章節 1385: Abyss
Ever since the collapse of modern society, the most prosperous groups, outside of those who quickly acquiesced to the Empire, were the various gangs and religious communities. Both typically relied on fearmongering and extreme violence to maintain control over their territories. Thus, if you wanted to avoid becoming a victim, the only viable options were to either flee or become an active member of the local gang. Even this didn't guarantee your safety, however, as many regions had become lawless wastelands where territorial disputes and squabbles over supplies became increasingly common.
In the early days of the fall, gun violence had reigned supreme over most regions but, with no way to replenish their stock of ammunition, people defaulted to increasingly visceral and medieval methods of violence. As a result, it wasn't uncommon to see people walking around with tire irons, kitchen knives, baseball bats, golf clubs, and even pieces of driftwood. Most simply hoped to deter attackers but, in an increasing number of cases, these formerly innocuous items became deadly instruments...
From atop a relatively colorful building in Barcelona, Spain, a city once reputed for its art and culture, Sherlock silently observed several small groups of people patrolling, many doing their best to avoid each other. He could see that most of them were afraid, fearful of the world and the dark days ahead of them. Their everyday lives were now wrought with uncertainty so, in order to preserve even the most minuscule amount of control over their destiny, they banded together for fear of being alone and isolated in an unforgiving world.
After exhaling a thin line of smoke from his slightly parted lips, Sherlock, to no particular listener, muttered, "Tis a shame, really...I had never underestimated humanity as a base and barbaric species but, to see them brought low in such a short period of time...I can't help but mourn being born as a human myself. These people join groups in order to resist violence but, by throwing their lot in with one of the very groups perpetuating said violence, they isolate themselves from everyone else...such foolish creatures..."
Though she knew he hadn't been addressing her, Sherlock's remark elicited a sensuous laugh from Lilith, her voice carrying a peculiar echo that stirred the instincts of most men to action. She then wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her head against his back as she mused, "Even if they were twice as hopeless, you would still do your best for them, wouldn't you~? That is the charm of humanity, really. They are brought into this world without purpose, their lives holding no meaning beyond what they, themselves, have decided. Though easy to manipulate, there are always outliers who appear in each generation, distinguishing themselves from the norm and elevating their entire species as a result...they are so full of...potential..."
Without minding the soft feeling pressing against his back, Sherlock gave a curt nod in response to Lilith's words before placing his pipe into a small container and saying, "Well, shall we get to work, my curious companion? The stage is already set, let's not keep the other actors waiting..."
---
Hugo had never been fond of violence. Though he was much larger than other boys his age, more than a head taller than most, he had always been what many refer to as a 'gentle giant'. Before the fall it had been his dream to become a Veterinarian but, now that the world had gone to hell, he had been forced by his cousin, Carlos, to join the local gang in order to protect his family. His only other option had been to flee but, with a sick mother and a younger sister, this had been unthinkable.
From the moment he first laid eyes upon his little sister, Hugo felt as if she had been an angel who had blessed their lives with her presence. Though she had lost a bit of this charm as she grew older, he would still do everything in his power to keep her safe. She, nor any child, deserved to suffer in this cold and dark world, a place where former neighbors, people you had been friendly with for years, turned into people that would readily stab you in the back for a couple of canned goods.
Were it up to him, Hugo would have used 'God's Light' to take all of the children away from this hellish world. Though their families would have been devastated, it was better than forcing them to live in a world and society that had seemingly abandoned them. There was no hope of pursuing a peaceful life any longer as, rather than get better with time, things had only become more chaotic as people became increasingly more familiar with witchcraft and magic.
Hugo had been raised as a fervent Catholic thus, while others learned how to start fires with their hands or shoot balls of darkness from their fingertips, he relied on his brute strength and his belief in God to keep him safe. He, like many others, believed this was the onset of the End of Days, the precursor to the War between Heaven and Hell. They had already seen the advent of the Devil so, in anticipation of Christ's return, he hardened his heart with each passing day, dreaming of one day seeing the Kingdom of God after the end of these seven years of torment...
