《To Wake is to Weep》


 [The Coldest Winter] Chapter 0 - Before the Storm

    It was a rather quiet night for such a chaotic day. The young Paragons had successfully completed their fourth mission without any disturbances. Even if their contributions to ending the Decay were minimal, a step is still a step, even in a marathon.


    For Paul Ira Lyles, it was what he¡¯d always dreamt of. To be able to fight alongside his allies, like heroes. Despite the looming threat of the Decay, he still held onto such childish fantasies, and it did not matter to him what others thought, for his wishes were his own. Even if he only had met them months ago, Paul trusted them with his life.


    ( Tsk¡­ I feel like an overly-optimistic naive kid thinking about this, it¡¯s just great to see people happy even after the Decay )


    Compared to previous missions, this one went exactly as planned. While lives would normally be lost every time, they had managed to eliminate the threat before it could harm anyone.


    But of course, in the Decay, casualties and fatalities are inevitable. An unawakened individual is barely able to fend off an infant Folatr, nonetheless a hundred.


    Paul stood up from the plastic lawn chair placed in his room. The singular tall lamp by his bedside emitted a low, yellow light. The warm and cozy atmosphere had made the fatigue he had built over the day and mission wash over him like a wave.


    Falling onto his bed, he sluggishly shifted his body under the covers, sprawling out his arms and legs underneath it.


    <ul>


    <li>??</li>


    </ul>


    It was the end of June, I was graduating middle school.


    ¡°Paul Ira Lyles, please come up on stage.¡±


    A calm yet powerful voice ordered. It was my principal at the time.


    ¡°For achieving and maintaining the highest grade average, I hereby award you Valedictorian.¡±


    I was middle school Valedictorian.


    I stood there awkwardly on one side of the stage as the previous student walked off, having been awarded an Honour Role. I didn¡¯t know the guy, I only remember him for his crimson red hair, reflecting his soul colour.


    My parents cheered for me, the combination of parents and teachers gave me a short round of applause. My principal handed me two certificates, one for graduation, and the other for Valedictorian. I gave my short speech and my friends called out to me from the crowd. I then stood there with the principal as the cameraman took a photo. Supposedly, they send it to our parents, but apparently, no one has ever received one.


    I walked off stage as the next person was called on, a beautiful blonde haired girl with round blue eyes.


    It was around 4 pm when the Ceremony ended. I watched as my parents chatted happily in the front seat, my mother driving the car. I wasn¡¯t listening, but my father suddenly turned around and asked me,


    ¡°I always knew you had it in you. We¡¯re both really proud of you. We could never have asked for a better son. What do you want as a reward?¡±


    I expected my dad to briskly ask what I wanted as a reward, but he unexpectedly praised me. I did have something on my mind that I wanted to do, so I told him,


    ¡°Let''s go to the festival downtown!¡±


    My friends and I had planned to go there this afternoon as per our graduation. Even if the weather was terrible that day, I didn¡¯t want to drop our plans at the last minute, especially for the occasion. My mom turned her head slightly, enough to talk to me while keeping her eyes on the road.


    ¡°Sounds good, but how about we eat first?¡±


    As I still had time to pass, dad and I complied, and she started driving through a road I hadn¡¯t seen before. A giant smile slowly creeped up my face. Mom was bringing us to a hidden gem, it seemed. I didn¡¯t even know what food they sold, but whenever she brought us out to new places, it wouldn¡¯t disappoint.


    Looking up at the sky, I realized that the clouds were darker than earlier. Near pitch black even, like thunder clouds. I kept it to myself. Maybe my parents wouldn¡¯t notice and would still drop me off at the festival.


    ¡°Ah, that restaurant? It was where we had our first date, right?¡± My father asked my mother. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°So you still remember it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, it was our first date, I couldn¡¯t forget that.¡±


    ¡°So how about the time you forgot to be there when I was giving birth to our son?¡±


    ¡°Ahahah¡­ haha¡­ come on, that was 13 years ago¡­¡± my father laughed awkwardly.


    She¡¯s already done this numerous times. I guess my dad just got used to it. Surprised he remembered that, though. I fidgeted with my hands as my mom was verbally pressing down on my dad. It sounded heated, yet deep down felt fun to be part of. I secretly wondered to myself if I could get a girlfriend. I was kinda absorbed in the thought for a second before quickly swatting it away. It was a little embarrassing to think about afterwards.


    ¡°Huh? Why is it snowing in the middle of June?¡± My mom suddenly asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, what the hell? The weather man never gets the weather right, eh?¡±


    ¡°Quite joking, we just had a heat wave hours ago. What kind of weather are we having for this to happen?¡±


    ¡°I guess this is serious then¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course this is serious. When was the last time the weather shifted by 40 degrees in two hours? In the middle of the day?¡±


    My parents bickering went back and forth, my mom continuously shitting on my dad¡¯s responses. My dad was very expressive with his hand gestures, and while my mom was too, she was driving. Thus she obviously couldn¡¯t pick at my dad. He would be saved from her, but not the Decay.


    ¡°Holy! When d¡¯it turn into a snowstorm?!¡± My father questioned, bewildered by the sudden onslaught of snow.


    I looked out the window, immediately stopping my fidgeting. Indeed, there was a snowstorm with black clouds in the middle of June. No doubt everyone was surprised by it, as the cars ahead of us braked suddenly. My mom did the same in response.


    ¡°Woah! What¡¯s with these drivers?


    My mom exclaimed as she braked.


    I was launched forward a bit by the sudden brake, but my seat belt held me in place. I guess I finally knew its purpose. My dad was not so lucky, however. He didn¡¯t have his seatbelt on, so he was lightly launched into the windshield. As he hit the windshield head-first, he let out a small ¡®aGh¡¯, it was kinda funny, and a small grin creeped on my face. Looking out the windshield, the car in front of us had stopped in the middle of the road.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ just because there''s a once-in-a-lifetime weather event doesn¡¯t mean you suddenly lose YEARS OF EXPERIENCE!¡± My mom lashed in burning fury.


    My dad winced as he held his temple, shaking his head before taking his hand off.


    ¡°Hey¨C.. what if they¨C Wait, everyone else in front of them braked as well! Ya¡¯ think there was a bad car crash ahead or something?¡±


    ¡°Ehhh.. I guess that¡¯s reasonable.¡±


    Looking out of my window, I could see that the snow had accumulated a thin but growing coat on the ground. The whirring of the snowstorm blocked out most other noises, except for the ever increasing number of car sirens going off.


    Huh¡­?


    Are more people getting into an accident?


    Suddenly, I felt as if something was beckoning to me. A gut feeling stuck with me the longer I looked out the car window. I couldn¡¯t see far into the distance because of the snowstorm. But it felt like my vision was narrowing on something.


    Something I couldn¡¯t see.


    Something which hid behind the torrent in front of me.


    My eyes caught onto something, a weak glow.


    Then it leapt at me.


    ***


    Paul leapt backwards, hitting his head on the back wall. He was dripping with sweat, breathing heavily from the nightmare he had. He couldn¡¯t believe he had such a vivid dream of something he could barely remember, guessing that some, if not most of it, was fabricated.


    As his breathing slowed down and his racing heart calmed, Paul looked towards his window, covered by the curtains. The curtains concealed the dim cloud-covered sunlight which passed through his window. Noting it was surprisingly bright out that day, he was reminded of his dreams of seeing the clear blue skies once again.


    He shivered as he realized that his dorm was oddly chilly as compared to the previous day, maybe around 16 C*. cold for a conditioned building but not for the weather outside.


    A person knocking on his door garnered his attention, turning to face it. Said person called out to him. A honeyed male voice spoke from behind the door,


    ¡°Paul! Wake up, did you forget the important mission you had today? You''re already late, you know, it¡¯s 10:30 AM.¡±


    It was Yorius speaking, the director of the Institution. At its core, he is Paul¡¯s boss. Despite the age difference between them only being a year.


    ¡°ALRI¨C wait what?!¡±


    Paul quickly opened the door with a panicked expression on his face.


    ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s head out now.¡±


    He turned right and ran into the hallway before immediately being halted by Yorious grabbing his hood. Paul, without realizing it, continued running in place with determined fury written on his face.


    ¡°Ay, come on, I was just kidding. In fact, you woke up early. The meeting time is 10:15 yet it¡¯s only 7:45 AM.¡±


    ¡°WHA¨C Why¡¯d you¨C kuh¡­¡±


    ¡ª--

 [Set in Stone] Chapter 1 - Guardian of Stone

    Kyrie, Eleison. We are bound to this cold wasteland, by a will not thy own.


    <ul>


    <li>??</li>


    </ul>


    ¡°Where the hell am I¡­?¡±


    I had said to myself that day. My tattered winter coat shielded me from most of the cold, while my ignition bracelet kept me warm. I had somehow forgotten my scarf that morning, which I rarely ever do, especially since the Decay. It¡¯s usually not cold enough outside to have been a  problem for many, but I¡¯d been spending my entire day in the Decay, and that cold can eventually add up. Not that I¡¯m actually cold, but I have to channel more and more spirit to keep myself warm. It¡¯s not fun constantly draining lifeforce to simply stay warm.


    Oddly, I had been covered in snow earlier, with my entire coat hood packed with snow. This was despite the fact that it hadn¡¯t snowed since I left my home at what I assume was dawn. Now, it was probably evening, judging by how much darker the already black clouds had gotten since then.


    I suddenly feel that something is wrong with my location, like I¡¯m disoriented. I know I¡¯ve been here before, but it doesn¡¯t feel like it. I feel like it was the first time in my life being here, even though I¡¯ve traveled this route numerous times. Yet I feel like I¡¯ve repeated this moment a hundered times over. I haven''t sensed any abnormalities since last month, and even then there was only a singular infant Folatr. Elder Folatr¡¯s aren¡¯t really problematic for me either, I¡¯ve fought at least a hundred so it¡¯s nothing new.


    I¡¯ve lived out here in the Decay since before it froze over. I¡¯ve counted maybe¡­ four years since that day, though I may be wrong. The day when mine and everybody¡¯s lives went downhill. The snowstorm, now named the ¡®Decay¡¯ cut off all of our communications with the outside world, so I don¡¯t even know if there is hope outside of the Boundless Barrier.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    I take my mind off of the past and turn my head to the right, sensing what I felt earlier. I stare across the dull and dark tundra of white snowfall, the unchanging dark-black clouds building up suspense in my mind.


    I put my left hand on the longsword handle on my back. The blade shattered a while ago, so I just use it as a base for a stone sword. Like that little blond guy who just had a handle as his sword.


    Observing my surroundings, I can see a glowing outline of something around 20 meters away, coming from the ground, presumably a gas. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to see it without Soul Sight, the ability to see the Soul flow. For whatever reason the gas is here, it must be dangerous. I can¡¯t pretend like anything and everything WILL try to kill me out here in the Decay, even nature itself.


    And yet, nothing happens.


    Not a single sound, not a single vibration within the earth. The only thing I sense is my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. My legs having also gone slightly numb from the cold a little while ago, due to canceling the spirit channeling through the ignition bracelet in anticipation of a monster.


    *sigh¨C


    I breathe a sigh of relief, while a cloud from my breath appears, floats, and disappears in front of me. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m currently in the position to fight. I need to find out my location first. Whether or not I¡¯ve been here, I don¡¯t know the directions to my home from here. That is my current number one issue.


    I naturally follow my footsteps, of which I was once somewhere I recognized. But I can¡¯t seem to follow my tracks for more than ten steps. I somehow keep steering off-trail every time I lose focus. I feel¡­  delirious. Nauseous. Exhausted. I could have sworn I felt fine a few minutes ago¡­ why the hell am I¡­


    ¡°So damn¡­ tired¡­,¡±


    My thoughts are delayed alongside my physical responses. This is terrible. I have to get back home before I encounter anything like this.


    My vision narrows, I start to stumble, my breathing becomes unstable. What could be the reason for this? That damn gas¡­?


    Wait. If I could see it with soul sight, that means it was imbued with spirit, which means¡­ a living entity?


    A White Reaper.


    The thing that¡¯s affecting me right now must be its ability to produce a dangerous gas that causes various problems and symptoms. The gas it produces is basically just carbon monoxide, but oddly, it has a smell.


    That of shit.


    I wasn¡¯t able to pick it up earlier because it just started producing it seconds ago.


    Seeing a White Reaper in action beforehand really puts it into perspective as to how dangerous it is. I¡¯ve never actually encountered one before, but they seem terrifying enough by description to fear.


    To survive monsters like this, people have to have access to advanced technological weapons or Awaken as Originator, people who can cast their Spirit into the world.


    I try to calm and control my heart and mind.


    ( Yeah¡­ )


    ( ¡­ )


    ( It¡¯s¡­ not working )


    I simultaneously failed both. The unchanging clouds really didn¡¯t put any ease in my heart. This vastless and unchanging tundra truly made any sort of disturbance worthy of a heart-attack. Especially when such a dangerous creature could be crawling nearby.


    My heart beat rapidly as I continuously failed to control my bpm. Possibly more from the gas than fear. No, definitely from the gas. Puffs of my condensated breath appear in tandem with my heavy breathing. My shrouded mind constantly lost focus due to the poisonous gas it was constantly emitting. But why hadn¡¯t I seen it yet? I¡¯ve been going back-and-forth in my mind for quite a while now, and yet it still hasn¡¯t made an attempt to eat me. In my artificially induced panic attack, I hadn¡¯t noticed that I was unconsciously fidgeting with my [ Stone Ring ].


    Right then, the snow began sifting under my feet. My boots starting to sink into the snow below me. The puffs of my frozen breath cease to appear as I hold my breath in response to the threat.


    It¡¯s hiding underground, which is quite evident now.


    ( Welp¡­ I should make a move¡­ too. )


    I summon a stone slab directly underneath my feet and launch myself far into the air. Snow flies everywhere in a wave, majorly obscuring my vision of the ground as I fly upwards.


    As the Guardian of Stone, my abilities revolve around stone, with a few extra abilities alongside it.


    Anyways, while in the air, I pull out my broken blade from my scabbard with my left hand. Looking at this handle and shattered blade makes me think about why I carry such a useless item around. Sentimental value, I guess. Also because the grip feels much better than cold, hard stone.


    Using my stone manipulation, I slowly form a simple longsword blade building up from the handle. It moves like water crawling upwards before ceasing at the tip of the blade.


    Looking down at the stone slab and cloud of snow, I summon a stone block underneath my feet, and send it falling downwards towards my previous position.


    However, that action was completely useless, as the stone slab I jumped off had already hit the Reaper. Right after this stone block slammed against my previous slab, the White Reaper surfaces from the side in a cloud of snow.


    A giant squirming monster much like a worm, but significantly wider, jumps up at me by slamming its tail into the snow. Keep in mind, this is only a White Reaper, and not an Alpha or King.


    From what I can see, it has four red and webbed eyes. With two front bladed legs, like mantis claws but made of bone. And its muscular, dark beige tail, which displays black dots that run alongside the tail. These are actually holes, judging by the dark beige skin visibly torn around them. Its head is jagged with several rows of spike-like skin flaps and was also as white as snow ( aside from its tail ). It lacked legs and moved by slithering in the snow, like a snake. It¡¯s around 10 meters long, half that wide and half that tall. Its overall shape was a cone. It jumped by slamming its massive tail down, which is kind of breaking several laws of physics, but I¡¯m not the one to question such trivial things anymore. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Anyways, I summon another stone slab underneath me midair and crouch in preparation to jump. The slab tilts backwards in the direction I was moving, and I launch myself backwards, flying horizontally and slightly angled to the ground. Whilst still airborne, I raise my right hand above my head and summon a stone block. Its shape contorts like water for a split second before shooting out like a rocket, closing in towards my landing point.


    [ Crushing Wall 25% ]


    Four walls of stone appear from the same stone projectile and enclose an area far outside where I¡¯ll land. Using stone manipulation and memory command, I cause the four walls to close in, pushing and loosening the snow to soften my landing. Around 6 feet of snow gets in my landing point before I manipulate my stone walls underground.


    The rough landing left me in a daze for a second, but I managed to compose myself right after landing.


    I took out my gas mask from my satchel and placed the ear loops around my ears. It¡¯s necessary to clean these after every use. After putting my gas mask on, I looked up to where the Reaper was.


    Aaaaand¡­ it¡¯s right in front of me.


    [ Great Wall ]


    I summoned a small block in front of me, which immediately exploded into the shape of a wall. The split second it took to finish made it look like stone lego bricks crawling out into the shape of a wall. But without the studs.


    The Reaper crashed loudly into my stone wall, probably being injured in the process? I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m still on the gas. This stuff doesn¡¯t get out of my system instantly. It also changed my vocabulary a little. What an oddity. But since my gas mask is on now, I can concentrate just a little more than before. Since the gas was a massive handicap.


    I immediately summoned a pebble in my hand and threw it over the wall. As soon as it hits something, I¡¯ll shift positions between it and I.


    The pebble makes a quiet *tap, indicating to me that it hit the Reaper. I immediately shift positions with it, covering the pebble and I in bright purple light squares. Upon shifting, I stroke downwards in hopes of landing a hit.


    Turns out, the pebble landed on the wall, so my stone blade hit the top of the wall. The strike''s recoil sends a shock throughout my arm. I should have known it wouldn¡¯t make that sound if it hit softer flesh¡­


    I really didn¡¯t have my day going as I fell off the wall to where the Reaper had been. The clang  of my strike had caused it to react and begin circling the wall.


    Thankfully, my [ Regeneration Amulet ] finally activated, briefly showering me in a dazzling green light. This amulet is a Guardian Artifact, but it¡¯s currently damaged. I really need to find someone who could repair it, but it''s not like I¡¯ve met its creator in a really long while, some time over a year and half.


    Wait, the recoil was considered a major wound? No, it must be the gas. The amulet¡¯s always been delayed since I ventured into the Sarlato city alone, so it must consider the gas dangerous enough to activate.


    Aghhhhh¡­ I can finally concentrate now.


    The Reaper had fully circled around the wall, leaving clouds of snow behind it and was now approaching from my right hand side.


    I held my right arm up towards it and summoned a stone, the stone contorting like water before a stone pillar extends as fast as a bullet in the shape of a spear towards the Reaper. It''s one of my memory commands; [ Stone Spear ].


    It attempted to dodge my attack, but  [ Stone Spear ] was simply too fast for any creature of its size to succeed. The attack pierced the Reaper from mouth to tail, skewering it like a kebab.


    Its red blood shot out and sprinkled the snow behind it, tainting it the same blood red. And yet, it wasn¡¯t enough to kill it.


    Thankfully, my attack stunned it for more time than I needed.


    I snapped my fingers in my right hand, activating my [ Ignition Bracelet ]. My stone sword reacted and lit up into a bright red then an orange colour, of which it also emitted crazy amounts of heat.


    The blade let off steam as I dropped a pebble where I currently stood before I leapt at the Reaper.


    I sliced two of its eyes in one clean motion, followed up by an upwards slash, cutting its lower jaw clean in half. Some of it¡¯s blood splatters on my face and on my coat, immediately emitting steam and condensate. Now it didn¡¯t have the ability to devour me whole, or so I thought.


    It suddenly leapt at me by bashing its tail into the snow, while its claws closed in on me from both sides. Its ear-piercing shriek stunning me for a split second, splattering blood from its jaw wound in my face.


    I nearly got sliced into three pieces before I shifted between the pebble I had dropped beforehand. Bright purple squares envelop me  and the stone like a glitch effect as we shifted positions, the Reaper slicing the air where my previous position was.


    I¡¯m not going to give it any time to rest.


    Landing on my right foot, I looked back at it as it squirmed around, unable to ascertain my location due to slashing its eyes. That glorious crimson liquid¡ª blood, rolls down the Reaper''s jagged face, staining the pure white snow the brownish-red of blood.


    I¡¯m surprised it isn¡¯t some other colour, like green. It¡¯s not like I understand what makes blood different, but I¡¯d assume it would be different. I guess I¡¯m just bored of purple and red.


    The faint smell of iron, from all of the blood I spilled from the Reaper, fills my sense of smell through my gas mask. I probably shouldn¡¯t extend the fight any longer if this much airborne matter is passing through the mask.


    Using its blindness as my chance to eliminate the Reaper, I summoned and flicked a pebble directly above the Reaper and shifted positions with it, enveloping the pebble and I in glitchy purple squares, as always.


    Right after the shift, I threw a pebble down at it from above and summoned an enormous stone block above myself. Shifting between the thrown pebble, I stabbed the Reaper¡¯s head, attempting and successfully keeping it under the falling block. Stabbing my blade into its head, I drag my blade through its flesh from the head, to the body, and all the way to the base of its massive dark beige tail.


    Despite this, it was somehow still alive and moving with several major injuries. I could see a chunk of its brain fly past me. The steam of its evaporating blood and condensed breath covered both our surroundings, it and I. The same reaction with the blood on my face, with more blood splattering onto me.


    I struggled to hold onto it a little as it squirmed around viscously, trying to shake me off of its body. More of its blood is showered everywhere the harder I hold onto it, including more rended pieces of its flesh and organs.


    I remember the stone block I summoned and look up while removing my blade from the Reaper¡¯s flesh. The stone block is less than half a second away from impact. Before I could get crushed by my own attack, I shift with the giant block, leaving me standing atop of the block as it crushes the Reaper underneath.


    *Splat


    A loud splat sound rang out for a split second.


    The White Reaper¡¯s blood is showered in a massive wave around me, landing on and tainting the snow that familiar brownish-red of blood. The area covered is nearly twice as large as the Reaper was long.


    Wow¡­ that was really weak though. I thought I would be facing something that would be a challenge to me. I guess it is why it''s the lowest tier White Reaper after all.


    I didn¡¯t have to activate blood fusion, any advanced techniques, and only used one artifact¡­ I basically killed that mf in my base form. How pathetic. All that hyperventilation for nothing. I even managed to think it was smart. That thing was dumb as a monkey. ¡­Monkeys are surprisingly smart.


    Oddly, I didn¡¯t hear any of its bones breaking, so it possibly had a cartilage skeleton. Maybe it was like a shark moving through water, but instead it was snow?


