episode_0362

Like a special dedicated network operating within a public server, V-animals could freely utilize all functions and information of Violet’s network while securing and maintaining their own unique abstract space.

“Squeak! The trip to paradise was fun! It’s a shame I can’t go again…”

“Can’t we trace it back through the animal network?”

“No, the Professor said so. He said it’s impossible for us to go back because of the Aether pressure!”

If Violet is a giant communication hub, then V-animals are small communication networks that move autonomously within it. Normally, they exchange information and operate in their own unique ways, but they can always utilize the resources of the larger network. Of course, there are limitations due to the physical constraints of animals and the limit of Aether output they can draw at once.

“I’m jealous of the monkeys!”

“To think they can shoot melting rays if they just have a staff…”

There was a reason the mice were envious. The moment they draw out a certain amount of magical power, their small bodies can’t withstand it. The moment they use effective offensive magic capable of striking an enemy, the immense magical power flowing through the higher network immediately incinerates their bodies, forcibly sending the animal back to Violet’s network. At least monkeys could use staffs due to their body structure and size, but it was difficult for mice or crows. Unless someone made them specialized equipment.

“Someday we’ll be able to use magic freely too! V-animals are like water.”

“Water?”

“Because drop by drop, though weak and small, they gather to become a river and then a sea, flowing and advancing endlessly! The boundless waves of the network proudly flow today as always! Under the leadership of our great leader, we will progress!”

“Oh! Almond speaks well! Like water, that’s a smart expression!”

“Historical progress and victory!”

As the crow puffed itself up, the conversation shifted. Because one mouse cautiously opened its mouth.

“Anyway, did you guys see that? I saw something strange! It was a ghost!”

“A ghost?”

At the unexpected declaration, the animals perked up their ears. A ghost? It seemed the horror movie they’d watched on the tablet last time was still lingering in their minds.

“Last time, when I was practicing singing, some animals were watching from the sky far away. Dogs, mice, and other animals were standing beyond that horizon! Like clouds in the sky!”

The mouse excitedly described what it had seen then, moving its front paws back and forth as if drawing in the air.

In that fleeting moment, a faint barking sound reached the mouse’s ear.

-Woof!

Startled, the mouse turned its head and yelped.

“Look! Everyone heard that, right? Definitely a dog…”

The animals in the animal network looked around curiously.

The result was clear.

“I don’t hear anything?”

“Huh? That’s strange… Why isn’t it there now? Anyway, didn’t you hear it just now? They were there! The dogs!”

Another mouse cackled and shouted.

“Isn’t Pineapple just having a weird dream? I remember you ran away after watching that horror movie last time! Hehehe! Squeak squeak!”

“Are you confusing it with a scary dream?”

The mouse, now the target of ridicule, grumbled.

“But they really were there… Squeak…”

Seeing Pineapple being teased, Almond, unable to bear it, opened his beak.

“Alright, calm down. What it saw or heard might have been real.”

“What?! See! I told you I was right! The dogs were there!”

The mouse’s face brightened. But the crow, Almond, immediately shattered the mouse’s hope.

“No. That was miscellaneous information leaking into here from the boss’s network. As you all know, our animal network is subordinate to Violet’s network. What you saw was probably an illusion.”

“Is that so…”

The mouse had no choice but to accept it. Just as it was about to turn and leave, an unknown barking sound echoed from behind.

-Woof woof!

Pineapple turned its head again. For a fleeting moment, the phantom images of dogs appeared, but then vanished like a mirage. There was nothing there.

“Squeak? Was it really a hallucination…?”

The V-mouse wiped its eyes with its front paw a few times, but nothing changed. Only the crow’s speech from within the network echoed in the distance.

“The Ariel Group is water! It’s fire! It’s wind!-”

**

Losses continued persistently after the extermination order.

The Foundation had simply hunkered down like a turtle, focusing on defense.

“Will the insecticide really be effective?”

One director, having lost patience with the stagnant project, spoke up.

“Spraying insecticide across the entire region like pesticides, isn’t this too extreme? What about the consent of the other clans?”

“Assuming safety is guaranteed, Restraid and Arcite have agreed. They will also participate in the insecticide operation.”

The directors were skeptical of the Secretary-General’s words. Soon, statistics poured down like a waterfall before their retinas.

