The sixth floor.

A large screen dominates one end of the room, with a plain sofa positioned in front of it. The design of the space is minimal, resembling some kind of movie room.

Darius stops and looks at me, his gaze steady. Is there something important here too? Some answers, maybe?

I glance back at the screen and step closer. As I focus on it, a flood of data appears before me. Memories. My memories.

Each one is numbered, starting from 1 and stretching all the way to 656. My eyes catch on Memory-618—the one mentioned in the previous report about Ayu. My gaze lingers on it for a moment. I know I could play it here, see it on the big screen as if it were a video.

I hesitate, but I don't press on. My memories are mine, locked in my head where they belong. Some are precious, others less so. Replaying them this way doesn't feel right, especially one concerning Ayu.

No, I'll pass.

I turn back to Darius. He meets my gaze, nods briefly, and continues up the stairs to the seventh floor. Seven, huh? Maybe my answers are there.

The seventh floor.

A library?

Bookshelves encircle the entire room, filled with an array of books, though there are still plenty of gaps between them, as if intentionally left for future additions. The room exudes a certain charm, understated yet comforting. Or maybe it's just the way I see it.

Darius moves toward a window overlooking the sea. The view is calm, serene.

He turns to face me. "I believe the answer to your questions is here," he says smoothly. "Try searching for something like 'Overdrive', 'last resorts', 'synchronization', 'mental and physical limits'… or, if Houston was feeling particularly honest, perhaps something like 'Darius Plan'."

I glance at him, frowning slightly. His tone is so different from Houston's. Detached yet strangely personal. How do they even get along?

"Thank you," I reply, stepping toward the nearest shelf. My eyes skim the titles: A Brief History of EM Waves, On the Nature of The Tower, The Wave Equation, The Tower and Its Laws, Beyond the Neural Pathway, Dialogues Concerning Wave Perception, and so on.

For some reason, the titles feel oddly familiar. I muse.

Well, guess I won't have to search physically. I focus my thoughts, and sure enough, a display appears. I enter the keywords Darius mentioned, and a long list comes up. Skimming through, I notice several interesting titles.

I start with one of them.

Stopping Death Beyond Overdrive

The information contained herein references numerous prior records, including but not limited to Energy Allocation During Overdrive [84], Addiction Mitigation in High-Stress Scenarios [73], and Neural Pathway Resilience Post-Threshold Events [97]. Cross-referencing is recommended for a comprehensive understanding of the concepts explored.

Abstract:

While Overdrive is undoubtedly Alonso's greatest strength at this stage, it also poses the greatest risk. It is a capability unique to us, yet inherently volatile. Though addiction to Overdrive has been mitigated [73], the repercussions of exceeding its threshold remain a critical concern.

Problem Statement:

What happens when surpassing Overdrive's limits becomes the only viable option? In scenarios where death is the alternative, the necessity of a contingency plan is undeniable. After extensive theoretical modeling and simulation [117], I propose a method to circumvent fatality, even when Overdrive exceeds sustainable levels.

Hypothesis:

Total metabolic suspension. The methodology revolves around halting all bodily functions, including neural activity, while channeling residual energy reserves to repair critical damage, specifically in neural pathways. This process, if feasible, would allow for a "reset" state, preserving life while mitigating further damage.

Methodology:

Initiation:

Upon exceeding Overdrive's safe limits, induce a pseudo-death state:

Complete cessation of metabolic processes, including breathing and pulse.

Halt energy expenditure across all systems, effectively preserving existing reserves.

Neural Repair:

Either Darius [33] or I will channel stored energy into reconstructing burnt neural pathways. This process relies on the integration of functional pathway patterns preserved within the Pillar itself and the body's innate regenerative capabilities.

While the exact mechanism remains elusive, it appears the Pillar acts as both a generator and a repository for critical neural information, retaining a blueprint of the pathways necessary for restoration.

Pathways are rebuilt incrementally until core functions can resume.

Reactivation:

Once neural pathways are restored to a critical threshold, a signal will trigger the resumption of metabolic processes (breathing, pulse, cellular activity).

Risks:

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Tower Considerations:

It remains unclear what The Tower defines as "death"—specifically, the threshold that causes a disappearance and the formation of an orb. The pseudo-death state may risk triggering irreversible termination if misinterpreted.

Energy Depletion:

If metabolic suspension fails or is only partially successful, the body may deplete its reserves, leading to irreversible systemic collapse.

Functional Integrity:

Variability in stage progress may affect the success rate. Higher stage progress increases feasibility due to enhanced regenerative capacity, but current progress leaves a margin for error

.

Conclusion:

This approach represents a calculated gamble. While fraught with risks, it offers a chance of survival in scenarios where death is otherwise inevitable. Preparation is key. Alonso's resilience and regeneration are essential components of this plan, but further testing and observation will be required to refine the methodology.

My eyes widen. The book is much longer, packed with detailed steps and calculations, but I skim past them. I'm not interested in the specifics right now. What weighs on my mind is one question: am I in this state now? Is that why I'm here?

I look at Darius.

"My body… is it in a suspended state? Are my neural pathways being rebuilt as we speak?"

Darius's dark eyes lock onto mine, steady and unyielding. "Yes."

So… it really went that far. But then…

"Is Ayu okay?"

Darius's expression softens, his tone still calm but firm. "Ayu should be fine. If she weren't, odds are we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

I try to piece everything together. I pushed Overdrive to its extreme, managed to return to ground level after flying with Ayu, and then my body was forced into suspension to stave off death. But I'm still in the danger zone, which means… Ayu had to take me out of there. If I'm alive—well, getting there—then she must be too.

