Once, a stone fell from the sky.
Most of humanity, upon finding it, were bewildered and perplexed. It was an object utterly beyond the grasp of their knowledge up to that point.
Hearing that it was composed of an unknown mineral, impossible to damage, curious scholars gathered. Speculative media stirred up a frenzy, and ignorant amateurs irresponsibly joined the clamor. It became a lighthearted festival.
At the time, there was little good news in the world. Wars that stained the land with blood and whispers of impending conflict were leaking from everywhere. This was a chaotic celebration to distract from it all.
However, even amidst the revelry, many watched with a detached gaze.
Nothing would drastically change, they thought.
So much was already unknown about that era, and miracles were becoming fewer. Most people knew from experience that no miracle could suddenly turn everything upside down. They had become accustomed to it, having repeatedly witnessed similar miracles hyped up, causing a huge commotion, only to fizzle out into nothing significant.
“This time will be the same as always,” they believed.
This world wouldn’t be easily overturned.
History was deeply rooted, and blood and resentment had deeply permeated it. No amount of washing could erase them. Moreover, they had become so complex and bizarrely intertwined that they were impossible to fully comprehend. There was no way for them to be renewed. Everyone had resigned themselves to conditions remaining the same forever.
No one could have imagined.
That the “stone” would actually possess a miracle capable of turning the world upside down—
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In the deepest layer of True Babel, in the back of a hidden room,
“…”
Zero, along with Zain, had finally reached the deepest part of the Ark and was feeling a sense of unease.
The flesh masses that pervaded the room pulsed rhythmically, greeting Zero and the others. Though they had taken the shape of the room itself, they showed no signs of independent movement for now, but the further they proceeded, the stronger their disgust grew.
It was a sense of crisis emanating from Zero’s instincts, rooted in being a True Person.
A sense of crisis that this place must somehow be dealt with.
A sense of mission to not expose this threat to the innocent populace outside, who remained blissfully unaware.
These stirred Zero’s soul.
Zain, leading the way, advanced further, and there—
“What is that…”
“It’s likely the Ark’s defense… no, the purge mechanism—its heart.”
“The purge mechanism, meaning Noah’s main body…?”
Five glared at it with a wary expression.
His caution was understandable. It resembled a parasite attached to the great organism that was the Ark. He couldn’t imagine it silently watching over the Ark.
But Zain shook his head.
“The purge function was a later addition to Noah. And Noah escaped from here due to an accidental incident.”
As he spoke, Zain drew his blade. Reflexively, Zero tried to support Zain but couldn’t move. Zain’s movements were too fluid and too fast.
“Magic Severance!”
A black blade streaked through the air.
The protective magic circles inscribed within the room, which functioned to protect the heart, were severed by that single blow. The strictly and intricately applied defenses were too unreasonably torn apart by a single swing.
And the slash bifurcated the heart itself. It convulsed violently, spilling blood and flesh, and fell. After a few more spasms, it became still.
To Zero, it appeared dead. At least, it acted as if it were. However—
“—What?”
After a moment, as if everything was rewinding, its entire form returned to its original state. Zain sighed.
“As expected, it possesses some regenerative functions. Cautious, aren’t we.”
“Zain!!!”
As Zero shouted, the True Persons around them simultaneously unleashed their magic. A blue, resilient Barrier materialized around Zain. The reason for erecting the shield was clear. The surrounding fleshy walls and what looked like blood vessels began to writhe and surge towards them.
They had braced for an attack, perhaps from dragons or monsters, but this was different. There didn’t seem to be individual monster-like creatures. It was as if the entire room itself was moving, attempting to expel them, the foreign bodies within.
The fact that it was designed this way wasn’t the problem. The problem was that it reacted to their attacks. In other words,
“It’s moving, a defense function? Like a dragon, with artificial intelligence?” Seven asked. Zain shook his head.
“It’s something that ‘idiot’ created during a difficult phase of his life. He wouldn’t give intelligence to anything other than himself in a mechanism like this.”
“Other than himself…?”
“In short, this is an armory. If it’s not destroyed, a weapon could be turned against all humanity living on the Ark.”
“…”
The True Persons didn’t ask by whom.
Once again, a black sword flash streaked through the air. As if passing through the erected Barrier, it burrowed underground, and Zain severed the approaching blood vessels. Seven, frowning, spread the Barrier’s range to encompass all directions, including their feet.
