Chapter 240: The Big Day
It was the dead of night, and the entire city of Shatterbay appeared asleep. The usual nightlife had gone still, and even the wind had died. It was as if the city itself were holding its breath.
Ever since the Woons implemented a curfew, combat on the streets had come to a halt. No gangs stepped beyond their territory, and no parties ventured out to handle the dungeons. Only the Woon Corporation was allowed to move freely.
On one hand, it had put a massive strain on the local economy. With the gangs unable to hunt and move their product, and Users unable to enter the dungeons, everyone was feeling the loss of income. On the other, it had been almost a month without death in the streets. Something the weak celebrated and the strong weren't used to.
There was only one group in the city besides the Woons that remained unaffected by the curfew. The Church of Light. With violence forbidden and the streets kept under control, the church's members had begun moving through the city without fear.
In fact, they'd decided to expand. Not in the conventional way by adding members, but by claiming territory no one was allowed to fight them over. Specifically, the docks where the Dead Hands used to reside.
It had started as a rumor, but eventually became the biggest news to hit the city. The Dead Hands had been wiped out by the Church of Light. Most hadn't believed it at first, but it didn't take long for those curious and brave enough to confirm the truth with their own eyes.
The Dead Hands were gone, and in their place, the Church was building a new cathedral.
Everyone assumed the Dead Hands had offended someone higher up in the Church. Some felt the loss, while most celebrated. Wohan Seo-jin had made a lot of enemies over the past couple of years, so seeing his gang wiped out had brought smiles across most of the city.
No one knew that some had survived. No one knew that the Butcher's left and right hands were inside the city.
Or that one of them had never left.
Whether it was night outside or day, Gregor no longer knew. It had been over a week since he'd been moved, though he wasn't sure where they'd taken him. He only knew it couldn't have been far. He could still hear waves lapping against the shore somewhere beyond the walls, and the heavy smell of salt still clung to the air.
They'd brought him somewhere dark, into a stone room as damp as it was stagnant. No air moved against his skin, leaving nothing to disturb the thickening stench of his own body.
His only light came when they brought him food or checked his wounds. They were keeping him alive, but only barely. Still missing his limbs, he could do nothing but lie against the cold stone, listening to the waves in the distance and trying to keep control of his thoughts.
Whenever he failed, he quickly found himself sinking into something darker than the shadows surrounding him.
[Don't give up. You have to stay alive.]
'Why? I am nothing more than an angel's plaything. Everything and everyone is gone.'
[You don't know that. Come on, we've been over this. Nothing's changed. Min would never abandon you.]
A vein began to bulge along his neck as he clenched his jaw.
'What can Min do? Even if they were successful, there is no way she made it to A-rank. She would only be running to her death if she came.'
[Fine!]
The abrupt shout from his system caught Gregor by surprise, making him jerk against the stone and wince.
[You know what? I'm done. I'm done trying to convince you. You're probably right anyway. The Dead Hands are all dead. Min's either dead or too weak to do anything. Let's not even count on that demon for shit! So go ahead, bite your tongue and let's get this over with. I'm so fucking tired of hearing you bitch and whine. You're like some kid who's lost their—]
"I am not a child."
Turning his head, Gregor pressed his cheek against the stone, letting its cold surface fight the heat building beneath his skin.
"Do you think I want to give up? What choice do I have?"
[You could choose to have faith.]
"IN WHAT?!"
The shout tore out his throat and sent him into a coughing fit, blood spilling into his mouth as his body contorted. While his lungs burned, familiar sounds began somewhere beyond the room. Footsteps...then a door...more steps...the click of a switch, the jangle of keys, then metal scraping against metal as the lock on his door opened.
Light flooded the room, blinding him with nowhere to hide from it. He squeezed his eyes shut, but after so long in darkness, the glare still burned red through his eyelids.
"Still so lively. That's good. It must be nice for you, having someone to talk to. Is that why you were screaming? Are you and your Shard having a spat?"
It was a voice Gregor had grown to hate, one that followed him into his dreams whenever he managed to sleep. Cardinal Chelk stood smiling over him with his hands resting on his large belly.
"Still won't talk to me, huh? I have to admit, my feelings are hurt. After all this time we've spent together, after everything I've shared with you, you still treat me so poorly. Humans truly know no gratitude."
