Chapter 41Blinding Light

  Jack didn’t know what was happening. Too much was happening. But they moved anyway. They dashed and hopped, from building to building. They were looking for Suna, or perhaps just anyone, that wasn’t crawling and dying so miserably. They tried their best not to look too hard at the Horrors surrounding them.

  Sounds. Of Fighting? Trying not to attract too much attention, they approached closer, ready to run at a moment’s notice.

  They didn’t know.

  What that was.

  But they knew better than to look at it.

  Fear. All throughout their body.

  Jack did not hesitate to follow their instincts. They ran, faster than ever, away from that pce, that Thing, that… Light.

  “...What did they say?”

  Angie had just returned to the group, using a root to take her through and back over the crowd of sickly, poor people.

  “...” Angie’s face was sullen. “...it’s uh…”

  The Group wore Serious Looks, waiting for Angie to speak.

  “...yeah, there’s… no getting out.” Angie sighed. “At least, for a few days. They’re gonna send someone over to assess and try and combat the Pgue, but…” She looked Grimly, very Grimly, at the Desperate people that crowded the roads, who looked… awful. Her lips pursed. “...They’re not gonna make it…”

  Suna walked up to Angie, on the bare rooftop, and Hugged her. Angie hugged Suna back.

  Lilt’s head was hung, in thought.

  Beryl just looked solemnly at the people.

  “...so, why aren’t we affected?” Suna asked the Group.

  “Well…” Lilt proposed an expnation, “Maybe, it’s because we’re Hunters. We’re Stronger than the average person.” They looked down, at the streets. “I haven’t really seen any Hunters yet, on these roads.”

  “Yeah, it’s strange.” Beryl chimed in. “I was looking, too. Strange.”

  “Maybe they were able to get out, before this barrier?”

  “Or maybe they’re in Hiding. Waiting for this whole thing to pass over.” Angie and Lilt both gave suggestions.

  Suna calmed down. It sounded like this sickness wouldn’t affect her, or her friends. That’s all that really mattered… Wait, Amy!

  Suna got up from her cross-legged seating position. “I want to find someone.”

  “Hm? Who?” Beryl and her Friends were all confused.

  “Amy. She’s a girl I met, who was part of the Caravan.”

  “Suna…” They all Looked at her. With pity. Angie tried to comfort Suna by reaching out and holding her hand.

  “I can’t just give up.” She looked at Angie, and her Friends. “I Need to know, with certainty, if she’s alive or dead. I need to know. If she needs help.”

  “But Suna, we still don’t know how this Disease is being transmitted. What if we’re carriers? What if we infect her, if she’s in Hiding?”

  Suna Grimaced. She didn’t know, what the Right thing to do was.

  But just sitting in one pce, idle, doing Nothing… she didn’t like that. What if her friend needed help?

  Suna started walking.

  “H-Hey, where are you going?”

  “I’m going. To find her.”

  “But-”

  “It’s okay. You guys can stay here, if you want. I’m fine on my own.”

  Lilt shook their head, “No, Suna, we’re not leaving you alone when we don’t know the details of what’s happening.” They all followed her. “We’re coming with you.”

  Suna looked at Them. Then she turned around, and Leapt.

  –

  The Light. It was Sickening. It was All-Consuming. It was Reality-Distorting. It was Everything, wordless and Real. Abstract and Unknown. Tangible and Impossible.

  This Light. It guided Krax. It was Him, it Became Him. It Knew Him. It Will Be Him.

  Krax saw. Others, Looking, at the Light. It wasn’t simply something that could be possessed. Thus, Krax had no problems with others Seeing it. But I know it Better, though.

  He saw, in that Metal Figure’s Hands. The Light disappeared.

  “That should be most of them…” They moved. Krax Followed, the others moving, en masse, to a determined location.

  Krax was confused. They weren’t going towards the Tunnel he made, or the Circle he Drew. Of course, it wasn’t His Pce to question those who Wielded the Light. But the Metal Figure deigned to give him an answer to his nonverbal query, anyway.

  “There’s only a few more. Trust me, I’d like to not waste a second and skip Town before someone Strong shows up.” They gave a sigh, Krax unsure if the Metal Figure even moved air when they did so. “But, They don’t like it when I’m not thorough, you see.” They Shrugged, helplessly.

  A small part of Krax was curious. Who is this Person? Where did they come from? Why were they interfering with People like this? Who were They? But every such question was Meaningless, Before the Light. It Didn’t Matter.

  Krax saw. A person, lying, on the road. The Metal Figure stepped over them, but their leg was stopped… by a Hand.

  Krax’s heart jumped. They immediately Smote the Bsphemous, Ignorant Thing. They got out a pristine handkerchief, and bent down, frantically, to wipe off every foreign molecule that had found itself onto the Metal Figure.

  Krax felt a hand viciously grab his head. It wiped off its leg with the side of his head, with Overwhelming Force. Krax felt his skull, fracture. But he didn’t mind. It was only natural, that he pay for the Sin of his fellow Man.

