[Main Story 16-01]
The clock struck midnight. As the city slept, this building shaded by foliage came to life.
It was made entirely of silvery-white steel, with black ivy winding itself thickly up every wall.
The vast room had no lights, only natural light coming in from the domed roof.
Bright enough that the faces of all 10 people sitting around the center were completely illuminated.
Twisted, subtle, taciturn… this was a somber atmosphere that even a mask couldn’t conceal.
Since the last gathering, it had already been three months.
??: Everyone knows, correct? Hades’ Reset Plan has begun.
??: So that’s the reason he deserted us? I really never saw much in him.
??: As expected. What progress has he made in his plan? Are those others still in the dark?
As the words were spoken, scenes of panic and chaos at various hospitals appeared on a marble wall.
The branches of black ivy on the walls were like little black eyes staring at these 10 individuals.
A towering man stood up, a sneer on his face.
??: Heh, what’s this Reset Plan? It’s nothing but a powerless clown’s ridiculous trick.
??: Do you not understand? Everyone is already within his grasp.
One man whose head had been lowered finally lifted his white-masked face, his eyes lightless.
??: We can’t touch him now. Just who is behind him supporting his operations?
A high-pitched woman’s voice spoke out:
??: Could it be that Fatima’s Prophecy… has really come?
Someone quickly patted her on the shoulder.
??: Relax. At this stage, shouldn’t we be more worried about Ares?
The group one by one turned to those two seats that had been empty since the start.
They seemed to know in their hearts that that building of steel had a fire burning within it.
*Tap, tap* The sound of a ring tapping was particularly distinct in the cavernous hall.
Moonlight streaked the 4 pillars. A man with a strange birthmark on his face stood in the hall.
??: The Reset Plan is moving along very smoothly. In one week we’ll get our expected result.
The man at the head of the table stopped tapping his ring, but his eyes didn’t waver.
??: Even if the test subject fails, the Evol gene will give him superhuman abilities, semi-evolved.
With that, the man flashed a mouth of discolored teeth.
??: Hades, what drove you to carry out Reset Plan on your own?
Hades: You don’t think the previous operations were too slow and foolish?
Having said that, he defiantly cast a glance at the man sitting to his left.
??: You are too aggressive.
Hades: You know, complete slaughter is the highest respect one can pay to a civilization.
Hades: Not everyone is fit to become an Evolver.
Hades: Rather than put all our hopes on the Queen, why not do something more practical. I’m sure in this regard, Ares would know better than I.
In the dark, Ares gave no reaction, as always.
But the man did feel provoked. He slowly leaned forward.
Hades: This world belongs to us, and those low-level creatures that do nothing but breed had too long.
Hades: The beautiful future we seek is at hand.
From the darkness came laughter. Ares had stood up soundlessly.
There was not an ounce of warmth in his eyes, rather, they gave off an unnatural coldness.
The brighter the moonlight shone on them, the more bone-chilling those grey eyes became.
Ares: Peace is an exception, not the rule.
Hades: What do you mean?
Ares: I mean, I look forward to this future you speak of. I hope you’re still alive when I witness it.
An enigmatic smile spread across his face, and then he turned sharply and left.
The man at the head followed him with his eyes, but he said nothing. He took off his ring, and some vigor seemed to return to his face.
The man named Hades turned to catch up to Ares, but then he stopped and looked back at that spot.
Hades: Old man, for the puppet that you are, you’ve held this position for too long.
With that, he turned back and left.
Shortly, he had caught up with Ares.
He’s walking slow on purpose.
Hades: Ares, to continue going it alone is not wise behavior. I thought you were a smart person.
Ares didn’t halt his step, and his icy tone also carried a hint of ridicule.
Ares: Oh? And who, pray tell, do you think unwise?
Hades: At least I wouldn’t conceal such an incredible weapon. Too bad in the end it ended up in my hands.
Hades: Certainly worthy to be called your masterpiece, even if it’s only half-finished. And who knows what it will evolve into in the end? A walking corpse, or a more advanced strain?
Hades rubbed the increasingly grim birthmark on his face and spoke slowly.
Hades: You used to be the only person here I could consider an opponent. But now, you’ve become more and more of a disappointment.
A silence fell back over them. Ares didn’t even bat an eye.
Hades: Join me. Let’s take over the world together.
An almost imperceptible laugh spilled from Ares’ throat.
Ares: You think yourself able in this regard?
Hades: Don’t provoke me. You’ll know if I’m able soon enough.
As he spoke, he held out a hand. His dull white fingers looked like bones in the moonlight.
Hades: I think you don’t have any other options now. Because my plan needs the Queen too.
Ares halted. A light seemingly flashed over his grey eyes.
Hades: She may not be crucial, but as icing on the cake, how could I pass that up?
He looked slightly tauntingly at Ares’ stoic face.
Hades: They all say you have no weak spots, but I see your eye got better real fast.
Ares didn’t look at him, but from the darkness an air of danger came gushing out.
Ares: You aren’t worthy of partnering with me. I am not a generous man. What I most enjoy is the ruthless slaughter of thieves
Hades: Then we’ll see who makes it to the end. Your game hasn’t even begun, whereas mine is getting more fun by the day.
He vanished. Ares stood alone in the gloomy hallway, his grey eyes filled with a dark loneliness.
Ares: Weak spot… heh.
Then he laughed, lifted his hand, and lightly felt his eye. He knew full well that was just a test and a challenge, but a shadow slowly crept over his heart.
The person’s reflection on the wall swayed, and in a blink, the moonlight was swallowed in darkness.
[Main Story 16-03]
Under a deep blue sky,
I stood on the edge of a steep cliff,
with someone’s arms tightly around me,
familiar yet strange.
His face was blurry, but his eyes were like
ocean deep and crystal clear.
Rocks near my feet fell, causing vibration.
His clothes billowing in the wind,
he held me and jumped off the edge.
Who… is him?
Since waking up, I couldn’t shake from my mind those profound eyes, so familiar yet indescribable.
These kinds of dreams left me uneasy, especially since I’ve confirmed that I can see the future. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.
It had been over ten days since Gavin left. I looked at my bracelet and felt a stab of pain and disappointment. He said he’d come back. I need to have faith and wait for him!
Just like his faith in me. The leaves outside the window rustled, as if in confirmation.
The news on the TV was talking about a new, mysterious flu that was sweeping the city. The presenting symptoms were the same as the flu: cold, fever, weakness.
They’re calling it a flu, but none of the current antibiotics or cold medications are effective against it. There haven’t been any deaths, but the number of infected has been steadily increasing.
The national laboratories have all be working to find a pathogen, but to no result.
The virus is spreading faster than anything, and lack of information is making people more worried.
This has been the biggest health incident for Loveland City and even the whole nation since SARS.
I swallowed a multi-vitamin and continued watching the broadcast.
Just then, my phone rang. It was a phone call from Kiki.
Kiki: Boss, I need to take some time off…
Her voice sounded weak. I involuntarily shivered.
{{MC}}: You don’t have a cold, do you?!
Kiki: No, no. Our school isn’t letting students off campus. Two male students got infected, and the dean said they need to do a complete inspection…
{{MC}}: …I thought for a second you were infected too…
Kiki: Boss, why are you so on edge? It’s just a more serious than average flu! And I’m in such good shape, I’ll be fine.
{{MC}}: Take care of yourself. Don’t worry about work. I’ll let the others take time off too.
After hanging up, I put on my mask and headed to the office.
There were much fewer people walking the streets. When I arrived at work, I noticed the building security guards were all wearing masks too.
Guard A: Did you hear? Smitty got sick. Real serious too. He’s in the hospital.
Guard B: Isn’t it just the flu? What’s an old tough guy like him doing in the hospital?
Guard A: I don’t know the details. I just saw his wife this morning heading to the hospital, all red-eyed. She said he couldn’t even remember her–
{{MC}}: Excuse me, which security guard? That tall, skinny one that’s always smiling?
Guard A: That’s right! Miss, you know Smitty?
{{MC}}: Yeah… Well, we say hello to each other…
I hurried into the elevator, feeling more and more uneasy.
He didn’t even remember his own wife… How is that a symptom of the flu?!
The pungent smell of disinfectant spray grew thicker, and I felt more and more anxious.
After running upstairs and giving everyone the day off, I thought of someone who, even now, might be able to give me some information.
As soon as I stepped into the hospital, I was taken aback by the throng of people, all wearing masks and looking very disturbed.
