The rail system shudders slightly as the Geisha's rage shudders throughout the metallic valley of the MAW as both Kai and Six are carried up and beyond both the Void's grasp. Both swinging from side to side as the corpses of both battered and severed Nomes are catapulted in an attempt to make both escapees fall into the abyss. Kai tries a glance back toward the chilling force behind. Fear clear in his eyes hope lost as the stray thought flows through his head.
'I know Six said she and Mono were going to defeat the Geisha and take over the MAW for themselves but…'
Kai still looking back seeing the darkened figure still using their powers to grab shattered porcelain from before and send it assailing. The rage very plain despite the distance getting larger between them. The flow of power suffocating him even as he was carried away.
'How could they expect to defeat this maelstrom of power?'
Kai's eye widened as she summoned her power and raised it to the rail with clear intent.
"HOLD ON TIGHT SIX!"
The rail broke and both Kai and Six slammed into the wall hard as the wheel on their side became clogged by one of the hooks. Kai's side splashed with pain as he collided with wall but he held on tight still. Six however when she collided into the wall her grip loosened and then she began to fall into the depths below. The panicked look on her face clear as time seemed to slow down. Any care for self-preservation disappeared as Kai's arm shot grabbing Six by the leg. Her gaze shellshocked glued into the chasm below a drop that surely would have killed her. She looked up into her savior's eyes with a look of gratitude quickly replaced by surprise. In Kai's rush to save Six from falling to her doom the flashlight in his pocket jostled into a looser position and with gravity becoming a defining force the flashlight began to fell. Six reached out to grab it only for Kai to yell out.
"Leave it alone I'm barely holding you as it is."
Six nodded latching onto the rope again only hearing out the frustrated screams of the Geisha. Looking back to the kitchen they both watched as the Geisha walked away towards an elevator arguing with herself. Both looking at each other with silent agreement to just move on. Both climbing up the rope after Six fixed herself properly on the rope. It was a gradual process after their use of sweaty palms on the rope and adrenaline slowly ebbing away. The main threat disappeared for now.
After a hefty climb Kai and Six clambered up onto the pipework before disappearing into the wall. Both Kai and Six looking down at the floor with a pang in sadness in their heart. From the Geisha's attempts lay on the ground five of the Nomes lifeless and limp. Kai never knew any of the Nomes personally knowing their skittish nature to anything larger than them. But to know that he was turned into one of these things and knowing what they once were Kai felt sympathy for life lost. The same could be said for Six as she knelt to one of the more intact bodies. She bowed down in silent gesture, in silent thanks, placing her hand on the Nome's chest. Weeping silent tears, she wiped her face and then moved on still silent. Her thoughts moving onto more grim thoughts. Kai follows behind still recovering from the Geisha's cruelty. Six slowly walks forward before turning back to Kai.
"Come on, we have to keep moving."
"Can you give me a second please? That was a lot of things happening all at once."
"As much as I want to Kai. The Geisha is only going to keep looking for us more. After that little display of power and rage I'd rather keep moving forward as much as I can before I have to face that power especially… without…"
Six faltered as a thought came into to mind.
"…Six? What's wrong?"
In the ongoing insanity that happened earlier. The Void's words echoed back into her mind about...
"Do you think the Void was telling the truth about Mono? That he's already been taken care of and that shockwave that ran through the kitchen was his last attack."
Kai reflected on what he'd seen of Mono's prowess and what happened with experiences of The Void's powers. Mono was strong there was no doubt about that, the shockwave that ran through the MAW before proved that. Then there was also his experience three years ago in the store where Mono was destroying people. Compared to Kai or Six he was a powerhouse. However, when compared to the power the Void or Geisha wielded Mono was much smaller. The Void was a ruler of its own realm, Kai didn't understand the need for it since the Void was an eye. Then he realized that it was just for show. Just to show that the Void could create anything like a god. Also like a god it could destroy whatever they created the Alchemists being proof of that. Again, how could anyone stand up to the maelstrom. In a power match between the two Mono couldn't stand the chance. However, Mono wasn't a fool either if he realized he met a greater foe. Unsure of the best way to tell his worrisome friend he only said.
"I don't know Six. I wouldn't believe a single word of what that thing said. At the same time though we narrowly escaped death ourselves by that thing. So…"
Kai lends a hand over to Six now taking the lead.
"Let's just continue on and hope for the best."
Six reaches for Kai's hand only for a black tendril to shoot in between them. Kai and Six look up to see multiple threads of shadow descend all around them. An unholy screech rang out as the owners of those threads began pouring out of the ceiling. Dozens of shadows fell onto the ground. The closest one to the two begins falling to the ground opening their mouth as small-blackened teeth and buttoned eyes as it descended. Six quickly scrambled through her pockets pulling out the small lighter. Quickly she flicked the wheel for the flame to defend them.
