308. The Ultimate Language Vs The Universal Language

308. The Ultimate Language Vs The Universal Language

Every building became a candlewick. Flames reached for the skies as the stars were snuffed out. Shallow oceans of blood covered the entirety of the Floor of Civilization. Islands of bodies amassed from the discarded many.

A sight familiar to all unfolded. To the others, it was just like the City of Spades.

But to the Archivist, she remembered her world. Terror began to build in her chest as she clasped at the air where her precious book used to be. Her one tangible source of courage. Four giant, pale crystals formed in each quarter of the Floor, each emitting a low-pitched hum similar to Jury’s Retrocausality – Smite.

“Genesis Stones.” Galia was mildly amused by the finding, her feathered apparel rising like the hairs of a frightened cat. “What’s this dangerous aura? This imminent sense of impending judgement? Our merciful Arbiter, my intuition tells me that we’re redundant.”

Black holes. Great chains. Hailstorms of bullets – nothing could damage the Genesis Stones, never mind the Corrupted Frost whose DEF had exceeded over one billion. A red haze surrounded Sinder, the flaming book forever expelling its contents onto their garbs. His eyes cut through the flames like beacons of light, his wings each reaching to the utter ends of the Floor.

[What Doesn’t Kill you].

[A Million Wicks and One Light].

[Violence on Violence Action].

[World Ablaze].

All these skills were combined into a spherical amalgamation of fire. Visible heat waves warded the Beholders away, for those flames caused parts of their apparel to catch alight. For just this instance, the Apocalypse Corrupted seemingly elevated into a Paradise Lost one, for not even the Arbiter could remain within proximity of him.

“So it would seem. An Awakening plays by rules governed not by us, but by the mental state of those involved in the story. This is an eye opener.” The Arbiter, much like Galia, showed little concern over the ordeal.

However, her eyes were firmly fixed onto Sinder with both pity and wrath.

“A pity I could not learn more about you. I suppose this is for the best.” The Arbiter added, her wings retreating from the center of the city, as did the Beholders.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

Pride was not something they brazenly carried. Rather, they were known to fear and respect enemies of great might. It was why Grandis was sealed off for so long. But in truth, that was only a fraction of the reason why.

Sinder’s powers grew exponentially, the Genesis stones slowly turning black as crystal card suits began to orbit him.

All [Woes] were active now, as well as his unavoidable magic. A constant buzz emitted from his chest, oscillating from high to low as a pale orb formed.

Before the Arbiter finally left, she set her sights onto the Archivist, her group, and finally, onto Jury with a conflicting smile.

“Suffering stems from attachment. Violence and language have become a theme of this fight. But believe there is more to it. Corrupted are non-sapient. They lack the capacity to consciously think of their own existence. But this one is aware. I trust you know what you must do. You’ve already let go once. It’s time to let it go for good.”

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

< The Crowned Has Found Its Way >

< Violence Is the Only Answer >

< “To cleanse this world. To cleanse the impruities that brought so many people down. To erase the things that brought pain to us all... I must reduce it all to ashes. Our home was rotten from the core. It was irredeemable.” >

“Got a plan?” Jury asked the Archivist, to which she defiantly gazed up at the burning star.

“The Condition said that the only way to beat them is to show him proof! Violence is the last direction on the crossroads! Nav doesn’t know yet!” She explained, watching the pale orb grow.

“Then what do you think!?” Jury elaborated, causing the girl to wince as she felt a pain in her chest. For a split second, a vision of an impaled, black beast overlapped with Sinder.

She remembered its roars of anguish. She remembered its terrible screams that caused many to run away.

And she remembered how she stood firmly in front of it.

The Archivist fell into a lulling trance. Even though she knew her friend had lost themself, she couldn’t help but to believe they were also lucid of their actions. Much like how the Corrupted were aware, but just unable to think or speak any differently.

< “I became what I hated the most. And that was what shattered this shell of mine. What brought out these unquenchable flames. I believed that if all was gone, then the pain would finally subside. I wouldn’t ever have to hear the wails again.” >

Abrupt jets of liquid fire were fired at everyone present. Cer threw up her shield, blocking it for the group whereas the Beholders were forced to take the full brunt of the attack.

They were powerless against Sinder.

And yet this tiny wolf could stand up to challenge him.

“Irredeemable!? Wasn’t the plan to fix it!?” Cer inadvertently shouted, a blue diamond forming above her head. Likewise, a blue orb appeared in the center of her chest. It was a small light, but it carried an immeasurable sincerity that caused the flaming jets to abruptly change their course of attack.

For some reason, it felt like Sinder purposefully missed.

< “The dream we shared drove my friends to their deaths... what is the point of arguing with me? It will not change anything. I’ve already condemned this world. Because the same flaws are rife in this one. Our two worlds are one and the same.” >

“– THEN I HAVE PLENTY OF IT!”

Sinder’s beam stood no chance. In a way, it was like he didn’t even attempt to struggle at all. The steam that formed around his face was caused by invisible tears. No one knew for certain if it was Frost or him that wept. Regardless, it did not change that the Achivst’s words had reached him.

The group soared. The fireworks of light populated the skies of the Floor of Civilization. Slowly, the buildings rearranged themselves to closely match small sections of the Nex Megalopolis rather than the city she called home.

Because this world had now become the Archivst’s home.

Vast expanses of land were left barren, promising to bear fruit later in the future.

The burning book flickered to its last page.

< “You’ve... finally moved on your own two feet.” >

< “... I wonder, if I also had a bundle of courage to hold onto, then maybe things could have been different.” >

< “Regardless... take care of this one. You’ve all become her bundles of courage.” >

< “Anna... Your dream was interesting. I think you’ve fulfilled it without realizing it.” >

< “’Wanting to save our world’...” >

< “I’ve never personally told you this, and I’ve regretted it for as long as I’ve been cuddled by you for the last 300 years.” >

< “Good job.” >

< “I’m so proud of you.” >

Crowned

HP : 0

The Archivist had reached him. She couldn’t see anything anymore. The light blinded her.

But she could have sworn she felt someone brush a hand through her hair.

It was a warm hand.

A familiar one.

The very same hand that reached out to save her.

The Archivist whimpered as she lost sensation in all of her senses.

But not without Nav’s last prompts.

< The Crowned Has Been Subjugated >

< The Floor of Civilization Resonates >

< The Floor of Civilization has Awakened >

< The Archetype of Civilization has Awakened >

< Thank you for doing your best >

< And thank you for saving Frost >