pursue us...
We... miscalculated.
...!!!
The giant creature that devoured Murphy raises its strange head high, emitting a satisfied gurgling sound from its throat.
The fouled, filthy mist diffuses over the sea. The Paradise is long out of sight in the distance; only the towering mountain of skeletons looms over, blocking out the light.
Watch out!
William holds you tightly and rolls toward the side of the ship, narrowly dodging the bone claw's initial strike.
William, your back...
All you can see is his blood. Blood, trickling down his spine.
Don't worry about me. Get up there! Sever its spine!
...
...
The Puppet of Putrescence collapses like a tall tower, falling into the infinite ocean.
As you said... Goliath's strength was greatly weakened in the Domain.
That's why we were able to survive its attack...
Perhaps because the injury is too severe, you can no longer hear William's words.
Amidst the collapsed tide of corpses and bones, the maiden's figure is also nowhere to be seen.
Murphy... Murphy!
You rush toward the floating pile of skeletons, digging through the piled skulls, one piece after another, at the location of the creature's belly.
%player%......
Murphy is nowhere to be found.
In the midst of the haphazard bones, there is only a piece of thin, light black gauze.
You gently lift the piece of black gauze, and a wave of sorrow rises in your heart.
I thought, this time, I could surely take her out of here...
You let out a low, muffled sob, which gradually rises to a louder weeping.
Until darkness finally engulfs your world.
17. Deipara's Day Off, before the fight
37 linesYou open your eyes. The glaring sun makes them hurt.
But you do not avert your gaze.
Rustling, rustling, it is the sound of a spider crawling. It feels like a mother's gentle urging.
No need to remind me. I know this is the last cycle.
You wipe away the tears that had welled up in the corners of your eyes and turn towards the direction from which the call is coming, no longer bothering to look back to confirm the source of the song.
You know that the woman with the loom is surely gazing at you with compassion in her eyes.
What are you doing here? Their memories are completely erased by me. The ship's voyage resumes, and there is no room for you here anymore.
It doesn't matter. You are the Seafarers' Divine Mother, the captain of the Paradise, and the master of this Domain. This has nothing to do with the break I want to give you.
You mean...
Yes, you can still be the Divine Mother. But the Divine Mother can use a day off.
You lie with a straight face.
A day off?
Yes. I've been told to take you around the ship and relax for a day.
You haven't experienced the life of an ordinary crewmate, have you?
You firmly "invited" Murphy out of the bedroom, leaving no room for refusal.
Do we really have to climb up to a place like this?
Hurry up! The vision is good up here. We can observe the patrolling Seafarers.
If you keep being so slow, you'll get caught!
What are you on about... making a mess out of everything!
Despite her complaint, she obediently takes your hand. With a gentle pull, you effortlessly bring her up onto the platform.
Pfft...
Murphy suddenly laughs out loud.
What are you laughing at?
You climbing the rigging looks just like a monkey!
You, if it weren't for the need to keep the volume down right now, I would definitely knock a big bump on your forehead...
Stop laughing! Come hide here!
You grab Murphy's hand and pull her close to you.
Hey, how dare you!
Shh!
You both hold your breath. A group of Seafarers wobbles across the deck, clad in tattered and filthy straw raincoats.
Hurry and find the Divine Mother! She must be on this ship!
We're right above them, and they can't see us at all?
Somehow patrollers never look up. It's almost like a trope or something.
Relax, as long as we hide here, no one will ever find us.
Gurgle! Look up there, there are people!
Your jinx just had to be this accurate, didn't it!
Keep it low. After we clear them out, let's sneak over to the crew quarters!
18. Deipara's Day Off, after the fight
51 linesSo, what exactly did you trick me into coming here for?
Come closer. Senior William has a magic trick for you!
I've brought everything back according to your list, %player%. Check them out.
William opens the various pockets on his chest, back, and arms, one after another.
Let's thank the great god of magic, William, for the raw materials he stole from the kitchen for us.
Flour, eggs, lemon, honey, sugar, baking powder, and butter...
We've got it all! Luckily, the sailor's uniform comes with a lot of pockets.
I still don't understand... why?
Don't you want to try baking the cakes you usually eat by yourself?
Let's do something that has nothing to do with the doctrines and rituals.
I know you don't really like any of that, despite talking about them all the time.
Enough talking. Take this, Murphy!
Th-This is?
Now stir! Stir quickly, in one direction!
...
Then, add flour! Baking powder! A little bit of salt!
William, don't just stand there! Go help melt the butter!
...Sure.