“It’s just an afterthought. It’s not as firmly connected to the ship as the Waste Hole. We’ll sever its magic supply lines and destroy it.”
“Understood. Zero, let’s go.”
Zero nodded at Five’s words and began preparing the ultimate magic. In this location, it was unnecessary to worry about collateral damage. Zero unleashed his surging Magic Power and shared it with the surrounding True Persons.
It was a pseudo-magic interaction phenomenon performed among the True Persons. Both sides’ powers continued to increase. It was a hidden technique that only True Persons, who were close on a soul level, could perform.
“If you deem it dangerous, withdraw.”
“Don’t joke.”
Zero dismissed Zain’s still indifferently spoken words. The other True Persons likely felt the same.
“We are True Persons. The hands and feet of Kuraran and his children.”
Their father, Kuraran’s, lifelong ambition—this was the only and final chance to fulfill it. There was no one among the True Persons who would flee this place. Zero raised his sword and declared boldly.
“To advance the world from zero, we shall cleanse the Ark’s sins and evils!”
Along with those words, he brought down a straight blue lightning bolt— and then—
It bounced back directly, striking the Barrier Zero and the others had erected, causing a massive explosion. Although they sustained no damage thanks to the Barrier, Zero, the wielder and origin of the attack, was blown away.
“Ngyaaaaaa!?”
“Unreliable.”
“Ugh—!!!!”
“Zero, stop groaning. It’s undignified.”
Zero groaned with a tearful face at Zain’s utterly merciless words.
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Upon its discovery, the seemingly ordinary object that fell from the sky quickly had its assessment changed.
It was named Starstone and brought immense value.
The world’s ecstasy was phenomenal when it was discovered to continuously emit an energy resource called All-purpose Material, later termed Magic Power. For many, Starstone seemed like a spider silk lifeline to solve humanity’s chronic, incurable diseases. They deluded themselves into thinking it was a miracle that would solve everything, absolutely everything.
Those who had watched with detached eyes completely turned around. Rapture ensued.
Many religions began to claim it was a miracle brought by their god, or a dangerous object brought by some demon, leading to further conflict.
The fact that it had been publicized so widely upon its discovery, drawing the world’s attention, only accelerated the spread of confusion. No matter how they struggled now, it couldn’t be hidden. With every new discovery, the public was thrown into a frenzy.
Had these discoveries been slow, there might have been some salvation.
The populace is easily bored. If a year or two passed, their daily busy lives would draw their attention away. Their gaze would shift to new discoveries.
But that didn’t happen.
The numerous discoveries related to Starstone occurred at an astonishingly rapid pace. Miraculous discoveries were born one after another, accompanied by results that proved they weren’t hoaxes, piling on.
The fervor only intensified.
The perpetrator of this—though perhaps too malicious to be called merely a perpetrator—was an institution that advanced research and discoveries at a terrifying speed.
The Israilia Research Institute, with Dr. Israilia at its center.
He, called the chosen one of Starstone, was on his way to being revered like a god by his peers, and he explosively accelerated the world’s fervor.
That he would later abandon the world was something no one imagined at the time—certainly not Dr. Israilia himself.
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The Deepest Layer of True Babel
The deepest layer, the most abhorrent space within the Ark, where the Waste Hole existed, was quiet. As if the fierce battle just moments ago had been a lie, it was enveloped in silence.
“…”
“…”
“……Guh.”
Naturally, the two gods who had been fighting at the center, along with the man who should have been the victor, all lay defeated. Grayre’s ashes and flames had vanished, and Diz and Shizuku lay sprawled together, like friends. In a different location, they might have looked like they were having a nap together.
“It’s really tiring, isn’t it?”
Yuri, standing as if to protect the three of them, sat down with a sigh. It wasn’t that she was letting her guard down, given the place and situation. As proof, the Sword of Flame still flickered in her hand.
But she needed to rest her body.
They had been in one battle after another to reach this point.
They had cut down countless Silver Dragons, bisected falling labyrinths, felled a seven-headed dragon, and then continued to fight against a resurrected Seven-headed Dragon and Rock, only to then fight Ul, fall under his kin, and finally engage in an all-out battle against two gods.
—No, haven’t they fought a bit too much?
Even though she had taken Divine Medicine mid-way, it didn’t completely erase the fatigue from continually fighting on the brink. Even Yuri was truly exhausted.
