Chapter 103 - A Blighter's Environment
After the long drive, Conrold hospital was seen ahead. Alex kept driving while Derek finally stopped inputting text into his phone. Looking up and seeing where they were at, Mr. Felmort looked at the time. Not saying anything, he looked out the window. When getting to the drive entrance, Mr. Ainsley's ears perked up from hearing the other man speak.
"Go to the main building parking there," he stated and pointed. Seeing him nod and complying, Derek continued.
"I will go in first to see if there are other patients of similar conditions. If there is and there is a holding space, I will message you to bring my daughter in. If not, I will message you to stay in the car. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good," Mr. Felmort commented. Getting out of the vehicle, he looked back in.
"I hope you can watch her without causing trouble."
"..." Alex replied with narrowing his eyes at him. "Just go."
"..." Derek responded with a smirk. Closing the car door, he headed toward the main entrance doors.
'...great...now it is a waiting game,' he thought and sighed to himself.
Looking at the rearview mirror, he saw the prone form of Ami. Seeing her trapped by the headset, it made him wonder how many others were in the same state. Getting out his cell phone, he began to do a general search on the internet. Clicking on the couple of articles that populated, he read them to pass the time. After finishing them, he put his mobile away.
'It is world wide that this is occurring...with same cases,' he thought surprised. Feeling a heavier weight of guilt, he turned his head back to look at the female teen. The aspect that she recovered from being in her coma then back to a similar one, made him wonder if he should have done something earlier.
'...no...I can't think like that...I couldn't do anything without revealing what happened,' Alex said in his mind. Turning his head back forward, he leaned it back. Contacting the head rest, he sighed through his nose.
'...not like it almost came out from...' he continued with a frown. Looking back over to the entrance doors, there were only a couple of people walking around. Seemed at the current time, things were calm. Hearing a notification sound, he pulled out his mobile. Waking it up and going to the messages, he read the one from Derek.
[There has been a floor dedicated for families with similar conditions to Ami's. They are open to taking anyone regardless of insurance provider]
[It is on the 3rd floor. A staffer will be out with a stretcher to retrieve my daughter. Be ready and give the good news to your damsel in distress...savior]
"..." Alex reacted with look of mild irritation. "...what are you up to now?"
"Whatever," he muttered to himself then sent a reply message.
Taking the keys and exiting the car, he went to the trunk. Opening it up, he glanced at the entrance doors again. Seeing no one, he thought about either messaging or calling Tiffany. Though he didn't want to talk her, it was a little bit safer than texting. Sighing out loud, he pressed the call button. Putting the cell to his ear, it rang a couple of times.
[Hi Alex. What's up?] Tiffany answered the call. The sound of driving in the background was heard. He didn't want to think she was speeding.
"Hey Tiffany. Thought I would let you know about what is going on at Conrold hospital."
[...is it bad news?]
"Well...they have an a floor dedicated to people that are in the same condition as Renee's. They are open to taking anyone regardless of insurance provider."
[W-wow. That's great]
"Yeah. It is on the 3rd floor of the main building entrance...ah, someone is coming out with a stretcher for Derek's daughter. I'll see you when you get here."
[Okay. I'll let you know when I get there. Thank you so much Alex]
"Sure sure. Bye"
[Bye]
"..." Alex remarked.
Bringing the mobile away from his ear and looking at it, the change in tone kept throwing him off. Shaking his head and putting the phone away, he waited for the medical employee. Once the individual reached him, he helped getting Ami onto the stretcher from the trunk. Closing the trunk and locking the vehicle, he followed the staffer into the hospital building. As he did so, he wondered how many patients have already been admitted into the 3rd floor.
Entering what looked like the main factory floor, it had rows and rows of textile equipment. Heavy and large machinery filled the empty space with an abundance of materials and supplies on the sides of the room. Seeing that some of the equipment was in the middle of processing to create fabric products, almost all of them were halted. There was a couple that were operating by themselves. It was the only sound that was being produced in the factory.
