Volume 3: Emergence at DesuMachi
Chapter 248: After All, Everything Has an Origin. A Beginning.
Non-Administered World #97, Star Rail Universe…
While Lumine, Team Slash/Dog, the younger Aces, and the other retrieval teams dealt with Voldemort's Horcruxes across Magical Britain, the Express crew continued guarding the Dark Lord himself. High above Mahora, Hayate and Reinforce remained focused on their analysis of the World Tree's corruption.
The Tome of the Night Sky in Hayate's hands flashed briefly as she opened her eyes. Floating beside her, Reinforce Zwei opened hers as well.
"Analysis complete," Hayate announced.
"We did it, Hayate-chan!" Reinforce exclaimed happily, raising both hands. "All the readings match! There's no mistake about the results, desu!"
Hayate smiled at her little partner before turning toward the open communication channel.
"Everyone, this is Hayate Yagami. Rein and I have finished analyzing the corruption."
Her announcement immediately caught the attention of everyone connected to the Alliance channel.
[Lady Hayate?] Marisbury's voice came through from Chaldea. [You've completed the analysis?]
"Yes. And I think we've finally discovered how Dormammu has been assimilating the planet."
[Excellent. Please transmit your findings to Chaldea. We'll distribute the results to the other command centers.]
"Understood!"
Reinforce immediately began transferring the information. Within seconds, CHALDEAS's planetary display inside Chaldea's Command Room updated, and several additional diagrams appeared beside it, showing the structure of the World Tree, the corrupted leylines, and the information governing their natural functions.
The data was distributed to the Arthra, Mahora Command, Hyperion, and the remaining Alliance command stations. It also reached the Astral Express in the Chronicle Universe.
[Hmm… finally.]
Herta's voice entered the channel.
She had been waiting for Hayate's findings ever since proposing that she might have a solution to the crisis.
[Let me see what you've found, Little Commander.]
"Here you go, Herta-san!"
Hayate sent her the complete results.
On the Astral Express, Herta leaned back in her seat as several holoscreens appeared around her. Her eyes moved quickly across the diagrams, comparing the data with the calculations she had already prepared.
Nobody interrupted her. Even Noah and Elysia remained quiet, both curious about why Herta had insisted that Elysia was the key to resolving the crisis.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. A satisfied smile appeared on Herta's face.
[Just as I expected.]
"Hii?" Noah immediately looked toward her communication window. "Care to share your thoughts?"
[Exactly what I said, Dear. Little Commander's analysis confirms my earlier hypothesis.]
Herta enlarged one of the diagrams.
[The mechanism behind Dormammu's planetary assimilation is considerably more interesting than a simple magical infection.]
Several people turned their attention toward the projection.
[He's rewriting the world's natural information.]
"…Rewriting?" Kiana repeated.
[That's right.]
Herta gestured toward a representation of an unaffected leyline.
[Every natural system possesses information defining what it is and how it functions. The planetary leylines are no exception. Their structure, the energy circulating through them, and their relationship with the rest of the world are all governed by information belonging to that world.]
She changed the projection.
Green light flowed through the leyline, representing its natural circulation.
[Under ordinary circumstances, these leylines recognize themselves as part of the planet. Their function is to support its natural circulation and maintain the systems connected to it.]
Then a small dark-purple fragment appeared near the center of the projection.
[But Dormammu's shard is introducing foreign information into those systems. Every leyline it affects gradually loses its original information and begins operating according to information belonging to Dormammu.]
The green light darkened as purple markings spread through the structure, replacing the information displayed beside it.
Kirschtaria studied the projection, his eyes narrowing as he examined the changes.
[So Dormammu isn't simply filling the leylines with his energy. He's changing what they recognize themselves to be.]
[Precisely,] Herta answered, looking rather pleased that someone had followed her explanation.
[The process does not automatically turn the planet into Dormammu. Instead, it forces the world's natural systems to behave as though they have become part of his existence.]
"Wait a minute…" Kiana frowned thoughtfully. "So… the world is still the world, but Dormammu is making it think that it has become him?"
[That's a surprisingly good way of putting it, Little Tuna.]
"…Hey!!!"
Noah couldn't help laughing at their exchange. Unfortunately, Herta immediately turned her attention toward him.
[Would you like to join her, Dear?]
"…No, ma'am."
A few amused chuckles passed through the communication channel. Herta ignored them and casually continued her explanation.