William walks away, patiently playing the role of the flustered yet responsible chef assistant in the chaotic kitchen.
Finally, you put the mixed dough into the oven.
Murphy gazes blankly at the oven.
I remembered something... from a long time ago...
Hmm?
That was back when we were at the Antarctic base. I discovered an altar in a mountain pass, adorned with many delicate stone carvings.
I asked mommy... I asked Miryam to get me a small knife and some wooden blocks; I wanted to make some wood carvings.
After a long time, she only gave me a dull knife, saying she was worried that "the sacred body of Divine Mother might be harmed."
I felt like my body didn't belong to myself. It didn't belong to her, either. It seemed we were both merely bricks from that so-called Divine Realm, stuck in our own places, unable to move at all.
I saw some wooden carvings at the head of your bed.
Yes. I secretly asked Goliath to help me find a piece of whetstone.
I put in a lot of effort just to barely sharpen the blade enough to cut through wood.
I carved for many days, striving to recreate every detail I imagined.
When I finally felt satisfied, I gave it to Miryam...
Do you know what she said?
Miryam... she said your carving was bad and desecrated her god?
You carefully ponder Miryam's mindset and cautiously offer a guess.
No.
She didn't even look at it. She just said that if I desired a sculpture of that type, she could arrange for the finest craftsmen to produce one for me every single day.
Murphy laughs maniacally. An indescribable pain and taunt spill out with her rigid smile, tightening around your heart.
Called me the Daughter of the God and His womb vessel. Said whatever I wanted, I could have it with a wave of my hand.
Trivial. That's what it was. Just a trivial little thing.
She laughs and laughs, choking on her tears. Tears quickly slide down her distorted cheeks from the maniacal laughter.
I've seen the work you placed by the head of the bed, your craftsmanship is quite good.
Am I good at it? So what, it doesn't matter anymore...
Murphy, from now on, you will carve however you want.
Then we can make some cupcakes together and study floral arrangements.
I will find a way to return to my world, and when I do, I will introduce you to the Murphy I know. The two of you can freely do everything you want to do together.
Murphy covers her face to wipe away her tears, then lifts her head and gives you a radiant smile that you have never seen before.
Sure. Remember your promise.
Do not bail on me, okay?
Your story had nothing to do with the Divine Mother.
But it seems she has never been happier.
19. The Paradise Cruise, before the fight
82 lines...
Dozens of minutes later.
You stare at the oven as the kneaded dough slowly puffs up, and your heart, filled with anticipation, swells lightly with the fluffy curve.
The aroma of custard wafts everywhere, and your salivary glands detect it before your brain does, making your stomach growl with hunger.
The Seafarer's distorted, moist, and anxious footsteps occasionally echo along the wooden floor, while the thin gateway separates two worlds. This little space is filled with an overly simple happiness and warmth, reminiscent of a phantasm.
Look, the skin has changed color, it's ready to be served!
Nice!
The aroma of egg and milk bursts forth.
You pull the baking tray out, and Murphy immediately reaches out eagerly to grab a steaming cupcake.
Don't rush, it's too hot!
Murphy seems completely unwilling to let go, switching the cake back and forth between her left and right hands a few times until it finally cools down to a suitable temperature.
Take a bite... It seems I don't need to say anything.
Before you can finish your sentence, Murphy has already taken a bite.
How do you like it?
The recipe relies entirely on your memory. To take care of the young lady who cries for food in the middle of the night, you have borrowed the back kitchen of Mythag multiple times.
Hmph. Such simple ingredients. A pale shadow of what Miryam provides me.
Murphy carefully swallows the remnants in her mouth and says seriously.
No matter... it merely proves my talent is great enough to appreciate the miraculous simplicity.
Warm and soft... this is the most delicious food I've ever had.
I'll try a piece too.
William carefully picks up a piece with a silver scapel and brings it to his mouth.
William... If I'm not mistaken, you dissected Nubia cubs with the same scapel before?
It has been thoroughly disinfected. The crude knives and forks used by those sailors are really hard to eat with.
I should have asked Doresain for two sets of cutlery before leaving Necrovia... Never mind, what Doresain's cutlery has cut through is even more concerning...
You feast heartily, laughing as you smear cream on each other's faces.
(If this is going to be the last thing she remembers, then at least make it a happy one...)
BANG!
A loud bang shatters the rare tranquility, and the kitchen you are in suddenly begins to shake violently and uncontrollably.
What's going on?!
Goliath plunders the engine room, Miryam fiercely resists, and an explosion occurs in the engine room.
You reply calmly.