I watched these infected people closely. Coughing, fever, fading consciousness… suddenly, a spine-chilling thought popped into my head.
Kiki’s classmates, our office building security guard…
No, maybe these weren’t the flu at all!
Suddenly someone was tapping me on the shoulder. I turned and saw Dr. Song standing there.
She had returned to the hospital after the incident with out-of-control super powers died down, and she had taken off her sunglasses.
{{MC}}: Dr. Song, I have some questions about the flu that I’d like to ask you…
She thought for a moment, then hastily handed off the work she was doing and took me to her office.
Dr. Song: I was thinking of contacting you too. There have been some strange things, and I don’t know if I’m overreacting.
She looked up at me with a sincere look on her face.
Dr. Song: Do you think there’s something not normal about this flu? The symptoms, the at-risk demographics, they’re all completely different from the past.
{{MC}}: I was thinking that too! And I just discovered something that might back it up.
{{MC}}: Typically vulnerable demographics like the elderly and small children only make up a small percentage of the infected. Most are in their primes.
{{MC}}: This totally doesn’t make sense!
Dr. Song: That’s right. Aside from that, I’ve found that out of all of the infected, not one is an Evolver.
{{MC}}: !! Then…
Dr. Song: My guess is… this probably isn’t because of some superior Evolver immune system, but because the virus is selecting based on genetics.
{{MC}}: …So the virus is intentionally infecting healthy, strong, ordinary people!
I broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. Could this be another of Black Swan’s plots?!
If before they were targeting those of us Evolvers hidden in society, this time they’d gone in the opposite direction targeting the whole of humanity.
Dr. Song: Later, to confirm my suspicions, I asked a few Evolver friends to come in for examinations.
Dr. Song: There bodies weren’t affected at all.
Dr. Song looked at me, her eyes full of anxiety and grave dread.
{{MC}}: Dr. Song, can you let me look at the specific reports of these patients?
She nodded and handed me a pile of detailed documents. A knock came at the door. Dr. Song left in a hurry, leaving me alone in the office.
I pored over each report, and then my hand froze over one particular page.
I don’t know when the window was opened, but a wind blew in flapping that page back and forth.
A black silhouette swept past the windowsill, but when I turned my head, all I saw was a wisp of brown hair floating past.
[Main Story 16-04]
With my increasingly strong suspicions, I came to that patient’s room.
This was a totally ordinary city construction worker, now laying unresponsive in the ICU.
His file said he’d been in a coma for about 10 days, during which he got up once as if sleep walking and tried to assault bystanders with a blunt object.
Luckily he was found in time before he’d caused any serious injury.
As I looked at the report, Perry’s face sprang up in my mind.
Their symptoms– they’re exactly the same!
If… I could see some of his future as he lay in a coma…
I took a deep breath and lightly placed my hand on his–
Nurse: Miss, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. This is intensive care!
Nurse: Miss? Miss?
When I came to, I had been pulled out of the room by the nurse.
The lingering bit of chill on my fingertip reminded me of that brutal scene just now–
I saw him fallen on the ground, his face pale, his eyes about to bulge out of his head, his entire body shaking.
Before leaving, I sent Dr. Song a text asking her to watch this patient closely for any changes.
Upon leaving the hospital, I looked up blankly at the clear, sunny sky. A sorrow washed over me. Who knew how many more days like this we’d have left.
A cry rang out up ahead. A little girl had been knocked over by someone in a hurry. I ran over–
{{MC}}: It’s okay. There, there…
I helped the girl dust herself off and was about to put a bandaid on her skinned knee when–
Middle-Aged Woman: Nancy! Nancy, why did you run off like that…
A middle-aged woman hastily pulled the little girl from me and hurried into the hospital.
Middle-Aged Woman: Don’t talk to strangers like that! What if you get infected…
The girl looked a bit confused. She looked back at me and smiled.
Still holding the bandaid, I hesitated about whether to run over and–
??: You’re not thinking of running over and sticking a band-aid on someone, are you?
{{MC}}: Huh?
Victor’s deep voice sounded beside me. I jumped, then looked reflexively at the sundial watch hanging from my bag.
Ever since discovering last time that I could talk to Victor through this watch, I always carried it with me.
Even though I never knew exactly when I’d be able to contact him.
{{MC}}: Hang on, I’m going to give her this band-aid…
Victor seemed to let out a sigh.
Victor: Hurry back. I don’t know how long the connection will hold.
{{MC}}: Okay, be right back–
I ran up and gave the band-aid to the mother and child, then found a bench at a nearby park.
{{MC}}: So you’re really in the future? 10 years from now?
Victor: …You just asked me that for the second time one minute ago.
{{MC}}: It’s so incredible… I’ve only seen that kind of thing in the movies…
{{MC}}: What’s future Loveland City like?
Victor: No big difference, just more modern.
{{MC}}: Has this flu incident had any effect on the future?
Victor paused for a moment.
Victor: None. The incident was resolved.
{{MC}}: That’s great! So… what about future me?
I carefully asked, and Victor suddenly became a little silent on the other end.
{{MC}}: What? Am I so incredible that it scares you?
Victor: Dummy. You… you’re good. Better than now.
{{MC}}: That’s great… I so wish I could jump 10 years ahead.
Victor: If you’re that eager, how about we switch places?
{{MC}}: I– I actually think…
Hearing me speak, Victor paused a moment too.
Victor: You couldn’t even if you wanted to. Why do you want to go to the future?
{{MC}}: Because…
{{MC}}: I feel helpless, and my intuition tells me things aren’t so simple this time.
{{MC}}: You know something?
{{MC}}: These infected people are all healthy, normal people; and the virus has no effect on Evolvers.
{{MC}}: The medical community is stumped… It’s not dire yet, but I have bad feeling.
I prattled on, forgetting about Victor silent on the other end.
Victor: {{mc}}, are you at Central Park right now?
{{MC}}: Yes, how did you know?
Victor: Don’t ask how. Go to the central lake. There’s a tree there. Hurry.
I got up confused, and although I couldn’t make head or tails of it, I still followed Victor’s instructions and ran off. I soon saw a large tree by the central lake.
{{MC}}: I found it. By the stone sign beside the lake. What now?
Victor: Did you bring your keys? Carve your wish onto it.
{{MC}}: Victor… would that be defacing public property?
Victor: …Being a killjoy is more like it.
I giggled, checked that there was no one around, and then carved a few words on the tree.
{{MC}}: Done. But why did I need to carve it?
Victor: Isn’t this one of those psychological, vision-boarding techniques that dummies like?
{{MC}}: You… you’re so lame!
I grumpily made a face at the watch, but strangely enough, I felt a lot better.
Victor: You said this disease doesn’t affect Evolvers?
{{MC}}: Right.
Victor: Even if there’s no effect right now, you should still keep your distance.
{{MC}}: Huh? Do you mean in the future…
Victor: No.
He quickly cut me short, then I heard a pause on the other end of a few seconds.
Victor: You are sensitive and meticulous, but also very impulsive.
Victor: There are some things you have to be prudent about, understand?
{{MC}}: …Yeah, I understand. I will work hard to…
Victor let out a laugh on the other end.
Victor: It can all wait till I get back.
He said it casually, with that same old self-confidence and decisiveness. Even 10 years apart, he could still protect me completely.
{{MC}}: So, when can you come back?
Victor: This must be the first time you’ve ever wished for me to come back sooner.
He put extra emphasis on the words “first time”.
{{MC}}: Is not! I just think it must be lonely being so far away all by yourself…
I sat on the bench, looking at the empty park and the bustling street in the distance. A wave of loneliness swept over me too.
{{MC}}: In the movies, when the protagonist time travels they’re always alone, with no home to go to.
{{MC}}: Everything they’re familiar with has changed, everyone they know has changed…
The second hand on the clock jumped. I could almost see Victor walking alone in a bustling city, his face a mixture of wonder and helplessness.
Victor: Your imagination’s running away with you again.
Victor: Listen to me. Go home and stay there. Don’t get yourself worked up. I’ve got one thing I need to settle, and then I’ll be back real soon.
{{MC}}: Okay… then you be sure…
A zapping sound came from the watch. Victor seemed to say more, but I couldn’t make it out.
Then our connection cut out again. I could only say the rest of what I wanted to say to the watch.
{{MC}}: You take care of yourself too! And tell future me that I’m trying my best.
Putting away his watch and standing under the same tree, Victor watched as a faint carving slowly appeared on it, a string of crooked, crude letters.
He could almost see the girl before him, diligently carving each one.
