He stepped forward as he imagined his bland childhood when he hadnÆt even felt like a real person just an observer floating around Getting called to the frontlines having a few sergeants who cared and guided him no matter how slow he was to learn Heading to the Alpha Cosmos because he hadnÆt known what else to do with himself
Witnessing a bowling match between Heiffal and Commissioner Arrietti an entire audience waiting with their breath held to gasp or groan depending on the outcome of each graceful throw And EdgarÆs eyes had been opened because finally he found an arena perhaps like soldiering where all that mattered was consistency
Around his right bicep HeiffalÆs tightening hand urging him forward with the last of his strength To continue to reliably serve
Edgar managed to put one foot in front of the other even while a broken porcelain doll crashed to the ground and splashed is side with mud His image sat in the recesses of his Soulspace just producing the cleansing destruction the group needed As the left hand supporter of his squad his own full image of a three faced brass idol saw very little daylight Instead Edgar simply blasted away other image fragments from the air so the Vulpis SquadÆs real heavy hitters could shine
IÆm consistent And that is plenty Edgar staggered forward when the rear supporter stumbled and needed to put a hand against his back in order not to fall Edgar turned his head slightly and offered the other soldier a smile of encouragement more of a grimace than anything else but the Squad Leader chose that moment to bark out words and he whipped back to face the front
EdgarÆs pupils dilated He saw Alana Donal frozen midair her body burning with gold orange flames massive wings spreading out from her helmet Next to her Charlotte Wick unleashed more and more of her Primal Force image But the ground in front of them exploded allowing a strange monstrous creature of warped metal and rapidly shifting sizes to rip its way out of the ground
The flesh of its quicksilver body undulated and pulsed the different limbs seeming to move independently of one another
Edgar unleashed his image as he had trained to do The Vulpis Squad moved as one striking a blow against this new monstrous foe that appeared in front of them the last defense But all those images sank into this beingÆs aura and faded or shifted or fractured Right behind this thingÆs back all those dense layers of temporal folds concentrated in a small ritual
The limbs continued to move and swirl After staring for a second as their attacks fell to nothing Edgar realized that the oozing and shiny flesh pulsed along with the ripples of time emerging from behind its back
The monster laughed as more slender tentacles slithered out from its core This is where this foolish crusade ceases It seems a shame to unleash this perfect form on you small fries but I have bound time through my limbs Unless you feel competent fighting me with all of the temporal versions of yourself from the beginning of my existence hehehe Well I wonder if any dares to step forward Come die
And in acknowledgment of the genuine threat posed by this strange being the Vulpis Squad had stalled to a halt The leaders stared forward watching the air warp around this thingÆs long metallic arms
They waited for only a moment Enough to take a breath Marginally EdgarÆs awareness steadied
full charge Raymund Ballast said quietly ending their brief reprieve His squad responded moving without considering the consequences They were a tool to help Randidly Ghosthound change the universe They were worthwhile because they consistently served a purpose
I Edgar cried for a second and then squeezed his eyes shut
He was a soldier he was consistent Heiffal might not have been there but Edgar knew this was exactly how he would have wanted it They had a missionù sentimentality couldnÆt be allowed to derail them
As Edgar stored the body in his interspatial ring he felt his image changing Previously his three faced brass idol had one main expression the forward facing visage of peace Slowly the left face had been shifting to one of wrath and annihilation due to his role in the Vulpis Squad And now the right face wept totally consumed in its grief
He felt long strands of Nether flowing into the newly transformed image sharpening its edges
Edgar released a shuddering breath When he opened his eyes his gaze had cleared The battle still raged behind him but by some crazy combination of miracles he had persisted through the barrier He walked up to the temporal ritual and examined it His eyes widened in horrified recognition
He realized the secret hidden in this place the one Heiffal had refused to depart without discovering
They arenÆt trying to slow the flow of time around the isolated pocket where Pine is kept Edgar immediately sent the message to Alana They are accelerating it
Randidly spun Acri as he felt the wicked vindictiveness settle across him Understanding finally cleared out all the extraneous thoughts in his mind As his Nether Core spun out thick energy the pure crystal ball and its emerald gem dripped out liquid Aether in the process
His wrath needed fuel And today he would break the world to remake it
He slowly shifted his Soulseed Spear to point the weapon at Solomon Rex Now when did the two of you start working together
Solomon stiffened Fiero released a cackling laugh
It canÆt have been the whole time otherwise well you were too obvious about it Or too lazy about pretending not to be cooperating Randidly reasoned his way through his thoughts his spear point never wavering The deal you offered me was a pittance it makes more sense you still wanted to use me as a stopgap to stabilize Pine but your main focus was on Fiero both because you wanted to recover your body and because the two of you would never agree on what to do about Pine And then Ah When I wounded Fiero in that first fight driving my spear into his flesh That was it wasnÆt it
RandidlyÆs emerald eyes glowed That was also the reason that he had so much time to settle his business with Devick The two of them had been negotiating For that bitter partnership what was one more handshake to remain atop the horrible pyramid they had built To monopolize a Pinnacle steeped in bitterness You realized the strength of this vesselÆ IÆve been building That maybe for the two of you who have so long feuded You could combine forces Eliminate an emerging third power while also buying the Nexus plenty of time to figure out how to proceed
When we speak of those who donÆt deserve what they have earned Fiero hissed The only one in the Nexus who rivals me is you Randidly Ghosthound You were anointed from your first blessed stumblings into the System Your elders and betters built the road on which you have walked It is time to pay us back for all the privilege you have enjoyed
Even your Alpha Cosmos will benefit Solomon began but at least he had the presence of mind to fall silent when RandidlyÆs smile widened
I think itÆs time to call your bluff Randidly said lightly Which of us needs the other more I wonder Which of us can handle more breaking
Because the current arrangement had been a bluff Randidly could see the fabric of the barrier that kept Pine isolated right in front of him but hadnÆt touched it But now he gave his Insatiable Deviation free reign The canopy of the World Tree shook
Congratulations Your Skill Insatiable Deviation Promises Doom (DD) has grown to Level 1293
Chains and rust and madness exploded out shredding through the temporal barrier Bits of darkness fluttered out like a murder of ravens taking flight before disintegrating into sludge that stunk of malice The DeviationÆs wild glee at opening this door was palpable
You fool Solomon said at the same moment FieroÆs jaw dropped
In the next moment Pine hung above them an inky black moon of oblivion looming too close for comfort crushing and grinding against their bodies with its desire to consume them all Even the Insatiable Deviation flinched