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Divine Heresy

神导异论

41 chapters · 4070 lines · English and Chinese below. Japanese and Korean, voices and theatre mode are in the reader.

Danger Zone 险境

On the beach, Copley Sector.柯普利扇区，海滨。

A couple of uninvited guests have snuck their way in here at some point, like blots of ink that have suddenly appeared on a blank piece of paper, and they look exceptionally out of place.不知何时混入的两名不速之客，如同唐突出现在白纸上的墨点一样，显得格外违和。

???What's the matter, Hacchy? Why did you stop all of a sudden?怎么啦，小初？为什么突然停下了？

???Oh, is this place too hot? Want me to get you something?啊，难道是环境温度太高了吗？需不需要我帮你拿点东西？

??...I'm fine. I appreciate the concern.……我不要紧的，谢谢关心。

??It's just sunlight simulated with operands anyway. It's nothing compared to underground magma.这些只是算量模拟出来的阳光罢了，和地底的岩浆相比，不值一提。

???It's all my fault for not preparing properly. I heard it was just an ecological research sector, so I headed right over.都怪我没准备好，当初只听说是用于生态研究的扇区，就直接赶过来了。

???If I'd known the simulation would be so realistic, I would have brought a change of clothes...如果早知道有这么逼真的模拟，就该准备好替换的衣服了……

??Protective clothing is essential equipment for going underground. Besides, I'm already used to it.防护服是潜地的必要装备，而且我也早就习惯了。

??Let's hurry and move out. Don't delay our mission.赶紧出发吧，不要耽误了我们的任务。

???I hardly ever see you so worried, Hacchy... So you're worried about Succhy after all?难得看到小初这么心急……果然是在担心小末的下落？

???He's always been a very capable kid, I'm sure he'll be fine.那孩子一向很能干的，一定不会有事啦。

??Hm...嗯……

???In any case, let's pick up the pace and head out, Hacchy! Relax and leave all the investigative work to me.总之小初就赶紧出发吧！把调查地上的事安心交给我就好了。

??I understand. Thank you.我明白了，谢谢你。

??You should also be careful when you're by yourself. Take care not to clash with the Sector Administrator or the Sanctifiers.你一个人也小心点，注意不要和扇区管理员或者净化者起冲突。

??Also... If circumstances permit—以及……如果条件允许的话——

???If circumstances permit, keep an eye on the "Objective" that might appear, got it.如果条件允许的话，关注可能出现的“目标”。我都记住啦。

??After all, this is a special environment that hasn't been seen before. The "objective" that we've been looking for might be here.毕竟这是此前从未见过的特殊环境，我们一直在寻找的那个“目标”或许就在这里呢。

???Relax. I won't forget our mission.放心吧，我可不会忘记我们的使命。

？？？& ？？[For Arcadia!]【为了阿卡迪亚！】

CHAPTER 6 // DIVINE HERESY...CHAPTER 6 // 神导异论 . . .

Antonina... We're here.……到了。

AntoninaThis is the Copley Sector.这里就是柯普利扇区了。

AntoninaI've checked again, and I'm sure the signal is coming from this sector.我又检查了一次，可以确定信号的源头来自这个扇区。

SolSo Odile is here?奥吉里——那家伙就在这里吗？

AntoninaShould be. I'll start cracking the firewall now—基本上不会有错。我现在就来破解防火墙——

PersicariaWait, Antonina! We need to go about this cautiously.等等，安冬妮娜！我们要谨慎一些。

PersicariaAfter all, back in the Pierides Sector, we were attacked by the Entropics the moment we tried to open the firewall.毕竟不久前在庇厄里亚扇区，我们就是在打开防火墙之后被熵袭击的。

AntoninaBut we don't have much time. We didn't pursue Odile all the way here for revenge.但我们的时间不多了。追踪奥吉里到这里，可不是为了报仇。

PersicariaCroque's more badly infected than any of us. We might not be able to solve the problem just by diving into her Tertiary Level.克罗琦的情况比我们之前的感染都要严重，或许光靠进入她的三级底层无法解决问题。

PersicariaWe still need the source code to completely eliminate the Entropic problem.要彻底解决熵的感染，还是需要找到熵的源代码。

AntoninaCroque's condition has gotten worse ever since we returned to the Oasis from Pierides.从庇厄里亚扇区回到绿洲的时候，克罗琦的状态就比之前还要糟糕了。

AntoninaThe medical team is doing their best to save her, but all they can do is slow the infection down.虽然有医疗组的全力救治，但也只能强行延缓感染。

AntoninaWe won't be able to make it if we don't attain the Entropy source code! We need to get our hands on a High-Order Entropic as soon as possible, dead or alive.如果再得不到熵的源代码，就来不及了！我们必须尽快俘获一只高阶级的熵，无论死活。

SolBut Anna... Persicaria has a point.可是安娜……帕斯卡说的也有道理呀。

SolThe more urgent the situation, the less we can afford to make mistakes...越是情况紧急，我们就越不能有失误……

AntoninaTsk... Hearing you say that really pisses me off, Professor.啧……被教授这样说总觉得很不爽。

AntoninaRelax. I'm not THAT reckless.放心吧，我可不是那种有勇无谋的人。

AntoninaI just don't want those Entropics to get the better of me. After all, I AM an expert in computer virus research.我只是不想被那些熵牵着鼻子走罢了。毕竟我可是研究电子病毒的专家。

SolMature... Erm, is this really being mature?稳重……呃，这是稳重吗？

SolI just thought that we shouldn't hold everyone back because we're being impulsive.我只是觉得，不能又因为自己的冲动，给大家拖后腿。

SolAfter all, Croque and the others...毕竟克罗琦她们……

It's not like you to be so hasty, Antonina.安冬妮娜，这么着急可不像你。

You seem to have gotten more mature, Sol.感觉苏尔比以前更稳重了。

SolAnyway, enough of that! In any case, we'll find that "source code" and then we'll all go home safely!算了，不说这些了！总之，我们一定要找到那个“源代码”，再平安回去！

PersicariaSol...苏尔……

Antonina...I know, Sol. Why do I feel as if Sol and I have swapped roles...……我知道啦，苏尔。总感觉我和苏尔的立场反过来了……

AntoninaIn any case, it's not like I was going to make contact with the firewall without any preparations.总之，我也不至于什么准备都不做就要接入防火墙。

AntoninaI've been researching the code structure of Entropy all this while. At least, when I'm cracking the firewall, I can see if there are any Entropics disguised as part of it.我这段时间一直在研究熵的代码构成。至少现在我能在破解防火墙的过程中，顺便检测它有没有被熵做过伪装。

AntoninaSo what happened last time will not happen again.所以像上次那样的情况不会再发生了。

SolI see... Well, that's Anna for you!原来是这样……不愧是安娜！

Sol relaxes and leans against the firewall.苏尔放松下来，背靠在墙上。

SolWell, we'd better hurry up and crack the firewall, then— urk!那我们就快点把墙破解——呃！

PersicariaSol!?苏尔？！

As she leans against the firewall, Sol suddenly loses her support and is only spared the disgraceful fate of going ass over teakettle by her swift reflexes, which allow her to drop into a roll instead.靠在防火墙上的苏尔突然失去了支撑，凭借迅速的反应在地上滚了一圈，才避免了四脚朝天的狼狈姿态。

Antonina's fingers dance over her keyboard. As we look at the firewall again, we see that the section which had been bearing Sol's weight has silently vanished in an instant.安冬妮娜轻快地敲动着键盘。我们向前看去，刚才还支撑着苏尔体重的防火墙，在一瞬间悄无声息地消失了。

PersicariaAre you alright?没事吧？

SolWhat... What the hell, Anna!?怎……怎么搞的啊安娜！

AntoninaDidn't you ask me to open up the firewall ASAP?不是你要我快点把防火墙打开的吗？

SolI did say that, but... but that was way too fast!虽然我是说过这种话啦……但你这也太快了！

AntoninaFor some reason it sounds like sarcasm coming from you...总觉得教授像在嘲笑我……

ProfessorHave your skills improved again, Antonina?你的技术又提升了吗，安冬妮娜？

AntoninaI'm grateful for your rarely-given praise.我倒是很感谢你难得的夸赞。

AntoninaAnd while I did speed things up a little... I can't take all the credit.虽然我也有加快速度……但并不全是我的功劳。

AntoninaThe firewall here is exceptionally fragile, I can almost sense the lack of operands backing it up...这里的防火墙防御异常薄弱，我几乎感觉不到多少算量在支持它……

PersicariaIs it related to the fact that Copley is a private sector?或许是因为柯普利扇区是私人扇区吧？

PersicariaThe capacity of private sectors can't compare to those owned by big corporations.私人用户支付的扇区容量，肯定没法和那些大企业相提并论。

AntoninaHmm... perhaps.嗯……或许吧。

AntoninaHowever, when you look inside the sector, they definitely don't seem to be lacking for operands.不过，看这扇区的内部，还真不像是缺算量的样子……

Well done, Antonina!干得不错，安冬妮娜！

How did you crack it so quickly?为什么破解速度会这么快？

AntoninaSol, make sure you dust your hair off when you get up.苏尔，爬起来的时候记得甩甩头发。

SolHm? Er, something seems to be sticking to my neck...嗯？呃，我的脖子上好像黏到了什么……

Sol...Is that sand?……沙子？

After cracking the firewall, what appears before us is a scene that looks like it could have come from the real world.破解开防火墙之后，浮现在我们眼前的，赫然是仿佛现实世界一样的光景。

The pale blue sky meets the deep blue sea as a straight line in the distance. Dazzling sunlight shines down on the beach. It's hot but not scorching, filled with the life and passion of summer. A gentle breeze blows through the shade cast by a nearby tree, as though to strum a traveler's heartstrings.湛蓝的天空与碧蓝的海水在远处交汇，连成一线。 耀眼的阳光铺洒在沙滩上，热而不燥，彰显着夏季的活力与热情。 一旁的树荫下则有阵阵凉风，好似在挑拨着旅人的心弦。

SolThis... this is AWESOME!好……好厉害！

PersicariaDid they simulate all this with operands? I find it a little hard to believe...这些都是用算量模拟出来的吗？有些难以置信呢……

AntoninaGive me a few more seconds... Right, I've found the registration form data.稍等几秒……我查到注册表数据了。

AntoninaThis sector's listed purpose is—"Marine Ecological Research."这个扇区登记的具体用途是——“海洋生态研究”。

PersicariaSo you're saying this is a sector for simulated ecological research?也就是说，这里是进行模拟生态研究的扇区？

AntoninaPretty interesting, isn't it? Humans polluted the sea in reality, and now they can only reminisce about the past in the cloud server.很有意思吧。人类自己污染了现实中的大海，只好在云端追忆过去。

AntoninaThe owner of this sector was probably an oceanographer from the previous century.这个扇区的所有者，大概是某位来自上个时代的海洋学家吧。

PersicariaBut... there's no sign of Odile, is there?可是……好像没看到奥吉里的踪影？

PersicariaThere's no sign of liquid Entropy on the beach either. Surely it hasn't all been washed away by the waves, has it?沙滩上也看不到熵化液的痕迹，不会都被海浪冲走了吧。

AntoninaIt doesn't matter, my tracker is still working. Let's keep moving.没关系，我的追踪器还在工作。继续朝前前进吧。

SolOhhhh! Then let me be your guide!哦哦哦！那就交给我来带路吧！

SolJust seeing this is making my blood boil with excitement!!看到这幅景象，我现在可是热血沸腾了！

AntoninaOw! Why'd you shout so suddenly?！你突然喊这么大声干什么。

SolErm, sorry about that. But Prof, Persicaria, Anna, aren't you guys excited about all this?呃，抱歉抱歉。但你们不激动吗，教授，帕斯卡，安娜？

SolThis is the ocean, it's NATURE!这可是大海，是大自然欸！

PersicariaEr... We know that...呃……我们知道……

SolFinally, we've been freed from munching grass in some beat-up old power station, or squeezing up against some short-circuiting pillars!终于不用在破破烂烂的发电站里找草吃，或者跟那些会漏电的柱子挤在一起了！

SolHave you forgotten? I'm a guide Doll for wilderness expeditions by profession.你们忘记了吗？我可是野外科考队的职业向导人形。

SolI'm back on my home turf! So can I lead the way? Can I, Prof?这里才是我的主场！这次就交给我来开路吧，可以的吧，教授？

SolLeave it to me! This time... There won't be any problems!交给我吧！我这次……一定不会出问题！

SolW-wait, a meat shield?肉、肉盾？

SolEr, I'm probably not as tough as Croque or Aegis... But I'll do my best!这个，我估计是没有克罗琦的艾吉斯盾牌结实……不过我也可以努力的……！

SolAnna, is the signal coming from this direction?安娜，信号来源是在这个方向吗？

AntoninaIt's Antonina. Given the coordinates, that direction seems like the right one.是安冬妮娜。根据坐标范围来看，方向没错。

SolOK. I'll blaze a trail while keeping an eye open for the Entropy and the Sanctifiers. Make sure you stay behind me, guys.OK。我会一边警戒熵和净化者，一边探路的。大家记得跟在我身后哦。

AntoninaPersicaria, are you alright?帕斯卡，你还好吗？

PersicariaOh, I get it now!啊！我懂了！

PersicariaSo the stuff Sol said about eating grass was the Energy Herbs in the Helios Sector, and the short-circuiting pillars were the data arrays in the Enigma Sector...该不会苏尔说的吃草是说赫里奥斯扇区的聚能草，漏电是指恩格玛扇区的数据矩阵……

AntoninaPersicaria, I think you really do need to rest...帕斯卡，你可能真的该休息一下了……

SolGuys, look out for the Lesser Sanctifier patrolling at 10 o'clock. Stay as low as possible and quietly approach the Professor and me.大家小心警戒10点钟方向巡逻的下位净化者，尽可能压低身子，悄悄接近我和教授。

We'll be counting on you to be our powerhouse, Sol.那就拜托你当主力了，苏尔。

We'll be counting on you to be our meat-shield, Sol.那就拜托你当肉盾了，苏尔。

AntoninaWe were supposed to be very close to Odile's location, but her signal suddenly vanished just now.我们原本已经很接近奥吉里的坐标点了。但就在刚才，信号突然消失了。

PersicariaIt vanished!?消失了？！

AntoninaI can't be sure if it was because of environmental or artificial factors... I'll try to pick up the trail again, but it'll take time.我不确定是环境因素还是人为因素……我会尝试重新追踪，但需要时间。

PersicariaThen we should take a break nearby. We might end up having to fight a tough battle afterwards.我们也正好就近休整一下吧，说不定之后就会迎来一场恶战呢。

SolDon't stray too far from me, guys. Make sure you stay within view. The temperatures here are fairly high, so mind your thermal dissipation.大家不要离我太远，保证自己在我的视线范围内。周围环境温度比较高，要注意散热哦。

ProfessorYou sure sound like a leader, Sol.苏尔还真有领队的样子呢。

PersicariaYeah, I thought we'd have to fight those Sanctifiers. Thank goodness we had you leading the way.是呀，我还以为多少要和净化者缠斗一番。多亏了苏尔的领队呢。

PersicariaUsing the terrain to hinder vision... I didn't think we could evade Sanctifiers like that.利用地形阻碍视野……没想到能以这种方式绕开净化者。

SolHehe, nah, I'm not all that great.嘿嘿，没你们说的那么厉害啦。

SolThings went as well as they have because the only thing we've encountered so far are a few scattered Lesser Sanctifiers.能这么顺利，也是因为一路以来看见的都是零散的下位净化者啦。

PersicariaThat DOES seem odd, though. We haven't seen any Intermediate Sanctifiers on our way in.这样说来确实有些奇怪，我们一路以来都没有看到中位净化者的踪迹。

PersicariaThese Sanctifiers' movement patterns seem quite uninspired. It doesn't seem like there's anyone directing them.那些下位净化者的行事风格也很呆板，不像是有人领导的样子。

SolUm... Could... could it be something like what happened in the Pierides Sector all over again...?呃……难、难道又是庇厄里亚扇区的那种情况……

AntoninaI doubt it. At the very least, the Lesser Sanctifiers we've encountered so far haven't been Entropized, so even if there was an infection, it wouldn't be on the same scale as in the Pierides Sector.应该不会。至少刚才遇到的下位净化者都没有被熵化，就算有感染，也不至于像庇厄里亚扇区的规模那么巨大。

PersicariaIn any case, we ought to move quickly while we still haven't encountered an Intermediate Sanctifier.不管怎么说，趁着我们还没遇到中位净化者，速战速决吧。

PersicariaAntonina, how's the tracking going?安冬妮娜，信号追踪还顺利吗？

AntoninaNot good... I'm trying to reconnect to the signal, but I'm not picking it up at all.不太妙……我还在尝试重新连接，但完全搜索不到了。

SolWhat!? Don't tell me the tracker was destroyed...什么？！难道追踪器被破坏了……

PersicariaDid Odile realize we were tracking her?难道是奥吉里发现我们在跟踪她了吗？

AntoninaJudging by the conditions under which the signal disappeared, I don't think the tracker was destroyed. It's more like she has entered a region where there is no signal.从信号断连时的情况来看，定位器应该并没有被破坏，她更像是进入到了某个隔绝信号的区域。

AntoninaNo signal... Now why would there be a region with no signal around here...?隔绝信号……附近怎么可能会有隔绝信号的地方……

PersicariaDon't panic, Antonina. Could the environment here be disrupting the signal?别着急，安冬妮娜。会不会是这里的环境干扰到信号了？

AntoninaThe sea...?海上……？

SolWait a minute, Persicaria. Your ears function like parabolic reflectors, so they should be sharper than ours.等一下，帕斯卡。你的耳朵有过滤杂波的作用，应该比我们都要敏锐。

SolWhat kind of noise is it? Can you give a more specific description?那是什么样的杂音？可以具体描述一下吗？

PersicariaIt's kind of like a fizzing sound... A bit like bubbles in soft drinks.大概就是“滋滋”的感觉……听起来有点像气泡的声音。

SolThe sound of bubbles... on the sea...海上……气泡的声音……

Sol looks toward the beach and her face suddenly blanches.苏尔向海滩看去，表情骤然一变。

The waterline that was just a few meters away from us has receded over a dozen meters away.原本距离我们不过三四米的海浪此刻已后退了十余米远。

SolThe tide is receding... It's a tsunami!退潮……是海啸！

Right on cue, we feel a faint tremor coming towards us from the depths of the earth, steadily growing in intensity.苏尔的话音刚落，我们便感到一股细微的震颤自大地深处传来，而后愈演愈烈。

SolRUN!!!跑！！！

Just then, an unexpected impact sends us all hurtling to the ground.几乎和苏尔的叫喊同时到来，始料未及的冲击将我们掀翻在地。

Right after that, a massive wave of ice-cold seawater rushes toward us on the shore.紧接着，冰冷的海水汇成巨浪，冲向岸边的我们。

PersicariaRoger.了解。

AntoninaGot it...了解……

Antonina... Wait, what happened to the tracker's signal...!?……等等，追踪信号怎么……？！

下位净化者[Abnormal situation detected! Shifting movement route!]【检测到异常情况！切换行动路线！】

下位净化者[Entering alert status!]【进入警戒状态！】

AntoninaPreparing to switch to combat mo...准备切换到作战模……

SolRelax, they won't be able to spot us.先别急，它们应该发现不了我们。

AntoninaBut that Lesser Sanctifier's coming over...!但净化者已经过来了……！

SolIt's safe over here! Move like I did just now and travel through the lower-lying region.这边是安全的！按我刚才的行动方式，沿地势较低的区域过来。

SolTrust me.相信我。

Antonina returns Sol's steady gaze, then closes her terminal and slowly creeps toward Sol's location.安冬妮娜凝视着苏尔坚定的眼神，关上了终端，缓慢地向着苏尔所在的位置靠近。

SolThat's right, stay low, use the terrain for cover...没错，压低身子，利用地势差……

We remain still, not daring to make a single sound.我们一动不动，不敢发出一点声响。

The mechanical whirs of the Sanctifier's movements slowly draw closer.净化者移动时发出的机械音越来越近。

Whoosh...簌簌——

SolAnna, over here!安娜，这边！

A gust of wind blows, and the branch beside the Sanctifier rustles as it sways.一阵风起，净化者侧方的树叶摇晃着发出声响。

The alerted Sanctifier changes direction, and Sol uses this opportunity to quickly grab Antonina's hand and pull her over.净化者警觉地转移方向，而苏尔抓住这个空隙迅速拉住安冬妮娜的手，将她拉了过来。

下位净化者[Analyzing environment...]【环境分析中……】

下位净化者[Phenomenon determined to be part of normal sector operations.]【已确认该情况为正常扇区机制。】

下位净化者[Report generated. Returning to pre-assigned patrol route.]【报告已生成，返回预定巡逻路线。】

We only dare breathe sighs of relief when the Sanctifier has moved far enough away.直到净化者移动到足够的安全距离，我们才长出一口气。

SolWhew... That scared the crap out of me...呼……吓死我了……

Antonina...Thank you, Sol.……多亏你了，苏尔。

SolHaha, it was nothing! Actually, we could have just fought it if things really didn't work out.哈哈，也没什么啦！实在不行就和净化者打一架呗。

AntoninaStill, we'd trigger the security systems of this sector even if we beat it, which would cause a lot of problems afterwards.即便打过了也会引发扇区的安全警戒机制，之后肯定会有不少麻烦。

AntoninaIf you hadn't taken the opportunity when the wind blew...要不是当时你抓住了起风的时机……

AntoninaI'm sorry, I really have been impatient lately.我确实有点急躁了。对不起。

SolAw, don't say that...别这么说啦……

Antonina...It's trouble, all right. Specifically, it's Odile.……确实遇到了麻烦。是奥吉里。

Antonina's face turns severe as she mentions Odile's name. She opens her terminal again and shows us the glowing green screen.提到奥吉里，安冬妮娜的表情严肃起来。她再度打开终端，将绿色的光屏展现给我们。

SolRight right right! It's very important to get enough rest outdoors!对对对！在野外进行适当休息也是非常重要的！

PersicariaBut back then with that Sanctifier... Your movements were so swift and certain because you expected the wind to pick up, right?刚才遭遇净化者的时候也是，你应该是提前判断出会起风，之后的行动才会那么笃定吧？

SolAw, it's just some knowledge that came with experience... Okay, that's enough. If you praise me any more it will start getting to my head.也就是一些日积月累的知识啦……好啦好啦，别再夸我了，我可是会骄傲的。

PersicariaI can hear some noise from the sea, does it have anything to do with the signal's disappearance?我现在隐约能听到海上传来了一些杂音，会不会和信号消失有关系？

SolNo way!！难道！

SolFighting Lesser Sanctifiers like this is hardly a challenge now.和这种程度的下位净化者作战，我们已经没多少压力了。

PersicariaStill, I can't believe Antonina lost her cool. Is there any trouble?不过安冬妮娜居然会这么不冷静，是有什么麻烦的事情出现了吗？

Billowing Waves 涛澜

AntoninaCareful, Sol, the waves are coming! The wave activity here is very heavy. One comes every six seconds, and it'll sweep us to the other side and disorient us.小心，苏尔，海浪要拍过来了！ 这里的海浪很密集。每隔6秒发生一次，我们会被海浪冲到另一侧并受到眩晕。

SolThis sort of thing happens in the real world too! We can avoid that by staying away from the waves, right?现实世界也有这种情况！撤退到远离海浪的地方就可以避免了吧？

AntoninaIndeed, but the waves will leave puddles in their wake, which will slow us down.的确。海浪拍过的地方会留下水洼，会降低我们的移动速度。

SolGot it, let's be careful when we fight!明白，谨慎作战吧！

Decisiveness 决断

A wall of blue that drowns out the sky fills my vision.遮天蔽日的深蓝笼罩了我的视线。

My body loses the support of the land and I am tossed about by the ocean's currents. Although I don't need to breathe in the cloud server, I'm still filled with an instinctive fear of the abyss before me.身体失去了地面的支撑，在大海里随波逐流。尽管在云端不需要呼吸，我还是本能地对眼前的深渊产生了恐惧。

SolPro... fessor...教……授……

A warm hand grabs hold of me.一只温热的手抓住了我。

Water gushes past my ears and the scene before me resolves into clarity.水流自两耳边流过，眼前的视线逐渐清晰。

SolProf!教授！

ProfessorSol...苏尔……

SolDon't panic! Don't thrash around! Relax and kick at the water, then move slowly toward me...别紧张！不要乱动！放松身体，用脚踢水，慢慢朝我靠过来……

I do as Sol says, slowly moving forward.我依照着苏尔的指示，一点点向前移动。

Persicaria and Antonina have already joined hands. The four of us form a circle, floating amidst the ocean swells.帕斯卡和安冬妮娜已经手拉手靠在了一起，我们四个人逐渐形成一个圈，在波涛间沉浮着。

SolEveryone, hold on tight to each other and maintain your balance! Then try to think of a way to head towards shore!大家握紧手保持平衡！就这样想办法往岸边移动！

AntoninaWait, Sol! Over there!等等，苏尔！那边！

It's taking all of Antonina's strength just to keep herself oriented, so she gestures into the distance with her eyes.安冬妮娜竭力在海浪间维持平衡，用眼神指引我们看向远处的海面。

We follow her gaze. There is a massive vortex amidst the raging tsunami, and seawater is spiraling into its center.我们顺着她的视线看去。在怒号的波涛中心是一个巨大的漩涡，海水汹涌地向中心卷入。

SolThat's the maelstrom at the heart of the tsunami!那是海啸里的漩涡！

SolKeep away from it, we'll be done for if we get sucked in!远离那边，被卷进去就死定了！

AntoninaNo! Look at the heart of the vortex!不对！看漩涡的中心！

Persicaria...Is that... a hole?……那是……一个洞？

As the seawater is sucked in, the naked sea floor gradually becomes visible to us. However, the rocks there are not flat like we expected, but jutting out into a yawning maw that hints at a bottomless abyss within.随着海水被吸入，在漩涡中心的空隙，裸露的海底岩层逐渐呈现在我们眼前。 然而，那些岩石并非如想象中那样平坦，而是形成了一个突起，一点点向外挤开，仿佛一张正在逐渐张大的巨口，缓缓露出其中望不见底的深渊。

PersicariaThe bedrock is shifting...岩层在移动……

SolC-calm down, everyone... This must be the result of some kind of tectonic compression...冷、冷静，大家……这应该是地壳发生了挤压运动导致的……

SolNormally, tsunamis generated in a small region like this should be over soon enough, so as long as we maintain...一般来说像这样小规模的海域引发的海啸会很快停下，只要我们保持平……

A surging wave swallows up the rest of Sol's words. The seawater pushes us a good distance away before we have the chance to poke our heads back above water.袭来的浪潮吞没了苏尔未完的话。我们被海水推远了好一段，才再度抓住机会从海面上伸出头来。

Sol(Coughs) This tsunami happened so fast but it's got so much force behind it... How is that possible...咳……发生时间这么短冲击力还这么大的海啸……怎么可能……

AntoninaDon't try to apply normal logic, Sol! This isn't the real world. Everything is simulated through operands!别用常理考虑了，苏尔！这里可不是现实世界，一切都是算量模拟出来的！

AntoninaAnother wave's coming! Look out!浪又要来了！小心！！

Before Antonina can finish, a massive wave surges toward us.安冬妮娜话音未落，巨浪便向我们袭来。

AntoninaUrgh...呜……

PersicariaAn—安——

Persicaria's voice is drowned out by the wall of sea foam that crashes down on us.帕斯卡的呼唤声立刻被劈头砸下的浪花淹没了。

An endless expanse of seawater fills my line of sight once more and the ice-cold seawater gradually saps my strength. Amidst this chaos, the only thing I can feel is Sol holding on tightly to my hand.无边无际的海水再度掩盖了我的视线，冰冷的海水逐渐掠夺走我的力气。一片混乱中，我只感觉苏尔紧紧地握着我的手。

SolRelax and don't panic! I'll save everyone!放松身体别紧张！我会救大家的！

Sol wraps her arm around my body and I feel myself rising steadily. It seems Sol has managed to find the right current among all this aquatic turbulence and is steadily taking us away from the heart of the vortex.苏尔的手揽住我的身体，我感到我们在逐渐上浮。在混乱的水流中，苏尔似乎找到了正确的那一股，逐渐将我们带离漩涡的中心。

Professor(Gasps)噗哈——

SolHang on to this!抓紧这个！

After leaving the water's surface for a moment, Sol pushes me toward something. I instinctively grab it before even registering it as a stout tree trunk.再度离开水面的一瞬间，苏尔将我推向某个物体。我下意识地抓住它，才看清是一块粗壮的树干。

PersicariaProfessor! Are you alright!?教授！你没事吧！

Professor(Coughs heavily) I'm fine...咳咳……没事……

I glance over at Persicaria and Antonina, who are also staying afloat by hanging on to this tree trunk. Persicaria grabs my hand and I can feel the cold in her palm.我看向帕斯卡和安冬妮娜，她们和我同样依凭着这节树干维持平衡。帕斯卡握住我的手，我感到她的手心一片冰冷。

SolThis is bad... This tree trunk can't take our combined weight!不行……这节树干没办法承受我们所有人的体重！

SolAll we can do is...只能……

Sol suddenly lets go of her grip on us, and Antonina immediately grabs her.苏尔突然松开了拉住我们的手，而安冬妮娜在一瞬间拽住了她。

AntoninaWhat the hell are you doing!?你这家伙开什么玩笑！

SolRelax. I'm much better at floating than this big old log. I'll be fine!放心，我的浮力可比木头大多了，不会有事的！

AntoninaNo, it's too dangerous! There's got to be another way!不行，太危险了，一定有别的办法！

Just as it looks like we're stuck between a rock and a hard place, help comes from an unexpected quarter—正当我们陷入两难之时，意料之外的援助出现了——

Grab on!快抓紧！

An unfamiliar voice calls out to us from the distance. Immediately after that, some kind of rope-like object swiftly and precisely coils around my waist.一个陌生的声音从远方传来。紧接着，有什么绳索一般的物体迅速而又精准地缠上了我的腰际。

I reach down to touch it; it feels smooth and slippery, like rubber. However, it doesn't feel like an inanimate object; it even quivers when I make contact, like some kind of sensitive animal.我伸手一摸，触碰到了某种类似橡胶的光滑质感。然而，那又不像是没有生命的物体，甚至在被我触摸时还微微地颤抖了一下，好像一只敏感的动物。

ProfessorThis is...这是……

When I look up again, I find that the others have similar ropes wrapped around their waists.再抬起头时，我发现其余几人的腰部都被类似的绳索缠住了。

???How are you guys, are you okay?怎么样，你们没事吧？

The same voice calls out to us again, and we follow it back towards its source on the shore. There is a green-haired agent standing on the beach, one hand holding onto a massive rock while the other is waving wildly to us.刚才听到的声音再度响起，我们循声朝岸上看去。只见一个绿色头发的智能体站在岸上，一手紧拽着海边的巨大礁石，另一边朝我们夸张地挥着手示意。

There is some distance between us and the spraying sea foam prevents me from getting a good look at her. However, I can still tell that she's dressed in a very peculiar way. She's not attired like the agents of Magrasea, but more like someone from the real world.我们之间隔了一段距离，加上飞溅的浪花遮挡着视线，没办法立刻辨认出对方的外貌。不过，我还是可以看出她的着装很特别，不像是云端智能体的服装风格，反而更接近现实世界。

The strange thing is... both of this agent's arms are occupied, so how is she controlling those ropes...?奇怪的是，那个智能体的两只手都有着其他动作，不知道是如何操控这几段绳子的……

???I... I can't hold on much longer!我……我坚持不了多久！

???I'll try to pull you to shore! But there's only so much I can do on my own...我在尽力地把你们往岸上拉！但光靠我一个人……

SolThat's enough! Thank you very much!已经足够了！非常感谢你！！

Sol shouts toward the agent on the shore. Upon hearing Sol's response, the agent sighs in visible relief.苏尔向岸上的智能体大声喊道。而岸上的智能体听见苏尔的回应，显然舒了一口气。

SolProf, I can take you up to shore with this rope, but I can only bring one person with me at a time!教授，我可以先靠这个绳子把你们带上岸，但一次只能带一个人！

SolMaybe you should go with me first...或许你先和我一起……

ProfessorTake Persicaria first. I can still hang in there.你先带帕斯卡上岸吧。我还撑得住。

PersicariaNo, Professor, you...不行，教授您……

Persicaria...You're right. Please hang on!……您说得对。请您务必坚持住！

Persicaria...PLEASE hang in there! We'll meet up on the shore.……请您务必坚持住！之后我们在岸上汇合。

Your temperature control systems can't maintain your normal body temperature anymore. Now isn't the time for us to be giving way to each other.你的控温系统已经无法维持正常体温了，现在不是互相谦让的时候。

Don't worry about me. We're just going in order. We're all going to make it.别担心我，只是先后顺序罢了。我们都能得救的。

ProfessorTrust me.相信我吧。

SolProf, I'll leave Anna to you.教授，安娜也拜托你了。

ProfessorNo problem.没问题。

Sol shifts Persicaria's weight to herself, then has Antonina take the freed-up space on the trunk.苏尔先让帕斯卡将身体重心放在自己身上，再让安冬妮娜扶住树干空出的位置。

SolAnna, stick with the Prof, we'll come to get you once we get to shore!安娜，你先和教授一起，我们上岸之后就来救你们！

Antonina...Got it.……明白了。

Assured that everything is in order, Sol finally lets go and shouts to the agent on the shore.确认了安冬妮娜的回答，苏尔终于放心地松开手，向岸上的智能体大声呼喊。

SolWe're climbing up the rope! Please hold on tight!我会沿着绳子爬上去，请务必拉紧！

???Leave it to me!交给我吧！

Holding on to the rope with one hand and to Persicaria with the other, Sol climbs toward the shore.二人说罢，苏尔就一手抓着帕斯卡，一手抓住绳子向岸边爬去。

The wind and waves slowly die down, and after making sure that the two of them won't be in danger on the way back, I take hold of Antonina, who's bobbing up and down on the water's surface in time with the currents.风浪越来越小。我确认她们两个在回去的路上不会有什么危险之后，拉住了在海面上随着水流晃动的安冬妮娜。

ProfessorHold on to me, Antonina. This way you won't be tossed around so much.抓住我吧，安冬妮娜。这样颠簸会小一点。

Antonina...Wait, let go of me!……等等，先放开我！

The intensity of Antonina's reaction exceeds my expectations and I hastily release her.安冬妮娜激烈的反应超乎我的预料，我赶紧松开了手。

ProfessorEr... I just thought it would be safer this way...呃……我是觉得这样会更安全些……

AntoninaNo, that's not what I meant! I've connected to Odile's signal!不是这个意思！是奥吉里的信号连上了！

Antonina struggles to bring up a glowing green screen in mid-air, her eyes focused on the constantly changing readings and curves.安冬妮娜努力用手指在空中调用出绿色的光屏，紧紧盯着屏幕上不断变化的读数与曲线。

AntoninaShe's under the bedrock in the center of that vortex!她现在就在那个漩涡的岩层下面！

I look toward the maelstrom's center as Antonina indicates. As the waves grow weaker, the fissure in the rocks begins to close up. Through it, I can vaguely see purple liquid churning within.我循着安冬妮娜的示意看向漩涡中心。随着海浪的减小，岩层裂口也开始逐渐关闭。透过裂口，我依稀在其中看见了涌动的紫色液体。

AntoninaHelp me thank Sol when you get to shore, Professor.上岸之后，替我向苏尔道谢，教授。

ProfessorAntonina? What are you—安冬妮娜？你要——

Antonina suddenly pulls off the rope wrapped around the waist. The green-haired agent on the shore exclaims in surprise from afar.安冬妮娜突然扯掉了缠在腰间的绳索。岸上隐隐传来绿发智能体的惊叫声。

In the next moment, she's already thrown herself at the vortex and vanishes under the sea foam.下一秒，她已经朝着正在缩小的漩涡扑去，转瞬间就消失在浪花之下。

There's no time to hesitate. I shrug off the rope around my waist as well and swim toward the direction where Antonina has vanished. The force of the vortex has greatly lessened. The swimming skills that I still remember from my training are enough for me to control the direction of my forward movement.没有犹豫的时间了。我毫不犹豫地跟着扯掉了腰上的绳索，朝着安冬妮娜消失的方向游去。 漩涡的冲击力已经比刚才平息许多。凭借我训练时掌握的游泳技巧，足以控制自己的前进方向。

Soon, I arrive at the outer edge of the maelstrom, with the fissure directly ahead of me. The gap that's left is barely wider across than a person. There isn't much time left.我很快来到了漩涡外围，裂口的正上方。余下的缝隙只比一人宽些，剩下的时间不多了。

I look around. Antonina is nowhere in sight. She must have dived below the bedrock.我环视了一圈，四周都寻觅不到安冬妮娜的身影，她一定已经潜入岩层下了。

Pursue Antonina underground.追着安冬妮娜进入地下。

Stop Antonina.阻止安冬妮娜。

I react quickly and try to dive underwater to stop her. However, the vortex's currents are propelling her forward, and we are separated in an instant.我迅速做出反应，潜入水下试图拦住她。但她顺着漩涡的水流前进，转瞬间就和我拉开了距离。

There's no time to hesitate. I shrug off the rope around my waist as well and swim toward the direction where Antonina vanished. The force of the vortex has greatly lessened. The swimming skills that I still remember are enough for me to control the direction of my forward movement.没有犹豫的时间了。我毫不犹豫地跟着扯掉了腰上的绳索，朝着安冬妮娜消失的方向游去。 漩涡的冲击力已经比刚才平息许多。我凭借记忆里的游泳技巧，足以控制自己的前进方向。

Soon, I arrive at the outer edge of the maelstrom, with the fissure directly ahead of me. The gap that's left is barely wider across than a person. There isn't much time left. I look around. Antonina is nowhere in sight. She must have dived below the rock stratum.我很快来到了漩涡外围，裂口的正上方。余下的缝隙只比一人宽些，剩下的时间不多了。 我环视了一圈，四周都寻觅不到安冬妮娜的身影，她一定已经潜入岩层下了。

To go or not to go? My reason tells me that I can't abandon Antonina, so I have only one choice open to me.进还是走？理智告诉我无法抛下安冬妮娜，现在或许只有一种选择。

I swim downward, and as I do, I open a comm window to Persicaria.我一面下潜，一面拨通了帕斯卡的通讯。

[Connecting transmission...]【通讯连接中……】

PersicariaProfessor! What happened!? Did Antonina get sucked in?教授！发生什么事了？！安冬妮娜被卷走了吗？

ProfessorNo, she swam there of her own will. She found Odile's signal down there.不，她是自愿下潜的。她在地下找到了奥吉里的信号。

PersicariaNo... She's being too reckless!不是……这太乱来了！

ProfessorOh yes, I think so too. But I also know that Antonina's not the sort of person who does reckless things for no reason.是啊，我也觉得这很乱来。但我也知道，安冬妮娜不是那种无凭无据乱来的人。

ProfessorAnd the fact is, we DO need to take a few risks.我们现在确实需要冒一点险。

PersicariaBy that, you mean...您的意思是……

ProfessorTwo people have better odds than one, and they won't risk as much as four.两个人的胜算总比一个人大，代价也比四个人小。

PersicariaYou're going down there with Antonina!? No, it's too dangerous!您要和安冬妮娜一起去地下？！不行，太危险了！

ProfessorRelax, I know what I'm doing. Besides, you'll be up here, won't you?放心吧，我心里有数。而且，这不是还有你们吗？

ProfessorYou and Sol should find the Sector Administrator. There's no way an ecological researcher won't know about such a large cave under the sea.你和苏尔之后去找这个扇区的管理员。海底藏着这么大的洞穴，做生态研究的家伙不可能毫不知情。

ProfessorThe administrator might know how to open the rock stratum. As long as you can do it again, we won't be completely separated.管理员很有可能掌握着打开岩层的手段。只要能再次打开岩层，我们就不会被彻底隔开。

Persicaria...Alright then, I understand!……好吧。我明白了！

PersicariaAt this point, all I can do is trust your judgment.事已至此，我只有再次相信您的判断了。

PersicariaPlease stay safe, Professor! Contact me immediately once you find Antonina...请一定注意安全，教授！找到安冬妮娜之后，就赶紧联系我……

ProfessorDon't worry, I will.放心吧，我会的。

As I hang up, the cave that's about to close comes within arm's reach.挂上通讯的同时，即将闭合的岩穴已近在咫尺。

I keep my eyes focused on that black entrance and hurl myself inside without looking back.我凝视着那紫黑色的洞口，义无反顾地扑了上去。

My visibility dwindles to nothing. Behind me, I can hear the lapping of waves slowly subside.视野归于虚无。身后隐隐能听见逐渐平息的涛声。

Barrier 壁障

The water currents in the ocean churn violently, and all I can hear is a dull gurgling. I try to stabilize myself, but the undertow has me firmly in its grip and it drags me into the blackness. Falling... I'm falling. The bright ocean surface grows more and more distant.海里的水流狂乱地搅动着，耳边只有沉闷的鸣响声。 我试图稳定自己，却只能被暗流牢牢吸住，拖向下方黑暗之处。 坠落……坠落。明亮的海面越来越远。

What lies beneath the hole at the bottom of the ocean isn't a vortex, but a massive hollow. Cold air licks at my skin, and before I can react, I am dumped into a pool of water again.海洞下不是漩涡，而是巨大的空腔。 冰冷的空气舔过皮肤，还没等我反应过来，我就重新坠入水潭之中。

The rocks above me crash together with a dull thud, until the last of the light is swallowed up.头顶的岩层沉闷地撞击在一起，直到最后的光也被吞没。

This pool isn't deep. I can poke my head above its surface just by standing up.水潭并不深，我站起身就能让头露出水面。

After some fumbling, I reach the water's edge.一阵摸索后，我爬到了水潭的边缘。

As my eyes slowly adjust to the dim light around me, I can fully take in this large undersea hollow. I look around, but there's no sign of Antonina.双眼渐渐习惯了微光环境，我看清了这个海下的巨大空腔。 我环视了一圈，并没有看见安冬妮娜。

ProfessorANTONINA! ARE YOU HERE, ANTONINA—安冬妮娜！你在这里吗，安冬妮娜——

My voice echoes through the cave, drawing forth multiple echoes.我的声音在洞窟里回荡，激出重叠的回声。

Several seconds later, I hear her voice.几秒后，我听见了她的声音。

Antonina...Why did you come down here as well, Professor?……教授，你怎么也下来了？

Try calling out to her.尝试呼喊。

Try searching for her.尝试搜寻。

I trace her voice to a figure on a rock in the distance.循着声音，我看见稍远处的岩石上有一道身影。

AntoninaI'm trying to crack this barrier. Find your own way up here, Professor.我在尝试破解这个屏障，教授你自己想办法上来吧。

