Cinca swings down the blade with a manic grin only for it to be caught with a clawed fist. Cinca is caught off guard by the sudden halt of the blade looking down at Mono with uneasiness. Mono looks up with rage illuminating his blue and silver eyes. His powers unleashed as his right hand encloses the chained talisman in a bloody fist. The blade digs into his hand making the slightest incision as blood trails down into the fist and down the side. To Mono the pain is meaningless compared to the threat that Cinca and the Void just made.
THEY DARE!?
They dare to harm his Six in such a way!? To keep them separated forever!? Mono wasn't going to have that.
Slowly Mono rose up from the ground. He grits his teeth from the pain of his injuries but he still rises anyway. The blade is ever so slightly being pushed out of his hand as his static begins affecting his body. Static in the shape of flames flow down his clawed arm as it bulges in size. The static flows down his broken arm only falling to the ground like droplets of water that crackle and sizzle upon impact. Power starts compacting into Mono's fist as his arm starts trembling and vibrating.
He has to lean back against the wall as his broken leg is useless. Cinca is furiously trying to get at the monster in front of her. Trying to bury the blade into his heart.
He falters a bit from his broken leg but he fights through the pain standing up
Blood dripping down his face like tears, his pant cuffs soaked with blood, the bandage on his arm torn off from the power flowing down his, his clawed hand increases in size and width.
Cinca is afraid expecting those eyes of fear from her Mono when she condemned him.
Only to see those blue and silver eyes of rage staring into her soul
With a massive blast of static Cinca is blasted backward her back hitting the wall creating a very large dent from the force.
Cinca falls to the ground unconscious but breathing. A small pool of blood starts coming her chest on the floor. Mono starts limping forward attempting to take the first step. He falls forward due to his broken leg and with one arm attempts to pull himself forward. Mono's vision starts blurring a bit as he moves on. He understands that he is dying but his powers and emotions are the only thing keeping him alive. She is close using her body he can finish this now by healing himself and ending her life.
He just needs to get to the head.
"Sorry Six I know you may have wanted some closure but I can end this now."
Just as Mono reaches out his arm to grasp her hair Cinca jerks up and starts floating off the ground. Her arms and legs dangling while her head is slumped over to the side. Yet her eyes are wide open and even then, they aren't her own. Large multicolored irises look over their own body, a tendril of flesh erupts from the floor connecting itself to the Geisha. The wound around her heart starts to close and Mono hears that same garbled voice again.
"ꌩꂦꀎ ꍏꋪꍟ ꋪꀎꌩ ꍏ ꅏꍟꍏꀘ ꃅꂦꌗ ꉓꀤꈤꉓꍏ. ꂦ ꌃꍟ ꌗꉓꍏꋪꍟꀸ ꂦꎇ ꍏ ꉓꃅꀤꀸ ꂦꈤ ꃅꍟꀤꋪ ꀸꍟꍏꃅ ꌃꍟꀸ ꃅꋪꂦꅏꀤꈤꁅ ꃅꍟꀤꋪ. ꍏꌗ ꍟꎭᖘꍟꋪ ꍏꈤꋪꀎꎭ. ꀤ ꌗꃅꂦꀎꀸ ꃅꍏᐯꍟ ꍏꀘꍟꈤ ꂦᐯꍟꋪ ꌩꂦꀎꋪ ꌃꂦꀸꌩ ꅏꃅꍟꈤ ꀤ ꃅꍏꀸ ꍏꉓꀎꍏꌩ ꁅꍏꀤꈤꍟꀸ ꉓꂦꈤꋪꂦ. ꀤ' ꀭꀎꌗ ꍏꀘꍟ ꉓꍏꋪꍟ ꂦꎇ ꌩꂦꀎ ꎭꌩꌗꍟꎇ ꈤꂦꅏ."
Like a wilting fire Mono's static is flying off his body as he prepares for his enemy's attack. Any chance of stopping the Void would need to be taken now. Mono feared this might be the last thing he would do for Six. Once again giving her a chance at life at the cost of his own. He prepares for his strongest blast of static only to look at the Void in shock.
The Void just looks bored at Mono's defiance and merely blinks their eyes.
In an instant Mono is blasted backward and taken out of his static rage like a TV being turned off. Mono collapses in a heap as he watches the Void look at the knife on the floor before it lifts up from the ground with nothing touching it. Mono ever so slightly tries to feel for his static.
