episode_0408

One was the chaotic warehouse, a mess from the aftermath of battle, and the other was her own, all-too-familiar space. “Violet Plaza?” Doubt and surprise laced her voice. The fact that her perception had split in two made Violet feel a bitter taste spread in her mouth, as if she had chewed soap. She had experienced such a dual state of awareness once before, when fighting an Apostle, but it was still an unfamiliar and uncomfortable sensation for her. Yes, this was her own space within the network. A vibrant, colorful, and vast cityscape and plaza, filled with primary colors. But on the opposite side, an unpleasant sight of the invader unfolded. A clear boundary line, precisely at the center, as if cut by a nanowire. Beyond it was a strange and bizarre space. A withered, inorganic world. A whitened landscape reminiscent of cracked marble, a wilderness of desolate white steles and grotesque rock formations occupied half of her vision.

Right across the boundary line stood a red-haired woman. Her fiery red hair, flickering like flames, made her pale face even more prominent. “Half?” Violet’s eyes slowly traced the boundary line. The woman standing across the boundary was equally surprised. She raised an eyebrow at Violet, then made a startled expression. “My heavens, for a mere human to construct such a mental domain. You weren’t human after all.” A mix of wonder and wariness was in the woman’s voice. Violet curled the corner of her lips slightly and shrugged. Indeed, just like that foolish minion of Aidos from last time, this woman’s astonishment at humanity’s miracles and efforts was quite amusing. “Haha, really? Scared? You’ve entered our network!” Simultaneously with Violet’s declaration, beings identical to her began to pop their heads out one by one from various places within the network plaza.

“Let’s teach her a lesson!” “Let’s tear her to shreds!” Hundreds, thousands of Violets surged towards the boundary line. It didn’t take long for the initial murmuring to turn into shouts and roars. Violet tasted minute information from the flow of air and dust that seeped in from beyond the boundary. It was a cold and clear sensation, like ice melting on the tip of her tongue. Number 1, standing beside her, suddenly brightened, her eyes sparkling. “The Exile? Exoria? So that was your name!” Number 2 beside her scoffed and retorted. “Doesn’t matter. From now on, you’ll be a Violet. Number 15,000-something!” Despite the myriad Violets’ accusations and curses, Exoria remained impassive, meticulously observing the ground and ceiling. Her pale fingers made a groping motion in the air, as if searching for something. Then, Exoria abruptly tilted her head like a broken doll. For a brief moment, she looked into the void with an expression as if struck by a hammer. Her pupils momentarily wavered, then refocused on Violet. “You, Violet Ruzilin. It’s strange, why are there so many of you overlapping? Two, you say.” Her voice was filled with pure wonder, like a child discovering something peculiar.

“Two, what do you mean?” Violet retorted, her eyes wide with bewilderment. Exoria stared with wide eyes, as if genuinely surprised, at the sight of thousands of beings all scratching their heads in front of her. Her blue eyes followed Violet’s every movement, seeming to harbor deeper questions. “That’s strange. Don’t you know? Did I see it wrong? How could you have a Gestalt structure within such a mental image…” Exoria’s eyes were filled with questions. Her voice was tinged with curiosity and awe. But her words were abruptly cut off. “Ugh! Seriously! Are you going to babble nonsense again?” Violet number 3 waved her hand, cutting off the Exile’s thoughts. “Hey, Apostle. So, why don’t you try calling Monad trash? You can’t, can you?” Instead of an answer to Violet’s provocative question, a shadow of pain fell across Exoria’s face. At this ridiculous discernment method, even to herself, the Aidos in front of her clenched her eyes shut once more and groaned like someone in pain, as if being crushed from within. This fact solidified Violet’s conviction. Hekatoncheil had confirmed that even now, the ‘demons’ couldn’t even dare to mention or criticize their leader disrespectfully. A small smile formed on Violet’s lips, accompanied by a sense of triumph.

“Unfortunately, Violet, there are circumstances. I cannot answer even if I wished to. This is a prohibition placed upon me. It’s similar to a security spell, but more complex.” Violet scoffed at the flimsy answer, which sounded like an excuse. “See? That’s why you’re suspicious, Apostle! I’ve fought your kind before. They were always bragging about how great they were, so aren’t you thinking the same thing deep down?” Violet’s words sharply pierced her opponent. Other Violets around her also raised their voices in agreement. “No!” Exoria suddenly raised her voice. Her red hair seemed to flutter in an unseen wind. “I… I am no longer associated with those… those who cannot be spoken of.” Her voice gradually grew softer, her last words almost a whisper. In her eyes, there was now a shadow of fear and terror rather than anger.

