Book 7: The Ruler of the Abyss – Chapter 7 (Part 1)
Following is part 1 of my translation of Chapter 7 of Book 7: The Ruler of the Abyss. This part contains Episode 7-101 to 7-106
Main storyline spoilers after the cut.
Episode 7-101
Silver: Y-You’re…!
Idia: Can’t start a boss raid without a tank, and now we’re all set to go. The opening act’s DONEZO. Time for the main event! Heehee!
Sebek: J-Just what on earth is going on here!? Have we awakened from the dream?
Idia: Nah, we're still in the dream, sorry. Well, it's not really a dream. It's just a magic domain that Malleus-Shi created. I mean, just look at that armor you're wearing, dude. No way you can take that into the real world with you. 'Cause it's not really real, it's just, like, "info".
Silver: W-Wait, how do you know all this? Do you remember what happened before we fell asleep?
Idia: Uhh, it's not that I remembered everything. It's just I got a good handle on what's going on, I guess you could say.
Yuu: What do you mean?
Idia: H-Hold your horses, I'll explain later. But first… uhmm.. Ahh… I haven't really ever talked to you guys, right? Name's Idia Shroud, I'm the dormwarden over at Ignihyde.
Sebek: Ah, that's it! I was wondering why you seemed so familiar. Now I remember, you are indeed Ignihyde's warden! You appeared in that strange, plank-like form at my orientation, and I dare say this is the first time we've ever properly met.
Idia: R-Right. I just remoted into your guys' orientation on my tablet.
Sebek: And I am Sebek Zigvolt of Diasomnia! A first year of Class D, student number 33! This dullard here is my dormmate, Silver! He is a second year!
Idia: G-geez he sounds like a friggin' air horn!! Feels like my eardrums are about to explode. Hard to believe Malleus-shi's ears aren't totally busted from having to listen to that all the time...
Silver: My apologies, Idia Senpai. We'll try to keep it down. Anyways, I don't think you have to worry about your eardrums, since we're inside a dream and all, but… Ah, that's right! Everyone, stay alert!! Idia Senpai, Grim, Yuu, get behind us!
Idia: Wait, wot? Why? AUGH! Ow ow ow! I'm getting squeezed to death in a meathead-and-armor sandwich!!
Grim: Huh? What's goin' on, Silver?
Silver: Now that Idia Senpai's awake, it's only a matter of time before the Darkness appears and tries to lull him into a deeper sleep.
Grim: Crap, yer right! An' ya know what else… I bet Malleus is gonna pop up any second now and go into his stupid "HaVe yOu aWaKeNeD!?" spiel!
Sebek: The Darkness aside, I fear without Sir Lilia's aide our odds against Lord Malleus are… Nay, that matters not! Be it the Darkness or the Young Lord, we shall defeat whatever stands in our path!
Idia: Ohmigod I'm gonna die… I can't… breathe…!
???: So sorry to rain on your guys' parade, but… There's no need to worry about Malleus Draconia-san or that wiggly black stuff right now. It's likely Malleus-san is currently engaged with pouring his "resources" into keeping Lilia Vanrouge-san asleep.
Grim: Hey, that sounds like Ortho! Boy am I glad you're here, I thought we mighta lost ya back in the dream corridor. Where are you, anyway?
Ortho: Teehee, sorry for all the worry. Unfortunately, I'm unable to join you guys in big brother's dream without it causing some major problems, so we'll just have to talk through this monitor feed for now. Sorry. Anyways… My big brother appears to be suffering from oxygen deficiency judging by the pallor of his face, so could you please give him some space?
Silver: Ack, I'm so sorry!
Idia: *gasps for breathe* Uwaaaah!!! A-Another second and I was about to get yeeted into the Underworld… T-Thanks, Ortho.
Sebek: Oi, what was all that gibberish about Lord Malleus pouring "resources" into Sir Lilia?
Idia: Yeah, yeah, we're getting there. Ortho, could ya give 'em a recap?
