281. Battling the Spade

281. Battling the Spade

Unlike last time when they had the force of a thousand to stand up against a Woe of the Fallen Star, they only had each other now. Carpalis, a Beholder of all things, could not penetrate through the Big Black Spade. The phenomenon tore apart the illusion of the Beholder’s untouchable valor.

For a deity to become incapable invited all manners of scrutiny. The trust the public once had in them quickly faltered, as they realized that they were not as safe in the Nex Megalopolis as they believed. The very city that was built to withstand a Paradise Lost event was, once again, under the ministrations of a Woe of the Fallen Star Corrupted.

But in the absence of the Beholders, and in the absence of the Ateliers arose a certain band of individuals. Who would require the cooperation of multiple Ateliers was brazenly fought by no more than 5 individuals.

And one, a woman clad in black feathers.

Suddenly, perplexed voices cut through the thick hysteria.

“Are you seeing this!?”

“It’s like a darker version of the Big Red Heart!”

“Are we... is it over for us?”

“No! Look through the damned telescopes! Be careful of the light! Just... there! Look! She has wings! Is she an Angel!? The White Wing!?”

Further within C5 was one of the few mountainous regions of Brandar. Several more ran along the lands near Sermount Ruins, just at the border of Emvita and Brandar. People conglomerated to these mountains, swarming into underground bunkers, capable of holding hundreds of thousands if required.

The mountain was hollow, and within were a series of stone labyrinths. It was built exactly for the situation at hand, carved out by the Dwarves of Caldera Industries long ago. At its summit people lamented the devastation of C3 and C4. Because it was a popular lookout place, thousands of stationary telescopes and binoculars sat along an ancient wall.

People flocked to them in droves rather than heading into the safety of the bunkers.

“What’s everyone standing here for!? Keep moving! We’re still too close to whatever that thing is!” One rational voice tried to break the crowd up, but as more voices described the abnormal scenery, he could no help but to see it for himself.

“One of them looks injured. And... a deity can’t get through to it!”

“That Anid’s one bloody speed Demon! What breed is that!?”

“Forget that! You saw how fast it was before! But it’s slowing down!”

“You can’t be serious... are they... going to try take that down? They’re just Demi-humans.”

Suffice to say, no one believed in them. Their confidence was at an all-time low. Even with the Infusion bombardment such a Corrupted remained unscathed. Nevermind that a Deity of their world was utterly useless. The blazing twister passed by the giant, and Carpalis avoided it at all costs as it gave chase to the black orb.

However, as if by some miracle, the small band of Demi-humans and Angels seemed to be able to hold out on their own. The black, whiplike cloth of the orb was avoided at all costs as beings spawned from it were obliterated by great sparks that burst like fireworks.

“... they... are just Demi-humans, you said? No way... they have to be Blessed. No. Higher than Blessed. Who else is crazy enough to slow down and fight it!?”

“They’re still alive. Doesn’t... it look possible somehow?”

“Hey. Those black feathers. Doesn’t that remind you of that rumor?”

“The Black Dove?”

“There are two Colors over there!?”

Slowly, an air of hope began to circulate. Many still believed it to be false hope. If a Beholder couldn’t touch it, then who else could? But at the same time, these people revered the Colors more in a way. They were like heroes to them. People that lived alongside them. In the past miracles were achieved by said Colors to legitimize their legacy.

And as people watched on, they wondered if the same could happen with the one they mistook for the Black Dove.

“Insane.” A guarding Liquidator commended, baffled by the sight. “A Woe of the Fallen Star that can’t be touched by a Beholder. But those morons are actually giving it a shot.”

“What magnification?” Another asked.

“Enhance to 200x vision.”

The glass eye of another’s spun as their hollow pupil contracted. Suddenly, as they steadied themselves to capture a clear view of the combatants, shock filled their eyes.

HP : 20,000 ATT DEF : 1,000 ATT : 15,000

It was a certain bond that caused the Blood of the Covenant to unleash a barrage of attacks.

< [Bond Splitter] >

< [Bond Splitter] >

< [Bond Splitter] >

< [Bond Splitter] >

< [Assimilating Assimilation] >

< [Impassioned Rally] >

< [Corrosive Binding] >

“For family. For survival. Currency was of the same blood that ran in our veins. We turned on one another for the sake of ideals. We knew it was wrong, but we were too blind to see it. Consequences... were only seen at the end of one’s life. Poetic.” The White Wing recited, adoring their battle prowess. “You’re exemplary Moons. Ignis...”

“Please... Let me focus!” Ignis growled, humoring the Angel.

“You are quite close to level 200. I suggest immediately reaching it however you can. The Nexus is generous for those that reach the same heights as the Moons. Although...” The White Wing placed her bare hand onto Ignis’ head. Not in a distracting manner, but rather, in a motherly kind of way. “... I am eager to see if you can go further than being on par with a Moon. Weaponized Symbiote. You would be the first of your kind if the Archivist were to ever invite you into her Library.”

“I am not eager to become a Beholder! I just... want to keep being with everyone else!”

“Keep my words in mind. Maybe one day it’ll be a necessity~ Your bonds are strong but look closely. It has yet to test it to its fullest capacity. No one alone can beat it. That much was proven by... What a terrible time to recall it.” She shuddered as the black ball took upon its spade form.

< [Collective Illusion] >

“We’re all fundamentally the same thing. It’s a shame that we value each other so differently. I won’t say there isn’t truth behind it, but the way they did it was despicable.”

The Blood of the Covenant hollowed itself out, the blood pouring from its pores becoming water. Suddenly, a ball of barbed wire was spat from its hollow center, fired far ahead of Snap.

It steered clear, fearing for the worst.

Moments later, the ball exploded with thousands of ribbons, each carrying the body of a Scarlet Logic force along its tip like a harpoon. Unlike the deranged ones they dragged along...

“Help us...”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Please... just end this misery.”

They were alive. Their mouths were slit wide, and their jaws were rearranged to match a shark’s. But they were still very much alive, and they despaired over their blindness. They were used unwillingly to fight, both in the past and in the present.

“Isn’t it sorrowful? They’re blinded. Many know it’s wrong but they’re under the misconception; the mass belief that everyone around them agreed to it. But in reality, many do not.” The White Wing explained, grinning at their misery.

Barbed wire wrapped them in their false bonds. It was sewn into their skin, organs, and bones like serrated string. Each movement they made caused it to dig deeper into their flesh as screams suddenly filled the air.

Res was the first to begin eliminating them. Without remorse of course. Even if they were technically victims, it did not dismiss from the fact that they had committed irredeemable crimes.

She could not take them all down.

And so, Ber, turning towards them in the height of her swing, unleashed a spectacular, black slash.

[Singing Wingslash].

She bisected hundreds in one fell swoop, and their bodies dripped with the most watery blood they had ever seen.