Thanatos
Years ago.
A Country. Los Alamos Amusement Park.
What caught anyone's eye was the huge Ferris wheel and a castle-like structure that could be seen from a distance from the highway.
There were countless Engine Machine type equipment were in operation where joyful melodies flowed through from the speakers, decorative neon lights that emitted bright lights even in the daytime, fish and chips that were served with the message "freshly made!" every time the mobile stand blew out smoke into the sky, a clown would pop up here and there to give out balloons and fragrances alongside a healthy young girl donned in a yellow uniform with their chest out that matched the years latest trend. There, they would smile and greet others with "Have a Wonderful Day" as they handed out flyers with pictures of mascot characters and information on it such as which rides were fun and which restaurants in commercial facilities were delicious...
Everyone in the country knew of the decorative strings written on the flyers were.
Every radio station was playing a sound commercial of it every 60 to 180 seconds fifty times a day, audio ads with images were aired before every film in theaters, posters were posted up in alleys throughout the country, large billboards of them were placed along the highway stretching all over the nation, and there were even front-page ads that were placed all over the national newspapers in a row (and in all of them!) that it was rare for anyone to not heard of them.
That name was Ford World.
It was a super large amusement park that opened up just last year. a dreamland created from pouring all of the experience and know-how from Ford Land, a large amusement park that has scattered across A Country. A gorgeous garden without night, said by some poets who used the term "nightless castle" to refer to the structure in the center that resembles a medieval castle.
Even today, the place was filled with lively tunes.
Voices. Engine sounds. Machine operating sounds. All of that were mixed together, and it seemed that the children's voices were especially audible to hear. There was a boy and girl who appear to be lovers walking together while holding hands in a delicate sense of distance, as well as a range of couples who were anywhere from slightly older than the young lovers to those of old age. What all of them had in common is they were all cheerful. Cheeful without a shadow of doubt.
Naturally, there were also kids who tripped over the pipes used to draw energy from Engines and fell down crying and a young girl who went teary-eyed after getting into a fight with her boyfriend on which rides to get on, their expressions being not well. Perhaps all of the people playing here was more for those on their hearts good side.
---That was what Second Lieutenant Billy Pershing felt of the scene below him.
"Quite the lively spectacle here."
That's what the Second Lieutenant described Ford World's view while looking down through the reinforced glass.
The distance from the top to bottom of the castle situated in the center of the amusement, known commonly as the Castle of Destiny, was 650 feet (200 meters) to the ground. However, his naturally excellent sense of sight made it easy for him to view the crowd, even perceive their facial expressions from inside.
"Do you like it, Second Lieutenant?"
"Yes."
"That's what's most important. Endless joy and peace. The exact kind of view humanity longs for."
The one who called out the Second Lieutenant slowly stood up from a leather chair.
It was a man who had on a gold Engine Machine monocle with a precious green stone embedded on the right side of his head, with the way he dressed himself in a black suit would have one come to mind of a comic book villain. The Second Lieutenant came to mind of the National Allied Comic that began publishing in 1901. Although he was ridiculed for his childish hobbies by his colleagues, those works were truly worth the reading alongside their secret social propositions. Now, they've become one of the Second Lieutenant's spiritual norms. Such it was that it wouldn't be an exaggeration for it to be on par with the bible.
Could that mean that I was the Man of Steel who was being lured in by the villain?
That's what the Second Lieutenant said to himself.
Even though he couldn't sure it was true, there was just this peculiar feeling from the man in the monocle that made him think so.
"I have a question, Mr. Chairman. Why did you build such a large amusement park at Los Alamos, which is considered to be the Foundation's main research facility?"
"It was a necessity at the time."
"I've heard rumors that it was going to be promoted to a national organization."
"National? Don't speak so little of that, Son of a Hero."
The man with the monocle said something that made the Second Lieutenant's expression become a little distorted.
Son of a Hero.
