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Animata Tears is the thirty-eighth chapter. It was added in Version 4.6.0 and released on February 24, 2017.
38.1[]
Battle
- Even the Animata was crying
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 5 |
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Story
Oxsecia, wartime record 0299.
The war between the rebels and the royal
family grew more fierce, with no signs of
slowing or stopping. The planet was
completely divided.
As a last resort, the king of Oxsecia had
successfully developed a superweapon:
a “Life Breeder.” It was a converter
reactor that would create energy from
sentient thought, especially strong faith.
In other words, as long as sentient life
existed, the superweapon's energy was...
Infinite.
With this, it was said that the royal family
had acquired the ultimate power.
Oxsecia, wartime record 0310.
Following a certain incident, the entire
planet of Oxsecia fell under the control
of an AI, or artificial intelligence.
But then the Life Breeder registered a
sligh abnormality in the AI as sentience.
To the reactor, anything with sentience
was basically food...
So it subdued the AI.
Under the Life Breeder's control, the
AI modified the reactor into a giant
mechanical life-form wearing metal
armor befitting the ruler of the planet.
And so the technological life form,
Animata, was born.
Oxsecia, wartime record 0315.
The planet has been devastated by the
Animata.
The Life Breeder connected to every
sentient creature and read their thoughts.
Once it processed their DNA, it used that
knowledge to modify and reconstruct new
life forms.
The war between the rebels and royals
had lost all meaning. Now it was a struggle
for existence.
The war between Oxsecia and the Animata
had begun, and with its overwhelming power
and speed, the Animata took control of the
planet.
Oxsecia, wartime record 0350.
The Oxsecian government initiated a new
plan titled “Operation Neogenesis.”
The Oxsecian people were forced to choose
between staying in their hometowns to fight
the Animata, or setting off into space in
search of a new land.
But it was a sham.
The Oxsecian government had concealed
the fact that the planet was already on the
brink of collapse.
Although they outwardly claimed that the
people could choose of their own volition,
the government was in fact scrutinizing
everyone's DNA. Only those who passed
muster would be taken into space.
In effect, they were abandoning people.
That same year...
A coup d'etat broke out on the spaceship
that had departed in search of a new world
- the S.S. Neogenesis.
The rebels wanted to reveal the government's
lies and deception.
In the Oxsecian princess's file, the word
“PAWN” could be seen under the DNA
Analysis heading.
Pawn.
It was a term referring to those considered
fit to be left on their home planet to meet
their end with the Animata. Conversely,
it was a disqualification from boarding the
spaceship.
Just then, somewhere far behind the ship,
there was a blinding explosion.
Their home planet of Oxsecia was gone,
and the Animata with it.
Oxsecia, wartime record 0352.
The king of Oxsecia was exiled to a certain
planet, along with his daughter and other
officials who were responsible for the coverup.
By some strange coincidence, it was the
same half-destroyed planet that had been
the testing grounds for Animata Zero.
The king of Oxsecia continued to long for
revenge on the Animata, the cause of
calamities which befell his planet and people.
To that end, he was willing to sacrifice
even his own daughter. This spurred him on
further and further until he was spinning out
of control.
Those with unquenchable thirst for revenge
against the Animata in their hearts joined
forces and spent a numbing amount of time
wandering the dark universe, hunting down
and destroying every last Animata.
Which brings us to the current day.
You were riding on an Animata. Palpa and
Pepropé held hands together as it carried
them safely through space.
Humans, Beastfolk, Lizardfolk, Stonefolk,
Wild Beast, Machine, Celestials...
Every race had come together to travel
through space.
They went to each of their home planets,
minds full of uncertainty about their
continued existence... Their hopes and
expectations for a new world began to
flicker and fade.
Then, out of nowhere, one day...
The pain of loss struck them, and they
began to cry.
Palpa, Pepropé... Even the Animata
was crying.
“Why are we all crying...?”
“I don't know... I'm just so sad... It feels
like my heart's been ripped to shreds...”
“I know what this is. This is goodbye...
to our lives...”
38.2[]
Battle
- The Animata took control once again
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 4 |
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Story
Tears poured from the Animata's eyes,
trailing down, forming rivulets.
At such high speeds, it must have looked
like the Animata was leaving a trail of light
through space.
From a distance, maybe it would have
looked like a comet.
The tears seeped in from the outside,
soaking everything.
Like the way the pain of grief seeps
into the heart.
Overtaking the Animata, as well as
all those inside it, the grief turned to
thought... and began to control the
Animata.
