202. H10 and New Sights

202. H10 and New Sights

Sultry outfits, bunny suits, maid uniforms, and bikini armor.

Otherwise collectively known as the four horsemen of Frost’s apocalypse. H9’s streets were infested with these apparels. The smaller settlements afar were relatively sane, but the deeper and closer one went to its major city, the more they became commonplace.

Brothels. Clubs. Shows. Massage parlors run by Aquatids with an ending that could only lead to one thing. Inns for various overnight recreational activities. And of course, with brick walls for that extra privacy. Or wooden if one fancied a certain ambience.

This did not mean that normal people didn’t exist. It was a sophisticated blend, with various districts within the cities and towns which separated the residential area from the ‘red light district’, otherwise called ‘The Elven Zone’, a play on the Corrupted Zones. Just for lust since Elves were on both extreme spectrums of purity and debauchery.

Frost remembered the stoic man that escorted D-13, and then turned to an Elf advertising an inn with a face desperate for a certain kind of attention. Never had Frost set foot in such a place. At least to her memory.

“You never know. You could have been the connoisseur of brothels in a past life.”

Please Nav... It’s scary because that might not even be a joke.

They avoided the wide streets of the Elven Zones and stuck to the narrow paths. The architecture was more of the same, except the buildings here were much larger than usual to accommodate the large number of people that lived in H9.

Each Sector was home to roughly a hundred thousand unique individuals. H9 was easily 300,000 due to the combination of people flocking to this place of promised carnal desires, and because of all the children that were produced as a result. Thankfully, the settlements were built in a way where it was highly unlikely for a child to be exposed to these things, usually by placing the two districts on opposite sides of the city or town.

Now that Frost thought about it, why was it the sex-oriented cities that had the most advanced urban layout? The districts were a fantastic idea that bundled certain businesses, interests, and developments together.

The other Sectors had everything packed together throughout the city. For example, Frost hadn’t come across a town with a set residential. Markets and stores were about the only ‘district’ outside of H9. As a result, everything felt claustrophobic despite the colossal roads that cut between them.

Here? It was cleaner and moving through the city made so much more sense. It felt modern in a way. On the topic of population – H9 was not the largest, and the 5 to 6 million population of the Nex Megalopolis was only accounted for individuals registered with the Guild and the Golden Thumb.

The City of Spades was speculated to house another few million unaccounted souls alone.

Ateliers could not impose on an Atelier’s turf no matter the circumstance, unless of course, it was a direct violation of a treaty or seen as traitorous. This meant that Scarlet Logic were free to do whatever they wished to those few million within their territory.

Or in their case, do nothing at all. The people were subjected to the cruelty of their own. Monsters in skin and flesh. Frost’s emotions simmered in her heart as they moved through H9, enjoying the sights.

At one point they were catcalled by a group of men, only to have Frost instantly shoot them with Scrutiny. Due to her slightly heightened emotions, she did this out of reflex before she realized what they were trying to do.

“A singularity or gravity well is probably hiding there.” Jury noted. “Spaghettification. How brutal. That might be one of the worst ways to go.”

“That’s a word?” Ber genuinely asked. “I prefer noodlefication.”

“Noodles are thinner. It strikes fear into people’s hearts better.” Cer added, causing Ber to proudly nod in agreement.

“Exactly. Noddlefication. I get shivers every time.” Ber grinned.

“Huh? Why not stringification?” Frost chimed in unexpectedly tugging on a strand of steel string from her wrist.

Ber’s eyes instantly widened with dazzling wonder, and she crawled up to Frost, clutching onto her hands in amazement.

“Are you some kind of genius!?” She exclaimed.

“That’s the Amalgam for you! Revolutionizing everything one munch at a time!” Cer applauded.

Res winced and glared at Frost. She could not believe she had stooped to their level of stupidity.

Still, it didn’t stop her from smiling.

* * *

Snap scaled the cliffs. Atop was another vast plainlands that seemed to endlessly stretch as far as the eye could see. From their height they could see the entirety of the northern side of the Nex Megalopolis, and even the land bridge that connected to Grandis and Divas Pass. The sight was mesmerizing, and they took a moment to devour the world with silent gazes. When the cold breeze stopped, they resumed their journey onwards.

Another city approached, but the buildings were not limited to only two stories. Three, even for stories buildings could be seen from afar. And in the distance, they saw a purple spire reach for the skies.

It was a solid crystal mass with a pointy tip, and various branches could be seen jutting out from its sides, as if to allow a giant bird to perch atop. It appeared more like a shriveled tree more than anything else.

This was the Justica Arms 6th Branch, which housed the Peace Flocks, Justicers, Augurists and, most importantly –

– The 6th Apostle.