Dead End Road

**Dead End Road** is the twenty-ninth Substream in Counter:Side and a follow-up to Operation: Pathfiner. Centering around Delta Seven: Pathfinder, it features Joo Shiyoung and Karin Wong as the main characters. It introduces Minerva Karin Wong and Rebecca as playable units and different versions of known characters as NPCs.

Notably, aside from flashbacks to *Operation Crossroads*, the entire story takes place in worlds without the Administration.

## Synopsis

> *A Pathfinder who saved the world and became a hero after the Crossroads Operation. An encounter with the White Despair, and a white-haired stranger from another world.*
>
>

## Appearances

* Aporia
* Antonov
* Cyber Cat
* Defense Force Commander
* Dominic King Reginald
* Hilde
* Jacob Finley
* Jaina Kropel
* Jake Walker
* Joo Shiyoung
* Karin Wong
* Maria Antonov
* Rebecca Catherine
* Ronald Lee

## Plot

### Act 1

The story starts off with a flashback to Operation Crossroads. During Shiyoung's fight with Hilde and Shiyoon to buy time, Karin's perspective is shown, with her managing to activate the reactor and create a dimensional passage. Due to the passage's existence, she's able to reestablish contact with Cyber Cat (the Sylvia Lena Cooper of that world, notably a child using the eponymous skin, and a contractor working for Delta Seven like Shiyoung). Amongst the conversation, with Sylvia calling Karin 'Major Nag' and Karin being vague about the difficulties encountered in trying to reestablish communications, Karin inquires upon the status of Colonel Jake Walker who Cyber Cat informs is keeping the Nephil distracted till the passage is ready for it to be sent through. Sensing Karin's hesitation, she angrily switches the call to Jake so Karin can say whatever is on her mind.

Jake converses with Karin, acknowledging sighting of the portal, congratulating her and reaffirming his goal to send the Nephil through it, though Karin notices his injured state. She expresses worry at his state, which he brushes off, reminding her, 'We soldiers must remain coolheaded on our missions' to which she acknowledges, calming herself. Karin answers Jakes inquiries to what he assumes to be on the other end of the dimensional passage, the depths of Counterside, wondering what it's like and if it's 'a world of nothingness like we assumed'. Karin hesitantly feeds his beliefs, reaffirming that 'There's nothing over here', and to continue with the plan, with his trust in her.

Thankful for the reassurance, before he's about to send the Nephil through, he tries to give her one last order before a sudden disturbance and monstrous roar occurs on his side. Wounded and with not much time, Jake give Karin her last mission:

```
'As a proud member of Delta Seven...
Live...!
Until... the very last second... Don't give up and survive no matter what!
Survive... and protect-'

```

The transmission get abruptly disconnected, and Jake Walker is assumed killed. The Nephil was successfully transferred to the other world before getting killed by Hilde and Shiyoon, with assistance from the Pathfinders and Kyle Wong, rendering Operation Crossroads a success.

#### 3 months after the success of Operation Crossroads

Karin attends a memorial service taking place at the Provisional National Cemetery, owned by the United Humankind Defense Force, located in the 1st District HQ. This service is being held for those who fell in the process to make Operation Crossroads a success and buy this world 20 more years. After a trumpet plays and a three-volley salute takes place, the Defense Force Commander reads a list of those who died. Among the fallen are: Dominic King Reginald, Ed McCain, Brian Lee, Aliya Hornet, Adalyn Mason, Jake Walker and many more. Overseeing it, the Commander gives a speech about how all of them are grateful for the efforts of the fallen, for the time bought through blood, to not waste this hard-fought gain, to honor this sacrifice and that 'may they rest in peace'. As he calls the soldiers to attention, Karin looks up at the sky, asking if the Colonel is watching over them and that she's still alive, and will do her best to survive for as long as she can. She won't give up, just like he did, and asks him to keep watching over them all, those who've fallen and the ones still living in the world he saved.

#### 6 months later

Karin Wong is the last official member of Delta Seven remaining and is hailed alongside Joo Shiyoung(who is still only a contractor) as the 'heroes of Crossroads'. They work with Cyber Cat and the United Humankind Defense Force in an operation to take back the 7th Defense Line, lost prior to Operation Crossroads. While the troops initially seem to be semi-able to handle the horde of Category 1s and 2s, when a Category 3 shows up, the odds turn badly against them. While Karin and company manage to arrive on time and help eradicate the horde with the use of New Ohio, with Karin and Shiyoung personally dealing with the Category 3, the battle was not without casualties. Karin greets a badly wounded soldier called Allan Baker who looked up to and wished to fight alongside her, before he passes and she swears to not forget the fallen while Shiyoung glumly looks on.

Later while organizing supplies, Karin deals with a strange version of Shiyoung's usual antics, with her finally spelling out that while Karin does have a lot on her shoulders with being the last member of Delta Seven, hence being in charge of it, if she takes it all on herself, she'll eventually collapse. Shiyoung advises her to not always look at the future but at the present and the people around her who are willing to help her. Karin recognizes what she's getting at and thanks her for her constant support. While Shiyoung beams and cheerily goes of to rest, Karin says out of her hearing that regardless of Shiyoung's judgement of her viewpoint, she is willing to risk her life to protect this world, just like Jake did.

*(Note: In light of EP.7, she doesn't seem to share Shiyoon's good hearing.)*

#### 1 month later

Karin oversees the construction of the 7th Defense Line with Shiyoung accompanying her. After ending a call with her superior, informing them on the construction progress, the duo discuss about the bustling workers and their cheery attitude coming from this being the first base retaken since the Nephil incident. The two suddenly find themselves accosted by Dr. Ronald Lee(a male version of Lone Lee that inhabits this world and a leading scientist that works for the government), haggard from running all the way from the cocoon observatory to inform them of a potential disaster in the making, and urges them to follow him.

Reaching the Corrupted area near the cocoon observatory (named due to it's purpose of monitoring the Nephil cocoons) close to the 7th Defense Line, they find a giant beam of red light shining from the sky which the doctor explains as being a dimensional rift but no warning occurred despite its massive size. Under Ronald's request, the duo wade into the Corrupted area to check on the cocoon's status and if it was affected by the strange phenomena. Cutting through some swarms of C.O., they reach the cocoon and after verifying it's intact condition, Karin and Shiyoung reminisce on the prior state of this Corrupted area being a shopping street and the eerie contrast to its present state. Suddenly, the two are taken by surprise as a giant object exits from the dimensional rift and barely manage to get out of its approach as it crashes into the ground.

Picking themselves up after the dust settles, they find the giant object to be a massive dimensional ship, dwarfing multiple buildings near it and Karin even claiming it's bigger than the New Ohio. Considering this world's lack of resources or technological capability to hide, let alone create such a ship, alongside its strange appearance and method of arrival, Karin concludes that this is most likely a Lost Ship, ships randomly found in the Counterside and even in Corrupted areas, with none knowing anything about them or how they ended up where they did. She then decides to approach and investigate the ship, with Shiyoung following along.

Exploring the ship, the two make note of a vast arsenal of weaponry, that despite Karin's inability to access even with her analysis abilities due to some kind of protection, she identifies that the gear seems to be custom designed for specific Counters. Hearing a noise from the bridge, they cautiously head to investigate, talking amongst themselves about the lack of crew met encountered despite the ship's size, with Shiyoung pointing out the person piloting this otherworldly ship would likely share said otherworldliness and be considered an Exile to them, with the two discussing what purpose one would have to reach another world with this much firepower aboard, before putting it aside and warily reach the bridge.

