"How is the Maso situation? Gaia, give me the update."
At my command, a stream of data materializes before me, and Gaia's calm voice follows.
"Maso particles have reached 1.53% globally, sir. We can safely defrost the others once the concentration drops to 1%."
"Perfect. What about Project Revival?"
Project Revival is our global initiative to restore Earth's flora and fauna. We're starting slow—expanding outward from every territory we reclaim. Even here, the dunes have shifted into barren land. Not fertile yet, but no longer dead. A good start.
"It is at 1.98% completion. At the current rate, we expect roughly 17% by the end of the year. Progress slows as the land requires more substantial structural changes. The land is too damaged for a quick change, sir."
"I see. This is already good enough, Gaia. Make sure to keep the pace."
According to the reports, 15% is the minimum required for humans to survive long-term outside this facility. With our stockpiled supplies, we can sustain the thawed population for two—maybe three—years if they ration carefully.
That means humanity can survive on Earth's bounty once again by the end of the year.
As for the remaining Maso? I could absorb it myself in a day or two. Three days at a leisurely pace, or by midnight if I focus entirely on it.
But I won't. I will not finish it today. I will finish it tomorrow. There are still things I want to study in this world.
For one, their weapons. They're fascinating. They are perfect for empowering lower-ranking combatants back home. Their long-range weapons draw energy from the air and turn them into bullets. They were meant to use mana, but with Maso choking the atmosphere, they instead pulled in corrosive, unstable particles and made them into bullets. No wonder they cannot last long and make the majority of Androids use Old World weaponry. They don't have the same resources as YoRHa, which can create new weapons for its people.
Now that Maso has dropped to the last 2%, they've finally begun drawing proper mana again.
The other subject that interests me is their medical technology. Gaia created a storage system to save their knowledge in formats usable back home.
There are many interesting things. For one? Genetic study of this world is off the charts. It appears that Project Gestalt requires extensive genetic study to evolve the Replicants, creating artificial humans that contain the soul matching their genetic data.
White granted me full access to the Bunker's data and the Humanity Archive on the Moon. The amount of information there is absurd. Zelretch claims he could revive a few thousand humans from that data alone—if he had a team of specialized soul-mages and an ungodly amount of resources.
But even then, he hesitates. The reason? It has been a very long time since the souls of humanity of this world existed, and using the fragment left behind will make the new souls go insane.
It is better for us to take all the soul fragments around the world and let them return to Gaia, and give birth to new souls from the new humanity. Zelretch already takes care of this problem.
As for me? I'll finish purging the Maso, enjoy one last night with the androids, and return home tomorrow.
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|3rd POV|
White watches Chaldea's celebration with a soft smile. The Maso concentration has finally dropped below 1%, and it is expected to disappear completely by tomorrow afternoon.
That means they can begin defrosting the humans in stasis.
The high-priority individuals go first—engineers, doctors, scientists, military officers. They will help establish structure, leadership, and logistics for the eventual revival of all mankind.
Android excitement floods the halls. Productivity skyrockets. Project Revival's progress quickens as more androids migrate to Chaldea after the great battle against the machines. To them, Chaldea has become a pilgrimage site—holy ground, where their gods sleep beneath their feet.
White often has to raise her voice sternly to keep units from abandoning their posts. They compromise by rotating shifts—each group taking turns visiting Chaldea.
"Ma'am."
White refocuses and turns to 6O, seated beside her to help Popola and Devola coordinate Chaldea's operations.
"Remember Sir Ryan's instructions."
"Relax and enjoy the celebration. I know, 6O."
While White tries (and fails) not to think about work. 9S, on the other hand, continues his Q&A session with Ryan happily. He is truly the happiest android in the world, for Ryan is more than willing to answer all of his questions with a smile instead of a frown, just like the others, when he asks too many questions.
"Truly?! Humans willingly do dangerous activities for entertainment?!"
"Yes, 9S. Some of us are adrenaline junkies. Daily life gets monotonous, so horribly monotonous that we need thrills to stay sane. Most of us lived in boring rooms, typing numbers all day."
"I see."
9S types furiously into his system and saves all of them inside his newly upgraded memory bank.
"What about food? Why do humans eat unhealthy things when healthy food exists?"
"Many reasons. First: they taste good. If food is delicious, we eat it—even if it's unhealthy. We try not to overdo it, but some people… ignore that rule."
"I see. Fascinating. But that is only one factor. Are there more?"
"Stress," Ryan says. "People eat comfort food to cope with hard times. It isn't healthy at all, but sometimes it feels like the only relief we have."
9S commits all of it to memory, determined to ensure humans live healthier lives when revived.
But before he can ask more—
"Informative: Scan complete. Would you like the report?"
Every Android goes quiet. Some worry about Ryan constantly, others simply enjoy learning more about him. When they hear the pod finish scanning him, they want to hear what the pod reports and save that information in their memory banks.
"Yes, Pod. Please report."
"Affirmative. Ryan Hernandes is healthy. All organs function normally. Brain activity is optimal. He is 100% healthy."
A wave of relief floods the room.
"However—his presence is decreasing."
Silence. Absolute silence. Even the campfire Ryan made to cook the food looks like it is stopping flickering, too shocked at the news.
"What? Explain," 9S demands.
"Informative: Ryan Hernandes' soul is weakening. His anchor to this world is destabilizing. He will soon disappear. Urgently: Search for a method to nourish his soul."
"WHAT?!"
Panic erupts instantly. Shouts, fear, desperation. Androids beg, cry, plead.
White slams her hand on the table.
"Silence!"
The room stills.
She turns to Ryan—who calmly sips his drink.
"You… already knew, didn't you?"
Ryan smiles gently.
"Yes. I've known that, eventually, I would fade."
He sets his mug aside and looks them in the eyes.
"I guess it's time to tell you the truth. My name is Ryan Hernandes—that part is real. But I left out one detail."
He taps his foot.
"I am not from this world."
He gestures downward.
"This planet summoned me. It asked for my help. It wanted me to save the humans below us… and to deal with the machine lifeforms and return the planet to its previous glory."
He looks at White.
"You've noticed it, haven't you? The machines aren't replenishing."
White nods.
"Yes. Normally, for every machine we destroy, more arrive. Sometimes the same number, but usually 5% more."
"Exactly. The Machine Network is irreparably compromised. I've injected a virus into their main network, making them no longer a threat. By tomorrow morning, it will collapse entirely. No more learning capability. No more new units. Any remaining machines will behave like feral animals. And once the Maso is gone… my task is complete. With my task done, I need to return to my world."
The panic intensifies. All the androids around him, shouting at him to stay, telling him they will do better, and some even beg him to stay in exchange for their lives.
But White is the most devastated. She rushes forward and clings to him, sobbing. Ryan hugs her for a few seconds, then gently pulls her back.
"What makes you think I won't return?"
Every Android freezes. Ryan laughs softly at their expressions.
"The summoning process isn't finished. I need to prepare things before I can stay here permanently—or bring some of you to my world. That's why…"
He wipes White's tears and looks at all of them.
"Let's not ruin this moment. I told you—I won't abandon you. I'll come back."
He lifts his glass.
"So let's celebrate—not a goodbye, but a See You Later!"
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