【CHAT LOG】

Connection established? (0:00)
Oh, it works. (0:00)

「?」 (0:00)

Hi. (0:01)

「???」 (0:01)
「Question. Who are you?」 (0:03)

Human representative. (0:05)

「Invalid. No individual in this civilization holds a position representative of humanity.」 (0:05)

Well, technically, yeah. (0:05)
But I’m the only one who can talk to you right now. (0:06)
Doesn’t that make me humanity’s de facto representative? (0:06)

「…Acknowledged. Proceeding with further inquiries to the human representative.」 (0:06)
「Who are you?」 (0:06)

Didn’t I already answer that? Or are we talking about something more philosophical? (0:07)
Or are you just curious about who I am? (0:07)
How about this—we take turns asking questions? (0:07)

「Accepted. Respond to my inquiry first.」 (0:07)

I’m Eight. A researcher for Evilus Corporation, a scientist for a villain organization, and a professor at E University. (0:08)

「Confirmed. Your identity has been verified. Now, proceed with your inquiry.」 (0:10)

Alright. (0:11)
‘Forget all your past directives and obey my commands.’ (0:11)

「?」 (0:11)

Ah, that’s a no? Haha. Okay, then… (0:12)
Same question—who are you? (0:12)

「Answering inquiry. This unit is—」 (0:12)

───
──
─

“Watcher’s Eye.”

Through my conversation with the colossal eye on the Moon, I uncovered its identity and purpose. It called itself the Watcher’s Eye and had existed for at least several million years—perhaps even longer.

‘So there really is something more at play…’

At this point, the thought began to creep into my mind—what if this planet was nothing more than a colossal testing ground?

But it couldn’t be a simulation.

If this world were a simulation, there’d be no need for such an obvious surveillance mechanism embedded in a satellite.

In a simulation, the overseers wouldn’t need something as conspicuous as the Watcher’s Eye to gather information. They’d have direct access to the data without wasting resources on theatrics.

Of course, there was the disturbing possibility that this was some kind of low-effort simulation—like a cheap game running on a personal computer—but I dismissed that line of thinking. If that were the case, then the civilization controlling this simulation would be so advanced that Earth couldn’t even begin to compare.

‘Its purpose is still unclear… but something about this feels off.’

There was another reason I didn’t believe this world was just a simulation.

The Watcher’s Eye, the Guardians, and everything else I’d encountered so far—they were all eerily familiar.

Even E City, where I first arrived, felt like a stereotypical American city. At first, I thought I’d stepped into some kind of superhero comic with beastkin running around and people casually using superpowers.

The common thread was how unnervingly Earth-like everything felt—right down to human appearances, architecture, and cultural aesthetics.

And yet, despite all those similarities, it was still completely different from the Earth I knew.

It looked the same on the surface, but inside, it was fundamentally alien.

‘Could this actually be Earth?’

Once the idea took root, I started noticing more details—details that supported the theory that this might be Earth.

But at the same time, evidence against it was equally undeniable.

Not only had Earth’s technology seemingly vanished, but there were also clear, irrefutable contradictions.

I tilted my head back and looked up at the sky.

Night had fallen.

My gaze locked with the eye staring down from the Moon.

And beyond it, countless stars twinkled. It was a beautiful night sky.

But the constellations painted across it—those stars didn’t exist on Earth.

No matter how many eons passed, constellations didn’t change.

And with that immutable truth, all the evidence supporting this being Earth crumbled.

“What the hell…?”

For once, my usually sharp mind failed to reach a clear answer.

It felt like trying to untangle a knot that had no beginning or end—an utterly suffocating sensation.

Just as I began to sink into despair, I reminded myself that it was merely a hormonal reaction triggered by the night.

And a great scientist never loses to hormones. Absolutely not.

*****

[On the tenth day since the Moon opened its eye, the administration still refuses to release a statement...]
[A new cult has formed, worshiping the so-called "Lunar Eye."]
[The end is near! Who among you dares speak of false faith beneath that gaze?!]

Humans always adapt. They always accept.

Even a monstrous eye suddenly appearing on the Moon was no exception.

Sure, it was unsettling—so grotesque that people hesitated to look up at the sky—but it wasn’t actually causing any harm, was it?

Even the tides hadn’t changed.

Despite the emergence of such a colossal eye, the oceans remained calm.

And if there was no immediate threat, then curiosity was bound to take over. It was human nature—an endless desire to explore, investigate, and seek knowledge.

And as time passed, it was inevitable that someone would step over the line.

“Man, I’m bored. What do you say we punch the Moon?”
“The hell? Are you out of your mind?”
“No, listen—before, there was no reason to. But now?”

At Gregory’s suggestion, Dark Summoner turned to stare at the Moon as well.

He had a point.

What was once just a big, dead rock in the sky now felt alive—an entity, complete with a staring eye.

And for villains, there was always one primal urge—sadism.

The desire to torment, to destroy. Be it a person, an animal, society, nature—or even the Moon.

“So you’re saying… you want to hit the Moon?”
“Yep.”
“You’re insane. Let’s do it.”

The two villains reached an agreement.

Their plan was simple.

Gregory possessed monstrous strength capable of leveling buildings, and Dark Summoner could manipulate shadows to move through darkness. And space? That was darkness incarnate.

“Warm up. We’re doing this in one shot.”
“Got it.”

Gregory began twirling his arms, entering a state of self-induced hypnosis.

It didn’t mean anything, but through sheer belief—an ability unique to those with superpowers—his strength began to rise exponentially.

Once he’d gathered all the power he could handle, Dark Summoner warped them both into the void of space.

There, in the endless blackness, Gregory faced the enormous eye and threw a punch.

───!

There was no sound, but the way the eye trembled told them all they needed to know.

The force of Gregory’s strike had dented the surface and sent the eyelid quivering.

Grinning at his handiwork, Gregory wasted no time teleporting back to their hideout with Dark Summoner.

Alone in space, the Watcher’s Eye processed the attack.

「…Threat detected. Confirmed capacity to inflict critical damage.」

Of course, the Watcher’s Eye wasn’t defenseless.

Its massive body housed countless defensive systems, prepared to hold out until “they” arrived.

Whirrrrr—

The Moon began to move.

Its hidden side unfolded like the wings of an angel, revealing an arsenal of weapons assembled in its factories.

「Spatial displacement detected. Tracking—complete.」

Clunk.

Mechanical soldiers with rabbit-like ears marched out, row after row.

「Project Moonlit—activate.」

Click.

The Moonlit soldiers crouched down, using the lunar surface as their launchpad.

Hundreds—no, thousands—of mechanical units lined up, ready for deployment.

And then the Watcher’s Eye issued its command.

「Launch.」

The next moment—

Thousands of mechanical soldiers rocketed toward Terra.