    The smell of blood and various other bodily fluids suddenly penetrates my gas mask and into my nose. It¡¯s something I have to smell everytime I kill another living being. It¡¯s not the killing that I mind, but the smell. It isn¡¯t actually unbearable, just that I can¡¯t handle it well, even after hundreds of kills.


    *HUfFHuhUHHff


    Never mind. The smell is genuinely unbearable.


    I leaned forwards and forcibly exhaled out of reflex, coughing up a terrible noise into my mask. The stench of internal organs is much more prevalent in monsters than in humans, but this one was significantly worse. It smelled like what I assume is a full breath of those ammonia things. It gave me a near equivalent adrenaline rush from our previous battle.


    I fall backwards on my butt into a sitting position with my hands behind me as I take deep breaths of the cold air through my mask, the smell now lessened by the faint winter winds of the Decay that are currently murmuring in my ears.


    The stone block I sit atop of will stay here after this battle, like all my stones do.


    I stand up and hop off the stone block onto compact snow. Though my vision is blocked by that temporary flash of dark colours due to standing up too fast.


    Come to think of it, why was this one here? Usually they came in pairs, but there was only one here, especially odd as it was far from the nearest White Reaper nest. Did something kill its partner, or something else? Whatever, there are much bigger things to worry about now.


    I looked down to my left hand, the one wielding my blade. It had started cooling down; slowly shifting from bright orange to a glowing red. Wisps of steam float around and off the sword, the same as the blood on my face. It looked like a weapon slowly cooling while being forged by a blacksmith, the winter cold slightly accelerating its cooling process. I don¡¯t know why, but looking at this after every battle is soothing, reminding me of my old friends¡­ somehow¡­


    I hop off the massive stone block, departing eastward. After a few minutes, I take off my gas mask and identify a marker I had built a few months prior. This was the landmark I failed to recognize before. Walking up to the monument, it kind of looks like some ominous statue that would be a cliffhanger for the end of a story. Like an angel descending to bring upon judgment to the world. Coulda sworn I didn¡¯t add eyes to it¡­

 [Set in Stone] Chapter 2 - What is power if it is not your own?

    Tied to life a thousand times to see this brittle world shatter.


    ***


    The soft crunch of snow under my feet and the shifting of fabric were all I could hear. The clouds were incomparably darker than earlier, of which they were now nearly entirely black.


    Wowie. Look, it¡¯s my house.


    A seemingly normal, western styled house sits alone in the frozen wasteland of the Decay. It is constructed nearly entirely out of stone, and it has no windows, as if I could find a perfectly intact glass pane. I just go OUTSIDE if I want to look at this miserable wasteland. There¡¯s also a long table outside with six stone chairs alongside it. I don''t know why I constructed it, but I guess spending a year and a half alone in a place with the shittiest colour palette possible takes a toll on my mind. Even if it¡¯s my mental we¡¯re talking about.


    Like, at least the monsters have different colouring. My Stone Guardian abilities match the white and black colour schemes of the entire Decay. It¡¯s not something flashy like lightning and nor ignition, so I don¡¯t even get a light source of any kind. My soul colour is gray-turned-black, so my Stone naturally shifted alongside it. Soul colour isn¡¯t supposed to change, but the Decay works wonders¡­ and catastrophes.


    My stone could have been blue or a glistening green¡ª never mind those are weird¡­ But I got dark gray¡­ or just black¡­ It doesn¡¯t shine or produce light, it¡¯s just gray. My only flashy guardian abilities are shifting and blood fusion. Blood fusion makes me pass out after every usage though~¡­


    Eehhh¡­ I''ve been ranting too long, how does my Stone Guardian powers work any? And what''s the context behind my situation, or the condition of Entoria in general? I¡¯ll share all I know at the moment, starting with Entoria.


    ***


    Four years ago, it was like any other day. As it was June, school had just ended for some kids. Some uni and college kids were planning their vacation times over the summer. I had been sitting on a bench in some random park.


    Then, at noon of said day, dark clouds rolled over the skies over Entoria.


    It seemed just like any other day. Most people thought that it was mere rainclouds, possibly with thunder.


    I was no different. Even as an awakened individual at the time, my carefree nature had hindered my doubts into not even considering the slightest bit of danger.


    I had begun walking to where I was staying at the time when those clouds completely covered the sky. Others had noticed it too, and made the same decision. Some people started to speed up, while others took cover in public infrastructure.


    Then¡­ it began to snow.


    Not rain, not thunder, snow


    The wind picked up, snow fell from those dark clouds which were nearly black. It was a snowstorm in the midst of summer. I paid no heed to this, and continued walking to my destination. The ambient air temperature had begun to rapidly descend. Snow that touched the floor melted instantly.


    A single high-pitched shriek captured my attention. I turned my head back for the first time, finally realizing that this ¡®event¡¯ was possibly worth my attention. Only then did the gears in my head start spinning.


    I was alone.


    And a grotesque frog-like monster leapt at me.


    That was the first appearance of the ¡®Folatr¡¯s¡¯, the trademark monster of Decayed Entoria.


    Those same monsters ( and others ) would wipe out 98% of Entoria¡¯s population within a single year.


    During that time, the survivors had begun to undergo Awakenings,


    I myself was one of these people who managed to awaken this so-called ¡®Origination¡¯ even before Entoria Decayed. Due to it being a recent discovery, the concept itself lacked information. As such, the people of Decayed Entoria had to discover the capabilities and limitations surrounding the power, while also struggling with survival.


    As to why we didn¡¯t just leave the nation¡­


    The Boundless Barrier.


    What once made Entoria the safest nation in our Asylum.


    An invisible barrier made to defend the nation from the onslaught of foreign bioweapons, especially during a WW3 type scenario.


    While I have no idea how it exists, it works. The barrier encompasses every millimeter of the country''s borders whilst extending out into the sea all the way to the south of island province Quoi Pass¨¦.


    I would have just torn the barrier in two if it weren¡¯t for the fact that it negates any form of Soul Manipulation, and is physically resistant too.


    The Barrier was so.. eerie, the last time I saw. It looked like how light contorts in extreme heat . Before the Decay happened, people simply accepted that the Barrier functioned. But the more I learn the secrets about this world, the more the Barrier confuses me.


    That¡¯s a brief summary of the situation here in Entoria. But what piqued your interest probably isn¡¯t the history, but the ability to cast our souls upon the world.


    Origination is the ability to cast our souls into reality. It was widespread in ancient times, but faded into obscurity, turning into mere fairytales until those six years ago.


    As of now, most ancient information about Origination was lost in the Isle of Storm ¡®Downfall Virus Outbreak¡¯, and the ¡®Red Death¡¯ of the U.B.P.


    To elaborate, Originators need two different things to operate, their Soul and Spirit. ¡®Soul¡¯ and ¡®Spirit¡¯ are two different things. Spirit is like mana, it¡¯s the energy we Originators use to impose and imbue our soul into reality. Soul is predictably our soul, or core. It produces, stores, and articulates spirit.


    Spirit is also a form of life force or vitality, so it has to be maintained alongside the body. Spirit gradually recharges overtime, though people do have different regeneration rates.


    As for the logic behind Origination, there isn¡¯t conclusive research on the topic. But it seems like we summon our Soul into the real world to use it as listed below.


    The way Originators can summon their spirit are generally split into two categories. There are; ¡°Imposement¡±, and ¡°Imbuement¡±.


    The first is ¡®Spirit Imposement¡¯, the ability to impose one''s soul onto the world. This group of Originators, contrary to Imbuement, are capable of releasing their spirit from their bodies. This makes them capable of techniques such as L?slatelse and Armour. Our primary fighting style would be something close to using arcane, blasting off energy blasts. Think of us like mages.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Imposed Spirit looks like a glowing energy in Soul Colour.


    Imposement types are capable of becoming Guardian¡¯s by finding and Soul Binding themselves with a Guardian Core.


    My personal and unique imposition is¡ª¡­


    Nevermind.


    I¡¯m saving it for when I encounter that imposter again.


    The second is ¡®Spirit Imbuement¡¯, the ability to imbue one¡¯s soul into physical matter. This group of Originators, contrary to Imposement, are capable of making their spirit flow through physical matter. This grants them the ability to use techniques such as Strengthening and Uknuselig. Their primary fighting style is to augment their own body so that they can fight hand-to-hand. Think of them like swordsmen.


    Imbuement makes objects have a glowing vein or thunder-like appearance in Soul Colour.


    Imbuement types are capable of becoming Wielders by finding and Soul Binding with a Spirit Catalyst weapon.


    Now back to me.


    I¡¯m an Imposement type caster turned Guardian. My guardian ability is to summon and manipulate stone, with the added ability of being able to shift positions between my creations.


    First of all, Stone Summoning.


    It¡¯s self explanatory. I can summon stone and choose its size depending on how much spirit I channel into the ability. I can¡¯t summon the stone more than a fingers-length away from me, and I need empty space to summon it, so I can¡¯t summon stone inside objects.


    Second of all, Manipulation.


    This one needs a little explanation. Basically, I can manipulate the shape of the stone I summon into whatever I want. Shaping it slowly leads to two different stone durabilities. If I mold it quickly, it will have the stone''s normal hardness and brittleness. If I take my time, the stone will be of higher quality. It will be glossier, harder, less brittle and more angular.


    My stone is spirit conductive, and I believe that¡¯s how I can manipulate it.


    To note, I can only manipulate one stone at a time no matter the size.


    The second part of my stone manipulation is telekinesis.


    I am able to telekinetically manipulate my summons, much like how ESPers use telekinesis. There is no limit to how many stones I can telekinetically control.


    Third and last but not least, Shifting.


    I can shift my physical position between any of the stones I have summoned. In other words, teleportation. The spirit consumption is minimal up until about 1 km of distance, where there''s a major bump in spirit consumption. It¡¯s a constant, not a change in scaling so it¡¯s not problematic.


    There are a few other important things to mention. One such extra is ¡°Memory Command¡± and another is ¡°Artifact Creation.¡±


    Memory Command is when you have used your spirit in the same way so many times that it is engraved onto your soul.


    While it normally takes a bit of time to articulate your spirit, Memory Command makes it instinctual. Just give it a name when in progress, and you¡¯ll instinctually cast it when the command comes to mind.


    It¡¯s basically my moveset.


    These Memory Commands are the building blocks of Artifacts.


    Artifact Creation is the process of creating a spirit imbued item.


    Artifacts are created by messing up a Memory Command and condensing the released spirit into a spirit conducting object. It¡¯s basically impossible to shape it, so I usually use some kind of mold, like condensing it around a stone ring or charm. These artifacts contain the Memory Command itself, so when spirit is passed through, it causes the activation of said Command.


    Protector and Guardian Artifacts are, while not much different at first glance, completely different. While a Protector Artifact may be given a memory command, Guardian Artifacts allow the user to harness a Guardian¡¯s power, usually with a cooldown and activation requirement. Protector Artifacts have the advantage of reliability, while Guardian Artifacts have the advantage of power and versatility.


    An example of a Protector artifact would be Maria¡¯s Wolf Rune, with the activation simply being ¡®Arise¡¯, its only limitation being Soul formation and Spirit reserves. While a Guardian artifact like Hiro¡¯s Ignition Bracelet is activated by a snap of the finger, has a lengthy cooldown, scales by willpower, is hard to control and can easily injure an inexperienced user.


    I used to burn my hand when I set my sword ablaze, but at some point I learned how to phase the flame through my blade. As if I was intertwining strings together.


    If an artifact is damaged, some parts of its normal capabilities will decrease.


    Oh, and about the difference between Guardian souls and normal souls¨C is that they¡¯re two different souls. A person becomes a Guardian by Soul Binding and overpowering the Soul inside the core. There are no known repercussions of obtaining the power, aside from the risks of binding with another Core.


    Since Guardian cores need to be manually binded, one can carry one or several at once. It¡¯s how I can carry the Wrath Core on hand.


    Soul Colour is predetermined, which dictates your soul, rarely hair and in even rarer cases eye colour. Soul colour is completely unique to each individual, with no two identical souls. Though there can be similarities, as there aren¡¯t exactly new colours, so some souls may appear to have the same colour. To know one''s soul colour, the individual either has their hair dyed their soul colour, or have some sort of Originator-esque abilities. However, some Soul colours don¡¯t exist, such as black and white. Apparently I¡¯m an exception to this. I have and have always had black and white gradients ( ??? ) ( it¡¯s not gray i swear ) as my soul colour.


    The very colours that are not meant to exist within the soul colour spectrum.


    That¡¯s about the only cosmetic feature that matters to the power system. Since my SC is special, it may hold other secrets, but I¡¯ve never been able to figure that out.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯ve cooperated with certain trusted people to uncover the metrics behind our power, so that we can defeat that¡­ ¡®Moribund Monarch¡¯ one day.


    ***


    Decayed Entoria is really dark. Not just metaphorically, but physically dark. The sky is always near black, but the white snow makes things slightly more visible.


    Lifting my head up to the sky, I notice that it is as dark as always. The dark-gray and black clouds contrast each other heavily, with each dark cloud remaining separated. The outlines of each cloud contrast and cover each other, forever blocking the sun from shining down on Entoria.


    Since it was much warmer than normal that day, I had walked home instead of warping. The crunching sounds of snow under my feet and wisping of the wind in my ears are all that I hear treading through the desolate winter cold.


    The faint outline of my house in the distance slowly gets bigger. It¡¯s the familiar sight of home that I see everyday. While not particularly special, it¡¯s the only place I can consider myself safe; alone in my house.


    When I reach where a front door would normally be, there is instead a stone wall, of which I dismantle and enter through. Walking through the stone doorway, I take off my boots, right then left, before holding them outside and smacking them against each other to shake off any snow before placing them on the floor beside the entrance.


    Before taking off my coat, I replace the previously dismantled stone wall and hang my coat on a hook on said wall before walking over to my fireplace.


    The fireplace right here is my house''s source of warmth and light. The ignition bracelet doesn¡¯t exactly do anything when I stop sending spirit through it. So when I get home, I start a fire. I usually burn inedible monster parts for the fire, because naturally occuring dry-wood is nonexistent here.


    Wait a minute¡­ I burn monster corpses. Why didn¡¯t I?¡ª


    Damn...


    I left the Reaper corpse behind.


    ¡­I guess I was still on the gas. I¡¯ll just go get it tomorrow.


    Having a vague plan set for tomorrow, I¡¯ll just eat and go to sleep now. I was going to work around some of my house''s systems but I can save it for another day.


    Putting these useless thoughts aside, I grab a piece of wood grown with my Nature guardian artifact and throw it into the fireplace. With my left index finger pointed at it, I snap with my right hand and a beam of fire shoots out of my finger, setting the wood ablaze.. I then form a stone cage around it, so that I don¡¯t accidentally trip and fall into the fire pit again.


    After which, I walk over and stumble into the singular red sofa chair a little distance away from the fireplace, enough for the warmth of the fire but not for the heat. The fire and its surroundings cast a heavy shadow, accentuated by the very same cage I had built to cover it. It''s my only source of light during darker days and even darker nights.


    After making myself comfortable in said chair, I sit and stare at the fire. As I listen to its occasional crackle of the fire, I rest my head against my fist, being put at total ease.


    The fire and its warmth are hypnotizing, as I slowly and silently doze off into sleep.

 [SET IN STONE] Chapter 3 - Reaping the Reaper

    Rocks fall down a path tread by death and sully embers.


    ***


    I opened my eyes to the faint daylight of cloudy skies reaching down my chimney, and could feel the chilly morning cold due to the fire running out of wood. Like clockwork, the blaringly loud noise of an alarm clock starts buzzing on my nightstand. I cover both of my ears, close my eyes and try to lay back down to sleep again, just to realize that I¡¯d been sleeping on a sofa chair and not my bed.


    I don¡¯t even own an alarm clock. What the hell is making that sound anyways?


    I slowly open my eyes again and take my hands off my ears to witness that same faint daylight in my chimney. I sluggishly place my blanket to the side, stretch my arms and legs while a yawn at the same time. After which, I stood up from the sofa to immediately re-light the fireplace to warm up my abode once again. At this I felt the ache in my legs from sleeping upright, but just decided to ignore it and figure out what was making that noise.


    It appeared to be coming from my room, as the closer I got to the door, the more clearly I could hear it. With a heavy heart, I open my bedroom door to find a mass of green glowing energy, the source of the noise, with two pairs of yellow eyes staring back at me.


    Ohhh, it¡¯s ¡®dog¡¯.


    Yes, ¡®dog¡¯ is his name. I¡¯ll figure out his name later. God¡­ I always say that.


    I walk over and crouch down in front of him and pat his head, of which the alarm clock buzzing halts subsequently. ¡®Dog¡¯ can mimic sounds perfectly, but I¡¯ve never had an alarm clock, so it¡¯s as if he had had a previous owner or some sort.


    I¡­ forgot to feed him when I got back home, so that¡¯s probably why he¡¯s making such sounds. I passed out right after I started the fire, so I hadn¡¯t eaten nor showered since last night either. Obviously a mistake on my end, so I¡¯ll prepare¡­ something, for both him and I.


    I put my boots on and exit from the gateway¡­ doorway¡­ I guess it¡¯s a secret passage. As I step onto the steps of my house, I feel a wave of light cold on my face and through my longsleeve shirt. I don¡¯t need to wear my jacket, since I¡¯ll only be out here for a minute or two. It¡¯s still ¡®summer¡¯ anyway, warm enough to not immediately repulse upon the cold.


    *thud, thud, thud


    My boots consecutively thud as I step down stone.


    *crunch, crunch, crunch


    Light snowfall crunches beneath me.


    It¡¯s surprisingly bright out today in spite of the familiar encompassing cloudline, now gray instead of black. I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s June, so the sun must be high up in the sky, beyond the clouds and skyline of this god forsaken tundra.


    I¡¯d love to see the sun again someday.


    I and other survivors have adjusted and accepted the fact that as long as the Decay exists, we won¡¯t ever see the sun again. That¡¯s why people continue to fight on and become stronger to redeem our past failure at the Liberation War.


    A lot of the remaining survivors are adolescents or children. While not visible at first glance, most of them are mentally ill or of the sort. It¡¯s a given for the children though. Most of them are orphans who lost their parents either when the Decay began or the Liberation war. Not that I know of their conditions, of course. I¡¯ve been living here in desolate Korguire for a year and a half now.


    When I look down at the snow as I tread around to the back of my house, I can barely make out the faint blue reflection that the snow gives off. Yet the further into the distance I look, the more apparent it becomes, until it looks like water. It cuts off as a shade of ice blue on the horizon, where I can once again see only the white clouds that condemn us to Decay in frost.


    The crunch of snow stops as I reach a large stone box, a few feet taller than myself. I manipulate the stone to form an entrance in the box, revealing several hanging corpses suspended by white ropes stained red by blood.


    Sorry, I meant the monster meat I¡¯ve been storing in here. This box is basically just an outdoor freezer.


    The unusually bright day lets me see the meat hanging in the back and more meat stored on stone shelving on both sides of the freezer room. Most of the shelving on the left is empty, while the right side has some spread out. Most of my rations are hanging from said ropes, so I make a cleaver out of stone in my left hand and cut a chunk of ribs off of some random monster''s ribcage ( probably a Folatr ). The rib chunk falls and almost touches the ground, but I narrowly catch it before so. I had cut off 4 ribs out of 26, yet this amount alone on its short side is as wide as the length of my forearm.


    I couldn''t possibly eat this much in one meal, so I save the extra for later or when I know for sure I can¡¯t finish what I¡¯m cooking, I turn it into Folatr jerky. It tastes¡­ acceptable, but it activates my Alchemy Amulet for the strength buff.


    Since I had everything I needed, I walked back onto the sunless tundra, cold and desolate, and traced my steps to the front of my house. Before I turn the corner, I turn back and throw the stone cleaver in my hand into the freezer room. Right as it¡¯s in the doorway, I lift my hand and manipulate the stone into a wall once again, the cleaver assimilated into said wall.


    I turn my head forward and walk around the corner of my house. Snow crunches underneath my boots as I turn another corner, the front steps of my house entering my vision once again.


    I enter my house from the steps, take off my boots and walk over to the kitchen to the right of entering the house.


    I placed the ribs into the oven dish I had placed on my counter beforehand. Before I put the lid on the dish, there are three little steps.


    First, it always had to be the seasoning. Nothing interesting, just salt, black pepper and some mysterious herbs grown from the Guardian of Nature artifact,


    Second, I wrap the ribs in aluminum foil. Aluminum foil is far more common when looting than I¡¯d ever had imagined, I have like six rolls in spare.


    Third, I heat the stone oven I made. I opened the bottom cabinet ( which I modified to be fire resistant ) which has firewood in it. Using my ignition bracelet, I fine tune the amount of fire to heat the oven to 215C* ( 420F* ).


    As soon as I deactivate the artifact, I pull my hand away to avoid burning my finger.


    I haven¡¯t eaten or made something like this in a while, but the last time I ate it I was pissed about how dirty my hands were, so I¡¯m using a fork this time.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ***


    This is fine.


    The food tasted exactly as I expected it to, since I didn¡¯t do anything special with it. Also, it was a little. chewy


    My dish was ? of those ribs, ? rice, and ? of these vegetables I can grow from the Nature Guardian Artifact.


    To describe what Folatr meat normally tastes like, it would be something like bitter beef. Despite being frog shaped, their bone structure is more similar to a cow.


    ¡®Dog¡¯ must still be hungry, so I grab my plate and walk over to my bedroom. He¡¯s sitting patiently in the doorway, the glowing mass of energy in the shape of a dog, all of his innumerable pure lamp-yellow eyes on me. I stop in front of him, I squat down low enough where my hand and his head are at the same height. As I tilt the plate in his direction, the mass of energy I assume to be his mouth expands while the bones on the plate fall and disappear within the abyss.


    His mouth presumably closed and he shut all of his innumerable eyes at once while tilting his head. I swear, he formed a smile with that green energy. RIght then, I could see a wave of near white energy pulsating throughout his body for a second.