If that was the only aspects that were observed, the both female teens would have continued. However, there were a couple of factors that made them stop from venturing. The ceiling lights above were dimmed with too many flickering. It casted too many shadows and created illusions of silhouettes in the background. A couple of the machinery had strips of crimson that splashed against it while others didn't.
Looking at the floor, there was a thick smear of blood that seemed as if a body was dragged. Tracing it, the red pathway seemed to go and around the equipments. Also, there were many footprints with the same color going around and away from the large strip of crimson. All the elements presented to both warriors was enough to give them apprehension and cautiousness about entering. Hearing a breath of mirth, Rogue looked at Selbith.
"Getting cold feet thief?" she asked with a mocking expression.
"If you feel unaffected, you go first then."
"So you can cower behind me? Ha," Ami remarked with a smirk. "Just admit it that-"
"NO! NO! STAY AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME!" on male shouted in terror.
"SHUT UP AND JUST RUN!" another man yelled followed by quick running footsteps.
"...!?" both female teens reacted with remaining still and silent.
The shouts came from somewhere on the opposite side of the factory. Listening attentively to the echoing sounds, the sounds that were produced suddenly became unnervingly quiet. Looking back to the factory, the dim lights continued with a portion of them flickering at random. Feeling trapped and the aspect that they didn't know what else was out there, they remained near the access door. Rogue was about to whisper something when both saw something on the ground ahead of them.
A dark silhouette was crawling toward them. The sound of a person struggling to breathe and reach them were heard. Getting closer to see a bit more detail, the flickering lights revealed how brutalized the individual was. Severely roughed up with many lacerations, the person was creating his own blood path. About two meters away, the man looked like he was factory worker.
"...h...e...l...p...m...e..." he called out weakly. "...p...l...e...a...s...e..."
"..." Renee responded blinking. About to walk toward him, an arm and hand was placed in front of her. Looking at the gunslinger, her expression was as cold as steel.
"Tell us...what happened?" she asked in a low volume.
"...attacked...attacked by...something inhuman," the man stated tiredly while continuing to crawl toward them. "...came...o...u...t...o...f...nowhere."
"...what..." Selbith began then moved toward the right. Guiding Rogue along with her extended hand, both were slowly heading toward the right pathway. It lead them around one machinery while the man on the ground was coming from the pathway between equipment.
"...did the being...look like?"
"...what are you doing? Did your Stalker skill notify you?" the thief barely whispered while watching the crawling person cautiously.
"Be quiet imbecile," Ami faintly spoke back in the same volume. She was observing the injured man as if he were a predator.
"...demon eyes...pale skin...embodiment of fear..." the worker explained continuing to crawl in their direction.
'...no mortal keeps their head down and not look up to see who is speaking,' Selbith thought pulling out her gun.
Thinking that the thief would object, a sliver flash went passed her. Impaling the mortal's head, it groaned monstrously like a gigantic wild hog. Immediately, the individual was caught on fire by white flames. In a matter of seconds, the figure was reduced to ashes. The holy knife glistened from the flickering lights above.
Not saying anything, Rogue cautiously stepped forward. Reaching down and retrieving her weapon, she scanned around herself. Heading back to where Ami was, she didn't see the other staring at her. Once side by side, both meet eye contact. About to say something, both felt goosebumps run down their arms and legs.
"...who...who's out there?" the gunslinger asked quietly.
Pointing the handgun in one direction, Renee stood back to back with her and got into a defensive stance with the knife. Both saw something walking on a wall, it was heading toward them while being parallel to the floor. When it got close enough, both turned to face it. Not having to wait to see details, the piercing frost white eyes were staring at them. Both did not lower their guard.
"...Jin...is that you?" Renee asked still feeling alert.
"...y...e...s..." his altered darker sounding voice responded.
"What happened here?" Ami asked.
"...a demon got loose...from one of the machines."
"...from the machinery?" the thief repeated confused.
Blinking, the male teen stood a foot away from them. Both female teens tensed up and gripped their weapons harder. Watching him slowly look at the unit next to them, he went to the back of it. In brutish fashion, he punched a metal panel and went through it easily. Seemingly grabbing something, he ripped it out.