It's there, the Void didn't turn it off just disarmed him for a bit.
"ꀤ'ꌗ ꉓꀎꍟ ꃅꍏ ꌩꂦꀎ ꃅꀤꈤꀘ ꌩꂦꀎ ꉓꍏꈤ ꎇꀤꁅꃅ ꎭꍟ ꂦꎇꎇ ꅏꀤꃅ ᖘꂦꅏꍟꋪꌗ ꀤ ꁅꍏᐯꍟ ꂦ ꃅꍟ ꂦꈤꍟ ꃅꍏ ꌗꍏꋪꍟꀸ ꍏ ꃅꀤꌗ. ꌃꀎ ꀤ'ꎭ ꆰꀎꀤꍟ ꀸꂦꈤꍟ ꅏꀤꃅ ꉓꀎꍟ."
The knife flips in the air a few times before pointing its tip right at Mono. In that moment of time Mono's figured out a few things. His adrenaline being the only thing keeping him alive.
He can't use the flesh in the room the Void definitely won't allow that. He can't fight the Void using his powers after that little display of power. Looking up at the rooms above Mono decides that if he can't fight the Void off he needs to run.
ꌩꂦꀎ ꍏꋪꍟ ꌗꀎꉓꃅ ꍏ ꌗꍟꎇꀤꌗꃅ ꌗꀎᖘꀤꀸ ꀤꍟ ꉓꃅꀤꀸ, ꌩꂦꀎ ꀘꈤꂦꅏ ꃅꍏ? ꃅꍏꀸ ꌩꂦꀎ ꂦꈤꌩ ꀤꌗꍟꈤꍟꀸ ꂦ ꎭꍟ ꌃꍏꉓꀘ ꀤꈤ ꃅꍟ ꎇꂦꋪꍟꌗ ꌩꂦꀎ ꅏꂦꀎꀸ ꃅꍏᐯꍟ ꁅꂦꍟꈤ ꅏꃅꍏ ꌩꂦꀎ ꅏꍏꈤꍟꀸ ꍏꈤꀸ ꌗꂦ ꅏꂦꀎꀸ ꀤ.
Mono hoping to buy time argues back, "You're wrong, Six and I may have wanted to spend the rest of our lives together but not like that. Not in a prison of our own making. She and I have desired freedom and our love only fueled that desire."
The Void smiled cruelly at that, "ꅏꍟ ꌩꂦꀎ ꉓꍟꋪꍏꀤꈤꌩ ꁅꂦ ꅏꃅꍏ ꌩꂦꀎ ꅏꍏꈤꍟꀸ. ꌩꂦꀎ ꁅꂦ ꌩꂦꀎꋪ ꎇꋪꍟꍟꀸꂦꎭ. ꍏꎇꍟꋪ ꍏ ꌩꂦꀎ'ꋪꍟ ꉓꍟꋪꍏꀤꈤꌩ ꎇꋪꍟꍟ ꂦ ꌃꍟꍟꀸ ꂦꀎ ꍏꈤꀸ ꀸꀤꍟ ꂦꈤ ꃅꍟ ꎇꂦꂦꋪ ꃅꍟꋪꍟ ꍏ ꌩꂦꀎꋪ ꍟꀤꌗꀎꋪꍟ, ꌗꀤꊼ ꀤꌗ ꎭꂦꌗ ꉓꍟꋪꍏꀤꈤꌩ ꎇꋪꍟꍟ ꂦ ꌃꍟ ꃅꍏꀎꈤꍟꀸ ꌃꌩ ꃅꍟ ꎇꍏꀤꀤꈤꁅꌗ ꂦꎇ ꃅꍟꋪ ᖘꍏꌗ, ꍏꈤꀸ ꀘꍏꀤ ꀤꌗ ꎇꋪꍟꍟ ꂦ ꀸꀤꍟ ꃅꀤꈤꀘꀤꈤꁅ ꃅꍟ ꀭꀎꌗ ꉓꍏꀎꌗꍟꀸ ꃅꍟ ꀸꍟꍏꃅ ꂦꎇ ꌗꂦꎭꍟꂦꈤꍟ ꃅꍟ ꋪꀤꍟꀸ ꂦ ꌃꍟꉓꂦꎭꍟ ꎇꋪꀤꍟꈤꀸꌗ ꅏꀤꃅ."