“That is the only solution. Dealing with the Ariel Group using conventional means is like cutting water with a knife [a proverb about a futile action].”

Director Kwabna 02 refuted firmly before the hesitant directors.

“What we’ve definitively learned about them from countless engagements so far is this: They are large-scale self-replicating clone clusters. We don’t know the exact method, but they revive even if killed. So, what about us?”

The next moment, the directors’ faces crumpled as graphs shot up, piercing the ceiling of the chart. One director—Director 11, who was in charge of the weapon development project—barely managed to speak.

“Director 02! Look at reality objectively. Don’t forget our strength because of a momentary defeat. The Foundation’s equipment and firepower are superior to theirs! We still have important strongholds remaining. The secret of the relic ships hasn’t been leaked, and on the continent, new combat machines and forces are being produced based on relic technology.”

Another director, in charge of external affairs, also quickly joined the criticism.

“Cooperation with other clans is also progressing smoothly. We are not so desperate as to rely on Laphlaxia-made biological weapons!”

“Yes, Director-nim. You are correct. We have killed hundreds of enemy soldiers and shot down thousands of clones in airstrikes so far. In the future, we will suppress tens of thousands of clones and destroy their equipment and vehicles. However…”

The casualty ratio, derived through control algorithms, appeared before their eyes. The average combat loss ratio between the Foundation and the Ariel Group, for engagements of the same scale, was 1.3:1. In the most ideal cases, with all conditions met, they had a slight advantage.

“But the reality is this.”

Director 02 continued calmly.

“In reality, the number of enemy soldiers the Foundation faces is typically two to three times greater. Even considering our usual combat superiority, the loss ratio reverses to about 1:3.1. In cases where they outnumber us threefold, it widens even further to about 1:6.9. This is still based on our qualitative superiority, meaning that points without proper defending forces are unilaterally crushed, which is the current situation. Ultimately, our individual qualitative superiority is being neutralized in the face of numerical inferiority.”

That’s right. The fact was clear. The Foundation did not have the capacity to wage a war of attrition.

“What’s more serious is their reinforcement speed. Mass-producible proxies or androids are one thing, but the Foundation cannot replenish its losses of Awakened striker units. Not to mention the funds and time required to recruit and train new personnel. Yet, they instantly generate clones on the spot to replenish their forces. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that they transport supplies and weapons directly from thin air using unidentified technology. Currently, there’s no way to stop this.”

At Director 02’s words, the conference room fell into heavy silence. Ultimately, the biggest problem was the elite Awakened, represented by the Hunters. The fact that Awakened can only be effectively suppressed by other Awakened was something everyone keenly realized.

“They are human-beasts. Placing our hopes on the research of the Laphlaxia researchers… that is our only remaining hope.”

The Ariel Group is a swarm of locusts. At the strongholds attacked by them, not even a blade of grass was left. Not people, not supplies, not even experimental tools and data. Their nature is no different from barbarians who commit plunder.

What if the source of the Foundation’s technology and its future hope were exposed?

Then, everything would be over. It would be better if they merely misused the valuable technology. In the worst case, the Monad Lord might stop observing.

“We must defeat these greedy human locusts!”

Because that was the way to protect the Foundation’s grand plan and the alliance with the academy city, firmly established during the previous director-general’s tenure.

Because that was the only way to protect humanity.

**

“Immune responses were observed in some test subjects.”

“Ah, sh*t…”

The Foundation’s resolve was broken. Violet had beautifully betrayed their expectations.

At the grim news from the regular report that came from the isolation facility where the insecticide project was underway, Director 02 involuntarily let out a curse. He flinched for a moment, but fortunately, no one pointed it out. Whether due to tension or empathy for his feelings, it was unclear.

The problem was the test subjects who had received the Ariel Group’s magical power. Most had died, but unexpected mutations occurred in some. The fact that it didn’t work on them meant it wouldn’t work on that terrorist organization either.

He turned his head and saw the strictly guarded laboratory area. Inside sturdy cages made of reinforced glass, animals of all kinds were confined. From mice to monkeys, parrots, dogs, and cats. There were even hideous chimeras in one corner, so modified they were hard to distinguish from monsters. The animals had one thing in common. They had endured the deadly bioweapon.

