Chapter 4: Essence.
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"No Way...."
His Semi-Soulless Voice Huffed In Annoyance. What Was It This Time? The Same Faker? No. Something Even Worse.
"Did You Do All This?"
* KUSANE CHIYYA.
Rang A Fragile Voice, The bodice is tightly shaped, tailored in a silken gray pastel with a faint floral brocade deep into the fabric. Almost imperceptible unless close. Twin faux pockets rest on either side of the chest, trimmed with thin lace and tiny matte buttons. symmetrical and weird as it was, it was beauty.
Her face is serene, framed by delicate strands of ribbon and lace from the headdress. A silver lace choker encircles her throat, ruthless and unadorned save for one tiny pendant. a cloudy gem holding welded breaths in one. The high collar of the dress rises just beneath it, ruffled and stiffened by time. Even worse, her hair. Blue.
Just Polar Opposite From His.
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You Could Rant On And On About The Variety Of Aesthetic Of The Pinned Piercings, Botanical Variants, Whatever It Was That Made Her Unique. But Considering There Was Like.....8? 5? 5. 5 Others Just Like Her.
They Were All Covered By This Otherworldly Aura, So It Was Quite Hard To See. One Had The Vibrance Of A Deathly Thunderstorm, Blackened By Stiff Clouds Of Poison With It's Hanging Mask And Tattered Layers.
One Was Unrecognizeable Entirely, But You Saw Its Shaking Stature. Cowardice-Like? Or Maybe It Was Cold From The Chilling Feeling Of Authority Radiating From All Of Them.
Compared To, Him.
Kyoutani.
Who Stood There, Almost Impressed.
But Not Enough.
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"Am I In Trouble Or Something?"
His Voice Nonchalantly Called Out. Probably The Wrong Answer, He Thought. Thats Further On The "Yes, I Did Do It." Side Than Helping His Case.
"Look At This Mess...People Like You Are The Worst. You Have A Disgusting Way Of ART."
The Woman Said, Her Blonde Eyelashes Fluttering Downward, And Lidded. Then Glew, Glew In The Night Sky. Slowly, A Inkish Monstrous Swarm Manifested Around, Into A Form Of A Snake. A Painting Of A Snake, But Real. It's Scales The Lightest Shade Of Beige, And Black.
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"Halt."
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?
The Sound Of An Older Man Spoke Up, From Their Group. His Long Braided Ropes Between Full Locs And Web-Like Styles Of Hair Wavered Nonchalantly. Black Eyelashes Fluttering Upward. One Eye Scarred Out In A Disturbing White And Rip. His Jaw Marked With Thousands Of Tiny Cuts, Star-Shaped.
*NABUME CHUI.
They All Wore Long Coated And Badged Uniforms Besides The Artistically Inclined Lady.
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"Were Strays. Probably Like You."
His Mature Voice Boomed, Solemnly.
"Have We Met? I Don't Know You, You Don't Know Me."
Kyoutani's Eyebrow Twitched In Annoyance, Like A Bell Had Clashed In His Ear While Shuffling With A Bunch Of Hounds.
"Its more likely to be outcasted as a blessing but whatever. Thats not the point. Were Looking For Another Blessed User On The Run. The One You've Encountered."
He Said Gently, It Wasn't Exaggerated Or Too "Cool". Just Genuine. That Was Rare.
"How am i supposed to help? Theyre gone now."
He Turned, Hands In His Pocket, Back Facing. Ready To Walk Off And Go On With His Day. He Didn't Necessarily Care, But Something Slightly Pushed Him In Motivation.
"Join Us. You Want A Shitload Of Money? Beer? Women? Or A Letter Telling You To Waste Your Life."
The Man Said Coldly, Slowly Growing Impatient. The Scar Across One Eyebrow Which Leaked Into The Fallen Eye Rumbling Along With The Axis Of His Nicely Defined Jaw.
"You have a mouth on you. Want it stitched like your eye?"
His knuckles burned, their surface consumed by an uncanny conflagration. The flame that danced upon him was no earthly fire: it shimmered in hues of azure and deep violet, fringed with threads of argent white. Rotten Stars Itself Buried Its Way Into The Infernal Seek. Built A Home upon his skin. Yet it was not pure light, for woven within were flecks of black, blotches like ink spilled by a maddened hand, the painter was himself. What he had done to himself showed within his mana and appearance. People with the standard of good had brighter colors, while the rotten had sparks of black.
"Calm."
The woman of art and ornament let slip a sigh, long and hollow, the breath of one who has played her part in too many endless scenes. Though she stood adorned with grace, her eyes suggested other.They sagged beneath their lids, ringed with shadow, the weary testament of another argument carried on too long. As So the gaze of a muse fallen into disfavor, a lady both radiant and ruined—mocking the world's chaos with dandy charm, even as she drowned beneath the weight of its ceaseless noise. She Tilted Her Head And Hand, Calling It Off.
"Lets Just Go."
She Exhaled, The Near-Transparent Art Crumbling Around Her.
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"Ill Join You."
He Said, Almost Aggressively.
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"I want to see for myself, what the world is like. Show me. Give me your trust."
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He Said Quicker, An Eye Glowing Hopefully. His Grim Frown Still Present.
"?"
"..."
"!"
"Oh, Thats The Spirit. I can see how good of an artist you are."
She Grinned, As If She Wasn't Soaked In Misery Not Even 0.8 Seconds Ago.
The Stars Fell Between Them Both, Interlocking In A Mutual Metaphor Of Interest And Bond.
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Time Had Passed, Not Largely, Around A Week. Boring Days Of Insufferable Labor And Quest Killings.