Ortho: Roger that, big brother! I guess I'll start with how me and big brother know this is all just a dream… So on the day of Lilia-san's going away party, Malleus-san cast a spell that put all of Sage's Island to sleep… Or better said, he froze all of spacetime here. But by transforming into data and utilizing a connection I established with a communication satellite, I was able to escape.
Everyone: Communication satellite!?
Grim: The heck were ya able to do that!?
Ortho: Hehehe, it's because I'm unique! I may not be able to develop a Unique Magic, since I'm not a mage… But I was able to transmit my consciousness and my soul to a communication satellite using radio waves, and I then transferred myself into a different body. And that's something only I can do, ya know?
Sebek: I am loathe to admit it… But the technical advances that humans have brought forth truly are astounding.
Silver: Right. You and me could train and train, but we'll never be able to do what Ortho just did. He truly is unique.
Ortho: Hehheh, I'd love to hear you guys compliment me some more… But I'll get back to the story. Once I made it to Styx, I got my hands on a brand new gear.
Sebek: Styx…. 'Tis the organization that administrates the Isle of Lament, as I recall Sir Lilia explaining to us before.
Ortho: Correct. And then I worked together with Styx to infiltrate the island, so we could analyze Malleus-san's Unique Magic… Fae of Maleficence.
Episode 7-102
(A little while after Ortho and the KB-RS units departed for Sage's Island)
Ortho: This is Ortho reporting. I have reached the aerial perimeter of Sage's Island together with KB-RS01 and 02. We are now en route to the penetration point. The island's still pretty far away, but my magical energy and blot concentration sensors are going crazy. This is just like when the gates to the Underworld opened up… No, it'll be okay. I've got this new gear mom made for me, and the KB-RS units are here with me, too.
KB-RS01 / 02: Grrrr…. Woof woof!!
Ortho: This is Ortho reporting. We have reached the penetration point. Now making final preparations for descent.
Chief: Roger that. Good luck!
Ortho: Now deploying magical barrier infiltration mode. Activating counter-spell barrier. KB-RS units, deploy slicer modules and activate your ethereal slicers! Now initiating operation "Infiltrate Sage's Island"!
Ortho: Dammit, looks like this isn't going to be easy… KB-RS units! Keep on the attack!
Chief: We need to cover for Ortho. All battleships, aim your magical cannons at the barrier!
Operator A: All magical cannons are at full output! Firing in five seconds…. 3…2…1!
Chief: Fire!!
Ortho: The vines are all gathering together in that one spot to protect the island!! Looks like we should be able to get in over there, where the vines aren't so concentrated. Let's go, KB-RS units! Ethereal slicers at maximum output! We're gonna cut our way in!!
Operator A: Ortho has successfully infiltrated the barrier.
Head Engineer: …That takes care of the first hurdle. The next problem will be getting him out of there. He's only got twenty minutes before that gear loses power.
Chief: Right. Let's make sure we're prepared for whatever happens. Hurry up and get those cannons reloaded!
Staff Members: Yes, Sir!
Head Engineer: Come back safe and sound, you hear… Or-kun!!!
Episode 7-103
Ortho: ….We did it! We're inside the domain! And thanks to my counter-spell barrier, the spacetime aberrations here aren't affecting me at all.
(Time until loss of power: 20:00)
Ortho: Deploying analysis anchors!! Now running analysis! Woah, this magic is super complex… It'll take a good 17 minutes just to analyze the spell's formulation and save all this data. We'll be cutting it close, but we can make it. Just have to keep the anchors safe until the analysis is done….
(Purple lightning strikes)
???: My, my… And I was wondering just what slipped into my domain.
(Malleus appears in a column of green fire)
Malleus: Let's see here, you're… You look awfully different, but you're Little Shroud, correct?
Ortho: Malleus Draconia-san…!!! You're… So you really did overblot.
KB-RS01: Grrrr!!!
Malleus: Shouldn't you be fast asleep back at Diasomnia?
Ortho: Heh, sorry about that. But that body in the dorm lounge is nothing but a tin can now. I was able to use the wireless network to escape. Thing is, I'm an autonomous AI constructed from data, so I-… Actually, you probably won't understand even if I explain it, huh.
