Corrosion is a phenomenon originating from the eighth Genesis that occurs in Trails through Daybreak II.
Background[]
As a result of the eighth Genesis' ability to 'observe sin', it is capable of inducing an effect known as corrosion. This is typically visually characterised with a red crackling effect in a given area and those affected surrounded by numerous glowing red lines. The Gardenmaster uses this phenomenon to further his ambition of recreating the world according to how he thinks history should have progressed since the Calvardian Revolution.
Corrosion can alter the perception of the recipient through methods such as providing them with memories of events that did not happen or removing memories that did. Those affected commonly have bright crimson eyes. It is possible to spread corrosion, with one person affecting another who may then act as a further relay point. If the original individual who was corroded is brought back to their senses, the entire chain of corrosion will cease to be.
Other Genesis units can spread the corrosion effect by having a person retain possession of a Genesis. The events of the corrosions can be rejected as 'unwanted observations' by the Geneses, and it seems that when time leaps occur, the possessor of the Geneses retains any units acquired during that loop. Under certain circumstances, these observations can be made into reality should specific conditions not be met.
List of corrosions[]
Several corrosions take place over the course of Trails through Daybreak II:
- Swin Abel - Changed his loyalty to the Gardenmaster after "discovering" him to be Ace Rayne. As he apparently accepted his corrosion, it granted him extraordinary boosts in capabilities. However, the willing acceptance of the corrosion created a sort of contract between Swin and the Gardenmaster: if a discrepancy in the terms agreed upon (in this case, the terms being the idea that the Gardenmaster is Ace Rayne) crosses a certain threshold, then the corrosion will be completely released. As such, Swin's corrosion was broken after the Gardenmaster attempted to kill Nadia Rayne, something the real Ace would never do.
- Ashen Lu - Plotted to kill Van Arkride and Aaron Wei after believing they had killed Cao Lee. Several members of Heiyue were also affected, as were several members of Ikaruga, including Kurogane. Broken when the actual Cao turned up.
- Celis Ortesia - Believed Bergard Zeman had died as a result of residual damage inflicted by a curse Van passed onto him, and therefore sought to kill Van and free the world of his dangerous existence. Ashladd was also affected. It turns out that Celis allowed herself to be corroded to gain an opening on the Gardenmaster: with the corrosion at its peak, she used her Stigma to created a conduit to the Gardenmaster and attempted to strike him down through it, though she was unsuccessful. Afterwards, she released herself from the corrosion.
- Maxim Lugan - Corroded after Yumé told him Aslan had started dating Paulette, but was being abusive. Maxim plotted Aslan's death to protect Paulette and Yumé. Was broken after Yumé herself appeared and revealed the truth.
- Feri Al-Fayed - Corroded by removing her memories of the Arkride Solutions Office and making her believe they were Almata's last remaining collaborators, which would make them complicit in Aida's death. She sought to kill Van for his part in killing Aida along with several other members of the corps she had affected. Kasim Al-Fayed was also affected, but realized what was happening; nonetheless, he willingly let it run its course in order to help resolve Feri's corrosion. Risette Twinings was also amongst those affected with a group of Marduk Company security forces. Halle Coleman was also affected and believed that Van had killed King, her father, but was broken free after Jack Trevor revealed the truth about how King died. The corrosion led to an attack on the office that Arkride Solutions would only survive with a total of four Geneses. Broken when an apparition of Aida appeared to Feri, and prevented in the subsequent loop by not sending Feri and Risette to Kasim.
- The Scorpions of Zahat and Zecht Arms - Corroded in the alternate timeline in place of Marduk, Feri, and Risette. Van and the others stop them before they can bomb the office, thanks to Renne, Risette, and Quatre figuring out the Corrosion uses the Orbal Network which allows them to deal with them before they could reach the office.
- Cody McMillan - Corroded into acting against Roy Gramheart, starting as a coup against the Republic with the other members of Beta Squad of Hercules. Recreations of Zin Vathek and Kilika Rouran were created to take part in the operation as the originals were too strong to be corroded with the effect spread so thin across a plethora of people. Naje Berka and Esmeray Archette were also corroded and acted as relays for the corrosion, believing Sherid Asval worked with Roy Gramheart to launch a coup in Elsaim to kill Grand Prince Salman, in addition to planning to force Latoya Hamilton to mass produce nuclear weapons for them. Kaela McMillan, Alvis, and Geraint Reigar were also subject to this corrosion.
- An attempted corrosion by the Gardenmaster which affects everyone in at least Edith. Nadia is able to deliver the seventh Genesis to Agnès Claudel and the time leap triggered before the results of this corrosion can be seen, however. Judging from the Gardenmaster's plans, this may be the corrosion that brought about a different result to the Calvardian Revolution that he sought for. Prevented after the final time leap by going to the Vantail District before even the coup.
The Grendel Zolga's compulsion to follow the ambitions of the Gardenmaster may also count as corrosion. The corrosion effect appears when Zolga is present and is induced upon its targets such as the Hercules squad, who are swallowed by glowing red lines. In the English dub, Carmine Altera says "Shard corrode!" when transforming Zolga.