Kyoutani Sighed, Sweat Beading Down His Face As He Set Down The 14 Bags, Loads Of Extremely Hard Metal And Materials Stuffed In One. A Hell Like A Cursed Dumbell, As If Unliftable. But He Did It Anyway.
"When I Said I'd Join, I Didn't Mean Be Forced Into Being A Slave By The Way."
He Coughed From The Dusty Winds, Exchanging Glares At Kusane, His Artsy Pal.
"Get Used To It, Were Just Rebuilding The Major Parts Of The City And Heading Out To The Colossus."
She Said Genuinely, Just Composed, Neither Half-Assed Sincerity Or Annoyance.
"The What."
He Mumbled Just Loud Enough To Give Her A Bit Of Shock.
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"Jeez, You Don't Know Anything Do You?"
Not Really. He Knew He Didn't...
"We've lived different lives. Im sure ill be asking that alot. Just show me as an ally so i can learn."
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"Wow. That was actually nice. Are you feeling okay?"
She Joked.
"Huah..."
She Sighed, Wiping Off The Sweat On Her Forehead.
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"The Colossus Is Where The Kings And Queens From Various Regions Come To One To Declare A Contest Between The Strongest Powers From Their Region. Whoever Wins, Earns The Seat Of God Until They Grow Old Or Someone Else Kills Them, Blah Blah Blah."
She Explained Simply And Quickly, As Efficient As She Could While Multimanaging.
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"If theres a another colossus soon, then is there still an owner to the throne?"
He Asked Seriously, The Air Intensifying In Coldness.
"Yeah."
"Hes Unbeatable, Apparently. The King Since The Dawn Of This World."
-" ARCHYUS THE SAINT."
The Name Itself Struck A Chilling Nerve, Like Some Wisping Purple Glowing Eye In The Angelical Mist.
"Archyus? Why host a colossus tournament if he's unstoppable?"
He Said Carelessly, As If He Had Never Heard Of Such A Thing.
Except, He Didn't. The People Did.
"Archyus Isn't Unstoppable. The guy is just so strong you simply can't even feel the power to fight him. Not to mention, He inherited the first miracle himself. Well, Supposedly."
She Added On, Letting The Tale Unfold Itself In A Vague Way For Safety Reasons. The Intentions Unclear To Him. In Perspective It Seemed Rather Quite The Boast To Be Able To Inherit Such A Role. But That Level Of Success Has To Come With Some Form Of Greed. Pain. Manipulation.
"You mentioned were going there? Are we participating?"
Kyoutani Asked.
"No, not necessarily. The townspeople of their regions get all the stuff ready and make sure everything is secure and in order. We have one fighter for every region, our region's fighter has quite the expectation."
His Eyes Piqued At The Mention.
"And who would this be?"
He Mumbled, Casually.
"Zheilung Of The North Ice Luin Pagoda."
She Mentioned, Her Eyes Sparkling, Hands Clutched Onto Her Shirt Like A Woman In Love.
~
"And what happens if our best fighter loses? They just get kicked out?"
He Asked Nonchalantly, Hands Still Unbagging The Materials.
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"The thing is, they don't fight or leave."
The Comment Spilled Out Rather Weirdly, It Was Worded In Unease.
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"They just stay there? Speak up."
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"They Die, Kyoutani."
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[?!]
"What? What'd You Say?"
His eyes widened slightly, his lips parting as he almost dropped the things from his gloved hand.
"Anyone who participates, is free to do so within their choice. Knowing they die as well. They just fight for the thrill of it. Its the last thing you need before seeing your vision fade."
+ She Said Grimly. A Bolt Of Lightning Struck Through The Sky. No, Thats What It Felt Like. Something So Gloomy, Washing The Serene Day.
"Just to claim some throne? Thats stupid, and worthless."
He Grunted, Feeling Oddly Upset Under His Jagged Demeanor And Carelessness. He Hated The Idea Of Dying For Something Worth Less.
..
+
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"Its not worthless, kyoutani. its as you said, we live different lives. The lives we live are meant to be fulfilled, right? Thats what it takes to fulfill it. The Blood On Your Hands."
She Said Seriously, But Not Stepping The Horrific Non-Existent Boundary.
"Whats Your Wish? What Truly Makes You Live?"
+
He Thought. He Thought Too, That He Knew. He Didn't. The Eternal Debate Like A Symphony Between The Whims Of Himself And Whoever Curseth The Gods Above.
"Don't know yet. I guess theres no reason for me to live other than just living because its pointless anyway."
He Replied.
"You should figure it out soon enough. Its not like anyones forcing you to have a reason. But someone like you, will end up with it."
She Replied Back Softly.
"Mm.."
He looked into the glass reflection of a house, seeing the darker lit side in the mirror.
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...+
"Hah.....Egh....Ugh..."
The Sound Of Jagged Breathing Called To Them, Nubame Within The Group Seemed To Be Beaten To Oblivion. He Had Only Been Gone For An Hour...Coming Back Like Hell Terraformed The Almighty Planet.
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"Nubame?"
She Shouted Out, Shakily Making Her Way Over.
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2 Hours Later.
He Rested At Their Medical Station, Attached To Wires. The Results Listed Multiple Reasons Of A Severe Interaction With Lightning And Immense Hex Mana. The Mana That Could Seduce And Slaughter All Lit Life.
The Injuries Also Detailed The Great Distance He Was Out.
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"What Do You Live For?"
The Words Echoed In His Mind As He Stared At The Man, His Expression Still Tired And Composed Like A Puppet.
"I Live...."
The End.