Morimens story · Main Story
Return to the Big Smoke
25 scenes, 966 lines
1. Dream in a Vat, before the fight
82 linesStart the phonograph. Play the black-covered record, third from the left on the shelf.
Add another 21mg of refined Silver to the reactor. Use the secondary refined type; the more thoroughly the spirit is extinguished, the better.
Today's experimental product... is almost complete.
Can you sense my presence?
...
Don't hesitate. Just "speak" in your normal way. The device will capture the simulated signals you emit and convert them into sound waves.
You try to speak according to her instructions. You feel no vibration feedback from your throat, but she reveals a sly smile as if deep in thought.
You asked me where this is?
Welcome to my secret base, traveler from World#317, fragment of the "Supreme Will"... now a poor little drowned puppy.
Tell me, has your world been destroyed?
...
Not bad. As expected of the other me.
As you might expect, the other "me" you met was sent to your timeline by this "me" in front of you, through dimensional travel abilities.
In return, she sent me an interesting gift... your "consciousness."
......
Want to see your current self?
Her smile is vibrant yet ominous, like a black dahlia blooming with abandon.
Winkle, bring a full-length mirror over.
Let our dear guest take a good look at {Male=himself,Female=herself} now...
No eyeballs; we're using photonic signals to simulate the visual nerves.
No vocal cords, as mechanical vibrations and liquid mediums replace the vocalization and reception organs.
The perfect thinker, Brain in a Vat...
It's you, the great "Supreme Will"!
The full-length mirror reflects "You," an exposed brain revealing an unbearable pink, its surface folds and valleys resembling distorted mountains.
The tiny bubbles in the nutrient solution emit a faint surging sound, as if whispering some indescribable secret, causing your already chaotic "mind" to fall into an unusual tension.
Doll: Inferno laughs wildly. Winkle, behind her, nervously bites her nails.
C-Can I leave now?
No... help me continue the experimental procedures. This is the manual.
Doll: Inferno stops the phonograph, strides away, leaving only Winkle and you staring at each other in the empty laboratory.
Experiment procedures, experiment procedures...
Winkle finally snaps to Doll's reminders. She turns and frantically rummages through the notes, but it looks like she's not really reading a single word.
Hello? Can you hear me?
No, I can't, I can't hear you, I'm not listening to anything...
You are... Winkle, right?
H-How do you know...
Don't be afraid, Winkle, we were once comrades in arms.
You try to calm her down, knowing that in her neurotic state, Winkle cannot communicate effectively.
You... I...
She bites her nails, her eyes darting left and right, like a frightened small animal cornered and filled with fear.
Calm down. Can you tell me why I'm here?
Y-You... you were...
You wait patiently. After a while, she finally finds the courage.
That day, Doll suddenly sent me a message...
Winkle, prepare the receiver and a spare brain vat.
I captured an unusual electromagnetic signal, and the frequency band resembles the consciousness of Tohuwabohu.
{Male=He,Female=She} is theoretically locked inside the "Gate"; I don't know how this signal survived.
In short, get the receiver up and running immediately!
...So, your consciousness was projected into this brain vat, and it survived.
The specific source of that signal may only be known to Doll.
The two of us crunched so hard, pulling all-nighters for an entire month. Doll has probably gone to sleep; even with an artificial body, her mind can't hold out much longer.
It sounds like you were already helping Doll with experiments before I came.
Do you know what she's been doing?
Winkle shudders nervously.
I, I was just doing some... cutting-edge research...
Regarding spacetime jumps and consciousness transfer... it will help me return home sooner...
You sigh, though you are unsure if the sound of your sigh reaches her ears.
You being so defensive already shows that you know what you're doing, Winkle.
Winkle, for you, for me, and for everyone who might be harmed by Doll: Inferno's actions...
Can you do me a favor?
I, I can give it a listen...
Do you know how I can regain mobility?
Winkle shakes her head vigorously.
The manipulation technology of dolls isn't my specialty. Doll has locked down all the spare bodies; only she can control them.
It seems you must find another way. Perhaps you could contact other Awakeners and ask for their help...?
If I'm not mistaken, Doll: Inferno's Silver Core vault is right behind you?
Cans, labels, and instruments are neatly arranged, completely in line with the working habits of the Doll you know.
Please, Winkle. Help me retrieve a thing...
The faces of Ramona, Doll, Ogier, and Lotan flash before your eyes.
...Please give me Lady Daffodil's Silver Core.
Seeing Winkle hesitate, you decisively apply more pressure.
Winkle, right now, the brain vat I'm in is the only light source in this room. If you can't even agree to this small request, I will extinguish myself immediately.
It takes at least three seconds to go turn on the lights. Think carefully about how you will endure those difficult three seconds.
I'll count down from three...
Three...
You manipulate the glowing liquid in the tank to blink.
In the first moment darkness arrives, Winkle screams sharply.
Eeek!! Okay, fine, I'll get it for you right now!!
She turns and frantically rummages through the cabinet next to the workbench. A few seconds later, a Silver Core shrouded in purple smoke is cradled in her palm, lifted carefully to you.
Here...
You gaze at the silver metal, trying to resonate with it. You are unsure if you, as a Brain in a Vat, can succeed... but you have no choice but to try.
The purple mist swirls.
Transparent pricing, fair to both young and old... What can Daffodil's little shop do for you?
2. Escape, before the fight
70 linesDear customer... I do want to find a way to help you go home. However, this dimension does not seem connected to the bottom of Kadath...
In other words, it is not one of the myriad dreams of Tohuwabohu.
Even I cannot easily traverse dimensions between the two worlds.
Then... I at least need a body to move around.
You can't travel between the two worlds... but utilizing the resources within this world is feasible, right?
As expected of the last Keeper of Mythag, the demands you make are still so difficult to meet.
So you can't do it?
Of course I can. Daffodil's little shop will surely fulfill your wishes.
What about the price?
The price? Nothing. This is your first request in the new world; of course I should offer it to you for free out of courtesy.
However... if you want to express gratitude...
Just bring me that person's head.
With that, your consciousness slips into nothingness. When your eyes open again, you see Winkle, trembling beside you.
You... your body... fell in front of me, out of nowhere...
How do I leave this place?
Ignoring her shaking, stuttering speech, you ask directly.
No, you can't leave... If, if you run away... Doll will d-definitely...
Her pupils dilate out of fear, and the tone of her plea trembles with despair.
Don't worry, I'm just going out to take a look.
No... no, please don't...
You ignore her pleas and knock on the iron door that Doll had left through, which has no handle or lock.
How do I open this?
Winkle takes a few steps back, her back pressing tightly against the lab table.
I-I don't know...
Please, I really just want to go take a look. I'll deal with Doll for you.
The key or mechanism to open that door is probably on the workbench behind you, right? Your blocking action has already revealed this point.
No, i-it's not here! I'm just too scared...
Doll cannot possibly predict your escape. To her, there is no need to be overly cautious about an immobile Brain in a Vat. The exit is unlikely to be too hard to find, you deduce.
You scan the lab table, glancing over one headache-inducing paper title after another.
"Propagation Model of Dissolution Phenomenon in Remouahe Region," "Containment of Silver and Dissolution Diffusion,"
"The Gaze of Tohuwabohu: A Quantitative Study of Spiritual Target Tracking and Response," "Application of Consciousness Stabilization Methods in Dimension Transfer"...
Finally, in a corner, you discover a simple switch with a red handle. You gently pull it, and the sound of gears turning follows.
With a rugged clanking, the rusted iron door opens automatically under the pull of the mechanical device.
W-wait!
You ignore her call and stride right out of the lab.
A massive lead-gray haze envelops the entire city like an invisible giant beast.
Countless undulating floors emerge from the fog like sharp limbs covered in hard leather.
Cough, cough...
You find no one. There is not a single person in sight.
You struggle to trudge along the street.
After turning three blocks, you finally catch a glimpse of a human silhouette emerging from the thick fog.
Hello?
The silhouette turns towards you and suddenly closes in. The massive, distorted dark figure abruptly presses against your face. Adrenaline spikes, and your heartbeat sounds like a drum.
SPLURGE...
You are unarmed. Ramona is not by your side, let alone your other companions.
The mutant spews a blob of black sludge, the thick liquid covering your forehead. The damp stench slides down along your temple.
