Chapter 6: A Thin Line

I entered the tram station, the place wasn't desolate, and there were bugs here and there, but most were just wandering and chatting with each other. I scanned the area, looking for any one with a trampass while I kept hidden.

Sneak 100 is a powerful seal that can silence your footsteps and mask your presence. It's imprinted on my cloak now, so I don't need to focus on replicating it in my head. Speaking of seals, I added more of them to my cloak.

The seal on my sleeve is for communication. Since I can't speak High Palean, which I learned was the language of most of Hollownest, I made a seal that translates English into High Palean and vice versa on the other sleeve. It makes it easier to detect different voices and understand what's being said.

The seal on my back fixes any wear and tears on my cloak. It also makes the cloak grow to accommodate my size anytime I grow. The seal makes the entire thing black like the void, with the seals glowing a porcelain white.

The final seal is located on the end of the cloak, near my knees. It absorbs any soul that is in the air, so I don't have to supply it on my own. I can cut off the flow of the soul to any of the seals that may malfunction, which is useful for focusing in the real world and not on my body.

Finally, A bug came up to the tram, bugs surrounding them. It took out the tram pass and began to slot it in. I walked up to the group with "Sneak 100" active as I did so, and the group was none the wiser..

I slipped into the tram unnoticed and stood in the corner, making sure not to take anyone's seat. I'm not cruel. As all the passengers aboard the tram, a tune started to play. Some were relaxed, some were relieved, others were knocked out cold. It was an odd sensation, but I was used to it by now.

The tram started to move, so I stood there in the corner, waiting for my stop.

As the tram came to a stop, I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. My heart was beating fast as I quickly made my way towards the door, the seal on my cloak still active to ensure that I remained invisible to the other passengers. As the door began to open, I stepped out before anyone else could, and immediately rushed towards my destination.

I leaped upwards, my legs propelling me towards the edge of the platform. My fingers clung to the rough edges of the stone, and I pulled myself up with ease. I glanced around me, taking in the crowded staircase that led up to the bridge above. It was packed with bugs, all scurrying about their business, and the noise was overwhelming.

I grimaced at the thought of pushing my way through the throng of insects. I was in a hurry, and I didn't have time for the slow pace of the crowded staircase. That's when I spotted it - an inconspicuous corner tucked away from the busy foot traffic.

Without a second thought, I launched my nail across the gap between the platform and the bridge. It lodged itself into a corner, and I gave a small grin of satisfaction. It was a perfect shot, and I had timed it just right. The guards stationed on the bridge seemed to be in some sort of trance, their eyes closed and their movements sluggish. I wondered briefly if they were even aware of their surroundings.

I channeled my soul, and in a blink of an eye, I was on the other side of the bridge. I retrieved my nail and quickly moved on, scanning the area for any sign of danger. The guards didn't seem to have noticed my presence, and I felt a small surge of relief.

As I approached the elevator, memories flooded back to me of the game I had played. This was the same elevator that had been broken in the game, and I felt a sense of déjà vu. I checked it out briefly but found no way to access it.

I turned my attention to the area around me, searching for any alternative paths. That's when I noticed a small crevice in the wall. It was barely noticeable, but I knew it could be a potential way in. I launched my nail towards the crevice, and it lodged itself in the stone with a satisfying thunk.

I teleported to the nail, gripping it tightly as I pulled myself up. I threw my other nail towards the top of the pit, and it flew through the air, aided by the runes etched into its surface. It lodged itself into the ground, and I teleported to it, careful not to lose my grip.

I made my way into the city, taking in the breathtaking sight of the colorful strands of thread that criss crossed above. Reds, purples, golds, and silvers were strung across the city, forming a magnificent tapestry that took my breath away. The architecture was stunning, with glass domes that resembled skyscrapers dotting the skyline. The rain fell in a gentle mist, and the air was thick with humidity.

I felt a sense of wonder and awe as I explored the city, taking in the sights and sounds around me. It was a world unlike any other, and I couldn't wait to discover more.

As I walked through the bustling streets of the insect city, my mind raced with excitement and curiosity. The city was a true marvel of architecture, with towering glass domes and intricate structures that seemed to defy gravity.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and amazement as I took in the sights and sounds around me. The vibrant colors of the buildings and the busy hum of insect life all around me were like nothing I had ever seen before.

As I made my way through the crowded streets, I remembered the reason for my visit to this magnificent city. I needed to find the nail smith, a legendary craftsman who could upgrade my weapons and make them even more deadly.

I followed the signs and symbols that marked the way to the nail smith's shop, passing by more stunning structures and ancient relics along the way. Everywhere I looked, there was something new and fascinating to discover.