  After They were done, Krax bowed, reverently, Gravely.

  “It’s alright. Get up.”

  Krax did as he was Told.

  He healed his injuries, and resumed his stride along the Metal Figure.

  Krax realized something. They Earnestly requested to speak a few words, in their Mind.

  “Hm? What’s up?”

  “You are Strong. My words are Not a Doubt of your strength. Yet I humbly request that I may offer a few words about one of the remaining Hunters in this town, Real One.”

  “Hm? Go Ahead.”

  Krax did not look directly at the Metal Figure while they talked, instead looking at the ground. “I saw one of them, yesterday. A girl, which I traveled with. She… has sin, one of your kind.”

  The Metal Figure roused, taking interest. “Hoh? What are her abilities?”

  “None. I speak the Truth. She wields a sharp knife, and she is fast, and cunning.” Krax continued bowing their Insignificant head.

  “Huh… Obstin, right?” The Metal Figure looked up, at the sky. “...sigh, all she wanted to do was get away from this whole Mess. She thought she took the most peaceful job… Ugh.” The Metal Figure gave a grunt of disdain, as if the girl’s death was truly unwarranted and tragic. “...I’ll try and avenge her. Thanks for telling me.”

  Krax paid little heed to the Metal Figure’s thanks. For they were truly two Different beings. A Connection between them was simply Impossible, and not worth even Considering, not even as poor humor. So Krax simply continued walking.

  “Hm?” Some more stragglers. A group of Hunters. They didn’t seem weak. They confronted the Metal Figure and Krax, their numbers over ten.

  Their voices and throats shook, with Human, Guttural Passion. “Give… Give Back Our Friends!!!”

  They Charged, their Chanting filling the Air.

  “...Sigh.”

  And that Light Shone, Once More.

  –

  Suna and her Friends wandered around. They didn’t know where Amy was, they didn’t really know where anyone was. They had only been in this town for a couple of days, and most of that was spent doing trivial things.

  “I’m sorry, Suna, but we’re not getting anywhere-”

  “No. I’m not giving up.”

  Her Friends could only helplessly accompany Suna through her strangely motivated Hunt, for some random person.

  They spotted somebody. Someone else, moving along the rooftops.

  “Hey, that’s Jack!” Beryl excimed. She and Suna moved towards the young man, who was foreign to Lilt and Angie. They followed along.

  “Hey!” Suna called out, happy to see a familiar face in all this Chaos.

  But they soon saw. He wore a Grave, Serious face. They let him approach.

  “What’s wrong?” Suna asked, when he shortly arrived.

  “It’s, it’s not good.” Jack’s worry was readily apparent. Even his body seemed to shake a little. “There’s, there’s bad guys, here.”

  The Apprehension and Danger Assessment of the Group immediately rose.

  “Well, what should we do?” Suna asked.

  “We, we gotta Hide. Or, Run, I dunno, it’s like they can sense us.”

  Suna reacted to his peculiar word choice. She thought of the Armored Figures.

  She wished she could somehow instruct her Friends and Jack how to avoid their gaze, but she knew. It involved ridding your mind of thought, and cutting your Presence, things these people simply weren’t capable of.

  She delved into thought.

  Her Party Members looked to Her. She was their Leader, and they all had no clue how to navigate this tricky, Foreign situation.

  “Well, I’m going to keep running. I-”

  “No, Jack.” Suna looked at him. “Stay with us. Here.” She handed him a Ring, one which all of her Team was already wearing. “You’ll be able to sense our locations with that.”

  Jack looked, confusingly, at the Tether Ring. “Uhh, why are you giving me this?”

  Suna looked pinly, yet determined, at the young man. “Because. We’re not getting out of this pce by Running, or Hiding.” She looked at all of them. “You guys… aren’t good enough at either of those things to do that.” The Look of her Friend’s faces, on all of their faces… were Grave.

  “...so it’s that bad, huh…” Jack muttered, under their breath. They took the Ring. He looked at Lilt and Angie. “...I’m Jack. Ptinum. I’ll… do what I can. To help.” He exchanged a look of resolve with the Group.

  “Okay, wait, things are going a little too fast, what’s going on here?” Lilt was a bit taken aback by the sudden change in events and atmosphere.

  “Me and Beryl met Jack yesterday. And we have an Armored to deal with.”

  “H-Huh? What do you mean by Armored?”

  How does she know what they looked like? Jack thought, to themselves. Jack Decided, that sticking with this Strong and Knowledgeable person was his ticket to survival.

  “Oh, I, guess we never really mentioned it to you and Beryl. Come on.” Suna started moving. “I want to find somewhere suitable. I have an Idea. I’ll fill you all in on the way.”

  –

  Fel let his footsteps lead him, as he and the Geth Mage walked through the city. His Senses were telling him that there were only a handful more Unconverted Hunters left in this City.