That was the bests way to describe him. His father was an officer who led a calvary regiment that kicked out all of the conflicts with the natives, and by the end of the previous century, his father had become a literal hero by achieving remarkable war success in Country S and Country P. He was quite aware of the fact that his swift promotion to Second Lieutenant, despite being a mere young man, was largely due to his father's presence.
However, the Second Lieutnenant's expression went a little distorted. A Hero's Son. What did make one a Hero? His father killed and drove away the cornered indigenous people. His father was called a Hero for a war of aggression that merely deceived the people of Country P who wanted independence. Even if he thought his father was only merely following orders, that this was the nature of a soldier and how the outcome of the war itself wouldn't affect his reputation as the army's instruction manual states, the Second Lieutenant was still not convinced.
Truly, his father was a Hero of the Nation.
But that isn't a true Hero.
Yes, he was different from the Superman that radiates in comics.
"...You say it like the Nation is a small thing. If this were during the Fuhrer's time, that would have been a capital offense."
"I suppose," The monocle makes a small mechanical noise. Perhaps it was focusing due to shifting his gaze to the amusement park below. "How old were you when the Fuhrer was assassinated? Yes, the era of pledging selfless loyalty to the nation has already ended. Freedom. Unwavering Freedom. That is what our country deserves, what we had truly won with our hands through John Wilkes Booth. Something that will elevate ourselves from the freedom of a spirit liberated from oppression, developing our nation, and making our civilization prosper."
"I won't deny that. However, I am a soldier who swore allegiance to the nation. It's exactly for that reason that I came here as an order."
"Sadly, you are correct." The man said with an exaggerated shrug, looking like a stage actor.
"I'm curious as to how you were able to interfere with the Chain of Command."
"Indeed. The evil hands of Company F have not only branched out to the central government, but so to the military!"
He said it so loudly.
The man spoke without hesitation in response with the greatest of sarcasm.
He was the CEO of Company F, the largest and best industrial company that Country A is proud of. He was the Chairman of the Foundation, Country A's largest research organization. He was the Steel King who reigned over all steel that dominates the earth. A man who was even called such by the people. Some of the tabloids have even described him with great irony and ridicule as a shadow chairman who controls Country A which had become a great power. Indeed, given his appearance, he was quite pleased by the irony of the matter.
The Second Lieutenant believed that power was an intangible thing. In this case, someone who proclaims themselves as king on the spot were nothing more than a clown.
There were some who were lousy clowns.
However, was it easier to give as much as it is visually easy to understand it?
"...I'm curious as to why you'd call yourself a devil."
"Well, that is correct."
"Can you please speak to me right now, Mr. Chairman. Why an amusement park? I know you didn't just call for me to enjoy the merry-go-round or talk to those awkward girls in uniform."
To be frank, he was joyful of their trendy clothes but when he tried to speak with them directly, he was a little insecure on where to look. Softening his words while being genuine, the Second Lieutenant continued to touch on the matter.
"I've gone through the materials over this. This place was supposed to be a research institute."
"Yes. Just as you said, this castle is the core research facility of the Foundation. It is the crystallization of our country's wisdom and humanity! This land and Trevor Tower, the giant tower of wisdom in City N, are two mega structures. It's no exaggeration to say that research facilities are now the driving force of civilization on this planet! Ah, of course, this castle is also like that yet we open it to the public as a hotel to many parts of it. So you can stay for the night. Go on ahead. If you like, I can even call in a girl with big breasts that's blonde and in uniform."
"Mr. Chairman..."
"I'm also aware of your profile as you were looking over confidential information on the Foundation. For example--"
And---
Immediately right after, the Second Lieutenant, who prided himself of his patience, had enough of the man's apparent attempts to deviate from the core of the situation.
There was a sound of a knock. Two knocks. It wasn't a heavy sound, but a light one. Was it of a woman's?