At the bridge, they find an unconscious white-haired woman with a scar over her right eye who awakens at their arrival, though when pressed for information by the two, seems unable to recall a thing. Karin notices the girl's attire is that of a Delta Seven member, deducing she much belong to a Delta Seven of another world. Stating this, along with her belief that the woman has a mission she can't forget and with further probing via holding her at gunpoint, the woman manages to remember her name, revealing it to be Antonov, with Karin remarking on it being her first time hearing that name.

A mysterious figure is seen outside in the nearby Corrupted area, talking with heavy pauses and expressing violent intent to exterminate those it considers enemies, before erupting into similar bestial roaring to a C.O.

#### 2 weeks later

Karin and Shiyoung meet up at the base of the 7th Defense Line to discuss the findings since the Lost Ship's arrival. No one has managed a way to disable the lock on the weapons onboard and any that are removed, immediately disintegrate upon it exiting the ship. Antonov has still not regained her memories outside of her name, and Karin has decided to take charge of the 7th Defense Line and investigate Antonov herself. When questioned by Shiyoung on her not letting HQ take charge of the investigation, Karin brings up the possibility that her amnesia could be a ploy to lower their guard and brings up other irregularities about Antonov. Karin goes over the 'quantum phase difference', a sort of separator between worlds (including between Normalside and Counterside) that causes any material from one world that ends up in another, to eventually lose its molecular structure and disintegrate. Despite the existence of this, 2 weeks have passed and Antonov has remained. Shiyoung notes how that means Exiles can migrate to other worlds somehow, with Karin agreeing and adding that it's possible Antonov knows far more and she intends to find out by any means. Shiyoung questions if she'll be fine in this endeavour as Antonov does look like a member of another world's Delta Seven, but Karin dismisses such an idea, claiming "I'm not one to be swayed by emotions!" (A reference to Kyle Wong saying a similar line during the prequel substream, Operation: Pathfinder).

#### 1 year later

For over a year, Karin has been in charge of overseeing the 7th Defense Line's growth with Delta Seven (the contractors: Shiyoung and Sylvia), Dr. Ronald, and Antonov as an officer working under her. Among the many accomplishments, their most recent being the purification of the soil from Corruption, allowing for growth of produce beyond turnips. In that timespan, Antonov (now in the position of Officer) has ingrained herself with the locals, showing great selflessness to help out and despite being a weak Counter, rush and injure herself to protect a child from a C.O. She also has furthered her relationship among her fellow compatriots, with Sylvia deeming her a fellow 'nagger' like Karin for making her eat turnips for her own health, and unknowingly earn Ronald's affection from being able to efficiently deal with organizing five years worth of data and complimenting him on discovering a certain 'fruit' that grows in the Counterside, Solocao (a feat that causes him to temporarily lose himself in a daydream in which the two marry, have a child and send them to school). All the while, Karin has been observing her.

After giving a briefing on the day's events, including the subsequent C.O. attack that got her injured to Karin, she's questioned once more on her inability to recall her memories prior to waking up on the ship, to which she regretfully admits is still present. Karin reassures her about it before revealing her surveillance conducted on Antonov all this time, as well as the truth of her being non-native to this world, apologizing for hiding it. Confused by the revelation, Antonov questions the reasoning for the reveal, which Karin answer with the conclusion she's come to after a year of observation: Antonov is undeniably a member of Delta Seven, and Karin doesn't wish to deceive someone she calls a 'comrade'. Due to her inability to recall her past, Karin offers her a choice: to live as a civilian, or to fight alongside Delta Seven for the remaining time this world has, mentioning that around 2 years (1 year, 10 months and 2 weeks precisely) have passed already out of the 20 gained. An emergency alarm rings, calling for Karin's attention. She tells Antonov to inform her of her decision when she's ready, before leaving to address the cause of the alarm.

Ronald, the sender of the alarm, alerts Delta Seven to the cocoon observatory's inability to detect a Nephil cocoon's wavelengths at one of the coordinates it should be at, sending them to Delta Seven to investigate, with Karin agreeing to. Karin, Shiyoung and Cyber Cat space jump with the New Ohio to a spot nearby the given coordinates, immediately noticing the strange behavior of the C.O.s, moving away from the cocoon en masse with the ship in their way. Annihilating all of the C.O.s, Karin and Shiyoung go to a nearby point on the ground to observe the cocoon, supposedly located within a building. Karin uses a long-range infrared scope to assess the site but fails to locate the cocoon, but briefly notices something strange, scoping in again to sight a strange humanoid creature with similarities to a Nephil.

The duo rush on board, Karin repeatedly trying and failing to raise communications with Dr. Ronald. Remembering the strange movements of the C.O.s, Karin ponders the likelihood of it being a feint operation to ambush the base with no Counters present, hesitantly dismissing the idea due to C.O.s lacking the intelligence to pull of such a maneuver. Classifying the new creature as a Nephil subspecies, she puts the ship's crew on high alert and orders Sylvia to immediately return to base. Performing the space jump, and just prior to entering hyperspace, a sudden impact rocks the ship. Checking the exterior cameras, the crew find the subspecies hanging from the ship with it's hand jammed into the plating. Shiyoung points out the likelihood of it attacking them just before the jump, saying something's strange with this creature. Noticing that if they continue on this course, they'll just bring it with them back to base, Karin orders Sylvia to abort the jump. They manage to exit the jump but severely damage the engine. Karin and Shiyoung go to get the Nephil subspecies off the ship.

Karin's worst fears prove true in the meanwhile, as it indeed was a feint attack. Similar to the fight to retake the 7th Defense Line, the troops manage to hold on for a time till multiple Category 3s appear, decimating them and breaking the line. A soldier goes to help Antonov evacuate to the 6th Defense Line. As they're about to answer Antonov's inquiries about the residents, a C.O. attacks and brutally kills the soldier in front of her. This bloodshed causes Antonov to recall her past and and her mission, changing her kind personality to one far more colder as she resolves herself to completing her remembered mission 'even if that means sacrificing this world.'. With resolution, she cocks her gun and shoots the C.O. that killed the soldier, dead, before going off and managing to save Ronald, seeming to remember the Lone Lee of her world while doing so.

Karin and Shiyoung find themselves greatly outmatched by the creature, with Shiyoung injured and on the ground. Sylvia calls Karin, informing her the ship's about to crash and to get her and Shiyoung to an escape pod while she drives the ship as far as possible from the base to waylay the Nephil subspecies. Unwilling to let someone else sacrifice their life, she argues with Sylvia to be the one to drive the ship, the Nephil subspecies closing the distance in the meantime. As she addresses it, it suddenly speaks, shocking Karin, telling her bluntly, 'Disturb me, and I'll kill you'. Shiyoung takes this opportunity to attack the creature only to get gravely injured, with the ship concurrently crashing.

