episode_0244

The two individuals stood at the entrance of the exhibition hall, gazing into the building and exchanging meaningful smiles. Unusually, they displayed emotion unlike their usual selves. Cruelty permeated their laughter, and they chatted while appreciating the phenomenon unfolding before their eyes.

“The outcome is quite satisfying. Bringing the followers was truly an excellent choice.” The man murmured admiringly. The woman nodded, expressing her agreement. “Indeed. I didn’t expect those foolish beings to be so preoccupied fighting over mere gems that they’d miss the true objective. It’s quite fortunate.” The woman scoffed. She didn’t know how humans would perceive it, but the artifact they called the Heart of Sunset was merely a flimsy gem accidentally distorted by Aether. They were no different from monkeys delighted with a bone.

“Why not be more generous? They are blind and cannot discern true value.” The two beings laughed. Humans, even when given a century, are shallow beings who, far from enlightenment, cling to trivial objects that have fallen from within the alternate dimension. Pitiable creatures, blinded by greed, who missed the essence.

“Exactly, they can’t recognize true value. A ‘Small Miracle Box’? Where else in the world would you find such a dreadful name?” The woman whispered with contempt. “A ‘Small Miracle’! The true power is right before their eyes, yet they can’t recognize it, nor do they know how to use it. They are truly blind.”

“Indeed. To use it for mere snacks or food. How could they be so base?” The man snorted. No one could have expected that the great fragment, which had accidentally fallen during the Great War of humanity, would be used as children’s toys.

“They are truly beyond salvation. To use His Majesty’s power in such a manner.” “Well, we should be thankful. If they had known the true nature of the box, they would have found the true method to control Aether, even if only a little. Then our plans would have been significantly delayed.”

Now, they slowly approached the convention center, which was being covered by a curtain of light.

“By the way, what are you planning to do now? The goal was to quietly retrieve that box, wasn’t it? And—” “We were going to sabotage those Restraids, but then an idea struck me. Do you remember the Sacred Heart Monastic Order?” At the woman’s suggestion, the man recalled the various religious organization formation experiments he had conducted so far, and also the sight of the old man sadly cleaning inside the empty temple.

“You mean that proposal you made? I remember. The idea that a more fundamental, concrete, rule-based faith might unleash potential, rather than the one-dimensional approaches based on unilateral rewards like the Unification Society or the One Heart Society.” The woman said. “So we did that. And we shared a bit of our power and made them followers.” The man nodded and grinned. “It’s not bad. I didn’t expect a space within the alternate dimension to manifest, nor did I expect it to awaken the true potential of power. Shall we go inside now?”

Just then, the blue light emitted from the exhibition hall finally swallowed its surroundings, forming a massive hemispherical barrier. Inside the barrier, a bizarre sight that seemed to twist reality unfolded. The barrier continued to expand.

The two individuals, with their lips upturned in wonder, strode into the barrier. It was a familiar world to them: an Aether-filled encroachment zone. Here, they could freely use their powers.

“It feels like returning home,” the woman murmured, taking a deep breath.

The two individuals walked through the encroachment zone, carefully observing their surroundings. Streets lined with antique buildings, religious facilities nestled among them, and in the distance, towering magnificent spires and cathedrals. The scenery was like stepping into the Middle Ages, and they involuntarily let out exclamations of awe.

Especially the three overlapping circles prominently atop the cathedral caught their attention. “Peculiar. It seems like a human place. This seems to be the first time such a space has appeared in reality. Don’t you think?” The woman murmured to herself. “Indeed, this is a new place. Ah, look at that.”

The man, who had been nodding in agreement, widened his eyes in interest as he saw the symbol attached to the cathedral.

“It’s the symbol of the Sacred Heart Monastic Order. Come to think of it, we destroyed several facilities of those fools in the previous war, but why now?” The woman’s eyes widened in surprise. “Not only the encroachment, but why did this particular place appear? It’s interesting.”

“We should summon that man.” The man, puzzled, snapped his fingers as if performing an experiment. Then, an old man appeared from thin air. The priest who had been in the temple before now had a face filled with madness. The old man gazed at the two individuals with eyes filled with reverence, then knelt on the ground and prostrated himself.

“Oh, Apostles of the praised God! For this sinner to behold you directly, what a glorious honor it is!” The two individuals exchanged glances and grinned. A sense of satisfaction, as if a puzzle had been solved, permeated them.

“The experiment was successful. In an unexpected way.” They admired. The faith of the followers of a fallen old religion, meeting a miracle, could summon a space swallowed within the alternate dimension.