Eventually, I spotted the unmistakable hammer and nail symbol above a door, and I knew that I had arrived at my destination. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my heart racing with anticipation.

The interior of the shop was dimly lit, with the glow of a forge illuminating the space. The air was thick with the smell of hot metal, and the sound of hammering echoed throughout the room.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw the nail smith sitting at his workbench, a small flame flickering in front of him. He looked up as I approached, and his eyes narrowed in recognition.

"So, you've come seeking an upgrade to your nail, have you?" he said gruffly.

I nodded eagerly, but then remembered why I was also here. I pulled out the pale ore I had found when I killed Nosk. It glimmered in the low light of the workshop.

The nail smith grunted and beckoned me over to his workbench. He took both of my weapons and the pale ore into his hands and examined them closely, muttering to himself as he did so.

He looked up and said, "The price of this is 500 geo, but since I have never seen anything like your nails or seen such a pure piece of pale before, I'll cut you a deal."

He turned to fully face me and said, "You can only come to me for any work on these nails here, and I'll cut the price to 150. But it's not gonna stay like that the next time you come."

I mulled over the decision before nodding my head. The nail smith hummed in satisfaction and set to work, hammering away at the metal with skill and precision. The sound of his hammer echoed through the shop, creating a rhythmic beat that was almost hypnotic.

As the nail smith worked, I explored the rest of his shop, marveling at the strange and wondrous objects that he had collected over the years. There were ancient tomes filled with arcane knowledge, strange artifacts that glowed with otherworldly power, and even a suit of armor that seemed to have a life of its own.

"Is that a suit of ancient armor?" I asked as I examined it closer.

"Aye, it is," the nail smith replied. "It belonged to a great warrior who once roamed these lands. They say he was invincible in battle, but no one knows what became of him in the end."

I nodded, impressed. "It's fascinating to see such artifacts up close. I'm sure you have many stories to tell about these items."

The nail smith chuckled. "Aye, that I do. But most of them are not for the faint of heart. Now, let me finish up this nail for you."

I lost track of time as I explored the shop and chatted with the nail smith, but eventually, he called me over to see his work. He held up my newly upgraded nail, and I gasped in awe.

The weapon was now gleaming and sharp and a bit longer, with new runes that seemed to amplify the existing runes on the nails. The nail smith spoke, "I implanted the pale ore into the nails like you asked, but I also made them a bit longer for extra reach and versatility."

I nodded and thanked him, giving him the 150 geo. As I turned to leave, he called out to me.

"Wait, before you go, there's one more thing you should know. This kingdom is home to a powerful bug known as the Nail Sage. He is said to be the greatest nail master who ever lived, and his knowledge and skills are unrivaled. If you seek to improve your nail skills, seek him out."

I thanked the nail smith for the advice and left the shop, I remembered Sly being the nail sage. And I know it's gonna be inevitable to fight him in the Pantheons. But maybe collecting the Godtuner first and THEN going to him for training sounds like a much better idea.

As I ventured into the impoverished side of the city of tears, my footsteps led me to a place where the Hollow Knight memorial statue should have stood. But that was no longer the case. I continued past a fountain, eventually reaching a bench where a group of bugs engaged in animated conversation.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I eavesdropped on their gossip.

"Have you heard about the Pale King's explanation for the child's voice?" one bug exclaimed to their companion.

"No, I haven't," the other bug replied, displaying genuine interest. "Please, do tell."

With a shake of their head, the first bug proceeded to recount the Pale King's claim. "He insists that the voice originated from a child who managed to access the palace's speaker systems."

The second bug seemed incredulous. "A child? How on earth could a child gain access to something like that? Shouldn't there be guards stationed to prevent such intrusions?"

The first bug admitted their ignorance with a shrug. "I can't say for certain, but that's the story going around. The Pale King allegedly caught the child in the act."

A pensive expression crossed the second bug's face. "Do you think the Pale King is telling the truth?"

The first bug pondered for a moment before responding. "Who knows? The Pale King is known for his secretive nature, and he rarely admits to being wrong. But I suppose it's not entirely impossible for a child to be involved."

Intrigued by their conversation, I decided to interject and join in. "Excuse me," I addressed the bugs, capturing their attention. "I couldn't help but overhear your discussion. What exactly are you talking about?"

Both bugs regarded me warily, but the first bug took the initiative to respond. "We were just discussing the enigmatic child's voice that reverberated throughout the palace. According to the Pale King, it's simply a mischievous child toying with the palace's speaker system."