What follows is a heavy blow.
Ugh!
The impact sends your body flying, stars dancing in your vision. Then another hit lands on your side, twisting your direction and bringing a pain like a thousand arrows piercing your heart.
You crash hard against the solid wall, and the intense pain makes you feel like you might have broken a few ribs.
(Is there anyone who can... help me...)
Cough, cough... W-wait a moment...
Amidst the smoke and dust, Winkle staggeringly chases after you from the street corner behind.
T-take this before you leave!
A silver arc streaks across the dust-polluted sky, cutting through the swarm of monsters surrounding you, and lands beside your hand.
It's a Silver Key, with no serial number.
You reach for it, but the pain-induced tears blur your vision. The pain throughout your body causes your fingertips to tremble involuntarily.
Just... a little more...
CRUNCH!
A monster stomps hard on your back, and the already split wound instantly erupts with blood.
And that's when you finally touch that glowing item.
Try to remember! Think hard!
Doll said your consciousness holds the entire world; as long as you can recall it, the Silver Key can activate the power of memories!
A gentle white light gradually envelops your vision, as four familiar silhouettes appear before you like a phantasm.
Keeper! Is it really you?
Only a few days apart, and you're beaten up by Dissolutes like this? Mythag's martial arts courses still lack independent spirit.
Not a good time for some catch up, it seems.
Ogier will fight to protect you, my lord!
It's time to fight...
Fight for a new future.
3. Escape, after the fight
20 linesAs the Dissolution Mutants wail and disappear, the four companions who fought alongside you turn around and smile.
Then they gradually fade away.
In the next moment, you see Winkle's anxious face.
You look around to confirm that your companions have completely vanished. The fatigue from battle is greater than ever before.
My companions. They...
They were projected from your mind. According to Doll, your mind holds all worlds from all dimensions.
Will I be able to see them again?
You can try, but it will overwhelm your current body. I don't recommend doing that... unless you absolutely have to.
You try to focus and recall them again, but the gears of thought malfunction and halt before you could envision their shape.
Your eyelids are heavy as lead, and a feeling of suffocation hangs over your heart like a thick haze.
Let's go back to the lab and take care of your injuries. If Doll finds out, I'll say it was all my fault.
Doll... Despite all that, I can tell she is simple and straightforward as a person. Also, she knows dimensional transferring well, much better than most people on this planet.
You recall what Doll: Inferno did in your original world, and find it hard to agree.
Arguing with Winkle about Doll: Inferno is pointless now. What matters more is understanding what has happened in this world and how to return to your original world.
Shall we... go back? It's really unsafe outside...
Her hand, tugging at the corner of your clothes, quietly exerts force.
You look at the dark sun in the distant sky, which barely forms a circular outline in the haze, like a bare, withered eye.
I'll go back with you. I have some questions to ask Doll.
4. Enigma's Cadence, before the fight
28 linesTap, tap. Doll taps the laboratory table with her pincer.
To be honest, I don't like your suggestion.
Like how I don't like that one vinyl record you have, it's good music, but letting someone else put their name on my personal work is simply an insult. My work is not a birthday cake to be shared.
I promised to infiltrate Mythag for you and detonate the Black Pool, nothing more.
I was the one who awakened %player%'s consciousness from there and put the Supreme Will in a brain vat. In other words, {Male=he,Female=she} is now my private puppy.
Now you want a piece of my pie, asking me to hand over the brain or share my research results? That was not part of our agreement.
This is all I have to say. Unless you destroy this lab and endure the wrath I will surely unleash upon you, my response to your proposal will forever be a firm "No."
With that, Doll: Inferno ends the call and turns to face you, who is severely injured and supported by Winkle.
How was your walk outside, my little puppy?
You want to respond to her provocation, but drowsiness washes over you like a tide, sweeping away your will. Overwhelmed by exhaustion, you faint before she can say the next word.
You hear the faint buzzing of an electric current and someone's quiet breathing.
You open your eyes and see yourself lying on a small folding bed, with Winkle quietly sleeping by your bedside.
Huh?
She rubs her sleepy eyes and slowly pulls off the thin blanket.
You should rest for a while longer; the injected sedatives like Midazolam can cause extreme fatigue.
You lift your arm, and sure enough, you feel soreness and weakness in your biceps.
Once you recover, we'll slowly persuade Doll to let you go out for a bit, okay? Patients always need fresh air.
Besides, you haven't eaten anything for a while. Even with nutrient solutions, your digestive system still needs intake to maintain healthy functioning...
How long did I sleep?
Although time has long lost its meaning for you, you feel it is essential to be aware of your physical condition.
Let me see... 46 hours and 15 minutes...
Just two days, still within the acceptable range.
Want to leave? I'm afraid I can't allow that.
Too many eyes are preying on you out there, little sheep.
Doll is right... staying here is for your protection...
I don't need anyone's protection.
Then we shall see.
Show me what you can do without the Supreme Will's power, Mythag's puppy!
5. Enigma's Cadence, after the fight
6 linesThe laboratory is rocked by a massive tremor. Flasks and test tubes roll off the table, releasing swirling, psychedelic smoke that rises from the ground.
The lab tables and reagent racks collapse one after another. Even the clock and ornaments hanging on the wall are on the verge of falling.
E-Earthquake?!
Is this base finally giving out?
It seems we're getting buried together, Mythag's puppy. Are you happy? Wag your tail, this is a rare honor for you.
Before you can respond, darkness engulfs your vision.
6. That Which We Lost, before the fight
69 linesThe sight before you feels both strange and familiar.
Hey, you seem to be awake.
A small head pops into your vision.
If you're awake, go take a shower. Even the rats in London can't stand the dirt on you.
Squeak!
Jen...kin...
Squeak... squeak...
The little mouse shakes its head, seeming to deny Jenkin's inquiry.
Jenkin!
Excited, you hug Jenkin tightly.
Her tiny frame presses against you, so small, yet so warm, carrying the heat of life, with a reassuring heartbeat coming through her thin ribs.
What are you doing!! Are you crazy?! Let me go!
Before you can explain to Jenkin, a faint whimpering sound comes from nearby.
Ugh...
Am I asleep... I can't oversleep... I still have 20 flasks to clean, and I need to prepare 120 liters of solvent formulation...
Where is this?! Who are you?!
...
......
So, Jenkin, you really didn't see a third person? A researcher with short red hair who was all jumpy...
Nah, she's probably dead. How does that saying go? My condolences, may her soul rest in peace?
The hooded girl shrugs nonchalantly.
I dug you two West-Whelps out from a pile of stones. Can't even be called ruins anymore.
Wouldn't have even bothered if Brown hadn't insisted there was something inside.
So... Doll, have you really forgotten about all the evil experiments you did?
While I believe your accusations are pure nonsense, I must remind you that judging my code of conduct by human notions of good and evil is utterly inappropriate.
I don't know what's going on between you two, but here, have some bread.
If you're thirsty, there's water over there, and some black tea, along with a bunch of fancy things I can't recognize.
You... have become wealthy?
What are you talking about? Don't you know?
After that night filled with strange dreams, most people disappeared, and outside, there are monsters everywhere.
Fortunately, since everyone is gone, there is free bread everywhere.
What... are you doing here?
You look around, and there are five or six bunk beds in the small clock tower space.
Not like I wanted to be here. I lived just fine on the streets. Those monsters were just getting too noisy at night.
Found this place when I tried to hide up high. It takes a ladder to reach here and those things can't come up.
I was late though. Most of the beds were already taken by others, either injured or a bit crazy.
A kind big sister prepared a bed for me too. What was that saying? "Why not delight in the inevitable?"
Jenkin, do we have a guest?
Your breath catches.
Ah, sorry for the poor hospitality. I'll go get you some tea right away.
Sis! They have hands and feet! No need to take care of them!
Oh, and this is my sister, Mason. She looks a bit strange right now, but if you dare to treat her like a monster, I won't let you off easy!
...
What? First time witnessing such a touching bond between a doting sister and her protective little brother?
Little brother? Go get your eyes checked! I'm a girl, a GIRL!
Everything feels so familiar. Just like the first time you met her. You wipe the corner of your eye.
Sorry, I lost my composure. I just didn't expect to see you all again...
Again? Do we know each other from before? Sorry, but I don't remember seeing you... my memories are all messed up after the treatment...
