Even now, just remembering it makes me shudder. Countless corpses revive in the back of my mind. Most of the comrades with whom I shared joys and sorrows met unrewarded ends. Tokunosuke Amamiya, one of the few surviving members amidst it all, was recalling the tragedy that occurred in this place.
The four members here were able to survive because they did not engage in direct combat with the 'Worms'. While many squad members were stepping into the Worms' habitat, the four of them were assigned to a different mission.
A dinosaur-like giant creature had suddenly intruded, creating a risk of collision with the unit in operation, so they had been dispatched to divert its attention. At the time, they recognized their task as the more dangerous one, and Tokunosuke even thought he had drawn the short straw. However, ironically, it could be said that he survived thanks to that mission.
Using the lives they had picked up, they returned once again to this abominable land. However, this time they were not without a plan. They hadn't come here just to die. The Worm was a terrifying calamity that parasitized eggs into anyone who saw it, but there was a way to nullify that power.
In fact, Tokunosuke had seen the Worms back then. He had clearly confirmed the 'eyes' they possessed. Yet, he was not parasitized. That was because the figure of the Worm he saw was an image projected through a camera.
If it is an 'image', there is no problem viewing it. However, if one makes direct eye contact, it cannot be avoided under any circumstances. Even if the entire face is protected by a gas mask and viewed through goggles made of reinforced resin, infection still occurs.
There are still many unexplained parts regarding this ability, but the investigation team is proceeding with research. Quantum is a unit intended for the direct exploration of the Dark Continent, but those on the ship were not limited to combatants. Scientists were also on board to perform detailed analyses of unknown returns and risks.
In the analysis team, there was a user of a Nen ability called 'Experiment Subject No. 5 (Homunculus)'. This was a Conjuration ability that created a Nen doll. This Nen doll possessed the same anatomical structure and life-sustaining activities as a human, but absolutely no combat capability. Its purpose lay in the ability to conduct human experimentation legally and as much as desired. The doll itself played the role of 'En', allowing for detailed observation of processes.
The investigation team that returned had preserved the eyeballs of infected victims as data and brought them back to the ship. As a result of analyzing them using this Nen doll, it was found that eggs were not implanted from the outside. When the infected eyeballs were examined, mutations were seen in the vitreous body. This is the gel-like tissue that fills the interior of the eyeball.
A host who visually recognizes a Worm undergoes specific changes in the retina due to some factor. Just as cancer cells promote changes in surrounding cells, the environment inside the eyeball is remodeled by this substance, centering on the retina. The mutation of the vitreous body is considered part of this process.
It is known that the vitreous body liquefies with aging, causing retinal detachment, and this symptom was also seen in those infected by Worm larvae. The difference is that the detached retinal cells undergo rapid alteration, turning into embryo-like cell bodies. These are the Worm eggs. The vitreous body becomes the optimal environment for the embryos to grow, acting like egg white that protects and nourishes the eggs.
In other words, this is closer to reproduction than parasitism. In general animals, reproduction is established when male and female individuals put genetic information into reproductive cells and exchange them, but in the case of Worms, the means of transmitting that genetic information is 'eyes meeting'.
This reproductive function is already present at the egg stage, causing a secondary disaster where other organisms' eyeballs are also mutated via the host's eyes. Once infected, there is no way to be saved other than removing the eyeballs before the eggs hatch. The time until hatching is approximately five hours. Since it is an infectious disease that has only recently been discovered, treatment methods via medication or surgery have not yet been found.
However, a prevention method was found. One does not get infected if the Worm is viewed as a recorded image. Because it is an unconventional transmission method of sending genetic information visually to the retina, the process is extremely delicate; it is believed that accurate transmission is impossible once it is replaced as a separate image.
For this expedition, specially made gas masks were prepared. By fixing modified night vision gear to a helmet and wearing it over both eyes, one can see the outside view through a camera.
Prevention is possible with this, but even if parasitism is prevented, the adult Worm is a threat simply due to its body size and power. If it were just one, running away might be possible, but a large number of adults lurk in the habitat ahead. Unless they are lured away from the central hill, which is the Return collection point, the mission cannot be accomplished.
