Please Respond...

The abrupt stop in the data log wasn't the only thing that caught Shu off guard.

"Boom—" A sound like an explosion in his mind.

Natasha?

Why Natasha?!

Why was Natasha's name in this log, as the Herrscher's sister?!!

Why… her?

Shu stumbled back, his breathing ragged, his mind racing, piecing together previously overlooked clues.

The mutated creatures were concentrated in Heliopolis, and the mutations were more severe there, clearly linking Heliopolis to the disaster – Vakh had received patronage from Heliopolis.

Little Tian was active within Heliopolis and had brought many mutated creatures from outside – Vakh was also Little Tian's caretaker, they had close contact.

The individual who signed the agreement with Ethics used the Spiderweb – Vakh could also use the Spiderweb.

All adults exhibited mutation symptoms – except for Vakh and Natasha.

…

It fit… All the clues aligned!

The mutated creatures were controlled by the Herrscher, their lives subject to its whim, but they retained some degree of independent thought.

That's why Little Tian could write that terrified letter, even though he couldn't recognize himself anymore. That's why he said he hated the three-armed old man…

Shu clutched his chest, where he'd placed Little Tian's drawing.

Everyone in the drawing was clear, distinct, except for Little Tian himself…

And in that same drawing… only Vakh held a bloody weapon, a starkly incongruous figure.

What was the earliest clue?

Shu stared blankly ahead.

["So, you're also here because of Natasha's plea for help on the Spiderweb, right?"]

"Also"!!! He'd said "also"!!

Someone had arrived before them. And Shu hadn't seen any sign of anyone else in the Nest!

Who was that person?

Ethics.

…

"Mr. Shu?" Pet's loading was fast. Ethics only needed a single string of code, not particularly important, and it hadn't even needed to bypass many firewalls.

But when it switched back to shared camera view, it only saw the data-stealing drive plugged into the interface, not yet removed.

Shu was gone.

Pet rotated, finally spotting the small door, which had been… forced open.

As if something moving at high speed had forgotten to open it, choosing the most direct route.

Pet rolled forward, struggling to navigate the stairs.

It was less than half the height of a single step. Climbing them was like scaling a mountain.

Ethics tried calling Shu twice. No response. It sighed, rising from the console, preparing to retrieve Pet itself.

Fortunately, Shu had cleared all obstacles. With no mutants in the way, it could use the biological data it had collected to reach B13.

But when Ethics reached the elevator, it paused.

The elevator shaft looked like it had been hit by a high-speed projectile.

Ethics stood silently at the edge of the shaft, wondering where Shu had gone.

…

Under the setting sun, a meteor crashed in front of the Nest, the impact resounding loudly. Shu landed before the massive metal door.

He hadn't prepared for a landing, tumbling awkwardly before scrambling to his feet.

The door was open.

That wasn't right. The Nest's door was never open. Lyle had explicitly stated this. To get Mark II out, Lyle had practiced lockpicking for a long time…

But now, it was open… From the doorway, Shu could see the Nest's main hall…

And a horrifying sea of crimson.

Blood. Its color was grotesquely vivid under the setting sun, its smooth, viscous surface reflecting the warm light in a chilling, purplish-black hue.

The stench of blood, metallic and raw, hammered at Shu's senses.

"Ah…" He tried to speak, but only two broken syllables escaped his lips…

…Like the broken bodies before him.

Mangled. Mutilated. Beyond recognition.

Shu's steps slowed. He stumbled forward, bracing himself against anything he could find, then pressed his hand against the blood-soaked wall.

The wetness startled him. He looked down at his hand, stained crimson, the coppery scent overwhelming.

He turned back, stepping into the Nest, into this slaughterhouse.

His feet splashed in a pool of blood. He looked down. Half a small body, its hand closest to the open door.

But even the blood hadn't reached outside, as if this fragile life, like the blood, was trapped here forever.

Shu's body trembled uncontrollably. He looked towards the center of the hall, seeing the… culprit.

A monstrous creature, several meters across, like a giant, grotesque claw. It lay still, motionless, amidst a pool of blood, covered in wounds.

Gunshots. Burns. Slashes… Shu recognized the sources of those injuries.

He also saw the small "head" hanging beside the giant claw.

A young face, one he'd "blessed"…

"Urgh—ah…" Three names caught in his throat, unspoken.

Shu's body shook violently, but he felt nothing. No fear, no pain, no struggle…

No response. No emotions reached his open heart.

He should have been able to feel something… if Kiana and the others were here… if…

If there was just one living thing here…

Shu collapsed to his knees, sinking into the blood.

If only there was one living thing… he could… respond…

Is anyone there… can anyone answer me…