In other words, the ship is going to sink.
The ship is sinking, aren't you going to react at all?
Murphy, I have something to tell you. This ship is bound to sink.
I have gone through five cycles, and in each cycle, Goliath always sets up for a heist.
This process triggers an explosion in the engine room, and then the ship is sucked to the bottom of the sea by a vortex.
So...?
I have been trying to prevent the destruction of this ship, and that led to a flaw in my thinking.
This ship must sink... Only by sinking can it clear a path to freedom for you.
BOOM!
The hull convulses and trembles as if struck by lightning, like a giant beast losing control and twitching in the agony of an explosion.
Alright, no need to explain so much now. Hurry and follow me.
Any later, and we'll be too late for everything.
You pull Murphy along the path pointed out by William.
Hey, do I really have to climb this ladder? It's humiliating to be scrambling on all fours in front of an audience!
Then you go down and wait for me there. I promise to not look at you.
Your eyes adapt to the darkness. In the corner of the cargo hold, a small boat is parked alone.
This is the escape route Goliath prepared for himself, and we've found it.
That cunning man destroyed all the lifeboats before starting the rebellion, ensuring that only he could escape.
Here you go; this is the spare key that Senior William replicated. Now, board the ship.
Wait, what are you talking about? I never agreed to escape with you...
I never said I would board the ship with you. There is, and only one lifeboat here. You get on it alone, then go ashore.
!
If we leave like this, Miryam won't let it go. One day, the shadows from the Seafarers will catch up to you.
I must stay here to ensure that the Seafarers and the Divine Fetus are forever sunk in the sea.
This is also what they are pleased to see: returning to their eternal homeland and Divine Realm, isn't it?
Pfft...
Murphy laughs through her tears.
I planned it before setting off.
If I can help you escape, then this is already the best ending.
If I can't... at least I've tried to recreate a day that the Murphy I know would love.
We haven't known each other for long, and my understanding of you isn't very deep. I hope you like it too.
Murphy tiptoes and gives you a gentle hug.
I remember you said that you would go through the cycle over and over again.
This time it won't be the end.
Next time, take me with you to escape, okay?
There won't be a next time. A sour sensation rushes to your nose.
I promise you. We'll get out of here together.
With dense clouds overhead, under the ship's figurehead, Miryam and Goliath confront each other from afar.
Hand over that little girl and the ivory statue. Then I might grant you a dignified death, like how you once threatened me.
Stop babbling nonsense. Wasn't it you who abducted the Divine Mother and caused this revolt?
No need to argue. Murphy isn't on this ship anymore. She has escaped your clutches and distanced herself from this mess.
An inexplicable surge of sweet vindication floods your heart.
So you sent her out? You've got some guts.
If you're planning to fight her here, I wouldn't mind taking advantage of the chaos.
It's actually you, an insignificant outsider...
Do you think you can do as you please with the Divine Mother's protection?
Miryam, I want to talk to you.
So you want a conversation before declaring war on us?
Fine. I am also curious about what kind of reckless person you are, to be summoned by Divine Mother and still act so thoughtlessly and fearlessly.
If you sincerely seek answers from the Apostle of God, I might as well bestow upon you His divine will.
But first, you must bear the wrath of the Seafarers!
20. The Paradise Cruise, after the fight
26 linesLittle one, you held back during the battle.
To me, this conversation with Miryam is far more important than winning against you.
If you could expose a momentary vulnerability in Miryam, the Domain may crack and reveal its hidden "core"...
You will have the chance to completely end this entrenched artificial dream.
Very well. You've proved your resolve. Now state your purpose.
I have a question.
Miryam, why do you want to revive the Divine Realm?
You've raised a very interesting question.
During my journey to confront Dissolution, I met many people.
Some commit atrocities to survive when all other paths are closed.
Some filter others according to their own conviction to construct the new world they imagine.
And some, purely for their cruel amusement, are willing to turn the world upside down and create endless turmoil.
You wait and look forward to her answer, recalling the distant dream of the path she took.
The now-maniacal Miryam was once a girl who, during the cataclysm, devoted herself to the priest's charge to protect her only family.
Miryam does not directly answer your question. Instead, she brings her hands together and prays toward the distant horizon.
As if receiving the sea's approval, she half-opens her vacant purple-black eyes.
I have come to revive the Divine Realm, to bring the glory of God back to the world.
So, when Lemuria is reenacted in the world, what kind of world do you expect to see?
"In His Long Dream, we share eternal peace and happiness."
The glory of Lemuria has returned, just as you were instilled with during your lifetime.
