Chương 353: Interlude - Pablo’s Virtual Diary (I)

Entry Record - 56 After 42 days and 6 boss raids, we've made it. But honestly… it was easier than I expected. The Shadows—and especially Leonie—are simply too good. Teamwork, synergy, discipline, constant training that borders on religious, talent, leadership—they have it all. However… Leonie raised an important point today. She said that the path we've followed so far was one already paved by Gen-1. But once we climb those stairs, we'll be stepping into uncharted territory.

From that point on, things will only get harder. Gen-1 … that made me think of Alonso. Some in the Shadows believe they already failed, that they must've gone back to Earth by now. But others still hold hope—that they're out there somewhere above, still fighting. Leonie is one of those. And so am I. Entry Record - 57 This… I didn't see it coming. But maybe I should have. I spoke with Leonie today, in private. She said my mutation—my power—was needed.

That my status as a 'guest' was no longer sustainable with what's ahead. And so… without much of a choice, I've been officially drafted. I'm now an official member of The Shadows. No special treatment. No exceptions. I follow orders like everyone else. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about it. Maybe nervous. Maybe proud. Maybe both. But that wasn't the biggest surprise. Leonie shared something with me—a technique.

She said it was developed back on Earth, designed to sustainably increase physical and Pillar¹ efficiency. And it's… fascinating. Elegant, even. Was that one of the sources of their strength? No wonder they were unmatched. The mechanics aren't complicated. I think I understand the principles—modular reinforcement through rhythm-linked EM calibration. Let's see if I can make it work. Entry Record - 58 Fascinating.

Not only has my mental clarity improved, but I can also feel my summons becoming easier to control—and stronger. It's unclear what makes them stronger than before. Is it something inherent to the technique, or simply my increased EM output? In any case, this is no small boost. I feel I can contribute far more like this. Maybe I should try controlling a Stage 4… or even a Stage 5 Ignosaurus? The world is collapsing, but Leonie said we'll wait and train for as long as we're allowed before ascending.

I should make good use of this time. Entry Record - 63 We've been in the waiting rooms for six days now. Only one more before the new Stage begins. I can't help but wonder what awaits us. I've noticed the tension between Leonhard's group—who've recently merged with us—and the rest of the Shadows is finally easing. I expected nothing less from Leonie. Still, a thought keeps returning to me. Would I see Alonso here, in this Stage? Would he be the same… or something entirely different?

In any case, I need to stay focused. As much as I miss my friend, I have a purpose now. And as Leonie reminded us, based on the last message Earth received from The Tower, there might not be another Ascent—no Gen-3 after us—unless we complete the next tier, however many stages that is. We may be the last hope. The last hope of humanity… of Earth… of everyone. The weight of that thought is crushing. But I'll embrace it. My control over my mutation has improved greatly over the past week. Now…

it's time to put it to the test. Entry Record - 66 This Stage… it's clear it's nothing like before. Gravity has increased. The creatures are much more varied, with a proper ecosystem in place. It resembles the Jurassic era—or maybe Cretaceous—it's hard to say since there's no exact match. It's like The Tower took fragments of ancient Earth and reassembled them for its own design. I also noticed there's no longer such a thing as orb saturation—just diminishing benefits. That's been… inconvenient for my mutation.

I can't hold the orbs by hand, but after some practice, I've managed to control them mentally and store them inside a hide bag. It's stable now. I've regrouped with others—some from Leonhard's team, others from the Shadows. And of course… that annoying Madeline. Damn. Out of all the people I could've met… her. Really. Well, whatever. If it wasn't for her being the definition of a self-glazing bitch, she'd be almost likeable. Still, I can't deny her ability. Excellent EM control, high aptitude, sharp reaction time.

Her mutation allows her to interfere with an enemy's Pillar and reduce their EM output—extremely useful, though less effective against stronger targets. I'll admit it—she's impressive. Just impossible to talk to. And the sentiment's mutual. So… perfect balance, I guess. Entry Record - 71 I made a new friend today. Or at least… what roughly counts as one in a place like this. His name's Stephen. Like me, he also has a friend in Gen-1—a coworker of his named Chiara Lin.

