The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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The blue sky was punctuated by several single-stage orbital ships soaring upwards in a line.

As their sleek bodies pierced through the clouds, the faint red glow of the pulsing ether anti-gravity engines became distinct amidst the noise of the jet engines.

[30 seconds post-launch. All orbital ships are ascending normally – altitude surpassing 15 km. Maintaining optimal ascent angles.]

Breaking through the sound barrier, the jet engines began to transform. Soon, the engines transitioned into scramjet mode and roared. To shake off the shackles of gravity, the orbital ships shot upwards, cleaving the air like spears piercing the sky.

[Mach 5 surpassed. Scramjet conversion complete.]

Reaching the very edge of the atmosphere, the jet engines, which longed for oxygen, became ineffective. The ether anti-gravity engines lost their power at the planet’s edge.

[Altitude reached 80 km. Ether engine output decline confirmed.]

In that moment when the abyss of space beckoned, the thermonuclear propulsion engine awakened. A blue line of plasma cutting through the darkness propelled the single-stage orbital ships towards their designated courses.

[Thermonuclear ignition confirmed. Orbital ships accelerating steadily – T-180 seconds to scheduled orbit.]

Once the single-stage orbital ships settled into their target orbits, they slowly revealed themselves as if awakening from a long slumber.

The armor plating split apart to unveil the cargo hold, and the satellites within began to move, carefully transported by intricate mechanical devices.

Sliding down the guiding rails, the satellites activated their own propulsion systems one by one.

With the internal orbital adjustment devices operating precisely, the satellites began to find their places.

[Cargo hold opening complete. Satellite release sequence initiated.]

The blue planet glimmered in deep silence.

[All satellites have entered stable orbit. Mission complete.]

New watchers spread out like a net.

The new surveillance system was based not on the human brain, but on an alternative.

The first satellite based purely on a human brain was fraught with risks of erosion. The foundation needed something more stable and controllable.

Once the Grand Mage’s commands were issued, the magicians of Magnavis, long hidden in the continent, began to gather.

The Federal Army, despite its uncomfortable past, brought forth the Vision Prism from Vittorio Arcade, which had been seized.

Understanding of the Laplacian breeding organization and the fusion creature of the Restraid family was added.

Arshite’s surveillance system and aerospace powers were brought into the fold.

Unexpectedly, cooperation from the Federal Air Force was also achieved.

“Why exactly did they turn the Air Force generals into Shapeshifters? What did they do to the Navy and Air Force?”

“Well, that part remains classified…”

Hearing the Shapeshifter’s nonchalant mumbling, Secretary General Fegan felt uneasy.

It was due to the generals of the Air and Naval forces his younger sibling had turned into puppets.

Realizing the troublesome actions taken secretly by his younger brother would be exposed, they might need to reconsider their relationship with the Federation.

“My God. What are we going to do?”

“…For now, let’s just utilize them.”

The relentless research and experimentation continued. The foundation pushed the researchers to their limits, and the costs of the project surged beyond what could be managed.

In the end, the foundation managed to create a miracle. They completed a tracking network in a short time.

A new level of surveillance system capable of flawlessly tracking the magical patterns of the Ariel Group without the risk of erosion.

Now, the numerous clones on the ground could no longer escape the eyes of the foundation.

The ultimate goal of establishing this extensive satellite tracking system was singular.

The completion of a precision strike system targeting only a single entity.

After eliminating the primary target, it would be simple to sweep away the remaining accomplices using sheer numbers.

“The airborne activation time of the upgraded Corbus virus is extremely limited. However, in return, we secured the ability to selectively track only specific magical wavelength hosts and overwhelming lethality that can overcome any immune system. This is the result of focusing on extreme lethality and target tracking functions.”

The completion of the smart virus strike system, which would identify and eliminate targets by being dispersed into the air, failed.

Despite thousands of experiments, it ultimately could only be operated similarly to conventional poison gas. The lethal range was broader than that of conventional weapons or magic, but the limitations were clear.

The scholars of Laplacian dropped the development of an all-purpose virus. Instead, they proposed developing a virus with extreme lethality and using a precise tracking system to identify enemy locations to disperse it only in restricted areas.

The foundation executed that proposal without hesitation.

The foundation handled hardware provision and integrated it with Arshite’s sophisticated satellite surveillance tracking system.

Lastly, they prepared to inundate the area with conventional troops with the cooperation of other allies.