In the ensuing darkness there was no light that suddenly appear. Panicked Six tried flicking the wheel again to create a spark anything to defend themselves.
Nothing, the cold room left unchanging by the absence of flame. The Shade fell in between the two of them and in fear Six flung the useless lighter towards the shadow. The small piece of metal phasing right through the shadow. Kai in reflex tried to swing the scissor blade he held onto right after Six through the lighter. Once again, the blade phased through the Shade. Said creature shrieked in their faces as the threads latched onto both Six and Kai's wrists. The Shade threw the two of them into the wall Six first and then Kai pummeling into Six as the two slumped onto the floor. Kai quickly got up to his feet to see the horror of the Shades began to corner them. Predators striking down prey.
Kai felt the goosebumps rise on his arms and legs as he saw the horrible sight. Six dazed tried to get up trying to shake the glaring spots out of her vision. Kai sees her trying to get up seeing her struggling quickly glances back at the stalking Shades. He braces his arms forward as small flickers of gray energy float off his arms. A small bit of light glows from Kai's arms giving the shadows pause. They function as beasts sniffing the air for danger before three of the shades whip out their threads wrapping them around Kai's arms and torso avoiding the area of nullification before tossing him away from Six. Kai goes flying for three feet before falling into the ground before another Shade pounces right on top of him. This one shifting shape before turning into another child taunting Kai.
Shadowy hands wrapped around Kai's throat and began to squeeze. Those flickers of power slowly fading from Kai's arms as he panicked. His mind losing all sense of reason save for one thought concerning anything he could do to survive. The Shade's face blank while Kai's face slowly started turning blue and purple. His arms and legs just phasing through the aggressor's form slowly losing weakness. His eyes slowly closed as his form relaxed unable to do anything. The Shade began to loosen its grip just as the boy's body sharply inhaled. Before the Shade grabbed Kai's throat again it felt a very sharp pain before the sensation of being burned from within and then nothingness.
Held right in front of Kai was his scissor blade now gleaming with his energy. A look of revived fury shone on Kai's face as he stabbed the blade forward piercing and destroying shadow. Two other shadows began to charge Kai as he quickly up to his feet still catching. With a swipe left Kai swept the blade left catching one of the two launching it to the side as it disintegrated into nothingness. Thinking Kai left himself open launched two of the threads forward now sharpened enough to skewer the boy's heart. Kai now focused on his improved abilities quickly forms the shield he did before. Only this time the opposing power was much weaker than the Void's. The threads began to disintegrate only for Kai to grab onto them before yanking the Shade toward. The Shade flew forward as Kai stabbed into the darkness. His blade glowing silver as the Shade disappeared into nullity.
The Shades now recognizing the new threat began to crouch down along the surfaces of the room around Kai. The boy slowly backing away ensuring that any access to Six as she was slowly getting up was blocked. Kai looked at the oncoming force a few of the shades rearing back their heads and roaring. Their threads floating of their bodies before the room completely shrouding in darkness. A blackened cloud filled Kai's vision only the light from his blade and shield illuminating a small area around him. In the darkness thirty voices rang out in laughter. Thirty children laughing in hysteria and spite. Thirty voices sending chills down Kai's back as his powers wavered slightly. A mistake and a window of opportunity too easily and quickly seen. A tendril shot through the dark whipping Kai across the face. He rubs his face with his sleeve now seeing a small trickle of blood. Kai now panicked completely drops his shield as he looks around in panic. Then a hand grabs Kai by the shoulder and he turns around.
Six now stands behind him with her hood down. Kai sees her eyes glow crimson red and the shadows curling around her. Some of the darkness being absorbed into her form emboldening her. It had taken years of training for Six to get ahold of her powers. Just to ensure she wasn't just accidentally absorbing Mono's soul whenever they fought. The shadows now completing around her arms and hands.
"You know what Kai? I'm just about tired of running from the monsters."
Kai eyes Six and up and down quick, "What about all that talk about not using our powers so the Void or the Geisha doesn't find us?"
"Turns out it's pretty easy to predict your foes path when you know exactly where they're going Kai. This plan of Mono's and mine was not very smart to begin with. And like I said-"
Six ducked down as a Shade burst from the darkness before grabbing onto the shadowy beast's head. It squealed as it was sucked into Six's palms before disappearing with a whoosh.
"-I'm getting tired of running. And if I have a faster chance of finding Mono or stopping the Geisha by ceasing this hiding around like a rat. I'll do it."