It was a combination of his beliefs, his family, and his nature, that propelled Hugo, upon seeing a little white girl in a strange white dress, to flusteredly whisper, "Hoi! Chica, get out of here! It's not safe to be out on your own like this!"
Rather than obey the man nearly twice her size and several times her weight, the little girl cocked her head to the side, a complex expression on her face as she stated, "You should leave this place. If you are here when the others arrive, something terrible will happen..."
Hearing the little girl's remark, Hugo looked over his shoulder, his face colored with anxiety and doubt as his cadre's voices revealed just how close they were to his position. He had originally left the group to relieve himself so it wouldn't even take them a few seconds to reach the alleyway he was located. When that happened, something terrible might happen to the little girl before him so, fearing for her safety, he made a shooing gesture, hushedly exclaiming, "Get out of here! Go home, get! Vete! Vete!"
With an expression growing increasingly more frustrated with each passing moment, the little girl eventually stamped her feet in response to Hugo's insistence, shouting, "You should be the one leaving, you, you dumb idiot! Do you really think its normal to encounter someone like me in the middle of an alleyway like this...!?"
Though he somewhat expected the little girl to scream and run away, Hugo never expected her to suddenly shout directly at him. She showed absolutely no fear and, processing her words, he quickly understood she wasn't a normal girl. Despite this, he couldn't just ignore his brotherly instincts so, even as his survival instincts screamed at him to run away, he ultimately snatched up the shouting girl and took off running. One of his fellow gang members had called out when he heard the girl's shout so, without thinking, Hugo just ran as fast as his trunk-like legs could take him.
Contrary to expectations, the little girl didn't outright resist being carried. Rather, she became almost unnaturally docile, her body turning limp as a chill passed from her body and into his arms. If not for the fact she was glaring at him, Hugo would have believed he was holding a corpse, something he had the misfortune of experiencing several times in the last few weeks. This made the little girl seem even more dangerous and, before he knew it, Hugo could feel tears pouring from his eyes as, even if he managed to run away, he didn't really know what to do after this.
Seeing the giant-like man suddenly break into tears, the white-haired girl released a frustrated groan before rolling her eyes and commenting, "You really are an idiot..." in a dull tone. Then, before Hugo could respond, a wiry-looking man with a lanky frame, deeply set eyes, and a large nose cut off his path. From behind, his other three companions quickly caught up as, while strong, Hugo had never been fleet of foot.
With a malicious grin on his mouse-like face, the lanky man in front began to tap a rusted machete against his leg as he coldly stated, "Where you going, cabrón? Why you tryna run away and keep the good stuff to yourself? C'mon, tú, hand over the girl and we won't have to tell the boss you tried to run away..."
Following the wiry man's words, one of the men behind Hugo was the next to speak up, saying in a cautious tone, "Hoi, Hugo, don't do anything stupid. Come on, man, give up the girl. Think of Carlos and Nina..."
Though he was surrounded on all sides, Hugo would never forgive himself if he just abandoned someone he had tried to save. His instincts told him the girl didn't actually need his help but, with her appearance, his nature overwhelmed the voices in his head that told him to run away. Besides, it was already too late to back down now as, even if he gave up the girl, the wiry man, Alonzo, would never let him go. Even if he wasn't the one to do the deed, he would undoubtedly tell their boss what he had done, sealing his fate.
Knowing there were no paths forward, Hugo clenched his teeth and resolved to make one. He held the girl a little tighter and, without bothering to respond to the men's words, charged forward with the momentum of a mountain. This caused Alonzo to startle like a cockroach when the lights were turned on but, due to his violent nature, he still managed to swing the machete in his hand. As a result, Hugo got a shallow cut along his left shoulder but, in turn, he barreled through Alonzo like a car crashing through a fruit stall.
Unfortunately, though the blade of the machete had become dull over the past few weeks, the encrusted blood and other feces it had accumulated made even small nicks turn into nightmarish wounds when they got infected. Hugo had seen many of Alonzo's victims beg for death due to the intense fevers and other detrimental effects so, if he didn't clean his wound soon, he was all but guaranteed to suffer the same fate. Before that, however, he would take his mother and sister to the nearest food distribution center as, even if it was operated by the Devil, they could find shelter there for a short while...