[Don't let him—]
"Gratitude? What should I be grateful for?"
Slapping his stomach with both hands, Chelk burst into laughter before lowering himself into an old chair, its frame creaking beneath his weight.
"Be grateful to be alive, child! As long as you still breathe, the possibilities are endless. In fact, that's why I've come today—to present you with a possibility."
Without waiting to see whether Gregor cared, Chelk crossed his legs and flicked his hand, a goblet of light taking shape in his palm.
"I've grown to like you. Maybe it's the fact that we've both shared so much, but seeing you like this has started to pain me...truly! I can't say exactly why, but I feel that if things had been different, if this world wasn't so tainted and vile, the path you walked would have aligned with my own."
Leaning forward, he reached down and took Gregor by the face, tilting his head until their eyes met.
If Gregor hadn't known better, the look on the Cardinal's face might have convinced him the man was sincere. He could even see tears gathering in his eyes.
"I want to help you by giving you a fresh start. Allow the Light of Orashal to cleanse you, and all will be forgiven and forgotten."
Not wanting to hear another word, Gregor tried to turn away, but the Cardinal's fingers tightened against his face and held him firm.
Speaking through gritted teeth, Gregor laced every word with as much venom as they could hold.
"You killed those I was supposed to protect. Destroyed my home. Butchered me like an animal. You should be asking for my forgiveness, or has the Light of Orashal blinded you so—Aagh!"
What felt like millions of needles pierced his skin at once as light poured from Chelk's eyes. Gregor's body locked against the stone, searing heat burning through him until his consciousness began to slip. Just before everything went black, Chelk released him.
"Do not take this offer lightly, human. Although I have grown fond of you, it is an offer I will only make once. Drink and be forgiven. Join us, let go of your sins, and be cleansed by the Light."
His breath returning, Gregor stared straight into the angel's eyes, his voice cold despite the ache in his throat.
"I will join if you suck my cock, you bald bird."
Small bursts of laughter escaped Gregor between rough coughs, each one scraping at his bones.
"How do you say, ah...a reach-around, da! One of those too!"
The golden goblet in Chelk's hand vanished as he rose from the chair. Gregor braced for pain, but the Cardinal didn't strike him or attack in any way. In fact, he looked genuinely disappointed.
"You have made your choice. A foolish one, but I will acknowledge your strength, human, and tell you something as a sign of my respect. Your companion, the large woman, has been spotted inside the city. It would appear our waiting hasn't been for nothing."
Taking his leave, the Cardinal stopped at the door for a moment. To Gregor, he looked like he was considering something, but apparently decided against it and quickly left the room.
[Fricken told you! If Min is back, then most likely Seo-jin is too. Told you she wouldn't abandon you.]
It took Gregor a moment for his system's voice to register through the sudden rush of thoughts.
"It has to be a lie. Why else would he say that?"
[Maybe some twisted form of pity? And maybe he's lying, but I don't think he'd waste time just fucking with you. What's to gain?]
Gregor wanted to argue, but found it hard to. Being held prisoner by the Cardinal had given him some insight into Chelk. He was an egotistical nightmare, a being who treated his every word and thought as undeniable truth. By Gregor's standards, he was detestable, but one thing he didn't seem to be was a liar. Chelk was too proud to lie. He truly saw no need for it.
'If Min is back, then I will wait. It would be sad if they came to rescue me and only found a corpse.'
[Something tells me you won't have to wait long. If they came back, that means they're ready to face the Woons. I bet they've already heard about what happened and are making plans.]
Gregor had no idea if they even knew he was still alive, but if he knew Min, and if he knew that demon, there was no way in hell they'd sit back and let Chelk get away with what he'd done to the Dead Hands.
"Hurry up, guys. I am getting tired."
Tilting his head against the cold floor to stare at the ceiling, Gregor tried to remain calm. He was assuming alot, he had no idea if Min was alone or not, but for the first time in weeks, he'd finally felt a glimpse of hope.
They were still alive. Back from the Freelands. Back from training.
Maybe, just maybe, they had a chance.
----
Sitting on the porch of the farmhouse, Min watched the artificial sunlight rise over the farm. It was morning. The big day. She hadn't slept a wink the night before, too wound up and ready to move, so instead she'd trained. Nothing too hard, just enough to keep her muscles loose and her body ready.
