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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMkJW8nhpc
Abyss head his heart thumbing loudly and felt his lungs desperately expand and collapse in a desperate attempt to pull in air.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE0L42LwGL
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolAWbvcmAN
“Good job… congratulations. You’re free. Free from the ones who took your brother.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq7jMFUZdO
“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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibDLYTEZ7O
Instead, he focused on the bubbling anger. That was easier to process.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K7Ac7Pc8x
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAogRWDgho
“…You’ll get better,” Achlys said with a stern tone, but there was still an air of uncertainty in her voice.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPcPtHFKVo
“All I could hear back there were screams. I killed so many people, and the screaming only grew.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlvuIUZV4A
Achlys’ face hardened. “People fear for their own lives as if they are the only ones who matter in the world. It’s selfish.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19WfBJd549
“They sounded terrified.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKzxmhYXEB
“Were they screaming for the safety of their companions or themselves?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn65ETSuY2
“I- I don’t know.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhlo35igyA
“Did they say to spare their friends, or did they beg for you not to kill them?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m36IAZ86k
“They didn’t say anything… they just screamed.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SjusHhkZe
“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?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEHw0JT7ih
“I… I guess there was a lot of pushing,” Abyss answered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzV8rhZbHm
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7p1PsOBxk
“You.. you really thought this through, didn’t you?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g5ZcOvAgE
“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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU9tckrCAM
“So we’re going to talk with them?” Abyss asked for clarification.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU48TP9wjI
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hYZ5rInJx
Abyssal’s eyes were wide at Achlys’ proposal, his tone defensive. “Kill them? But they were prisoners!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1GrvE8Mo0
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkiCsSJSRb
After a moment, Abyss nodded in understanding. “Okay.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy8hfM9BL8
Achlys grinned. “Now for the fun part… The Hunt.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHwBa11FrY
The title brought back some of the unease in Abyssal’s mind, but he was ready.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7At4xC7Fr
* * *
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHFzP5u2QS
“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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVbtDWbNy6
“Back off, boy-o or yeh’ll be a statue ‘fore you know what happened.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N5ttku5Ar
“You turned that into gold?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8ZJbPu7qo
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPaGpAPvoB
“An’ whatever gave yeh that idea?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrRx0r3jy5
Abyssal’s face fell. He knew the man was trying to be uncooperative, but he wasn’t going to fall for these psychology tactics.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05XoucTUo0
“I know someone like you.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BYpdJdKnB
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSiTV1WLAF
“No, no, I do! Or at least, I-I’ve heard of him.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzQFn8U7Lu
“Ah, might you be referin’ to the great king Midas?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYvsGiUJGc
“Yeah! Yeah, I’ve heard all about him.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xh9sZShFM
“Well, he is myth. I am far greater, because I am real.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4RV2UdYcK
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUIEvUMzuU
Finally, an idea formed. “Then... you know the risks,” Abyssal said in a cryptic voice.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqgeMkVdAs
Galloping was heard growing ever closer before a great elk stood proudly beside the old man. “Father!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiosngDxdm
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRRnkgzTxR
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhyaaua0bQ
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4uCkX9KhO
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdrE9NJHfi
“Woah, where did you get those?” Abyss asked as he stared at them and made a point to not stare at the woman.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsNYoSsmWe
“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”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa204iRY3Yq
“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?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ506lttTQRb
“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!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Lbs1cAIE
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRfS7ClMOj
“What are you doing, boy-o?! Yeh have a death wish?!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYFAMZ0qMS
The elk stopped at Merry’s order as the events took place. She watched in stunned silence and confusion which evolved into concern.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeO8ZL2h79
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhz8PbK4Y0
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeNiw9Fppi
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLVg9C1ThG
“Argh! What’re yeh doin’ boy-o?!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARX9ho2P5I
