That was all he could gather.
There were no records here regarding the Gastrea, Ardi, or anything similar.
Asahi guessed that if he wanted to uncover those secrets, he had to search a deeper floor. That was the third level in the overall three-tiered structure of Underworld.
The first level was the access point, or what could be considered the staircase leading from the surface down into the ground. The second level was the underground city itself. As for the third level...
He would only know by seeing it.
The maps here did not clearly show the way down to the third level. Naturally so, if his guess was correct, the third level was absolutely not something ordinary people could access. Of course, it wouldn't be marked on the map.
Asahi wouldn't waste time searching for a passage down; he would create his own. He raised his hand, and his Dragon Claw plunged into the floor. Due to concerns about the geological stability, he would use a method slightly "gentler" than a simple punch.
Very quickly, a hole piercing down appeared. When his claw touched a freezing structure, Asahi knew he had reached the right place.
The reinforced concrete ceiling of the third level was much thicker and sturdier than the first level, but to Asahi, it was not much of an improvement. One strike plunged down, directly creating a large enough hole for him to jump into.
This place was far more terrifying than the two levels above.
While the upper levels had some horrifying details, they were mainly characterized by the absence of people and the decay of the architecture, which could be found in any abandoned building.
Down on the third level, Asahi initially thought he had strayed onto the set of a low-budget slasher movie project, the kind of movie where the more "ketchup" is sprayed, the better.
Everywhere, on the walls, countless lines of "God save us" were scrawled, extending to the very end. In many places, they overlapped, deforming the letters beyond recognition. What kind of person, or group of people, must have reached this level of despair?
Asahi had the distinct impression that this was hell, and "God save us" was the prayer of those tormented in the endless and ultimate despair of purgatory.
He raised his guard and began to move deeper inside.
Although this place was a bit more frightening, it finally gave Asahi what he needed.
A researcher's diary.
"June 12, 2021, we found a strange specimen beneath the area we were excavating."
"This thing is in the form of a viscous fluid, yet its biological characteristics are extremely bizarre."
"It seems... It's not a normal slime. It's a living organism."
"Although it hasn't developed any organs for exploration or cognitive development, such as a brain, we have a feeling that it understands us, and is even trying to communicate with us."
"We suspect that the reason this thing still possesses intelligence is likely due to the phenomenon of memory storage in genes."
"Our leadership is very interested in this thing, but we are not."
"That organism clearly does not belong on this planet."
"We don't know how to describe it, but every time we study it, we feel a chill inside."
"After we proposed the destruction of the specimen, the leader went to meet it directly."
"We don't know what happened there, but after coming out, the leader told us that the thing could grant eternal life to humans, even... eternal life to all of humanity!"
"The reasoning is memory storage in genes. Even if the body decays and turns to dust, as long as the genes exist, humanity can regenerate with an entirely new body while retaining all memories."
"This isn't an unprecedented idea, but this theory has been rejected many times due to its uncertainty and its ethical implications. Similar to cloning technology."
"If a fragment of your cell develops into another 'you,' then who is the real original entity?"
"This isn't cut and paste; it's copy and paste. It only creates another identical copy of the original, it does not sustain the existence of the original."
"We opposed this plan, but the leader silenced us."
"We must stop this from happening."
"We failed."
"She was infected. It's my... fault."
"If anyone reads my diary, then... I apologize."
The entry ended.
Asahi closed the diary, looking at the dried-up corpse sitting in the chair, and sighed.
This man almost became a hero who saved all of humanity. Unfortunately, he failed, and his fellow researcher became the first specimen to be infected with the Gastrea Virus – Ardi.
The rest of the story goes without saying.
The prototypical Gastrea that Asahi predicted exists. Moreover, this thing is not just a mere specimen; it also possesses the ability to think, and even superior intelligence.
With this, many things could be explained.
Asahi felt he was very close to the truth.
He had to move further in.
Using the map, Asahi reached the central area of the third level.
It was a large research room. This was also where Ardi was once held captive.
On the familiar operating table, a little girl was bound by rigid steel coils. Her entire body was unbelievably pale, and her breathing was extremely faint.
Asahi, without saying a word, ripped off the steel coils binding the little girl. Then, he took out a syringe supplemented with life force and injected it into her.
As if sensing the energy being supplied to her body, the little girl opened her eyes with difficulty. Seeing the mechanical-looking face right in front of her, she panicked greatly, but Asahi quickly calmed her down.
"You understand what I'm saying, right?"
"..."
"Can't speak? Then if you understand, nod your head."
Nod.
"Good. Now, take this and go up to the surface. I've saved the map for you. Once you get up there, someone will come to pick you up. Understood?"
Nod.
The little girl seemed to understand, but she still cowered in Asahi's embrace, as if only that made her feel safer.
Asahi sighed. He put the little girl down. Gently brushing her disheveled, crow's nest-like hair behind her ear, he spoke in the warmest tone possible.
"Listen."
"I know that there's a very, very scary monster down here. That thing must be what locked you down here, right?"
Nod.
"I am the hero who came down here to rescue you. I won't let that thing harm you, so go up there, understand?"
Nod.
"That's good. You go now. I will stay down here and destroy the monster, and then I will follow you later, alright?"
Nod.
Asahi gave the little girl a communicator. Then, the little girl ran off, occasionally glancing back. Perhaps only by seeing him still standing there did she feel reassured.
Asahi stood there silently, his expression grim.
Since reading the researcher's diary, he had suspected what he was about to face.
"Isn't that right, monster?"