Karin wakes up in the wrecked New Ohio, finding the two unconscious, with Shiyoung heavily bleeding and Sylvia not breathing, as the ship shakes from the subspecies making it's way to her. Karin despairs, wondering it this is how it ends. She remembers Allan, wanting to fight alongside the heroes of Crossroads, and questions why they call her a hero when she's so weak. She then recollects Hilde, telling Karin to go back to her world and do her best to live as long she can, gloomfully ruminating on if they were as strong as Hilde and Shiyoon, could the outcome be changed. The creature finally breaks through and reaches her, silently staring her down. Karin desperately screams and unloads her rifle at it till its empty, to no avail. As it goes in for the kill, and she recalls Jake's last words, ordering her to live, till the last second, to not give up and survive regardless of the situation.

As she's about to respond, a voice plays from her communicator, telling her to move out of their way if she doesn't want to die, before a giant beam penetrates the wrecked ship's hull. The voice calls out again from the communicator to check if Karin's alive, with Karin recognizing it as belonging to Antonov.

### Act 2

The Nephil subspecies vanishes, and Karin arrives to what's left of the 7th Defense Line's base. About to breakdown and struggling to deal with the loss of life and work people put in for nothing, momentary relief crosses Karin's face when she hears movement, managing to find a survivor named Peter, only to be greeted with the fact he's impaled on a Corrupted Wedge and knowing that he'll turn into a C.O., he begs Karin to kill him before screaming in pain. Karin tries to calm Peter down, desperately attempting to think of a better solution, before suddenly Antonov shoots him dead, explaining to Karin that he'd turn into a C.O. even if they managed to remove him from the wedge due to acute Corruption Syndrome, he would then be in no control of himself, killing all those around him until the end of this world. Noticing her different attitude, Karin deduces she's recovered her memories, but still struggles to comprehend her cold rationale, unable to make a hard decision that requires the sacrifice of a life that isn't her own. Antonov talks about the reality of the situation, citing the need for an effective plan and asks Karin to follow her as she wishes to make an offer.

Antonov takes Karin to an 'old ship' where Dr. Ronald has managed to stabilize Shiyoung and Sylvia after moving and operating on them in such an 'unsanitary environment', with Antonov apologizing for the lack of cleanliness on the ship. Said ship being the Lost Ship found over a year ago, revealed to be called Aegis, which Antonov has somehow activated and directs it to take them all to the Defense Force HQ in the 1st District, through means that confound Karin with it auto-piloting without any operators. Antonov evades any attempts by Karin to probe at its workings, waving them away with a brief answer of the ship being directly connected to her in a way and that should she die, it's systems will go into lockdown with the entire arsenal vaporized. This merely adds to Karin's confusion, causing her to assail Antonov with more questions, which she dismayingly answers with a query of her own, inquiring if the Maria Antonov of this world has already passed.

Karin confusingly remarks that a person with that name, as far as she knows, does not exist. Antonov dryly laughs, lamenting the cruelty of fate, 'At the end of my long voyage, which cost the crew members' lives... I'm met with such a weak world with no Antagonist and no heroes'.

Her usage of strange terms annoys Karin, who demands an explanation she can understand. Antonov points her to read the numbers displayed on a certain terminal, '1.197315...', explaining that it's a measure by the terminal after conducting soil analysis on land with long-term exposure to Corruption rays as well as analyzing its wavelength, with the numbers shown being an approximate figure of the world's Corruption rate; continuing that with some degree of error, anything over '1' is detected in the soil of Counterside. The conclusion Antonov hints at dawns on Karin, that this world is already part of the Counterside.

*(Note: The ellipsis at the end of '1.197315...' is kept as such here, as its unsure if that was part of the dialogue to express Karin's confusion, or it could indicate that the terminal displays Corruption rate beyond the millionths decimal place. This uncertainty is why its included and represented as such.)*

Karin dismisses such an insane idea, but Antonov continues, stating that the only way a world like her's hasn't collapsed yet, is because it somehow avoided it, hinting towards the events of Operation Crossroads. Karin retorts that it should have bought them 20 years due to the process for the Nephil cocoons to hatch takes that long with Ronald backing up the claim sheepishly, as he was the one who found out it took that long. Antonov rebuts their ideas, declaring that 'Process means nothing in a world where the outcome is fixed', going on to say that should someone strong enough appear in this world that's able to and somehow manages to eliminate all the cocoons, something far more powerful will come to destroy this world that this person won't be able to stop. Such is the causality of the Counterside, the outcome dictated by the Corruption rate will happen, in some form or another.

Antonov elaborates, that because Karin managed to save her world in Operation Crossroads and escape the end that would be wrought by the prematurely hatched Nephil, this new creature (referred to as the 'white Shadow') has come to finish this world, and should she by some miracle defeat it, something even worse will arrive. Unable to comprehend that all the lives lost and sacrificed for Crossroads to succeed was in vain, Karin denounces her claims, only to be met with Antonov revealing that her own world fought against their end far more times. Using their advanced technology they altered their telomeres to slow their aging rate to allow them to fight in their prime, as well scouring the Counterside for Unique Gear to analyze and duplicate to mass produce Tactical Gear of similar capability. However their usage of gear beyond their own world's scope (as the Counterside is made up of dead worlds that are Corrupted) increased the Corruption rate of that world, with the more they saved it, the further they despaired, having to pay far more a steeper price in order to defeat the latest executioner of their world again and again, similar to Karin's world.

Considering the odds, they fled, with the aim to aid the world they arrive in with the technology they acquired. This was the task given to Antonov and her crew members. Pointing out that such aid would be unhelpful as the world she's arrived in is no longer recoverable with how far the Corruption rate has advanced, Karin responds with a demand to know if she wants them to just give up and die because she believes they're beyond saving. Antonov then reminds Karin of the choice she offered her, and wishes to extend a similar offer to Karin. She informs Karin of a world where the Corruption rate is managed by an institution called the Administration with her group's ultimate goal being to reach said world. Karin recognizes the name (as Shiyoon mentioned it to her during Operation: Pathfinder), with Antonov continuing to offer Karin the choice of going with her to the Administration-managed world.

#### 7 days after the fall of the 7th Defense Line

Karin is recalling old memories, of her getting assigned to Delta Seven to deal with the at-the-time unidentified cocoons due to having the highest marks in the Counter training project, her first meeting with Jake, her difficulties faced during her first mission because of low stamina and her nervousness impacting her shooting ability with Jake pointing out her flaws and telling her to train to be stronger instead of apologizing 'so you don't regret not being able to save someone when they really need you' and him handing her a canned coffee to recuperate.

She wakes up in the Temporary Lodging of the United Humankind Defense Force in the 1st District, seeming to have rejected Antonov's preposition, and still lost in her dream of clutching on to the warmth of the canned coffee, only to realize it's a hand belonging to Shiyoung whose sneaked into her bed for warmth as the infirmary was cold and Sylvia was in the ICU, before promptly getting kicked out by Karin for teasing her and not being in the infirmary where a patient should be. As they squabble (with Shiyoung revealing she broke at least four ribs), Ronald comes by to inform them about the Defense Force Commander wanting to see the two.

In the meantime, Antonov has travelled to the site for Secret Research Facility No. 3, located in the 6th Defense Line, finding a ruined school. Searching through, she finds a hidden lab where, while the official Counter training project backed by the Federal Government got terminated when the Corruption disaster hastened, an unofficial Counter training project continued here. Reading the lab notes to find the drafter to be Dominic King Reginald, she laughs at the coincidence and remarks about despite the difference in worlds, the 'essence of a person' may stay the same, with her wondering if a certain person has changed on this world, before destroying a pod containing the only remaining test subject who hasn't died while in emergency cryostasis: Test subject code, AL-0195K. Name: Rebecca Catherine(the Replacer Knight of this world, and likely Knight's original name).