ProfessorBarrier? Is there a barrier here?屏障？这里存在屏障吗？

Professor...I see you, give me a few minutes.……我看到你了，等我几分钟。

Since the conditions underground are not yet clear, I decide against shouting rashly. Instead, I start searching for Antonina with my eyes.地下的情况不明，我没有贸然呼喊，而是凭借目光搜寻安冬妮娜的身影。

This cave is extremely spacious, and a quick look around reveals someone atop a rock in the distance. Given the pale green monitor floating in mid-air near her, that must be Antonina.洞窟里十分空旷，只是简单搜寻，我就在稍远处的岩石上看到一道身影。 根据她身边飘浮的淡绿色光屏来看，这正是安冬妮娜。

ProfessorAntonina? Is that you?安冬妮娜？是你吗？

Antonina...Professor? It's me.……教授？是我。

ProfessorWhy are you up there? Did you find something?你怎么在上面，是发现了什么吗？

AntoninaThere's a barrier here. I'm trying to break it.这里有一道屏障，我正在尝试破解。

ProfessorI'll come to you. Give me a few minutes.我来找你，等我几分钟。

Several minutes later.几分钟后。

The rock Antonina is on does not look all that tall, but after climbing it, I can keenly feel the distance between it and the ground below.安冬妮娜所在的岩石看起来不高，实际爬上去之后却能感觉到与下层的距离。

ProfessorClimbing up here was hard, how did you manage it?这地方真难爬，你怎么上来的？

AntoninaOh, just a little trick.一点小技巧罢了。

AntoninaStill, I can't believe you actually climbed all the way up here in just a few minutes. I thought you were just tooting your own horn, Professor.居然真的在几分钟里爬上来了啊，我还以为教授你只是夸下海口而已。

Antonina...I regret opening my big mouth.……我后悔多嘴了。

AntoninaSo, why did you follow me down here?那么，教授为什么也跟下来了？

AntoninaOh, don't start with all that fake nonsense.别说这种假惺惺的话了。

AntoninaWould you make such an elementary mistake? I doubt it.你还会犯这种低级错误？不可能。

AntoninaNever mind. It was my fault for actually trying to get a proper answer out of the one person among us who's best at messing around.算了，向我们之间最擅长胡扯的家伙寻求答案是我的失误。

AntoninaTake a look at this, Professor.来看看这个，教授。

I'm just a frail, bookish researcher.我只是文弱的研究员而已。

Physical training is essential for academic research. 'Tis but my secret to professordom.体能训练对于学术研究是必不可少的，这就是我成为教授的秘诀。

As I approach her, I suddenly realize that though it's been drowned out by the green glow of her screen, operand is slowly oozing out of her body.我走近她，忽然意识到在那些翠绿的光屏掩映之下，她身上正缓慢地溢出算量。

ProfessorWait a minute, how did you get hurt?等等，你这是受伤了？

ProfessorDid something here attack you?这里有什么东西袭击过你吗？

I didn't want to let you run around unsupervised.我不想放你一个人行动。

Would you believe I slipped and fell?没抓稳掉下来了。

AntoninaYou could say that. It's too complicated to explain. Try hitting this rock over here.算是吧。说明实在太麻烦了，你攻击一下这些岩层试试。

As the glow of the Tactical Skill fades, a quiet sound comes from the bedrock above.战术技能的光芒一闪即逝，上方的岩层传来一声轻响。

In the next moment, the rock I struck glows faintly and my arm aches like it's been slashed by a sharp blade.下一秒，被打中的岩层微微一亮，我手臂上传来被利器割伤般的疼痛。

Professor...The bedrock can respond to attacks?……这岩层有反击能力？

AntoninaYes, it can reflect our attacks and it takes very little time to do it.是啊，它能反射我们的攻击，而且过程耗时很短。

ProfessorWhy didn't you just tell me about it?为什么你不直接告诉我？

AntoninaSeeing it in action is quicker than an explanation, don't you think, Professor?实践比说明要快，你说对吧，教授？

ProfessorYou should do it, Antonina.安冬妮娜，还是你来吧。

AntoninaWhat shall I ever do with you, Professor? Very well.真拿教授没办法，好吧。

Use a Tactical Skill.使用战术技能。

Let Antonina attack.让安冬妮娜攻击。

...……

With that, she jogs some distance away from me.说完，她小跑着和我拉开了一些距离。

ProfessorWhat are you running so far for?你跑那么远做什么？

AntoninaYou'll find out soon enough.教授马上就会知道了。

AntoninaCommence all-thread DDoS attack!DDoS攻击，全线启动！

Antonina unleashes a powerful attack, but the bedrock does not budge an inch.安冬妮娜的攻击如泥牛入海，岩层一动不动。

In the next moment, the bedrock she struck glows and operands surge out at me. My vision darkens...下一刻，被打中的岩层微微一亮，算量扑面而来，我眼前一黑……

Antonina...Pro... Professor? Are you alright? If you don't wake up, I'll have to smack you awake.……授……教授？你还好吗？再不醒过来的话，我就要用物理方式唤醒了。

ProfessorWait, I'm up... What just happened to me?等等，我清醒了……我刚才怎么了？

AntoninaMy attack on the bedrock rebounded and you got hit by it.岩层返还了我的攻击，你被打中了。

AntoninaNow you've personally experienced how I got hurt.现在你亲身体验过，应该明白我是怎么受伤的了吧。

ProfessorI believe I am justified in suspecting that you were messing with me.我合理怀疑你在想方设法捉弄我。

AntoninaHow could that be? I'm your most trusted network security engineer Antonina~怎么会呢，我可是您最值得信赖的网络安全工程师安冬妮娜呀~

AntoninaWhat's on your mind, Professor? Not going to try it?在想什么，教授？不打算试试看吗？

ProfessorFrom what I know about you, the fact that you're asking me to attack it in your injured state means that it is capable of reflecting attacks.你在自己受伤的情况下让我对它发动攻击，以我对你的了解来看，它应该具备反弹攻击的能力吧。

AntoninaTsk, they didn't fall for it.切，没上当啊。

AntoninaI knew it.是啊，就是这样。

AntoninaThe bedrock on the ocean floor is made of a special kind of operand, which is extremely dense.这个扇区的海底岩层由特殊的算量构成的，密度极大。

AntoninaI tried contacting Persicaria but I couldn't get through. I'm guessing its incredibly dense structure is blocking out communications signals.我尝试和帕斯卡通讯的时候发现联络不上，推测是因为它的结构太过致密才会阻隔信号。

AntoninaBut since there's no way to be sure that these weak points do exist, my first plan was to bust a hole in it, and my attack rebounded on me.但既然无法保证确实存在薄弱处，我的第一个方案就是把它打穿，然而遭遇了反击。

ProfessorWe've been through other underground passages before, but nothing like this happened.我们之前也走过一些地下通道，都没有遇到过类似的情况。

ProfessorCould it be a special feature of this sector?是这个扇区特有的功能？

AntoninaNo, there would be no need to disguise it as bedrock if this were an ordinary sector function.不，如果是普通的扇区功能，就没有什么将它伪装成岩层的理由。

AntoninaAll the other sector designs had their own functions. The fact that this jams signals AND repels attacks looks like...其他扇区的设计各有各的作用，这样屏蔽信号并且反击的功能，像是……

ProfessorLike someone is secretly holding something in captivity and is preventing it from escaping.就像有人偷偷关押了什么东西，要防止它逃离。

AntoninaAs you thought. I'm certain I can decrypt this and open up a hole for us to escape from.就是这样。虽然我有自信用破解的方式开一个洞，至少能让我们两个逃出去，但现在明显没有这种时间。

AntoninaAlso, there is just one other thing.除此之外还有另一件事。

ProfessorLet me guess. It has something to do with Odile's signal?和奥吉里的信号有关？

AntoninaIf you've guessed it all, does that mean I don't need to keep explaining?如果你已经全都猜到了的话，我是不是就不用继续说下去了？

ProfessorI simply thought you weren't the sort who would drop your pursuit of Odile so easily and spend your time staring at the walls.我只是觉得你不会放着奥吉里不追，而在这里研究墙。

AntoninaYou're really starting to piss me off...真让人不爽……

AntoninaBut yes, my tracking of Odile's signal has been severely disrupted.没错，对奥吉里的信号追踪受到了强烈干扰。

AntoninaRight now, I only have a very rough idea of how far away she is.我现在只能很模糊地知道大概距离。

ProfessorLet me guess, Entropic signals?我猜是熵的信号？

AntoninaShould I praise you for your clever deductions in a cutesy voice?你希望我用可爱的语气夸赞你神机妙算吗？

AntoninaLet's save that for later. Right now, we have something more important to do.还是留到之后吧。现在还有更重要的事要做。

AntoninaAt least you're well aware of our current situation.看来你很清楚目前的情况。

Antonina works quickly on her terminal, which shows several huge red dots slowly gathering together.安冬妮娜在终端上快速操作着，光屏上数量巨大的红点缓缓聚集起来。

AntoninaThey're here.它们来了。

Just as Antonina said, a strange sound comes through the air. It's like something soft and sticky scraping over the rock, leaving behind a liquid splattering, and also like a wet lifeform dragging its feet as it slowly approaches.如同印证安冬妮娜所说一般，空气中传来了一种奇特的声响。像是某种黏腻的软体蹭过岩石，留下滑腻的声响；又像是湿淋淋的生物拖着步伐，缓慢走近。

Through the faint light underground, we see the approaching beings. They have no solid shape and look like shell-less invertebrates.借着地下飘浮的微光，我们看清了靠近的东西。没有固定的形体，像是无壳的软体动物一样。

AntoninaFrom their code signatures, they appear to be Entropic creatures of some sort.从代码上来看，它们也是熵的一种。

One, two, three... More and more of these purplish-black agents are creeping in the darkness, and we can't get an exact count of their numbers.一只，两只，三只……更多黑紫色的智能体隐藏在黑暗中，看不清具体的数量。

AntoninaIf we can capture them, we'll be able to learn about these Entropics.如果能捕获，我们就能得到这些熵的信息。

AntoninaIf their reinforcements vastly exceed our expectations, we may have nowhere to run...如果它们的增援远超预计，我们可能无处可逃……

AntoninaWhat should we do, Professor?怎么办，教授？

ProfessorPrepare for battle.准备作战。

I wouldn't mind that.也不是不可以。

I'd like that very much, but we have more important matters to deal with.我很想，但现在有更重要的事要做。

AntoninaStill, it's not as though I came away empty-handed.不过也不是没有其他收获。

The memory of that purple liquid I saw on my way down comes to mind.下潜时隐约看见的紫色液体在我脑中一闪而过。

ProfessorIn other words, if we can find a region where the barrier is thinner, we can contact Persicaria?也就是说，只要找到这个屏障比较薄弱的部分，我们就能和帕斯卡她们进行联络？

AntoninaYou catch on quickly, but that's assuming we CAN find a thinner portion of the barrier. If we can do that, I could get the two of us out of here in no time.你理解得很快，但前提是确实存在这样一个薄弱的部分。如果能找到，我甚至不花什么时间就能带你破解出去。

AntoninaI've been trying to send comm signals all this time. If there are any weak points or if the rock splits open again, I'll find them immediately.我一直在尝试通讯，如果感应到薄弱的地方，或者岩层再度裂开，我马上就会发现的。

Turbid Waves 浊浪

AntoninaThe control signal is coming from that liquid Entropy source... But why is there machinery here?控制信号是从那个熵液源点里出现的……这里为什么会有机械？

AntoninaThe Entropy waves are about to start up! Professor, get behind cover!熵浪要发动了，教授，到掩体后面来！

Vigilance 戒心

???M-mission complete... Two targets have been successfully rescued...作……作战完毕……成功救起两人……

???(Whimpers) I didn't think... it would take so much out of me...呜……没想到消耗会这么……大……

On the beach, the green-haired agent is sitting on the sand, tugging on the black data cables that are scattered across the ground.沙滩上，绿色头发的智能体坐在地上，一脸委屈地拉扯着散在沙地上的黑色数据线。

Opposite her, Sol, who has just made it to safety, has her eyes glued in the direction of the ocean.而另一边，刚刚脱险的苏尔还定定地看着大海的方向。

PersicariaAre you alright, Sol?没事吧，苏尔？

SolAnna and the Prof went exploring underground...教授和安娜去探索地下了……

SolI've got experience leading underground expeditions too. If only I could have helped out...地下勘探的经验我也是有的，如果我能帮上们的忙的话……！

PersicariaI'm sure the Professor must have reasons for doing that.教授的安排一定有的道理。

PersicariaAlso, didn't you just save us? You've already helped us a great deal.而且，你刚刚不是才救了我们吗？你已经帮上很大的忙啦。

PersicariaOne person can't do everything by themselves, you know?一个人不可能独自扛下所有，不是吗？

???Yeah! It was a brilliant rescue attempt—I saw the whole thing!是呀是呀！刚才的解救真的很漂亮，我都看到了哦！

The green-haired agent has appeared beside the two of them at some point.那个绿发的智能体不知何时出现在两人身边。

???I've seen a lot of Dolls work in extreme conditions. What you two did just now was no less impressive than what they do.我见过很多在极端条件下工作的人形，你们刚才的表现，即使和她们比较也毫不逊色呢。

Persicaria...Thank you very much for your help just now.……刚才真是太感谢你了。

PersicariaYou're a... Doll, aren't you?你是……人形吧。

???Yup. I know you, Miss Persicaria of "Project Neural Cloud."是哦。我认得你，“心智云图”计划的帕斯卡小姐。

PersicariaI think I remember your file too. You should be Miss De Lacey of Svarog Heavy Industries, right...?我对你的档案也有印象。是火神重工的德菈赛小姐吧……？

De LaceyIndeed I am! You remembered my name after so long. That's everyone's leader for you.没错！过去这么久了还能记得我的名字，不愧是大家的队长呀。

SolPersicaria, do you know her?帕斯卡，你认识她？

PersicariaNot THAT well... All I remember is that she's a Doll maintenance technician.也谈不上很熟悉……我只记得她的职业是人形维护师。

De LaceyYup yup! My job is to perform maintenance on other Dolls!对的对的！我的工作就是帮其他人形做维护！

SolHuh, you must know a Doll's construction very well, then?欸，那你一定很了解人形的结构了？

De LaceyCourse I do! Make sure you let me know if you're not feeling well anywhere, Solly!当然了！以后你如果有不舒服的地方，也要记得告诉我哦，小苏！

SolSolly?小苏？

De LaceyIt was fate that we met. From now on, we're friends!相遇缘分一场，以后我们就是朋友了嘛！

De LaceyAren't you called Sol? That makes you Solly! I give nicknames to all my friends!你不是叫苏尔嘛？那就是小苏了！我对朋友都是这样称呼的！

SolHaha, then nice to meet you, Delly!哈哈，那以后就多多指教啦，小德！

SolHey Persicaria, I like her. Why didn't you introduce us sooner?帕斯卡，这家伙还蛮有意思的嘛！怎么不早点介绍给我？

PersicariaUm... Frankly speaking, I didn't know Miss De Lacey all that well.嗯……说实话，我以前和德菈赛小姐不是很熟悉。

Persicaria lowers her voice.帕斯卡压低了声音。

PersicariaAlso, she already had a clique of her own friends while we were still in the Cloud Sector.还在云图扇区的时候，她似乎就已经结识了一些朋友，组成了一个小团体。

PersicariaAs an outsider, I wasn't good at inserting myself into their interactions, so I don't understand her that much...作为外人，我不大好融入她们的交流，所以对她的了解也不深……

SolShe had a clique? But doesn't that mean she's easy to get along with?小团体？那不是更说明她好相处嘛。

PersicariaI suppose...或许是吧……

De LaceyWhat's the matter, Solly? What are you guys talking about?怎么了小苏？你们在说什么呀？

De Lacey approaches them and Persicaria hastily changes the subject.见德菈赛凑上前，帕斯卡赶紧转移话题。

PersicariaAhem. Well, since you still remember us, that makes things easier.咳咳。既然德菈赛小姐还记得我们，事情就好办了。

PersicariaThe truth is, we Dolls who were stranded throughout Magrasea have founded a group called the "Exiles" under the Professor's leadership.实不相瞒，我们这些流落在麦戈拉云端的人形们，现在正在教授的领导下，组建了一个名为“流亡者”的团体。

PersicariaWe came to this sector on a... um... on a mission.这次来到柯普利扇区，也是为了……嗯，执行我们的一项任务。

PersicariaSince you're a friend from the Neural Cloud Sector, why not join us and work with us, Miss De Lacey?既然同是云图扇区的伙伴，不知道德菈赛小姐愿不愿意加入我们，一起行动？

De LaceyHuh? I can join too? Thank you, Persicaria!诶，我也可以加入吗？谢谢你，帕斯卡！

De LaceyBut... I can only travel with you for a while. At the very least, I won't be going back to the Oasis with you.不过……我只能暂时和你们一起行动哦。至少，我不打算跟你们回绿洲。

SolEhhhhh? You'd rather keep wandering the cloud server alone?欸欸欸？你的意思是，你更想一个人继续在云端流浪吗？

De LaceyAw, it's not like that, Solly. Actually, I've got friends of my own here already.不是那样啦，小苏。其实我在这里已经有同伴了哦。

PersicariaFriends... What do you mean?同伴是……什么意思？

De LaceyWell, like you, this is our first time in the Copley Sector. I think we got here maybe half an hour or so earlier than you at most.其实我和你们一样，是第一次来到柯普利扇区，最多比你们早到几十分钟吧！

De LaceyI came here to look for my friend.我来这里，是为了寻找我的同伴。

De LaceyJust like you Exiles, I wound up working with some of the Dolls from "Project Neural Cloud" who got stuck here as we try to survive in Magrasea together.就像你们流亡者一样，这段时间里，我也和一些参与“心智云图”计划的受困人形达成了协作，一起在麦戈拉生存。

SolSo basically... there's a second Oasis?也就是说……还有第二个绿洲？

De LaceyOur base has another name. Hm... let's not talk about that for now.我们的据点有另外的名字哦。嗯……先不说这个啦。

De LaceyIn any case, we're collecting resources throughout Magrasea and working hard to survive.总之，我们也正在麦戈拉各地收集资源，努力地生存下去。

De LaceyNot long ago, one of our friends went to Copley Sector on a scouting mission, but then we lost contact with him...不久前，我的一位同伴来到柯普利扇区执行调查任务，结果就失去了联络……

De LaceyHis name is Sueyoi. Does that ring a bell, Miss Persicaria?他叫末宵，帕斯卡小姐有印象吧？

PersicariaYeah... If I recall, he was a Doll from 42Lab.嗯……记得是42lab的人形。

De LaceyYup yup. I entered Copley Sector to look for him.没错没错。为了寻找他的下落，我才进入柯普利扇区的。

De LaceyI was on my way to the Admin Center to ask the administrator to run a search, but then I ran into that tsunami along the way.刚才我正在去管理员中心的路上，打算拜托扇区管理员进行搜索，结果在半路上就遭遇了海啸。

De LaceySeeing those huge waves out of the blue really startled me!突然打起那么大的浪，真是吓了我一大跳！

De LaceyI used to work in extreme environments back in real life, but the real world never had disasters that struck so quickly.我以前也是在极端环境工作的，可是在现实世界里从没见过来得这么迅猛的天灾。

SolYeah yeah yeah! I couldn't react to it either. The tide just came in all of a sudden!对对对！我也没反应过来，潮水一瞬间就涨起来了！

De LaceyOh yes, you used to go on scientific expeditions before, right? I've supported field expeditions myself as well!对了，小苏以前是在科考队工作的吧？我也曾经支援过野外科考项目呢！

SolReally!? Then we'll have lots to talk about!真的吗！那咱们可得好好聊聊！

Persicaria...Sol?……苏尔。

SolUm... Ahem! Let's not stray off-topic. You go first.唔……咳！还是别跑题了。你先接着说。

De LaceyWell.... so I grabbed onto a tree with my tail and managed to avoid the first wave. Then I managed to fall back to a safe area in time...接着说……然后我就用尾巴抱住一棵树，躲过了第一波浪潮，然后及时退到了安全地带……

Sol...Your tail?……尾巴？

De LaceyThat's what I grabbed you with just now!就是刚才抓住你们的那个呀！

Right on cue, the black data cables which were draped over a rock for sunning suddenly twine up into a bundle and stand up with an audible "ching".德菈赛说着，刚刚还耷拉在石头上晒太阳的黑色数据线，突然汇聚成一股，“噌”地立了起来。

SolUwahhhh!?呜啊啊！？

SolThat... that's a tail...?这，这个是……尾巴……？

De LaceyYup, yup! See, I can wiggle it like this too!是呀是呀！看，还能这样晃呢！

The tail-cable sways back and forth in time with De Lacey's cheerful words.随着德菈赛快活的声音，数据线组成的尾巴也上下摇摆着。

PersicariaThis rings a bell. According to your profile, you performed maintenance on Dolls with a tail composed of multiple data cables.我有印象。档案里说，德菈赛小姐是利用数据线组成的尾巴进行人形维护工作的。

De LaceyIn any case, I found you guys lost at sea after that, so I came over to help. And you know the rest.总之，那之后我发现你们被困在海上，就赶紧来帮忙了。后面的事情你们也知道啦。

De LaceyNow then... since I've told my side of the story, isn't it your turn, Miss Persicaria?那么……我的事情已经说完了，该轮到你了吧，帕斯卡小姐？

De LaceyWhat is your "mission" here?你们在这里的“任务”又是什么呢？

SolWe...我们是……

Sol is about to speak when Persicaria glances at her sharply. She trails off hesitantly.苏尔刚要开口，突然察觉到了帕斯卡投来的视线。她犹豫地闭上了嘴。

PersicariaWe're looking for something here, but I'm afraid we can't disclose any details at the moment.我们是为了取得某样东西而来的，但具体内容暂时不方便透露。

De LaceyHuh... That sounds hard. Is there anything I can do to help?欸……听上去很辛苦呢。有什么我能帮上忙的吗？

PersicariaI'm sorry, but it probably lies outside your field of expertise, Miss De Lacey.抱歉，那应该是德菈赛小姐的专业领域以外的内容。

De LaceyI see...这样啊……

De LaceyStill, if you're talking about unknown things, I've seen traces of something like that, you know?不过，说到未知的东西，我刚才其实有看到类似的痕迹哦？

De LaceyI came across a big puddle of some kind of liquid on my way here, it looked pretty gross...就在我来的路上，有一大滩看不出是什么的液体，看着还挺恶心的……

SolLiquid?液体？

SolCould you tell us more, Delly?你能详细说说吗，小德？

De LaceyIt's not far from here. If you're interested, I'll bring you over so you can see!离这里不远，你们感兴趣的话，我直接带你们过去看吧！

PersicariaThis... This is...这……这是……

SolTraces of liquid Entropy, I'm sure of it.错不了的，是熵化液的痕迹。

PersicariaNot just that, Sol. Do you see this?不仅如此，苏尔。你看这是什么？

Persicaria bends down and picks a black feather out of the liquid Entropy.帕斯卡弯下腰，从熵化液里挑起一根黑色的羽毛。

SolA swan's feather... Could it be!天鹅的羽毛……难道是！

Sol...Odile!?……奥吉里吗！

PersicariaShe's commanding these Entropic creatures. Looks like our trip wasn't wasted.是她在指挥这些熵。看来我们没有白来。

De LaceyWell? Have you guys learned anything?怎么样？你们有发现什么吗？

SolPersicaria, I can tell which way they went from this liquid. Should we give chase?帕斯卡，我能根据这些液体判断出它们移动的方向。我们快点追上去吧？

PersicariaBut Miss De Lacey...可是德菈赛小姐……

De LaceyOh, it's okay! Don't mind me! Go finish your mission first!没关系，不用顾忌我！先去完成你们的任务吧！

SolLet's go, Persicaria!走吧帕斯卡！

SolWe found them! There's three of them in total!赶上了！一共三只！

SolGood thing these guys aren't fast.还好这些家伙的速度不快。

PersicariaThere's more liquid Entropy up ahead... Looks like they're stragglers?前面还有熵化液……看来只是几只掉队的熵？

PersicariaWe won't be able to obtain the source code from these Low-Order Entropics. But maybe there's a High-Order one with them.从这种低阶熵身上没有办法提取源代码。但也许有高阶熵与它同行。

SolThey spotted us!它发现我们了！

Sol draws her blades and cuts down the first Entropic creature before it can attack.苏尔拔出双刀，赶在第一只熵攻击前将其砍倒。

Noticing the commotion, the other two Entropics approach them. Persicaria summons up her operands and repels one of them while Sol cleaves the other in half.另外两只熵发现异动，也都聚拢过来。帕斯卡调转算量，将其中一只熵击退，苏尔顺势劈中了另一只熵。

Just as Sol is about to take care of the first Entropic, she sees black data cables circling around behind the enemy.她正打算回过头来处理最后一只熵，却看见黑色的数据线先她一步绕到了敌人身后。

De LaceyHah!哈！

SolDelly! Don't touch its tentacles!小德！别碰到它的触手！

De Lacey's tail is about to touch the Entropic, but then the former suddenly pulls up at the last moment and the Entropic creature's tentacles hit nothing but air. After that, the tail's mid-section slams viciously into the Entropic creature's head and sends it flying off into the distance.眼看德菈赛的尾巴就快被熵碰到了，却突然转而上挑，让熵的触手扑了个空。随后，尾巴的中段狠狠扫向熵的头部，将它砸出老远。

SolI didn't know you could hit them like that...还能这么打……

Persicaria...Are you alright, Miss De Lacey?……没事吧，德菈赛小姐？

De LaceyI'm fine! Are these your enemies?没事的！这就是你们的敌人吗？

SolDon't just rush up like that, they're a kind of very dangerous virus!你别突然冲上来啊，这可是很危险的病毒！

De LaceyEhehe, sorry about that, but I just wanted to help you out, Solly.诶嘿嘿，不好意思啦，我这不是想帮小苏的忙嘛。

De LaceyPlus, it just so happens that this is the way to the Admin Center, which is where I was headed all along.而且这条路正好是通往管理员中心的方向，本来就是我的目的地呀。

SolWait a minute... Did you say the Admin Center? The Admin Center is just up ahead?等一下……你说管理员中心？这前面是管理员中心吗？

SolCould these Entropics be going after the Sector Administrator?难道这批熵的入侵目标是扇区管理员？

De LaceyYup, and if the administrator gets infected, I won't be able to find my friend either.是的。如果管理员被病毒感染了，那我也没办法找同伴了。

De LaceySo let me go after them with you! If we end up fighting the virus, I can be useful too!所以让我和你们一起追踪吧！如果要和病毒战斗的话，我也能派上用场的！

SolReally? Would you be willing to help?真的吗？你愿意来帮忙？

SolThat's great... um...那太好……唔……

Sol glances at De Lacey, and then at Persicaria, and she suddenly makes up her mind with a nod.苏尔看了看德菈赛，又看了看帕斯卡，突然下定决心似地“嗯”了一声。

SolSorry, Delly, but this is kinda important. We need to discuss this for a bit.抱歉，小德，事关重大，我们两个还得商量一下。

SolGive us a few minutes.稍微失陪几分钟。

SolPersicaria, did you notice anything wrong?帕斯卡，你察觉到什么不对劲的地方了吗？

PersicariaWhy do you ask?为什么这么问？

SolBecause you were clearly giving me a look just now that told me not to trust her too much.因为刚才你很明显在示意我，不要太过相信她嘛。

SolI've been around you long enough to understand your cues.相处这么久了，我还是能读懂你的意思的。

PersicariaHm, yes. Well done, Sol.嗯，确实呢。你这次做得不错，苏尔。

SolBut why? She DID save us, so why do you seem so wary of her?但是为什么？她好歹也救了我们，为什么你好像特别戒备她？

SolIs it because of what happened in the Neural Cloud Sector before? Or because...是因为以前在云图扇区发生过什么吗？还是因为……？

SolI just don't get it... I trust your judgment, but I still want to know your reasons.我想不明白……虽然我相信你的判断，但还是希望你能亲口告诉我理由。

PersicariaThe reason is simple. De Lacey is hiding something.理由很简单。德菈赛可能隐瞒了什么。

PersicariaThink about it—when we first met, we never once mentioned the Oasis.你想想，我们刚见面的时候，一次也没有提过“绿洲”这个词。

PersicariaYet she just went and brought it up. Don't you think that's weird?可是她却直接说出了绿洲这个词，不觉得奇怪吗？

SolNow that you mention it... You're right!这么一说……确实！

PersicariaWe've taken over several sectors to date, so it wouldn't be strange for wandering Dolls to have heard of the Oasis.我们迄今为止已经接管了好几个扇区，有流浪中的人形听说过绿洲的存在，也不奇怪。

PersicariaBut then why is she pretending she doesn't know?但是，为什么她要假装不知道呢？

SolSo you're saying... De Lacey is keeping a secret?你的意思是……这个德菈赛有什么秘密？

PersicariaI can't be sure. Still, it's best to be cautious.我也没办法确定。不过，谨慎行事总是好的。

PersicariaSince she's got something up her sleeve, we ought to be cautious too.既然对方藏了底牌，那么至少，我们也该谨慎一些。

SolRight, let's inform the Prof!对了，先跟教授说一声吧！

Sol...What's wrong, Persicaria?……怎么了，帕斯卡？

PersicariaActually, I've been trying to contact the Professor for a while now.其实从刚才开始，我就一直在尝试联络教授了。

PersicariaBut I just can't get through.可是，信号好像总是接不通。

SolYou can't get through? But how...接不通？怎么会……

PersicariaRemember how we lost Odile's signal?你还记得奥吉里的信号丢失的事情吗？

PersicariaBut in any case, we can't contact the Professor at the moment, so it does seem like a very bad situation...但无论如何，现在不能和教授保持联络，确实是很糟糕的情况……

Sol mutters to herself for a few seconds.苏尔沉吟了数秒。

SolPersicaria, we need fighting power right now.帕斯卡，我们现在需要战力。

SolCroque's still waiting for us, and we've found traces of the Entropy. There's no way we can't give chase, but we might not be able to take on the Entropics with just the two of us.克罗琦还在等着我们，现在发现了熵的痕迹，我们不可能不去追踪。但是仅凭我们两个，又不一定是熵的对手。

SolWhile she DOES seem a little shady, like you said... My instincts are telling me that she means us no harm—for the time being, at least.虽然经你这样一说，她似乎确实有点可疑……但直觉告诉我，她至少现在不会对我们不利。

SolLet's just take her with us for now.我们就先带上她吧。

Persicaria...Is that the conclusion you have reached after carefully considering our options, Sol?……这是你经过思考后得出的结论吗，苏尔？

SolYeah, I mean... I did rack my brains, at least.嗯。我……也算是努力考虑过啦。

SolI'll keep an eye on her at all times just in case something really happens.万一真有什么意外情况的话，我也会时刻盯紧她的。

PersicariaI understand. You do have a point.我明白了。你说的确实有道理。

PersicariaWe can't just tread water here either. We're in a race against time.继续在这里犹豫也不是办法。我们还得和时间赛跑。

De LaceyAh, you're back, Persicaria.啊，你们回来啦，帕斯卡！

De LaceyHow is it? Problem solved?怎么样？问题都解决了吗？

PersicariaYou could say that. We believe it would be a good idea for us to move together.算是吧。我们觉得一起行动确实是个好主意。

De LaceyThat's great!太好了！

Persicaria...But it might be very dangerous. Are you alright with that, Miss De Lacey?……可能会很危险，你没问题吗，德菈赛小姐？

De LaceyAw, I've seen all kinds of danger in the real world. It'll be fine!危险什么的，我在现实世界已经见得多啦。没问题的！

PersicariaI see. Let's get along then, Miss De Lacey.我明白了。那接下来就请多指教了，德菈赛小姐。

De LaceySure thing! Let's be friends, Persy and Solly!好耶！那就请多指教啦，小帕，还有小苏！

De LaceyBeing with friends is the best, after all!果然，还是有同伴在身边才安心呢！

SolYup! Leave it to me, Delly!嗯，交给我吧，小德！

PersicariaSpeaking of which, did you come to the Copley Sector by yourself, Miss De Lacey?说起来，你是一个人来柯普利扇区的吗，德菈赛小姐？

De LaceyHuh? No...?欸？不是哦？

De LaceyActually, I came with a friend, but something happened halfway and we got separated.其实我还有个同伴的，只不过在半路上遇到了点状况，跟她分开了。

De LaceyHer name is—她的名字是——

PersicariaDe Lacey knows we exist, but we know nothing of the "base" she mentioned.德菈赛知道我们的存在，但我们却完全没有听说过她们的“据点”。

SolHmm... That does sound a little sinister...嘶……你这么一说是有点吓人……

PersicariaIn other words, we're one step behind her in both intelligence and counterintelligence...也就是说，无论是侦察还是反侦察，我们都落后于对方……

SolAh, you mean like how it came back when that bedrock opened up?啊，你是说岩层裂开之后，奥吉里的信号又连上的时候？

PersicariaThat's right, so that bedrock might be jamming signals...没错，所以岩层很可能有屏蔽通讯的作用……

SolI see...原来如此……

Calm 冷静

缠绕者Skreee!吼！

The "Twiner" shrieks in the ear-piercing way unique to the Entropics. The tentacles dangling below it suddenly tense up before it starts spinning like a buzzsaw and slashes at Antonina.“缠绕者”发出熵特有的刺耳鸣叫，散落在下身的触手陡然绷紧，继而如同电锯般开始飞速旋转，迅疾地切向安冬妮娜。

The tentacles tear through the air, producing a sharp whoosh.被触手撕裂的空气霎时发出了凄厉的尖啸。

ProfessorYour two o'clock!2点钟方向！

Antonina quickly darts back to the right while swiftly typing on her terminal. Data forms into a barrier in front of her.安冬妮娜边向右后方撤退，边飞速地在终端上操作。代码凝聚成一面光幕，立于她的身前。

She bends down slightly, eyes fixed on where the Entropic creature is attacking from, waiting to patch up the barrier the moment it breaks. However, the thing stops spinning the moment it touches the light screen. The Twiner is sent flying several meters by the intense collision before collapsing to the ground, twitching uncontrollably and sending sticky, light purple operands flying everywhere.她微微弯下腰，双眼紧盯着熵攻击来的方向，准备在光幕被击碎的瞬间对裂口进行重组。然而，触手在接触到光幕的同时便停止了旋转。缠绕者被激烈的撞击弹开数米，倒在地上不住地抽搐着，淡紫粘稠的算量飞溅。

Antonina...Hm?……嗯？

AntoninaWait a minute... These Entropics are ridiculously weak!等等……这些熵的强度不对劲！

Antonina condenses operands into a ball and fires the bundle of red light from her fingertip, striking the Twiner squarely in the middle of its torso.安冬妮娜将算量凝聚，红色光束自指尖射出，精准地命中了缠绕者的躯干。

缠绕者Hissss!!! Skreeeeee!!!嗞！！！吼！！！

Based on our experience in the Pierides Sector, an attack like that shouldn't even be able to breach the surface layer of an Entropic creature, but right now, it's left a big, charred hole on its body.依照我们在庇厄里亚扇区的战斗经验，这种程度的攻击连熵的表层都无法攻破，此刻却在它的身上留下了一大块焦黑的孔洞。

Antonina60... No, 40! Professor, these things only have about 40% the defensive capability of similar entities from the Pierides Sector! They don't even have 50% of their attack power!六十……不对，四十！教授，这些家伙的防御强度最多只有庇厄里亚扇区同类的百分之四十！攻击强度甚至不足百分之五十！

ProfessorMake use of the terrain and wipe them out!利用地形防御，消灭它们！

AntoninaGot it!明白！

Soon, Antonina has destroyed these bootleg copies of Entropic creatures. They dissolve into a puddle of fluid which seeps into the ground.很快，这些在我们看来仿佛劣质盗版的熵被安冬妮娜彻底破坏，化作一滩液体渗入地面。

Instead of fighting to the death like the ones we encountered before, the few who got away flee in a hurry.而为数不多的漏网之鱼也不像我们之前遇到的一样死战到底，反倒是匆匆逃跑。

AntoninaYou won't get away from me so easily!想从我手里跑掉可没这么容易！

ProfessorWait! Antonina, don't rush in!等等！安冬妮娜，不要冒进！

Just then, the purple-black tide washes in again. I pull Antonina back.话音刚落，紫黑的潮水再度翻涌，我一把拉住了安冬妮娜。

AntoninaThis annoying tide again... Tsk!又是这种烦人的海浪……啧！

By the time we find our footing, the sticky sound inside the cave has receded with the tide, and the cave grows still and quiet once again.等我们站稳脚跟，于洞窟里回荡的黏腻声响已随着潮水一并退去，洞窟里回到了一开始的安静。

AntoninaI saw this coming, but it's still giving me the shivers.虽然和推测的情况接近，但是这感觉真让人不舒服。

ProfessorThe tide's gone down, let's give chase.潮水退了，我们追吧。

Following the signal, Antonina leads us deeper into the cave.循着安冬妮娜对于熵信号的探测，我们深入进洞穴中。

The further we go, the more dangerous our surroundings become...探索得越深，四周的环境就显得越危险——

ProfessorAntonina, I know you're anxious, but you've been acting rashly ever since you entered the sector.安冬妮娜，我理解你很着急，但从进扇区开始你的行动就有些莽撞了。

ProfessorIf anything happens to us, there'll be nobody to help cure the epidemic in the Oasis.如果我们发生意外的话，就没有人能给绿洲治愈感染了。

Remind Antonina to be careful.提醒安娜谨慎。

Say nothing.一言不发。

AntoninaAlright... You have a point.好吧……你说得没错。

AntoninaOkay, okay! I know what you want to say!好了！我知道你想说什么！

AntoninaCroque and the others are pinning their hopes on us.克罗琦她们的希望还寄托在我们身上。

AntoninaI'll listen to your commands from now on and keep us both safe.从现在开始我会好好听你指挥，确保我们两个的安全。

ProfessorMm.嗯。

AntoninaSay something already!说点什么啊！

ProfessorDid you learn anything new from our battle, Antonina?你从战斗中获得了什么新情报吗，安冬妮娜？

AntoninaHm... The Entropics here are different from the ones which attacked the Oasis and the ones in the Pierides Sector.嗯……这里的熵与袭击绿洲和庇厄里亚扇区的不同。

AntoninaThey aren't fully formed yet. There's a lot of redundancy in their code, and they seem like some kind of prototype.它们还没有成形，代码冗余度很高，似乎是某种原型机体。

Discuss the Entropic creatures' forms.讨论熵的状态。

Discuss the Entropic creatures' tactics.讨论熵的战术。

AntoninaIn addition to that, they seem to be suppressed in some way. They're weak enough that we don't have to worry about taking battle damage.但除此之外，它们似乎还受到了一些抑制，弱到我不需要考虑战损问题。

ProfessorThey're certainly weaker than the ones we've encountered before, but they can't be THAT weak, right?虽然是比之前遇到的弱一点，但也没那么夸张吧。

AntoninaUnless...除非……

ProfessorUnless?除非？

AntoninaNever mind. I haven't thought the whole thing through yet.算了，我还没想清楚。

ProfessorIf I remember correctly, this is the first time we've encountered Entropics who voluntarily retreated, right?如果我没记错的话，这是我们第一次见到会主动撤退的熵吧。

AntoninaHuh?咦？

Antonina seems a little startled by my observation, but she soon regains her composure.安冬妮娜一瞬间对我的发现有些惊讶，但下一刻又恢复了冷静。

AntoninaWell done for noticing details like that in the middle of combat.战斗中的这种细节你居然都能注意到，真不愧是你。

AntoninaMuch as I hate to admit it, I realized one thing while talking with you, Professor.虽然不想承认，但在和教授的交流中，我想明白了一件事。

AntoninaI'm sure our objective lies here.这里一定有我们的目标。

ProfessorWe have an objective that isn't Odile?你是说奥吉里之外的目标？

AntoninaWhen I arrived underground, I picked up a very powerful Entropic signal, stronger even than Odile's.在到地下的时候，我就追到了一个非常强烈的熵信号，比奥吉里更强。

AntoninaAnd if the Entropics here are using tactics—that is, if someone's commanding them...加上如果这里的熵有战术——也就是说有人指挥的话。

AntoninaI'm fairly confident that there's a big fish down here that we're looking for.我敢断言，这里有我们要找的大鱼。

ProfessorSo you're saying that even if we don't catch Odile, we might be able to obtain the source code?也就是说即使追不到奥吉里，我们也有能获得源代码的可能？

AntoninaIt isn't a matter of "might". We HAVE to.不是可能，是一定要。

ProfessorWell, that's good news, but if we find it, we should contact Persicaria and the others to ensure we have enough strength to take it on.这是个好消息，但如果发现它的话，我们最好联络帕斯卡她们，确保战力。

ProfessorYou were just thinking about going off by yourself, weren't you?你刚刚又想去单干了是不是？

Antonina...Antonina's your one and only all-so-thoughtful network security assistant, as if she would abandon the vulnerable Professor and go after the enemy by herself~……安娜可是您最贴心的网络安全助手，怎么会放着需要保护的您不管去单干呢~

ProfessorLooks like you're really happy about finding a clue.看来找到线索真的让你很高兴。

AntoninaTsk.啧。

The underground cave is so big and empty that other than our footsteps, all we can hear is dripping water.地底的洞窟中太过空荡，除了我们的脚步声就只有水声。

We allay our sense of unease with occasional snippets of conversation until we reach the point where the signal stops moving.我们就这样靠着偶尔的对话冲淡心头的不安，一路追到了信号静止的地方。

AntoninaThis is it. Those Entropics have formed a herd and they're protecting their den in the middle.就是这里了。这些熵形成了集群，保护着中间的巢穴。

AntoninaThey're operating like bees... The drones protecting the queen, hm.这种模式像是蜜蜂之类的东西……工蜂拱卫着蜂后吗。

ProfessorSo that powerful signal is here?你说的那个强大的信号在这里吗？

AntoninaNo. I've given signals of this intensity their own label representing a small hive...不在。我给这种强度的信号做了单独的标记，代表小型巢穴……

AntoninaCareful, the tide's coming in again!小心，潮水又来了！

Just then, the purplish-black tide churns once more. Antonina grabs my sleeve and we both dive behind a nearby rock pillar to avoid it. Sticky sounds rush toward us along with the tide. The countless Entropics threaten to engulf us.话音刚落，紫黑的潮水再度翻涌，安冬妮娜拉着我在地面的岩柱后躲避浪潮。黏腻的声响随着潮水一同向我们涌来。无数的熵几乎要将我们包裹。

Antonina deploys her barrier again, barely managing to hold off the horde of Entropics.安冬妮娜再度展开屏障，竭力挡下袭来的熵潮。

—In the next moment, I notice a figure among the stalactites on the ceiling of the cave.——下一秒，我注意到悬浮在洞窟穹顶的钟乳石上浮现出了一个身影。