Apparently, they worked together at the Johnson Space Center. That's serious stuff. NASA-level credentials. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. And here I am… still without a PhD. He's smart. Incredibly smart, actually. One of the seven from Leonhard's group who manifested a Pillar-linked mutation—and a strong one at that.

His EM waves interact naturally with magnetised metals—severalfold more efficiently than the rest of us—allowing him to manipulate metallic flow as if it were liquid. The man's basically a walking magnetic field. I saw him use it today. He pulled a cluster of iron shards and tore a T-rex-like creature into minced meat. Brutal—nothing like what you'd expect from someone who still says "pardon me" before sneezing. He was fascinated by my mutation too—not that this is anything new. Everyone seems curious about it.

We spent a long while discussing modulation patterns and resonance overlap. Since he used to work in signal processing, he gave me a few clever ways to optimise EM output. It actually helped stabilise my control further. I wanted to tell him about Leonie's technique… but I'm not authorised to share it. I even asked Madeline if she had clearance for it, but—fuck—she's just impossible to reason with. No patience, no tact, just that smug tone of hers that makes you want to walk straight into a lava pit. Anyway.

Stephen's a great addition to the team. Competent, calm, and easy to work with. I have high hopes for him. Still… he's a bit too fixated on finding this Chiara. Keeps bringing her up whenever there's downtime. It's starting to sound like obsession. Maybe he's in a deep crush with her or something. Well, whatever. Every person who's made it this far has at least a few loose screws. If that's what keeps him moving, then so be it.

Entry Record - 78 It's been a couple of days since we merged with this larger civilization that calls itself Azcoyatl. Stephen said they remind him of the Mayans—one of the pre-colonial civilizations from South America. The resemblance fits, both in structure and religion. Their entire society is built around the Pillar as a central foundation. It's extraordinary how they've integrated EM sensitivity into what they call Meca—mechanical constructs capable of direct neural and electromagnetic response.

Watching them operate feels like witnessing the next stage of engineering evolution. Still… it's not really my field. I've always been more aligned with biological systems. Mechanical design and electrical circuitry don't appeal to me the same way. My summons already keep my mind fully occupied, and I'd rather deepen that path than scatter my focus. That said, the Azcoyatl possess something I truly want: a method to enhance the Pillar itself.

Their techniques apparently allow it to expand beyond previous known limits—far surpassing even Leonie's method. But access to that knowledge requires contribution points within their system. I suppose it's time to get to work. Entry Record - 84 It's fantastic! My Pillar efficiency has increased by roughly 50%! The difference is unmistakable—summons are stronger, faster, and more reactive. The enhancement isn't uniform, though. The weaker ones gain around 50% more power, while the stronger ones see only about 15%.

Still, the results are significant. Creatures that once forced me to retreat no longer pose a threat. The dinosaurs that roam these fields can finally be dealt with confidently. But the Xok'al… they're on another level entirely. Their coordination, their power—it's something else. I can't help wondering if I could ever gain control of one of these humanoid bio-weapons. Even a two-tailed variant would be invaluable. Maybe it's time I joined one of the expeditions.

Stephen's already achieving remarkable progress with the Meca and is rising quickly through the Azcoyatl ranks. I should probably ask for his help. Entry Record - 89 It's still too much for me. I nearly passed out after only three seconds of maintaining the two-tail's summon. The mental strain is overwhelming. But I don't think it's solely due to its strength. There's something deeper—some kind of shared network that links them together.

The moment I connected, it felt as if thousands of overlapping signals flooded my mind, like a single consciousness speaking through countless voices. Are they all communicating simultaneously? Some kind of neural swarm? Either way, I need more Stage Progress before attempting this again. That was frustrating, but aside from that, it went great. The expedition yielded valuable information, contribution points, and a notable SP boost.

Despite the risks, with my summons, Stephen's Meca, and—begrudgingly—Madelaine's support, we can hold our own. Now we have to keep moving. I can't afford to fall behind. Even if it hurts, I'll push through. Perhaps I can refine my control to reduce the strain. I've recovered several Xok'al corpses. I'll dissect them and study their structure. Maybe then, I'll finally understand how to synchronise with them without breaking. Entry Record - 94 We nearly died today.

