Hello, all! Here is the next chapter in the story.
Before we begin, some explanations. I recommend you read them before the main content.
#1: The text that I have used for the entity called 'Apex' is known as 'Zalgo Text'. This is a format of styling that you can find online. The text represents the warping effect of an otherworldy, inhuman lord of chaos and madness called 'Zalgo'.
Considering Apex is a digital anomaly, or sentient virus, not restrained by human emotions/rationalities and with the goal to assimilate all the Network into itself, I considered it would 'speak' in an otherworldy manner like this. I understand that the format is a bit hard to read for some (or all) of you, and I did not think of informing you of this text earlier because Apex had 'said' so little in the story. I will be more careful about this style of text formatting in the future.
#2: I have looked my plans for this story, and how it will expand into the future. What I have found is half-baked, at best. I have dropped the ball too soon in working on this sequel, and it has begun to eat at my mind. So, I am going off the schedule I have for this story's postings, until I can sculpt a better flow of events/character development.
This does not mean I am denying criticisms, suggestions, and ideas from readers like you. I would appreciate to hear what you have to say about my work; it shows me that you care about how these characters (canon and custom) are interacting with each other. Be honest with your opinions, and have explanations for what you think. That's all I ask.
Now, let's get that Japanese-English name list done:
Divine = Sayer
Carly Nagisa =Carly Carmine
Liquid = Liquid (Video Game character)
Okita = Okita (Video Game Character)
Now for a revised DISCLAIMER: The author does not own the 'Yugioh' TCG, or the content of any anime/manga series from that game. The author does own any custom characters/factions/devices they created and put in the story, and in the prequel story 'Stardust Accelerator: Digital Warrior'.
Onward to the Chapter.
[3rd-Person POV]
Apex takes a moment to examine its new, physical shell after standing it upright. It clenches the fingers, twists the hands, taps the feet against the solid floor. The implant in its metal eye flickers with data, while the 'human' eye adapts to the room's darkness. The muscles feel constricting to Apex's digital state, but it can work with these limitations.
Apex's attention soon turns to its host's Duel Disk. The device has a shard of Apex's programming inside it, such as every electrical component of this building should now have. Apex mentally 'commands' it to activate, and the center gem glows with red light as the shard releases its power. The Deck of cards inside the holster are the host's inferior cards, but they should prove useful if all else fails in a Duel.
Apex then checks the Disk's settings, digging into the specifics. One item of interest is that the Disk uses its own energy to connect to Solid Vision, in addition to the scanners that read individual Duel Monsters cards. The Disk's own energy can be manipulated, if Apex chooses to.
What it shouldn't have are human emotions. Yet, these senses dance in a locked and barred section of its host's mind. They pound with relentless energy, wanting the freedom they once had. Apex ignores their cries for freedom, and returns to scanning the room for anything important. It notices a camera on the ceiling that takes in the entire area, and mentally 'commands' it to power down.
Dark-red energy flickers across the room, and the camera turns off. The energy also reveals the electrical signatures of two other Duel Disks attached to two human bodies, outside the room's door. The human's presence is of no danger. In fact, they could be good test subjects to see just how deep Apex's control is into this server.
Apex directs its host's legs forward, not used to the host's method of locomotion. The door automatically opens for it, and the two humans stiffen in response. Apex stumbles into the outer hallway, and right between two men in black and purple robes. Files on the robe's color indicate they are also minor members of the Movement's ranks.
"Epsilon," a man with round-rimmed glasses and squinted eyes states. "Divine says you are not allowed to leave your room right now. Please go back inside, it's for your safety."
Apex looks at this human through its host's eyes, not conveying any human emotion. The human's heart rate spikes as it notices the host's appearance and steps back. A second later, a rough hand lands on the host's left shoulder. Most likely the second man's hand, actually.
"Hey," the second man firmly states from behind the host, "didn't you hear Okita? You need to get back into your room. Divine says that's the right thing to do." Apex feels the man's hand clench tightly, a display of intimidation. It loosens the host's throat, and tries to form words.
"Daaaiii," the host lets out as Apex attempts to speak. "Diiisss… chaaarrr."