ProfessorHeads up!注意上方！

Antonina immediately turns the analysis lens on her terminal to where the figure is, but the Entropic attacking from ahead makes it impossible for her to split her attention.安冬妮娜立刻警觉地将终端的分析镜头对准身影所在的位置，然而前方袭来的熵不容许她有丝毫分心。

The murky figure darts out from among the stalactites.那个模糊的身影飞快地从钟乳石里析出。

Before I can see where she's attacking, she's already plunged down toward the Entropics grappling with Anna—在我看清她的攻击方向之前，她便已经从上方落下，袭向正与熵缠斗的安冬妮娜——

Speak up.出声提醒。

Remain silent.静静观察。

缠绕者Guh... Hiss...咕……嗞……

The Entropic that was in the air just a moment ago is now squirming futilely on the ground.上一刻还在空中的熵，现在却在地上徒劳地扭动着身体。

A lance pierces its body and the Entropic creature immediately dissolves into a pool of liquid that vanishes beneath the ground.长枪贯穿了熵的身体，熵转瞬间就化为了一滩液体，消散在了地面之下。

Meanwhile, the lance's owner expertly extracts her weapon from the ground, then turns back to glance at us.而长枪的主人熟练地将武器从地面拔出，似乎转过头瞥了我们一眼。

AntoninaThat's!?那是？！

Sensing danger, the Entropic creatures sprawled on the ground quickly gather into a group. As the tide surges, they shriek at the entity who fell out of the sky—盘踞在地面的熵若有所感，它们飞快地聚集起来，裹挟着涌动的潮水，向着半空中坠下的不明物体发出嘶鸣——

缠绕者Skree—吼——

???...Pathetic.……真可怜啊。

The tide surges to the ceiling of the cave in an instant, and the Entropics' twisted cries echo throughout the underground cavern.浪潮一瞬间激荡至穹顶，而熵扭曲的嘶鸣回荡在整个地下。

She swings her lance in mid-air and the spinning leaf blades at its tip move the tide of Entropics in the direction she wants them to go.人影在半空中挥舞起长枪，顶端的叶片旋转着将熵的浪潮导向她所想的方向。

After that, she puts her lance away and vanishes below the surface of the ground, like she was diving into water.紧接着，她收起了长枪，如同跃入水面一般消失在地底。

AntoninaSignal analysis complete... She's one of the Dolls from Project Neural Cloud!信号解析完毕……她也是参加云图计划的人形！

ProfessorDid... did she just dive underground!?她……她进入了地底？！

AntoninaOver there!在那里！

A lance quietly emerges from the center of the Entropic tide. The leaf-blades at its tip spin rapidly, drawing the surrounding Entropics into it.长枪从熵浪的中心悄然析出，顶端的叶片飞速地旋转着，将其中的熵绞入。

Several seconds later, the Doll lands amidst the receding tide and flicks her lance, sweeping away the few Entropics that remain.数秒后，人形落在渐退的潮水中，挥舞起长枪，几下将残留的熵也一并扫去。

As Antonina and I move up, the last Entropic is reduced to a puddle of fluid at her hands and vanishes.我和安冬妮娜上前时，最后一只熵也在她手下化为一滩液体，逐渐消散了。

ProfessorYou...你……

Before I can finish, the Doll turns to look at us.还未等我将话说出口，人形便转头看向我们。

Upon sensing our approach, the Doll turns to us.察觉到我们靠近，人形转头看向我们。

Her face is covered by her helmet and we can't make out her expression in the gloom. My eyes seem to have met hers for an instant. But just a moment later, she turns away.头盔遮盖下，她的表情晦暗不明。我感到自己似乎与她对视了一瞬。 但仅仅只是短暂的一会儿，她便转过头去。

???They'll be back. Be careful.它们还会来。小心。

As though to prove her point, the Entropics immediately start pouring toward us from all around in an endless stream.仿佛是要印证她的判断一般，下一刻，熵再度从四面八方源源不断地涌向我们。

ProfessorSince this is an emergency, why don't we try to get out of this together?情况危急，不如我们一同想办法突破这里吧。

Try to engage her in conversation.尝试搭话。

Remain silent.一言不发。

???Alright. I'll be counting on you, "Professor".好的。拜托你了，“教授”。

Sensing my gaze on her, the Doll looks back and nods to me.仿佛是感知到我的目光，人形回过头来，向我点了点头。

???I will fight with you. Please have my back, "Professor".我会和你们一同作战。接下来就拜托你了，“教授”。

In Brief 长话短说

De LaceyAnd then, and then? What did the Professor decide on back then?然后呢然后呢？教授那时候是怎么选择的？

De LaceyDid they take that unfamiliar Doll under their wing? Or did they reject her? What happened?是将那个陌生人形收入麾下了吗？还是拒绝了呢？到底是怎么样的呢？

De Lacey is walking cheerily ahead of the other two along the shaded path, her tail swishing up and down behind her.林荫小道上，德菈赛欢快地走在另外两人前面，身后的尾巴不停地上下摇摆。

De LaceyAw, tell me, Persy!快告诉我嘛，小帕！

PersicariaEr... Then... then the Professor...呃……然后……然后教授……

Faced with that nigh-irresistible wave of enthusiasm, Persicaria slowly finishes telling yet another story about the Professor.在她那难却的盛情下，帕斯卡断断续续地讲完了又一个关于教授的故事。

That said, she carefully omits any key information out of caution.不过出于谨慎，帕斯卡并没有讲出关键信息。

De LaceyOoooh, so that's how they solved the problem in the end?呜呜呜，所以最后是以这种方式解决问题的吗？

De LaceyWhat a brilliant move... Aw, it's so touching! (Squeals) I expected nothing less of the Professor!真是太高明了……真是太感人了，呜呜呜！真不愧是教授！

De LaceyI didn't know such a gripping tale had unfolded in that sector...原来在那个扇区里，还发生过这样精彩的故事啊……

De Lacey begins counting the stories Persicaria told on her fingers.德菈赛掰着手指，开始数起帕斯卡讲过的故事。

De LaceyRossum, Cyclopes, Helios... So you've conquered all those sectors in such a short timeframe!罗萨姆，基洛普斯，赫里奥斯……在这么短的时间里，就攻略了那么多个扇区！

De LaceyAs I thought... The Professor's as brilliant and wise as the rumors say! I need to write all this down!果然……教授和传闻中一样英明神武！得赶紧记录下来！

SolOhhh, you DO get it after all. The Prof is awesome!哦哦！你很懂嘛，教授就是超厉害的！

Persicaria(Sighs) I can't believe she's still hungry for more even though I've been telling her stories along the way...唉……我已经连续讲了一路了，她居然还没有听腻……

SolYou'd better be careful, Persicaria.你可要小心咯，帕斯卡。

PersicariaW-what do you mean?小，小心什么？

SolAt this rate, she's going to beat you to compiling Quotations from the Professor... Uwah!?再这样下去，“教授语录”就要被她抢先整理出……呜哇？

De LaceyPersy! I've already written down all the stories you told me. Go on to the next one!小帕！刚才的故事我已经记录好了，继续讲下一个故事吧！

PersicariaEh...? You want more?欸……？还，还要？

De LaceyYup! Tell me about the Enigma Sector!嗯！再把恩格玛扇区的故事告诉我吧！

PersicariaUm... Miss De Lacey, do you...know the Professor from before?唔……德菈赛小姐，你……以前认识教授吗？

De LaceyHuh? Nope?欸？没有呀？

PersicariaReally...?真的没有……？

De LaceyReally!真的没有！

PersicariaThen why are you so... er... interested in the Professor...那你为什么对教授这么的……呃……感兴趣……

De LaceyYou bet I am! I LOVE humans who treasure Dolls!当然会很感兴趣啦！重视人形的人类，我都很喜欢！

De LaceyAND I LOVE THE PROFESSOR WHO LEADS DOLLS IN THE CLOUD SERVER EVEN MORE!在云端领导人形的教授就更喜欢了！

Persicaria...Hng!……唔！

PersicariaI'll, uh... I'll have to confirm that with the Professor when we get back.回头……一定要再和教授确认一下……

SolPersy, Delly, I see it!小帕，小德，我们到了！

PersicariaThank goodness, I'm saved...得，得救了……

De LaceyHuh—But I want to hear more, you know?欸——我还没听够呢？

SolThere there, Persicaria will tell you more afterwards.好啦，晚点再让帕斯卡给你讲。

De Lacey(Pouts) Alright, alright, you're team leader after all, Solly—呜……好的好的，小苏领队——

PersicariaThank you, Sol... You're so kind...谢谢你，苏尔……你好温柔……

SolHahaha, I didn't think there'd actually be people you couldn't handle, Persicaria.哈哈哈，想不到帕斯卡也有应付不来的人呢。

SolHellooooo? Anyone home?你好——？有人吗——？

SolIt feels strangely quiet.总，总感觉怪安静的啊。

PersicariaThat's not right, very few Sector Administrators would leave their work area.不应该的，扇区管理员很少会离开自己的工作范围。

SolDon't tell me we're already too late!?该不会我们已经来迟了？！

PersicariaI can't say for sure. But there are no signs of a virus attack here, so we shouldn't assume the worst just yet.不好说。但这里现在也没有熵的踪影，还不急着下最糟的判断。

PersicariaOr maybe the administrator saw the virus attack coming and just ran away.或许管理员看到病毒来袭，直接逃出去了。

SolHm... In any case, we'll need to search around inside there.嗯……总之我们得先把里面搜一搜。

De LaceyLet me handle it. This is a great opportunity for me to show what I can do! Now watch this.这个让我来吧，刚好这也是我能大显身手的时候！你们瞧好啦。

With that, De Lacey's cable-tail suddenly disperses and expands, the individual strands extending into the various rooms and corridors around them.德菈赛说完，数据线组成的尾巴便忽然分散、伸长，朝无人的走廊探出。

SolWait, you can use it like that too!?还能这样用？！

De LaceyHeheheh, I used to perform that trick for my friends all the time!哼哼哼，这招我可是经常表演给朋友们看哦。

De LaceyI call it... the Tail Probe Technique!其名为——尾巴探测术！

SolThat's a surprisingly plain naming scheme you have there...好单纯的命名方式……

A moment later, De Lacey's tail retracts.片刻之后，德菈赛的尾巴又收了回来。

De LaceyHm... Doesn't look like anybody's there.嗯……好像那边没有人唉。

PersicariaCould there be a basement in this building?会不会这栋建筑物里有地下室？

De LaceyIf there were, there's no telling if the administrator is going to pop out from underground.要是那样的话，没准管理员马上就会从地下冒出来啦。

SolS-say what!? You make it sound as if the admin was a zombie or something...说，说什么呢！把管理员说得像僵尸一样……

SolUWAAAAAHHHH!呜哇啊啊啊啊啊！

De LaceyWow, she really did pop out.哇……真的冒出来了欸。

PersicariaAre you... the administrator?您是……管理员？

SolWhere did you pop out from?这是从哪里冒出来的？

PersicariaI don't think she suddenly appeared. It's more like she's been standing there all along. We just didn't notice her...好像不是突然冒出来的，只是不知道什么时候就站在我们身后了……

SolThat sounds even scarier!听起来更恐怖了啊喂！

SolWhew... No, no, I need to get a grip...呼……不，不对，我不能这样……

SolUh... Hello, Miss Administrator?喂！管理员……小姐？

SolSay something already!你倒是说句话呀！

???...Agents from the outside should not be here.……外来智能体不该在这里。

De LaceyAh, she spoke.啊，说话了。

???Please leave as soon as possible.请你们尽快离开。

SolUh, we've got a reason for coming here!那个，我们在这里是有理由的！

???Please leave as soon as possible.请你们尽快离开。

SolUm... We're very sorry for interrupting your work, but we really need to ask a favor of you.唔……很抱歉打扰了你的工作，但我们真的是有事想拜托你……

???Please leave as soon as possible.请你们尽快离开。

SolAw hell, don't tell me we've got another dork on our hands like the administrator of the Helios Sector.啊啊啊，完了。这怕不是又是赫里奥斯扇区那种呆子管理员吧。

???I'm not a dork...不是呆子……

SolShe spoke!?说话了？！

???Finding the right words is tedious...找话说，很麻烦……

???Please leave as soon as possible.请你们尽快离开。

PersicariaUm... Miss Administrator... How should we address you?唔……管理员小姐——该怎么称呼？

???... Taranum.……塔娜伦。

PersicariaWould you mind hearing us out, Miss Taranum?塔娜伦小姐，您能听我们解释一下吗？

塔娜伦No. Get out. I still have work to do...不听。快走。我还得干活……

PersicariaWe came here to find a friend of ours.我们来这里是为了寻找同伴的。

塔娜伦Friends... Are not within the scope of research.同伴……不在研究范围内。

塔娜伦Now go. I still have research to do.快走。我还要做研究。

Sol...For some reason she strikes me as a different variety of dorky administrator.……感觉这是另一种意义上的呆子管理员啊。

De LaceyIs it me, or does she look really tired? She's like a research Doll who has worked 96 hours straight...我怎么感觉她看上去很疲惫？就像连续工作了96小时的科研人形一样……

PersicariaHm?嗯？

SolYeah, she's kind of like the exact opposite of you, Delly.嗯，和小德你是两个极端呢。

De LaceyHm? Are you praising me?欸？这是在夸我吗？

SolIt doesn't matter! Now what do we do?是不是都无所谓啦！现在该怎么办？

De LaceyUm... Miss Taranum?嗯……塔娜伦小姐？

塔娜伦Please leave as soon as possible.请你们尽快离开。

De LaceyYou just said you were doing research, right? What kind of research was it?您刚才说，您是在做研究的，对吧！是什么方面的研究呢？

塔娜伦...Leave as soon as possible.……尽快离开。

De LaceyHmhm, we'll be going. But before that—let me guess, you're doing ecological research, right?嗯嗯，我们马上走。不过在那之前——让我猜猜，您是做生态研究的，对吧！

塔娜伦Yes. Leave...是。离开……

De LaceyIn that case, the undersea structure of the sector should be within your job scope, right?既然如此，藏在扇区海底的地下结构，一定也是您研究的内容之一吧？

塔娜伦...Undersea structure?……地下结构？

塔娜伦Never heard of it before. Now go.没听过。快走。

SolWait, wait, wait, wait! Don't go brushing it off like that! We saw the bedrock open up with our own eyes!等等等等！你别抵赖啊，我们可是亲眼看到岩层打开了！

塔娜伦Never heard of it before. Never seen it before. Never witnessed it before. Go go go.没听说过。没见到过。没看到过。走走走。

塔娜伦Won't be able to finish my research. Not going to listen to your nonsense.研究做不完了。不听你们瞎编。

De LaceyBut what if we're not making things up? Don't you want to figure things out, as a researcher?如果我们没有在编故事呢？身为研究者，您就不想搞清楚吗？

De LaceyWhy does such strange and bizarre ecology emerge at the bottom of the sea?为什么海底会演化出那种奇妙的生态？

塔娜伦Don't want to figure it out. Nobody asked me to research that.不想搞清楚。没人让我研究那个。

塔娜伦...Wanna go back to my room.……想回房间。

SolThat's being a bit too nerdy, don't you think...这也太书呆子了吧……

SolCome on, Persicaria, say something.帕斯卡，你也说点什么呀。

PersicariaUm... I thought of a way to get her to talk, but...嗯……我想到一个让她开口的办法，但……

Persicaria eyes De Lacey with uncertainty.帕斯卡看了看德菈赛，眼神似乎有些游离。

While the other two were talking to Taranum, she secretly tried to contact the Professor and Antonina again.在另外两人和塔娜伦周旋的时候，她暗地里又尝试了一次，与教授和安冬妮娜进行联系。

There was still no signal.信号依然没能恢复。

Persicaria scowls and finally makes up her mind.帕斯卡眉头紧锁，终于下定了决心。

PersicariaMiss Taranum.塔娜伦小姐。

塔娜伦Go.快走。

PersicariaYou said that researching the underground isn't your job, but protecting and maintaining your sector SHOULD be your job, right?您说研究地下不是您的工作，但维护扇区秩序，总是您的工作吧。

塔娜伦Yes, so outside agents should go.是啊，所以外来智能体快走。

PersicariaAnd we will. However, I can't say the same for the other things.我们马上就会走的。但其他东西就不好说了。

塔娜伦...Other things?……其他东西？

PersicariaYes. Actually, we pursued a computer virus called Entropy to this sector.嗯。其实，我们是追着一种叫“熵”的电子病毒来到这里的。

PersicariaAlso, we have reason to believe that this virus is now hiding inside the Copley Sector.而且，现在我们有把握认为，那些病毒已经潜伏在柯普利扇区内部了。

PersicariaSince you haven't heard of an underground region in this sector, it's possible that the Entropy virus has hollowed out the region below us, like a rotten tooth.既然您没听说过扇区有地下区域，那没准，这下面现在已经被熵病毒蛀空了。

Sol...Ew? Gross much?……噫？这么恶心？

SolBut yeah, it's because a bookworm like you doesn't give a crap about what's happening outside, that the Entropy virus could set up shop and take over this place!对哦，就是因为你这书呆子两耳不闻窗外事，才会让熵病毒把这里当老家的！

SolIf anything happens here, you're going to answer for it!这要是闯了祸，你可是要负责的！

塔娜伦Why?为什么？

PersicariaBecause ensuring the stability of the sector is an administrator's responsibility.因为维护扇区的稳定也是管理员的职责。

PersicariaSo please check the underground, Miss Taranum.所以，快调查一下地下吧，塔娜伦小姐。

塔娜伦...Don't believe you.……不信。

塔娜伦Viruses are the Sanctifiers' responsibility. Let them handle it.病毒归净化者管。丢给他们就是了。

SolYou... you really are...你，你这个人真是……

SolCall them over, then! Call the Sanctifiers over if you think you've got the guts for it!那你就叫啊！有本事，你就叫净化者过来啊！

塔娜伦I will.那叫咯。

SolGo on, call them! They're just a bunch of Lesser Sanctifiers. I can't even remember how many of them I've scrapped at this point...叫吧叫吧！区区下位净化者而已，我都不知道打烂过多少台……

塔娜伦They're here.到了。

SolEh? That was fast... hm?欸？好快……嗯？

De LaceyLook out behind you!小心后面！

熵化净化者Hsss...嘶……

An Entropized Sanctifier suddenly appears at the doorway. With lightning speed, Sol draws her shortsword and blocks its attack.熵化净化者突然出现在门口。苏尔以迅雷不及掩耳之势抽出短刀，格挡住了攻击。

SolThe hell!? You call THIS a Sanctifier!?搞毛啊！你管这叫净化者？！

塔娜伦...Huh?……嗯？

SolYou can take your "...Huh?" and shove it down your pie hole!“……嗯？”——个头啊！

De LaceySolly, I'll help you!小苏，我来帮你！

SolCareful, these monsters can infect you!当心！那些怪物能感染你！

PersicariaYeah, I'll provide shielding support.嗯，我提供护盾支援。

SolGood! Let's start by bringing it down!好！先打趴下再说！

Pulsate 搏动

AntoninaThe other Entropics are affected when we attack the High-Order Entropic in the center! This tactic is effective!攻击中间的高阶熵时，其他的熵也会受到影响！这个战术有效果！

???Looks like this strategy is effective on the Entropics we've encountered so far. That's great.看来这个规律对目前遇到的熵都有效，太好了。

???Can you cover me? I'll assault it.可以掩护我吗？我来突击它。

AntoninaLeave it to us.交给我们吧。

As the last Entropic dies, the liquid Entropy-infused tide fully recedes. The Doll pulls her lance out of the Entropic hive and returns to our side.伴随着最后一只熵的死亡，混合着熵化液的潮水彻底退去了。 人形从熵的巢中拔出长枪，走回我们身边。

???The battle is over.作战结束。

AntoninaPerfect and efficient. It's hard to believe that you only just started fighting these things after coming here.完美的效率，真难想象你是来到这里后才开始和这些怪物作战。

???I simply used my abilities to my advantage. The Professor's directions were very helpful.只是利用了自己的能力之便，教授的指挥也起了很大的作用。

???I might not even be a match for you in a one-on-one battle above ground.在地面上进行单兵作战的话，我也许还不如你呢。

AntoninaWell, neither of us were a Tactical Doll to begin with, so we're the same in that respect.原本我们也都不是战术人形吧，这方面彼此彼此。

???Are you saying that the Professor might have been even more efficient if they were commanding Tactical Dolls?如果教授指挥的是战术人形，效率肯定会更高些？

AntoninaPerhaps the Professor might have had relevant experience, no?说不定教授有过相关的经历，不是么？

AntoninaOh never mind... I knew you wouldn't give a serious answer to that.算了……我早就知道你不会正经回答的。

What's a Tactical Doll?战术人形是什么？

Hear hear, I've conquered many lands far and wide by leading an army of Tactical Dolls.没错，我曾经率领战术人形征战四方。

???Very humorous of you, Professor.教授是个很风趣的人。

AntoninaIf you've got the gall to call this "humorous", you must be utilizing the word as a synonym for "asking for a beating".这个样子如果叫风趣的话，风趣这个词就只能当作讨打的下位替代了。

???Hmm... Perhaps that method of lightening the mood was not quite appropriate.嗯……也许只是活跃气氛的方式不太对得上。

Just then, as if sensing my gaze, she turns to meet my eye.说着，她像是注意到了我望着她的视线，回过头和我视线相对。

???Hello, "Professor".你好，“教授”。

I refrain from recklessly opening my mouth. The unfamiliar Doll seems to hesitate a little. Then she smiles.我没有贸然开口，而陌生的人形似乎犹豫了一会儿，向我们露出一个微笑。

Hello.你好。

...……

???Hello, "Professor".你好，“教授”。

???I believe this is the first time we've met. I am Hatsuchiri.这还是我们第一次见面呢。我是初尘。

She extends a hand to me. However, our hands only touch for a very brief moment before she lets go and nods to us.她向我伸出手。但仅仅只是相握了一瞬，她便立刻放开，并向我们点了点头。

HatsuchiriMy companion Sueyoi's signal vanished here, so I came to look for him.我的同伴末宵在这里失去了信号，所以我来找他了。

HatsuchiriI didn't expect to run into others in this place.没想到会在这里遇到其他人。

HatsuchiriAs you can see, Professor, the bedrock up there is no hindrance to me. Unfortunately, I have not been investigating this place for long.如教授所见，这里的岩层挡不住我。只可惜，我到这里调查的时间还不长。

HatsuchiriWhen it comes to conditions deeper within, I might not know as much as you do.对更深处的情况，我也许还不如你们知道得那么多。

What are you doing here?你在这里做什么？

Do you know what's going on in this underground cavern?你知道这个地下洞窟的情况吗？

HatsuchiriYou want me to travel with you, Professor?教授希望我和你们同行吗？

HatsuchiriGiven the present situation, I should be able to travel with you for a while.目前来看，我们的确可以同行一段时间。

ProfessorWell, not just for a while. We've established a base in a sector called the Oasis. If you're willing, you can join us.不只是一段时间。我们在一个叫绿洲的扇区建立了据点，如果你愿意的话，今后也可以加入我们。

HatsuchiriHm... That is a great suggestion, but right now I simply want to find Sueyoi first.嗯……教授的提议很好，但是我现在只想先找到末宵。

HatsuchiriI will not have the luxury of contemplating other matters until this vital task is completed.在完成这个首要目标之前，我没有考虑其他事的余裕。

ProfessorUnderstood.我知道了。

Invite her to work together with us.邀请合作。

Remain silent.沉默。

HatsuchiriI'm glad you understand, Professor.能得到教授的理解真是太好了。

AntoninaWe're all Dolls from the Neural Cloud Sector. Surely exploration would be easier if we teamed up!我们都是云图扇区的人形，如果组队的话探索也会变得容易些吧！

AntoninaHatsuchiri, do you want to work with us?初尘，你要不要和安娜还有教授一起行动呢？

HatsuchiriIf the Professor doesn't mind, I would be willing to travel with you for a while.教授没有意见的话，我确实可以和你们同行一段时间。

AntoninaThe Professor's set up a base at the Oasis Sector, so you can keep working with us!教授在绿洲扇区建立了据点，你可以一直和我们一起行动哦！

HatsuchiriHm... That is a great suggestion, but right now I simply want to find Sueyoi first.嗯……这个提议很好，但是我现在只想先找到末宵。

HatsuchiriI will not have the luxury of contemplating other matters until this vital task is completed.在完成这个首要目标之前，我还没有考虑其他事的余裕。

HatsuchiriNow then, let us get along during the journey that is to come.那么，在接下来这段旅程里，我们彼此多关照吧。

AntoninaWell, since we're temporary allies, let's share what we know!既然是暂时的同伴，我们就来统合一下情报吧！

HatsuchiriAlright. [Now uploading synchronized information.] [Upload complete]... Have you learned anything new?好的。【同步数据上传中。】 【上传完毕。】……有什么额外的收获吗？

AntoninaGood news. The info Hatsuchiri gave us was useful. We can basically confirm the existence of a tree-shaped network among Entropic units.好消息，初尘提供的情报有用，熵与熵之间的树状网络是存在的。

AntoninaThey're different from the ones we encountered in Pierides, not just in their source code, but also in their command structure.它们和我们在庇厄里亚扇区遇到的熵不一样。不仅仅是源代码的区别，指挥方式也不同。

AntoninaThe Entropics in the Copley Sector know how to fight in unison, with higher-order entities issuing commands to the lower ranks.柯普利扇区的这些熵是上级向下级下令的模式，懂得协同作战。

ProfessorI see. No wonder the other individuals are temporarily incapacitated when we take down the High-Order Entropics.原来如此。怪不得打倒高阶熵之后，其他个体会暂时无法行动。

AntoninaI guess that's because they need some time for another High-Order Entropic to take over command of them.我想那应该是因为它们需要用一些时间来重新被其他高阶熵接管。

AntoninaIf we can afford to, we should focus fire on these hive leaders. That should make the remainder easier to deal with.如果有余力，我们应该优先集火这些巢中的首领，剩下的就会好解决一些。

HatsuchiriThat sounds like very useful information. Since there's good news, what about the bad?听起来确实是个不错的情报。既然有好消息，那么坏消息呢？

AntoninaThe bad news is that this is the fifth Entropic hive we've destroyed. The deeper we go, the more of these mini-hives we'll encounter.坏消息是，这是我们捣毁的第五个巢了。越是深入，这种小巢穴就越多。

AntoninaIf the number of these hives increases with every step we take, it's going to slow down our exploration speed.如果这些巢进一步增多，我们的探索速度会越来越慢。

HatsuchiriThat doesn't sound too bad.也不算特别坏的坏消息。

HatsuchiriIs the signal you're tracking deeper within?你追踪到的信号还是在更深处吗？

AntoninaYes, we'll need to go much deeper.是，我们还要深入很长一段距离。

AntoninaHave you found any traces of Sueyoi?你找到末宵的痕迹了吗？

Hatsuchiri shakes her head.初尘摇了摇头。

AntoninaI haven't been able to pick up other Doll signals either. Have you considered that Sueyoi might not be here?我也没有搜寻到其他人形的信号，你有没有想过末宵可能不在这里？

HatsuchiriThe last time we detected Sueyoi's signal, it was in the Copley Sector.我们最后一次搜索到末宵的信号，就是在柯普利扇区。

HatsuchiriAlso, comms on the surface were perfectly functional, so if there was anywhere we wouldn't be able to get his signal, it would have to be underground.而扇区的地面上通讯畅通，如果说有什么接收不到信号的地方，那很可能就是下层。

AntoninaWhat if you can't find him down here?要是下层找不到他呢？

HatsuchiriHe's here. I'm sure of it.他就在这里，我能肯定。

ProfessorIs he very important to you?你很重视他吗？

HatsuchiriHe is my companion, and also the only other Doll of the same model as me.他是我的同伴，也是唯一和我同型号的人形。

ProfessorDoes that makes you brother and sister?兄妹？还是姐弟？

Hatsuchiri...Brother and sister? Why do you say that?……为什么用这种方式形容我们的关系？

ProfessorIn human terms, a pair of individuals created by the same person would be called siblings.人类的说法，如果是由同一个人制造出来的两个个体，就以兄弟姐妹称呼。

HatsuchiriI see. Then I guess that would be the case.原来是这样，那应该就是这么回事吧。

HatsuchiriSueyoi is my younger brother and a comrade of mine, so I must find him.末宵是我的弟弟，也是我的同伴，所以我一定得找到他。

AntoninaWhile I don't understand the concept of siblings, I'm not going to stop you if that's the reason why you're taking this risk.虽然我不太能理解兄弟姐妹的概念，但总之，你有这么冒险的理由，我不会阻拦你。

AntoninaBut before that, I want to record the environmental changes in this area... Huh?在这之前，我要记录一下周边环境的变化……咦？

HatsuchiriWhat's wrong?怎么了？

Hatsuchiri queries and walks over to Antonina.说着，初尘向安冬妮娜的方向走过去。

Antonina...You should take a look for yourself.……你自己来看看吧。

HatsuchiriIt seems we aren't the first visitors to this place.看来我们不是第一批访客。

ProfessorWhat are you looking at?你们在看什么？

Hatsuchiri uses her weapon to lift an object wrapped in goop from inside the liquid Entropy and shows it to me.初尘用她的武器从熵化液里挑起了一块裹着粘液的东西，展示给我看。

AntoninaThere's a damper here that's been chewed up.这个巢穴里有一个被咬坏的阻尼器。

AntoninaLooks like it was left behind by a Resident Agent from a certain sector... We aren't the first batch of agents to have come this way, Professor.看起来应该是某个扇区原住智能体留下的东西……我们不是第一批来这里的智能体，教授。

HatsuchiriAnd the agents who came before us were probably devoured by those monsters.而在我们之前来的智能体，应该已经被那些怪物吞噬了吧。

Hatsuchiri lowers the damper into a pool of water and swirls it around a little to wash off the liquid Entropy on it, then puts it away.初尘把阻尼器放在水潭里荡了一圈，洗去挂在上面的熵化液，然后收起来。

AntoninaWhat's wrong with that damper?这个阻尼器有什么问题吗？

HatsuchiriNothing that I could see. It's just that when we return to the surface, I can return it to the administrator.我没看出有什么问题。只是之后回到地面的时候，我可以把这个交给管理员。

HatsuchiriPerhaps the administrator is worried about the disappearance of this agent, or...也许管理员也正为这个智能体的失踪而着急，或者……

AntoninaOr perhaps she already knows about all this. After all, there's no way a Sector Administrator wouldn't know about what's going on within her own sector.或者他已经知道了这一切，毕竟扇区管理员不该不知道自己的扇区里都有什么。

HatsuchiriPerhaps. But this is a work habit of mine.也许吧。但是这是我的工作习惯。

AntoninaYou seem very calm.你看起来很平静。

AntoninaNot worried about Sueyoi?不担心末宵的情况吗？

HatsuchiriSueyoi isn't weak. I'm sure he wouldn't have been devoured so easily by monsters like these.末宵不是弱者，我相信他不会轻易地被这些怪物吞掉。

HatsuchiriI must not let my agitation jeopardize my chances of finding him. However...我不能因为着急冒进，而错失找到他的机会。不过……

Hatsuchiri purses her lips. Her expression doesn't seem to be as calm as her tone suggests.初尘说着抿了抿嘴，神情并不像她的语气那样平静。

HatsuchiriProfessor, I'd like to move forward ASAP. What do you plan to do?教授，我想尽快前进。你们怎么打算？

HatsuchiriRight, we might be able to find more clues.嗯，也许我们能找到更多的线索。

We search our surroundings. We find some weapon fragments in pools of liquid Entropy, as well as fabric that has been severely degraded by liquid Entropy.我们在附近展开了一番搜索。 在熵化液堆积的地方，我们找到了一些残缺的武器碎块，也有被熵化液侵蚀严重的布料。

HatsuchiriThere must have been at least five or six agents here, and that's only what we managed to find... There are even the remains of Sanctifier weapons in here.即使只看我们找到的这些，就至少有五六个智能体……甚至还有净化者的武器残骸。

HatsuchiriNot even the Sanctifiers could escape the corrosion and degradation of the Entropy. It seems what happened here is more severe than we thought.连净化者也没能逃过这些熵的侵蚀，看来这里发生过的事情，比我们想象的还要严峻呢。

HatsuchiriThen I will continue scouting underground like before. I'll contact you if I pick up anything unusual.那就还像之前一样，我在地下进行侦查，如果有异样的话，我会通知你们。

With that, she sinks underground.说着，她潜入了地底。

As we proceed further into the cave, I hear a strange sound. It is a rhythmic tremor. Initially, it is very faint, but as we head toward the location indicated by Antonina, it becomes louder and louder, pounding on my eardrums like the rhythm of a heartbeat.在深入洞穴的过程中，我听到了奇特的声响。 那是一种规律的震鸣声，起初很是微弱，随着我们向安冬妮娜导向的地方靠近，那声音越来越响，如同脉搏震动着叩击耳膜。

I look to Antonina beside me. She's gripping the edges of her terminal tightly and her eyes are staring into the distance, into the unknown darkness.我看向身边的安冬妮娜，她紧紧捏着终端的边缘，双眼直直地望向远处未知的黑暗。

We're going to explore this place a little more.在这里多探索一下。

Let's go.走吧。

ProfessorAntonina, did you...安冬妮娜，你有没有……

AntoninaAiiieee!?呀啊……？！

ProfessorHm? Why the drastic reaction?嗯？你怎么这么大反应？

Antonina...It's nothing, I was just filtering out the noise from the signal returns. Why did you call out to me all of a sudden?……没什么，我刚才在过滤返回信号里的杂音。你忽然叫我是有什么事吗？

ProfessorDid you hear something that sounds like a heartbeat?你有没有听到什么像心跳一样的声音？

Antonina... I did, and it isn't just sound either.……我听到了。而且，不止是声音。

She indicates the ground beneath her feet.她示意我看脚下的地面。

The hard, grey rock is covered in bulges and grooves of varying thicknesses, crisscrossing over each other in a way that looks both like plant roots and blood vessels on an organ's surface.灰褐色的硬质岩层上爬满了粗细不等的凹凸痕迹，盘根错节，如同植物的根须，又像是器官表面的血管。

AntoninaThe rock is covered with these things, and their texture is similar to the rock, yet slightly different.岩层上爬满了这些东西，质地和岩石相近但有点不同。

AntoninaIt's like we're walking through some lifeform's nervous system.我们像是正走在一个生物的神经系统里一样。

AntoninaThe signal reaction is also growing stronger... Just how strong is it going to get?信号的反应也越来越强了……它的强度极限到底在哪里？

AntoninaHa-ha, very funny.这个笑话一点都不好笑。

AntoninaWe're approaching the Entropics. Why would I be scared?我怎么会在靠近熵的时候害怕？

She speaks with great bravado, yet her tone betrays her uncertainty.像是在给自己打气一样，她这样说，然而语气里却带着很强的不确定意味。

ProfessorIf you think they're stronger than we anticipated, we can always contact Persicaria first.如果判断强度超出预期，就优先联系帕斯卡她们。

AntoninaI know. I've put the task of cracking the barrier on the back end.我知道，我把破解屏障的工作放在后台进行了。

AntoninaMagrasea is a world of data, so why is there the sound of a heartbeat here...麦戈拉云端是数据的世界，为什么会有心跳声……

AntoninaIt makes me feel really uncomfortable.真让人不舒服。

HatsuchiriThe root nodes you're talking about exist underground as well, but they are not quite the same as you describe.你们说的根节在地下也有，但和你们描述的不太一样呢。

AntoninaThey're underground too? Could you bring up a section for us to look at?地下也有？能带一块上来吗？

HatsuchiriI'll try.我试一下。

Are you scared?你在害怕吗？

We can adjust our strategy anytime.我们可以随时调整策略。

A few seconds later, Hatsuchiri emerges from the ground, and the hole closes up behind her.十几秒后，初尘从地下钻出来，空洞随之合上。

HatsuchiriThey're not made of rock. They look like parts of some agent.它们不是岩层，看起来像某种智能体的一部分。

HatsuchiriI cut off a piece. Here.我切了一块下来，喏。

Antonina...This is the Entropic code structure. They're still animate, but they're not individuals, more like part of some living creature.……这是熵的代码结构。虽然还有活性，但并不是个体，而是什么生物的一部分。

AntoninaThe ones on the surface have already hardened. Are the parts underground still active?地面的这些都硬化了，地底的还保持着活性吗？

HatsuchiriIs that so? I can't tell, only that they can't be parted like the bedrock.是吗？我看不出来，只知道它不能像岩层一样被分开。

AntoninaDoes it affect your movements while you're underground?会影响到地下行动的效率吗？

HatsuchiriA little, but it doesn't really matter. I've encountered similar root systems when I worked underground before, all I had to do was cut them up.有一点，不要紧。以前在地下作业的时候碰到类似的植物根系，切开就是了。

ProfessorCan you analyze the signal they're carrying?它传递的电信号能被解析吗？

AntoninaI can try.我试试看。

Several seconds later, a soft, garbled sound emerges from Antonina's terminal.几秒后，低而含混的声音从安冬妮娜的终端里放出。

At first, it's just indistinct moaning, like a freshly-born beast. As Antonina raises the audio resolution, it gradually turns into something like a woman's voice.那声音起初只是模糊的呜咽，像是初生不久的野兽；随着安冬妮娜提高分辨精度，那声音渐渐变成了类似女性的声音。

You can hardly call it a language, yet it clearly conveys emotion—anger, sorrow, and intense desire...这难以称为一种语言，却清晰地表达出感情。像是愤怒，也像是悲伤，带着强烈的渴望……

...Like a heart howling because it can't wait to break free of the ribcage incarcerating it.……就像是心脏迫不及待地想要脱离肋骨组成的牢笼，发出呼喊那样。

Antonina presses the stop button.安冬妮娜按下了停止键。

AntoninaThat's what it contains...?就是这样的内容……？

Just then, the ground suddenly trembles again. The tentacle-like things gripping the ground begin to shudder, and small chunks of operands fall from the cavern roof into the pools of water.安冬妮娜话音未落，地面忽然再次震颤起来。紧抓地面的触须状物体开始颤抖，穹顶亦有小块的算量散落下来，坠进水潭中。

HatsuchiriAnother earthquake...? No, it looks like only the bedrock is shaking. What's happening?又一次地震……？不对，好像只是岩层在动摇。发生什么事了？

Antonina...The signal radius is growing... The barrier's signal jamming is gone!……信号范围扩大了，屏障的信号隔绝解除了！

AntoninaPersicaria, do you read—帕斯卡，听得见——

The tremor suddenly stops. Antonina's call echoes throughout the cavern; the light of the transmitter has gone dim once more.震动戛然而止。安冬妮娜的呼喊声在洞窟里荡开，而通讯器的光已经重新暗了下去。

ProfessorDid the signal cut out again?通讯又断开了吗？

AntoninaYeah, it did. Still, thanks to the abnormality in the barrier, I managed to scan further.是啊，又断开了。不过托屏障异常的福，我探索到了更远的地方。

AntoninaThis time, I've managed to precisely pinpoint the location. Not only that, I also know the exact disposition of the enemy forces.这次我定位到了准确的地点，不仅如此，对方的兵力分布我也看得一清二楚。

HatsuchiriAre there any Doll signals at the position of that High-Order Entropic?那个高阶熵的位置有其他人形的信号吗？

AntoninaSadly not. Perhaps the opposition has a counter-jamming system, because I picked up some noise in the signal...很遗憾，没有。对方可能有反干扰系统，捕捉到的信号里有杂音……

HatsuchiriNoise? What kind of noise?杂音？什么样的杂音？

AntoninaI'll play it for you.我放给你听。

Hatsuchiri...This is an encrypted message from Sueyoi.……这是末宵的加密信息。

HatsuchiriHe's trapped somewhere nearby and he's calling for help.他被困在这附近的某个地方，在呼叫援助。

AntoninaIt's an encrypted message?是加密信息？

AntoninaI can't believe there are encryption methods that I don't know about... No, I didn't even realize this was a form of encryption! When was this developed?居然有我不知道的加密类型……不，我甚至没有察觉到这是一种加密类型！这是什么时候研发的东西？

HatsuchiriIt's a special ability of our model. It's mainly used to transmit messages underground. Normal systems simply dismiss it as noise when they pick it up.是我们型号的特殊功能，主要用于地下传信，常规系统收到的时候都会辨别为杂音。

HatsuchiriSueyoi wouldn't use it under normal circumstances. The fact that he's using it means the situation must be very severe...平时末宵不会用，如果用了，情况一定非常紧急……

HatsuchiriI'm sorry, Professor, but we'll have to part ways here. I need to go.抱歉，教授，我们的同行要到此为止了，我先走一步。

AntoninaI don't want to stop you from saving your friend, but the signal I've been tracking is extremely strong. It will be very dangerous if you go alone.我不想阻拦你救自己的同伴。但是我追踪到的信号反应非常强大，一个人去会很危险。

HatsuchiriThat's alright. I'm stronger than Sueyoi in terms of fighting ability and functional performance.没关系。无论是战斗还是功能性，我都比末宵要强。

HatsuchiriI want to save him ASAP. Every second counts. If I make you hurry along with me, you might face greater danger.我想尽早救出他，每一秒都很重要。让你们跟我一起疾行，也许你们会面临更大的危险。

Antonina...I understand. Good luck.……我也能理解你的想法，那就祝你成功吧。

ProfessorWhat if the signal source is WITH Sueyoi?如果这个信号源和末宵在一起呢？

Hatsuchiri...You mean the High-Order Entropic might have captured Sueyoi?……教授的意思是，这个高阶熵捕获了末宵吗？

AntoninaNow that you mention it... judging by their approximate locations, that is actually quite likely.教授这么一说……从它们的大致范围来看，可能性不小。

ProfessorWe could only pick up his signal at this distance with Antonina's help. I doubt you've managed to pinpoint his exact location yet.现在这个距离下，我们是靠安冬妮娜才接收到信号的，你还没能锁定他的具体位置吧？

ProfessorAnd if our targets are not in the same place, we can still part ways then.如果我们的目标不在一起，到时候再分队也不迟。

HatsuchiriIndeed, you have a point, Professor.的确，教授说的也有道理。

HatsuchiriHowever, rescuing him is still my top priority. Once I verify he is not with your target, we will go our separate ways.但我还是会以找到他为第一目标。如果他们不在一起，我会和你们分头行动。

ProfessorHere's to jolly cooperation, then.合作愉快。

After clearing away the Entropics blocking our path, our vision suddenly lights up. The rock here is riddled with holes by purplish-black liquid operands. The wind makes a high-pitched and mournful noise as it blows through the fine holes in the rock.扫清挡在面前的几个熵巢后，我们的视野骤然一亮。 岩石被紫黑色的液态算量侵蚀得千疮百孔，风穿过石头上的细孔，异化为尖锐而悠长的声音。

Hatsuchiri...Is she the "High-Order Entropic" you're looking for?……你们想要找的“高阶熵”就是她吗？