*(Note: This unofficial project and the Replacer Syndicate show Dominic having a repeated tendency across worlds, to go behind everyone's back and use underhanded means for what he believes is the greater good, despite lacking any scope of the true threat he faces. Antonov's remarks allude to him having performed similarly in her own world as well.)*

Rebecca expresses confusion upon awakening, asking about 'the promised land' and 'paradise' (terms Replacer Knight also uses in her dialogues), and after expressing intent to live, Antonov reveals her own status as a fugitive and offers Rebecca the chance to go to a new world. Rebecca agrees to the offer, accepting a baseball bat she offers that the Rebecca of Antonov's world wielded, acting as the vanguard of that Dominic's unit.

In a conference room in the 1st District, Karin and Shiyoung meet with the Defense Force Commander, to discuss the current situation. When questioned by the Commander about her being distressed due to what happened, Karin allays such worries, replying that she learned from her superior that 'we soldiers must remain cool-headed on our missions', adding she can't face the fallen should she give up now. Impressed by her answer, the Commander informs Karin on the situation.

The Nephil subspecies has been reclassified as Aporia, and despite great efforts from the troops to stop it, they've only managed to buy time, with it currently assaulting the 6th Defense Line. Ronald points out the difference between the Nephil and Aporia, how while one had no meaning to it's destruction, Aporia is causing havoc across the world, as if searching for something. Karin remembers and informs the others about what it said to her, 'Disturb me, and I'll kill you'. Based on the usage of 'disturb', it must likely have an objective in mind that figuring out could be the first step in defeating it. Shiyoung points out the danger of the situation and that going up against something like that could actually be the death of them. Karin recalls Antonov's words and denies any such claim of it being their end, and should it be so, she won't be a coward and run, before asking Shiyoung to fight alongside her. She sighs before agreeing to go along, with her beaming about wanting to be paid handsomely for it.

*(Note: Aporia is Ancient Greek for a state of puzzlement or inability to understand or make sense of, with Karin making a reference to this meaning, saying 'it literally is a conundrum')*

Karin, Ronald and Shiyoung arrive at the 5th Defense Line, as the Officer in charge seems to have a clue that can aid them. The Officer is revealed to be Jacob (looking and behaving similar to his counterpart in the Administration-run world), former boss of Ronald who burned down his own company yet claims it was all the Nephil's fault. Shiyoung manages to get them to work together to defeat Aporia, with Jacob grumblingly yielding and leading the group to view a bodycam recording of a skirmish between some Defense Force Soldiers on the 6th Defense Line and Aporia. While the soldiers die, the bodycam goes on to display Aporia approaching the nearby Nephil cocoon, before its destroys the cocoon, rips the Nephil larva out and starts absorbing it's core. Ronald immediately figures out the Nephil's objective is to cannibalize the Nephil larva to become a high-category C.O. with Karin deducing that's why the couldn't find the cocoon at Aporia's first sighting, as it has already absorbed it.

#### 72 hours after the fall of the 6th Defense Line

Using the new knowledge gained, Operation Aporia commences at the 5th Defense Line. Karin, Shiyoung, multiple soldiers and Jacob (unwillingly drafted to fight due to the state of emergency and his status as a Counter), station themselves near a Nephil cocoon in the area with Ronald providing support remotely. Having noticed in the footage Aporia's exposure of it own core when consuming the larva's, they've resolved to strike it then at its weakest. Ronald answers Shiyoung's doubts about if Aporia will come here, pointing out how the observatory near this cocoon was attacked by a C.O. hoard, similar to the 7th Defense Line and likely by Aporia's command so as to not be disturbed during its feeding on the cocoon, highly increasing the likelihood of this being the target. When she raises doubts about the effectiveness of their weaponry, Karin concedes and reveals their usage of 32 shots of Eternium-reactive warhead missiles this time, made using modified engines from test ships that were originally built for research purposes. She summarizes that their only weapons are those missiles, made from sacrificing the future and this is their one and only chance.

As Aporia approaches them, a hoard of C.O. follow along, which the group take aim and fire at, making sure to avoid hitting Aporia. Someway through, Jacob deserts in the middle of battle. When Aporia reaches the cocoon, Karin orders everyone to fall back before ordering Ronald to launch all the warheads at Aporia and the swarm of C.O.s around it. The missiles fly by and make impact with the enemies ahead of the group. When asked by Ronald to confirm Aporia's status, Karin is shocked to find it still alive and experience momentary time dilation and near total sensory deprivation as it launches an attack at her, recounting:

```
'As if time stood still and the tremor of the air stopped
I can't hear the screams of other troops. Nor the smell of gunpowder.
Nevertheless, this feeling of murderous intent that makes my skin boil.
I'm certain those red, glowing eyes of white despair are staring at me.'

```

Lost in the intense moment, Shiyoung barely manages to save Karin's life, getting injured again, though she makes the distinction that this time she didn't faint from the attack, and will protect Karin this time.

A voice calls out from above, calling Shiyoung's unable to protect anything in her state but liking her words before crashing to the ground, revealed to be Rebecca, excited to meet Delta Seven before going to help them take on Aporia.

In reference to the analysis of a 'Master', Rebecca makes note of the difficulty in facing a Category 4 C.O. (Aporia). Her 'Master' arrives, revealed to be Antonov, arriving with Aegis, telling all the troops to leave the battlefield while she secures them an escape route. She ejects the Palladium bulwark and tells Rebecca to calibrate the position of the drop using her magnetic force abilities. Using her powers, she manages to change the trajectory of the Palladium bulwark to not hit them and to get it in the way of Aporia temporarily. As they make their escape, Karin calls the operation a failure and orders all troops to retreat to base, Antonov orders Aegis to fire the Particle Gun of the ship at the bulwark's location.

*(Note: Rebecca makes several uses of the term 'rats', similar to her counterpart, though she contrasts this by using it to refer to herself alongside others in a positive sense, talking about how rats act like they have nothing to lose when they're cornered and such. Her usage of the title 'Master' and relationship with Antonov brings up a parallel they both share with Hilde and young Lee Soeyeon, though very surface level)*

Jacob in the meantime has managed to find his own escape route, or so he believes till he runs into Aporia. Maimed by the shadow taking his arm off, he activates 'cocoon protocol', something he prepared in advance. He reveals he injected all the Nephil cocoons close to the observatory with Eternium purifying liquid with high purity. Sudden rumblings occur as multiple Nephil awaken, and Jacob wildly screams about the Aporia and Nephil who ruined him will kill each other, before dying from the Aporia.

Ronald alerts the others to this new development, stating that 3 Nephil cocoons hatched simultaneously and deduces it's Jacob's doing. As the group are in awe and despair at how things are going, Ronald informs them that the 3 Nephil and Aporia are busy in a skirmish, and that they may have time, as Aporia's goal is absorbing Nephil cores so it'll fight them, but they'll fight back too. He cut's himself off from mentioning something to do with Jacob, refocusing the group on the brawl the multiple end-of-the-world level threats are having, with the fact that one of the sides will die, and regardless of which side comes out the winner, this world is doomed.

