Abyss couldn’t shake the feelings of anger, confusion, and stress that had built up further than before, but the adrenaline felt good, even as his muscles ached for him to stop running after half an hour of stumbling over tangled tree roots in a forest nature reserve. Abyss eventually collapsed on the ground when his energy reserves had been exhausted, and Achlys approached him from the side.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWIgdz7moZ
Abyss head his heart thumbing loudly and felt his lungs desperately expand and collapse in a desperate attempt to pull in air.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKdAFxcDA5
Every muscle ached and he had a splitting migraine from all the screaming back at the rebel base, but a comforting hand was placed on his shoulder.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH6itxErd8
“Good job… congratulations. You’re free. Free from the ones who took your brother.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4LVeioJoR
“I feel like crap,” Abyss said, squeezing his eyes shut, not letting himself cry in front of her, whether in grief, relief, or any kind of -ief.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHWuVNg71k
Instead, he focused on the bubbling anger. That was easier to process.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHuHTzoOzb
Abyss hated PISTOL, he hated the commander, and he hated himself for not knowing what to do with the commander. Abyss was frustrated that he never thought to just kill the man. But… he still didn’t understand why H saved Abyss when he left Volt die. He just wants to use me, Abyss told himself. Even still, that felt wrong. Abyss had seen genuine concern on H’s face, if only for a moment.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXukWd3dJf
“…You’ll get better,” Achlys said with a stern tone, but there was still an air of uncertainty in her voice.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu1Hp6oRl3
“All I could hear back there were screams. I killed so many people, and the screaming only grew.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeQt0iHmyH
Achlys’ face hardened. “People fear for their own lives as if they are the only ones who matter in the world. It’s selfish.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzCTKJwDGk
“They sounded terrified.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwt2BI3AEd
“Were they screaming for the safety of their companions or themselves?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgSM5yPzLr
“I- I don’t know.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ179lBgSXe3
“Did they say to spare their friends, or did they beg for you not to kill them?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp00L126wfN
“They didn’t say anything… they just screamed.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcyEbEkl3t
“Did they lift each other up, save those who were unable to evacuate as easily, or did they push and shove their way through the crowd, trampling over each other to escape your reach?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUBARSYIh0
“I… I guess there was a lot of pushing,” Abyss answered.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWzpUoT5aA
“Because people only care about themselves. Don’t let yourself be riddled with guilt. You did what you had to for your freedom and the freedom of the other imprisoned cartridge users. The next step is to track them down, anyone who seems to have an ability. Tell them you saved them and that you need their help to rally against Kronos because he only wants to use them for their power. To use them as tools and vessels while disguising the cartridges as gifts.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLLXTufFdR
“You.. you really thought this through, didn’t you?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u8AzVQID8
“We have two options. Turn Kronos’s army against him and win or destroy everyone and everything in this planet that could be used as energy,” Achlys explained.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4i2ME1tBd
“So we’re going to talk with them?” Abyss asked for clarification.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F5RtgL8oa
“Yes, but if they still ally themselves with Kronos or try to run away or avoid joining the cause, we will have to kill them and remove their cartridges.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqD7QEQ11T
Abyssal’s eyes were wide at Achlys’ proposal, his tone defensive. “Kill them? But they were prisoners!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxKLU2y0hO
“And for good reason, to slow or stop Kronos from forming his army. However, we need any help we can get, to not just willy-nilly remove replaceable pieces from the board. If they join our side before seeing death, then we can trust them for a time at least and we can spare them.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g7YNmgVWN
After a moment, Abyss nodded in understanding. “Okay.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXMV8CCyU0
Achlys grinned. “Now for the fun part… The Hunt.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxKKqNI1gV
The title brought back some of the unease in Abyssal’s mind, but he was ready.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidaPyNGzhO
* * *
Abyss found a grubby old man in his late 60s limping away from the direction of the base. The man wore a short-sleeved golden T-shirt and glistening gold sweatpants. He also used a large piece of broken rubble to support his weight, but the rubble was made of what seemed to be solid gold, matching his eyes.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv23ne4I0S