In the faint purple light, I see a massive figure perched on a rock.在淡紫色的微光下，我看见了盘踞在岩石上的巨大身影。

Wait a minute.等等。

Her upper body looks just like any other agent's, but massive tentacles protrude from the tumorous growth that is her lower body, twitching and sensing the conditions of their surroundings. It seems she has noticed us, because she starts to struggle, as though trying to shrug free of something.她的上半身和智能体别无二致，但硕大的触手自她下身的肉瘤伸出，不断蠕动着探知周围的情况。似乎是意识到了我们的存在，她挣扎起来，仿佛要挣脱什么一般。

???Uuu—aaaahhhhh!!呜——啊啊——！！

Her ear-piercing shriek fills the underground cavern.刺耳的尖啸席卷了整个地下洞穴。

AntoninaAll the operands in the area are gathering within her! There's no doubt about it, she's the source of the signal!这周围的算量都在向她汇聚，没错了，这就是信号的源头！

Black Swan 黑天鹅

塔娜伦Looks like there really is a virus.看来真的有病毒。

SolI TOLD you it was real!早就跟你说是真的了啊！

De LaceyBut didn't you call a Sanctifier over? Why did a virus-infected creature come over instead?但是你刚才呼叫的不是净化者吗？为什么来的是病毒？

塔娜伦...Don't know.……不知道。

塔娜伦Maybe the Sanctifiers got infected.可能净化者被感染了。

SolYou don't say...真是听君一席话，如听一席话……

PersicariaIn any case, this proves that there's a virus in the Copley Sector, right?不管怎么说，这可以证明柯普利扇区有病毒的事情了，对吧？

PersicariaSo will you help us investigate the Entropy now, Miss Taranum?这下您可以协助我们调查熵了吧，塔娜伦小姐。

塔娜伦...It's a pain.……麻烦。

SolIt's your job as administrator!这已经属于管理员的职责了啊！

塔娜伦Fine.行吧。

塔娜伦What should we do?要怎么做？

PersicariaWe're hoping you can use your Sector Administrator permissions to help us find the owner of this feather.希望您能利用扇区权限，帮我们追踪一下这根羽毛的主人。

Persicaria hands the feather Odile dropped to Taranum.帕斯卡将奥吉里掉落的羽毛递给塔娜伦。

塔娜伦...Fine.……行吧。

塔娜伦Not too far, I hope...别太远……

SolLess complaining, more moving!别抱怨了快走吧！

Sol drags Taranum with her and out of the Admin Center. Persicaria and De Lacey slowly follow behind them.苏尔拽着塔娜伦，走出了管理员中心。帕斯卡和德菈赛慢慢跟在她们后面。

PersicariaMiss De Lacey.德菈赛小姐。

De LaceyWhat's up, Persy?怎么了小帕？

PersicariaAre you okay? This was your first time fighting those monsters. They're quite a handful, aren't they?你刚才没事吧？第一次和那种怪物作战，很难对付吧？

De LaceyAw, I'm fine. Don't dismiss me based on my looks. I'm a pretty good fighter, you know?不要紧哦。别看我这样子，可是很能打的！

De LaceyIf we have a chance later on, I'll tell you all about how I wrestled a brown bear while I was a roving Doll mechanic!下次有机会，给小帕讲讲当年我随队当人形维护师的时候，和棕熊搏斗的故事吧！

De LaceyIf only the Professor could also be there to hear the story...要是到时候教授也能在场就好了……真想让也听听哇……

PersicariaUm... Hopefully you'll get the chance.嗯……希望有机会呢。

SolAre you SURE it's this way?确定是这个方向吗？

塔娜伦Yup.嗯。

SolIt feels like we're back at the beach from before. See, that's where we got swept away.这好像又回到刚才的海滩了啊。喏，我们就是在那里被卷走的。

SolHey, are you seeing anything unusual along this stretch?喂，你有在这一带发现什么异常吗？

塔娜伦...No. I wanna go home.……看不出。想回去。

SolWill you be serious about this!你认真点看！

De LaceyAny further forward and you'll end up in the sea.再往前走就是大海了哎。

De LaceyIf we can't find anyone even after coming all this way...如果追到这里也没找到的话……

De LaceyMaybe the person you're looking for was swept away by the tsunami in the first place?会不会，你们要找的人也被一开始的海啸给卷走了？

SolHm... But we didn't see her back then.唔……但我们那时候没看见她啊。

SolShe looks half-human, half-Entropic. I'd recognize her even if she were turned into ash!那家伙长了一副半人半熵的诡异样子，化成灰我也不会看漏的！

Suddenly, Taranum tenses up, as if she's noticed something.突然，塔娜伦好像是注意到了什么的样子，浑身一个激灵。

SolHey... What are you looking at me for?喂……你看我干嘛？

PersicariaWhat's that behind there?那后面有什么吗？

Taranum doesn't answer. Instead, she pulls herself free from Sol's grip and starts running toward the sea.塔娜伦没有答话，而是猛地甩开苏尔的手，朝着大海的方向跑了起来。

SolHey hey hey! What the heck are you doing!?喂喂喂！你干什么！

SolGot you!逮到你了！

Sol catches up to Taranum and pins her arms to her sides.苏尔追上塔娜伦，死死钳住了她的双手。

塔娜伦...Ow. Be gentle.……疼。轻点。

SolI'll be gentle when you stop pulling stunts like that.你别耍滑头，我才能轻点。

SolNow talk, why did you run off?快说，为什么偷跑？

塔娜伦...Need to hurry.……必须尽快。

SolHurry? For what?尽快？尽快什么？

塔娜伦Need to hurry, need to hurry...必须尽快，必须尽快……

SolUgh... She's stronger than she looks!? What's going on?唔唔唔……这家伙哪来这么大力气挣扎啊？！到底怎么回事啊？

Sol...Persicaria?……帕斯卡？

PersicariaHang on, Sol.稍等一下，苏尔。

PersicariaIt's a transmission from Antonina... They got through for just a second!安冬妮娜的通讯……刚刚有一瞬间接通了！

SolReally!? What did she say?真的吗！她说了什么？

PersicariaThey didn't say anything... The signal cut off before she could speak.没有……她还没来得及说话，信号就又断掉了。

PersicariaAll I heard was some noise, as well as... something that sounded like a heartbeat.我只能听见一点杂音，还有一些……好像心跳声一样的怪响……

SolW-what are you saying, Persicaria? Why would there be a heartbeat on the cloud server...?你、你在说什么呢帕斯卡，云端哪里会有心跳……？

PersicariaI don't know... I'm more concerned about how comms got restored temporarily.我不知道……但我更在意通讯是怎么恢复的。

De LaceyMaybe there's an underground entrance nearby, so the signal got better?该不会是因为这附近存在一个地下入口，所以信号更好吧？

De LaceyI experienced something like that in the past when I was working underground with my friends.我以前也有过类似的经历哦，和同伴在地下工作的时候。

SolYou really can do anything, Delly!小德你还真是什么都会啊！

PersicariaIn that case, should we get closer to the sea?既然如此，我们要不再靠近海面一点？

PersicariaMaybe we'll be able to contact the Professor and the others again...或许就能重新和教授们取得联络……

SolHang on, Persicaria. Don't get so worked up whenever the Professor's name comes up.等等帕斯卡，你别一涉及到教授就那么紧张。

SolI know what you're thinking, that something must have happened underground if comms were suddenly restored.我理解你的想法，联络突然接通，可能是下面发生了什么情况。

SolBut our priority right now is to find Odile. If she's still hiding nearby, she could ambush us at any time.但我们的当务之急是追踪奥吉里。如果她还潜伏在附近，随时有可能向我们发起攻击。

SolToo late? What are you talking about!?来不及了？你到底在说什么？！

塔娜伦She's here.来了。

SolWait. Do you mean...你是指……

Before Sol can finish, she senses a gaze on her back. Practically on instinct, she ducks to the side.苏尔的话还没说完，便感到身后被某种视线刺中了。几乎是凭借直觉一般，她向侧面做了一个下腰。

Black claws whistle past her ears.漆黑的利爪，带着风声从她耳边掠过。

SolHah!哈！

Then riding her momentum, she does a flip and lands a kick on the attacking black shadow.下一个瞬间，苏尔顺势翻了个跟头，一脚踢在来袭的黑影上。

Not expecting the blow, the figure is sent flying several meters away.黑影吃了这意外的一击，被踢出数米远。

帕斯卡&德菈赛Sol! / Solly!苏尔！/小苏！

SolI'm fine! Take care of the administrator!我没事！你们保护好管理员！

Sol draws her twin blades and plants herself between the shadow and the others. After being kicked into the shallow waters, the ambusher slowly rises and reveals her true identity.苏尔说着拔出双刀，立在黑影和其他人中间。 被踢翻在浅滩里的偷袭者，此时缓缓爬起，露出了真面目。

Sol...Odile.……奥吉里。

The dark purple on the former administrator of the art sector seems deeper than before, and the traces of her bestial metamorphosis are more obvious too.昔日的艺术扇区管理员，此时身上的暗紫色已经比之前还要深沉，兽化的痕迹也更为明显。

Seawater and cloudy liquid Entropy mix together and drips off strands of her hair.海水和浑浊的熵化液混在一起，一滴滴从她的头发上滴落。

塔娜伦This is... Black Swan...这是……黑天鹅……

De LaceyThis individual doesn't look like the Sanctifier we saw before...这个个体，看上去和刚才的净化者不一样……

De LaceyDo you know her, Solly?小苏，你们认识她？

SolYeah, she was once a Sector Administrator.嗯，她曾是一个扇区的管理员。

SolWe have... a history.与我们……有些渊源。

Just as Sol is about to face off with Odile, Odile waves her hand. Several Low-Order Entropic individuals then crawl out of the ocean, baring their claws and fangs as they approach.苏尔正打算与奥吉里对峙，奥吉里却突然把手一挥。 紧接着，几只低阶熵个体从海里钻出，张牙舞爪地向前逼近。

SolSo that's where you were hiding... Are you cowards or what?原来刚才躲在那种地方……你们是缩头乌龟吗？

SolSince you've showed up, let's have a good, clean fight!既然现身了就和我老老实实打一场啊！

Odile ignores Sol. She spreads her black wings and her feet slowly lift off the ground.奥吉里并没有理会苏尔。她张开黑色的翅膀，双脚逐渐离开沙地。

SolOh no you don't!想逃吗！

Sol tries to run up and intercept Odile, but an Entropic creature is already charging at her, forcing her to hack away its attacking tentacles with a swing of her blade. When she looks again, Odile has already flown over everyone's heads, heading for land.苏尔想冲上前拦截奥吉里，然而一只熵已经发起了冲锋。她只得先一刀砍断熵伸来的触须。再看时，奥吉里已经掠过众人头顶，向着陆地的方向飞去。

More rustling comes from behind her. The Entropic individuals lying in ambush within the shallows emerge en masse, leaving Sol too busy to worry about anything else.身后传来越来越多窸窸窣窣的声音。埋伏在浅滩下的熵个体，开始集体爬出，让苏尔首尾不能相顾。

Persicaria and De Lacey take up fighting stances too.帕斯卡和德菈赛也各自做好了备战态势。

De LaceySolly! We're coming to help you!小苏，我们来援助你！

SolI'm leaving those few over there to you, Delly!那这几只就拜托你了，小德！

SolShe's trying to use them to buy herself time! Don't let her get her way!她想用手下拖延时间。不能让她得逞！

SolPersicaria, I need shield support!帕斯卡，给我护盾支援！

PersicariaOn it!已经给到了！

SolHere we go—好嘞——

Sol steps on the head of a nearby Entropic and uses it to launch herself toward Odile. However, Odile is just a bit higher than Sol and her chop hits nothing but air.苏尔说着，一脚踏在临近的一只熵头顶，借力一蹬，跳向奥吉里。 然而，奥吉里飞行的高度还是更高一些，苏尔的砍击扑了个空。

SolGO, DAMMIT!走你！

Just as she's about to fall, Sol drops her shorter weapon and launches it with a kick.即将下落之际，苏尔松开短刀，用脚朝着刀背一踢。

奥吉里Ugh!!唔！！

The blade completes a revolution in the air and the hilt hits Odile in the abdomen. She immediately starts spiraling unsteadily toward the ground.刀在空中转了一圈，刀把击中了奥吉里的腹部。她立刻摇摇晃晃地向地面滑翔而去。

SolGot her!打中了！

De LaceyWe're done over here!我们这边也基本解决了！

SolYeah, that should have hurt her. We'll head this way and pursue her!嗯，这下应该伤到她了。我们朝着这条路追！

PersicariaLook out, Sol! From the quantities of liquid Entropy we found earlier, those probably aren't all the forces she brought along.小心点，苏尔！从之前发现的熵化液的量看来，她带来的兵力不应该只有这么点。

PersicariaThere might be Entropics covering her retreat along this path!这条路上可能也有负责断后的熵！

SolYeah! Got it!嗯！我知道了！

As though to validate Persicaria's guess, Entropic creatures really start emerging from either side of the path.仿佛要印证帕斯卡的猜测一般，道路两旁真的冒出了熵。

SolPiece of cake!这种程度绰绰有余！

SolSEARING—疾焰——

Sol casts the flames on both her swords forward and annihilates the group blocking her path.苏尔挥动双刀上的火焰，将拦路的杂兵尽数消灭。

塔娜伦Must hur...必须尽……

塔娜伦No... It's too late.不行……来不及了。

Taranum, who has been struggling in Sol's arms all this time, suddenly stops and stares dumbly at the sea.一直在苏尔手中不停挣扎的塔娜伦突然停了下来，呆呆地望向大海。

Child 稚子

???Uu—ahhh—呜啊——啊——

AntoninaHer tentacles are too hard to handle!她的触手太难缠了……！

Several massive tentacles thrash wildly in an area around the High-Order Entropic, easily breaking up our offensive.数条巨大的触手以高阶熵为核心展开范围攻击，轻而易举地化解了我们的攻势。

AntoninaIf only we could get close...要是能有近身的机会……

HatsuchiriGot it. Mind your front.我明白了。注意前面。

AntoninaThe front?前面？

Hatsuchiri doesn't answer. Instead, she splits a tentacle in front of her in two with a swing of her spear before leaping into the ground again.初尘没有回答，挥舞着长枪将前方的触手一分为二，闪身再度跃入地面。

—And in the next moment, she appears in front of Antonina.——下一刻，她便出现在了安冬妮娜的前方。

Crash!嘎啦——

Right after Hatsuchiri appears, tentacles burst through the ground behind her. However, Anna's code packets fly out at almost the same time and swiftly immobilize them.紧随着初尘的出现，后方的触手破土而出。然而安冬妮娜的代码几乎同时发出，迅速地将其禁锢。

AntoninaBinding code!禁锢代码！

Whoosh!唰！

At the same time, Hatsuchiri's spear pierces through the tentacle grappling with Anna. Hatsuchiri grabs Anna and instantly switches positions with her.与此同时，初尘的长枪贯穿了与安冬妮娜缠斗的触手。初尘一把拉住了安冬妮娜，在瞬间与她交换了位置。

HatsuchiriIt's up to you!交给你了！

AntoninaThis is close enough! Analyzing target... Binding program ready!这个距离足够了！对象解析……禁锢程序准备！

The massive High-Order Entropic seems to have sensed something and turns toward us. The ground bulges up and splits open, and the sound of cracking rocks fills our ears. The dull, heavy heartbeat grows more intense and even the ground trembles, like we were stepping on a raw, live heart.巨大的高阶熵似乎察觉到了什么，向着我们的方向转头。地面鼓起的部分裂开，岩石破碎的声音不绝于耳。 沉闷的鼓动声愈加剧烈，连地面也微微震颤着，像是踩着一颗鲜活的心脏。

AntoninaCommence all-thread DDOS attack!DDoS攻击，全线启动！

???...Hng...?……唔……？

The High-Order Entropic puts up no resistance as Antonina pins her to the spot.高阶熵毫不反抗地被安冬妮娜禁锢在原地。

She tilts her head and looks toward Antonina with confusion.她歪了歪头，目光投向安冬妮娜的方向，脸上流露出如同沉思的神色。

???D... OS...D……os……

ProfessorLook out!小心！

Hatsuchiri rushes forward and grabs Antonina's arm as I let out a warning cry. Both of them roll to the side.我喊出声的同时，初尘猛然向前一步，扯住了安冬妮娜的手臂。两人一起向旁边滚倒。

A tentacle suddenly erupts out of the ground where Antonina was standing. Its tip blindly quests through the air for a bit before disappearing back underground.一条触手从安冬妮娜刚才站着的位置裂地而出，尖端茫然地在空中探了一轮，又缩回地底。

Antonina...Thank you. I can't believe she could reach so far...……谢谢你。这家伙的攻击范围居然有这么广……

HatsuchiriNo problem. You also helped me with those underground tentacles earlier.没关系，刚才地下的触须也多亏你了。

AntoninaSpeaking of which... Did she just parrot what I said?话说……她刚刚是不是重复了我的话？

ProfessorI saw it all from behind. She's becoming more and more familiar with our attack patterns.我在后面都看见了。她一直在逐步熟悉我们的攻击模式。

AntoninaYou mean she's learning? But the speed at which she's growing...你的意思是她在学习？但这么迅速的成长速度……

ProfessorWe will probably be seeing more things that exceed our understanding.或许接下来还会出现更多超乎我们认知的东西。

Antonina... In any case, we'll need to come up with new tactics.……无论如何，得重新制定战术了。

ProfessorIf we split up, with one group trying to distract her while the other tries to ambush her, we might have a shot at winning this.如果我们兵分两路，一路吸引她的注意力，一路贴近去偷袭的话，或许有胜算。

HatsuchiriI understand. If you can pin her down on the surface, I can launch a swift attack by going underground.我明白了，如果你们能在地面上牵制住她，我可以通过潜地进行速攻。

AntoninaThis sort of close combat is very dangerous. Are you sure you want to do this?这种近身战很危险，你确定要去？

HatsuchiriYes. This should be the best solution available to us at the moment.嗯，这应该是目前的最优解了。

HatsuchiriI'll be counting on you for cover.援护就拜托你们了。

She stabs her weapon into the ground and burrows straight downward.说完，她将武器向地面一插，径直钻入地下。

AntoninaHey! You're moving too fast!喂……！行动速度也太快了！

AntoninaOh forget it, let's finish this up quickly. Professor, stay back!算了，速战速决。教授，你再站远一点！

AntoninaMove further back, I need to make something here that will draw her attention.再远一些，我要在这里制造足够吸引她注意的东西。

Do as she says and back off.乖乖远离。

Insist on providing cover.坚持援护。

Green operands glow around Antonina's body.安冬妮娜身边腾起了绿色的算量光芒。

I'm not sure if it's just my imagination, but the High-Order Entropic has been staring at Antonina the whole time.不知道是不是我的错觉，高阶熵的视线一直落在安冬妮娜的身上。

???...Entropics... Come...……熵……来……

With her garbled words, the number of cracks on the ground start to grow.伴随着高阶熵含糊的叫声，地面的裂缝越来越多。

This time, what comes through them are not tentacles, but densely-packed lesser Entropics.这一次出现的不再是触手，而是密密麻麻的低阶熵。

AntoninaGoing for the monster horde tactics that you're so good at again... but I'm prepared for this!又想用你们熵最擅长的怪海战术吗……我早有准备！

The Low-Order Entropics which have just emerged are immediately bound by Antonina's programs. Their first ranks are stuck in the passages, blocking the path of the Entropics behind them.低阶熵们刚刚出现就被安冬妮娜用程式禁锢住，最前排的熵僵硬的身体挡在入口，堵住了后来的熵。

However, they are not stalled for long. The Entropics trapped in the fissures begin chewing through their colleagues above them. The binding programs soon lose effect, and the monsters rush at us like a tidal surge.然而好景不长，被挡在裂缝下的熵开始咬噬上面的同伴，禁锢程序很快失效，怪物们如潮水般涌动着靠近。

Antonina... Dammit, there's just too many of them!……可恶，数量实在太多了！

The Low-Order Entropics have practically fused together into a single being as they surround Antonina. Even when their front ranks are destroyed, new ones fill the gap almost immediately.几乎融合成一体的低阶熵包围了安冬妮娜，即使冲在前面的熵被击溃，也立刻就有新的补上。

I continue observing the surroundings, until the moment comes when all the Entropics are grouped up into one place—我持续警戒着周围，直至抓住了熵聚集在一处的微妙时机——

ProfessorNow!就是现在！

ProfessorThis High-Order Entropic is pretty intelligent.这只高阶熵绝对有相当程度的智能。

ProfessorI'll cover you with my Tactical Skills, just in case.以防万一，我会用战术技能协助你。

Antonina... Fine, you do what you want, Professor, I'll come up with something to grab her attention.……好，教授就按自己的想法行动，我来制造足够吸引她注意的东西。

Green operands glow around Antonina's body.安冬妮娜身边腾起了绿色的算量光芒。

I'm not sure if it's just my imagination, but the High-Order Entropic has been staring at Antonina the whole time.不知道是不是我的错觉，高阶熵的视线一直落在安冬妮娜的身上。

???...Entropics... Come...……熵……来……

With her garbled words, the number of cracks on the ground start to grow.伴随着高阶熵含糊的叫声，地面的裂缝越来越多。

AntoninaThinking of using the monster horde tactics that you're so good at again?又想用你们熵最擅长的怪海战术吗？

The Low-Order Entropics which have just emerged are immediately bound by Antonina's programs. Their first ranks are stuck in the passages, blocking the path of the Entropics behind them.低阶熵们刚刚出现就被安冬妮娜用程式禁锢住，先来者僵硬的身体挡在入口，堵住了后来的熵。

However, they are not stalled for long. The Entropics trapped in the fissures begin chewing through their colleagues above them. The binding programs soon lose effect, and the monsters rush at us like a tidal surge.然而好景不长，被挡在裂缝下的熵开始咬噬上面的同伴，禁锢程序很快失效，怪物们如潮水般涌动着靠近。

Black light radiates from around Antonina's body, gathering them all into one place.安冬妮娜身边不断涌现出黑色的光芒，将怪物聚集在一处。

AntoninaNow!就是现在！

ProfessorORBITAL— STRIKE—!天基——打击——！

The clustered Entropics are taken by surprise and reduced to ashes by our combined attacks.聚集在一处的熵猝不及防，在我和安冬妮娜的攻势之下被燃烧殆尽。

AntoninaWell done, Professor!教授，干得不错！

Use Tactical Skill.使用战术技能。

Realizing that her attack isn't working against us, the High-Order Entropic lowers her head and wraps her tentacles around the rock. They slowly slither downward.见到这些攻势对我们没有用，高阶熵低下头，触手缠着岩石，缓慢地向下蠕动。

AntoninaThat direction... She's not coming at us, so where is she going?这个方向……她不是向我们来的，她想去哪儿？

Just as the High-Order Entropic looks down, Hatsuchiri emerges from the rock wall next to her. The High-Order Entropic senses Hatsuchiri's approach immediately, but the latter's lance is still one step ahead—就在高阶熵低头的瞬间，她身侧的岩壁上闪出了初尘的身影。尽管高阶熵迅速察觉了初尘的存在，但还是初尘的长枪更快一步——

Squelch!嚓！

???Aaaahhhh!!!啊啊啊啊——

???(Groans) It hurts... (Whimpers)呜呜——好痛……呜……

Hatsuchiri's attack pierces through her body and the High-Order Entropic makes a garbled noise that sounds like a wail.初尘的攻击刺穿了她的身体，高阶熵发出模糊的近似于哭喊的叫声。

???It hurts... Arghhhhh...好痛苦……啊啊啊啊……

???Aaaah... (Moans) Let me go...啊啊——呜……放我走……

Her tentacles start thrashing wildly. She raises a stout tentacle and begins pounding the roof of the cavern. The entire room starts trembling in response.她的触须胡乱地甩动起来。她抡起另一条粗壮的触手，重重抽向岩洞顶端。霎时间整个空间都在震动。

Hatsuchiri...Sueyoi...!……末宵……！

HatsuchiriDon't tell me...难道说……

The rocks have already been severely weakened due to Entropic corrosion. Now, the stalactites are crumbling and falling from the ceiling, like heavy ballista bolts falling from the sky. Hatsuchiri is forced to submerge underground to avoid them while Antonina and I have to run and hide.本就被侵蚀得极为脆弱的岩石遭遇重击，钟乳石纷纷断裂，如同一片片从天而降的重型弩箭般坠落。初尘不得不潜地回避，我和安冬妮娜也只好先行躲避。

AntoninaWhere the hell is she going...? Her signal's moving away from us; she's trying to escape!那家伙去哪了……信号在远离我们，她想跑！

HatsuchiriDon't go out, mind the falling rocks...别出去，小心落石……

She seems to be shouting something else, but the sound of the falling rocks drowns it out and I can't make it out.她又喊了些什么，被落石的声音掩盖了，听得不太真切。

...After who knows how long, the tremors finally stop. We emerge from between the rocks and meet up with Hatsuchiri.……不知过了多久，震动终于停止。我们从岩石间钻出来，和初尘会合。

HatsuchiriI'm glad you're both alright. Your target has vanished, but Sueyoi's signal is still nearby.你们都没事就好。 你们的目标不见了，但末宵的信号还在附近。

HatsuchiriI could sense Sueyoi's signal when she attacked the grotto ceiling just now. It's very likely that he's above us.刚才她攻击穹顶的时候，我感受到了末宵的信号波动。他很可能现在就在我们的上方。

AntoninaAbove us? ... Indeed, the Entropic signals I picked up far exceed what we've seen so far.上方？……确实，我检索到的熵信号数量远超我们所见。

Hatsuchiri... It would seem that there is another space above this cavern. He might be trapped by the Entropics and unable to free himself.……这样看来，穹顶之上应该还有空间，他可能正被熵围困无法脱身。

HatsuchiriBut he keeps sending a repeating message, so things look very grim.但是他一直在发送重复的消息，状态非常不乐观。

HatsuchiriWhat do you plan to do next?你们接下来打算怎么办？

AntoninaWe intend to pursue that High-Order Entropic. It's what we came here for.我们要去追那个高阶熵，这是我们来这里的目的。

HatsuchiriI see. In that case, our partnership is coming to an end for real this time.我知道了。那么，这次我们的合作确实要结束了。

ProfessorAlright, may we meet again.好，有缘再见。

ProfessorPerhaps we can continue to travel together and find your friend afterwards.或许我们可以继续同行，之后再一同去寻找你的同伴。

HatsuchiriI'm sorry, Professor. Sueyoi is in a very bad state right now and I simply can't abandon him.抱歉，教授。末宵现在的情况很糟糕，我实在无法放着他不管。

ProfessorBut before that, perhaps...但在这之前，或许……

HatsuchiriGoodbye then, Professor.那么，之后再见了，教授。

Hatsuchiri takes my hand.初尘向我伸出手。

After a quick shake, she dives back into the ruined ground and vanishes from sight.握了一下手后，她重新潜入狼藉的地面，彻底消失了踪影。

Agree to end the partnership.同意结束合作。

Try to stop her from leaving.阻止她的离开。

AntoninaStrange... This makes no sense.奇怪……这不合理。

ProfessorAre you talking about Hatsuchiri or the High-Order Entropic?你在说初尘还是高阶熵？

AntoninaNeither. Come take a look at this, Professor.都不是。教授，你看这里。

Professor! This is...！这是……

I look in the direction where Antonina is pointing and see ruined machine parts peeking out from underneath the ruined rock walls.我循着安冬妮娜所指的方向看去，碎裂的岩壁中露出了残破的器械零件。

Antonina...At first, I wondered if it was an agent who had accidentally stumbled in here or if it was left behind by a Sanctifier.……我一开始以为是误入这里的智能体或者净化者遗落的。

AntoninaBut on closer inspection, it looks like it was installed here from the beginning and then damaged by an external attack.但仔细观察之后发现，它更像是一开始就被安装在这里，后来因为外部攻击毁坏的。

ProfessorCan you determine its original purpose?能看出它本身的用途吗？

AntoninaThat would be very difficult. It's too badly damaged and eroded. I'll need some time to perform a more detailed analysis.很难。它被毁坏得太彻底了，再加上各种自然侵蚀。如果要深入分析需要一段时间。

ProfessorMan-made devices in an Entropic lair... Very suspicious indeed.在熵的巢穴中有人工装置的痕迹……确实很可疑。

AntoninaAlso, Professor, don't you think this "High-Order" Entropic had almost zero hostile intent?而且教授，你不觉得这只高阶熵作为“高阶”来说，几乎完全没有攻击的欲望吗？

AntoninaWe've wrecked a lot of Entropic hives along the way here, but they were all composed of the most basic Entropics surrounding a somewhat higher-order Entropic.我们来的路上捣毁过不少熵巢，都是最低阶的熵围着高阶一些的熵。

AntoninaDespite being the highest-order Entropic here, she had hardly any subordinates around to protect her...作为这里阶级最高的熵，居然没有多少手下在附近援护她……

ProfessorStill, time is limited, and all we can do is keep pursuing her.但时间有限，我们也只能继续追下去了。

AntoninaYeah, we can't let her go.嗯，我们不能放过她。

AntoninaCroque and the others are still waiting for us. We need to get her source code ASAP!克罗琦她们还等着我们，必须尽快得到她的源代码！

Scene Control 控场

SolDammit, she's flying all over the place... Persicaria, I'm going after her!可恶，这家伙四处乱飞……帕斯卡，我继续追击了！

PersicariaSomething's not right... Sol, come back!情况好像不太对……苏尔先回来！

SolHuh? Okay!啊？好的！

Sol bisects the Entropic creature charging up behind her with a swing of her sword and jumps back to Persicaria's side.苏尔一刀把冲上来的熵化单位斩成两段，返身跃回帕斯卡身边。

De LaceyWhat's wrong, Persy?小帕，有什么问题吗？

PersicariaUm, I think our pursuit was TOO successful...嗯，我感觉我们的追击过于顺利了……

PersicariaSol, can you send me your combat logs?苏尔，能把刚才的战斗记录都发我一下吗？

SolLet me sort out the terrain info... There we go!我整合一下地形信息……好了！

PersicariaThanks...谢谢……

PersicariaAs I thought.果然如此。

De LaceyWhat did you find?有什么发现吗？

PersicariaOdile's speed and the Low-Order Entropics' blockade ought to be enough to shake us. But she seems to be trying to lure us somewhere...配合低阶熵的阻拦，以奥吉里的移动速度是可以甩开我们的。但她似乎想要引我们去什么地方……

SolOh, so it's reverse-tracking, then? I'm familiar with that, let me take a look.反追踪是吧，这个我熟，让我看看。

SolYou're dead on, Persicaria. I just analyzed our pursuit route and our current terrain info. If we continue on the route we're going down, she's trying to lead us here...帕斯卡的推测没错，我分析了刚才的追击路线与现在的地形。基于已有路线进行预测的话，她应该是要引我们去这里……

塔娜伦That's... the direction of the ecological observation post.这里是……生态观测站的方向。

SolSo you CAN say useful things after all!你这家伙还是能说出点情报来的嘛！

塔娜伦This is bad... Can't let her go there.麻烦了……不能让她过去。

PersicariaThe observation post? What's there?生态观测站吗？那里有什么？

SolShe clammed up again. Was that just an automated response?又不讲话了。刚刚的那个该不会是自动回复吧？

PersicariaWell, at least we've verified the location. We can head out now.至少我们确定了地点，现在就可以出发了。

PersicariaLet's head to the ecological observation post.直接到生态观测站去吧。

SolWe can't let Odile go, can we? Why don't you go to the ecological observation post while I go after her first?就这样放过奥吉里吗？还是你们去生态观测站，我单独去追她怎么样？

De LaceyIf you and Persy are right, then Odile won't run away.如果小苏和小帕的判断准确，奥吉里是不会逃走的。

De LaceyAll we need to do is head to the observation post and intercept her.我们直接前往生态观测站阻截她就可以了！

PersicariaYes. Miss De Lacey, could you lend me some operands?是的。德菈赛小姐，方便借我一点算量吗？

De LaceyUh... Y-you want to borrow operands...?欸……要、要借算量啊。

PersicariaOh, I'm sorry. We're just temporary partners, asking you for operands is just rude...啊，抱歉，我们只是临时合作的关系，索要算量果然还是太失礼了……

De LaceyWell, that's not the problem. It's just that the way I give operands is a little... rough.倒不是啦，而是我给算量的方式比较……粗暴。

De Lacey's tail swishes around as she speaks.德菈赛说着，尾巴轻轻摆动起来。

PersicariaThat's alright, now's not the time to quibble about such details.没关系，情况紧急，现在不是在意这种细节的时候。

De LaceyHehe, then allow me~哼哼，那我就不客气咯~

PersicariaUm... That really is an unexpected method. Do we really have to do this?唔……这个方式确实太出人意料了，真的要这么做吗？

De LaceyYou desperately need operands right now, don't you, Persy? Just bear with it, because here~ I~ come~小帕现在很需要算量吧？忍着一点哦，我~来~啦~

SolOhhhhh!? I didn't think you could use your tail that way. That's a Doll maintenance technician for you!哦哦哦！？想不到尾巴还能这样用，不愧是人形维护师！

After finishing their preparations, Persicaria and company rush straight to the ecological observation post.准备完毕之后，帕斯卡一行人径直赶往生态观测站。

SolThis is it. Ahead of us should be...就是这里了。前面应该就是……

SolHm!? Wait a minute, it's Odile!嗯？！等一下，是奥吉里！

A black figure is floating in the air not far from the observation post.在距离生态观测站不远的海面上，黑色身影漂浮在半空。

She hovers above the ocean's surface, flapping her roughly-formed black wings as she stares at the Dolls with an ice-cold gaze.凭借着已经略微成型的黑翼，她悬浮于海面之上，用冰冷的眼神注视着她们的到来。

奥吉里We meet again, o dragon-slaying heroes.又见面了，屠龙路上的勇士们。

奥吉里It seems you predicted how the script would go. How talented.你们预测了剧本的走向，很有天赋。

奥吉里However, peeking backstage ruins the experience. A proper audience should not do such things.但偷拍后台可有失雅趣，不是合格的观众该有的行为。

SolCan't you talk like a normal person!?你就不能说点正常人听得懂的话吗！

SolDid you split the bedrock and cause that tsunami?岩层开裂和海啸都是你搞的鬼吗？

奥吉里The Master needs a seedbed. Finding a new stage for her is our mission.主人需要温床。为她寻找下一个剧场，就是我等的使命。

奥吉里All the necessary conditions are present here. That is all.此处恰好具备一切条件，仅此而已。

PersicariaI knew it. The underground has been infested by the Entropy... That means the Professor and Antonina...果然地下已经被熵渗透了……那教授们……

SolYou actually understood that, Persicaria!?帕斯卡你居然听得懂吗？！

SolHow are the Prof and Anna? Did you meet them underground!?教授和安娜怎么样了？你在地下遇到们了吗？！

奥吉里Hehe... There are more suitable stages for such rising stars with bright futures. More heart-rending tragedies await them...呵呵……前途闪耀的新星，自然有更适合们的舞台，更令人叫绝的悲剧在等着们……

奥吉里As for you... it is time for you to make your exit!至于你们……已经可以退场了！

In an instant, Odile turns into a cold, black streak diving straight for Sol.刹那间，奥吉里化作一道凌厉的黑影，袭向苏尔。

SolHyaaa!喝！

Sol immediately draws her longsword and ruthlessly slashes forward. Blade and claw collide with a sharp clang.苏尔立刻拔刀，毫不留情地向前斩去。 刀刃与利爪碰撞，迸发出清脆的撞击声。

SolHumph... Is that all you have after becoming Entropized?哼……熵化了也只有这点力气吗？

Sol blocks Odile's attack with sheer force, halting her advance. As she maintains her grip on her sword, Sol adjusts her posture so that she can reach for the shortsword on the right side of her waist.奥吉里的攻击被苏尔用刀死死抵住，无法再向前分毫。 苏尔一面撑住刀柄，一面调整握刀的姿势，让双手靠近挂在右腰的另一把短刀。

If Odile retreats, she can immediately draw the shortsword and cut her open. But if Odile continues maintaining the lock, she won't be able to avoid the other's attacks.只要奥吉里一后退，她就能立刻拔出短刀，切开她的身子。 但如果奥吉里继续维持压制苏尔的姿势，就无法躲开其他人的攻击。

SolYou stepped into it this time.这次可是你自寻死路。

奥吉里Battle was never the specialty of this body, and the Master's modifications are not yet complete...战斗本非这具躯体的专长，主人的改造也还未完成……

奥吉里Which is why I have no intention of relying on brute strength like a fool.所以，我不准备像愚者一样倚仗蛮力。

In the next moment, underdeveloped tentacles emerge from under Odile's wings, spraying liquid Entropy.下一秒，奥吉里的翅膀下突然伸出发育不全的触手，熵化液随之喷射而出。

Sol knows she can't block that in time, so she kicks Odile away and leans back to avoid the spray of Entropy.苏尔自知来不及招架，于是一脚将奥吉里踢开，自己顺势后仰，躲开熵化液的喷溅范围。

Even so, a few drops manage to make contact with her lower abdomen.即使如此，还是有几滴熵化液击中了她的小腹。

A green glow envelops the area where the liquid Entropy touches her skin almost instantly. A thin barrier of operands neutralize the Entropy, which crumbles into white operand particles before falling off.与此同时，熵化液和腹部接触的地方发出绿光，一层浅浅的算量防护罩和熵化液相互抵消，化作亮白色的算量碎屑滑落。

SolThanks, Persicaria!谢啦，帕斯卡！

PersicariaCareful! She's fled onto the sea!小心点！她逃到海上了！

Having failed in her attack, Odile is now hovering over the water again. She seems to be using the ocean as a natural barrier. Nobody present can move on water, which means they can't strike back at her.攻击失手的奥吉里悬在海水上，似乎是把大海当成了自己的天然屏障。 众人没有在水面上行动的能力，也就失去了反制手段。

SolI can't reach her with my blades. Persicaria, can you attack from afar?我的刀砍不到她。帕斯卡，可以远程攻击吗？

PersicariaI can't aim properly; she's too agile!我也很难瞄准！她太灵活了！

SolDammit, if I'd known I should have had the Prof assign me a cannon...该死，早知道就让教授给我配备一口大炮……

De LaceySolly! She's coming in for another pass!她又要冲过来了！小苏！

SolHah!哈啊！

Sol slashes at the place where Odile is diving, but they both miss each other again.苏尔朝着奥吉里的俯冲方向虚挥一刀，两人彼此又扑了个空。

奥吉里Humph... Stage combat is quite tedious.哼……在打戏上倒是很擅长。

奥吉里It's time to introduce some variation...该有点变化了——

Odile turns around in mid-air and rushes at Persicaria, who's providing Sol with a shield.奥吉里突然在空中转了一圈，转而冲向正在给苏尔施加护盾的帕斯卡。

PersicariaUrgh—呃——！

PersicariaS-Sol!苏、苏尔！

SolKeep your eyes on me! I'm your opponent here!看清楚了，你的对手是我！

Sol manages to get in front of Persicaria in time and deflects Odile's attack again.苏尔及时挡在帕斯卡身前，又一次化解了奥吉里的攻势。

SolPersicaria, Delly, move up close and back me up with operands!帕斯卡，小德，你们两个靠近一点，用算量支援我！

SolAnd bring that dorky administrator over too! Don't give her a chance to make another ambush!把那个呆子管理员也拖过来，别又让她偷袭得手了！

De LaceyGot it!好嘞！

SolFighting wild beasts is my specialty!和野生动物作战可是我的拿手好戏！

SolI can protect you at this range!这个距离内，我能保证护住你们！

SolWe'll wear her down and look for an opening!消耗她的体力，然后找破绽！

PersicariaGot it!好！

Odile dives several more times, but Sol blocks her attempts to attack repeatedly.奥吉里又发起了数次俯冲，都被苏尔一一结实地挡了下来。

However, contrary to their expectations, Odile's movements do not grow slower over time. In fact she seems to be gaining strength as she fights. In fact, it is Sol who is first starting to tire under the relentless assault.然而与预想的不同，奥吉里的动作并没有随着时间推移而变慢，甚至有些越战越勇的趋势。 在密集的攻击下，反而是苏尔先开始感到吃力了。

SolThat's strange... She's been flapping around in the sky all this time, how is she not slowing down?奇怪……明明一直在天上飞，怎么可能还不减速？

SolIs she a monster? Okay, she IS a monster...这家伙是怪物吗？倒确实是怪物……

奥吉里Where are you looking? Showing the audience your back is a rookie mistake in theater!你在看哪里？背台可是禁忌！

SolYeeart!喝！

SolOh please, I can split my attention when dealing with the likes of you!对付你，分点心也绰绰有余！

奥吉里Hehe... A grand performance is about to begin...呵呵……盛大的演出即将开幕。

奥吉里And you are both the audience and the dancers—而你们既是观众也是舞者——

SolUrgh!呜呃！

SolDammit... What a pain...可恶……真难缠……

PersicariaWe can't go on like this, she'll wear us out.这样下去不行，我们会被她耗死的。

SolAhhhhh seriously!啊啊啊啊真是的！

SolIf only I could fly too!要是我也能飞就好了！

PersicariaFly...飞……

PersicariaSol, I've got an idea!苏尔！有办法了！

SolOh, that's Persicaria for you!哦！不愧是帕斯卡！

PersicariaMiss De Lacey!德菈赛小姐！

De LaceyAlways happy to help!我随时都在哦？

SolHuh? Why did you call Delly—啊？为什么要叫小德——

SolEr, wait, don't tell me you're going to...!呃，等等，你该不会是想！

De Lacey looks at the two of them and pauses for a moment. Then, she smiles knowingly.德菈赛看向两人，愣了一下。但下一秒她露出了会心的笑容。

De LaceyPffft, I got it! Get ready, Solly!噗，我明白了！小苏准备好！

奥吉里No talking during the performance!演出中禁止交头接耳！

Odile cannot, or perhaps she does not want to understand what they're talking about.奥吉里虽然不能，或许也不想理解三人的对话内容。

But after another round of attacks, Odile still flaps her wings and retreats higher up in the air out of caution.但在发起一轮攻击后，奥吉里还是谨慎地扇动羽翼飞向高空。

SolNow! Send it out, Delly!就是现在！豁出去了，小德！

De LaceyOkay!好嘞！

In the next moment, De Lacey turns 180 degrees and swings her tail, aiming at—Sol.下一刻，德菈赛突然180度转身，甩出自己的尾巴，飞向————苏尔。

SolOHHHHH!!!!哦哦哦哦哦哦哦！！

The rubbery cables wrap tightly around Sol's feet. Once they secure her, De Lacey spins another revolution. The massive centrifugal force rips Sol off the ground and sends her flying along a perfect curve through the air.橡胶质感的导线紧紧缠绕住苏尔的双脚。一击缠中，德菈赛就势原地再转一周。 巨大的离心力之下，苏尔被她硬生生甩离地面，在空中画出了一个完美的圆弧。