It's okay... It doesn't matter... I'm just happy to see you two alive and well...
...
......
I don't really know what she did, but in short, I told her about my sis, and she helped me bring my sis back.
My sister... She sometimes seems a bit anxious and has breakdowns, but she is still very gentle on better days. She's so kind to me and to everyone else...
What is the name of that other lady you just talked about?
!
...
Then I'd expect her to know Rogers... is Clementine the one who rescued Mason from the Sculptors' Association?
The Sculptors' Association? You mean those filthy insects doing anything to survive? A person meddling with them must be as filthy as leeches or horseflies.
It is rather impolite of you to make such a statement so hastily, miss.
Clementine silently appears behind you, clad in a white dress.
A buzzing sound drills into your mind, and the scene before you distorts.
I dug both of you out from the wreckage, then painstakingly carried you up to this clock tower. I did all that so you wouldn't be devoured alive by those monsters covered in black sludge, and yet...
It's not good to repay kindness with enmity, is it?
Your inner alarm bells ring loudly as you turn to face her. You raise the Silver Key high, which glimmers with light as you try to summon power. Just before you strike, Jenkin darts out to shield the woman in white with her body.
Hands off her! Miss Clementine saved my sister and me!
7. That Which We Lost, after the fight
17 linesI knew you can't be trusted. Why do you start hitting people for no reason?!
I can tell you are both good people... Could you please calm down a little?
Sorry, Mason, but it seems they don't like seeing me here...
Then I might as well leave and give them some space.
While Clementine says she's leaving, she instead suddenly leans closer to you, whispering softly right in your ear.
We will meet again, Pupilless Eye.
(Since the situation with the Sculptors' Association and Rogers is the same as before, then...)
Jenkin, do you know where Aigis is?
You know Aigis too?
Like my sister, she was taken by that wealthy young master with a strange doll for treatment.
I asked Miss Clementine about her too. But she said the young master sent Aigis to some fancy medical place and she can't come back for now.
So... What about Miss Sarah and Diana?
I don't know. The workhouse is full of monsters, and no one dares to go near.
Yes, when Miss Clementine brought me back from the East District, I saw a lot more monsters there...
Even more so inside the workhouse.
You remember them: Sarah, hunched over with a cordial smile, and Aigis, timid and too afraid to voice her feelings.
Tomorrow morning, I will go search the workhouse.
8. Kind and Brave, before the fight
30 linesThe smoke and dust here has reached up to the ankles. Brown hops around in it, creating one small pit after another.
Are you really going to search for...uuuhhh... what was that word you said? Surfers?
We're searching for survivors.
I've searched the workhouse, and there aren't any normal people here.
No... there's one more place.
An image of the basement appears before your eyes.
That quiet sculptor, Sanga, will she still be there creating sculptures that defy logic?
Brown, wait for me!
Brown turns around, hopping onto your shoulder, gently sniffing your cheek with its pointed nose.
You're so brave...
Pat its head.
You gently pat it, and Brown tilts its head in response.
This is the first time you get so close to Brown.
Stare at Brown.
Brown squeaks and turns away, crawling into Jenkin's hood and cautiously poking its head out to meet your gaze.
The basement should be at the end of this hallway.
Jenkin and Brown are whispering.
Squeak, squeak!
What did it say?
Hmph. I asked why it's so close to you, and Brown said you're harmless.
Animals' instincts are always accurate.
Cut the nonsense, who knows what tricks you used.
Jenkin awkwardly pursed her lips, but the next moment, her eyes suddenly widened.
Watch out!
Jenkin pulls you over. The spraying liquid splashes across your cheek, landing on the corridor wall. The corrosive stench wafts through the space like steam, making you almost retch your stomach contents.
Wandering Dissolutes gather, emitting mournful wails on the path before you.
Tsk, the path you chose is too narrow, there's no way to get around those.
So you survived by hiding from them?
Of course.
It's too cramped here... Let's lure these mutants into the courtyard.
9. Kind and Brave, after the fight
29 linesFrom now on, you can act freely in the workhouse.
If you find an injured person outside, let them rest here.
I'll go check the basement. You stay back for now.
You stand in front of the basement door, taking a deep breath.
Memories of the past roll and flash before your eyes like a film reel.
You push open the gate.
What appears before you is the familiar basement, but there are no candy people, no sculptors, and no experiment tables.
All that was left was a disheveled, emaciated woman.
...who...
A hoarse, weak voice, as if enduring excruciating pain. Withered fingers struggle to crawl on the ground, dragging the feeble woman closer to you.
Are you... human...?
Sarah!
Drink slowly, there's plenty of water. Easy there.
Huff, huff...
How long have you been hiding in the basement?
I can't figure it out... In any case, it should be more than twenty days.
Sometimes, I'd hear a strange murmur, and my head would hurt so much that I'd feel like it might crack open from the inside...
When I woke up, I didn't know how long I had been passed out...
There was no food, no water... I felt like I was about to die any moment. But... when I thought of the children waiting for me...
You can't possibly think that you survived for more than twenty days without food or water just because of your love for the children, can you?
Why do you have to talk so mean?!
Frankly speaking, {Male=ladies and gentlemen,Female=ladies}, you should be aware that...
The lady Sarah in front of you is no longer an ordinary human... she is a half-finished Awakener.
Yes, her Gnosis Index fluctuates and cannot be maintained above 21. The principle is not clear, but she is obviously not a stable Awakener.
And it's obvious that her body won't be able to withstand the vibrations of her Silver Core for much longer.
I'm afraid she won't be able to see her children anymore.
Your chest feels tight at the sight of her nonchalant, sarcastic smile. No one speaks; the silence extracts a long void from the air of the workhouse.
10. Poisoned Apple, before the fight
30 linesYou stand alone on the rooftop, breathing in the fresh night air.
The desolate city below is shrouded in smoke and dust, but stars can still be seen up here, bringing you a brief solace.
Doll: Inferno... why didn't you choose to join Mythag University in this world?
I'm afraid you got it wrong, foolish little thing.
Starlight falls on Doll's spherical joints, reflecting an alien, metallic sheen.
Do you think the differences between worlds only lie in the symptoms of Dissolution and individual experiences? That would be a grave misunderstanding.
As far as I know, there is no such thing as a "Mythag University" in this world.
...
......
A long silence lingers between you. You feel a lump in your throat, unsure how to respond.
Take a deep breath.
The closest equivalent would be another higher education institution, which is also focused on the study of heteromorphic organisms.
Their research is more archaic and orthodox. Their Investigators are primarily engaged in archaeological studies, field investigations, and the compilation of esoteric documents; their combat personnel are far fewer than those of Mythag.
And that place... is called "Miskatonic University."
No Keepers. No Silver. The "Miskatonic University" in this world naturally lacks what it takes to recruit Doll.
Unfortunately, I don't remember the "night with strange dreams" that Jenkin mentioned; I likely lost all memories leading up to the explosion.
As for your desire to return to your original world... I do have some ideas.
Daffodil should've already told you this world is not a part of Tohuwabohu's dream. Then to find your way back, you may want to learn more about it first.
It will take you longer, but has a higher chance of success. After all, I successfully travelled to several worlds before memory loss. If I did it before, following my methodology should lead you to a similar outcome.
And if you want a more convenient shortcut... I'll need to think about it first.
Besides, there's one more thing you must consider.
Searching the workhouse will not help you find your way back.
You're spending energy on irrelevant tasks. When the day comes, will you really be able to let go of everything here and return to your past life?
Take your time to think it over. Right now, there are more critical matters to face. Look over there.
In the darkness, points of moving light emerge, softly flickering through the night.
More Dissolutes!
The Dissoluted monsters you chased off during the day come swarming in droves. They anxiously jostle and rush about, even pulling and biting at each other.
Time to fight!
11. Poisoned Apple, after the fight
41 linesNo, there are too many of them. At this rate, we won't be able to stop them. The clock tower is going to be breached!
A petite figure rushes towards you, her hair disheveled at the forehead, clearly just awakened from a dream.
%player%! What's going on?! There have never been this many monsters before!
Look at the monsters' movements!
Their vacant eyes all look up at the clock tower, like a pack of wolves in the wilderness howling at the blood-red full moon.
Something on the clock tower is attracting them.