“Sir? Sir?” Abyss called out to the man. The man hurried faster. “Sir, I don’t want to hurt you, I just have a question or two.” Abyss hurried ahead and cut the man off.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRYLYl2Pto
“Back off, boy-o or yeh’ll be a statue ‘fore you know what happened.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG46Fu49dC
“You turned that into gold?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ezz3AVH8U
Abyssal’s gaze was drawn to the great gold block and the clothes that prisoners had to wear while in the confines of the rebel holding cells that were glimmering the same color.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4FwsqhH2f
“An’ whatever gave yeh that idea?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNqGv52dy3
Abyssal’s face fell. He knew the man was trying to be uncooperative, but he wasn’t going to fall for these psychology tactics.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIjFMNTXQP
“I know someone like you.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgtHSBIO4n
“Preposterous,” the man said dismissively. “None are akin to the famed Mirio the Magician! And you know a magician never reveals his secrets. Move along, boy-o.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCl4NY2R41
“No, no, I do! Or at least, I-I’ve heard of him.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k0n7akI3P
“Ah, might you be referin’ to the great king Midas?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW4qKopFLn
“Yeah! Yeah, I’ve heard all about him.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPyyeNofag
“Well, he is myth. I am far greater, because I am real.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnveMKy96l
Abyss though he was beginning to understand. He tried to thing of a way to win the old man over. He didn’t seem to want to get away from Abyss anymore.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCfTUO23xr
Finally, an idea formed. “Then... you know the risks,” Abyssal said in a cryptic voice.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwSl4RJjV9
Galloping was heard growing ever closer before a great elk stood proudly beside the old man. “Father!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFUDztyDgc
Abyss was startled for a moment as the great beast called out with the voice of a woman and rushed in his direction, but once it stood still, he noticed a woman sitting atop the elk. Abyss wanted to hit himself.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQluKAaB6j
“I am no fool. What happened to that man will never happen to me. My daughter will stay her beautiful living self. Flesh and blood as always.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHflT8Gyvbg
Abyss guessed this woman was the only one who decided to take time to change from the prison outfit to braided leaves, vines, and grasses. Even if they didn’t fully cover her, it still must have taken a long time. A strange preference that made her look like a living druid and made Abyss uncomfortable when looking anywhere near her.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWGdomXfDK
The man pulled two bulky items from his pockets, and Abys discovered they were gauntlets made of gold. The man pulled them on and took his daughter’s hand as she pulled him up onto the elk.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZTVgdhiVf
“Woah, where did you get those?” Abyss asked as he stared at them and made a point to not stare at the woman.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJBY9SDW5f
“Yeh like ‘em? I got them from a con man at a renaissance fair. Turns out they were a rather crappy type of metal and not iron or steal like knights wore. Well, who’s filthy rich and laughing now!” The old man cackled. “I can live my perfect life and not be hindered in any way s’ long as my skin dun’t touch anything I don’t want it to. Golden IVs give me sustenance which can be a pain sometimes, but I go through with it. An’ my wife died long before the gods blessed me with this power, so I’m not neglecting her desires”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74s1j6Y1o9
“Um... okay,” Abyssal said. “So… want to… I don’t know... get revenge on the people that gave you this power and got you imprisoned and the people who tortured you?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND6PXYbV1e
“I made plenty of statues in my wake, I assure you, boy, I’m satisfied. And why would I bite the hand that feeds? These powers are wonderful, and now I know to look out for people who want to take me down for it! Let us go, Merry! We will forge a new life in a mansion of gold!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lv2gwRP2n
Mirio set his gloved hands on his daughter’s shoulders. She prodded the elk’s side, causing it to begin a hasty departure, but Abyss jumped toward the man to grab his arm.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYm1QEovUH
“What are you doing, boy-o?! Yeh have a death wish?!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL0RthDRnU
The elk stopped at Merry’s order as the events took place. She watched in stunned silence and confusion which evolved into concern.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjkhOWA8y0
Abyss felt a strange sensation as his fingertips glittered and gold slowy crept up Abyssal’s hand. The boy panicked and instantly began to use his own power to try and absorb the old man’s.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsilGXpDgCU
It was far more tiring than normal, but Abyssal’s power was winning, likely due to him actively trying to use the ability as opposed to Mirio’s attempt to restrain his uncontrollable power.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpYGwmzh9W