#### 52 hours after the fall of the 5th Defense Line

At the 4th Defense Line's base, Karin and Rebecca converse about her origin and the Counter training project's unofficial continuance by Dominic, with Antonov commenting on understanding his reasoning for what he did across both worlds after all she's gone through. As Rebecca and Antonov get into an argument about Dominic's ethics, Karin approaches Antonov to verify her mission is to save another world with the technology brought aboard Aegis, alongside asking if with said gear, the capability to take down the Category 4 C.O., Aporia; to which she affirms all of queries. Karin then gets on her knees and begs Antonov to help her save this world as there is no more capability to defeat Aporia anymore, and should it become a Category 5, it will be unstoppable, with her willing to pay any price including giving what information she knows on the Administration. Antonov bluntly refuses, and before Karin can go on, reveals that it took 18,342 days for her to arrive to this world. Recounting how the further one delves into the hyperdepths, the more twisted the flow of time and how she had to manually count every day, summing up that she was travelling for around 50 years.

Ronald expresses confusion at the fact, to which Antonov elaborates on the altering of the telomeres to slow ageing to an extreme degree. She speaks of how 'quantum decomposition' works, a process applied to those venturing into worlds' whose quantum phase is different from their native one. Using Schrödinger's Cat as an example, she states how the fate of one being quantum decomposed is unsure till it actually happens. The individual affected in the best case, is merely returned to their own world, with the worse case being they dematerialize into nothing. The slowing of the telomeres, or rather, their body's process of aging, allows them to counteract the quantum decomposition, comparing it to a diver slowly descending into the ocean depths. This slowing of the process allows the body to gradually adjust to the quantum phase difference, using this as her explanation of how she was able to wander dimensions for 50 years.

Despite the slowing down of aging, she still had to experience each day of those 50 years, and all for a 'failed voyage', with her stating how the ship's capabilities and even her own, are at their limits with her next voyage likely being her last. When questioned by Karin about why she wishes to keep voyaging, Antonov flips the question back onto her, asking why she still keeps fighting for this world. Karin gives an answer about the fallen who gave their lives to protect their 'precious home' and wishing to honor that, before Rebecca interrupts her, calling her answer 'stupid' and this world is only a 'precious home' to people like her, with Rebecca having had to fight to survive, with this world being cruel from her perspective. Antonov admonishes her interruption, to which she leaves. Antonov tries to smooth things over, before remarking on Karin's prior experience in the Administration-led world would aid them, should she become their 'Pathfinder', but if not, Antonov will find a solution even if it means going against them. She then makes her proposition to join her one last time.

#### 72 hours after the fall of the 5th Defense Line

Rejecting Antonov's offer yet again, Karin and Shiyoung find themselves at the outskirts of the 4th Defense Line, watching the swarms of refugees try to get in, with Karin remarking on despite the world ending, people are still trying to live, with her being unable to turn a blind eye to the situation. The two get noticed by the crowd, cheering for the heroes of Counterside to keep fighting and eventually save them. With Karin sullen by the circumstances, Shiyoung smiles and wave at the crowd, nudging her to join her, as that's what 'the situation' requires, with Karin brightening up with the refocusing of priorities, joining her and reinvigorating the crowd's moral as they cheer for their heroes. Shiyoung makes notes of the low amount of casualties in comparison to the 7th Defense Line's attack because of their quick response due to understanding Aporia's objective.

Karin reminds her that the situation is still dire like during the Nephil incident, and they have to respond before it's too late, with her having an idea. Pointing out that not far off is District 4, where Shiyoung and Karin first met, alongside where Jake fell and the Nephil followed soon after. She brings up the idea to open a dimensional passage near the Nephil cocoons and send Aporia through that, similar to what they did during Operation Crossroads. Shiyoung glumly points out that last time they did it, Sylvia and Jake were there to help them and not now, with Karin acknowledging the point but admitting her inability to come up with another idea without Antonov's help, reminding her they'll be incapable of dealing with it should it become a Category 5. Suddenly a voice calls out, questioning the madness of her idea, before stating they like it, revealed to be the Jaina Kropel of this world.

Jaina gives Karin a 'high-powered beam weapon', found while searching across the world for useful Artifacts, continuing about how if they connect it to the 4th Defense Line's generator, it should be capable of an output more stronger than even a ship's cannon. Karin questions where she was all this time as she was heard to be MIA while looking for Artifacts to kill the Nephil. Jaina comments on how her unit was sucked up in a dimensional storm, and by the time they returned, their commander, Dominic, had already died. Commenting on how Karin got to avenge her superior(Jake)'s death, Jaina while unable to avenge her superior, wishes to pay respects to him and requests to be part of the mission too.

#### 175 hours after the fall of the 5th Defense Line

At the 4th Defense Line, Operation Aporia's 2nd attempt begins. Karin gives a short briefing to all, the objective being to send Aporia through a dimensional passage to the hyperdepths of Counterside. Noting the inability to lure Aporia into the passage, they will resort to utilizing the high-powered beam weapon, using all of the electricity from the 4th Defense Line, to strike Aporia when it exposes its core, to send both it and the cocoons through the passage. Ronald will stay at the base to coordinate and communicate with each site, with Shiyoung aiding the soldiers in clearing the other C.O.s Aporia will bring with it while Karin mans the high-powered beam weapon. Karin alerts those who will arrive in the hyperdepths to prepare the other end of the passage must go in advance, cautioning Jaina about the instability of their dimensional passage technology and asks if she's sure about this, to which she confirms, telling Karin 'Then, when I make the miracle happen, make sure not to miss the shot. We only have one shot for this', which she acknowledges. Karin concludes the briefing with stating the operation will begin in 5 hours and to maintain their best condition.

The mission starts and Karin radios to all that she's connected the weapon to the generator and is observing the operation point, serving as a sniper. Jaina radios that she'll start diving to the site where the passage will be set up. Ronald states that the passage should be open in 10 minutes with comms with Jaina reestablishing should everything be on schedule. Shiyoung calls in, estimating C.O.s will arrive at the cocoon in around 5 minutes before surprisingly informing she saw Aegis fly by, towards Karin's location. Karin confirms sighting of Aegis before Rebecca establishes comms with her, informing her that the Artifact Karin's using isn't meant to be used as a weapon and it's necessary for their mission, requesting Karin hand it over. Karin refuses, stating she's interrupting their mission before Rebecca resorts to force and uses her magnetic abilities to try and remove the artifact from the generator, with Karin then opening fire on her. Shiyoung is informed by Karin on the current state of things and calls her to head back from the frontlines and help her. At the same time, Dr. Ronald calls Karin to inform her that Jaina has succeeded and the dimensional passage is about to open with Aportia approaching the site. As Karin races against the clock, Jaina struggles to keep the portal open, unable to communicate with anyone and nearing her limit.

Amidst the scuffle, Shiyoung takes on Rebecca, telling Karin to go ahead while she keeps her busy. Re-securing her position, Karin calls to Ronald, checking on the state of the passage, only for him to dourly state that its too late, the passage collapsed and the operation, a failure. Karin struggles to believe it, blaming herself for not being on time, while Ronald tries to alleviate her, commenting on the passage instability being so high, it lasted less than a minute, so if Karin fired the weapon, the timing likely wouldn't have worked. She questions Ronald on the status of Jaina, with him bluntly stating that she's most likely dead.