A sphere of energy in multiple colors starts forming around the Void, flares from the power go off to the side forming a massive eye, Cinca in the middle of the excess power becoming an iris in the middle, and from the metal cracks in the floor flesh pushes out to form a platform under the Void's feet.
"ꌩꂦꀎ ꌗꃅꂦꀎꀸ ꃅꍏᐯꍟ ꋪꍟꍏꀤꁴꍟꀸ ꅏꃅꍏ ꌩꂦꀎ ꅏꍟꋪꍟ ꁅꂦꀤꈤꁅ ꀎᖘ ꍏꁅꍏꀤꈤꌗ ꎇꋪꂦꎭ ꌩꂦꀎꋪ ꈤꀤꁅꃅꎭꍏꋪꍟꌗ ꉓꃅꀤꀸ. ꀤ ꅏꍏꌗ ꍏꈤ ꍟꌩꌗꀤꀎꎭ ꍟꌩꍟ ꍏ ꂦꈤꍟ ᖘꂦꀤꈤ ꀎꈤꀤ ꎭꌩ ꌃꋪꍟꃅꋪꍟꈤ ꉓꍏꌗ ꎭꍟ ꂦꀎ. ꅏꍟ ꅏꍟꋪꍟ ꌃꍟꀤꈤꁅꌗ ꈤꍟᐯꍟꋪ ꎭꍟꍏꈤ ꂦ ꋪꀎꌩ ꀤꈤꍟꋪꎇꍟꋪꍟ ꅏꀤꃅ ꃅꀤꌗ ꅏꂦꋪꀸ ꎇꂦꋪ ꅏꍟ ꍏꋪꍟ ꃅꍟ ꌗꀎᖘꍟꋪꀤꂦꋪ ꌃꍟꀤꈤꁅꌗ. ꎭꌩ ꌃꋪꍟꃅꋪꍟꈤ ꂦꈤꌩ ꃅꍏꀸ ꁅꂦꂦꀸꅏꀤ ꎇꂦꋪ ꃅꀤꌗ ꅏꂦꋪꀸ ꌃꀎ ꉓꍏꋪꋪꌩ ꈤꂦꈤꍟ ꂦꎇ ꃅꍏ."
The giant Eye glares down at Mono who is fighting for consciousness.
"ꀤ ꍏꎭ ꈤꂦ ꂦꈤꁅꍟꋪ ꂦꎇ ꍟꌩꌗꀤꀎꎭ. ꀤ ꍏꎭ ꃅꍟ ᐯꂦꀤꀸ ꍏꈤꀸ ꀤ ꃅꍏᐯꍟ ꉓꂦꎭꍟ ꂦ ꌗꅏꍏꂦꅏ ꌩꂦꀎ ꅏꃅꂦꍟ!"
The Void charges toward Mono and with the last of his strength Mono quickly shifts his gaze up to the rafters focusing his energy. In a split-second Mono disappears from the ground but the Void sees all. It read Mono's thoughts for the plan ahead acting in accordance reaching out for the weakened boy.
The Void snatches Mono during mid teleportation and slams him back down into the ground. It's had enough games the child must die now. The Void prepares to stomp down into the ground.
Only for a lump of coal to hit the Void in the back of the leg.
The Void turns to see L holding another piece of coal just to turn around a scurry back into the vent. The Void then resumes to stomp Mono into the ground just to see his body being dragged away into another system of vents. The Void attempts to grab Mono like it did before using the flesh to grow and extend Cinca's arm in so many ways through every single vent. No matter how hard the Void the Void prodded around in the vents it could find nothing. Even using the eyeballs in the vents it couldn't find where the boy was taken to.
In anger the Void warps the furnace room to the point the room becomes frigid ice cold. The fires turned blue yet emitted no heat. Countless shadow and flesh spikes erupted from the floor reaching up and tearing down the infrastructure in rage.
Reaching down the vent where Mono came from it pulled against a closed grate. With the crunch of metal the door on the other side of the vent collapsed and the horde of Gremlins rushed into the boiler room. The Void pointed down into the vent where Mono disappeared into with a cruel smile.
"ꌃꋪꀤꈤꁅ ꎭꍟ ꃅꀤꌗ ꌗꀘꀎ. ꀸꂦ ꅏꃅꍏꍟᐯꍟꋪ ꌩꂦꀎ ꅏꀤ ꅏꀤꃅ ꃅꍟ ꋪꍟꌗ ꂦꎇ ꃅꍟ ꌃꂦꀸꌩ."