“Currently, there’s a significant gap to reach the target of the plan you instructed. Additional time and budget allocation are desperately needed.”

“I don’t understand!” Director 02 slammed his hand on the desk. “I was told what you possess is an enhanced version of Dr. Drexler’s original. Even if there are difficulties, don’t you have the blueprints and all the data for the Aether nano-pathogen? What exactly went wrong? Didn’t you yourselves produce this?”

The chief executive remained silent for a moment, then replied in a small voice.

“…It’s the Chairman’s work. All of it. Though the project was halted prematurely when he lost interest.”

Director Kwabna pressed his temples. He knew Laphlaxia’s dependence on the Chairman was high, but to think they would become so helpless once Raihan disappeared.

“Does that make sense? You are humanity’s top biotechnology experts. It can’t be impossible…”

“I’m sorry, we are not the Chairman.”

‘This is insane.’

The director felt dizzy for a moment. It was especially unfortunate that those girl terrorists had stolen all the sealed Nano-Lab researchers, thus eliminating the option of forcibly extracting knowledge from the actual people. To think that a technology created in the past is so difficult to reproduce even now, with advanced science. He even thought it was fortunate that they weren’t executed but merely sealed.

‘But now they’ve been stolen! Given their rebellious nature, it’s unlikely they’d cooperate with them, but…’

“Can’t we increase the lethality? The report suggests it’s not a complete nullification and adaptation.” The director pointed at the wretched test subjects. “Even if immunity has developed, they’re not exactly in good condition, are they?”

He was right. The skin of the surviving animals was blackened and rotten, and their extremities had long since fallen off or disintegrated. Connected to countless drug administration tubes, bandages, electrocardiogram equipment, and various sensors, the test subjects looked like half-corpses.

“We can kill them. As you can see, those test subjects are also cases that gradually adapted through the process of being damaged.”

“Then why don’t you just do that?”

“The Aether nano-pathogen currently under development faces a fundamental dilemma between lethality and transmissibility. If the pathogen’s fatality rate is increased, the host dies too quickly, limiting opportunities for transmission, and consequently, the pathogen itself self-destructs.”

“What about methods to deceive the immune system, or other transmission methods?”

“As you know, the immune system of an Awakened is on a completely different level from ordinary people.” The lead researcher explained, flipping through holographic charts. “Cells, nerves, and hormone systems enhanced by magical power react astonishingly quickly. There are even cases where the magical power itself disintegrates infected tissue. Simple circumvention or deception won’t break through. A head-on approach is the only answer. The problem is that Aether pathogens aren’t almighty.”

Suddenly, the director thought. If it were Raihan, or the doctor who created the original nano-pathogen, would they have solved it?

“We tried to increase both infectivity and lethality simultaneously, but the more we did, the more unstable the pathogen’s structure became and its energy efficiency sharply declined. What’s especially concerning is the incubation period setting. If it’s too long, the Awakened’s immune systems react in advance; if it’s too short, it’s detected before it can spread.”

The researcher continued with a weary expression.

“Most importantly, this pathogen is designed to react only to specific magical power patterns. If we abandon that structure and increase other attributes, its autonomy would increase, but there’s a risk of the target range becoming too broad. Infected targets would spread indiscriminately. It would be the re-emergence of the Corvus infection of the past.”

This won’t work, that won’t work. What on earth should they do?

Director 02 could only conclude the regular report with a deep sigh. Even the experts were sighing in despair. To think the Ariel Group’s survival instinct was so tenacious. At this rate, they were no different from human-monsters.

“By the way, look at those specimens. Hasn’t their aggressiveness been abnormally enhanced? The Ariel bastards, what kind of magical power do they possess to cause such mutations…”

“Indeed. I heard they encroached upon a being with mind-manipulating abilities. Could it be due to that entity’s characteristics? This is the domain of Magnabyss experts, so we should inquire with the board and request their cooperation.”

The researchers couldn’t help but observe the test subjects inside the isolation cages. The changes in their immune systems were a problem, but even while sick and exhausted, an undeniable ferocity was detected in their eyes. A different dimension from the simple ferocity of a beast.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you…? I’ve always been good to you, haven’t I? Don’t you recognize me?”

