829. Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

829. Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

The light engulfed them both. Any attempts to see beyond the light where the heart of the Advent existed only resulted in burned retinas. The Advent responded to Iscario’s call, and finally, she spotted the device that had activated it.

It was a piece of a star; a pale, bright rock that resonated with the Advent of Desire. Nothing could stop Iscario now. Frost felt an invisible weight chain her down as they were held captive in the direct presence of the light.

... I just needed 5 more minutes...

Iscario’s Blessing was so close to being revoked. All hope seemed lost. The next thing she could do was attempt to hijack his wish, but she didn’t even know where to start.

Nav. The Star Child! Is there anything she can do!?

“Ilya. You’ll return to my side soon. I will grant you freedom. So don’t cry, oh dearest sister. It will all be over with but one wish!”

Nav...?

< ... The Star Child only guides the one who desires their wish to be granted the strongest. You... have no wish like that, because unlike them, you don’t try to take shortcuts. You’re too honest for your good >



... what does it matter now if I can’t do anything because of it?

Frost felt like she was at the end of the line, but even so, there wasn’t a moment where she believed she had lost. It would take more than a wish to take her down. Her emotions swelled. Being faced with certain death only further Heightened her emotions.

< ... You do what you’ve always done >

“Yes. YES! It’s here! This wish of mine! Take me! Take me into the light!” Iscario hummed delightfully. “The fruit of my efforts is here. Albeit an unripe fruit. But with you gone... or with you severely crippled, then there are a million more chances. The Divining Stone will pave the way for us ever more!”

< You hope >



Hope. It was a word that Frost cherished. Hope was what allowed her to survive in the Black Forest. What illuminated her path through the depths of hell to where she was now. It seemed like hope had left her at a dead end, but that would only appear that way if she didn’t continue to believe in it.

To simply believe that there was a way forward, no matter how dark it seemed.

Right. It was always like that. A belief, huh. Magus said that hope is like a powerful belief... A belief intertwined with Light... wouldn’t that allow us to create a miracle? Probably, but it’s unlikely. Still... I can’t lose here.

Frost managed to move a footforward towards Iscario. It would take another fifty before she could reach him. By then, it would already be too late.

But even so –!

“I will not die here! I’m the only one who can stop Iscario! I’m the only one who can save Cer’s mother!”

//////// < ALERT > ////////

< Major Resonance Detected >



< This resonance is not from you... >

< The Fourth State Has Manifested as Hope >



< Asterism’s Corrupted Zone Has Manifested >



< All Corrupted Zones Lower than Apocalypse-class are overruled by the Amalgam’s Corrupted Zone >



< Any possessed Corrupted with the matching Affinity may have their skillset and abilities manifested as a Corrupted Zone >





“... This inconvenient power of the Archetypes... this law of the Amalgam... This was your aim from the start? Pathetic. It changes nothing –!”

“I’M STILL HERE!”

Frost did not allow him to speak further, and instead, bolted forward. It was her one and only opportunity to bring him down, and she was not going to lose it. She dragged him across the city at immeasurable speeds, attempting to break through his Qliphoth Field but to no avail.

However, as her emotions soared, so did the appearance of a certain untapped power.

With each consecutive strike she dealt, she could sense a well of emotions accumulating within her chest. A faint outline of a golden light could be found around her hands as her eyes shone with the light of a golden star.

If normal attacks could not get through Iscario’s Qliphoth Field –

– Then what about Absolution?

* * *

< CONDITION: All allies of the Amalgam are inspired so long as they have direct line of sight with your Asterism. Realization and Awakening Criteria fulfillment chance slightly increased. If inspired enough; then a person may fundamentally reach greater heights >



< SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENT: Cleanse the skies of its stars >



< SUBJUGATION REQUIREMENT: Collapse the body that holds the stars together. In other words, you, Frost~! >



< Don’t let the bad guy win~! >