Just as Hugo was about to turn the corner and disappear into another alleyway, a thunderous crack range out, followed by an impact, intense pain, and a searing sensation...
Hugo knew he had been shot but even this wasn't enough to immediately stop him. Though his knees began to feel weak, his head murky, and his feet like lead, he continued forward; His will to protect his family giving him the strength to continue...
As Hugo continued to force himself to take one step after the other, the girl in his arms suddenly released a frustrated sigh. In the very next moment, another thunderous crack echoed through the alleyway they had just departed, this time knocking Hugo off his unsteady feet. At the same time, the girl in his arms broke free, seemingly without any difficulty, avoiding the fate of being crushed under his weight. Then, with a pouting expression on her face, she looked down at him and complained, "I might have told you to run away but I never said to take me with you! Really, you are such a stupid fool...!"
Hearing the little girl's complaints, Hugo attempted to laugh but, after being shot in the lung, the best he could do was issue a pained cough before saying, "Run away...I don't know what you want to do but don't do it...just...run away...please..."
Instead of obeying Hugo's wishes, the little girl huffed in response to his words before unhesitantly walking toward the group of three men barreling down the alleyway. This caused alarm bells to ring in the men's minds but, before they were able to regret their course of action, the girl extended her hand. With this simple action, the darkness in the alleyway became absolute, all light fading away in an instant as inky shadows enveloped the men.
For a brief moment, the only thing that could be seen was the icy blue eyes of the girl, blazing like ghostly flames within the abyssal black void that had enveloped the alleyway. Following this, against all common sense, a toothy grin appeared within the darkness, expanding far beyond the bounds of a person's face. It continued to grow, forming a maw of shark-like teeth that, upon reaching several meters across, opened to reveal a swirly abyss. At the very center of this vortex, a singular eye could be seen staring out, it's iris blazing with a malicious purple light that far exceeded the illumination of the two ghostly blue eyes floating in the void...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Purpose is something to you give yourself...','A gentle giant','If you gaze into the abyss long enough, you will find yourself, not the observer, but the one being observed~')
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章節 1386: Perspective
There were some things that the minds of men were simply incapable of comprehending. Though they were given limitless imaginations, allowing them to rationalize even abstract concepts, there were times when they were presented with things they simply couldn't, or instinctually resisted, trying to understand. Such was the case with the massive maw of teeth, the swirling vortex within, the malicious purple eyes, and the absolute darkness that made them doubt whether or not they even existed...
The only thing the men knew for certain was the chill that now permeated everything they once believed to be themselves. It was this, combined with an overwhelming sense of dread, that allowed them, at least for the time being, to know they still existed. Whether or not they were still alive was another matter entirely, however, as all other feelings had long-since faded away. Even the passage of time had stagnated to the point where they didn't know whether ten seconds or ten years had passed...
Fortunately, just as the maw seemed to close around them, the vortex within shredding them apart in its chaotic tide, a sound similar to glass breaking cut through them like vicious shards. In the next moment, they fell like marionettes with their strings cut, the light in their eyes having faded almost completely as the white-haired girl, with furrowed brows, exclaimed, "Who is it!? You dare interrupt Betty's vengeance...!?"
In response to the girl's outburst, the rhythmic tapping of a cane could be heard as, from the far end of the alleyway, an inky-haired gentleman wearing a modified Inverness coat appeared. This caused the girl, self-identified as Betty, to glower as she muttered, "You are the one that has been following Betty...a dog of that heartless man..."
Hearing the girl's biting remark toward Vahn, the man issued a light hum before tapping his cane on the concrete, stating in a polite tone, "As this is our first time meeting, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sherlock Holmes, Master Detective. Though it is not the first time I've been called a dog, I would rather you address me in a less abrasive manner."
As Sherlock introduced himself, several mechanical limbs appeared from within his coat, each ending with a golden magnifying glass adorned with complex runes. This caused the girl to take a few steps back, her expression darkening as she venomously stated, "To think, even someone as famous as you is now nothing more than a dog serving the Empire. Tell me, are you proud of what your Master has done to this world...!?"