You recall the dissolution aberrations lurking near the door of the basement corridor; they were also yearning for something, thus gathering there.
...
Who came to the clock tower today...
You hear the anguished cries coming from the clock tower, hoarse, broken, and worn down. The moment the wails flood into your ears, you feel as if you are in a bizarre and desperate situation, enough to drive you to madness.
At that time, Sarah let out such a roar before her head burst from guilt...
Watch out for Sarah!!
You burst into the room to find Sarah curled up in the shadows.
She kneels on the ground, fearfully clutching her shoulders, with a long, thin line of blood running from the top of her head to her chin. The dripping crimson makes her appear exceptionally hideous and terrifying.
You hesitate.
Is the person about to lose control in front of you still Sarah? Should you treat her as a monster or as a human?
So she can't even contain this little bit of Silver Core's power. It's only natural to feel pain.
Doll: Inferno approaches Sarah without any hesitation, gently stroking the glow on her forehead, then takes out a small vial of solution and applies it to the cracked skin where white bone is faintly visible.
The Silver Core's shine gradually fades.
This only provides temporary relief. Her body won't hold up much longer, whether we let the symptoms progress or try to remove the Silver Core.
Do you perhaps also know someone skilled in Purification?
...
......
You remember when you first laid eyes on Salvador, in the distant past. Amidst the bustling crowd, he raised his hand, and blood flowed onto the tablets before him.
A blue light flowed along intricate patterns, bright and dim, breathing gently.
All-Father of Genesis, our merciful Creator, please hear my prayer.
Gentle blue tendrils radiated from the tablet, passing through the crowds and dispelling the lingering scent of blood, leaving a faint aroma of incense.
The standing people slowly sat down.
Those sitting there, mouths agape, stared blankly at the miraculous scene before them.
Those who had lost consciousness, or even stopped breathing, slowly opened their eyes in the gentle breeze.
Please relieve their pain and soothe their hearts.
The people's eyes became vacant, their bodies relax. Panic and fear dissippated, replaced by calmness and tranquility.
Relieve them from suffering and grant them the blessing.
The tidal light surged outward, and everyone closed their eyes, as if immersed in tranquility.
...
Salvador's healing power was so tranquil, so steady, it created an absolutely reassuring corner amidst the turbulent reality.
I'm not sure if there are more things in this world that are consistent with what I know... but I hope they exist.
Bishop Salvador of the Church of Redemption.
We will break out of this horde and go find him early tomorrow morning.
12. The Truth, before the fight
33 linesSo you're going to find those West-Whelps? Don't count me in. I don't get along with those snobs.
Besides, I have to stay to protect my sister.
You've got that pink big head woman. Should be enough to keep you safe.
...
Anyway, it's just the two of us responsible for the breakout mission now.
We'll eliminate the Mutants below, head to the Church of Redemption in the West District, and request help from Salvador.
Good. You can then take the opportunity to tell me everything you know before I lost my memory, in great detail.
Aren't you putting it too lightly? As if we still have "opportunities" to take when we're in the middle of a fight!
Doll easily kicks an incoming Mutant away.
Keep boring me with pointless talk, and I'll wipe you out along with them!
...
You recount your experience after meeting Doll: Inferno for the first time: from retrieving her after the avalanche, to her escape from confinement using Doll's spare body, until your transmigration to the current world...
I see. So you blew up my lab and made me work for you for free.
Don't take things out of context. Before that, you destroyed my world and imprisoned me in a brain vat.
That's irrelevant now.
A half-dissolved aberration with a cracked, grotesque face let out a gurgle, spewing thick, dark liquid and emitting a chilling hissing sound.
I tried to destroy the world, you say...
Doll pierces the head of a giant Dissoluted rat with a pincer. Brain matter splatters with a squeak as she nonchalantly shakes the rat off.
According to my memory, I have absolutely no motivation to pursue world destruction.
On the contrary, I have been seeking ways to protect the world from Dissolution, and that endeavor has left me overwhelmed with work.
So you think I'm lying?
No. I can read the honesty in your eyes; I'm not trying to deny what you're saying.
There must be a reason behind the choices I made, but I know nothing about it at the moment.
A hint of barely perceptible bewilderment crosses her eyes.
Me, the genius so obsessed with the Hidden Truth, to the point of abandoning everything I had back in the "Mi-Go" civilization...
Why would I easily turn to destruction?
You keenly capture a unique keyword.
The "Mi-Go" civilization...
In the records of Mythag, the civilization you come from is called Alaemyces...
Alaemyces, "the winged fungi"... Not bad as an alternative name.
However, this is not Kadath we're in. We don't need to avoid naming those connected to Its Watch.
Not Kadath...
You might have many questions, but let's wrap this up. If we keep talking, we won't reach the church before dark.
13. The Truth, after the fight
34 linesNow that you mentioned it, some of the Dissolution monsters here seem different from those in my world.
These monsters appeared after that cataclysm.
I conducted extensive sampling and tests. I had no clue initially, but reached a conclusion after a complicated process.
What is the conclusion?
These Dissolution aberrations contain Silver from more than one life form.
The typical Silver refining process makes no distinction regarding the Silver Cores' source, especially when low-spirit power ones are refined for fuel.
You touch the Silver Core, and chaotic dreams drown you like cold tides.
The stumps of two severed arms, intertwining and merging with each other. They once loved each other so deeply. They surrendered themselves to one another.
Surrender the flesh and blood. Surrender the spirit and body. Clutching at the wild, filthy hair. Be loyal to desires. Be loyal to cravings. Be loyal to the fear and pain of separation.
They scream: Hug me.
They scream: Kill me.
They scream: Let me become you. Let you become me.
Let our humble spirits surge into the eternal dark tides, merging and entangling in a forbidden frenzy, never to separate again.
AAAGGGHHHH...
You howl, collapsing to your knees, instinctively reaching forward.
Anyone...
Anyone... please...
Did you hear that?
Must... merge...
So you did. You heard what those Mutants heard.
Doll sounds as cold and emotionless as ever. Yet those Calls exude the warmth of pain.
Calm your mind and try to capture those voices. The spiritual energy within the Silver Cores is too faint for the instruments to detect. This is something only you can accomplish.
You hear the faint sound of hand drums from a distant, unknown place. A secret path appears, hidden in the darkness.
Dum dum, dum dum.
Those drumbeats grow increasingly urgent. You look down: the black water has already soaked your ankles, urging you to step into the dark dream.
You take a deep breath, clearing your dizzy mind. Struggling to maintain balance, you gently lift your feet in the thick, deep water and slowly start to walk forward...
Your tongue is dry, as if covered in ash.
They were born from the ashes, embracing and merging with each other...
As you struggle to breathe, the smoke buries you deep. You struggle to open your eyes and, along with countless beings, look up to pierce through this endless haze.
They are yearning for...
In the distant pale sky, a blurred sun hangs high.
The black sun hangs high in the sky like an ancient pupil forgotten by time. It silently gazes down upon this swirling nightmare, the earth buried beneath a shroud of gray mist.
Light cannot penetrate it but is instead devoured. The contours shimmer with free-flowing ripples, as if weaving an eternal ritual, proclaiming an irreversible and ineffable end...
...An end that has already descended.
14. Hollow One, before the fight
42 linesAt the Church of Redemption
Are you sure this is the shelter you're looking for?
The situation here... while not exactly the same, it's at least very similar to the clock tower's...
A large number of Dissolution Mutants have surrounded the entire church...
Wait, is that...
Move aside! Do not block the Knight's path!
A short boy approaches you, black shield in hand.
You are... remaining survivors? Quick, follow me inside!
...All-Father, please grant peace and relief to those afflicted, and soothe their suffering souls.
May your healing hand descend upon the afflicted, may the light of your existence dispel the darkness of fear that grips our souls.
Cough, cough!...
Your body is almost transparent now.
Juliette... The All-Father will tolerate all sins, but until you show even the slightest remorse for performing those heretical rituals, it is not appropriate for you to appear in the Church.
So you still refuse to face the reality? Call it "blessing" or "protection" all you like; everything you do is merely burning yourself out.
Your All-Father can neither restore your sight nor cure the affliction upon you.
If you keep holding on, you will fall before those who seem weaker than you in the church now.
Come. Leave with me now, and I'll find a way to heal you.
If I leave the Church, all the patients here will be devoured by the darkness. The All-Father will not have the heart to see His people suffer such a calamity.