Recalling her words to 'make sure not to miss your shot', Karin steels herself as she aims the weapon at the now on-site Aporia, her actions greatly alarming Ronald who asks what she doing, to which Karin replies with a new plan to fire the weapon at Aporia's core when it's exposed as there's nothing else they can possibly try, even in vain. Antonov calls Karin, trying to dissuade her from firing, revealing the Artifact that's supposedly a 'high-powered beam weapon' to actually be a high-powered coordinate signaler aka a Lighthouse. The moment she activates it, all the Corrupted Objects within the area will rush towards the Defense Line. Karin lashes back, Antonov's ambush, interruption and sabotage of the mission not to mention causing the indirect loss of a comrade, has drove Karin beyond the point of listening to her. Antonov's wording choice on her unable to allow Karin 'to use it meaninglessly', causes Karin to be even more rash, denouncing Antonov as just an Exile who sees other worlds as stepping stones, and to stay out of this world's affairs. Seeing this is going nowhere, Antonov proceeds to cause a blast to occur just as Karin activates the Artifact.

Nothing happens, with Karin glumly summarizing the blast cut off the Artifact from the generator. Antonov makes an announcement to all the people in the 4th Defense Line, introducing herself as the only one with a dimensional ship left in this world and an Exile. Informing them that their world is facing an unavoidable end, with her having the capabilities to leave this world to another. She calls for those who can be useful to meet her at the 3rd Defense Line, with those she deems worthy to join her exodus. Karin bitterly looks on at Antonov's actions.

At the base of the 3rd Defense Line, Karin, Ronald, Shiyoung and a squad of soldiers meet with Antonov. She warmly greets them, offering them all places onboard if they hand over the artifact. Shiyoung questions about if she'll let her parents on too, which she seems incapable of allowing, with Robert questioning Antonov's motives. Karin shuts the conversation down, claiming to be here to arrest a 'lunatic' claiming to be an Exile. Karin goes on, to state how Antonov's disrupting morale as soldiers have left to join her while during a state of emergency, saying she's recruiting them during such a period for her own ends, constituting as treason against the United Humankind Government and in such a case, the three have come to seize her ship and all gear on it for the Government. Humoured by her play, Antonov points out that she doesn't know how to use any of the technology on Aegis, with Karin admitting so, but she'll interrogate Antonov to find out every detail (revealing herself to have originally been part of the Internal Investigation Department).

Karin then points out one detail she's already figured out: Antonov's presence in this world, is what's driving it towards ruin. Antonov's bewilderment at such a claim, causes Karin to go on, referring to a line she heard from a white-haired girl, who told her 'If more Exiles come, it's going to be quite the bother'. Unaware then, but now understanding after hearing Antonov's story of her world, about using technology not meant for her world, led to its ruin. An Exile who brought said technology to Karin's world, would make her world Corruption rate go up. Raising the idea to her, Antonov remains silent. She then continues, concluding that line of thinking explains Aporia's appearance, only being born once Antonov and Aegis crashed into this world. With this theory even fitting Antonov's explanation of the Counterside's causality, Karin asks how she pleads.

Antonov laughs, impressed by Karin's handling of the situation, before pointing out she knows a lot about Karin, her reasoning for saving this world, as well as the one she tries to follow in the footsteps of, claiming she's 'bound to hit a dead end by merely chasing after a shadow with respect', stating she's knows that better than anyone. Confused and having enough of her nonsense, Karin surrounds her with soldiers, telling her to not resist, with Antonov in turn, calling for Rebecca and the soldiers who've joined her cause to come out. Ordering those in her charge to load the supplies secured at this Defense Line aboard Aegis before heading to the next, with eventually the Defense Force having to agree to her plan, then there will be no fights between them and they can gather all the resources needed for their voyage, before running off further into the base as Karin and company chase after her amidst resistance from Rebecca and those who've joined her cause.

Rebecca and Antonov's supporters manage to get away from Karin as the sudden ringing of the base's emergency alarm catches their attention, with Karin's soldiers confirming Aporia and it's horde of C.O.s attacking the base. Robert is alarmed at Aporia not prioritizing attacking a cocoon, which Shiyoung dismisses to think about later as they're all prepared for anti-personnel warfare, lacking anti-Corruption capabilities. Recognizing so, Karin orders them to retreat, with survival now being their main priority.

### Act 3

The soldiers who sided with Antonov and Rebecca, try to make it aboard Aegis as Corrupted Wedges spring up across the base, killing many of them. Rebecca manages to get to the ship's bridge and question Antonov on the strange C.O. attack, with Antonov rationalizing that it's likely because the C.O.s are being led around by the white Shadow, as high-category Shadows like Aporia have the capability to give orders to lower ones due to the unique Corruption ray they emit. She further reasons that it's attacking this base where all of them are located because it's priority has shifted from cocoons to something else but the reasoning eludes her. A soldier comes to inform her that all the survivors of her cause are on board, with her giving the go ahead to move to the next Defense Line before a loud impact noise catches her attention.

Elsewhere, Karin and her group battle through C.O.s to the base's emergency passage to leave, only to be greeted by Aporia. They note how compared to their first up close meeting, it's Corruption ray is far stronger, likely due to the absorption of Nephil cores, with it even possibly being a Category 5. Shiyoung asks Karin about what should they do, with her recalling Jake's words to live on till the last second, and decides to fight until her last breath. Aporia recognizes this affirmation, with it vocalizing its notice of their constant efforts to get in its way, annoying it and how it'll eradicate them all, as they clash.

Aporia slaughters all the soldiers with ease, and as Shiyoung manages to create an opening which Karin capitalizes on to fire off her gun at Aporia, being for naught as it knocks her back, with Aporia reaffirming its belief that should it leave the two alive, they will keep getting in its way. Shiyoung having had enough of it's talk, swings her sword at it to shut it up, and at the same time, Aporia attacks her too. Karin gives an internal monologue about trying her best all this time to be like the Colonel and at the end of her life, to die heroically like he did before the game cuts to a grievous wound splash effect.

Karin momentarily blacks out, only to be woken up by Shiyoung calling out to her, questioning why she got in the way of Aporia's attack. Karin struggles to speak, stating that she knows Shiyoung is the strongest out of all of them with a chance to win, and that should she fall, they all would've died. Karin directs her to attack with her sword while she supports from the back but she struggles due to having her eye wounded. As Aporia speaks, fascinated by the chain of actions, the duo's attention is drawn to a horrifying sight.

Shiyoung managed through sheer luck (and some subconscious capability she might share with her counterpart to a degree), to make her last attack cut through space and damage Aporia's armor, revealing the face of this monster to be of Jake Walker, thought to be KIA during Crossroads. Karin has a breakdown, struggling to comprehend this turn of events, with Aporia's prior actions and going to such lengths to hunt down the Nephil making sense now, with it declaring its intention to destroy this world and all on it. As Shiyoung tries to calm her and get her up on her feet as Aporia rapidly approaches them, Karin resigns herself, unable to keep going with this being the fate of the one she tried so hard to emulate. Before she can fold any further, Antonov fires at Aporia, demeaning Karin for falling on her beliefs to never give up and to let Jake, a hero who gave his life for this world, go down as a villain, regardless of his will. Saying that she'll do it if she's not willing to while lambasting her further, Antonov orders Rebecca to take Shiyoung and Karin to Aegis as its primed to dive into Counterside to flee from Aporia in 5 minutes, while Antonov deals with Aporia, unable to tolerate a world where Jake Walker isn't a hero.

