Mene Tercera 

• Brief suicidal imagery in episode 10.

In God's Garden:

Inside the Metaverse was a special place meant to cultivate the returning humans. Under the protection of the core system, the boys and girls living there would want for nothing. And so, dreaming of the day they would one day return to Earth, the children slept once more.

Mene Tercera, a girl born in the garden, was also one such Returnee. She was to return to Earth after the first wave, a group that included Lena Ishmael.

"Lena...you're going to Earth with everyone tomorrow?"

Mene clutched Lena's sleeve tight.

"Yep. Aw, don't make that face. You'll be going there soon."

"Really...?"

"That's right. I'm going ahead to explore the world first, so when it's your turn, I can be your guide!"

As Lena gently patted her, Mene put a hand on hers and showed her a carefree smile.

"You've gotta meet up with me, Lena! Promise!"

"I promise."

The pair linked their pinkies together and vowed to meet again.

The next day...

The day for Lena's group to depart for Earth had arrived. Everyone was lined up by a shining vortex—the Resurrection Gate—with worry on their faces. Mene had come along to try and catch a glimpse of Lena as she set off.

Lena spotted her and, without anyone noticing, gave her a soft smile. She wouldn't be able to hear, but she mouthed, "I'm going now."

Then Lena, the last to leave, slowly held her hand up to the glowing vortex. As her fingers touched the light, it enveloped her whole body. As Lena leapt into the light, Mene prayed.

A happy journey for Lena.

Dreaming of their reunion, Mene anticipated the day of her own rebirth.

"I'm going to Earth?"

It had been some time since Lena's group departed when I heard from the core system.

"Yes. It appears something has happened on Earth due to unforeseen circumstances."

"What do you mean, 'unforeseen circumstances'? I thought it was supposed to be an ideal world."

"A certain rebellion has prevented us from tracing their vital signs."

"No...But Lena—what happened to Lena!?"

"She is still alive. To be exact, we have confirmed only Lena's survival."

The system filled me in on the situation on Earth. Lena and the others were reborn there, but she was stranded and her whereabouts were unknown. The city they were reborn in had collapsed.

According to the system, a conflict was unfolding with Lena at its center. From the way it spoke, it was as if Lena herself had instigated the war.

Lies...it's all lies! There's no way!

There was no one as kind as her, or pure as her, clumsy as she was. Just being at her side lifted my spirits.

You mean to tell me that Lena started a war!? I'll never accept that!

"Lena would never do something like that! Something's gotta be wrong!"

"We are examining the prospect of purging all forces engaged in this war."

"Purging!?"

What the hell was the system saying!? After we were born and raised here, it just wanted to throw us away like nothing?

"This is a troublesome situation. However, it is also true that the Machines meant to usher in the Returnees have dissented to our judgment." 

"While we are able to dispose of Machinekind along with her, doing so would only create more chaos on Earth, and would put our primary goal of returning to Earth further away."

I understood what the system was trying to say. Why it hastened my rebirth on Earth. Then...I couldn't just sit here and listen to its story.

"That is why we—"

"I'll go. Please send me to Earth at once. I'll grasp the situation with my own two eyes, and find out if Lena is really the one who started this war."

"I expected you would say as much."

Good. I could make sure Lena was safe—and besides, if she truly did instigate the war, then...

"Very well. We shall send you to Earth as our proxy."

"Though its form has changed, we send our hopes with you on your journey."

"I want your strongest weapon. And...one more thing."

"Oh, what is that?"

"Total authority on Earth. Over everything!"

----------

I headed for Earth straight away. Wait for me, Lena. You didn't start this war, and I'll prove it.

So stay safe until then!

----------

After Mene's departure, the system observed the closed Resurrection Gate.

"That girl...no, 'those girls' will again be forced to tread a difficult path."

"The first time they lost their lives fighting for the world, the second to each other. Best wishes on your journey..."

It was a minuscule glimpse at the core system's "wish."

Whether Mene's hope could prevent the purge, even the system itself could not surmise.

Underground furnace of rebirth, Ionia Colony.

