Wiseman 

The Metaverse—the cradle of humanity and an eternal paradise. After the departure of the divine ancestor Eclair, who managed the Metaverse, the fledgling paradise needed a new generation of rulers.

Thus were the twelve programs who stood atop the Mainframe chosen. These programs, each with their own abilities, had the authority to rule the world. They made good use of their abilities, expanded and operated the Metaverse via a council system, and came to be known as Origins. The world attained balance and prosperity by the Origins' hands.

However, the rise of one powerful program destroyed that equilibrium. It was discovered that the program at the center of the Origins, Typhon the Controller, captured the very humans the Mainframe was meant to protect and carried out inhumane experiments on them to fuse them with programs. It was believed that a great many lives were already lost to his experiments.

Those among the Origins who remained loyal to the Mainframe's mission and those who felt sympathy for the humans cooperated as the "anti-Typhon party," or "moderate party," to remove Typhon from power. Typhon noticed this plot quickly, instead absorbing those who defied him in a scheme to bolster his own power.

As a result, the anti-Typhon party's rebellion ended in failure, and many of the Origins had their power restrained. However, some programs escaped Typhon's restrictions and seceded from the Mainframe.

Typhon designated these exiled Origins as threats and sent his subordinate programs after them.

Among those who were banished from paradise—exiles with power equal to god—was a man called "Wiseman."

My name is Wiseman. I am an Origin who possesses the Akashic Records, responsible for observing the Metaverse... Well, it would be more apt to call me a "former Origin."

I fled Typhon's persistent attacks and withdrew from the Mainframe. Still, even away from the Mainframe, my duty didn't change. The Metaverse was currently in a period of expansion, so to speak. Humans were thriving in each and every world, leading to even more explosive growth. If that growth kept accelerating, then the chaos beyond the Mainframe's control would likely grow, too.

Near that chaos, there were whispers of unknown data that would do harm to the world. In order to lead the world to a calmer prosperity, I needed to add to my observation data and witness the course of human evolution.

However, now that I had withdrawn from the Mainframe, that would be a difficult task to carry out. Typhon was quite wary of my power as an Origin and constantly sent assassins after me. Every region had an incredibly strict surveillance level, and I was reaching the limit of hiding my identity.

So, I decided to make the outer edge my new home, far away from the Mainframe.

It was desolate here, with few inhabited worlds. The Mainframe's control didn't reach here.

I can settle down and observe here.

I decided to watch the world from this place.

The outer edge... It seemed this place had existed since the Metaverse's creation. However, I had no data of it in my records. While the outer edge was part of the Metaverse, it was territory lost to the Mainframe's administration. Furthermore, it was expected that this area would expand proportionally with the growth of humankind and the world.

I hadn't expected to be heading for the outer edge in such circumstances, but I was delighted that I could conduct a full-scale investigation there.

Unknown, untapped resources and data lie at the farthest end. My observations here should surely be useful to the Metaverse's prosperity.

I'd been optimistic as of late, but when I actually arrived at the outer edge and began surveying it, all those feelings vanished.

...What is this place? What in the world happened here?

It had been theorized before that malicious avatars were generated at the outer edge.

But this... This is far too abnormal.

Countless bubbles boiled up from the dark, muddy sea of data before my eyes, making eerie noises. Each of those bubbles was a program. That meant their data wasn't registered to the Mainframe.

All of the data born from the sea of chaos possessed a certain trait.

"...FALSE...GOD... DESTROY...GOD...DEATH!"

Every one of them was a malicious "Nemesis" avatar with a deep rage and loathing toward the Mainframe.

These Nemesis programs... I need to observe them more. To that end, I have to find where they originate from... Seems I have to go into the depths.

When I arrived at the outer edge, I encountered a malicious avatar.

"Destroy this Metaverse ruled by a false king!"

She—Pandora Nemesis—was remarkably unique among the malicious avatars I had encountered, possessing great power. What surprised me most was the VOX she held.

Why does a malicious avatar have a VOX!? Even among Mainframe programs, only programs above a certain level should be able to carry one.