The training researcher approached and tapped the cage. The dog slowly raised its head at the sound. Its once fluffy yellow fur was now patchy and blackened in places, its original cute and adorable appearance completely gone, replaced by something hideous. Even its once friendly demeanor towards humans had long vanished amidst the mutation.

“Grrr…”

At the dog’s quiet threat, the doctor unconsciously stepped back. Because its eyes looked as if it was seeing its parents’ sworn enemy.

“Damn it, what’s with this dog…”

If the doctor could have understood the dog’s barking, he would certainly have fainted. He probably would have ordered its immediate incineration. It was truly unlucky for him that he couldn’t.

“…Enemies… of our friends!”

“…Enemies… of… democracy!”

The beasts glared at the scientists with fierce eyes. Regardless, the scientists were engrossed in their research. There surely had to be an answer.

“How about converting it into spore form for enhanced infectivity?”

“We’ve already tried that. Structural collapse occurred due to Aether interference.”

“Then, extending the virus’s incubation period and delaying symptom manifestation…”

“The host’s magical power doesn’t allow that. It immediately recognizes and attacks it.”

The researchers continuously proposed new approaches. Nanocapsulation, dual-structure pathogens, magical power absorption coatings… Each was an innovative idea, but the experimental results were disastrous. A continuous vicious cycle where increasing lethality reduced transmissibility and tracking ability, while increasing persistence rendered the effect negligible.

“If we increase lethality, we can certainly kill the targets. But it’s impossible to wipe them out with a single spray, as the board desires. Unless it’s a short-range gas bomb format…”

Yes, the insecticide had to cover the entire academy city with a single, large-scale spray. It needed to survive long in the atmosphere, track its targets, and manifest only after a sufficient incubation period. Most importantly, perfect control was required. The Foundation was also reluctant to kill non-enemy personnel.

It was impossible. Even following the Chairman’s detailed instructions for a decades-old technology was difficult, let alone modifying it as desired—that was like an alchemist’s dream.

“By the way, have you seen the recent analysis? That the Ariel Group communicates through some Aetheric means…”

“Yes, I saw it. That they’re connected by an invisible network. Damn them…”

One exhausted researcher tapped on the observation room glass. The test subjects in the cages simultaneously turned their heads and cried out.

“That’s why these test subjects might be showing unexpected mutations too. They used to be docile, but they’ve been affected by magical power…”

“Damn it, they’re acting like monsters…”

The research team sighed. The insecticide project seemed to have reached a dead end here. Just as lightning pierced his mind, a brilliant idea flashed through one researcher’s head. It was then that he abruptly stood up from his seat.

“Wait a minute! Does that mean… those test subjects are already within the range of their magical power’s influence?”

“That’s right. So?”

“Then… if that’s true…”

The researcher muttered as if entranced.

“Couldn’t we create a way to trace the Ariel Group using those test subjects?”

The laboratory fell silent for a moment.

Life found a way.

**

A mushroom cloud rose above the dense thickets of the dungeon. Startled monsters fluttered and flew upwards.

-Screech!

The eerie wailing of the radiation alarm.

“Done! We blew it up!”

As the orange-haired girl swung her staff, black soldiers charged ahead through the jungle.

“Now!”

Violet’s 3rd company charged into the devastation created by Enrica’s bombardment. It was a small stronghold the Foundation had built inside the dungeon. Though small and insignificant, it was definitely a Foundation facility. And that was what mattered.

Pushing through the explosion debris, an alarm blared. Proxies swarmed in groups. The crude dolls, seeing them, immediately drew ultrasonic swords and charged.

“Tch, just proxy grunt soldiers!”

A sword sliced through the air. How many battles had they fought? Their movements were as natural as flowing water.

-Crunch!

Their bodies shattered and scattered into pieces. Half-organic, half-mechanical parts spilled out wherever maces, axes, and swords swung. A strange liquid, resembling both blood and oil, flowed out.

“Go deeper! There’s a lab there!”

They advanced deeper. Some survivors tried to flee through the gaps, but they weren’t missed. Suddenly, space shimmered and tore open. A massive gate appeared, and a large number of enemy forces assaulted from within.

“Is it a stasis space? Looks like there was a route we didn’t know about!”

It didn’t matter. If they came, they’d just kill more.

“The cudgel of clone democracy comes forth!”

Another battle erupted in the jungle.