That machine was instrumental in bringing Returnees back to Earth.

A shadow arose from the rising smoke. Its unclothed form was slowly revealed.

"Phew. Looks like I made it safely. Well, I guess it's so dark it doesn't really feel like I'm in the real world yet."

Mene, newly reborn into reality, checked her body for abnormalities, then put on the clothes that were created alongside her. She took her gun in hand and headed for the surface.

"Wow, so this is the real world. It's kind of...totally different than I thought."

When I left the structure that housed the furnace, my vision was flooded by burning fields and toppled buildings as far as the eye could see.

"What the hell is this...?"

There was a huge scratch carved into the ground that seemed to go on forever. Seeing it run in a straight line through the city, I understood that this was where everything began.

This city was all but dead at this point. The spectacle before me gave me no illusions about that.

The surface world was not the paradise we were always told of.

"Can't afford to take my time in this state. I've gotta find clues about Lena—"

Bang!

A bursting sound on the wind.

A gunshot? Someone was still fighting. Don't tell me—could it be Lena!?

Filled with the faintest hope, I hurried in the direction of the noise. After some time, I could see several figures moving among the collapsed buildings. A group of armed men were chasing a brown-skinned boy who looked younger than me.

Who was friend, and who was foe...? No, I didn't even need to think about that!

"I won't just watch while someone is outnumbered!"

I readied my gun, a special weapon the system prepared for me called the "Ninth Phoneme Critical Accelerator." I already knew how to use it by heart!

"All right, 'Nine!' Show me your power! Code Ignition!"

"Operation request approved. Activating—"

"Gooo!!!"

A blue light flew into the sky as a warning shot. Seeing it pierce the clouds, the armed men shouted and fled.

Seeing them lose the will to fight so fast was kind of a letdown, honestly.

I quickly turned to the boy who had been under attack.

"You okay there?" I asked.

"Yes, thank you so...huh!? You...you were alive!?" the boy spoke. Not understanding the situation, his blue eyes welled up with tears.

"What're you talking about? Explain," I said.

"Apologies. My name is Nahum. I am a guard appointed to protect the humans returning to Ionia Colony...or rather a survivor of them."

The boy I met in Ionia—Nahum—had been there to welcome Lena and the others. However, they soon were attacked by a force of hardliners called Innovators. The men I had just confronted were also stragglers from that group.

"Hmm...yeah, I get the gist of it. But then what're you doing back here?"

"I was born here. Without anyone to protect...all I can do is rebuild the city."

"Rebuild this pile of rubble?"

"Yes."

I get it. He's one of the Paragons who rebuilds the Earth. He had been silently carrying out his given role in this city.

"But...the situation has changed," Nahum continued. "Miss, you are a Returnee like those who appeared here before, correct? Then, please! Won't you allow me to protect you!?"

"Huh?"

"I come from a line of guards. I wish to inherit the duty my deceased older brothers were unable to fulfill!"

"Still, that's kinda..."

The kid was practically two heads shorter than me, and yet he wanted to protect me. Maybe he was actually better with guns than he looked, or something...?

"You're weaker than me," I concluded.

"Oh...I...have no words..."

Bullseye.

"Anything else you can do?"

"Yes! I cannot fight, but I can certainly pilot a ship!"

A glimmer shone in Nahum's eyes. He seemed to be confident in his skills.

A ship. It was true that Lena was just one person, and searching for her in such a vast world sounded unreasonable. And so...

"Okay, you can come with. I can't control a ship, so it'll help to have a pilot."

"Really? Yeah! I hope to be of use to you, Miss Returnee!"

"Mene. My name's Mene Tercera. This 'Miss Returnee' stuff kinda wigs me out. Just cut the formalities and call me Mene, okay?"

"What? But—"

"It's fine. Here, wanna try it out?"

Nahum looked somewhat bewildered at my words, but he bashfully spoke my name.

"M-Mene. How was that?"

At the sight of Nahum, I suddenly recalled the time I met Lena. Just like Lena had done for me back then, without thinking, I stroked Nahum's sleek silver hair.

"Hehe, great job."