The Gremlins quickly scramble into the vent having been given orders from their master. With that the Void looks down at Cinca's frigid form. It considers letting Cinca go but quickly decides against it.
It's wasted enough time already.
For now, the Void will turn it's attention back to the duo in the kitchen. After all, it did not spare the runaway kid out of kindness. Plans needed to work.
A couple of Nomes drag Mono into the ventilation twisting in turning as Mono groans out in pain. Every movement causing his body to twinge out in pain. It was truly agonizing that he was wishing for something to knock him out. The Nomes chitter at each other as they decide where to take Mono at L's request. When Mono mentions that he needs flesh the Nomes immediately know where to go. Running out of the vents the Nome run into an infirmary that was used by Cinca when she experimented her powers on the Nomes.
They place Mono in the middle of the room where there's a mound of flesh along with a lantern. Popping out of another vent is L who quickly rushes over to Mono who is on the ground unconscious and unbreathing. Hopping on Mono's chest a few times the Nomes faintly hear the boy's heartbeat going off. They see Mono's claw reach faintly for anything. They pull Mono's arm to the side and attach itself to the flesh. Mono's arm is very faintly glowing with static and the Nomes watch as Mono's wounds slowly start to close. His breathing improves little by little and the healing rate picks up bit by bit. The Nomes are taken out of this spectacle as the clanging of metal sounds out.
The last three Nomes barricade the vent cover as well as they can along with candlelight using Mono's lighter to keep the Gremlins at bay for a bit.
Mono is asleep dreaming about floating under the ocean's waves. The swaying of ship certainly helping with that sensation. At least until Mono opened his eyes.
Only to find himself in a very familiar area. A black ocean he found himself inside of. He found himself not holding breath but neither needing to either. He was floating yet falling, flying but swimming, and all around him were those multitude of bright light shifting into masks before turning onto eyes. All Elysium Eyes were staring right at him yet there was no force pushing him up to break the waves and cross the brink of death yet again.
"Am I dead?"
Mono not wanting to leave Six behind again began swimming down again. Only to see that this time there was no static image of his deathbed like last time. Just an empty abyss devoid of any hope. Just as Mono was about to feel empty of that as well a small chuckle sounded from behind him as well as a bright light.
He turns to see an Elysium Eye staring him down before a crystalline table and a pair of chairs form out of light. The Eye then descends to transform into a figure made of light mirroring Mono's exact look.
"Angelo?"
Angelo smiles before taking a seat, "While it is true that I said you could call me Angelo it's still not might actual name."
"I have so many questions."
Angelo puts a hand up to halt Mono from talking, "And I will answer them to the best of my ability."
"So the first thing off the top of the list is am I dead? Are you able to see how Six and Kai are doing? Is she okay? Is Kai safe? Why is the MAW this way? I expected things in the Pale City to be different after the Predator but not here miles away."
"To answer in order no you're not dead but you came very close to dying for the second time, yes I am able to see Kai and Six, they're…. alright turns out Six murdered Kai the first time she went through the MAW and Kai just revealed that not knowing she knew about that, in her distracted moment she's been grabbed and is about to be shoved into the flesh, Kai is trying to use any means for the Alchemists to drop her. As for why the MAW is like this? You can thank both the Tower and the Void for this madhouse you have to deal with."
"Why is the Void so crazy to kill me?"
"The Void is the one responsible for why the world is filled with monsters. It's been a while since you learned this but the Void was the one responsible for both the death of Veronica and the insanity of the first Mono. The Void then began using its influence after the Tower was created. It thrives off of entertainment. It's very ironic in a way the Void is just a giant Viewer. Any way its after you specifically because you've actually turned it away and then you literally shattered every TV in the world. The Void thrives on chaos and you've practically set the world on the first stage to normality. The Void doesn't want that but through reading yours and Six's thoughts it knew where you were going. The Tower was already going there in an attempt to make your lives hell. The Void just stepped off of that and then corrupted Cinca to its will."
"Angelo, I have to ask I understand why I'd have my powers but why did Six have hers when she came back."