You have never witnessed a day of such prosperity. Do you truly know how to create it?
"His Divine Will will guide the faithful on the path to Lemuria."
The you in this world is indeed no different from what I perceived.
So, in this moment when your god has already been born, why do you still hold onto Murphy?
21. The Fauxborn, before the fight
67 linesSo, in this moment when your god has already been born, why do you still hold onto Murphy?
You question her resolutely.
I'm holding onto Murphy... What do you mean?
You are the one who constructed this dream and trapped Murphy in a loop, aren't you?
Miryam ponders your words. Before she can speak, a deep scoff echoes from behind you.
Led by the Philistines, the crowd cracks open a small gap through which a sailor pushes the embattled Murphy out.
Surprised? The only escape path from this ship has always been under my control.
Goliath grabs Murphy over, pressing his giant blade against her throat. Blood rolls down her neck and pools into the eternally unhealed scar on her chest.
Murphy!
Divine Mother!
Sorry... I couldn't stop worrying about you, so I came back...
Miryam isn't unwilling to let this girl go. It's her holding Miryam in place.
She either refuses to let Miryam discover the truth, cannot bring herself to allow it, or is simply too afraid of what might happen.
What is the truth you are talking about?
She doesn't even know where that Lemuria is; she has never seen the true form of God.
Because she doesn't know, this ship can only drift on the sea, just drifting like this all the time.
I don't know what kind of words this little girl used to charm the two of you...
High Priestess of the Seafarers. A mysterious person showing up out of nowhere. You're both being toyed with by a little girl.
Remember what happened when she tried to run? Don't tell me you forgot.
Running.
Murphy was running.
She did not know the journey's destination, nor if she could escape her Godmother's vigilance.
Huff, huff...
No one was there to meet her ahead. Behind her, the eerie, yet somewhat comical, sound of flippers slapping the ground grew dense and insistent.
The news of the Divine Maiden's disappearance had spread; the Seafarers were assembling.
Curse it, these annoying bastards.
Behind the flash of light, the purple-robed figure, a symbol of her failure, appeared with unnerving composure...
...
The Murphy in this world did not make it out.
Because the person who had sent her to the Seafarers, and then repented and helped her flee...
Had already vanished forever in the Dissolution disaster.
She did not willingly become the Divine Mother. Just as I did not willingly become your slave.
We are all in pursuit of... the things we want for ourselves.
No, I don't want anything. I... don't want anything at all.
You don't want anything? No, you want TOO MANY.
You want the privileged life of the Divine Mother, but you don't want to bear the responsibilities of being a guide.
You're afraid of being abandoned, so you treat others as puppets in your life, like toys for your tea party playhouse.
Every once in a while, you erase everyone's memory on the ship and start a new cycle.
Little girl, let me tell you: don't be too clever, everything in this world comes at a cost.
Did you think no one would ever discover your little tricks? Did you think that with that ivory sculpture, you could do anything?
Murphy clutches the ivory sculpture in her hand.
Stop being silly, you foolish child.
You think I knew nothing about your actions? I was simply not ready to confront you then.
In every cycle, I tried to change the method of the heist. Threatening you, threatening Miryam, blowing up the engine room...
Later, I discovered that as long as that damn ivory sculpture is around, I had no chance of fighting against you.
Goliath's snicker echoes across the deck.
Until a few months ago. Our operation in Necrovia was ruined, all because of this little {Male=guy,Female=girl} in front of us.
We failed to capture enough Silver. The power of that ivory sculpture weakened, and the Awakeners on this ship started to remember everything.
You remember everything... Does that mean all of you do?
So William doesn't remember solely because he comes from another world...
other Awakeners are no different from me... They are aware of what has been happening, of the same events running in a loop...
Does the "everyone" you mentioned... include... her?
Murphy lowers her head, her voice so faint it is almost inaudible. Her gaze flickers uncertainly, often drifting towards the woman beside her, but it retracts before it can meet her eyes.
So you mean...
Miryam remembers every cycle. Everything that has ever happened. And in every one, she waits... for you to change your mind.
I've been having dreams of the other world since our little guest showed up. I've seen how it ends. And I bet Miryam has seen it, too.
She knows everything you do. But in every cycle, she never intervenes. She just... waits. And waits.
Goliath tips his head toward the silent Miryam beside him.
You thought you trapped her in your prison? She remains there by choice.
Miryam responds to Goliath's speculation with silence.
Why? I don't understand why?
Aren't I supposed to be a failed product, a single-use tool for you?
Aren't you supposed to abandon me like you abandoned them?