"I-I am a guard! Please cease this!"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Why are you still patting me!?"

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Nahum the guard."

Delighted at being called his name for the first time, Nahum's whole body snapped upright. Then, he proudly tapped his chest.

"Yes! Let us get along!"

After that, the two of us found a strangely shaped ship abandoned on the city's outskirts. It had wings and machine guns attached to a spherical cockpit. It seemed the hardliners had probably left it.

"Well, Mene, will you be going to Perses Colony as well?"

"Perses? Will I be able to meet Lena there?"

"If I'm not mistaken, she is one of the Returnees who appeared in this city."

"Yeah. Lena's the only one who survived, so I came to look for her."

Our goal was set. A colony past the ruined continent to the east. 

There, we would find Lena.

Perses could only be reached by crossing a vast desert area and passing through a largely uninhabited mountain range. Even with the ship we found, it would be difficult without stocking supplies.

"Can't we just go straight to Perses?" I asked.

"Um...according to the data left on the ship, there is another colony south of the desert. If we go through there, we can get to Perses," Nahum explained.

"All right, let's go right away! C'mon, hurry!"

I grabbed Nahum's shoulders and shook them repeatedly to urge him on.

"U-Understood. I can't steer if you keep shaking me!"

----------

With bright sunlight bearing down on us, a great wide desert stretched out as far as the eye could see. Within it lay the inconspicuous colony of Antulya, with a tall, thin structure towering from its center.

We landed the ship on top of a nearby building and surveyed the city, which was half-buried by sand. From the top floor of the building, we could see places here and there where a battle had likely taken place. For whatever reason, something resembling the city's plumbing was visible all over.

"The Innovators were likely engaged in combat with someone here," Nahum observed. "The Innovators have already withdrawn, so that should not hinder our exploration."

Just who could have possibly fought here? It couldn't have been Lena, could it?

"Let's head down and scope it out first," I said. "Maybe we'll find some clues."

"Yes, let's be off."

We began exploring Antulya Colony. Just as Nahum said, the Innovator troops had completely withdrawn, but neither could we find anything that might be a clue. Still, seeing the city did make me think of one thing.

"I guess unceasing conflict...really is the truth of the world."

"It will probably take time before it can be called a paradise."

Seeing the scars of battle everywhere I looked, I felt I could understand just a little why the system planned to purge the Earth's forces.

At last we arrived at the city center. Before long, we were able to see the base of the tall structure. Since Ionia's furnace of rebirth had still been running even in that disastrous state, it was highly likely the structure here was active as well.

In the open area around the base, a ring of columns surrounded the central structure, connected by narrow cables. The scaffolding above that was collapsed in places. Something like stone chairs were placed on the ground in evenly spaced intervals.

"This was likely a place for the city's residents to relax," Nahum suggested.

"Relax, huh..."

"Is something wrong, Mene?"

"I dont—I don't know why, but looking at this just makes me feel so lonely...huh...?"

My knees gave way under me, my strength gone.

"Mene? Are you all right?"

"...Y-Yeah. Thanks, Nahum."

It was only for an instant, but I felt as if I had sensed a memory engraved into the city itself.

"Can you stand? If you like, you can take my hand—"

"I-I said I'm fine! Here, let's go already!"

"Huh? Please wait, Mene!"

I reached the structure in the center and quickly touched it. Possibly because of the authority I had been granted, I felt a miniscule electric current run through my hand. As I thought, the city was still alive.

After my hand was there for a moment, a robotic voice sounded from out of nowhere.

"Mainframe access approved—confirmed."

Then, I felt the structure's surroundings vibrate, and a small platform arose from the floor.

I see, we have to go to the top?

"Huh? What? Mene, what is that?"

"Let's go, Nahum!"

Nahum took my hand and stepped onto the platform. In that instant, the platform began slowly rising to the uppermost part of the structure.

As we rose, we could see countless pipes running through the structure's inner wall. It gave me the illusion of moving within someone's body.

Not long after, the platform stopped. This seemed to be the end.

In a dimly-lit room, all the pipes gathered into a shrine-like structure.