Palpa and Pepropé were overcome
with an unimaginable heartache so
intense that they passed out... and
the Animata took control once again.
38.3[]
Battle
- It felt like all of time had melded together
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 4 |
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Story
The Animata cut through space faster
than the speed of light.
Her metal frames creaked. There were
cracks in various places. The Animata
was hit with a strange vibration, and you
struggled just to remain conscious.
But the next moment, you felt a strange
sensation, like you'd been freed from the
very laws of physics.
It felt like all of time had melded together.
You had entered hyperspace.
38.4[]
Battle
- The hyperspace engulfed the Animata
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 5 |
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Story
The hyperspace engulfed the Animata,
extending its feelers to ensnare her.
38.5[]
Battle
- You were struck with déjà vu
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 4 |
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Story
Having dropped from hyperspace,
the Animata found herself in a strange
and unfamiliar place.
Just then, the Animata began to howl.
It was endearing, and yet somehow forlorn.
A rust-colored planet loomed before you.
The Animata was delighted, as if she had
reached her destination.
There was no telling whether this planet
could sustain life, and yet the Animata
brought you there.
There, you found a society of living,
sentient boulders. It was a Golem planet.
Naturally, they were hostile to you.
Like all sentient creatures, they had tribal
instinct which predisposed them very
negatively towards outsiders.
You were struck with deja vu.
“Hey... Isn't this kinda similar?”
“It's almost exactly like our world...”
“Maybe this planet is... on its way out...?”
38.6[]
Battle
- The king of the Golems arrived
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 1 |
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Battle 1
- Golem Magician
LV78 x6 - Golem Sentry LV78 x2
- Golem Warrior LV78 x2
- Jag (Enemy) LV78
Story
The king of the Golems arrived.
His name was Jag.
He was concerned about the
peril their world faced.
However, he did not yet know
the truth lurking in the shadows
of that peril.
- [Battle here]
“Animata...”
Jag listened carefully, turning the word
over in his mind.
Now that they finally had a chance to talk,
you told Jag about your home planet.
“This is all so preposterous... and yet...”
Those eyes were unwavering, without a
trace of deception.
Your home planet was the one thing you
never expected to lose, and now you were
mourning its loss. The loss of your homeland.
The loss of your purpose.
Jag believed that you spoke from experience.
“Will this planet die?”
Jag asked a question he had dared not
consider. His gaze wavered, and his body
stiffened.
There was likely an Animata in the planet's
core. Someone would have to be sacrificed
to the life breeder.
It's happening all over again.
No matter how far you traveled, you
couldn't escape senseless death.
And no one could stop it, either.
“There might be a way.”
38.7[]
Battle
- You stood at the door
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 5 |
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Story
“It is said that this is the passage to
the Maker's throne.”
“A pyramid... Interesting...”
“I've heard ridiculous claims that it's
actually a spaceship dock, but at this
point, maybe I should believe it...”
“Could it be... the same as the Tower
of Temptation?”
When you reached the inner depths,
you found a familiar “vessel" waiting
for you.
“If we board this and go underground,
we can meet with the Maker... er...
the Animata, yes?”
Jag's gaze was that of someone who
had already made up his mind.
“I knew it. There's an Animata on this planet.”
“That's why our Animata brought us here,
isn't it?”
“That would explain the tears, right?”
“She wants us to... help her friend?”
“Do machines even feel sympathy? Well...
I guess there was the whole thing with Proto...”
The silence was suffocating. That suffocation
led to anxiety, which led to chatter.
And then you arrived at your destination.
It was nostalgic.
You were overcome with a longing for home.
You stood at the door separating you from
the room in which the life breeder lay dormant.
“Do we need a key?”
“Last time, when Pepropé was with us, the key
he had transformed into a fearsome monster...”
“Really? How'd he open the door, then?”
“It takes spirit and determination to prove
one's right of passage. Maybe that thought is
the key we need to open the door.”
The door opened, inviting you in. Apparently
it had acknowledged you.
Beyond lay an all-too-familiar scene.
38.8[]
Battle
- This is the Maker...?
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 4 |
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Story
“It's a wreck...”
There sat the enshrined life breeder,
surrounded by a vast empty space.
Everything, organic and inorganic alike,
was decaying, signaling the beginning
of the end.
“This is the Maker...? Ugh!”
“Jag?! What's wrong?!”
38.9[]
Battle
- It hasn't... eaten anyone...