    Oh, and to be clear, he can take up any shape he likes. It seems that he prefers the dog shape though.


    In my house, he is the only other source of light beside fire. A sort of light I could find solace in.


    ¡°Solace¡­¡±


    That¡¯s a nice name. I¡¯ll name you that.


    Solace.


    My solace after almost losing everything thrice.


    To find solace within the failure I am.


    I smiled to myself silently when I named Solace. He probably didn¡¯t even notice nor care, but I did.


    It¡¯s not like I lost anything of personal value when the Decay began¡­ did I?


    My legs were getting tired from sitting in that squat position and my arm was getting tired holding the plate upright, so I got up silently and walked over to my sink and simply dropped the plate in to clean up later. It makes a clunk sound when it touches the bottom. I ran out of weak paper plates a while ago, the ones I¡¯d found after the 3,5 year mark had started deteriorating, so I use these¡­ plastic plates? I think they are. The fancier kind, if that¡¯s a thing.


    I rinsed my hands and dried them off. I didn¡¯t shower after the gory battle last night, so I hopped in the shower, turned it on, bore with the cold for a bit and had a nice, long hot shower.


    ***


    Here it is¡­


    The ol¡¯ White Reaper corpse I forgot to harvest.


    I shifted here with a stone I had summoned during the battle right after I prepared everything necessary. Changing from a dark gray sweatshirt and black sweatpants to a different pair of the exact same general description. Wearing the same dark-gray oversized coat, of course.


    It may seem a little thin to keep me warm, but I have the ignition bracelet on me, so the cold is negligible.


    In front of me lies the deceased white reaper from yesterday¡¯s encounter, squashed by the massive stone block, around 4.5 meters in all parameters. That¡¯s around triple the average person''s arm span.


    ¡°Now, to take what I need~¡±


    Ugh¡ª that was a little too expressive¡­ But it doesn¡¯t really matter who sees me now, no? Slurring my lines, it''s a little too unlike me.


    Now back on task.


    The real problem here is that I crushed it with a massive stone block to finish the battle, and now it is mostly crushed. To get the heavy block off the reaper, I summon a pebble in my hand and throw it a little ways away and shift the pebble and heavy stone block between each other, bathing both in glowing purple glitch effect for a split second.


    What lies in the purple light''s wake is the corpse of the white reaper. It was squashed by the block yesterday, but it seems to not have been flattened.


    Good. That means that I¡¯ll be able to retrieve useful material from this. Though with the block off of it¡¯s corpse, the bloody snow and frozen blood splattered over a wide area is much more apparent.


    The amount of salvageable material is questionable, but I don''t have the liberty to be picky. There are 4 things I want to harvest from this; the muscle, liver, a special part of its tail and the organ possibly behind the sleeping gas. The tail and sleeping gas organ aren¡¯t for myself, they will serve another purpose.


    To start, I very slowly manipulate a stone in my hand. The stone starts sprouting out of my grasped hand of where the handle would be and slowly crawls outward from base to tip of a sleek hunting knife, slightly sharper than what I think a normal hunting knife would be. The only discernible detail is the separation of handle and blade.


    I play around with the knife a little bit to adjust to it, flourishing it a bit and mimicking dissection in the air.


    Then I salvage the organs I need.


    Muscle: Enough to be considered retrieved.


    Liver: Damaged, salvaged.


    Tail: Intact, retrieved.


    Special Organ: Unknown, unretrieved.


    After carving out around a dozen kilos/26 pounds of flesh, a quarter of its liver and the special part of its tail, I summon a stone and manipulate it underneath the butchered parts. Once all of the parts are on the stone, I incase it by manipulating the stone into a box.


    Following this, I shift the box with the contents inside all the way back home with a pebble left a few meters outside my house. I do the same, shifting in the glowing purple glitch effect.


    Instead of shifting beside the box I sent, I shifted with a pebble a little further away from my house. Just a couple dozen meters, nothing special. From my position, I could see the box containing the raw meat I stored in at my front door. As I walked over, I could once again hear the snow crunch under my boots, leaving my footprints behind. Other than that, it was totally quiet due to there being no wind that day.


    Once I get close to the box and my home, I telekinetically lift the box and walk around to the back side of my home with the box held on the outer edge while I walk on the side close to my house.


    I reach the stone storing room and similarly open up a doorway for myself. I manipulate the stone box I¡¯m lifting, letting the meat fall in like a funnel as the box gradually folds into an upside-down cone like shape. I seal the cone and practically throw it through the doorway into the storehouse.


    After that, I summon a pebble in my hand to shift with a rope ( which I could shift because it was touching one of my summoned stones ) into my hand. I walk into the storehouse and telekinetically lift the cone shaped container to me.


    By using my telekinesis and stone manipulation conjointly, I tie the various pieces of bloody meat to the stone trusses I made on the roof specifically for this purpose.


    This time, I shifted into my house with a pebble on the inside of my doorway. I walk to the bathroom and after messing with the plumbing system, I wash my hands.


    Just to be clear, I didn¡¯t make the plumbing system myself or anything. I kind of just dug up a working one and ran with it.


    Now, to resume what I was trying to do yesterday.


    I¡¯m going out and venturing into Rochefell, a mountainous region out North-Eastward, where my info leads me to an old, abandoned MOTF base. MOTF is a lucrative bioengineering company based in Entoria which essentially dismantled a short while after the Decay despite their technology.


    They were originally Entoria¡¯s main biomechanical weapons engineer and manufacturer, which meant it created Pasalana¡¯s and various robots. While I¡¯m investigating the place more-so due to my past with them, it''s mostly for Marsh¡¯s research.


    After grabbing the necessary supplies for the journey, I shifted near the White Reaper once again. A reg bag slung over my shoulder alongside my satchel. I walked around the White Reaper to face the tall, gray mountains covered in occasional bits of snow. These mountains, while quite intimidating, were for the most part trivial to me. I don''t need to worry about Solace. I left a bunch of old bones out for him to eat.


    I took a deep breath and exhaled, making a puff of my frozen breath appear in front of me. My face softened and my eyes grew a little wider than they usually do. Holding the strap of the red bag on my right shoulder and my left hand over my satchel, I embark towards those perilous mountains ensuite of the truth behind those words uttered to me that day.

 ???

    There used to be a house I once lived in.


    It was like a mansion, it was luxurious, only for the elite.


    But when I try to remember it, something seems different.


    A purple glow illuminates this house, and my vision is distorted by sparkles and reality seems to glitch like a game.


    Before I knew it, the house started to crumble, decaying underneath me.


    I fell into the darkness, and landed on a soft, delicate flooring.


    When all was said and done, I found myself in a white, padded room.


    There were 3 doors, each with different numbers labeled on each of them.


    I reached out toward the door which was marked ¡®1¡¯.


    The door creaked open, reducing the number to ¡®0¡¯, and behind it a bright light blinded me.


    Then, like shattered glass, I saw the fragmented memories of people.


    Shards of glass which reflected people I had met before.


    Carved into stone, encased in ice, a snowy mountain, a blinding light, gray eyes, turn to midnight.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    That was when it occurred to me.


    Gathering the hopes into one, I marched forward one last time.


    My life served only one purpose.


    And to serve that purpose¡­


    ¡­


    I


    M


    U


    S


    T


    W


    A


    K


    E


    U


    P


    F


    R


    O


    M


    T


    H


    E


    N


    I


    G


    H


    T


    M


    A


    R


    E


    I


    H


    A


    V


    E


    C


    R


    E


    A


    T


    E


    D


    .

 [ SET IN STONE 4.1 ] Abyss in Olympus

    Holding the strap of the red bag on my right shoulder and my left hand over my satchel, I embark towards those perilous mountains ensuite of the truth behind those words uttered to me that day.


    ***


    I ended up bringing Solace with me.


    With Solace, a green ball of fire floating at my side, I trek at a minor upwards incline, following an old highway that¡¯s cut into the north side of a mountain. The way it was made leaves the south side as a mere rock wall while the northern side is opened up to be able to view the other mountains, like a window. There are concrete pillars every couple dozen of meters on the right side to support the structure.


    This coverage has made it rather untouched by the torrents of snow which plagued Korguire during the Primordial Storm, letting me see the old asphalt highway, making the yellow and white lines more visible than anywhere else. The only snow there is here is the angled pile near the edges where there''s a lack of cover, unprotected by the mountains.


    The whirring of wind can¡¯t reach me in here because of the aforementioned reasons, so I can lessen the power of my ignition bracelet. However, the pillars and the carved out highway make the wind whip against them in a very peculiar way, making some unusual sounds.


    My map has the lab marked down in this region, about 20 km north-east from my current location. Unfortunately, the pre-Decay L485 highway only reaches within 8 km of the facility. It¡¯s obviously this far out from the nearest public road to conceal its existence, which is even more evident by the area¡¯s topography.


    Like I described earlier, I¡¯m currently in RocheFell, a mountainous plateau plagued by frequent landslides, making it difficult to inhabit the region, save for a few animals like birds. Despite this, her info dump suggests that the facility is located at the bottom of a valley, rather than in the middle or close to peak.


    A very risky place to host such a vital research station. Maybe there is something hidden there that no one is aware of?


    Well, I¡¯ll figure it out when I get there.


    ***


    Approx: 3 hours later


    I¡¯ve reached within 8 km of there.


    The same window-like holes to the north are still present.


    It¡¯s deathly quiet for the most part compared to earlier, it seems the wind stopped blowing.


    The view into the far mountain ranges is stunning. Specks of snow dot the mountain''s surface, while others form streaks of snow following the mountain¡¯s formation. The mountain''s angle and altitude means snow can¡¯t stick in most places, revealing the gray stone underneath, unperturbed by the Decay.


    My view is barely obscured by snow falling slowly and gently, a rarity for post-Decayed Entoria, Especially for a region like desolate Korguire, known for the harsh weather conditions during pre-Decayed winters.


    Moments like these remind me of what normal winters could be like¡­ I think.


    I can¡¯t exactly recall most of my life before the Decay happened. All the hard fought battles, gut wrenching moments and loss of close allies has clouded my memory of an unfulfilling life into one filled with trials and tribulations. Besides, I don¡¯t have much to remember from those times anyway.


    All I have is the present moment, spent in solitude.


    An 8 km trek up and down mountains is tedious, time consuming, and a waste of energy. To combat this, I can simply use telekinesis to throw stones far away and shift with them.


    This starts with me summoning a sizable rock and throwing it down the mountain side. It tumbles down the mountainside faster and faster like a snowball, sometimes hitting bits of snow or even the mountain face itself. But since it¡¯s more durable than the sedimentary rock, it leaves cracks and sometimes even breaks bits off to fall alongside it. This continues for an entire minute before I finally see it stop.


    Solace picks up on my goal and changes his form to wrap around the majority of my right arm like a bandage. The green flames aren¡¯t hot, it¡¯s more like his temperature blends nearly perfectly with mine, to the point that I can only feel his presence. But, for him to pick my right arm means he knows my affliction, and like clockwork, the heavy, numb pain in my right greatly decreases.


    Stage 2¡­


    Shifting with this stone, I and Solace end up at the foot of two mountains; essentially just a valley. This mountain is separate from the one I¡¯m headed to, which is much further away.


    I summon a rock and using telekinesis, I launch it as far as I can. Shifting positions between this thrown rock, I summon another rock, launch, and shift again. I continue using this method, roughly taking 10 seconds in between each shift and making 200m~ of distance each time. While my maximum manipulation range is 100m, the residual force doubles that for projectiles.


    For 15 minutes, I shift up and down mountains and in between valleys before pausing in the middle of a deep valley. Far out front to my left I see a large cave opening and some sort of old concrete road mostly covered in snow. Instead of shifting like before, I began walking up to the cave. Upon reaching a certain distance, I could make out a metal corridor. And when I reach the mouth of the cave, I can see all of the remains of this facility.


    The hydraulic metal gate is wide open, exposing a dark corridor plated with a smooth, dark metal on all sides, ceiling, floor, and walls. It¡¯s too dark to make out any other discernible features.


    ¡°Solace?¡±


    I point with my left hand towards the darkness, signaling him to move forward.


    Solace moves off my right arm and the numb pain begins to slowly creep back to me. His form shifts into a ball and momentarily floats at my side again and I summon a large stone to feed the flames. The green flames incinerate the stone, and he begins to glow brightly, showing that he absorbed the Spirit content in the stone I summoned. Following this, he flies forward, albeit erratically.


    Solace¡¯s flames emit an even brighter glow, illuminating the dark corridor in a green shade. It¡¯s more than enough light, but I can now see what¡¯s inside. A couple steps in and I can see the dead ceiling lights every couple of meters. Their wiring is exposed, inside the corridor to make sure the plating has no weaknesses.


    It¡¯s terribly quiet, aside from my footsteps that echo alongside the metal walls as the environment gets magnitudes darker than outside. Solace¡¯s flames counteract this, dyeing the walls in even more green light.


    The temperature inside is slightly warmer than outside, but only by about a degree or two.


    Solace and I reach a corner which turns a hard right.


    Several small puddles of frozen water litter the wall ahead of me. Similarly, drops of water fall down from various places in uneven intervals and varying distances. For some reason, this portion is a damaged concrete hallway. Numerous large cracks and potholes allow these puddles to form more easily. Because of this, I can see that the metal wall is actually some kind of plating, and some mysterious factor has had it removed here somehow, or maybe it was never here in the first place, but that¡¯s too farfetched.


    Solace and I move forward, while he is ahead of me to illuminate the surroundings. The plating covers the concrete once again, and as it seems, our first real and useful finding is right here. The green fire illuminates a massive hole in the plating. The hole was made briskly, exposing rock and dirt in its wake, so it was probably some kind of post-Decay monster attack.


    Or maybe some kind of prison break scenario. You can never be too sure with MOTF.


    This can be looked over for now.


    My footsteps echo along as I tread past this landmark.


    The further into the darkness that I venture into, the more it looks like a battle took place.


    Old and rough scratches line the metal plating from time to time, and some parts of the plating even seem deformed by heat, following rather orderly lines, like they were welding the plating for some reason.


    Solace stops in place, can I see why. An object, flat and damaged, blocks our path. A barricade is set up here, made of the same dark metal plating the walls. It stands upright, blocking the bottom half of the corridor. Bullet marks are riddled all along its surface, and those same bullets it defended against litter the ground before me.


    Solace floats up and above the barricade and I follow, walking up to the barricade. Bullets roll and make ¡®clink¡¯ sounds as I walk over them, but some bullets don¡¯t roll at all as they have been deformed on impact.


    Once at the barricade, I begin leaning against said barricade to see what¡¯s on the other side.


    With Solace¡¯s light, I peer over the barricade and spot the mechanisms which put this in place. Half of a square plating on the floor is missing to reveal the concrete beneath, while the platings on the walls on roof are unaffected. Unlike the concrete before, this has a reason to be here. Some large wiring and two hydraulic mechanisms are laid against said concrete and connected to the barricade, which is what holds up this barricade in the first place.


    I nimbly climb over it, and land on the other side, making sure to avoid the wiring. Upon peering into the farther reaches of the hallway, Solace¡¯s green flames illuminate the wreckage and remnant¡¯s all too familiar to me. Blood splatters, rotting disembodied limbs, numerous bullets and various unidentifiable organs. All of these things litter and paint the surface of the corridor ahead of me.


    Sure, it¡¯s bloody, gross, and traumatizing. But one ought to get used to these things to survive out here.


    But something is itching at the back of my mind.


    Why were the bullets coming from an invader perspective, and not a defender one?


    It''s hard for me to believe that this base was raided post-Decay. First of all, its secluded location makes it nigh impossible to find. The only reason I know about it is because of my cooperation with her. Second of all, MOTF is a military arms manufacturer, and would be more armed than any other faction.


    Well, I can¡¯t be certain with just this corridor alone.


    Once again, we move forward and Solace illuminates the pathway for us. I narrowly avoid stepping on the bloody mess that was left here, but in doing so I have to maintain prolonged eye contact with the mess.


    It¡¯s warmer this deep in, but it¡¯s barely noticeable. Maybe 1-2 degrees warmer from outside, but for there to be any heat at all is a tell-tale sign of at least working infrastructure.


    More of these blood spatters dirty the corridor on all surfaces, and I avoid them as best as I can as most people would. Sometimes it¡¯s unavoidable due to the sheer amount of blood, making it seem like someone spontaneously combusted. On the other hand, there is occasional weld-like damage to the plating like what I saw earlier, this time on a much larger scale.


    Or¨C well, I guess that¡¯s an understatement.


    Four pieces of plating; floor, walls and ceiling, are all deformed beyond belief. Rather than just a few streaks of melted melted, the area of damaged plating makes it seem like a ball of pure heat was created here.


    It¡¯s cooled down since this occurred just like all of the other welding lines, so I walk over it while paying heed to the little bumps in its wake to maintain my balance.


    There''s a bunch more wreckage the further down the hall I tread, but they all blur in my mind until I reach something a lot more interesting.


    The green flames illuminate a giant metal garage gate which sits on the right side of the wall, replacing the plating. The roof is higher to accommodate it, and there''s a much wider and taller corridor to the left. There''s a label on the gate with something written in blue and white paint.


    [ LOADING BAY ]


    Self explanatory. It¡¯s the loading bay to the laboratory. Solace and I approach the garage gate and I summon a stone in my hand. I telekinetically place it underneath the gate, and manipulate its shape upwards so that it forces the gate open.


    As the gate lifts and bends, natural light shines into the dark hallway, and I can see concrete flooring on the other side. The gate lifts up fully and the loading bay is in full view. While a little dark, my eyes still need to adjust to the brightness in comparison to the dark corridor. Solace doesn¡¯t seem to react, so I don¡¯t think he has any of the same problems as humans.


    The bay is quite open, so much so that it¡¯s basically empty. Aside from a few racks and small ramps for semi-trucks, there''s nothing notable stored here. The light source originates from outside. Out in the far corner, one of two massive outdoor gates to the bay is wide open, revealing the mountainscape and valley outside where I was just moments before. A tall mound of snow, about a little taller than me, piles up and spills inside the bay


    Since there doesn¡¯t seem to be any danger, I walk further inside. For a loading bay, it is utterly massive, with the two aforementioned gates up to scale. And not just warehouse big¨C it¡¯s as large as a military or airplane hangar.


    I mean¨C *HuFf* It probably has been used as a military hangar. MOTF Technologies primarily focuses on manufacturing military equipment. The loading bay¡¯s size was probably needed for assembly and testing.


    Other than what it infers, nothing here is useful for my mission.


    After looking around a bit more, I go back to the dark plated corridor and begin walking down the now expansive corridor, with Solace at my side now instead of front.


    Conversely, my eyes now have to readjust to the darkness of the corridor, and Solace¡¯s flames begin to dim again. I summon another stone, much larger than the last one I summoned for him. Like clockwork, his form envelopes the entire rock and it disappears in an instant.


    Now, his flames are glowing brighter than ever before, able to illuminate this larger space just as he could in the smaller hall.


    Unlike the wartorn corridor I saw earlier, this larger one is rather tidy. No crazy damages, no bloodshed, bullet marks nor barriers. There¡¯s only a thin layer of grime coating the floor plates. But this is honestly a little more eerie than the constant stream of new blood stains. This buildup of anticipation is what is actually terrifying than the threat itself, and I notice that my heart has started beating a little louder than before.


    Solace and I stop in our tracks as we both notice a gate made of a light metal dosed in blood and grime. It¡¯s much stronger than that garage gate, maybe several inches thick just judging by the design. A diagonal slit goes down from top right to bottom left, showing that the gate was made of two parts, probably connected by hydraulics. Pillars made out of a steel encase the edges of the gate, hiding and protecting the mechanisms that make it operational.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    A large sign painted on the gate in white with yellow and black stripes


    [ SECURITY GATE 1/16 ]


    Uh¡­


    That''s kind of a design oversight, just telling any intruder how many gates there are¡­


    Maybe it''s a deterrent? Or possibly a trick?


    Well, whatever. All I want is to get past this gate.


    I summon a stone in my hand, and like its shape contorts like water to fit in the crevice between the gate. By surging Spirit into the stone, I manipulate the portion in the crevice with a lot of torque, causing the gate to slowly bend and creak before the opening is wide enough for me to squeeze through. Artificial light floods the dark hall that I¡¯m in, and my eyes have to adjust to light again.


    The power seems to be on inside the laboratory.


    To make sure the gate is stable, I manipulate my stone to create numerous small supports within the opening of the gate.


    Quickly peeking my head through the fissure, I scour the perimeter carefully. There''s another gate on the other side, just barely close enough so that the room is cube shaped. It¡¯s identical to the gate I''m leaning on right now. On it, it reads; [ SECURITY GATE 2/16 ], exactly as expected.


    After verifying that the coast is clear, I crawl through the gap in the gate and set my feet down on the other side. Solace flies right through after me. With no obstructions to my view, I find details of the gated section all the more clear to me.


    The plating is definitely different. Covered in grime, white coloured plating in elongated rectangle shapes rather than squares protects the floors of this section. Looking to my sides, the walls are made out of the same white plating, but with a X-shaped truss spanning from all four corners of the wall. It¡¯s made out of steel, just like the pillars in the corners of the corridor.


    Looking up above me, the roofing is the same white plating. The one difference is the four rectangular grid lights attached to the roof¨C the source of the artificial light.


    I follow through and break open the next gate with the same method, and it¡¯s no different than the last. Same white plating, same X-shaped truss, same steel pillars and same ceiling light.


    Gate N. 3 is broken the same way, and the next section is identical. Same with N. 4..


    But gate N. 5 is where things change.


    Sure, I said that his section is identical, and yes it is. But that doesn''t undermine the giant hole melted into gate N. 5. Like the welding of the dark metal plating, an entire hole was welded out of this gate.


    There¡¯s not much else to say about, so I nonchalantly walk through the opening to the next section.


    I break through gate N. 6 with a little extra force, and a pungent odor floods my senses.


    A smell all too familiar to me¨C blood, and a rotting corpse.


