Chapter 978. Glimmer of An Orange Star

“Name me one reason why I should keep you alive. You hurt my child. Why shouldn’t I kill you? No matter how you look at it: you came here with the intention to die, no? How were you supposed to escape from the Site Core?”

Frost demanded and began dragging them in the direction of the humming Site Core.

Two minutes was up.

They had to move now.

She picked up a spear wrapped in golden chains along the way and ate at it like a meat skewer.

“The White Haired… The

False One…

She would have taken us back. But I was supposed to die here.” The Grandmaster admitted.

“Then why are you so afraid of me if you don’t fear death?”

“Because you destroy Souls.”

They know that as well. Figures. They’re afraid of being erased rather than having their bodies fizzle away. Understandable. That’s the whole reason why the Impuritas and Scarlet Logic fear Carpalis.

Just as the Site Core’s accretion disk shrunk to mimic a closed eyelid, the Grandmaster then uttered:

“Luminal Synchrony’s technology. We know how to operate it. Homunculi creation. The condensation of its light to create powerful tools… that you so easily eat. And how to transfer Souls if needed. Only so many capable Witches exist.”

“If there are so few of you, then why are you here as a sacrifice?”

“My Soul would at least be used (Sacrifice). I came to be merged (Whole).”

Frost looked around.

A chill ran down her neck as her suspicion rose.

Dark Memoria also walked with caution upon hearing those words.

“Merged into what?” Dark Memoria finally asked.

“… Into a larger whole (Ascension). A bigger vessel capable of holding more light (Full). That’s… all we sought after (Myself). It was my dream (Only mine). As a Witch (

Mine)

. To become closer to Abraxas (Only one). The divine light (Eminence).”

“Hm.”

Frost stopped to think. Sparing them posed significant risks. But it wouldn’t hurt to introduce them into the Repent Cycle…

No. Terrible idea. My Repent Cycle would be vulnerable to a Witch. If anything, I’d be inviting uncertainty into the ranks of the Nexus. Potential traitors. I can see the benefit of having one…

Her thoughts were then cut short.

“AMALGAM!”

Dark Memoria’s voice was accompanied by an explosion.

Black particles burst just meters from Frost as an invisible force repelled a thorn-like projectile. It was suspended in space, caught by Dark Memoria’s barrier before it was thrown aside.

“What the fuck?” Frost recoiled.

The dark thorn was clearly pointed at the Impuritas rather than herself. As a result, right as another thorn was fired in their direction:

“The Head… Have you… Ah. You’re so warm–!”

*Crunch*

“Grandmaster…?” The folded Sister was stretched back to normal.

“My Sister…?”

The pair had fingers jabbed into her throats. First, they left to bleed and then, their blood was replaced with her own.

[Progenitor Art: Purpose: Commandment]. This Art ensured that any who held a piece of her blood would be beholden only to her commands.

“I’m not taking the risk with an Impuritas.” Frost spoke scathingly at the headless Grandmaster.

Her Soul, alongside those within her prosthetics, were devoured.

“Amalgam. It is time to move!” Dark Memoria warned.

They had yet to find their perpetrators. Whoever they were held tremendous power if they were able to crack Dark Memoria’s equivalent of a Qliphoth Field.

“One second.”

Frost ripped open a portal into the Derma Layer. This led into the heart of Caldera Industries’ operations. She could already see Vermilion Moons gathering at the entrance, saluting and ready to collect their goods.

“Keep them aside. Bring them to Oboros Infinitas.”

Frost healed them before throwing them in.

Then, she closed the portal right as the barrier shattered to an onslaught of thorns.

A glimpse of light caught her eye. Her body twisted as she summoned an Amplified version of the [Plasma Cutters] to block the incoming attack.

Dust kicked up everywhere, but she could thankfully sense this one’s movements. And whether by instinct or sheer luck, she managed to clash with a black weapon resembling the stem of a rose.

//////// < EXTREME WARNING > ////////

< QLIPHOTH BASED SKILL DETECTED >

< [QQ]

Let’s Lament

[QQ] >

<

Will you take my hand and guide me through this hell of ours?

>

< EFFECT:

???

>

< Target Analyze Level is Too Low >

The clash dispersed the dust, revealing a dark-skinned woman with pale hair standing just inches away from her.

