episode_0411

Countless hordes scurried across the wilderness. As our brave girls spread out and charged head-on, animals that had lost their color and turned into gray shadows flapped and moved their feet in front of them. Their small bodies danced like faint shadows. Their true identities were none other than V-Animals.

“We fight for the Boss!”

Summoned with small hearts full of courage, the V-Animals ran desperately in this unfamiliar environment. Their tiny footprints scraped the wilderness sand, leaving traces. Their mission was support. The collective consciousness issued precise instructions based on several possibilities we had just calculated. Because there was work to be done.

“It’s a demon! A demon! That one, it must be the demon Hecatoncheir talked about!”

Sharp screams cut through the air. The intimidation Exoria exuded was completely different from any other magical beast or previous Apostle. She stood still in her spot, but her presence permeated the entire space. Moreover, the bizarre atmosphere created by this gloomy Exile’s domain, along with the strangely unimaginable situation, instilled great fear in some of the animals.

“Squeak! The demon’s scary! How do we beat it?”

One mouse’s voice trembled along the network. It was even using terms learned from their new friend, Hecatoncheir. Already, some animals were rigid with fear, merely moving according to orders.

“I don’t know! What can short little us mice do? Squeak!”

Another mouse stood on two feet, rubbing its front paws, answering nervously. At the sight of the agitated mice, the monkey Cocoa stepped forward with a resolute expression. Cocoa, standing atop a small gravestone, drew a weapon with one hand and pointed with the other at our Violets, who were advancing through the Exile’s various magical techniques. The monkey bravely shouted:

“V-Animals, pay no mind to the demon from another dimension! Our leader is the Master of Infinity! She will guide us even through the valley of death!”

Cocoa’s voice was surprisingly loud and clear. In addition, clear and cheerful choruses echoed loudly above the domain. Under the bleached sun, parrots and crows bravely soared through the sky, flapping their wings and shouting propaganda.

“The steadfast unity of free animals! Achieved by the great Violet!”

As the parrots and crows cried out, other monkeys enthusiastically responded. “Ooh-ooh-ooh! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution!”

Amidst the animals’ fervent cheers, I recalled a word I had forgotten. Yes, Infinity. Perhaps a version of myself I would never reach, yet in a sense, the strongest other me. The weight of that existence, seemingly too light and unlikely to ever be encountered.

And this place was real, yet not real. To borrow that Exoria’s own expression, it was a domain where her mental image was projected onto reality. Everything unfolding before me was a strange world, a mix of reality and illusion. If so, it might be possible.

“No, we *must* make it possible!”

The Violets advanced once more. Our footsteps echoed through the wilderness. Behind the masks, a firm and resolute will settled on their faces. On the other hand, they infiltrated beyond the seemingly insurmountable boundary of the mind. Tearing and bursting through.

“Reduce power! We need to disrupt her!” “Distract her as much as possible! Don’t let her focus on reality! She seems to have adapted to us!”

Another Violet, running from the right, panted. Anxiety and resolve intersected in the air, and sweat streamed down her forehead. There was no time to wipe it away.

“Push through! We outnumber her! She’ll be the one to tire out!”

The Violets forged ahead. Running through the domain the demon from another dimension had unfurled in reality, they pushed through the thorny path that sprang up beneath their feet. Sharp thorns scratched their ankles, but dispersing the pain, they navigated the sea of swords and the forest of blades.

Countless blades cut through the air, reflecting light. The ground cracked with splitting sounds and erupted like thunder. The forest of blades constantly shifted its form as if alive, sharpening its edges towards them. Through it, they twisted their bodies, navigating the gray labyrinth.

Their goal was one. That living fortress of supernatural power, standing tall in the middle of the wilderness like a waiting stone. It showed no movement, yet its majesty was overwhelming, and dust winds swirled around it, forming an invisible barrier.

And another front. A battle of minds, where the network and consciousness met. Beyond the mental boundary, there was a formidable beast with powerful mental strength, defending against their erosion and connection with overwhelming pressure. The Violets fought on both fronts.

“We’ll take her down a peg!”

**

The army of clones surged forward once more like a wave. Even on her home ground, which was nothing short of a mockery of reality, the collective consciousness’s will did not easily break. Red blood was profusely splattered over the mental domain, instantly losing its color. No matter how many times they were ground into tiny pieces and crushed, they relentlessly kept surging forward like beasts.

Exoria observed the situation with cold eyes, thinking. From the perspective of a former Archon, perhaps Violet’s true ability lay in her endless tenacity and persistence. Though there was something else that truly surprised her.

