Man-man ignores the screams and curses that is assaulting his ears. He isn't sure what happened with Skin and Midori.
Skin is alive so it is fair to say that Midori Dieman escaped. Man-man didn't expect her to kill someone like that.
He was able to throw Skin's polearm to her. He isn't sure how much it helped Skin. Maybe it didn't help her at all. It doesn't really matter as all puppets have left him alone.
It is quiet again.
The sinned soul they killed is still laying on the ground. Its body is torn to pieces and there is no life left in it.
Man-man can't help but think how weak he is. Without Skin's blessing he would have died. He has always thought that if there ever comes a battle that he cannot win. Then he would just kill himself with his own hands.
Violence is great. Fight till the bitter end as they say. But Why bother? He is logical and figured if there is no other chance then it is better to just get killed by his own hands.
He fights because he is searching for power and secrets of the hell. If he gains these two things then he would have nothing else to do. But there is no limit to how strong you can grow. However, he can just stop at one point and be done with it. Then he can kill himself or maybe die while trying to gains these two things.
Life isn't much more than that. Making pointless goals and then fulfilling them until you die. Chosen live more than ordinary human. This long life is meaningless and has no purpose, other than violence.
His words are contradicting as he wants to die but also wants to grow stronger and live. Maybe Chosen are quite illogically being. It is quite disappointing to see it from himself too.
Man-man currently is just overthinking. He should really stop. Having other Chosen to distract you is great.
He is basically a hostage of Skin. If he were to run away. She would kill him in a gruesome way. However, it is still amusing to have company. That sure is also irrational.
Something disturbs Man-man's overthinking. It is a sound of movement that is coming from that puppet who was stuck by Skin's weapon. It didn't leave with the rest. Why? Is it not alive anymore? Or has her control over that Chosen is broken. If that is yes, then how?
Man-man moves closer to the Chosen that was once a puppet of Midori. The Chosen somehow looks different to the sight. It isn't that much of a difference but it is noticeable. Before, it was also merciless or in a trance. Or a totally different face. Now it looks like a face of an Chosen.
There are hundreds of blessings. But changing someone's appearance and also controlling them are two different things. A blessing can do two different things but they're usually similar to each other. Like how Skin's blessing can heal Chosen and repair her weapon.
Man-man starting to suspect that it isn't just a blessing. Could it be related to that weapon of hers? That odd Mace.
The Mace's shape was unconventional and inhumane. Not to mention, hard to notice for some reason.
Man-man has a theory.
The Mace is actually a Frozen blessing and Midori has a totally different blessing. So, this whole time Skin and Man-man were dealing with a powerful Frozen blessing and they've no idea what is her blessing even about. Maybe Skin could've notice something about it.
He also doesn't now how that Mace's blessing even work. How does it make a Chosen their puppet? He can get some idea if he investigates this Chosen.
The Chosen in front of Man-man is a distinguishable male. There aren't any unique features about the individual. He looks quite ordinary. More ordinary than Man-man.
Where Man-man face and body is damaged and injured everywhere. This person's body isn't hurt much though. How strange. Could he have a healing blessing or something?
It doesn't look like it as the hole in his chest isn't really regenerating.
Man-man speaks.
"Are you okay?"
The man gets alerted and opens his eyes. His limbs didn't move to attack Man-man. Probably cause of overuse. Puppets don't know when to stop so his limbs must be tired or something.
The man judges Man-man and then speaks.
"Are you also with that Chosen?"
Man-man shakes his hand to let him know that he isn't. The man relaxes a little too quickly. Doesn't he know that Man-man is a Chosen too? if he was in this person's place he won't let him out of his sight and ask for questions.
The man doesn't look much concerned though.
"Ah, what even happened there, man? I am so tired that I might as well be dead. How I didn't turn into a sinned soul is a miracle I tell you. But I am pretty hard to kill so that checks out. Oh, I should introduce myself first. My name is Louis. What about you?"
Man-man stares at the man and just ask him the main question.
"What happened when you encountered her?"
Louis frowns as Man-man just ignored his question and asked his own. That sure is impolite. But this is hell. Nobody really cares if somebody is a little rude with another. If they're then the answer is just violence.
Louis sighs and then answers.
"I don't really know much. Some Chosen grouped me and then attacked me out of nowhere. Never seen that happen before. It was odd as they fought differently so I attack them like how I attack a sinned soul. It wasn't an easy fight. My whole body became an art piece of pain and blood. However, that didn't kill me. Did I say that I am hard to kill? Well, I should've run away but then that bitch came out of nowhere. She attacked me with something near my chest and then everything went black. I don't remember much after that. I thought I finally die. Is this how dying feel like? I don't know as I don't die. Did I say that I am hard to kill? Well, let me tell you again…"
Louis starts rambling about unnecessary things that has nothing to do with Man-man's question. So, he tunes him out and pieces things together.
According to Louis, when she attacked him with that weapon, it has to be that Mace. Then he blackened out. With that it is fair to say that if you get hit then the puppeteering triggers. But that doesn't make sense.
Blessings aren't just miracles. They unreliable tools. A blessing has no instructions. A Chosen has to figure out how to use their own. Some never even figure out what blessing they even possess.
Skin's blessing is healing related but she can't heal herself. Or maybe she can but prefer to not do it. Man-man's ability is utility based as it can change shape of many things. But isn't efficient and puts a lot of strain on his mind and body. He also doesn't rearranging his bones and organs inside of his body as it hurt like hell. His blessing is very painful. But he also can't use it on other's during battle cause it needs a lot of focus.
Maybe that is also a reason he wants to sleep so much. Being a listless Chosen doesn't make you lazy. He is just blessed with an inconvenient blessing.
He shouldn't complain though as it is kind of keeping his bones in its place. Poor bones of his.
A frozen blessing should be unreliable too.
However, his thoughts are interrupted again. This time, it is a familiar voice that calls his name.
"Man-man, please look at me."
It is Skin and she is covering her face with her hands. Even if Man-man wanted to look he wouldn't be able to see her face. Such an irrational question.
He can observe some blood falling from her face. Did she got hit in the face or something?
"Man-man do you think I am ugly? Would you call me ugly if you see my face now?"
Man-man just stares at her.
Another question about beauty. He doesn't understand what is beauty so he also doesn't understand what is ugliness. He can't distinguish between the both.
Beauty doesn't provide any advantage during combat.
Man-man isn't a superficial person. He only sees how strong or capable a person can be. That is the only way to determine how much of a threat the next person could be.
How should he answer her question now? Maybe in a way that will make her happy. That way he can increase his chances of survival and build some one-sided trust.
"I don't know. How do you look? Are you hurt?"
He speaks with disinterest and lack of expressions on his face. He has spoken too many words today too. He is so tired.
Skin peeks at him from behind her hands.
"Do you want to see?"
Man-man starting to regret ever being born. Why does she ask so many questions? He hates questions so much.