The Second Lieutenant's guess was correct as just after a wait for a short response of the man saying, "Come in", a striking woman opened up the door to the Chairman's office. Given the fact this was a research facility, it was natural they would wear a white coat. Perhaps they were even a little taller? As he was well over 6 feet (180 cm) tall, the Second Lieutenant had a habit of having a rough idea of other people's heights (especially women), but she was tall herself. Perhaps leaning onto the higher side.
She was a beautiful woman.
A brunette with a well-shaped nose bridge, cherry-colored lips, long eyelashes, and eyes that reminded him of clear glass.
However, he felt something dark. His face went pale.
For instance, whereas he could feel the radiance of the people on the ground beyond the reinforced glass, he could feel a darkness coming off from the woman in the white coat. The Second Lieutenant's sensibility made him had several images in his mind the instant he laid eyes on her. There were images of a pitiful princess trapped alone in a castle full of darkness, a sorcerers apprentice fighting against the temptations of evil demons in a hopeless situation, and...
"Excuse me for a moment, Your Excellency Mr. Chairman."
Her voice was extremely calm.
The Second Lieutenant couldn't tell if they were somber or not.
"I'm having a pleasant conversation with the precious Second Lieutenant here. What is the matter, Miss Doman?"
"Yes. It's not an appointment, but Dr. Rosenkreuz is here."
"Rosenkreuz?"
He couldn't help but leak it out from his lips.
Astonishment and doubt filled in the Second Lieutenant. Rosenkreuz. There was no way he would forget that name, especially if it were the same as the one he knew. It was a name spoken of by old scholars who knew of the time when science was still alchemy, a name that was secretly passed down in the shadows of society, a name that was written in the documents of very mysterious end of life cases. Not only that, this name was also written down in a suicide note by a colleague of his who, after completing a mission, went down into an unexplained state of madness and committed suicide by a pistol in a very inexplicit manner. It was the name of his enemy. The enemy of a friend who he was close to than anyone else.
That name was Christian Brocken Rosenkreuz.
From the previous century or even earlier, this was the name of a man who ruled a secret society that was famous during the age of alchemy and mystery. It was a name unlikely to be heard in the glorious 20th century. However, it was a name that only a number of people have come to hear and the Second Lieutenant was one of them.
Aware of his rudeness, the Second Lieutenant interrupts the conversation and touches the woman named Miss Doman by her shoulder.
She felt extremely cold.
"Miss, you just said Rosenkreuz is here? Are they on their way? Here? Christian Rosenkreuz?"
"..."
Without so much a shift in her expression, she looks at the Second Lieutenant for two seconds, then turns her gaze to the man in the monocle seemingly asking in silence "What should I do with him?".
"It doesn't matter. You can tell him, Miss Doman."
"Yes," She returns her gaze to the Second Lieutenant. "Dr. Rosenkreuz is in the Golden Room of the 23rd floor."
The Chairman's office was on the 30th floor above ground, so it wasn't far from there.
Aside from that, he wouldn't have to worry about them trying to leave if they had just arrived.
The Second Lieutenant thought this without concealing his hesitation, then turns to the man in the monocle while apologizing to the woman named Miss Doman for touching her so brazingly.
"I want to meet with that person, Mr Chairman."
"Bold one, are we? Both to me and the woman. But it is what it is. It doesn't matter. But it's unfortunate that I haven't gotten to tell you what I needed to tell you yet. I'm hoping you'd be able to come back in half in an hour."
"Thirty minutes, Your Excellency Mr. Chairman?" The woman frowned in confusion, which also made her beautiful as well in this way.
"You can handle this, Miss Doman. Please guide the Second Lieutenant here to see Lord Rosenkreuz."
"Understood."
Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment.
Her expression grew thinner, giving off a gloomy atmosphere...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The 23rd Floor. Everywhere in the castle was filled with bright lights.
Scattered around the place to the point he couldn't make out the selection criteria were Medieval and Renaissance-style decorations that looked like the splendor of the Old Continent as was envisioned by the people of the New World. And it was bright. So much lighting there was, it would even kill off the original colors of the landscape paintings lining up the hallway.