You may struggle to hold out for another week or so; but once your spirit is exhausted, they will be left to their own devices anyway.
Forgive my bluntness, but more than half of them will die before even setting foot outside.
Juliette stares intently at Salvador, her eyes so fervent they almost bore holes. As he falls silent, his hands stroking his robe, she flashes a smile so bright that it seems fake.
How about we rename this place the Ossuary of Redemption? To forever rest in the arms of their All-Father; isn't it a form of devout return?
Open your eyes and take a look, Salvador. The entire city is doomed. Your effort is merely a drop in the desert.
The All-Father gives everyone an equal opportunity to live. The longer they live, the greater their chance of encountering the savior.
The Pale Messenger has yet to arrive. There is still hope for the ultimate redemption.
Don't be ridiculous, esteemed Bishop! The so-called "Scripture" is nothing but absurd lies!
The end has come. This world is beyond saving now!
If you still refuse to listen, I will have no choice but to take stronger measures.
From the church's stained glass windows, beneath the pews, and beyond the gate, several tall Lightbearer Devotees quietly emerge.
Bishop Salvador!!
Ogier bursts into the Church, followed by you and Doll: Inferno, who slowly walk inside while observing the surroundings.
Your eyes pass over the Lightbearer Devotees and eventually meet Salvador's. The light from behind the gate casts a soft, sacred glow on his face, and you feel the eyes beneath his bandages fix on you.
He lowers his head, the corners of his lips curling into a barely noticeable arc. He raises his hand to touch the location of his heart, uttering a deep prayer infused with a hint of compassion and warmth.
"Boundless darkness will descend upon the world, the soul that is pale and warm is the emissary of hope, {Male=he,Female=she} will ignite the white flame to illuminate the path forward."
I have sensed the warmth of your soul... Pale Messenger.
...
I thought we were here to seek help. You don't mean for me to help you fight for justice instead, do you?
Juliette...
Oh? Do you know me?
I don't remember ever seeing you. But it seems there's no room for us to sit down and introduce ourselves here.
No... She's not someone we can negotiate with... Get ready for battle.
You sound like you know me quite well. In that case, I'm curious about the source of your information.
15. Hollow One, after the fight
8 linesWell...
Forget it. This is a new development beyond my expectations. I'll come back next time.
However, Bishop Salvador, I noticed... you didn't make a move at all during the battle just now, did you?
Your candlelight is on the verge of collapse. With one gentle breeze, it will poof... go out.
A giant hound comes rushing in, its distorted head obediently lowered, appearing to be completely submissive to Juliette.
Juliette gracefully hops onto its back, leaning against the giant hound's shoulders.
Time for us to go, dear. Take care, Bishop Salvador.
That breeze... is coming for you soon.
16. Deep Dream, before the fight
41 linesWho's there...?!
Don't worry, Jenkin. It's me.
Big sister Clem!
Jenkin happily lunges into Clementine's arms.
Little Jenkin, I'm here to say goodbye.
Why? Why leave? If it's because of that West-Whelp, I'll have Brown chase {Male=him,Female=her} away!
{Male=He,Female=She} looks like {Male=he,Female=she} can handle those monsters {Male=himself,Female=herself}, anyway.
No, of course not... It's just that I heard the wind in my dream.
You're starting to say things I don't understand again.
It's okay if you don't understand; these are not things that children should bear.
Clementine gently strokes Jenkin's head.
If %player% asks, please tell {Male=him,Female=her}...
"In the Depths of the Dream, the one who does not wish to dream will give you the answer."
Bye-bye, Jenkin.
She gracefully leaps down the steps of the clock tower, a pair of translucent, glowing insect wings gradually unfolding behind her.
May this wind lift us to reach the eternal Deep Dream.
...
Miss Sarah, we need to prepare to depart for the Church of Redemption.
Can I stay here? I'm afraid the children won't be able to find me when they come back...
...Alright. I'll go. But before that, can you take me to the matron's office one more time?
I have something I want to pick up...
Are you kidding me? Your office is surrounded by those big monsters!
Although I really want to condemn everyone's foolish pursuit of material things in this world, in the end, it makes no difference to me where you go.
One vote in support, one vote against, one vote neutral. You will cast the final, deciding vote. Three pairs of eyes are fixed directly on you.
Let's go take a look first.
Sarah staggers toward the desk with all her might. Her body wobbles, and she leans against the desk, struggling to catch her breath.
Here.
The wooden drawer is hastily pulled open. Old gold and silver bracelets, brooches, rings... are scattered across the floor in chaos.
Sarah kneels on the ground, trying to gather them one by one.
What time is it? What's the point of collecting these things? The people outside are already, Mmmph!
Doll: Inferno abruptly pulls Jenkin over and stuffs a strange little brain vat into her mouth.
Keep your comments to yourself when it's not your turn to speak.
Mmmpf! ...Huff, huff...
She struggles to pull out the object, gasping for air.
Hey, even if you want me to shut up, at least bring me something that tastes better! This stuff tastes like slimy slugs, it's so disgusting!
Sorry, I forgot that you don't have the ability to turn off your scent and taste sensors.
Time to get moving. I don't like waiting in one place.
Is that all? Once you have everything, let's go to the church.
Those who can fight, come help me clear the path.
17. Deep Dream, after the fight
36 linesHey, old guy from the church! We brought you a patient!
Jenkin rushes into the Church of Redemption before everyone else.
Please remain silent, as there are many patients still residing in the Church, and they may not be able to endure excessive noise.
So you're that miracle doctor? Hmm, you certainly look different from those in white coats at the workhouse.
I am no physician; I merely deliver His Blessing. Please place the patient in the room of the clerk, and I kindly ask everyone to follow me.
Gentle blue light swirls around Sarah, radiating a warm glow and a deep care for life.
Time passes second by second. The faint light in Salvador's palm remains unchanged, but he frowns slightly, and a hint of barely perceptible helplessness and heaviness appears on his face.
I have never seen such a malady. Simply put, an evil power resides within her.
It has created an unusual craving for consuming brains... She is fighting against this desire with sheer will, and it has started to feed on her own brain instead.
And once her brain is entirely consumed...
Salvador lowers his head and traces the prayer rune on his chest.
Tomorrow, I will try to strip away this power within her.
Sarah, can you tell us how you got that scar on your head?
That day...
Aigis suddenly got up in the middle of the night. She walked around the sleeping children beside her, and wobbled towards the dim courtyard on barefoot.
Aigis, Aigis...?
I chased after her, wanting to remind her to put on her shoes. But she didn't pay me any attention at all.
I ran and ran, finally catching up with her at the gate.
I pressed down on her shoulders, turning her body to face me...
But I only saw...
A pair of vacant eyes.
...
At that moment, someone gently rested their hand on my right shoulder.
I turned around, trembling...
It was a stone-colored woman holding a small chisel.
Her index finger gently rested against the similarly pale lips, and she quietly whispered...
Shh, do not disturb "His" children.
...
I can't quite remember what happened after that.
The scar on my forehead was originally left by the doctor. Mr. Roger brought him in to treat me.
After that day, a metallic sheen began to appear... It didn't hurt or itch, though, so I continued with my life just fine.
No wonder you were able to survive the Dissolution.
Someone implanted a highly active Silver Core in your body, forcibly raising your Gnosis Index above the standard line.
The implantation or condensation of Silver Core in the human body... like what they did to 24.
Unfortunately, every gift comes at a price. The pain you are enduring now is largely related to this forcibly extended lifespan.
Can that lofty Bishop save you from the brink of death... let's wait and see.
18. Mortal Sustenance, before the fight
55 linesHave they gone to bed?
Yeah. They need some good rest.
Good. Now, about what you saw in the Dissoluted dreams today...
I saw this dying world.
As death approaches, all living beings instinctively cuddle, embrace, and merge with each other.
Doll... in my world, you triggered various disasters: floods, landslides, Dissolution spreading...
Did you cause everything here, too?
Sorry.
You mean...
Who's over there?
Excuse me. I-it's me.
I am responsible for the last patrol before the church closes. I noticed you weren't in your beds and was only checking around; I wasn't trying to eavesdrop...
It's okay, Ogier, you can join us.
O-Okay.
Ogier clumsily climbs the wooden steps to the platform, carefully avoiding noise so as not to disturb the others.
