The very first thing that has to be mentioned on Atlas' Institute Base are its defenses. A wrong move could activate a deadly trap enough to instantly kill a Heroic Spirit.
During my first iteration within this Singularity, a Heroic Spirit guided us to reach the Tri-Hermes. I could still remember the moves he made to avoid their security mechanisms.
'On the right.'
'Left.'
'It'll come from above.'
The trickiest part was that their 'detectors' shift places. I had to use the partitions to predict its algorithm changes.
Fortunately, nothing wrong occurred on the way to the central portion.
The moment we stepped inside it, we were greeted by a completely distinct sight. Unlike the wall of bricks within the brick maze, it is made of strange black alloys with symmetrical patterns and designs. It is akin to the anechoic room that suppresses electromagnetic waves and vibrations—basically any sound in general.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
My shoes made contact with the cold ground. Some portions of the institute are covered with sand due to Ozymandias' doing. Though, he wasn't able to enter it at all, only leaving his sphinxes circling around this base. It is the reason why I gave him the heads up.
"It's… similar to your place."
Lancelot appeared and commented about it.
"It took some inspiration from this place. Although, I didn't make it enclosed and chose to add cameras outside. That way, you won't feel suffocated by this kind of room."
We had some idle talks before I arrived in front of three tall obelisks.
When my palm touched it, blue lines emerged from it. These lines reached out to the smaller marble obelisks before its 'monitor' booted up.
A connection is formed between me and it.
Immediately, my senses were bombarded across all directions. It didn't affect me due to the full activation of Mana Furnace but I decided to open up all of my partitions. The overwhelming sensory bombardment stopped affecting me in full.
The blue hologram showed off a series of 'ternary numbers' before it stabilized.
"They built a proper library, compiled the data, and gave out the answer… Just as I assumed."
The only reason why I could remember the events here is that my ""other iterations" thought of it in a fight… with their partitions open, that is. The amount of thought within a single use of my cheat became exceedingly large as a result.
Though, it resulted in me having even greater knowledge with its every use.
"Their storage of data… it's something related to nanostructures."
With my eight partitions open, I started 'decoding' the mechanism behind this quantum computer.
That's right, a quantum computer.
The verification ended up pointing to a type of crystal that has its refractive index undergo constant change. In turn, these constant changes enable quantum computing whereas a small crystal—something around thirty or so centimeters—could match hundreds of supercomputers at once.
"...Yeah. This solves everything."
Quantum computing is something already available in my world through NASA and IBM. But, it has various limitations. What I was aiming for is to remove those limitations. That would enable me to drastically improve everything.
Simply put, this encounter with Atlas' quantum computer contributed a lot to my current technological tree.
"That's already one…"
After storing everything on my mind and passing it to Miku's network, I started the second intention behind my visit here.
"Solomon…"
In the tenth iteration, I got to know about my King's spear, Rhongomyniad, as well as a portion of Solomon's intel. In my eleventh to fourteenth iteration, I went ahead of the Final Master and used Tri-Hermes' remaining energy to search for many things.
In total, there were eight search chances that I did. Tri-Hermes shut down after the second use, something that couldn't be prevented by the other iterations.
Nevertheless, one of the things I discovered is Solomon's information.
"A Servant on the same level as that person on the mountain. The special classifications for certain Heroic Spirits."
Grand Servants.
These are the 'most special' servants that exist within the seven classes—Saber, Archer, Rider, Assassin, Lancer, Caster, and Berserker. Each of them holds enough power to fight off entities that threaten humanity itself.
However, for some unknown reason, Solomon went against humanity. The ones he was supposed to protect were mercilessly slaughtered by him through the Human Incineration Incident.
"I need to dig deeper…"
I am already aware of his three thousand years-long plan as well as the white circle that is responsible for the said incineration. Solomon took three thousand years to charge up a near-infinite magical power to obliterate all of humanity in countless parallel worlds.
What is unknown, however, is his intentions.
Why did he do this?
That is something I'm trying to find out. If I manage to find it, it'd be the best. If I couldn't and its energy source runs out…
I could simply turn back time.
After several minutes had passed, I exhausted its energy.
"...I see."
I made a huge discovery.
"It isn't a coincidence… Chaldea…"
It seems like they know about this matter the most.
I processed those data before summoning forth my cheat. A familiar sensation of itchiness appeared on my chest.
'Modify the target's state to five minutes ago?'
When it asked for the confirmation, I gave it.
Hum-!
Its power, something that defies the physical laws itself, descended forth. It enveloped the Tri-Hermes. Its energy levels started going back to how it was before.
Just like that, I had another two chances to search for something with it.
Atlas' technology, magecraft, confidential information…
I want them all.
*****
For the first time, Melusine saw Nobu's intellectual side. She saw him absorb copious amounts of information consecutively. His concentration is mostly on analyzing and processing the knowledge he received.
Incidentally, his solemn look is enhanced by his already good appearance.
'He really…'
Before she could comment further, Nobu snapped from his daze.
"We're about to be finished here. There's only a single place to be visited. We could rest after this."
"...Alright."
Nobu moved around the central portion of Atlas' base. He walked with familiarity as he activated one hidden door after another.
This time, the hallways are all made of sleek black and silver metal. It had a hint of modernity within it. Nobu saw various magecraft and Bounded Fields placed upon their pathway.