While holding back the urge to sigh, the Second Lieutenant speaks to her--
"There's so many paintings of the blue sky."
"Yes."
"They seem to be paintings of the old times."
"Yes."
"Are these hobbies of the Chairman? Or are they the propositions of the Foundation?"
"No. Yes. His Excellency the Chairman does not nostalgia of the past."
She finally spoke words that were like words.
Miss Doman, who was leading the way, only attempted to speak simple words that made her out like she were a machine. Yes, that meant she only ever would have said "yes" by the time they reached their destination. The Second Lieutenant felt resigned by this, thinking he would only be hearing it over and over. But after hearing her speak a little more, he felt happy. This young beautiful woman, Miss Doman, was in fact suited perfectly for the Second Lieutenant's tastes.
She had a quiet look.
She was intelligent with a calm voice and words.
Although she didn't speak a lot, her clear eyes spoke volume of her purity.
His mother was such a woman like that. She was someone whom he respected more than anyone else. She has long since passed away, a quiet woman who seemed to always be in his father's shadow. A kind person.
"What about you, Miss Doman?"
"?"
There was a slight tilt of her head that was adorable.
Somewhere, he heard the light sound of scrapping metal. A lightning machine, maybe?
"What do you think of the sky? The eternal grey sky that fills our heads?"
"I recognize that it's not an ideal environment to support life."
"That's right."
Seemingly impressed, the Second Lieutenant nods.
The woman was clearly intelligent. Seeing that she was wearing a white coat, she was probably some kind of scholar or researcher, if not an expert as well as a correct bird's eye view. Not many people were in love with the gray sky in this day and age. That was proof that humanity and civilization have properly developed through the Engines, which was a sort of compensation that was not something to be loved. Even if the natural growth of plants were inhibited, it was of no cause for concern as they could develop new agricultural machines and drugs to promote growth and artificially boost productivity. That was the general answer. But...however...
This was not the ideal environment to promote life.
That's right.
The Second Lieutenant believed that retreating was never a realistic option nor a resolution. If one were to turn their backs on their problem, humanity will never be able to progress any further. For him, who was young and who no doubt knew that ideals only had meaning if they're sought after, her response regarding the sky was exactly the ideal word for it.
And there was exactly one person who was like that.
His friend, who he was closer to than anyone else.
"This is the Golden room."
"Thank you."
Simply put, before she could even put a hand on the doorknob, he took a step forward.
He took hold of the doorknob with his white army gloves on and opens the door, making sure he wasn't unneedlessly tensed, this while feeling the weight on his right hip, a standard repeating gun that he always carried on the waist of his army uniform. He was ready to shoot depending on the response of the door of the person in wait. At this moment, the Second Lieutenant wasn't just a national officer but a young man filled with righteous indignation to avenge a fallen friend.
"---Rosenkreuz!"
He simply called out the name.
There was no response.
There was no one there.
The Golden Room. Just as its name implies, it was a golden room. The walls were covered in golden ornaments, perhaps relics from the Southern New World. A golden tea cup was placed on the table, and even a large cup was embroidered with gold thread. Even the light textures were made of steel covered in pure golden plating.
It was a room completely filled with poor taste. A golden room. He was certain that most wealthy people in the world would doubt such sensibilities and hobbies were they to see this room.
The Second Lieutenant quietly scans the room. After all, there was nobody there. It was just him and Miss Doman. He wasn't there. He wasn't present.
Instead, there was an envelop next to the still steaming teacup.
Knowing it was rude, the Second Lieutenant picks it up.
It was sealed with wax and a gold leaf.
"...What poor taste."
"It appears that Dr. Rosenkreuz had returned to go home. I deeply apologize."
"No. There's no need for you to apologize. I would have liked to read the letter, but it seems it would brought trouble to you so I'll refrain from doing so."
"Thank you for your concern."
"No need to thank me for it."
He said, handing the envelop over to her.
