288. The Egg Is A World

288. The Egg Is A World

The world watched in stupor at the small band of Demi-humans. Showers of light sparkled in their eyes as people funneled past the guarding Liquidators, leaving the safety of their bunkers to witness the birth of a legend with bated breaths.

It was like a firework viewing. Places as far as the City of Diamonds witnessed the birth of an ethereal moon in the shadow of the Nexus. For just one moment, the fighting across all Sectors of the City of Clubs ceased. Sounds of clashing steel and the pulverization of bones were relinquished. The eyes of many Ateliers and Impuritas stopped to watch the miracle of who they believed was the Black Dove.

The many hands reaching for the Piece of the Fallen Star cramped.

Ber’s metal rod flew like a comet, hailing pale particles of light. The torrent of flames failed to devour it this time. It pierced through the membrane of the Big Black Spade, causing it to turn transparent as it revealed the central orb, which mashed violently with Frost’s embryotic shell.

The spear did not degrade. It did not fragment. A vacuum formed as it cut through the unbearable heat. Ber’s accuracy was frightening, and before one could even blink, the rod pierced through the Blood of the Covenant, safely exiting from the other end coated in watery blood.

It popped. Its protective Big Black Spade transformed into a giant ball of water, flooding the city as none could believe that they had just witnessed the defeat of a Woe of the Fallen Star Corrupted by merely a handful of individuals. Frost’s flames came to an abrupt end, as if extinguished by the water. Steam enshrouded both orbs, and as the shadow of the Nexus finally passed they witnessed her shell devour the Corrupted, attaining the 4th chapter of the Book of Cinder Civitas.

Only one more chapter remained now.

Ber floated there motionlessly, still holding the same throwing stance. She couldn’t believe that it worked so flawlessly, and to her surprise, Jury was indeed unharmed thanks to her Invulnerability Condition. None shared a word. Only breathless pants left each of their lips, including the White Wing who was impressed by the spectacle.

She glanced over at the Advent of Desire, suddenly biting her lip in abrupt disappointment.

“Inferior materials...” Was all she could utter before Frost’s shell expelled light, rivalling that of the Piece of the Fallen Star.

Ber instinctively shielded herself and Jury using her wings. The light Frost summoned could be seen as far as the distant continents of Elysia as the Nexus rung with another hollow hum like that of a trumpet before her embryo flung past them at a speed that distorted space.

It hurdled somewhere to the side closets to the walls of the Nexus in H4, crashing into the urban sprawl like a meteorite. When the flash of light subsided, it became their mission to retrieve Frost now that her flames had disappeared.

“It’s... is it over?” Ignis wondered, losing the Bonded Condition as Cer regretfully shook her head, pointing her fangs at the animated mound of flesh ahead.

“Not until something’s done about them. Hey. White Wing. What the fuck was that?” Cer growled, right as Ber and Jury made the abrupt decision to leave ahead without them.

“There they go. Are they leaving it to us?” Res deeply exhaled, exhausted from the ordeal. “... ‘inferior materials’. You sound like you’re with the Librarians. What the hell do you know?”

“That no wish from beings like Jury and myself will be granted in full. Look at them pitifully reach for another’s wish. They’re just Nex and they don’t even realize it. It’s concerning. That a Faux Angel has yet to arrive.”

“Sounds like you were in on this war because you wanted to have your wish granted. I knew it! You’re a fucking enemy!” Cer spat.

“Believe me, I will be the least of your concern.” The White Wing assured, scouring the skies with sudden desperation. “I’m hating this by the second. Why hasn’t anything arrived? A Faux Angel should have appeared by now...”

She ignored their protests. When Cer attempted to scratch her, her nails simply bounced off the White Wing’s apparel. The Angel gave Snap a fond pat, then Ignis, and regretfully was unable to touch the other two.

She stood, suddenly turning her back to them to hide her growing concern.

“... take care of yourselves. Something is terribly wrong.”

With that word of caution shared, she disappeared, leaving behind speckles of luminous feathers. Snap took a sudden turn and ran into the direction of Frost after it received a message from Nav.

< The Advent of Desire is under the control of the Archetype of Desire >

< No Angel or similar entity can interact with it so long as I occupy it >

< It must be removed before further harm to the city can be done. Lesser wishes are being granted across the Nex Megalopolis. Until then, please leave this endeavor to me >

< Please, go to Frost! >

* * *

An unnamed city square became the impact site of the pale embryo. The densely built structures crumbled as the faint sounds of distant screaming could be heard.

The eggshell cracked. Those screams roused the being within. Shards of pale stone collapsed as black strands of hair fell through its cracks. Eventually, a clothed woman broke free, crawling into the world with the same strength of a newborn chick.

Frost couldn’t stand yet. Her body felt numb. Her baggy clothes fooled her into thinking she had shrunk, but in reality, she felt a little larger. All she could see was the cobblestone. All she could feel was its coldness against her cheek.

The air of this world was welcoming, and the screams ceased before she had the chance to notice them. For a moment, Frost’s eyes glistened with moisture. The world she saw was unaffected by war as far as she could tell. Her many invisible eyes couldn’t see much, like they had yet to open.

“... did they do it...?” Frost asked herself, smiling fondly as sensation slowly returned to her body. Gradually, she was able to push herself up onto her feet as she followed a tall wall for support. “Where... is everyone? Nav? Jury? Hello? Is anyone here?”

It was not until she reached a window that she saw her changes. Nothing was substantial aside from her eyes, which glowed a vibrant red, as if she was possessed by a spirit of wrath. The trauma of the memory was still fresh in her mind, but seeing the world left mostly untouched instilled her with hope.

< All I can feel is regret >

< Every street I’ve walked was lathered in blood. Every unturned stone hid a body >

< I trampled on them with my good intentions >

On each signpost above her was the symbol of each suit of cards, aside from clubs. The largest of the signs was one of a burning crown. Everything within a 10km radius was transformed into a blue-tinted city, with four major paths intersecting where Frost knelt, weeping into her green pillow, still assaulted by barrages of magic.

< Why was it only me who cared? >

< I sat at the crossroads of morality, wondering how else we could have dealt with it. Was there truly no other choice than bloodshed? >

< Innocent lives lost >

< This caring me is a shackle, isn’t it? >

< Motivated by greed; the Ateliers will turn a blind eye >

< Motivated by the heart of one; people will justify their wrongs for their unified cause >

< Motivated by nothing but conflict; bonds will be forever broken >

< Is there no other language than violence? >

Frost’s weeps echoed throughout the manifested city as her grip tightened around the cushioned club.

< I hold onto what’s left of my humanity. Without it... I will become no better than them. This is my courage. Please don’t take it away from me >

< We... no. I discarded many >

* * *

//////// < WARNING > ////////

THE AMALGAM’S BREAKDOWN EVENT HAS BEGUN

These were the words Jury and Ber feared the most. The one person who should never have despaired broke down, and now, the world would feel its wrath. Ber had believed her manifestation of her Corrupted was arbitrary considering how quickly things had ended.

But unbeknownst to them was that this was only the beginning.