"Wha-What is this place?"

"This place...no, not just this place. The structures placed throughout each city are gigantic computing machines," I explained.

"What for...?"

The rumbling of running machinery and the intermittent sighing of coolant gas emissions comprised the melody of a world after its demise. Ignoring Nahum's growing fear, I continued speaking plainly.

"Inside, they carry out tons and tons of simulations, keeping track of biological data. I was one of those data points, too."

"Then, Mene, you're saying you came from inside there?"

"That's right."

As I told Nahum about my memories of the Metaverse, I pulled up the surveillance system from the structure's city defense system.

Good, all the terminals were up and running. I searched for a recording of the battle and immediately found a hit.

Going through the footage, I could see someone pulling Lena by the hand as they escaped the city. It was only a video recording of the past, but Lena had definitely been here.

"Lena...I'm so glad..."

I let out an involuntary sigh. I felt relieved to my core.

There was one more thing I learned from the video. Lena was only fleeing from the Innovators, not trying to fight them. I could tell from her pained expression. I understood her.

My restlessness was eating at me. I had to hurry and get to Lena.

After confirming that Lena had left for the east on a ship, we finished refueling and departed from Antulya to follow the ship's course.

The mountain range was right before our eyes, but the sun was already beginning to set. We ended up making camp at the base.

By the time we finished setting up camp, our surroundings were totally dark. As the two of us sat around the fire, we got to talking about each other.

Nahum told me all about the Paragons' experiences—when I thought about the harsh lives they were given, I realized it wasn't so simple to determine whose perspective was right.

"I think I can understand how the Paragons feel. But with this war spreading across the world, the whole planet could become uninhabitable again. No, it would be made uninhabitable."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The system that manages the computing machine you saw—it's trying to destroy all life that's causing war."

"What!?"

Nahum's eyes widened as I shot him a glance and continued.

"The system is what created the Returnees in your hometown, Nahum—and it thinks that Lena started this fight. I came to this world to find out if Lena is really the cause."

"So, she's the Returnee whose safety you verified, right?"

"Yeah. It doesn't seem like Lena is a threat right now, and I don't want to think she is."

"Um...well, if—if she was. If the war really was her fault...what would you do?"

There was a grave look in Nahum's eyes. He had seen through to my deepest doubts.

"According to the system's judgement...with my own hands, I...would kill her."

That's right. That was the mission I was given.

"That's terrible..."

"This is Lena we're talking about. I know there's no way she'd do something like that. But I don't know what the system will decide."

It was possible the system could kill me at this very moment. I was prepared to carry out my duty from the moment the system entrusted it to me. But if something like that were to actually happen, then I—

"Mene."

Nahum placed his hand on my own.

"I can't understand everything you're dealing with. Even so, if the system were to try and purge this world, I would stake my life to protect you."

His deep blue eyes stared into mine.

Nearly drawn in by his gaze, I responded, "Y-You should only say that kind of stuff when you get stronger than me."

I had blurted out something irrelevant to dodge the subject.

"Haha...you're right. I'm sorry..."

Oh...

He moved his small hand away. That little gesture made me feel that much emptier.

Before I knew it, I had grabbed his hand back.

"Mene, is something wrong?" Nahum asked, his expression just a bit lonely. I had been the one to cloud his expression.

"I was wrong, Nahum. I'm counting on you."

"But, I can't fight, or..."

"I don't hate your feelings! You're my guard, so straighten up and protect me! End of story! Now go to sleep!"

"...! Understood! I'll do my best!"

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw the enthusiasm gleaming in his eyes, and went to sleep.

When I looked up, I could see glittering stars scattered across the whole sky.

The world was still a far cry from paradise. Still, we mustn't trample over the world that was restored so for our own convenience.

We made for the mountain range at dawn.

The mountains were an endless world of barren rock. I instinctively grasped that this was no place for people to be.

We had hardly begun passing through when something suddenly pinged on the radar. It was hard to make out what was there thanks to the towering structure in the way, but there was definitely a city built there.

Well, maybe not exactly a city...

