Grit.
The only thing he could have.
There wasn't anyone he could call a family.
The world was unfair, but he grew used to it.
They played.
He studied.
They smiled.
He frowned.
They were united.
He was alienated.
They were taught.
He taught himself.
They ate.
He starved.
They felt warmth.
He felt coldness.
They lived life.
He worked.
Yes.
The only thing he could have was grit…
If not, then what else could he hold onto?
Hope always looked farfetched.
Expect someone to just turn to him with an offering hand?
As if.
He had seen people in a worse place, rotting by their lonesome.
It was likely he would end up the same if all he did was wait for some kind of chance.
But what was this?
Suddenly, all he worked for, his home, job, and life became dust at the end of obsidian spikes tearing from the ground.
Dead in the blink of an eye but alive in the next.
A war with monsters?
The Queen?
Since when?
How?
Why?
There was no time to ponder.
Monsters were going for his throat.
Holding onto his weapon, he fought.
Despite losing what he had worked for, he still had it.
Grit.
But…
"Pull your weight!" "You are going to be transferred." "You are easy to replace…" "How long until you catch up?" "Why did you come back?" "You left them all to die." "Why him… why couldn't it be you?!"
He wasn't the only one to lose something, everyone did…
So why, when they all had something in common, were so bitter?
Is this why their glare and words affected him more than ever?
Somewhere inside his heart, did he expect something better when they were in the same situation, fighting the same enemies?
He knew he wasn't extraordinary…
However, it didn't crumble.
Even if it was hard to distinguish grit from desperation at his lowest point, he kept on.
Trampled over and torn to pieces, he desperately held it. With his calloused hands and gritted teeth, he would never let go.
But then, it happened.
A visit with a doctor before he was 'let go of.' He didn't pay much attention.
He thought of it as another show where he would be labeled as a lazy or inefficient individual.
They kept playing such games even in a world on the verge of ruin. As if to show that everyone had a chance if they worked hard enough.
He didn't work hard, so that's why he was here…
'As if.'
He tried to make a plan to survive outside the shelter until another person approached him after the doctor made an excuse to leave.
"I was told you are compatible." A man with a presence unlike any other.
Having lived a life where he always had to look up, he knew that the man of ashen white hair was one he couldn't fathom to reach.
"You are telling me I can do something others can't?" He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It was a bizarre occurrence.
He had a chance to do something very few could, those he had to look up to couldn't, only when the world had crumbled.
It didn't happen because he worked hard.
Because others worked less?
No.
It was a mere random chance.
But he took it.
A duty he only could.
How long has it been?
He has lost count of the days.
How long has he been looking back?
When he felt himself crumbling.
Why not let go of such bitter memories, if all they do is hurt?
Because they are his.
Did he take such duty on a whim?
Perhaps.
Was it to prove others wrong?
No.
Then why?
'It's funny.'
Never mind, it really was a whim…
Out of all people, HE was the one who could do it.
After doing nothing but reflection to distract himself from the void spreading from his chest, he came to an odd conclusion.
You need to be crazy.
He did things the way people with everything told him to.
But had he tried to do it the way only someone with nothing could…
'Let's start now.'
The first thing to deal with was a sensation he detested.
Numbness.
Being a Successor was numbing.
At times, his body didn't feel like his own.
His muddled mind often had thoughts that did not belong to him.
Whatever it was, it was twisted.
His sense of self is distorted by it.
Not just him.
His surroundings as well.
The ground was deformed in whirlpool-like patterns.
Thorns suddenly coiled like snakes.
And the air became warped.
He thought of making a home in this nest of dead coral.
One of his own.
A place that could accommodate anyone, even someone like him.
But to start, he needed to ponder thoroughly.
It had to be done with proper forethought.
He… needed a chair!
'…no, a throne!'
And so, it was made at his whim.
Made with his own hands.
With his intent and desire…
Even then. The constant mental drain of holding a relic was something he found hard to ignore.