Ever the gentleman, Sherlock allowed Betty to finish with her outburst before stating in the same casual tone as before, "I'll not deny that things progressed in a rather...regrettable...way. However, I have little to do with the decisions made by our idealistic Emperor. All I seek is the truth in all things. Now, please enlighten me, Miss Betty...if you are so upset by the actions of the Emperor, what, might I ask, gives you the right to pass judgment onto more than fifty men and women? Tell me, why do you always have a sadistic smile on your face when watching them suffer?"
Rather than respond to Sherlock's words, Betty clenched her teeth before spontaneously pulling up her skirt, revealing that, unlike the rest of her pure white outfit, she was wearing black lace panties, complete with tiny white ribbons. Though this was noted by Sherlock, his expression didn't change in the slightest. Instead, he waited for several seconds, his open pocket watch ticking loudly in his left hand.
Seeing Sherlock unharmed, Betty's expression became darker than ever before as she released the edges of her dress and asked, "Are you a eunuch or something? How can you feel nothing when a woman is exposing herself to you?"
Hearing Betty refer to herself as a woman, Sherlock cocked his eyebrow in mild surprise, an action that caused the white-haired girl's brows to twitch. Then, to further exacerbate matters, he plainly stated, "You'll have to forgive me...I'm afraid women of your...stature...don't suit my preferences. Still, I must thank you for confirming my suspicions. I'm curious, do you have any actual powers outside of messing with people's minds? If not...well, I'm afraid this will be a little anti-climactic."
Incensed by Sherlock's words, Betty hunched over, her hands extended slightly to her sides as she began to laugh in an eerie 'kukuku' pattern. From beneath her perfectly straight bangs, her blue eyes shimmered with a cold light as she asked, "You think you can defeat me? You, a dog who can't even begin to comprehend the truth you seek!? Well, bear witness, Sherlock Holmes, to the endlessness that transcends all things!! You want the truth? Fine! Experience it for all eternity...!"
Following Betty's outburst, it felt like the entire world had started to tremble, everything from the ground beneath their feet, the buildings in their surroundings, and even the void itself quaking as a result of the aura radiating from her body. This was enough to change Sherlock's expression to a far more serious one as, contrary to his initial speculation, it seemed that Betty did, in fact, possess a considerable amount of power...
Before Sherlock could interrupt whatever Betty had planned, the latter began vomiting an endless stream of black liquid as her previously white hair and dress shifted to a shade of purple akin to an inky black. At the same time, her dress seemed to become more organic, gaining a hide-like quality as the frills turned into sharp, fang-like protrusions. Even her previously fair skin gained a purple hue while, affected by the encroaching inky-black liquid, her legs became pitch black, losing their shape and becoming something akin to a mass of darkness...
Despite realizing he had erred, Sherlock remained completely calm in response to Betty's sudden transformation. Though he couldn't understand exactly how strong she was, he was able to deduce that her power was still lacking in comparison to the more monstrous entities associated with the Empire. Thus, while pulling out his pipe and stuffing a pinch of tobacco into the end, he muttered, "Lilith, be a dear and help our friend here calm down, will you?"
Immediately following Sherlock's words, a sensuous voice, appearing from the voice itself, stated, "As you will, Master~." Then, just as Betty seemed like she was preparing an attack, Lilith, appearing in her true form, appeared right in front of her. This caused Betty to immediately shift the target of her attack but, before she could execute it, Lilith's clawed hand, covered in sleek black scales, closed around her neck. In the next moment, they were both propelled toward the sky at hypersonic speed, the buildings in the surroundings collapsing due to the force of Lilith's leap.
Though his combat potential wasn't exactly low, Sherlock could tell at a glance that Betty was far stronger than him. Leaving her to Lilith was the most efficient course of action so, while they were wreaking havoc within the sky above, he made his way over to the unconscious Hugo. The other men were beyond salvation at this point but, from the very beginning, Betty had gone out of her way to spare the giant of a man.