In his hand was the throat of a human size imp that thrashed around and growled viciously. Holding it out at arm's length, Selbith couldn't make out what kind of hell being it came from. Hearing a sickening snap, the sophomore broke its neck. Turning toward them, his stoic facial expression and no hesitation made him seem like a cold blooded killer. Continuing to be intrigued by him, Ami holstered her weapon.
"Do you know where the imp came from? From which domain?" she asked stepping closer to him.
"No...I do not," he answered then let go of the demon. It fell to the floor lifelessly. "Did the Stalker skill identify the crawling man as a demon?"
"...I don't know about Selbith...but mine notified me," Rogue answered. Getting out of her stance, she walked toward him while keeping the knife out.
"Do you have that skill?" she asked. He shook his head a little then blinked.
"Was it you or the demons that caused this bloodshed of the mortals?"
"...when the screams occurred...I was still in the basement..." he replied with a very slow blink. Both seemed effected by that answer.
"You were in the basement when that happened?" the thief asked looking a little creeped out. "No way. You were covered in blood after the screams stopped."
"...t...h...e...n...d...o...n...t...b...e...l...i...e...v...e...m...e..." he stated without a change of an expression.
"..." she commented and held her tongue.
"Hidden essence..." Ami mentioned while looking a little marveled at him. "Only certain demons have that ability, but not everyone. Grim Reapers can get information with out alerting non-targets that cross their path...but not to the extent of your new Blighter form."
"...a what?" Jin asked tilting his head a little to the side.
"Apparently there is an equivalent being in Purgatory that rivals Hell's demon commanders and archangels in Heaven. Your number one fan here witness one before she got locked up," Rogue mentioned. Refusing to shiver from his gaze, he looked dead and intimating.
"...never heard of them..." he stated then looked down at himself. Looking back up, his expression did not change still.
"I will go find something to wear...to get to the next floor...follow this pathway to the stairs. Will lead to 2nd floor and both players," the male teen continued. Closing his eyes, his image faded away quickly. Instead of following the path, both remained where they were. Trying to find something to fill the tense silence, Renee opened her mouth.
"...hey...Jin?"
"...w...h...a...t...?" he answered with an echoing haunting whisper.
"...w-would you stop with that creepy act?"
"Get use to it thief," Selbith interject looking at her with a neutral face. "Just be thankful that you are still alive and not slaughtered."
"Just because you became infatuated from him turning into some ungodly freak of nature and a killing machine doesn't mean I am," she pointed out.
"Watch your tongue," Ami whispered and got close to her. "Just because that is Jin, don't assume he is the same."
"...what...do you mean?"
"From observing the first Blighter that I encountered...it did not spare anyone...that is spirit, mortal, or demon. Everywhere it walked, a flood of death and destruction came."
"...are you saying...I have to be nice?" Rogue asked with a deadpan face. Despite that, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Changing her expression to an annoyed one, she put her hands on her hips.
"I am not brown nosing for anyone."
"...do what you want...don't cry to me when you get ripped to shreds."
"Hmph. We'll see..." the thief began then trailed off.
A massive ominous presence was suddenly next to them in which she saw the gunslinger become stiff. Both looked with their eyes slowly and saw black-white eyes hovering a foot away. There was no body around as the organs just remained floating in place. Seeing a figure appearing and disappearing from a far, it was heading toward them. When the ceiling light flickered on and illuminated the person's face, it was Jin with bloody empty eye sockets.
Both females teens clenched their teeth together in apprehension. The sophomore appeared to have found clothes that were not ripped or stained with the iron scented crimson liquid. Appearing like one of the factory workers, he had plain looking slacks, a white dress shirt, casual dress shoes, and leather gloves. Given that he matched the attire to the environment, it gave both girls the sense he was the one that haunted the place.