Kai was about to reply before Six shoved him to the side as another Shade burst from the darkness. Six snatched this one out of the air with her power. Her hand latched around the creature's throat. Said shadow was clawing at her hand to no avail as it too was also being absorbed into Six before Six closed her fist and Shade also dissipated. Six lent her hand down to Kai who reached with his shielded arm. Only to stab forward with his blade past Six and into a Shade sneaking behind her.
"I don't think you're going to get very far in the darkness alone Six despite your power."
Pushing Six down to her knees Kai swept both his blade and shield clotheslining two more shades turning them into smoke.
"Like I said before you're going to need all the help you can get."
Six nodded getting back on her feet standing back-to-back with Kai now facing the remaining twenty-five still shrouded in darkness. Kai looked around wildly as the sounds of wind whirled him preparing to strike them down. Meanwhile looked around calmly as her powers sensed albeit small life forces of the shades. Her eyes darting around the room before three Shades began charging.
"On your left!"
Kai swept his blade to the left batting two out of the air before they disintegrated while Six just absorbed the other as it got too close. Apparently thinking either they were distracted or three wasn't enough, six more Shades charged towards them. This time Kai was prepared and charged towards the oncoming sound. His blade glistening with power as he slashed. Slicing diagonally left and right cutting two more shades. The darkness surrounding them becoming lighter with each Shade slain. The other four were torn in half and absorbed due to Six's shadow and soul manipulation. The shadows around her arms becoming darker as each soul filled her with more essence.
The hall they were in appeared to be part of the infrastructure as the floor was made of pipes. A room help to exhaust waste out of the ship. Behind them was the pit they nearly fell out of and in front of them they could see a small dim light. They could faintly see the Shades as they surrounded their only exit. Each one of them crawling around the wall and each one bearing the faces of children filled with spite and rage. Malevolence shone in the darkened eyes of the Shades.
"If you can keep them distracted Kai. I may have a way to blow through all of them." Six said as she charged her abilities. Kai looked confused for a second before facing the horde again. Now he grasped his blade with two hands dismissing the energy shield. The blade was generated with so much energy it flared with the brilliance of a bonfire. The shades seeing this tried something different.
Five shades fell into the floor. Their mass shifting and wriggling as they appeared to connect to each other. Fusing into one larger Shade now standing above Kai. Its form turning larger as multiple strands ran down its arms. Small yet whiplike and their body giant and muscular. They charged Kai throwing their arms forward, the strands of shadow wrapping around the handle of Kai's blade trying to pull it away from him. Kai dug his heels into the ground as the creature forward dragged him. To get free Kai tried moving the blade around to cut the wire binding him. It was semi successful giving Kai some freedom to move when he realized something.
"You really turned yourself into a big strong tough guy. But all you did was bring the one thing that can actually hurt you closer."
The shade now struggling to pull Kai forward pulled even harder seemingly not hearing Kai's words. Kai leaned back as much as he could to ensure the giant Shade would pull as hard as it could before he jumped forward launching himself forward. It burned to even touch the Shade but Kai didn't care as he plunged the blade into the monster's chest over and over again. Kai using the monster's own whips to keep close as Kai slashed at the monster's neck. A cacophony of voices crying out in savage agony as Kai struck repeatedly. The Shade finally fell to the floor reaching out for Kai's throat before dissipating as well.
"KAI GET DOWN!"
Kai fell to the floor as a massive shadow suddenly charged above and past him. Charging both into the wall and into the remaining Shades. Kai looked up to see a very bizarre looking shadow. Another shadow was fighting the other Shades and doing a very remarkable job too. Only this shadow was much larger than the fleeting spirits, it had six legs stabbing into the floor, massive tusks impaling into some of the Shades trying to fly away, and glowing red eyes glaring maliciously at the other Shades. Six had summoned a massive six-legged shadow boar to take care of the other Shades. Kai slowly got up to his feet as Six walked past him. Kai very confused couldn't help but ask.
"Okay two things, One, have you been able to do that the whole time? And two, why a boar with six legs?"
"Well to answer that, one, yes I am but I don't do it often because one of the times I did Mono almost killed me. Two, I was just reminded of an old friend."
The shadow boar now having completed its job reared its head back and squealed before disappearing into the shadow once more. Both Six and Kai relaxed as adrenaline disappeared. Kai's arm drooping to floor as the blade clanked onto the floor.
"Come on we need to keep moving."
Six continued forward with Kai trudging behind before putting his blade back up. With a sigh of relief Six's shadows retreated into her body. The light up ahead getting closer and closer before the pipe they walked becoming singular was the distance below them becoming larger and larger. Six saw the ladder propped up against the wall leading up to a small porthole leading to the outside. Six glanced at Kai before beginning to climb up the ladder. Kai looked down at his shaking limbs before climbing up the ladder as well. The porthole getting closer into view. Sunlight blinding both for a second before their vision clearing. Six wondered how much time they spent in the kitchen because the boat was already gone disappearing into view. Meanwhile Kai just saw the chain and just grumbled to himself as he began again.