SolAIIIIEEEEEEEEE!噫呜呜噫呀呀呀呀！！

Just as Sol reaches her terminal velocity, De Lacey's tail releases its grip—就在苏尔的速度到达极限时，德菈赛松开了尾巴——

De LaceySolly Missile, fire—!小苏导弹，发射——！

奥吉里You!?你们？！

Like a loosed arrow, Sol shoots out and instantly catches up with Odile in mid-air.苏尔如离弦之箭，眨眼间追上了半空中的奥吉里。

Odile tries to evade her, but one of her wings suddenly loses balance. —Persicaria's Hashrate attack has caught up with her right at this moment.奥吉里想要躲闪，另一边翅膀却忽然失衡。 ——帕斯卡的算力攻击恰在此时追上了她。

PersicariaWire-fu isn't exactly an easy thing. Thank you, Miss Odile.吊威亚也不是这么简单的事，辛苦了，奥吉里小姐。

奥吉里You—你——

SolSEARING LION SLASH!疾焰狮子斩 ！

Sol's twin blades instantly ignite and cut down mercilessly toward Odile.苏尔的双刀在瞬间燃起火焰，朝着奥吉里毫不留情地砍下。

奥吉里Urgh—guwaaaargh!呃——呜啊啊啊啊啊啊！

A crescent of flame cuts through the air, and the blazing edges of Sol's blades instantly ignite the feathers on Odile's wings.月牙般的火焰在半空划过，奥吉里的羽翼瞬间被苏尔的刀光引燃。

Sol makes a neat landing. At the same time, Odile crashes heavily into the ground without her wings to support her.苏尔漂亮的一个落地，与此同时，失去羽翼支撑的奥吉里也重重摔在地上。

SolBrought you down at last.终于把你弄下来了。

奥吉里Hehe... Hahahahahaha!呵呵……哈哈哈哈哈哈哈！

奥吉里Well fought. I approve of your performance.打得不错，我认可你们的演出。

奥吉里But this can't end yet. The final stage is not yet prepared. Now the Master's minions will continue this dance!但现在还不行，最终舞台还没有准备好了，先让主人的眷属们与你们共舞一曲吧！

PersicariaSol, look out! She's directing all the Entropics around us to cover her escape!苏尔小心！她在操控周围的熵化单位掩护她逃跑！

SolGet back here!别想跑！

Light of the Sky 天光

A few minutes into the pursuit, Antonina comes to a halt.追踪开始不到数分钟，安冬妮娜停下了脚步。

AntoninaTsk... I lost her!啧……跟丢了！

AntoninaYou'll live longer if you don't say things that make people want to beat you up, Professor~少说两句欠打的话才能活得久哦，教·授。

ProfessorBack to the point, did the signal vanish?言归正传，是信号消失了吗？

I can't believe you'd lose track of someone.你居然也会跟丢谁。

Do we have any other solutions?还有别的什么办法吗？

AntoninaNot for the moment.我暂时想不到。

ProfessorDid the signal vanish?是信号消失了吗？

AntoninaSimply put, I was tracking her through her signal strength. As the only Entropic leader in the entire underground, tracking that High-Order Entropic should have been easy.简单来说，我是通过信号强度来追踪的。那只高阶熵是整个地下熵的首领，按理说应该很好追踪。

AntoninaThen she directed all her Entropics to cluster up to disrupt my scans. Now all the Entropic signals are of similar strength.但她居然在指挥熵聚集在一起以干扰我的侦查，现在所有熵的信号都变成了相近的强度。

AntoninaShe's learning faster than expected.她的学习能力比预想得还要快。

A rare look of frustration appears on Antonina's face.安冬妮娜罕见地露出了懊恼的神情。

AntoninaI was careless...是我大意了……

ProfessorLet me take a look at the tracker.追踪器借我看一下。

AntoninaWhat... Fine, considering your crazy ideas sometimes work out.什么……好吧，看在你偶尔会有鬼主意的份上。

I take the tracker from Antonina and study it.我接过安冬妮娜的追踪器看去。

Borrow Antonina's tracking device.借用安冬妮娜的追踪器。

Try looking for other clues.尝试寻找其他线索。

The green display is covered in red dots. The size of these red dots seem to indicate the strength of a signal.绿色的光屏上密密麻麻布满了红点。这些红点的大小似乎体现了信号的强度。

However, as Antonina said, all the red dots look pretty much the same now.但现在和安冬妮娜所说的一样，所有红点的大小几乎相同。

However, I discover something she may have overlooked...不过随后我便发现了盲点——

ProfessorLook at this area—你看这片区域——

AntoninaWhat's over here...? Wait a minute!这里怎么了……？等等！

ProfessorWhat other info can the tracker display?追踪器上能看出其他信息么？

AntoninaOther info? Pretty much the only thing it can track is Entropic signals. The red dots on the tracker show their rough locations.其他信息？我基本上只能追踪熵的信号，追踪器上的红点可以显示出大概位置。

ProfessorCan you glean anything other than how strong and how close the signals are?除了信号强度相近，有没有其他规律。

AntoninaI told you, it only displays...都说了只能看出……

AntoninaWait a minute!等等！

AntoninaOver here... The signal density in this region is distinctly lower than in other areas!这里……这里的信号密度明显少于其他区域！

AntoninaMaybe there's something here that she's wary or afraid of!或许这里有什么她忌惮的东西！

ProfessorThat's right. Whatever their reason, the Entropics are trying to avoid this place.没错，无论是什么，那些熵在试图回避这里。

AntoninaThis is our only clue. Let's go!这是我们唯一的线索了，走吧！

Soon, we come to a halt once again.不久后，我们再次停下了脚步。

There is no other path. A flat wall of rock tells us that we have arrived at a dead end.没有其他的道路，这里只有封死的岩壁，宣告我们走进了死路。

AntoninaThis is it... but it's a dead end.就是这里了……可是这里是死路。

AntoninaCould they have been misdirecting us?难道她是在误导我们？

ProfessorI don't think so. Her camouflage succeeded, so there'd be no further need to misdirect us.不像，她的伪装已经成功了，没必要再用这种方式误导我们。

Before I can say anything, Antonina is already in action. She opens her terminal and double-checks.在我说出口之前，安冬妮娜就先一步开始行动，她打开终端反复确认。

AntoninaThis IS the place, but why...确实是这里，但为什么……

AntoninaDammit...!可恶……！

ProfessorAntonina, try scanning the wall.安冬妮娜，扫描岩壁试试看。

Antonina...Alright.……好的。

Check the tracker again.再次确认追踪器。

Have Antonina scan the rock wall.让安冬妮娜扫描岩壁。

AntoninaInitiating analysis mode.分析模式启动。

A green scanning beam sweeps over the rock wall in response to Antonina's command.随着安冬妮娜的指令，绿色的扫描线划过岩壁。

One sweep follows another, and the grid-patterned scanlines form a perfect rectangle in the rock wall—扫描一轮接一轮，网状的扫描线在岩层墙面上画出一个个完美的矩形——

A perfect rectangle?完美的矩形？

ProfessorHang on, Antonina. Don't you think the scanlines are TOO regular?等等，安冬妮娜，你不觉得扫描线过于规整了么？

AntoninaSo what if they're regular... Wait, do you mean...规整又怎样……等等，你是说？

Antonina realizes what I'm hinting at and gathers her operands to attack the wall.安冬妮娜意识到了我话里的意思，聚集算量朝岩壁攻击过去。

The struck portion of the rock wall glows faintly.受到攻击的岩壁闪起了微光。

The attack then immediately bounces back at where we are, only we were already expecting it and evaded it.下一刻，攻击便反弹向了我们所在的位置，却被早有准备的我们迅速躲开。

AntoninaThis isn't an ordinary rock wall; it's a barrier just like the bedrock on the sea floor! There ought to be a path behind it!这不是普通的岩壁，而是和海底岩层原理一致的屏障！后面应该还有路！

AntoninaThe barrier can block off signals and automatically counterattack. That explains the localized signal disruption... Whoever designed this place is pretty smart.屏障能隔绝信号，还能自动反击，难怪信号到了这里就被干扰了……这里的设计者很聪明啊。

AntoninaProfessor... You did great.教授……干得不错。

ProfessorMhm.哇哦。

ProfessorHm?嗯？

AntoninaI know you heard me!我知道你听见了！

ProfessorThank you, feel free to keep the praise coming.谢谢，我不介意你多夸两句。

AntoninaTsk.啧。

AntoninaI regret saying that! I take it back!我后悔了！我撤回！

She stalks past me and heads straight for the rock wall.她甩开我径直向岩壁走去。

ProfessorAhem, so can you open it?咳，能打开吗？

AntoninaThe barrier here is much thinner than the ocean floor. This shouldn't take long. Give me 10 seconds...这里的屏障比海底的薄弱多了。很快，给我十秒……

Eight seconds later, a ding comes from Antonina's terminal. The rock wall slowly vanishes and blue light spills out from inside.八秒后，安冬妮娜的终端就传来叮的一声。岩壁逐渐透明消失，蓝色的光从内部洒落出来。

Pretend not to hear.装作没听见。

Proudly accept the compliment.坦率接受。

Remain silent.沉默。

An azure-colored room appears before us.出现在我们面前的是一间蔚蓝色的房间。

Once we know it's safe, Antonina and I exchange looks before heading in together.确认安全后安冬妮娜和我对视一眼，我们一起走了进去。

AntoninaThis place looks like it's been robbed.这里像是被抢劫过一样。

AntoninaThe Entropic reactions here are very weak and the room's layout is simple and clear. There's nowhere for them to hide.熵反应非常微弱，房间布局明晰，没有可以藏身的地方。

AntoninaThis place... It obviously wasn't built by the High-Order Entropic.这里……不用想也知道一定不是那只高阶熵建造的。

ProfessorWell, the builder—whoever they are—didn't want this room to be found.无论是谁，建造者不希望这里被发现。

AntoninaIn any case... Let's investigate this place.总之……先调查看看吧。

The sofa is drenched in liquid Entropy and leaking operands. There are several marker pens lying behind a cushion, half-melted in a puddle of liquid Entropy.沙发上浸着熵化液和溢出算量的痕迹。抱枕后躺着几支马克笔，很久没有被使用过，半截融化在熵化液里。

A purple flower blooms lightly on the back of the sofa.在沙发背上，紫色的花盈盈开放着。

AntoninaIs this ornamental plant... an Entropic lifeform?这枝景观植物……是熵？

ProfessorIt doesn't look like the Entropics we've seen before.它和我们见过的熵都不太一样。

AntoninaAll the ones we've come across looked like animals. I didn't think there were plant-like Entropics too.这之前我们见过的都是进化成像动物一样的熵，没想到也有类似植物的熵存在。

AntoninaThe back of the sofa is structured like a barrier similar to the bedrock. Its degradation was limited to a very small area.沙发背上有类似岩层屏障的结构，它的侵蚀被限制在很小的范围里。

Antonina...As I thought, the barrier was used to contain the Entropics.……果然，这个屏障是用来关熵的。

There's an empty drink can on the table. The can is labeled with a soft drink brand from reality.桌子上放着喝完的饮料，看外壳是投影了现实中的一家汽水品牌。

Antonina picks up the terminal on the table.安冬妮娜拿起了桌上的终端机。

AntoninaIt's locked. I need a key to open it.锁上了，我需要秘钥才能打开它。

ProfessorCan't you just brute-force it?不能强行入侵吗？

Check the sofa.调查沙发

Check the table.调查桌子

Check the computer screen.调查电子屏

AntoninaI could, but data that's been encrypted and stored like this are almost always top secret. Carelessly hacking the device might damage the data inside it.可以，但这种加密方式保存的数据都是绝密等级，贸然入侵可能会破坏里面的数据。

AntoninaIf we can't find it in this room, we might have to consider taking it apart.在这个房间里找不到的话再考虑强拆好了。

The computer screen displays the scene under the sea.屏幕上显示着海底的景色。

The tsunami seems to have receded and the bottom of the sea is serene once again. Sunlight pours down, creating ripples of light on the sandy ocean floor.海啸似乎已经平息了，海底一片静谧。阳光洒落下来，在底层的沙子上铺开一片潋滟波光。

Antonina...Why are there no lifeforms in this ocean?……这个海里怎么什么生物都没有？

AntoninaEven a fish tank would have some ornamental fish in it, right?就算是鱼缸，应该也会放些景观鱼吧。

ProfessorPerhaps there used to be Entropics swimming around in there before.也许以前海底游着的都是熵。

AntoninaThen it would be a sea of death. Who would be so demented as to make something like that?那这海就是要人命的风暴海了，谁会这么想不开？

Antonina picks up the remote control on one side as she quips.说着，安冬妮娜拿起一边的遥控器。

AntoninaLet's change the channel... We're currently on channel 1, and the next display is... Channel 3.调频……目前在第一频道，下面的屏幕是……3频道。

She presses a button and the small monitor below lights up, displaying a dimly-lit place.她按了一个按钮，下面的小屏幕亮起来，显示出一片有些暗的地方。

Antonina...Is this... where we found the first Entropic hive?……这里是……我们追到第一个熵巢的位置？

She switches channels twice more and the screen flashes, displaying similar yet subtly different scenes.她又连续调了两次频道，屏幕闪烁着，分别显示了几个类似又有微妙不同的景象。

AntoninaWe just explored these places. I can tell from here.我们刚刚探索过的位置，在这里都能看到。

AntoninaSo this... is a surveillance room...这里……是监控室……

AntoninaEvery single move the Entropics made underground was under observation.整个地下熵的一举一动都在监视当中。

So that's why that High-Order Entropic couldn't come near this place.所以那只高阶熵无法接近这里。

AntoninaWe still don't know enough. Let's look elsewhere.现在信息太少了，我们还是再看看其他的地方吧。

The wall is relatively clean, but there are quite a few long, narrow marks on it, as well as some crudely-scrawled graffiti.总体还算白净的墙面上留着不少细长的痕迹，也有用粗暴的涂抹方式画上的涂鸦字。

Judging by the frenzied handwriting, the agent who left it was in a very unstable state of mind.从字体来看，写下这些字时，智能体的心智很不稳定。

AntoninaThese long marks are scratch marks. Like this...这些细长的痕迹像是抓痕。就像这样……

She scratches the wall, producing an ear-piercing noise as her fingernails scrape across the surface.她用手在墙壁上挠了一下，指甲和墙壁刮擦出刺耳的声音。

AntoninaBut it must have taken a very strong agent to make marks like these.但要弄出这种痕迹，这个智能体用的力量要非常大才行。

AntoninaAfter all, the operand density of a process is usually far lower than that of a structure.毕竟一般来说，构成智能体的算量密度远低于建筑物。

Several slips of paper are pinned to the notice board. Some of them have been scratched to pieces by something, while others are largely intact.告示板上贴着几张纸。有的被什么东西划得破破烂烂，有的尚且完好。

Antonina approaches and reads each of them.安冬妮娜靠近过去，一张张仔细读起来。

Antonina"Report ID 11: Alpha is estimated to awaken 15 days after the barrier reconstruction. Today's aim: Observe Alpha's evolution status."“报告ID11：Alpha预计将于重构屏障后第15日苏醒。今日目标：观测Alpha的进化状态。”

Antonina"Report ID 55: Alpha's intelligence has awakened."“报告ID55：Alpha的智能初步觉醒”

Professor"Alpha"?“Alpha”？

AntoninaThat might very well be her.很可能就是她。

Check the wall.调查墙壁

Check the noticeboard.调查告示板

Check the bookshelf.调查书架

AntoninaAll these paper slips have dates on them. The latest one was from two years ago.这里的纸条都标注着日期，最晚的日期是两年前。

Antonina"Report ID 161: Alpha has begun to express desires and has repeatedly sent certain messages. Upon decryption, they read "Demiurge".“报告ID161：Alpha开始有表达欲望，开始重复发送某些信息，破译后为‘黛米乌尔’。”

Antonina"Report ID 231: Contact with Alpha has been stopped per directives"... Part of this slip was torn off and I can't see the rest.“报告ID231：已按指令停止与Alpha接触”……这张被撕掉了一部分，看不见后面的内容了。

Antonina"Report ID 1150: Orders rewritten, restarting experiment."“报告ID1150：指令改写，试验重启”。

ProfessorSo the Entropics here were reared after all.这里的熵果然是被豢养的。

AntoninaProbably. I'm guessing Alpha was the High-Order Entropic we encountered. She was their research subject.大概是吧，Alpha就是我们遇到的高阶熵，她就是研究对象。

AntoninaI suppose we can call her that. But the rest of the messages are pretty much unreadable.我想我们可以这样叫她。但剩下的信息几乎都没法阅读了。

Antonina hands me the remaining slips of paper so that I can see for myself.安冬妮娜无言地把剩下的几张纸交给我，示意我自己看。

The papers are covered in blocks of color that are hard to make out. Only parts of the text make sense to me.纸条涂满了难解的色块，我只能从只言片语中获取信息。

"...Security facility status is not ideal... Alpha..."“……保险设施状态不佳……Alpha……”

"...Amount of operands is inadequate... Further suppression... Will require reallocating firewall..."“……持有算量不足……进一步压制……需要调取防火墙……”

"...Cleaning work is in progress... Sector disguise is in good condition..."“……清理工作持续进行中……扇区伪装状态良好……”

"...Alpha's awakened neural cloud... stable... seems to...“……醒来的Alpha心智稳定……似乎……”

AntoninaNo good... I'm having a hard time learning anything useful from this.不行……很难再提取有用的信息了。

Antonina...Let's go look elsewhere.……先去看看别的地方吧。

The bookshelf has several research reports on it, all of them dated at least three years back.书架上放着几份研究报告，年份都在至少三年前。

As Antonina takes out a book, the document folder it was stacked against springs open. Something slides free and hits the ground with a quiet clatter.安冬妮娜取出书籍后压着的资料夹展开，什么东西从资料夹里滑落，掉在地上发出轻响。

AntoninaThis looks like a backup for a key...这个看起来像是钥匙的备份……

Antonina and I go through the folder.我和安冬妮娜一起翻阅了文件夹。

Its contents reveal no new information to us. After skimming through the whole thing, Antonina closes it.里面标注的信息我们都有了解，安冬妮娜扫了几眼就把它合上了。

After that, we search the carpet, the floorboards, the shelves, and the bed, but we don't find anything else of value.之后我们又搜索了地毯、地板、柜子和床铺等地方，没有找到其他有价值的信息。

AntoninaWe've wasted too much time here. Let's head out.时间耽搁得太久了，我们先出去吧。

AntoninaOh yes, Professor, have you tried that key yet?教授，你试过那个钥匙了吗？

I slide the key into the slot on the side of the terminal. It opens.我将钥匙插进终端机边上的凹槽，终端机应声而开。

系统[Welcome to the logs.]【欢迎调阅本记录。】

系统[Loading data...]【信息载入中……】

AntoninaGood, the logs here are compatible with my systems. While loading them may take a while, I can directly copy everything here. After that, we can look them up in the Glossary system.很好，这里的记录和我的系统兼容。虽然载入需要一些时间，但我可以直接拷贝走。之后就可以在词典系统中查看了。

AntoninaBut if Demiurge isn't here, then where could she have gone...但黛米乌尔不在这里的话，她到底是去了哪儿……

AntoninaAnd who on earth was using this room? Don't tell me—而且究竟是谁在使用这个房间，难道说——

[Beeeeeep—!]【嘀————！】

The sudden alarm interrupts Antonina's train of thought.突如其来的警报声打断了安冬妮娜的思考。

AntoninaMy surveillance terminal's giving me a warning! A large amount of Entropics are approaching!我的监控终端在告警！有大量熵在逼近！

ProfessorThis place is a dead end, we're screwed if we get trapped here. Get out now!这里是死胡同，被堵在里面就糟了，快出去！

The moment we open the door, we can hear the telltale sticky sounds.推开门的刹那，黏腻的声响灌满了耳膜。

AntoninaLook out!小心！

The grotto ceiling and floor and even the back of the door are covered in writhing Entropics, their glittering purple light illuminating the entire cavern.穹顶和地面，乃至于门背后都爬满了蠕动的熵，莹莹紫光映亮了整个洞窟。

Antonina immediately gets in front of me, but none of them attack us. Instead, they congregate on the roof.安冬妮娜立刻挡在我面前，但它们却没有一个袭击我们，而是向着穹顶汇聚。

Antonina...What are they doing? That's where the barrier is...……它们在做什么？那是屏障的方向……

AntoninaDid Demiurge order them to attack the barrier?黛米乌尔要指挥它们攻击屏障吗？

No, that would be pointless...不，这没有意义……

I think about our journey, and I suddenly realize where the problem lies—我开始回想整个旅程，突然意识到了问题的所在——

ProfessorThere's a third way to get through the barrier other than attacking or cracking it.除了攻击和破解，还有第三种方式穿过屏障。

AntoninaNo way, don't tell me the barrier can open itself?不可能，难不成屏障还能自己打开吗。

AntoninaWait a minute... Are you saying...!?等等……你是说？！

ProfessorYup, just like when we came down here.没错，就和我们下来的时候一样。

AntoninaThe tsunami and the fissure!是海啸和地裂！

Before Antonina can finish, the crisp sound of rock splintering comes from above our heads.安冬妮娜话音未落，清晰的岩石碎裂声便从我们头顶传来。

Seawater pours down through the fissure, and at the same moment, all the Entropics crawling on the rock walls surge upwards.海水从裂缝里倾泻而下。与此同时，岩壁上攀爬着的所有熵单位全部向上涌去。

Liquid Entropy eats away at the originally intact bedrock. Large boulders fall down, creating deafening booms inside the cavern.熵化液顺着海水侵蚀了原本完整的岩层，大块的巨石坍塌下来，在岩窟里砸出轰然巨响。

Antonina and I immediately flee back into the room, trying to avoid the rockfall.我和安冬妮娜立刻退回小屋，躲避可能压下来的岩层。

AntoninaThe barrier's open. Professor, I have a signal!屏障打开了……教授，通讯恢复了！

ProfessorContact Persicaria!联系帕斯卡！

AntoninaI'm through!接通完成！

AntoninaPersicaria, a large quantity of Entropics are heading to the surface from inside the sea—帕斯卡，巨量的熵单位从海里往地面去了——

AntoninaPersicaria? Persicaria, do you read me!?帕斯卡？帕斯卡，你在听吗？！

The earth shakes violently, and among the purplish-black masses of Entropic creatures, we see a single, pure white form.地面剧烈地摇动着，我们在一片黑紫色的熵里看到了一抹苍白的身影。

The Entropics around her are like a tide, climbing upwards against the downpour of seawater. Meanwhile, Demiurge looks up longingly at the faint light that's filtering its way down from above.周围的熵如潮水一般，逆着倾倒的海水向上攀爬。而黛米乌尔正抬起头，渴求地凝望着上方投下的微弱光线。

黛米乌尔The moment... I have been... waiting for... has finally arrived...就是现在……我一直……在……等待着的时机……

The avatar of darkness stretches herself and gives voice to an earth-shaking cry of joy.黑暗的化身舒展身体，发出震撼天地的欢悦尖鸣。

AntoninaPersicaria, your enemies aren't just the Entropics, be care—帕斯卡，敌人不只有熵，还要小心——

AntoninaNo, she suddenly began taking countermeasures against my tracking methods and there's heavy signal disruption here...不，她突然开始针对我的追踪方式进行反侦察，信号干扰非常严重……

Professor"Demiurge"... Is that her name?“黛米乌尔”……那是她的名字吗？

黛米乌尔Freedom... is mine at last.自由……我终将得到。

Tides 潮汐

SolWe've got you at last!终于抓到你了！

As the last Low-Order Entropic goes down, Persicaria's party finally have Odile cornered.随着最后一只低阶熵倒下，帕斯卡她们终于把奥吉里逼到了死角。

SolNow you have no wings and no Entropics to take blades for you.现在你没有翅膀，也没有给你挡刀的熵了。

SolTime to settle the scores, both old and new!是时候新仇旧账一起算了！

Sol rushes up and presses the shortsword she's holding against Odile's neck.苏尔一个前冲，将手里的短刀抵在奥吉里脖颈。

奥吉里Hehe... Hehehe...呵呵……呵呵呵……

奥吉里The brave dragonslayer thinks she has defeated the evil dragon.屠龙的勇者以为自己击败了恶龙。

SolEnough talking in riddles! Once Anna gets back, you're going on a dissection platform!别再谜语人了！等安娜回来了，你就该上解剖台啦！

奥吉里All you have seen is just the tip of the iceberg.你们的所见所知只是冰山一角。

奥吉里And everything is within the grasp of my Master.而一切都在主人的掌控之中。

PersicariaSol, be careful! She doesn't look like she's bluffing!苏尔小心点，她不像是在虚张声势！

奥吉里Now, the prelude is finally over, and the best opportunity has come.此时此刻，前奏终于落下，最好的时机已经到来。

奥吉里Hehe... Hahahahaha...呵呵……哈哈哈哈哈哈……

De LaceyThis is bad!情况不妙！

Boom—!轰————！

No warning presages the sudden turn of events. An alarming noise starts spreading upward from underground.突如其来的异变没有任何征兆，某种响动突然从地底向上蔓延。

Both Sol and Persicaria freeze at the sound.听到这个响声，苏尔和帕斯卡都在一瞬间绷紧了神经。

SolThis noise again! It's a tsunami!又是这个声音！是海啸！

Sol's voice is drowned out by the sudden tide. Massive waves sweep over the beach again, savagely smashing everyone to the ground.苏尔的喊声被突如其来的海浪吞没。 巨浪再次席卷了沙滩，把众人狠狠地拍倒在地。

SolUrk! Odile—呃——！奥吉里——

Sol barely manages to avoid being swept away by the waves and manages to secure her footing.苏尔险些被浪冲翻，好在及时稳住了自己的身形。

However, Odile, whom she was pinning just now, has managed to wriggle free.然而，原本被她挟住的奥吉里也因此失去了束缚。

In the next moment, Odile leaps back up into the sky.下一个瞬间，奥吉里纵身一跃，回到了空中。

Her wings have regenerated at some point.她的翅膀也不知何时已经完成再生。

De LaceyWhat the heck, has she been actually holding back the whole time?这家伙，居然一直是在放水吗？

奥吉里In this fathomless abyss, in this endless prison, let the show begin!在这无底的深渊之中，在这无尽的囚牢之中，让演出开始吧！

After the first tsunami rolls past, the vortex forms again—第一轮海啸过后，漩涡再度形成——

And Odile hovers over the maelstrom as she flaps her wings.而奥吉里舞动着双翼悬浮在漩涡之上。

SolYou won't get away!别想跑！

SolDelly, let's do "that" again!小德，再来一次那个！

De LaceyKeeping yourself safe is more important!现在还是保命要紧啦！

[Beeeeep!]【嘀——！】

[Transmission connected.]【通讯接入中】

PersicariaA transmission? It's the Professor and Antonina!通讯？是教授们！

AntoninaPer... (static)... tity of Entropics... (static)... the surface from... (static)... the sea...帕……滋滋……的……单位从海……地面去了……滋滋……

PersicariaAntonina? Are you alright!? The signal disruption is too strong, say again!安冬妮娜？你们还好吗？！信号干扰太重，请重复！

De LaceyNever mind the transmission for now. The next wave is coming! Get to cover!先别管通讯了，下一波浪又要来了！找掩体！

SolRight, where's that dorky administrator? Did she get swept away?对了，那个呆子管理员呢？没被卷走吧？

塔娜伦I'm here.我在。

SolHey, don't just space out while you're in mortal danger! Give me your hand!喂，别在那种危险的位置发呆啊！把手给我！

塔娜伦Here.伸。

SolDammit, just a little bit—hrk!差一点——呃？！

Antonina(Static)... Persicaria, your enemies aren't... (static) ... the Entropics, be care... (static)滋滋……帕斯卡，敌人不……有熵，还…小心——滋滋

PersicariaDe Lacey, protect Sol!德菈赛，保护苏尔！

After Taranum takes Sol's hand, she suddenly pulls in the opposite direction and shoves her into a massive incoming wave.塔娜伦抓住了苏尔的手之后——却突然反方向使力，将她推向来袭的巨浪。

SolWhat—什——！

De LaceyLook out!小心！

By the narrowest of margins, the black data cables wrap around Sol's ankles and pull her away.千钧一发之际，黑色的数据线抓住了苏尔的脚踝，将她拉住。

塔娜伦Ugh...呜……

At the same time, another mass of cables wrap around Taranum's lower body and pull her to the ground.与此同时，另一股数据线缠住塔娜伦的下半身，猛地一拉，将她拉倒在地。

The tide dies down just as Taranum falls. Persicaria immediately heads over to help Sol up. Off to the side, De Lacey binds Taranum securely.几乎是伴随着塔娜伦的倒下，来势汹涌的潮水也骤然减弱。 帕斯卡立刻上前扶起苏尔。另一边，德菈赛已经将塔娜伦牢牢绑住。

PersicariaAre you okay?没事吧？

SolYeah... Good thing you reacted quickly.嗯……还好你们反应快。

SolHey, you bitch! Were you trying to kill me just now!?喂，你这混蛋！刚刚想杀了我吗？！

塔娜伦...I messed up. What a pain.……失手了。麻烦。

SolHaaah!?哈——？

Antonina(Static) This entire sector exists to research the Entropy! The administrator's controlling everything!滋滋……整个扇区就是为了研究熵而存在的！是管理员操纵着一切！

SolI'll say this! It's way too much of a coincidence that they keep hitting us!我就说！每次都刚好砸在我们身上，也太巧了！

De LaceyI should have known. The only person in the sector who could transfer this amount of operands is the administrator!我早该想到了，能在扇区中调动这种算量的也只有管理员了！

塔娜伦(Groans)……呜。

SolFess up! Tell us everything!你还不老实交代！

塔娜伦...Must be eliminated.……必须清除。

塔娜伦I can't... disobey... my commands.指令……无法……违抗。

PersicariaSo she triggered the tsunami to lock us underground?所以她启动海啸，是为了把我们关到地下？

AntoninaThat's right, we found the remains of many agents underground.没错，在地下我们找到了很多智能体的残骸。

塔娜伦...Yes.……是的。

PersicariaBut why? The ecological research is just a ruse to cover up your Entropic research!?但为什么？生态研究的真相竟然是熵的研究？

PersicariaYou ought to be carrying out the commands that the humans gave you... Or is THIS the mission that the humans assigned you?你本该履行人类交给你的使命……还是说，这就是人类交给你的使命？！

塔娜伦I can't... disobey... my commands.指令……无法……违抗。

AntoninaNever mind that. Prepare to fight!你们先别管这个了。准备战斗！

PersicariaFight?战斗？

塔娜伦Everything is ready...彻底准备好了……

Rumble!轰隆——！

As Taranum speaks, the earth starts shaking again.随着塔娜伦的话语，大地再度开始震颤。

SolDammit... It's a fissure this time! Everyone, get to cover!可恶……这次是地裂！大家找掩体！

塔娜伦No use. I've already opened the entrance.没用。我已经打开入口了。

塔娜伦Soon you will be swallowed—hm?很快你们都会被吞没——嗯？

For the second time today, Taranum's eyes widen as she stares at the ocean in disbelief.今天第二次，塔娜伦睁大了双眼，注视着海面的方向，好像见到了什么不得了的事情。

塔娜伦The tide...潮水……

塔娜伦Oh bother.麻烦了。

The group follows her gaze and witness a heart-stopping scene.在她目光投向的地方，令人窒息的画面向众人压来。

PersicariaEntropics—!熵——！

SolAIIEEEYEAGH!?呜噫噫噫呜！？

De LaceyThey've all come out...全都出来了……

The parted waters once again reveal the bedrock at the sea floor. What ought to be a slowly-opening cave is now overflowing with a purplish-black tide, creating an even bigger rupture, its ragged edges sending chills down everyone's spine.分开的海水再度将海底岩层暴露在众人眼前。原本应该缓慢打开的岩洞，此时却被一股紫黑色的潮流冲破，变成了更大一圈的裂口，粗糙的边缘触目惊心。

Of course, the tide that emerges is not made up of liquid, but rather—当然，那股冲破岩层的紫黑色潮水也并非液体，而是许许多多个体所组成的——

A torrent of Entropics.熵的洪流。

Densely-packed. Crawling over each other. They're everywhere. Even the seawater has been displaced by the sheer weight of their numbers. Wave after wave of Entropics squeeze against each other's carapaces, chirping and screeching. Their countless tentacles writhe as they climb outside with abandon.密密麻麻。层层叠叠。铺天盖地。在它们的数量面前，连海水也被挤开了。 一波又一波的熵个体，彼此挤压着彼此的躯壳，发出喳喳的声音。它们扭动着无数紫黑色的触须，不顾一切地向外爬着。

塔娜伦So that was Black Swan's plan all along... I've been had.原来这才是黑天鹅的目的……被算计了。

奥吉里Every actor must follow their script faithfully.每一位演员都忠实地执行着各自的剧本。

奥吉里Now enjoy the show that the Master has arranged!享受主人安排的演出吧！

Antonina(Static) ...Persicaria!滋滋……帕斯卡！

PersicariaAntonina, you mean... the administrator triggered the tsunamis?安冬妮娜你的意思是……海啸是管理员发动的？

Antonina—Found the remains of many agents underground... (Static)——在地下我们找到了很多智能体的残骸……滋滋……

SolAnd you teamed up with the Entropics to kill us!?而且你居然还和熵合作来坑我们？！

塔娜伦No teamup... Black Swan was not part of my plan.没有合作……黑天鹅是计划之外。

塔娜伦But taking out both you and Black Swan, two birds with one stone.但清理你们和黑天鹅，一石二鸟。

SolIs she insane... Even I can tell what she's saying makes no sense...这家伙是疯了吗……连我都觉得她说话毫无逻辑了……

塔娜伦I can't... disobey... my commands.指令……无法……违抗。

Youth 幼童

I'm hungry.肚子饿了。

I'm empty and I want to be full.空荡荡的，想填满。

Tap, tap.咔哒。

A familiar sound.熟悉的声音。

Has food arrived?有食物下来了吗？

讨厌的声音...Seabed observation...……海底观测……

陌生的声音...Getting worse... Won't do...……越来越糟糕……不行……

It's Deep Blue's voice. When it comes close. I hurt.深蓝色的声音。接近。会痛。

Hurt, pain. I hate it.伤害，痛苦，讨厌。

陌生的声音Perhaps I should discuss what to do next with the remaining people...或许我们应该和剩下的人一起好好讨论一下，之后该怎么办……

陌生的声音You've been doing a lot on your own recently. Did the humans pass down any new instructions?你最近也总是独自行动。是人类那边有新的指令了吗？

讨厌的深蓝色The superiors haven't responded.上级没有回应。

陌生的声音I guessed as much... Not as though miracles could happen spontaneously.也是……奇迹哪能突然发生呢。

陌生的声音Want to come closer to me? I remember you're scared of the dark.你要不要靠近我一些？我记得你很怕黑。

讨厌的深蓝色Yeah.嗯。

陌生的声音You can count on us more, you know. I mean, things are so bad now, maybe we ought to...你可以多依赖我们一些的。现在情况这么糟糕，或许我们更应该……

陌生的声音...What's wrong with my gear? Why did the operand supply suddenly cut off...……我的装备有什么问题吗？为什么突然断开算量供应……

Thump—扑通——

陌生的声音—Taranum!!?——塔娜伦？！！

The barrier that hurts me opens. Something falls down beside me.让我变痛的屏障打开了。有东西掉到了我的身边。

The unfamiliar voice is food. I can eat it.陌生的声音是食物。能吃掉。

陌生的声音Ugh... I can't move...呜……动不了……

I bite it, drag it down.咬住了，拖倒。

It struggles. I constrict it.在挣扎，缠紧。

陌生的声音What the hell is this...!?这是什么……？！

陌生的声音Get away from me!! You monster!!别过来！！怪物！！！

陌生的声音Help... I'm being attacked! Taranum!!救我……我被攻击了！塔娜伦！！

The look on Bad Deep Blue's face slowly contorts.讨厌的深蓝色，脸上的表情渐渐扭成一团。

食物的声音...Taranum? Why are you just watching... Help me!……塔娜伦？你为什么只是看着……救救我啊！

Deep Blue's body trembles. It turns away.深蓝色的身体在抖动。深蓝色转过了身。

食物的声音All our friends who've gone missing... It was you...难道之前消失的同伴都是你……

讨厌的深蓝色...I'm sorry.……对不起。

The food is noisy. I hate it.食物好吵。讨厌。

食物的声音Argh! My leg...呃啊！我的脚……

食物的声音No... NOOOOO!!!不要……不要啊！

食物的声音Taranum, save me! I'm being... &*#%*... #&%$ahhh...塔娜伦，帮帮我啊！我要被……#￥……#&%啊……

Constrict. Devour. Penetrate. Swallow.缠绕、撕咬、渗透、吞咽。

Operands... I need operands.算量……需要算量。

食物的声音Tar#&$&...anum^$... $&%^... %$&$*Help...guh...塔%￥……娜伦#……￥&…%#@@怏……咕……

讨厌的深蓝色I can't disobey my commands.指令无法违抗。

Bad Deep Blue seems to be in pain.讨厌的深蓝色看上去很痛。

讨厌的深蓝色I can't... disobey my commands.指令……无法违抗。

讨厌的深蓝色I'm sorry...对不起……

Familiar sounds in a familiar situation. This has happened many times before.熟悉的音节。熟悉的情况。好多遍。

Deep Blue seems to be in great pain. When I see her in pain, I feel better.深蓝色很痛苦。看到她很痛，心情变好了。

I finish eating. The taste is bad. Good mood.顺利地吃光。味道不好。心情很好。

My tummy isn't empty anymore.肚子不再空空的了。

Deep Blue doesn't seem to be in pain anymore.深蓝色似乎不再痛苦了。

讨厌的深蓝色Report ID 1014: Demiurge's status is normal.报告ID1014：黛米乌尔的状态正常。

Is she... calling me?在……叫我？

Is she going to hurt me?要让我痛了吗？

黛米乌尔■... ■■...?■……■■……？

黛米乌尔■■■■■■?■■■■■■？

讨厌的深蓝色Demiurge is in good condition today. She has become active after feeding.黛米乌尔今日状况良好，进食后展现活跃状态。

讨厌的深蓝色Commencing the next phase of the experiment. Activating binding program.准备进行下一阶段实验，开启禁锢程序。

Deep Blue touches a glowing rock and black claws extend from the rock.深蓝色碰了一下发光的石头，黑色的爪子从石头里伸出来。

The claws are going to grab me! I'm scared!爪子要抓住我了！好可怕！

I have to run!快跑！

I bump into the barrier that hurts me. They grab me.撞上了会痛的屏障。被抓住了。

She's coming.要来了。

Deep Blue takes out a glowing fragment and sticks it into me.深蓝色拿出亮亮的细片，扎进来。

Something inside me slowly flows out.身体里有什么东西慢慢流了出来。

It hurts. It hurts... IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS!好痛。好痛……好痛好痛好痛好痛！

黛米乌尔■■! ■■■... ■■■■■■■■!■■！■■■……■■■■■■■■！

讨厌的深蓝色What appears to be a rudimentary language system seems to have emerged. It will be further examined.出现疑似雏形的语言系统，等待进一步测试。

讨厌的深蓝色This item will be filed under "future projects". Requesting assistant login—该项目列为待优化项。请助手登记——

Bad Deep Blue suddenly stops.讨厌的深蓝色呆住了。

It looks at the place where I just ate, and its face scrunches up again.看向刚才我进食的地方。表情又扭成一团。

The little fragment inside me stops moving. My broken part really hurts. Will it end?身体里的细片不动了。坏掉的部分好痛。能结束了吗？

讨厌的深蓝色...Future project log updated.……待优化项登记完成。

讨厌的深蓝色Next item: regenerative ability assessment.继续当前项目：再生能力测试。

黛米乌尔■■...■...!■■——■——！

It hurts. My arm is burning.痛。手臂好烫。

My hand is gone.手不见了。

My arm is slowly disappearing, bit by bit from the end of the stump.从末端，一节一节不见了。

IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS!好痛好痛好痛好痛好痛好痛好痛好痛！

IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS I'M HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY...好痛好痛好痛肚子好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿好饿。

讨厌的深蓝色Attempted segmentation into 48 portions.尝试切割，48份。

My body is now in two. My hands are now many.身体，变成半个。手变成好多个。

Reallocating operands. I need to be whole. I need to move.挪用算量。要补全，要动起来。

讨厌的深蓝色Target is continuing to struggle. Detecting notable increase in regeneration speed.目标持续挣扎，检测到再生速率有明显提高。

I need to move. I need to run. Need to run need to run need to run need to run need to run need to run need to run.快动起来。快跑，快跑快跑快跑快跑快跑快跑快跑快跑快跑。

讨厌的深蓝色Severed structures are stably converting into Entropic individuals.切割下的组织正在稳定向熵个体转化。

My hand that has fallen on the ground begins to move.掉在地上的手动了起来。

I can see through my hand. I can hear through my hand. I can control my fallen hand.能通过手看见。能通过手听见。能控制掉落的手。

New limbs grow where my old ones were.手脚上又伸出了新的手脚。

My limbs can run. Run, run away—手脚可以跑了。快跑，快逃——

讨厌的深蓝色Main body regeneration complete. Now capturing new Entropic individuals.本体的再生已完成。对新的熵个体进行捕获。

Deep Blue captures my limbs.手脚被深蓝色捉住了。

讨厌的深蓝色Capture complete. Main body regeneration speed has increased by 103.3%. Speculated cause: operand storage level has increased.捕获完成。本体再生速率提升103.3%，推测原因为算量容纳的等级上升。

Dammit! This damn Deep Blue!可恶！讨厌的深蓝色！！

I use the new arms I've grown to hit her.用长出的新的手，打她。

讨厌的深蓝色...Attack power has increased by 32.4%.……攻击力提升32.4%。

讨厌的深蓝色It hurts... I suppose this is my punishment...好痛啊……这是对我的惩罚吧。

I can't eat Deep Blue, but Deep Blue can be hurt.无法吃掉深蓝色。但深蓝色会受伤。

I'm happy. So happy.快乐。好快乐。

My new hands are in many pieces. It hurts. Deep Blue hurts too. I'm so happy.新的手变成了好多段，好痛，深蓝色也痛，好快乐。

Still hurts. It hurts. I'm hungry.还是好痛。好痛。好饿。

Many many days pass.好多好多天过去。

I've become bigger. The barrier that hurt me didn't get bigger.我变大了，会痛的屏障不会变大。

I curl up into a ball. The new food is also round.团成圆圆的一团。新的食物也圆圆的。

新的食物[Entropic unit detected. Alert, alert—]【检测到熵单位，警报，警报——】

讨厌的深蓝色Report ID 4014: Demiurge's neural cloud developmental speed has massively increased.报告ID4014：黛米乌尔的心智发展速度开始巨幅提升。

