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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEomZA3oo0R
Abyss head his heart thumbing loudly and felt his lungs desperately expand and collapse in a desperate attempt to pull in air.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd7S3dUgwi
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdUaa7itHj
“Good job… congratulations. You’re free. Free from the ones who took your brother.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2OVZp6kpb
“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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1oKP1BVYg
Instead, he focused on the bubbling anger. That was easier to process.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7shuSmGRa
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNBDoPyXnK
“…You’ll get better,” Achlys said with a stern tone, but there was still an air of uncertainty in her voice.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEhkVVftjt
“All I could hear back there were screams. I killed so many people, and the screaming only grew.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMug0LIf3X
Achlys’ face hardened. “People fear for their own lives as if they are the only ones who matter in the world. It’s selfish.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAdJK38FHQ
“They sounded terrified.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4ArzkEvg0
“Were they screaming for the safety of their companions or themselves?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWKQVuLdqh
“I- I don’t know.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5nQ8LW6vg
“Did they say to spare their friends, or did they beg for you not to kill them?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmpXwslLuB
“They didn’t say anything… they just screamed.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2sOMQvJxk
“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?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawncEEpN0H
“I… I guess there was a lot of pushing,” Abyss answered.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUfvjagHdd
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8REmBqL0fU
“You.. you really thought this through, didn’t you?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjrVLwN9lE
“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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDGPJL03ie
“So we’re going to talk with them?” Abyss asked for clarification.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8O9S6OXN8
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog2tp0lttZ
Abyssal’s eyes were wide at Achlys’ proposal, his tone defensive. “Kill them? But they were prisoners!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XuB6h5An6
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwOzjUvuIq
After a moment, Abyss nodded in understanding. “Okay.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1GhYBj8kq
Achlys grinned. “Now for the fun part… The Hunt.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4qtrawoTF
The title brought back some of the unease in Abyssal’s mind, but he was ready.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCsvID69fe
* * *
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyRktXqzTL
“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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSRCaYHOmI
“Back off, boy-o or yeh’ll be a statue ‘fore you know what happened.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUsEBsMsZm
“You turned that into gold?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrGO572yE1
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZhqm3kHCb
“An’ whatever gave yeh that idea?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqgShx3g9S
Abyssal’s face fell. He knew the man was trying to be uncooperative, but he wasn’t going to fall for these psychology tactics.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gfoNCbv1g
“I know someone like you.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOPqSmYpXp
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFE8kuhLYL
“No, no, I do! Or at least, I-I’ve heard of him.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfLy1MIb96
“Ah, might you be referin’ to the great king Midas?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9DH7NTQUI
“Yeah! Yeah, I’ve heard all about him.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtm1Ty0Lu1
“Well, he is myth. I am far greater, because I am real.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LBZk0di5V
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaqPzjZWMW
Finally, an idea formed. “Then... you know the risks,” Abyssal said in a cryptic voice.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwwoDL3qXn
Galloping was heard growing ever closer before a great elk stood proudly beside the old man. “Father!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdTtQECB1k
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyxpkGxFXG
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiOw0ywOWW
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM81Z9iJKAI
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMGrb7o2oq
“Woah, where did you get those?” Abyss asked as he stared at them and made a point to not stare at the woman.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK9CCKHhOO
“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”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73tBs94tsq
“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?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZWSDivBdN
“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!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeKWm3UNTB
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2SiXbdsHm
“What are you doing, boy-o?! Yeh have a death wish?!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCR2yROQ4E
The elk stopped at Merry’s order as the events took place. She watched in stunned silence and confusion which evolved into concern.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDywYDBLbdz
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1UHxkvoEx
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0NT2T8iZA
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fAJTNL0Gl
“Argh! What’re yeh doin’ boy-o?!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTJ71ksCKO
Abyss pulled his hand away instantly in his own alarm as the gold continued to spread over Mirio’s body.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwHVCZZEtl
“Pa?! What’s happinin’?!” Merry grabbed her father’s shoulders.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u4cy7UBxq
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNRReij3FI
“Merry, I don’ think I’ll make it.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfEQaUsX4y
“Don’ say that, Pa! Can’t yeh fight it?! It’s yer own power!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgk1InOpGH
Mirio shook his head. “I don’t feel it in me anymore, lass.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pQUrOdKIG
“Why not?!” Tears streamed down Marry’s face. 77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXKLsheTtX
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnpWmGQS9U
“Don’t say that, Pa! I’m not gonna sell yer corpse!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn14zntR6y
“Either way, I need yeh teh move on an be merry. I named yeh so, didn’t I?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWOCFcQzkf
“How can I move on?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LWshfSQZV
“Promise me.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOdiwsgNTq
“Pa…”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWZT0wByPz
“Promise,” Mirio pressed again.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgmjUko9ta
“… I promise, Pa.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh9Jhi8FrV
“Now that’s a good lass.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0TYrJcjpp
The gold finally reached his head and fully overcame him leaving only a single golden tear that fell into the grass.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6fhbL60co
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwTiIpml19
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ghXFZonsi
The daughter clutched her father’s statue, gripping his forearms tightly, burying her face into his hard chest where the magic reentered.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDsMgHv5Cq
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmCrEypGIc
“No,” Abyss breathed. He couldn’t move. The boy was frozen in place as the scene was forever frozen in time.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmomvuSeWA
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh3iAzyMho
Merry’s eyes were squeezed shut as she mourned her father.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlo7DoBEJK
It was too much. Abyss, shaking finally blurted out a call of warning to Merry. “Your father’s power!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMmoMBk76J
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8dmRPg9nD
“No!” She cried in panic. “Father! Please!”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv215JPEU2D
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkF12NmAHs
She fell to the ground in a crumpled form, the gold swallowing her completely. The vines that clothed her remained in their original forms.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFjjvv37Ja
Abyss didn’t move from his place for a long while. This was his fault. One slip-up led to this horrible scene.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQDyOqTKP6
* * *
Achlys stepped out and looked over the statues and back to Abyss with a smirk.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalXPkhzxa7
“What have you been up to, Sol?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4nqoJWDWw
“I told you not to call me that,” Abyss muttered. “The curse of Midas.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZpY04pmFo
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?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh3xjhyUoB
She waltzed over to the statue.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22HWX4ngvq
“Don’t touch him!” Abyss exclaimed in a panic.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei9ZvIQGPj
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC38WjFxzUr
“And his clothes?” she asked, carrying it over. “Heavier than it looks,” She muttered in annoyance.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwicEWPV6Am
“Fine.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f2UorMJPa
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidgKxQjIGr
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj81bp2AcAY
“I quite like it,” Achlys commented. “A real piece of work, is he?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0WjYHoh4X
Abyss didn’t know how to respond.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cDPM7c5XM
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqpaquqOrb
Abyss shook himself. “N-no. Sorry.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxxDMLKotv
“Good. Well, while you took your sweet time watching this go down, I got 5 followers and disposed of a couple dozen Kronos followers.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd4CCE0Msj
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAxUs1qt2l
Abyss faced at the traumatized-looking children with worry. “Did you do it in front of them?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp7OUnhkd3
“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?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJjtdRjeqK
The little girl stepped forward. “Lucy, ma’am.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbIXkWIM01
“Whatever, bury the cartridges around this statue, but don’t touch the guy.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXCmmqLHsk
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYNdmvJNFV
“With enough luck, the rosork will never be able to retrieve the cartridges,” Achlys said darkly.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnNqFIAmta
As Lucy stood, the rest turned to leave.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUr6UZTQnr
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.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pIrRdnqTL
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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHNk5rS4eB
Abyss glanced at the strange exchange, but didn’t say anything.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9RnOkOxuT
“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.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTP38WrDur
Abyss got the sense she was joking and let out a forced chuckle.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTEvWPkM5g
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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