Sherlock wasn't arrogant enough to consider everyone who opposed the Empire as evil. He, like Vahn, accepted that the things they were doing weren't good, at least from the perspective of humanity. Though humans would undoubtedly prosper under the rule of the Empire in the future, the main purpose behind Vahn's actions had been to ensure 'everyone' was allowed to be happy, not just humanity. The latter had squandered the planet they lived on, subjugated their own species, and wiped out thousands of others. It would be impossible to create a prosperous world without drastic change so, while most humans hated the Empire, nearly every other race saw Vahn as a ray of hope, a chance to return from the brink of extinction.
Still, this meant there would be many people, both good and evil, who opposed the Empire's rule. It was easy to see from Betty's modus operandi that she wasn't necessarily a bad person. Rather, most of her victims had been rather vile individuals her predated on others. Her power seemed to trigger in response to wicked thoughts and ill intent so, if you harbored no such intentions toward her, she was effectively powerless...well, at least in her base state...
Assuming that Betty was part of the same group that had appeared a month prior, there was a good chance their enemies considered themselves the 'Heroes' trying to save the world. Since this wasn't far from the truth, it created quite the quandary from the Empire's perspective as, with Vahn's nature, he was unable to go all out against those who, on a fundamental level, were justified in their actions. Because of this, it was up to those who supported Vahn to prevent him from having to interact with these types of people as, if he had to crush Heroes fighting for justice, it would undoubtedly weigh heavily on his heart and mind...
While wondering how he ended up with such a paradoxical Master, Sherlock bent down, placing his palm against the unconscious Hugo's back, healing him in an instant. At this point, he had mastered every form of Thaumaturgy, at least in theory, so he was able to use nearly every spell that had been recorded within the records of the Empire. His only real weaknesses were his lack of reserves and, as a matter of principle, his unwillingness to fight unless it was absolutely necessary.
Fortunately, Lilith had no such principles so, high in the sky above Barcelona, a rather terrifying battle was taking place between her and an ever-expanding mass of darkness. Despite the latter seemingly having no form at all, it would, at times, appear like a mass of black flesh with a vortex-like maw filled with vibrant yellow teeth. In the next moment, however, it would look more like a storm cloud, albeit one that moved around and proactively attacked the phantom-like Lilith at every opportunity...
Despite the fact that her opponent was growing progressively stronger with time, Lilith was enjoying herself quite a bit. There was still a vast gulf between her and the amalgamation of darkness so, with this being the first time she could cut loose in thousands of years, she wanted to enjoy the moment to the fullest. Thus, rather than try and end it as swiftly as possible, she would periodically form long spears of pure white light, each more than ten meters in length. These caused Betty great pain and, even though the darkness continued to increase in size, Lilith could tell her attacks were eating away at the former's stamina.
In a desperate attempt to deal some damage in return, the black cloud shifted into its more organic form for a brief moment, the end facing Lilith opening to reveal a blood-red vortex filled with row upon row of teeth. At the back of its throat, a furiously luminescent purple eye could be seen and, despite the fact it didn't have anything like an eyelid, it was very easy to tell it was angry. As if to emphasize this, it shot out a purple laser that, despite Lilith's best efforts, she was unable to evade. Instead, she used her wings to envelop her own body, protecting herself from the magical attack that cut through the skies, reaching far out into deep space...
When the thick beam of purple light faded away, Lilith's wings unfurled to reveal her undamaged figure and the seductive smile on her face. She couldn't help but lick her lips in anticipation and, if not for the fact Sherlock was watching her, she wouldn't have been able to resist giving in to her more carnal urges.
Since it would become increasingly difficult to hold back, as pain only made her more excited, Lilith decided to bring an end to the fight. She flicked all six of her wings, ascending so quickly it appeared as if she had teleported several thousand meters in an instant. Once she reached the pinnacle of her ascent, a pulse of energy erupted from her body, carrying with it a tremendous force that dispersed all of the surrounding clouds and even affecting the buildings below. Then, shrouded in an aura of purple energy, she descended from the sky with meteoric force, crashing into the mass of darkness and dispersing it in an instant...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'RIP Betty. Sherlock is stone-cold xD...','Even Master Detectives aren't without faults','Lilith be like, "Harder...(UwU)"')
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