Malleus: In other words, you slipped out of your body, like a ghost, and found yourself a new vessel… Is that right?
Ortho: Oh, wow! That's a very fae-ish way of interpreting data transfer! But yeah, you got it. As long as there's radio waves available, I can go pretty much anywhere. …Even to the furthest reaches of space! I saw you used your magic to block off the submarine cables, but you never even thought about the satellites, didja? Magic is the power of imagination. And you can't bring to life or fight against something you don't understand. And that's exactly what I am - I'm not made out of quantum particles our spiritual energy or anything like that, I'm data. You seriously need to consider upping your security protocols! Personally, I recommend implementing UTM within your barrier.
Malleus: You-tee-em? What in the world is that supposed to stand for, I wonder.
Ortho: What the- You don't even know what that is, either? Geez. See, this is exactly why you got outwitted by your Kouhai like this. Doesn't matter if you're one of the top give mages in the world, or how ancient this spell is… You're no big deal. You'll never be able to put me to sleep with your magic!
Malleus: Heh, I see… In that case… I'll just have to smash you to pieces then, you little automaton.
Ortho: Go ahead and try! You'll see just how strong Styx… Just how strong the most advanced human technology in the world is!
Ortho (thinking): Malleus-san doesn't appear to view the analysis anchors as a threat. There's thirteen minutes left until they'll be ready… I need to buy us some time!
Malleus: My sincerest apologies, but uninvited guests really aren't welcome here. I'll be escorting you out now.
Episode 7-104
Malleus: You have my praise, it's quite astounding you've been able to maintain your sanity within my domain for this long. However… Is this really supposed to be the pinnacle of human invention? How pathetic! You haven't managed to lay even a finger on me this whole time. Fufufu…. Ahahhaha!
Ortho (thinking): Damnit! It's like everything in the domain is bending to Malleus-san's will. I don't think our attacks are even hitting him, let alone having any effect. It's like he's got this whole place in the palm of his hand…!
Malleus: Now then, let us cease with these childish games.
(Malleus explodes one of the KB-RS units)
Ortho: 01!!
Ortho (thinking): There's only 30 seconds left until the analysis is complete… Come on, we're almost there!!
Malleus: My, you look awfully pale. Do even machines feel fear? It's alright, I'll ensure you won't feel a thing when I shatter you.
Ortho (thinking): 20 seconds left… Please, hurry up, anchors! Hurry!!
Malleus: Sweet dreams, Little Shroud.
Ortho (thinking): I failed… I'm so sorry, mom and dad!
(Malleus freezes for a second and then looks confused)
Malleus: !!!
Ortho: !?
Malleus: Tsch, I missed.
Ortho (thinking): What… just happened? It's like he froze for a second there. Kind of like when a CPU overloads and gets a processing failure.
(an alarm beeps)
Analysis Anchor: Analysis complete. Data has been saved to the crypto memory core.
Ortho: 02! Get all the anchors and retreat! NOW!!
KB-RS02: Grrrr!!
Malleus: How bothersome. You're nothing more than a fly buzzing around my face…Away with you!
(Malleus explodes the other unit)
Ortho: 02! Argh… But thanks to 02 distracting him, the anchors are safe. All I have to do now is get them out of here…!
(The ground starts to shake)
Malleus: …What is it now? You fools just don't know when to stop!
Ortho: This is…!
Episode 7-105
Operator B: KB-RS01 and 02 are down! 45 seconds until Ortho loses power!
Head Engineer: …He still has enough time and power to escape the domain. Don't give up!! All autopilot Charon units, activate Termination Mode! Do whatever it takes to get Ortho out of there!
Chief: All battle ships, concentrate power into the magical cannons! Raise the output and don't stop firing!!
Technician: W-We've already reached maximum output! If we go any higher, the generators are going to get fried!
Chief: I don't care! As long as we can give him some time, even ten seconds or three seconds, it doesn't matter. We just need to have Malleus concentrate on defending the barrier! Now take aim and fiiiiiire! Fire, fire fire!
Ortho: It's Styx! They're giving me backup! Now's my chance! Magical slicer, full buuurst!