[The important point is that the affected leylines are not merely carrying foreign energy. Their natural information is being overwritten. Once enough of the planetary network accepts that altered information, the world itself begins supporting Dormammu's existence.]
Marisbury stared at the model with a grim expression.
[Which explains why the assimilation accelerated so rapidly during the previous future.]
[Exactly. Every section he successfully rewrites becomes another means of spreading that information through the planetary network.]
Hayate nodded as she examined the results again.
"That's also why the Tome kept detecting changes in the magical structure even after the concentration of Dormammu's energy remained relatively unchanged."
Reinforce raised one hand enthusiastically.
"Hai! The affected leylines weren't just corrupted. Their natural functions were being rewritten as well, desu!"
Welt, who had been listening through the Meldiana Sanctuary channel, slowly nodded.
[Then the world was being forced to sustain an identity that did not belong to it.]
[Correct.]
Noah looked toward the enormous corrupted World Tree.
"…So that's what happened to Gaia."
Hachiman glanced toward him.
"Noah?"
"When I connected myself to the planetary core during the previous future, I could feel something forcing Gaia out of her own existence."
Noah slowly closed his eyes as he recalled the suffering of the planet's consciousness and how its very existence had been rewritten.
"Even though the planet was still there, more and more of what made her herself kept disappearing. And when the assimilation finally reached one hundred percent…"
He stopped.
Everyone already knew the rest.
Gaia, the planet's consciousness, had disappeared. And to save the planet, Noah had exchanged its corrupted state with his own, accepting Dormammu's entire remaining influence into his body.
A heavy silence settled over the channel.
Then Herta spoke again.
[Fortunately, that also means there is a way to reverse the process.]
"Hii?"
Noah quickly opened his eyes.
[If Dormammu's assimilation operates by rewriting the world's natural information, then the solution is to restore that information to its original state.]
[Restore it?] Konoemon Konoe repeated.
[Exactly.]
Herta crossed her arms, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.
[Rather than destroying the corrupted leylines or attempting to forcibly extract Dormammu's energy from every affected section, we return their information to what it was before his interference.]
A new diagram appeared. This time, the dark-purple markings covering the leylines gradually disappeared, replaced by their original green structure.
[Once the world's natural information is restored, those leylines will recognize themselves as part of the planet again. Dormammu's foreign influence will no longer have the same foundation through which to sustain the assimilation.]
"Then…" Hayate's eyes widened. "That means we can reverse the corruption without destroying the leylines themselves!"
[Correct, Little Commander.]
[But how are we supposed to restore something on that scale?] Chrono asked from the Arthra. [We're talking about the planetary leyline network here.]
[Under the circumstances of the previous future, it would have been extraordinarily difficult,] Herta admitted. [But fortunately, the situation has changed.]
Her smile widened.
[And more importantly, we have someone whose Authority is particularly suited to returning anything to its origin.]
She turned toward another communication window.
[Isn't that right, Little Pink?]
Everyone on the channel turned their attention toward a certain pink-haired girl connected through Hyperion's communication feed.
Elysia placed one hand against her cheek before a knowing smile appeared on her face.
"My, my~. So that's what you've been planning, our dearest Hii~."
[Of course.]
Herta looked rather smug.
[Why would I waste time inventing an unnecessarily complicated method when the Herrscher of Origin is standing right there?]
"…Ah!" Kiana's eyes widened. "Ellie's Authority!"
Understanding immediately began spreading through the communication channel.
"The Authority of Origin…" Sirin murmured.
"Fufufu~. It seems everyone's beginning to understand."
Elysia giggled.
Herta nodded.
[Little Pink's Authority can restore the altered information to its original state. That is the foundation of my plan.]
She turned back toward the planetary projection.
[And thanks to the work everyone has already accomplished, we don't need to restore an entire planet approaching complete assimilation.]
Another diagram appeared, showing the contaminated portions of the leyline network separated from the unaffected regions.
[Little Reason's authority successfully isolated the corrupted leylines from the normal ones and redirected the planet's natural circulation around them. Dormammu can no longer use those connections to spread his influence.]
"That was the idea."
Hajime crossed his arms.
[Yes, yes. Very impressive, Little Reason.]
"…Why does that sound like you're making fun of me?"
[Because I am.]
"Oi!"
Noah laughed again, earning an irritated glance from Hajime.
[Furthermore, Little Shadow's six Geo constructs have established a barrier around the corrupted area, preventing the creatures and corruption within that region from escaping.]
