บท 50: The Perspective Of Solaris (1)
It was cute that Lumina thought she could get rid of me. Was a difference in Qi much of a difference?
She forgot that I was an immortal existence…
Even if she tried 'devouring' me, I'd be a bone stuck in her throat. Not a digestible piece of flesh.
It was because our natures were too different…
For her, she was able to fuse into me thanks to the physiological traits passed onto her upon birth.
However, I was much different…
My body and soul was nearly identical to the original 'Adam Graham'. Both of us being men…
If so, how was I able to fuse into her body?
The answer was 'World Unity'.
With it, my body could become symbiotic to just about anyone. Which was the same to Lumina.
But I'd never do that…
In fact, although it was kinda disappointing to lose the initiative, I didn't feel like this situation was bad.
It was because I truly accepted her as a part of Adam. Though not in the way she would expect.
Her will was independent, sure…
Both of us had independent thought different from the original, and our 'Devils' made sure of that.
However, us being different didn't mean we were branching out from the person we once were.
It just meant that 'Adam Graham' was changing…
Lumina was originally the more outspoken version of Adam. The one who spoke what he was thinking.
Thus, it was natural that I accepted all her desires.
Through that, I could glimpse into my self-deceit.
This was my way of cultivation. How I clarified my existence and essence at the exact same time.
From within Lumina's body, my actions were mimicking her right down to what she was thinking.
Trying to understand myself through her 'mask'.
Wearing her, and ultimately trying to understand what feelings laid beneath the charming exterior.
The first thing I noticed was the condition of them.
Maybe I wasn't born I'd darkness like Lumina, but my World Unity had a sub-skill pertaining them.
I'd already took 'rent' from them in the form of excess Life Force earlier, but that didn't break the connection between me and the Beastkin. In fact, it had only served to make this sense more familiar.
I decided to call this skill 'World Unity: Yinyang Connection'. The ability to monitor my rent givers.
The signs of life I sensed in all directions were coming closer, and they weren't in a good mood.
It wasn't really certain the reason why…
The only thing I could fathom was that they existed as a tightly organised gang with unclear leadership.
The reason for thinking so was what 'we' saw…
"You smell like an Earthling." A man with an open shirt pushed away some of those who approached.
He seemed to have a charismatic air about him…
I couldn't quite get a handle on who this man was.
He seemed like the main superior the rest of them followed, but was also not dressed like the rest.
What was this odd sense of disharmony…?
"Pervert…" Lumina's words surprised both me and the new arrival. He seemed amused by her…
Please… Please stop right there!
"Where am my manners? You couldn't have gotten here unless the 'Landlord' allowed you entry. If that's truly the case, then… Welcome to our Noble Familia." The handsome maned man smiled at us.
Revealing a row of sharp and animalistic teeth…
Quite the unnerving display. It looked like the information Hyuk told us wasn't that far off.
They DID look like people worth discriminating…
Regardless, these animal-like people were pretty good. They didn't hesitate to put weapons down.
The animosity in their eyes receding somewhat.
"Such a welcoming atmosphere." There was a sarcastic ring in my female counterpart's tone.
Understandably, she wasn't blown away.
Someone who was originally a man wouldn't…
"Please don't blame us. We've heard a lot about how 'Ascenders' of this place act. How about an introduction. My name is 'Ardo Brigsy'. You?" He walked in front of her and reached out his hand.
There was a friendly smile on his face.
Though the person we originally were wouldn't ever fall for such kindness. His act was far too nice.
Thus, triggering her innate paranoia…
"My name is Lumina. I'm here to meet your ACTUAL leader." She didn't bother introducing me.
This was because our situation was beyond their ability to comprehend; not worth telling about.
However, the lion-like man seemed displeased by how she answered. Her lack of pleasantry evident.
"What makes you think I'm not the leader?" This wasn't a question he was supposed to be asking.
Even the rest of them were a little surprised.
Because such words were traitorous…!
"I think you shouldn't-"
"Are you?" Completely ignoring my words, Lumina decided NOW was the best time to be a smartass.
Her words spurred him to throw out his identity…
…but this time with the vigour of a commander:
"I am the Ace Esparda of our family. One of the highest echelons of our group. Compared to my position, who are you supposed to be exactly? A vagabond? Did you want to infiltrate the family?!"
A smirk I couldn't understand appeared on his face at that moment. One that I'f immediately caught.
How could I dig deeper into his words? Although my intelligence was high, there was little to go off.
That's when I'd unconsciously used a certain Skill.