Malleus: …What!?
Ortho: Uooooooo!!
Chief: Cease cannon fire! All ships, prepare for Malleus's counterstrike and activate your invisible shields!
Operator A: …Ortho has now exceeded his power limit. System down, we don't have a signal!
Chief: …No!!
Head Engineer: Or-kun…!
(An alarm blares)
Operator A: We're receiving a transmission from the Charon Tetra Unit!
Charon: This is Tetra Unit reporting! We've discovered Ortho's body floating in the water around the domain! His body is very badly damaged, but his core is unharmed. We've also recovered all the analysis anchors from the water. We're now en route back to HQ.
Everyone: We did it!! Hooraaaaay!!
(Mr. and Mrs. Shroud hug and fall to the floor in relief)
Chief / Head Engineer: Haaaahhh….
Head Engineer: Good grief... I've said this before and I'll say it again, but even if I had a hundred hearts those boys would still leave me frazzled at the end of the day….
Chief: You know what? I gotta agree with you there, sweetheart….
Malleus: …Tsch. Damn those cunning little humans… No, it matters not. They can come back as many times as they like, be it a hundred times, a thousand times, and it will always end the same… I will remove any and all uninvited guests.
Episode 7-106
Ortho: Huh? Where am I…?
Head Engineer: You awake, Or-kun?
Ortho: Mom… Dad… I…
Head Engineer: Your Cerberus Gear was heavily damaged. All we managed to recover was your core and some of the surrounding parts around it. We lost both KB-RS units in the domain.
Ortho: I see… I wanted the three of us to make it back home together…
Head Engineer: They were good boys, huh. Listen, once we get rid of that domain, I'm sure we'll be able to recover their parts. And then mama will fix them up good as new.
Ortho: I'm so sorry, I know how hard you worked on them…
Head Engineer: What are you apologizing for!! All that matters is you're safe and sound. Welcome home, Or-kun.
Chief: Welcome home, Ortho. I'm so glad you made it back safely.
Ortho: Yeah, I'm glad to be home, too.
(The Shroud family hugs each other)
Ortho: Wait, I almost forgot! What about the anchors!?
Chief: They've all been recovered safely, you guys did an excellent job. Sytx's data processing department is firing all cylinders trying to analyze everything. There's multiple, complex layers of magic comprising Malleu's domain. The way it's interwoven, it reminds me of Test Subject F… Sorry, of the ancient spell that Grim has on him. Thanks to Briar Valley's assistance, we've at least been able to ascertain how the domain is constructed.
Ortho: Already!? That's great news!
Chief: Unfortunately, it's just the opposite.
Ortho: Wait, what do you mean?
Chief: We've determined that if Malleus Draconia himself does not break his spell voluntary, or if he is not eliminated, then we only have a 0.2% chance of destroying the domain from the outside.
Ortho: No…!
Head Engineer: Everything in that domain, even the laws of reality, is under Malleus's control. We could fire the most powerful magical cannons in the world at that barrier and fight our way inside, but as soon as you're in, you're powerless. We could maybe beat him if we take about 100,000 Cerberus Gear units with us…
Ortho: We probably wouldn't even need to fight him if we had that many units. He'd be too stunned to even move…
Head Engineer: Sounds like a good idea, right? But by the time I finish making that many auto-pilot units, his domain will have likely enveloped the whole world by then.
Chief: We have a couple of other concerns, as well. The minds of all those people asleep on Sage's Island, they're all trapped within Malleus's magical barrier. And according to our analyses, we've discovered they're all currently "dreaming".
Ortho: Dreaming…? You mean the illusionary phenomenon humans experience when in REM sleep?
Head Engineer: Correct. His magic is tricking them into believing that what they're seeing in those dreams is real. It almost works like the Lethe River system, in a way. So if we go in guns a-blazing and try to destroy the barrier, we just might end up destroying everyone's minds along with it.
Ortho: I get it… It's like the domain is one huge server. And that means… Pretty much our only option is to try and convince Malleus-san to bring down the domain himself and let everybody go.
Part 2
Part 3
