807. Threat Neutralized

807. Threat Neutralized

Magus then announced:

“The egg is the world, as I’ve heard. There are two ways to interpret it. The first is that the world itself is what creates the kind of person inside. In this instance, you’re bound to this scenery. Some may not wish to hatch. Others will struggle to let go. But eggs were meant to be broken. A shattered world invites one to step forth and experience a world anew. It’s still regrettable that Moons are still suffering from the effects of Serum G to this day, though I am oh so elated that it seems that the invasion given our Moons one last push to ‘hatch’ from their shells.”

“Hah. Hatching is a strange way to describe us. But I like it. We call this the Tides of the Moon. Old wounds can never heal because of Serum G. Hora Therapeutics will have their work cut out for them. And also – Archetype of Hope – I don’t believe it was just the lack of Serum G.”

Ruby smiled, fixing her buttons as she realized how unsightly she appeared. Most of the Moons Magus had come across looked that way. They had shown more emotions in this one hour than they had in the months that he had spent in the Nexus.

“I’m aware. Her foundation of rapport has paid itself back by tenfold. Thank the Amalgam when she returns. She’ll be happy to hear the exciting news.”

The tarot card returned to Magus’ side. It disappeared with a blinding flash of light.

“Is... there a reason why you were looking at our Tides?”

“There was an abnormal spike of positive Nex. Nex born from a Hope seeded by Despair. No Moon can fondly speak of their past. Even so, I’ve only seen the Moons tap into that despair to bring forth new colors into the Nexus. I must say, my stroll has been quite the inspirational one. Marvelous what following a virtuous star can do.”

“A star?” The Moon asked.

Magus seemed to smile. He had no mouth, but Ruby could sense this.

“Indeed. A star. Now then, if you may excuse me.”

“They’ll bring people down infinitely beneath them, so that they can live in their own paradise. The Festival fabricates smiles. The only children I’ve ever seen smiling in those were those who got to keep their parents as stuffed toys.” Ruby recited a scene far too specific to be a random example. “Show them no mercy. You’ll have to protect more than just the Nexus. Don’t forget that.”

“Yes, master.”

* * *

Few of the Floors were breached by the Impuritas. The Floor of Judgement, the Floor of Civilization and the Floor of Ego saw the Impuritas appear inside uninvited thanks to Nav’s relocation.

However, these were the ones that lived the shortest lives. The pale majesty of the Floor of Judgement turned black in an instant. A creature with one thousand golden eyes hunted the unfortunate invaders as a humanoid owl laughed at their throes.

The Floor of Civilization saw a similar scene. Since it was manned primarily by ex-Eye personnel of Caldera Industries, they were not exactly trained for direct combat. However, there was no need for them to lift a finger.

A crying, wandering child; a hundred ethereal hands; and a thousand bouncing hearts laid the invading Impuritas to waste. Archived Corrupted fought on the side of the Nexus, eliminating all that was deemed impure. What were once chibified versions of the Corrupted became their fully powered selves. And with it came the same level of annihilation that they were originally known for.

It was one thing for the Impuritas to prepare for Moons, but entirely another to guard against Corrupted exceeding that of the Eternal Night Risk Class. It did not help that the Floor of Judgement held a Paradise Lost Corrupted, promising any future endeavors to be as hopeless as the last.

Those who were unfortunate enough to face the majesty of the Icon of Judgement fell to their knees and repented on the spot, only to be mercilessly transformed into Markers. A graveyard of pallid crosses littered the Floor of Judgement, as bleeding, screaming hearts did in the Floor of Civilization.

Then, there was the Floor of Ego.