“Squeak, squeak! Long live clone democracy! Long live animal democracy!”

As the second offensive began, Violet pulled out an unexpected new card. The V-Animals quite flexibly evaded attacks, spreading throughout the domain, and some, following their master, bared sharp claws and gleaming teeth at Exoria. Like the cavalry of ancient nomadic tribes, the V-Animals dangerously circled her, exuding a threatening aura.

“Die! You demon!”

Dog cavalry, carrying monkeys on their backs, barked and charged. The animals’ charge posed no great threat to Exoria. With just a light flick of her finger, red flames erupted from the ground. The animals that had challenged her instantly turned to ash.

“How astonishing, Ahaya. You said you summoned familiars, but this isn’t that level. Are you already summoning sub-legions?”

“Demon! Die! Woof!”

As if dismissing it as nonsense, a dog bravely darted out from among its fallen comrades’ bodies. It was a meaningless act. Just before biting her ankle, the dog found itself caught in an infinite paradox, endlessly advancing. No matter how much it ran, the distance to Exoria did not close.

“Truly insolent, you foolish beast, just like your master.”

-Thump!

Just as it barked in frustration at the unreachable situation, the dog suddenly felt immense pressure. It immediately tucked its tail and scurried away. Suddenly, short afterimages followed one another in space, like the tail of a cute animal. The surrounding animals retreated rapidly like an ebb tide, the afterimages trailing them. Exoria had to correct some definitions in her mind.

“How can this be, using her master’s ability already…”

The speculation that Violet simply created and commanded her own magical beasts ceased. The term ‘Apostle of the Human Realm’ was no longer appropriate. Other Eidos did not command magical beasts like that. No, magical beasts could not do that. This was, though a very small spark, definitive proof. An existence growing into something beyond an Apostle.

That small glimmer of expectation and amusement was soon dashed, as if cold water had been thrown on it, by the sound that reached her ears.

“For Democracy!”

At Violet’s shout, Exoria frowned. “Hmph, that sound again. You child. Are you perhaps speaking of that childish delusion where the common people wield power?”

Violet, at the forefront of the wave-like charge, shouted without hesitation despite the unexpected question. “That’s right! Democracy!” “The spirit of freedom and democracy will not break!”

It was then that Violet’s eyes caught Exoria’s face, where anger was gradually rising. One of Exoria’s auxiliary arms, extended from her back, stretched out glowing claws, sharply flicking away a group, then swiftly grabbed a Violet who hadn’t managed to escape and brutally tore it apart. Amidst the scattering red blood, Exoria muttered coldly, as if reproaching:

“How absurd. Do you truly believe such a weak and futile delusion is needed in this world now? I see why you are merely repeating what childish anarchists or demented liberal terrorists did a century or two ago.”

Exoria’s suddenly ignited gaze held deep contempt, as if she were looking at an insect. Violet couldn’t understand the reason for this sudden outburst of anger, but nevertheless, she swung her sword forcefully and retorted:

“That’s because you’re a boomer! You don’t even know what freedom is, do you?”

“You dictatorial demon hag from another dimension!”

The mocking Violet was roughly pierced by Exoria’s sword, then instantly shattered into pieces and scattered into the air. Immediately, with eyes distorted by rage, Exoria furiously struck the remnants of the fallen Violet, as if venting her fury. Once, twice, the ground vibrated repeatedly, as if a small earthquake had occurred. “Silence! Do you even know what results that abominable phantom you babble about, ‘freedom,’ has brought?”

As she spoke, Exoria’s face was suddenly twisted with deep despair and fury. Her slender fingers trembled. A heavy sigh, mixed with centuries of despair, scattered into the air with the dust over the bleached garden.

“I remember. I clearly saw what terrible and inexplicable seed-selling ruin that ignorant act of pitiful dreamers, who sought shallow salvation beyond the universe, brought about! With these two eyes, with all my senses before and after embodying this form, I vividly remember that sight!”

Exoria’s vision flickered. What she saw was a group of men and women in classical attire, extending their hands towards her with welcoming expressions. —It’s real! We succeeded, it really existed. That theory might be right…! —Welcome, stranger from a distant star! Please, us…

The entire space violently churned with bursting fury. As the collective consciousness adapted the movements of its forces to the shaking vibrations, Exoria stomped her foot forcefully. The ground opened its enormous maw, then swallowed the faltering Violet squad whole and cruelly chewed them.

“I clearly saw it firsthand! What tragedy that childish freedom brought, what desperate end a hopeful overture met! I am sick of the indulgent and irresponsible talk of democracy! You know nothing. If only you knew why that righteous Witch of Lightning despaired…! You wouldn’t even dare utter such spectral nonsense!”