One of Leonhard's members that had been travelling with us was torn apart right before my eyes. Two of the Azcoyatl zealots fell as well. The priest barely managed to restrain it, but that three-tail… it's far beyond anything we've faced. Even Madeline was bleeding from her nose while trying to disrupt its EM field and support the priest. I had to sacrifice my strongest summon just to land a killing blow. What an unbelievably powerful creature. That fight made us understand how truly dangerous the Xok'al are.

These expeditions may reward us handsomely in contribution, but the cost keeps rising. I'm halfway to the contribution mark for the Second Pillar State manual now, and I can't stop. We've always known death could come at any time, but for those of us who've mutated… it means more than just dying here. It's about purpose, about what we've become. We have a duty, and no matter how tempting it is to rest or give in, we can't. We must not fail for the cost… is everything. So I'll keep moving forward.

I'll keep learning. And I'll live. Entry Record - 98 I finally managed to control a two-tail. The breakthrough came from isolating it—cutting its link to the neural swarm that overwhelms every thought. Once separated, the strain became bearable. Perhaps that connection to their network will prove useful later, but for now, it's a burden I can't withstand. With the two-tail Xok'al now fully under my command—and enhanced through my own mutation—I finally have the strength to stand beside Stephen as an equal.

If this pace continues, priest status may be within reach. Still… the Xok'al are becoming more active. Three more of Leonhard's members have fallen, and two of The Shadows. Of the 30 who first reached the Azcoyatl… only 21 remain. Entry Record - 101 I have finally attained priest status. I am the third to do so, after Stephen and Madeline. With it, I now have access to the Second Pillar State. It is far more demanding than I expected.

While the first state can be stabilised in less than a day, this one will require at least a week or two of continuous effort. The process is mentally taxing, but the potential rewards make it worth every moment. For now, I've decided to pause expeditions and focus entirely on this advancement. Stephen suggested joining him at a mid-sized temple station, and I think that's the right choice. It will give us the time and stability we need to study the transition properly.

My new status also granted access to broader knowledge about this world. There are four primary powers within it: the Azcoyatl, where we currently reside, who follow the Pillar Path and are ruled by an Emperor; the Ajnal to the west, ruled by an Empress, who embrace both Pillar and Body paths; the Beastmen Tribes, a coalition in the central lands under a single Warchief, devoted to the Body Path; and finally, the Xok'al—the enemy of all—who dominate the northern regions with vast networks of nests.

I also received information that Xok'al with more than three tails exist. The thought alone unsettles me. But even so, we must prevail. If I can achieve my Second State, my strength will grow substantially. Until then, I'll remain in the background—observing, studying, and preparing. Entry Record - 103 We finally received word from Leonie. She's in the west, among the Ajnal. Most of the Shadows are with her there.

It seems we were divided into three groups at the start, each aligned with one of the major powers—the Ajnal, the Beastmen, and the Azcoyatl—apparently based on our individual aptitudes. It makes sense in a way. The Tower both provides and challenges, following the same modus operandi it always has. As for Leonie, she's doing exceptionally well and has already earned the title Lord of Sparks, whatever that means. It sounds important—perhaps even higher than standard priesthood in our case.

She sent a message instructing us to remain where we are and keep advancing until we reach the Second State. Once we do, she'll contact us again with further directives. I was never truly worried about her, but it's still a relief to know she's alive and thriving. Leonie has always embodied strength and composure. She's more than powerful—she's what every leader should be. Knowing she's here with us gives me hope that we can overcome whatever the Tower throws our way.

Now it's up to us to grow strong enough to be of use to her—and to prove to ourselves that we belong on this stage. I now realize that I'm no longer just another piece on the board. I have power—power that can influence the outcome. And I intend to make full use of it.

[A/N: ¹Gen-2 Climbers don't actually call it Pillar. The term was coined by Houston and only used by Gen-1. However, for clarity's sake, I'm using it here to avoid complicating the reading with a new term.] [A/N: Entry records do not represent days. These are mental logs Pablo records directly in memory, which, while correlated with time progression, do not follow a strict daily sequence.]