'Inspection' of the Legendary Tier was used towards the man throwing around his influence.
Thanks to Yinyang Connection, the intensity of the information regarding them increased many times.
I could feel my brain being overworked by the excessive information, which the System let be-
No, perhaps it overloaded me exactly due to this.
Without the system keeping this Skill in check, the parts that could be done by proxy was handed over to me. The only thing I was thankful for was that it was nice enough to keep the information relevant.
It was only due to the Administration Experience and Modern Education passed to 'us' by Adam.
Since the original was used to looking through large groups of information, it made sense I could.
The way I perceived the world changed.
All within my vision and their background was followed by rows of information pertaining them.
But I made sure to filter out the excess fluff, skim some of the details, and reworded it into an essay.
Then gradually digested the data…
What I knew was put together like a document:
[Name: Ardo Brigsy
Affiliation: Noble Familia (Ace Esparda)
Innate Semblance: DUST Artistry
Description: Is able to produce a constant supply of 'Desolved Unified Strain Texture' type Coloured Steel. Had awakened this upon ascending, where upon position in Noble Familia skyrocketed.
— Main function of the Innate Gift is to help use multiple DUST colours simultaneously. Infinite supply of those types of DUST is only a subsidiary skill used to support the user in terms of spending.
Mystic Tool: Arrogant Cross
Description: A cross-shaped arm guard in its inactive form, but can transform into a shield.
— Magic is used in tandem with self protective techniques to fight opponents without being hurt.
Skills: (Redacted)
Disposition: Likes being known as loyal and having the attention of his crew. Animalistic tendencies forced upon him in the past have dominated his personality. Is defensive against his position.]
The last one seemed to be where Gaia would get her labels when determining our 'Characteristics'.
Although I couldn't see into his system, there was a lot to go off with the ability to 'read' his existence.
But that also lead me to an awful conclusion.
If the rest of what I'd read about his disposition was right, then he was about to say some 'bad' things.
Please… don't…
"Didn't I already tell you what I was here for?" My female counterpart seemed unaware of his lust.
However, he was about to make his thoughts known. Even after hiding away that creepy face.
From what I'd read: Beastkin in their own realm were persecuted, and were driven to extremes.
The ones that were gathered in this nation were those 'Extremists' who had gone off the deep end.
Some of them were spiteful by nature, while the others had twisted beliefs regarding their society.
"If you want to meet our Queen and Knight Esparda, you must become part of our family."
"So… what? Do I have to make a blood pact or something?" Lumina was ignorant to his thoughts.
Hopefully, he'd back off before he did something he wouldn't come back from… but still approached.
Did this guy not have a sense of self-preservation?
"There's only two ways to become part of our family." He spoke while stepping in front of her.
His hand flicking her hair off her shoulder while continuing: "The first is getting married in."
"And the second method?" Lumina didn't seem to react while struggling to hold back her impulses.
The stupid bastard misinterpreted this act of mercy for fear. His arm went around her back like a snake.
Making sure she couldn't back away from him…
"Have a child of the Familia's bloodline. Though this practice had been seen as disgusting in recent years, it had proven quite effective in breeding new bloods to replace those who had been slain." The maned idiot made my lose my ant compassion left.
Fine. Go ahead and chomp him down already…
"So… you want to gangbang me?" An eerie laugh escaped Lumina's mouth while looking around.
It wasn't like there weren't any women amongst the people gathered. They just turned heads away.
The males seemingly eager to have a 'taste' of her.
Now wasn't this a scene straight out of a porn vid?
Too bad the creature this Ardo bastard put in this dangerous position wouldn't sit by and let them.
Rather than drawing her sword, she put both her hands over her dantian in a protective motion.
I could feel that solid Sea of Consciousness opening up to fuse 'Yang Stars' with 'Yin Shades'.
"HAHAHAHAHA~~~!!!" A burst of laughter through her 'Empty Mask' scared away the cowardly lion.
The faces of the entire 'Noble Familia' dropped when they realised her Yin Qi was taking form.
I was the most speechless at this scene…
It wasn't that long ago Lumina had decided her Semblance clarified her essence and existence.
She had completely became her Innate Gift…
However, I had forgotten that she was more than that. Her ability to evolve was really abnormal…!
She took on the role of a Human Cauldron, but she was prohibited from losing her virginity to anyone.
Therefore, she became a new type of 'cauldron'.
Rather than being an Internal Alchemist that tried to create a 'Life Elixir' to gain immortality, she became a mother of creatures. Those many Black Cigars I'd forgotten she devoured were ingredients.
