Chapter Thirty-Four - Iuty, Part 2

Seiko jumped towards Iuty, her gun strapped behind her back as she extended her arms towards the dark figure. As the sludges of attacks went toward Seiko, her cloak acted defensively and reflected all the attacks. Her momentum did not slow down as she landed a few feet away from the person. The cloak swept and swung in the air, clearing the mold rushing towards Seiko.

Seiko was able to take one step at a time as both entities battled for territory. Seiko’s steps slowed down the closer she got to Iuty, but in the end, she did manage to reach him. She launched herself towards the boy, and she hugged him.

The mold dissipated and I could see the figure and his facial features. He was an even younger boy, about the age of my Earth students and the same streak of ashy gray hair and white streaks. They really do look like siblings.

“Iuty!”

“Sister… I am not me. Not- not anymore.” He managed to speak out.

“No, you will always be my family, my brother!”

Seiko’s words were truly heartfelt. The tears began raining down as she refused to let go when the brother was attempting to squirm away.

“You don’t understand… The Nameless has control of me.”

I shuddered at the name. Well nameless. The person in control in which I recalled learning a little bit. An entity that lost control of themselves and took over the Tower of Stars. This might be who Iuty might be talking about.

“We’ll break it, we’ll break it off and free you!”

“Papaya, we’ll clear this tower with everyone.”

There is the camaraderie building up as the notion of climbing this whole thing gets easier with a bigger group. But at the same time Iuty is under some spell or mind control, he will not be able to provide some help climbing and battling other enemies.

Just as I was still pondering, an explosion occurred where Seiko and Iuty stood. Seiko was blown away by Iuty as the darkness took over him once more and we could see a neon white glow in his eyes. His evil self was back and I presumed that the Iuty Seiko wants to save is gone. But we are a party, and one person’s goal is everyone’s goal. So in the end, we will fight to get him back.

I splash my tail some more at the incoming mold attack, effectively purifying the area like if I were an exorcist. Olive has deployed some red leaves in which she is using the heat and hot air to create a safe zone for herself. Seiko’s bullets are able to keep the mold at bay. All in all, it looks like magic can keep other magic occupied like two similar forces clashing and cancelling out.

I look at my virtual timer and see that I have around five more minutes left. I don’t have any other plans or tails that I think are effective with this situation, but if my mind jumps back to my past life, I will seriously break down.

Seiko tries once more with her previous strategy. She jumps and this time uses her gun and cloak to gain more distance towards her destination. Her brother keeps the barrage going as she does not struggle to gain more ground towards him.

“Iuty, come home.”

She wraps herself around him, but the mold also overtakes her.

“Iuty.”

No answer.

“Iuty!” I yell at him.

“What?”

I am in a white space. Whenever I hit my head hard in battle and start to lose consciousness, I feel like this is the place I would go. A state of emptiness and healing. A realm in which you try to find yourself. But in this case it is me and my brother here. We both wear the traditional clothing of our village.

“I’m only going to say this once. But I’m your older sister. So I’m going to save you. I don’t care if you have the strongest magic and a connection to our god. I’m your big sister, and you have to listen to me!”

“That’s all you wanted to say?”

“Oh ho ho! So you want me to say more?”

“No, I’m good. I think I understand what you want. You want me to break free, but it’s not a question of willpower. This being, The Nameless, they possess power beyond a god. Beyond me and everyone else in this world.”

“If that were true, they’d be on the Surface by now.”

“Maybe.”

“Tell you what. Nothing is your fault. There was no way we could've known that disaster was waiting for us when we got out of the third floor. Even if we went with our family and got out early, there is no way of knowing if the Tower of Stars was still looming over the door at that time. Believe me, it took me months to find forgiveness in myself.”

“Was that all it took? Time?”

“Time and companionship. Knowing that you are someone and matter to others. You matter to me. You will always matter to me!”

Iuty breaks down crying. This is a necessary step for him to take so that we can advance. As an Ocean Slug, it is my mission to not let any more unnecessary deaths happen like my family and Slug Beach Town.

“Seiko! I don’t think I can see a way out of this. Not unless The Nameless dies.”

“Then we’ll find a way, together.”

“Sounds good. Our cloaks are made of material left behind by the Blight God, something I’ve heard mom say hundred times, so I leave it to you to contain me.”

“On it, after all, I am your big sister!” I say proudly.

The mold splashes in all directions as I can see Seiko clearly again. Her arm is extended grabbing her brother’s shoulder. The cloak slithers taking a serpent form and crawls rapidly up her back and into her shoulder and arm. As it gazes downwards towards Iuty, it extends into a blanket form covering the dark figure completely. The blanket cloak falls as if it was affected by only gravity and the mold crawls slowly back to its source.

My tail transforms back to the lizard form as I see Seiko pick up her cloak and hug it close to her face.

“Iuty is inside the cloak?”
“Yes, but only temporarily. He is not in control and will not be able to help us at all during the climb, we will have to complete the Tower of Stars to fully save him.”

There is a new enthusiasm and shine in Seiko’s eyes. That is good to see in her.

“All right then, then it is usual Ocean Slugs business!” I said leading the team back into the Paan cube.