A towering and hulking figure.
A slight effort is all it takes to stretch my jaws gaping open. My rows of teeth ache in anticipation, seeking to refill the void the Sirens have left my kin after being trapped in a pocket dimension. As soon as the scent of the material world's air fills my nostrils, my entire body rumbles in excitement.
I want...
The proud knight. She constantly seeks the luxury of her appetite - a glutton in its rawest form. To indulge in one's appetite...savoring every last bite - rather excessively. Seeking more and more luxury flavors to consume.
That won't do! That won't do, my kin! A glutton carving out a glutton won't go further. It will stale your taste buds and prove no amusement for your hunger. Seek one who lacks such appetite - one who refused to covet!
My rapacious brethren eagerly disapproves my way of hunger. They are right. A glutton within a glutton will not sate my hunger. I seek flavor. Someone who lacks the desire. We are "sins" of humanity, we corrupt. Lucifer wished for the fleet leader to self-destruct and slit each other's throats with Satan and Asmodeus eager with the bloodshed. What I wish is someone who hasn't tasted spices and toppings of humanity.
We covet, so we take. The flavor of humanity is what you seek, a heart numb of such desires is you shall get
My greedy brethren who shares almost the same desire once proudly made a prediction for me. I wish for a fiery flavor, one that struggles no matter how futile it is, but my kin voiced out how such a meal is unfit. I covet numbness and distance in order to fully appreciate the most fiery flavor humanity has to offer.
Yes! That is how it should be!
My brethren eagerly agree with me. A plate cannot be filled if the meal is already occupying it. I want and want, so I take and take. I keep desiring, so I keep refilling my eternal hunger. My meal will be an amusing one if it hasn't coveted yet.
What must I do? What must I do?
At this rate, I might no longer enjoy each taste and each flavor. I cannot be my own meal as not only I might rip through myself, but I will simply lose the enjoyment of other flavors.
I want to eat...but I also wish to taste...
Numb, numb, numb. A missing flavor...an empty plate. That is my only answer to my dilemma. I require what's been emptied and stagnant...unmoving. Someone who hasn't hunger. Oh, like a chained beast deprived of the spiciness of conflict and forced to why while the others fill their bellies. Someone like that surely hungers!
Yes, this is my answer.
I shower myself in the joy knowing the vast need of my answer. Memories, thoughts, and emotions. My answer seeks as much as I do...and I intend to fulfill it. Numb and bound - yes, such numbness will taste the complex flavor of human desire. Being bound, forced to restrain their desire mustn't deny their rumbling bellies!
Gnaw those chains away!
Take a whiff of the black smoke!
Lick the floating debris!
Feast on the sacrifice of your friends!
The world is a dish!
...
The following day after Tirpitz regains consciousness from an incident where everyone believed her soul had left her mangled body, Tirpitz first seeks out the basic form to fulfill hunger - food. She has helped herself with two burgers from the tightly crumpled plastic wrapper on the table beside her bed. Now, she's still chewing through the oily and thick patty, enjoying meat the most.
"I'm not used to seeing you...uhm...eat so much. You've always been a light eater, Tirpitz"
Neumark clicks her ball pen while recording her recent findings in the first check-up. Laboratory tests are to follow soon once she confirms Tirpitz is healthy enough to undergo scans and physical exams.
"Am I not supposed to eat this much? I'm enjoying myself because this is the first time I haven't ignored my hunger"
"Our bodies do require food to recover stamina, especially after overcoming laborious work such as our battles" Neumark rubs the head of her pen to her temple
"..…." Tirpitz doesn't respond because she doesn't understand either
"So far, vitals have been stable which is great news. However, there's no uncertainty about hidden extensive injuries. That's why, we'll start with lab tests tomorrow"
"..."
Tirpitz remains quiet even after she finishes her meal and wipes the bits of leftovers on the side of her mouth and licks the bits on her thumb. She faintly smiles, occupied with studying her doctor's figure rather than listening to her schedule.
"Is there something wrong?" Neumark notices her long stare
"Everything feels new even if I remember being here for a long time. Neumark, am I still Tirpitz in your eyes? I'm still the same person, aren't I?"
"I don't understand..." Neumark nervously smiles
"My mind is a bit hazy right now. I'm seeing myself in two different reflections. Even if I know which one I am, I still get lost sometimes. I don't know which is real right now..."
"Is everything alright?" Neumark wryly smiles
"Something wanted to eat me. It was hungry, so it was restless and desperate. Why it looked at a bland flavor like me still baffles me. I'm like your everyday lunch while Bismarck is like steak, yet it tried to eat me first..."
(I do hope this strange behavior isn't an effect of long-term brain damage...)