"More climbing."
Six just stood there for a few more seconds appreciating the sunlight washing over her face. Giving a small prayer to Elysium that Mono was still in the world of the living before climbing up the chain herself.
Both Kai and Six clambered up into the MAW once more as they heard the chants of the Guests as they marched into the inner chambers of where their eating chambers would be.
"So that's them? The Guests? They're just as fat as they were back in the city."
"This is currently of world of nightmares Kai. Nightmares for those who have the hope of a better future. People like us have to face monsters like them to actually be able to live."
Both walked upon the scaffolding far away from the voices and the thuds of their feet.
"So, what exactly is the plan here Six? I don't think we can go power crazy like we did earlier."
"No, you do have a point there Kai. With luck, and I'm really doubting it at this point, we should be able to sneak our way through the Guest chambers. However, with everything as different and even more dangerous I doubt that will happen."
And right as Six said that the chant of the Guests turned into surprised squeals and grunts as a massive shadow swept from the entrance of the MAW pushing the Guests into an unknown room.
Chills running down both Six and Kai's backs as they continued walking in the upper alcoves. Six held her breath as they approached the familiar oriental design of both the Guests' feeding area and the Geisha's quarters. Six held a finger to her lips as they began to climb the latticed area. They almost reached the top when they both heard the Geisha and the Void conversing with one another. Six took a small peek past the side to see the Geisha standing there with the darkened wind surrounding her arms poised directly at the roof of the entrance and cables dangling down past her sleeves.
"So, what exactly are we doing here?"
"You've seen the cycles as you call them. The next one will come here most likely along with the boy. The second I see them I'm going to shred them and then cast them into the Gorgers' feeding hole."
"Why do that when you can just capture the girl and then make the static boy suffer while you- "
"OH MY GOD CAN YOU SHUT UP ABOUT MAKING THEM SUFFER ALL THE DAMN TIME!?"
Both Kai and Six jolt at the Geisha's outburst before jolting again at the Void's.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME!?"
"You heard me; all this time you've been wanting to make them suffer. Make them pay for something they wronged you for. Meanwhile I just want them dead, gone from existence. In fact, the only I've noticed you want them dead is just to make the other one suffers. You don't want what I need."
"You dare talk back to me like this? Do not forget that if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have the measures to defend yourself. The fortress has proven to be highly effective so far."
"EFFECTIVE!? The only thing that this place and the new guards have done to them has only hindered them slightly. Refresh my memory Void but all three of them have managed to escape even only narrowly. Even the accursed boy has managed to escape your grasp and now we've lost control of the Nomes now waltzing around."
"Those lost meat bags? Who cares about them? If you really wanted to get rid of Mono so badly why on earth did you make that monologue when you were trying to find him in the depths?"
"I may want the boy to die but I also want him to know why he died. And as if you're one to talk telling Mono the ways he would suffer back in that boiler room. If anything, you only caused that minor rage from Mono which inconsequently bought the few remaining Nomes time to get there and distract us. Since we're asking questions here. If you're all powerful and all knowing. Why didn't you just inform me of Mono and Six's location all those years ago? If you wanted them to suffer or to pay, we could have just gone to them and taken care of this easily. Why didn't you do that instead?"
The Void remained silent for the next few seconds, "…"
"I knew it you're playing some other type of game. Unfortunately for you, your promises of a dead Mono and Six now are ignored. I knew something was up when you decided to begin gathering bodies keeping our original Guests and turning them. Three years of accumulated wastes of carbon and brain matter. The potential of creating another Tower through the MAW. Another Cycle. I'm not having it. I didn't want to get rid of one problem just to be thrown into a prison of my own making. I'm done with this plan and I'm done with you."
Six peeked through the lattice to see Cinca raise her hands to her head. The cords of shadow fighting weakly against a stronger will.
"You will not control me any longer Void for now I see your true power. It is not within raw unmatched power but only through deception and manipulation. That's the difference between the original Mono and I Void. That Mono was a heartbroken fool willing to do everything for the voice in his head, but I was given a harsh life. I learned never to trust anyone and banish all others who try to deceive. Those who attempt to destroy me I destroy them first."
The cords entered Cinca's own head snaking their way through their ears. as she purged her mind of any foreign shadow. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head. Her screams of pain ringing out as she finally ripped out her hands away from her head. She caught her breath as she looked in her hand. A wriggling mass of darkened energy struggling to get away from her.
"Look at you witless worm of corruption. Powerless outside of your own realm. Having to rely on me as a conduit to the physical world. I suppose I should thank you for one thing. Thanks to you I grew much more powerful than ever."