Measures for that had also already been taken. The keystone of that operation was Tokunosuke. He took out the binder necessary to activate his ability.
"Wait. Before we execute this, I want to confirm something."
However, Gragg stopped his action. He directed a question at Quinn once more.
"As explained beforehand, we will move to operational action from here on. We have made the utmost preparations possible, but that does not mean the danger is gone. Do you still intend to come with us?"
Quinn thought for a moment but nodded back immediately. If she had the type of personality to wait quietly here, she wouldn't have followed them this far. Quantum accepted her reply without affirmation or denial.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
Tokunosuke broke the ice with a deliberately casual tone. From the binder held in his hand, slips of paper flew out on their own. A massive amount of paper scraps danced in the air despite the lack of wind, scattering high into the sky.
" 'Shikigami' (Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon)."
The paper scraps were shaped like crosses, looking not unlike birds with spread wings. Each one of them transformed into the appearance of a real bird. Accurately speaking, they were Nen beasts conjured with paper as the core.
Among small animal-type Nen beasts, birds with flight capabilities are prized for their utility, but they often lack power. Their combat style usually consists of a configuration emphasizing lightness and speed.
However, his Nen birds were not bound by that common sense. The maximum number of Nen birds operable at one time was approximately 400. While only the size of pigeons, being Nen beasts—clumps of aura—they possessed reasonable power upon impact. Birds numbering in the hundreds formed a flock like a raging wave, crushing the enemy. That attack was more akin to a rain of Nen bullets with enhanced rapid-fire capability.
However, he is an Emitter. Because of the poor compatibility with Conjuration, the appearance of the Nen birds was tantamount to papier-mâché. Since the reproduction level was like a poorly made wooden carving, it would be immediately exposed if seen up close.
Also, while Emitters are good at increasing power and durability of Nen beasts and increasing their numbers, operability is not good. Looking at the hexagonal chart, they are adjacent to Manipulators, but they inevitably fall short of a specialist. In particular, the more he increased the number of Nen birds controlled at once, the more that operability dropped significantly. If he were to maintain operability usable in actual combat, the number of Nen birds his skill could handle was five at most.
Earlier it was stated that he would attack the enemy with 400 Nen birds, but this is extremely inefficient as a way to use Nen beasts. If he could do that, he could simply attack with Nen bullets to achieve greater power. In the first place, he did not possess enough aura to create 400 Nen birds at once.
But that is a story considering only his raw ability. He held a trump card that drastically raised the baseline of his ability. That was 'Divine Script'.
Divine Script acts as special characters that possess effects to assist Nen abilities. By carving them onto objects or places, one can enlarge the effect or range of one's ability. However, that effect is merely auxiliary. Ability users who cannot fight properly without relying on it are often looked down upon as lacking in skill.
However, proficiency in Divine Script varies from beginner to expert, just like Nen abilities. There are stalwarts who write these complex and bizarre characters with Nen writing during actual combat. There are also craftsmen who create tools with special abilities by programming the effects to be activated.
And in the handling of Divine Script, Tokunosuke possessed technique incomparable to the rabble. Furthermore, the Divine Script he wrote differed from the kind generally used by Hunters. This was related to his origins.
He was born into a certain old family in Japon. His clan, which had served as Shinto priests for generations, had its roots in Onmyodo. The Divine Script he used also had origins said to have been used by Onmyoji in ancient times.
In an era when religion and science were confused, and natural phenomena, disasters, and plagues were believed to be the work of gods or demons, Nen abilities were also mixed with religion and considered as one and the same. Even now, it cannot be said that Nen abilities have been scientifically elucidated, and there are more cases where they are recognized religiously.
Even if one does not understand the actual substance of Nen abilities, a heart that strongly believes in something is not necessarily off the mark when handling Nen. Nen is closely tied to religions all over the world, building unique cultures in those lands through priests, monks, shamans, and witches.