The net was perfect, with not a single bug able to escape.

“…The Apostle tracking and strike system… I never knew Arshite was developing something like that.”

Manager Elena’s eyes gleamed at the monitor.

“It was originally planned as a system for tracking great Apostles. However, the original objective failed. The stealth abilities of the clones sent by Aedos surpassed our analytical range. So we shifted directions, determining that it would be more suitable for targeting a small number of humans. What we’re currently operating also serves that purpose. It’s a bit more crude, however.”

At Elena’s calm words, Secretary General Fegan felt a chill run down his spine. While not matching the foundation’s technological prowess, Arshite had secretly built a comprehensive assassination control system that couldn’t be ignored.

“I’d prefer you not to look at it like that. This surveillance system is something we can only use against the Ariel Group.”

With the allied criticism, Secretary General Fegan shot a suspicious glance, and the manager added an explanation.

“Don’t forget, this was made possible because we all joined hands. It’s due to the magic properties of that clone group. They react and send signals through their unique wave patterns when stimulated. The magic of other Awakened Ones doesn’t operate that way. This surveillance system only responds to that clone group. The fact that the virus could be modified to be selectively guided to a specific individual was also because of that, wasn’t it?”

“…That’s right.”

Well, if the foundation was to be scrutinized, there was no argument. After all, using something as uncontrollable as Corbus Infection as a weapon alone was enough.

With coincidence and inevitability overlapping, it could kill only one person, and outside of that, it could hardly do anything, but to those unaware of the situation, it could also seem threatening.

‘Of course, it wouldn’t work on a superhuman that significantly exceeds the average.’

Setting aside any further questions, the foundation decided to concentrate on the reality at hand. Secretary General Fegan conducted one last situation check. The view outside looked gloomy, hinting at the rain.

“How’s it going on the Magnavis side?”

“We’ve received word that preparations are complete.”

The long-hidden mage’s vanguard finally revealed itself after a long time.

Director 02 was coordinating the movements of the allies in real-time.

“How’s the manufacture of virus warheads?”

“We’ve reached the final stage.”

All preparations were done.

All that remained was to pull the trigger.

The target was the entirety of human habitation.

The clans had completed signatures on death warrants for the regime’s impurities.

“Effective immediately, we commence the pesticide operation.”

The warning lights in the control room flashed ominously.

What Violet sensed first was the noise boring into her head. It was subtle but unnaturally vibrating.

– Ziiiing!

“Huh?”

The faint sounds produced by the orbital satellites set the network aflame.

Violet’s collective consciousness instinctively responded and sent signals back to where the sound came from. The satellites captured the ground waves in real-time and calculated their positions.

[Tracking complete.]

Red dots surfaced on the map.

On the ground, the Violets looked up at the sky in confusion.

“What’s that? There’s something in the sky!”

As the procedures completed, aircraft loaded with ‘pesticide’ took off in unison.

Each aircraft bore logos from different clans.

So many aircraft filled the skies that the air traffic control network was nearing saturation.

[10 minutes to dispersal.]

Somewhere on the outskirts of the continent, magicians in opaque helmets formed ranks, deploying complex magic formulas.

“Damn terrorists. This is revenge for the last raid.”

As someone muttered, Vanguard commanders raised their staves. A large-scale magic formula was being activated by the magicians.

The atmosphere in the area violently shifted.

[5 minutes to dispersal.]

The ramps of the airships and aircraft opened.

Within, countless drones equipped with virus dispersal devices were lined up.

The tracking deviations from the satellites weren’t small. The unstable atmosphere of Trist, blanketed in ether, continued to disrupt signals.

Calculating tolerances, it was at least several dozen meters large.

However, the evaluation of the foundation’s control algorithms deemed the current virus dispersal range ample.

[1 minute to dispersal.]

Following the satellites’ guidance, all air assets moved toward the red dots.

Drones of various sizes flew toward the target location and began their descent. The swarm of drones under system control exceeded 100,000 units.

The people of the Academy City looked up to the sky with stunned expressions.

Some pointed fingers, others gasped in confusion, while Director Quavna 02 held her breath.

How much had they prepared for this moment?

The director uttered a single phrase.

“Commencing dispersal.”

Drones sprayed a viral mist into the air.

Large bombs dropped from the airships and jets exploded at altitudes of several hundred meters.