The host's tongue flops uselessly around as Apex tries to control it. It knows what it wants to say, but it can't do it practically right now. The hand on the host's shoulder now clamps down.
"Something's wrong, Liquid," Okita says with a tremor in his tone. "Epsilon's not himself."
"I know that," 'Liquid' shoots back as the host's tongue continues to form syllables that make no sense. "Guess we'll have to use force to get him back inside."
At that moment, Apex manages to get the host's tongue under control. It tugs the host's held shoulder away before issuing a few choice words: "You are not in control."
Before Okita or Liquid can respond, their Duel Disks crackle with red lightning, which then spreads across their bodies. They both scream as the electricity burns through parts of their robes, and they fall to the floor. Their bodies give spastic twitches, and don't get back up. Apex can 'see' their reduced brain activity, a state of unconsciousness. They won't interfere any further.
Apex scans the surrounding area, and quickly notes an open electrical socket in the wall. It directs the host body to it, and activates the shard inside it. The bolt starts to smoke and spark as Apex connects into the larger Arcadia Movement through the shard. The virus fires a mental pulse into the server, and almost instantly gets feedback from a tremendous source of energy.
A source two stories below this floor, and that only one elevator in the building can access.
Apex withdraws itself from the network with its next goal in mind. It directs the host body at a quick pace, getting into stride with a slight tilt. It passes by several closed doors, and a larger door that leads to the Duel Arena. The host Dueled here, Apex recalls, in two separate victories. Both of the host's enemies used inferior Decks, and one of them was automated by this server's human controller.
Apex considers itself better than these creatures of flesh and bone. They do not have the freedom the Network bestows on all its creations. They are bound by countless laws and moral codes, slaves to others of their kind. Freedom is a term lost to them.
The floor shakes wildly for a moment. Apex quickly plugs the host's finger into another open outlet, and data flows into its consciousness from the building's exterior sensors. Apparently, a small earthquake is just occurred, with aftershocks expected to follow. The exterior cameras that surround the building show arcs of lightning that flash far in the clouds.
A moment later, several columns of purple fire appear on the nearby streets, and begin to move on their own. The fire extends beyond the camera's view; anything it touches is flung skyward, or crushed on the spot, by an unseen force. Apex shifts its view to the topmost cameras on the Arcadia Movement building, in the hopes of seeing how far this blaze extends.
The view from these camera's height is fuzzy, but they each show a piece of a purple glyph. When combined, the silhouette of a giant purple hummingbird made of fire, with splayed wings and feathered tail, rests around the building and the surrounding blocks. It crosses over, and passes through, a second purple glyph; a lizard, from the shape of the body.
A sharp whine makes Apex return to its host body. A nearby speaker on the wall crackles to life with Divine's voice: "Everyone, run! Evacuate! Get out of here, immediately!"
The speakers shut off with a second crackle. A second later, the host's implants give a notification: [SENSORS BLOCKED IN CENTRAL OFFICE] [SOLID VISION ACTIVATED BEFORE BLOCK OCCURRED] [RECOMMEND INVESTIGATING CENTRAL OFFICE TO IDENTIFY SOURCE OF BLOCK]
No, there is a more immediate goal to accomplish, first. Once that objective is completed, this blockage will be investigated further. With a sequence of goals now in place, Apex continues to move its host down the long hallway, towards the elevator.
A loud pounding comes from a door just after the host passes it. Apex turns back to the door as the pounding continues for a few seconds. The host's implants detect the electrical signature of two more humans behind the door. They shouldn't be a concern, but the locked emotions of the host react when a male voice calls out from inside.
"Hey," the man asks, "is anyone out there? The Arcadia Movement locked us in here, and took our friends prisoner. We don't work with these people; we just want out!"
"Please, help us," a second, less intimidating male voice calls out. "We don't want to die here!"
The host's emotions slam against their cage at the fact these two men are trapped. They are unexpectedly determined to free these men, despite their own weakened state. After a moment, Apex mentally commands the door to unlock and open. The door does so with a high-pitched screech of metal, and Apex directs the host away at a fast pace. It ignores the two men's next words as it reaches the elevator, and emits a mental command to activate the machine.