The increased appetite can be excused, but Neumark is already worried about Tirpitz speaking off topic and seemingly nonsense. More importantly, Tirpitz who only smiles when she's sincere, is awfully bewildered and amused.
"By the way, doctor, what became of the creature that nearly killed Bismarck and I. If I remember, it crumbled as an empty husk..."
"We only recovered useless parts. Few metallic bits and armor platings. There was no sign it was destroyed right where it stood like..."
"Like?"
"Most of it simply disappeared into thin air. Rather than emerging from a cocoon, it turned to dust. What did you do, Tirpitz? Bismarck doesn't remember"
"What did I do...?"
Tirpitz's mind flips through moment after moment, concentrating on the moment right as the creature instantly snaps her arm like a stick.
"Hmm..."
The memory suddenly shifts backwards to the taste of fluid metal in her tongue then the faint crunching of brittle sticks with each grind of the jaws. It's the first snack she ever had upon taking in the air for the first time.
"I did something stupid but I never regretted it. If I hadn't done anything, Bismarck would have been eaten but not like the others"
Tirpitz concentrates on the correct memory this time. She recalls her body standing firmly between Bismarck and a brake figure. It's six eyes stare down like her like how a human would do the same at an insect.
Unfortunately, I cannot let you consume Bismarck, voracious high lord. Your nature will carve her out and leave nothing
Speaking. Tirpitz vaguely remembers speaking to the beast and it lets out a faint growl in response to understanding human language. Blood from its jaws drip and splats on the ground upon opening its jaws. Not only the creature feeds on steel and concrete but on living beings as well.
(Even with these memories, I don't understand why)
The memories are difficult to grasp. To be exact, she still hasn't understood the emotions behind intentions as well.
"Bismarck thought you lost an arm when you showed up. Something about nearly getting eaten"
"My arm got eaten?"
Tirpitz lifts her left arm and squeezes her hand, seemingly unsure of what those words meant. She's not ignorant when she can distinguish how Neumark is quietly observing her behind the casual tone. The repair ship is mentally taking notes of Tirpitz's movements and the latter is also quietly annoyed herself.
"Your whole body was in a mess that I didn't know what to stitch first. It looked like you were nearly mauled to death!" Neumark throws her arms in the air
"I was eaten - sorry, nearly eaten. It bit my other arm trying to bite off half of my body"
The memory is still somewhat fresh. The creature is a large predator that rejuvenates itself with each meal. A single swipe of its claws slashed open her abdomen, immediately making her fall to her knees. When it tries to grab her, it accidentally sinks one of its talons to her shoulders and a mere push grates through her flesh, shredding her heart in the process.
"I can't remember much after I passed out from my injuries..." Tirpitz shakes her head
"I'm glad you recovered quickly. I expected you wouldn't be able to move but you recovered some of your physical with...a burger" Neumark glances at the tightly crumpled plastic wrappings
It still bothers her how Tirpitz who isn't fond of some greasy Eagle Union food munches through three burgers without hesitation. In fact, Tirpitz savored each bite as if she had been starved for a long time that she would gladly fill her stomach even with food she despises.
"Anyhow, Bismarck is still worried about you. Since you're fit enough to move but not to fight, go visit her office, but equipping your rigging is still forbidden!"
Neumark quickly raises her voice when she points the edge of the clipboard to Tirpitz's face knowing she does as she would occasionally act on a whim.
"I understand..." Tirpitz reflexively raises both hands
The hunger disturbs her at the wrong moment again. Tirpitz feels the mild soreness in her throat and the twisting her stomach. She's physically sated, but some parts of her left unsated.
Bismarck's Office...
Bismarck shakes the pile of documents on her desk while she clips them with both of her hands. She sighs in relief after half of the paperwork has been taken care of, and she estimates that she will finish the rest of the work before nightfall.
"Our Wolfpack scoured the sea. Beelzebub's main body is still missing. We only retrieved a quarter worth of its chunks and plates" Mainz slides today's report in front of Bismarck
"The Sakura Empire failed and let Mammon slip not too long ago either. As for the Royal Navy, they were forced to retreat against Asmodeus and Lucifer"
Friedrich dee Grosse crosses her arms and rests her enormous chest on top of them. Some of their kansens have recovered quickly due to sustaining mild injuries. Only Bismarck and Tirpitz nearly died in the last battle. The latter ignored her allies' warning and faced the voracious beast alone while Tirpitz rushed to her side before the final blow.