Taking a break, she settled into the quiet around her. The farm had been silent, but as morning took over, the soft whir of its robots began to fill the air. Sections of the walls opened, and in orderly lines, dozens of different machines rolled out to perform their morning chores.
She watched them water the crops, harvest what was ready, and tend to what wasn't. There was something soothing about it. The uniformity felt almost alien to her, watching the machines move in sync, gliding past one another without ever getting in each other's way. Something about it left her entranced, but the longer she watched, the more a quiet sadness settled in.
Her world had lost something that was playing out right in front of her. Not just the technology, but something else. A concept she couldn't quite put into words.
[I'm worried about the kid.]
Her System's voice pulled her from her thoughts. Min shook her head, ran her fingers through her hair, then pushed herself up from the porch and headed inside.
"That's why he's stayin'."
[But what if we lose?]
"We won't."
[I know, but what if—]
"Then he lives and we die. He'll be fine. He's tougher than we give him credit."
She meant it. The two had spent their remaining time enjoying the perks of the farm, but they'd trained as well, and over those few days Min had discovered something surprising about Ash. At first, the kid had complained pretty hard, and his progress had been minimal. She hadn't expected miracles with only a few days to work with him, but the boy seemed more interested in taking a beating than learning from it.
Then something changed. It happened after he finally managed to land a hit on her. Maybe that was the reason, maybe not, but whatever had clicked, Ash stopped complaining and started absorbing her training like a sponge.
He wasn't a natural, but he made up for it with his brain. Min had trained people before, and all of them had learned the same way: through their bodies. Repetition until movement became instinct. Ash was different. His body didn't need to adapt first; he needed to break down the concept, understand how it worked, and then apply it.
She'd tried teaching him a throw. After tossing him around a few times, it was clear the kid just wasn't getting it. So Min stopped, thought through what she was doing, and explained the technique piece by piece. Ash stood there working it through in his head for a moment, then grabbed her and used the throw like he'd been practicing it for years.
Once he got something, he got it.
If only he were older.
Knocking on Teal's door, Min barely had time to lower her hand before the woman opened it, as if she'd been waiting right behind it.
"Sleep at all?"
Hefting a bag onto her shoulder, she walked past Min with a tired huff.
"Not at all. You?"
"Nope. Coffee?"
"Coffee."
Neither woman bothered keeping her voice down. They didn't need to. Ash wasn't waking up no matter how much noise they made. They'd felt bad about it, but slipping the kid a sleeping potion in his cocoa had been the best option. He would've fought them if they'd tried to reason with him.
By the time they reached the kitchen, the smell of the much-needed brew hit them. Seemed their host was already ahead of them.
They drank in silence. Even when Mr. Gates brought over their cups, he didn't say a word. Nothing needed to be said that hadn't already been discussed. No matter what happened, today would decide everything.
Setting down her empty mug, Min stared into it for a while. A long while. She wasn't afraid, far from it. She just wasn't ready.
"What time is it?"
"Half past seven. Would you like me to make breakfast?"
Seeing Min wasn't going to answer, Teal looked up at the robot and gave him a weak smile.
"No. Doubt we could eat."
A sudden slam made Teal jump and sent Mr. Gates spinning toward the sound. Min had planted both fists on the table and shot to her feet.
"Fuck it! You ready?!"
Frowning at the large woman, Teal rolled her eyes before pushing herself up.
"What's the coffee for when you have a Min?"
Whirring softly in front of them, Mr. Gates pressed a hand against his chest, opening a small compartment with a click. He removed a small device and held it out to Teal.
"This will bypass the lock on the vault. If you need to escape, don't hesitate to come back. I still don't agree with you going, so the least you could do is make sure you return."
Taking the device, Teal held his cold black metal hands for a moment.
"I'll try my best. Make sure you take care of Ash no matter what. He's a good kid. He deserves to be happy."
"I will."
"Oh, quit it! Acting like we're dead already. Jackasses."
Tossing an insult back as she followed, Teal trailed Min out of the farmhouse. The pair didn't linger. They left the farm and vault behind, passed through the damp, dilapidated sewers without trouble, then finally climbed back to the surface.
Now all they had to do was wait.
They didn't have to wait long.
Both women nearly jumped when something suddenly wrapped around their waists. They looked down, saw nothing, and relaxed as invisible tendrils pulled them off their feet and carried them into the sky.