When Violet sensed the crisis, it was already too late.

Across the entire Rust Room and simultaneously on all other continents, the same thing was happening.

By the time the collective consciousness grasped the syncronicity of the situation, it was already irretrievable.

“Huh?”

Death was raining from the sky.

The massive clone swarm – the effects of the Corbus virus began at the most minor extremities.

“Huh? Urgh?”

Unit 411 saw her fingers turn black.

The black poison flowed through her veins, spreading from her wrist to her arm.

Pain engulfed her entire body. Her skin swelled and began to crumble into black powder.

The opening act of the first operation involved large-scale dispersal using autonomous drones and guided bombs.

“Gahk! Cough!”

Rust Room filled with the screams of girls crumbling in seconds.

Unit 5231, carrying a delivery bag, dropped to her knees. Her eyes burst, and black liquid poured down.

Her lifeless hair scattered in the wind. Her skin blackened and crumbled to nothingness.

In cities everywhere, thousands of Violets collapsed one after another.

“Ugh! It hurts! It hurts!”

“Analyzing symptoms! What is this! Hyyaaaaak!”

The network trembled violently.

The collective consciousness struggled desperately to analyze the situation. Everything happened too fast.

The toxicity of the biological weapon overwhelmed the analysis speed of the collective consciousness.

“No way! We’re Awakened Ones! Uhhhhh!”

“Aaaah!”

Unit 212 staggered in the center of the training ground.

Black blood gushed from her nose and mouth like a waterfall. Witnessing this spectacle, Irene rushed in, halting in shock.

“Violet! Are you okay? What’s wrong!”

“Ugh! No! Get away! Don’t come closer!”

Violet’s body decayed into darkness and shattered into pieces. Like ash, like dust, she dispersed into the air.

[10 minutes post-operation start, estimated enemy damage ratio exceeds 40%.]

Under the watchful eyes of the Secretary General and other directors, Director Quavna 02 issued the next orders.

“Proceed with plan two.”

Parts of the continent and the Rust Room were engulfed in black clouds.

The gray rain summoned by Vanguard’s magicians poured down from the sky.

The rain of the virus-soaked downpours drenched the streets of the city, and the Violets, caught hiding from the drone attacks, fell one by one, helplessly.

“Ughhh…”

“AAH! Someone! Report it immediately!”

Witnessing the crumbling Violets, pedestrians screamed in fear.

The broken bodies scattered across the rain-soaked sidewalks.

There were some Violets who survived or managed to fortunate escape from the virus.

[Violet Air Corps! Contacting the command… urgh!]

The intensity of the pain spreading through the network was beyond imagination. Unit 9214 struggled to regain consciousness.

So many ‘me’s were suffering. Most of the Violets were collapsing in pain. The foundation had not intended this, but the virus inflicted extreme suffering.

Among the countless pains akin to grains of sand on the beachfront, the efforts of the Air Corps shone through.

The cause of the problem was soon identified.

“It’s coming from the sky! The poison is being dropped from the sky!”

A desperate resistance unfolded in the air.

As they were on reconnaissance missions, the fighter jets of the Violets attempted to retaliate against this cruel attack.

The squadron dove toward the airships.

“Target locked! Retreating—”

– Boom!

The vertical take-off aircraft ignited into flames and plummeted.

“Hyah! We’re going down!”

The Federal Air Force’s hypersonic jets swiftly intercepted the Violets’ craft.

Squadrons from other clans began to pour out like a flood.

Surviving pilots who barely turned their course to survive were ultimately coming down one by one.

“Everyone report your attack! Status? What about the animals?”

“The animals seem okay! But… wait a minute!”

Amidst the dazed moments, the collective consciousness grasped the movement paths of the drones.

The crows spotted a swarm of drones heading toward Cascadia’s airfield and the Helios Clan’s training grounds.

“Do they notice us?”

“Reverse summon! Reverse summon! For now!”

Their association with the allies couldn’t be revealed. That would mean the end.

Desperately, the collective consciousness reversed the summoning of clones to relocate them to other areas.

As the drones changed direction, a sigh of relief was momentarily felt, but the untimely deaths of the dormant clones hidden near major academies could not be avoided.

The virus’s influence reached even the dormant bodies.

“Gahh! The clones I laid!”

“Even the walls, even the ground aren’t safe!”