However, compared to the continuous battles of the man who had become her Master, it might still be considered better. She found it amusing to pat the forehead of the deeply sleeping Ul and hear a small groan like a whimper.
In any case, for now, she had to rest.
She defined herself as a sword, but as living flesh and blood, fatigue dulled the edge of her sword. She had to avoid that— after all, she didn’t think things would end without further incident.
“……Gods.”
Yuri looked up at the sky while sitting.
There floated a peculiar sphere, a mixture of gold and silver. It had emerged from Diz and Shizuku after Ul’s ashes and flames had vanished. A mass of immense power that had gathered the faith of the Israilians was floating before Yuri’s eyes.
Sun God Zeuradia and Moon God Sizlunarika.
That power mass floated before Yuri, emitting tremendous power. Part of the power that the Sun God wielded, she herself had used, but seeing it objectively, she could understand what a powerful force it was.
Diz and Shizuku had tried to bear such a thing alone. They were, after all, somewhat strange. They might have had the aptitude, but she firmly believed they shouldn’t have done it.
“U… nhehe.”
“You look foolish.”
Unaware of Yuri’s concerns, her friends let out sleepy groans. Yuri snorted in amusement while watching over the gods. Then—
“Kahaha! You really pulled it off, didn’t you!?”
An unpleasant laugh echoed, and Yuri scowled.
“If you grasp the situation, then please hurry and do something about it, Greyle.”
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“If you grasp the situation, then please hurry and do something about it, Greyle. And hand over some Divine Medicine.”
“I’ll say this, I’m working incredibly hard too, you know? There’s only one dose of Divine Medicine left. You drink it.”
Greyle laughed at the protesting voice from the communication, and transferred the Divine Medicine he had to her. However, even with his annoying smile, he couldn’t hide the fatigue on his own face. His exhaustion, from continuously maintaining and adjusting magic circles in front of the Starstone, was palpable.
“You should appreciate the mental anguish I’ve endured, trying to cover everything while flying around like a bat!”
“In that case, you should appreciate the hardship of the frontline troops who faced monsters risking their lives.”
As he grumbled, a similar sentiment came back. Greyle opened his mouth to retort, but before the words could form, he shrugged, “Hmm.”
“It’s fruitless, isn’t it? Boasting about your hardships.”
“We’re in agreement, surprisingly.”
The other party seemed to think the same. With a pointless sigh, their unproductive bickering ceased.
“So, what do we do about this… incredible object?”
Yuri asked, pointing to the mixture of gods in Greyle’s hand, which was also displayed on his monitor. Greyle surmised that the gods were mixed together likely to compensate for several deficiencies that occurred during the process of reaching this point. They had compensated for some of the power Ul had stolen in his transformation into a “god-mime,” resulting in stability.
“Gods are tools to be used.”
Or at least, that was the case for now. What would happen next was uncertain. That was why Greyle was rushing his work.
“Therefore, I have prepared a vessel for the gods to use in place of humanity. It will be tasked with modifying the Ark.”
“You’re not going to say that vessel might turn against humanity, are you?”
“Kahaha! I’ll guarantee the product for about the next thousand years! Anything beyond that is the responsibility of the surviving humans!”
Even Greyle couldn’t guarantee the future beyond that. He had lived a long life, but he didn’t feel like he could survive another thousand years. Moreover, he had no desire to babysit humanity for that long. While Kuraran and Zain placed importance on “responsibility” and “promises,” overthinking them was also problematic.
Humanity should have graduated from the cradle long ago.
If adults perished due to their own self-made mistakes, he wouldn’t be condemned for leaving them to their fate.
Thinking this, Greyle ordered the activation of the magic circle. At that moment, the vines clinging to the Starstone before him began to move. They eroded the room itself, extending their roots to the necessary parts.
Greyle could see on the monitor that they were infiltrating towards Ul and the others.
“Tree roots…?”
“That’s the vessel’s terminal. Don’t get in the way— hmm.”
As far as the monitor showed, the terminal was enveloping the mixture of gods. But at that moment, the light intensified. Several magic circles sounded a warning. Facing the concurrent anomalies and fluctuations, Greyle quickly sent out a few magic circles and warned Yuri on the communication line,
“Prepare yourself, trouble is—”
He turned around, and—
“—coming,”
The tree roots Greyle was manipulating, their terminals, connected like a spear and pierced Greyle.
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