When he got closer, he blinked as if he had eyes. Renee shivered feeling her skin crawl a little from that little action. About three feet away, the veins and skin attachment of the back of the eyes slowly lifted up. When they became parallel to the ground, the male teen walked into them. Slowly sinking into the eye sockets, wet scrunching sounds and tendons bending were heard. Fully in placed, Jin blinked a couple of times then slowly looked at them.
'...god...that is so creepy and disgusting,' Rogue thought turning around and holding her stomach and mouth.
"...is this...a disguise?" Selbith asked with her voice sounding tense.
"...I guess so..." he answered with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"I've been meaning to ask since you've...changed...what does it feel like being a Blighter?"
"...it...isn't...pleasant..." Jin spoke then looked straight up.
Staring at the ceiling, the gunslinger and thief followed. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, both looked back at him. He wasn't moving or breathing; however, his eyes were slowly tracking something. Seeing his arms move, one touched each of their shoulder. About to ask him what he was doing, the environment glitched heavily.
Within the moments after being in contact, he let go of them. Seeing that they were in a different room, it had a bit more illumination. There were also tables, desks, partition walls, and chairs around that gave the appearance of an office setting. Rogue and Selbith took a few seconds to process the change and the weird sensation that occurred. Both flinched from hearing two men suddenly shout at them.
"AAAHHH! NNNOOO!" two men yelled in fright at the same time. Both fell backwards to the ground and shook.
"..." Jin spoke slowly turning toward them. Looking down at them, his black-white eyes glowed causing them to cower then go into begging.
"PLEASE! DON'T KILL US!" the magic user pleaded.
"WE WERE JUST FOLLOWING COUNT VAMER'S ORDERS," the swordsman stated firmly with fear in his voice.
"..." the Blighter responded with lifting one arm up. Pointing it forward and spreading his fingers out, both men suddenly stood up straight. Grabbing their neck, they were suddenly lifted into the air. Breathing became harder as if a strong hand had picked them up and gripped them. However, there was no hand.
"...what does...the Count want?" he spoke with a darker tone than before. While Ami looked to be enjoying the display of intimidation, Renee could feel the sinister aura seeping out of him.
"He...He just wants the two girls...wanted us...to make them reconsider," the mage stated.
"...r...e...c...o...n...s...i...d...e...r...w...h...a...t...?" the male teen whispered that had a multiple delaying effect. To all nearby, it gave the appearance that there was multiples of him surrounding them. Three out of the four stiffened up while the gunslinger continued watching and observing.
"H-H-He proposed them a deal...a-a-about joining him..."
"Y-Y-Yeah...i-in exchange...h-h-he would give them...v-visitor pass cards."
"I see...where is he?"
"He's currently...at his mansion...at the northern...part of Trentavila," the melee warrior answered with grunts.
Seeing the altered male teen blink at them, he gave a short thrust with his extended arm. Flying backwards hard and fast, both men impacted a wall. Falling to the ground wheezing, they cringed from feeling in pain. The magic user looked up and saw that the three individuals were gone. Struggling to get up, he still had too much fear going through him. Rolling to his back and opening up his menu screen, he went to the messaging tab to inform his boss what happened.
On the rooftop of the factory building, Rogue and Selbith recovered their eyesight from seeing the environment glitch frantically. Stablizing and seeing things normally, they saw Jin looking at something in the distance. A notification messaged appeared on the bottom of both females HUDs. Looking at it, it said that an item was planted in their inventory. Clicking on it, a small pop window showed what it was.
"..." the two spoke blinking at the item. Looking up at him, he was looking at a visitor's pass card in his hand. Blinking, he turned to them and walked toward them. Stopping, he looked up only with his eyes.
"...these were from the men in the basement...get yours out for corrections..." the male teen stated.
"You are going to white the names out and put our names in?" Rogue asked. He gave a small nod.
While getting their cards out, the one in his hand turned into a void black color. After a moment, it went back to its original rue. With their cards out, he put a finger on them. Both went black before going back to the white color with black writing. Looking at them, the two females saw that their names were on it as the owner.
"...that is a convenient trick," Selbith remarked putting hers away.
"...yes..." he commented putting his back in his inventory. "...so...what are you two planning to do?"