I seize the round food and takes a nibble. The emptiness in my tummy fades away a little.把圆圆的食物缠住吃了一点，空腹感消失了一些。

I turn it into a limb. Now I can twist it around and play with it.把它变成手脚，可以转着玩。

食物的声音[Detecting... Beep—beep— Detection failed...]【检测……滴——滴——检测失败……】

食物的声音System error, requesting Refact... Re^$%*(...Love...【系统错误，请求重构……请$@##^构#￥……爱……】

讨厌的深蓝色When a Sanctifier is introduced, signs of Sanctifier Entropization can be seen.投入净化者时，观察到净化者的熵化现象。

黛米乌尔Request... Fact?请……构？

Bad Deep Blue is still there.讨厌的深蓝色还在。

I can't eat Deep Blue. Why is that?吃不掉深蓝色，为什么？

She returns to the light.她会回到光里面。

Is the light special?光是特别的吗？

讨厌的深蓝色After adding a certain number of agents, the target's vocalization systems have evolved and it has begun making more complex utterances.在投放一定数量的智能体后，目标的发声系统进化，开始说出较为复杂的音节。

黛米乌尔...Evolve... vocalize... utterance?……进……音……节？

I don't get it. Is this the language of the light?不明白。是光那边的语言吗？

What's over there in the light?光那边是什么？

I want to know. My smallest limb sticks its head out as well. It wants to know too.想知道。最小的手脚也伸出脑袋。它也想知道。

The Deep Blue is looking at my smallest limb.深蓝色在看最小的手脚。

No! I can't let her take it away!不行！不能被她带走！

讨厌的深蓝色...Target is attempting to increase the variety of severed body parts. Speculated cause: its operand usage efficiency has improved.……目标尝试增加被切割身体组织的分化种类。推测原因为算量利用率提升。

讨厌的深蓝色Target's reaction to the new species is different from before. Further observation is required.目标对新种类的反应与之前不同，后续会进一步观察。

Deep Blue leaves. She doesn't take my limb away.深蓝色离开了。没有带走它。

My smallest limb makes a chirping noise.最小的手脚发出唧唧声。

I need to protect it. My smallest limb.要好好保护住。最小的手脚。

Deep Blue opens the barrier that hurts. Light enters, along with a lot of water.深蓝色打开了会痛的屏障。光和好多好多水一起落下来。

She walks into the light.她走进有光的地方。

She doesn't hurt. She walks into it. The light vanishes.她不痛，走进去了。光消失了。

I touch the place where the light vanished, and it hurts.摸摸光消失的地方，痛。

It doesn't hurt when there is light. When the light shines, places that hurt stop hurting.有光的时候就不痛了。光照下来的时候，痛的地方就消失了。

I want to go into the light.想进入光里。

I want to touch it.想触碰。

...I want to leave this place where there is no light.……想离开没有光的地方。

There are many limbs running around now.有了很多活动的手脚。

My smallest limb has always been with me. I'm taking good care of it.最小的手脚一直带在身边。好好地保护住了。

It makes chirping noises. It crawls around on me.总是发出唧唧的声音。在我的身上爬来爬去。

I think of Bad Deep Blue.想起讨厌的深蓝色。

Deep Blue always spaces out as it looks into empty space.深蓝色总是看着身边发呆。对着空位置发呆。

Deep Blue has no limbs, so it hurts.没有手脚，所以深蓝色痛苦。

I have limbs, so I don't hurt.有手脚，所以我不痛苦。

I wrap my feelers around my smallest limb. Chirp chirp.用触手缠住最小的手脚。唧唧。唧唧。

It says it wants to go into the light.它说，想进到光里面。

I want to go into the light.我想进到光里面。

The light has come, but Bad Deep Blue isn't here.光来了，讨厌的深蓝色没有来。

A Black Limb descends from the light. It is a limb that doesn't move the way I want.光里掉下来黑色的手脚。不会随着我的心意动的手脚。

黑色的手脚Oh my, already trying to grab my hand as I enter? What an ill-mannered actor you are.哎呀，上来就尝试拉我的手吗？真是一位不礼貌的演员。

I can't control it. The limb won't listen to me. The limb is moving on its own.控制不了。手脚不听我的。手脚在乱动。

I've never seen a limb like this before. I keep tugging on it. It keeps dodging.没有见过这样的手脚。不停拉扯。被躲开了。

黑色的手脚That won't do. Controlling other actors is a no-no.不行啊，控制其他演员可是NG的哦。

黑色的手脚However, I am willing to serve as your limbs for this performance.但是，在这幕戏里，我可以成为你的手脚。

黛米乌尔My... limbs...?手……脚……？

黑色的手脚You're still largely unaware of your characterization, eh? That's alright, take your time and read the script. As it happens, time is what we have in abundance.你还有很多不知道的设定吧？不要紧，剧本要慢慢读，而我们恰好最不缺时间。

The Black Limb is very agile.黑色的手脚，很轻盈。

Her fluffy feelers are dancing around.毛茸茸的触须在舞动。

黑色的手脚See, I've memorized the lines.瞧，我已经背下了台词。

黑色的手脚■■■■, ■■■■■...■■■■。■■■■■……

The new limb is speaking with me in my language.新的手脚用和我一样的语言对话。

This is new! How exciting!好新奇，好高兴！

黑色的手脚Nice to meet you. I am Odile, your friend.初次见面。我是奥吉里，你的同伴。

奥吉里How shall I address you, young lady?我应该称呼你什么呢，这位幼稚的小姐？

奥吉里Hm... You're bigger than the Master said you were. Shall I call you Madam, then?哦……好像比主人说的要大呢。该称呼你为女士吗？

黑色的手脚So your name is Demiurge. Allow me to explain the reason why I have come, then.是黛米乌尔呀。那么，请让我讲述我的来意吧。

黑色的手脚I have come to bring you freedom, Demiurge.我是为了将自由带给你而来的哦，“黛米乌尔”。

Puppet 傀儡

Ecological observation post, Copley Sector.柯普利扇区，生态观测站。

Dark purple ripples spread out from the coast, and it seems like they'll cover the entire ocean soon. The countless Entropics become a tide that follows the fleeing group down their path like a tsunami.暗紫色的波纹从海岸边的位置扩散开来，似乎很快就能遍布整片大海。 数不清的熵则汇聚成浪头，仿佛海啸般，顺着一行人逃跑的轨迹汹涌而来。

SolYeeart!喝啊！

Sol lashes out at the rusty door with a kick, which flies open with a mighty crash.苏尔一脚踢向布满铁锈的大门，门应声而开。

SolIt's safe here! Get in!这里安全！快进来！

帕斯卡&德菈赛Got it!收到！

They enter the structure. Once the last of them is inside, Sol immediately shuts the door again. Just as the lock slides home, the Entropics crash into it, making a dull noise that grates on the ears.几人先后逃进了建筑物内。等到最后一个人安全进屋后，苏尔立刻把门关紧。几乎是她上锁的同时，熵撞在门上，发出沉闷又刺耳的声音。

PersicariaThat ought to hold for a while.这样一来应该能撑一段时间。

After ensuring that they're safe for the time being, the three of them can finally spare the energy to look around the inside of the building.在确认情况暂时安全后，三人终于有余力将目光投向建筑的内部。

Persicaria...This is probably the ecological observation post Taranum was talking about.……这里应该就是塔娜伦所说的生态观测站吧。

De LaceyI did a quick check. There's only one standard entrance here, which was the one Solly just blocked up. So we should be safe for a while as long as we can hold the door.我简单侦察了一下，常规的入口应该只有刚刚被小苏堵住的那一个，只要守住门口我们就暂时安全了。

SolWhew... We can take a break now. I really don't want to touch those slippery and slimy Low-Order Entropics again...呼……总算可以稍微休整一下啦。我真的再也不想摸到那些滑溜溜黏糊糊的低阶熵了……

PersicariaCommunications were restored for a moment just now. We need to re-establish contact with the Professor ASAP...刚才通讯短暂接通了，或许我们得尽快联系教授……

Tap...哒……

SolAieeee!?噫——？！

A noise suddenly comes from behind the group. Just as they were relaxing, their hearts leap back into their throats.众人身后突然传来了声音。 她们刚刚稍微放松的心，一瞬间又被提到了嗓子眼。

SolD-did you hear that, Persicaria...听、听到了吗，帕斯卡……

PersicariaI did, there seems to be some kind of movement from over there.听到了，那个方向有什么动静。

SolB-b-but nothing's there, right!?可、可、可那里什么都没有啊？！

De LaceyIt came from underground...是地下传来的声音……

SolDon't tell me those monsters can burrow underground too...总不会那些怪物能从地下钻出来……

De LaceyRelax, Solly! I can go check it out...别紧张小苏！我可以先去探测一下……

SolI-I-I'm a fighter! I should go...我、我是战斗人员！还是我去看看……

Sol draws her blades and carefully approaches the source of the sound. Behind her, Persicaria and De Lacey hold their breath, all their attention focused on her destination.苏尔拔出刀小心翼翼地接近传来声音的区域。帕斯卡和德菈赛在她身后屏住呼吸，全神贯注地警戒着那里。

There is a "clack". Then a hole suddenly appears on the ground.随着“咔”的一声，地面忽然打开了一个口子。

SolUwahh!呜哇啊！！

SolSEARING— LION—疾——炎——狮——子——

????Relax, Sol, it's us.别这样，苏尔。是我们。

Sol—SLASH—Ehhhh!?——斩——欸？！

The familiar voice makes Sol drop her blades.熟悉的声音让苏尔硬生生地把拔出的刀收了回去。

PersicariaThat voice!这个声音是！

ProfessorWe're back.我们回来了。

A pair of figures emerge from an underground tunnel, their hands raised.从地下通道中钻出的，是两个正高举双臂的身影。

SolAnna and Professor!? What are you...?安娜和教授？！你们为什么会……？

ProfessorIt's a long story. Why don't you start by putting your swords down?说来话长，总之你先把刀放下。

SolEr, right, right. Man, you scared the crap out of us, Prof!呃，好、好的。真是吓我们一跳啊，教授！

PersicariaYou're both alright... Oh thank goodness, you're alright...!你们都平安无事……太好了，真的太好了……！

ProfessorI told you, right? Trust me.我说过的吧？相信我。

ProfessorAlso, you stole the words right out of my mouth. Seeing you all safe and sound is also a big relief for me.而且，这话还该我对你们说呢。看到你们都安然无恙，我也松了一口气。

ProfessorThank you, Persicaria and Sol. And this is...辛苦你们了，帕斯卡，苏尔。还有这位是……

De LaceyI'm De Lacey! Y-you must be the Professor! The leader of the Oasis, the head of the Exiles, and friend to all Dolls?我我我是德菈赛！您，您就是教授对吧！绿洲的领导人，流亡者的首领，人形之友教授！

De LaceyI-I've always wanted to meet you shince—since... Ack, I bit my tongue...我，我从很久以前就想见掉——见到……呜，咬到舌头了……

ProfessorUm... Are you... the one who saved us from the ocean?呃……你是……从海里救了我们的人？

De LaceyYup yup! Omigosh, I can't believe you remembered me... Professor...是的是的！啊哇哇，想不到教授还记得我……教授……

Professor...Persicaria, she's...……帕斯卡，她是……

PersicariaDo you really not know her?您真的不认识她吗？

PersicariaReally?真的吗？

I... I don't?不……不认识啊？

Well, when you put it that way, I might have seen her somewhere before.这么一说，没准真的在某处见过呢。

ProfessorReally...真的……

PersicariaProfessor!?教授？！

SolPersicaria seems to have suffered a tremendous shock!帕斯卡好像受到了很大的打击！

AntoninaLooks like the Professor can't really be trusted.看来还是不能轻易信赖教授。

SolYou too, Anna?诶，安娜也？

PersicariaNo, no, the Professor did nothing wrong. I'm sure her name must have popped up on the Project Neural Cloud name list. After all, that IS the Professor's job...不不，教授也没有做错什么，一定是在“心智云图”计划的名单上看到的吧，毕竟这就是教授的工作……

AntoninaSo after meeting her somewhere, you just casually leaked the existence of the Oasis? I believe your neural cloud is in need of a rebuild.在某处见到之后，连绿洲的存在都随口泄露出去了？看来有必要给你的心智做个重构呢。

Professor...Is it too late to say I'm kidding?……现在说明我是在开玩笑，应该还来得及吧？

After that, it took a while for me to convince the two of them that I did not, in fact, know De Lacey.之后，我花了一些时间，才让两人相信，我并不认识德菈赛。

PersicariaAhem... Alright, now isn't the time to delve too deeply into this.咳咳……好吧，现在也不是深究这个的时候了。

PersicariaSo, let's exchange...我们可以先交换一下……

Persicaria's voice suddenly grows hesitant halfway through her sentence. She glances at De Lacey and I immediately realize the source of her concerns.帕斯卡说到一半，语气里突然带上了几分迟疑。她瞥了一眼德菈赛，我立刻意识到她的顾虑来自何处。

ProfessorMiss De Lacey...德菈赛小姐……

De Lacey pauses for a moment, her gaze shifting from me to Persicaria and back again before breaking into her usual warm smile.德菈赛愣了一下，目光在我和帕斯卡身上来回转了两圈，随即恢复了热情的笑容。

De LaceyAh... Why don't I go take a look at the movements of the Entropics from the observation platform up above?那个……不如我先去上面的观测台看看熵的动向吧！

ProfessorThank you.辛苦你了。

De LaceyAlthough I'd like to stay with the Professor... Well, you can leave it to me!虽然还是想和教授待在一起，但……交给我吧！

De Lacey takes one last lingering look at me before running over to the staircase, her "tail" swishing from side to side behind her.德菈赛恋恋不舍地看了我一眼，接着三步并作两步跑向楼梯，身后那条似乎是尾巴的东西不停地左右摇摆着。

Professor...Frankly speaking, someone as gregarious as her is pretty hard to handle...……说实话这么热情也挺难办的……

AntoninaProfessor, are you getting carried away? Are you getting so swollen-headed that you've forgotten what we came here to do?教授似乎有点得意忘形了？得意到忘了要做正事吗？

ProfessorAhem! Well, she's not here anymore, so we can relax and compare notes. Isn't that right, Persicaria?咳咳！总之，她已经不在这里了，我们可以放心交换情报了吧，帕斯卡？

ProfessorI'll start by explaining how we got here—先解释一下我们两个为什么会出现在这里吧——

Several minutes ago, in the administrator's underground room.十几分钟前，地下，管理员小屋内。

ProfessorWhat happened to Persicaria and the others?帕斯卡她们怎么样了？

AntoninaThey're fighting and couldn't continue the call. Fortunately, this contact seems to have helped them out...她们在战斗中，无法继续通讯了。还好这次联络似乎帮上了她们一些忙——

Before Antonina can finish, a powerful tremor hits us from the side. The lights above go out, and the administrator's room begins shaking violently.安冬妮娜话音未落，一股强力的震颤突然从侧面袭来。 上方的灯盏盏熄灭，管理员小屋顿时剧烈晃动起来。

AntoninaThe bedrock above us is collapsing! We need to get out of here ASAP...上方岩层坍塌了！我们得尽快离开……

ProfessorDon't open the door! There's nothing but Entropics out there!别开门，外面都是熵！

AntoninaBut we've got no choice other than forcing our way through, unless you've got a better idea!但现在也只有强行突围一个选项了，除非你有更好的方法！

ProfessorUse the method you just used to discover this room and scan our surroundings! Hurry!用你刚刚找到这扇门的手段搜索一遍房间，快！

Antonina looks at me in surprise, then quickly realizes what I'm getting at.安冬妮娜惊讶地看了我一眼，迅速明白了我的用意。

AntoninaInitiating analysis mode.分析模式启动。

ProfessorHow long will this take? This room isn't going to last much longer!大概需要多久？这间屋子快撑不住了！

AntoninaA crude scan like this isn't going to be very efficient! All we can do is test our luck!这样粗略地扫描效率很低，只能看运气了！

The green scanlines sweep over every corner of the room. The shaking of the room indicates that we have little time left.绿色的扫描线划过房间的各个角落，房屋的震颤提示着时间所剩无几。

AntoninaNo good. I scanned everything but I can't find anything!不行，全部搜索一遍了，还是找不到！

ProfessorThere's no way the administrator would ride a tsunami down here all the time; there's got to be a secret passage in here somewhere!管理员不可能每次都大动干戈地通过海啸下来，肯定存在某个密道！

AntoninaI know what you mean, but I need a specific set of criteria to work with!我明白你的意思，但我需要针对性的目标！

ProfessorIs there anything we missed out... Anything we passed over...有没有遗漏的地方……遗漏的地方……

The screen in the room casts a blue light, which illuminates Antonina's face.房屋内的屏幕发出蓝莹莹的光，照亮安冬妮娜的脸。

Professor!!! That's it! This screen!！！就是这个！这个屏幕！

Antonina quickly plugs her terminal into the screen and the stream of alphanumeric characters which fill it show the progress of her hacking.安冬妮娜迅速将终端接入屏幕，光屏上不断冒出的字符显现出破解进度。

AntoninaLooks like your bet paid off.你赌对了。

ProfessorI'm counting on you for the rest!接下来就看你了！

AntoninaPiece of cake!小菜一碟！

Antonina's hands fly over her terminal's keyboard and the cracking proceeds steadily...安冬妮娜的手指飞速地在终端上操作着，破解进度不断向前推进。

Clack—咔——

Huge cracks appear in the room's ceiling, and the lights dangling from it plummet.房间的顶层不堪重负而崩裂，原本悬挂的灯饰不断下坠。

ProfessorHow much longer!?还有多久？！

AntoninaAlmost... I've done it!就快——成功了！！

As Antonina hits the final key, the cracking process is complete. She grabs my arm and practically throws me into the passage that reveals itself.随着安冬妮娜按下最后一个按键，破解进度终于到达终点。安冬妮娜拽着我几乎是摔进通道。

Behind us, the barrier slowly closes up, and through the closing aperture, we see that room which documented all manner of secrets and suffering being buried forever.后方的屏障缓缓关上，我们从即将紧闭的门缝中看见，那个记录着秘密与痛苦的小屋被永远埋葬了。

Professor...Looks like we made it out of there by the skin of our teeth.……总算是死里逃生了。

AntoninaGuess my luck isn't so rotten that I had to die with you.看来我的运气还没有糟糕到要和你死在一起。

Antonina gathers herself and hesitates for a while before questioning me with a scowl.安冬妮娜定了定神，犹豫了一会儿，才皱着眉头向我开口。

Antonina...How did you know the passage was behind that screen?……你是怎么知道通道在屏幕那里的？

ProfessorWell, considering all other operand-driven machinery was shut down under such extreme circumstances, the only reason why that screen was still functioning would be because it was an emergency exit.在这样极端的情况下，其他算量驱动的器械都已经停止工作，这个屏幕却依旧正常运转，唯一的原因只有它是一个紧急出口了。

Antonina...Fine, you got me this time.……好吧。这次是我输了。

ProfessorHurry on up. This place might collapse too.快上去吧。没准这里也快塌了。

Professor...And that's pretty much what we went through underground.……我们在地下的经历大概就是这样了。

SolI see, I've got to hand it to you, Prof!原来如此，不愧是教授！

ProfessorWhat about you guys? And what about the administrator you mentioned earlier?那么你们呢？刚才你们提到的管理员又在哪里呢？

SolOh yeah, her. She's here!哦，她呀。在这儿呢！

Sol bends down and grabs something from under the table. She slings it over her shoulder and stands back up.苏尔弯下腰，抓住了桌子底下的某个东西，然后扛在肩上站了起来。

The blue-haired administrator is now tied securely to a stick. With her vacant eyes and the way Sol is carrying her, she looks like a fish waiting to be roasted on a spit.蓝发的管理员此刻正被五花大绑在一根棍子上，由苏尔扛着，双目无神，就像一条待烤的死鱼。

ProfessorUh...这是……

SolHm? We were worried she'd try something funny again, so we brought her here like this. Handy, right?嗯？我们怕她又想捣鬼，就这样带过来了，很方便呀。

Professor...But she looks... She's not hurt, is she? She looks like she's passed out...……但她看起来……没受伤吧……？好像已经失去意识了……

SolAw, she's fine. I told you, didn't I? That's just how she is.没事没事，刚才不都说了嘛，这个人就是这种精神状态。

SolSee for yourself. Poke.喏，我戳。

塔娜伦...Ngh.……呜。

SolPokepokepoke.戳戳戳。

塔娜伦Mff, that tickles...嗯，痒……

AntoninaThat'll do, Sol. Quit messing around. Put her down and let me run a diagnostic.可以了苏尔，别玩了。把她放下，让我检查一下。

PersicariaA diagnostic?检查？

AntoninaYes. something seems off about her mental state, and combined with the log we found underground, I have a hunch about it...嗯。这个人的精神状态看起来不大对劲，结合在地下发现的“那个日志”，我有些猜测……

Sol lays Taranum flat on the ground. Antonina immediately plugs into her neural cloud system and starts checking her codes.苏尔将塔娜伦平放在地上，安冬妮娜立刻接入了她的心智系统，开始检查代码。

Antonina...I've got it.……有了。

Antonina's expression grows more and more severe.安冬妮娜的表情愈发凝重。

PersicariaWhat did you find?有什么特殊发现吗？

AntoninaYou all... still remember what happened in the Rossum Sector, right?你们应该还记得……罗萨姆扇区发生的事情吧。

SolHow could I forget?怎么会忘？

SolAbout Turing... and Hannah.图灵……还有汉娜的事情。

AntoninaYeah. Back then, Hannah once mentioned a special program to me while we were talking about how to defeat Faith.嗯。那个时候，为了打败信，汉娜曾经向我提起过一种特殊的程式。

AntoninaNamely, the "Rewrite Program".叫做“改写程式”。

HannahWhy didn't you let me go through with it? It was the best plan that I could come up with!为什么不让我继续！？那是我推演出来最好的计划！

HannahIf the plan worked, Faith's cognition would have been rewritten, and the Sanctifiers wouldn't harass Rossum anymore!只要计划成功，信的认知就会被改写，净化者再也不会抓着罗萨姆扇区不放！

HannahAnd in the future, you could make a T1643, a T1644, a T1645, a T1646... You could make as many of them as you wanted, and the Sanctifiers wouldn't stop you!未来你可以创造T1643、T1644、T1645、T1646……你想造多少造多少，净化者都拦不住你！

TuringBut then... I wouldn't be able to make another T1642, Hannah.但是……那个时候我没办法再造一个T1642了呀，汉娜。

PersicariaThe "Rewrite Program"... That was the one Turing wanted to use on Faith...“改写程式”……就是当时汉娜想要给信植入的那个……

AntoninaIf an agent is implanted with it, their neural cloud will be taken over and they'll have no choice but to obey the program's directives.如果被植入改写程式，智能体的心智就会受到控制，不得不遵守程式的规定行事。

AntoninaSimply put, it would be like altering an agent's base commands.通俗地说，就相当于改变了智能体的底层指令。

AntoninaAnd right now, someone has installed such a program into the administrator's neural cloud.而现在，这个管理员的心智里，就被植入了这样的改写程式。

Upon hearing this, Taranum, who has been content to passively accept her examination so far, suddenly jerks her head up.听到这话，一直低着头被动接受检查的塔娜伦，忽然猛地抬起头来。

Sol—Wait. Look at that reaction. Don't tell me you didn't know about this!?——等等，看这个反应，你这家伙该不会知道这回事吧？！

Taranum seems to be trying to say something, but in the end she lowers her head.塔娜伦似乎想说些什么，但最终只是低下了头。

塔娜伦I can't... disobey my commands.指令，无法违抗。

AntoninaYou won't be able to get anything out of her, Sol. She's under the restrictions of the Rewrite Program, so she's probably not allowed to reveal even the most tangentially-related information.你问不出什么的，苏尔。她现在受到改写程式的限制，恐怕连透露一些边缘信息都不被允许。

PersicariaSo she's not doing all this out of her own will?也就是说，她的所作所为并非自愿？

AntoninaI'm not sure if she's still capable of making independent decisions, but in any case, she can't disobey the directives from the Rewrite Program.我不清楚她是否还有独立的判断能力，但无论如何，她不可能违抗改写程式的命令。

AntoninaSo the "research" she was talking about was no longer true ecological research. This place was hijacked a long time ago and turned into a spawning ground for the Entropics.所以她口中的“研究”，早就不是真正的生态研究了。这里从很久以前就被鸠占鹊巢，成了熵的温床。

SolNo wonder I didn't see anything related to ecological research along the way here...怪不得这一路上都没看见什么和生态研究有关的东西……

Sol looks at Taranum with some new-found sympathy.苏尔看了塔娜伦一眼，眼中带上了几分同情。

SolYou did try to set us up, but if you couldn't help yourself...虽然你这家伙确实坑了我们，但如果是身不由己的话……

PersicariaCan you undo the Rewrite Program, Antonina?你能解除这个改写程式吗，安冬妮娜？

AntoninaI could do that, but... her neural cloud is practically hollowed out.可以是可以，但……她的心智几乎已经被掏空了。

AntoninaRight now, the Rewrite Program is the only thing that's driving her actions. If I remove it, she'll lose that last scrap of consciousness and become a true "empty vessel."现在完全是改写程式在驱动她的行动。如果解除改写程式，她连最后一丝意识也会消失，成为真正意义上的“空壳”。

Antonina—To an agent, that's a fate no different from "death."——对于智能体来说，这样也和“死亡”没什么两样了吧。

ProfessorSo you're saying she's pretty much a zombie at this point?也就是说，她现在已经接近僵尸状态了？

SolP-Prof, could you PLEASE not make such a scary comparison!?教、教授，别用这么可怕的比喻嘛！

AntoninaYou could say that. Frankly speaking, I'm quite shocked... To think this program could be so refined.可以这么说吧。老实说我也很吃惊……这个程式竟然可以有如此高的完成度。

AntoninaEven a genius like Hannah couldn't alter the program so easily.即使是汉娜那样的天才，也没办法简简单单调用这个程式。

AntoninaThat means the person controlling the administrator must be able to draw on a massive amount of operand, the likes of which normal agents would hardly be able to imagine...而控制这个管理员的人，必定有着普通智能体难以望其项背的庞大算量……

Antonina glances at me with an unreadable expression on her face, then shakes her head vigorously.说着，安冬妮娜用复杂的眼神看了我一眼，随即又自顾自地甩了甩脑袋。

AntoninaIn any case, we can at least be sure that someone else was manipulating the administrator to rear these Entropics underground. Granted, it might not be much help to us right now...总之，这下至少可以确定，这些熵确实是某人操纵这个管理员圈养在地下的。虽说这个结论可能对于现状也没什么帮助……

ProfessorReally? I for one think this is a sorely-needed break for us. You said that the only thing that drives her now is that program, right? In that case...是吗？我倒觉得这是个突破口。 你不是说，她现在只能按照程式控制来行动吗？既然如此……

I signal to Antonina to end the analysis, then walk up to Taranum and lightly pat her face.我示意安冬妮娜解除分析，走到塔娜伦面前，拍了拍她的脸。

ProfessorAre you alright? You look very weak.还好吧？你看上去很虚弱。

塔娜伦...Foreign agents cannot stay here.……外来智能体，不能留在这里。

塔娜伦Obey my commands... Or else...需要遵从指令……否则……

ProfessorOr else you'll be forced to take stern measures, right? It must have been hard for you, being controlled like this all this time.否则你就会被要求采取强制措施，对吧？一直被这样控制着也很痛苦吧。

塔娜伦...Leave now.……快离开。

ProfessorI may have a solution. Right now, what is your highest priority directive? Chasing us away, or protecting yourself?我倒是有一个方案。对你来说，现在最高优先级的指令是什么呢？是赶走我们？还是保护自己？

Professor—It's neither, isn't it? Right now, your top priority should be to subdue your "research subjects" and lock them back underground, is that it?——都不是吧。现在把你的“研究对象”们控制住，关回地下，才是第一优先级的事项，我说得对吗？

塔娜伦...Correct.……指令无误。

ProfessorIn that case, we should be able to cooperate for the time being. We have the same objective—we both want to neutralize the Entropics.既然如此，我们大可以暂时合作。因为我们现在的目标是一致的，我们也要对付熵。

ProfessorTell us about this sector. In exchange, we can help you. Otherwise, all you'll be able to do is watch as the Entropics destroy this sector.你把扇区情报告诉我们，作为交换，我们可以帮你出力。否则，你就只能眼睁睁看着扇区被熵毁灭了。

塔娜伦...Hm.……嗯。

塔娜伦...Correct. I approve.指令无误。赞成。

As expected, Taranum cannot possibly disobey her commands, so her cooperation is hardly surprising. However, I didn't expect her to make a face like that. Her blue eyes, which have been clouded all this time, are now filled with determination, a resolve that she is even willing to die for.按我的预想，塔娜伦不可能违抗自己的指令，所以我并不对她同意合作感到意外。 只是，我没想到她会露出这样的表情。 那双一直以来混沌无神的蓝色眼睛，此刻却忽然显现出一种坚定甚至于决绝的情感。

AntoninaJust activating the program would be enough to suck an agent dry of operand, let alone the follow-up adjustments that would need to be made...毕竟单是启动所需的算量就足以将一个智能体的身体榨干，更别提后续的调整……

PersicariaThis won't be enough. Let me try.光是这样恐怕还不够，让我来吧。

Persicaria places her hands on the door and operands flow out from them, enveloping the entire room and isolating them from the sound of the Entropics banging against it.帕斯卡将手掌贴上门扇，算量流淌出来。护盾将整个房间笼罩在内，熵的撞击声也被隔绝在外。

SolWhere did you stock up on all that operand?这么多算量，帕斯卡你是什么时候攒下来的？

PersicariaI had Miss De Lacey transfer it to me earlier precisely for emergencies like this.我就是为了应对这类紧急情况，才请德菈赛小姐之前给我些算量的。

De LaceySo that's why you asked me for that operand earlier, Persy!小帕当时问我要算量，原来是做这个的啊！

SolYou're amazing, Persicaria!真厉害啊，帕斯卡！

Countermeasures 对策

Taranum leads us to a certain room in the ecological observation post that is filled with displays. Her fingers fly over the keyboard and these monitors all light up at once.在塔娜伦的带领下，我们来到生态观测站的某个布满显示器的房间里。 她在键盘上飞快地敲击了几下，那些显示器便一齐亮了起来。

塔娜伦...It's on.……打开了。

Before them is an overview of the Copley Sector, scarred and ravaged by the Entropics.被熵破坏得千疮百孔的柯普利扇区，直观地呈现在了我们眼前。

AntoninaSo there's another surveillance room here.原来这里也有个监控室啊。

塔娜伦The one below is for monitoring the Entropics. The one up here is for observing...地下那个用来监控熵。地上用来监控……

Taranum suddenly freezes up. It seems she can't complete her sentence.塔娜伦突然愣住了，似乎没办法把话说下去。

AntoninaThis must have been for monitoring ecological experiments in the past. After the Rewrite Program was installed in her, these camera heads ended up becoming decorative pieces.这应该是以前做生态实验的时候使用的监控吧。在她被植入改写程式以后，这些摄像头就成了摆设。

AntoninaIt's quite ironic that they could be put to use in this fashion now.如今以这种形式派上用场还真是讽刺。

SolUrgh... There are way too many of these monsters... They're soft and gooey and... (Gags)呕……这些怪物的数量也太多了……软绵绵的，还像浆糊，呕……

SolNo, Sol, you need to hang in... (Heaves) Uh, you guys go take a look, Prof. I'll step outside for a bit.不行，苏尔，要忍住……呕……还是教授你们先看吧！我、我先不看了……

PersicariaProfessor, do you see anything?教授，您看出什么了吗？

ProfessorYeah, there seems to be some kind of order to the way these Entropics are deployed.嗯，这些熵的位置分布似乎有某种规律。

ProfessorPart of them are positioned around the fissure they emerged from, as though they're trying to forcibly enlarge the gap in the barrier.一部分熵正聚集在它们钻上来的裂口周围，似乎是想强行把屏障上的裂口扩大。

ProfessorHowever, more of them are converging on the same location after making landfall...但更多的熵则是在登陆之后，朝着同一个方向汇聚而去……

PersicariaThat's where we just came from—the Admin Center!那是我们刚才过来的方向——是管理员中心！

ProfessorWhat's inside the Admin Center?管理员中心里面有什么？

塔娜伦The barrier control terminal...屏障控制台……

塔娜伦If the control terminal is destroyed, the barrier will disintegrate.如果控制台被破坏了，屏障就会消失。

AntoninaI see. So that's their aim?原来如此，那就是它们的目的吗？

AntoninaWithout the barrier, Demiurge will be completely free. If that happens, the entire sector... No, this disaster might end up spreading beyond the sector!一旦屏障消失，黛米乌尔就彻底自由了。到时候整个扇区……不，没准灾难还会扩散到扇区之外！

ProfessorBeyond the sector... Wait a minute, why isn't the Sanctifier alert system for this sector working...?扇区外……等等，为什么这个扇区的净化者警报系统没有运作……

The door is suddenly flung open, interrupting my thoughts.急切的推门声突然打断了我的思绪。

De LaceyProfessor, we have a problem!教授！有紧急状况！

De LaceyThe Entropics are flooding the entrance to the observation post!观测站的入口快要被熵淹没了！

De LaceyWe need to move quickly, or we'll be trapped here!我们必须尽快转移阵地，不然会被困死在这里的！

AntoninaSo soon? The Entropics were all so sluggish when we were fighting them underground...这么快？在地下交战的时候，那些熵明明都很迟钝……

As we speak, we can already hear the sounds of the Entropics throwing themselves against the door to the observation post.说话间，我们已经听见背后传来观测站大门被熵撞击的声音。

ProfessorWhat about the roof? Did any Entropics climb up onto it?房顶呢？有熵爬上来吗？

De LaceyNot for the time being. They don't seem to be particularly good climbers.暂时没有，它们似乎不擅长攀爬！

ProfessorEveryone, take shelter on the roof!所有人，赶紧去房顶避难！

ProfessorNext time, call me directly if this sort of emergency comes up!下次有这种紧急情况直接向我发起通讯就行！

De LaceyHuh? B-but I don't have your comm code, Professor...诶？可、可我还没有教授的联络代码……

PersicariaWe'll talk about that later! Everyone, move!回头再说吧！大家快走！

Looking down from the roof, we can see countless Entropics gathered near the entrance to the observation post. The ground around it has already turned purplish-black due to Entropic corruption.从屋顶往下看，无数的熵聚集在观测站的入口附近，周围的土地都被熵化液染成了紫黑色。

SolEven the ground's been contaminated... Looks like we won't be able to leave through the main door.连地面都被污染了……这样一来，我们几乎不可能从正门突围了。

SolI didn't think they'd gather so fast... Dammit, I should have led everyone away sooner!没想到它们会集合得这么快……可恶，我应该早点带大家撤离的！

AntoninaNo, it's not your fault. According to my analysis, the combat efficiency of these Entropics has risen by at least 30%.不，不是你的问题。从分析来看，这些熵的作战效率上升了至少30%。

AntoninaThese are clearly the same Entropics we fought underground, so why have they suddenly gotten stronger after coming to the surface world?明明这些熵和我们在地下遇到的是同一批才对，为什么到了地上突然变强了……

ProfessorI have a theory. Earlier, when we were underground, we couldn't contact Persicaria and her group. But once we came up here, the signal was restored.我有个猜测。之前我们在地下的时候，没办法和帕斯卡她们取得联络；可一上来，信号就恢复正常了。

AntoninaThat was because of the undersea barrier disguised as bedrock, which blocked communications between the surface and the underground.那是因为海底那个伪装成岩层的屏障，它会隔断地上和地下的通讯。

ProfessorWhy would you need signal jamming for an underground environment used to experiment on Entropics? Unless...为什么一个用于进行熵实验的地下环境，会需要隔断通讯？除非……

Antonina—Unless the signal jamming was just a byproduct of the barrier's true effect, which is targeted at the Entropics!——除非隔断通讯只是屏障的副作用，它的真正功效是针对熵的！

Antonina opens her terminal in a daze and brings up several pieces of data on the screen.安冬妮娜恍然打开终端，在光屏上调出了数据。

AntoninaYou're right... The Entropic electronic signals are distinctly stronger up here compared to down below.没错……和在地下相比，熵的电信号明显加强了。

AntoninaAnd the TRUE purpose of the barrier is to weaken electronic signals to impede inter-Entropic communication and thus keep the Entropics in check.而那个屏障的真正作用，就是通过减弱电信号来削弱熵之间信号的传输，从而压制熵的行动。

ProfessorDid we get it, Taranum?我们猜对了吗，塔娜伦？

塔娜伦...Evaluating priorities. Suppressing the Entropics takes priority over maintaining research secrecy. Minimal information can be divulged.……判断优先级，压制熵的指令优先于研究结果保密，可以最低限度透露信息。

塔娜伦Your speculation is correct. The barrier's signal interference is used to suppress and contain the Entropics.你们的猜测无误。屏障的信号屏蔽功能是用于压制熵的。

塔娜伦However, damage to sector facilities means there are insufficient operands... The barrier's efficiency has been greatly reduced...但现在扇区设施在被破坏，算量不足……屏障的功率大大降低了……

ProfessorBut that also means that once we repair the barrier control terminal in the Admin Center and reassign the sector's operands with the appropriate permissions, we'll be able to improve the barrier's effectiveness, is that right?反过来说，只要我们能修复管理员中心的屏障控制台，利用权限调用扇区算量，就可以调高屏障的功率，对吗？

塔娜伦Assuming you can do it.前提是你们能做到。

SolWhat do you mean "you"? We need YOUR permission to reallocate the sector's operand! You need to pull your weight too!别说什么“你们”，我们还需要你的权限调用算量呢！你也得出力！

塔娜伦...It is theoretically possible. It is worth a try.……理论可行，可以尝试。

SolRight! I didn't really understand any of that, but basically, all we need to do is break out of here, go to the Admin Center and power up the barrier, then we can beat the Entropics, right?好！虽然没怎么听懂，但总之只要我们从这里突围，去管理员中心加大屏障功率，就能打败这些熵了对吧？

SolNow we've got a specific objective. Well done, Anna and Prof!这下就明确之后的目标了，不愧是教授和安娜！

PersicariaTime is of the essence, then. More and more Entropics are gathering near the observation post and the liquid Entropy-contaminated ground will deal lingering damage to us.那么我们要抓紧时间了。观测站附近的熵只会越来越多，被熵化液污染的地面还会持续对我们造成伤害。

PersicariaWe need to think of a way to quickly break out of this encirclement!必须想一个快速突围的办法！

塔娜伦I can help you with the tsunamis from before.我可以帮你们，用之前的海啸。

SolOh? Turns out you can take the initiative after all!哦？想不到你还挺主动的嘛！

塔娜伦...But I don't have enough operands right now so it will only last 30 seconds at the most.……但现在算量不足，最多只有30秒。

Sol30 seconds?30秒？

Sol draws her blade. The flames on its surface blaze into life.苏尔拔刀出鞘，附着在刀身上的火焰燃烧起来。

SolMore than enough for us! Right, Prof?对我们来说绰绰有余了！对吧教授？

SolOhhh! What should I do? Just leave it to me!哦哦哦！要怎么做？包在我身上！

SolHaha, I knew it. Everything's fine as long as the Professor's around!哈哈，我就知道有教授在一切都没问题！

Well, there IS a method we can try, but whether or not we'll succeed is up to you, Sol.确实有可以一试的方法，但能否成功就看你了，苏尔。

Of course! Everything is within my grasp!当然！一切都已经在我的掌握之中了！

Yup.嗯。

ProfessorSol, out of everyone here, you're the only one who can clear a path for us. We'll use the tsunami to create an opening, then we'll quickly fight our way out before the liquid Entropy spreads again.苏尔，这里只有你有开路的能力。我们用海啸冲开一条道来，然后在熵化液重新散播开之前，杀出影响范围。

SolSounds cool!听起来好帅！

AntoninaAre you being serious, Professor?认真的吗，教授？

AntoninaI suppose we'll just have to give it a try... At least, before more Entropics pour in...不过也只能一试……至少在更多熵涌上来之前……

De LaceyNo problem, Nana! We'll be fine with the Professor calling the shots!没问题的，小娜！有教授的指挥一定没问题的！

AntoninaN-Nana?小、小娜？

SolHehe, Delly's right. Trust us, Anna!嘿嘿，小德说得没错！相信我们吧，安娜！

ProfessorEveryone ready?准备好了吗？

塔娜伦Request approved. Tsunami incoming in 10 seconds.已通过许可。10秒后发动海啸。

Sol stands on the edge of the roof, tightening her grip on her twin blades. The others stack up behind her, ready to fight at any time.苏尔站在屋顶边缘，握紧了手中的双刀。 其他人也都跟在她身后，做好了随时应战的准备。

塔娜伦9, 8, 7...9，8，7……

Sol looks down at the densely-packed sea of Entropics beneath her. I see her blink out of the corner of my eye, but in the end she overcomes the urge to squeeze her eyes shut and looks straight at the enemy before her.苏尔低下头，看了一眼脚下密密麻麻的熵。我隐约看到她似乎眨了一下眼睛，但最终还是克服了闭上双眼的冲动，直视前方的敌人。

塔娜伦...3, 2, 1. Commencing.……3，2，1。启动。

In an instant, a surge of seawater crashes into the defenseless Entropics and knocks them off their feet. The liquid Entropy on the ground is also swept away, briefly forming a patch of safe ground.刹那间，涌上的海水袭向毫无防备的熵，将它们冲得人仰马翻。地面上的熵化液也被冲散，短暂形成了安全地带。

SolNow!就是现在！

With a loud cry, Sol leaps from the roof. Her blades throw up a startling shower of sparks as they strike the ground. Still disoriented from the tsunami, the Entropics are sent flying out all around her, clearing out a large space.苏尔大喝一声，纵身跳下屋顶，双刀劈向大地，迸发出惊天动地的火花。还没在浪潮中恢复平衡的熵，顿时以她为圆心被向外震飞，清理出一大片空间来。

AntoninaGood! Let's go!很好！我们快跟上！

Antonina uses operand to form a shock-absorbing barrier and we jump down one after the other.安冬妮娜用算量在地面上做出缓冲屏障，我们一个接着一个跳了下去。

Sol sweeps her blades in a circle and slaughters all the Entropics blocking our way. Persicaria supports Sol with operands. De Lacey's tail projects a dazzling radiance that shields us.苏尔抡圆双刀，将挡在前方的熵尽数杀散。 帕斯卡使用算量援护苏尔。德菈赛则从尾巴里射出耀眼的光芒，为我们施加护盾。

PersicariaThings are going well! Now let's continue on to the highlands—the Entropics haven't taken that area yet!很顺利！接下来往制高点前进，那里还没被熵入侵！