Most of all, the damned numbness.
It felt like he would fail to control his body at some point…
As though a hand was looming over the thread that connected body and mind.
Oddly enough, the pain was vividly felt…
Yes, most senses escaped his grasp but being hurt felt all the same.
… a conclusion from someone not sound of mind was born.
The thorne meant for comfort was one with the Thorns of his own.
Who would've thought?
They took everything away from him.
And now, here they are, keeping his flesh and blood company.
The abyss in his chest wouldn't swallow him, as the thread that bonded the mind to the body wouldn't let it fall in just yet.
To think that Thorns would help him after all they had taken away.
'Yes, life itself ought to be a little crazy.' He nodded to himself, seeing how much he had to learn about life.
You can never be alive long enough to unravel it.
Feeling better, he continued to ponder…
'When will he visit?'
A chair for him needed to be made.
The one who offered the chance to do what very few could. This man visited a few times now that he remembers.
It would be nice to at least talk to someone else…
But he had to wait-
'-that's what they would think.'
This man refused to follow such thoughts because he was him, and they were them.
Indeed!
Who is he?
'I'm not someone who waits.'
Now, it was time to make some-
'-Huh?'
A man was walking towards him.
'How odd, I haven't decided how to create my companions just yet…' He thought that his creation was oddly friendly.
Though, there was a problem…
'I haven't made another chair!'
How could he have this guest sit on the floor?
'Preposterous!'
As a man who knew of injustice, he decided to meet-
'Hmm…' He stopped in thought before realizing something, 'What do I call him-'
"Sup', name's Adam." The approaching man greeted him waving his hand.
"Oh, you know your name already. Good, it saves me time." The man on the throne of spikes agreed.
"Now- Huh? Eve is already here?" He noticed the girl. She looked confused while following Adam.
'...Looks like my head is working for me. Thank you.'
'You're welcome.'
'But now I have to make THREE chairs.'
'My bad.'
'It's ok. I will make one for you too.'
'Thank you.'
'You're welcome.'
"Oh well." He began to stand up to greet the new fragments of his mind to his abode, unwilling to let them fall to the abyss.
Without the spikes piercing his flesh, his muscles quickly squizzed together to meet bone once again.
*SkUElch*
It was a sickening sound.
But there wasn't any sign of discomfort in his face.
Adam reached for a handshake and $&%(^ did the same.
"...Hold on, what was my name?"
"...Am I supposed to know?"
"Right, you only know as much as I do." He wisely noted.
"..."
"...You can let go now- Oh???" Only now did he notice that his hand had an odd layer of crust.
No, it was as if armor made of cartilage had formed around his forearms. Everything was well protected except for the gaping hole in his palm.
Strangely, it had no bleeding, unlike the closing wounds in his body.
"Huh?" It didn't stop at that as something else occurred.
A feeling he felt spring up from his chest.
Something deep within.
As if his soul was shaken to its core.
He saw purple tendrils with a bone-like texture and thorns exit his chest to surround Adam.
At this point, he realized something was wrong.
Maybe this wasn't an illusion-
'Nah-'
"Ah, I can tell it will hurt," Adam said with a shaky tone.
"I'll be right here." The girl put her hand on his back.
$&%(^ appeared confused. "That's odd, Eve is already here, we don't have to use any more ribs-"
The ribs suddenly pierce Adam. "-AHHHHHH!"
"Why are you yelling?" He calmly asked.
Once the connection was made, the group that had been silently observing from afar moved.
"Fu*king lunatic actually did it!" The condensed coral under Yakumo's feet cracked as he sprinted towards the light that engulfed the successor and Adam.
"I don't sense anything!" Yami said, following Yakumo.
Oliver quickly caught up, "So he is alright-"
"-no, I literally mean it! I can't sense anything about what's going on in there." Yami quickly explained with an ashen expression.
"Io, is he-" Yakumo arrived beside the attendant whose hand was inside the light.