Back to the question we just discussed.
I have seriously contemplated this: Do these tragic events originate from my actions?
What I can tell you is: It seems highly likely.
It's simple and straightforward, aimed at a clean wipeout of all lives. That does align with my aesthetics.
Yet there's something unusual, I don't use delay devices. That kind of prolonged waiting and pain is a form of torture I cannot tolerate.
And since I've been here working with you, I haven't had the time to correct this inefficiency. My presence here guarantees the current pacing is not mine.
T-That's great to hear!
Why?
When I overheard your conversation, I was worried Miss Doll was the mastermind behind all of this.
In that case, I would have no choice but to make you my enemy.
Now that I know there's another mastermind, I don't have to worry, and I can treat Miss Doll as a companion!
Ogier puts away the long spear he was quietly hiding behind his back, his smile sincere and radiant.
You do, Doll.
Although I know nothing about the Genesis version of you here, I am very familiar with the other Doll, my professor...
Oh? Why don't you tell me what kind of person she is?
...
Doll, the intimidating professor you first met during a Realms Research class.
Doll, who solemnly handed you the Silver Key at the Keybestowal Ceremony.
Doll, who was critical of your lackluster performance, yet always took care of all your worries.
Doll, who fended off Herbert alone at Rye Sanatorium, making sure you could escape.
... and finally, Doll, when she decisively severed the link with you.
Memories flood back. You spent so much time together, went through so much as companions, yet you never realized the depth of your bond.
You pour out everything you know about Doll to her.
...
......
Ha, you complained quite a lot. But you still have deep respect for her, don't you?
Let me guess: Is this the reason you haven't laid a hand on me?
I lost my memory, but you didn't. You had many chances for a surprise attack before I realized who you were, yet you did nothing.
It seems your professor didn't teach you how to properly deal with potential enemies.
At the right moment, perhaps I will take action against you.
But not now.
Stupid puppy... one day you will pay the price for your soft heart.
...
Eeeek, AAAHHHH,
A piercing scream cuts through the night sky.
What's wrong?!
Mason runs in, disheveled. Her distorted arms anxiously tear at her messy hair, shouting incoherent cries at you.
Sarah... Go check on Miss Sarah... Her head... Her head!!
19. Mortal Sustenance, after the fight
29 linesPin her down!
The Silver Core in Sarah's head is gradually dimming, but she still struggles with extraordinary strength, her eyes revealing a maddened glint.
Several tall caretakers approach from both sides, forcibly binding her to the side of the bed with hemp rope.
Please, everyone, there is no need for this. Leave everything to me. The All-Father will heal her soul, which is lost in agony.
Salvador rolls up the robe on his arm, revealing a multitude of shocking scars of all sizes that cover his tough, aged arm.
He cuts open his wrist. Droplets of blood flow onto the church floor, gradually winding into a pattern resembling a magic circle.
Bishop Salvador!!
A maiden rushes out from the crowd. She hurriedly bandages the wound on Salvador's wrist.
Your Excellency, Bishop, I don't know what wicked person you see in Miss Juliette, but I can see the true desires of people clearly.
The advice she gave is heartfelt, sincere, and trustworthy.
Miss Juliette is truly concerned about your health! You cannot perform the "blessing" anymore!
In the center of the crowd, Sarah curls up, holding her head. Her body trembles uncontrollably from the intense pain, her knuckles white from the pressure.
Sophia steps in front of the slightly hunched Salvador, using her weak body to forcefully separate him from Sarah.
Sophia, please step aside.
Since she has come here seeking my help, the All-Father's radiance will dispel the shadows of suffering for her.
Salvador's emaciated figure leans over Sarah. Pale blue lines gradually embrace the wailing woman, who slowly ceases thrashing and peacefully drifts into sleep like an infant.
Salvador coughs violently, a streak of crimson blood slipping from the corner of his mouth. He wipes it away without a change in expression.
Oh, look at you! I'll help you rest right now!
As Sophia helps Salvador away, Doll: Inferno lets out a cold snicker.
Doll, what are you laughing at?
That priest, of course.
Isn't his logic ridiculous? He should have given this up long ago.
If he prioritized himself, perhaps he could save more in the future.
Instead, he exhausts his power, protecting this church only to slightly delay the inevitable slaughter of those weak lambs.
He insists that "more people is better than fewer," yet his actions today contradict his past decisions.
To save one person while diminishing the survival chances of everyone else here... the reasoning of a human "Saint" truly lacks all rationality.
Then what would you do, Doll?
Struggling in a world that does not allow them to live, waiting for a liberation that may never arrive... They are beyond saving.
I will choose to end their pain. I will end everyone's pain.
20. Answer of Maybes, before the fight
61 linesThe sea is calling you.
It is a dark sea, shimmering with dim hues of yellow and green, under the canopy of distant stars.
It is the death-like long dream of the Great Dreamer. It is also where darkness and silence reign beneath Dark Stars.
Entwining, clashing, tearing, struggling, tendrils intertwine and fight against each other.
One of them howls: "I will devour that delicious vessel, the source of spirituality and intelligence, the carrier of thought and imagination, the organ of fantasy and delusion."
The other responds: "You shall drown in the lake bottom with your decaying greed, where stars are unseen."
...
......
You step into the church compartment. Mason tends to the quietly sleeping Sarah by the sickbed, the fireplace's dim glow casting a warm hue on her cheeks.
Bishop Salvador stands by the window, quietly gazing outside, like a silent statue.
Sarah murmurs in pain. As you approach, Mason places a finger to her lips, softly says, "Shh," and picks up a white handkerchief to wipe Sarah's sweat away.
Can't find the reason?
No, quite the opposite. I already have some clues. It's just...
I believe you are all familiar with how an "Awakener" comes into being, so I will forgo the details.
The power of the Supreme Being within Miss Sarah is in fierce conflict with the other Supreme Being that sustains her soul.
If the Silver Core implanted in her head is removed, her consciousness will vanish. But without the Dreamer's power, her body will turn to ash like everyone else's.
Unfortunately, I truly cannot heal her with the All-Father's strength. Regardless of which power prevails, Miss Sarah's life is difficult to sustain.
I understand. So she is doomed to die.
It's either giving up life or living in pain... Is there no third option?
Salvador shakes his head, his slightly disheveled white hair brushing against the bishop's robe with a rustling sound.
Doll: Inferno looks at you, her eyes revealing an untimely victorious smile, as if boasting, "See? I was right, wasn't I?"
Cough, cough...
A violent cough echoes from the darkness. On Sarah's face, tormented by agony, the silvery cracks become even more grotesque.
I heard something... is it %player%... Are you here?
Is she... calling for me?
Who else could it be? Is there anyone else here named %player%?
You lean close to Sarah's bedside. Mason helps her sit up. Sarah gasps for breath, struggles to steady herself, and finally looks up at you with a forced smile.
Kind {Male=sir,Female=lady}... may I ask you for a favor?
Please go ahead.
I can tell you are a well-informed person.
Could you find a way to give these pieces of jewelry to Mr. Rogers? They are to cover little Aigis's living expenses before she becomes independent.
I know I probably won't see the day she grows up... Mr. Rogers is generous, and he probably doesn't need it.
But with this jewelry, at least she won't be a complete burden... That child was abandoned by her mother since she was little, and I want her to know that at least I didn't abandon her...
Then, tell her that when she grows up, she must remember to bring a bouquet of flowers to little T'yog and little Willy's graves every year... Those kids are still so young; they must be very afraid of loneliness.
What about you, Sarah?
Don't worry, I won't give up easily. I will struggle to live until my day comes. Even with just a glimmer of hope... I want to see those children one more time.
On the deserted streets of London, you let out a long sigh. Even the dust-laden road is more pleasant than the heavy air in that room.
Doll: Inferno walks beside you, maintaining a half-step distance.
Doll. I can answer your earlier question now.
Then I shall hear your sophistry.
You know, I can tell Sarah is already a dead person to you. Her attachment to this world must seem meaningless.
But that's not the case. She still thinks about the children who were taken away.
This is how ordinary humans think. This is why they cling to life, no matter what.
The deaths you want to catalyze will be the deprivation of their last glimmer of hope.
But hope is merely an elusive illusion; only the present pain they are facing is real.