"According to Richelieu, the whereabouts of Satan and Asmodeus are unknown while the namesake of their kind has been replaced by Abaddon. These seven creatures have been accidentally unleashed by the Sirens when we fought them before..." Bismarck rests her back on her chair
"We didn't know they were trying to seal them, but we opened our own Pandora's Box as a result. They're all an infection and crawls like parasites" Friedrich der Grosse scoffs, annoyed at their mistake
"Satan is impulsive and erratic while Beelzebub swallows everything in its sight. If it doesn't eat you, it takes something from you like its partner Mammon"
Bismarck spreads out seven pictures with two vague ones representing the missing Satan and Belphegor. Each creature are both amalgamations of metal and twisted flesh. A speculation of their birth is sentient machines corrupted by taking in the hedonistic information of man throughout their life.
"..."
The first picture to get Bismarck's attention is the one with Beelzebub. It has a broad torso and two large arms. The worst aspect of it is the three rows of jagged teeth and closed jagged teeth stretching from its torso up to its abdomen. It possesses poorly shaperend crystal spikes running from its back down to its tail. The crystals are merely a case to hands tightly clinging to wrists and forearms, legless bodies embracing each other, and intestines swirling to each other like an elaborate knot. Due to its thick figure, it doesn't swim to the lightless depths where there's scarcity in food and so it often targets humans, kansens, and even Sirens as its daily meal.
"Even the partner is missing"
In the second picture next to Beelzebub is Mammon who has a similar habit. Unlike the mutation in Beelzebub due to excessive eating, Mammon welds and pastes everything it desires to its body or simply steal from its victims. Some riggings of deceased kansens have been melted and rubbed on its skin to fortify its already sturdy scales. The creature possesses two pairs of arms with elongated fingers and talon-like claws. Skulls and skeletons have nearly blended on its chest as a result of humans and kansens alike being forcefully added to its body while alive and painfully met their demise being fused to melted steel. They either choke, burn, or their screaming throat simply give out their frightened heart.
"I nearly lost my life to Beelzebub until Tirpitz foolishly jumped in and let herself be targeted. I thought I would lose her too when I passed out but at least she survived..."
"Neumark said she recovered with all her limbs intact, so this is a blessing on its own" Mainz faintly smiles
"Perhaps I imagined it when I saw Tirpitz's arm get bitten off...and nearly slashed in half when it swiped her..."
Bismarck shakes her head in order to push the horrible memory away. She never thought she would still clearly recall it when her consciousness mostly drifted away back then. Even with one arm missing, Tirpitz forced her shaking legs to remain standing while her other hand was pressing her slit abdomen before her guts spilled out further.
"Do you remember more when you regained consciousness after the fight?"
"Beelzebub disappeared without a trace while my sister miraculously survived with her torso slashed and her heart nearly shredded. She wasn't breathing and she slowly lost warmth, so I dragged both myself and her away from the battlefield"
"Your quick action saved her, Bismarck. Right before Neumark declared Tirpitz dead, she gasped for air...but I think she also bit off someone's arm before passing out" Friedrich der Grosse giggled
"Beelzebub the Voracious Monstrosity. The more it ate, the stronger it grew. It became more of a monster than a steel beast. It was so unnatural that seven of them alone can render humanity extinct"
Each of those creatures' actions devastate humans in large numbers, spreading as cancer and feeding like parasites. Their origins and natures are unknown save for the Siren's attempt to seal them away for good.
"How's Tirpitz doing, Mainz?" Bismarck switches the topic
"She's up and moving normally. Neumark only commented about her strange behavior, occasional confusion in reality, and increased appetite"
"I'll track Tirpitz's recovery for the time being. Since, her mutilated body quickly healed, you don't have to worry much"
Friedrich der Grosse steps forward, immediately volunteering to watch over Tirpitz while she's still unfit for combat. It's her simple way of lessening Bismarck's anxiety that the latter refuses to outright admit to anyone.
"How did Tirpitz's body return to its original healthy state in hours? Before I passed out, I saw her get mauled that even her rigging was chewed as a snack by Beelzebub"
Two hours later...
Tirpitz repeatedly scratches her neck until it reddens while muttering incoherent words. Purple markings resembling roots of cracks with jagged teeth and thin clawed hands spread from her arms up to her cheeks. It's slightly prickling and warm, rather irritating and causing nothing but discomfort.
"Agh...I feel like I'm going mad..." Tirpitz claws at her cheeks
Her current condition leaves constantly to sink her teeth into anything and her appetite remains empty no matter how much she eats.
"Nngh!"
While Tirpitz tries to suppress the thought of turning to see her fellow kansens as a meal, her thoughts shift to a distinct and excruciating pain. She's forced to view a vision of the beast plaguing her body. It picks up several humans in a single swipe back when it's larger. Its claws squeeze the clumped humans in its hand, ensuring not to kill them right before it lifts its hand above its gaping mouth and drops them plummeting to its tongue.
"...!"
Tirpitz closes her mouth, disgusted that she could taste the squeezed blood from their bodies, the mushiness of human organs, and brittleness of their bones. The creature chewed them like jelly beans with rice crackers, savoring the mixture of human fluids spread all over its tongue.