22. Seven Days, before the fight
30 linesDay one after His birth.
The Divine Fetus was born within an ashen shell.
I was exhausted, spiritually drained, yet everyone's face was alight with fanatical joy.
<color=#F7F7F7>Day two after His birth.</color>
I performed baptism for the fetus. He slept soundly in his cradle.
<color=#F2F2F2>Day three after His birth.</color>
The Divine Fetus still had not opened His eyes. Why? I could even feel His heartbeats like my own.
<color=#F0F0F0>Day four after His birth.</color>
I begged an answer from the god.
I asked about the future of the Divine Realm, about the connection between Him and me, everything I wanted to know, and everything Miryam sought to probe.
The god remained silent.
<color=#E6E6E6>Day five after His birth.</color>
Miryam asked me the outcome of my audience with the god.
In a moment of desperation, I made up a reply, "The Divine Realm is about to rise."
She kept asking about the exact time, and I could only respond, "When the stars are right."
Miryam was ecstatic. It was a frenzied joy I had never seen before, not when I gifted her the wooden carving, not even when I conceived the Divine Fetus.
<color=#E1E1E1>Day six after His birth.</color>
Miryam asked about the location of Lemuria, and I could only respond vaguely; her expression was one of skepticism.
She had seen the god when He was alive. My lies may not work on her.
God, save me, please, just one word, answer my prayer.
Day seven after His birth.
The god was dead. The god was never born.
Lying upon my chest was only a false effigy, a mass of dead flesh mistakenly called a "god."
Miryam never loved anyone. She never cared about anyone.
After mastering the Authority of the Divine Mother, I have read all the records of the Seafarers.
Every six decades, the stars align, a phenomenon that has recurred for thousands of years.
I am not the first vessel you sacrificed, and I will not be the last.
To stay alive... To stay with you...
I must kill my past self...
I must kill my naivety...
23. Seven Days, after the fight
64 linesI killed myself and picked up the crown. I got everything I desired, except for freedom.
But I, who gave birth to the Divine Fetus, was unable to receive His blessing. I failed to guide the path to Lemuria...
So you created this never-ending dream...
If I didn't do this, she would definitely rip out my heart...
...and sacrifice me to her revered king.
So when Goliath said she has been waiting for me... I didn't understand.
Why? Miryam, why?
If I'm not a qualified Divine Mother, why not just discard me like you did the others?
Discard me... grant me freedom...
I will not abandon you, because you are different.
What is so different between me and them? We are merely sacrifices in your eyes, just food for this rotten meat.
Murphy holds up the dirty clump in her hands, blood dripping down in a steady stream.
No, you ARE different.
Because...
Because we have come together all the way.
I remember the day we implanted the Divine Fetus in your chest; you said you wanted some churros.
Then you suddenly decided that it was too delicious to enjoy alone, so you shared half with me reluctantly.
Later, the Divine Fetus began to grow, and you had a high fever that wouldn't subside. We tried every possible way to bring down the temperature, but in the end, we had no choice but to transport you to the ice cellar in Antarctica.
Caused us a lot of trouble.
Even in such a perilous environment, you still upheld your duties as the Divine Mother.
Most of the priests endured the bitter cold, accompanying, waiting, and praying at the altar in Antarctica.
And you have lived up to everyone's expectations, becoming the first vessel to give birth to the Divine Fetus.
We have arrived at that moment together.
And we will sail together toward the Eternal Divine Realm.
Slowly and resolutely, Miryam walks in front of Murphy, bending down.
You are the esteemed Divine Mother, and I am willing to kneel at your feet for eternity, offering you my lifelong devotion.
I am willing to forever look up to you with the reverence reserved for my Lord.
Murphy stares blankly down at Miryam.
Miryam kneels, taking Murphy's hand and pressing a devout kiss to it.
Come back to my side, will you? Our Divine Mother?
Murphy lowers her head. The winds come to a halt, and silence reigns the small cosmic crevice.
Your stories were never about me. They were about the Divine Fetus. Your words were never for me. They were for the Divine Mother.
You still don't understand... and you never will...
A few murmurs slip through her trembling lips.
You who only know about prayers, rituals, the Divine Realm, Lemuria, and the rebirth of your god...
You will never, ever understand.
Everything I have built, this final destination I fought so hard to reach, this illusion I struggled so hard to maintain... I did it all for one reason.
So you would finally acknowledge me truly. So I could... finally call you...
Mother...
The raging winds drown out her already indistinct whispers.
Ha... What a shame.
Murphy bites away her tears.