Even if it means living in an illusion, many people are willing to endure the pain for the sake of hope.
This is the resilience of humanity.
You said you don't understand the purpose of Salvador's actions, but I do.
His actions are guided by a single principle: to equally let everyone live on.
In his eyes, saving lives is not a matter of numerical calculation. What he sees are countless people yearning to survive.
As long as they are surviving, there is a future, and there are possibilities.
"Possibilities," huh?...
Doll: Inferno ponders for a moment, then snorts coldly as if recalling something.
Hmph, since you said that, come with me.
Where to?
To bear witness... To confirm an answer.
Remember to bring that little mouse along; we have a use for her.
21. B-68, before the fight
16 linesHey, West-Whelp, where are you taking me? Dragging me out of my sweet dream so early...
I was sleeping so nice. I dreamed I was a little mouse walking on a tightrope. Everything smelled so sweet, so buttery. My nose was about to touch the most delicious cheese...
And you just smacked me awake with a pillow.
You should thank us. Your dream was about one of the most common and efficient mouse traps.
Beneath the tightrope would be a water tank over a meter deep. The sweet aroma is coming from the transparent container.
One misstep, and you'll slip, plunging into an abyss of no return.
If you want to be a free-spirited mouse, you need to be smarter.
Doll, where are we heading?
My lab, of course.
Do you remember? I once told you that we could take a "shortcut."
That shortcut is "stealing."
Stealing?
Yes. Stealing. We're stealing "my" research results.
I don't know the scale of the explosion you triggered, but I always carefully stored key research results.
If this little mouse's ability to burrow and search is truly that good, she can help us excavate records from the ruins, significantly shortening my research cycle.
Alright, enough talk. Time to remove these obstacles to the laboratory ruins.
22. B-68, after the fight
23 linesHey, West-Whelp, am I seeing things?
No... You're not.
The laboratory, which had once collapsed into a pile of stones, now appears in its original form at the corner of the street. You rub your eyes again and again, confirming it's not an illusion.
I have a hypothesis. Little mouse, you stay outside.
You pulled me out of bed when you needed me, and now you're kicking me away when you don't? That's unfair!
Jenkin, behave. You still need to take care of your sister Mason, remember? We'll be out in a moment.
It's probably going to take more than just "a moment." Anyway, time to sneak in. Be careful.
It has been half a month since you woke up in this laboratory, yet what lies before you is miraculously exactly the same as what you first saw.
To restore a thoroughly destroyed building... this indicates the builder possesses two key abilities.
First, the ability to complete the design and construction of a building in such a short period of time showcases the builder's engineering capabilities.
Second, the builder must be intimately familiar with my lab's structure, having lived in it for a long time...
Based on this reasoning, this person should be...
H-huh? %player%, why are you back? Quick, before she notices...
Winkle comes around the corner, fiddling with the computation machines, looking at you in astonishment.
Then her eyes drop to the shadow behind you.
Her pupils contract sharply. Terror washes over her face, and the device in her hand clatters to the ground, scattering metal parts with an ear-splitting ring.
Sorry, sorry, SORRY! Doll, I didn't know you were here, I didn't mean to... I'm sorry, really!
And there's one more thing I must remind you...
This builder possesses all the destructive devices in my laboratory.
She also has the same highest level of access to them all.
Right?
At the end of the corridor, a figure identical to the other slowly steps out. The two stare at each other across the entire laboratory, like reflections in a massive mirror.
"The Other" Doll: Inferno.
23. Path Untaken, before the fight
42 linesThe reboot mechanism of "my" spare bodies is simple: if one goes out of contact with the central brain for over 24 hours, the next backup body activates automatically.
Therefore, when I fell into a coma after the accident, the new body #B-68 activated. This body, having lost some memories, is a defective item that should have been discarded.
In other words, the "Doll: Inferno" standing before us is the more complete version of "me."
You are very smart, just like me, No. B-67.
So, a discarded defect has returned to this laboratory with my runaway puppy. You can't be here for a chat, can you?
If I claim priority because my number is lower, you definitely won't admit this lab belongs to me.
But it's not impossible for us to reach a friendly agreement.
So, do you want to join me?
It depends on what you've been doing during this time.
What am I doing? Why ask? Of course I'm continuing the great work of mine, of yours, the great catalysis of world's end!
Come, dear! Share the joy with me! During your absence, I have ended Kadath across a full six alternative dimensions!
You and Doll exchange a glance.
It seems friendliness is out of the question.
Regrettable! Oh, how regrettable! Not even I can comprehend my own desire now!
She suddenly stops her passionate monologue, turning her burning stare toward you and Doll: Inferno.
I suppose you've forgotten everything about that Tablet, haven't you?
The two of you answer her arrogant question with silence.
Of course, of course! Perfect! Let's consider this a rehearsal for the impending doom, the destruction in Inferno!
Did you know? There is a burning desire inside me.
I long to impart everything about the Tablet to the world. I yearn to make them aware of the utter absurdity of what they seek and pursue.
No one knows why they have everything, nor do they heed the world's destined fate.
The world's destruction is imminent. Their existence will be devoured by darkness, yet the mediocrities remain blind to it all!
But I saw it! I SAW IT!
She grows increasingly frenzied, her thick pincers smashing against the ground. The chilling sound of them piercing the wooden floor sends shivers down your spine.
Therefore, in the form of death, I bestow the same absurdity upon the numb mediocrities, granting them the privilege of awakening.
I grant them armor strong enough to withstand fire and electricity, and then pierce their chests with my sharp pincers.
I randomly give away thousands of earthquake mining machines to passersby. Greedy people fight over the fields, and the resonance-induced earthquakes surprisingly outnumber those I trigger myself.
I put you barking fools into brain vats, forcing you to sit and witness the arrival of nightmares.
Is that all? Is that "my" choice?
How weak. I thought a stronger link to my Genesis form would lead to greater wisdom, but I see the trap of science has guided you to a scientific cul-de-sac.
Do you know the value of biological armor? Neither fire nor electricity can penetrate it. We could wear it to step into the magma layer and explore the mysteries below.
The earthquake mining machines... They are meant to penetrate strata and excavate Silver through high-speed vibrations.
As for the brain vats... They are designed to preserve invaluable brains and the knowledge they contain, not for the reckless and arbitrary collection of waste.
And you waste them on meaningless pastimes for fun. You're as ignorant and wasteful as that N.
You've been trapped in another kind of madness for too long, another me.
Humanity has always paved the way to the future through exploration, yet you wantonly seal off all possibilities and hope.
There is no possibility, and there is no hope!
All answers are drowned in eternal darkness, and all similar or different dimensions will only lead to a single outcome!
%player%. Hope is just a poison that brings more pain. Only through complete and swift destruction can everyone attain true relief.
The glimmering pincer is raised high, ready to pierce your skull in the next moment.
Since you are unwilling to let go of that crude hope...
Then prepare to embrace the perfect, efficient death that I bestow upon you!
24. Path Untaken, after the fight
19 linesB-68, can you tell me... what exactly happened in this world? What did you see on that Tablet?
Hahaha! Facing a defeated enemy, is this truly the question you choose to ask?
How arrogant. Shameless, almost!
Don't you think you're the ultimate winner!
Be it the Miskatonic of this world or your Mythag University, everything they do is nothing more than the struggles of ants to that Supreme Being.
The brief respite you "won" was neither the result of your personal sacrifice nor of any mercy from that Being; it was merely a byproduct of Its fleeting curiosity about Its own fragment.
It held Its breath and focused, taking a glance at Its shard, forgetting to breathe momentarily...
Then you all assumed the crisis was over, the fairytale was finished? That the prince and princess would live happily ever after?
Ridiculous! Hilarious!
You have no idea what I know! Everything, all of it is merely...
Her speech turns into cries of fear, rooted in the corrupt air. Her lips move, trying to scream out the transcendent Truth, but the syllables dissolve into noise beyond human understanding.
Distortion, distortion, like a cry from the Unknown. Fear and despair spread like a thick fog, quietly filling every inch of the room.
Is that so... The world is rejecting the transmission of the truth...
Then let me see how long your pitiful hope can last; how long can you cling to that hope in this carnival of apocalypse!
You can kill me.
But Destruction will inevitably come.
The once invincible automaton's eyes dim. The meticulously fitted prosthetics shatter and fall apart, and the brain that had once destroyed countless worlds ceases to function.