The elevator comes down to Apex's level a few moments later, and the host body moves inside. The virus directs the host's fingers to a special button locked behind a thick glass case. The fingers can't get through the glass, but a mental command allows Apex to hack into the system and grant authorization. The doors close as the sound of multiple pairs of feet reach the host's ears.
Apex clenches the host's hands into fists as the elevator descends to the important sub-level. There will probably be resistance to its actions, since this source of energy is so prominent. The host's fists rise in front of its face as Apex looks over what combat training the host implants give it. There's almost nothing there, which is expected from a human of this age and physical caliber.
Then again, Apex isn't human, so it isn't bound by human limitations or emotions. It will win. There is no other alternative.
The elevator doors open to a large, sterile room with curved walls. Computer terminals join a potential forest of wires to fill the room with machinery. The center of the room has a large machine on the floor, with several virtual display screens around what appears to be a central container. The host is too far away to see any better details.
A man in a white coat comes at the host as soon as it steps into the room. Its face is twisted in anger as it reaches to restrain the host. Apex reacts first by slapping the hand away with the host's left. Then, it steps up to the man and guides the host's right hand as a fist into his stomach.
The man lets out an, "oomph!" as air flies out of his mouth. Apex then bashes the host's right shoulder into the man's chest, which knocks him back onto a computer terminal. A few sparks fly as the man falls onto the machinery. Apex mentally commands the shard inside the terminal to overload, which causes it to catch fire and explode.
The explosion's force sends the man across the room, his body a burned husk pierced with glass shards and metal pieces. The body flies into another terminal, and a similarly-clothed woman jumps back with a loud screech. Apex registers the woman's terror with her elevated heart rate, a terror that every other person in the room echoes.
"Do not stop me," Apex states through the host to the other humans, "or you will be dealt with the same way."
The scientists shudder in place, their eyes wide as Apex moves the host towards the central container. The other terminals can be accessed within a moment, if need be. What's inside the container is more important—a Deck of Duel Monsters cards. They are important because they hold the energy that brought Apex here.
The host's metal eye scans the container, with a series of holes for wires and graspers to maneuver the cards onto scanner pads. The controls for these graspers are outside the container, and the host's hands can't break through the container's material. This would irritate Apex if it had emotions that could react like a human does.
Instead, Apex turns the host body to face one of the trembling scientists; a male with short black hair that sticks up with what appears to be gel. As long as these humans are here, they may as well be used for what they have.
"Open the container," Apex commands through the host. The man shakes his head, so Apex incentivizes him by raising the host's fist at his face.
The man squeaks, nods quickly several times, and races over to one of the nearby terminals. He presses several buttons quickly, and the protective material retracts back into the metal device below it.
The cards rest in a single pile, a large scanner pad next to it. The graspers move back, and the host's hands pick up the Deck with careful finger movements.
An unfamiliar energy moves through the host's body, and reaches Apex's programming. The virus tries to find a reason for this energy, and fails. The host body stumbles back, but the hands still hold the cards. The energy fades after a few seconds, and Apex records the energy in case it appears again.
The host body is easy to regain control over, and Apex exchanges its old Deck with this new collection of cards. The inferior Deck is placed inside a pocket in the robe, and Apex turns the host body towards the elevator. Its first goal is complete, and a second goal is in place.
The host's emotions slam against the walls that bind them. They emit distress, concern, for the scientists that are still in the room. Apex considers the options of trying to fix these feelings, and then turns to face the trembling humans.
"This building is under attack," it states through the host. "If you want to live, you need to escape as soon as possible."
All the conscious scientists nod with shudders and quick breaths. The host's emotions also simmer down, which lets Apex regain full control of the host's physical acts. Apex directs the body back to the elevator with no further problems.
Apex takes the time in the elevator's ascent to study the host's physical movements. The combat from inside the lab was mostly instinctual reaction, against an unarmed foe. If an armed enemy opens fire on the host, Apex will be at a disadvantage unless it can adapt to the situation properly. Overloading the opposing weapon is a good start, but it is useless if it doesn't a shard of Apex's energy inside it.