My expectations were pointless. The balance I created is a lie, an eternal illusion.
You will never be my mother.
The Murphy you knew is dead. She died the day your god was born.
What stands before you now is an Awakener, forged from her ashes and a spirit of Silver.
And the person who awakened me from my own corpse... No, can that even be called a person?
My Linker is here, right in front of you.
She gently lifts the swaddling cloth. On her face, you catch an expression of unusual tenderness, so profound it's almost terrifying.
I brought it into this world... and it brought me back again...
A fate of deviation, eternally entangled. A distorted cycle that never ends.
The Father births a Daughter. The Daughter then conceives Her Father. And the Father awakens His Daughter once more...
There is no one to sever this twisted bond. Nothing can break the eternal ouroboros of our bloodline.
Do you think you are the first person to get caught in this time loop?
I have lived through its horrors more times than I can count. Each loop ended in an unspeakable nightmare.
Once, Miryam stabbed me through the chest because I rejected Lemuria's call.
Once, I was imprisoned by Goliath, and the ivory sculpture was taken away, leading to the sinking of the entire ship.
Once, in a certain dream, a frail but determined person opened a path for my escape.
But I have always believed those were not the true endings. I was waiting for the one that belongs solely to this version of me.
The wait is over. This is the true ending I choose.
Let this ship capsize.
A black curtain, like silk spilled from the heavens, descends from the lightless black sun, shrouding the ship and isolating it from the outside world.
Seawater surges, burying the entire cruise ship into the dark abyss.
You are, once again, trapped in the boundless darkness.
24. Outsider, before the fight
85 linesCough, cough!
You cough forcefully, trying to expel the seawater that fills your lungs.
But nothing comes out when you cough; all that's left in your lungs are twitching nerves and the phantom pain of drowning.
Why... isn't this supposed to be the last cycle?
You look around; the open deck is empty, with no purple spiders and no Seafarers surrounding you.
You run around, searching.
Asleep, asleep, everyone is asleep.
William lies on the deck, his uniform a tattered mess, as if it had been battered repeatedly by storms and scorching sun, with grease and salt crusted into a mottled map.
William...
But you can't stay here. You must find the master of this dream to finally free him from this endless cycle of days.
At the end of the ship, you find the maiden.
Countless black-robed Seafarers lie sprawled around her, while she quietly leans against the Altar, holding a mass of crimson, foul-smelling rotten flesh in her hands.
Murphy...
Just as you promised, you came.
The master of this Dream Domain is you.
Yeah, everything on this ship is a dream. Everything you see right now is just "reality in a dream."
Why?
Why did I create such a dream? Or why did I become who I am now?
That was a long time ago.
A small figure trudged through the snow.
Huff... Huff...
Since coming to Antarctica, Murphy had experienced a kind of absurd freedom.
She could go anywhere alone. But no matter where she went, all she saw was a pale, endless expanse of snowfield.
There wasn't even a trace of human activity, let alone another person.
Am I... lost?
The girl looked back at the footprints she left behind. In the vast snowfield, a nearly straight path led to an unknowable destination.
Whatever, as long as I keep moving forward, I will eventually get somewhere.
She counted the rations she carried, confirming the farthest distance she could reach by being frugal.
Come on, Murphy. This is a journey towards freedom, and being a bit hungry is no big deal.
...
...
No, it's impossible to tell the direction in such a snowstorm.
Ration and snow water... It tastes awful.
She resided in snow caves and could hear a beast howling outside. She had never seen it, only knew it was a kind of white wolf.
Help!
Murphy fled in a panic, escaping the cave. Those bright green eyes remained in the cave, and did not follow her footsteps.
In such a dire situation, I saw a line of footprints.
These are... human footprints!
As long as there are people, there is hope. I followed without hesitation.
...
Soon after, the footprints turned into two lines.
Then three.
The footprints were increasing, but the owner of the footprints remained elusive.
Exhausted, I finally fainted.
Later I learned that due to the difference in length between the left and right feet, everyone tends to slightly drift in a certain direction when walking without being able to determine their orientation.
In other words... at that time, I was walking in circles.
The footprints I thought were my hope came from my past self, leading to an endless cycle.
Because of a slight, almost insignificant deviation... my life has been bound by a strange loop.
The center of that loop is called Fate.
This is the loop I have built that traps myself.
So, you mean...
Time has stood still since Goliath first prepared to rebel.
Everyone has sunk into a dream, beginning a repetitive cycle. The cycle starts with the birth of the Divine Fetus and ends with the sinking of the cruise ship.