"Hey, Nahum, is that another city?"

"It appears to be a fort, but...why is it here...? —! Mene! The fort fired something! It's headed straight for us!"

"An enemy!?"

Images of three planes appeared on the radar.

"Retreating from the airspace! Please hold on tight!"

The next instant, a vibration shook the airframe, and the ship's tail rotated 180 degrees vertically around the spherical part. Having instantly reversed direction, the ship began flying back the way we came.

"No good!" I shouted. "Those guys are faster!"

We couldn't run from battle.

Nahum took in a huge breath to psych himself up and shouted, "Please, let me handle this!"

His aura had changed. Tension spread through his whole body.

"Nahum! They're coming!"

"It's all right!"

Gunfire rained down.

However, all the attack did was scrape at the rock face below. Nahum had expertly evaded it, readied the ship's machine guns at the enemy plane trailing us, and launched a counterassault.

"Yes! One down!"

"Way to go, Nahum!"

"We're still alive!"

The ship accelerated, gaining distance from the enemy planes. The remaining two sped up in response.

We were headed for an open area covered in needle-sharp rocks. If we zig-zagged through there, the others would have no choice but to fly above. Nahum didn't pass up that chance.

The craft spun 180 degrees as it rose. Then, we appeared right in front of the stalled enemy planes. As we passed by each other, we crushed the other two planes with machine gun fire in a flash.

"We did it, Mene! I hope I was helpful to—Mene!?"

"That was awesome, Nahum! You were so cool!"

"Hey, Mene! I can't! See in front of me! Let—"

In that instant, the aircraft vibrated as if something grazed it.

"Wha—!?"

"Reinforcements!" Nahum cried. "They're already after us!"

There were over twice as many planes as before on the radar. Even though there was still some distance between us, there was no way we could outlast so many!

"It'll be a risk, but I can use Nine," I offered.

"No, if those battleships were to fire from all around us, even you could be killed."

"Then what do I do?"

"I'll be a decoy. I'll let you off and buy us some time so you can escape."

"What? What are you saying—"

Nahum had made his decision quickly. He brought the ship into the shadow of the rocks, then opened a window and tried urging me off the ship.

"Quickly!"

"Oh, sure, why don't I just—are you insane!? There's no way I'm doing that! I'm with you 'til the end—"

"There's something you need to do. You can't let things end here!"

The sound of enemy aircraft was getting closer.

Even so. Even in this dire situation, Nahum smiled.

"This is all I can do. You called me your guard. So, please, at least let me be one until the end."

"Nahum, I—!"

"Go, Mene Tercera!"

There was nothing more I could say to Nahum's fierce expression.

At first, I thought he was unreliable. He was tiny, empty. Weaker than me.

But that was wrong. Now, the person before my eyes—

He was a fully-fledged guard who saw his duties through admirably.

I couldn't trample on the resolution in his heart.

I left the ship.

"Thank you for everything...Nahum."

"I pray you can reunite safely with your Returnee friend."

Leaving those words, Nahum took off.

I wondered how long I had waited under the rock. I didn't hear any explosions, so maybe Nahum had managed to escape.

Just as I was hoping he was safe, the returning battleships came into view. Hardly any time had passed, but at the back of their formation was—

"That's Nahum!"

I could see Nahum's ship alongside Nahum himself. He hadn't been shot down, but he had fallen into enemy hands.

----------

Nighttime approached in the mountains.

Thankfully, the enemy didn't seem to have noticed me, nor was there any sign of them returning. In other words, I could go anywhere without being on high alert.

But that wasn't an option for me in the first place.

I had never felt like this before. I never cared for anyone but Lena before.

I wanted to save Nahum. He had risked his life protecting me.

This time, it was my turn to help him.

I looked at Nine in my grasp. There was only one thing I should do right now.

"Wait for me, okay, Nahum?"

The structure towered in the distance.

I didn't care what awaited me. I would rescue him no matter what!

It took quite some time, but I made it safely to a position where I could see the fort. If only I knew where they were holding Nahum from there.

I looked around the dimly-lit area surrounding the fort.