“An Aberration…?”

The face smirked. Red veins that ran along the length of the whip-like weapon pulsated in tune with her rapidly beating heart.

“What a terrible day it is to have to lose such a high-quality Soul.”

She murmured, projecting her voice straight into Frost’s mind.

The voice was a deeper, more melancholic version of Jury’s.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“You surprise me Captured Star. Your ability to meddle with our business is up there with the likes of the Horsemen.”

She giggled through a black wedding veil. She wore a wedding dress that ended at the knees.

The frills resembled the petals of a black rose.

“AMALGAM! DISENGAGE!”

Dark Memoria intercepted with a black weapon resembling the hand of a clock.

Another giggle left the lips of the Aberration as she flung herself backwards.

Only to disappear, then reappear tens of meters afterwards.

The sheer strength, speed and power of that being left Frost in a short daze.

She tried to analyze their Skills, but was let with an empty response from Nav.

“Where did she even come from?”

“Warp allows Angels to traverse great distances in a matter of seconds. She must have used long-form Warp. But that face. That ghastly wedding veil. I recognize you.”

Dark Memoria held out her weapon accusingly, all the while the Aberration coiled her whip into black-laced gloves with a charming smile.

“Tsk. Always so whiny. It’s hilarious to see you fight seriously for once. I was just introducing myself to the Captured Star~”

“Don’t believe a word she says. It should be obvious that she is an enemy.”

“Has the Broken Thorn ever wronged you? Lilith isn’t one of ours. The mere thought of a lapdog of the old Arbiter makes me want to shed my dress, flay my skin, and regrow it all anew.”

She’s batshit crazy. Nav. Observation. Stats. Anything!

“I am currently overwhelmed. Give me a moment.”

Without knowing their capabilities, rushing in to fight could easily lead to her death. There was no telling how powerful this Aberration was. Even Dark Memoria wasn’t as worried against Lilith.

What made this person so fearsome?

And as if reading her mind, Dark Memoria’s eyes focused elsewhere.

“Amalgam. I may not be able to help you fight this one.”

“She didn’t come alone?”

“Regrettably, the other one poses a significant threat to us both.”

“How rude.” The Aberration pouted, whipping the air with a thunderous crack.

No, it wasn’t a normal sonic boom.

The space between split apart. A red glow emanated from deep within the tear in space.

“I’ll have you know that I’m just as much of a threat as Alisa~!”

“Amalgam. Forgive me…”

Dark Memoria could not ignore the presence near the Site Core.

“Go. I’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll return immediately once I’ve delt with that one.”

She disappeared as quickly as those words left her lips. There was desperation in her movements. Just who was she up against?

“Ahahaha~ Aaaaah. She must really love you. Like how humans love their pet. But if she really loved you, then she should have put you down the moment you began to outstay your welcome.”

“I didn’t think Aberrations would ever become my enemy.” Frost dismissed her words entirely, only amusing the woman further as she let out another hearty laugh. “You brought White Midnight here? The Genesis Stone? The Seed?”

“Yes to all of the above~ Captured Star. This can play out in two ways. We can stand here and catch up, and maybe let me get a few lashes on you: or…”

Her veil lifted, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

A thick tongue lapped her teeth as hunger filled her golden eyes.

“I flay you, make fillets out of your flesh, and bring you back anew~ Wouldn’t you like to atone?”

“For fucking what?”

Frost’s foresight had yet to see anything drastic happen. She had to hold off, but she had confidence since Dark Memoria at least seemed comfortable in leaving her alone. As for the other enemy…

She didn’t want to imagine it.

Nav. Stats. Please!

“Pending. There is a disturbance.”

Disturbance?

“It feels like there is something shining in my eyes.”

“I just don’t like you. Soft skin? Your hips are too wide. What’s with that stupid face? How

dare

you slander Sidner with your existence.”

Her remarks were almost childish.

But beneath that façade was a rage that rivalled her own.

“I am not Sinder.” She punctuated her words to hammer it in.

“Nope. If it weren’t for their usefulness, I would have flayed every Impuritas for daring to compare you two. Beholder Marduk gets away with beating a dead horse. Gabriella made the mistake of leaking it to the world. Aren’t they all a piece work?”

“Then what the fuck are we fighting for?”

