We take about half an hour in the quiet antechamber. The room is only about six feet by six feet, just large enough that the three of us can spread about, not getting in one another’s personal spaces or having to deal with each other’s breath or body odor. Neither Chloe nor I mind this with respect to one another, but neither of us has the desire to be more than acquaintances, comrades in battle, and maybe friends of obligation with Alexey.

Not that either of us have any issue with Alexey as a person. He’s as honorable and forthright as I would expect any military soldier could be, and acts with dignity and professionalism at all times. But there’s only so much that two eighteen year-old girls born and raised in the middle of the States are going to have in common with a gruff Eastern European transplant in his mid-to-late-fifties, no matter how much combat camaraderie we might develop through this experience.

Once we’ve healed up and have had a chance to eat a few bites and recuperate some of our [Ether], I take the lead, deactivating the barrier that offered us a brief respite from the harrows of trying to elude a monster with over a hundred levels on each of us. And then, with resolve and fiery determination to survive this floor’s challenges, we step out into the main portion of the floor.

There are more hallways, although they are subtly different from those on the previous floor. The lighting is a lot brighter, and the color on the lights is a bluer white then the warm hues down on the previous floor. The hallways themselves are also a harsh metallic white, making the entire complex more reminiscent of a laboratory or a hospital than the more homey feel of the last.

As we step into the first room on the floor, those intuitions are confirmed. There are two strange mechanical devices in the center of the room, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. One wall is covered in writing, like some sort of holographic projection overlaid onto a futuristic whiteboard. And, assuming my knowledge of the glyph language is correct, it’s absolutely horrifying.

(Research Log 1): Unfortunately, it seems that even the worst-case projections for the growth of monster activity over the upcoming twenty years is likely to be a woeful underestimate. The [redacted] believes that there is still a possibility that (unintelligible) can be salvaged and taken back from the System-generated hordes, but I have my doubts. Even the optimists among the highest levels of the World Government are beginning to realize that the chances that human civilization remains intact by the middle of the century are slim to none. I pray that our research here proves fruitful, to ensure that humanity has a chance of a bright and continued future.

(Research Log 2): Preliminary experiments confirm the hypotheses first formed by Dr. (unintelligible) back in the early days of the System. Through a combination of genetic engineering and carefully-chosen epigenetic modifications, it is possible to create modified organisms that naturally create proteins shaped in the shape of recognized glyph structures. In doing so, they will naturally be able to harness power far greater than non-augmented beings. Although far-fetched, it is conceivable that we might even gain the ability one day to create our own glyphs, ones not present in nature, and from there, imbue novel powers into people. However, this is just pure speculation; our knowledge of glyph science, though vast, is still far from absolute.

Is that what 「The Anomaly」 truly is? Some sort of anomalous, artificially-created glyph? An attempt at imbuing me with power that doesn’t exist within the confines of the System? So, that makes me some sort of genetically-engineered cyborg reborn in this body of flesh and blood. But why do so in that way? Why not create something like the robot senties from the previous floor?

Wait, no, I know the answer to this. It’s because, as Madison told me, Ether is a manifestation of the will of sentient beings. I’m not sure if robots can ever reach true sentience, and perhaps for that reason, Dr. Chotono’s lab decided on a cyborg— me— to be the bearer of the new glyph they developed.

I start to shake a bit, taking Chloe’s proffered hand into mine, and continue reading.

(Research Log 3): We’ve had a major breakthrough! By combining the glyphs of [redacted] together in accordance with Dr. (unintelligible)’s procedures for Etheric DNA Manifestation, we were able to successfully complete the genome modification. We’ve chosen a type of Etheric beast called a [Large-Toothed Canidosaur] as the baseline creature to implant the creature into. It was deemed unethical to immediately begin human experimentation without greater knowledge of the potential risks and benefits, while using a mundane creature, like the [Common Lab Rat] of old, was judged unlikely to learn how to properly use the implanted power.

Some have raised concerns about genetic modifications upon any System-generated beast, reasoning that they should all be considered inherently hostile to humans. Frankly, I see their point, having nearly lost a limb to a [Golden Harpy] back in ‘97. But of all the creatures the higher-ups could have decided upon, this is one of the safer options. They are not normally particularly hostile, and while no such creature has ever been domesticated, they are not known for extreme levels of violence, either toward themselves or other species— including humans. Still, with the knowledge we do have, the decision has been made. Operation Bioweapon has been cleared for future phases.

(Research Log 4): A complete success! The modifications have been stable for two weeks now. We continue to monitor the subject for signs of rejection, but everything seems normal. The only two signs of biological changes are a slight increase in its food intake and its desire to sleep about ninety more minutes each day. The latter, in particular, may just be the result of being held in captivity. Circadian rhythms are known to be disrupted in artificial environments. Even mine has been affected, shifting slowly toward a 25 hour cycle instead of the normal 24.