"Huh? No way, is that...?"

At first, I thought the thin rocks had been weathered by strong winds, but there were lamps lit on them.

"This whole place...it's one of the mainframe's cities camouflaged in huge rocks...?"

The Innovators had seized control of the whole city? How in the hell?

No, rescuing Nahum was my top priority right now. If this area was all part of the mainframe, that was actually good for me. I could use my access privileges to identify Nahum's location and turn the tables!

Right away, I touched the nearby structure and began extracting information.

From that information, I discovered the city's name. This fortified city was called Zeleucia Colony. As I thought, it belonged to the mainframe.

All that aside, why build it in such an inconvenient—

Just then, I felt a faint vibration from my hand.

"...Found him. He's closer than I thought."

Nahum was in a deserted house northwest of the fort.

Wait for me, I'm on my way!

----------

Taking advantage of the dead of night, I made it to the abandoned house without encountering the enemy. Sure helps to be wearing black at times like these.

I crept into the house, slipping through the surveillance. As I proceeded down the hall, I heard a faint voice from further in. No doubt about it, that voice was—

"Nine! Code Accel!"

With my gun's heightened rate of fire, I wiped out the Innovators in front of the room in no time. 

A soldier heard the sound and started to flee, but he was too slow. I closed the gap between us in an instant and smacked him in the jaw with Nine's muzzle. Then, without hesitation, I swung a high kick at his face as he lost his balance.

"Whew. That takes care of—"

"Mene!?"

"Nahum!"

When I entered the room, I saw Nahum tied to a chair. His face was terribly swollen from being beaten over and over.

"Nahum! Are you all right!?"

"Ye-Yes. I can handle it, but...why...? Why save me?" Nahum asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

The answer to that was obvious.

"Per," I stammered.

"Per?"

"Per-Perses is pretty far, you know? Who else can fly me there? If I lost you, I'd be in trouble, so..."

"Haha...that isn't very honest of you, Mene."

"Hm? What'd you just say?"

"Heh. No, it was nothing. Just..."

"Just?"

When I said that, Nahum stared straight at me. And then, he gave me his biggest smile.

"I'll be able to protect you again. Nothing would make me happier."

"Well then, my guard, protect me well."

"Yes!"

Now that Nahum was safe, we had to escape right away.

"Nahum, where's the battle pod—"

Just then, a blaring alarm and a vibration that shook the whole city rang out. Looking out the house's windows, I could see Innovator soldiers running in a direction away from us.

"What's happening? The alarm's not because of us, is it?"

"Mene, look! Th-The mountain!"

Nahum pointed at a huge mountain. What I had thought was just a mountain was suddenly shaking as if it were writhing.

"What is that?!" Nahum cried. "A humanoid...weapon? The Innovators'!?"

"No. I...I know what that is."

Engraved "memories" flowed through me one after another. The mainframe had made—

Its roar drowned out my thoughts. No, to be exact, it was the sound of that thing firing a heat ray at the fort.

Suddenly, that huge thing started moving in front of us. My memories had told me what it was.

"That's an annihilation weapon—one that destroyed the old humanity."

"A weapon!? No matter how you look at it, it's way too big!"

It had forgotten its own purpose and was just attacking indiscriminately. It had completely spiraled out of control.

"Mene! Let's retreat while the Innovators engage the humanoid weapon!"

"Yeah, let's go!"

When we went outside, the Innovators had spread out to surround the weapon and had begun attacking it, but they were only wasting time.

"Mene, look out!"

Right after Nahum pulled me by the hand, the annihilation weapon's huge hand swiped just behind me. The abandoned house was smashed flat, scattering dust into the area.

"Did it just target me?"

That was different from its indiscriminate attacks before. I sensed faint intention behind it.

Could it be I was the reason it activated!?

"Mene, what are you doing!? If we don't run, the Innovators will catch us!"

"We can't run like this, Nahum. It's after me. If we run now, it'll just snipe us down."

"No way...then, what do we do?"

"...I'll take it down."

There was no one but me capable of destroying it here. It was my only choice.

