236. A Familiar Voice

Lash after lash, with no cover in the way they were subjected to sweeping red whips. Avoiding them was a simple task. But avoiding 7 was nigh impossible. When they tried to move towards cover, a whip would precisely intercept. The sheer reach of these weapons was a staggering 30 meters.

They were cornered. Trapped within a ring of red and a wall of fire. But never did they consider surrendering. It was not a vice of their pride as wolves. It was their uncorrupted virtue.

“… Do you think Ber will ever forgive me?”

“She won’t forgive you if you’re loathing around like that! You also need to stand up for yourself because you know that it wasn’t your fault! I don’t need to act as the eldest sister every time to fix up every little thing between you two!” Cer snapped. “… Serum G’s effects are disappearing. More and more I just want to let loose and howl at everything that’s happened. Don’t disappear and give me a reason to! Ouch – AAAAAAACH!”

A stray whip cleaved off an ear, as another claimed the tip of her tail. Her agony could not be conveyed by her voice, only by her actions as she ravenously bit in every direction possible.

“CER!”

“WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF MORE ALREADY! We got a healer on our side so cut the act and keep fighting! I wanna rush up to them and rip their throats out but that puts us in the firing line! Look at them… getting information from Impuritas and feigning ignorance. Loyal to their ‘Queen’, or king with that Marduk Beholder. Where the fuck is your worth!?” Cer spat whatever came to mind without filter. It was not the pain that pushed her, rather, it was the act of overwhelming oppression that caused her to begin lashing out like a cornered rat.

“… Hearts that don’t even belong to them…” Res uttered, right as her back was lacerated by the whip, tearing through the fabric of her suit.

Their mana had finally been depleted, and at once, the Electric Field disappeared.

They could no longer conjure their magic, and they were as vulnerable as ever. The lashes eventually attached itself along their bodies, constricting them as it kept them in place. And whip after whip, Cer and Res defiantly bled as they were finally caught by the Midnight Collection Team.

“It was inevitable. But for 7 Moons and a Star it is a travesty. Hilarious how absurdly powerful Serum S enhances an individual.” The Arachnid Star spoke, still wary of drawing too near in case they had other methods of combat. “‘Galvanic Blood’. I can’t imagine what rouses such an unconventional magic. At the very least, you’re not using Infusions. That would be a nightmare to deal with.”

“I wonder what our Queen wishes to do with your blood.” The red-skinned Orc spoke. “Different from what the orders of the other Queens –!?”

Suddenly, the Dragnoid severed the arm of the Orc, instantly causing him to shut his mouth.

“Our mission isn’t to question them. Remember that. I hope your next iterations aren’t as foolish. Grow stronger tendons next time.”

“The Queens answer only to Marduk.” Another Moon took the second arm of the Orc before they were kicked forward. “Go. Search for anything out of the ordinary. Soooo~ Say we take their eyes and tongues? The other one seemed upset about their missing hand!”

The Orc stumbled forward, never questioning the order. She marched towards the wrapped Cer and Res, who bled as the red whips dug into their flesh like barbed wire. Even without arms there was much they could do. And with the despised Jesters left vulnerably in place, mused thoughts of torture ran through their minds.

“… these things got an upgrade, huh? They’re not the normal Unstable Capturers.” Cer uttered. “Multiplying our magic usage. What a bad matchup for an Atelier that forfeits magic.”

“… The Retrofitters… Tch. They’ve – Have they been making blueprints for them?” Res scathingly came to the realization. “So they weren’t being murdered. They were being kidnapped.”

“Retrofitters are too heavy to haul alone. We had some friends to help us. Coins and a little bit of paper can do all manner of incredible things. So magic becomes laughable… That reminds me.” The Orc spoke, glancing over their shoulder.

The Arachnid only smiled and drew several pieces of paper from her Dimensional Storage.

“The gray-haired ‘Librarians’, as they call themselves, were willing to offer a hand in your capture. Amusing isn’t it? We used to hunt them for fun until the order of a cease fire broke out. You Jesters must be hated universally~ Whether it be in those celestial heavens –” She spoke flickering through the pages as Cer and Res began to struggle but to no avail.

“– Or the hell of our creation. Don’t take it personally. This is our mission… and our pleasure. I wonder if the Hungry will be able to make little versions of you. Serum G made you all forget how to live~ Firstly, let takes those eyes –!”

Reaching forward with the end of her spider-like foot, she brought it close to Res eyes as the crimson tethers held her tightly in place. With no avenue to scream or struggle, Res could only wait for the inevitable with clenched teeth.

However, the tip never reached her.

A bright white fluid sprayed over her face as the leg was severed. It fell like a hollow stick, landing with a dull thud as a major gash formed between her and the wolves.

“Eh…? What on Elysia…?”

It wasn’t only that leg. Several others had fallen, and half of her body was lacerated. Stumbling backwards, she realized that the marking in the ground resembled a giant claw. Then, emerging from behind the only structure left standing – which was the pale egg, now hatched – was a naked wolf Demi-human.

Crimson eyes. Black hair. A puffy tail with a white tip, and a body of a well-endowed woman. But most striking of all were her arms, which were replaced with giant, feathered claws that rested beside her like curled scythes.

No one knew who she was. Where she came from. Or how she appeared without being noticed by the observant Moons. Cer and Res stared at her with fascination. Something deep down told them they knew who she was, but they couldn’t put a finger on it. They wanted to utter something, but their voices could not leave their lips.

Then, the woman spoke.

Cer’s grin grew by thousandfold, and Res’ eyes widened as tears began to silently form. They glistened as they heard the voice of their beloved sister.

“… What… gives you the right to think you can take her eyes? From me to them – Why is that everyone wants to snoop in on our happiness? And when I finally overcame this rut, I just arrive at a new one. Trying to break me wasn’t enough, so you target them…” The power in her voice shook them.

It was as though they were in the presence of a Corrupted. And as her right arm grew into a spectacular wing, she gazed upon them with crimson eyes that sewed terror into them.

Them, who had endured more than a hundred deaths.

“Frost was right. Scarlet Logic is better off being burnt to the ground… Nothing in this world is right. But her? Yeah… I don’t think I could call this world ‘home’ so long as – as… AS YOU’RE STILL IN IT! VOICE IN MY HEAD! IS THIS ENOUGH EMOTIONS FOR ME TO WIPE THEM OUT!?”