act6d5

第一关（前）

Act Two

Greetings

Drop your weapons and step back.

I said now!

These guys aren't even human. No need to show mercy!

Do you copy? All targets in Sector 7 are confirmed to be 'Terracotta'!

Are they really Reunion?

It's a diversion. Confirm their identity first.

Chief Wei! The situation has changed!

There's... there's more of them. Almost every squad on patrol has spotted Reunion elements!

A- another report of a brief spike in temperature in some areas of the city. What are the monitors doing?!

No reaction! But looking at the other numbers everything does seem normal...!

The enemy attacked as soon as our squad approached. They did not respond to any hails. We are unable to establish communication.

The enemy is scattered! They're weak, resistance is low, but there's lots of them!

Is this really Reunion?

The heat source is shifting. Find a way to track it!

There are no breaches in the city's defenses, they couldn't have gotten in——

Don't panic!

Summon even-numbered formations. Worst case scenario, engage the enemy in the city. Give priority to evacuating civilians.

The downtown area is densely populated, especially Temple Street. Have all police officers within that district focus on evacuations.

Contact the satellite cities to check if there are any breaches in the defensive lines, confirm the enemy's means of ingress, and hold firm.

Reunion should be long gone. We need to identify the enemy. Getting control of the situation is our main task. This is not the first time Lungmen has suffered an abnormal occurrence at New Year's. No need to panic.

Stand together. The L.G.D. has nothing to fear.

Right!

Apologies, Amiya, Doctor. While you have only just arrived here in Lungmen, we have no time to offer you our hospitality.

Don't worry. Our agreement has been in effect since the moment Rhodes Island moored.

Please leave it to us. We'll assist the L.G.D.!

W- what's with those things?

They look familiar, but weren't they——?!

Aiee! Over here too!

Hey, get out of the way...!

Th- thanks!

Don't just stand there! Listen to the announcements and go to your designated evacuation zones!

Keep to the main streets until you find the police. Hurry!

R- right!

They don't talk. They don't bleed. It's like cutting into a sea sponge. Even their bodies disappear.

'Terracotta.' A fitting name.

Calling them 'Reunion' would cause unnecessary panic, Officer Ch'en. They are not flesh and blood people.

Understood. Urban districts secured.

Thank you for your efforts. Unfortunately, simply killing the enemy seems futile.

We've been unable to discern the true nature of the 'Terracottas,' but their strength has continued to grow over the past few hours.

It's hard to imagine at this scale, but could it be some kind of Arts?

That's what's most troubling, our Originium reaction monitors are still unresponsive. But that proves this cannot be Reunion.

...I'm absolutely sure of that.

It's a disguise, just an illusion.

But this image of Reunion strutting down the streets of Lungmen...

It's... disturbing.

They are completely insulated against Originium. We had thought this impossible.

But it's happening. How did they infiltrate Lungmen?

Our conventional methods have failed. We have no indication of how the enemy 'appeared.'

It is as if they've been here all along, standing in silent ranks. Charging, routing, and charging again.

...Just like the tide.

I'll prepare our defense in accordance with the contingency plan.

Be careful.

The L.G.D. can't afford to lose you.

Whoever their master is, they're just creating illusions. Other than causing a little chaos, is there any real threat to Lungmen?

They go down in one hit.

(These things are freaking me out.... If we don't move, they just stand there in those perfectly straight rows?)

(But they'll come rushing as soon as we pop our heads out.)

(Keep your voice down. They're very weak. Let's hurry up and find a way to get the jump on them.)

(——Wait, what are you doing?!)

Hey, what are guys doing? Get back here!

——No! You're not with us! Who are you?!

When did these things get in here?!

Wh- what's with your face under your helmet?

Why, what the hell are you?! Get away from me!

What's all the ruckus? The L.G.D. freaking out just 'cause they ran into an enemy that looks like them?

Get up!

R- right! I'm so sorry!

...Wait, you're not Ch'en Sir. Who are you to give me orders?

Just roll with it.

Where is Ch'en Sir?

She's is organizing a defensive line for the urban districts. She's going to block off the enemy and wipe them all out.

These things just popped out of nowhere. What makes her think that this would be the way to get rid of them all?

This is what Chief Wei determined.

How am I supposed to trust your judgment when you're so on edge you're slipping up left and right?

Ugh, I'm still dizzy.... Hey! One last question!

I have no obligation to answer to the general public. The L.G.D. is here to follow Chief Wei's orders.

I just wanna ask, is the L.G.D. out there rumbling with people from Ursus, or like Yan folk from Jiangqi? Maybe some other heavy drinkers I'm forgetting?

Or are you guys running around with hooch in those canteens instead of water?

Uh.... I can't really answer that, and I really don't know....

Ugh. I'm just trying to live down the shame of a certain Ch'en drinking me under the table.

Pull yourself together! Do some stretches!

We don't want the general public involved...

Gah, my head... Gotta sober up... What did you just say?

Erm. I said, well... I guess there's no need to turn down help from upstanding citizens....

We lost the heat source. Can't our instruments trace it?

No, no, no! Conventional monitoring doesn't work. It only uses temperature to determine a rough location, and with severe lag!

Receiving reports from all squads, the enemy appeared out of nowhere in the city. Still no trace of Originium Arts!

Let's rout them like we did before...

C- contact. The Terracottas are changing again, they—— they——

...What happened?

Chief Wei! They've started learning to use weapons and, more importantly, contact with the enemy reveals unique traits in each individual....

It's as if they're really living people——

Impossible! Who could make such a realistic illusion? There must be a caster! Send out a scout team to find them!

They've taken out our equipment! You still think they're fake? They're not illusions, they're real!

But..... But this.... It doesn't make any sense at all!

What a mess.;......;Is there anything I can do to help?

......Thank you for the kind words, but you need not trouble yourself.