My mind raced, contemplating the possibilities. Could it be me? Or perhaps the Hollow Knight? No, that couldn't be right. The Hollow Knight d̛̟̟̙̣o͉̞̥̪e̛̟̟̙̣s̛̟̟̙̣ n͉̞̥̪o͉̞̥̪t̛̟̟̙̣ h̛̟̟̙̣a͉̞̥̪v̛̟̟̙̣e̛̟̟̙̣ v̛̟̟̙̣o͉̞̥̪i̛̟̟̙̣c̛̟̟̙̣e̛̟̟̙̣ t̛̟̟̙̣o͉̞̥̪ c̛̟̟̙̣r̛̟̟̙̣y̛̟̟̙̣ s̛̟̟̙̣u͉̞̥̪f̛̟̟̙̣f̛̟̟̙̣e̛̟̟̙̣r̛̟̟̙̣i͉̞̥̪n͉̞̥̪g̛̟̟̙̣. So who else could it be? Maybe there really was a child playing with the speakers, and I was overthinking the situation.

"Hello?" the first bug called, snapping their fingers in front of my face. Startled, I shook myself out of my thoughts, realizing I would have blushed if my form allowed it. "Oh, um, sorry. I was lost in my own musings," I stammered. Without further ado, I turned and began to walk in the opposite direction. "Have a pleasant day!"

Both bugs exchanged puzzled glances, then turned their attention back to their own conversation, simultaneously uttering, "What is a day?"

As I made my way towards the shortcut to the junk pit, which I knew was located at the westernmost point of the city of tears, a sense of unease settled over me. It felt as if someone or something was watching me. Despite the feeling, I kept moving forward.

The area I was in was more open than the rest of the city, with a walkway leading upwards towards a building that resembled a horned beetle. I went under the walkway and continued deeper into the area, navigating past deep puddles of black, murky water.

Eventually, I reached a dead end. Without hesitation, I flared the Soul veins in my hands and punched through the wall, revealing a tunnel behind it. As I made my way down the tunnel, passing baby Fungoons, the feeling of unease intensified.

I arrived at a large platform overlooking the shore of the junk pit. I marked the floor near the entrance with the 'Flying Thunder God' seal before walking towards the ledge. Suddenly, the sense of unease exploded tenfold. I quickly whipped out my nail and stabbed it behind me. Orange blood exploded onto my face as my nail struck its target - a bug that had been creeping up on me.

I watched as the bug rapidly deflated and expelled its soul from the head wound I had created. Disgusted, I threw the lifeless body off the platform and shook the grime off my nail. Just as I was about to put it back in my hammer space, two flashes startled me, and I instinctively teleported to the seal I had placed at the entrance.

As I looked up, I saw two bloated bugs with eerie orange eyes. They were the soul warriors, from the soul sanctum. I could tell by the elegant shape of the nails in their hands. I readied myself, knowing that I would need to defend myself against their impending assault.

The Soul Warriors, their eerie orange eyes fixed upon me, charged forward with lethal intent. Their razor-sharp nails gleamed in the dim light, ready to strike. Though lacking formal nail training, I relied on my teleportation abilities to navigate this perilous confrontation.

As the first warrior closed in, I anticipated its attack and swiftly threw my nail upwards, teleporting to it. The warrior's nail sliced through the empty space I previously occupied. Seizing the opportunity, I unleashed a powerful strike to the Soul warrior's head with my nail, glowing with a brilliant white light. The impact hit the warrior's surprisingly hard shell, causing it to stumble backward, momentarily disoriented.

Teleporting back to the ground, I slashed at the bug, leaving a mark in its carapace. The Soul Warrior stumbled, vanishing in a bright light, revealing the second warrior, poised for a thrust.

With a flick of my nail to the side, I teleported, evading the second warrior's oncoming assault. It swung its nail, and I countered with my own. We locked in a contest of strength, my smaller nail overpowering its larger one. Flicking my nail slightly above the warrior, I channeled more soul into my leg, preparing for a kick. The blow connected, making a crack in the warrior's shell, orange goo leaking from the impact.

The Soul Warrior was sent careening into a wall, dropping its nail and losing consciousness. A flash caught my attention, and I swiftly shifted my gaze to the remaining Soul Warrior, its nail poised for an attack. It fired a ball of soul, but I leaped over it, drawing another nail from my hammerspace.

Bracing myself, I engaged the Soul Warrior, our nails locked in a fierce struggle. For a brief moment, we stood locked in combat until...

"GAH!" I was hit from behind by the same ball of soul I had just evaded. Collapsing onto the ground, I found the bug hovering its nail over my form, its victory cry echoing through the air. Reacting quickly, I flicked my nail upwards toward the bug's neck area. Unintentionally, its nail drove downward as I teleported to the embedded nail, dodging the incoming strike. My vision flipped upside down, but I remained focused. Bringing my nail down, I cleaved the bug's head in half, orange infection spraying across my face.

