Loading
'Her'
- Priestess
You seem a bit down, Doctor.
- Priestess
Care to share the reason with me?
- Oracle
QHU9112, another fading star system.
- Oracle
It's a new high tide. What surrounds us is merely the first wave, It's arriving much faster than we anticipated.
- Oracle
We don't have much time left...
- Priestess
But we're prepared, yes?
- Priestess
We've planted a seed of hope, and now we need only wait for it to grow a solution.
- Priestess
Don't fret. Treat it as a regular hibernation. No different than prior time travels, just a little longer.
- Priestess
And this time, I will be there by your side.
- Priestess
I hope after crossing the quiet, endless night, the first thing I see when awake is you.
- Oracle
We still haven't figured out a solution from our debates...
- Oracle
Originium is our last hope, and we have few alternatives. We must think twice before we choose our path.
- Priestess
......
Priestess gently holds the hand of the person by her side.
She does not speak her thoughts, but they transform into images within this mind-resonance room—visuals symbolizing happiness and hope.
Her gaze is sincere and clear.
- Priestess
I've never forgotten our matter of debate, Doctor. We shouldn't hold any reservations towards each other.
- Priestess
Look, this is in fact my mindset when we discuss our future. We should harbor the same set of expectations.
- Priestess
The identical lynchpins embedded in our minds are what tie us together.
- Priestess
Our minds are inseparably linked, until our consciousnesses follow suit with the universe's demise.
- Priestess
We do clash and argue endlessly, but that is precisely the reason why we most understand each other's disposition.
- Priestess
I know for certain it is in our nature to harbor hope for the future. We serve as anchors for one another in this hollow sea of stars.
- Oracle
Even if we can't agree on our differing views on Originium? Our planned paths for it can't coexist...
- Oracle
Priestess, I'm not sure...
- Priestess
Then let's continue to wait.
- Priestess
It's fine if you're not willing to hibernate yet. We still have some time.
- Priestess
We can read the classics stored inside DWDB together, or interpret the many verses left by dead planets in this universe.
- Priestess
I'll wait, Doctor, until you make the choice to stand by my side.
- Oracle
Priestess...
- Priestess
Take it easy, Doctor. Your recent observations must have exhausted you.
- Priestess
Close your eyes and rest a while. I'll play you a chord on the gravitational forces of distant stars, and you'll enjoy a sweet dream.
Goodnight, Doctor.
Until the end of time, when we have transcended the silence of the universe.
I will wait for you in that world.
- Mon3tr
(Excited roar)
- Priestess
......
Mon3tr appears by your side, but its stance is slightly different than usual.
Without a command from Kal'tsit, it zips towards the enemy, although a cluster of Originium rises from the ground, fully encasing the monster within.
- Priestess
You really have surprised me, AMa-10.
- Priestess
You've broken free of my control at the price of severing your own gemini cycle system, even if this makes your life now utterly fragile.
- Priestess
However, do you really intend to kill me via this method?
- Kal'tsit
I knew from a long time ago your consciousness was already assimilated into the information within Originium.
- Kal'tsit
Under these circumstances, it is impossible to truly kill you.
- Kal'tsit
But what Theresa and Theresis accomplished convinced me of something.
- Kal'tsit
Your control over Originium is not absolute, and there still exist some methods to limit your authority over it.
- Priestess
I did meet the two you speak of, within the Originium.
- Priestess
Their efforts were indeed unexpected, and a pleasantly surprising struggle.
- Priestess
But what of it? How are you so sure now that killing me here won't be a futile act?
- Kal'tsit
When Mon3tr attacked you, you chose to defend yourself.
- Priestess
......
- Priestess
How did you do it?
- Kal'tsit
I see you have noticed.
- Kal'tsit
Based on Theresa's research into Originium as well as the trap you set for Doctor, I added a few plans to your awakening room.
- Kal'tsit
As long as you wake up here, your consciousness will be trapped in this body, unable to return to Originium's sea of information.
- Priestess
...?
- Kal'tsit
Perhaps you will eventually manage to break through this restriction, and regain control over Originium, but right now you are merely human.
- Priestess
To think you'd go this far to rebel against me—
- Kal'tsit
Priestess, you are not Terra's creator. The life on this land has no obligation to bend to your will.
- Kal'tsit
...This is my revenge on you, and my final act of resistance.
You see the woman standing across from you reveal a hint of hesitation, but immediately after, Originium surrounds her.
- Kal'tsit
...It's too late.
- Mon3tr
(Agitated roaring)
- Amiya
Dr. Kal'tsit... it's my turn to protect you now.