“Humans are interesting. This is unexpected.” The woman’s expression changed slightly. She inwardly admired. “Truly remarkable. The fanatical faith of those ignorant lot could bring forth a miracle that manipulates space.”

A satisfied smile also hung on the man’s lips. “Building a religion wouldn’t be a bad method for our future plans. I should report this to those above.”

The fanatic, still with his head buried in the ground, trembled all over and whispered. “Oh, most sublime ones. Please bestow mercy upon this humble servant.” The two individuals ignored the priest and began to discuss their next plan.

This peculiar space, summoned using the blind faith of humans, was indeed the optimal stage given to them.

“Now, let’s start something fun. Come, Priest. Give us that item.” “Here it is…!” The priest, as if enchanted, handed them the Miracle Box. As the two people laughed, their shadows rippled strangely.

**

Unit 325 Violet opened her eyes in the darkness. Debris oppressively covered her surroundings.

“Where is this?” Fortunately, the Violet Network was functioning normally even amidst this bizarre phenomenon. A flood of information poured into her mind. “We’re here!” “Where are the others? Sophieel Unnie? Oh, right, Lucian or Levi?” “Lucian is here! I don’t know about the other two. By the way, weren’t you in the convention center?” “Convention center?” When Unit 325 asked, the other Violets replied. “Yes! We’re inside the building. The power’s out again, but it’s a bit chaotic. Oh, wait a minute.” The Violet, who had been speaking, tilted her head. Unlike a moment ago, a slightly tingling yet exhilarating sensation was sweeping through her body. “The Aether concentration is dense. Is this a dungeon?” “I don’t know.” Unit 325 attempted to escape from the debris. The things surrounding her were simple partition walls. Violet easily pushed them aside and stood up. Feeling a slight sense of pride in her own strength, the girl surveyed her surroundings.

And she confirmed that she was in an unfamiliar place. “Where is this?” She couldn’t tell where she was.

“Everyone, where are you!” In the silence, Violet looked around. When she turned her head, a breathtaking landscape unfolded.

“This is…” Violet gazed blankly around.

She wouldn’t know. Not before, and not unless she made an effort to understand in the future. The gray vortex tearing through the sky that appeared in her eyes resembled the tears of a god. Within that endless cycle of tears, the Alibes Grand Abbey stood silently consumed by pain. Once, it was a place where countless faithful gathered to find peace and comfort, where goddesses of order, mercy, and peace smiled. But now, it had long vanished amidst the screams of fear and death.

In the First Great War of Alternate Dimension Invasion, swept away by the attacks of monster beasts, the Grand Abbey and the holy land of Astellia where it was located were sucked into the abyss of the alternate dimension. Amidst the horrors of the Great War, many sought salvation here, but what the monster beasts left behind was a mockery of their hollow faith. And now, wandering this land of death were specters who had lost their gods.

In a landscape mixed with debris and skeletons, a silence as if time had stopped flowed. Every step she took revealed old military uniforms, rusted weapons, and the remnants of death. Soldiers and clergymen who had turned into ghouls were cursed beings wandering this forgotten land with soulless eyes. Their sighs rode the wind, vanishing towards the battlefield beyond distant memory. Above the Aether-stained earth, the wind rustled and dust scattered, but the warmth of life had long since faded.

All that remained in Astellia was a fragile silence and fleeting fragments of memory.

Massive buildings and debris floated in the air, defying gravity, while bizarre creatures swam among them. This was a chaotic world, detached from reality, where the laws of physics were violated by Aether.

Looking into the distance, the silhouette of a massive structure came into view beyond the ruins. Once praised as the greatest temple, the Alibes Grand Abbey was now a symbol of fallen faith, forgotten beyond the alternate dimension, maintaining its silence. On the spire of the Grand Abbey, the three overlapping circles symbolizing the Sacred Heart Monastic Order shimmered faintly.

This was Astellia, a monument to defeated faith and courage. It was evidence of a fallen religion and a forgotten god’s ossuary.

**

While Violet was lost in the unfamiliar landscape, a girl with pigtails regained consciousness and stood up in the ruins.

“Wh-where is this?” Levi looked around. All that greeted her were gray ruins.

‘A strange light enveloped the surroundings. And…’ When she came to, she was in a strange place.

Levi suddenly felt fear. It wasn’t just because she had suddenly appeared in an unfamiliar place. What her sharp vision caught were the monster beasts inhabiting the area.

“V-Violet. Wh-where are you?” Her trembling hand gripped the Ballista. The firm, cold grip regained her composure.

‘Right, I have strength. There’s nothing to be afraid of!’ She decided to find Violet first.

‘Violet is invincible…’ Swallowing her fear with effort, Levi walked into the ruins of Astellia.