Chapter 308: Ascendance (IX)

Chapter 308: Ascendance (IX)

Chapter 308

Ascendance (IX)

Cain, Lear, and Quinn found themselves stumbling into a dreary and dark forest, with fresh, wet coat of paint dripping off the edges of the leaves while the glistening grass bent under their boots. It was stupendously quiet, actually, cranking the already uncomfortable atmosphere even further. There was very little to see beyond the coat of the forest, and though Cain and Lear sensed nothing, Quinn suddenly lurched to an abrupt halt.

Whats wrong? Cain was the first to notice it, turning around and facing her. She was pale in the face, he realized, her lips trembling faintly.

N-nothing, it was brief, and having passed, she was uncertain if she even felt it to begin with or if it was her instincts going wild for a moment. Just... thought I felt something.

If you need to go to the bathroom, Cain joked. The two of us can plug our ears and look away.

... Lear sighed while Quinn looked at him oddly for a moment, shaking her head after the fact.

What? Cain shrugged. Im just sayin. Im not into that. And Lear--youre not into it either, right?

Just... shut up, Quinn said, walking forward again. Where does this path lead to, anyway? We just kind of... strolled into here.

My goal is that big thing in the sky, Cain said.

Huh? Why?

Because I... I want to fight it? Cain shrugged at Lears inquiry. Seems like it would be a fun thing. Well have to shake off the dusty mitts following us, though. They seem to be mighty curious.

Its quite a feat, Quinn chuckled for a moment. Being followed by six different groups.

Its the confidence, Cain said. That we displayed heading in here. Lookin like we know the fucks going on.

Lets hurry, then, she said. And lose them.

Eh, Cain shrugged. Just take it slow.

The trio continued down the same path through the forest while occasionally spotting flowerbeds that made them all gasp in awe for a moment. Most of the flowers were dull in shade if quite varied in color, but what stood out about them were their sheer sizes--the smallest one they found was that size of a grown mans head, at the very least.

Most looked like they were in the process of budding, at that, with their stems and leaves dominating most of the sight, flowers only beginning to bloom.

Theyd also ran into other kinds of life--insects, for starters, all seemed to be one variance or another of a spider. The number of legs, sizes, the number of eyes as well as the vastness of the web they spun. It wasnt until they crossed the edge of the forest and landed within a slew of cliffs orbiting a gaping pit in the center that they began encountering other forms of life.

Cain stood on the edge of a cliff, looking down at the gaping maw--he couldnt discern whether it was natural or not. Down below, he saw five-six waterfalls bleeding from within the cliffs, spilling into a lake at the very bottom of the pit. It was a beautiful sight, sight that caused him to pause for a moment and contemplate.

It was within there that he realized... it was likely natural. It had the natures symmetry, as he liked to call it--a picturesque canvas that did blend together, but not in the way people tend to pull up symmetry. There were numerous asymmetries within the scope, what with the sizes of the waterfalls, heights from which they fell, the jagged and rugged and sharp edges of the cliffs, the presence of trees bending out of the cliffsides, some larger and some smaller...

Beautiful, he heard Lear mumble, and nodded himself before looking back up.

The buildings in the distance... intrigued him. This was a world that was once inhabited--light years more advanced than on Earth. He wanted to know just what happened for it to end up looking like this. Dead. Desolate. Abandoned like a stereotypical carnival in the middle of the woods.

Should we check it out? Quinn asked, pulling Cain back.

Forgive me, the voice continued. For not having a platitude of a whore. Hot damn!

Oh, all is forgiven, Quinn said. Not all of us, after all, have assets worth showing off.

Assets? Oh, you mean those bags of fat? Please--dont flatter yourself.

Yes, I mean they and these, Quinn shifted her behind and pointed at it. By this point, Lear was stunned into silence while Cain started snickering.

Alright, alright, before this devolves into an even more embarrassing contest, Cain interrupted quickly. Lets chat about why you guys came down here after us.

... for treasures. Did you take them?

Yes, Cain nodded, his expression deadly serious. We stuffed them into Quinns assets.

...

... pfft.

Oi! Quinn growled, yet only as means of covering up her laughter.

Jokes aside, Cain continued. If by treasure you mean me, then, by all means--come digging for me. Alas, I must warn you, I am a man taken and loved. Ive got two daughters, and many step-sons-and-daughters, with plans on adopting quite a few more in the future. So, I wont be an easy man to sway, Im afraid.

... Ive come to propose a temporary alliance, the voices words shellshocked Quinn while surprising Cain.

Alliance? What for?

Weve discovered a mutated Byort, the voices words startled Quinn back into the conversation.

What?! Are you sure?!

Yes, I do have eyes, after all. Though few would believe, considering you.

No, no, dont start that again, Cain quickly interjected. What is Byort and can you eat its meat?

...

... I must ask--does it come naturally to you or do you go out of your way to purposefully say the stupidest thing possible? Quinn quizzed.

Mostly natural, Cain replied, stroking his chin. Ever since I was a wee little boy, Ive had an uncanny talent--taking a piss out of everything. Except my penis, actually. For good number of years, I pissed through my eye. Most of the kids were convinced I was crying, though, and they called me a little bitch. Man, bullying was quite brutal. So brutal--

Stop. Just... please. Stop, seeing that he was getting quite a bit into it, Quinn interrupted him before he could go any further. Shared spoils?

Of course, the duo responded. Unlike some, we do not stink of greed.

...

I once stunk of greed--but it turned out I just stepped into dog shit.

... lets go, Quinn, Lear, and the duo audibly sighed in unison, like they practiced for a solid afternoon, and started flying up, seemingly entirely disinterested in whether he followed or not. Cain cracked a smile. Yup, childish crap can break everyone. Now, lets go kill some dangerous shit!