His mouth that had been pursed up for so many days finally broke into a smile.
Victor: …Dummy.
But the smile quickly faded from Victor’s face. He tightly clasped the cracked watch and walked into a large, steel-framed building.
[Main Story 16-06]
On my way home, the once lively shopping street was still desolate. Even the occasional open shops were completely empty of customers.
I walked slowly on as big screens on the buildings lit up one after another.
News: Breaking news.
News: Lucien Bioscience Research Center announced a press conference for tomorrow regarding a new reagent targeting the recent flu outbreak…
I stopped in my tracks.
It had been a long while since I’d heard that name. Ever since that day he disappeared from my life.
My neighbor never seen again. The research center never opened. Phone calls never answered.
And everything from that day was like a mirage. I never saw it again once in my dreams.
I even asked myself once, did I hate him? But the answer was no. This world is not black and white, and I won’t judge people using simple right and wrong.
I went back and tried to remember any fishy details I might have overlooked, but to no avail.
I turned my back to the screen, not wanting to see anything related to him, but the words still wound their way into my ears.
He was researching a drug, a drug targeting this flu…
It figures. He’s part of Black Swan after all, and I had a hunch they were behind this virus, so he… should be involved too, right?
But… even for such a momentous press conference, I was actually feeling reluctant to go.
{{MC}}: Maybe I can get Willow to go, or read a report from a colleague…
I didn’t know what I was running away from. Was I scared to hear those doubts I’d already heard straight from his mouth?
Did I want to avoid confirming that this virus was connected to him, so that my rational mind wouldn’t be able to connect the dots?
Or was it… that I just didn’t want to face him?
I shut my eyes. In a moment, those piercing eyes from my dream appeared in my mind, trained on me.
My chest grew tight. It seemed the answer was staring me in the face.
I simply must go to this press conference!
It wasn’t until I was actually standing at the venue of the press conference that my nerves finally kicked in.
The man of the hour hadn’t appeared yet, and the large hall was already packed with news reporters.
That this place, a site usually reserved for government press conferences, had opened its doors spoke to the gravity of the announcement.
But still… there were too many people. Not only were there reporters from all around the country, but one whole section was even opened to the public.
Which is to say, this news conference was more like a speech to the people of the nation.
In light of Lucien’s usual restrained, low-key attitude, this wasn’t his style at all.
Just what is he going to do?
While I was still pondering, the podium light came on, and the reporters squeezed in closer. I, on the other hand, took a few steps back.
The sound of footsteps came. Hiding in the crowd, I turned my head and saw that pair of black shoes walk slowly to center stage.
For a moment, I felt like the bustle of the crowd was far away, like I was standing somewhere all by myself.
I struggled to compose myself and lifted my head.
Lucien.
This name was like a stone, suddenly thrown into the placid lake of my heart, stirring up ripples.
It had been awhile since I’d last seen him, but seeing his face, it felt like only yesterday.
I unconsciously pinched my wrist and broke out in a sweat.
Up at the podium, Lucien hadn’t changed any. He was still wearing that familiar white coat. His clear, cold expression was also the same as that day.
He took the microphone from the MC, then turned his head and said something to an assistant to his side.
Hidden in the crowd, head craned upwards, I observed everything on the stage.
Suddenly, Lucien turned his head, and in an instant he had locked eyes with me, intently and deeply.
I jumped and spun to the side, burying my head lower as my heart beat like thunder.
After several seconds, I turned my head slightly. On the stage, Lucien was talking to his assistant again. It seemed to really be just a random glance.
Come on, get a grip. I was here to get news. What was I doing burying my head like an ostrich?
After several deep breaths, I got my composure. Then I lifted my camera and started taking pictures.
[Main Story 16-07]
Host: Members of the press and our lovely audience, I bet you’re all very excited for this announcement.
Host: Just what miraculous news does Professor Lucien have in store for us? Let’s welcome him up here!
The crowd erupted in applause, along with snapping of shutters and flashes of light.
Lucien stood quietly on the stage, a faint smile on his face, not as indifferent as before.
He also had a deeply imposing air about him. With just a look from him, the venue fell silent.
Lucien: Hello, everyone. First, thank you all for coming. It’s my honor to stand here and announce that the new reagent is officially entering the development phase.
Lucien: We will be putting all our resources behind this in hopes of getting results as quickly as possible to minimize further impact.
His words were simple, but full of confidence and a kind of pride. The members of the media were swept off their feet and bursting with questions.
Reporter A: There’s talk that you’ve halted all other work to focus entirely on this reagent. Do you think this is the thing you should most be doing right now?
Lucien: Of course. Choice is made not by what’s best, but by what’s most needed, as this reagent is.
Reporter B: The rest of the medical community has been unable to make progress on this problem. Why are you stepping forward now? Do you think you’re better than the rest?
Lucien lifted his eyebrows but ignored the provocation in the reporter’s question.
Lucien: To be fair, I don’t have the experience that my more senior colleagues do, but in life one can’t always rely on experience.
Lucien: Even the most successful new research will eventually become obsolete under the constant advance of time and knowledge.
With those words, his sharp eyes suddenly gleamed with anger and ambition.
In the crowd, a man wearing a hat suddenly raised a hand.
Lucien gestured for him to speak, and a microphone was passed to him.
Crowd Member A: Hello, Professor. My father was put in the hospital yesterday because of the flu. He told me, if he doesn’t get better, he’d be willing to come be a test subject.
Crowd Member A: Please help me and tell him he can’t!
After that, the whole place was silent for several seconds. Everyone exchanged knowing looks and then pointed their cameras back at Lucien.
Lucien thought for a moment and walked to the edge of the stage.
I was quite anxious too and reflexively pulled my recorder pen out of my bag.
{{MC}}: !!
The silvery gleam flashed in my eye, and those two scratches on the pen made my heart shrivel.
I stuffed it way back inside the bag, my heart now in my throat.
{{MC}}: What were the odds… I had grabbed the wrong one…
I tried to soothe myself saying that I had left in a rush. But I didn’t notice that the figure pacing the stage also paused for a second just now.
Lucien: First of all, my deepest respect to your father.
Lucien stopped, bent at the waist, and made a solemn bow to that member of the crowd.
Lucien: Second, I’m afraid I can’t help you. Actually, I wish that more people would be test subjects.
Crowd Member A: B-but what if he dies?!
Lucien: Then it would be just like every major discovery. The advance of science is a continuous sacrifice.
Lucien: And deaths and injury along the way due to mistakes are inevitable.
This sent the venue into an uproar, and the audience was on its feet.
Crowd Member A: In this day and age, why can’t we use animal testing? Who would dare test this themselves?
Crowd Member B: Scientists shouldn’t talk like that, sounds kinda scary…
I couldn’t help but worry for him. What was Lucien trying to do speaking cruel truths so frankly?
Accusatory voices grew more intense, but Lucien’s face didn’t change. He looked as calm as ever.
As he saw it, this was all perfectly reasonable.
An unpleasant feeling welled up inside me.
I wanted to get out of here.
As I was turning, I was caught by a hand.
Reporter C: Aren’t you the producer of Miracle Finder? Professor Lucien is a consultant for your show, right?
Reporter B: Woah, a big producer is here. You probably knew before us about the Professor’s research plan, huh?
{{MC}}: I… I’m just here to get a story. Let’s all pay attention to the stage.
I waved my hand and lowered my head, trying to escape, regretting having come even more.
But it was to no avail. I was surrounded by them as they kept asking questions.
Reporter C: Miss Producer, what’s your take on Professor Lucien’s remarks?
Reporter D: Will Miracle Finder do a follow-up report on Professor Lucien’s research?
The reporters fired off questions, and not knowing what to do, I involuntarily looked toward Lucien.
He stood on the edge of the stage, serenely watching us, as if watching a play. An almost imperceptible smile played on his lips.
More than embarrassment, I felt anger, both at Lucien and myself.
{{MC}}: I’m sorry, but I can’t answer these questions.
{{MC}}: Professor Lucien and I just have a normal working relationship, and in the future Miracle Finder will have a new program consultant.
{{MC}}: Please, everyone, let’s focus on the press conference. Sorry.
I said this in a huff and prepared to turn and go, when behind me came a familiar voice.
Lucien: Miss {{mc}}, perhaps you are disappointed in my research or my remarks just now?
[Main Story 16-09]
I froze in my tracks as my heart jumped up in my throat. I didn’t dare turn around.