I just had to make it stop moving. I have the power to do that!

"Nine! Code Vertex!"

I would go all out from the start!

"Nahum! Back away from me!"

"Got it!"

The annihilation weapon's hand reached for me again.

That was my target—I wouldn't miss!

"Goooooo!"

Blue-black lightning surged through the night sky. It flew in a straight line towards the weapon, swallowed its left arm whole, and tore into its shoulder.

"— — —!"

It let out a mechanical error sound as if groaning and crying in anguish. It could no longer maintain its balance and toppled into its surroundings.

"Ugh, that wasn't enough to defeat it! Nahum! Go get the ship back before I take it down!"

"Understood! ...Wait, what!?"

"The hangar's east of here. You're my guard—you can handle that much, right?"

"But...how should I find you after I retrieve it?"

At Nahum's question, I pointed at the structure towering above.

"I'm gonna destroy that annihilation weapon with Nine's full power. That's our signal."

"Understood! I will definitely be there to pick you up!"

The two of us set into motion and slipped into the darkness of night.

I was able to get inside the tower in the city center thanks to the Innovators' confusion battling the annihilation weapon. I followed the same steps from Antulya Colony to pull up a platform, and got on.

I continued to the dimly-lit room at the top of the tower. Countless cables twisted through this place, too.

I made it to the peak without difficulty. The instant I arrived, the room's lights turned back on. Then, something emerged from the darkness.

It was a control device formed from gathered pipes in the shape of a shrine. Next to it was an empty throne, sitting silently without a master.

The structure built by the mainframe—a giant computing device—drew the power it needed for its calculations from intercity cables and a large underground power generator. 

Using the authority I was granted, I had pulled a connector from the control device and linked it directly to Nine. It was almost as if this is what it was built for in the first place.

"Amazing...I can feel the power surging through Nine. I can totally wipe out the annihilation weapon with this!"

I shot through the wall and checked outside through the gap. The weapon was aiming straight at the tower using just its right arm. It paid no mind to its surroundings burning or exploding, singlemindedly pursuing me.

Just then, it narrowed its burning red eyes as if recognizing me.

"— — —!"

It let out a battle cry. When it raised its upper body, I could see the core unit on its chest glowing bright red.

Now's the time to aim!

"Nine! Code Radiant!"

"Overdrive Request Approved. Suppression—Removed."

For a moment, Nine distorted in my hand alongside the voice. Then, its shape changed in the blink of an eye—

It transformed into a gleaming white gun with the power of the entire city's electricity. The profound power I felt from its weight in my hands made me confident that I could blast through the weapon.

The cables had drawn out all the power! I would thrash that thing!

"It's all—over!!!"

The boom of compressed waves sounded as I shot straight through the core unit on its chest.

After a moment of silence, the area along the line of fire crumbled, and the annihilation weapon slowly collapsed, its core unit exploding into flames.

The instant its red eyes sputtered out, something flowed into me.

"Is this...its 'memory'?"

At last, I understood.

That's why you came toward me.

I see now. You were just trying to protect me.

"I'm sorry. Rest peacef—"

"What a magnificent power, to end such a monstrous thing with such ease. Oh, how beautiful," a voice suddenly spoke behind me.

It was as if someone had traced down my spine with a knife. The voice was cold and emotionless.

"Wh-Who are you!?"

When I looked back, a girl was there. She was sitting casually on the throne that should have been unoccupied just before.

I had completely missed her. How long had she been there? No, that wasn't it. Was she even human!?

The stark-white girl seemed human, but I couldn't feel a thing from her.

There was an unmistakable something missing from her.

H-Huh...?

My body wouldn't move. Ever since I looked into her crimson eyes, my body wouldn't listen to me.

The girl moved toward me leisurely, pulling a white sword from its sheath. The way she moved should have left ample time to react, but it terrified me.

At this rate, she'd kill me—

"Meeeneee!!!"

I gasped. Nahum's voice broke through my paralysis. I could hear him from beyond the destroyed wall.

The girl swung her sword down. I narrowly dodged it, and took off running without a second thought. Then, I grabbed onto the battle pod Nahum was piloting—and jumped.