I peered into her Sea of Consciousness, only to find that things had changed. It was overlaid onto her Qi Centre, which also meant her womb was put into the equation. It made unease creep into my heart.
It was hard to figure out her thoughts whenever she wore the mask. All I knew was that it was…
…that it was 'inhuman'!
Our much deeper Yinyang Connection broke- No, it was as if she'd truly became independent from me.
This was despite me being fused into her…
It made me feel more parasitic than symbiotic. As if my belief that we were the same was just a joke.
She was no longer 'Adam'…
Thoughts no longer aligning that of someone who knew shame or self-respect. Only a hidden malice.
The womb sunk into the dark sea of Yin Qi bellow her, which was also part of her former 'Darkness'.
Within it was the many vials of Dark Steel Limit Ascension Compounds, a high concentration of Beast Stones, along with a complex formula of Spirit Stones. They were synthesised together.
"What are you planning?" I couldn't help but ask the masked avatar above. A smile across her face.
The satanic look she had made my hairs stand…
"Having kids! What else~?" She looked at me with madness in her eyes, then continued her laughter.
If I looked at this situation objectively, then it could be considered an ingenious use of what she had.
By burning up some of her True Breath and Blood Essence, the embryonic egg cells at each side of her womb started to eject out into the ocean of Yin Qi. Then was altered by the contents of the cigars.
My eyes widened as I watched those egg cells morph. They grew in size and solidified inside.
However, this wasn't the same as fertilisation.
"Yin and Yang are balanced, and their harmony create children, right?" Chills ran down my spine.
I didn't have the chance to stop her.
Around forty to fifty eggs floated up to the surface of the darkness. Their appearance was wicked.
As if they would no longer be part of humanity.
Then… something shocked me to the core. The 'stars' in the empty sky above quickly shot down.
Her Yang Qi fertilised the Yin Qi covered solid egg cells, which rapidly grew them into new beings.
On the outside of us, Lumina's physique started to become ballooned in size from the stomach area.
She morphed inhumanly while still chuckling…
The Beastkin were frightened pale. Their eyes were shaking, while others were already barfing acid.
It was a scene straight out of a horror movie.
The way she kept on smiling in their direction only grating on their nerves. Making them fear death.
Ardo managed to pull himself together at this point. He was ready to turn the tables on her.
His arm guard unfolded into a shield.
On it were several DUST compartments of the elements, as well as the purple 'Gravity DUST'.
It was at that point the bloated figure, that now looked like a giant ball with arm and legs, twitched.
A new pair of eyes emerged from congealed shadows that were converging Lumina's body.
"Hehehehe~" The satanic face giggled like a child.
A humanoid body of Yin emerged out. Making the entire gang take a whole step back in response.
They watched as the featureless marionette of the devil itself take its first steps. Like a newborn baby.
However, its eyes were anything but innocent.
"What the hell have you given birth to?!" I couldn't contain my feelings of exasperation any longer.
My words only getting one response from her:
"My fingers… My spawns…" There was no emotion in that smiling face any longer, only maliciousness.
A fireball shot from the magic shield armed by Ardo and hit the transparent mask on the crazy 'spawn'.
It seemed to have worked.
Maybe because it was newborn, but the smiling marionette didn't seem capable of using energy.
In fact, I could barely sense anything from it.
This was almost like the ability to externalise internal or magical energy had been left out.
But why…?
Seeing how the shadow creature easily fell, the Beastkin were filled by newfound vigour to fight.
"We can win this!" The cowardly lion found his courage. The rest cheered with his battle roar.
…Only for it to 'regenerate'.
At least, that's what it looked like on the outside.
What actually happened was that the 'Flesh' of the marionette reformed like it was made of water.
Which wouldn't be completely wrong, considering the Yin Concepts that created it also included 'Ice'.
Maybe that's why it felt like the thing had a trait similar to immortality, but not really there yet.
However, this much was enough to frighten them.
Especially the near instantaneous speed of the regeneration, which was even faster than mine.
I could tell what Ardo was thinking from his face.
'We can take them.' Obviously, this was what the fool would think in the face of my counterpart.
But he had made one small miscalculation…
This wasn't the only 'spawn' she gave birth to!
*Clank*
The sound of an icy boot hitting the ground made them turn their eyes to see another marionette.
Then another… and another… and again… and again… and again… and again… and again…
And they didn't seem to stop spawning…
In the face of an immortal army, there was only one option. Ardo roared, but this time while turning:
"RUUUUN!!!"
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