I had occasionally thought of where I might face Lucien again, like in a moment of danger or outside my office building.
But I never imagined it would be in a situation like this.
{{MC}}: No.
Lucien: Then why are you leaving early? If I’ve been wrong in some way, by all means tell us.
His tone had a casualness to it and a veiled anger.
I shut my eyes and balled my fists. Then I turned around and looked him right in the eyes.
The first time I’ve looked him in the eyes since we’d parted.
{{MC}}: There is something. Professor Lucien, what is this “sacrifice” you speak of?
A smile flashed across Lucien’s eyes. He thought to himself a moment, then opened his mouth:
Lucien: Physiological death.
{{MC}}: That is to say, sacrificing a few for the greater good is normal, yes?
Lucien: You are conflating concepts. But yes, I personally wholeheartedly agree with this statement.
The reporters snapped pictures of Lucien and I eagerly. A spat between work partners would attract more eyeballs than a science press conference.
Lucien: Like the classic Trolley Problem. Choosing left or right will both land you in a moral quandary.
Lucien: But in reality, whether it’s for societal advancement or not, many people will be eliminated for a variety of reasons, by death or other means.
Lucien: So whether we want to face it or not, survival of the fittest is an eternal principle of existence. It’s what keeps humanity going.
He spoke measuredly as he looked at me.
How stupid was I. Had I actually forgotten? This was always the belief he was pursuing.
{{MC}}: In your eyes, life is just that capricious?
Lucien took a step toward me, a menacing look in his eyes.
Lucien: And what do you think would be more just?
I worked up my courage, straightened my back, and solemnly said:
{{MC}}: To respect every life. There are too many people struggling in this world.
{{MC}}: Maybe you didn’t notice, but there are hospitals full of critically ill people.
{{MC}}: They may be in unresponsive comas, but their consciousness still clings to life.
{{MC}}: Kids in foster care, the broke and homeless, they’re all struggling to survive.
{{MC}}: It’s what every person desires and deserves. And you can’t strip that from them.
The venue fell silent for several minutes. Lucien stood on the stage, looking quietly at me, his eyes harsh and probing.
Lucien: You have a point.
He turned and walked to center stage, took a pen, and wrote a few words in big letters. They were: Politics, War, Salvation.
Lucien: But you speak from the point of view of the few, and therein arises the paradox.
Lucien: People cannot think in purely logical terms. That is a property of the divine.
Lucien: From primitive society to today, humanity has been sacrificed in political struggle, and died on the battlefields of war.
Lucien: But for some of these people, that sacrifice has been pointless.
Lucien: Fairness is not the only principle. As a cornerstone of civilization, survival stands above all.
Lucien: If it can bring incredible progress, then that sacrifice shouldn’t even require their permission.
Maybe I imagined it, but there seemed to be a menacing look on Lucien’s face, absolute and final.
I couldn’t help think of that day, that same look he had when he said it was for a better future.
Is this the future he wants?
I opened my mouth and finally asked the question buried in my heart for so long:
{{MC}}: If… the person to be sacrificed was you, would you be willing?
Lucien seemed to laugh. Without hesitation, he nodded.
Lucien: I would.
My heart froze.
Lucien: If it meant allowing humanity to take a great stride forward, I would happily do so.
He spoke with a finality that left no question he was telling the truth.
{{MC}}: …And what if it was someone important to you?
The way the question came out surprised even me. I kept my eyes firmly on Lucien.
I didn’t know what kind of answer I was hoping for. He’d already made himself so clear.
But Lucien just looked at me, thin lips perking up slightly, as if sneering at my foolish question.
Time seemed frozen. From this far apart, I couldn’t catch the subtle changes on his face.
…The answer is obvious.
I’d thought about how I’d question him the next time I saw him, how I’d lay it all out before him.
But now I knew how naive that thinking was. That Lucien I once knew was long gone.
The reporters kept taking pictures, afraid of missing a single nuance in Lucien’s expression.
{{MC}}: Professor Lucien, thank you for your answer, and good luck with your research, but I could never support your beliefs.
{{MC}}: Because in my heart there’s something that will always trump survival.
I closed my eyes, wanting to hide the disappointment and pain. Then I strode out of the venue.
The sound of countless shutters clicked behind me. I could already predict that the headlines tomorrow would be about our clash here, but right now I didn’t want to bother with it.
(Lucien’s Moments: Purpose)
https://mrlove.wiki.gg/wiki/Lucien’s_Moments
(News: Friends to Foes! Confrontation at the Press Conference!)
[Main Story 16-07]
I found a bench somewhere on the street, but my crazily-beating heart was still not calming down.
Looking back at the reporters filing out of the hall, I finally understood that Lucien and I had been on opposite sides the whole time.
{{MC}}: I already knew the outcome, so why worry… might as well just go home…
As I put away my camera and chords inside the bag, I once again reflexively felt around inside–
{{MC}}: Oh no!!!
I jumped up from the bench and dumped everything out of my bag.
{{MC}}: Battery, headphones, wallet…
A bead of sweat fell from my forehead. Where was that pen?!
A single possibility suddenly presented itself to me–
But another thought immediately supplanted it–
{{MC}}: It was his anyway. The venue cleaning staff will just give it back to him…
Having sufficiently convinced myself with that reasoning, I left.
Ten minutes later, a head popped into a side door of the venue.
{{MC}}: I don’t know if everyone’s gone…
I looked in. The hall was empty. I pushed open the unlocked door and tip-toed in.
Very quickly, I found it under a table near the stage.
{{MC}}: Got you!
I hastily squatted down and picked up the pen.
??: What are you doing?
{{MC}}: Ah!
I shot my head up and banged it against the corner of the table.
I clutched my head in pain, and the metal pen rolled away, stopping before a pair of black shoes.
Then I saw a slender hand daintily pick it up.
Lucien: You came back to find this?
He looked down at me, a playful look on his face.
I breathed deeply, clenched my fist, and strode up to him.
{{MC}}: Yes. Is that okay?
A smile flashed in Lucien’s eyes, then he raised his eyebrows and held the pen out in front of me.
Lucien: Don’t lose it again.
I reached out my hand. That sunny, late spring day suddenly flashed before my eyes, and I started to regain my composure.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come back for it.
I took back my hand and took a step back.
{{MC}}: Nevermind. I’m always losing things. And, it doesn’t belong to me anyway.
I raised my head and tried to be resolute.
{{MC}}: At this point, it should go back to its original owner.
Lucien’s expression didn’t change. He just narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing me up.
That look made me uncomfortable. I had just calmed back down, but now my heart was pounding again.
He slowly and deliberately put the pen away, then gave a slight nod.
Lucien: Aside from the pen, there’s something else you owe me.
{{MC}}: Huh?
Lucien walked up to me, blocking my path.
Lucien: I just learned I’ve been let go from Miracle Finder. Is it out of line to ask for an explanation?
{{MC}}: You! What does that matter to you?
Lucien: It affects my reputation.
He spoke matter-of-factly, but I saw right away it was just a ploy to embarrass me.
How shameless!
{{MC}}: Who do you think you are?
Lucien: Shouldn’t you know by now?
Without realizing it, he’d already taken two more steps toward me. I could feel a wave of tension.
Lucien: I just want an explanation, that’s all.
{{MC}}: Because…
I took two steps back, racking my brain for some impressive-sounding reason.
{{MC}}: Because… because going forward you have to focus on your research…
{{MC}}: That’s right! You’ll be quite busy! So we won’t take up your precious time…
Lucien: Haven’t I told you before, being on the show is a way for me to relax?
He walked slowly, but he didn’t halt his step.
{{MC}}: I… I forgot. Anyway, our little show shouldn’t impose on the likes of you!
Lucien: Oh? What if I want it to though?
{{MC}}: I– I’ve already made the announcement. The national media already knows.
Lucien chuckled, seemingly satisfied with my frazzled state.
Anger burned in me again. I closed my eyes and worked up the courage to say what was on my mind:
{{MC}}: And, you’ve strayed from the principles that Miracle Finder strives to uphold.
{{MC}}: In my mind, it’s supposed to be just and inclusive!
One second, two seconds passed. The air grew still.
Why wasn’t he saying anything?
I slowly opened my eyes. Lucien was already at the door, hands in his pockets, his back to me.
My heart thumped. The courage I’d worked up in my anger was completely gone now.
Lucien: Very understandable. I accept your explanation.
{{MC}}: Wait! I still have one last question!
Lucien halted and turned, his eyes devoid of warmth.