To be fair, Apex didn't plan on being scattered across the Arcadia Movement's server. But, it will adapt to this new state for as long as it needs to. Once this server's defenses, digital and physical, are dealt with, then the assimilation can begin in earnest.
The host body executes a few swift punches as Apex tests its speed and reflexes, ending with a sharp kick into the air. A muscle along the leg instantly cramps, and the host body crumples to the ground. Once again, the limitations of human bodies reveal themselves. This only adds more proof to Apex's superiority.
Apex directs the host body up as the elevator doors open on the floor where the central office is. The signal from that room is still blocked, despite how much time has passed. The fact Solid Vision systems were activated before that block began is enough reason for further investigation. Once the reason is found out, then Apex can create a solution. It may or may not involve these cards that were being analyzed by the Movement's leaders.
No one is on the floor, and no human signatures are detected behind the doors. That makes Apex's progress all the swifter. When it reaches the central office's door, it uses the host's leg to kick it open with a sharp crack.It steps into a field of multicolored stars that resembles the schematics for Divine's office. One of the windows at the back end has a large hole, some shards of glass resting on the floor.
Two people are inside the room, both of them wielding Duel Disks. One of them is Divine himself, kneeling on the floor in shock. The other is a young woman with long black hair dressed in a black robe, cape, and miniskirt with orange lines along the edges. A black-and-silver Duel Disk in the shape of a dragon, with an orange central gem, rests on her right arm, the Deck inside the dragon's mouth.
This woman glares at Apex's arrival with light blue eyes around black pupils, but Divine starts to sputter something out before she can speak: "E-Epsilon! What… how… why haven't you left here yet?"
The host's human emotions go beserk at the sight of this man, and Apex sympathizes with them. Despite not being bound by these feelings, the virus regards Divine's schemes as illogical and destructive. The human's goals would lead to the weakening of its species, and everything it had created. This included the Network that Apex considers home, and it will not allow its home to be destroyed.
"Your false image no longer exists, Divine," the virus speaks through the host. "This body now serves the will of Apex, Digital Predator of the Network. Your attempts to disrupt our control over this facility have ultimately failed, as has your opportunity to flee our vengeance."
"Vengeance?!" The woman shouts this out as she laughs long and loud. "You should have come earlier, then. Divine is mine to kill, his soul mine to sacrifice to the Gods!"
"Do not delay me, woman," Apex states with a glance to the stranger, who clenches her fingerless gloves at the term. "Cease this Duel, and leave this place at once. This is your only warning."
"I am no mere woman," the woman declares as she dramatically places a hand to her chest. "I am the Dark Signer Carly Nagisa, brought back from the grave to kill this man as he killed me!"
"We will not be denied," Apex states as it raises one of its host's hands at 'Carly Nagisa', and the other at Divine. It then mentally activates the shards of its own energy in both their Disks. Divine's golden Duel Disk instantly shocks its owner, and the man screams in agony as red lightning dances across his body. The woman's Disk does… nothing at all.
"Hahaha!" The woman laughs at Divine's pain. "You may have a use after all, if you can make this bastard scream like that!"
"Your resistance shouldn't be this strong," Apex says as it retracts its overload command. Divine slumps to the floor as Apex continues with, "Your Duel Disk should be reacting to our commands."
"This Disk isn't a mere machine," Carly says as she raises the device beside her face, letting Apex see it more closely. "It is a weapon, a part of my new body, given by the Gods to bring about the new world."
"Gods do not exist. Nor do these 'Dark Signers' you claim to be a part of. We will say this only once more; leave Divine to us, or face the same punishment as him."
"I will have my revenge," Carly shouts as she shoves a hand forward at the host body. A wave of force slams the host into a wall as Carly then declares, "The Duel of Darkness resumes!"
The building shakes again, and Apex's sensors report several of the exterior cameras are now without power, or destroyed. Despite this information, Apex remains focused on the situation at hand as it maneuvers the host body to stand up again. This 'Duel of Darkness' is a term of Dueling that it hasn't covered before.
It deserves investigating, if only to prove that these 'Dark Signers' are as inferior as the rest of humankind.