"To answer that I have to explain a few things about how we as the Elysium Eyes have been trying to redirect back to normalcy. We have a specific rule about ourselves. A rule I've admittedly now broken a few times already. We are never to directly affect the world, however that doesn't mean we can't affect children in their dreams. The Void afflicts the children of the world with nightmares both physical and mental. In Six's case or if you want to be technical about it also Cinca's case she had nightmares. Both of the Thin Man and The Lady. The Thin Man was of course taken care of by you in Six's case and when she sunk her teeth into the throat of the Lady killing her was when we granted her the powers of her prior self. It wasn't like consuming living things gave her powers. When she ate a rat it wasn't like she got claws or massive teeth, or when she ate the Nome she didn't become one."
"You still haven't told me why she had her powers from the get-go this time."
"She didn't, not at first. Originally when she went back in time Six was as powerless as before. It was only after the school I decided to bless Six with her powers. It's why she healed so fast overnight faster than anyone else would have."
Angelo looks at Mono as he sits there taking it all in. In Mono's case he just considered it a curiosity being resolved. He was very alarmed by the fact that Six was in danger now. The Void was responsible for this and Mono would make sure her fears were put to rest.
"I can't stay here forever Angelo. I have to get back to her but I also need to keep her safe. How do I destroy the Void."
Angelo just starts laughing. Mono is just staring as Angelo just rocking back and forth in a fit of giggles. Right up to the point that Mono slams his fist on the table with static cracking the glass underneath.
"WHAT'S SO DAMN FUNNY!? I'M TRYING TO GET BACK TO HER AND YOU'RE TREATING IT LIKE A DAMN JOKE!"
Angelo calms down trying to get Mono to sit down, "You can't kill the Void. It is vast and immortal, however you don't need to kill the Void you just need to cut off the ties it has to the physical world."
Mono trying to rein in his temper sits down, "What are they?"
"The first is a throne made of flesh and the flesh of the MAW with it The Void and Cinca can reshape any monster to their preference. The same way you can mold flesh like clay and heal himself and others. The only way to destroy the flesh in its entirety would be for one of you to sit on the throne and control the flesh to retract into the unholy throne. Then with Six's or your power they can destroy the flesh turning everything back to the way it was before Cinca made the deal with the Void. Secondly there is the portrait the Void used to communicate with Cinca in the first place. It can easily be burnt but the gaze of the painting acts like the security eyes from before."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Eye from before didn't cause prisoners to freeze to stone. It causes people to have nightmares. For Six it was her fear of the Void around her and inside herself. She felt she couldn't run so she fought her way out. You were the unlucky recipient of the pain."
Angelo looks to Mono who is just planning all this out in the head. Thinking it's better to reunite with the others before finding these ties.
Angelo mentally sighs before saying, "It might be better if you actually went alone for this one for now."
"You don't get it because you're not human. I need her. You of all beings should know that considering she's the reason I cheated death in the first place. She's the reason I haven't gone mad. You especially know that if it wasn't for her I would've jumped off the roof of that building three years ago. She is my world and I've already broken my promise to her three times. Now you're telling me to leave her to the Alchemists or whatever you called them. I know she's a strong person most likely as strong as I am but I can't leave her behind. Beyond that I have no idea how to navigate the MAW. She did, knew this place like the back of her hand. How am I supposed to figure out how to get there."
"And what about the Nomes? The very few that remain still help you out. Even going as far to save you. Should you use you powers you may be able to amass the Gremlins and bring them back to normal."
"How?"
Angelo smiles, "You've used your powers to heal yourself many times before, and while not necessarily the best excuse. The Tower was able to change or evolve monsters using the flesh. An abundance of three years' worth of flesh lines the walls and pipes of the MAW. Merely command the flesh as you did Jabali to do what you bid. The Gremlins don't need to be alive for you to fix them."
"I can't use my static powers the Void or Cinca will know I'm still alive."
Angelo gestures down to his right arm, "And is that claw just for show? And your healing flesh ability runs on static? All it requires is contact and focus. You can literally shape reality Mono it doesn't just have to be in static."
"Alright fine and what's the last thing?"
"With the flesh destroyed and the painting to cinders the Void along with Cinca will be vulnerable. It will still be too dangerous to face Cinca just by yourself. Between the three of you, she will perish and the Void will have lost its ties to the world for now."
"Why are you doing all this? I thought you said last time that you were going to be punished for doing something similar to this."
Angelo smiles again filled with confidence. "It's because you interest me Mono. You are the first human in a VERY long time to fight against death. It has, in a way, inspired me especially. Your reasoning for doing so may or may not have tugged at a few of my semi existent heartstrings. So I attempt to assist to ensure that you two will receive your happy ending before your more permanent one. I also feel like your children may be catalysts for a world of peace."