[Main Story 16-12]
{{MC}}: …Are you connected with this recent flu?
Please, oh please let your answer be: no.
Lucien: … Yes.
Hearing those words, something came crashing down in my heart.
{{MC}}: Okay, okay…
There was nothing I could say. I just kept nodding my head.
Something seemed to glow in the dim light. The white curtain beside me fluttered in the wind.
In a daze, I heard steps coming toward me again.
Lucien: Your expression seems… disappointed?
Lucien: If it really is connected to me, what will you do?
His eyes were bright and fierce, cast over with gloom. His whole person seemed alien. As if this whole time, I never really understood him.
I started to panic and backpedal, almost driven into a corner.
Lucien: The justice and goodness you uphold, has it gotten you the results you want?
Lucien: Isn’t that the thing that’s more important than survival?
Lucien: I’d also like to know, in the face of what you value, would you sacrifice someone important to you?
He spoke in an onslaught, giving me no room to resist or explain, relentless.
{{MC}}: I–
The deathly pale face of Perry as he fell suddenly appeared before me, and all those strange, struggling people in the hospital.
I took another step back, my back touching the icy cold wall. The next second, Lucien’s hand was leaning on the wall, beside my ear.
Lucien: You hesitated.
Lucien: Hesitation means only one thing. You would.
He continued to draw closer. The flickering light outside the window was piercing. I couldn’t keep my eyes open much longer–
Suddenly, there was an almost imperceptible noise, the sound of a leaf falling from a tree branch.
A flame danced in Lucien’s eyes. Before I could react, a strong force pulled me. I tipped over, falling into the arms of Lucien.
The next second, an intense golden light flashed rapidly before me, dashing off to my right.
Before I had time to cry out, Lucien was holding me tight, one hand protecting the back of my head.
A tension suffused the air. I could feel Lucien’s entire body grow taut, menacing.
He stared outside the window, his face grave and dark.
I stared blankly at Lucien. Only at times like this did I dare look in his eyes.
Was I seeing things…? An instant of worry and fear flashed in his eyes, as if… he was going to lose something precious.
But almost instantly, these feelings vanished. His eyes steeled over again, no hint of wavering.
Even this close, I couldn’t see into him.
I found myself wanting to get out of his arms, but his hand around my waist held me even tighter.
{{MC}}: You…
Lucien: Don’t speak.
His voice was low, and his warm breath blew on the top of my head.
I didn’t dare move a muscle.
The silence spread in the large room. Only my heart beat raced on, ba-dump, ba-dump…
Why was my heart still beating so fast when the danger had passed?
Chattering sparrows, a sultry afternoon, sparkling sunshine, and protection in time of danger.
Time seemed to have jumped back to a month ago, when he was still Lucien.
At that time he was also holding me tight like this… protecting me.
My heart suddenly turned to jelly.
As I thought of what to say, the arm around me tightened. Lucien’s expression grew distant again.
I shuffled to the side and glanced at a deep hole in the wall on the right.
{{MC}}: Are you alright? …Thank you for that.
I opened my mouth, but the name “Lucien” still wouldn’t come out.
Lucien: I was just ensuring your safety.
{{MC}}: My safety?
Lucien fell silent, seeming to be thinking something over.
{{MC}}: My safety… hasn’t that always been your goal?
Lucien: Of course. I don’t engage in worthless endeavors.
That was all he had to say, and I understood. The last time we faced off, the people dressed in black also said to make sure I was alive. It was always like that.
So all those times he protected me before were also…
I didn’t dare think more about it. My only thought was to get out of there, as far as possible…
Lucien: Now, answer my question.
Lucien was still blocking my path. I couldn’t see his face clearly through the haze.
I was better that way. I’d rather it be hazy then clear.
I smiled, lifted my head, and looked seriously into Lucien’s eyes.
{{MC}}: I wouldn’t.
A tear rolled down to the corner of my mouth, but I kept my eyes held wide open looking at him.
{{MC}}: If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all kinds of secrets and knowledge…
{{MC}}: …if I had faith to move mountains, but didn’t have love, then none of it would count for anything.
{{MC}}: The truth of this world unfolds itself for people only through disappointment and suffering.
{{MC}}: Even if the light’s source is put out, I’d still try to keep my own shining.
{{MC}}: No matter how difficult, or how dark it gets. Or how foolish or ridiculous.
Lucien’s unflappable eyes glowed with a light, wrestling with something like a bottomless vortex.
{{MC}}: Someone very important to me once taught me that, and I’ll never forget it.
As I turned away, the tears streamed down my face without a sound.
I won’t cry in front of him.
[Main Story 16-15]
I must have seriously underestimated the speed of the media. A little over an hour after the press conference ended, the showdown between Lucien and me had made the headlines.
I never would’ve imagined that the first time I’d be such a huge headline would be for this reason.
The harsh sun made me squint. I quickened my pace, wanting to get back home in a hurry.
As if fate itself was against me, a big truck had stopped in the road, blocking off the street. I had to take a side street.
In the shady alley, there was no one around, just the faint sound of measured footsteps behind me. Must be some passer-by.
I slowed down… I had a strong gut feeling that someone was following me.
My heart leapt into my throat, but I didn’t dare stop walking.
I could only pretend like nothing was unusual, but my mind was racing with how I could seek help–
Call the police? No, the traffic would prevent them from getting here quickly. Call a friend? Or make a run for some place with people and cry for help?
What to do? What am I gonna do?
I gripped my phone, trying my best to seem like nothing was wrong.
The footsteps behind me suddenly sped up–
In a flash, an unlikely person popped into my head.
Why would I think of him?
The next image in my mind was the anxious way he looked at me during that danger just now.
I closed my eyes and decided to take a chance. Taking a chance that he’d save me, that what I’d seen in his eyes was really there.
I picked up my phone and dialed him.
{{MC}}: Hi, it’s me. Do you still mean what you said about protecting me?
*Tap– tap– tap…” The footsteps behind me grew faster.
I had my phone pressed to my ear. On the other end came the sound of laughter.
Followed shortly by a dial tone.
Then, a white force field covered me, and a golden light swept over everything. The world spun, and the only thing in my mind was that gentle laugh.
Will he come for me?
{{MC}}: Lucien…
I muttered the name as my consciousness dimmed. The darkness swallowed me.
After who knows how long, a breeze swept over me. I forced my eyes open. I was still in the alley.
A light rain fell from the sky, and the sound of voices, footsteps, and other street noises weren’t far away. I seemed to have hallucinated all that just now.
I turned around and found that the road behind me was now a dead end. And a few steps in front of me was a tall, silver building.
I’d never seen this building before on this familiar little alley. What was this place?
Then that familiar sound of footsteps suddenly started again! More urgent and pressing than before.
My legs were like lead. I had nowhere to run. My heart seized up. Here goes nothing!
Just as he got close to me, I closed my eyes, raised my hand, and swung at him!
But he overpowered me. In an instant he had both of my arms pinned! I couldn’t push away. All I could do was flail my legs.
{{MC}}: Who are you! Let go of me!
The grip on my arms tightened. I heard faint breathing above me, and I relaxed reflexively.
??: Don’t squirm.
It… it was him!
I looked up. From such a short distance, his face was a little blurry.
{{MC}}: What are you doing here? Did… did you really come to save me?
Lucien: I am a man of my word.
Lucien released me, and I noticed that his hair was a little messed up. His impeccable clothes were spattered with rain, as if he really did hurry over to save me.
He really did come!
I started to feel choked up and suddenly didn’t know what to say.
Did I not believe he would come? Or did I not dare to believe he would come?
I wanted to thank him, but Lucien’s expression seemed to say he didn’t care one bit.
{{MC}}: You came for me… Is that in service of your goals too?
Lucien: Yes.
Then he fell silent and started looking carefully at the alley. His mouth slowly ratcheted tight.
Although I had guessed it, hearing it from his own mouth made my heart sink.
I tried to stop my thoughts from running wild. I also started to size up my strange surroundings.
With no way out behind us, we walked toward the big building. Inside there wasn’t a soul.
There was just a spiral staircase winding upwards. At the top was a spacious, sealed-off corridor. Along the side was a low railing, and on the other end was an ordinary door.
Lucien didn’t speak. I followed his gaze to that solitary door.
He took my hand. I was a bit surprised, but I didn’t withdraw. I walked along with him.
[Main Story 16-16]
*Creak–* The unlatched door opened, and a damp and moldy mist greeted us.