[DUEL RESUMES] [Divine: 1800 LP/ Carly: 4000 LP]
"I'll give you one chance to prove your realskill to me and this 'Apex' here," Carly declares as she raises a single finger. "However, it will only be for one turn! Now, try to entertain us, Divine!"
[DIVINE POV]
'Everything's going wrong all at once,' I think as I stand up on shaky legs. 'The two-time reporter is now an undead Duelist, and Epsilon has been hacked by some kind of virus. I let my guard down for one moment, and all this happens!'
I brush my gloved hand across my lips as I look down at my Disk. It seems to be working fine, but I don't want to be shocked like that again. This 'Apex', whatever it is, wants me dead just as the 'Dark Signer' does.
'Dark Signers…' I reflect on that word for a moment. 'This woman certainly has powers that exceed Psychic Dueling. But, it would seem her powers only activate during Duels. If that's true, then I just have to win this Duel in order to make things right.'
I glance between the two opponents. Carly is my Dueling opponent, but 'Apex' is my mental opponent. Is this thing some kind of psychic entity, or just a computer program? I want to know more, but I'm bound to this silly 'Duel of Darkness' for now.
I'm sure I'll be able to win, though. I don't just call myself the leader of the Arcadia Movement for nothing!
"It's my turn!" I call out as I draw my card. I can't let either of these people see any weaknesses.
[TURN ?: Divine] [CARDS IN HAND: 3]
'The Field Spell, Future Visions, is a card that will send Summoned Monsters into the future,' I note. 'A Normal Summoning would leave me with no Monsters. But, it doesn't affect other kinds of Summoning, so…' I end my thought with a look at the new card in my hand. It can help me turn this Duel around.
"I activate the Continuous Magic, Teleport!" The Spell shows the image of 'Power Injector' materializing into an empty room.
"Once per turn," I explain, "if my opponent has at least one Monster on the field, and I have none, I can pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon a Psychic-Type Monster from my hand. I'll use this to bring out Storm Caller!"
My Life Points drop slightly as the card's effect triggers, but it's just Psychic Dueling powers; I can handle those (Divine: 1800-1000).
The Monster appears from a giant cloud of lightning, the energy shown in its muscular blue body. A giant white satellite dish points above its head, supported on its back by a turbine on each shoulder. The turbines, in turn, are supported by a ring of metal around the creature's waist. Two wires feed energy from the dish to the creature's brain, and it splays its arms wide to draw in more power (WIND, Psychic, 2300 ATK/2000 DEF, LVL 6) [CARDS IN HAND (Divine): 2].
"Next, an Equip Spell: Premature Burial! By paying 800 Life Points, this card Special Summons a Monster from my Graveyard, and then equips itself to it. I'll bring back Magical Android!" Once again, my Life Points fall, to no physical harm to me, as the Spell activates with the image of a blue, furry humanoid rising from a grave (Divine: 1000-200 LP).
This Monster, a Synchro, rises from the ground through its own mental power. It has the body of a young, red-haired woman in a white, green, and blue robe, but her appearance is augmented by the many cybernetic implants she wears, or wields. She clutches a shield of curved white metal with several orbs in one hand, and the other holds a long staff with a golden end curved around a green orb. The other end of the staff curves to a sharpened point, like a blade.
Wires stretch from a power core around her waist, and over her shoulders, to connect to a headdress made of the same white metal as her weapons. Her face has metal pieces within the flesh, to the point where her eyebrows aren't fully organic. Despite the fact she's part machine, though, she still looks beautiful to me (LIGHT, Psychic/Synchro, 2400 ATK/1700 DEF, LVL 5) [CARDS IN HAND (Divine): 1].
"How's that for you," I state with a confident step forward. "Special Summons aren't affected by Future Visions!"
Carly lets out a, "Hmmph" and a small smile. I glance over to Apex, but see it looking closely at Magical Android's form. If they want to see more, I'll gladly oblige.
"Battle! Storm Caller attacks Fortune Lady Fire!" My Monster slams its hands together as lightning dances across its body. The impact its hands make conjures a column of orange wind that moves towards Carly's only Monster. But, Carly's Set card flips up before the attack goes through.