Antonov goes to fight Aporia, giving an internal monologue about how she should have kept going with the mission but wasn't able to resist when she saw Jake again and what he'd become, barely able to recall his face and voice after all this time. Unsure on her ability to stop a Category 5 without Aegis, she resigns herself to this fate of stopping this Shadow that was at one time, Jake Walker, as she opens her scarred right eye she kept closed all this time, revealing it to be a strange purple with a white iris.

Karin reawakens in Aegis' medbay, Ronald having tended to her, infoming her that Antonov saved them but they're currently lost in the Counterside. As she gets up to move, she experiences pain, with him advising her against such an action, pointing out her heavily bruised body, having lost a lot of blood and her right eye with it getting stabbed through by Aporia in the attack she saved Shiyoung from, now wrapped in a black bandage. As she states of how she doesn't want to fight anymore and to accept the end, her defeatist attitude riles up Rebecca who storms in, telling her that its not over as since Aegis is still here, Antonov's still alive fighting. Ignoring her attempts to argue, Karin asks to be left alone. Shiyoung arrives and admonishes Karin's different attitude, confronting her on her actions in the last battle, that she took that attack because she wanted to die, questioning her on why she would think Shiyoung would be grateful about her sacrifice, and why she keeps comparing herself to a dead person.

Recalling Antonov's dialogue about her 'chasing the shadow of the one you admire' and the reality of that shadow now, Karin asks what she must do, with Shiyoung shrugging and stating getting lost in Kleshas is the whole point of life. That because they have never given up in the face of all their problems, they survived, and if that Karin wasn't there to guide them, they would all not be present right now, stating Karin should be more proud of herself. As C.O.s converge on the ship, Rebecca and Shiyoung go to clear them off with Shiyoung telling Karin to have a rest.

*(Note: While this is very much a reference to Kleshas, Shiyoung is most definitely not talking about the Dragon Blood and its connection to Kleshas, merely the original concept in Buddhism. This carefree acceptance of Kleshas though, suggests that should she have carried Dragon's Blood, she'd have followed Shiyoon's path to Arhat in some way.)*

Taking out the endless C.O., Rebecca notices Aegis' movement and alerts Shiyoung so they get back on before it leaves. Aegis emerges back in Normalside, at the outskirts of the 3rd Defense Line, some ways away from the base. They stumble on Antonov nearby, grievously wounded. As Ronald tries to get her medical aid, she denies it, wishing instead to speak with Karin, with Rebecca going off to get her.

Karin greets Antonov, lying battered and bruised on the ground. Antonov remarks on Karin's eye loss, claiming 'fate can be so cruel', before asking if she's noticed by now, the truth she never told her. Karin hesitantly answers that Antonov is actually Karin, but from another world. Antonov confirms it, revealing her full name to be Karin Antonov. She is the last member of her own world's Delta Seven and to fulfil their mission, she inherited Commander Maria Antonov's name and ship. Karin then understands the connection Antonov had to that name and why she inquired on the state of such a person on this world, with Antonov going on about Maria sharing a similar role to her, that Karin likely has with someone else (Jake). Explaining how she spent so long trying to fulfil her duty, realizing now that she was unintentionally destroying Karin's in the process. Karin coldly dismisses her excuses for what she did, restating that she is still harmful to her world, which she acknowledges but puts focus on Aporia and it's truth.

Karin recalls Antonov's explanation on executing Peter because he was impaled by the Corrupted Wedge, that he would turn into a C.O. and have no control as he destroys everything around him, and how that is the current fate of the Jake Walker of this world. Admitting to not knowing him personally, but sure that he was a devout soldier who gave everything for mankind, Antonov speaks on how the two Karins must be the ones to stop him.

When questioned on how so, Antonov elaborates that when she dies, Aegis and it's arsenal will go with her. Before that, she will give the 'master code' to Karin, under one condition: she promises to fulfil Antonov's mission. That she'll defeat the Shadow that the Colonel has become and prove to herself that this world is still worth protecting.

Antonov recollects a distant past to her, of some of the last moments she had with Dominic, Jake and Maria. Of the hope and burden placed on her. When she reaffirms her willingness to complete the mission to the fullest, Maria reassures her to, 'Just do what you're capable of. And leave the rest...'. Now, looking back, Antonov realizes what Maria meant, and why things became the way did, remarking how cruel fate can be as she laughs at the irony, before accepting the end that's to come her, repeating Maria's last line, 'And leave the rest...'.

*(Note: Considering the phrasing alongside the capitalization of 'fate' as 'Fate' in one of her lines here, it can be assumed the full line could be: 'And leave the rest to Fate'.)*

At the 1st District HQ for the United Humankind Defense Force, a soldier informs the Commander that Aporia has reached Category 5 and is currently breaching the 2nd Defense Line, alongside the information that their simulations have predicted it reaching the 1st Defense Line within 48 hours. Acknowledging this information, the Commander looks over the dire state of affairs, with no more firepower, and exhausted of tactics to use. Many Generals advocate that they should join Antonov's emigration plan, only for Karin to arrive and announce her passing. Noting that they have no other option but to fight, she requests the Commander put her in charge of the 1st Defense Line, announcing that regardless of the outcome, she will kill Aporia and save her world.

Karin then meets Shiyoung at the Provisional Defense Cemetery, as Karin wished to return Jake's sunglasses that she'd kept since they couldn't find his body, placing it at his memorial. Recalling out loud what Shiyoung said to her, she resolves to be herself, not following a shadow any longer, and go on with the help of everyone, not carrying the weight all on her own. She then asks Shiyoung to aid her in this new path, to which she accepts.

#### Operation Aporia, 3rd attempt

Antonov revealed to Karin, that the 'master code' to Aegis to be her artificial right eye, a Unique Gear called Glaukopis. Capable of extremely increasing the calculation output of analytical abilities like theirs, alongside the fact that Aegis' systems are designed to only respond to the CRF of the Glaukopis user. Summing that once Karin takes on the Gear, her life will be connected to Aegis and should she die, Antonov's world's legacy will be lost. Reaffirming her willingness to take on the responsibility, Antonov hands the eye over, with Ronald performing the transfer and implanting operation.

Karin greets a recovered Sylvia who isn't clear about all the details, giving her and Shiyoung their own Unique Gear, before briefing everyone on the operation. While everyone else defends the 1st Defense Line against Aporia's army of C.O.s, Shiyoung and Karin will slip to the backline so that Karin can face Aporia. When everyone has dealt with the C.O. horde, they'll rally on her to wage an all-out attack on Aporia. Karin counters points raised by Sylvia about the massive amounts of Category 3s detected that the main force will face, with her stating that Aegis will stay behind to aid them; and when she brings up how the two will get to the backline without space jumping with Aegis, Karin elaborates on the gear Shiyoung is wearing, a spatial breakthrough suit, that they will use to make multiple short-distance space jumps to reach the backline and Aporia.