    The air that rushes through the crevice is, again, slightly warmer, but still in the negatives. Colder temperatures lessen the smell, but I¡¯d assume the source had gone cold as well.


    Accidentally using more Spirit than necessary means that I don¡¯t need to crawl through this time, and I instead duck underneath the bottom left opening of the gate


    The smell becomes all the more apparent, and on the further half of the room, a massive, frozen puddle of blood lies completely still.


    And there she was¨C a bloodied corpse, laid up against gate N. #07. Surprisingly, only the spilled blood had been rotting, while her corpse was rather well preserved.


    She looked about 18 years old. Her long, flowing, crimson hair was indistinguishable from the pool of blood, and what caught my attention.


    Or, was¨C until I saw the disturbing bits.


    She had been brutally torn in two, her bottom half torn from her waist and nowhere to be seen.


    A pure white gown, heavily drenched in blood. It veiled the gory mess that was underneath.


    Solace didn¡¯t seem to react as we stood in front of that puddle of blood. For how unsavory of a death this was, I was only surprised at her body''s preservation.


    Then, this weird feeling surfaced in the back of my head. It was purely psychological, but this feeling somehow translated into words.


    ¡­Help¡­


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I stood in silence, listening to these words beckoning to me in the back of my mind.


    ¡­Please¡­


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡­Kill¡­ Me¡­


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I understood a message which none of my senses could detect. Sure, she is probably the origin, but I can¡¯t tell how I understand this message.


    The corpse was completely and utterly still.


    No voice spoke, the only sound I heard was the buzz of the ceiling lights above.


    I could only feel the cold of winter on my skin, and the numb pain in my right arm.


    Only the smell of blood and gore filled my nostrils.


    And nothing popped up in the furthest corners of my mind.


    But these words¡­


    Felt like instinct, and more than anything, a part of my soul.


    ¡­Please¡­


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡­I beg of you¡­


    It was then that I was conscious of her final expression. That stiff expression, so, so still it was like a carved statue, wasn¡¯t merely dreary¡­


    This was agony.


    Pure, and utter agony, despair.


    I had to pry my gaze away to maintain level headedness.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°...How long have you been here?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°No answer, huh¡­¡±


    ¡­Five¡­


    ¡­!


    Even if it was against my own volition, I for some reason stepped forward into the frozen puddle of blood. Each step I took made the blood ice crack and split in intricate formations and several numerous shards. I only stopped when I was standing directly in front of her, the horrific odor invading my nose. Yet I stood there and looked down at her, forsaking my own ideals of cleanliness.


    ¡°Five what? Hours? Days?¡±


    ¡­Months¡­


    That¡¯s a long time.


    But I don¡¯t have to kill her, do I¡­?


    The Regeneration Amulet, a Guardian Artifact with the ability to regenerate one''s body from any severe or fatal injury, at the cost of a large amount of Spirit. It may be able to save her if she has enough Spirit. Emphasis on if.


    For a short moment, I grasp the green amulet tied around my neck with my left hand, reflecting on the situation. See, if the revival is successful, then there¡¯s an Originator I have to deal with. On the other hand, I¡¯ll have to¨C...


    .


    Now holding it by the string, I dangle it closer and closer to her body until it touches her body.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Worth a shot¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a dim white glow emanated from her heart. And like clockwork, a bright purple glow emanated from mine. These two were resonating. Not from the amulet, but from something else.


    The Guardian I have contracted.


    ¡°Oh hoo, I never expected that your favourite warrior would be reduced to nothing but a mangled corpse, left alone to rot in sheer agony.¡±


    ¡°What a crude greeting, though I would have expected that from you.¡±


    A distorted, deep, bellowing male voice spoke from within the purple glow, while a gentle yet also distorted female voice responded to the cruel welcome.


    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s not just your host that has fallen, but you, yourself?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like you''re one to speak. How far have you fallen to let your own host overtake your will?¡±


    ¡°For a mere shard, you still speak like your primal self. Not to mention, much more foulmouthed for a supposed Saint.¡±


    ¡°...Well¡­ I¡¯ve only woken from my dormancy to ask you a simple favour.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess. Is it¨C¡±


    ¡°Yes it is. Please, end my dear¡¯s agony.¡±


    ¡®Dear¡¯¡­


    I don¡¯t know what''s happening between these two¡­ But she¡¯s asking what I just felt earlier, to kill the crimson haired woman.


    ¡°Ahh, straight to the point. This girl truly has changed you. Don¡¯t fancy riddles anymore, do you?¡±


    ¡°They are parables, and I needn¡¯t complicate things any further for your host.¡±


    At my mention, I would interject between their ill-fated reunion.


    ¡°I can hear you two loud and clear¡­¡±


    The white glow emanating from the crimson-haired girl''s heart began to glow brighter than ever before in part due to my response.


    ¡°...I never expected you to choose one of the Cursed as your host either. You¡¯ve also changed, the once cunning fragment you were has thrown his pride away. But if this boy can even merely perceive us, then I can understand why you¡¯d forsake your own ideals for him.¡±


    ¡°Hmph. As if I wanted to. You said it yourself. His Authority is equal to our own.¡±


    These two are having the time of their life, having an argument like this. Or maybe afterlife? And I¡¯m stuck in between their bickering. But unlike the fragments, my time is limited.


    ¡°Anyway¡­ May I pose a few questions?¡±


    I could feel my contractor snicker inwardly, and the ¡®Saint¡¯ shard responded in kind.


    ¡°Go right ahead.¡±


    ¡°How did your host die?¡±


    I stood in silence, calmly awaiting her response. Even though I¡¯m speaking to her, I subconsciously subverted my gaze from her corpse.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have enough spirit due to your contractors nagging to explain in full. To cut it short, powerful beasts were accidently released during the prison break.¡±


    ¡­?


    Powerful beasts? Prison break?


    While it¡¯s no wonder these gates are sealed shut, the real question is how monsters ended up there. MOTF is a technology manufacturer and developer, and to my knowledge doesn''t have much to do with genetic engine¨C nevermind, Pasalana¡¯s and stuff.


    But, the fact that MOTF had been keeping Originators here captive means¡­


    .


    ¡°...What Guardian fragment did you further divide from, and is the reason her Soul still remains because of a full-sync AKA awakening?¡±


    She strained her voice to answer my question, nearing closer to becoming braindead.


    ¡°...The fragment of Light¨C and yes, full-sync is why her soul remains.¡±


    Simultaneously, the white glow significantly dimmed, alerting me of their Soul¡¯s limits.


    ¡°And lastly¡­¡±


    In silence I stood, contemplating my final question. Judging by her previous sentiment, I have to take into consideration how long the answer to my question would have to be. If not, I may not even have my final question answered.


    Then, after careful consideration, I ask my final question.


    ¡°...What do you know about Esir?¡±


    ¡°...I do not know ¡®Esir¡¯.¡±


    It was worth a shot.


    So, this is a brief rundown on the information I just received. Firstly, powerful beasts of unknown origin have been released within the facility.


    Secondly, the Soul that I¡¯m speaking to is a mere shard of the Light fragment. As my contractor says, her state has been reduced to ¡®nowhere near a fraction of your former self¡¯. Awakening causes the two souls to closely intertwine, nearing fusion. When the crimson-haired Guardian died, their close bond made it too difficult to separate their souls, inadvertently shattering the Light Fragment and forcing the Guardian to stay conscious.


    This is a revelation for me, but not a worry as I don¡¯t exactly get along with my own contractor.


    Thirdly, just like all of the other Guardians and their Contractor, she knows nothing about Esir.


    But most importantly¡­


    ¡°What happened to the other shards¡­?¡±


    ¡°It should be quite obvious. They were taken by others for their own benefit.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ sure. I¡¯ll listen to your answer this time¡±


    It seems like others have been here before me if the remaining shards were taken.


    ¡­Please¡­


    Ah, right.


    She had asked me a bit ago to end her misery. A quick flash of purple light and a stone is in my left hand. I begin manipulating its shape, first to form a handle then to the blade. After I complete my creation, I¡¯m left with a stone dagger with a curved edge.


    Instinctually, I raise the blade to my side and take a deep breath in and out. While I feel a little regret having to kill someone, I do what I must.


    The dagger raises overhead, and I take in another deep breath.


    But then, I caught another glimpse of her face, which I had been steering away from doing again.


    A dreary expression of pure and utter agony, that of who wished to die. Or rather, something akin to death stared back at me within those sully eyes.


    My muscles tense up, and I froze in place with my dagger held above my head before dropping it to my side. As it seems, I can¡¯t steel myself. At all.


    ¡°Please, end my darling Aurora¡¯s misery in my stead.¡±


    ¡°Then beg for it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Despite the word echoing in my soul, I froze with my gaze locked onto her final expression. There was something I was reminded of by her, but it didn¡¯t actively pop in my mind. Even so, it was enough to make me hesitate, so I stood there in complete and utter silence, letting the voices of the dimming white glow and growing purple glow duke it out while I am powerless to do anything.


    ¡°Please¡­ I beg of you, W¨C¡±


    ¡°Hesitating, gray-eyed one? Or perhaps you¡¯ll fail again?¡±


    His words shook me from my trance, and I reacted instantly. An intense feeling boiled up inside of me, one I wasn¡¯t able to distinguish as different from what I feel passively. Yet I acted on some unknown desire to oppose¡­ someone.


    ¡°Where? Do I strike?¡±


    ¡°Ah, now out of your trance now?¡±


    ¡°Where you can see my glow¨C¡±


    I held my blade in both hands and raised it, pointing my blade directly at this ¡®Aurora¡¯s¡¯ rotting corpse. Even as my right hand hurt like peeled skin, I refused to even partially lighten the grip on my blade. I let go of all thoughts in my head, and swiftly thrust my blade forward, piercing her heart. In my head I could hear something akin to glass shattering, and an abrupt explosion of bright light blinded my vision.


    It takes a couple of seconds for me to regain my sight, but when I do, set my gaze towards the woman, now with a gaping hole in her chest. Among the bits of bones and organs I could sense a large amount of Spirit being released into the air. From my vision, it looked like dense, glowing fog originating from the hole in her chest. It was like a window to an inverted dimension, where everything turned to black and white.


    The more it spread out into the gated room, the dimmer this glow seemed to be. When the glowing fog eventually enveloped me, my view of the world around me changed entirely. It was like an inverse of before¨C everything outside of the neon fog seemed to glow white, and everything inside the fog was reverted to their normal colours. The upper half of my body was normal, but my bottom half, which hadn¡¯t been covered by the fog, was inverted and now glowing white and black.


    Aside from the visual change, a foreign sense of dread fills my mind before shifting to relieve, as if being freed from chains.


    Because of this, I noticed a shard resting in the gaping hole in Aurora¡¯s chest that I hadn¡¯t been able to perceive before in the blood and gore.


    The Guardian shard which was still bound to Aurora¨C a shard of light. My Soulsight didn¡¯t pick up any anomalies regarding the shard. But that¡¯s the eerie part. Usually, a Guardian fragment will take a form with relation to their power, and glow brightly to those who can see unfiltered Spirit. However, this one was devoid of any soul. It must have died when I pierced it moments beforehand. To me, it just looked like an otherwise normal glass shard.


    I convert the shape of the stone dagger in my hand to encase the shard and its shape contorts like water before re-solidifying. Once the shard was contained within my stone, I telekinetically brought it to me and let it levitate into my left hand. There are visible bloodstains, so I wipe them off before putting the encased shard into the red bag slung over my shoulder.


    Right¡­ I have a mission to complete.


    Armed with a new mindset and the knowledge of the beasts that reside within the labyrinth, I make my next move.


    I turned my head back to Solace, who had been floating silently behind me the entire time. His lamp yellow eyes and pitch black mouth displayed an expression reminiscent of confusion, yet had a sense of awareness akin to caution.


    ¡°Let''s go.¡±

 [ SET IN STONE 4.2 ] Prisoner of Light

    Using the same method as beforehand, I open gate No. 7# by splitting the gates in two. Aurora¡¯s corpse doesn¡¯t budge even as the loud twang of metal echoes and tremors I leave in my wake. Yet the tremors make frozen blood crack even further.


    But the information I was previously armed with doesn¡¯t even hint at the true scale of what¡¯s behind the gates¡­


    The first thing I see through the gap is a lack of gates. It seems that the next three gates, No. 8#-10# are all open wide. The angle I see it from only lets me see the roof, but the gates can¡¯t hide the monstrosity jailed inside.


    My eyes open wide in surprise. What I see is the backside of a massive, white beast. Its body nearly touches the roof of the gated corridor, and it seems to take up space from all 3 of the open gates. Patches of snow white scale-like skin have rotted away and reveal portions of its disproportionate ribcage.


    Upon crawling through the gap in the gate I created, I can see the beast in all its glory.


    It¡¯s rather humanoid in form. The beast is laid flat on its stomach, with legs so disproportionately small I doubt this thing could even move. I can¡¯t see it fully from this angle, so I walk over to its frontside. As I pass along its body, I can see how it got here.


    I finally make it to its head, which almost touches the gate No. 11#. But¡­ It has some interesting facial features. If described vaguely enough, I would more or less assume it was a pet. This, on the other hand, is terribly uncanny.


    A head shaped like a trapezoid from a frontal view. Big dull red eyes on the sides of its head and human teeth. Dog ears, but instead of fur, they are made of its scaly white skin. Wrinkles on its forehead and cheeks.


    Oh.


    I recognize this.


    It¡¯s a Pasalana, a bio-weapon engineered around 12 years ago. Or, maybe 16 years at this point? They are capable of using simple Originator abilities, but need to be activated by some sort of DNA key. Their eye colour dictates their purpose. Red means war, blue probably means support. There are apparently yellow ones, but I¡¯ve never seen one.


    They were the catalyst to the rediscovery of Origination.


    A few participated in the Liberation war, so I got a close up of them. The red-eyed ones have massive Spirit reserves and can dish out enormous bouts of L?slatelse. It seems like this one is dead, as I can''t pick up a Soul or Spirit signature from it.


    But just like this one right here, they are all terribly uncanny looking. Their inventors created them with solely power in mind, forsaking all morals in exchange for it.


    I don¡¯t want to keep looking at it. It¡¯s disgusting.


    I turn away and face the next gate, worrying about the calamities possibly hidden within. I will retrieve what I have come here for, otherwise all of my efforts will be for naught.


    Gate after gate, I keep trekking forward, destroying each and every gate in my way.


    And finally, I made it past the final gate.


    It''s humid and actually quite warm now that I¡¯m this far inside of the facility. I can hear the sound of running water, like a river. The lights are on, but much dimmer here than before. The expansive hallways extend outwards to both of my sides, and have a minor curve to them, circling around a singular room protected by the massive gate before me. It has the same dark metal plating as before the gates, but much larger to fit the size of the hallway. The gate is twice as large as any other previous instance, and painted in red in important label.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ CONTAINMENT ROOM ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ DO NOT OPEN ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Do not open? Like hell I¡¯m listening to that.


    ¡°Oh, how very like you. Just go and open the gate then.¡±


    ¡°Nevermind.¡±


    Then, out of the corner of my eye, I notice two things. One is a label written in tiny characters on the massive gate.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ FLOODED ROOM ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    And the floor that I stand on isn¡¯t actually the dark metal plating, but¡­


    A massive storm drain. It makes up the entire flooring, including down the hallways as far as I can see. The dim lights barely illuminate it, but I can hear the sound of running water underneath me as clear as day. There''s movement down there, and each little wave and ripple reflects a small bit of light at me. But the dim lights and minor reflections are insignificant as the water gives off a faint glow which illuminates itself. A glow I know all too well.


    Spirit signatures.


    The water emits an extremely faint green glow which while enough to illuminate itself, isn¡¯t still isn¡¯t anywhere near as bright as the dimmed ceiling lights. And inside, I picked up several Soul signatures¨C hundreds. Hundreds of fish-like entities swim in the waters below, and I can see each and every one of their souls in the form of a core that glows brightly in the colour of their soul. While individually, they only emit a little light, their combined glow now clearly reflects off of the walls and roof, which I hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    But this raises more questions than answers; How did they get there? What¡¯s the point of this storm drain? If I want to find the answers to my questions, then I have to dig deeper into this labyrinth than ever before.


    What I believe to be the answer behind this may lie behind this massive gate.


    This new knowledge means a lot, and combined with my contractor¡¯s unsavoury warning, I can assume that I¡¯ll be unleashing something if I open this gate, already evident by the label on it.


    Even if I can already guess the answer, I want to see it for myself.


    Steadying my mind, I prepare to hold back whatever may be behind this gate. I summon a stone in my palm and manipulate its shape like water to fit in between the crevice of the gate. Slowly but surely, I adjust the pressure that I exert on the gate. It bends and creaks until it suddenly crashes in on itself.


    Immediately, a green glowing water overflowing with Spirit starts rushing like a flood my way. The split second before my defense is raised, I catch a glimpse inside the containment room. It is a massive, tower-like room in an octagonal shape. I can make out what seems like three utterly gigantic chained beasts, similar in size to the Pasalana. One is shaped like a lion, with some sort of gray corruption on its mane. I can¡¯t make out the other two before I react out of instinct.


    Right as the wave made it halfway towards me, I activated [ Stone Wall: 100% ] to protect myself while simultaneously manipulating the stone which broke the gate to form a seal, immediately preventing more water from flowing out. Yet even so, thousands of gallons of this green spirit infused water rush out to the sides of my wall and back behind it, narrowly reaching me.


    ¡°Solace.¡±


    I didn¡¯t expect him to react, but Solace acted aptly. The instant I said his name, his form expanded to the size of half of the corridor and encased me in green flames. It didn¡¯t burn, the heat wasn¡¯t dangerous but rather warm. I can¡¯t see what is happening as the green flames obscure my vision entirely for almost 30 seconds. I stand completely still and close my eyes, letting Solace act as he deemed fit. The green flames are filled with emotions, and I can feel Solace¡¯s energy and excitement intertwined within the sea of flames.


    The fire clears, and I¡¯m completely dry, untouched by the flood that had rushed towards me. Bright green light bounces off the dark plated walls and the raging yet soothing green flames begin to concentrate into a tight ball, glowing even brighter the more the flames are compressed into this singularity.


    Those innumerable lamp-yellow eyes begin to reappear all over the bright ball of green flames, all directed at me. He¡¯s practically¨C no, literally glowing with power, more so than ever before. His flames glow so bright that they overpower the lights that the fishes give off, his very presence dominating over lesser species. The fishes down below can feel Solace''s very own will, and they all wriggle and swim away down the ends of the expansive corridor.


    But that isn¡¯t what concerns me. Just what was hidden behind the gate? And why? I can guess why, but not what it was.


    My confusion and curiosity isn¡¯t dampened in the slightest. In fact, I¡¯m practically brimming with it. Anything and everything that MOTF has done is somehow involved with the Decay, which means any and all information about them has immense value. Aside from that, I still have my own personal questions to be answered.


    I just hope I can find out the truth behind ¡®that¡¯ woman.


    ¡°I¡¯ve wasted enough time here¡­ Solace, let''s hurry.¡±


    Accelerating evermore, I speed down the left curved corridor with Solace flying right over my shoulder. Below me, the souls of the fishes glow brightly, and the bright green flames of Solace paint the plating around us green. The world around me blurs from the speed, and it¡¯s a sight to behold; the fishes comparable to shooting stars in a clear night¡¯s sky and the plating like a grassy plain of rolling hills.


    Breathtaking.


    After a couple of seconds, the first door came into view, situated on the left side of the massive hall. Made of metal with a small slit at eye level and a sign which says [41], it remains undisturbed by snow or people. Today, that¡¯ll change, with me.


    For a brief moment, I stood still in front of the door. That was before I bashed the metal door in with a massive boulder-like stone. The metal door flies open, almost falling off of its hinges. Inside this room there is some kind of research facility. Numerous flasks, petri dishes and microscopes are scattered all over the various countertops and cabinets lining the walls and under the countertops. I take my time to open every single cabinet, finding different research equipment beakers, more test tubes, and other miscellaneous equipment of which I don¡¯t know the name. Unfortunately, the thing I¡¯m looking for isn¡¯t here.


    As I walk out of the room, I contemplate how I should search for this item and info alongside the truth I¡¯m seeking. I think about the description I was given on it; A box-shaped organism which was genetically modified to grant anyone who touched it some kind of insight about living organisms.


    It¡¯s vague and quite frankly weird, but I can narrow it down to a couple of places.


    First, a facility where the organism could activate this ability. Second, a specialized facility where it inhabits.


    This organism is a priority, while the suggesting info and truth can come later. The only problem is whether it¡¯s even alive or not, and can change the entire course of this mission.


    How will I be able to keep it alive once it leaves its habitat? Hopes and dreams.


    Just kidding. There''s a dropoff point for organic organisms.


    I continue sprinting down the curved hallway and scour each and every room I come across. They range from research to storage. The research units differ drastically, from microorganism research all the way to entire workshops dedicated to inventing new weapons of war. The storage units aren¡¯t as interesting; they''re mostly filled with old junk while the newer parts are somewhere else.


    After opening two dozen doors and rooms, there is a significant change to the structure of the facility. The corridor becomes significantly more open with a roof spanning several stories and wide as a 4-lane road. There is a massive ramp which has a slight curve to the right. It¡¯s made out of a single piece of the dark plated metal with ridges probably meant to aid climbers.


    For a manmade ramp it''s quite steep, about a 30 degree upwards angle, but not too much of a problem for me as I trek up the ramp. No doors line the walls this time, so I assume that it was built purely for movement. The curve of the ramp continues for around 45 degrees before I spot an enormous square cut hole in the plating lines with gray metal.


    The hole is illuminated quite well in comparison to the corridor and the ramp. From this angle, I can just barely see massive cables. And as I approach, the steep ramp I climb turns into flat, smooth plating I had walked on in the first corridor. Just a little ahead, there is another large portion of the floor converted into a storm-drain to my right. It is nowhere near as expansive as the one at the base of the ramp, only about two squares of plating worth and not enough to reach the giant opening on the other side.