It was a letter by a man he thought was his friend's enemy, or at least someone of the same name.
The Second Lieutenant had already seen the address written on the front of the envelope.
It was the name of the castle's owner---the Villain-like man in the monocle.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I want you to explain this, Your Excellency Mr. Chairman."
"What do you mean?"
"Christian Rosenkreuz. That was the last name my friend uttered before they committed suicide six months ago. An accursed name that is whispered in many conspiracies. Why has that person appear here in Los Alamos? Why was I called here for? None of this couldn't have been a mere coincidence."
The 13th floor, Chairman's office.
The Second Lieutenant turned back the way he came, and as soon as the doors of the elevator opened up, he violently pushes them open and spoke sharply to the man in the golden monocle standing behind a wall made out of reinforced glass. His gaze was harsh, his consciousness was changed slightly so that he'd prepare the repeating handgun on his right hip at any time. Despite not having much experience in combat, the Second Lieutenant was a remarkable soldier who went through rigorous training, and in this moment, he was a man filled with righteous indignation over his friend's mysterious suicide. However, the man in the monocle was unphased.
Despite the Second Lieutenant's presence being akin to a silver sword pointed right at him, the man still manages to smile.
Miss Doman, who had just managed to catch up from behind, noticed the situation causing her expression to shift slightly. When she tried to connect to communication to the security department, she was quietly hushed with a "don't make a commotion" with just a gesture.
"Yes. It was quite inevitable."
He said so calmly.
"...Are you saying you had a hand in my friend's death?"
"And what would you do if I said I did?"
"I'll do this."
He made a move without hesitation.
Silently, he pulls out the repeating handgun from the gun belt on his right hip and points it at the man.
The chrome muzzle reflects the lighting's radiance. The Second Lieutenant wondered if there was an illusion of the light flicking behind the monocle.
"Your Excellency Mr. Chairman..."
Miss Doman's voice did not tremble even as she called out to him.
I see. The woman had nerves of steel, the Second Lieutenant thought to himself. Turning his gaze, he slowly spoke to her. Don't be scared. Don't be nervous. With great care, he forced himself into making a gentle voice.
"Stand still. I don't want you getting hurt."
"He's right. You need not worry, Miss Doman. The Second Lieutenant here is a man who understands gentlemanly behavior. Being angry at his friend's death and wanting to avenge them is nothing but proof of my ideal of unwavering humanity."
"What a sarcastic thing to say," he said, clenching his molars once more. If he hadn't have a strong sense of rationality, he would have already pulled the trigger at any moment. "I must express my incomprehension and displeasure. Why was I called here? This is your only chance to respond."
"It's because you are you, Lord Second Lieutenant."
"What...?"
"I want you. Your noble spirit. Your body. You are destined to become humanity's representative!"
The voice was filled with euphoria.
A high-pitched voice was emitted from the hands of a man holding his right hand up high. Was a snap of their fingers? Before the Second Lieutenant could comprehend what was going on, the surrounding situation had shifted. There was the sound of operating machines. Somewhere, there was the sound of an Engine, the sound of a piston. Where was it? It echoed throughout the office, no, it was something that made the whole castle shake.
The nightless castle was stirring.
It was awoken like a servant that answered the call of its master.
The space between the Second Lieutenant and the man changes as a heavy sound reverberates. To be precise, the floor changed with a metallic sound. A square hole suddenly appears, with a number of steel-colored pillars that began to be assembled. It was a handrail. What he saw at the end of the hole was a magnificent spiral staircase decorated in shining gold plating. It was gold, just like the room on the 23rd floor.
"Golden...stairs...?"
"The end of the Golden Spiral Staircase! There, it is the form of my love, my love to God!"
"Never thought of you as a Christian."
"Of course. I worship the Tick Tock Man, one who is made of gears and steel."
"I'm not into Science Fiction."
"True. Even if it's not fantasy, what I will show you is not the work of God or a miracle," The man bows reverently, as though he were a priest worshipping god. Monkey, go down these stairs. That's what his attitude told him. "The truth that you seek is at the end of the Golden Spiral Staircase."