When asked about if they can defeat Aporia, Karin reveals to all the troops attending the briefing that Aporia is Jake Walker, Corrupted into a Shadow that wishes to destroy the world he worked so hard to save, and that she will not allow his legacy to go down as such. Rebecca is undecided about Karin but follows along as Antonov's last wish, with Sylvia and Robert agreeing too. She rallies the troops to 'successfully complete the operation and greet tomorrow's sun together', invigorating them all.

The operation starts, with the 1st Defense Line being battered by C.O.s. As Rebecca, Sylvia, Ronald and the troops hold the line with Aegis' aid, Karin and Shiyoung slip through the chaos using multiple space jumps Shiyoung is now capable of thanks to the new suit. Amidst the jumps, Shiyoung notices Karin bleeding from her nose due to the strain of her Gear, but still choose to keep fighting, resolving Shiyoung to keep on fighting to aid her friend whose working so hard. Part-way through, the suit prevents her from using it as Shiyoung has pushed herself too hard from jumping and her CRF is low. Resolved to aid Karin to the end, she manages to cut through dimensional space consciously, jumping Karin to near Aporia, but physically straining herself. She sends Karin off to fight Aporia, as she deals with C.O.s they caught the attention of.

Karin faces Aporia, who seems to understand that it is using the body of one she treasured, and tries to tempt her to join it's side. Karin hears the voices of her allies fighting far from her, through her connection with Aegis and recalls Antonov's telling her that 'We must be the ones to defeat Colonel', all emboldening her to reject the C.O.s offer and fight it.

She manages to hold off Aporia long enough till her allies can join up with her for support, with Aegis following along. With Aegis' appearance, Karin orders it to fire it's particle beam straight at Aporia, wounding it and exposing it's core. As everyone opens fire on Aporia's core, Karin's in shock, her brain overloaded from the calculations needed to fire the ship. With everyone laying into it, they still don't seem to be able to kill it, and with its wrath incurred, soldiers get in it's way to protect Karin, only to be decimated by it. Shiyoung manages to join the fight, impeding Aporia and getting its attention by hitting it with another slash that penetrates its armor, calling Karin to get up and finish it all. Karin wakes up and briefly recollects a memory with Jake, who found her training after her first mission, and giving her advice on how to shoot he learned from his grandfather:

```
'Be patient, Captain. Control your breathing.
Don't let your target out of your sight, and pull the trigger unconsciously.
There are no emotions.
Keep that in mind, Captain Karin Wong.'

```

Following this and a recall of him saying 'We soldiers must remain cool-headed while on our missions', Karin fires a round from her handgun directly at Aporia's core, killing it, with it calling out Karin's name in it's last words.

As everyone celebrates the operation's success, Karin gives a tearful goodbye to Jake, apologizing for not recognizing it was him earlier and stopping him sooner, admiring him for trying to complete his mission to eliminate the Nephil even after death, admitting that despite her inability to be cool-headed when it comes to him, there's too much blood on his hands and now, he can 'finally rest in peace'.

#### 5 months after Operation Aporia

At the base of the 1st Defense Line, Karin informs the Defense Force Commander on the current status of a voyage she has planned to take with Aegis, reporting the preparations including supplies as complete, alongside notifying him on the reassignment of all Delta Seven personnel to the Pathfinder Squad. When questioned about her need to go, with him making note of the world still needing to rebuild after the Aporia incident, and people needing a hero to rally around, Karin rejects such an option; pointing out that should she, now implanted with Glaukopis, alongside Aegis, remain on this world, the already high Corruption rate will increase, with the Counterside's causality dictating that something even worse than Aporia endanger this world, though she takes efforts to mention this as only Antonov's theory. She explains that what she understands is that nothing from within the collapsing world can stop said world's collapse, so her odyssey is to to find a way to stop it, with Karin hoping that due to the flow of time in the hyperdepths differing from Normalside, she can find the solution and return before her world ends. She also sets up a coordinate axis fixture device on her world before leaving, informing the Commander that should they call her, she will return at all costs via the warp marker.

On board Aegis, Karin greets the rest of her allies, making note of the stakes and the uncertainty of the journey, asking if they'll join her on this pilgrimage. Rebecca happily joins, expressing her interest to see other worlds, with Shiyoung also coming, now a full on member of Delta Seven, using the excuse of Karin still owing her money to tag along. Ronald stays behind to observe the cocoons, with Sylvia following too, as she's the only one who can maintain the warp marker. As they say their goodbyes, hopeful to meet again, Karin informs them that their destination to reach is the Administration-led world.

## Stage Detail

* Combat Environment: DEAD END ROAD - Delta Seven Pathfinder units' HP +50% and ATK +50%. Units with Buffs: Joo Shiyoung, Karin Wong, Rebecca
* This event consists of 3 Acts in the Normal Mode, with a Hard Mode stage. This stage allows farming of Unit Data Joo Shiyoung

## Stages

* Act 1
* Act 2
* Act 3
* Hard Stage

## Trivia

* *Dead End Road* takes place over a time span of 2 years, 3 months, and 3.5 weeks as of it's release, making it the longest Substream story by far in terms of duration.
* Antonov's aims and motivation bear similarities to the Administrator. Both are faced with the end of worlds and have been forced to flee to other worlds. While Administrator never stopped fighting, Antanov seemed somewhat broken from it, as she deems Karin's world not worth saving and running away as the only option.
* Antonov's mention of 'causality' is the second mention of this term in Counterside. The other prior usage of it being in EP.4 when Administrator tries to give Lee Sooyeon an understanding of his plans.
	+ The explanation of how the Counterside's siege on worlds in manipulated by causality; the more the world struggles and uses technology beyond its capability, the more powerful the ruiner of their world (Demon Lord or otherwise) will become. Combined with knowledge on the relationship of Demon Lords and Antagonists, it further pushes the idea that the Qliphoth Game (and by extension, the Counterside) play by extremely unfair rules and Tammiel in turn, a heavily skewed game.
* Nearly the fate of all of this world's counterparts of the Replacer Syndicate are known:
	+ Replacer King/Dominic King Reginald, died prior to Operation Crossroads.
	+ Replacer Queen/Jaina Kropel, died during Dead End Road.
	+ Replacer Knight/Rebecca Catherine, alive, currently journeying with Karin and Shiyoung.
	+ Replacer Rook/Maria Antonov, confirmed by Karin that no one of such name exists on this world.
* Hilde refers to the Nephil in *Operation: Pathinder* as a possible degenerated form of a Guardian of Sephira due to its similarities, created from diluted blood. What exactly she meant by "diluted blood" or the reason for sharing similarities to a Guardian of Sephira is not unexplained in *Dead End Road*, and likely further muddled due to Aporia's inclusion via the Counterside's causality.

## References

1. ↑ Kyle: I don't let myself be moved by emotions. [[Substream/Operation: Pathfinder/3-2 Half Descendant]]
2. ↑ Joo Shiyoon: Here, there's an organization called the Administration. [[Substream/Operation: Pathfinder/3-1 Example]]
3. ↑ Administrator: Are you familiar with the concept of causality? [[Mainstream/EP. 4 Terraside 1/4-7 Interlude #6]]
4. ↑ Hilde: I wonder if it's a degenerated form, born from diluted blood. [[Substream/Operation: Pathfinder/3-2 Half Descendant]]