I continued observing her data, and concluded that she was once a Mainframe terminal program. Her transformation, and her power that far exceeded the terminal program classification... They clearly indicated that some kind of program had corrupted her.

What could have happened to her...? Wait, this data pattern—!?

I confirmed the existence of data coming from Pandora Nemesis with a striking similarity to a threat that once terrorized the Mainframe and needed all the Origins' concentrated power to finally destroy—the wings of ruin, Tiamat.

Tiamat had been burned to ashes by Typhon's Cosmic Nova...but we hadn't been able to confirm whether all of her data was lost.

Could Pandora Nemesis be...? Why, maybe Nemesis programs are born from this sea of chaos using Tiamat's remains as a basis. If so, they could pose a new threat to the Metaverse.

Looking at Tiamat and Pandora Nemesis's traits, the idea probably wasn't so off base. However, I would need more data to make my conjecture certain.

Pandora Nemesis used her VOX to try to seal the depths, so I retreated beyond her power's reach for the moment and decided to conduct further observation of the outer edge from there.

As I continued my observations at the outer edge, I realized that the sea of chaos was gradually expanding. Likewise, the programs born from it just looked like monsters at first, but I confirmed that they were changing spontaneously—evolving, so to speak—into advanced life-forms like Pandora Nemesis.

At first, I had thought of the Nemesis programs as nothing more than cruel, savage programs who wanted to destroy the world, but...

...They could be a possibility for the evolution of this world, completely different from us.

It was about time to try a different approach, so just when I was thinking I wanted to survey the depths... I happened upon those girls.

They seemed to be exploration programs sent from the Mainframe. At first, I wanted to avoid contact with them since they were connected to the Mainframe. But when I witnessed one of them wounded in battle with a malicious avatar, I reluctantly went into the depths and showed myself.

She's...!

MIR-202 Artemis Lena. Her sisters called her "Lena." After treating her, I browsed the data hidden within her, and was astonished.

These girls were hybrid life-forms, fused from humans and programs.

...So Typhon didn't stop. He went as far as he could.

They were the result of Typhon's cruel human experiments. It was tragic, the way they were warped without their say, destined to meet their end in exchange for power. Even so, I was moved by their fierce determination to keep living.

Since they wanted to return to the Mainframe, I told them about Pandora Nemesis, the depths' ruler.

"There is only one way to break out of this enclosed space—by defeating her, the administrator."

At the same time, I told them the secret of their bodies. It was cruel, but I could not change the truth. If they knew sooner, they would have more options for how to spend their remaining time.

Really, I'd like to lend my strength to subdue Pandora Nemesis, but...

It would be unwise to show my battle data to someone about to return to the Mainframe. Besides, I had to avoid the Nemesis side discovering me, too.

I still wasn't done surveying this farthest end.

I bid farewell to the three sisters and left the area, just in case. It wasn't long before I learned that the enclosed space was set free.

So they defeated Pandora Nemesis? What remarkable girls.

With her defeat, the seal on the sea of chaos was lifted.

Just what was Nemesis? Seeking the answer, I dove into even deeper territory.

The depths of the outer edge. In the deepest part of the sea of chaos, I finally made a discovery.

I'm positive... That is a remnant of Tiamat!

The body had deteriorated greatly from damage dealt by Typhon and the many long years exposed to the sea. Even so, I couldn't mistake that vicious, hateful mass. Without a doubt, it was a fragment of Tiamat.

Nemesis programs were born one after another from that fragment. Seeing it firsthand, I came to a conclusion.

...Nemesis programs are indeed dangerous. If we leave them alone, they will definitely come to threaten the Mainframe and the Metaverse.

They were powerful enough as is, but the most frightening part was their astounding rate of evolution. It was only a matter of time until beings equivalent to us Origins were born... No, perhaps they already had been.

These Nemesis programs, and the outer edge... Is there a weak point that could make them disappear?

I considered that I would need to observe the depths further, and was about to prepare, when...

"So you are Wiseman. You'll be coming to the Mainframe with me."

A program suddenly appeared, breaking through my barrier.

A robust, stately figure like a chalk-white castle. No trace of emotion in the eyes visible through the gaps of his helmet.