Mono looks very confused, "Wait… My children? How on earth does that work?"
Angelo looks caught off-guard being asked that, "Uhhh…"
Mono has to shield his eyes as a bright white light begins to shine down upon him.
Angelo recovers, "Tell you what, prove me right and I'll tell you. Seems I've run out of time for now."
Mono starts to rise up into the light only for Angelo to grab him. "One last thing we and the Void rely on people's thoughts to know what they will do. When going against the Void do not think just ACT!"
With that Angelo let go of Mono's leg and watch as he ascends back to the world of the living.
And then Mono opened his eyes to find his wounds healed while they slept. L and the other two Nomes looking over him with concern. Suddenly the sound of the barricades being banged against until they burst open. A horde of Gremlins crawled out of the vent clambering onto the walls, floor, and ceiling. Mono quickly gets up shielding the remaining Nomes behind him. He looks at his odds before brandishing his claw out and snarling.
"Alright Angelo, you haven't led me astray yet. Sorry Six, I won't be seeing you for a little while longer."
The Gremlins charged forward as Mono stood his ground focusing a small bit of his power to keep himself attached to the flesh. Their teeth bared the Gremlins attempted to pounce onto Mono trying to tear bone from skin. Mono swiped his claw in a large arc striking three of the monsters that tried to grab him flinging them back onto the ground. The fourth one latched onto Mono biting into his shoulder only to be torn off and held back by Mono's other arm. As the Gremlin kept trying to bite into Mono he realized something about them.
The Gremlins are only good for speed as they weigh almost absolutely nothing. They don't have strength or girth just razor-sharp teeth. And they're also very delicate looking at the three that he already got. One strike from his claws seemed to put them down.
Mono smiled maniacally as he dropped the Gremlin onto the floor only to grab it by the ankles. With a shout Mono charged into the Gremlin crowd swinging the Gremlin like a club in his hand. The serrated teeth cutting into the heads of other creatures as they screamed out in pain. Others recoiling while the rest of them charged Mono. The one in Mono's hands attempted to snap out at him again so Mono in response tore the Gremlins head from the body before throwing the two pieces into the crowd. Two more decided to jump from the ceiling and Mono with his claw stabbed one of them in midair and grabbed the other as well before slamming them both on the ground and impaling the other Gremlin in the head tearing off the body again. One Gremlin tried to launch onto Mono's back only for it to be quickly grabbed and shoved in the mouth of another Gremlin trying to eat Mono's face.
The Gremlins slowly started to back away from this maniacal creature. Where had the weakling child their master told them to go after had gone? They stared timidly as they watched Mono grab the next Gremlin by its mouth and tear it in half the blackened blood coating Mono as he tossed the halves away. The Gremlins screeched out in fear as Mono charged the rest of them. Grabbing one of the Gremlins Mono tears off one of their mouth segments wrapping it around his normal fist. All of the Gremlins start peeling off from the walls and ceilings before the ones on the floor begin charging him again. The Gremlins dogpile Mono in an attempt to subdue this rampaging maniac. L and the Nomes watch in awe as Mono revitalized suddenly tears apart their predators. The attempt to suffocate Mono worries the Nomes for a second until they start hearing the screeches of pain from the Gremlins again.
The pile of monsters start to shift again until the side explodes with Mono barreling out of it both arms flailing wildly as Gremlins fly out in all directions.
This trail of carnage lasted an hour as Mono rip and tore his way through the army of monsters. Their dead bodies lay on the floor and their blood stained the ground. Mono was hunched over and breathing hard as he saw the last Gremlin slowly start backing away again. Not realizing it had backed itself into a corner it leaned against the wall. All manner of instinct betraying it to the point it had shuddered. Mono remembering that the monsters the Tower had changed had to have at some point died snapped the neck of the last Gremlin before carrying it into the mound of flesh. With one hand connected to the flesh and one holding the limp Gremlin in his hands.
The flesh trailed across Mono's arms connecting itself to the dead body. Using L and the other Nomes as a reference Mono began refilling the huge maw the Gremlins flesh and essentially gluing the mouth segments back together into a regular Nome head. Shifting the flesh within the neck Mono was able to fix the neck he snapped to kill the Gremlin now turned back into a Nome. Mono set the Nome onto the floor and it lay there for a few seconds. Slowly the Nome sat up from the floor before looking around at its surroundings seemingly very confused.
