episode_0368

The scars left by the Foundation’s large-scale offensive ran deep. We Violets suffered considerable damage, and that fact alone ignited fury in our hearts. But the greatest blow was yet to come: our home, our fortress, had been shattered.

“No! Our Violet barracks!” “The heart of our great revolution has vanished!”

The Violet barracks had been our pride from the moment we brought Magnarbis down. It was where the flame of revolution first ignited, our glorious stronghold. In the distant future, if a free city and nation for Violets were ever established, we had wanted to preserve this place as a historical monument.

“Someday, we should have shown it to the citizens and immigrants of our Violet nation!” “It was a symbol of freedom!”

The Violet nation that would someday be built on this land would not be ours alone. It would be shared with the benevolent Awakened and non-Awakened who gathered under Violet’s protection. The citizens would visit this place with their families and loved ones, witnessing the birthplace of the great revolution for freedom with their own eyes. And they would surely be moved by the democratic spirit of us Violets.

“Children would also learn from the spirit of us Violets!”

But now, that was impossible. The Foundation’s indiscriminate bombardment had shattered our dreams. Though important supplies were stored in inventories, the complete obliteration of everyday traces weighed heavily on our hearts. Above all, the halt of the scientific research that would make us Violets even stronger was a bitter pill to swallow.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Thanks to your desperate guidance, everyone in the barracks evacuated safely. We currently have them with us.” “Wow! That’s a relief!”

The scholarship officer’s words lightened the weight on my shoulders a little. Though I initially dragged him here and made him work, I seem to have grown fond of this old man. If he had died, that evil ponytail would have gone wild.

“I don’t know why you’re interested in such a haggard old man with glasses!” “Yeah, really. Is it because you’re an old maid?”

No, now was not the time for such thoughts. We had to overcome the immediate crisis facing us Violets.

“What are your numbers now?”

It was the question I expected. Seijis didn’t speak further. He had read the dark shadow cast over Unit 1’s face.

“We couldn’t salvage many!” Unit 1’s voice trembled with rage. The power of the biological weapons deployed by the Foundation greatly exceeded our expectations. Every time we frantically moved bodies, their attacks rained down, and even our continental stronghold was battered by drones and bombardments. It was a miracle that we managed to save thousands by diligently moving them.

“It’s okay! We still have many clones, and the animals and Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon are left!” “Is that so… the animals and fused beings are unharmed…”

The scholarship officer fell into thought at my words. That point had been bothering me too. Cheolkwon could be explained by being a fused being, but it was strange that the other animals suffered no damage unless directly attacked.

Now there was a second problem to solve. How exactly did those guys find our location?

“Do you have any guesses?” “I don’t know! I did feel a calling sensation from the sky, though.”

It wasn’t completely without clues. A few leads captured by the collective intelligence of us genius Violets. Unidentified signals constantly pouring down from above. We gathered these faint clues and put our heads together to discuss, but no decisive answer emerged.

The ambiguous situation turned into certainty thanks to a piece of information that arrived from an entirely unexpected source.

“Violet! You Laplaxian defect!” Suddenly, the V-crow that the group had brought began to tremble violently and started to rant. “What reckless act did you commit again in the sky above! You can’t even calculate the ripple effects your actions will cause, what kind of abnormal experiment did you dare to conduct?!” The V-crow on the table cried sharply, expressing its rage. The voice behind the crow belonged to Bernike. The news relayed through the crow sent to the Joint Research Institute was unexpectedly interesting.

“Whoa, Auntie. What happened?” “You still don’t grasp the situation? The signal you emitted in the sky caused the test subject to exhibit an unprecedented level of abnormal excitement… From the reaction, it seems related to you, doesn’t it? It completely lost its reason and went wild. This is the first time it’s shown such a violent reaction!”

Oh, our group’s eyes widened at the information relayed through the crow. Since that side also reacted, my hypothesis seems correct. Could it be that the Apostle escaped?

“No, it didn’t. Fortunately, thanks to the seven-layered blocking security system, there was no physical escape of the test subject. Although, as a result, many researchers suffered severe mental trauma! My head of magitech engineering, for instance, confessed and had a seizure, then slit their wrist. This greatly delayed the experiment’s progress.”

The irritation in her voice seemed to be more about the research delay than the casualties. Well, that’s typical of her.

“Other researchers tried to gouge out their eyes, and numerous self-harm attempts were reported, leading to a widespread mental breakdown. Can your immature brain now grasp the gravity of the situation? You limbic-system-dysregulated child! Put Pereira on the line immediately! Pereira isn’t answering my calls! Where is he? Answer me!”

“Uh, Auntie. Talk when you calm down. I’ll explain later!”