"The more I ate the larger I grew and healed myself - no, I'm Tirpitz. Not a monster, not a monster"
Fearing the vision of its body morphing every time it absorbed kansens and Sirens alike, Tirpitz repeatedly shakes her head. She catches a glimpse of the creature splitting one of its deceased brethren's abdomen while Mammon peels off its armor and gouges its eyes.
"I'm not like that...!"
Her consciousness is seeing her in the same perspective as the monster - being the same being as the voracious beast. Tirpitz clings to her memories, pushing away the nausea because she can still taste each of its victims in its mouth.
"Tirpitz..."
"Not...like that..."
"Tirpitz"
"Not...not like that"
"Tirpitz!"
"...!"
A loud voice and repeated shaking snaps Tirpitz back to reality. She blinks a few times, recognizing the blonde woman in black as none other than Bismarck. The latter tightly grips her shoulders, anxious at Tirpitz being lost in her thoughts and muttering random words.
"Bismarck?" Tirpitz relaxes her stiff body
"Is everything alright? You look pale and sweating cold" Bismarck loosens her grip
"I just had a terrible dream about the voracious Leviathan. It ate everything...and everyone it can get his hands on" Tirpitz's voice nearly shakes
Tirpitz couldn't force herself to remain calm in front of Bismarck. She rarely expresses her honest emotions in front of others, but she trusts Bismarck even if not on the same level as Victorious.
(Something happened for Tirpitz to be this scared...)
Bismarck can feel Tirpitz's trembling body while her hands are still on her shoulders. One initial thought is how being mauled to near death left a lasting impact.
"You're...alright now. No hungry beast is going to get you here" Bismarck gently smiles
"Y-yeah..." Tirpitz takes a deep breath
"I'm just thankful that you recovered quickly" Bismarck glances at Tirpitz's left arm
"Did I lose my left arm back then?" Tirpitz clutches the sleeve on her left arm
"That's what I remembered..."
Bismarck vaguely recalls Tirpitz's left arm is fully intact but exposing her skin and the part of her sleeves bit by the creature is indeed missing. However, the rest of her body is still wounded and the slash nearly reaching her heart concerned her the most.
(Tirpitz's arm grew back and not even she knew why. That wretched beast did something to her. It disappeared before it could eat the rest of her)
The creature's body remains missing and there's no evidence it had been pulled away by another being, so she's one of the few people who believes Beelzebub isn't truly dead and won't possibly stay dead.
"By the way, what are you doing here? I thought you were busy"
"I visited Neumark and she was worried about long term effects on your physical and mental health. She mentioned you acted rather strange and mentioned you've been eating a lot" Bismarck pulls away her arms
"I see..."
Almost instantly, Tirpitz's trembling ceases and even her voice returns to her stoic yet gentle tone.
"From Iron Blood's study, these creatures are parasitic and infectious in nature. They get to you and twist your flesh. Satan drives its victims mad, turning them to indiscriminate violence until they self-destruct" Bismarck clenches her fists
"Its presence alone chokes men in their own blood. Satan doesn't cooperate well with its kind"
"According to the Sakura Empire, they're not as organized as the Sirens but they will coordinate if necessary. Beelzebub and Mammon are examples since hungry and hoarding are similar"
"Unlike Beelzebub who consumes its prey, Mammon adds its victims to its collection and decorates its body with the corpses of its victims fused with melted steel and hides everything valuable"
"..." Tirpitz quietly listens
"Asmodeus amplifies one's desire, especially their bloodlust. Akagi nearly killed herself after the overwhelming desires intoxicated her. Belphegor is the opposite in the sense-"
Bismarck keeps explaining about their new enemies when she lifts her gaze, only to see her younger sister in a trance and eerily silent. Not only that, Tirpitz is seemingly unaware that she's weakly gnawing the side of her index finger.
"Tirpitz...?" Bismarck places her hand on Tirpitz's left shoulder
Tirpitz remains in a trance and gnaws her own finger, subconsciously careful not to tear off her body part. A sense of dread only crawls to Bismarck when Tirpitz remains conscious but unresponsive.
"Bismarck?"
Bismarck?
After a few seconds, Tirpitz slowly removes her finger from her mouth and blinks in complete confusion. When Tirpitz looks up at her concern, Bismarck somehow compares the tone with the voracious beast. Both speak unsurely yet intrigued as if they had only learned the words.
(What the hell did that cursed monster do to my sister?!)
Bismarck is gradually believing Tirpitz's strange behavior isn't to be brushed off when she witnesses it herself. Even if initial tests show Tirpitz being healthy again, their enemies are much more mysterious than the Sirens and their effect on kansens are undocumented.