    Looking to my left again, I realize just how large the opening in the plated wall is. Taller than three stories and just as wide, it dawns over me just what kind of equipment they deal with here on a day to day basis. Larger than any gate I dealt with previously, it towers over them in comparison.


    Four massive pillars hold up the corners to gigantic squares of the dark metal plating the same size as the opening. Walking up to the edge and looking up and down leads me to believe that this is some sort of elevator, and peering down confirms my suspicions.


    Far below at around 100 meters is a white and gray platform of similar size to the opening. The large cables reach down into the corners of the platform and wrap around it. There''s nothing else down there, so I shift my gaze upwards. The cables reach very high up, so much so that the roof of the elevator shaft blurs slightly like the blue tint air casts on faraway objects.


    Directly above me are small, long platforms made out of a dark gray metal, similar to the one I stand on.


    I move away from the ledge and turn around, only to see another massive gate behind me. It¡¯s familiar, and the labels on it remind me why.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ CONTAINMENT ROOM ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ DO NOT OPEN ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ FLOODED ROOM ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A gate that¡¯s nearly identical to the one I had opened down the ramp, at the same size with labels painted in white. Laid against it is a skeleton I somehow didn¡¯t notice before, still wearing the same clothes the person had worn before death. The shoulders of the white lab coat are brown with dried blood, the right side of the skull is totally shattered and likewise is missing his right arm.


    I cautiously approach the skeleton, watching carefully for any bits of flesh that are still rotting. Once I confirm that the skeleton is somewhat safe to touch, I crouch down and rummage through the pockets of their coat and pants. After a bit, I end up with three objects in hand; an ID, displaying a normal brown haired man. His name and physical traits are listed, as well as a clearance level.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    [ Max Boshcoff ]


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ 7/4/8599 Vayhil ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ Brown hair, brown eyes, 5¡¯8 / 171 cm ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ Level: B ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    He¡¯s from Vayhil¡­ that¡¯s quite a bit away from Entoria. Could MOTF have a secret Vayhil branch?


    Well, that''s not of my concern. I¡¯ll be dead by the time I hear more about them.


    On the back of the card was some sort of encryption pattern, probably used to access certain restricted areas. There''s no DNA key listed, so I assume he doesn¡¯t have access to anything of real monetary value.


    The second object is a simple black watch without a clock. Instead, it holds an empty slot, where an object shaped like a coin may fit.


    The third object is a black, metal coin, with a thin layer of gold on the side. While it may seem weird, I know what this object is. It¡¯s a hologram recorder, capable of recording 3D holograms and displaying them. It¡¯s relatively new technology, only about a couple of years old. Or maybe around 10 years at this point? I don¡¯t know. That doesn¡¯t matter now. What matters is that the files are intact.


    I place the coin inside the watch and it begins to emit a faint blue glow from the tiny etching on the coin, or chip. A layer of bright blue light coats the exposed side, and it automatically turns on. I ponder how it has kept its battery life after all this time, but my question is answered as I feel a tight pull on my wrist where the chip is closest. It seems to be using spirit, or some other organic fuel.


    A thin wave of light radiates from the glowing chip, and a simple, blue panel-type hologram is projected close to my face.


    I click the button, and a slit on the side of the watch opens up and extends a little stick. From it, a simple, semi-transparent blue panel-type hologram is projected in front of me with white text.


    I guess it isn¡¯t using my spirit, judging by the colour.


    The panel¡¯s size is comparable to my torso, and as I have great eyesight I have to move it away from my face, extending my arm fully. The panel remains angled towards my face, and I read the white text.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ DATA SLOT 1 - ORIGINATION TEST ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ DATA SLOT 2 - EMERGENCY ORDER ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ DATA SLOT 3 - CORRUPTED ]</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td>[ DATE SLOT 4 - VACANT ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A pretty lucky haul.


    From what I remember, these hologram recorder chips could only hold a singular recording. Even if one is corrupted and another is vacant, it¡¯s still much more than anticipated. Besides, it gives better insight on technological progression. Or in these times, their advantage¡­


    ¡°Display slot 1.¡±


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td> </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The panel shifts from blue to white as it transforms into a 3D projection of a box. The hologram is crystal clear in full colour, nearly identical to real life. As the projection begins, I see a familiar crimson haired woman alongside two others. A blue haired teenager and a crimson haired girl, probably Aurora¡¯s little sister. Maybe around my age. They all wear that same pure white gown, sitting inside an expansive room with white metal plating.


    The hologram starts playing and I can hear a soft male voice relay an order to one of them.


    ¡°23, destroy all targets using as instructed beforehand.¡±


    Three dummy targets pop out from the ground on the far side of the room, each with a red and white target on each and every one of their heads. The projection shifts angles from the side to right behind them. The younger crimson haired girl stands up and walks a few steps forward before stopping at a red line.


    Two large projections are on both sides of the long room, and begin counting down from 10.


    10, 9, 8, 7¡­


    The girl slowly raises her right hand, and the angle shifts again to a little ways infront of her from the walls. This angle feels like the window the researchers may be looking from. It lets me catch her expression mixed with distress and anticipation. In spite of this, her golden eyes reflect a sense of superiority.


    ¡­4, 3, 2 ,1¨C


    She braces her shaking right arm with her left, but she can¡¯t her anxiety as her legs visibly tremble.


    <blockquote>


    ¨CGO¨C


    </blockquote>


    The red and white targets on all three dummies light up, and she shouts the cast out loud.


    ¡°L?SLATELSE!¡±


    Her voice is wobbly and she winces a bit before a massive, pure white beam of Spirit shoots out of her hand, aimed directly at the middle test dummy. There is visible recoil as she stumbles backwards, but manages to catch her footing. The pure white beam of energy reaches the target at the same time, and it disintegrates instantly from the sheer power of the attack. The beam blasts past the two other dummies and smashes against the white-plated back wall with tremendous force. There is visible wind pressure as 23 braces herself alongside Aurora and the blue haired boy.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The blast wanes and the wind pressure subsides. When the dust settles, a large dent is clearly visible on the white plated wall. It¡¯s not deep enough to pierce through the plating, but the attack certainly left a mark.


    She raises her right hand toward the next target, and without a chant, another beam of white spirit is released from her palm. While not as devastating, the second L?slatelse is even faster as it nearly instantly zips towards the target with pinpoint accuracy. The dummy is pierced right through, and just like the first instance, it smashes against the back wall, but quickly exhausts its power. No dent is visible, but there is a scratch.


    The crimson-haired girl is clearly exhausted, and breathing heavily as beads of sweat appear all over her face. But even so, she raises her right hand again. She lifts her head and the expression of distress is overcast by the determination in her golden eyes.


    Without bracing her arm, she releases the final blast toward the last dummy. It¡¯s a balance between the power and speed of the two other L?slatelse¡¯s, but lacking the accuracy. It zips towards the last dummy, and just barely hits the outer, red edge of the target. The little part of the target it brushes up against is disintegrated, and yet again it smashes against the back wall. This time, a more intricate pattern of scratches is left behind.


    ¡°Subject 25, please step forward.¡±


    The blue-haired teenager stands up and walks up to the red line while the golden-eyed girl slowly walks back to where she sat before, grasping her right hand tight.


    I¡¯m reminded of the stinging pain like peeled skin all over my right arm, but brush it off as the recording continues.


    ¡°Please proceed on the count of 10.¡±


    Three holes appear under the wrecked dummies, and they all disappear in the darkness below. Three dummies with red and white targets pop out of the ground in their stead.


    10, 9¡­


    He raises his right hand, similar to the golden-eyed girl. Blue hair appears much calmer, yet a fire hidden behind his eyes.


    The countdown ends, but unlike her, he remains silent while a royal blue beam of spirit is released from his palm. It¡¯s much smaller, hitting the middle target but using all its energy to destroy the dummy.


    He misses the second shot, and the disappointment is clear in his eyes. The third shot hits the left dummy, but misses the target. He tries again, and I notice he has exhausted enough spirit to be hit by the withdrawals of using lifeforce as fuel. A stream of blood falls from his mouth as he grits his teeth and releases a more aggressive beam at the left target. It hits the mark, and the dummy is disintegrated as his beam also smashes against the back wall just like the first white glowing beam.


    Another royal blue beam is released from his palm, but it misses the right target. He''s clearly extremely agitated, and two more beams are released in quick succession. Both miss the target, and another stream of blood pours from his mouth.


    The golden-eyed girl is worried, but Aurora remains expressionless.


    He charges up another shot, and the royal blue wave is released from his palm. But right as he does this, several massive gashes and cuts appear all over his arm, spewing blood all over the floor and his white gown.


    The royal blue beam finally hits the last target, and his test ends. He falls on both knees, clutching his right arm.


    Two men in white lab coats enter through a sealed door in the white plating. They both make a quick stride towards the blue-haired boy and practically drag him back through the way they came.


    The wrecked dummies fall and are replaced by new dummies.


    ¡°Subject number 19, please step forward.¡±


    When Aurora steps up, I can actually predict how her test will go. Since she''s the Guardian of Light, I can assume that her technique of choice will be Light oriented, and this comes to fruition.


    Three large blades of light manifest around her, each pointed at a different dummy. The second the targets light up, the three blades shoot out faster than the frame rate of the projection. The three dummies are all split in half in a millisecond, and the three blades of light are lodged deep into the back wall. All while this happens, Aurora maintains a stoic expression on her face, unrelenting and unchanging from the environment around her.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td> </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The file recording ends and pauses before turning back into panel format. A replay option is given to me, but I ignore it and switch over to the second file.


    At the same time, I begin moving again up the second ramp with the hologram projector attached to my wrist.


    File 2 begins playing as I begin climbing the ramp, the panel turning back into a 3D projection. The save file begins with a pop up, with a message written in big letters.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ EMERGENCY ORDER ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ This is an emergency order from the head executive of Korguire Base. Please watch the following recording and follow special protocol. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The message closes automatically and shifts to a tough looking middle aged man sitting in front of the camera with a stern demeanor on his face and hands clasped together. It seems that he himself will relay the emergency order to the staff.


    ¡°The Originator test subjects have started a prison break. Contain them through any means necessary.¡±


    He is not mincing words at all¡­ They don¡¯t even seem to think of the Originators as human. I¡¯d assume carefully wording sentences would be helpful for this role, but it seems that doesn¡¯t matter here. My upbringing makes it instinct for me, so I can¡¯t really help it but word sentences as legal junk.


    The ramp I¡¯m climbing returns to flat ground as the hologram shifts from a 3D plane to a four-sectioned panel each displaying a different area. Every angle shows a different person or group of people. Each and everyone of their attire is recognizable to me¨C that simple white gown. It appears to have been a live feed of the subjects during the time of the prison break.


    In the top left, a silver-haired teenage boy is running from several security guards as they all shoot at him without restraint. He is an imbuement type Originator, and can easily dodge most bullets and even block the ones that do hit. Each step he takes is quick and precise, and he is so light and his feet it¡¯s like he''s bouncing on the hard plated walls. He eventually makes it to the lift on a higher level than me and jumps down.


    The top right shows a group of three kids, two boys and one girl led by Aurora running down a straight hallway with numerous doors. They all look younger than the golden-eyed girl. All of them wear an oversized backpack just as large as them. One of the boy''s eyes gives off this blue glow. Even through the screen I can feel the sheer power that radiates off him and I can feel a shiver down my spine when his gaze shifts to the camera.


    The bottom left shows 25, the blue-haired teenager alongside a platinum-blond haired teenage girl with blue eyes and wielding a large sniper. The glow it gives is all too familiar to me even through the screen¨C definitely the same kind of weapon Wielders bond with. They are accompanied by two adults, one male and one female both donning dark coats and wearing large backpacks.


    Judging by their interactions with the subjects, they''re probably working with the kids to help them escape.


    There''s just something so eerie about them though. The sniper Wielder and adults seem a tad bit too familiar to me, but I can¡¯t put my finger on it. The four of them are in front of the corridor of gates, with battle stances on the ready.


    The bottom right shows 23 and four others split into two groups. The golden-eyed girl is back to back with another dark cloaked adult, while three others are back to back a little ways away. The camera angle doesn¡¯t really tell me what¡¯s happening, but I assume they''re surrounded by guards.


    Even as all four perspectives keep running I scour each and every room I come across, but none of them strike me as anything special. Just more research room with average lab equipment and maybe a few inhouse indev machinery.


    Maybe I¡¯m doing something wrong here, but I can¡¯t tell yet.


    While I don¡¯t find anything particularly interesting, the recording I¡¯m looking at gets all the more intense. Solace isn¡¯t invested in it at all, but I am.


    <blockquote>


    *BANGBANGBANG


    </blockquote>


    The sniper Wielder seemingly shoots at a wall several times, and for a second it seems like it was an unnecessary move. But then, on the bottom right panel with 23, several guards which made it on screen start dropping like flies, blood shooting out of one side of their head. She realized that the walls were strong enough to withstand her shots so she used it to ricochet her bullets. The group of 5 immediately counterattacks less than a second after the bullet rain ends. It¡¯s an overwhelming victory as they manage to incapacitate all of the guards who were petrified from the sight of their compatriots'' brains splattered all over the walls. The group make a break towards the corridor of gates I entered from.


    The silver-haired teen catches up to Aurora, so I can assume they''re in the lower levels. This new group meets up with the sniper Wielder group from the corridor on the right, which I didn¡¯t explore. The group of 5 makes it to the gates as well but on the left side, the direction I went. Some of them begin running down the white plated corridor while the few that stay behind seem to be taking a head count of sorts.


    Suddenly, the sound of hydraulics echoes around them and the massive first massive gate begins closing ever so slowly. Some seem to panic but keep their cool enough to immediately run through the gate. As soon as they get past the first three gates, several droids and armed guards appear on the other end of the corridor and begin blasting at them with all kinds of weaponry. Bullets fly and blood is spilt as several of the subjects are hit by the bullets before they can take cover behind the dark gray metal surrounding lining the still opened gates. One person from the group of 3 from the bottom right panel¨C a gray-haired girl with pigtails, has a bullet passed through her head, killing her instantly. Her blood spills all over the plating.


    I can see the utterly horrified expression on their faces as the girl''s body is repeatedly shot over and over by stray bullets. The few who were injured hold onto their wounds as the rain of bullets begins to calm.


    Right at this moment, 2 of them pop out from behind their cover; 23 and the silver-haired teen. As they run out into plain sight from opposite sides of cover, both activate their respective defensive techniques¨C Utstr?ling and Uknuselig. A large aura of white energy enveloppes 23 while at the same time the silver-hair¡¯s veins glow platinum blue.


    Another silver-haired girl pops out from the same side as golden eyes, and she hides behind her white aura while the three meet in the middle. 23 hides behind silver hair as her white glowing aura spreads around him and protects them both while he spreads his arms out as a final layer of defense.


    Then, a deep purple energy pulsates in the shape of a wall in front of them. Every bullet that nears it slows down to a complete stop midair. The guards realize this and cease their fire, but right as they do, the bullets they had fired begin accelerating in their direction.


    I¡¯m shook, as I recognize this ability.


    ¡°The Guardian of Gravity¡­¡±


    So¡­ it fell into the hands of that silver-haired girl, huh¡­


    I never thought Jami¡¯s contractor would end up all the way here in the high mountains of Desolate Korguire, especially passing through the Dead Zone¡­


    All of the subjects make a mad dash as soon as this happens and manage to make it to gate 11 before the guards and droids begin their second assault. They take cover again but each gate begins closing one after another behind them. The guards gradually stop firing and it seems that they¡¯re trying the same method. However, the guards have a different weapon this time¨C or several. They have net launchers, white plated RPG¡¯s, and one of the droids labeled ¡®Elite N. 3¡¯ charges energy into its hands.


    Even so, the girl who was with Aurora runs forwards and throws her backpack quite the distance.


    Her desperate shouts are nearly inaudible among the gunfire and incoming projectiles which I can guess to go along the lines of ¡®King, please help us!¡¯.


    It opens midair and I see why it isn¡¯t futile¨C an inactive Pasalana curled up into a fetal position. White scaly-skin, weird scaly-skin dog ears. It¡¯s the one I encountered earlier. With stub-like arms and legs, you wouldn¡¯t think it could be of any threat. But that¡¯s before activation.


    Faster than any of the speeding bullets and missiles, a cloud of smoke appears out of nowhere and spreads throughout gates 8#-10#. The guards still open fire, and the various weapons all unleash their might.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td> </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Unfortunately for me, the recording ends and a replay button pops up on the panel. It leaves me dazed for a second before I realize this. But man, right as it peaked it had to stop right there¡­ Anyway, I can see if the corrupted file will open.


    <blockquote>


    *beep


    </blockquote>


    The panel turns gray and a spinning buffer loading thing appears on the screen. But after waiting a while, not much progress is made.


    Well, this will take a while.


    I close the panel, but make sure the corrupted slot still loads while I search the facility.


    Once again, I find another large ramp with ridges and an extremely expansive ceiling. Treading up the ramp is a little tiring, but I make it to the top to see the same large square-cut hole for the elevator. But something here changes. Normally, there would be a large metal gate on the inner wall with ¡®containment room¡¯ and ¡®flooded¡¯ labeled on it. Instead, there is a much smaller gate with no label on it.


    It¡¯s not the gargantuan size seemingly meant for a beast. Rather, it¡¯s small to the point that it¡¯s probably for human use.


    So naturally, I immediately tear it in two.


    I walk through the now destroyed metal gate to some kind of control room. The first thing I notice is a reinforced glass window at the back wall. The room is dark, but the luminescence of the green glowing water beyond the glass is enough light to make out what''s inside.


    It¡¯s rectangular in shape and all over the room, control panels are lined up in rows all facing the massive window. I walk in the middle, which leads to a sort of central control panel which I walk up to and sit in that lonely chair.


    In nigh perfect condition aside from a thin layer of dust, of which I wipe off in a couple of swipes from top to bottom. I attempt to boot the control panel by clicking a button on the top, and to my surprise, a simple loading bar lights up the screen. I wait patiently as the bar slowly fills. When it finishes loading, the screen opens to a message.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ CLEARANCE LEVEL A OR HIGHER REQUIRED ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Aww.


    Higher than what I have, but still lower than I expected.


    I was thinking that for a central control panel they¡¯d need S level clearance just like at the ¡®Infinite Labyrinth¡¯ base, but it seems that the ¡®Abyss in Olympus¡¯ base doesn¡¯t deem their inmates to be as dangerous as down south. Well, I guess that¡¯s a compliment, so I¡¯ll take it.


    I move back around to the row of panels and boot up the nearest one. It works, just like the central panel.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ CLEARANCE LEVEL B OR HIGHER REQUIRED ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I place the side of the card with the key on the back and it processes the key. Once the panel accepts the key, I don¡¯t expect the flood of blue and red nor for it to completely block the screen.


    The lock screen opens and dozens of blue popups with messages written in red flood the screen before I can even process that the key worked.


    Instinctually, I tap the X in the top right corner, but more pop ups keep appearing. After a couple of pop ups closed, I stop closing them and actually read the message. Almost all of the messages were exactly the same. And that this message wasn¡¯t something I should have ignored. Each window read a simple line.


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Spawn of the Meteor Tundra has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNING: Decaying King has gained consciousness. ]</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>[ WARNI...</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Decaying¡­ King?


    Meteor Tundra?


    I lean over the panel but temporarily freeze in place, with my eyes glued to the screen and processing the possibility of a biological threat at hand.


    Immediately, I run around the panel and up against the giant glass window. Peering into the gargantuan industrial storage tank, I anxiously shift my gaze from side to side and up and down. Giant metal chains hang from a ceiling I can barely see, and each individual chain link is nearly twice as large as me. Some hang freely while others curve from being tied to something. Two enormous beasts catch my attention, held within the green waters.


    They¡¯re both bound by the chains and seemingly unconscious. One is an Alpha White Reaper, the largest I¡¯ve ever seen even since the Liberation War. The stronger the reaper, the longer their tail until they start resembling a Quetzecoatl or Oriental dragon. Its massive tail is wrapped with chains from top to bottom. This one¡­ is close to becoming a King White Reaper.


    A year ago, 6 months after our group''s separation, Taios and I managed to find each other out here in desolate Korguire. Just the two of us, we ventured out to Sarlato city. There, we encountered that monster among monsters, and we were no match for it.


    We parted ways after that¨C Taios traveled south while I stayed behind.


    The second beast is a construct made of snow, with its form still maintained even in the waters of the facility. Its head was like a snow brick with six eyes positioned like the sixth side of a die. A disembodied golem, with each limb separated from its torso and tied by chains. Each limb has a metal plate where they would have been connected, which makes me think they were connected telekinetically or magnetically. Same thing. However, that¡¯s not what¡¯s so interesting about it.


    On the direct opposite side of the tank, a gigantic dark metal sword is also chained, but only from the handle. When I look beneath it, I can see numerous broken and cut chains. It seems that the blade is so sharp that it cuts cleanly through steel.


    This one must be the ¡®Spawn of the Meteor Tundra¡¯. I have not the slightest clue what the Meteor Tundra is, but it sounds intimidating.


    But¡­


    I don¡¯t see the Decayed King.


    ¡°I¨C... !(*!@$ hav¨C $@$ NO¨C¡±


    A static filled voice echoes throughout the silent room, but I know what it is when I feel the tug on my left arm and look down to see the hologram recorder on my wrist. It glows bright, and I hold out my left arm.


    The hologram appears while it shifts in shape and colour, matching the tone of the dark plating which lines almost every corner of this facility. Bits and pieces of the recording are missing, leading to several literal holes in the holographic projection I¡¯m seeing. The video quality is significantly lower at about 480p and frame rate below 30. Every audible sound constantly cuts out and all voices are static.


    Loud footsteps and heavy panting echo from the recording, continuously cutting out.


    The breathing becomes more desperate as the angle being recorded constantly moves up and down. I realize this to be someone''s arm, the recording from the very same watch and chip I wear on my wrist.


    ¡°NO¨C !@$!% PLEASE %)!*^ M¨CY LEGS ($@! MOVE!!)$!¡±


    A young man, the same as the one who wore this watch, limply walks down a dark plated corridor, clearly exhausted from running or the sorts.