Herta glanced toward Noah.
[And My Dear is preventing the corruption wall from advancing beyond the protected area.]
"Yep!" Noah answered.
Although the strain of holding Dormammu's corruption had not disappeared, he still managed to give her a cheerful smile.
[As a result, the affected portion of the planetary leyline network has been limited to approximately ten percent.]
She enlarged the projection one final time.
[That ten percent is still corrupted, but it has been successfully isolated from the rest of the world. We are no longer dealing with an enemy capable of freely assimilating the entire planet.]
Marisbury nodded thoughtfully.
[And that means the restoration would only need to affect the isolated portion.]
[Exactly.]
Herta smiled confidently.
[Which brings us back to Little Pink.]
Everyone turned toward Elysia.
She gave them a warm smile and even waved.
"Well, if everyone keeps looking at me like that, I'll start feeling a little shy~."
Noah immediately leaned forward.
"Ellie… can you really do it?"
"Fufufu~. Of course, my dear Noah."
"Really?!"
"Mhm!"
Elysia placed one hand over her heart.
"If Dormammu's influence is rewriting the world's natural information, then I can use my Authority of Origin to return the affected portions to their original state."
A playful grin appeared on her face.
"After all, everything has an origin. A beginning. And in this case, the world has simply been forced away from what it was meant to be."
Several people on the channel sighed in relief. They finally had a possible solution that did not require destroying the World Tree or sacrificing someone to save the planet.
However, Noah's expression remained serious.
"But even then, Ellie, you can't restore the corrupted portion from here, right?"
Elysia looked at him with a smile and nodded.
"That's right."
Noah looked toward the enormous World Tree in the distance.
"You need to reach the source of Dormammu's influence first."
"Exactly~."
Elysia followed his gaze.
"My Authority can return the affected parts of the world to what they were before, but I need to establish direct contact with the source before I can begin the restoration."
She pointed toward the World Tree.
"In other words…"
Her smile became a little more serious.
"I'll need to touch the corrupted World Tree itself."
The atmosphere within the communication channel changed. Everyone understood the problem immediately.
Reaching the World Tree was not going to be easy.
Inside Hachiman's Geo barriers, Dormammu's corruption remained active. Although the contaminated leylines had been isolated, the foreign energy already trapped within them had not disappeared.
And it continued producing corrupted creatures.
Countless monsters now covered the ruined streets surrounding the World Tree. Some moved across the ground in enormous groups. Others clung to buildings and branches, while flying creatures filled the skies above the region.
And with every passing minute, their numbers continued to increase.
"Seriously?!" Kiana shouted as she noticed the growing numbers. "Since when did those monsters become so numerous?!"
[The World Tree is still drawing upon the contaminated energy trapped within the barrier,] Konoemon Konoe explained with a frustrated sigh. [Even though Dormammu can't spread any farther, his remaining influence is using that energy to protect the source.]
[It appears to be building a defensive army,] Welt observed.
"…Wonderful."
Hachiman watched the countless monsters gathering protectively around the World Tree.
"We've trapped a world-devouring monster inside a barrier, and now it's apparently decided to fill that barrier with an entire army."
He sighed.
"Seriously, how troublesome can this get?"
"Well…" Noah scratched his cheek.
"Don't answer that."
"…Okay."
Hajime stared at the growing enemy concentrations, then looked at Elysia.
"So we need to get Elysia through that entire army and bring her directly to the World Tree."
"Sounds about right," Euphyllia said beside him.
"And we can't simply destroy everything indiscriminately," Hayate added. "Even though they've already been isolated, the World Tree and the corrupted ley lines are still part of the planet's natural life circulation. If we destroy them, we'll leave a huge vacuum in that area."
"A massive dead zone on the planet," Fate added.
"And mana and life might never return to those areas again," Nanoha continued.
[Indeed,] Marisbury agreed. [Which is why destroying the corrupted portion of the planet has never been an option.]
[Then we'll have to take the risk of entering the contaminated zone and clearing a path for Miss Elysia to restore that area,] Chrono concluded.
[However, lowering Lord Hikigaya's barrier without adequate preparation could allow the corruption or its creatures to spread again,] Kirschtaria warned.
"That won't be an issue," Hachiman answered in his usual tone. "I can open a passage through one section without bringing down the entire barrier. But it'll have to be narrow and carefully controlled."