"...Alright. But you're the one who goes down there first." The muzzle of the gun did not lift up from the man's forehead. At anytime, he'd shoot him.
"It doesn't matter."
The man spoke in the same tone as if he were asked if he wanted eggs and toast for breakfast.
Then, he slowly descends the staircase, holding onto the handrail. Remaining alert, the Second Lieutenant follows behind while maintaining a distance of 15 feet (5 meters) from the man, never leaving the guns sights from his right hand. Keeping mind of his handgun's effective range, he was mindful in letting the man escape in the slightest. He can go down the stairs just fine without the handrail. The Second Lieutenant was aware of his remarkable physical abilities and confident in his sense of balance. When he had partially forced himself into participating in the Air Force Special Forces training, which prided itself in imaging all sorts of situations, the instructor had taught him, "even without connections, you can become a remarkable Special Forces member" which was one of the Second Lieutenant's proudest moments. It was during that training session did he demonstrated his great sense of balance.
---Best to give up on trying to escape, you creepy monster.
---No matter how far you run, if you're evil, I won't let you go.
It's been a while since they started walking.
How far have they walked already?
Judging off the sense of distance the Second Lieutenant could grasp, he would not be surprised if he had reached the top by now. Yet, the spiral staircase seemed to go on forever. For what reason was there this endless series of dark stairs illuminated by only a few Engine Lights could "lead to no room"? If the castle were made for such a thing, then it would be the peak of drunkenness, debauchery, and wastefulness. But based off the noise of the Engine still echoing now, it was likely that such a long space was designed for a space that is usual for an ordinary room. Perhaps it was a mechanism for generating the staircase.
And---
Sensing the presence behind him, the Second Lieutenant glances at the side.
"Hmm..."
It was Miss Doman. He sensed that the woman in the white coat was descending the stairs, putting even more of a distance than between him and the man. Should he stop her? The man was puzzled. Confused. Regardless of the facts that will come soon, what he would do is murder. No matter how righteous he was for his friend, no matter how convenient it might be to have stayed put and call in the security department or state police, it wasn't something he wanted to show to the young, fresh-looking woman. That is what his rational mind whispered. But...
The answer had come from an unexpected source.
It was not from her, but the man in the monocle who was slowly descending the Golden Spiral Staircase.
"Worry not. What you and I will do here will be justice. There is nothing to be ashamed of in front of Miss Doman's eyes."
"What are you saying?"
It was as though his thoughts were read through!
His throat naturally cleared up. His breath was held. A childish imagination had arisen in his mind that the man in the monocle was a true evil Villain. Was it so unbearable that such a thing would occur?
"The world is so full of ridiculous things. But..."
The quality of the man's footsteps changed.
From the sound of walking on the staircase's metal plates against his leather shoes to stepping on the concrete floor---
"We've arrived."
The man bows respectfully again.
It was like a medieval clown greeting an assembly of ladies and gentlemen.
"Behold! This is the Man-Machine Theory that we, the Foundation, have based on!"
There was nothing but darkness when the man spread his arms wide open and points. Nothing but the gloomy darkness at the end of the Golden Spiral Staircase. No, that wasn't it. Something was definitely there. A presence. The Second Lieutenant felt a cold weight sinking down. The darkness seemed to go on endlessly, but as far as the Second Lieutenant's keen senses could tell, there was a perimeter of about 300 feet (100 meters) so it was no empty room. There was something there. Something cold and heavy, like a block of chrome. Not just one or two, but a number of Ordinatours with an exaggerated shape reminiscent of a pipe organ in a cathedral were installed here and there. In the innermost part of it all, it extended to That which the man was pointing at.
The innermost part of it. The deepest part of it.
The Second Lieutenant saw what was there. He saw it.
His sight which had become accustomed to the darkness at the end of the staircase saw the figure of That.