“Geez! Why is the Witch of Lightning suddenly brought up?”

One surviving Violet cried out as if complaining, but Exoria’s fury deepened. Energy swirled around her.

“It seems I must give you more guidance as an adult. I will make you clearly realize that with such a weak spirit, you cannot reach the ineffable heavenly realm!”

Exoria unfurled a splendid fan and lightly waved it to the left. A flash of light erupted from the fan. Immediately after, the Violets on the wilderness found themselves suddenly flung to one side. The collective consciousness, bewildered by the reason, realized that the network triangulation coordinates on the tactical map were severely twisting.

The girls realized the astonishing reality. Space itself was tilting.

“Aargh! The world is turning upside down!”

The mental domain itself twisted and tilted. The laws of gravity were inverted. Violet thought her own movements, bouncing off walls and ceilings, were no different from an insect trapped in a bug collection jar. Exoria freely shook her domain as if a malicious child were shaking a collection jar. Only a few clones, having rapidly accelerated, were barely moving between the inverted sky and ground, using the collapsing walls and ruins as footholds.

“Damn it! Is the operation proceeding correctly?” “Command reports! Quadrupedal animals have been knocked out! Monkeys and birds are barely holding on!”

Even in this desperate situation, like a dark cave where not an inch ahead could be seen, the collective consciousness found a sliver of light. The unified consciousness sought a new breakthrough. But the strategy was too difficult.

To dismantle and neutralize that Exile’s domain, piercing the mental barrier and interfering was most efficient. However, to pierce the mental barrier and attack the Exile beyond the boundary, they first had to inflict pain upon the Exile in this reality to disorient her mind.

“What?! That’s a paradox!” “It’s okay! Command reports again! The first attempt is progressing reasonably well! It might work! And the second attempt is…!”

It was theoretical, but this strange domain was distinctly different from reality. To some extent, it felt strangely familiar, like the Red Zone, and on the other hand, like her own network world.

“And, her declarations or exercise of authority aren’t invincible! There’s a high probability of some kind of limitation, isn’t there?” “Limitation!”

Self-suggestion, reconfirmation. Countless reviews continued ceaselessly even in moments of crisis. Why didn’t she immediately shake them off and escape? Why didn’t she suppress clone generation or pull out other brilliant ideas to subdue them? Other loopholes were visible, beyond simply lecturing or going easy on them.

“Is it related to the artifact device on the back of her head?”

-Thud!

The world inverted again. With an ear-splitting sound, space twisted before returning to normal. Below the normalized spatial trajectory, Violets descended like gray dust. Violets gliding down with wingsuits were caught by giant arms and hands that suddenly surged from the ground and crushed. Elsewhere, a black hole converged at a single point, grabbing the Violets who had managed to evade it. The Exile, observing her spaghettified enemies coldly, clicked her tongue at the remaining foes. Still, those clones remained in her domain. Though she clearly looked quite exhausted, both mentally and in terms of magic consumption.

“Still unyielding, aren’t you?”

“Chaaarge!”

The surviving Violets charged forward, shouting in unison. This was the second major charge. Facing an opponent who used space itself as a weapon, the rate of loss was faster than the rate of generation. It was an unfavorable experience they hadn’t tasted in a long time.

“Alright! Command reports. Go die!”

“Hyaaah!”

Again, the Violets surged forward like a wave. From all directions, 360 degrees. Over broken ruins and sharp rocks, treading on gray sand, fighting through the malicious space, the girls ran. 100 meters, 50 meters. Simultaneously, in the mental world, Violet’s collective consciousness ran with all its might to cross the boundary beyond the plaza. All resources were concentrated on widening and enlarging that tiny crack, that slight scratch, in the mental barrier.

The thrusting swords approached right to her nose, but at the last moment, they strangely elongated. The spatial sophistry created by infinite paradoxes prevented all approaching attacks from reaching Exoria.

“How foolish. By now, you should have realized. It’s a futile endeavor. If you can’t reach me, how will you cut?”

The landscape of swords and spears that filled her vision turned into grayish blood with a single wave of the fan and was swept away into the air. Towards the remaining Violets, Exoria elegantly folded her fan and taunted:

“Aren’t you getting tired yet?”

Violet, seemingly drained of energy, caught her breath and nodded obediently. Her skin, hair, and combat suit looked a shade faded compared to their original color.

“Oh, it is. Don’t tell me it has something to do with the colors?”