"...well...we originally came here to find you," the thief stated after pocketing her card. "But now that we have...I don't have any other goal in mind."
"..." Jin spoke with just staring at her. Only blinking, he shifted his sights to the gunslinger.
"What about you?"
"It was the same as hers...though I also did so to escape from my mortal body's father and family," she stated. "...family day...was hell."
"..." both male and female responded. Blinking at the same time, both gave a neutral face at her.
"Anyways, that is not important. What has occurred and developed, changes many things," she continued then pointed at him. "You have become a Blighter when you were near death...which means something had to happen for you to become altered. Question is who."
"...who do you think did this?" the sophomore asked.
"Satan?" the thief asked.
"No. The Hell King wouldn't change a mortal into something other than a demon or an altered mortal that he can't control. He has no reign in Purgatory as it is a separate realm."
"Then one of the viruses."
"...Lamashtu is the only one that would have that kind of power..." Ami began then crossed her arms over her chest. "...then again...she is not one to find and make subordinates. She is more independent with the amount of mana she possesses."
"Are the others as powerful as Lamashtu? I would imagine Eve and Han-Ko would be."
"In terms of power, Eve is the strongest one...Haurette is next...Lamia...Empusa...then Han-Ko."
"...no way...that nightmare demon is the weakest!?" Rogue reacted with disbelief. "She is the one that can-"
"I wasn't finished yet mortal!" Selbith interrupted with a frown. "Again in terms of power, that is who is strongest to weakest from them...but in terms of the amount of magic and summoning ability, it is the reverse order...with Lamashtu being the highest."
"...then...if only Lamashtu is the probable one, then we can assume that she did something to him," Rene began then turned to him. "Did she contact you?"
"...yes...she is the one that did this," he answered neutrally.
"...what...offering did you give her?" the gunslinger asked looking at him a tad irritated. "She is the 2nd highest demon in Hell and heir to the throne if Satan is removed. No mortal, half-breed, demon, or angel would have swayed her to change them into a Blighter."
"...I did not ask her to change me...she did so after inserting something in my back...then..." he explained then trailed off. A small frown formed on his face as he looked at the floor.
"...then?" Rogue asked intrigued.
"...she wants me to kill Satan...the real one this time."
"...?" both female teens reacted with surprised faces.
"So...she does want to dethrone him," Ami muttered out loud. "Since you killed the fake copy in Pandora's Box...you would be a prime subject for her. Was that all she wanted?"
"...if I didn't die after that...then I would have to serve her..." he stated thought didn't look up.
"Well...that sounds normal."
"..." the thief spoke. Seeing his body behavior, she wondered what the depth of having to serve meant.
"She...just meant as her underling...right?"
"...mostly..."
"..." the gunslinger reacted a face of annoyance. "Did you offer her to be her sex slave?"
"..." Jin reacted with looking up and scowling. "She said male concubine."
"WHAT!?" both females shouted then got in his face. Both of them grabbed him and were looking at him irritated.
"You better kill her after you kill the demon King Jin!" Selbith spoke sternly and shook him.
"When all this is done with and we get out of here, we are going to smash the head gear with a baseball bat," Rogue proclaimed and shook him as well.
"What do you mean WE?"
"What do you think bonehead? This place is so screwed up. Look at what the makers have done to everyone that has been playing since Surreality ended. It is a never ending hell!"
"Like I said before, it is those mortals fault for venturing in places that they don't belong. That is including trusting the creators saying they will get everyone out that is trapped."
"Well, me and Jin don't belong here. And when we get out, our headsets will be personally destroyed."
"Do you realize what he has become? This is his world now. And he can shape it to his desire. I am the only one that knows the full extent of what he can do."
"Earth to numbskull, we can't live in this realm. We will end up like your crippled human body and eventually die," Renee fought back.
"That is because I was in a holy torture house being only fed with Holy water. And besides, he is not leaving me again," Selbith argued back.
"..." the male teen replied with a blink.
'...I wonder if dying back then would have made everything stop...' he thought continuing to listen to the two argue from either side of him.