---It was a giant---
A steel giant.
Looking down at him was a steel figure about 45 feet long.
With its lifeless glass-lens eyes.
"A Titan...!"
A sharp voice leaked from the Second Lieutenant's lips. He didn't mean to put it into words. However, the voice leaked out around the same time his breathing went naturally nervous. His body had automatically turned all of his heart's admiration, shock, and amazement at what he saw into words.
Yes. The Second Lieutenant was amazed. Impressed even.
And within the depths of his body, he felt his soul tremble with awe.
The Giant. It was a special vehicle developed in the previous century, a new weapon clad in heavy army reminiscent of a "tank". It was a true humanoid, attached by many chains and cables of various sizes in the depths of darkness. Their shoulder was a little too large to be called that of a human's, same for their hands and fingers. Nonetheless, it was a Giant that looked like a person. It was said in the Bible that God created Man in His image, but what was this? Was it a distortion of Man? Or...or is it...
Something made of steel. A Human? A Man?
Was this the incomparable Man of Steel?
The trembling Second Lieutenant took a moment to look at something between the conscious gap of That.
Something that was there on the armored head.
It was a single plate made of a metal different from the steel clad body.
Something that was engraved. If it's a weapon, perhaps it was a model number? It's true that the Foundation have provided a large quantity of inventions to the Army, Navy, and Air Force. But if that were the case, the Second Lieutenant wonders if his friend was caught in a dark conspiracy surrounding weapons development and suddenly lost their life. He tried to recover his hateful heart, but the flames of anger were extinguished.
He understood what the inscriptions were.
He had seen it in a library before. They were Hieroglyphs.
The named engraved on it was Thanatos.
The name of a God of Old Greece in ancient Egyptian letters. What ridiculousness.
---Even then, why is it making my heart tremble?
"Mechanism, or more accurately, Bio-Mechanical Theory, is a theory we developed that is derived from Descartes Man Machine Theory. In other words, this is the one who embodies that Man Machine Interface. That is Thanatos, a machine we have created using all of our technology to have God descend. A body of God. An Apostle of the Tick Tock Man."
"Thanatos," he ran through that name again. A shiver ran down his spine. Even despite being aware of his confused mind, the Second Lieutenant desperately attempts to muster up his sense of duty, a rebellious feeling to say something. He was trembling. "To show something like this...what's this about?"
"I want you to become the prime body."
"Prime body..."
He couldn't comprehend what he meant.
Prime body? What did that have to do with him?
"I'm saying in having you give away your life. It's just a simple matter of extracting your information particle, or sometimes called gene particle, of taking out the helical structure of an extremely small unit of amino acids that contains the information particle that is you and putting it into this steel body."
"Meaning?"
He didn't know.
He didn't understand.
What were they saying? All he knew was That which is staring down at him. There was the fact that he was telling him without words, that he wanted him and was looking at him. In truth, there wasn't a sound emitting from That, and that was merely he Second Lieutenant's subjective instinct. Even so, the Second Lieutenant was trembling. Admiration. Shock. Awe. And the fierce sense of dread filling them up caused the Second Lieutenant's thoughts to falter. His strong spirit that was trained to withstand any situation was shaken. Shaking as cracks were running.
Somewhere, he heard the sound of metal creaking.
"The other you will become the giant. A Giant of Dawn who will guide the development of the nation and humanity."
"I'll become a giant..."
"Infinite life. Infinite production. Infinite loyalty. The strongest warrior that is a fusion of man and machine will be born. Someone who will serve humanity forever and ever until the world's end! You, Second Lieutenant!" With both arms held high, the man in the monocle screams. The man now didn't bother to conceal their excitement. "Oh, how fortunate of me! How lucky I am! Yes! Yes! Billy Pershing! That is you!"
Screaming. Crying. Wailing!
In the darkness, the man made no attempt to conceal the bright eye behind his monocle.
He was merely told of this. The Second Lieutenant's wavering spirit was telling him to fulfill that role and make the wish come true.