At least, I hope so.

My fist clenches hard, my nails digging into my palm. Ayu…

All I want now is to hold her, to tell her everything is going to be okay.

But I can't. Not yet.

I glance back at the rows of books in the library, questions swirling in my mind. What happened to Houston? No matter how far I pushed Overdrive, it shouldn't have been enough to fly carrying Ayu.

So… what did you do, Houston?

"I brought food and water," Imani said, placing the barrels down with a firm motion. "How are they?"

"They're recovering," Chiara replied, her gaze shifting briefly to Ayu. "She should wake up anytime now. Probably hungry and thirsty by then." Turning back to Imani, a soft smile crossed her face. "Thank you."

"It is fine," he said evenly. "But what of Alonso? He not breathing?"

"Alonso… he won't die that easily. You know what he's capable of. He'll pull through this."

"Good," Imani replied with a curt nod. "Alonso living important. Cannot afford his loss."

Chiara nodded in agreement, her expression calm but resolute.

"Alright," Imani said, stepping back. "I will return to camp. Take care of them."

As Chiara drifted into her thoughts, the familiar buzz of a signal from Lukas pulled her back.

"Any updates?" his message asked.

She sent one back immediately.

"No. But Ayu's breathing is steady and… wait… she's stirring. I'll contact you later."

Chiara shifted her focus entirely to Ayu.

A faint groan escaped Ayu's lips as her body stirred, every movement slow and strained.

Her fingers twitched first, followed by weak, trembling shifts of her arms against the rough ground beneath her. Her chest rose and fell with effort, her breathing ragged but steady.

Her eyelids fluttered open, heavy and reluctant. Her gaze was unfocused, her eyes darting sluggishly, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

Plant fibers, bound tightly around her arms and chest, held firm against the wounds Lukas had treated with hastily gathered herbs. Ayu's skin looked pale and dry, her lips cracked.

She groaned softly, her voice hoarse, turning her head slightly until her gaze landed on Chiara.

Chiara leaned forward gently, her voice soft but steady. "Ayu, take it easy. You're safe now."

But the first words that escaped her lips were, "Alonso… is he… okay?"

Chiara's eyes widened. A flicker of guilt passed through her, but she tamped it down quickly. "Yes. He'll be okay."

Ayu, unconvinced, struggled to lift herself, her arms trembling under the strain. "Where… where is he?"

Before Chiara could respond, Ayu's eyes locked onto the figure lying motionless behind her.

Gritting her teeth, Ayu pushed herself up and staggered to him. Chiara remained frozen, uncertain of what to say or do as she watched.

Ayu finally reached his side, kneeling beside him. Her hand trembled as she brushed it over his face. The blood had been cleaned, but he was pale—far too pale. His body lay unnervingly still, with no pulse, no breathing… nothing.

"Ayu, he'll be fine," Chiara said softly, stepping closer. "He hasn't disappeared. I'm sure there's a reason he's like this. Don't worry. He'll recover, sooner or later."

Ayu stared at Alonso's face, her eyes unblinking, her chest rising and falling with steady breaths. A single tear slid down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away, her jaw tightening. Memories of what had happened crashed over her—how they flew, how he shielded her from every hit, how he risked everything to save her. The images swirled in her mind, vivid and unrelenting.

But she couldn't allow herself to break—not now.

Alonso was still in danger. She had to keep going.

Chiara watched silently from a distance, her gaze steady. Ayu's resilience was unwavering, even now. It was clear—her bond with Alonso went beyond mere affection. It was a connection forged through life and death, one that Chiara couldn't help but admire. And Alonso… he had risked everything for Ayu. That much was undeniable.

Chiara took a deep breath, pushing aside the thoughts and the overwhelming remorse that threatened to consume her. There was no space for guilt now—Ayu and Alonso needed her to stay strong and lead, not dwell on her mistakes. She… she needed to make things right.

She stepped forward, her presence deliberate but calm, and placed a reassuring hand on Ayu's shoulder. "He's going to be fine," Chiara said firmly, meeting Ayu's gaze. "You know him. He doesn't fall that easily."

Ayu glanced at her, her expression still pained, but she nodded. "I know," she murmured, her voice soft yet resolute. "I know. He… he's strong," Ayu added with a faint smile.

She began to steady herself, and Chiara gently helped her sit upright, careful of her strained movements.

A loud grumble from Ayu's stomach shattered the tense silence, drawing faint chuckles from both of them. Chiara leaned back, opened one of the barrels, and retrieved water and food, handing them to Ayu without a word.

Ayu accepted them gratefully, taking a sip of water before looking at Chiara with a sincere expression. "Thank you," she said, her voice firmer now. "For everything. For saving us."

Chiara felt the weight of Ayu's gratitude, a wave of guilt, and the quiet resolve settling heavily in her chest. She had made mistakes—terrible ones—but she would fix them. She had to be strong. She had to… endure the consequences.

"Eat," Chiara said softly, her tone steady and calm. "We'll talk later."

Ayu nodded, turning her focus to the food, her movements slow but deliberate. Chiara stepped back, silently watching as Ayu began to regain her strength.

It wasn't about redemption anymore. It was about being better—for them, for the future. She would earn their trust, step by step.

And she wouldn't falter again. But for now… for now… Ayu deserved the truth. And she deserved her hate for it.

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