After Noritaka Emiya's proposal was submitted, the higher-ups at the Umbrella Corporation not only didn't fly into a rage or reject it outright, but instead discussed it with keen interest.
Because when it came to being inhumane, Noritaka Emiya and the Umbrella executives were cut from the same cloth.
There wasn't much difference between them.
One didn't treat humans as people.
The other didn't value life at all.
In any case, after some deliberation, the Umbrella Corporation's leadership finally reached a decision.
To drive the evolution of all humanity, how could there be no sacrifices?
For the sake of humanity's greater happiness, the people of Tokyo would just have to endure a little hardship.
Once they perfected the Blacklight virus, surely those Tokyoites would find peace in the afterlife, knowing the truth.
This was a plan with multiple benefits.
However, as the plan moved into execution, the Umbrella higher-ups realized that causing Tokyo to fall wasn't as simple as it seemed—after all, it was Japan's capital.
Japan's security measures in this area were quite robust.
Especially the Onmyoryo, that cadre of humans wielding supernatural powers, stationed throughout Tokyo. The moment a crisis emerged, they would mobilize immediately and quash the threat.
It might not allow the Blacklight virus to showcase its effects perfectly.
Thus, after further discussion, the Umbrella personnel decided to bypass Tokyo altogether and shift the experiment site to nearby Tokonosu City.
The location was adjacent to Tokyo, with weak defenses—no large contingents of onmyoji or military forces.
If a crisis erupted, even Tokyo's response would take time to materialize.
They wouldn't commit their full strength either.
It was the ideal testing ground.
So, not long ago, Umbrella operatives had released the Blacklight virus into Tokonosu City's water supply system, disseminating it through the pipes to countless households.
When Morpheus viewed this segment of John Smith's memories, he couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Yes, he'd learned of it far too late.
The Umbrella team had already deployed the virus in Tokonosu City. The reason it hadn't activated yet was that it remained in its incubation phase.
But once that phase ended, the Blacklight virus would erupt.
This explained why the outbreak in Tokonosu City had been so ferocious.
With virtually no warning signs, the biochemical crisis had exploded into being.
That said, even the Umbrella Corporation likely hadn't anticipated how rapidly the Blacklight virus would mutate—far too swiftly for them to contain.
The thing could even infect supernatural entities like yokai.
As a result, following the crisis's onset, Tokyo fell within a month, and Japan followed in half a year.
From that point, the situation spiraled entirely out of control.
But then, Morpheus considered another angle.
Since this world had fused with the Nasuverse, Alaya must exist as a genuine force.
With Japan overrun and billions reduced to zombies...
How could Alaya remain unmoved by such a catastrophe?
It was inconceivable.
After all, in the Nasuverse narratives, Alaya went to extraordinary lengths to safeguard humanity, even deploying Emiya as a Counter Guardian to eradicate threats posing severe harm to humankind.
This time, the loss of billions was no trivial matter.
How could Alaya stand idly by?
It would undoubtedly summon Heroic Spirits to combat the crisis, yet events had still escalated to an irreversible state.
What could account for that?
Morpheus was baffled. Had some bizarre twist occurred in the interim?
Having gleaned the full sequence of events from John Smith's mind, Morpheus departed the Umbrella Corporation with Saeko Busujima in tow.
"I've got a solid grasp on the details now."
He told Saeko Busujima at his side, "But I have some bad news for you."
Saeko Busujima's expression grew grave.
Morpheus continued, "The Umbrella operatives dispersed the Blacklight virus across Tokonosu City via the water supply, reaching thousands of homes. Right now, a vast number of people are infected."
"Though the Blacklight virus is still incubating. Once that period concludes, the biochemical crisis will ignite instantly."
"There's only one method to counteract the Blacklight virus."
"Locate its antidote."
Saeko Busujima asked without delay, "Lord Morpheus, where is the antidote to the Blacklight virus?"
Morpheus sighed. "I have even worse news: the Blacklight virus has no antidote."
Saeko Busujima's face drained of color in an instant.
"Lord Morpheus, are you saying Tokonosu City's hundreds of thousands are beyond saving?"
"Not entirely beyond hope—it's just rather complicated."
Morpheus pondered it. Saving them wasn't impossible; it would simply demand effort.
Saeko Busujima dropped to her knees with a thud. "Lord Morpheus, I beg you to intervene and save Tokonosu City."
If the city were truly doomed, Saeko Busujima wouldn't press the issue.
But since Morpheus indicated a possibility, she hoped he would act.
Whatever the cost to her.
Those were hundreds of thousands of lives, after all.
Truth be told, Morpheus didn't particularly concern himself with Tokonosu City's hundreds of thousands of souls, but witnessing Saeko Busujima's earnest plea, he considered it and replied, "I'll give it a shot."
That very night, Morpheus accompanied Saeko Busujima to Tokonosu City.
As darkness fell, silence enveloped everything.
Saeko Busujima and Morpheus strolled along the deserted streets. "Lord Morpheus, what do we do now?"
Morpheus smiled. "Watch this."
With those words, he ascended step by step, treading on air until he reached over two hundred meters above ground.
Until all of Tokonosu City lay encompassed in his view.
In the next instant, a brilliant radiance erupted from Morpheus's form, like a sun plummeting from the heavens.
In a flash, Tokonosu City's night inverted to day.
The potent force of light not only bathed the entire city but pierced through the rooftops of myriad homes, illuminating every individual within.
This overwhelming power of light infiltrated the bodies of hundreds of thousands, nonchalantly purging the Blacklight virus from their systems.
The virus, still latent, had no opportunity to respond before it was utterly neutralized.
Even the Blacklight virus introduced into the water supply was cleansed by Morpheus's luminous might.
Before long, no vestige of the Blacklight virus remained in Tokonosu City.
When it was done, Morpheus withdrew the power of light and descended back to the vacant street.
In that moment, day reverted to night once more.
"All set—the Blacklight virus in Tokonosu City has been thoroughly purified," Morpheus remarked offhandedly.
'Ah... this...'
"Lord Morpheus, didn't you say it would be troublesome?"
"Isn't this troublesome?" Morpheus retorted. Even his battle with Rihan hadn't been this taxing.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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