    He reaches a ramp leading down, but stumbles on the edge and rolls down the span of the ramp.


    Battered and bruised from such a fall, he gets up with an even more noticeable limp, clutching his arm.


    He makes it halfway towards the other ramp, but a massive shadow is cast over him.


    A roar, so egregiously loud that I have to cover both my ears booms throughout the room I stand in.


    <blockquote>


    *ROOOOOOOOAR


    </blockquote>


    An ear shattering roar echoed throughout the control room. Solace starts flying all around the control room in a distressed manner, erratically zipping around around and above me.


    Heavy footsteps shake the ground the researcher stands on, yet each and every step is completely clear of distortion.


    That¡­


    I immediately turn off the watch.


    The thud of heavy footsteps reverberate throughout the control room.


    While an even louder, more ferocious roar bellows throughout the facility, forcing me to cover my ears again.


    <blockquote>


    *ROOOOOOOAR


    </blockquote>


    It appears¡­ a king has awakened.


    <hr>


    <div>


    <table border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td>


    Data File: Aurora


    Name: Aurora ( surname unknown )


    Birth: ?/?/8601


    Nationality/Race: unknown, unknown, human


    Alias: Guardian of Light


    Affiliation: None, unknown


    Status: Dead ( ?/?/86?? )


    Description: Crimson hair, pale skin, black eyes, 5¡¯7-5¡¯8 or 170-173cm tall, several scars on back


    SC: Unknown


    Stats:


    This information should only be used when considering the roles in a squad.


    Origination ( Imposition ¡ú GofLight )


    Power - 4.5¡î


    Defense - ?¡î


    Speed - 5¡î


    Trap - 5¡î


    Skill - ?¡î


    Soul - ?¡î


    Notes: More info needed


    1st Generation Originator


    Transfusion technique: No


    Body


    Physique - ?¡î


    Fortitude - ?¡î


    Agility - ?¡î


    IQ - ?¡î


    Mental - ?¡î


    Notes: More info needed


    File contribution:


    Auraelus


    Valose


    Data file of the Northern Solace


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>

 [ SET IN STONE 4.3 ] The rotting symbol of pride

    It appears¡­ a king has awakened.


    ***


    ¡°That Light fragment¡­ I would be grateful if she elaborated on the ¡®monsters¡¯ part¡­ ¡±


    I circle around the control panels to reach the entrance, then quickly slip outside and immediately scour left and right. Solace covers me wherever I can¡¯t see, but he can¡¯t distinguish its location either. The thud of heavy footsteps gets continuously louder, but the dark metal plating of the facility creates reverberating echoes, making me unable to distinguish its direction.


    Then, a gargantuan shadow looms over me from up above. No words can describe the feeling I had when looking at the beast.


    An enormous beast leapt over Solace and I from the high ramp. Time seemed to slow down every second that I looked at it, trying to wrack my brain over what kind of Decay creature I¡¯ve just encountered.


    It had the shape of a lion; given a description leaving out colour, it would be exactly the same.


    Snow white fur covered its body, a heavy contrast to the dark plating. Blood red claws on all fours, ready to strike me down at any moment. Eyes that glowed so bright, it felt like they pierced into my soul. And a mane cloaked in darkness, similar in appearance to dark granite.


    Just how many monsters have yet to be discovered¡­?


    But with no clear answer in sight, time seemed to revert to normal.


    *THUD


    It landed on the edge of the declined ramp, smoothly yet focused, like it was¨C


    Oh, it turned towards me.


    Wait¨C WA¨C


    ¡°[ REINFOR¨C¡±


    !¡ª...


    The Decayed King bashed head first into me with tremendous force, sending me flying up the ramp. Bouncing off of the curved wall, I barely land at the peak of the ascending ramp.


    *cough


    I can¡¯t help but cough in recoil. My entire upper half throbs with immense pain, my heart is pounding loudly and I¡¯m trembling from the adrenaline rush.


    Solace immediately follows me up the ramp, and when he reaches me he zips wildly around in the air in a sporadic manner, emanating a sense of worry by scrunching his innumerable lamp-yellow eyes and an exaggerated frown with his mouth of darkness.


    Then, I feel a massive surge of spirit pour out of me, and my vision is clouded in a brilliant green light. A pleasant feeling washes over me, soothing the pain by a noticeable degree.


    The passive effect of the Regeneration Amulet, emergency heal, has been activated and in full effect.


    I close my eyes, and a sense of euphoria flows through my body. Even after the green light and immense pain dissipates, I lay curled into a ball on the floor for a few seconds.


    Once I¡¯m mentally ready, my eyes fly open, and I immediately jolt upwards, regaining sense of my situation. Without hesitation, I act immediately and prepare for battle.


    [ Reinforce ]


    Stone as thin as threads crawl all over my body, forming vein-like patterns on my skin. They stretch from my hands to my feet, reinforcing the muscles in my body. As I do this, I peer down the ramp, and those glowing, beady eyes stare at me with contempt of such depth that I can barely believe it isn¡¯t human.


    It begins walking towards the ramp, shifting from a slow pace, then to a jogging speed, then a full sprint. In mere seconds, the creature makes it halfway up the ramp for a preemptive strike, and I react appropriately.


    [ Stone Wall ]


    Purple squares of light appear in front of me, and a wave of stone conjured from the light comes bursting out. A towering wall of dark stone of my own creation, situated at the peak of the ramp, blocks the path upward to stall for enough time to assess my opponent.


    ¡­Or so I hoped.


    Right as I begin to devise a course of action, my train of thought is disrupted as a massive shadow is cast over me once again. Immediately, I move my gaze upwards,


    He can just jump over the wall¡­?


    *THUD


    The beast landed a ways away from the stone wall with a sense of grace, which in turn balanced out the aura of hatred directed towards me. But that balance was flipped upside down and on its head when its eyes turned to me, a glare filled with an even more intense feeling of contempt I had felt mere moments earlier.


    The ball of fire floating besides me begins to glow brightly. In response to the lion, Solace flies forward, and his visage grows tremendously from a green ball of flames to something else entirely. The green flames sprout four legs, a puffy tail, triangular animal ears and bearing his flaming teeth towards the beast. The once numerous lamp-yellow eyes coalesce into two sharp eyes. He had transformed into a large fox of swirling flames equivalent in size to the Decayed King, ready to take the beast head on. While Solace¡¯s flames glow much dimmer from spreading out his flames, the heat in the air ramps up in contrast to his soothing flames.


    Even so, the enemy doesn¡¯t so much as flinch at the sight of a new challenger, raising his head high and opening his jaw. A loud, ear-shattering roar echoes throughout the facility another time, and Solace, likewise, roars as well in a higher pitched tone.


    The clashing roars echo throughout the entire base, causing tremors to shake the entire facility, bouncing throughout the metal walls.


    Then, just as quickly as they started, the two both tilt their heads back down to glare straight into their adversaries soul. The fierce look in their eyes tells me all I need to know.


    They''re both going all out.


    The two charge at one another, and clash headfirst in the center of the curved corridor. An eerily loud twang rings out, and the two opposing forces are totally equal. When one side pushes the other back, they in turn push forward, leaving them at a standstill before they both leap backwards.


    Solace doesn¡¯t give the Decayed King the chance to recuperate when he opens his jaw and blows a wave of fire toward his enemy. The green flames obfuscate the corridor, and several seconds pass with seemingly nothing occuring except for more green flames filling the expansive hall.


    But that isn¡¯t for long, as the Decayed King roars, empowered by deep purple Spirit with a glow so somber it matches the plated walls. This wave of energy collides with and even contests the sea of green flames.


    That''s the Origination technique, ¡®Makt¡¯¡­ also known as ¡®Ardor¡¯.


    The ceiling lights overhead are shattered instantly, raining shards of glass over all of us. I create cover for myself with stone, while the two beasts are too resilient for it to matter. The shards of glass can¡¯t even reach the Decayed King without disintegrating into fine powder, while the green flames melt the glass instantly. They phase right through his body and hit the floor, as Solace has a spiritual body.


    The purple dyed roar begins to push back the green flames, but Solace doesn¡¯t let this continue by amping up his own flames, evening the playing field and causing the two auras to clash with more intensity than before.


    Purple dyed air waves and plumes of green flames push against each other, releasing massive amounts of spirit into the air. It¡¯s like watching two different seas crashing into each other, trying to assert dominance over their domain.


    The presence of ambient spirit makes their emotions as clear as day, and a slight tinge of their emotions flow through me. A strong will, filled with determination to defeat their opponent makes itself known. It''s plain and simple¨C Solace has nothing to hide, and lets loose everything he feels in his attack.


    Contrary to this, I can feel the emotions of my adversary even behind this sea of flames. It''s a mix of hatred, contempt, and a tinge of regret. The emotions he lets out have much more depth to them, which I won¡¯t be able to discern any further until we battle.


    I can feel Solace¡¯s emotions much stronger than the Decayed King since I¡¯m right behind him, but due to them feeling completely different emotions, I can still easily differentiate them.


    Then, both of their attacks¨C flames and sound, cease at the same moment. There''s a momentary pause where the two just stand in place, staring each other down, as if both of them have made a short truce in order to reevaluate the monster facing them.


    The white lion¡¯s eyes reflect anger, but by how his jaw is relaxed, there is now an undertone of respect, acknowledging his opponents strength. Either that, or it could be cunning.


    The flaming green fox¡¯s eyes slanted down, as if sympathetic for his opponent. Sympathy for what? I don¡¯t know, but when MOTF is involved, the answer will be rather simple.


    However, Solace¡¯s sympathy lets his guard down, momentarily distracted by trying to further understand his opponent. The Decayed King takes advantage of this, and immediately pounces, aiming his now glowing blood red claws forward. Solace is taken aback, and can¡¯t react in time.


    The blood red claws dig into the burning green flames, and while nothing visually changes about Solace¡¯s flames, he flails and squirms wildly, trying to throw the beast clinging to him off. Even as the green flames grow to encompass both of them, the Decayed King doesn¡¯t loosen his grasp in the slightest, so I make my own move to intervene.


    A loud whimper escapes Solace¡¯s maw as I launch a pebble to the right of them and shift between it and I. While still in the air from shifting, I make a raising motion with my left hand, and shout a command in my mind.


    [ Pillar ]


    Purple squares of light momentarily flash beneath the King, and a pillar of stone with an angular structure composed of numerous cubes comes rising like a rocket. The lion is directly in its path, and is sent flying upwards with it. While the force he was sent upwards with released his grasp on Solace, he manages to separate plumes of green flames from Solace¡¯s main body.


    The beast is pinned against the roof of dark metal with such tremendous force that it causes the entire surrounding area to creak and bend from the impact. It seems to be knocked unconscious for just a second upon impact, with sullied eyes directed at nothing. Yet without delay, the beady neon white eyes regain their light and glow even brighter with fury, its burning hatred growing ever stronger for the humans that imprisoned it.


    It will let nothing get in its way.


    I don¡¯t let the lion recuperate either. I raise another pillar made of stone and trap the beast even further. Seven areas around me light up with purple squares, and a barrage of pillars come out one by one, pommeling it with such tremendous force that the dark metal plating it is pinned against bends and creaks loudly, but that sight is obscured when I manipulate the very pillars I raised into an upside down dome.


    The dust settles from our short bout, and I¡¯m left standing with my gaze pointed upwards. Turning to my left, Solace¡¯s flames are significantly dimmer than earlier, and the flames that were once densely packed to create his fox form start to detach in wisps from his main body.


    He looks at me with dreary eyes, seemingly awaiting for a command. I raise my right hand towards him, beckoning him to place himself on my right arm like earlier, and his visage begins to slowly shrink¨C


    ¡­ ! ...


    An ominous pressure fills the facility, feeling as if weights were placed on the both of us. Not only that, but the air seems to get hotter. And not only do the compression of Solace¡¯s flames seize completely, but the mere movement of the flames does as well, as if frozen in time. Even if barely visible, I can see the terror in Solace¡¯s thin, slitted eyes.


    I can¡¯t help but help but understand that feeling, as my breath is taken away and my eyes wide open in shock.


    My eyes naturally shift to the source of the pressure¨C emanating from the prison of stone I had constructed mere moments beforehand. Factures begin to form on the stone dome, and a terrifying purple light shines through the fissures.


    A frown grows on my face as I tell myself something in a quiet voice.


    ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t have come here¡­¡±


    I turn my head back towards Solace, getting a clearer view of my right hand raised towards him. Unlike my left hand, I wear a black glove on it, in order to conceal its unsightly state. This makes me more conscious of the stinging pain akin to peeled skin, and the uncomfortably wet feeling underneath.


    This feeling subsides when Solace wraps around my right arm, both on and under my winter jacket. I quickly change pace and begin running down the long curved hallway, pulling out the broken handle of my blade.


    Since I can only manipulate one stone at a time, I pull out all of the stone being actively manipulated as I move via [ Reinforce ] and converge it onto the hilt of my blade, and slowly begin forming its edge.


    I run past several doors, and begin to organize the information I have at hand of the beast behind me. I need to conjure a plan to defeat a pseudo-Calamity class monster on my own. This is a real threat, not like some random Folatr, and shouldn¡¯t be taken lightly.


    Thinking back to what I¡¯ve seen¡­


    Firstly, it has the ability to use Origination. Among high-class monsters, it¡¯s not particularly rare, but the experience it displayed was undeniable. Several imposition techniques, and power that can match Solace¡¯s flames, a fully formed greater spirit.


    Secondly, superb physical prowess. Not exactly something unanticipated. The only issue is that it (possibly) withstood Solace¡¯s flames too. Its raw power alone is not enough to break my stone at the least. And I doubt my stone can¡¯t pierce the lion¡¯s hide.


    Those don¡¯t catch my attention all that much except for the very first thing I saw, back when I forced open the lower water-gate.


    The ¡®dark granite¡¯ looking mane isn¡¯t simply cosmetic.


    Rather, it¡¯s something more unusual. The winter plague, the Decay affliction¡­ same as I.


    Though, it¡¯s weird that a monster born of the Decay is susceptible to its own environment, unless¡­


    The ¡®Decayed King¡¯ is a foreign beast, be it from bioengineering, or origin beyond the Silent Sea.


    And due to that, the Decay affliction on its mane has turned into an enormous weak spot, which I can further weaken by making it come in contact with the Curse of Decay on my right hand¡­


    The Decay not only weakens the body, but also weakens the Origination techniques used by the beast that affect that area.


    This shall be the centerpiece of my battle plan.


    Right then, I hear a loud explosion-like sound go off behind me around the curved corridor and a blast of wind follows suit. It would seem that the lion has broken free from the prison, as a thin wave of deep purple spirit washes over the floor like a flood, only visible to me.


    The lion roars with even more ferocity than before, echoing throughout the corridor. Even from this distance, the intensity is identical to as if I were up close, and leads me to picking up my pace.


    Numerous weak tremors shake the floor rhythmically, and right as I turn around to check on the distance between it and I, the lion is already within 3 doors of me. I raise my left hand wrapped around my sword handle towards it, and mentally prepare for the usage of a more powerful command, chanting its name loud in my mind.


    [ Crushing Wall: 100% ]


    Purple squares form a wall of light mere centimeters behind me, blocking the entirety of the open corridor. From out of the purple squares comes a giant wall of stone, pushing the beast back with tremendous force. The wall pushes it back by several doors as I conjure a pebble and telekinetically launch it the other direction, eventually shifting positions with it once out of my manipulation range. This in turn causes Crushing Wall to also become inactive, and a crack immediately appears on it as I do so.


    But yet again, I raise my left hand back towards the now crumbling stone wall, following up with an even more straining command. Loud in my mind, I chant its name.


    [ Twelve Gates ]


    Down the corridor where the lion is, purple squares of light envelope twelve rectangular portions of the floor, spanning wall to wall, and connected by a thin string-like trail of stone. One after another, a wall of stone quickly juts out of the haze of purple squares. However, after the 10th gate, the last two seem to be significantly lower in quality compared to the rest. The 11th gate only rose ? of the way while the last gate barely scratched ?.


    This ¡®unfinished¡¯ command simply means that it isn¡¯t instinctual, that I hadn¡¯t recalled this memory enough times to know it by heart.


    I begin to raise my right hand, cloaked in Solace¡¯s green flames but hesitate momentarily before putting my hand back down.


    The affliction is located on the mane, so I have to set up the trap high above. Sure, the corridor somewhat works, but I wouldn¡¯t have much room to work with, literally and figuratively. MOTF is primarily a bio-engineering research company, so it is most likely that their biggest rooms are occupied by their genetically modified specimens. As such, the quickest way to search for a large room would be Spirit.


    The sound of another gate being breached echoes out behind me, and I tune up soul sight to maximum capacity to expedite the process. All four of my other senses fade into the back of my mind; smell, touch, hearing, and taste, as everything turns white and black except for the green flames on my right arm and the small flood of translucent deep purple spirit.


    Running further and further doesn¡¯t seem to yield any results¨C nothing else stimulates my vision except for the green flames. Now, much further away from the 12 gates, the thin film of deep purple spirit has entirely faded away. Even as the situation becomes more precarious, I keep my calm and continuously scan every door I pass by, yet to no avail.


    Another right-curved ramp comes into view, but instead of climbing it, I summon a pebble to my left and launch it around the curve, eventually swapping places with the pebble when it reaches the top.


    To my right is another watergate connected to the center tank, and to my left is the wide opening as large as a highrise to the gargantuan elevator shaft. Even with how tight the seal is on the watergate, with my Soul-Sight amped up, I can see a trace amount of a green glowing mist seep through.


    I continue running with Solace on my arm as I¡¯m about to pass the two different opening¨C


    ¨C!!!


    A different Soul signature suddenly captured my attention, diverting my attention as I snapped my head to the left towards the elevator shaft.


    ¡­The Decayed King had looped back around instead of breaking through my walls, and had climbed the elevator shaft to cut me off.


    Several holes can be seen in the metal plating lining the shaft behind it, and the airborne lion raises both of its blood-red claws, now encapsulated by a deep purple water-like energy. I assume it''s the wind-up for the Imposition technique known as ¡°Min Egen¡±, but there''s little time to contemplate as I instinctually move my body to repel what''s coming.


    Beads of sweat drip down my face as I simultaneously lift the sword held in my left to block and materialize a pebble to my right.


    The beast swipes its claws downwards, and the purple spirit encapsulating them shoots towards me in the shape of two crescents in the shape of an X.


    I amp the telekinetic force exerted on the pebble as much as I can, but it¡¯s still not fast enough to give enough time to shift out of the way.


    With less than half a second to spare, I summon a stone from the edge of my sword, and manipulate its shape to resemble a shield. At the same time, I telekinetically boost both the sword and floating shield with forward momentum.


    It seems that this doesn¡¯t matter much, however. As the deep purple crescents of spirit slice through the air, they finally make contact with the stone shield I created on the spot.


    Glowing purple droplets are released into the air like sparks from the clash of crescent on shield. The X digs deeper and deeper into the floating shield, until cracks begin to form on its side. Eventually, the cracks cause the whole shield to shatter like brittle glass.


    However, it is a different story regarding my sword. Due to my diligence when crafting my blade each battle, it is not only denser, making it extremely tough, it is incredibly sharp. Boosted by telekinesis, my sword holds back the X-shaped imposition once they make contact. Copious amounts of spirit fly off like sparks¨C purple drops fly off of the X, while little chipped pieces of my sword fall off one by one.


    But by this time, the pebble I shot out has reached the safe zone.


    For a tenth of a second, I¡¯m drowned in purple squares of light before I find myself facing an inconspicuous dark metal wall. I stumble forwards due to the counterbalance suddenly disappearing, but nimbly catch my footing.


    My blade is still held in front of me, and while I¡¯m no longer in direct harm''s way, trace amounts of purple spirit are left on my blade. A slash vertically at the air flicks off the water-like spirit.


    Looking back at where our two forces clashed, only two things remain. The sliced up stone shield I created in the moment, and an X-shaped puddle of glowing purple water¨C spirit. The liquid starts bubbling and it quickly evaporates as the Decayed King lands dead center between the puddle of his spirit and destroyed stone shield, touching down with grace and posture that emanated pride. The thing just stands there for a second, before slowly turning its antagonistic gaze towards me, and ferocious intent as clear as Ato Diamond lake.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    The hostile intent is clear, and I respond in kind.


    Raising my left hand, I summon a stone and form it into a large spike, hurling it towards the lion as quickly as I can. It zips through the air, and the lion narrowly dodges my attack, maintaining eye contact with me. Meanwhile, my attack zooms past, piercing the back wall like butter, bending the metal in wave-like ripple patterns, and embedding itself into the earth behind it.


    Without missing a beat, I summon and manipulate a small pebble and shoot it underneath the lion. It, however, noticed the minute detail with its sharp eyes. The lion¡¯s momentum shifts backwards, and at the same time, the small pebble grows massively in size, spiraling and adopting the shape of a spike. It juts upwards with a slight tilt, aimed precisely for the beast¡¯s now exposed underbelly.


    But with it noticing the pebble beforehand, plus the momentum it built up in anticipation, its paws leave the floor as it leaps back. Even so, it¡¯s almost enough speed, but not quite. The large spike of stone shoots towards the target, inching closer and closer until it¡¯s about to pierce the target, but then¡­


    *RINGG*


    A high pitched ringing sound emanates from the lion, a mere tenth of a second away from being pierced through the stomach. The sound grows louder within the miniscule timeframe, and the beast¡¯s underbelly begins to glow a dark purple.


    My eyes don¡¯t widen in shock this time, having gotten used to seeing new Imposition technique one after another, but I still can¡¯t help but feel my expectations exceeded once again as a wave of dark purple water-like spirit pours out of the light on its underside.


    The bubble of spirit grows, and stops the spike dead in its tracks. The ringing sound abruptly ends, and the stone spike, now stuck inside the bubble forming on the lion¡¯s underside, begins vibrating violently. Almost immediately after I stop actively manipulating it, the brittle spike shatters into dozens of fragments and rains onto the floor.