Inside was a gloomy laboratory with various instruments and implements, and even a white lab table covered with a white sheet.
As I stared at it, a corner of the white sheet twitched. Then I saw a hand slowly pull back the white sheet: hair, eyebrows, eyes, a nose… an emotionless, strange face appeared before me!
He stared at me with his jet black eyes. My head swam as I walked uncontrollably toward him.
Cold light gleamed. Before I took a step, a sharp weapon flashed in front of me!
At the last moment, a bony, slender hand held fast the sharp blade.
Blood dripped along its edge.
{{MC}}: Lucien!
His body shielded me as he took the blade and pierced it into that man’s heart, swiftly and surely.
The metal fell to the floor without a sound, and that person’s body disappeared with it.
All of this happened within a few seconds. I froze in place, my mind in chaos.
Lucien looked at me with lowered eyes. He lifted a hand but then paused and slowly put it down.
{{MC}}: Your hand, is it hurt?
I wanted to take his hand and check it, but then thought I shouldn’t.
Lucien: Why aren’t you asking me about what just happened?
I lifted my head, shook it confusedly, then nodded.
{{MC}}: But you’re bleeding…
I felt panicked seeing the gushing blood, but I couldn’t find anything to bandage it with.
Lucien casually tore off a piece of cloth and wrapped his hand with it.
Then, a warmth descended upon my head, comforting me like he used to countless times before.
I froze in place, not daring to move, just watching his Adam’s apple slide up and down.
Lucien: It’s an illusion.
Lucien: …Don’t worry.
His words carried the familiar warmth of the past. A tender feeling that I hadn’t felt in a long while spread across my heart.
{{MC}}: Illusion? Then, is everything in this place an illusion?
Lucien shook his head, then ran his finger across the ancient-looking, immaculate table.
Lucien: It’s a dream world.
What?! I was speechless, thinking only about the last time and Lucien putting me to sleep.
{{MC}}: So we’re both asleep? Is this like the excursion last time? We’re both dreaming?
Lucien: No, this is a consciously constructed dream world. Everything here is an illusion, including the attacker that the dream master deliberately concocted.
Lucien: But there is one way in which it differs from a normal dream.
Lucien: We are real.
In that instant, an utterly terrifying realization surged up from the pit of my stomach.
I looked in Lucien’s eyes. He wouldn’t attack me, and I wouldn’t attack myself, so this place…
{{MC}}: …So this is someone else’s dream?
Lucien: Yes. And we’re not the only people here.
A cold sweat broke out down my spine. This was absurd! But everything around told me: it was true.
I looked at Lucien, and his face was as stern as the darkest night.
Lucien: If we die here, we die for real.
Lucien: Or, we sink forever in the subconscious.
In that moment, an almost imperceptible gloom flickered in Lucien’s eyes.
{{MC}}: Sub… subconscious?
Lucien: Yes, like a sea or a forest. No one knows.
Goosebumps climbed up my arm. Sinking forever… what a terrifying existence!
{{MC}}: So how do we get out?
??: Poor Queen. Did Ares not tell you? Only the dream master can come and go freely.
The closed door was kicked open, and three strange men entered, each with an S-shaped tattoo on their expressionless faces.
??: Ares, after all this time. We meet again.
Lucien stepped silently in front of me. His mouth suddenly perked up into a sneer as he stared down the three intruders.
Lucien: Were you not expecting to see me?
??: We’re on orders from Hades to ask you both to come along. If you please.
Lucien lowered his eyelids and stared at his fingernails as he spoke in disdain:
Lucien: Do you really think the three of you will see him again?
That instant, a white force field sprung up, enveloping the leader of the three.
Before the force field in his hand had opened up, his face turned purplish-red, and with a bursting sound he fell to the ground, his eyes flowing with blood.
After some muttered curses, the other two weren’t about to back down. They raised their hands together, and an icy blizzard appeared out of thin air, heading for us.
Lucien laughed coldly, his eyes gleaming.
Then he raised his left hand, and snow flew out, freezing into an ice column, impaling the two men.
He–! He can use the same Evol as his opponents!
A sky-rending peal of thunder sounded, and white light seemed to flash across the sky, faintly.
Lucien furrowed his brow as if he was hard at thought, and then I saw his irises suddenly get wider.
Lucien: Come with me!
He pulled me along, running quickly out of the corridor.
We ran down the stairs and along the last corridor, the building exit in front of us. Then for a moment I seemed to see it distort and change!
Lucien suddenly stopped and gripped his chest, his whole body trembling slightly.
{{MC}}: What’s wrong?
A look of pain flickered across Lucien’s face, something I’d never seen before.
{{MC}}: Lucien…
I didn’t know why, but that feeling of unease within me welled up intensely once again.
{{MC}}: What just happened to you?
Lucien: …Let’s get out of here first.
After a strained gasp, he returned to normal, took my hand, and kept running.
As I looked at Lucien’s face, I felt something was definitely up, but he didn’t want to tell me.
I never thought leaving this building would be so easy.
We were surrounded in swirling light just like when we entered. A few seconds later, a boundless wasteland stretched before us.
Wasn’t this an alley just now?!
A burst of countless beams of light surged in Lucien’s eyes, then he lifted his head.
A bright star had just slowly appeared in the crystal clear sky.
A glowing white force field sprung up and rose rapidly, enveloping the star.
The next instant, the force field burst, and only a gorgeous nebula remained in the sky, with countless white beams converging in the distance, the horizon line.
Lucien pointed there and leaned close to my ear.
Lucien: There is the exit to the dream world.
I nodded at him, getting ready to run, when a thunder of footsteps came from every direction, sounding like a grand army on the march.
I saw countless people surging toward us.
One, two, three… That’s not right– they had the same faces as the three we’d just encountered!
Like an infinite army of android replicants, their stiff faces were devoid of any emotion.
My spine ran cold. In two seconds, Lucien and I were completely surrounded.
[Main Story 16-18]
Lucien wordlessly lifted an arm, protecting me in his embrace.
His face was more grave and grim than I’d ever seen, with so many emotions in his narrowed eyes.
I could even feel a thin layer of sweat on his hand around my waist.
Then he turned and leaned close to my ear.
Lucien: Can you still run?
I nodded, not knowing what he meant.
A faint smile played across Lucien’s mouth, and then turning forward, the look of anxiety returned.
??: Truly remarkable, Ares.
A path suddenly opened up in the crowd, and a man with a malevolent birthmark emerged. The fake smile on his face couldn’t conceal the contempt in his eyes.
Hades: Perhaps my disciples weren’t enough of a shock for you? They’ve been trapped there for too long.
Hades: After all these years, I finally found them and brought them back.
His eyes swept over the crowd of people, finally landing once again on Lucien’s face.
Lucien: Waited long, have you?
Hades: No, not at all. I knew today would be the day you come here and fall into my snare.
That man gave me a curious glance, a look of regret showing in his eyes.
Hades: Too bad! You were supposed to have no weak spots, Ares.
Weak spot? …What was he referring to?
I looked in shock at Lucien. His face was still, but the stiller it was, the more I felt inside he was fuming with rage.
Then he suddenly laughed, picking up a strand of my hair and playing with it between his fingers.
Lucien: You think the weak spots I let you see, are really weak spots?
Hades: What do you mean?
Lucien: Otherwise how would you have shown your hand so soon?
Before he’d finished, I could see countless pillars of ice blast off in every direction, knocking down every person all around us.
The man’s face instantly grew grim. He let out a yell, and another numberless horde bore down on us.
Hades: Heh, and haven’t you shown your hand long ago as well?
Hades: Know this: before I came, I went to see him. And what do you think I saw?
He suddenly raised his arms and laughed to the heavens.
Hades: The Hexagram Legion now has disciples of a fourth and fifth kind, and even more. Not just those that can use the three kinds of Evol…
He sighed and spoke lightly in an aggrieved tone.
Hades: It’s more types than you can handle copying. What will you do?
As he laughed, the birthmark on his face became hideous and evil.
Hades: Ares, you’ve been calculating this long, but it never occurred to you, did it?
A cruel streak flashed through Lucien’s eyes, and an ice pillar split into a razor sharp blade, racing toward the man’s body.
His opponent was caught off guard and stumbled back, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with a snarling smile.
Hades: You thought it would be over that simply?
Footsteps rumbled. We were surrounded by strange people again with those tattooed, mask-like faces.
They surged forth ceaselessly, like a horde of ants endlessly flowing.
I could feel Lucien’s body grow taut, and an inexplicable fire appeared in his eyes.