  He looked up, at the Barrier. How Stupid. To think they can trap me, with such a flimsy thing. He thought it was almost a little Insulting. Humans… really are stupid, and foolish. He tried not to let his idle thoughts distract him too much from his work. He knew just how fast the Strong are. He had little time. And… he wanted to avenge his fellow Radien.

  For they were simply bottomfeeders. The lowest on the totem pole, of Life. He resented those above him, but those by his side… he couldn’t forgive someone who’d reap such an innocent life, the life of someone who simply struggled, to get by, during such tumultuous times.

  He ground his teeth. The Geth walking by his side shivered, Sensing his Fury, and Anger. He tried to calm his Nerves. If there truly was a worthy threat here… he couldn’t get carried away by his Emotions. He had to Calm himself.

  He breathed. In, and out.

  “Hm?”

  It seemed, these people were eager to offer themselves before him. But he didn’t see the girl, which the Geth described. He didn’t let his guard down.

  They chanted, sticking close to buildings and alleyways. They looked ready, to bolt out of sight. The Light was useless if they simply ran away. He saw one of them, one such person who ran away. They likely know. Ugh, looks like I’ll have to get my hands dirty.

  The Armored Figure acted strangely. It shivered, inhumanly, inorganically, before a rge, dark green cloud spewed out of its every orifice. They ran, not willing to interact with such an Ominous-looking gas.

  But, the mage by their side… Suna reasoned that it didn’t directly harm Humans. Otherwise, it would simply be harming its teammate. Its teammate, who Suna had a bad feeling about. She couldn’t see them clearly, she was fairly far. Far, and Truly Hidden.

  The gas spread, quickly, enveloping all of the surrounding buildings. The Hunters tried, but they weren’t fast enough to outrun it. A sense of foreboding overtook all of them, like they were being… watched.

  A Whistle. They recognized it, what it meant. They all converged towards a certain pce, doing their best to maneuver through the Thick Fog, which stopped them from seeing more than a few feet ahead of them.

  Fel walked, calmly, through the Dark Green world, his Body blending into it very well. This thing’s a hindrance in my Smoke… He directed the Geth to remain outside of it, to try and apprehend anyone that tried to escape. It wordlessly followed his instructions.

  He Sensed four people through Himself. Just the people he saw, shortly. No mysterious girl. I guess I’ll worry about her after I deal with these four.

  He didn’t hastily chase, he wanted to remain cautious. And, these people… didn’t Run, either. So he calmly walked towards them.

  He entered an alleyway. The Buildings were Tight, and messily arranged. Likely the Slums of this City. He kept his guard up, for any surprises.

  The Hunters were stationary, in formation. They likely had spells, at the ready. Fel kept their guard up.

  All they needed to do was Distract Them, for just a moment. Suna would ambush them, while they did that. But… what if they were already in Danger? What if their Lives were already forfeit? The Party worried. But they didn’t receive any other signals – they stood fast, believing in Suna.

  Jack saw just how much trust these people pced in that girl. He decided to try and do the same.

  The fog got thicker, their worries becoming more pronounced. Beryl, whose ear was pced to the ground, spoke. “Getting closer. Straight ahead.”

  Lilt’s water bnketed the messy alleyway. Beryl got up, readying her hammer. Angie prepared herself. Jack’s sword was drawn.

  The Figure slowly walked, inhumanly, towards them. It crept, walking strangely. It seemed to shiver, its head zily hanging, to its side.

  Angie realized. Just how Terrifying the Things Suna faced down were. How did she do it? How did she keep her composure, in front of such a Terrifying, Inhuman Thing? How? However she did it… Angie hoped to find a bit of that in her, too. It was Possible, she told herself. She could face It.

  The others didn’t know what to expect. Without a signal, they all wouldn’t attack this Thing. They could only wait. With bated breath.

  It approached. It wasn’t a faintly visible, flickering Thing through the Fog anymore. They could see its unusual shape. Its ‘helmet’, which seemed to jut out ahead of it, its body, which looked… Menacing. But they didn’t Act.

  “Oh wow…” It spoke. Its voice was grating on the ears, coarse, yet audible. Inhuman. “How Polite of you all. You’re not going to Resist?” It kept walking towards them.

  Jack’s body was drenched in sweat. Am I… going to Die, Here? It was tough for him not to have suspicions. But… He remembered Her. Her Dance. He Believed in Her. That such a person… could Fight this Thing. And he was going to help her.

  “Haha, how strange…” The Armored Figure Inhaled. Deeply. Endlessly. The surrounding Fog seemed to recede, back into Them. Then they extended their right hand out, slightly, palm up. The group all closed their eyes, in Anticipation for the following Light-based attack.

  “Haha, I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that.” But before that Light could sprout, into existence…

  Cng.

  The Metal Head, collided with the ground.

  The Group held their Breaths.

  Suna let Consciousness return to her.

  Did she… Do it?