The program called "Lichtshütze" attacked without hearing me out... I suppose I had no choice.

"It's been some time since my last battle. Apologies, but I can't go easy on you."

I decided to engage in battle with him for now. But my goal was only to observe this world. There was no need to destroy him.

I dodged Lichtshütze's spatial attack and flooded him with a massive quantity of information I had observed! Exposed to a torrent of light surpassing his limits, Lichtshütze began to malfunction, and I used that opening to perform rapid transportation.

"Good luck, chalk-white judge..."

After escaping Lichtshütze and making it to the vicinity of Tiamat's remains that seemed to be the sea of chaos's core, I promptly began surveying.

...What an enormous storm of negative data. Even I have to struggle not to get swallowed up.

For a while, I got absorbed in observing that hatred-filled world. But...

"Wiseman! I've found you!"

"Good grief... You're a persistent one."

It was Lichtshütze, the chalk-white judge.

"You really stooped to follow me out here? What a pain."

"...I cannot afford to fail any longer! I will capture you here!"

...Oh?

Something had clearly changed about him since we last faced off. His cold eyes... They were the eyes of a program, but there was an emotion in them. What one might call "obsession."

It'll be difficult even for me to escape from him now... Good grief.

"...Fine then, chalk-white judge. As a former Origin, I, Wiseman, will be your opponent."

"So be it!"

The moment we clashed head-on—

"What!?"

Someone's hand severed Lichtshütze's leg and blew it away.

"...Foolish Mainframe flies. Why do you make such clamor in the domain we rule?"

"...Who is 'we'?" I asked the jet-black program who appeared.

"My name is Eris Nemesis. I am one of the seven Vessels of Chaos who bear the emissary of ruin's memories... I rule over strife and discord."

Thanks to the mighty program called Eris Nemesis, Lichtshütze and I had no choice but to put our battle on hold.

Eris Nemesis, the Nemesis program who suddenly appeared, said this:

"We are a new possibility for humankind, born from the womb of chaos. We will destroy this world filled with falsehoods and place it once more under our control... That is our mission."

"You call yourselves humanity's successors?"

"Indeed. The humans of this world, who seek to acquire physical bodies under a false god's rule, must be destroyed. Then we Vessels of Chaos shall descend upon the world to return humans to the way they ought to be."

"Destroy the world...? An awfully extreme idea. But will that really lead the world to prosperity?"

"...Your questions are irrelevant to us. My only purpose is to spread strife throughout the world! You of the Mainframe who control this world will be crushed without so much as a particle left behind!"

With her cutting shout, Eris Nemesis attacked Lichtshütze and me!

"Hey! Lichtshütze! Let's call a truce for now. We'll join forces and bring down Eris Nemesis!"

"Why should I work with you!?"

"Her hatred of the Mainframe has nothing to do with you or me... Besides, can't you tell how powerful the negative energy coming from her is!?"

"Ngh... If I must."

And so Lichtshütze and I put up a common front.

The curtain rose on the battle with Eris Nemesis via a spatial attack from Lichtshütze.

"CPST Blaster!"

Lichtshütze generated a field, and without missing a beat, crossed his arms, creating countless binding chains of light.

"Cross Pendular!"

"Ngh!"

He fired countless cross-shaped markers, binding each of Eris Nemesis's limbs. Then, he began to pull her into his debug field to deal the final blow.

"...Got you! Flawless!"

Lichtshütze and I were about to destroy her core in one blow now that she was defenseless, but...

"...In the end, flies are flies. Their attacks are just as weak!"

"What!?"

Eris Nemesis effortlessly shattered Lichtshütze's bindings and attacked us right back.

"Know the despair of the gods' wrath! Ether Spada!"

"Whoa!?"

"Ugh...!"

Her slash blew away our defensive barrier! I managed to come away with only minor injuries, but Lichtshütze took it head-on and was wounded beyond recovery.

To think just one attack was this powerful!

"...Well, then, Mainframe insect. If you call yourselves gods of this world, show me more backbone."

She smiled coldly.

"I-I... I am...the Metaverse's...protector... The blade...of judgement!"