“Like I said: I don’t like you. First time meeting, and my impression of you is like the little runt Sinder liked to keep around. I’m surprised Elysia didn’t murder her first and made it look like an accident…”

She trailed off her irises turned into stars shaped like a cross.

“Is it too late to introduce ourselves? Dear me. Should we start over?”

“I don’t know anything about you. Why don’t you start.”

“Well, at least you know how to talk unlike Sinder. It

might

be worth keeping you around. Kidding. Killing you would do more damage than Elysia ever did~ I wonder if Sinder will laugh once he sees the difference between you two. I miss him. I really do. But–!”

She clapped her hands.

“Speaking of reunions, I have people just dying to meet another face from the Upper Nexus!”

The crack opened large enough to fit an elephant.

//////// < EXTREME WARNING > ////////

< A Leak From the Subcut Layer Has Been Detected >

The surroundings began to glow a faint orange. It continued to creep until the surrounding kilometer glowed like an orange star was shining upon them. When she looked up, she noticed that there was indeed an orange glow.

A faint, tiny glimmer of a star.

<

The light… It’s as if I’m gazing at the glimmers of an orange star

>

Star Sigil

<

The Faint Glimmer of The Orange Requiem

>

< EFFECT:

???

>

Boots, followed by women dressed in red wedding outfits emerged. Like this Aberration, it resembled a rose. Only that they were missing petals.

Hanging from their ears were broken thorns. Looks were deceiving.

Even Frost could tell that the dress was made from high-quality cloth. Held in their hands were an assortment of weapons, from whips, to rapiers, swords, maces…

Her jaw dropped as Nav revealed the stats of these people.

“Aren’t they beautiful? Years of torment. Decades of lament…”

Rouge Moon

Of the Lower Nexus

<

Lamenter

>

Soul Rank:

Incandescent |

Impuritas:

The Broken Thorn

LEVEL :

200

ORIGIN :

X

HP :

80,500

ATT :

6,500

MAG ATT :

0

TT DEF :

3,500

MAG DEF :

3,500

MP :

10,000

RESIST :

1,300

AGI :

55

“… And they have still yet to become beautiful roses. Regardless, isn’t it lovely how even thorns broken from the stems of the whole rose can be replanted…

repurposed

into something anew?”

There were more Moons out there.

Moons that had been sent into Subcut Layer through the Iron Coffins.

They stared at Frost. Their eyes were nothing like the Moons who looked at her with joy.

Instead, they looked at her with utter contempt. Like she was the source of their suffering, the reason for their hell.

“Lament. Lament.

Lament

. How cruel of the Ateliers to take their magic and cast them aside as traitors. Now I have to pick up the slack that Oboros Infinitas never could. They were afraid of Corruption. But all the had to do was to pluck out their Light.”

They were Lightless Moons.

If the Aberration wasn’t going to fight her first, then these Moons certainly would.

“To prevent them from Corrupting, huh.” Frost calmly spoke.

“It’s as simple as that. But… Oh, don’t worry. You’ll find out soon enough~” She giggled.

Then, she uncurled her whip and split the skies. Dozens more whips lashed out from the tears in space, and they flogged the Rouge Moons into action.

“Captured Star. Will you murder a Moon that will never open their heart to the Nexus, or will you desperately cling to the faint hope of bringing them to your side? It’s one or the other. I’d love to tell Sinder how futile your efforts are. If it were him, none of them would still be standing~”

Finally, she cracked the whip in Frost’s direction. She assumed a complacent pose, caring little that she was in the middle of a battlefield.

She produced a rose as blood-range petals began to fall.

“Or would you rather face me,

Captured Star?

”

The Bride of The Crown of Broken Thorns

Aberrations of Elysia

<

The Aberration of Lament

>

AFFINITY :

Lament

LEVEL :

250

ORIGIN :

Aberration

HP :

275,000,000

ATT :

700,000

MAG ATT :

700,000

ATT DEF :

70,000

MAG DEF :

70,000

MP :

5,000,000

RESIST :

3,500

AGI :

110

And so began the march of the Rouge Moons.

Other beings joined them. They were the dregs of Sins; the lowest form of Sins, and they were dressed for the occasion, wearing dresses and celebratory suits.

It wasn’t an army that marched.

It was a festival.