Exoria’s eyes sparkled. She seemed rather pleased that Violet had finally realized the secret of her domain, which she had kept hidden all along. “You’ve finally realized, child. That’s right. My domain gradually gnaws away at the power of every being that steps foot within it. That’s how it steals their color. To explain it in a way your meager intelligence can understand, all abilities gradually decline. Therefore—”

Exoria, rambling on, intoxicated by the rare taste of arrogance, suddenly paused her gaze at the strange actions of other Violet forces waiting behind her. The Violets were doing something odd. Striking the ground with swords as if dancing, and lashing it with electric whips. “—What are you doing?”

And the skin and attire of the distant Violets slowly began to change. Their faded appearance gradually returned to its original color, then completely reverted to the vivid combat suit colors characteristic of the Ariel Group.

Exoria’s bewilderment turned into shock within seconds. “What have you done?”

Exoria’s remaining questions were resolved by the words that followed. “You wicked Eidos demon, behold! This is ‘Ttangbalgi’!”

Wounded monkeys, emerging from among the ruins with shovels, shouted: “We declare! A portion of this domain now belongs to our great master, Violet!”

**

The domain the Exile had unfolded resembled two spaces very familiar to them. “One is the Red Zone!”

They already had experience quelling the Red Zone’s rampage by beating it down. Although they didn’t clearly understand the principle, if they attacked fiercely with their magic, no disaster occurred, nor did any strange phenomena due to erosion appear. What was important was that their power worked.

And Exoria’s ‘domain’ surprisingly resembled the Red Zone. It wasn’t just a feeling. The flow and wavelength of ether, caught by eyes focused with magic, and its structure, intertwined like veins and watercourses, were identical to those of the Karnak Archipelago. As the clash began, I instructed the V-Animals proficient in magic to scatter throughout the wilderness and construct magic circles immediately after combat started.

The magic circle itself was not complex. It merely functioned to use a V-Animal in contact with the circular formation as a terminal, to thickly release and widely spread my magic into the surroundings. Using that magic circle and magic as a medium, they would forcefully strike the ground whenever given the opportunity. Every time the magic permeated the earth like a wave, a change was detected.

The possibility became reality.

“Haha! The colors are returning!”

Suddenly, power surged through my entire body. I was briefly surprised by this unfamiliar energy, but soon realized. It was true that my strength had been gradually decreasing. The sandy area where the Ttangbalgi had been performed slowly regained vitality.

Every single grain of bleached sand, every carelessly rolling pebble, sparkled with a golden light. A fresh, dry desert scent rose in the air.

And in that process, I gained another clear certainty. “I feel the aura of the Plaza!”

Yes, this was my own small, humble Violet Plaza, bloomed in reality.

“…I admit it. Your talent is truly remarkable. To understand my domain in such a short time.”

The Exile, who had been standing as straight as a utility pole, spoke with a rarely trembling voice. Was it admiration, or fear?

“However, the situation has not changed. My authority remains as it is. Can you pierce this?”

Ah, that’s a shame. I had hoped, but as expected, ranged weapons didn’t work. It’s fine. There’s a possibility of piercing it. Even if I can’t pierce it, another me can die for it. The others will take care of the rear. We’ve always done that.

“Command gives orders! Buy time! Just one more charge is needed!”

At the familiar voice echoing in my ear, I eagerly advanced once more. Leaving only a small reserve force in the part of my eroded domain, I pushed forward. As other versions of myself were blocked and died before that spatio-temporal constraint they couldn’t penetrate, I desperately imagined:

“A stronger, faster, tougher ultimate me!”

The image that came to mind was Hellman. Humanity’s greatest martial artist, General Emmanuel Raix. And I combined General Raix’s image with my cute self. I imagined again. And recalled similar aspects. There was an example. An existence I, Violet, could become if I grew stronger. My ultimate form. The monster given the title, Infinity.

Perhaps, it might be possible. This was the clear, 100 percent truth that the collective consciousness had concluded.

Suddenly, a voice, mixed with the noise of battle, flowed faintly. Amidst the sounds of explosions, screams, and the sharp reverberations created by magical clashes, only that voice distinctly lingered in my ears. —Show me blood. Give me blood.

I decided to do so. I assented without hesitation. Slowly, I closed my eyes. My breathing unconsciously grew ragged, and my heart pounded against my chest. An inexplicable elation and scorching heat surged through my entire body. A sensation as if every cell, from my fingertips to my toes, was awakening.

What I imagined was my strongest self.

As all the will and fantasies of the network focused on one body, a bizarre sensation of thousands, tens of thousands of ‘mes’ fusing into one.

“Is that all?” As the arrogant voice that vibrated space questioned again, the trembling of the domain was felt. My vision flashed.