Chapter 159: Ch 159: Truth Behind the Apocalypse

"We should all get going now. Rin needs to rest, and us being here would only hinder him further. Everyone, let’s get out of here."

Reina was the resident doctor, and her words carried a lot of weight. Everyone decided to follow her lead and quickly left Rin alone.

Shelly was the last person to leave, but she kept looking at Rin the whole time with worried, unwavering eyes.

Rin kept a smile on his face until he watched them all disappear. He only relaxed once he was sure they were gone, and then his body sank into the soft mattress.

"Ugh, what a tiring few days. I cannot believe we are still not done. Round 6 is about to start soon as well."

Rin complained as he placed a hand over his eyes.

He was usually not this worried, but something about the situation was making him anxious.

Alex nuzzled against his hair and settled down beside him. But despite that reassurance, Rin could not help but feel like things were not going well.

"Ugh, but even if things are not going well, what can I do? I should just go to sleep for now and think about this later."

Rin sighed and pulled the covers over his face, trying to get some sleep.

__________

[Error code...Data loading...file corrupted]

[Retrieving host file to repair data...]

[Creating connection to lost part...]

[Host found...Connecting to the main part...]

"Hmm, what is this? It looks like something really did happen. Eh, but it’s not my problem."

Karina looked at the data in front of her with bored eyes. None of it helped her research, so she was not concerned about it.

However, her assistant looked pale and continued to jot down notes.

"Miss Karina, how can you say that? Aren’t you worried that the data is corrupted? How did that even happen?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The assistant looked like his world was falling apart. But Karina did not seem concerned.

"Well, none of this affects my darling, so what do I have to worry about? Besides, this is an experiment. There are bound to be variables compared to what we expected."

Karina explained, but it only made the assistant even more frightened.

"Please don’t say that. This is a matter of life and death for this world. What if we lose control of this creature and cause even more harm? Or what if-"

"I don’t really care, and I doubt those fools funding us care either. As long as they gain more power over this world, none of this matters. We are all pawns in this game."

Karina pointed out, and her assistant looked even more frightened.

"S-So, do we know what the error is? What is causing all this?"

The assistant asked, wanting to know more so he could help somehow. Karina hummed before deciding to answer.

"The thing causing this error is Experiment No. #00. He was not even supposed to be part of this experiment, but the system chose him as a host. At this point, there is nothing we can do except keep watching."

Karina pointed out, and the assistant took a deep breath before asking another question.

"I...do you think the system has a reason for choosing him as a host? Or maybe it was because he was the first prototype-"

"Who knows? And frankly, who cares? It’s not like we can stop the system even if we want to. Those higher-ups might think they are in control, but I don’t believe we have any way to control this system. As for what it wants with Experiment #00...it’s better if we don’t waste our time thinking about it."

Karina told her assistant, and he nodded. But the worry he felt did not fade away.

Instead, he decided to open the files on Experiment #00, also known as Rin.

__________

[Error code...Data loading...file corrupted]

[Retrieving host file to repair data...]

Rin heard the mechanical voice in his head, but his body felt heavy. He tried to open his eyes, but something seemed to be pressing down on his eyelids, forcing them shut.

[Connecting with the main body...Initiating contact...]

[Welcome home...segment #prime. Your data will be updated]

Rin’s eyes opened instantly, and he looked at the huge tangled mass in front of him. It was the same tree he had seen in the distance when he was transported between tasks.

At that time, it had seemed too far away and had fascinated Rin enough to make him forget everything else.

But now that it stood before him, the feeling it invoked was...different.

Rin felt calm, but his mind was not blank like last time. He could still think and recall everything that had happened until now.

But the more important question was...where was he, and what was he doing here? And what was that tree in front of him?

"If only I had the system here to tell me more..."

But the system did not appear. Everything was quiet, and Rin started to feel uncomfortable.

The tree-like thing called out to Rin, and he placed his hand on the bark. A screen suddenly appeared before him, and at first, he mistook it for the system.

But the tone was too formal to be the system.

[Connecting segment #prime to the network. Welcome home.]

[Please open the panel for the homecoming report.]

Rin clicked the expand button, but most of the data he saw was covered by *** and ### marks. What little he could make out was out of order.

"What is all this? Why can I still not read any of it? I suddenly miss the system."

Rin complained, expecting the system to pop up. But there was no system. He was all alone, trying to figure out what was happening.

[Data progress...

Segment #prime data. Species—human. Test subject #00. The core of ’The One’ is inside, waiting for germination.

Method chosen—apocalypse and nurturing. Experiment log: No access.]

Rin moved his fingers around, but the words before him did not change. They kept scrolling, making Rin feel like he was wasting time...

Until the logs shifted and he finally saw something useful.

[Data file reached: New task updated.

Task details: Apocalypse.

Lead Researchers: Karina Penrose, Mr. and Mrs. Kalos, Mr. J, Mrs. Aduit, Molly K. Jr.

Notes: An alien life form has been found on the outskirts and brought back to the research center. It may contain extraordinary powers, but requires interference to activate properly.

Conclusion: The power will be researched by any means necessary to open a new doorway for human civilization.]

"What the fuck-?! Is this apocalypse artificial? This was never in the original book?""