This artificial pathogen, akin to a minuscule monstrous creature, gained overwhelming lethality and penetration at the cost of a short lifespan.

Against the virus burrowing through shallow soil and between walls, plastic wrapping was useless. Violets who transferred their consciousness right before death found themselves in despair.

Yet, amidst it all, hope existed.

“Gahhh… I’m dying…”

Daphne’s eyes wavered as she saw her friend crumbling to blackness by the roadside.

With her knowledge, she knew it was undoubtedly that infectious disease eradicated in the past.

“The Corbus Infection? No way!”

Without hesitating, she unleashed her magic, radiating a green light that surrounded her. Her crumpled skin regained its vitality, and her decaying limbs began to regenerate.

“Wow! I’m healed!”

“You haven’t completely recovered. My healing speed is just faster than the virus’s cell destruction rate. Once my magic falters, the symptoms will return. We need to contact a hospital… no, someone…”

As Daphne hurriedly rummaged through her bag, Unit 6563 grabbed her hand.

“Stop it.”

“What?”

The Violet, who had detected approaching enemy aircraft on the tactical map, stood up without hesitation.

“Daphne, you’re someone I don’t know. Got it? Take this!”

“Ah!”

Pushing her friend away with both hands, Unit 6563 darted off beyond the alley. Soon after, a swarm of drones flew toward the direction the Violet had disappeared.

“Gahhh…”

A faint death cry echoed from afar.

The magic staff tumbled from Daphne’s hand, rolling hopelessly on the ground.

[Operation to cleanse the Convergence Corridor accompanied by Hellman is underway.]

[30 minutes into the operation, estimated enemy damage ratio exceeds 75%.]

“How disgusting.”

A grimace of contempt twisted the director’s lips.

“Even so, to think there’s still 25% remaining. Proceed with the final plan.”

With the final declaration, the allied forces that had been standing by began to move.

The third operation contained a powerful offensive accompanied by precision strikes.

The signals from the Violets were concentrated in the densest places and on the outskirts of human habitation.

The core of the operation was merciless destruction.

“We’ll completely incinerate the predicted areas suspected to be their strongholds.”

With the Academy City authorities turning a blind eye, a barrage of cruise missiles rained down, annihilating Rust Room’s central manufacturing district.

In an instant, the area transformed into a sea of flames. Residents peering out their windows widened their eyes in horror.

The reactions of the three nearby were similar.

The terrible destructive power left Yurik aghast.

“Ahhhh! Professor! That was a bombing! Did you just see that? And that disease too… what in the world is happening?”

“What else could it be? The clan members just went nuclear together. I expected a special forces unit to show up, but a bombing?!”

Professor Albert clicked his tongue. The factory complex, which Yurik referred to as the Violet Barracks, was engulfed in flames. It seemed this wasn’t just any incendiary device.

“If Violet hadn’t warned us, we might have been right in that inferno.”

“Then… what about the Violets? Research aside, people… like this…”

The flames cast a crimson hue upon Yurik’s dazed face.

“Don’t worry. That lunatic you’re calling your boss will never die. The animals seem fine, right?”

Despite speaking those words, the professor himself had no confidence.

While he had anticipated events of this nature someday, he hadn’t expected it to be so brutal.

Still, the professor forced himself to maintain a calm demeanor in front of the young friends.

“I can’t show weakness in front of the young ones.”

“Thanks to that brat, we had some time. We’ve either safely retrieved or destroyed all research documents and vital equipment. Everything else can be replaced! So, when will that scholarship officer, Enrique, arrive?”

“He should be arriving shortly!”

From afar, the sound of flapping wings approached. It was a chopper squad. The three flinched and stepped back. A car hurriedly sped into view from beyond the alley. The window rolled down, revealing Frederick’s scarred face.

“Get in quickly! Clan’s strike forces are coming! Have you all gathered your things?”

At Frederick’s shout, the three hastily climbed into the vehicle.

Soon after, armed troops disembarked from the arriving helicopter, searching through the manufacturing district.

Containment Enforcement personnel surveyed the debris with detectors until one pointed at a spot.

“Gyaah…”

“There!”

– Ratatat!

The Violet Barracks crumbled.

Missiles penetrated buildings in regions where signals had concentrated.

Bunker-busting explosives turned the underground upside down. The forces of the clan and federation surged in, digging up the earth and tearing down walls.