I landed on the ground face-first and groaned. Hopefully, nobody witnessed my badass move and subsequent fall. Before I could continue my internal monologue, a flash to my left caught my attention. Swiftly teleporting to the seal by the door, I surveyed the spot where I had just been. There stood the other Soul Warrior, its head and body sporting massive cracks, likely from its collision with the wall.

The Soul warrior appeared sluggish, its nail droopy and wobbly, and its posture sagging. Raising its left hand, a ball of soul materialized. Charging toward me, I responded in kind, throwing my nail just beside its head, narrowly missing the target. Mentally grinning, the bug fell for my trap. As the nail soared past its shoulder, the warrior lifted its left hand to strike me with the soul ball.

*Blink*

Teleporting to the nail directly behind the Soul Warrior, I twisted, crossing my nails in an X-shaped pattern. Infusing them with soul energy, they glowed white, becoming sharper. With a powerful slicing motion, the air displacement created a cracking sound akin to a whip. The bug froze in place, the air displacement created a cracking sound akin to a whip. The bug froze in place, its posture tense as the ball of soul dissipated from its hands. The warrior's nail clattered to the ground, and in a sudden moment of stillness, it collapsed.

I stared at the defeated Soul Warrior for a few seconds, processing the turn of events. Out of nowhere, however, it exploded with a force that sent me hurtling into a nearby wall. The impact rattled my body. I fell to the ground in a heap, as the dust settled I slowly rose to my feet, my body might not be tired but my mind is. After all of this I am taking a nap.

Suddenly, a barrage of stakes came hurtling towards me. My reflexes kicked in, and I attempted to teleport away, but my mind seemed sluggish, unable to keep up. The stakes pierced my body, pinning me to the wall with excruciating pain. They punctured my shoulders, abdomen, and legs, leaving me trapped and helpless. One of the stakes was aimed straight for my head, but with a last-second effort, I managed to snap my head to the side, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

Struggling against the stakes, I felt the essence of soul and void seeping out of me, akin to blood. The pain was unbearable, and the timing couldn't have been worse, right after a grueling fight. I gritted my teeth, trying to endure the agony coursing through my body.

A figure emerged from the shadows, briefly enveloped in light before its features became distinct. Before me stood a massive bug, adorned with two horns and a flowing red cloak embellished with a glistening pearl necklace. His presence exuded menace, his mismatched eyes gleaming with a wicked intensity and a cruel smile adorning his face. It was the Soul Master, though he appeared to be partially infected, unlike the others.

A scream erupted from my throat, desperate and futile. Yet, no one could hear me, trapped in ơ̟̟̙̣u͉̞̥̪r͉̞̥̪ own torment. Despite the overwhelming pain, I summoned my strength and focused on my arm, determined to relieve some of the p̛̟̟̙̣a͉̞̥̪i̛̟̟̙̣n͉̞̥̪. With a gut-wrenching effort, I ripped one of the stakes out of my body, releasing a scream that resonated with a multitude of voices. It echoed with a cacophony of rage, anger, confusion, sadness, and more—an amalgamation of emotions that did not belong to me.

The intensity of the moment escalated, the ground quivered beneath me, and the collective cries grew in strength. Turning into a symphony of noise, the scream reverberated, shattering the wall behind me, and I was forcefully propelled off the platform, hurtling through the air and plunging into the water below.

As I plummeted, my body aching all over, the pain from the wounds gradually dulled, becoming a numb sensation. Whispers echoed in my mind, their soothing words offering a strange comfort amidst the chaos. Then, with a resounding impact, my head struck the water's surface, and darkness enveloped my sight.

The Soul Master seethed with anger. His primary objective was to capture the intriguing specimen that possessed the ability to absorb soul from the air itself. He saw the creature as a means to achieve a Pure Focus, a goal he desperately desired. But his plans were thwarted when the specimen not only killed one of his scholars but also took down two of his soul warriors.

Infuriated, the Soul Master took matters into his own hands and managed to pin the creature down. However, the creature's scream began to intensify, growing louder and incorporating multiple voices. It unsettled the Soul Master, even though he knew that the containment process could be painful. He couldn't tolerate the piercing sound any longer, so he impulsively flung the creature off the ledge.

He expected the creature to be weakened from its previous fight with the soul warriors, yet it managed to unleash that overwhelming scream. Frustration consumed him, and in a fit of rage, he threw a steak into the junk pit, watching it impale the shore below. Regaining his composure, he reminded himself of his position as the Soul Master and dismissed any lingering thoughts about the bug's survival. There were always other methods and opportunities to achieve his goals.

Deciding to leave the platform, the Soul Master swiftly disposed of the single corpse left behind and made his way back to the sanctum.

A/N: Took too long I know hopefully this should suffice.