"---Your spirit and body are the key!"
The words struck the Second Lieutenant.
It was like an illusion of being ran through the chest by a spear made out of cold steel.
But was it truly an illusion?
"Ah, don't make that face. You think that your body will be absorbed into that machine like those classic pulp magazine horror stories. No, no. There is no need for that. It's harmless and safe. It's just a soulless doll, a machine. Only by contact with your noble soul will it come to life."
"My...soul..."
"You guess it!"
The man nods. His eyes sparkled brightly with a big smile on his face.
He looked like a monster straight out of the world of comics.
The words didn't stop there. He kept on folding in to fill the Second Lieutenant's ego, to break down his hesitation and confusion. He pushed on. The Second Lieutenant's feet glowed mysteriously and faintly...
"The Human Measuring Society has chosen you. You are Human. You are what humanity should be. As a human, you have a healthy body with the ultimate universal golden ratio. With a remarkably shaped skull, a remarkable mind, and you, who is filled with righteous indignation at their friend's death, you have the purity and innocence that lacks any criminal traits. You are the essence of the eternal and limitless knight that is the symbol of our country, and by extension, human society. For that, I have come to that proper conclusion! Not even Lord Lombroso would have predicted that a human like you could have ever existed!"
He couldn't grasp any of this man's nonsense. He couldn't comprehend them. Most of the words never reached the Second Lieutenant's ears and clear mind. They simply melted away and vanished. Lombroso. Human Measuring Society. The Second Lieutenant would have been furious at the horror of words had this been prior to descending into the depths of darkness. He would have mustered up his indignation and pure will. But...
"It's just so fortunate that we were able to get to you before the Thule Society could. And I'm sorry for what happened to your friend. They knew from somewhere that we would recognize you as someone worthy of this grand role, so they chose to commit suicide as they were unable to bear the radiance of your achievement. A shame, really. Truly a shame. They would have initially tasted the sweetness were they here."
The Second Lieutenant wasn't even aware that the cry had shifted to a soft whisper.
He didn't notice it.
Even in the vastness of darkness, there was a strange pattern drawn under his feet.
Grimoires and magical tomes that existed all over the world mixed in an orderly fashion, woven together without any normality, then they were knitted together through the mixture of crazy spices and the mysterious secrets of Mesmerism, a formula that brought about a suggestion of mental confusion. He didn't notice it. He wasn't even aware of it.
"The nation..."
He was simply muttering.
"Development of humanity..."
He only picked up the parts that he understood the most.
His spirit was raised. He excitement grew.
Suddenly, his eyes averted from That. He felt the presence of something else beside him. Someone else. Realizing there was something beautiful nearby, he turned behind him. It was not to the giant. Not to the screaming man. Not even to himself. He blinked repeatedly, absentmindedly.
Indeed, it was true that the monster in the monocle read all of the Second Lieutenant's profile.
What was better in truly being able to tempt his soul, his spirit?
"...Miss Doman..."
Their eyes met.
That moment, everything about the situation was explained to the Second Lieutenant in just a second.
For the first time, she showed him a smile.
She did look like his mother.
There was an illusion that seemed as though time had stopped. Her smile was dazzlingly beautiful, fleeting even to make him want to protect her, enough to confuse the young Second Lieutenant. The Second Lieutenant's rich senses got him to imagine a goddess that was about to embrace her beloved child, as well as a female demon whose limbs seductively twisted around in the hopes of corrupting a saint, and half-automatically chooses the latter. It was something sacred, something he was guided by.
Her lips moved.
There was a sound. Words and sound were wovened.
Was it the gospel of the Goddess? Was it the temptation of the Devil?
Either way, Second Lieutenant Billy Pershing sense of sound and spirit were seized in that moment.
By a voice that was so gentle, compassionate, and full of emotions.
"Oh, braze Billy. May you be a good guide for the New World."
Somewhere...
He heard the sound of his soul creaking.
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