{{MC}}: Just what do you want?
Hades: Queen, calm yourself. To be honest, I have no interest in you at all. I only want Ares’ partnership, or his disappearance– permanently from the face of this earth.
Hades: From the look of things, you still don’t know. Ares is the one–
Suddenly, the hand on my waist tightened and I was drawn into Lucien’s embrace.
The same instant, he raised his other hand, and a white force field rose up before us.
He leaned close to my ear and said in a whisper only I could hear:
Lucien: Remember the exit I told you about.
{{MC}}: …What do you mean?
Lucien: Cross over. Don’t hesitate.
My heart sunk like lead, and a sudden, intense feeling of dread welled up, almost to my throat!
Lucien: Now, leave my side.
He looked forward, his expression as taut as a bow pulled to the breaking point.
{{MC}}: …Why?!
Lucien: Just do it.
{{MC}}: No! You…
Lucien: Do as I say. I will find you.
He spoke in that familiar old tender tone, and then the next second, he shoved me away.
My surroundings were hazy, and when I got my bearings I saw I was on the outskirts of the wasteland.
{{MC}}: Lucien!
Lucien turned his head and gazed into my eyes. His eyes were as before, tender as the falling tide.
There was even a hint of a warm, crisp smile, the likes of which I never saw again.
Then the force field sprung up again, but this time, he put himself and those people inside it.
Even from outside, I could tell there was intense fighting inside the force field. The ground shook under me, and Lucien’s last words to me seemed to echo in the air.
I wanted to go closer, but I was pushed back again and again by a powerful force.
My heart sank, as I wiped back tears and shut my eyes. I grit my teeth and ran toward the exit.
I can’t let myself be a burden!
[Main Story 16-20]
I never imagined I’d face a situation like this with Lucien. Even though we were on opposing sides, he was always so prideful and strong in my eyes.
I ran on, and the sound of fighting in the distance grew more intense, along with my tears.
I kept telling myself, Lucien would be fine. Ever since I’d known him, there hasn’t been anything he couldn’t handle. He won’t make a mistake…
He was clearly my enemy, only saving me for his own purposes. I had resolved to be done with him…
…So why was this so hard?
The white light grew more intense as it converged in front of me. The exit was only a meter from me.
I just need to cross over and I can leave here!
…I stopped, my trembling body simply unable to take the step.
I told myself, just take one look back, just make sure he’s okay…
Turning, I saw the force field burst into pieces in the sky. The reek of blood wafted in the air.
I felt a thud in my chest. My heart felt like it was in a vice. I couldn’t breathe.
…I closed my eyes and took a step.
A fog swept from the edges toward the blood-stained center of the wasteland.
In the mist, the broken white force field was like a butterfly dancing in the air, falling onto Lucien’s shoulder.
The girl’s crying face suddenly flashed across Lucien’s eyes. A dizzying pain burst forth, and blood spurt from his shoulder.
The man was already covered in blood, making the black mark on his face all the more spine-tingling.
Hades: Ares, continuing like this will just wipe us both out. I’ll give you one last chance, join me.
Hades: I will create a world different from today’s, for Evolver’s only. Advanced, free, beautiful. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted to see?
Ares: Fool. That world will never exist. An advanced civilization can never be created. It can only be reached by accumulating and evolving.
Ares: Your so-called creation is just an excuse to hide your inability. Are you still deluding yourself into thinking otherwise?
The disdain and lack of concern was written plain as day on Lucien’s face.
As if the hypocrisy deepest in his heart had been laid bare, the man flew into a rage. The wasteland shook and split into countless cracks.
In the rumbling, there seemed to be the faint sound of footsteps, getting closer and closer…
{{MC}}: Lucien!
The second that man made a move, I flew off toward Lucien!
All in an instant, looks of shock, doubt, and disbelief came over him, as well as a joy that he hadn’t shown before, mixed in with the others.
Hades: Grab the Queen first!
The crowd dove at me, and with a fright, my waist was grabbed by a powerful force. Then we took a few tumbles, but Lucien’s hand was on my head the whole time.
I opened my eyes. Lucien stood before me with an angry look in his eye.
Lucien: Why didn’t you listen? Don’t you even care for your own life?!
My head sunk. I was already low on strength, and hearing his voice I suddenly got choked up.
But then, I yelled at Lucien in a tone I never knew I had.
{{MC}}: Liar! You had no intention of coming to find me, did you?!
Lucien was a bit astonished. His mouth twitched a little.
{{MC}}: Every time you lie to me! This time, I’m not falling for it!
I’m sorry, but if I just go and let you take all the danger, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.
Even if we are enemies.
I still want to prove to you that even in the darkness, I’ll persist in my faith.
I used up all my strength crawling up off the ground, freeing myself from Lucien arms.
The ground shook fiercely, the cracks deepening and criss-crossing. A roiling wave surged at us.
Suddenly, I even saw flaming stars leap out of the cracks!
*Crack* The earth behind us cracked open again, as deep as a canyon.
More people surrounded us and slowly started closing in. We were quickly running out of options.
Hades: Ares, in ten minutes I’ll destroy this dream. You still have one last chance.
The man spoke slowly, with countless, mask-faced disciples standing around him.
Lucien’s face couldn’t be more placid. He wasn’t even looking at the man.
A fierce wind billowed my clothes, and a howling sound filled the air.
Lucien: {{mc}}. Do you want to know my answer from the press conference?
He held up my hands and smiled.
A white moonbeam appeared instantly before my eyes, solidifying into a blade, striking at me.
A split second later there was a rupture, and a black liquid flowed from my pupil.
For a moment, color was restored to my vision. I saw a pair of bloody eyes flicker past me.
Then it was all black-and-white scenes of the TV tower, the park, the research center…
As well as, a black-and-white me.
It was over in two seconds. I was back in Lucien’s arms, my heel dug into a crack in the ground.
My consciousness was slipping… I gripped Lucien’s hand, no longer able to hold open my eyes.
Lucien: I won’t. I won’t sacrifice someone important to me.
He looked at me, a tender smile on his face, calm and reassuring.
Lucien: That is my answer.
My heart suddenly jumped, and my nose tingled. Before I could really react, he was holding me tight, running toward the abyss.
Everything turned to blurry black, distorted and swirling.
A wave of heat almost melted me, and all I could feel was the crack over my head slowly closing up.
Lucien said we’d die for real, or we’d enter the subconscious. Are we… going to sink forever?
I hadn’t yet asked the question on my mind.
I hadn’t yet heard his answer.
I hadn’t…
Well that was unfair! Making this decision without even asking me…
I didn’t have anymore energy to think about it. Before passing out, I heard one last sentence–
Lucien: I didn’t lie to you, silly girl…
[Main Story 16-22]
I felt like I had a long dream, with a vast ocean, gentle waves, and flashes of those deep eyes.
{{MC}}: Ugh…
I struggled to open my eyes and found myself lying in a spacious laboratory. Outside the window, it was night. The sky was inky black, with swirls of stars shining down.
This… this was that building from before! Didn’t we die? Just what was all this?
I reflexively pinched my cheek.
{{MC}}: Ouch!
I’m… not dead? Or is this… the subconscious Lucien spoke about?
And what about Lucien?
The scene right before we fell flashed again before me. My heart ran cold, and I got up hurriedly.
I pushed open the door and found a familiar figure sitting on the floor, his back against the door, as if he was blocking anyone from coming in.
But I was the only one inside…
Tears dripped down my face. I squatted down and dragged him inside the room.
{{MC}}: Lucien! What’s wrong, Lucien?
His shirt was wet, his shoulder red with blood. His eyes slowly opened at the sound of my voice.
{{MC}}: You’re hurt!
I was about to reach out when he grabbed my fingers.
A seething warmth flowed from my fingers to my heart.
He looked at me, his eyes stiller than the black night.
Lucien: You knew it was dangerous. Why did you come back?
His voice was hoarse, full of too much emotion that I didn’t understand.
{{MC}}: …Because you saved me. I couldn’t just abandon you.
Lucien: I saved you because it’s better for me if you’re alive.
He seemed to always be stressing this point. As I looked in his eyes, my heart quivered.
{{MC}}: So why did you tell me the direction of the exit and make me leave by myself…
Lucien: …You’d get in my way.
{{MC}}: Why didn’t you go with me? Didn’t you consider your own safety?
Lucien: No need. This was my plan all along.
He locked eyes with me, then suddenly smiled and laughed.
