Wake From a Long Dream

Hardly had he finished when an arrow whooshed through the air.

There is no answer.

Sharp turns around to see that the door to the restaurant has turned into a metal wall crawling with Originium.

But it is not Stormeye standing behind him—

Pith gazes at the communicator silently with a furrowed brow.

The footsteps disappear into the distance.

But the fallen Originium entities rise again, moving in perfect unison, striding over the damaged communicator on the ground.

Ascalon points her sleeve-blade towards a wavering shadow not far away.

Silhouettes manifest from the shadows like ghosts, every step accompanied by the sound of crystal cracking.

As they pass by the Originium crystals, Misery catches a glimpse of a fleeting image in the multi-faceted reflections of the crystals.

Clack, clack—

A sharp claw separates itself from the surface of the Originium crystal, then curled horns, rugged silhouette, and spiked tail.

This creature is not unfamiliar to Rhodes Island's battle records, but never has it been composed solely of Originium.

As the never-before-seen form of life takes its first step, an arrow impales its throat and shatters its skull.

Stormeye leans against the wall and pauses to catch his breath, before tending to his wounds.

More rampaging machines rush into the corridor, the light in their eyes flashing in sync.

Their simple voice units repeat a call for help, defying the limitations of their design.

Stormeye's arrow pierces the cores of two of the machines with unerring accuracy. Then he makes a run for it, not pausing to look back.

Two virtually identical corridors extend as far as Stormeye's eye could see.

The pathways within Rhodes Island are undergoing constant, haphazard changes. No one knows to which fates the diverging corridors lead.

The rampaging machines are catching up.

The passage before Kal'tsit changes again, in an attempt to lead her astray.

But the warping of space does not affect Kal'tsit. She can still sense her target—the Sarcophagus of Doctor.

The information is etched into the bottommost layer of her memory.

Once again, she stands before the familiar Sarcophagus.

Once, she awoke the hope that slumbered within, only to find pain that could not be easily wiped away.

Now, it is their last hope.

Kal'tsit walks towards the Sarcophagus and places a white flower on top of it.

She enters the Sarcophagus.

'Raidian...'

'Track me...'

Raidian tracks the faint signal to an unexpected source.

'This is Raidian speaking.'

'With assistance, I have been able to establish a temporary electromagnetic communications environment.'

'Intel provided by Dr. Kal'tsit indicates that the abnormal events currently occurring on Rhodes Island originated from the core area known as the Abyss.'

'You are now receiving a briefing about the Abyss. All elite operators are asked to locate the Abyss, while making every effort to ensure your own safety.'

'I repeat. Locate the Abyss, but do not approach without permission. Maintain constant communication at all times.'

'Do your duty, elite operators—'

'Dr. Kal'tsit will be your eyes.'

The Originium entities continue to rush towards Warfarin. Two successfully penetrate her defenses.

They raise their hands towards Chloe—

Then stop. Their motion is not one of aggression, more like an invitation to the patient in front of them, one who is so close to death's door—

Chloe takes the hand of the Originium entity. Her eyes are filled with sorrow.

Warfarin repels the Originium entity in front of Chloe and stands before her patient in a defensive posture.

Originium formations are growing at a visible pace. They thought they knew Originium well enough, but now the facets of the crystals threaten to draw their very minds in.

Stormeye narrows his eyes. He sees Sharp's mouth moving, but his ears hear nothing.

All is quiet. Soon, he cannot even hear his own heartbeat.

The expression he sees on Sharp's face changes.

The next instant, all sound disappears from Rhodes Island, leaving only dead silence in the communications channel that Raidian established.

'Don't fall behind, Stormeye.'

He sees familiar figures, men who were once brothers to him...

He has been reunited with the brothers from his wandering days. But they died long ago...

'That beer we looted is gonna get warm if you don't drink it quick. What are you so worried about?'

'Yeah, the rocks have gotten to my throat, but I can still drink. Haven't gotten my tongue yet.'

'You really want to go with those people? Suit yourself. Won't shed any tears for you if you die on that Rhodes Island.'

'But... sit a while longer by the fire before you go. The moons are almost up. Don't you want to see them?'

He had yearned for a peaceful parting with his brothers, but right now all Stormeye feels is anger.

At the same time, on the other side of Rhodes Island...

'Where are you going?'

'You've already found me, Ascalon.'

'There's no need to go any further.'

Only a timely push by Misery saved Ascalon from the flying Originium shrapnel.

'We haven't settled our bet yet, Misery.'

'Don't get distracted. Look, I still have four rounds left in my gun.'

Originium is growing rampant, and the appearances of the mysterious Originium enemies are ever more frequent, accompanied by 'illusions' that they cannot help but be distracted by—

The very place itself is trying to drive them out.

Ascalon wants to reach Raidian, to tell her that the Abyss has been located...

But the Originium drowns out all sound.

The deathly silence is a mystery, a tomb made of lead, threatening to drag Rhodes Island into an abyss from which there is no escape—

'This is Mantra'.

'I've spoken to Dr. Kal'tsit. I will not suffer this mockery of memory and emotion.'

Every operator on Rhodes Island hears Mantra's voice in their head. It is her Originium Arts, the power and fury of which all of them can sense.

'If it tries to stop us with silence—'

'—Then I will be the voice that connects us.'

'Now, I return your voices to you.'

You carefully lead Amiya through a forest of Originium shards. Your ability to precisely predict when and where explosions will occur is a major advantage.

Focused on the path ahead, you fail to notice a little detail on the massive crystal formation that you just passed.

It is not your figures that are reflected in the smooth surface of the Originium crystal.

A Cautus girl with her back to you, her thin, fragile hand held by another, just like you and Amiya right now.