    The bubble continues to grow in size, eventually encapsulating the majority of the lion¡¯s figure. It swirls and spins violently, almost like a whirlpool. The spherical mass of spirit floats in the air and begins to glow ever brighter. It illuminates the dark-walled facility like an artificial sun, yet staring directly at isn¡¯t necessarily harmful due to its dark shade.


    Around me in a circle, I form stone spike after stone spike, and meticulously aim them towards different areas of the ball of light. They fly forwards, zipping through the air, and most vibrate before shattering upon making contact with the purple water. The one I aimed towards its topside is different, however. Instead of shattering near instantly, it partially submerges itself within the sea of spirit, before the same reaction occurs.


    This is exactly what I wanted and expected to occur.


    In that time, a bright light shines from inside the dark purple ball, and while I¡¯m initially skeptical, the reason is made ever more clear.


    I conjure stone in front of me, and form a thick dome to protect me from the incoming onslaught from Makt.


    From inside the bubble of spirit, the lion opens its jaw. The bubble quickly shrinks and seemingly disappears, absorbed almost instantaneously back into the beast. Some of that spirit amasses into a small, dark, golf ball sized sphere that floats right above its tongue. ¡®Makt¡¯, a name befitting of this rotten beast¡¯s favourite Imposition.


    And thus, the lion roared.


    The ethereal orb cracked and burst into a spectacle of lights. It was a beautiful sight to behold, comparable to the fish swimming by like stars underneath . Unfortunately for me, this light show was trying to kill me.


    An ominous wave of spirit pulsates outwards in all directions. Unlike before, the sound it makes is very quiet, almost like the wave of death was never here in the first place. That was until it made contact with the leftover pebbles of previous attacks.


    A sound reminiscent of fireworks is created when the dark pressure wave makes contact with the pebble on the ground. Not only that, but for the short time the reaction occurs, lights set off like fireworks too. Once the spirit that made contact runs out of fuel, the light show ends and a small pile of coarse dust is left in its place.


    A hole forms in the wave of spirit, much larger than the pebble it had just destroyed, but is quickly filled in by the surrounding spirit.


    The wave of spirit rushes towards me, and I brace for impact as the firework-like lights go off out of my sight. With my back against the wall, it almost feels like the outer layer of stone is melting, as I can hear the firework sounds from inside the dome for a few seconds, before it eventually quiets down.


    I go straight away to ripping a hole in the dome to locate the beast. Once my eyes lock on, I gather the doom stone into six large spikes orbiting around my character. Launching them forwards towards the now exposed enemy, they each follow different trajectories in hopes that one will land on the lion¡¯s hide. But it counterattacks beginning with counteractive impositions, particularly Min Egen, the crescent shaped spirit.


    One by one, stone spike after spike is evaded or destroyed, all until one is left. The final spike zips through the air, soaring high above the lion. Its point tips downwards, and falls at a rapid speed aided by telekinesis. A glowing crescent soars to meet it, and the spike is split clean in two. It doesn¡¯t upset me, as it was well within expectations.


    Meanwhile, I slowly and gently take off the thick, black winter glove on my right hand.


    If anyone saw me like this in combat, they¡¯d probably be more worried than scared for my well being.


    What''s exposed underneath would be a death sign to anyone else other than me. Or, well¡­ I guess not yet.


    A shriveled and blackened hand, a pungent odour, and the faint dim glow of the Curse Mark of Decay come into sight. It hurts all over for a second, as being exposed to warm air that doesn¡¯t numb my hands is a rarity.


    Why the dark hand? The curse, obviously. One might¡¯ve assumed it to be gangrene before all this Origination stuff was revealed 6 years ago, but if anything, it''s much worse.


    While I still retain some* feeling in my right hand, I can¡¯t exactly move it¡­ at all. There is also a constant pain like peeled skin, but I¡¯ve all but adjusted to it. Now for an accurate description; its appearance can only be described as a black, slightly fuzzy mold. The dark mold creeping up close to my elbow isn¡¯t too hard to hide in winter apparel, but that¡¯s acting like I do have someone to hide it from.


    The curse mark itself is very unique. The outline of two gray glowing triangles in the shape of an hourglass floating directly over the back of my hand. Within both triangles, a darker gray, almost black liquid acts as its sand. The timer is about 20% through. But now, as to why I revealed it,


    ¡°Solace, it''s in your best interest to get off this arm.¡±


    He responds quickly, his green flames zipping from shoulder to shoulder.


    [ Shift ]


    I rematerialize upright in a haze of purple squares above the lion and out of sight. It stares confusedly at where I switched positions, as from its perspective, it looks like I had turned into a stalactite.


    Gravity does its wonder, and my descent rapidly accelerates before my enemy can figure out what I just did. The time it takes the lion to look up and behind it is enough time for me to enter the proximity of the decayed area around its mane.


    I reach out my right hand towards the decayed area, and when my fingers graze its mane, a surge of an eerie, unknown energy is released from our contact point. The wind pressure emanating from my curse mark threatens to blast me away, but I barely manage to hold on for dear life.


    A ferocious roar filled with agony reverberates throughout my body, and while I feel much the same way, I¡¯ve been through a lot more¡­


    Not a long while after, the part of the mane I latched onto literally disintegrates, causing me to quickly lose my grip and sending me flying into the wide elevator shaft.


    The dark plating looks like a rising tower as quickly I begin to fall. The platform down below nears closer and closer and at the same time, I summon a smaller stone platform underneath me and amp up the telekinetic force I exert on both my winter jacket and the slab, making sure to tether myself down beforehand. It barely slows down in time, lightly bumping the platform below.


    I take a deep breath before shifting my gaze upwards, only to see an enormous lion perched up on the edge and large quantities of spirit gathering in its voracious maw. It seems to be winding up L?slatelse as vengeance for my earlier application of the Curse of Decay. There''s just enough for me to evade¨C!?


    A dozen varying items are scattered over the platform on my left hand side. My satchel had somehow opened, and out slipped what are possibly irreplaceable items and artifacts in my arsenal. Among them are several Originator artifacts made from people I¡¯ve since lost touch with, that book I can¡¯t seem to get rid of, rations and a physical map of Korguire. There''s no way I would have enough time to gather all of them or to construct a barrier strong enough to withstand what might be headed my way in 2 seconds.


    I don¡¯t have even a second to brainstorm the best course of action¨C either save myself, preserve the artifacts or haphazardly do both. My eyes dart around frantically, but they instantly lock on to what¡¯s right in front of me. The very same glossy dark plating this facility is shielded with.


    My mind flashes back to when I launched my first barrage of stone spikes¨C the ones that flew past quickly embedded themselves deep into the wall. And the X shaped crescents that I barely avoided¨C they didn¡¯t even scratch the very same plating. The sniper girl¨C why did her bullets just bounce off?


    It must be¡­ Type-C plating.


    Resistant to Origination, but otherwise softer than most metals, about as durable as a strong wood species¡­


    ¡­And as a Guardian, we use spirit to fuel our abilities, but at that point what comes out is no longer Origination nor spirit. It''s more like magic. All like-platings developed by MOTF, A through D, aren¡¯t effective at keeping Guardians nor Wielders contained. The only Originators all four can contain are Imposition types, since Imbuement types use spirit to amplify themselves, not directly attack.


    Survival instinct kicks in, and I send forward a pillar on stone, easily penetrating the soft plating. With a strong yank, the square of plating is torn off of the wall and flies right over my head. I hold it in place, and as the beaming jet of L?slatelse slams down into the square, I raise one central pillar to act as the foundation. Deep purple spirit bounces off of the Type-C plating and splashes all over the glossy walls overlaid with the same material.


    By that time, I had managed to collect every little tool and trinket that had been dropped and swiftly stuff them in my satchel. I make a thin stone ring around the satchel and the red bag slung over my shoulder to ensure that neither would accidentally open again.


    Meanwhile, the lion takes a leap forward and dives down to pounce on its prey.


    Flying back into action, I practically tear away the makeshift defense to the open corridor and send a pillar of stone soaring towards the lion, smashing against its jaw midair with tremendous force, pushing it onto the floor right above me.


    Soaring right beside the pillar is a small pebble which swaps places with me in a haze of purple squares. With a strong swing, my sword flies from my left hand and rapidly spins, but it narrowly avoids my attack, and my sword lands on the storm drain-like flooring clattering madly.


    With a fluid step, I land gently on the pillar of stone. A stone conjures in my left hand, and I configure its shape into a large hammer. What isn¡¯t graceful is the fierce bludgeoning strike, lifted and aided via telekinesis to smash the lion spot on the head with it. The amount of force used causes the floor to crumple under the lion¡¯s feet, yet isn¡¯t enough to deter its will.


    It pushes back with immense force, slowly but surely lifting the hammer with its head. A fierce glow radiates from his beady eyes that are filled with anger as he lifts the hammer up far enough for us to make eye contact. It bares its fangs at me, and a deep purple colour¨C its spirit, converges in the lion''s mouth, evidently preparing for another L?slatelse.


    With little time to react, I have to make a decision. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glance of my fallen sword, laying flat on the floor. With a quick finger gesture, the blade begins levitating. It zips through the air, and right before the lion can cast L?slatelse, the sword pierces deep into the decayed mane of the lion, disrupting the beam directed at me.


    I relinquish my grip on the hammer and step back, manipulating the pillar under my feet to act as a piston, boosting my jump enough to land on the far wall. Beginning to slide down the glossy wall, I summon a stone underneath my foot and embed it into the plating, creating a small platform for me to stand on.


    Followed up by this, I manipulate the pillar of stone from afar to once again slam into the lion''s jaw and stunning it temporarily.


    Using this chance to recuperate, I summon a pebble in hand and swap its place with my sword. With my sword in hand, I raise the stone platform I stand on and begin ascending the elevator shaft.


    Looking down, I can see the lion swipe its blood red claws at the curved pillar of stone I struck it with, splitting it cleanly down the middle. The beast raises his head to look at me as I ascend further, and I naturally stare down at it. This time, a gaze filled with a previously unshown emotion¨C fear, is reflected in its demeanor. That look quickly subsides as it poises itself up and leaps onto the far wall, digging its claws deep into the plating. It repeats this process, leaping from wall to wall and digging his claws deep inside each time.


    He slowly but gradually gets closer to Solace and I by doing this. But if I want to initiate my plan, I need more time than what the current scenario will grant me.


    By this time, Solace has recuperated enough to resume action. I lift my sword hand¨C the one Solace encompasses, down to the lion, and give him a command.


    ¡°Solace, I need you to hold him off for the time being. Can you do that?¡±


    A vague feeling I can only describe as ¡®complaint¡¯ breezes past my consciousness.


    Without hesitation, his green flames coalesce into a shape reminiscent of a bird. He zips towards the lion and clips its backside with his flaming wings, garnering its attention in the process. Green flaming residue rests on the lion''s back but is quickly extinguished. Solace loops back around and floats above the lion, flapping his flaming wings as the two stare each other down and resume their duel.


    I don¡¯t have time to waste, promptly launching a pebble up the elevator shaft. It goes quite far, lightly tapping against the shaft¡¯s roof. Right as that sound reaches me, we swap positions and I quickly create a foothold embedded into the wall.


    In the exact middle of the roof, I summon a massive stone and deeply root its structure into the plating. A small stalactite takes shape, quickly growing in size until. Stone is continually added to it, letting it grow in size more and more.


    Solace and the Decayed King duke it out down below as wisps of green flames and jets of purple spirit paint their small battlefield like the Revelation Artisan chaotic painting style. My attention shifts back to the growing stalactite, but as soon as I look back down at them, a crescent of deep purple spirit comes flying right at me.


    To evade this attack, I manipulate my stone foothold to push me out of harm''s way, landing on the adjacent wall and creating another foothold. The crescent cleanly slices through my previous foothold, but turns into liquid and begins evaporating when it makes contact with the plating. Not letting this distract me, operation on the stalactite¡¯s growth resumes.


    The spike grows to a staggering 40 meters long and 10 meters wide at its base before I decide that this will be enough to neutralize the Decaying King.


    Content with my creation, I prepare to jump down to the opening of the lower level. Or rather, the highest floor, since I¡¯m at the ceiling currently. Right as I look down, another purple crescent comes flying my way, now even closer then the last one was before I noticed. I¡¯m not given the time to react appropriately, causing me to jump off the foothold out of pure instinct and fall directly down the open elevator shaft.


    There''s no time to do this gently, so I summoned a stone rod and shot it into the ceiling, embedding itself and merging with the stone deeply rooted behind the plating.


    The opening to the highest floor approaches rapidly, and with only one option that will let this plan run smoothly, I shoot a pebble into the giant archway of glossy dark plating.


    ¡­Aaaaaand I missed.


    I fall past the highest floor, and ever closer to the battle raging on below. I shoot another pebble upwards, but with my concentration broken, I miss the shot again.


    With no other choice, I divert my attention to the floor below, and shoot one final pebble towards the massive open archway of dark glossy metal, closing my eyes and letting instinct takeover.


    Even with the knowledge that [ Shift ] retains momentum, I still make this decision, becoming engulfed in purple squares of light as the pebble taps against the storm drain-like flooring.


    [ Shift ]


    kkURgh


    A groan escapes my lips as my body slams against the cold hard floor.


    ¡°J¨Cjust barely made it¡­¡±


    My body aches and throbs with pain, and a thought occurs to me as I lie there, the sounds of battle echoing faintly some distance down.


    If it were a younger me, I would be rolling around in pain. Or even worse, just dead.


    It hurts. But nonetheless, I quickly get up on my feet and jump back into action.


    Both the Decayed King and Solace sense my retreat, but continue to duke it out in the wide open elevator shaft.


    I shoot a pebble up the clockwise curved ramp and shift with it. Each door I pass by I open and look inside for a brief second, but none seem to fit the requirements. After opening a dozen doors, all hope seems lost, as there isn¡¯t a room large enough to set up my trap.


    The next curved ramp eventually reaches my eyes, and an unhappy expression coats my face. Shifting to the top of the ramp, I find that I¡¯ve just about reached the highest area within the Abyss in Olympus laboratory.


    Instead of seeing another ramp, there''s a short and flat corridor which leads to a thick metal door. To my left, the hole in the wall leading to the open elevator shaft echoes with battle. To my right, the highest floor flood gate is bent and torn wide open, the glowing green water resting silently maybe 30 meters down.


    I take slow and cautious steps towards the edge of the containment tank, and peer into the mystical waters that glow with so much spirit that Soulsight isn¡¯t needed to witness the marvel before me.


    *gulp


    ¡°Really? Is this the only place with enough room¡­? ¡±


    I remove the stone casing around my satchel and pick out the Guardian artifact ¡®Alchemist¡¯s Enchanted Charm¡¯. I turn around to call out for Solace, but it seems things aren¡¯t that simple.


    The lion is literally mere inches away from me, with Solace tailing close behind, but unable to catch up in time as I¡¯m flung into the sea of green waters.


    My heart and mind races as I finally process what just happened. So many thoughts run through my head at that exact moment that it feels like time has slowed down.


    A Decaying King stands with dignity, and the lamp yellow a greater spirit with a body of green flames open wide in fear as he dives at full speed towards me, but it isn¡¯t enough to catch me.


    Suddenly, one singular idea among the dozens running through my head captures my attention.


    I can feel it.


    The whitish-green ring right beside my stone ring.


    Taios¡¯ last gift before his departure, the Zephyrus ring.


    My hand flies up and I hold my left hand middle finger like I¡¯m about to flick something. I can feel the ring sap my spirit as swirling winds condense near the whitish-green ring into the shape of a bullet.


    I flick my finger, and a bullet of wind cuts through the air and vanishes inside the plume of green flames.


    Only Solace can take it from here.


    *splash


    The green flames devour the wind bullet, and everything except the rippling waves abruptly halt.


    The visage of the young boy sinks further and deeper down.


    Green flames flicker right above the brilliant water.


    And a high-pitched, whistle-like screech shakes the entire facility. It creates waves in the water, and even surpasses the roars of the Decaying King.


    The ball of green flames that levitate above the green waters contort violently, changing shapes from spiky spheres to 4th dimensional constructs barely perceivable to any human. This chaos only ends when the flames begin growing and swirling like a tornado, taking up the entire available area within the containment tank.


    ***


    ¡°Ughhh¡­¡±


    My head is pounding.


    My eyesight slowly returns, and a small wisp floats extremely close to my face with a smile plastered over the flames.


    ¡°Good job¡­¡±


    I reach out my hand, albeit sluggishly, and gently pet Solace. He is ecstatic, and that joy rubs off onto me, a tired smile creeping up on my face.


    Mmm¡­


    Picking up the alchemist charm, I turn my head left and right, observing the significant change in environment. Observing Solace, his flames glow so white and bright that it¡¯s almost blinding.


    It seems my theory was correct.


    The green spirit-dense waters have all but been devoured by Solace. Small puddles collect in shallow parts of the concrete floor, the bodies of the Death Crown White Reaper and the snow golem are still bound and suspended, and massive chains on the floor lay unmoved.


    ¡­Solace¡¯s flames¨C they have a relatively hard time devouring inorganic matter, like normal fire. Instead, he specializes in devouring supernatural substances and organic material to fuel himself, my summoned stones included. And normally, physical matter cannot safely host spirit, with the exception of living organisms.


    MOTF is known for their bioengineering above all else.


    The conclusion I came to is that the green waters were filled with microorganisms biologically engineered by MOTF to somehow host spirit. Either that, or it was so chock-full with life that the presence of spirit was unavoidable.


    Either way, the water still had spirit, so Solace devoured it all. Due to the microorganisms being significantly weaker than, he didn¡¯t adapt to their spirit traits like with the Zephyrus ring.


    *THUDD


    A certain decaying lion lands with monstrous force, shaking me to my feet. I quickly shift my sword into hand, and enter a battle ready stance. The monster and I lock eyes, and stare each other down, both with the knowledge that this is our final bout. My feet and his paws shift in anticipation before Solace takes the initiative.


    A green flaming slash flies forwards, only to be evaded quickly. The lion charges forth, sending a crescent of purple flying my way. I too make a mad dash, dodging, weaving and shifting between each and every crescent thrown my way, slashing through the last one before charging straight for my adversary.


    The lion swipes its monstrous claws, but before they reach me, I shift out of harm''s way, right besides the lion''s jaw. With my momentum retained, I use that force to dig my blade into its cheek and slash through one side of its jaw. The same momentum also lets me gain distance by landing behind it.


    Solace changes his form into that of a python and dives down to wrap around the lion''s legs, binding its movement as it tries to retaliate with fury in its gaze. It¡¯s nowhere near as effective as before, however. Due to the amount of spirit Solace devoured.


    I turn around and put his hand on the concrete floor. Pillars of stone rise out of the concrete and create even more shackles that seek to imprison the rotten beast, adding onto Solace¡¯s binding.


    The glow of deep purple spirit illuminates the 3 of us. A bubble in the colour of the soul begins to encapsulate the lion and swells in size, pushing away Solace and eroding the stone shackles placed on it. The defensive Imposition technique ¡®Utstr?ling¡¯ is being used at full force.


    However, the spirit around the decaying mane seems to take longer to grow. It looks like a dent in the bubble, with a much thinner layer of spirit guarding it. Perfect for what¡¯s upcoming. I take advantage of the thin spirit shielding this area.


    Shifting directly above the lion, I use a command that I haven¡¯t had the chance to use.


    [ Pile Driver ]


    [ Pile Driver ] probably couldn¡¯t break through Utstr?ling. But that¡¯s ¡®normally¡¯ the case. It''s obvious that the decay is a physical weak spot, but why is there a dent in Utstr?ling?


    The ¡°Soul and Body unity theory¡±. It can be summed up in one sentence: A healthy mind is a healthy body. This theory plays a part in my battle plan¨C it''s something I always take note of the few times I¡¯m on the battlefield, though more so against humanoid opponents.


    Origination, as a projection of the soul, will show both its gleam and its stains. If the body is damaged, it will show in the soul. If the soul is damaged, it will show on the body. This only applies to Originators though, so it¡¯s meaningless against the rare sorcerer or resonator. With that and the decay affliction on its mane in mind, we now have an obvious weak-spot.


    A tall, stone rod, 10 meters tall, emerges from a purple blur right in front of me. It stands perfectly upright and in position. I swipe my sword hand down, driving a 10 meter stone rod deep into the lion''s neck.


    The lion roars in agony as the stone rod pierces the decayed skin around its neck, tearing a chunk of both rotting and live flesh off and splattering over the concrete floor. Raw, unfiltered spirit begins leaking and evaporating from Utstr?ling, revealing the lion¡¯s exhaustion. The bubble¡¯s structural integrity begins to crumble due to its waning spirit.


    With the vulnerability now cemented in place, I can start the final attack


    Purple squares of light engulf me as I seemingly disappear from the battlefield.


    Meanwhile, over at the massive stalactite constructed earlier, I rematerialize in a haze of purple squares of light and create a foothold out of stone. I stand with my head mere inches under the dark metal, and raise my sword at a horizontal angle.


    [ Divide ]


    With a strong slash, the stone connecting the stalactite to the ceiling recedes and disappears, and the massive construct quickly gains momentum, falling down the elevator shaft with tremendous weight behind it.


    Purple squares of light envelop my figure, and reappear in the exact position I was previously in¨C at the lion¡¯s rear.


    Solace in his python form and the Decaying King are stuck in a fierce struggle. One attempts to bite and pry at the slithering flames, while the other holds on for dear life while evading as many strikes as he can.


    Falling onto the massive lion¡¯s decaying mane, I thrust my sword down into rotting flesh and impale its neck. Pools of blood spill out and splash onto both the lion''s pristine white fur and decaying mane. Writhing and squirming in pain, it lets out a fierce roar in response.


    ¡°More¡­¡±


    More blood spills out in a red shower, splattering onto my hands and face. The image of a falling stalactite flashes through my mind, further motivating me to hold on.


    ¡°Just a little longer¡­¡±


    Tendrils of spirit reach into the air as the lion¡¯s emotions literally fill the air, dyeing the dull concrete walls with the colours of his soul. I can feel everything he can feel¨C pain, anger, irritation, and most prominently,


    Fear.