25. Within the Rain, before the fight
105 linesThree days later
I've retrieved all the available notes. Two things are immediately clear: First, the Tablet B-68 mentioned is missing.
Secondly, although I've found the method I used to jump to your dimension at that time, it is not applicable to you.
In simple terms: Consciousness transfer requires near-perfect physical similarity. In your world, a body that fits your unique resonance no longer exists.
Another way is through the brain vat and body reconstruction, but this requires the frequency data of your consciousness, and the corresponding experiment report has been lost.
Is there any way to get it back?
Yes. But it carries an unacceptable risk: I must attempt to synchronize my mind with the original, complete Doll: Inferno.
In other words, I will become that Genesis Awakener, your enemy.
And she won't give me the experiment report anyway.
Exactly.
Remember? I didn't tell you what this shortcut is immediately.
Because this "shortcut" demands a commensurate cost.
Choosing it means I will inevitably tread the path of my original self, reverting to the pursuit of destruction.
The struggle against "oneself", it sounds foolish, foolish enough that it fails to justify my "genius" title.
But if I had read this report beforehand, perhaps I wouldn't be able to stand by your side so resolutely.
In short, the report is yours now.
Assess your mental state before reading.
You calm your mind and unfold the yellowed manuscript.
"The Gaze of Tohuwabohu: A Quantitative Study of Spiritual Target Tracking and Response"
Objective: To observe and record Tohuwabohu's response to high-Gnostic Index targets using quantitative and qualitative methods, verifying the patterns of Gaze tracking movement in relation to spiritual targets. This experiment aims to reveal the visual characteristics of Tohuwabohu and its response mechanisms to specific targets.
Background: According to historical literature and previous experimental records (see Investigation into the Causes of the Dissolution Phenomenon), Tohuwabohu's Gaze induces the Dissolution Phenomenon. However, the exact mechanism by which Tohuwabohu registers and captures a target remains unclarified. Studying the gaze tracking mechanism of Tohuwabohu will facilitate the development of countermeasures necessary to sustain the current world.
Experimental Materials: 1. Seven (7) distinct spiritual material samples. 2. Nine (9) Dimension-Crossing Pods, complete with stabilized fuel cells. 3. Data Acquisition Log Sheets.
Methods: 1. Environment Setup: Select nine (9) target dimensions exhibiting stable and near-equivalent baseline spiritual value fluctuations. 2. Procedures: ① Introduce spiritual materials into each dimension in an established, randomized sequence. ② Establish covert infiltration protocols with local Dissolution resistance cells (e.g., Mythag University affiliates) to obtain real-time Dissolution burst frequency data. ③ Utilize a stabilized, low-Gnosis Index Silver Core unit for data transmission to Receiver Unit Prosthetic No. 279. ④ Organize and submit transmitted data for statistical and qualitative analysis.
...
In the second experiment report, Doll: Inferno launched seven Prosthetics simultaneously instead of randomly introducing spiritual materials to each dimension.
In the third report, the number of spiritual materials used has changed.
...
The final manuscript had become exceptionally messy.
Meaningless. All of it. The investigation, the results, utterly pointless. The foundational premise is flawed: Spiritual beings themselves are the targets of Its capture. Any organic existence registering a Gnosis Index above 21 becomes a flare, dragging Its Divine Gaze onto local space-time. The contamination is collateral. Publication of this report will not save the world; it will trigger the inevitable, more barbaric outcome: the systematic selection, trapping, and execution of high-GI individuals by the rest of humanity.
And the problem extends beyond our species: many marine ecosystems have entire populations with a Gnosis Index higher than 21. The supposed "solution" would be to neutralize all marine life across all seas. This action would also result in world destruction.
All solutions are pointless; Its Gaze is inevitable.
No one can be saved.
The brief respite you "won" was neither the result of your personal sacrifice nor of any mercy from that Being; it was merely a byproduct of Its fleeting curiosity about Its own fragment.
It held Its breath and focused, taking a glance at Its shard, forgetting to breathe momentarily...
Then you all assumed the crisis was over, the fairytale was finished? That the prince and princess would live happily ever after?
Ridiculous! Hilarious!
You have no idea what I know! Everything, all of it is merely...
You startle awake from the daze after reading the lab report, realizing that you are drenched in cold sweat.
The arrogant Doll: Inferno was once a cautious researcher at Mythag. The researcher you knew.
But in that timeline, she realized the cruel truth behind Dissolution sooner than the Doll of your world.
Your sacrifice cannot bring long-lasting peace to the world.
Your battle is not over yet; you must make Mythag and Ramona aware of this...
You must go back.
On the farewell day, the fine rain drizzles.
It seems that the key moments of your life are always accompanied by a fine drizzle.
Whether it was the day you opened your eyes in Yakutsk, the day of the Keybestowal Ceremony, or the day you resolved to become the Guardian of the Gate...
On every calm and rainy night, you can't help but worry whether a new turning point in your life will suddenly arrive.
You recall your farewell with Doll: Inferno.
I will stay in the lab. Cessation is not the answer; I may one day repeat the same madness.
Before reaching the Absolute Truth, I must commit wholly and continue my research, even in the face of destruction.
This looks like the Doll I know... No, still somewhat different.
You are driven by the same obsession, despite appearing entirely different on the surface.
But at least, Doll is not as agitated and dangerous as before.
Doll asked me to give you this brooch. Let me pin it on you.
Winkle pins a brooch to your chest.
Winkle... you have helped me a lot along the way. I haven't even had the chance to truly thank you.
Thank you for being my first friend here, Winkle.
There's no need to be so polite. I've heard a lot about you from Doll. You were already friends with another version of me.
I'm still very scared... but a voice in my mind tells me you will bring the light we need to this world.
Look over there, they're all here to see you off.
...
I'm not going, I'm not going to thank {Male=him,Female=her}! I dug {Male=him,Female=her} out of a pile of rubble, and I saved {Male=his,Female=her} life. I should be thanked!
Be good, Jenkin.
Thank you for saving my sister. We have little to offer, but please take this ribbon as a keepsake.
She ties a crimson silk ribbon around your wrist.
Sister!
I can't have it...
Please, take it. You and Ms. Doll donated a lot of Silver to the Church, enough to sustain Bishop Salvador for a long time. This is the least we can do to show our gratitude.
I can see the brilliance of your soul, like a pale flickering flame, still unstable, yet bright and warm.
Bishop Salvador... If I find a way to resolve the crisis, I will rush to the Church at the first opportunity.
I trust you, Pale Messenger. One day, you will bring redemption and hope to those who suffer in the Church.
...
After saying goodbye to everyone, you take a deep breath of the cool raindrops. In a corner of the street, a figure suddenly darts into the edge of your vision, instantly capturing your attention.
!
Wait! Excuse me, sir, hold on a moment!
The blond man's robe flutters. He seems to be evading your pursuit and quickens his pace.
...William, is that you? ...William!
You don't have time to think much; you break into a full sprint, and the neighborhoods blur past your vision.
...
......
Huff... Huff...
Your lungs burn, insufficient air meeting the hypoxic demand. You gasp for breath, and the surge of blood begins to restore cognitive clarity.
...When did the sky turn dark?
Southwark Street... No. 44...
Last time, at this moment, your most important partner was by your side.
Southwark Street is in the West District. It seems that this time, we will have the chance to witness the renowned Investigator William in action.
Even William has to go, huh...
But now, there is no one by your side.
This is what it takes to face Dissolution.
Keeper, you are special. That's why you cannot stop here.
We must do something. Save people. Bring change. But, even if nothing is achieved in the end...
Before the arrival of that dark night when all is forgotten, let your memory be the final witness to everything that has transpired.
I will do it. Ramona, please wait for me.
Having drawn strength from your memories, you are now ready to face this solitary journey.
Time to go.
May the Silver Key light your path.
Beep, beep...
The brooch from Doll: Inferno, pinned to your chest by Winkle, suddenly beeps.
You press the brooch. A soft sound echoes, and the communication connects.
Hello. Testing connection.
Doll: Inferno, you...
Be grateful.
To ensure you, the poor little rain-soaked puppy, don't feel too lonely, contact me through this communicator whenever you require support on the journey ahead.
Set off now.
This time... Destruction is your ally.