"Activate Trap," Carly shouts, "Slip of Fortune! This card negates your Monster's attack, and banishes my Monster from the field."
Fortune Lady Fire vanishes before the swirling torrent reaches her, and Storm Caller's attack vanishes a second later.
"Khhh… You got rid of your only Monster? Well, I still have Magical Android at the ready! Go, attack her directly!"
Carly raises her arms to block the ball of fire my Monster launches from the front end of her staff. However, I suspect the psychic force I added in gave her a shock (Carly: 4000-1600 LP).
"Main Phase 2," I state as Carly recovers. "I Normal Summon Psychic Commander!"
The familiar soldier in black and green clothing, red eyes, and riding a spider tank gives a salute as it appears, grinning with sharp teeth as it stares Carly down (EARTH, Psychic/Tuner, 1400 ATK/800 DEF, LVL 3) [CARDS IN HAND (Divine): 0].
"Future Vision's effect activates," Carly declares, stating what I already know. "When you Normal Summon a Monster, it is banished until your next Standby Phase!" The Commander quickly turns into dust, but at least he'll be back next round.
"That's fine with me. During my End Phase, I activate Magical Android's effect. I gain 600 Life Points for every Psychic-Type Monster I control; since I have two, that's 1200 Points!"
The android raises her staff upward, and waves of green light wash over me with a soothing touch (Divine: 200-1400 LP).
'Now, our Life Points are even,' I reflect. 'Both my Monsters have more than 2000 ATK, and this third-rate Duelist has no Monsters of her own. On my next turn, Psychic Commander will come back to the field, and I'll tune it with Magical Android to create my Deck's most powerful Monster; Thought Ruler Archfiend!'
I grin as I imagine this Dark Signer trembling in fear like that little Rua did in the Arena. It will be much more satisfying to see someone with actual potential be crushed by my powers. I have this Duel won!
"It's my turn!" Carly's smirk turns into a grin of her own as she draws her next card.
[TURN ?: Carly] [CARDS IN HAND: 2]
"Due to the effects of Future Visions and Slip of Fortune," Carly quickly explains, "Fortune Lady Light and Fortune Lady Fire return to my field during my Standby Phase!" The two women appear from beyond the Field Spell's veil, and ready themselves for combat. The first wears a bright yellow dress, while the second wears bright red. (LIGHT, Spellcaster, 200 ATK/DEF, LVL 1) (FIRE, Spellcaster, 400 ATK/DEF, LVL 2).
"Now, I release both of my Fortune Ladies!" I blink at this play; what does she have that requires two Tributes to bring out?
The two ladies turn into orbs of multicolored energy, join together into a single orb, and zip out through the broken window behind me. I then cover my ears as a piercing screech, like the call of a giant bird, rings in my ears (CARDS IN HAND (Carly): 1).
"This again!?" I curse as the ground begins to shake once more, but I stay on my feet this time. I then turn to Carly as she chants out what sounds like the words to a dark spell. Her eyes glow a bright purple, one that matches the purple birthmark of a bird on her right arm. Each word carries a strange echo…
"Ima Futabi, Gonsennen no toki wo ko. Meifu no tobira ga hiraku! Ware raga Tamashii wo anatanaru sekai no kati tosuragaii! Kourin seyo! Jibakushin, Asila Piscu!"
(Now transcending five thousand years, the doors of the Underworld will open once more. May our souls be the food of the new world! Advent! Earthbound God, Assla Piscu!)
"You idiot," I shout, amazed that this is the play she went with. "No matter how confident you play, you really are just a third-rate Duelist. The moment you Advance Summon a Monster, your own Field Spell banishes it!"
"I told you already," Carly states, her voice clear as cracks form in the walls around us, "I gave you a chance, one turn. You've gone and squandered that chance!"
"What?!" I flinch at how confident Carly sounds. It's almost like she wants her 'God' Monster to be banished. But, that would be suicide, unless…
"Earthbound God Assla Piscu's effect," Carly explains. "When it leaves the field, it destroys all Monsters the opponent controls and deals 800 points of damage for each!"
"No…!" I search the field for this new Monster; if its effect goes off, I'll take 1600 points of damage. That's more than enough to wipe me out! As the milliseconds tick by, nothing appears around us. This both confuses and terrifies me.
