"Haa...haa...ehehehe..." Bie laughed amidst the remains of the darkened carcass, the viscera of which was still releasing the verdant aura it once had in life. From beyond the green veil, it looked like an unholy baptizing, the boy in the center being inducted anew into a beastly life. With shining eyes tinged with satisfaction, he patted his clothing against the bloody body underneath the fabric, waiting for it to regenerate.
"...Hey, Wanxi, what was that?" Lulac walked up to her and asked, taking in the slowly dissipating pattern of the canna lily. Wanxi swung her head to the side as she stepped back, seemingly wanting to avoid answering the question. Lulac was a bit frustrated that they hadn't been informed about it, but decided to back off after considering he had already caused one rift in the group...
He didn't need to cause another one. Maybe, even Gyuho would come to dislike him if he did that...and as far as he was concerned, that was his main friend here. Gyuho sent him a nod of affirmation when he simply backed off both verbally and physically, the periwinkle boy sending him a bright smile in turn.
"Smart. Who'll take this apart, I'm not fit to..." Before Gyuho could continue, a strong sense of discordance burgeoned within the minds of all those present. Though only four could have an inkling as to why, there was a strong feeling of being watched...a feeling so overbearing that the mere weight of the gaze threatened to crush the five in their entirety.
-The offspring of an unknown power directs its gaze at you. It settles on Gyuho.
This whispering was heard in the minds of the Guides, though for Gyuho, his name was replaced with you. The weight seemed to converge towards him as he could feel the eyes picking apart at each and every part of his body. The gaze did not come off as malicious, but instead showed curiosity bordering on sheer excitement, not unlike Bie's normal front.
-The offspring of an unknown power is surprised! It has recognized something similar in your body...it is informing a higher being. Please wait...
...
Bie struggled against the force as time trickled by, and to his surprise, the weight intensified each and every time he felt it slightly let up. Though, he also felt his body becoming firmer, despite the pain that was pleasing for him to stop. Somehow, the force aimed on him was refining his body, and so he racked his burdened body for strength as he gathered all his might to keep struggling.
Sweat streamed down, colored with the blackened undertones of blood. None but Bie struggled underneath the power holding them, and his baby blue flesh seemed to release a steady stream of light as a low sapphire glow streamed within his eyes. Red miasma surged from Ariadne's thread, slowly covering him in a sheet of hazy glow. Casmere's eyes widened, and he was surprised beyond belief...
'It is like I am witnessing the creation of a treasure right before my eyes. If that boy can receive this much from someone else's reward, then I can only imagine what the intended recipient will receive...' Casmere felt like this presence was quite similar in magnitude to Hugo Iberrfal, though fundamentally different. Whatever would happen next, it would most likely be beneficial, as such a domineering force could easily wipe them out if it chose to. Simply holding them down was a gracious warning not to attempt to leave.
-The offspring of an unknown power wishes to reveal its name to you, but was barred due to your low status. The offspring of an unknown power wishes to impart something to you, but was barred due to the low World Order. The...is getting impatient. It has decided to leave something in its stead, and sends its well wishes. It wishes to see you once again.
This part, only Gyuho could hear. From the sky, stars with a flaxen tint converged and released several energy waves as they pulsated in the bleak atmosphere. Each wave evoked even greater strength, spreading outwards before mashing inwards as if to pound the stars into a shape.
It took even more time, but soon another hour passed. The stars begun to take the shape of a pyramid, before the said structure soon dropped from the atmosphere and rapidly descended onto the ground. Five minutes passed before it formed a deep crater, the flaxen pyramid at the center as wisps of energy arose from around it and shot upwards like a pillar of light.
Once the dust settled, the weight holding everyone down vanished as if it was never there in the first place. Bie streaked upwards immediately, backflipping into the air as he flailed about. The sapphire hue was absorbed into his skin, his baby blue skin remaining the same shade, but his body felt much tauter. Even his Ink seemed to have undergone a change, as he felt as if his reserves had expanded tremendously...he would have to find an opportunity to get used to the qualitative change in his body.
Gyuho walked towards the light, the shimmering flaxen beam readily parting as if inviting the Vendetta Jackie to enter. His feet buckled as they searched for purchase, only meeting empty air as he fell to the ground.
Mist seemed to be streaming off of the pyramid, and an ankh like imprint shone above it. Somehow, the boy felt as if this was more of a false front, as if he was being looked at through a scope. In his mind, he saw the visage of...blackened, shadowy fingers pulling a trigger, the baying of beasts, the whimpers of the shot, and the flash of a muzzle. Above that rifle...was something imperceptible. No, if he even dared to attempt to visualize anything above the muzzle of that rifle, he would attract the wrong attention, that was what he felt deep in his soul.
That attention would most likely result in his death.
-The offspring of the power you pictured nods in confirmation. It tells you that you have made the right choice, and urges you to quickly pick up its gift.
'So that's what an unknown power is. Frightening...' With that in mind, he quickly approached the so-called gift and grasped it. It turned into a mote of light that was quickly absorbed into his Inner World, settling itself on what appeared to be a seat with a bonfire settled atop it. He somehow felt as if that pyramid was replacing his very heart...
-You have received Va Larai's vestige. Remolding the body. The offspring wishes that you will pass the oncoming trial and makes it's leave.
The whispering ceased, and the entity vanished. Instead, Gyuho was gritting his teeth as he felt as if his heart was being chewed on by insects and other scavengers, picking apart at the still beating flesh. His blood came to a boil, and he felt as if ants were crawling along the insides of his flesh, and he felt as if someone was openly ripping him apart as if to gorge on his intestines.
Time passed just like this, Gyuho's body soaking in the energy produced by the gift that automatically grafted itself into his Torch. A demon even stronger than the Foul Clothed Trestbeast was approaching, unseen...