Black Arts crash and smash the Originium cluster, freeing Mon3tr as it quickly resumes its attack.
Originium crystals begin to grow again, but it's too late to form a barrier strong enough to resist Mon3tr's claws.
You see a nervous look on Priestess's face, a show of fear from the creator towards her creation.
- Priestess
...!
As if Priestess finally recognizes the threat she is facing, the Originium on the entire deck responds to her consciousness and begins to rapidly grow.
Mon3tr has already closed in on its prey.
- Mechanist
Five on the right confirmed paralyzed.
- Logos
'Perish.'
- Blaze
A bit scary at first, but in the end it just brought out enemies we've beaten before. Easy peasy.
- Blaze
Eat this now—
- Blaze
Am I just imagining it, or are our enemies spawning slower now?
- Raidian
This is PRTS's core system. The whole time it's been copying data of enemies we've faced in the past and pasting them here.
- Raidian
But now it's reading the data so slowly, like something's hindering it...
- Raidian
It seems like whatever the Doctor and the rest are doing is taking effect.
- Ascalon
Let's seize this chance and smash it.
- Ascalon
We need to reach the Abyss's depths... there are people waiting for us.
- Kal'tsit
Mon3tr, meltdown.
Black Arts and lasers take turns shooting at the gigantic and complex crystal cluster. The fierce assault even manages to suppress the Originium from spreading further.
Until the light of Arts swallow Priestess's figure.
Smoke and dust scatter, leaving only Originium fragments on the ground.
And a tattered white coat.
- Kal'tsit
......
- Amiya
I can't feel... any signs of life, or any emotions...
- Amiya
Maybe...
Everything happens so suddenly you haven't had the time to regard the series of events as reality.
You saw that fearsome foe reduced to ashes right before your eyes.
Yet you feel no relief at all.
- ???
Are we quite finished playing yet?
- Amiya
How—
- Kal'tsit
Doctor, Amiya, fall back!
- Priestess
A powerful show of resistance, AMa-10. Your plan has proven effective.
- Priestess
As you say, there is indeed a chance for you to kill me now...
- Priestess
But how does a single substitute made of Originium fluster you so?
- Kal'tsit
...!
- Priestess
AMa-10, I have no intention of debating the value of your beliefs.
- Priestess
The principles you have always insisted on are so insignificant I can't even find a credible logical framework to assess their significance.
- Priestess
It is not uncommon for experiments to turn out like this—small errors ultimately growing into huge obstacles. I have no choice but to accept this result.
- Priestess
I'm very sorry, but I must treat you as an error, and wipe you out.
Priestess raises her hand.
Originium begins to grow once more. Thorned crystal branches tightly envelop you and Amiya in a second, nearly swallowing you both.
Amiya tries her best to shatter the surrounding Originium with her Arts, but the crystal clusters only grow faster.
- Amiya
Doctor! Get behind me—
- Kal'tsit
—!
- Kal'tsit
Mon3tr—
It all happens in a flash of light.
You see the Originium crystal cluster near you explode. Amiya wanted to protect you, but time does not allow for her reaction.
You see the black monster rush over, blocking you both from the cluster with its large, solid body.
You see Kal'tsit...
- Priestess
What a pity.
Doctor, do you ever doubt the meaning in your own existence? I do.
I understand my mission clearly. It is difficult, but I recognize its meaning.
As for the future, I believe you will find an answer. I can only persevere in that belief.
Don't spare too much worry for me. Rhodes Island shouldn't be so fragile that one person's departure would leave it unable to proceed on.
My hope?
It is to protect yours and Amiya's hopes.
Though our definitions of 'protect' have nothing in common, it's an oath I will never abandon. I will be standing here with you, until the very end.
We are unable to forget the past, but a different future may await you.
I have found the meaning of my life.
Please lead Rhodes Island...
And keep going.
Doctor.
Unconsciously, I seem to have grown accustomed to having someone at my side, guiding me.
Until now. I finally am sure of what I want to do.
No matter what happens, I will continue down this path. I will not abandon hope.
But...
...What about you?
- Amiya
Dr. Kal'tsit—！
It all happens so quick, but you still manage to comprehend the cruel truth.
The foe you all face is incomprehensible by conventional means. She has authority over all Originium.
The bit of Originium on Kal'tsit's right shoulder is proof that she was born human, but also what steals her life away.
Originium crystals begin to spread as they swallow her entire body, only to shatter as the wind blows them away—your eyes fail to capture the entire process.
With strength, comes fragility.
A long life ends here.
She has kept her promise.