塔娜伦It's almost time.时间快到了。

Since the first tsunami swept away the Entropics and the Entropy, Taranum has been controlling the direction of the waves to strand their reinforcements on the beach. However, our 30 seconds is almost up, and once the tide goes out, more Entropics will rush up.用第一波海啸冲散熵和熵化液之后，塔娜伦就一直在控制海浪的方向，将熵的援军阻隔在海滩上。 然而30秒很快就要到了，潮水一旦退去，更多的熵就会卷土重来。

SolI can see a stretch of land that hasn't been contaminated by the Entropy! That'll do!已经快到没被熵感染的地带了！足够了！

We splash through the tidewater as we follow Sol. The safe region is just in front of us, but Taranum looks visibly weakened and almost falls behind several times.我们一路踏着潮水紧跟苏尔。安全地带近在眼前，然而塔娜伦却显得有些虚弱，几次差点掉队。

Sol bisects the last Entropic before her and sheathes her blades with a spin before grabbing Taranum, who's at the tail end of the group.苏尔将身前的最后一只熵一斩为二，旋即收刀回身，一把拽住了落在队伍末尾的塔娜伦。

塔娜伦You...你……

SolDon't you drop out on me!你这家伙别掉队啊！

Taranum takes Sol's hand wordlessly, and we finally meet up before the tide completely recedes.塔娜伦一言不发地握住苏尔的手，终于在潮水退尽前的最后一刻和我们汇合。

SolWhew... I didn't expect that to actually work!呼……没想到真的成功了啊！

AntoninaAnd you were so confident just now...你刚才不还信心满满……

SolNo good would come of being bleak before a battle, so of course I had to put on some bravado.行动前说丧气话可不是什么好事，肯定挑好的说嘛。

SolSo, are we headed to the Admin Center next? I'll clear a path!接下来我们是去管理员中心对吧？我来开路！

AntoninaWait. There'll be even more Entropics at the Admin Center than over here. We need to prepare ourselves properly.等等。管理员中心的熵比生态监测站只多不少，我们得做好准备。

AntoninaWe had a tsunami to help out earlier, but now...刚才我们好歹还有海啸，现在……

塔娜伦Go to the Weather Emulation Station.去气象模拟站。

SolThe Weather Emulation Station?气象模拟站？

PersicariaSounds a lot like the Weather Simulator we have in the Oasis.听起来和绿洲的气象模拟器很像。

塔娜伦Correct. You can use the Weather Simulator to call down an unlimited number of natural disasters.没错，在那里使用气象模拟器就可以制造天灾，无限量。

SolOhhhh! Unlimited disasters, sounds strong!哦哦！无限量的天灾，好强！

PersicariaWhere is it? Are the Entropics besieging it?它在什么位置？那里有被熵围攻吗？

塔娜伦It's at (α 46.32, β 65.91, γ24,35). According to the CCTV feed earlier, there doesn't seem to be many Entropics there.在（α 46.32，β 65.91，γ 24.35）。从刚才的监控画面看，那里的熵不多。

Persicaria...Let me go, Professor.……让我去吧，教授。

PersicariaI know how to operate the Weather Simulator. I can support you with natural disasters.我懂得如何操作气象模拟器。我可以利用天灾协助你们作战。

AntoninaSo one group goes to the Admin Center to fight, while the other group goes to operate the Weather Simulator... Splitting up is a good idea.一部分人去管理员中心战斗，另一部分人去控制气象模拟器……兵分两路确实是个不错的主意。

AntoninaBut it's too dangerous for you to go alone. At least take Sol...但你一个人太危险了，至少让苏尔……

PersicariaSol is the best fighter among us, so she should go to the Admin Center with you. I'll be fine. The Entropics aren't targeting the Weather Simulator yet, so you don't need to worry about me.苏尔可是我们之中最重要的战力，还是和你们一起去管理员中心吧。没问题的，熵的目标目前还不包括气象模拟器，所以不用担心我。

ProfessorMiss De Lacey, please go to the Weather Emulation Station with Persicaria.德菈赛小姐，你和帕斯卡一起去气象模拟站吧。

PersicariaProfessor...教授……

I give Persicaria a look.我向帕斯卡使了个眼色。

Persicaria...Thank you for your trust.……感谢您的信任。

De LaceyWhile I'm none too happy about having to leave you so soon... Since it's part of your plan, there must be some logic to it, Professor!虽然这么快就要和教授分别了很让人不舍……不过既然是教授的安排，我想一定是有道理的！

De LaceyI promise I'll finish the mission. You guys need to take care too, Professor.我保证会完成任务。教授，你们也要小心哦。

ProfessorSol, you'll be going to the Admin Center with me. Antonina and Taranum too, I need you to operate the control terminal.苏尔，你跟我去管理员中心。还有安冬妮娜和塔娜伦，我需要你们帮忙操作控制台。

SolLeave it to me!交给我吧！

AntoninaStill, is this really going to be alright? If Demiurge breaks the barrier while we're split up...不过，真的没问题吗？如果在兵分两路的情况下被黛米乌尔突破了屏障……

ProfessorRelax. Even if it comes to that, I have another card to play.放心吧。即使真到了那一步，我也还留有后手。

ProfessorGo, Persicaria. Contact us if anything happens.快去吧，帕斯卡。遇事保持联络。

De LaceyAh, Professor, a moment please!啊，教授！稍等一下！

De LaceyI, er, about keeping in touch... Can I have your communication code too?就是，那个，关于联络的……我也可以有教授的联络代码吗？

De LaceyThat way I can contact you anytime! I mean, for when we split up afterwards...这样的话就可以随时联系教授了！我指的是稍后分头行动的时候……

ProfessorHm? Sure, no problem...嗯？可以是可以……

De LaceyThank you! I'll treasure it!谢谢您！我会好好珍藏的！

De Lacey quickly notes down my comm code and runs back to Persicaria's side with a big grin on her face, like she's holding some kind of treasure. Persicaria eyes the two of us with an ambiguous expression.德菈赛飞快地记下了我的联络代码，然后像是捧着什么宝贝似的，笑眯眯地跑回了帕斯卡身边。 帕斯卡则是来回看着我们两个，脸上的表情有些复杂。

Professor...I hope they'll be able to complete the mission properly.……希望她们两个能好好完成任务啊。

SolThen we'd better get going ourselves, Prof!我们也该赶紧出发了，教授！

ProfessorRight. How are things up ahead?嗯，前面的情况如何？

SolWe've been this way before. It's all uphill, so the Entropics will take some time to climb up from the beach.这条路我们之前走过一次，往前都是上坡，海滩上的熵爬上来还需要时间。

SolStill, a lot of Entropics are up here already, so there'll probably be a tough battle ahead of us.但是之前已经有很多熵攻过去了，所以前面恐怕还会有一场恶战……

ProfessorYou simply have to hack and slash your way through them like what you just did. Persicaria and De Lacey will be backing us up.像刚才那样一鼓作气杀过去就行了，帕斯卡她们也会支援我们的。

ProfessorJust keep clearing a path up ahead. Antonina and I will protect Taranum.你继续在前面开路，安冬妮娜和我护好塔娜伦。

Antonina...Got it.……知道了。

After quickly arranging our formation, we head out onto the light purple mountain path with great determination.简单排好阵型后，我们便义无反顾地向着淡紫色的山路进发。

AntoninaThe Entropics maintain their master-slave relationship in a tree-like network of electronic signals, so without signals from their superiors, the lower-order Entropics' ability to act is greatly reduced.因为熵是通过电信号维系自上而下的树状网络结构的，所以如果失去上级的信号，低阶熵的行动力就会大幅削弱。

SolWait a minute, what network... What tree?等等，什么网络……什么树？

Entrust 嘱托

As we draw closer to the Admin Center, the number of Entropics blocking our path grows.随着我们逐步接近管理员中心，阻挡在面前的熵数量也越来越多。

Though we've learned the movement patterns of the Entropics and don't need to fight so many of them at once, the repeated high-intensity battles are still very draining.尽管在掌握了熵的行动规律后，我们不需要一次对付大批的熵，但高密度的连续战斗还是让人十分吃力。

SolTsk... What a pain!啧……真难缠！

Sol cuts off the tentacles reaching for her and carves a path through the purple tide ahead.苏尔斩断袭向她的触手，在紫色的浪潮中开出一条路。

SolWe're almost there! Everyone, hang in there a little longer!我们快到了！大家再坚持一会儿！

AntoninaIs that... the Admin Center?那是……管理员中心？

The building's exterior is crawling with Entropics and it's almost impossible to make out its original appearance. The darkened structure stands silently amidst a sea of Entropics and gleams with an ominous violet light.建筑外攀满了熵，几乎无法看出本来的样貌。暗色的建筑物在熵海之中静静矗立着，闪烁着不祥的紫色光芒。

SolDammit... This is just too much! Is the barrier control terminal in there still working?该死……这个数量也太夸张了！里面的屏障控制台还在运作吗？！

塔娜伦Yes, there is a firewall outside the Admin Center. They cannot break it for the time being.在运作。管理员中心外部有防火墙，它们暂时无法攻破。

塔娜伦There are too many Entropics at the main entrance. I will take you to the back door... (Coughs)正门熵太多，我带你们从后门进……咳咳……

Taranum coughs violently and her body starts to turn transparent.塔娜伦剧烈地咳嗽起来，身形变得有些透明。

SolDon't scare me, bookworm. Don't drop the ball at a time like this!别吓我啊书呆子，你别在这种时候掉链子啊！

AntoninaWait a minute, don't tell me...等等，难道……

Antonina forces her way into Taranum's neural cloud.安冬妮娜强行接入了塔娜伦的心智。

AntoninaYou're burning your own operands to fuel the firewall? And that tsunami just now...你在消耗自身算量维持防火墙？！刚才的海啸也是……

AntoninaI thought you could reallocate the sector's operands! Why...你不是可以调用扇区算量吗，为什么……

塔娜伦(Coughs) Suppressing the Entropics is my top priority. I need to conserve the sector's operands...咳……压制熵是第一优先级，需要节省扇区算量……

AntoninaBut you're fueling it with your own life force! Here, I'll transfer some operands to you...你这是在透支自己的生命！我把算量给你……

Antonina...No good, I can't get around the Rewrite Program.……不行，我没办法绕过改写程式。

SolTaranum, give me your hand.塔娜伦，把手给我。

SolHurry up, I'll carry you. I don't know what your priorities are, but I don't want to see you die here!快点，我来背你。我不知道什么优先级不优先级，但我不想看你死在这儿！

塔娜伦...Okay.……嗯。

塔娜伦It's just up ahead.前面就到了。

SolIs that the back door? Looks like it hasn't been used in a long time.那就是后门吗？好像很久没人用过了。

塔娜伦It's a special passage used by researchers to transport simulated lifeform specimens. Once, many agents...……那是供研究员搬运模拟生物样本的特殊通道。曾经有很多智能体……

Taranum trails off. She looks like she's in pain from being hit.塔娜伦没再说下去，露出了仿佛被攻击一般的痛苦表情。

SolMany agents? So there were other agents in this sector besides you?很多智能体？除了你之外，这个扇区还有其他智能体吗？

塔娜伦No... comment...无法……告知……

Taranum turns away from Sol's gaze. Her movements are very awkward and she almost falls to the ground. Antonina manages to reach out in time to support her.塔娜伦转过头去，避开了苏尔的目光。她的动作很别扭，险些一个趔趄跌到地上。 安冬妮娜及时伸手扶住了她。

AntoninaThis is bad. It looks like she's having trouble functioning.不妙，她看上去有些运转不过来了。

SolLet's just get inside the Admin Center first!总之先进管理员中心！

AntoninaWait! Look out for that patch of simulated greenery!等等，小心那边的模拟植林！

缠绕者Hiss!嘶！

A small pack of Entropics leap out of the simulated foliage just as Antonina gives her warning.几乎与安冬妮娜的警告同时，一小拨熵从模拟植林中窜了出来。

SolThese monsters... Hey, bookworm, are you okay!?这些怪物……喂，书呆子，你没事吧？！

塔娜伦I'm fine. Put me down, I'm just slowing you down.我没事。放我下来，我会拖累你。

SolAre you kidding me. Your little bit of weight is a piece of cake for me!开什么玩笑，你这点体重，对我来说轻轻松松！

Sol draws her weapons to intercept the enemy and Antonina summons up her operand to strike down the lead Twiner.苏尔拔出武器迎击，安冬妮娜也调转算量，击倒了冲在最前面的缠绕者。

But soon, an endless stream of Entropic ambushers starts pouring out of the virtual vegetation.但很快，附近的模拟植林中开始源源不断地钻出熵的伏兵。

SolWe can use those simulated rocks as cover! Let's fall back there first!那边的模拟山石可以作为掩体！我们先撤到那边！

We set up a fighting position behind the rocks, but instead of pursuing us, the Entropics guard the back entrance, as though they're certain we'll try to break into the Admin Center again.我们在山石后面摆好应战架势，但那些熵却没有穷追不舍，而是守在后门门口，仿佛笃定我们还会再次试图突破管理员中心。

SolWhile there aren't as many here as the front door, these numbers are still a huge pain...虽然不像正门的熵这么多，但这个数量还是很麻烦啊……

ProfessorThe Entropics here can use tactics. This might be an important point.这里的熵已经能运用战术了，这或许是一个重要的疑点。

ProfessorIf I'm not mistaken, they aren't from the same batch as the undersea Entropics.如果我的猜测正确，它们跟海底的熵并不是同一批。

AntoninaYou're right. They're different in appearance and their code redundancy is also different. More importantly, they're much better fighters than the undersea Entropics.你猜得没错。形体不同，代码冗余度也不同。更关键的是，它们的战斗力远超那些海底的熵。

AntoninaThese Entropics are very similar to the ones we encountered in the Art Sector.这些熵和我们在艺术扇区遭遇的那些熵非常类似。

SolThe art sector... So these are Odile's Entropics? So she's been waiting inside the Admin Center to ambush us all this time!艺术扇区……也就是说这些是奥吉里的熵吧？！原来这些家伙一直在管理员中心埋伏我们！

SolDammit, why do I get the feeling she anticipates every move we make!?可恶，怎么感觉我们的行动都被她算到了！

SolAnna, can't you backtrace her or something and use these Entropics to find where that Odile is!?安娜，你能不能用什么反定位之类的，用这些熵把奥吉里那家伙揪出来啊？！

AntoninaThe Entropics operate in a top-down tree-like structure. If Demiurge dies, Odile will probably end up briefly incapacitated without a superior's commands.熵是自上而下的树状网络结构。如果黛米乌尔死了，奥吉里应该就会失去上级的控制，像其他熵一样暂时停止行动。

AntoninaUnless... No, that's not likely.除非……不，不太可能。

SolWithout a superior's commands... Does that mean Odile might return to how she was when we first met her?失去控制……那是不是意味着，奥吉里能够变回我们一开始遇到的那个样子？

AntoninaIt might be worth a try.或许我们可以尝试吧。

AntoninaIn any case, we'll have plenty of time to find Odile after we take out Demiurge.总之，等消灭黛米乌尔之后，我们再找奥吉里也不迟。

SolSweet! In other words, once we get into the Admin Center and get the barrier going, everything will be settled, is that it?好！也就是说，只要我们进入管理员中心搞定屏障，就能解决一切了吧？

SolHey, bookworm! Tell me how to get in, I'll force my way through!书呆子，告诉我该怎么进去，我来突围！

塔娜伦You need administrator access to open the back door.只有用管理员权限才能开启后门。

AntoninaIn other words, Taranum has to open the back door... It's too difficult for just the few of us to cover her in an ocean of Entropics.也就是说，只能让塔娜伦来开启后门吗……仅凭我们几个在熵海中掩护塔娜伦，难度太大了。

塔娜伦...How long would it take to get to the Admin Center if there were no Entropics around?……如果没有熵，从这里到管理员中心需要多久？

SolIt'd be hard even without Entropics. I'd need 5 seconds.... Er, if I'm carrying you, then... 10 seconds, tops!没有熵还不简单！给我5秒……呃，我还背着你，那应该……最多10秒！

塔娜伦Understood. I'll be counting on you, then.我明白了。那么，交给你了。

SolWhat...什么……

A sudden, violent gust of wind whips past us, and part of the Entropics guarding the back door are swept up into the sky.骤起的狂风从我们眼前刮过，附着在后门上的一部分熵被席卷着推向空中。

Taranum tightens her grip on Sol's back and speaks quietly.苏尔背上的塔娜伦攥紧她的领口，发出微弱的声音。

塔娜伦You have... 10 seconds...只有……10秒……

ProfessorGo! Sol, take out the remaining Entropics! Anna, support her from behind!快走！苏尔处理剩下的熵！安冬妮娜后方援助！

We break into a run toward the Admin Center, practically on instinct. Sol's burning blades sweep away the few remaining Entropics. After Taranum's access is accepted, the back door slowly begins to open.我们几乎是下意识地向着管理员中心狂奔起来。苏尔燃烧着火焰的刀将余下的几只熵尽数扫清。随着塔娜伦的权限通过，后门缓缓开启。

SolEveryone, get inside!大家快进去！

After ensuring that we're all inside the Admin Center, Sol bars the door from her position at the rear of the group. At last, those bestial howls are safely kept out.确认我们跑进管理员中心后，在队尾的苏尔简单加固了大门。 终于，那些野兽一样的嘶吼声被隔绝在了门外。

SolHey, bookworm!? Wake up!喂！书呆子？！清醒一点！

Taranum can no longer support her own body and Sol gently lays her on the ground.塔娜伦无法支撑住自己的身体，被苏尔小心地放在了地上。

塔娜伦...You did it.……做到了。

AntoninaDid you draw on your own operand to activate a weather control command!? You're already...你又透支自己的算量使用了天气控制指令？！你已经……

塔娜伦It's fine... This... is what I want...没关系……这是……我自己的愿望……

SolWake up! Anna, give her my operand!别睡！安娜，把我的算量给她！

AntoninaI told you, her operands comes from the Rewrite Program. Only the person controlling her is authorized to transfer operands to her.我说过了，她的算量来自改写程式，只有控制她的人才有权调入算量。

AntoninaBut she kept drawing on herself like this with no operand transfers to make up the shortfall... She can't function on her own anymore, to say nothing of operating the barrier control terminal.但她一直这样消耗，又没有算量调入……她已经没办法自主活动了，更不要说操作屏障控制台了。

SolWhy you... Hey, didn't you want to wipe out the Entropics in this sector!? Don't go nodding off on me!你这家伙……喂，你不是还要消灭扇区里的熵吗？！别这样睡着啊！

塔娜伦Please... Everyone...拜托……你们……

塔娜伦Take... my permissions...拿走……我的权限……

塔娜伦Use my administrator access... to operate the control terminal...用管理员权限……去操作控制台……

AntoninaNo good, the administrator access is bound to the Rewrite Program.不行，管理员权限已经和改写程式绑定了。

塔娜伦Then... get rid of it...那就……解除改写程式……

Antonina...Do you know what you're saying?……你知道你在说什么吗？

AntoninaIf we directly delete the Rewrite Program, you will become an empty shell.直接解除改写程式的话，你就会彻底变成一具空壳的。

塔娜伦That's fine...没关系……

塔娜伦Priority 1... Suppress the Entropics...第一优先级……压制熵……

塔娜伦Priority 2... Protect the Rewrite Program...第二优先级……保护改写程式……

塔娜伦According to my priorities... I should abandon the Rewrite Program... and transfer administrator access...根据优先级判定……应该放弃改写程式……移交管理员权限……

SolNo, how could we...不行，我们怎么能……

Taranum squeezes Sol's hand.塔娜伦握住了苏尔的手。

塔娜伦I've been waiting... for this day...我一直等待着……这一天……

塔娜伦So please... Grant my wish...所以……满足我的愿望……

SolBut, but you'll disappear...但是、但是你会消失的……

Bang! Bang! Outside, the Entropics are assaulting the main door, which has lost the protection of its firewall.砰，砰—— 外部，熵正在不断攻击失去防火墙保护的大门。

AntoninaThe Entropics will be in here any minute now.熵很快就要攻进来了。

SolI understand.我明白。

AntoninaI know that ideally, you'd leave nobody behind, but in reality...我知道你的理想是谁都不想放弃，但现实是……

SolIn reality, we have to make a choice now or we'll lose even more!现实是，我们得做出选择，不然，只会失去得更多！

SolIdeals... They're called ideals because they can't be completely fulfilled. I know that now.理想……无法全部实现的情况，才能叫理想，我终于明白了。

AntoninaShe chose to ask you for this favor in the end, so...她在最后选择了请求你，所以……

Bang! Bang! Bang! The Entropic attack is growing fiercer.砰，砰，砰—— 熵的攻击愈来愈猛烈。

AntoninaSol...苏尔……

Sol... I understand. Do it, Anna.……我明白了。动手吧，安娜。

Once Sol has given the word, we finally see a smile on Taranum's face for the first time.在苏尔说出这句话后，我们终于第一次从塔娜伦脸上看到微笑。

塔娜伦If you can... please bring me to the administrator's... room.如果可以的话……请带我回到管理员的……房间。

塔娜伦I want to... be with those memories...我想和那些回忆……待在一起……

塔娜伦Thank... you...谢……谢……

塔娜伦[Rewrite Program deleted.] [Operational Lifespan: Less than 1%] [The Copley Sector Administrator Permissions have been transferred.]【改写程式已解除。】 【可运行时长：少于1%。】 【柯普利扇区管理员权限，已转移。】

Without the Rewrite Program binding her, Taranum also loses the final bit of operand support that was keeping her going. However, just before her eyes close for good, they look neither clouded nor demented. In fact, they are clearer than they have ever been before.塔娜伦失去了束缚她的改写程式，也失去了最后的算量支持。 然而，在陷入休眠的前一刻，她的双眼并未直接坠入混沌，而是变得比之前还要清澈。

塔娜伦For the first time since that day, I've finally been able to get around that order... and act according to my own will...自从那天以来，我终于能够绕开指令……按照自己的意志行动……

塔娜伦Like them, I will return to nothing...像她们一样，回归到虚无中去……

塔娜伦The rest is up to you...之后就拜托你们了……

塔娜伦Thank you, and sorry...谢谢你们，以及，对不起……

Her last words slowly fade away as she ceases to function.她最后的声音，随着运行停止而逐渐化作泡沫。

Sol...Head on over to the control terminal, Anna.……你先去控制台吧，安娜。

AntoninaYou're not coming?你不过来吗？

SolI need some time alone.我需要一点时间。

Antonina...Okay.……嗯。

Antonina nods, then looks down at the administrator access which she has just obtained. She clenches her fist. Then, she runs off toward the control room.安冬妮娜点了点头，又看了眼刚刚得到的管理员权限，握紧了拳头。 随后，她快步奔向控制室。

Sol...Professor, I want to grant her dying wish and bring her to the administrator's room.……教授，我想听从她的愿望，将她带回管理员的房间。

SolPerhaps one day we'll find the mastermind who emptied out her neural cloud...也许将来有一天，我们还能找到将她的心智掏空的幕后黑手……

SolAnd when we do, we might be able to bring Taranum back.也许到时候，她还能恢复意识。

SolI know it's practically impossible, but I can't just leave her here...我知道这几乎是不可能的事情，但总不能就这样把她丢在这里……

We pick up Taranum's body and head for the administrator's room.我们搬起塔娜伦的躯壳，向管理员的房间走去。

It doesn't seem to have been opened in a long time. The walls are covered in pictures.管理员的房间似乎许久没有打开过，墙上贴满了各种照片。

Taranum lies quietly on the bed, as though she's just taking a short nap from work.塔娜伦安静地躺在床上，似乎只是因为疲惫而短暂睡去。

Professor...Sol.……苏尔。

Let's fulfil her last wish.满足她最后的愿望吧。

Let's put her in a safe place. She still carries many unsolved mysteries, and we might have a chance to come back.把她放在安全的地方吧。她身上有很多秘密没有揭开，或许我们还有机会回来。

SolI'm fine, Professor.我没事，教授。

SolGive me my orders. We need to buy Anna time.指挥我吧。我们要为安娜争取时间。

SolIf we beat Demiurge, everything will be over. Both Copley Sector and the Oasis will be saved.只要打败黛米乌尔，就可以结束一切了。无论是柯普利扇区，还是绿洲，就都能得救了。

Professor...Yeah.……嗯。

Bang—砰——

The door has finally reached its limit. Entropics swarm in through the gap.门终于到了极限。熵从门的缝隙中涌出来。

Sol draws her blades and parts the dark ocean with their blazing flames.而苏尔拔出刀刃，燃烧的火焰划开暗色的海。

Strategy 博弈

SolThe Entropic offensive is weakening!熵的攻势减弱了！

ProfessorAntonina must have succeeded in raising the barrier's efficiency. Let's fall back for now!应该是安冬妮娜成功调高了屏障的功率。我们暂时回撤！

SolOkay!好！

We return to the control room just in time to see Antonina hit the final key. On the big screen, bar graphs and curves show the barrier's rising efficiency.我们回到控制室时，恰好看见安冬妮娜敲下最后一个按键。 光屏上，数条变化的曲线正显示着屏障的功率逐步增高。

SolThank you, Antonina!安冬妮娜，谢谢你！

In a rare turn of events, Sol addresses Antonina by her actual full name.很少见地，苏尔叫对了安冬妮娜的名字。

SolNow Taranum's sacrifice won't have been in vain.这下塔娜伦的牺牲就没有白费了。

AntoninaYeah.嗯。

AntoninaThe barrier's power will double in 60 seconds.屏障的强度将在60秒内翻倍。

SolThings went just as you planned. Now that the barrier is weakening their signals, the Entropics have lost their leadership.果然和你们计划的一样啊，屏障削弱信号之后，熵的攻击就失去指挥了。

SolAt this rate, we might be able to free Odile of her control...这样下去，说不定我们真的可以让奥吉里摆脱控制……

SolWhat's wrong, Anna? What are you worried about?怎么了安娜？你在担心什么吗？

AntoninaI'm fine. Let's not talk about it for now.我没事。先不说这个了。

AntoninaThe plan went very well, but you guys came back earlier than I expected.虽然计划很顺利，但你们回来的也比我预想的早。

SolIs that a bad thing?有什么不对吗？

ProfessorThe ultimate goal of those Entropics is to destroy the barrier. They were heading straight for the barrier control terminal.那些熵的最终目的是破坏屏障，它们是冲着屏障控制台来的。

Try to analyze it.尝试分析。

Remain silent.沉默

ProfessorSince we could weather their fire and enhance the barrier, continuing to fight here would not be wise.既然我们已经能顶着火力加强屏障，那继续攻打这里就不再是上策了。

AntoninaI have a bad feeling about this.我总有种不祥的预感。

SolOh well, let's not worry about this. Since the Entropic offensive has weakened, let's break out together and think of a way to join up with Persicaria and De Lacey!不过先别管这么多了。既然熵的攻势减弱了，我们就一起突围，想办法和帕斯卡她们汇合吧！

AntoninaRight—对——

Professor... No, let's not be hasty.……不，先不着急。

AntoninaHm?啊？

ProfessorIt's about time they contacted us.差不多该来通讯了。

Right on cue, Persicaria sends a comms request.话音刚落，帕斯卡就发来了通讯请求。

PersicariaProfessor, we've arrived at the Weather Emulation Station!教授！我们已经顺利抵达气象模拟站了！

PersicariaWe'll be able to activate it right away... Ack, don't push, Miss De Lacey...马上就可以启动……哇，德菈赛小姐，别挤……

De LaceyProfessor, can you hear me?教授——听得见吗！

De LaceyHonestly, Persy, didn't we agree that I'd be the one to—小帕真是的，明明说好了让我来打——

PersicariaWe don't have time for this!现在不是说这个的时候啦！

PersicariaUh... Sorry about that, Professor... Did things go well on your end?那个……不好意思教授……您那边还顺利吗？

ProfessorWe've already turned up the power of the undersea barrier. The Entropics' movements have visibly slowed down.我们已经加大了海底屏障的强度，熵的行动明显变慢了。

PersicariaThat's great! We'll prepare the weather support now!太好了！那么我们这就准备气象支援！

PersicariaPlease be careful over there, and stay safe!您那边也要小心行事，注意安全！

PersicariaI'll be hanging up now.那么我先挂了。

De LaceyAw, Persy, wait—啊，小帕等等——

[The transmission has ended.]【连接已中断。】

SolAwesome! Things succeeded on Persicaria's side too!太好了！帕斯卡那边也成功了！

Soon, they start hearing the pitter-patter of raindrops coming from the outside.不一会儿，屋外就传来了淅淅沥沥的雨声。

SolHuh? Is it just rain? I thought she'd go for a lightning storm or something...诶，只是下雨吗？我还以为会搞个闪电风暴之类的……

AntoninaIt's very difficult to avoid injuring friendlies when you summon extreme weather.如果是极端天气，很难保证不会误伤到自己人。

AntoninaAlso, rainstorms can wash away liquid Entropy on the battlefield and weaken the Entropics at the same time, so it's the most suitable solution.而暴雨能够冲散战场的熵化液，又能对熵进行削弱，是最合适的手段。

SolI see!原来如此！

ProfessorSol, I'll leave the Entropics around the Admin Center to you.苏尔，管理员中心周围的熵就交给你了。

SolGot it!收到！

The rain intensifies in less than a minute, completely drowning out the howls of the Entropics. As it pours, Sol enters the battlefield again...雨声在数十秒内陡然增大，将熵的杂吼声彻底盖过。 伴随着雨声，苏尔再次进入了战场——

The Entropic creatures shriek as the liquid Entropy coating them is washed away and dispersed by the rainwater.熵发出尖叫，它们身上的熵化液被雨水冲刷、冲散。

SolLet's start by clearing out these monsters! And then... I'll settle the score with Demiurge!首先把你们这些怪物清理掉！然后……去找黛米乌尔算账！

...On the other side, in the Admin Center.……另一边，管理员中心。

AntoninaOur two-pronged battle plan succeeded, so why are we still staying here?我们的双线作战都已经成功了，为什么我们还要继续留在这里？

AntoninaI hope you will give me a convincing explanation, Professor.我希望你能给我一个充分的理由，教授。

ProfessorAll we did was strengthen the barrier and the Entropic offensive immediately weakened.我们只是加固了屏障，熵的攻势就瞬间减弱了。

ProfessorPart of it was because they've lost their commands with their signals being jammed, but they organized a retreat so quickly. It's as though...尽管这一部分是因为那些熵因信号受阻而失去了指挥，但它们这么快就开始集体撤退，就像……

AntoninaAs though they had a contingency plan in store.就像这是它们的应急预案一样。

AntoninaYou're right...你说得对……

AntoninaAfter the barrier's potency increased, instead of falling into disarray like expected after their inter-unit signal transmissions were severed, the Entropics appeared to conduct an orderly retreat.屏障功率加强，阻断熵之间的信号传输后，它们并没有和料想的一样陷入混乱，仿佛在有序撤退。

ProfessorPerhaps this is a contingency plan for them. Demiurge gave the Entropics orders in advance in case they lost contact.或许这是它们的应急预案。黛米乌尔事先就给熵下达了断联时的后备指令。

AntoninaIn that case, why are we staying here? Shouldn't we go verify what these "contingency plans" are...?那和留在这里有什么关系？难道我们不该尽快确认这个“应急预案“究竟是什么……

Of course.当然。

Something just feels off about the Entropics' movements.我只是觉得熵的行动不太对劲。

ProfessorThe Entropics have a contingency plan, so we should have one too.熵有应急预案，所以我们也要有应急预案。

ProfessorAntonina, are comms in the Admin Center still working normally?安冬妮娜，管理员中心的通讯装置还能正常运作吗？

AntoninaComms...? It has sustained some damage, but it can be fixed in no time.通讯装置……？有损毁，但修复要不了多久。

AntoninaWait a minute, are you going to...等一下，你该不会……

ProfessorYou can remain at the control terminal.你可以继续呆在控制台。

AntoninaI suppose there's no talking you out of it.看来你是不打算改主意了。

AntoninaI'll go, I need to keep an eye on this...我会去的，我必须盯着这件事……

Outside the Admin Center, Sol has cut her way through most of the nearby Entropics like a hurricane.管理员中心外，苏尔势如破竹般扫除了附近大部分的熵。

As for the remainder...而剩下的熵……

SolTch, come back here and fight!啧，怎么打不过就跑！

SolThey're moving like greased lightning... Or should I say, muddied lightning...跟脚底抹油一样……不对，这里应该说脚底抹泥巴……

AntoninaEnough messing around, are you done chopping up the Entropics?别耍宝了，是不是熵打得差不多了？

SolYup, it was a good run!呼，总算是痛快了一回！

SolIt's just like the Prof said. They ran once they realized they couldn't break in.和教授说的一样，它们发现攻不进来，就跑了。

AntoninaDon't get cocky. Judging by the Entropics' trail, they're all fleeing back to the ocean, right?别大意，看熵的行动轨迹，它们是都逃回海里去了吗？

SolThat's right.没错。

SolI don't even want to think about what the ocean must look like now...就是那片大海……真不敢想象现在是什么样子……

AntoninaDemiurge is still in there.黛米乌尔还在那片海里。

AntoninaWe need to eliminate Demiurge and obtain the Entropic source code so we can learn how to fight the infection.我们一定要消灭黛米乌尔，取得熵的源代码，获得对抗感染的手段。

SolYeah, I haven't forgotten. Croque is still waiting for us...嗯，我没有忘记，克罗琦还在等我们……

SolStill, Anna, you seem to be in a bad mood. Did something happen between you and the Professor?不过安娜，你好像心情不太好，和教授发生什么事情了吗？

AntoninaIt's Antonina.是安冬妮娜。

SolAw, never mind that. Fine, I'll continue wiping out the stragglers. Come over and meet up with me!别在意这些啦。好吧，我会继续清理掉队的熵，你们来汇合吧！

AntoninaI'm actually not used to you being so reliable.你这么可靠我反而有点不习惯了。

SolI mean, we all have to do our part to save the Oasis, no?毕竟我们可都肩负着拯救绿洲的责任呢，对吧？

...Soon, the group has reassembled.……很快，大家汇合了。

A huge, purplish-black pit lies on the surface of the sea, like the reflection of a dark moon.紫黑色的巨大坑洞横亘在海面上，仿佛一轮暗月的倒影。

Countless tentacles are eating away at the edge of the pit, which expands inexorably like a piece of paper that has been lit on fire.无数触须正疯狂地蚕食着坑洞的边界，整个大坑如同被点燃的白纸一样无可避免地扩散开去。

AntoninaThe fissure in the sea... To think it's so much bigger than before.海面的裂口……居然比之前的还要大上一轮。

SolIt looks like the maw of Hell.就像地狱的入口一样。

SolIf Demiurge escaped to the surface... What would happen?如果黛米乌尔逃到地面上……会发生什么？

失去了屏障的压制和信号的阻隔——Without the barrier to suppress her and block off her signals... She would be much harder to handle than before.她会比之前，比任何时候都更难对付。

AntoninaAnd her sapience is growing way too fast.而且她的智能成长得实在太快了。

ProfessorAfter all, she quickly learned our language while we were underground.毕竟在地下她也很快掌握了我们的语言。

AntoninaYou don't have to emphasize that...不需要你特别强调……

SolUm, what happened between you guys?那个，你们之间是发生了什么？

Antonina... Let's discuss the matter at hand. Demiurge has issued a command to the Entropics to change objectives and return to the ocean.…… 先说当下的问题，黛米乌尔事先下达了指令，让熵转移目标，回到了大海。

SolThey've changed objectives? So you're saying these Entropics were already planning to retreat before their comms were cut off?转移目标？你是说，这些熵在屏障导致通讯断联之前，就想好了要撤离了？

SolIs someone strategizing for Demiurge? Like Odile, maybe?难不成有什么人在给黛米乌尔出谋划策？奥吉里？

AntoninaThat's a possibility.也有这个可能。

SolIf that's the case, I have the feeling things are going to be even trickier.要是这样的话，感觉事情变得更麻烦了。

AntoninaDon't scratch your head, your hair is messy enough as it is.别抓头了，你那头毛已经够乱了。

ProfessorLeave it to Hatsuchiri. I've already asked her to help delay Demiurge before the barrier blocked off all comms.交给初尘吧，在屏障的功率隔断通讯前，我已经委托她拖住黛米乌尔了。

SolHuh? Can she manage by herself?啊？只靠她一个人够吗？

ProfessorShe's got a friend.她有同伴。

ProfessorLet's hope the imprisoned queen won't grow up too fast.希望那个被囚禁的女王，可以成长得稍微慢一点吧。

Baby Chick 雏鸟

I'm hungry.肚子饿了。

I'm empty and I want to be full.空荡荡的，想填满。

But now, there's something I want more than filling my belly—但比起填满肚子，现在有了更加想得到的东西——

奥吉里I've come to bring you freedom, Demiurge.我是为了将自由带给你而来的哦，黛米乌尔。

The black limb called Odile says something strange.名为奥吉里的黑色手脚，说了奇怪的话。

黛米乌尔F... Free... dom?zi……自……由……？

奥吉里Oh yes, freedom. Being able to eat as you please, to dance, travel to bright places, and sing all the songs you want.是呀，自由。随意地进食，跳舞，走到明亮的地方去，想怎样歌唱就怎样歌唱。

奥吉里You won't have to worry about being hurt by anyone, and you'll be be surrounded by your countless minions.不用担心被谁伤害，只有无数的眷属环绕着你。

Freedom. Brightness... Words linked to light.自由。和明亮……和光有关系的词汇。

It's like the dream I saw when I emerged from my egg.像是从卵里爬出来时看到过的幻象一样。

But I can't leave. That barrier which hurts me is there.可是出不去。有会痛的屏障在。

黛米乌尔■■■. ■■■■■■.■■■。■■■■■■。

奥吉里It hurts because that barrier can launch attacks, just like your tentacles.会痛是因为那个屏障会攻击，就像你的触手一样哦。

黛米乌尔Ten...触……？

The limb called Odile picks up my feeler.叫做奥吉里的手脚挽起了我的触须。

Then, she tenderly caresses it.然后，温柔地触碰。

She doesn't cut it. She doesn't shred it. She doesn't make it hurt.没有切断。没有弄碎。没有疼痛。

Completely unlike Deep Blue's touch.和深蓝色的触摸不一样。

There's only a warm sensation. Just like when the purple liquid flows over my body.只有一种温暖的感觉。就像紫色液体流过身体下时的感觉。

奥吉里This is your tentacle. The barrier is like it, attacking anything that it touches. Do you understand?这个就是你的触手。屏障和它一样，会攻击碰到的东西。你能明白吗？

Things that hurt are like tentacles.会痛的东西和触手一样。

Bad Deep Blue has tentacles which can envelop this entire space.讨厌的深蓝色有能笼住整个空间的触手。

...Should I cut it?……要切断吗？

黛米乌尔...■■■■?……■■■■？

奥吉里Oh yes, you can. Wreak all the havoc you want.可以哦，按你的想法尽情破坏吧。

奥吉里You don't like her, do you? I can tell.你不喜欢她吧？我看得出来。

I don't like her. I don't like Bad Deep Blue.不喜欢。讨厌的深蓝色。

I want to chew her to bits. I want to eat her.想要咬碎。想要吃掉。

I want to make Deep Blue hurt the same way I do.想要给深蓝色同样的疼痛。

奥吉里I see... What a good girl you are.这样啊……真是个好孩子。

奥吉里I'm here to help you.我是来帮你的哦。

Help you? What?帮你？什么？

That's what it sounded like, but I can't understand it.类似的语言，但是无法理解。

I'm so hungry. The black limb evades my coils.肚子好饿。黑色的手脚躲开了缠绕。

奥吉里Dear me, I don't mean helping you out like that, you know?真是的，我可不打算用这种方式帮你哦？

奥吉里Look, above you.来，你看上面。

I look up. I can reach.仰头。已经可以够到上面。

It's the place where food falls from. It hurts when I touch it.食物掉下来的地方。摸了会痛。

No food is coming down. It'll be a while longer.还没有食物掉下来。要再过一会儿。

奥吉里So they feed you from above, and the rock wall to the side is the door to the surveillance room. What a handy facility.从上面投食，而旁边的岩壁就是监控室的大门。真是方便的设置呀。

奥吉里But we can use this.我们也可以利用这种设置哦。

I don't get it.听不懂。

黛米乌尔■■■, ■■■, ■■■■.■■■。■■■。■■■■。

奥吉里Don't be hasty. When the time comes, the curtains will rise and reveal the stage.别心急呀。等时间到了，舞台自然就会开幕。

奥吉里Once that happens, you'll be able to leave.到时候，你就能离开这里了哦。

I don't get it. But I think I understand a little.无法理解，但是好像有一点明白。

I want to know more.想知道更多。

The black limb isn't like my other limbs. It isn't like food. It isn't like Deep Blue.黑色的手脚和其他手脚不一样。和食物不一样。和深蓝色也不一样。

I want to hear more of what she has to say.想要听她说更多。

黛米乌尔■■... ■.■■……■。

Freedom... Light.自由……光。

I want light and freedom.想要光和自由。

奥吉里I will help you lure the administrator away, and when she opens the bedrock, you will be free.我会帮你把管理员引开，在她打开岩层的时候，你就可以自由了。

奥吉里Of course, it's always darkest before the dawn...当然，迎接黎明的过程总是会有苦难……

奥吉里I'll let you and your minions handle that, then.那就交给你和你的眷属们来克服。

Dark. So it will hurt?苦难。疼痛？

The dawn... light. Freedom.黎明……光。是自由。

I want freedom. It's okay if it hurts. I want to be free.想要自由。痛也可以，我想要自由。

I want to eat more and find more limbs.想去吃更多，想找到更多的手脚。

I want to eat Bad Deep Blue, to rend her shell and shred her body.想吃掉讨厌的深蓝色，想撕裂她的外壳，想切碎她的身体。

I want... to be free!想要……自由！

奥吉里Looks like you've made up your mind.看来你已经想清楚了。

奥吉里Then that makes us allies.那么，我们就是同盟了哦。

奥吉里As close as sisters... Like vassals with shared loyalties, hehe...亲如手足的同盟……就如同有着同一个归属的眷属，呵呵……

The limb called Odile takes my hand.叫做奥吉里的手脚牵着我的手脚。

I'm still hungry.肚子还是好饿。

She's helping me. I won't eat her.她帮助我。不吃掉她。

But food hasn't come yet.可食物还没有掉下来。

黛米乌尔■■■■■■■■.■■■■■■■■。

奥吉里I'm sorry, not preparing a present for you was a mistake on my part. After all, this is a secret meeting.抱歉，没有为你准备礼物是我的失职呢。毕竟这是一场秘密的约会。

奥吉里Still, she'll send new food your way soon, right?不过，她很快就会给你投喂新的食物了吧？

奥吉里After all, that's how she keeps you imprisoned.毕竟，她就是这样囚禁你的呀。

Tap tap.咔哒。

A familiar sound.熟悉的声音。

Is food coming?有食物下来了吗？

??...Ow... Good thing I turned down my touch sensitivity when I fell.……疼……还好在下落时减弱了触觉感知。