Cinca raises her hand up in front of her with a smile. Focusing her power, the bluish green flame she summoned earlier grew in her hand. She looks down to the wriggling mass in her hand now having grown that multicolored eye glaring at her.
"You really think that power will last? Foolish child, without me that power will slowly ebb away into nothing. Without me you have no chance of stopping those kids and when they kill you. I can't wait to take over this place for myself. A dead puppet is as good as a willing servant."
With that the Void wriggled out of Cinca's grasp and disappeared into the darkness. Cinca launched a few shadow snakes to try and destroy the mass before it blinked out of existence. To everyone else in the room the Void just retreated out of fear of being burnt. To the Void however who had passed back into its own realm went back to watching the moment.
The Void Realm
"Oh Cinca, you're going to wish you never did that. It was thanks to your original monologue that things have so drastically changed."
The Void mused to itself. As it viewed the smug superior look on her face before she looked down at the lattice. "I had a glimpse of the future Cinca. A set timeline that would have guaranteed at least me the ending I desired."
The Void reflected on a glimpse of the future it saw. The dead form of Mono in a room far below the kitchens and before the Gremlins' nest. His body torn in half while his face shredded into nothing but skull missing its jaw. A future now gone because Cinca decided to delay the moment by giving her petty and meaningless life story and that accursed surviving Nome. Who would've thought a few meaningless words could change everything? Meanwhile in another glimpse it saw Six lying on the floor bleeding to death clutching her side as a stoic Kai stood above her with a maniacal grin and a bloody shard of glass in his hand. One of Kai's in that moment was gleaming gray while the other glowed with the magnificence of the Void's. Again, another chance for things to work out in the Void's favor squandered because the Void was so focused on Cinca it paid Kai no mind not realizing it allowed him to try and trust others that lent their hand to Kai.
Three years of planning and preparation for the cycles of chaos to begin again practically ruined into nothing. Because of that the Void began trying to search through the future. Trying to find a glimpse of another timestream that could land in it having some victory. It would take some time but the Void had plenty of that, with luck Mono died due to his injuries and Six would soon be taken care of. If not, well Six couldn't have known about their physical anchors. No, she was still probably relying on that shattered mirror to be her key to taking out the Geisha. Still, even if they made it there it wouldn't hurt to fortify those anchors. So, while everything wasn't exactly going to plan there at least was an unseen benefit. The Void couldn't exactly act properly due its lack of control over the Geisha it would continue to look for a proper future to work out for it.
It would work out. It needs to.
The MAW
Cinca watches as the flame dances in her palm before clenching her fist extinguishing it. A small smile on her face after banishing the Void from her body. Everything completely back under her control save for the three kids still wandering around. In time she thought as she began to walk back to her quarters. But not before something caught the glint of her eye on the entrance below her. A snag of fabric floating right next to the lattice decoration. Looking closer it resembled one of the cloaks the two rats were wearing, and then she saw the hand gripping the side.
Kai and Six jolted as they heard the scream of rage, their cover blown. Wordlessly they both climbed up with haste. Kai sparing a few glances as he climbed saw the Geisha with her hands high above her hands. The room around them growing colder as the warmth seemed to surround her. The crackle of thunder in the palms of her hands. They had both reached the top of the small roof with the floor below them exploded in fire. Six retaliated firing off another shadow boar charging towards Cinca. Cinca just stands smirking before stopping the shadow animal with her hand before tearing the animal in two disappearing into darkness. Both Kai and Six run into the small hole in the wall.
"Did you hear that, Kai? He's still alive!"
"Yeah, that's really great Six for now let's try to survive this!"
Both Kai and Six keep running for a bit while jumping chandelier to chandelier before Six stops on the second one.
"Come on Six! We need to keep moving!"
Six just stands there looking back at the hole they just came through.
"Did you not notice that the barrage just stopped?"
"All the more reason to keep moving forward because she just stopped. She could be moving ahead to intercept us. We need to get a head start as far as possible."
Six lets out a small sigh before resuming the leap onto so the chandeliers before going into the next room. At that moment both were hit with a smell so foul it caused them to simultaneously cover their mouths and recoil from the smell.
"What the hell is that smell?" Kai said as he fought the urge to throw up what little food he ate.
"I don't know! Dear Elysium, it smells worse than what the eating halls smell like WITH cooked food."
Both using their clothes to cover their noses moved on ahead. It was unnerving to Six to say the least. Never had the Guest halls been this quiet even while they rested from their food shoveling. Looking around the hallway Six noticed the tables the Guests would usually sit at just covered in dust and cobwebs. The tables hadn't been touched in so long. Six went to check the layer of dust when a small shriek caused her to jump and she turned around. Kai had just stomped on a massive spider that let out its last breath in a shriek. Six just gave him a look asking why.