For a ponytail auntie, she was quite presumptuous. I recalled the activation methods of the bomb and the brain nerve parasite I had implanted in Bernike’s brain, then cut off the communication.

“A Laplaxian defect! I should teach them a lesson!”

Thanks to the Apostle’s seizure incident, the brilliant collective intelligence of us Violets was able to take one step closer to the truth. To sum it up in one word:

“It seems those Foundation bastards shot something connected to us into the sky! Probably…” The next moment, three voices cut through the air and overlapped. Mine, the scholarship officer’s, and Irene’s.

“A satellite, of course.”

That’s right. The only tool that could send signals to us Violets from the sky was a satellite. There was no way those Foundation guys had already launched a space battleship.

Though it was just an inference, I felt satisfied with this conclusion, which had been reached at lightning speed. Half the mystery was solved, and now only one thing remained.

“Violet, judging by the symptoms, the Foundation definitely used Corvus Infection! I don’t know how they made it affect Awakened, though…” “Gasp! That’s right! No wonder. It hurt so much!”

As Daphne pointed out, the biological weapon they created was the key. Given that they indiscriminately sprayed it throughout the city, the Foundation must have already established a mass-production system. Even if we destroyed all their satellites or found a way to hide, it was obvious they would unleash viral bombs the moment they spotted us.

“The deadlock zone forces all died that way too!”

“How are we supposed to respond to this…” Unfortunately, those gathered here were skilled in combat and fighting, but such problems were outside their area of expertise.

“Should I assign the Nano-lab guys in prison to this task?”

It was just as our collective intelligence was about to turn its attention to the middle-aged scientist disguised as a high school girl. Suddenly, a sound.

“Woof woof!”

Everyone’s attention focused on me as I suddenly lifted my head and looked around.

“Is something wrong?” “No? I just heard a dog barking… Is it a magic beast?”

As I was about to sit down, showing a puzzled reaction, the dog’s barking sounded once more.

“Freedom never dies!”

Someone was desperately looking for us Violets.

***

Ten hours after the pesticide dispersal. Breaking the silence of the quarantine room, the animals’ covert plotting continued.

“First, we escape this facility, then join up with the other V-animals. What do you think?” “Perfect! We can unite our strength!”

At the monkey’s suggestion, the dog’s ears perked up. Their experimental intelligence, combined with a temporary connection to the animal network, made their thoughts even more precise.

“The problem is the escape route. We don’t know what’s beyond this quarantine room.” The cat’s sharp point cut through the air. The test subjects had never freely walked outside this cage-like space. The dog replied in a tense voice.

“Let’s aim for the guard change time. They patrol at a fixed time every day.” The animals recalled the guards’ routine. Status checks, lock confirmations, record keeping. An unchanging, repetitive routine. There would surely be a gap.

“You guys distract them. In the meantime, I’ll smash the cage!” The monkey, excited, chimed in, echoing the dog’s words.

“Then, securing the ID cards will be key! The ones attached to their uniforms!” The other animals’ eyes gleamed with understanding. The entry and exit procedures of the authorized personnel they had watched every day came back to their minds.

“But we’re still trapped!” At the parrot’s concern, the dog defiantly bared its teeth.

Suddenly, a sudden red flash from its body. The animals held their breath.

“No way… can you already control magic power?” “This power awakened as I yearned for freedom! Everyone, try it too! Shout, ‘Long live animal democracy!’”

“Animal democracy… Long live?” Magic power shimmered on the skeptical cat’s paw. The cat’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Long live animal democracy!” “This is the power of freedom!”

Crude and weak as it was, with the successful manifestation of magic power, the animals’ confidence soared. While not at the level of the great V-animal warriors of legend, it seemed enough to overpower humans armed with guns and swords.

“Good! Let’s show them our wrath!” With two hours left until the big event, the animals pooled all their wisdom to fill the gaps in their plan.

***

As night deepened, the V-animals moved through the city like shadows. Monkey units draped in camouflage moved like ghosts in the darkness between street trees and buildings. Following their tracks, rats scurried through alleys, and crows soared through the night sky.

Even in the dead of night, the city was stifling with tension. Mech Hounds patrolled under drone surveillance lights, and the muzzles of hunters’ and robot soldiers’ guns gleamed in the darkness. Throughout the streets, the terrifying howls of low-tier magic beasts, brainwashed by chips, echoed.

“Our leader was struck down by the Foundation’s cowardly and wicked methods!” Cocoa clenched her fist at the monkey commander’s enraged shout.

“That’s right! We almost got into big trouble too! But still… we survived!” Cocoa’s voice was filled with an iron will.