(Research Log 5): Five weeks have passed and our subject seems healthy, full of vitality and vigor. Its appetite has grown even more since then. We attribute this to the extra energy needed to manifest its new capabilities, something which it has been practicing with gusto at every opportunity. I am hopeful that this could be the breakthrough we need to combat the monsters down on (unintelligible) below.

(Research Log 6): We’ve detected some disturbing traits with our specimen. It is gaining power far faster than our initial expectations. This poses far more questions. It’s not fighting anything, at least so far as any of the monitors have reported. But if not, then what is it doing that’s causing the System to dump Experience on it? Yes, most of us [Researchers] have non-combat opportunities for Experience gain— that was a big draw to participating on the ‘Ultimate Weapon’ project in the first place. But I’m not aware of that happening with monsters. To our current understanding, most of them are simply born at a certain level of power. They might gain slightly more strength through killing, and— though rare— sometimes evolve into stronger variants of the base form. ‘Giant’ or ‘Alpha’ or ‘Advanced’ variants. But never have I heard of a monster gaining levels like this. And never this quickly.

(Research Log 7): According to our measurements, the specimen is already nearing Level 100. That period of torpor a couple of weeks ago… It wasn’t some sort of odd hibernation. It was changing class. And now, the physical manifestations of its new form are taking shape. Bigger teeth, and more of them. Increased aggression. The barrier should prevent any aggressive actions from impacting the researchers or others onboard Station Epsilon-Mu, but…

(Research Log 8): The barrier isn’t going to hold much longer. Stars above, we made an absolutely terrible mistake! It’s already nearly Level 128… Considering its stats, we’re… Oh, by the cosmos itself. Please, whoever reads this, I beseech you. No matter how docile a monster might appear at first glance, it is still a monster. Given an influx of power, it will reveal its monstrous nature… I just…

The rest of the log is scrawled and unintelligible.

I shudder at the implications. Especially that last bit. Power reveals. That’s a saying I’ve heard more than a few times before, with regard to humans, and particularly in contrast to the more common saying that ‘power corrupts’. Power is, in a way, freedom from consequences. When no one can enforce good behavior upon you, your true nature is free to shine forth. For better or, as is often the case, for worse. Much, much worse. Something I think society will be seeing far, far more of in the coming months and years as people like us come into our own power.

More importantly, though, are the implications that I should be taking from reading this. First and foremost, despite scientific curiosity, genetic experimentation on monsters is a Very Bad Thing. Not that I was planning to do so, but confirmation is most welcome. More importantly, I’ve received hints confirming my earlier musing about genetic modification and glyph-based nanotech. Even if both are far beyond my current capabilities.

I finish transcribing the log into my sketchbook, up to and including the unintelligible squiggles, to the best of my ability to do so. They all seem to be names, although hastily written and lacking a clear translation or even transliteration into an English equivalent.

Just as I finish, I feel the thud of the Ultimate Weapon’s footsteps not far off. My breath hitches in my chest; it might not be sapient enough to understand doors and might be stymied by its reliance on heat-vision— likely a result of its saurian origins— but I’m sure its sense of smell is top notch. Every predator can intrinsically smell fear. That’s why it lingered so long in front of the closet on the previous floor. And who knows? Animals are capable of learning and adapting. I shouldn’t assume its weaknesses will remain as such indefinitely. Not when it is on the cusp of its fifth ascension.

It thuds around for… I don’t know how long. A minute. Maybe two. Maybe only seconds. I dare not take my phone out of my [Inventory] even for a moment, and my sense of time is getting increasingly screwy as I’ve continued to gain more levels and increased my [Speed] and [Mind] status. My heart races, sweat beads down the back of my neck. As before, my hand finds dim comfort in Chloe’s as my mind spirals with thoughts that this really could be the end.

More than anything, I feel angry. I feel powerless. I feel like I did before the System arrived. Lacking in agency, always at the mercy of others who dwelt so far above me that I could never hope to oppose them in any more than a token capacity. And even if I tried, there was always the law or the pigs— the cops; damn, it’s hard to not cuss them out, especially after they may have been involved in my getting kidnapped the other day. Those, or some other legal bullshit that would protect them and screw me in the ass.

Though, it is a sobering reminder. No matter how strong I get, there will always be someone stronger. Maybe not a person, but a monster, an antagonistic organization, and above all else, the System itself, my ultimate enemy. It’s tempting to give into despair, but I won’t. It’s just all the more reason to commit to being here, training, learning more about everything that’s out there and in here and making sure I’m as prepared as possible to face them.

For good or ill, regardless of whether some will consider me good or evil or somewhere in between, it feels good to have a little bit of control over the direction of my life.

As the footsteps and heated breaths of the Ultimate Weapon soften and then disappear, renewed resolve fills me. My [Indomitable Will] surges forth. We’ll overcome this. We’ll make it through. Together.