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 5 |
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Story
“We must not toy with those who came
before us.”
“This is for our progress and evolution.
What's wrong with consuming the old?”
“We ought to create new life. If we are
to progress, there's no reason to limit
ourselves.”
“The old wish for it. The weak seek God
and gain peace of mind.”
“You merely want to justify your actions.
We are meant to guide.”
“You... broke off contact with your friends
and ended up all alone...”
Jag gazed at the decaying life breeder.
“Was that your memories that you sent me,
Maker?”
The life breeder slowly opened its maw,
as if in response.
You could only watch.
This was the only way to protect the planet...
to protect the people.
The opened life breeder was sparkling clean
on the inside, no trace of dust.
Something about this pristine life breeder
didn't sit right with you.
“It hasn't... eaten anyone...”
The life breeder in the core of your planet
had been full of corpses.
But this one was different.
It hadn't sacrificed a single life. To maintain
the planet, it had consumed only “faith” in
the purest sense.
As for why... It probably had to do with
Jag's royal leadership, among other things.
But now it had reached its limits...
38.10[]
Battle
- They were all crying
| Stamina Cost: 20 Difficulty: 78 Battles: 4 |
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Story
“Eat me, Animata.”
Jag put his hand upon the starving life breeder.
“You created this planet, and you nurtured it,
all without harming a single life. I am the same;
I do not wish to harm my people. I feel a kinship
with you, Animata.”
Perhaps Jag understood how the Animata felt.
The Golems had stopped evolving after a
certain point. After all, there was no need
to. They had seen off invading enemies in
the past, but had no natural enemies on
their land. Indeed, this planet had known
true peace.
The Animata had created the ideal utopia.
She wanted not to steal, but to create lives.
But ironically, this meant going against her
true nature.
The Animata consume life and sentience,
and thereby maintain the planets.
This one was surely the only one who had
fought against her instincts. Jag felt it was
quite similar to a king who sacrificed his own
interests to the people's benefit.
“Eat me. In so doing, you can maintain
the planet, right? Then that is my wish,
as king!”
Jag climbed into the machine.
The old Animata awoke.
But it was too late.
The Old Animata was so exhausted, she had
already lost the ability to travel through space
like a ship.
The Golems trapped inside began to degrade.
There was a tear in the brittle framework,
and it collapsed in a rushing wave.
“No...!”
Jag saw it all through the fire
enveloping his body.
“This isn't what we agreed upon!”
The Old Animata cried, twisted
with anguish.
She had failed to
predict this outcome.
“She wants us to save them, I bet...”
“Huh?! Who are you?!”
“A kindred spirit, you could say.
Greetings, King of Stone.”
“We will protect the world you so loved.”
“What is the meaning of this...?!”
“You didn't make the wrong decision.
You have merely fulfilled your role,
and now you can rest.”
Meanwhile, you noticed a change inside
the Animata as well.
“Huh...?”
“Wh-who's that...?”
Golems began to board their Animata,
one by one. It was clear that they
weren't hostile.
They were all crying.
“We'll look after your children, Your Highness.”
“I see... I suppose there was no other way...”
“I have received all of the memories recorded
by your Animata.”
“Memories...?”
“Yes. This was a truly wonderful planet,
wasn't it.”
“But even the most wonderful planets have
to meet their end someday... so long as
Animata exist.”
“...Perhaps we need a new world.”
“A new world, huh...”
Those were the last words.
The Old Animata shed all her tears, and her
heartbeat stopped.
- [Battle here]
The Old Animata was floating in space.
She could no longer move. She was literally
a giant metal coffin. But there was a faint
red light in those tearful eyes.
“I can't believe she has backup power...”
“Where is it coming from...?”
“That Animata was a saint, but she still
had her share of negative emotions. She
just knew how to control them, that's all.”
“So once she lost that control, the negative
emotions turned into power...?”
“How ironic...”
- [Battle here]
The last few thoughts were now
stripped from the Old Animata, taken
away together with the many lives she
had been supporting.
Two graves, one above ground and
one below it. Though they were miles
apart, they used to harbor hopes for
the same future...
Now, united in silence, they gently
float in space.
| Chapter 38: Animata Tears | |
|---|---|
| Enemies | Animata Sorrow • Animata Tear • Devourer • Golem Magician • Golem Sentry • Golem Warrior • Harrier • Squirmer • Wiggler • Wisprat |
| Bosses | Ancient Sadness • Jag • Quiverer • Reaver |