With more focus to his cause, Abyss, using his power absorption ability was able to ward off the transformation. When the gold had receded from Abyssal’s fingertips, it began to move across Mirio’s arm instead. The man let out a yelp of agony and alarm.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PgLJJBVvL
“Argh! What’re yeh doin’ boy-o?!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3He4sTTFVq
Abyss pulled his hand away instantly in his own alarm as the gold continued to spread over Mirio’s body.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy80OccdJC
“Pa?! What’s happinin’?!” Merry grabbed her father’s shoulders.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpdotpeu5P
Abyss wanted to return the power, to let the man have a fighting chance, but he saw that Merry’s pinky was not resting on the sleeve of Mirio’s shirt, but on the skin of his upper arm. Releasing the power now would only end up killing Mirio’s daughter. Even if he could counteract the ability’s toll on himself, everyone who knows of King Midas would know he can’t undo the spell on anything else. Abyss assumed that old man would prefer his daughter have a happy life than himself.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FCPDmZ2WP
“Merry, I don’ think I’ll make it.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6uTS8swsq
“Don’ say that, Pa! Can’t yeh fight it?! It’s yer own power!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciJrPKYREx
Mirio shook his head. “I don’t feel it in me anymore, lass.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ANfKLRN0B
“Why not?!” Tears streamed down Marry’s face. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcTjQ5p3nO
“No time for that now. I’ll tell yeh what I want yeh teh do. Take the piece of rubble over there and sell it. Yeh’ll need the money to rehabilitate yerself. I don’ care if yeh do the same the me or bury me, whatever you decide is best.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75ZJMMjPEM
“Don’t say that, Pa! I’m not gonna sell yer corpse!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjV2hryqq5
“Either way, I need yeh teh move on an be merry. I named yeh so, didn’t I?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXLHkApOWu
“How can I move on?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDRV5tF41H
“Promise me.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YFQGISEwy
“Pa…”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYR96ByfUn
“Promise,” Mirio pressed again.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c3mR2vGjs
“… I promise, Pa.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEVgOAL8QI
“Now that’s a good lass.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoJ7pssilR
The gold finally reached his head and fully overcame him leaving only a single golden tear that fell into the grass.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99FM8sK5VM
The guilt for Mirio’s death clutched Abyssal’s heart, even though he knew the circumstance was accidental, even though he’d killed so many others already. Mirio didn’t deserve it. Mirio wasn’t even close to the fault of Volt’s death. Mirio never did anything to hurt Abyss, not on purpose. Abyss let go the power, breathing heavily, unable to look away from the golden statue. The golden clothes draped over him, somehow looking sad despite the material they were made of. It must have been how loose and baggy the fit was.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsyYIovhfL
As Abyss released the power, he could see the trail of magic flow from his body. Midas’s was not a power Abyss would want to hold. Most wouldn’t be able to see powers flow this way, Volt never could. Abyss clenched his fists as the daughter sobbed. The magic twisted around without a place, searching for its source. The glowing, gold energy circled twice around the statue of Mirio before entering back into his chest.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0N9sOtsKW
The daughter clutched her father’s statue, gripping his forearms tightly, burying her face into his hard chest where the magic reentered.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAFxabCnab
Abyssal gasped as he saw it happen. He struggled to press down his own despair as Merry’s hands slowly turned gold where she touched her father’s transformed skin. She didn’t seem to notice the transformation happening.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr9SwYpgi3
“No,” Abyss breathed. He couldn’t move. The boy was frozen in place as the scene was forever frozen in time.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CuI36wgCD
The elk seemed to finally realize what was happening as well as its master turned to the sickening metal that corrupted every soul it touched.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRAesLbfch
Merry’s eyes were squeezed shut as she mourned her father.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGFr4jonfB
It was too much. Abyss, shaking finally blurted out a call of warning to Merry. “Your father’s power!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QXXFslRjg
She pulled back with a gasp; fear spread beneath her tears as she looked down at her arms. The gold had overtaken most of her forearms. She couldn’t pull away, not that it would help.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVnwmbFq3B
“No!” She cried in panic. “Father! Please!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aEtdaqDwA
Her pleading was useless. The gold only seemed to spread faster in her panic. She struggled to pull away to no avail. The elk threw her off and ran into the forest to escape.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPNVDp4Edm
She fell to the ground in a crumpled form, the gold swallowing her completely. The vines that clothed her remained in their original forms.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaALQRbQNJ
Abyss didn’t move from his place for a long while. This was his fault. One slip-up led to this horrible scene.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPUgoiTzOP
* * *
Achlys stepped out and looked over the statues and back to Abyss with a smirk.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmKHWunoGB
“What have you been up to, Sol?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0qZfFrmS2
“I told you not to call me that,” Abyss muttered. “The curse of Midas.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bxcbvD4Ow
Achlys’ face hardened as she walked around to meet Abyss face to face. “Is that what this was?” She glanced back to the statues. “Well, history just repeats itself, now, doesn’t it?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1CIwcpBYd
She waltzed over to the statue.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23IlWtTIux
“Don’t touch him!” Abyss exclaimed in a panic.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fDVHrZND6
She looked back to Abyss and pointed a thumb to Mirio, raising an eyebrow. Abyss gave a small and nervous nod. Achlys returned a thoughtful nod. “Hm.” She walked around to grab the girl and turned them upright. The statues were off-balance as the girl stood on one toe and Mirio sat tilted backwards. She looked around and spotted the golden debree.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0evlzJX8en
“And his clothes?” she asked, carrying it over. “Heavier than it looks,” She muttered in annoyance.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHgBYSCh37
“Fine.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZgajWB49T
She carefully grabbed Mirio around the waist, avoiding his arms and such, sitting him down on the golden block. She stepped back and looked at the work.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhp5Nf7ZNZ
Merry seemed to look down at Mirio in pained terror, the vines seemed to grow over her like an ancient statue. Meanwhile, Mirio was frozen, his eyes seemed to gaze lovingly ahead, up ever so slightly as if gazing at her breast.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWSkMSkChY
“I quite like it,” Achlys commented. “A real piece of work, is he?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXEwXHzC3S
Abyss didn’t know how to respond.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbkMWspjgu
She looked back at him in slight annoyance and walked over. Achlys waved a hand in front of Abyssal’s face. “Not catatonic, are we?” She questioned.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyChlfwsgb
Abyss shook himself. “N-no. Sorry.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7C4o5GR1b
“Good. Well, while you took your sweet time watching this go down, I got 5 followers and disposed of a couple dozen Kronos followers.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvd12oExV2
One young boy of about 13 stumbled through the bushes in the grubby white clothes Abyss remembered from the prison. He was carrying 5 bloody cartridges in his arms. A terrified 8-year-old girl followed carefully holding a couple of her own. The little girl was followed by a large man gripping about 6 in his hands, and a tall, skinny woman who led 7 bubbled cartridges that floated in the air after her.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGP7kfu0EY
Abyss faced at the traumatized-looking children with worry. “Did you do it in front of them?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvw9HooBbB
“War is coming. Child innocence is the least of our worries. Besides, they have eyelids,” Achlys answered. “Time to burry these so Kronos can’t reclaim their powers. Demeter?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxamuKzNG5
The little girl stepped forward. “Lucy, ma’am.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67DYVITZXZ
“Whatever, bury the cartridges around this statue, but don’t touch the guy.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvUo1jcXDg
Lucy swallowed hard but nodded. She came forward and gently pressed the cartridges into the ground one at a time. The earth seemed to absorb the cartridges as if they were snow melting into the grass. Red was left behind as blood stained the blazes of grass.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqh572IEAk
“With enough luck, the rosork will never be able to retrieve the cartridges,” Achlys said darkly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYSGgYTIcE
As Lucy stood, the rest turned to leave.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2SCkVqBaJ
As the little girl ran after the others, nobody but the girl knew of the sprouts already coming up from the ground in a ring around Mirio and Merry.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluYtI3GxEp
When Lucy caught up, Achlys set a hand on the little girl’s head. Lucy flinched from the touch as Achlys spoke. “Good work, Demeter.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr2PwpKp0L
Abyss glanced at the strange exchange, but didn’t say anything.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyNoneXcK6
“As for you,” Achlys spoke up, and Abyss’s back stiffened involuntarily. “I wasn’t sure you’d have the guts to take anyone out, still, I held onto my faith. I doubt the Rosork would have an easy time retrieving his cartridge or the power within it encased in a hidden gold statue.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58CBB2GbBY
Abyss got the sense she was joking and let out a forced chuckle.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw8Jc8QdQG
In truth, he still regretted what he did to Mirio, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He could only tell himself it was necessary and a victory in the long run the way Achlys saw it.
ns216.73.216.154da2