Seeing him covered with blood and laughing without a care, I suddenly felt uneasy.
Did my coming back so suddenly wreck his plan?
{{MC}}: I’m sorry…
Tears fell. All the feelings wound up inside me since entering the dream world came spilling out.
{{MC}}: Are we in the subconscious now…?
Lucien: This isn’t the subconscious.
Lucien spoke with great surety.
{{MC}}: What? Then where…
Lucien: Right now, we’re still in his dream. And they– are in my dream.
I was stunned. A rush of scenes swirled in my mind, trying to fit together all the pieces–
{{MC}}: …Since coming out of the building, that was your dream world? How did you…
Lucien: I have my ways.
He cut me off and didn’t continue with this subject.
{{MC}}: But didn’t you say dying in the dream was dying for real…
Lucien: In my dream, it happens to be the opposite. Dying is escape.
I didn’t quite understand and looked at him in confusion.
Lucien: When I pushed you, did you feel pain?
I shook my head, suddenly realizing what a major clue I had overlooked.
Lucien: In my dream, you don’t feel any pain, and it won’t show up on your actual body.
{{MC}}: What about those men?
Lucien: He won’t let himself die. He’ll just be stuck forever in my dream.
{{MC}}: But what if they get out. Won’t they come for you…
Lucien: They won’t. As soon as they leave, they lose all memory of this place.
He spoke matter-of-factly, as if relating the weather, but I still caught a flicker in his eyes.
Lucien: Close your eyes. I’ll take you out of here.
I nodded, still feeling like something wasn’t right, like I’d forgotten something that had been bothering me from the start–
In an instant, countless images played in my mind.
Easily escaping the building, making it to the exit, and that sudden smile before he pushed me away.
I suddenly opened my eyes.
Had he planned all of this?! And he didn’t tell me!
All while I cried like a fool, agonized over decisions, and left my self vulnerable again and again!
Liar!
I glared at Lucien. Noticing my expression, he looked back at me, not saying a word.
A large swath of red had flowed from his shoulder to his chest.
But still this liar hadn’t hurt me once the whole way through…
My heart overflowed with something, loss, grief, doubt– a complex weave of emotions.
{{MC}}: …You had planned all of this?
Lucien: You’re quite clever.
I laughed bitterly. How was I clever? I was a total idiot.
{{MC}}: And if… I hadn’t come back?
Lucien: You would have escaped from the exit.
Silent tears streamed down my face. He had planned everything after all…
A large hand suddenly covered my eyes, feeling slightly cold.
{{MC}}: And I’ll forget everything that’s happened here too?
There was a long pause, and then I heard Lucien’s soft voice.
Lucien: Yes.
Then I felt his finger tremble a bit, and my heart trembled with it.
A dizziness came over me, and lots of black-and-white images blurred past me again, each one of me.
Me laughing out loud, me worrying, me crying in grief… and the last one, me deciding to leave.
…Is… is this Lucien’s future? No! These were all things that happened after he and I split.
Could it be that these were Lucien’s memories? But didn’t I have the ability to see other people’s futures? Why were none of these in color?
In my daze, words I’d been holding back for a long time came out–
{{MC}}: Lucien… what kind of person are you really…
{{MC}}: Why are we enemies, when you always save me no matter what…
{{MC}}: Why do you always push me away again after saving me…
{{MC}}: Why can I see the futures of other people, but not yours….
Without waiting for an answer, I let go of consciousness and stopped thinking.
Seeing the girl had fallen asleep, Lucien put an arm around her and gently wiped away her tears.
A black light had been circling him for awhile, and the pain in his shoulder had spread everywhere.
Lucien carefully took out a pen from his pocket and placed it in the girl’s hand.
Then he leaned over and whispered into her ear:
Lucien: Next time, don’t rush into danger by yourself.
Lucien: Especially, on my account.
Then the black light started swirling, devouring Lucien and the girl like a memory lost to eternity.
[Main Story 16-24]
In a gloomy room, Lucien took off his blood-soaked shirt. Deep wounds on his shoulder still oozed.
Even the bone was barely discernible.
But Lucien didn’t pay it any attention. He casually put on another shirt and walked to the table.
On it was a black metal case, hardly noteworthy.
Lucien picked it up and placed a fingerprint on it.
*Click* The case opened, and a black pill lay within.
Lucien suddenly laughed, lifting up the solitary pill and placing it in his mouth.
Then he put down the case, walked out of the room, and soon disappeared down the hallway.
Delicate handwriting gleamed on the side of the case:
Dream-vision Fragments Recovery.
The man in the darkness dragged his bloody body along. His fiery eyes looked out the window.
In the large, pitch black hall, a young man sat on high, legs crossed, looking pensively at the masked man walking slowly toward him.
Always above-the-fray before, those hidden eyes flashed with complex light upon seeing the man.
It was impossible to believe. It was never-before-seen panic.
??: You…
The seated man suddenly sprang up, a pleasant smile playing across his thin lips.
??: Just so you know, I’ve come back.
Then he slowly descended from the dais, his wandering eyes seemingly taking in the entire hall.
When they brushed past each other, he spoke again, a hint of insouciance in his voice.
??: You haven’t gotten used to that chair, have you?
A clear laughter rang out, innocent and full of charm.
No one saw his eyebrow arc up. In an instant, only one person was left in the cavernous hall.
Withered vines spread throughout the gun-metal walls, and the faces of the several men sitting around the center all showed some nervousness.
??: Hades disappeared? When did that happen?!
??: Don’t worry. It’s all in the plan.
The man sitting at the head spoke in a drawl:
??: Don’t forget, we have that person backing us now.
Hearing this, the others started laughing. As if given some growth supplement, the vines at the entrance were entwined even more heavily.
Amidst the laughter, an almost imperceptible sound of footsteps drew near.
??: Who’s there?!
A tall man stood up, drawing his fingertip weapon as he did.
*Knock, knock, knock* There were three knocks. Everyone held their breaths and stared at the door.
Then, the iron door was blast open by an extreme force, and a hazy figure appeared in the darkness.
He sauntered in, silver hair emanating a wicked charm under the lamplight.
??: Who are you?
The man grinned with delight, but his tone as he spoke was colder than anything:
??: I command you all–
As the words spilled from his mouth, everyone’s faces sunk.
They were stuck in place, but not for lack of trying. All they could move were their eyes.
The man walked over beside the head of the table and lightly picked up the person sitting there.
With relish, he read the digital files on the table, grunting when something piqued his interest.
Then he looked up, regarding the people around him. With a snap, they could all move again.
But none of them dared sit down, and none of them dared speak.
There was only one emotion on their faces– terror. The most primal of fears.
??: Boring.
The man suddenly thought everything before him was boring. He shook his head, ran a finger through his silver hair, and then strutted off.
The vines stopped growing. As the light flickered a second time, one of the men said fearfully:
??: …Helios?
[Main Story 16-25]
A bright desk lamp lit the table, spilling its light into the silence.
{{mc}}.
{{mc}}.
Lucien, do you remember his dream?
I was deep in a dream, seeming to hear someone calling my name through the haze, and Lucien’s too.
The voice was right in front of me, just within arm’s reach.
I shot my hand out, but I couldn’t grab anything.
Large beads of sweat fell from my forehead. I opened my eyes to a pitch black ceiling. Black-and-white images were scrolling through my head.
Too bad those images were like photo negatives and too blurred to make out.
I remembered I was being followed on a street. How was I waking up in my house all of a sudden?
There seemed to be a chunk missing, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
When I thought of Lucien’s name again, an intense feeling of grief and longing washed over me.
What did all of this have to do with Lucien?
I tried to think back, but all I could remember was our argument at the press conference, our confrontation in the empty conference hall, and that phone call for help…
And now I was lying safe in my bed… Did he really save me?
I pushed myself up, and with a glance I saw my pen shining in my jacket pocket.
I clearly remembered giving it back to him…
I clutched the pen feeling as if I was forgetting something very important, but the more I thought, the more it eluded me.
The ringing of my phone interrupted my thoughts. I wiped my brow and took the call from Dr. Song.
Dr. Song: {{mc}}, that patient you asked me to watch closely last time has suddenly disappeared from the hospital!
{{MC}}: What?!
With a sound of static, the phone call was cut short. I didn’t get to ask a single question.
The light from my desk lamp flickered, and then *pop*, everything was in darkness.
Then, with a click, my bedroom door was opened.
There were no footsteps, and not flicker of a shadow, but someone was coming toward me.
And he was smiling. Of that I was sure.