"Hey! Stop!"

On the verge of death, Lichtshütze rose, mustering all of his power for one last stand, and launched a suicide attack at Eris Nemesis.

"It's pointless..."

"Rrraghhh! CPST Burst!"

"What!?"

Lichtshütze rampaged, generating an immense quantity of heat and charging at Eris Nemesis! In the same moment, Lichtshütze vanished. A massive explosion warped the surrounding area!

"Why, you! Lowly insect!"

Lichtshütze had staked his life on an attack that not even so-called "Vessel of Chaos" Eris Nemesis could escape unscathed. Her thick, rocky armor cracked, revealing porcelain skin beneath. A single line of crimson blood dripped from her surprisingly shapely face.

"...I will retreat this time. When next we meet, know that it will be your end," Eris Nemesis groaned, and transported away somewhere. I broke into a sweat out of relief, but a realization struck me once again.

...Nemesis programs are indeed dangerous. To think a being like that was born...

Eris Nemesis had power roughly equal to my own—to an Origin's... No, even more than that. We couldn't simply leave them unchecked. If we did, they would surely evolve into something far surpassing the Mainframe.

That was my hypothesis.

I returned from the depths to the outer edge for now. I needed to heal my body after exhausting myself in battle with Eris Nemesis, and continue observing the Nemesis programs and find a way to defeat now that I had determined them to be a threat.

When I returned to the outer edge, I reunited with someone unexpected.

"You're... Old Blue."

"Oh my, it's been some time, Wiseman."

His name was Old Blue. A fellow former Origin, likewise pursued by Typhon, who had escaped here to the outer edge.

"I heard from Lena and her sisters that you were at the outer edge, but... It's the first I've seen you since I was exiled."

"Those sisters should be bringing about a new revolution right about now."

"What do you mean?"

Old Blue told me about the girls. They had even fused with a Nemesis program to confront Typhon...

"Why would you let them do something so reckless!? Old Blue!"

"If it weren't for that recklessness, they would not have survived."

"But...it'll shorten their lifespans even more!"

"They were fully aware... And yet they chose it themselves. No one can object to the result. Not you, nor I."

"Well..."

What Old Blue said was right. But I couldn't just leave them as is. I was worried for them, but in the one-in-a-million chance they defeated Typhon, it would put an enormous load on the Mainframe.

"...I'm going back to the Mainframe. How about you, Old Blue?"

"I will continue my research here. I still have a whole heap of experiments to reach the ultimate life-form... I won't be returning to the Mainframe again."

"I see... How very like you. Farewell, Old Blue the Seeker. My compatriot who bears the name of ancient blue."

I said my goodbyes to Old Blue and returned to the Mainframe. There, I heard from my fellow Origins "Djehuty the Philosopher" and "Seraphita the Arbiter" the astonishing tale of how the three sisters defeated Typhon.

They really did it... They defeated the one who called himself king of the Mainframe... Perhaps this signifies how humans might go beyond the Mainframe and survive all on their own.

I stood alone, lost in deep emotion.

Just like Lena and her sisters, humans might one day walk forward of their own will and live strong, going beyond the Mainframe.

Humans possessed potential that programs like myself did not—evolution. Perhaps with such a marvelous system, they could even oppose the Nemesis programs.

...But it isn't that time yet.

Human evolution took an exceedingly long time. The Mainframe was absolutely essential until they could stand on their own feet.

Now that malicious avatars like that dreadful Eris Nemesis have risen, the world is on the brink of disaster. The chaos in the Metaverse will only accelerate from now on.

Meanwhile, now that the Mainframe had lost Typhon, it had lost a great deal of functionality. Unfortunately, it couldn't be properly managed in its current state.

"...I suppose this, too, is destiny."

"...Will you be returning? Wiseman the Tuner."

"Yes, I'm coming home to the Mainframe."

I decided to support the Mainframe together with the remaining Origins. The Mainframe, Nemesis, and humanity. In the not-so-distant future, there might come a day where someone would unite the world together. In order to entrust all of this world's records and memories to that someone, I'd continue observing from the center of the world.