Abyss pulled his hand away instantly in his own alarm as the gold continued to spread over Mirio’s body.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs3r5OfnHI
“Pa?! What’s happinin’?!” Merry grabbed her father’s shoulders.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaORtyfdfTd
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyEaLZqWSP
“Merry, I don’ think I’ll make it.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Jn6vXCKa
“Don’ say that, Pa! Can’t yeh fight it?! It’s yer own power!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanGJ04ymAi
Mirio shook his head. “I don’t feel it in me anymore, lass.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTVqNuRKQN
“Why not?!” Tears streamed down Marry’s face. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyx8ExQqm6
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfWHVfWOHD
“Don’t say that, Pa! I’m not gonna sell yer corpse!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5vBW7Ucws
“Either way, I need yeh teh move on an be merry. I named yeh so, didn’t I?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLofTBe1k82
“How can I move on?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG5c4OoYho
“Promise me.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrbmSvga3C
“Pa…”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHuWnbnBf
“Promise,” Mirio pressed again.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX9vgHXmqp
“… I promise, Pa.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzf43lh8sv
“Now that’s a good lass.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lIG2Dhtnf
The gold finally reached his head and fully overcame him leaving only a single golden tear that fell into the grass.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQW1UwBxnW
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv2OcHvHH0
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK88B1nj8rO
The daughter clutched her father’s statue, gripping his forearms tightly, burying her face into his hard chest where the magic reentered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyyAGfKSt3
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQQPUwBUNX
“No,” Abyss breathed. He couldn’t move. The boy was frozen in place as the scene was forever frozen in time.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlZHnfxuyo
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftWEUhZv3W
Merry’s eyes were squeezed shut as she mourned her father.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl9Wkq6H4C
It was too much. Abyss, shaking finally blurted out a call of warning to Merry. “Your father’s power!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhtQ7eDYOn
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcVFToRUxJ
“No!” She cried in panic. “Father! Please!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEWpFA4Vx7
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7qh9hucVH
She fell to the ground in a crumpled form, the gold swallowing her completely. The vines that clothed her remained in their original forms.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZFq1iFonp
Abyss didn’t move from his place for a long while. This was his fault. One slip-up led to this horrible scene.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq03gMMfJi5
* * *
Achlys stepped out and looked over the statues and back to Abyss with a smirk.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCrF2p7ij0
“What have you been up to, Sol?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU3XygkWGf
“I told you not to call me that,” Abyss muttered. “The curse of Midas.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGacW826Zrh
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?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg88N97VMBj
She waltzed over to the statue.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTJFyWE84D
“Don’t touch him!” Abyss exclaimed in a panic.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8ClGk6ev8
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rjrq934vo
“And his clothes?” she asked, carrying it over. “Heavier than it looks,” She muttered in annoyance.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCwmxFFV1a
“Fine.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJquS6oE4Tr
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiu5UacFDy
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavT9oipzlg
“I quite like it,” Achlys commented. “A real piece of work, is he?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09Uz8HXlKz
Abyss didn’t know how to respond.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCOt9kk9l9
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWkS7zw26H
Abyss shook himself. “N-no. Sorry.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSBWoUAs2G
“Good. Well, while you took your sweet time watching this go down, I got 5 followers and disposed of a couple dozen Kronos followers.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXnLdpJthf
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLqnRmmYT0
Abyss faced at the traumatized-looking children with worry. “Did you do it in front of them?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkUdILZWJj
“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?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0Krevq6fX
The little girl stepped forward. “Lucy, ma’am.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaIPphJMXr
“Whatever, bury the cartridges around this statue, but don’t touch the guy.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFh2edfmah
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWDhL2Q788
“With enough luck, the rosork will never be able to retrieve the cartridges,” Achlys said darkly.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo06hBcnjpX
As Lucy stood, the rest turned to leave.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm4L3ZAdmA
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInuifSjf8u
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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrWQkTzwvg
Abyss glanced at the strange exchange, but didn’t say anything.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUVbtrY91O
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOU1iqtBhq
Abyss got the sense she was joking and let out a forced chuckle.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENbvSdGtpo
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.
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