"Sorry, I don't like spiders."
Both continued out in the main atrium. Of all the things Six had noticed changed this was the largest. The floors upon floors of the guest quarters were in ruins. Either torn or ruined with age. They could be accessible if they were careful but if not, they could fall easily. The horrid smell only grew stronger as Six and Kai now saw the source of the stench. A great pile of bones sat in the very center of the hall. A combination of hundreds of bodies lay in their own graveyard. Dried blood pooled around the pile of decay. Two moats surrounded the pile conjoining at the other end of the hall opposite of the two. Six walked over to it dipping her finger in the moat despite Kai's objections. Pulling her hand out she felt the slick material in her hand.
"Oil?"
Kai fingered the blade on his back as he walked around. It was then he noticed the sound of something finally. It was a small sound a small metallic clank. A shift in the dark causing Kai to draw his blade not igniting it with his power yet. Following the small sound, it was then that Kai noticed the stables. Small ports lined the walls of the first floor. Easily a hundred counted as he looked around. His hands around the blade trembled as he walked closer. The one he approached appeared to be a tiny sleeping quarters. Only a pile of hay lay under a massive lump of something. Its form slowly growing and shrinking showing that it was asleep. The clinking of chains gave Kai some relief that the creature was chained up. Until it turned around.
Kai almost dropped the blade in fear as a massive canyon of teeth turned around to face. It's rancid breath in Kai's face as it snored. In fear Kai quickly backed up taking Six by the hand and pulled her away.
"Come on Six! We must find another way around this. Maybe we can get to her quarters by-"
He was interrupted as a bolt of energy flew in between them crashing into the floor.
"Now come on little boy. I put so much work into creating this. Especially for you Six I thought you might appreciate this."
Both continued to run for the door when it slammed shut and the floor warped to block them inside. Reluctantly both Kai and Six turned around to see Cinca standing on a balcony far above the hall.
"You know Six, it took me and the Void awhile to figure out something to do with the Guests we had here. The Void offered that we just contribute them to the massive flesh pile within the-"
Cinca throws a dagger composed of shadow as the two of them try to run away. The weapon stopping them in their tracks once again.
"Don't interrupt! Anyway, the Void only wanted to add to the pile that makes up the very veins the MAW. Like a tumor only the vile thing insisted I needed it. To appease the false god, I listened but I never saw the means to the end. No, instead I decided to look back on what little information the Void provided me with. Your adventures but more accurately your nightmares and your predator. I know what you fear Six the Hunger. Not just of yourself but of the massive monsters in the world ready to tear apart the weak for their own desire."
With a snap of her fingers the Geisha summons that blue flame yet again. The light dancing in her fingertips. Kai taking another step back as the bodies in the stables stirred in their sleep. Cinca's face illuminated as her teeth glinted with the flame.
"And then there was one creature the Void happened to mention. One that plagued you both in nightmare and life. There was another but it would have been too hard to summon it. After all the Wind does not obey the call of any master. No no, I'm referring to an ancient creature. One that was summoned from the cataclysm that started all this. An immortal creature of fear, of instinct, of rage, of power, of nature, and of Hunger. A creature that was almost the very end of you Six as it swallowed you whole."
Cinca holds her hand the flame shining brighter than ever. Slowly she turned her palm over a large brazier ten stories below her. With a somehow wider grin she proclaimed.
"WELCOME TO YOUR NIGHTMARE!"
The flame fell from her hand plummeting into the oil below. Instantaneously the brazier exploded in flame. Moats connected to the massive torch gained light illuminating the room. The blue flame rousing the monsters from their sleep. Kai and Six got a much better look at them with both backing to the wall. Kai looking around trying find another means of escape. Six stood there paralyzed with fear as she saw the now awakened crowd.
Standing in a row hunkered down ready to pounce stood close to a hundred Monsters. Very much like the original never filled Monster these creatures were quite tall some of them able to reach the next floor with just their head. They were crouched but Six could tell despite the hunkered forms they were lanky. Some of them bald, others had hair disheveled and filthy, and others wore the remnants of masks once stuck to their faces. These creatures were lanky and yet their forms hid away a strength Six wasn't quite sure of. She could recognize them by their faces as the temporary visitors of the MAW, the Guests, only so much worse. Their bodies lacked any form of fat the skin held tight to the bones and their eyes sunk into sockets. Their lack of lips cut by their own sharpened teeth and the tears in their cheeks mangled with only a few strands of muscle holding them together. Looking at their hands only revealed gaunt pale skin wrapped around dirty stained claws.
The creatures didn't seem to notice Six or Kai as they all looked toward ceiling as if sniffing the air and then some of them looked to the Geisha.