If Goliath hadn't started a rebellion, everything could've remained peaceful as before.
But I once saw Goliath in Necrovia...
To maintain the Dream Domain, I send a group of people out periodically to collect energy for the ivory sculpture.
Once they return, they will forget everything and fall into my dream again.
Unfortunately, ever since you interfered with our energy absorption from Necrovia, the Dream Domain has become increasingly unstable.
Why do you want me to see you?
I originally summoned you here, hoping to kill you...
But before I could do that, my Silver Core seemed to resonate with your Silver Key, connecting me to your dream, your memory.
I saw another possibility in that dream... another version of myself.
I saw her competing with her classmates in sculpture class;
I saw her fighting a stray cat under the fountain.
I saw her being coaxed by her friends to wear a little devil costume, carrying a pumpkin lantern and going door to door handing out candy...
In a world where the Divine Fetus was never born, she seemed truly... happy.
How enviable. How beautiful.
A life I wish I had.
%player%, it wasn't until I met you that I realized there is such a simple and joyful way of living in this world...
No need for Divine Mother's vain crown, no need for the honor of being revered by the masses, no need to face the annoying faces of the followers day after day...
Responsibility? Legacy? Why do so many people have to sacrifice their lives for a pile of rotten flesh?
You remain silent; you can only stay silent.
Murphy is denying her past self.
I have one final question to ask you.
In your world, did you also make cupcakes with her like that?
Murphy... You'll find many people willing to help you there. It won't be just me. They'll join you in any reckless or whimsical thing you desire to do.
Because you love the world and everyone in it.
You tore your own heart open, and all the world bore witness...
....to the love that pulsed within.
Murphy smiles, her smile as radiant as you remembered.
You know, this ship is merely a dream.
I once thought it was a beautiful dream... I am the Divine Mother, and that writhing mass of flesh is the so-called god I gave birth to.
Day and night, I live in fear, constantly anxious and tormented.
Turns out it is not a sweet dream, but a nightmare of panic that I wasn't even aware of.
So now, it's time to tear down the curtain of lies and let the dream end.
25. Eternal Veil, before the fight
34 linesIt should not end here.
?!
It cannot end here.
The sky begins to stitch itself together, with black gauze obscuring the sun and gathering into a false sky.
Click. Click. You hear the sound of the spinning wheel turning again.
Why? Why? I've already decided to end this dream...
Because... esteemed Divine Mother, you are not the master of this dream.
??!!
No, I have always been able to manipulate everything in the dream. I can decide when the cycles end and begin, I...
Our Lord lent you the power to dream, yet you are trapped in your own obsession, squandering His goodwill.
Lent...?
Do you remember where that sculpture came from?
The sculpture... His idol...
When giving birth to... the Divine Fetus...
No, I never saw this sculpture during the first week after the Divine Fetus was born.
His idol... is...
No wonder I always felt like there was a missing piece to the puzzle.
%player%, do you remember our deduction last time? This Domain should have formed before Dissolution consumed this world, before the sun turned black.
But the Divine Fetus's Birth, and Murphy's Sacrifice and Rebirth, clearly took place after that.
In other words, Murphy at that time was just a spiritually vibrant human. She was not strong enough to construct this Dream.
The one who wielded the Authority before that... It must have been...
The Godking of this world has long been born... No, rather, He has never died.
You failed to awaken His consciousness because He is still in the deep slumber of a dream.
He didn't want you to perish from the sacrifice, so He specially divided a thread of His strength to create a dream within a dream for you.
But you desired too much. Thus, the dream continually collapses and restarts; this is the essence of the Paradise.
It was born from your wish, but It is not your slave...
So now, It is going to carry out the mission bestowed upon It by the Creator.
The sky begins to roll; black gauze shrouds the vision, and a massive body rises like a mountain.
It does not rise from the Abyss below, but rather, the sheer Will of a higher being tears through the boundary of dimensions.
Beneath the suffocating dome, Its limbs silently appear: pale, slender, with joints twisted, like the tortured, deformed bones of a martyr.
...!!!
Murphy...
The face of that massive monster clearly resembles the maiden you know so well.
Dream... must... continue...
26. Eternal Veil, after the fight
12 linesThe curtain in the sky sways and churns, resembling a raging storm.
A wisp of passing breeze lifts the black veil that obscures Murphy's face, beneath which are a pair of tear-stained eyes that have long since dried up.
NOW! Right there!
HAAHHH!
In the fleeting moment of the trembling sky, the jagged giant blade decisively slashes towards the wavering rift.