Cautiously Mono pulled out the lighter from his pocket and then flicked it on. The Nome on the floor watched as the flame danced before picking itself up from the floor. It slowly approached Mono who tensed slightly at the possibility it was going to act hostile. His fears laid to rest as the Nome hugged his leg.
"Seems you don't remember your time as a Gremlin."
The Nome looked up at Mono is confusion before letting go. Mono then looked around the infirmary looking at all the dead Gremlins piled in the room. One by one he walked over to them picking them up and placing them against the mound flesh. The four Nomes seeing what Mono was doing started assisting by dragging the different bodies connecting them by their hands in a line. Those that were torn apart in the recent fight were placed with the parts that seemed to match up. Gradually the dead Gremlins were lined up in a spiral all connected to one another. Mono already tired from the war before placed his hand on the mound of flesh in the middle, but not before handing L the lighter again. Strands of flesh trailed down his arm once again crawling across every dead body on the floor.
Exhaustion slowly creeping on Mono's mind but he was determined to get the deed done. His powers flowed out once again sending out lumps of the flesh across those strands. The flesh reattached severed heads and torn bodies, fixing lethal scratches to the point they were nonexistent, and rebuilding their minds to that of their Nomish nature. Each one of them slowly got up from the floor to see the flame dancing in L's hand. All of them seeing their shadows on the wall remembering who they were then turned to their own brethren. Hugs were given to all in the room. All except for Mono who was leaning against the flesh mound trying to fight sleep. He heard Angelo's voice in his head as he slumped over.
"Nice work, this is only the first step against the Void but it is a large one."
Mono fell to the ground only for a bundle of arms to grab him before pulling him into the vents again.
One hour later
Mono opened his eyes to see he wasn't in the infirmary like before. He was in a large room that was illuminated by a large campfire against the wall. He saw children's toys alongside the walls along with many bunks. The occupants of which were still sleeping, some by themselves and others with a partner. The Nomes slept soundly not noticing their savior had woken up. Taking care not to make a sound Mono gets up from the mat on the floor he was sleeping on. He notices that he's been cleaned of any blackened blood that was on him before. He walks around noticing the different Nomes before seeing one that was closest to the campfire. It's L the only one that's awake looking into the fire. It appears to be sitting on its own mat which has a few objects. A nametag with only a few letters on it reading M.E.L, a notebook, and a pen. M.E.L isn't the only one that has a nametag by their bed as Mono looks the other Nomes that are sleeping also have them.
One of which is close to M.E.L's has a toy plush of a pink rhino with a floral shirt, yellow horn, and a white tuft of hair. The nametag reads out the initials B.N. Another has a grey cat plush with the initials reading out D.F. As Mono wanders around he finds another in the corner of interest. A Nome sleeps on the ground holding an action figure close to him. The initials read G.K.S. and the action figure has red hair and appears to be carrying a massive gourd on their back. Wandering back Mono sees another that caught his interest. It's a Nome holding what appears a toy version of a wendigo with the initials W.S. Finally there was one in the middle of the room sleeping with another plush. The plush in question was a smiling red boar with what appeared to be a meerkat riding on top of it. The initials for that one was M.V.
Mono keeps looking around seeing some of them depicting a name instead of initials. Two of which were closer to the middle of the room with just names, Tsu and Pup.
Mono could go on for hours trying to find the Nomes that piqued his interest but he needed to move forward. Going back to M.E.L he tapped the Nome on its shoulder. M.E.L got up looking at Mono with curiosity. Mono wanted to say what he was looking for but held back possibly thinking the Nomes may not know what he was looking for. Silently Mono grabbed the notebook and pen that lay nearby. Drawing out a few pictures Mono drew pictures of the Void, Cinca, and the painting.
"I need your help finding this…" Mono points to the picture of the painting, "So I can stop this," Pointing at both the drawings of the Void and Cinca. "Will you help me?"
M.E.L looked back at his brethren for a second before chittering again into the ventilation shaft. Mono started to follow into the vent again but not before looking back. He stared into the room of Nomes feeling a sense of longing just to stay there. No that wasn't it.
He just missed Six, he knew she thought about him possibly being dead. Hell, he was also concerned about the possibility of that happening to her and Kai. With one last breath he hoped the best for the two of them until they ran into each again and…
Disappeared into the ventilation following the Nome.