blueteamnovel 218. Another Point in Civilization
218. Another Point in Civilization
218. Another Point in Civilization
“You’re right. I know I don’t know a single fucking thing. But if it’s your right to live, then the same goes for everyone else... No matter what, there’s taboos that shouldn’t be broken. Eating flesh... even I’ve dabbled in it! But unlike you – I’ve never once done it because I enjoyed it!” Frost threw her forward, and just before she moved out of reach, Frost punched her and used Thermal Propagation to send her flying faster than ever before.
Her body flailed in the wind, splitting like a peeled banana as she collided with the ground, scooping the bedrock into her gaping maw. The scars of the gorge were numerous, and terrified eyes watched from within the safety of their caves, tents, and whatever boulder they could find.
“You’re condemnable. Nothing about you is redeemable. I frankly don’t give a fuck about your sob story. Your upbringing... It doesn’t change the fact that you’ve tormented these people all your life!” Frost cried, but deep down she knew that if it weren’t for all of this... this disastrous place they called the City of Spades, or Grandis – then no one would have had to resort to any of this.
“That’s it, huh!? Judgement... Justice... you’re more crazier than I thought!” The woman gurgled, vomiting the mass of soil aside, her barbed tongue vibrating as if hit by an electric current.
They had travelled so far into the gorge that Frost had no idea where they currently were. Behind the woman was a long slope that led directly into S4. Spires of tall structures were overrun by a blanket of red webs as giant, fleshy balls akin to the Plague Heart in Divas Pass littered the desolate landscape like the spores of a shroom.
The backdrop caused Frost to freeze in place, all the while the Venus Flesh Trap’s roots suddenly locked her into the earth, her emotions heightening far past than what her body could handle.
“You’re from one of those big old cradles of civilization like Atlas! Never had anything to fear! Never had anything to worry about, so you can spout that nonsense! There ain’t nothing more poisonous – More rending than ‘righteousness’! YOU are the most dangerous of all calling yourself right in a world where we can only live with wrongs just to be left alone!”
< Her emotions have reached the equivalent of the First State >
< ... for future reference, I will announce these milestones as ‘States’. Much like yours >
< The Venus Flesh Trap Has Entered the First State >
What happens to her now?
“Nothing. It is obvious that her body cannot withstand that seed, and it is devouring her as I’ve mentioned.”
How do you know that Nav? How can you possibly know all of this when you’ve also known so little about them? Is it the Archivist?
Frost approached the festering woman, whose body had almost been completely turned to a plant. Aside from her hands and general shape, there was little semblance of a human being. In fact, she was more like a plant that mimicked a human rather than the other way around.
There was silence for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Her footsteps failed to produce a noise as the symphony of heartbeats died off. Frost stood meters away from the woman and gazed into the invisible glare within her maw.
Then, Nav finally answered.
“... No. It is the Arbiter. That Seed comes from the Advent – the Garden of Paradise. The Apple is but one byproduct of its trees, and the seeds are derived from these Apples...”
The Bloody Herring worshiped a golden garden within the Triple Paw Complex. He was infatuated by them. Little did we know that it was a recreation of an Advent...
“The Advent of Judgement. It appears to be able to create Impuritas at will.”Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com
And Corrupted as well. I’m willing to bet my life on it.
“That is up for debate. But it is a debate I am siding with you. Neither can I see it any other way. Advents possess the power to significantly alter the world...”
As if it wasn’t already fucked up. That Apple would be one hell of an incentive to join Iscario considering the Impuritas seek to become Corrupted.
Frost neared the Second State. Her mind had contorted enough. She reached out a hand to the woman and attempted to heal her. To cleanse this all away but to no avail. She didn’t know why she tried. Death was the only outcome for her, but even so, she could not help but to pity the woman.
“What crimes did I commit!? Just to be able to live a lil’ longer!? Is that what a crime is to ya!? Must be nice being from up there! You never had your limbs torn off and beaten down by em’. Havin’ to live in fear of being turned to paste! Never had someone take yer hands all because you did nothin’ wrong! Just because you were human!” The Venus Flesh Trap spoke in a squeamish voice, right before a head suddenly emerged from its maw.
That head belonged to the Head Eater. It was a much younger version of herself. An adolescent, with beautiful black hair and crimson eyes. It wept, and the plant savored her tears, using it as nourishment.
“Then you got us working with the henchmen of the Authors! Better this than to get turned into a fucking book! I’d rather die a monster than have what’s left of me turned into a book! Was it my fault I was born into a blemished life!?”
< The Venus Flesh Trap Has Entered the Second State >
< The amount of Nex she is generating is unbelievable. The Seed takes priority before your Nex Accumulation Ability. I cannot believe it myself... >
“Perfectly fine. Although, Ber has been highly fixated on the severed hands and several mirrors. A few have come to recognize the triplets as well. Not by appearance, but by their eye color and the pattern of their tail.”
People ran away from Grandis into Brandar long ago to escape the Solemn Paw. With them being Raoul’s sisters... I think that only makes sense. The cycle of violence goes both ways in Grandis, huh... And people won’t stop getting caught in between.
Frost could no longer tell if that weeping was hers or someone else’s. The same for the heartbeats. She was so close to entering the Second State, but before that –
< The First State Has Manifested as Civilization >
– Frost was so fed up with the suffering that she contemplated annihilating S4 where it stood. But that sobbing stopped her. Before long, she found herself traversing an oddly blue, derelict place that was completely different from the structures of S4.
It was oddly modern. Modern meaning that it appeared like the concrete towers from Earth. But they were also rather strange. There were no windows, and their design was highly simplistic compared to what she was used to on Earth.
Somehow, this place felt familiar.
The weeping eventually led her towards a crossroads, where neon signs of various playing card suits pointed in every direction. All save for the clubs, which was clutched in the hand of a formless, shadowy girl.
A page with a flaming crown replaced the sign of the club as the girl sat on her knees in the center, uttering nonsensical words.
< “No one ever listens to us...” >
< “Left alone in this world that tramples us. Directionless. I can’t make my choice...” >
< “I clutch this forbidden courage to fight my cowardice. But in the end, I am just another brick in the wall.” >
< “Does no one want to see what’s happening to us?” >
That entity was a Corrupted.
One that resonated deeply with Frost and the Archivist.
//////// < WARNING > ////////
< TRICKLE >
< THE ARBITER’S TRUMPET BECKONS >
Trickle...?
“I’m surprised as well. A Trickle Corrupted – the lowest of the low – is the first chapter in the tale of Civitas Cinder.”
We Discarded Many
< We who need a hand are the same people who wish to help others the most >
< AFFINITY : Civilization >
LEVEL : 20ORIGIN : Trauma
HP : 5,000
ATT : 0MAG ATT : 500ATT DEF : 0 MAG DEF : 0
MP : 1,000
RESIST : 0AGI : 2