The ivory sculpture bursts forth with a fierce white light, resembling a desperate resistance to death.
Seconds later, the white light suddenly extinguishes, and the ivory sculpture shatters, creating a rain of white fragments within a diameter of twenty centimeters.
It's all over...
The wind stirs, and the gloomy, overcast sky begins to change.
The... sun in the sky...
The false radiance fades away, and beneath the distant sky, the black veil that blots out the sun gently sways with each breath.
It is a pitch-black sun.
27. Epilogue, before the fight
73 linesThe Paradise has docked, and next...
They already know everything about the gods of this world and will soon make their own choice.
In my opinion, Miryam and Faros should set sail again to search for the whereabouts of Lemuria.
Goliath and Caecus will most likely depart; even in a world so desolate, they should have a quest of their own to embark on.
As for "this" Murphy...
I think she has something to say to you.
You're here?
Yes.
What a long, long dream it was.
Death, betrayal, sinking; the more I want to hold on to something, the more it inevitably slips through my fingers.
Perhaps this is fate. No need to hold on to something you can't keep.
Let go sooner, and you might encounter more like-minded companions.
For example... Mythag?
The people of Mythag seem to be very good at being inclusive... or smoothing out everyone's quirks.
I remember one year, the Murphy in our world insisted on trying every flavor of candy, and as a result, she ended up with a toothache.
In the end, Sylvia had Jenkin steal all of her stock of sweets.
Pfft. And then what?
Then she began to make a big fuss about catching thieves, completely forgetting about the candy.
And another time, she...
Alright, how much more do you want me to envy her life?
When we return to Mythag, it will be your life, too.
Then hopefully we will meet there one day.
Murphy stretches out her hands towards the distant sky, as if trying to touch the sun high above.
The black hole in the sky rests between her fingers, pulsating.
And there's one more thing I must tell you.
Murphy stares at you intently.
This world is already beyond salvation, shrouded in a despair deeper than the cycles I have experienced.
If possible, I might be able to send you back.
Send me... back?
Do you know the way to traverse between two worlds?
Not exactly, but once you grasp this world's essence, you naturally understand the dimensional nexus.
This ship is a dream, but when the curtain of lies is lifted...
You will realize this whole world is also Someone's dream, only that dream is bigger, more illusory, and more distant...
Even the sun, moon, and stars originate from His illusion; only the beings entangled with His spirit can @3...
The sun, moon, and stars...
The black veil trembles, extending into a winding path of fabric leading to the sky.
Go, go back, return to the world that belongs to you! There's no need to cling to this world that is already dead.
What about you, Murphy?
You resist the urge to immediately jump on the silk path, turning back to question the silent Murphy.
Who knows? This is a world that has already been destroyed.
Take it. Perhaps one day, you may sense my Silver Core in that world.
A gem formed from a droplet of blood falls into your palm, originating from the grotesque wound that pierces her chest.
The "me" you summon could be from any point in my life.
But when you call for me, remember how I look now...
"His" birth was an illusion from the start. All dreams are faux... A false genesis.
You will call me... Murphy the Fauxborn!
You stroll along the path of dark fabric, and countless thoughts rush through your mind.
The journey to confront Dissolution, two worlds entwined by a black nightmare, many similar or identical faces overlapping each other...
Two Doll...
And at last, you remember Ramona's smiling face.
Can I... go back now?
In a dreamlike state, you stand just an arm's length away from the black sun, yet you feel no warmth at all.
That infinite deep black devours all light, eagerly waiting to swallow you completely.
Ramona... are you there? Are you waiting for me behind this?
You close your eyes and gently touch the black passage.
If you can, please... hold my hand.
From under your feet, from countless deep dreams.
Starting from the black sun, the black veils gradually disintegrate layer by layer.
You fall from the sky....
Falling into the vortex called "Fate."
I glimpsed that girl's experience in a deep dream.
How unfortunate. I sent her away from Lemuria, entrusting the ivory sculpture to her in a dream, not for such an ending.
Shouldn't you thank me for my involvement in this?
The Light of Hope in this world has long been annihilated; you know that, right?
The woman with her hand on the spinning wheel remains silent, simply allowing the thread in her hand to extend beneath the heavens, among all things.
As long as there is still one seed.
No matter how long the silence lasts, no matter which soil it is in, one day it will sprout.
As for me...
The woman lowers her gaze.
I am not a sower, not a caregiver, and not a reaper.
I am merely pulling the threads, following the preordained order as the Weaver of Fate.
I pull the thread of the spindle to draw out the most suitable soil for it.
I shall wait... quietly.