Time crawled by like a video in slow motion. The instant I jumped, Nahum tilted the battle pod 45 degrees and nimbly pulled me into the open cockpit.

I immediately looked back to the structure, ignoring the pain running through my body. Through the gap in the outer wall, I could just barely see the girl in white. Her vacant eyes betrayed no sign she was looking at me, she just smiled eerily.

Making the shape of a gun with her left hand, she pressed it to her own head and—

"Are you all right, Mene?"

"Y-Yeah, thanks..."

We had escaped from Zeleucia Colony, but I couldn't get that girl out of my mind.

"Are you sure you're okay? Your body is—"

"Huh?"

I hadn't realized until he said it. My entire body was drenched in sweat. We had only made eye contact, but I was trembling. I was terrified of that girl—

At that moment, I understood. She was someone who should not exist in this world. Moreover, I couldn't let Lena meet her.

"Shall we take a breather?" Nahum suggested. "I can't just leave you like this."

"I-I told you I'm fine. I won't—"

What...?

Suddenly, my vision blurred. All the strength had left my body. Maybe I used Nine too much...?

"As I thought, you should get some rest. There's a good place to land just up ahead."

A little while later, the ship landed on a hill with a nice view.

"We've arrived. Let's rest a bit, then head to Perses."

"Thank...you...Nahum..."

Lying on my side in the cockpit, I let my consciousness drift off to sleep.

----------

When I regained consciousness, it was completely bright out. Nahum suggested we get some fresh air, and we left the cockpit.

"It's amazing they haven't come chasing us yet," I said.

The damage the annihilation weapon caused was more than anyone expected, so shouldn't they be dealing with us?

"Don't worry, Mene. No one will pursue us."

"What? Why?"

"When I borrowed this ship, I went ahead and made some random modifications to the battleship it was parked at. I may not be able to fight, but that sort of thing is my forte! ♪"

"Hehe, I see..."

When I saw Nahum's smiling face, I concluded to myself not to make him angry from here on out.

"That reminds me—I had a look around the area while you were sleeping, and I found some traces of a battle."

I looked in the direction Nahum was pointing to see a partly destroyed battleship left behind. Looking further back, I could see the light of the sunrise shining on something.

"What is that...?" I wondered.

I took Nahum's hand and slowly walked toward it. It was a tiny, tiny grave marker made from a metal plate. Some flowers lay on top, likely taken from near the hill.

I reached out to the completely weathered flowers. As soon as I touched them, they crumbled to dust like sand sifting through my fingers.

"Do you think this grave was made for someone riding on that—hey, Mene?"

"Oh...it...happened again..."

I felt something faintly from the flowers. A deep sorrow for someone precious seized my chest.

"In the end, it doesn't matter where we go. There's no escaping war," I said.

The Innovators, the relic of the mainframe, and—that girl. The world was overflowing with things sowing conflict.

In the meantime, our situation was worsening.

I had to reach Lena as soon as possible.

Before the system's day of judgement arrived.

I have been translating out honorifics where appropriate since it would not make sense in this setting for the characters to be speaking Japanese, but I should mention that Mene calls Lena Lena-nee, as in older sister. However, this doesn't inherently mean the two are actually sisters, as it's not unusual for young women to use this suffix for someone older that they respect. It is a bit ambiguous in this context as the term never comes up outside of Mene addressing Lena, but Mene seems to consider her family regardless.

Mene Tercera: Mene is another name for Selene, goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. A number of characters from the digital side of the Metaverse are also named after various moon goddesses: Hecate, Artemis, Selene herself, Diana, and Luna. Those last two, sisters Diana Primera and Luna Nova, are Mene's direct predecessors: they were reborn as bots Brillante E/S Primera and Grave Nova, whose minds fused with each other in their battle to the death. Mene's story implies she was eventually reborn from them, and her surname Tercera, Spanish for "third," marks her as the third generation.

Nahum: Nahum is the name of a minor biblical prophet who chronicled the fall of Assyria, and the namesake of the Book of Nahum.