Cinca cleared her throat before extending one arm to the ceiling her powers wrapping around several locks bolted to the ceiling. She grinned with malice before looking down at the crowd as some of them clawed at the collars around their necks.
"GORGERS AND RATS! I thank you for being so patient with me today. I've come to announce that I've retaken control over the MAW as the sole proprietor. Our benefactor has been exiled and will never be bothered again."
She paused mockingly as she glowered at Six especially with a smug grin on her face.
"But I don't believe you lot care for that sort of thing. In fact, the only thing I know you care about right now is the grumbling of your stomachs."
Once again, she paused holding out a hand to her ear. As if on cue all the Gorger's stomach growled and they only grew anxious starting to rattle their chains.
"And why wouldn't you be hungry? It's only been three months since you last ate. And being the wonderful caretaker, I have decided it's feeding time once again."
Cinca's smile turned predatory as she began to pull on the locks above. The massive hatch opening as she proclaimed at last.
"OPEN WIDE!"
A swarm of bodies fell on the ceiling. Both Kai and Six recognizing them as the Guests they had seen leaving the ship to get here. They fell for many stories both Six and Kai's eyes following them down into the center of the room. Screaming as they fell and the first ones to collide stopped screaming as their bodies collided to the floor with a sickening splash and crash. Blood began pooling on the floor from the Guests turned carrion. Bones jutted from the skins of the first victims now impaling those who followed soon after. Their screams only stopped after the next wave of Guests fell on top of them, crushing them to death. The top layer of Guests screamed from the pain of the fall for no bones jutted from their bodies. But the bones broke nonetheless causing extreme pain. To Kai and Six this was a horrifying sight, to the Geisha she only watched lazy for a moment letting her hand drift and her powers slowly float around every one of the Gorgers' collars, and the Gorgers themselves?
It was as if a switch was turned on and the Gorgers' eyes developed pupils akin to those of reptiles. Suddenly all at once they began lunging for the warm bodies of those alive and otherwise. Only held back by the collars around their necks. A small number of the smarter ones realizing this began trying to tug their limitations off. They began to drool with intensity causing the flame to sizzle. They hungered to the point of uncaring about the pain from the fire. Cinca seemed to notice the once going for their collars and chuckled.
"You see those Six? Those are the ones I favor. They were the ones who were thrown into a rather shitty situation. Tortured by their tormentors, given only one joy, relentless, resourceful, and…"
She looks down at a pair of Gorgers still trying to reach the food. One of them slightly larger than the other scarred slows their pace down to look at the one next to it also reaching for the pile. The taller of the two pauses looking up and down at the smaller one before it too also stops to look at its taller counterpart. In a sudden flash of claws and a screech of pain the taller of the two claws off the smaller ones arm at the elbow. The smaller of the recoils trying to get away from the taller one while the taller one begins chewing what little meat off the bone and swallowing it. It then beats the bones against the walls of its own stable to get the marrow of the bone too.
"It's willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Even letting others live in agony and torment. Eating whatever it can to live. Does that remind you of anyone Six?"
Six called out from across the hall. "That life is outdated. I don't let it affect me or the life I share with Mono-"
Six is cut off as Kai slaps his hand over her mouth. Six not understanding until Kai gestures back to the Gorgers' ensemble. A few of the Gorgers now noticed there were two other presences on the room. Ten Gorgers stared at them for a few seconds before turning their attention to the larger source.
"Perhaps but that doesn't mean I can't respect their similar nature to me. So why don't we see how large their Hunger is this time."
Cinca sweeps her hand wrapping them around her body. Multiple metal clanks hit the floor and it only took a second before a sound like thunder was heard. Unlatched and unleashed the Gorgers dove forward with a fury toward the pile. The still alive Guests still screaming out now even louder with new pain being stabbed into them. Six looked away while Kai once again blew chunks of whatever he ate before. A small amount of arms and legs went flying only to be grabbed by some of the other Gorgers before they were shoved down their gullets. Two Gorgers were fighting over a particularly plump Guest playing tug of war while that same one from before watched in anticipation. With a horrifying tear the Guest was slowly torn apart at the waist. Their intestine being the only thing connecting the body before the tall one from before grabbed at the intestine pulling it out. The other two satisfied at what they got anyway and dove into both chest and legs individually. The tall Gorger slurping down the Intestine piece by piece, the ichor staining their face in bloody glory.
One of the still alive Guests tried crawling away from the pile. Their face half clawed off and one of their eyes dangling by the nerve. It reached an arm out blindly trying to get away before one of the Gorgers grabbed the Guest. Kai looked away at this point as the sound of teeth grinding against a skull were heard. The unholy cries of joy were heard as the Gorgers feasted on a very rapidly disappearing meal. Once again, the bones were not spared and nothing was wasted. Bones were cracked open and the empty shells once filled with bone marrow were chucked deemed no longer important for eating. Six grabs Kai's arm before holding a finger to her lips and nodding her head towards a Nome hole behind the Gorger's stables. Kai nods and begins rushing for the hole with Six following behind. By now the pile of flesh had slowly disappeared into nothing but bone dust.