After dispersing the virus from a close range, elite strike forces infiltrated to cleanse it as thoroughly as uprooting weeds.

Not even the uninhabited island had exceptions.

– Boom!

“Signal cancellation confirmed!”

“Not yet! Fire again!”

The aerial battleships of Restraid violently churned the island.

After the bombardment, mixed special forces entered to scour the ruins. As if allowing for not a single survivor.

“They might be here! Search thoroughly!”

“Gyaah! We’ve been spotted!”

Red signals on the maps started to disappear one by one.

Life responses, nearly reaching 10,000, extinguished.

An hour later, the once red map was completely devoid of signals.

[60 minutes into operation, estimated enemy damage ratio 100%. All presumed extinguished.]

[Convergence Corridor cleansing operation accompanied by Hellman concluding.]

“Let’s double-check. Never let your guard down. We might have overlooked something.”

The Secretary General commanded while remaining tense.

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes passed.

Even after another hour, no signals appeared.

Someone exhaled deeply.

There was no cheer.

Only thick silence filled the control room.

“The operation was successful.”

Relief was evident in Director Quavna’s eyes as she spoke.

Only then did the other directors sit down with a sense of overwhelming relief.

“For the time being, we can rest comfortably.”

“Indeed.”

Gradually loosening up, the control room fell into disarray.

Secretary General Fegan muttered.

“We won.”

At last, they had eradicated the human pests threatening the stability of humanity.

The foundation had triumphed.

In the midst of the endless ocean, the Red Zone. Another peaceful day in the Karnak Archipelago began with an anomaly.

The black land trembled momentarily.

– Thud!

A white hand shot up from the ground.

The hand frantically clawed at the earth, and soon a dirt-covered blonde girl groaned as she surfaced.

“Gahhh…”

As one emerged, Violets began to rise from the earth in a chain reaction. As if sprouting after decades without rain, Violets blossomed across the soil of the Red Zone.

Scattered plastic wrappings littered the ground.

“It hurts…”

The effects of the infection were severe. The faces of the Violets bore expressions of anguish.

The pain stemming from simultaneous deaths in the tens of thousands was almost unbearable.

If not for having experienced the amplified pain of the Apostles, it would have been a complete breakdown.

“Ugh… Where… Where is it…”

The sickly Violets twisted their bodies, reaching out into the air.

“Quickly!”

In an instant, various sizes of syringes appeared. White packets of medicine flooded out.

The Violets hurriedly injected the drugs into their thighs or necks. As the syringes pierced their skins, blood flowed in reverse due to blood pressure, getting drawn in along with the substances.

They each injected doses of narcotics that would have instantaneously killed any ordinary person.

Moments later, as the effects kicked in, the expressions of the Violets brightened.

The girls regained their vitality and sprang up.

“I’m not in pain anymore!”

“I’m healthy now!”

Yet, the joy and happiness brought by the medicine was short-lived, as the Violets had to confront reality.

They had been annihilated.

“Damn… We’ve been done in…”

A fear washed over them, almost as if it could have been the end for good.

“We’ve been done for! It was an epidemic!”

They couldn’t believe the foundation had hidden such a lethal weapon. They felt ashamed and enraged at the same time.

For the first time in a while, they felt fear. Their earlier complacency had brought disaster upon them.

“I don’t know what’s going on; for now, let’s contact Rugilinn’s Iron Fist! The mountain animals too!”

“Right! We should inform our friends too!”

They must not become complacent again.

The Violets began to analyze the situation. Surrounding entities readied their weapons, vigilant.

“There might be another air raid!”

Time passed. One minute turned into ten, and ten into an hour.

Still, no additional attacks occurred.

In their bewilderment, the Violets scanned the sky. Suddenly, they confirmed the positions where they had awakened.

“…Isn’t this the Red Zone?”

“Oh, you’re right? Then maybe they won’t come, right?”

The collective consciousness took a deep breath.

Given that the attack that had stricken the entire continent had spared this place, it appeared the Red Zone was indeed a safe area.

That was right. Even if the sky fell, the Violets had a way to revive.

Life always managed to find a way.

And far across the sea, those longing for freedom also decided to find their own way.

Twelve hours after the pesticide operation commenced, the Secretary General, who had settled down for some satisfied slumber, received unexpected news.

“What?”

“The test subjects have initiated a riot!”

The foundation, submerged in the thrill of victory, faced an unforeseen variable.

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