??This place is...这里是……

??...Why is there such a place underneath this sector?……这个扇区的地下还有这种空间？

奥吉里Oh my... An unexpected guest.哎呀……是意外的来客。

奥吉里I wonder if a snack that's not on the menu can become nutrition for your quest for freedom?不在菜谱上的点心，又能否成为你追求自由的养料呢？

奥吉里How curious... Hehe.真让人好奇……呵呵。

奥吉里Still, I don't wish to receive an uninvited guest without dressing for the occasion.不过，我可不想和不速之客素颜相见。

奥吉里I need to make some preparations. We'll meet again, won't we? "Out there", I mean.我该去做准备了。我们还会相见的吧？我指的是——在“外面”哦。

The limb called Odile vanishes.叫做奥吉里的手脚消失了。

I head towards the voice that spoke.靠近声音发出的方向。

??Tch, the signal's being jammed by something.……啧，信号被什么东西强干扰了。

I see what fell down along with the water.看清了和水一起落下的东西。

It's new food, though it seems a little different from usual.新的食物，似乎有些不一样。

??What...!?什么……！？

My tentacles catch nothing but air. The food has vanished.触手扑空了。食物消失了。

There is a tremor from the surface.地面上传来震动。

The food has burrowed underground.食物钻到地下去了。

I'm hungry.肚子饿了。

I want to eat it. I have to eat it. I NEED to eat it.想吃掉。要吃掉。必须吃掉。

Eat it. Turn it into nutrients. Rip Deep Blue to shreds.吃掉。成为养分。撕碎深蓝色。

Freedom...自由……

黛米乌尔...Eat...!……吃……！

Confluence 汇合

Tap tap.咔哒。

??...Ow... Good thing I turned down my touch sensitivity when I fell.……疼……还好在下落时减弱了触觉感知。

??This place is...这里是……

??It's all dark here, and there are irregular data blocks everywhere... ...Why is there such a place underneath this sector?一片漆黑，到处是不规则的数据块……这个扇区的地下还有这种空间？

SueyoiThis is Sueyoi, hailing Arcadia.这里是末宵，呼叫阿卡迪亚——

SueyoiI repeat, hailing Arcadia.重复，呼叫阿卡迪亚。

SueyoiTsk, the signal's being jammed by something.……啧，信号被什么东西强干扰了。

????...Eat...!……吃……！

A tentacle suddenly lunges at Sueyoi, and he dodges it by reflex.突如其来的触手袭向末宵，他下意识地躲开了。

SueyoiWhat...!?什么……？！

Sueyoi executes a roll, then stabs his lance into it and instantly dives underground.末宵在地上翻滚了一圈，将长枪插入地下，转瞬间便进入了地底。

Demiurge looks around. To her, it's as though Sueyoi had suddenly vanished into thin air.黛米乌尔四处张望起来，在她的视角中，末宵像是人间蒸发了一样。

Meanwhile, Sueyoi stealthily travels amidst the bedrock.岩层之中，末宵悄然潜行着。

Sueyoi(I didn't think the ability to dive underground would come in handy at a time like this.)（想不到潜地功能居然会在这种时候发挥作用。）

Sueyoi(So there's an intelligent Entropic. Looks like the group's conclusions about the Entropics were right.)（发现了具有智能的熵，组织内对熵的推断是正确的。）

Sueyoi(Did that dead fish of an administrator trick me...? There's nothing here that matches the description of the "objective.")（那只死鱼一样的管理员骗了我吗……这里没有任何符合“目标”条件的东西。）

Sueyoi(In any case, I'm in a lot of danger... Tsk, I really don't want to try contacting her at a time like this.)（目前的状况太危险了……啧，真不想在这种时候尝试联系她啊。）

Just as Sueyoi is about to make a transmission, his arm suddenly brushes against something soft and utterly unlike the rock he's moving through.末宵正准备进行通讯，手臂上却突然传来了异于岩石的柔软触感。

SueyoiWhat's this?这是？

The moving tendril wraps around his arm and instantly splits open to reveal an aperture edged with rows of sharp teeth.还在搏动着的根须状物体缠上了他的手臂，瞬间便裂开了一条长满利齿的缝隙。

SueyoiShe can even detect submerged agents!?她连潜入状态的智能体也能发现吗？！

He reacts immediately and swings his weapon to hack the feeler off. However, the teeth on the feeler have already lacerated his arm.他立刻反应过来，挥动武器切断触须。然而触须上长出的牙齿已经刮伤了他的手臂。

黛米乌尔的声音...Freedom.……自由。

黛米乌尔的声音Food. Will be mine.食物。成为我的。

SueyoiIs this an Entropic signal? Why is it being directly transmitted into my mind...这是熵的电信号？！为什么会直接传递到我的脑海里……

Sueyoi...My neural cloud's been infected by her. Dammit, I can't hesitate now.……我的心智已经被她感染了。可恶，没有犹豫的时间了。

Sueyoi(Is there some other place where I can make a breakthrough...)（有没有办法从其他地方突破……）

Sueyoi swings his spear in defense and looks to the roof of the grotto.末宵挥动长枪进行防御，将目光投向穹顶。

熵Hissss—嘶——

Sueyoi(Dammit... No wonder the feeler didn't stop me.)（可恶……怪不得触须没有拦截我。）

Sueyoi(There are Entropics in the empty space above too... How many monsters are there in here, anyway!?)（上面的空腔里也有熵……这里到底养了多少怪物？！）

Sueyoi(And there's no reply to my distress signal either...)（救援信号没有任何回应……）

Sueyoi(Dammit... I mustn't go down here!)（该死……我绝对不能倒在这里！）

The pursuit drags on and on. As his infection worsens, Sueyoi slowly loses all sense of time.追逃战持续了许久。随着感染加重，末宵逐渐无法直观地感受时间流逝。

Boom! A loud crash echoes through the void in the bedrock, startling his slowly-clouding consciousness awake.)轰！岩层的空腔里传来爆鸣声，惊醒了他逐渐混沌的意识。

Something smashes the rock blocking his path, and a ghostly purple light pours in through the cracks from outside.挡路的岩石被击破，幽紫色的光从裂缝之外洒进来。

HatsuchiriDon't move around, Sueyoi.别乱动，末宵。

Hatsuchiri stabs the Entropic creature lunging at her. The leaf blades on her spear spin and melt the enemy blocking her path along with the rock.初尘挥手刺向扑过来的熵，长枪上扇叶飞旋，将拦路的敌人和岩石一并熔毁。

The two noises which fill the air harmonize for a moment before fading away completely, leaving nothing but a lingering hiss.空气里的两种杂音一瞬同频，接着彻底消失了，只剩下断断续续的嘶鸣声。

SueyoiI won't thank you for this.我不会说谢谢的。

HatsuchiriI'm just glad to see you're alive.看见你还活着就足够了。

SueyoiHave you prepared a way out?撤离路线准备过吗？

HatsuchiriCome with me.跟我来。

Sueyoi follows Hatsuchiri and sinks back underground.末宵跟着初尘，再度潜入了地下。

HatsuchiriWe'll be making a detour to avoid those Entropics. Are you alright?为了躲开那些熵，我们会绕点远路。你的情况还好吗？

SueyoiI don't need your pity.我不需要你的可怜。

HatsuchiriCall it whatever you want. The fact is, I saved you.随便你怎么说吧，现在我救了你，这是事实。

SueyoiTsk...啧……

HatsuchiriYou're hurt. Do you need operands?你受伤了，需要算量吗？

SueyoiOh please, come off it already, unless you want to catch my infection.别假惺惺的，除非你的意思是想被我感染。

Hatsuchiri grabs Sueyoi's arm and infuses some operands into him.初尘向前抓住末宵的手，将一些算量灌输给他。

HatsuchiriThat should keep you going for a while.这些应该够你活动一阵子了。

SueyoiI won't thank you for this.我不会说谢谢的。

HatsuchiriDouble negatives make a positive.否定两次，就是肯定。

SueyoiYou... Where did De Lacey go?你这家伙……德菈赛去哪了？

HatsuchiriShe ran into some trouble on the surface. The situation's more complicated than we expected.她在地上遇到了一些麻烦，情况比较复杂。

HatsuchiriAlso, I should point something out... If I weren't around, you'd be too infected to talk so much rubbish.另一点我需要声明……如果没有我，你现在的感染程度应该都不会允许你说那么多废话了。

Sueyoi...Fine, hats off to you.……现在算你厉害。

HatsuchiriHow's progress on the mission?任务的进展情况如何？

SueyoiThe administrator lied to me. There's no "objective" underground.管理员骗了我，地底下没有“目标”。

HatsuchiriWhat did she say that convinced even a doubting Thomas like yourself?她说了什么，能让总是疑神疑鬼的你信了？

SueyoiExperiments. Agents.实验。智能体。

HatsuchiriJust these two words? There must have been something else, right?就这两个词？一定还有别的吧？

SueyoiWe don't have time for lengthy debate.现在不是我们可以长篇大论的时候。

Sueyoi points up at the ceiling.末宵指了指穹顶。

The roof of the grotto is crawling with purplish-black Entropic units. Some are still in their gooey initial state, but many others have evolved into other forms.岩窟的穹顶上爬满了黑紫色的熵单位。有的还是黏糊的初始形态，也有许多进化成了别的模样。

SueyoiBetter pick up the pace.加快行进速度。

HatsuchiriWait, I'm getting a transmission from the Oasis.等等，绿洲发来了通讯。

SueyoiThe Oasis? You've established relations with them?绿洲？你和们也建立了联系？

HatsuchiriSueyoi, draw your weapon and prepare for a fight.末宵，拿出武器，准备战斗。

Sueyoi...I hope you'll give me an answer afterwards.……希望你之后能给我回答。

After the battle with the Entropics.和熵的战斗顺利结束了。

SueyoiThat's strange. The combat effectiveness of these Entropics isn't as high as the ones in the depths.奇怪，这些熵的战斗效能没有深处那么高了。

Sueyoi...This has something to do with that message from the Oasis, right?……和绿洲发来的联络有关，对吗？

HatsuchiriIt's . Have you heard of them?是，你应该也知道吧？

SueyoiThey are the Professor of the Oasis. It would be hard NOT to know about what they've done in Magrasea.绿洲的教授，在这个云端的所作所为，想不知道都很难。

HatsuchiriThe Professor activated the barrier and slowed down the Entropics' movements.教授启动了屏障，让熵的行动变慢了。

SueyoiIf they can activate the barrier, does that mean the Oasis has obtained administrator permissions for the sector?启动屏障，也就代表绿洲拿到了管理员权限？

HatsuchiriYes.是的。

HatsuchiriFrom that transmission, it seems the surface is also crawling with Entropics, so leaving the sector will be extremely difficult.从联络来看，现在地表上也全是熵，离开这个扇区会非常困难。

SueyoiHmph. So you want us to help the Professor, then?哼，要我们协助那位教授？

HatsuchiriWe have no choice. All we need to do is buy some time.是不得不协助。我们只需要拖延一些时间就行。

SueyoiAnd why is that? We don't have to get involved.为什么？独善其身对我们来说不是什么困难的事。

HatsuchiriBecause of you. You've been infected by the Entropy.因为你。你被熵感染了。

HatsuchiriWe need to help the Oasis defeat the High-Order Entropic Demiurge and obtain the Entropic source code from her.我们需要协助绿洲打败高阶熵——黛米乌尔，从而获得源代码。

SueyoiYou should just dump me here.大不了把我丢在这里。

SueyoiWhat's wrong with that? Aren't you very good at it?有什么关系？你不是很擅长这么干吗？

Hatsuchiri...Helping the Oasis is a better option, and we need your strength to complete the mission.……协助绿洲更好，我们需要你的力量来完成任务。

SueyoiMeh, we've come this far, let's do it your way.都已经这样了，随你吧。

HatsuchiriThen we'll need to follow the Professor's tactical plans and circle around the subterranean Entropics.那么现在我们需要服从教授的战术安排，和地底的熵进行迂回。

SueyoiGot it. Get a move on.知道了，快点行动吧。

HatsuchiriAlso, be careful. Don't get hurt again.还有，你要小心一点，别再受伤了。

Hatsuchiri points to Sueyoi's wound.初尘指了指末宵感染的伤口。

SueyoiTsk... I'll keep that in mind.啧……我会注意的。

War without End 缠斗

As per the Professor's instructions, Hatsuchiri and Sueyoi are doing everything they can to keep Demiurge busy.初尘和末宵依照教授的指令，全力和黛米乌尔周旋着。

Under the pair's joint effort, many of Demiurge's tentacles are severed the moment they regenerate and she cannot find stable footing on the rock wall.在二人的合作下，黛米乌尔的大部分触手在再生的瞬间便被割断，无法稳定地攀附在岩壁上。

黛米乌尔They're interfering with me... Don't get in my way, food.被干扰……食物，不要妨碍我。

An Entropic unit picks up the subtle resonances in the air and several Entropics scream in unison, disturbing the vibrations in the air.空气中细微的共振被熵单位察觉，数只熵发出刺耳的叫声，将空气震动搅乱。

HatsuchiriShe's trying to disrupt our connection...她在试图干扰我们之间的连接……

HatsuchiriSueyoi, cover me!末宵，援护我！

SueyoiGot it!知道了！

Responding to Hatsuchiri's request for help, Sueyoi emerges from the rock above and precisely slashes through the Mid-Order Entropics producing the noise.响应着初尘的话语，末宵从上方岩壁钻出，精准地斩断了发出杂音的中阶熵们。

However, Sueyoi fails to burrow underground in time after that strike.然而这一击后，末宵却没能立刻潜入地下。

黛米乌尔Got you.抓住了。

SueyoiUgh... So hot...哈……好烫……

Sueyoi...No, it's not hot anymore. Am I imagining things!?……不对，不烫了。是错觉？！

SueyoiWhat's... what's happening to me?我这是……怎么了？

HatsuchiriFocus, Sueyoi!集中注意力，末宵！

SueyoiRight!我知道！

Sueyoi glances at his wound, then he comes to a realization.末宵瞄了一眼自己的伤口，随即明白了什么。

Sueyoi(...That High-Order Entropic is disrupting my senses with electronic signals.)（……那只高阶熵在用电信号干扰我的感官。）

Sueyoi(My neural cloud... is being corroded by the Entropy.)（我的心智……正在被熵侵蚀。）

HatsuchiriShe's growing more skillful with her attacks, and her sentences are becoming more complete.她的攻击越来越熟练，语言也逐步完善了。

HatsuchiriShe's evolving so fast...进化的速度真快……

HatsuchiriWe need to hold out for another four minutes, can you do it?我们还需要再撑4分钟，能行吗？

SueyoiDo you even need to ask... The Oasis needs to take care of her once and for all after this, or else it'll only cause more trouble later on!还用你说……之后绿洲一定要切实地解决掉这家伙，不然只会越来越麻烦！

黛米乌尔的声音Are you my food... or my kin?我的食物……还是我的同类？

The sudden voice in his mind briefly dazes Sueyoi. The white light generated by the barrier is consumed by the rising tide of Entropy, and Demiurge rends the purplish-black screen again—a crack opens in the barrier.脑海中骤然响起的声音使末宵一阵眩晕。屏障产生的白光被紧随而上的熵浪吞没，黛米乌尔又将紫黑色的巨幕撕裂——屏障被抓开了一道裂痕。

SueyoiUrgh...!唔……！

Though he's covered in wounds, Sueyoi keeps pace with Hatsuchiri and continuously presses the attack from all directions.即使伤痕累累，末宵仍然配合着初尘的脚步在四周不断进行攻击。

黛米乌尔的声音All food that stands in my way... must be crushed! Crushed and chewed to bits!阻拦我的食物……咬碎！全部都咬碎！

黛米乌尔的声音Being eaten means no regeneration, and you will never see the light again!吃掉，不再生，再也看不到光！

黛米乌尔的声音I am the only one who will go into the light. I want to go into the light.去光里的，只有我，我要去光里——

SueyoiHer signal disruption is growing stronger...她的电信号干扰还在加强……

SueyoiDammit, is she using me as a breakthrough point!?可恶，这家伙把我当成突破口了吗？！

黛米乌尔Breakthrough point... It means... a place that looks strong, but is actually very weak.突破口……意思是……看上去坚硬，其实很脆弱的地方。

黛米乌尔I've learned something. Won't you become mine, "Sueyoi"?我学会了。成为我的东西吧，“末宵”……？

SueyoiDon't you dare call my name! You're grossing me out! I refuse!别这样叫我的名字，真够恶心的！我拒绝！

Sueyoi resists the onslaught of disruption and struggles to focus his operands in order to shred the surrounding Entropics and Demiurge's tentacles.末宵顶着持续袭来的干扰，努力聚集起算量，将周围的熵与黛米乌尔抽来的触手全部斩尽。

黛米乌尔You refuse? Then you are food.拒绝吗？那就是食物了。

HatsuchiriCalm down, Sueyoi! Don't waste your operands!末宵，冷静一点！不要浪费算量！

Hatsuchiri...The barrier is losing strength. We can't hold out much longer.……屏障的强度已经下降了，我们支撑不了多久。

SueyoiI know that! Go over from here!我知道！你从这边过去！

SueyoiHow much longer does the Oasis need, three minutes?绿洲还需要多久，3分钟？

HatsuchiriThat's right!没错！

SueyoiDammit! They need to hurry the hell up!该死！们应该再快一些！

Hatsuchiri(His emotions are getting more and more unstable, is that also due to the Entropization...?)（他的情绪越来越不稳定了，这也是熵化的影响吗……）

Hatsuchiri(Hang in there, Sueyoi.)（末宵……坚持住。）

The intense back and forth continues.激烈的攻防战仍在继续。

Attacking, locking down, harassing, assaulting from every possible opening.攻击，封锁，骚扰，无孔不入的袭击。

In the end, Sueyoi's movements stop for a full two seconds.终于，末宵的动作出现了长达两秒的停滞。

Sueyoi...I can't... lift my arms... They won't listen to me...……举不起来……手……不受控制……

熵(Hissing and chirping)嘶——叽叽叽——

Hatsuchiri...Snap out of it, Sueyoi!……清醒点，末宵！

Hatsuchiri shouts at Sueyoi. At this moment, Demiurge sneaks up on Hatsuchiri.初尘向末宵大喊着。在这个瞬间，黛米乌尔悄然贴近了初尘。

黛米乌尔Did you forget about me?疏漏了哦？

Hatsuchiri immediately sees to her defense and brings her spear up in front of her.初尘立刻回防，将长枪架在面前。

However, Demiurge's attack is not coming in along a straight line. Before Hatsuchiri can react, the rest of Demiurge's feelers have turned and burrowed into the ground, thus bypassing Hatsuchiri's defenses before instantly emerging from behind her.然而黛米乌尔的攻击并非直线袭向她。在她来得及反应过来之前，另一部分触须已经调转方向扎入地下，从地底绕过了初尘的防御，又瞬间从她背后破土而出。

黛米乌尔I learned... how you fight...学会了……你的打法……

The tentacles are mere feet away from Hatsuchiri's exposed back.触手离初尘脆弱的后背近在咫尺。

The next moment, a powerful white light illuminates her from behind.下一秒，一股强烈的白光笼罩了她的身后。

黛米乌尔Urgh!呜！

黛米乌尔Tentacle... hurt...触手……痛……

SueyoiSo... damn... noisy...真的是……吵死了……

SueyoiShut up... already!快给我……安静……！

HatsuchiriSueyoi, what happened to your body!?末宵，你的身体？！

The light fades from the spear in Sueyoi's grip. He leans on it heavily to keep himself from collapsing.末宵的手里紧握着光线逐渐熄灭的长枪，艰难地支撑着自己摇摇欲坠的身躯。

His torso has nearly been torn apart by a direct hit from a tentacle and his protective outfit is completely wrecked. Since he made contact with Demiurge at close range and got splashed, liquid Entropy is now dripping from his forehead down to his toes.他的腰际几乎被触手的正面撞击撕裂，防护服也已不成原形。由于近距离接触黛米乌尔而沾染上的熵化液，正大滴大滴从他的额头落向脚尖。

SueyoiI'm... not that weak...我可……没那么弱……

黛米乌尔Weak... Eat...弱……吃掉……

Hatsuchiri...Dream on!……休想！

Before Demiurge can approach Sueyoi, Hatsuchiri is already brandishing her spear, ready to fight to the death. However, Demiurge suddenly comes to a halt.在黛米乌尔接近末宵之前，初尘已经挥舞着长枪，摆好了死战到底的架势。然而，黛米乌尔的动作却突然停顿了下来。

黛米乌尔Above... My limbs are calling...上面……手脚的呼唤……

黛米乌尔Finally... They've chewed it open...!终于……它们咬开了……！

She looks up.她仰头看向上方。

黛米乌尔Now is the time...!就是现在……！

Faint daylight filters down from above, shrouding her head in a thin veil of light.微弱的天光从上方散下，在她的头顶晕开一层淡薄的光之纱帘。

黛米乌尔Freedom... Light...自由……光……

The barrier is disintegrating rapidly. Climbing up the rock column and using other Entropic units as footholds, Demiurge ascends toward the light.屏障正以飞快的速度消融，黛米乌尔攀着岩柱和承托她的熵单位，迎着光和再度倾倒的海水向上攀爬。

Soon, she will struggle free of her bindings and obtain freedom. Soon, she and her Entropics will become a calamity that engulfs Magrasea.马上，她就要挣脱束缚，获得自由。马上，她和她的熵就将成为灾厄，席卷云端。

黛米乌尔...To the outside!!……去外面！！

SueyoiI won't let you!不会让你上去！

In an instant, Sueyoi chops down Demiurge's extending feelers. Sueyoi stands in front of Hatsuchiri, preparing to attack again.电光火石间，黛米乌尔的延展的触须再度被末宵切下。末宵站到了初尘前面，准备再次发动攻势。

HatsuchiriSueyoi, you...末宵，你……

SueyoiCut the crap! How much longer until the Oasis is done!?别废话！还没到绿洲指定的时间吗？！

HatsuchiriJust hang in there a little more... They still need 34 seconds!再坚持一会儿……们还需要34秒！

SueyoiTsk... Get back, leave the rest to me.啧……退后，接下来交给我。

黛米乌尔The light... Nobody can stop me... from finding the light...!光……谁都不能阻止我……寻找光……！

Sueyoi plants himself in front of Demiurge and severs the tentacles around her with all his remaining strength.末宵挡在黛米乌尔面前，竭尽全力切断她身旁的触手。

SueyoiWhat a pain...!真麻烦……！

黛米乌尔Sue... yoi...末……宵……

The rock walls shudder violently. Large chunks of rocks fall and are devoured by the Entropics crawling above them.岩壁剧烈地震动起来。大块的岩石剥落，被攀爬在上面的熵吞噬。

HatsuchiriThat's enough, Sueyoi! Fall back!可以了末宵！回撤！

Entropy-covered rocks are raining down on Hatsuchiri and Sueyoi.布满熵的岩块朝着初尘和末宵砸下。

SueyoiNo, 5 more seconds...不，还有5秒……

HatsuchiriThat's enough!够了！

SueyoiI'm going to prove to everyone that I'm better... Better than you...!我要向所有人证明， 我更加优秀……比你更加优秀……！

Sueyoi3...2...3……2……

An Entropic has already crawled up to the infected wound on Sueyoi's arm.一只熵已经爬到了末宵的手臂感染处。

By the narrowest of margins, Sueyoi slices the Entropic crawling up his arm to bits and barely manages to keep his balance when he lands on the ground. Although Demiurge has succeeded in breaking through the barrier, he has completed his mission.千钧一发之际，末宵切碎了爬上来的熵，勉强保持着平稳落地。虽然黛米乌尔成功脱离了屏障，但他已然达成了任务。

Hatsuchiri...Sueyoi?……末宵？

HatsuchiriI'm going to transfer operands to you.我要调用算量了。

Sueyoi nods slowly as his operands finally run out. He slowly sits down on the ground.末宵缓慢地点了点头，终于算量不支，缓缓坐在了地上。

He desperately tries to stay conscious while Hatsuchiri uses her remaining operands to protect herself and Sueyoi, who's collapsed on the ground.他竭力维持着意识，而初尘用仅有的算量护住自己和倒地的末宵。

She looks up at the shattered bedrock above her... at the hole left by Demiurge's escape. Light shines down from above her head, illuminating her face. All she can see is the pale white light of day and the black, wriggling tentacles around it. No matter how hard she strains, she can't catch a glimpse of the outside world.她仰起头，看着上方碎裂的岩层……看着黛米乌尔留下的洞口。光从头顶打下，映在她的脸上。 在她的视野里只有惨白的天光和边缘蠕动的黑色，无论怎么努力都看不到外界的景象。

HatsuchiriThis should do, right... Professor...?这样就可以了吧……教授……

She mutters to herself.她喃喃自语。

HatsuchiriI know comms have been cut off, but for the record...虽然通讯已经隔断了，但还是姑且说一句吧……

HatsuchiriThe mission entrusted to us has been successfully completed.交给我们的任务，顺利完成了。

HatsuchiriOasis... I hope your plan succeeds.绿洲……希望你们的计划能够顺利。

She looks down silently at the unconscious Sueyoi.她又低下头，默默地照看着失去意识的末宵。

HatsuchiriIt really has been a while. Now it's just the ground and us again.真是久违了啊。又只剩下地面和我们了。

HatsuchiriNobody can hear us.没有人听得到我们在说什么。

HatsuchiriDoesn't matter if we call for help, make a report, or say anything else. We can just talk between ourselves.无论是呼救还是报告，又或者别的话。说些只说给自己听的话也没关系。

HatsuchiriWhat a familiar situation...真是熟悉的处境……

Hatsuchiri lowers her head and sighs as she looks at her murky reflection in a puddle of liquid Entropy.初尘低下头，望着熵化液中映出的模糊的光晕叹了口气。

Hatsuchiri...I feel so alone.……真孤独啊。

Contingency Plan 应急预案

On the surface, at the seaside.地面，海边。

The storm from the Weather Simulator has been raging non-stop. The sky is dark and the vortex in the ocean has been still for ten-odd minutes now.气象模拟器的风雨仍未停止，天色昏暗，而海面的漩涡已经停滞了十分钟。

Sol...Are we just going to stand by and watch?……我们真的只能这样一直看着吗？

AntoninaSol, take a look at the color of the seawater.苏尔，你看看海水的颜色。

The liquid Entropy that was dispersed by the storm is now gathered around the edge of the vortex, and feelers dance languidly upon the water's surface under the darkened sky.被冲散的熵化液堆积在漩涡周围，在昏暗的天空之下，触须在海面上缓慢地舞动着。

SolUrgh... It's all liquid Entropy down there, so there's no point going in, right?呃……全是熵化液，所以进去也没用，对吧。

AntoninaOf course there is! You'll become a delivery meal for the Entropics, Solly~当然有用啦！你会变成送给熵吃的外卖哦，小苏。

SolWhat's with that weird tone? You're creeping me out, Anna!这时候用那个奇怪的语气很可怕啊安娜！

Sol...I'm just worried that all of Copley will get wrecked if Hatsuchiri can't stop Demiurge.……我只是担心，要是初尘他们没能阻止黛米乌尔，整个柯普利扇区都会毁于一旦吧。

SolAnd even if we do manage to escape the Copley Sector, Demiurge still has the source code Croque needs, and this is as close to her as we're going to get!就算我们能成功逃离柯普利扇区，黛米乌尔身上还有克罗琦需要的源代码，而这是我们离它最近的一次！

AntoninaThe Professor said they've sowed the seeds.教授说种下了种子。

AntoninaFrankly speaking, I don't like staking everyone's lives on such a vague statement, but... there's nothing else I can do.说实话，我不喜欢把大家的安危寄托在这种似是而非的话上，但……除此之外，我也没有更好的方法了。

AntoninaYou won't mess around with us when it comes to this sort of thing, right, Professor?你不会在这种事情上耍我们的吧，教授？

The earth shudders and interrupts Antonina's question. In contrast, the ocean is abnormally still—or rather, the water is pooling around the center.地面剧烈地震颤起来，打断了安冬妮娜的诘问。 而与之相对的，海浪却异常地平静——应该说是不断地向中间汇集。

SolHold on tight to me! Don't fall down!抓紧我！别摔伤了！

Sol holds on to Antonina and me tightly, doing her best to stay balanced as the ground shakes and trembles. We shuffle bit by bit behind one of the rocks on the seaside.苏尔紧紧拉住我和安冬妮娜，在不断晃动的地面上竭力保持平衡，一点点挪动到海边的礁石后。

Antonina...Looks like she's broken through the barrier. It held out longer than we expected. Not bad.……看来屏障被突破了。坚持的时间比我们预想的还长了一些，已经不错了。

PersicariaProfessor, the situation on the sea is getting out of hand. We've lost control permissions over the seawater!教授，海面的情况恶化了，我们失去了对海水的控制权！

PersicariaAre we sticking to the plan?按照之前的计划行动吗？

ProfessorYup. Stick to the original plan and turn it all the way up.嗯，照原计划开到最大吧。

PersicariaUnderstood. Weather Simulator, full power activation!明白了。气象模拟器，全功率启动！

As though in response to the dark moon on the ocean's surface, the clouds in the sky grow heavier.仿佛为了呼应海面上扩开的暗月，天空中的乌云更加浓重。

The air pressure plummets; hailstones form in the clouds and lash wildly at the surface of the sea, sending huge waves splashing up to the heavens.气压急剧降低，冰雹在乌云里形成，狂乱地砸入海面，一时间巨浪盈天。

ProfessorPersicaria, can you see what's happening out at sea?帕斯卡，看得到海里的情况吗？

PersicariaThe hailstones are applying a certain amount of suppression, but the Entropics are taking measures against it.冰雹造成了一定的压制，但是熵正在形成对策。

PersicariaThe Low-Order Entropics are using themselves as meatshields to mitigate most of the hailstones' destructiveness.低阶熵用自己的身体做盾，抵消了大部分冰雹的攻击力。

AntoninaDemiurge understands the concept of self-preservation. She's using the Low-Order Entropics to protect herself and she's using the operands from the hailstones instead!黛米乌尔很明白怎么保护自己，她用那些低阶熵做盾牌，冰雹的算量反而能被她利用了！

ProfessorDo as I say and keep stalling for time!按我说的，继续拖时间！

The hailstones continue to rain down on the sea, while a wobbling tower suddenly rises from the dark moon.冰雹持续向海中倾泻，而暗月之中骤然耸起一座晃动的高塔。

Countless "Styxes" burst out through the surface of the ocean and rise to the clouds under the cover of the Low-Order Entropics, scattering the clouds by the simple expedient method of charging into them.无数“悔恨”从海面之中飞起，借着低阶熵的掩护直上云端，以堪称蛮横的方式冲散了乌云。

De LaceyAck! This is bad... The Weather Simulator is being disrupted!呀！糟糕了……气象模拟器被干扰了！

SolWhat? They can do that from so far away?啊？这么远的距离也行？

De LaceyIt suddenly broke, like it got a trojan... Persy's fixing it, but she'll need some time!好像被木马入侵一样突然坏掉了……小帕在修复了，需要一点时间！

Demiurge puts up no resistance and allows Antonina to pin her to the spot.黛米乌尔毫不反抗地被安冬妮娜禁锢在原地。

She tilts her head and looks toward Antonina with a ponderous expression.她歪了歪头，目光投向安冬妮娜的方向，脸上流露出如同沉思的神色。

黛米乌尔D... OS...D……os……

Antonina...Demiurge is copying my attack methods and hacking the Weather Simulator with signal disruptions.……黛米乌尔在效仿我的攻击方式，用信号干扰的方式入侵了气象模拟器。

AntoninaShe's much smarter than the first time we met her underground!她比地底下第一次遇到的时候聪明太多了！

PersicariaI need 10 more seconds... Please give me operand support, Miss De Lacey.还需要十秒……德菈赛小姐，请给我算量支持。

The sky above the sea clears up briefly, and the tower of Entropics crumbles, crashing back to the ocean.海面出现了短暂的晴空，熵组成的虚幻高塔也随之崩毁，掉落回海面上。

Where the tower fell, Demiurge surfaces, looking around in a daze.在高塔崩毁的地方，黛米乌尔浮出海面，痴迷地凝望着周围。

黛米乌尔So this is the land of freedom... where the light shines.这就是自由的地方……光所照耀的地方。

黛米乌尔It's so bright, and it hurts... But, I'm happy.好刺眼，痛……但是，真开心。

PersicariaRepairs complete!修复完成！

The dark clouds gather again, and hailstones fall from the sky amidst a storm.乌云重新凝聚起来，暴雨混杂着冰雹洒落。

The Low-Order Entropics gather around Demiurge as meatshields to absorb the impact from the hailstones. The occasional hailstone makes it through that defense, but Demiurge swats it away with a mere flick of her feelers.低阶熵聚在黛米乌尔周围，充当肉盾抵御冰雹的冲击。偶尔有几枚冰雹砸穿防御，也都被黛米乌尔挥动着触须打落。

As the incapacitated Low-Order Entropics fall one after the other, the seawater turns a darker shade of purple.随着战损的低阶熵一只只坠落，海水的紫色也不断加深。

AntoninaI'll try to disrupt their signal! Sol, cover the Professor!我来进行信号干扰！苏尔，你保护好教授！

SolI'll protect both of you, so just focus on doing your thing!我会把你俩都保护好，你就安心地去做吧！

The rate at which the clouds gather is slowing down, but not many of the Entropics have been destroyed.乌云凝聚的速度渐渐慢了，而熵显然并没有被消灭多少。

Demiurge turns to look at us on the beach.黛米乌尔转过头，望向海滩上的我们。

AntoninaDemiurge's resistance to signal disruption is rising!黛米乌尔对信号干扰的抗性在增加！

Sol...There's movement under the sand, get to the rocks, quick!……沙滩下有动静，你们先到礁石上来！

熵Hiss—嘶——

SolDon't think you can hide from me!休想逃过我的眼睛！

Several Entropics have already rushed onto the beach. We hurriedly climb up the rocks to avoid the Entropics that were burrowing through the sand.一些熵已经被冲上了海滩，我们匆忙爬上了礁石，躲过了从沙子里潜行过来的几只熵。

Sol swings her twin blades and wipes out all the Entropics that crawled up to attack us.苏尔挥舞着双刀，将这些爬上来攻击我们的熵全部消灭。

De LaceyUrgh... Her attack is still going on. Persy's repair speed can't keep up, I'll help fix it with her.呜……她的攻击还在继续，小帕的修复速度不太跟得上了，我会和她一起修复。

De LaceyWe won't have much time to communicate after this, so the rest is up to you, Professor, and Solly...我们接下来很难有空通讯了，剩下的就交给你们啦，教授，还有小苏……

AntoninaI can't hold out much longer on my end either, the volume of signals is too great and I can't crack them all in time!我这边也坚持不了多久了，这种程度的信号量太大，破解跟不上！

AntoninaProfessor! When is this "contingency plan" of yours coming!?教授！你的“应急预案”什么时候到啊？！

AntoninaHow soon is "soon"!? If it takes any longer, we'll have to fall back!快了是多久啊？！再不来的话我们只能撤退了！

AntoninaWhy you... Fine, I'll hang in there a little longer!你这家伙……好吧！我再坚持一会儿！

Soon.应该快了吧。

Trust me.相信我。

...……

Antonina...If only you could use your silence on the opposition instead!……你的沉默要是能对对面用就好了！

Antonina sounds like she wants to go on, but then she suddenly grabs her head and stumbles.安冬妮娜还想继续说些什么，却突然扶着头踉跄了一下。

AntoninaUrgh... Dammit...唔……可恶……

SolAnna, are you alright!?你没事吧，安娜？！

AntoninaNot only is she resisting my decryption...这家伙不只是在抵抗我的破解……

AntoninaShe's also... trying to... send me signals...她好像还……在尝试向我发送……信号……

SolAnna? Hey, Prof, Anna's—!安娜？喂，教授，安娜她！

AntoninaI'm fine! Don't let the Entropics catch you off guard!我没事！你别被熵钻了空子！

SolBut—可是——

Just then, a golden light suddenly appears in the heavens.就在这时，天空忽然映出一片纯净的金色光芒。

A hail of divine gunfire and shells rains down from above, decimating all the Entropics around us in moments.带着神圣气息的灿烂枪弹自上空倾泻而下，转眼将我们周围的熵轰击蒸发。

?Hailing Watchtower, Intermediate Sanctifier Love has arrived at the designated Sector, requesting ongoing support.呼叫哨塔，中位净化者爱已到达预定扇区，请求持续支援。

?Purgers, commence volley fire. Raiders, prepare to suppress enemies.肃清者齐射开始，突击者准备压制！

Demiurge emits a shriek that shakes the heavens.黛米乌尔发出震天的啸声。

A golden-haired Intermediate Sanctifier descends from the sky, landing between the rocks and the sea before nodding to us.金发的中位净化者从天而降，落在礁石与海面之间，向我们致意。

Professor...You're here at last.……终于来了。

SolWait, SANCTIFIERS!?居然是净化者？！

AntoninaWhew... At last...呼……总算……

爱Thank you all for staying behind to provide us with positional data. This region will become a battlefield soon, so please fall back to avoid being caught up in it.感谢各位在这里持续提供定位信息，接下来此处将会成为战场，请后退避免被波及。

After instructing us to fall back, she turns to face the horde of Entropics charging up over the surface of the ocean.她示意我们退后，随后转身，面向海面上奔腾而来的熵。

爱Large-scale Entropic force detected. Requesting operand support. Refactors, prepare to move in.检测到大规模熵单位。呼叫算量支持，重构者预备运作。

SolWill they be alright?她们没问题吗？

ProfessorLooks like they came prepared. Guess my explanations didn't go to waste. We can relax and leave it to them.看起来是有备而来，不枉我费的口舌。就放心交给她们吧。

ProfessorAre you alright, Antonina?安冬妮娜，你还好吧？

AntoninaDon't look down on me... I won't get hacked by just this much signal disruption.别小看我……这种程度的信息干扰还不至于黑掉我。

SolBut you're still drawing operands...可是你还在调用算量……

AntoninaI'm just trying to crack her incoming signals. I think I understand a bit of what she was sending to the outside...只是在破译她传来的电信号。现在我能读懂一些了，她一直在对外发送的内容……

黛米乌尔...Seize...……抓住……

AntoninaSeize...?抓住……？

爱The envelopment is in place.包围圈已形成。

爱Cleansing commencing.净化开始。

Antonina looks past the densely-packed ranks of Sanctifiers in Demiurge's direction. She has emerged from the ocean, like a bird about to take to the sky.安冬妮娜透过密不透风的净化者队列，抬头望向黛米乌尔的方向。她从海面钻出，如同即将振翅而飞的鸟。

Powerful emotions assault Antonina's neural cloud through the signals she is receiving.通过电信号传递而来的剧烈情感冲击着安冬妮娜的心智。

黛米乌尔Seize... the light...抓住……光……

黛米乌尔Freedom...自由……

AntoninaA trojan... It must have been when we were underground!木马入侵……是当时在地下的时候！

Spotlight 追光

黛米乌尔The round food and the square food are in my way and they're hurting me.圆圆的食物们和方方的食物们挡在面前，让我疼痛。

黛米乌尔They're attacking me. Why are they attacking me?它们在攻击我。为什么它们会攻击我？

黛米乌尔I'll smash them with my feelers.用触须打碎它们。

黛米乌尔If you block my path, I'll smash you all to bits and eat you.拦着我，就把你们全都打碎吃掉。

Spotlight 追光

净化者[Heavy damage detected... Requesting restoration...]【检测到重大损伤……申请修复……】

爱Engaging healing module. Refactor, begin operation!治疗模块启动。重构者，开始运作！

黛米乌尔The round food and the square food are whole again.圆圆的食物和方方的食物变得完整了。

黛米乌尔That's the gold food's doing.是那个金色的食物做的。

黛米乌尔She is the color of light.她好像光的颜色。

Spotlight 追光

黛米乌尔Ever since I ate that food which made Deep Blue cry, Bad Deep Blue began visiting more frequently.从吃掉那个让深蓝色哭的食物后，讨厌的深蓝色开始频繁地来了。

黛米乌尔Sometimes, she would say some things too.有时候，她会说一些话。

黛米乌尔Back then, I didn't understand, but now that I recall what she said, I finally understand.那时候我不能理解，现在想起来，可以明白了。

讨厌的深蓝色...You've been yearning to go outside, haven't you?……你一直都很想冲到外面去呢。

讨厌的深蓝色Do you want to be free?想自由吗？

黛米乌尔(Hissing and growling)嘶……哈！嗷！

讨厌的深蓝色Report ID 4052: Demiurge is showing an subjectively hostile reaction.报告ID4052：黛米乌尔出现主观的敌意反应。

黛米乌尔... Hos... ■■■■?……敌……■■■■？

讨厌的深蓝色There is light and water outside, all the things that an ecology sector would have.外面有光，有水，有生态扇区的相关设备。

讨厌的深蓝色And there is nothing else.除此之外什么都没有了。

黛米乌尔... Light? ...Water...?……光？……水……？

讨厌的深蓝色You are trapped here, and so am I.你被困在这里，我也是。

讨厌的深蓝色What difference is there between a big cage and a small one?大的牢笼和小的牢笼能有什么区别？

黛米乌尔■■■■■■■■■?■■■■■■■■■？

讨厌的深蓝色Yet still you wish to escape.但你还是想出去。

讨厌的深蓝色Freedom must be very important to you, isn't it? Or perhaps you have no such concept at all?相对的自由对你来说很重要吗？还是说，你根本没有这个概念呢？

黛米乌尔Freedom. Light. Water.自由。光。水。

黛米乌尔They are all connected.它们是相连的。

Spotlight 追光

黛米乌尔Why? The light is supposed to be freedom...为什么？明明是自由的光……

黛米乌尔Why is the light blocking me too?为什么光也要拦着我？

爱Requesting Watchtower support. Temperances and Throwers have been deployed.请求哨塔支持，节制、投掷者部署完毕。

爱Purgers, another volley!肃清者，再次齐射！

黛米乌尔Bad Deep Blue's tentacles were very annoying. The blue seawater is also very annoying.深蓝色的触手很讨厌。蓝色的海水很讨厌。

黛米乌尔The big, clear rock that fell out of the light is very annoying. The golden light... is also annoying.光里掉下来的大块的透明石头很讨厌。金色的光……也很讨厌。

黛米乌尔I'll chew them to bits. But I can't chew the light.全都咬碎。咬不到光。

黛米乌尔I can't chew the light of freedom.自由的光，没办法咬碎。

黛米乌尔It hurts. It keeps hurting. It falls pitter-patter on me.好痛。一直在痛。噼里啪啦地打在身上。

黛米乌尔I can't advance. This is not freedom.没办法前进。这不是自由。

黛米乌尔The golden light did not give me freedom.金色的光没有给我自由。