“Then what’s your relationship with Arsite? What did you do during the Great War?” Violet asked sharply, like a prosecutor cornering a defendant. The mental pressure created by countless clones surged towards Exoria like a massive wave. The Exile reacted violently. “I cannot answer!” Violet began to feel frustrated, as if talking to a wall. “There she goes again.” Exoria, who had been frowning in distress, now opened her mouth in turn. Her intention to change the subject, as if to escape the pain, was evident. “In that case, Violet Dunhind Ruzilin. I have a question for you as well.” Her voice gradually regained its strength. The woman straightened her posture and stared directly at Violet. “How does a human possess such power? How do you know so much about the Rustrum and the forbidden secrets of the world? Information about Aidos and the unmentionable ones is something ordinary people cannot even dare to access. Those who sought to know did not live long!”

“I told you before. I fought your kind. And I absorbed them.” Violet shrugged as if it were obvious. “Alright, Number 2501. Say hello!” A Violet, trotting out from behind the group of Violets, waved her hand. “Hello, future Violet junior! I’m Number 2501. I’m from the Southern Erosion Zone!” “What in the…” The Exile, who had been watching with a puzzled expression, suddenly widened her eyes and gasped. She could finally faintly feel the aura emanating from within that network. Though diluted under a massive stream and not yet fully dissolved, she couldn’t possibly be unaware of this power, both strange and familiar. Her expression twisted into one of shock and horror. “It’s true. It was real.” Exoria’s voice trembled. Her red eyes fixed on Number 2501, focusing as if confirming something. A pale finger extended towards the boundary line in the air, then recoiled. “Hehe! Yes, this is our power. How about it? Aren’t you scared?” Violet’s words were laced with the joy of victory and mockery. The Exile froze like a statue. Perhaps feeling that her appearance conveyed fear and trembling from their power, the Violets puffed out their chests. Just as opinions even began to surface that she had given up resistance too quickly, Exoria whispered in a trembling voice. Something she seriously wanted to confirm had arisen. Her senses focused through the network beyond the boundary line.

“Violet, as the leader and combatant of the Ariel Group, I only have one question for you.” Her posture changed, becoming like that of a commander on the verge of making an important decision. Even the grotesque landscape behind her cast deep shadows, as if echoing her resolve. “It feels like you’ve been doing nothing but asking questions since we met.” Violet rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but a certain curiosity bloomed deep within her mind. There had to be a reason for this alien being’s persistence. “Whose side are you on? Are you on humanity’s side?” Exoria’s question was simple yet weighty. Suddenly, Violet recalled what the dying Luminexa director had said to her. That guy had asked her the same thing back then. The blood-stained face of a human flashed through Violet’s memory. “That question again?” Violet decided to answer this alien’s question as she had back then. “I’m on *our* side!” Her declaration echoed throughout the entire network plaza. Immediately after, amid the fierce momentum of weapons aimed at her in reality, Exoria urgently asked within the mental image: “That’s too vague, Violet. Can you not be more specific?”

The exile from another world grew anxious. Her red hair fluttered in an unseen wind, and a blush of excitement spread across her pale cheeks. Even the collective consciousness watching was intrigued by her agitated state. The thousands of pairs of eyes saw her, and what they perceived was a thirst distinct from the awkward facade and pretense she had hidden behind. A desperation, like that of someone who has fallen in the middle of a desert and sees a gushing fountain right before their eyes, permeated her every movement. “Where do you draw the line for ‘your side’? Do you intend to use that power against humanity’s enemies? Please answer me.” Her voice gradually rose. She tried to calm herself with deep breaths, but the tremor didn’t easily subside. “If you’ve confronted my kin and learned their secrets, then you must also know the crisis Trist faces, mustn’t you?” That urgency was something that couldn’t be hidden, no matter how much she wanted to. Between the wind and desolate dust transmitted from beyond the mental domain’s boundary, there was a bitter, pungent taste. Responsibility, resolve, regret. And the melancholy of regret and atonement for a momentary mistake. Though the exact reason was unknown, it was a sweetener containing a taste honest enough to discern the opponent’s state. Violet clearly felt the weight of those emotions within her mental image.