Both Kai and Six were still rushing for the door when another Shadow Snake burst through the floor in between them. Kai looked up to the Geisha once again. She was no longer smiling with her palm outstretched towards the pair.
"A shame that meal didn't last that long. Don't think I didn't notice that you realized they don't care much for sight using their ears and their snouts first. Yes, the voices of the suffering do alert them but there is one other thing I've found that attracts their attention even more."
Focusing her power once again Cinca fires a halberd made of shadow and hurls it at Kai. Only instead of being still a shadow it transmutes into metal. It shoots across the room straight at Kai. He moves out of the enough for the blow to not be fatal but the blade still grazes Kai's nose as it shoots past. He at once clutches his face in pain while Cinca laughs out.
"Yes… a good hearty dinner for my little pets. But I simply couldn't forget about dessert. With a nice BLOODY SAUCE!"
It's not enough for Kai holding his face to stop the bleeding as a singular drop of blood falls to the floor. For Kai and Six they hear nothing over the clamoring voices. But for every other Gorger in the room, all their ears perked as they hear one singular drop of blood splash. A scent they all desire as their mouths salivate. Dozens of eyes look at Kai and Six who are now paralyzed with fear only for a small moment. Quickly reinvigorated as the one-armed Gorger dives for the both with Kai hitting the floor and the Gorger running into the wall. Six quickly pulls him to his feet and the two bolt for the Nome hole. The rest of the Gorgers pushing each other to the side as they try to get the small flesh running away.
Kai and Six enter the Nome hole doing their best to get away from the small entrance as possible. A clawed arm shoots through the hole trying to grab either of the two. Kai slides back against the wall still paralyzed with fear. His body is moving on its own but his mind is in another place entirely. Six looks back and forth to Kai and the clawed hand taking actions into her own hands. She wrenches the scissor blade from Kai's back and slashes at the clawed hand a few times. The Gorger uncaring continues to try and grab one of the two. Six slowly paces around the arm trying not to give her position away walks back toward the entrance now next to the arm. She raises the blade above her head and swing down hacking into the arm. Repeatedly chopping into the arm causing blood to spray over the entrance. The Gorger's quiet down all sudden before the arm that's still in the hole now begins to frantically claw at Kai before it begins to slow. Six isn't even sure of what's going on until arm stops entirely and is pushed forward.
Only the arm isn't connected to an actual body.
Six wipes the blood off the blade using her sleeve before walking over to Kai now in the fetal position.
"Kai, are you ok?"
Kai doesn't stop trembling; it doesn't seem like he even heard her.
"Kai it's me Six everything's ok."
Kai is just staring straight ahead, his skin pale, and his body doesn't stop shaking. Blood trickles down his nose and he's breathing hard.
Snapping her fingers in front of Kai Six tries to get his attention.
"Come on Kai wake up this isn't really needed right now. Come on we need to keep moving so we don't get eaten."
The look on Kai's face now irritating Six slightly. That they faced this was the thing that set him off.
"Sorry about this Kai."
Six slaps Kai across the face with a massive crack. His left cheek turning red with a few imprints of fingers. He stops trembling and his breathing turns regular.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?"
"I'm sorry Kai but we really need to keep moving. So, I need you to snap out of it."
"That's easy for you to say Six! You haven't been almost eaten before."
Six walks back over to the Nome hole peering out of the wall. Seeing the Gorgers tear into one of their own quickly and without remorse.
"You're right I haven't been almost eaten before, but I have been swallowed whole before."
That just took Kai out of his maddened state.
"You've…. What? How the hell did that happen?"
Six starts walking back to Kai handing him the scissor blade.
"Three years ago, in a forest on the outskirts of a ghost town a Monster much more terrifying than those Gorgers out there swallowed me whole."
"How did you get out of the monster?"
"That's the thing I didn't, at least not by myself. I was unconscious when I was eaten. Mono was the one who fought my nightmare and monster away. A man who sacrifices life and limb for me? Who forgave me for the horrible things I did to him? You don't a man like that go and I'm sure as hell he wouldn't let me go either."
Kai takes back the blade slowly getting up to his feet. Six looks him dead in the eye.
"He'd die for me and I'd die for him."
Kai wipes his face once more and another drop falls to the floor. Instantaneously three more arms burst through the wall now making the wall crack and splinter from the oncoming force.
"Well let's not prove that statement right now!" Kai shouts as he runs further into the darkness. Six following closely behind as the wall is torn asunder.