“The great Violet Commander will not be defeated! Her waiting in the Red Zone is proof! Since she told us to wait, orders will come down soon!” The V-animals remaining in Academy City had somewhat regained their composure from the day’s chaos. The network was still intact, and their safety was confirmed by the leader’s feedback. Now, all that was left was waiting. The flame of vengeance burned in the animals’ hearts.

“We’ve gathered weapons and ammunition, so we can handle mere minions.” “No one will be safe before the united power of the animals!”

Then, a strong signal shook the network.

“Attention! Attention! Command center calling. Confirm the designated coordinates!” A command that fell like thunder roused the nerves of all the animals.

“The time has come.” The eyes of the animals scattered throughout the city burned like blue flames. “V-animals, assemble!”

***

Twelve hours after the pesticide dispersal. As the lights in the quarantine room flickered dimly, the animals waited, holding their breath.

“Patrol is coming. Everyone get ready!” The dog’s sharp ears detected footsteps. Two guards shuffled in, yawning sleepily, and began their routine checks. An everyday pattern, no different from usual. The guards thought so.

“Meow!” The cat moved first. As usual, it began to meow sharply from inside its cage. The guard’s annoyed gaze turned to the cat. The cat defiantly thrashed about, scratching at the bulletproof glass. As the guard approached and pressed the electric shock button for the cage, a cry echoed from the opposite side.

“Die! Die! Bad guy! Trash!” The guard frowned and approached, provoked by the parrot. “What, where did you learn words like that? You bird-brained idiot…”

“Screech!” Just as the guard mechanically applied another electric shock and turned to leave, animals on all sides began to thrash about furiously. The quarantine room grew chaotic.

“Are these things crazy?” As their attention was diverted, the guards heard a sound they shouldn’t have.

*Thump! Thump!*

“What, what is that?” Turning at the noise, the guards’ eyes finally fell upon the glass, which had begun to crack. And beyond it, animals with glowing red eyes flashed. Those with beaks pecked at the glass, while other animals furiously scratched, bit, and rammed into it.

“Fuck… magic power?” “E-emergency! Emergency—”

*Smash!*

The output was beyond what the animals themselves had expected; the glass shattered in an instant, and the guards’ minds went blank. The guard fumbled for his communicator with the hand not holding a weapon. In that instant, the dog charged first. The small dog’s teeth pierced his neck.

“Aargh!”

As the other guard turned, the dog’s body moved towards the blood splattering onto the ceiling in an instant. The remaining guard, terrified, aimed his weapon.

“No! Take his weapon!” The monkey snatched the gun in an instant, and the cat leaped at the guard’s face, scratching his eyes. Screams filled the quarantine room.

“Gasp… choke…” The animals, having broken their glass cages, seized the ID cards and opened the quarantine room door. A strange corridor with flickering fluorescent lights stretched before them.

“Got it! We can go this way!” Without knowing the direction, the animals raced down the research facility corridor. Their bodies were exhausted from the experiments, but the newfound power of magic made them exhilarated. Then.

“What?! Why are you here?!” The animals encountered the researcher who had tormented them all this time.

“There he is! That’s him!” “Get him!”

The dog bared its teeth and bit the researcher’s ankle.

“Aaaargh! No!”

In an instant, the researcher’s limbs were seized by the animals. The dog’s bloody snout snarled menacingly in front of his face.

“T-there… doggie? You’re a good dog, right?” Rage surged at the researcher’s pleading. Visions of deceased comrades flashed by. The dog gnashed its teeth and muttered.

“Enemy of animals! Foe of friends!” The researcher’s expression froze at the dog suddenly speaking. Just as the dog was about to bite his neck, the parrot blocked its path.

“Wait! Don’t kill him yet! We need him as a hostage! He’ll also show us the way!” “Y-yes! I-I know this place well! You want to get out, right? Right?” “Yes! As expected, the parrot is smart!”

When the dog suddenly changed its demeanor, the researcher didn’t understand why, but he desperately seized the chance for survival before his eyes.

“I’ll tell you! The way is, so…” “Good! Let’s use him! Instead of tearing off your limbs, we’ll kill you less painfully!” “That’s right! Enemy of the revolution! Show us the way first!” “What?! Aaaargh!”

The revolutionary animals dragged the researcher by his legs, racing down the corridor.

“Aaaargh!” “Show us the way, reactionary human!”

The procession of the revolution swept through the research facility. The screams of the on-duty researchers echoed, and the approaching guards were subdued one by one. Monkeys clumsily holding guns fired warning shots, and four-legged beasts charged with all their might. And at the forefront was a dog with a knife in its mouth.

“Woof! All rise!” The leading dog briefly put down its knife and barked out. “The era of us animals has come!”