    The despairing fear of all beings when faced with one thing¨C true death.


    ¡°You¡¯re still scared, huh¡­?¡±


    No one was there to understand my words.


    An uneasy feeling entered my consciousness. A nostalgic feeling, deep in my heart, one that I feared yet accepted more than anything in this world. A threat that I knew deep down, would eventually resurface, yet had run away from all this time. But before it could overwhelm me, instinct drove my mind elsewhere.


    With its spirit wavering, so has all its defenses.


    A pebble emerges from the purple haze, and I position it right above the decayed mane.


    Solace sees this, and readjusts his form accordingly to not be in the line of fire. Meanwhile I jump backwards before I shout the command in my mind.


    [ Shift ]


    The giant stalactite and pebble swap places.


    It makes first contact with the monster¡¯s spinel, and passes through with little resistance. The monster¡¯s spine is crushed, and dies right then and there.


    The Decaying King has been slain.


    There is nothing to stop the stalactite, so it passes through the concrete floor too. The concrete cracks and crumbles, opening up to a dark abyss as we fall into a deep darkness below.


    Things I never wanted to remember resurfaced there.


    Hidden in that darkness were things more befitting of the name ¡®monster¡¯ than any Decaying King.

 [ SET IN STONE 4.4 ] A Magnificent Display of Love

    ¡°Ugh¡­ not again¡­¡±


    Dim, humid, disgusting, and above all¡­


    Familiar.


    Standing atop a pile of rubble, I came back to my senses once more. Luckily, there is no internal backlash from my fall this time around. My hearing is fine, my heart rate is normal, and my eyes need only adjust to the dim environment.


    When they do finally adjust and I lift my gaze, a sight that was more familiar to me then not filled the building around me.


    Cylindrical towers of glass radiate a green light akin to the water previously held in the containment tank up above. The glass is split into dozens of sections in each tower, some empty, only filled with the pre established liquid. Maybe 20% of them hold a living being.


    Some are inactive Pasalana¡¯s, others are infantile humanoids, and on occasion¡­ One will contain a mutated blob of flesh, grotesque and mutilated beyond recognition, kept alive by this wonder of bioengineering.


    This? Familiar, why? Not that I¡¯ve ever been in one or something¡­ Just something to be expected from MOTF, but on a much larger scale. The one back in the Infinite Labyrinth only held maybe 3-4 dozen pods, while the Abyss in Olympus dwarfs that number, containing some couple hundred or so.


    This makes it pretty evident to me what the objective of this base was¨C manipulating the DNA of living beings. This obviously came with questionable ethical implications. Not like MOTF was ever an organization that accounted for ethics, bioengineering itself has always been a controversial field for discussion.


    Truly a despicable corporation, both in and out. Atleast MORS has the decency to treat their members more fairly, even if they¡¯re methods are extremely outdated and convoluted. I still wonder to this day how such an antiquated company is one of the lead developers of modern technology, making both holograms and portable nuclear reactors for their elite soldiers who fight with their tech.


    Hold on, I think I¡¯ve been spacing out for a little too long here¡­


    ¡­?


    ¡­Where is Solace?


    I should have thought of this earlier¡­ The search for the cube thing can be put on the backburner for now. Solace should be fine down here, but I still can¡¯t help but worry¡­


    Even if he can fly and all¡­ I¡¯m just worried about him, not something else¡­


    I step off of the pile of rubble, and my feet touch down onto the uniquely textured dark floor. With it being dim, I can¡¯t exactly see what the texture is, but it¡¯s noticeable enough for me to feel even through the soles of my boots.


    Turning back to the pile of rubble, the thought of where the Decaying King¡¯s corpse fell occurs to me. Maybe under the rubble? Sure, probably. I¡¯m sure if it were alive, it would be out and about, wrecking all of these containment pods. While for Solace, greater spirits can¡¯t be rendered unconscious by physical trauma, so I doubt he¡¯s stuck under there either.


    Looking at the rubble now, the reflections of miniature glass shards sprinkled into the mound sparkle like green glitter underneath the rubble, in spite of the dim environment .


    Knowing this won¡¯t bear any fruit, so I instead choose to circle around the pile of rubble, quietly passing by the towers of containment pods.


    All of the ones I pass by are empty until I reach the halfway point between the other side of rubble.


    Approaching and walking close to it, a blob of mutated flesh floats silently in the water tank.


    I¡¯ll just ignore it for now, it doesn¡¯t seem like anything special anyway¨C


    [ This is what you did to us. ]


    .


    .


    .


    ¡­Huh?


    A shiver runs down my spine as I freeze in place, processing the words whispered straight into my head. My eyes are wide open with a look I¡¯d never want to see myself with.


    Slowly and cautiously, I turn to the blob of mutated flesh, the surreality of it becoming all the more apparent.


    Its flesh mutilated and transfigured beyond recognition, with the only residual trait being the 6 humanoid eyes scattered arbitrarily. They stare at me with this look of anticipation or curiosity, awaiting any kind of reaction I can give.


    J¡­ Just ignore it


    Without realizing it, I had already averted my gaze from the atrocious sight. The voice of someone long gone rang in my mind, yet even if it was for but a second, that single second brought forth 6 years of torment and regret with it.


    That unbearably hot room,


    My hands bound by ropes,


    The fallen knife that was point at me mere moments before,


    Walls painted in that sinful colour,


    And the essence of my soul.


    The day that I will never forget for the rest of my life.


    December 24th, Christmas Eve.


    There is only one way for us Originator¡¯s to awaken; through an extreme emotional response.


    That is how I poured my soul out for the first time.


    Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something zip between the glass pods at incredible speeds, snapping me back to reality.


    Preparing my blade, I take a stance and thoroughly analyse my surroundings, but to no avail. The thing moving at high speeds is too fast for me to catch a glimpse of. The only thing I can see are the occasional occupied pod, but that too causes fear to rise within me. Seeing the amalgamated corpse of something unknown only corrupts my imagination with even more harrowing thoughts.


    The thing leaps at me from behind with unimaginable speed, and by the time I can turn around it is already inches away from my face.


    *clatter


    I dropped my sword out of relief.


    ¡°Solace¡­¡±


    Falling to my knees, I reached out my trembling hands, and he gently landed on top of my open palms.


    ¡°D¨C Don¡¯t scare me like that, alright?¡±


    Solace seemed indifferent to my words, and slowly levitated off of my hands. His flames began blowing in a certain direction, as if pointing somewhere into the darkness. Oddly enough, his flames seemed to be much dimmer then they¡¯d usually be


    ¡°Do you¡­ want me to go there?¡±


    His overt expression of joy remained stiff, so I took that as a yes.


    Reaching out for my sword, I, albeit hesitantly, grabbed onto the handle and got back on my feet.


    Following his lead, we traversed through the maze of glass towers, passing by abomination after abomination. They don¡¯t look any less terrifying, but with a companion confident in himself, my mind can rest a little easier.


    After several minutes of silent traversal passed by, Solace led me to the outer walls lining this dark facility. They curve ever so slightly; certainly much larger than the containment tank higher up. We turn to the right, and follow along the wall for another minute until we reach¨C


    Oh¡­


    An old man sits propped up against the curved wall, several empty bottles of whiskey at his side.


    Did it really have to be you¡­?


    I stare despondently at the blackout drunkard, and Solace turns to me with a look I would never decline otherwise.


    S¨C Solace, I know how you¡¯re always worried about others, b¨C but please don¡¯t make this any worse for me¡­


    Deep breath¡­ Deep breath¡­ just take a deep breath¡­


    Haaaaaa¡­


    I think I¡¯m ready¡­


    ¡°H¨CHey, wake up.¡±


    Sheathing my sword and grabbing his shoulder, I half heartedly tried to shake him awake but to no avail. The man didn¡¯t respond, so I had to try harder.


    I¡¯m stronger now¡­ I won¡¯t let him push me around. I want my questions answered.


    ¡°Mister Unovon¡­ WAKE UP!¡±


    Clutching onto the collar of his shirt with my sole working hand, I lean forwards and headbutt the drunkard. This time around, he wakes up with a shock and mutters to himself.


    ¡°Kghhg¡­ Wha¨C *hic* What the hell¡­?¡±


    Upon seeing those soulless eyes again, I couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous remembering what kind of character he was.


    ¡°So that was ya¡¯ up there stirring all the trouble, huh?¡±


    ¡°Y¨CYeah¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised ya¡¯ still alive after 3 years, brat. Ya¡¯ want somethin from me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ right.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s that damn ¡®Family¡¯ doin? I haven¡¯t seen ¡®em in a damn while.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    I was at a loss for words.


    Whether or not by coincidence, he already pinpointed one of my deepest regrets.


    Noticing my hesitance, a sinister grin grew on his red wrinkled face.


    ¡°Dead, huh? I expected nothing less.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way those damn brats would survive out there for more than a day.¡±


    My resolve had been shattered immediately by his heartless words.


    Snatching a glass bottle he had emptied out some time ago, he staggered to his feet, using the wall as support.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°W¨Cwow¡­ look at you. Union Overseer reduced to a mere basement drunkard¡­ How far from grace have you fallen?¡± I spat out, insulting him, yet did so fruitlessly. He was not the slightest bit intimidated by it because the fear in my voice was as clear as day.


    ¡°I said the hell ya¡¯ want kid? Ya¡¯ just here to¨C *hic* talk shit or what?¡±


    ¡­?


    I don¡¯t think he ever asked that.


    ¡°I SAID THE HELL YA¡¯ WANT WITH ME, BRAT?!¡±


    ¡°Uwah¨C I¨C no¨C ah¨C I wasn¡¯t looking for you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ya¡¯ know what? I¡¯m sick of hearing you squeal like a rat caught by a mouse.¡±


    The former Overseer Unovon stumbled towards me. Disheveled and miserable as he was, he was still an object of fear. I couldn¡¯t remember the atrocities he committed against others and I, but even I didn¡¯t need to look past his face to tell his character.


    Unable to contain the emotion within myself, I backed up in fear.


    ¡°N¨Cno, go away! Just back off and I won¡¯t h¨Churt you.¡±


    He momentarily stopped in place, as if shocked by my words in some way.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ You, hurt me? Are ya¡¯ saying ya¡¯ve grown even the slightest bit in 3 years? Ya¡¯ couldn¡¯t even hurt a fly back when we had you in the Labyrinth. Ya¡¯ don¡¯t have the balls to do anything more. What¡¯s a pacifist to a world gone to shit?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not¨C I¨C¡±


    ¡°THEN JUST GO AHEAD AND KILL ME YOU FUCKING BITCH¡±


    Backed up against one of the countless pods filling this pit, my head was filled with nightmares of death. Not because of a literal threat¡ª no, this old man had nothing special going for except his wits. Just¡­ Just something¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¨C I¡­ It¡¯s nothing really, nothing. There''s no reason at all, no reason.


    ¡°Why so quiet? Ya¡¯ hesitatin¡¯? What happened to what you said earlier? That¡¯s right, you haven¡¯t grown a bit. Not ya¡¯ heart, mind, and ya¡¯ still look like a kid.¡± he said, adding a snide remark at the end.


    ¡°That''s¨C no, I¡¯ll¨C I¡¯ll do it. I¨C I¨C I swear, I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    Despite the trembling of my body making it hard to even move, I raised my only working hand towards him. Using as much spirit as I can muster, I attempt to conjure a small spike of earth. However, the drill can barely take shape before crumbling into dust.


    ¡°You Originators. Yer powers stop working when ya¡¯ feelings are hurt.¡±


    I¨C I can¡¯t stop shaking.


    Trying to find a way to steady my hand, I bring it closer to my face and try holding it steady that way. But this inadvertently triggered another horrible memory.


    Blood. So much blood.


    On¡­ my hands.


    Not just my hands¡­ everywhere. I was soaked in the foulest wine this world has come to make.


    My legs give out, and fall against the glass pod situated behind me. Limbing lethargically, he approached with a drunken grin plastered over his red face.


    Turning to my left, I looked desperately for Solace. But instead of seeing him bright and energetic, the flames constituting his soul burned dimmer and ever colder than I¡¯ve seen.


    Seeing the despair in my eyes, a dry laugh sprung out of the man.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ Ya¡¯ looking for something? He¡¯s not gonna help you. Look at those flames, they¡¯re barely sparks now. How else did ya¡¯ think we contain Originators? Through hopes and dreams? No, kid. Not at all. Were the things we did so bad that you forgot them all?¡±


    The distress was written on my face, and was taken advantage of. He raised the glass bottle high, and I was petrified by the sight. Memories¨C so many horrible memories flash through my mind. The memories¨C or lack thereof in those critical moments.


    I¡­


    Still don¡¯t know what happened, 6 years later.


    I don¡¯t understand anything. I hate not understanding something. I hate not knowing the truth.


    *crack


    He haphazardly swung the empty bottle, narrowly missing me by a hair. However, he instead hit the glass pod behind me. Both the pod and empty bottle crack, the bottle shattering into many fragments while the pod cracks open.


    ¡°JUST KILL ME ALREADY!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°SAY SOMETHIN WILL YA¡¯?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I SAID SAY SOMETHING!¡±


    I¡ª


    I¡¯m scared.


    What would mom do? What would Jacob do¡­?


    ¡°SAY SOMETHIN GOD DAMNIT¡ª¡°


    ¡­ ! ...


    !? ...


    We both fall into silence as something zips through the space between the two of us, grazing the old man¡¯s neck.


    A streak of crimson liquid emerges from the spot he was slashed. Despite his drunken state, he could tell what happened, even if it passed by in a flash. Our gaze slowly shifts back to each other, having just about realized what had happened.


    When the shock wears off and I realize what¡¯s come to pass, blood erupts from his wound. Blood splatters on my face and hands as the miserable man before me falls unconscious near instantaneously. Unovon had been decapitated, but not by m¡ª me. It wasn¡¯t me¡­


    I watch him fall dead, his head landing face-up right by my feet. His final expression remains on his face, but I don¡¯t dare to look at it out of fear.


    A blade connected to a tendril of dull coloured flesh passes by my left shoulder and back behind me.


    Behind¡­? Wait¡­


    With a slow turn of my head, I look into the broken containment pod behind me.


    A vaguely human figure peers at me over the broken glass with hollow eye sockets. Gray hair and grayed skin, patchwork marking and six tendrils protruding from ¡®her¡¯ back. Various tubes strung to her body fall off and release their contents inside the lowered water levels of the tank.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I can¡¯t take this anymore.


    ¡­


    ¡°What a wonderful story.¡± With his lips sealed shut, his smile curved into a U-shape.


    ¡°Thinking of what his older brother would do when he¡¯s lost all hope¡­ How wonderful.¡±


    He closed the dark book held by his only working hand, and loosened his grip. Yet when he dropped the book, it instead began to levitate. Orbiting around his character like a magic tome, the young boy turned his attention back to the grotesque being that stood before him. A look of confusion was vaguely recognizable from ¡®her¡¯ mutilated face. It was as if she was asking; ¡°How the hell did he get there?¡±


    The Guardian of Stone stood a dozen meters away with a stance suggesting deep contemplation, yet on his face was a sealed lip smile of total confidence, as if he knew he had already won a nonexistent battle.


    ¡°So? What¡¯s the hold up for? You were sooooo loving to that Unovon guy in the book. Why not now?¡± ¡®he¡¯ questioned the fiend, speaking in a higher-pitched voice, abnormally so. Almost like a child.


    The fiend made a low incoherent growl, much like a dog would make when they bark. A tendril on her back shot towards the Inquisitor, but he evaded the strike with a simple sidestep. The psychotic smile grew even wider on his face, and the disgusting words left his mouth.


    ¡°Woooow¡­ What an excellent display of love! More! I want to see more of it!¡±


    The fiend charged forth, now all six bladed tendrils swinging uncontrollably, slashing everything surrounding them. Not even her own cellmates imprisoned within the towers of glass were spared as she slashed her way towards the aggravator that was smiling gleefully. Creepily enough about the young boy, the light in his big eyes had disappeared, in spite of that wicked smile.


    ¡°Hahahahaha. More! MORE! I want to see more of it from you!¡±


    Growing angrier by his ¡®taunts¡¯, the once normal girl began attacking even faster, toppling all the towers of glass within the vicinity. Nevertheless, the believer of love evaded each and every attack with grace and an obsessive smile. No matter how hard she tried, not one of her strikes could even scratch the boy, and instead laid waste to the world around them.


    ¡°I can see it! The feeling swelling up in your heart! THAT is love! Such a wonderful thing. Every living being deserves to see it. Such a shame I¡¯m one of the few who can.¡±


    The blood-red mark of a skull appeared over his left eye, as if painted over his dull gray iris¡¯.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I cannot accept your feelings.¡±


    Before she knew it, the fiend¡¯s head was sliced clean off. The Inquisitor held a long stone scythe, the very weapon used to decapitate our dearest friend.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ Love, what an incredible, yet cruel thing.¡±


    The scythe turned to dust in his hand.


    ¡°Hatred and love are contradictory things. So why is it that when I show my love, others feel hate? Am I really that disgusting?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. These people just don¡¯t know what love is! That¡¯s why I must teach people how to truly love.¡±


    The preacher of love took a step forward, but the psychotic smile faded, and he immediately froze in place, as if forgetting something. The smile crept back up his face when he remembered what it was.


    ¡°Dear Guardian! I¡¯ve awoken from my slumber for the first time in so, so long. Why haven¡¯t you come out to greet me?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°You know we share a soul bond, right? I know you¡¯re wide awake.¡±


    A purple light promptly grew from his heart, and a spiritual voice bellowed from within.


    ( ¡°As if I¡¯d want to greet you.¡± )


    ¡°Wow¡­ what a rude welcome! Please be nicer next time.¡±


    ( ¡°If you want me to be nicer, then act your age.¡± )


    ¡°Agh¡­ You heart my heart! I¡¯d say I¡¯m pretty mature for my age. You know how old I am?¡±


    ¡°Drumroll please¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ six!¡±


    ( ¡°Do you take me for an idiot?¡± )


    ¡°BAHAHahaa no it¡¯s nothing. Just go back alright? I feel the Nameless is about to wake up.¡±


    ( ¡­You¡¯re right. )


    ¡°His will is growing stronger, ya¡¯ know. He almost didn¡¯t let me love that beautiful girl up there! Such a great sign of developpement! He is trying to steal my thunder.¡±


    ( ¡°I¡¯ve never made a bond with someone as disgusting as you, Inquisitor.¡± )


    ¡°Hey! Take that back, do you really think I¡¯m¡­ that¡­ dis¡­¡±


    His words trailed off, his eyes forced themselves closed, and once again, the Inquisitor fell into his slumber. The Guardian of Stone had fallen unconscious standing up.


    ( ¡°Ha¡­ Nameless, when will you figure out what¡¯s wrong with your very own soul?¡± )


    _________________


    ¡°... I ¡­¡±


    ¡°...Need to stop blacking out like this.¡±


    Man¡­ My eyes hurt.


    My left eye is throbbing like crazy¡­


    What¡­ What happened this time?


    ¡­


    Not this book again¡­


    Grabbing the troublesome book and getting back on my feet, I pat my clothes down and take a look around.


    Thousands of shards of glass are scattered across the floor, and all of the glass pods within a large radius are shattered to bits.


    ¡°Solace¡­ where are you?¡±


    Scouring the area, I spot a wisp of green flames floating silently an inch off the ground. Walking over to him, I gently place my hands under him, and his flames start burning again as if he had just begun to wake from a good night''s sleep.


    Turning back to the labyrinth, a containment pod that escaped the maws of destruction we caused by falling down here catches my attention in an instant.


    A ball of flesh, each side with its own eye floats quietly in its tank, glaring holes in me with 3 simultaneous side eyes.


    Solace¡¯s flames slowly creep up my decaying arm as I create a walkway over the mounds of glass shards to meet the objective of my mission here. Maybe the shape is a little different, but the unnerving feeling I get looking at it is all I need to know.


    She said it herself; ¡°You¡¯ll know by the unnerving feeling you get when looking at it. Not that I know what it¡¯s like. I wouldn¡¯t be unnerved by such a miniscule thing.¡±


    Now¡­ How do I get you out of there?


    I don¡¯t want to break the tank, it might get injured that way. Marsh would give me an earful if she found the only live specimen damaged. No need to experience that again.


    Ha, ha, ha¡­ What¡¯s with this feeling of fatigue I can¡¯t wear off? I usually feel energetic after blacking out like this. I even called her by her name and not ¡®Miss researcher¡¯ or something¡­


    My fatigue had made me unconsciously tilt my head down. But this was to my luck, as I spotted a sort of latch on the metal rim lining the bottom of the tank. Squatting down, I switch the latch, and all of the green liquid drains out from a hole in the bottom, leading somewhere underground.


    A panel of glass fall off, and I reach in to grab the little ball creature. When we make contact, I feel a light tug on my fingers, as if little plungers had been stuck to my hand from it.


    Retrieving it from the tank, I hold it close to examine it. Suddenly, my vision shifts dramatically, feeling like my eyes have been connected to the ones on the sphere of flesh.


    I can see the internal structure of living beings¡­ even my own organs.


    This is¡­ disgusting. But I can see how it would help with her research.


    Time for send off.


    Concentrating to my fullest, I think back to one of the many pebbles I left with her and think about shifting what¡¯s in my hand with that very same pebble, over a thousand kilometers away. Purple light begins enveloping the ball of flesh, glowing brighter and brighter until enough spirit has been used to warp it that distance.


    Then, the flesh ball disappears like it was never there, an otherwise normal pebble taking its place.


    A wave of fatigue hits me, and I fall to my knees out of exhaustion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you¡­ Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time we leave now¡­?¡±


    ¡­My questions have not been answered, but my curiosity satiated.


    I had another blackout, probably not related to that thing this time around¡­


    Plus, I¡¯m unbelievably tired¡­


    ¡­Let''s¡­ go home.


    The pebble fell out of my hand, and I was engulfed by purple light.