“…” Violet’s eyes narrowed for a moment. Her teal eyes assessed Exoria, as if re-evaluating her. Violet didn’t understand why she had acted so violently in that moment. Perhaps absorbing her outright was a bit too hasty. A question arose within her. Maybe she could have asked a little more. For the kind of beings she’d met lately, this one had a somewhat polite side. Curiosity and conviction intertwined within Violet. “There’s one thing I must know.” Exoria’s voice shifted to a calm tone mixed with resolve. She raised her head and looked directly at Violet. “Are you intending to use such power, which no ordinary mortal could possess, merely for your own selfish desires?” Her question seemed to stem from genuine curiosity, not a challenge. Faced with that sincere inquiry, Violet pondered for a moment. For a being that appeared to be an Apostle, wasn’t there a side to her that warranted a bit more consideration? Violet soon decided on her answer. Violet carefully chose her words. Her expression turned serious, and the other Violets in the plaza also grew quiet. “Yes, I’ll use my power for my own selfish desires.”

“Such…” Exoria’s smooth face was covered with gloom and anger. Violet inwardly found it intriguing that this was the most natural expression the alien being had made. Just before the despondency reached its limit, a cheerful voice suddenly broke the heavy atmosphere. “My selfish desire is to kill Aidos and the demonic beasts! They tormented my friends and said they’d ruin this world. Then there’d be no food, no games, no fun, right?” The Exile’s eyes sparkled at Violet’s naive, eccentric, yet clear answer, which held the sincerity of a child. “So, our Violet, Ariel, is also on humanity’s side!” Violet shrugged and said proudly. The other Violets around her nodded in agreement. Her gaze sharpened as she looked at Exoria. “Then Exoria, whose side are you on? Is Monad your enemy?” Violet’s question was direct. The air between the mental boundary lines became taut with tension. “…For a century now, I have always been on humanity’s side.” Her voice trembled slightly. The moment she uttered those words, Violet in reality saw Exoria suddenly cough violently. Black liquid poured from her mouth and nose. The dark, sticky, tar-like black fluid evaporated into thin air the moment it hit the floor. Even as she gasped for breath, her face pale, she laboriously began to speak. “And… and the ruler who cannot be spoken of… is my… en-enemy… Can you believe me now?” As she uttered the last word, Exoria clutched her neck with both hands. It was as if an invisible entity was choking her. The pain of breaking the taboo shook her entire body.

Violet returned to reality. All this conversation had transpired within seconds. It was then that the Violets, who had been accelerating through spacetime, detached from reality, stopped. She blinked, quickly assessing her surroundings. —A sharp metallic scrape! With a sharp metallic scrape, the Violets, who had slid to a stop on the floor, simultaneously lowered their weapons. Shining swords and maces were sheathed, and the menacing muzzles of guns and crossbow strings were lowered. It was a sudden change in attitude. The murderous aura that had enveloped the warehouse vanished into thin air like scattering heat haze. “So, I guess we’re on the same side.” Violet quirked one corner of her mouth. Replacing the hostility was cautious curiosity. The Exile, who had by now effortlessly wiped away the blood from her mouth, smiled awkwardly like a doll again, as if nothing had happened. A subtle tension, along with relief, remained on her face. “That is correct. I am pleased to have the opportunity for a proper conversation once more. If you would permit me, may I introduce myself now?” Exoria elegantly gripped the seam of her skirt with a graceful gesture, sliding one foot back and lightly bending her knee. Simultaneously, she bowed slightly at the waist, showing a respectful curtsy. “It is an honor to meet you. I once served one whose very name could not be carelessly uttered, but now I am presumptuously a body stripped of my name and expelled from the cursed heavens…” The torn hem of her dress, ravaged by the battle, swayed softly and returned to its original state. It was a truly classic curtsy. “Exoria, the exile and nameless one of the Academy City, the chief advisor of the Arsite Consortium, humbly offers her greetings.” The Violets tilted their heads at the archaic titles and flowery language. Several looked at each other, raising their eyebrows. Because it was excessively old-fashioned, Violet felt awkward but simply waved her hand lightly in response. “We’re Ariel!”