"And I can hold back the corruption around that opening," Noah added. "But I'll have to keep most of my attention on the wall."
"Which means neither of you can lead the advance," Hajime concluded.
"Unfortunately," Noah admitted.
The discussion paused as the Alliance considered its available forces.
[Before assigning anyone, let's make one thing clear. Several of our strongest teams are already carrying out critical operations elsewhere.]
Chrono spoke from the Arthra's bridge.
He brought up the current deployment map. Five Silver Rails stretched from Mahora toward Magical Britain.
[The five Horcrux retrieval teams are already at their assigned destinations. None of them should be recalled or diverted. The artifacts must be secured before Voldemort can be permanently eliminated.]
[Agreed,] Marisbury replied. [The retrieval teams will continue their missions under their existing commanders.]
[Unfortunately, the same applies to us,] Himeko answered. [March, Caelus, Dan Heng, and I will remain with Voldemort. I… We don't want anything like what happened last time to happen again.]
Behind her, the Dark Lord's mutilated body remained sealed within March's Six-Phase Ice.
March stood nearby, maintaining the seal while Dan Heng examined the surrounding magical readings. Caelus remained within striking distance of the prisoner, prepared to intervene should anything unexpected happen.
[We can't risk leaving him unguarded,] Himeko continued. [Not while all five Horcruxes still exist.]
[Don't worry about us!] March added. [We've got this creep covered!]
[Even if he somehow moves again, he's not going anywhere.]
Caelus glanced toward Voldemort.
Dan Heng nodded.
[Our assignment remains unchanged. We'll assist through the communication network whenever possible, but the prisoner takes priority.]
"Thanks, Miss Himeko. Everyone," Noah answered gratefully.
[You focus on the World Tree, Noah. We'll take care of our part.]
Himeko smiled reassuringly at him.
[Since Himeko and the others cannot join the next battle, I'll take their place.]
Welt Yang spoke up through the communication channel from Meldiana Sanctuary.
[The situation here has already stabilized. The Sanctuary's defenses are operational again, and Lord Charlus, along with the remaining personnel, is more than capable of maintaining security without me. I can leave the Sanctuary and join the assault on the World Tree.]
[Are you sure, Welt?] Himeko asked, looking toward his communication window.
[Of course.] Welt adjusted his glasses.
[You and the others already have an important responsibility. We cannot afford to let Voldemort escape again, especially after everything that happened during the previous future.]
His expression softened as he looked toward March, Caelus, and Dan Heng.
[Besides, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving all the difficult work to the younger members of the Express.]
[Mr. Yang…] March smiled, although her eyes still showed concern. [Just be careful, okay? There are a ridiculous number of monsters inside that barrier!]
[I'll be fine, March.] Welt gave her a reassuring smile.
[My abilities should prove useful against such a large concentration of enemies. If I can suppress their movements and create an opening, the others will have a much easier time escorting Elysia toward the World Tree.]
Noah's expression immediately brightened.
"Ahahahaha! With Uncle Yang joining the assault, that's a lot more reassuring!"
[There's no need to thank me, Noah.] Welt looked toward him with a gentle smile.
[We're family, aren't we? Besides, after witnessing what happened to you during the previous future, I have no intention of standing aside when there's something I can do to prevent it from happening again.]
"…Thank you, Uncle Yang." Noah's smile softened.
Welt nodded before turning toward the Alliance commanders.
[I'll hand over my remaining responsibilities here at Meldiana Sanctuary and depart for Mahora immediately. Please include me in the assault formation.]
[Understood, Mr. Yang,] Chrono answered. [We'll coordinate your arrival with the forces gathering near the containment zone.]
[Thank you, Admiral Harlaown.]
With Welt's participation confirmed, Chrono returned his attention to the deployment map.
[That leaves the forces already stationed around Mahora, along with the Nameless who aren't involved in the Horcrux operation.]
[Chaldea still has combat personnel assigned to Mahora's defense,] Kirschtaria reported. [We can reorganize those units into an assault formation without interfering with the teams in Britain.]
[The Arthra also has aerial squadrons and barrier specialists available,] Chrono added. [I'll keep the ship in its command position and coordinate their deployment.]
[Mahora will provide every defender we can spare without weakening the civilian protection zones,] Konoemon declared.
One after another, the Alliance commanders began reviewing which units were actually available. Their forces had already been divided among several operations, but the coalition assembled to stop Dormammu was enormous.
====== Chapter 248 END ======