The Truth Beneath Crimson Skies (Volume 2)

"How..."

"How do you know my name?"

Kaito clenched his fists, a sense of vigilance washing over him as he eyed the wise speaker with suspicion.

"..."

"There is no need to be so wary, Kaito," the wise speaker said, gesturing calmly to diffuse the tension. "I will explain everything along the way."

Kaito’s tense expression softened, and he reluctantly let his guard down.

"Good," the wise speaker said with a gentle smile. "Let’s begin, shall we?"

"..."

"First, let me go over the situation as it stands," the wise speaker began. "This world, or more specifically, this virtual world, is falling apart."

"The end is near."

"I’m sure you’ve already noticed the signs. Crimson clouds, a jagged, flickering sky, and boulders morphing and crashing down, crushing the poor, innocent people below."

With his gaze drifting to the horizon, he spoke, "Only destruction and bloodshed remain."

"And you may wonder..."

"Is the world ending?"

"Has it finally reached its inevitable conclusion?"

The wise speaker paused briefly, his voice taking on a thoughtful tone. "It’s difficult to say. The end of an artificial world is not something you can predict, nor is there any scripture to guide us. But one thing is certain, it is bound to be destroyed someday."

"And by the looks of it, that day is fast approaching."

"..."

"Do you know why?" Kaito asked, his voice steady but curious.

"Yes," the wise speaker replied, his tone firm and resolute. "Yes, I do."

"Then...?"

"..."

"This world," the wise speaker said, his words deliberate, "has been corrupted by a virus."

"A virus?"

"Yes, Kaito," the wise speaker confirmed. "A virus that corrupts the consciousness of individuals. From what I’ve observed so far, it summons massive boulders to crash down directly onto people, erasing their consciousness from this world. And who knows what else it has in store?"

"But, this virus seems to discriminate when choosing its targets."

"What do you mean?" Kaito asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Look below," the wise speaker said, pointing toward the ruined streets. "Despite the destruction and the countless deaths caused by the falling boulders, some people remain alive, panicking and screaming, yet untouched."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I-I... I'm not sure," Kaito admitted, confusion clouding his mind.

"That’s alright," the wise speaker replied with a tone of understanding. "Let me put it this way, and forgive me if this question feels sensitive."

"You are still conscious and alive, right? But what about your lover who you wept for? Why is that?"

"I..." Kaito hesitated, the weight of the question pressing on him. He thought deeply, reflecting on how narrowly he had escaped death, while his beloved had not been so fortunate.

"Think Kaito, the wise speaker urged, his tone calm yet firm. "There is one key difference between you and her."

After a moment, a spark of realization lit his face. The wise speaker, noticing the shift, continued, "Exactly. The virus specifically targets individuals equipped with those brain implant devices."

"You mean the iVision implants!?" Kaito exclaimed.

"Yes, precisely," the wise speaker confirmed. "I don’t know who is behind this, but it’s clear they have something against those who use these implants. Considering the implants are primarily used by the wealthy, the perpetrator may..."

"Be someone from a poor background," Kaito interrupted, his voice steady. "Someone who isn't equipped with iVision. Then surely, they must have died in this world and awakened in the real one, right?"

"Exactly," the wise speaker said, nodding. "Spot on."

"And their sense of revenge is anything but tasteful. They must have been planning this for years. After all, waking up to the real world, in their original body stored in a life pod, isn’t something anyone adjusts to easily. With no humans supervising, only AI and robots, it would’ve taken time to fully grasp their situation."

"Wait..." Kaito said, narrowing his eyes. "Life pods? Original body? How can you be so certain this only affects people with iVisions?"

"Could it be that you-"

"..."

"Yes," the wise speaker interjected. "You’re right. I am one of those who woke up to the real world."

"Fifty years ago."

"Wait, fifty years ago!?" Kaito exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.