The Divine Script often used among Hunters today is also said to have originated from hieroglyphs carved into royal coffins during the Old Kingdom period of ancient Jeptan. Later Nen users added improvements to make them easier to use, settling into the current form.
Divine Script, much like language, differs completely in form depending on the region. The mainstream Divine Script currently in widespread use is considered to have the font that is easiest to handle and has the fewest quirks. Other miscellaneous Divine Scripts mostly have less than one-tenth the efficacy even if several times the amount of text is used.
Many of such 'Ancient Divine Scripts' have been forgotten with the flow of time, and even if they remain, they possess only academic value. However, among them, there exists a small number that have been passed down continuously and are still in active use.
The characters Tokunosuke handles are one such type called 'Ancient Divine Script'. Japon is a polytheistic country. The philosophy that gods dwell in all things breathed life into inanimate objects that should not move. The capital, where people's passions once swirled, was overflowing with a terrifying number of gods and evil spirits.
The sorcerer who presided over the protection of that chaotic capital was Tokunosuke's ancestor. That Ancient Divine Script specialized in assisting the power of Nen beasts.
Divine Script is not something one can use just by watching and imitating. One must accurately grasp the meaning imbued in the character and the meaning that changes as characters are connected, carving them with the resolve of putting one's soul into each character, just as a calligrapher faces their work.
The tendency is stronger the more ancient the Divine Script is. One must weave infinitely subtle emotional nuances into the characters after thoroughly pounding the historical and cultural ideological background into one's head. Its difficulty is like reciting poetry impromptu. Special education is required to handle it, and there are cases where it cannot be used unless written using the blood of a lineage holder. Therefore, it is often a secret art never to leave the gate, passed down to only one child.
However, matching that difficulty, the effectiveness under specific conditions is high. This enables precise operability for his Nen birds despite their massive numbers. Because they become automatic operation (Auto) type Nen birds based on pre-programmed conditions, they act autonomously without the user's instruction as long as the imbued aura lasts.
Nen beast manipulation types include the automatic operation type (Auto) and the remote operation type (Remote). The remote operation type requires the user to continue giving instructions near the Nen beast, like a radio-controlled car. In that respect, the automatic operation type is not bound by range of action and can employ many manipulation targets at once, but it also has the flaw of being unable to deal with situations flexibly since it can only take actions according to the program.
Since his ability is premised on writing commands via Divine Script, the flaw of the automatic operation type was particularly prominent. There is no leeway to rewrite commands during combat. It is possible to switch after incorporating multiple programs, but there is a significant limit to the writable capacity.
That is why he carries paper patterns that have been assigned respective roles with minutely classified programs so that he can deal with whatever situation he falls into. He uses different Nen birds to call upon depending on the situation. That situational judgment ability could be called his true worth.
He omitted it this time since it wasn't necessary, but by enhancing the Conjuration performance of the Nen birds, he can also make their appearance more realistic. Despite being an Emitter, neither Manipulation nor Conjuration becomes a weakness. He demonstrates strength that ignores category compatibility.
Furthermore, this ability possessed a powerful effect: "Can be used without aura." More accurately, since aura can be stocked in advance in the paper patterns that serve as the base for the Nen birds, there is no need to consume the aura inside his body at the moment of activation.
This is a property closer to Manipulation-style matter manipulation rather than being an Emitter Nen beast user. Rather than manipulating Nen birds, he is manipulating paper patterns clad in aura. Manipulation types are also good at infusing and storing aura in tools.
Of course, creating Nen birds possessing this much performance requires considerable preparation. It is not just writing the Divine Script; unless a considerable amount of aura is poured in, they will not become powerful Nen birds. The time required for production is at least one week. Since the effect increases the more aura is imbued, it takes even more time if performance is sought. Also, deterioration progresses just by storing them, requiring aura even after completion to maintain them.
It's not that he can only make one at a time, but it is certainly not something that can be easily mass-produced. How many Nen birds had he prepared for this investigation? He spent a mind-numbing amount of time preparing the paper patterns. It is the result of accumulating little by little over many years. However, the bottom of those savings was in sight.