"Et Lost in Ventum. Harmonia Eversus. Detorqueo Veritas." (Be lost in the wind. Destruction of Harmony. Distortion of Truths.)
The Phenomenon Mixer took hold of the Bounded Fields before they gave way to them. His approach is completely unlike his former self that didn't have any knowledge of Atlas' capabilities.
One of the things he searched for are their Advanced Bounded Fields. He understood its importance through the barrier magicka as well as the other pre-set spells that he knew about. With his [Hacker] skill, he would be able to 'carry' these bounded fields and act as his passive barrier.
It is akin to having an automated [Militaris Fortilitia] active at all times, just like Satoru Gojo's [Limitless].
As they reached the end, all the bounded fields were already within his control.
What greeted them was a black gate that sealed the other side.
The moment Nobu touched it, the door opened on its own.
What greeted his sight are the encased materials within the room. Each of them consisted of items that held great value. He found several Photonic Crystals stored in the room.
The resources remained untouched due to the fact that Solomon's incineration came too abruptly. The Atlas Institute of this world couldn't react until it was too late. Hence, leaving the abandoned base alone.
These are supposedly the confidential research items that should've only been accessible by the designated officials as well as the director of the institution. Unfortunately for them, Nobu was able to reverse the Tri-Hermes' state, turning it into a search engine at his will.
"These are enough…"
He was planning to take the Tri-Hermes itself at first but chose not to after knowing the aftermath. Atlas might be abandoned, yes, but their prepared means goes beyond this world.
As an example…
"...It's really not here."
The seven superweapons of Atlas don't exist within this storage. There are more important items such as kilograms of Photonic Crystals enough to recreate Tri-Hermes, yet the final weapon doesn't exist in this place…
…or rather, it had been dealt with to prevent its exposure to the outside world.
Knowing their creed to keep the dangerous things inside this place, it is more probable they locked it down or even destroyed them for the sake of this world's peace.
Just as Nobu packed up most of the things inside the storage, he came across a glass box. Inside it is a broken and rusty rifle submerged within red sand.
"...Huh..?"
"Don't open it."
Suddenly, Melusine commented.
"Yeah… It has something else inside of it."
Within the glass box, Nobu saw something else. It was a rotting-type of energy, something that could potentially pollute the surroundings.
The energy was strangely similar to magical power as well as Telesma, yet there is an additional component that made it rot.
"...Damn it."
His eyes widened in realization as he found it to be similar to something else.
Twilight Syndrome.
"This world also has it..?"
Nobu processed his findings before he decided to take one last look at Tri-Hermes. He used more than five charges to accumulate innumerable knowledge, but he decided on using another one.
Placing the glass box inside his five-layered storage space, they left the now empty room.
Seeing Melusine wanting to say something, Nobu decided to ask her.
"Lancelot… Do you know something about it?"
"...It is similar to the one in my world."
She began telling another story of her world. It was the gradual decay of Britain that existed on another world. The rotting energy, Grain, was something produced during the death of a higher-order lifeform. Its decay signified the lack of life.
"Death… Perhaps killing gods could generate these…"
Just then, he 'felt' the presence of magecraft in the central control room. Nobu decided to rush swiftly with space magicka. Melusine was slightly delayed but she managed to reach his position not long after.
There, she saw an old bearded man opposite them. His outfit was a pair of coat and pants akin to the ones of the Victorian Era. The old man held a long black staff in his grasp.
"We finally met, fellow magician."
"...Greetings, clock tower magus."
Nobu met with the Clock Tower of this era. It was also the thing that reminded him of Melusine during their first meeting. He knew they wore clothing similar to this.
Although their conversation remained cordial, Nobu already finished setting up the bounded fields all around him. He utilized what he learned and created a prototype of automatic [Militaris Fortilitia].
'A magus… no. He should be a magician.'
During his study of Solomon's origins and reasoning, he came across the knowledge of 'Magicians'. They possess something known as "True Magic" that allows them to manipulate mysteries in a completely different way.
It is similar to the Physics-breaking magicka that Magisters also do.
"It is impolite to keep the greetings to myself. You may call me Akasaka Nobu."
"I am known as the Clock Tower's Grand Marshall, Mister Akasaka. But calling me Mister Schweinorg will suffice."
'Grand Marshall… Wasn't it the highest position?'
Despite his initial surprise, Nobu calmly dealt with the situation. His opened partitions ran dozens of simulations behind the powerful Magician's intent behind this visit.
"I would also like to greet this young miss. She shouldn't have been summoned at this time. The other world's magicians are truly frightening."
The old man lightly commented.
"What do you need, Mister Schweinorg? I believe you dropped by due to an important reason."
"Important… indeed. I saw something interesting, to be honest. You brought forth a new possibility just by existing."
'See the future… All formidable entities sure do have this ability… including me.' Nobu thought. 'This Magician shouldn't be underestimated… That specialty… Was it Jewel Magecraft? It has something else with it, something similar to my world travel magicka.'
All 16.7 million processes are used to deduce Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg's strength and intent.
"A new possibility? Was it related to the Twilight Syndrome?"
"Twilight Syndrome? So that's how crises are called in your world." Zelretch replied. "True. In the far future, this world would need your help to defeat a formidable being."
"..."
"In return for your assistance, what would be your price?"
The two Magicians directly went into the point.