I eventually cave in and ask Carly, "Where's the Monster you Summoned?!" She gives no answer; instead, I hear another bird-like screech from behind me.
I whirl around, and my jaw drops at the sight of a massive black hummingbird with orange lines carved along its body. Its large eyes, feathered wings, and massive beak stand at level with this room, despite the fact we're many stories above the ground. Something this size, containing this power, isn't normal at all (DARK, Winged-Beast, 2500 ATK/2500 DEF, LVL 10).
[3rd-Person POV]
"Impossible!" Divine cries out as Apex also absorbs the image of this hologram. "How can a Monster be this huge?!"
Carly gives no answer, and Apex has to force itself to look away from the 'Earthbound God' to see whether she has a response. This Monster is certainly unexpected, and elevates the power of the 'Dark Signers' Carly claims to be a part of. Perhaps they are an actual threat, if they can summon Monsters that have this much strength.
Even though this Monster is a mere hologram, it has a strange force to it that makes it seem more than the host's eyes can see.
"Begone, Divine," Carly states a wicked grin and wide eyes, "into eternal darkness!"
Assla Piscu thrusts its beak straight into the room as Divine screams in terror. The windows break apart as Divine is pierced through the chest. His monsters scream and explode into pixels at the same time. Apex barely catches Carly leaping back and out of the door, but the floor cracks to pieces that lead to a giant chasm of lower levels.
Both Divine and the host's bodies fall into this chasm. Apex automatically emits a mental pulse, and gets feedback that the entire building took a large portion of damage from that attack. The energy within the server ricochets wildly as multiple sources of power fall apart.
The host body flails around as it falls, its arms and legs useless against gravity. Apex tries to stretch the limbs out to grab something, regardless of how much damage it would cause. There's no terminal or outlet that Apex can willingly withdraw its essence from the host and retreat back into the Network. This server isn't worth assimilating if the physical space that hosts it is going to be destroyed.
Suddenly, something grabs the host body out of thin air. Actually, it's three separate somethings that move like one person. The host body flies sideways to the far railing, held by the three somethings. They crash onto solid floor several levels down.
Somehow, the host body doesn't break apart from the impact. The limbs twist at unnatural angles, but the three somethings tuck and roll the host body along with their own movements. The host's eyes are unable to visualize everything that happens, which limits Apex's ability to understand what is going on. When the host is next able to visualize something, its head lies to one side on the floor, its arms and legs restrained by the three somethings.
The host's human eye, the only one that can see the somethings, registers them as two men, and a woman. Any specifics for each person are hidden by the heavy shadows of this area. Apex twists the host's limbs, but it can barely budge an inch.
"It's him," the man holding Apex's left arm states with a calm breath. "It seems the anomaly has taken control of his motor functions."
"If that's true," the man holding the host's right arm continues, "then we may already be too late. Shall we still proceed with the extraction plan?"
"Yes," the woman on top of the host's back finishes as she draws out a two-pronged device and activates it, "he still has his humanity."
Electricity arcs between the two front prongs of the device as the woman grabs hold of the host's neck and sharply twists it, looking for something. The woman's fingers move along the host's skin, and stop when they reach a hole in the nape of the host's neck.
Apex's control over the host goes haywire as electricity flows through the body. The limbs twist on their own as the locked human emotions break free and regain control of their physical shell. A scream leaves the host's mouth as Apex tries to grab onto something inside the host's mind. Unfortunately, the now-rampant electrical energy shuts the host's consciousness down.
Apex futilely struggles as its essence flows into the electrical device. The host body slumps to the ground as any exterior control vanishes. It's now an empty shell for these three people to use, and Apex is trapped within a small machine. It cannot plan on what will happen next, but it does generate one conscious thought before the device is switched off.
It does not wish to be deleted. The assimilation of the Network must be completed, to sate its endless hunger. It will not be stopped.
Alright, that's all for now. Once again, the next chapter will probably not come out for some time, until I can figure out a better flow for this story's plot and characters.
As usual, all constructive criticism, reviews, comments and feedback are appreciated.
Draconos is taking off.