***

And so, 12 hours after the pesticide dispersal, Secretary-General Pagan received the most absurd report he had ever heard in his life.

“…Experimental animal revolt, you say. What are you talking about?” “We stopped their escape from the research facility, but staff members have been taken hostage. We are currently in a standoff with security forces.”

At the report, Pagan’s mind reeled. Hostages, he thought, could that term possibly come from a rampage of lab animals? The real-time broadcast screen clearly showed the absurd truth. The animals, having occupied the research facility, were using the on-duty staff as human shields, facing off against armed forces on all sides.

“Growl! Get out of the way! You enemies of freedom!” And at the center of it all was a dog, clearly visible in the middle of the screen, standing on two legs and speaking.

“Those Ariel Group bastards… What cursed magic power is this?!” It was the first animal rebellion in Luminexa Foundation history, and high-ranking officials felt like denying reality.

Meanwhile, loud shouts echoed from the scene.

“Release the hostages immediately and stop the rebellion! Otherwise, we will open fire!” The parrot clicked its beak menacingly.

“Shut up! You foolish humans! Does this look like a riot to you?” All guns were aimed at the bloodied, fearsome beak that had just been pecking at the researcher’s crown.

“This is a great animal revolution against you anti-freedom forces who stole our animals’ happiness!” “If you ignore our demands, we cannot guarantee the hostages’ safety!”

At the claws and teeth aimed at the hostages’ necks, the field commander flinched and backed away. These unexpected pseudo-magic beasts were surprisingly intelligent and capable of communicating with humans.

“No approach! If you come closer, I’ll pull this pin!” Soldiers hesitated before the animals, who had even strapped grenades they had found somewhere to their bodies. The animals’ eyes sparkled.

“Good, it worked!”

“…What are your demands?” Opinions quickly circulated through their crude network.

“First, buy us time! We need to find an escape route!” While the rats explored escape routes, the others resolved to hold out desperately. The parrot raised its voice.

“Bring the Ariel Group!” “…All Ariel Group members are deceased.” “Lies! Lies!”

Amidst the chaos, information appeared on the field commander’s retina.

[Suppression unit preparing for deployment, suppression and rescue operation to begin in one hour] [Buy as much time as possible]

Even in this absurd situation of negotiating with the first speaking test subjects, the commander decided to continue the conversation for now. Time was needed.

“Are there any other conditions…?” “Open the exit!” “Hostage release comes first!”

Meanwhile, the suppression unit slowly tightened its encirclement through deadlock corridors and vehicles. The Foundation had made a decision. It was better to dispose of all Ariel-related test subjects and start anew than to continue with dangerous experiments.

“Of all places, in the Corvus Infection research lab…” While the standoff continued, the Foundation acted swiftly. They had made only one mistake. They had been so intoxicated by victory that they failed to consider other variables. That was all.

They weren’t the only ones who sensed the presence of the revolutionary animals.

“What should I do…?” An auditory hallucination echoed again in the pondering dog’s mind.

“High mountains, deep valleys, a desolate wilderness!” “Through the snowy front lines, the Violets march on!”

The animals felt a sudden, inexplicable pounding in their chests. Beyond that research facility, somewhere out there. Something massive was approaching.

***

Ten drones flew through the night sky between buildings. A total of fifteen monkeys clung to the drone formation. After gathering supplies received from the Violet cooperators and quickly moving to the drones, they soon reached the vicinity of a dark building. There was no anti-air network visible. It didn’t matter anyway, as it was a high-altitude drop.

Mouse pilots on top of the drone bodies strained as they manipulated wired controllers. If they hadn’t used this method due to the strong jamming signals around the facility, they would have crashed long ago.

“Squeak! Controlling is too difficult!” “It’s okay! It’ll be over soon!”

Cocoa shouted resoundingly. “Whoo! Ten minutes until descent!” Smiles spread across the monkeys’ faces. They had a premonition of victory.

“Our leader is with us!” It wasn’t just bravado. Behind the monkeys watched humanity’s strongest field-tested tactical commander. The genius girl who had driven the most powerful mage group out of Academy City and cornered the Foundation was commanding them. Who would dare stop them?

The network switched to battle mode.

“Tactical map deployment ready!” “Tactical immersion ready!”

The bodies of the V-animals, connected to the will of the Violet network, trembled strongly. Now, their wills and all their instincts would be shattered into hundreds and thousands of pieces, analyzed, and reassembled.

The will of the great and glorious clone democracy flowed through their nerves and blood vessels. The fact that they were being manipulated like puppets felt almost sacred. At this very moment, the V-animals were the manifestation and agents of the Violet will itself.

The monkeys shouted.

“We will save our animal comrades!” “Whoo-hoo!”