"There is no danger." She stated.
The researcher who had been silent finally spoke after gazing at the bundle of light. "... Are they sharing memories of or something alike?"
"They are… communicating," Io said, keeping her doubts to herself.
"Who? They were just speaking to each other just fine?" He noted.
"...No, they are not speaking. It's a conflict." At this point, her face bore a small frown.
Adam changed somehow.
Once he was approaching the other successor, he felt less… like a successor.
Despite being close to him, it felt as if the connection had been formed to something else.
She found it odd.
Her successor suddenly felt like something else but Adam…
No, it was uncomfortable.
But…
'I'm okay, Io.'
She believed Adam wouldn't succumb to the Queen or his BOR Parasite.
…
There was no chain of thorns intruding on my skin to dig into my flesh.
Io was nowhere to be seen but I could feel her somewhere, in a place I can't see her…
The tranches where corpses were as many as the grains of sand in the desert…
Not a trace to be seen or its horrid smell to be noticed.
It was all gone.
It was peaceful.
For a moment, I felt at home in the endless space where the darkness was the canvas and I was but a mere spot.
It lasted only a short time though.
I noticed something.
No, this feeling was too vague to say I noticed it.
It's more of an intuition.
Just a stray thought that got my attention because it bounced more than once in my head.
There was something beyond… or perhaps, deeper.
No matter, I couldn't ponder on it long as two entities stared at each other.
My parasite, darker than the abyss with its myriad of crimson eyes craving the relic.
The piece of the Queen was a mesh of purple flesh and bone twisted into a ball with a hole in the middle leading to nothing.
{₵ʘ₦$ʊʍ∃}
"#*^%!"
Oh my, they got beef on sight!
Damn!
The waves created by their clash could be felt somehow in this space of nothingness.
How do they- Woah!
I reflexively guarded as the conflict was much bigger than I had expected.
Everything became a mess in a short instant.
Colors that shouldn't exist were suddenly here.
Smells that can't be recognized.
I felt things I couldn't perceive.
I heard sounds without hearing.
And more than anything, a hunger that can't be described.
Nothingness wasn't something that existed. Yet it was being broken.
The void couldn't hold anything in it, but it was filled with things I had trouble understanding.
How the hell does that even-
Ugh…
(*&^%&$^%$#@ These two were starting to give me a headache.
The racket was becoming unbearable as well. {}(!@?>
Like static noise )(*&)Y◩)GH( trying to consume my thoughts.
Can't they do this◃◍-◩I◯ more quietly!?
Oh right, this is a mind space, isn't it? ◧*&®⁕)※
Yeah…
⁈‼⌀µ
I should have thought this earlier.
*(@# It must be a simple space $%^ to be separated +}{:? To be unaffected !@~?< by them ®<№{⁕ just a small corner ▨▦⇻◄▶◧ of this near limitless space-
Putting together a string of thoughts and intentions, a barrier materialized around me and the other figure who struggled as I did.
Surprised, she stared around like a lost kid at the convenience store.
Letting the two little abominations fight it out, I turned to the woman who just happened to stare at me back with a big smile. She emanated pure relief and happiness.
Ohhhhh…
Echoes from a vestige do her no justice.
Honestly, it's not fair, how come there aren't pretty girls like this where I come from?
Did my college reject all 10/10s when I studied?
Why are 11/10s popping out of the woodwork during an apocalypse?
The 12/10s whose presence can start wars are just all here for no reason.
That light blue hospital gown was more of a dress than patient clothing. You could put a sack of potatoes on her and the amount of men stealing glances wouldn't be affected.
Ah, but her figure is not better than Io's. Hourglass shape doesn't do justice to my attendant.
I don't care much about a tan complexion with alluring crimson eyes and silver hair that make her look exotic. I very much like Io's honey-glazed eyes a lot more.
I like a lot of flavors.
But if it comes to chocolate and vanilla, I will take vanilla very much…
Anyhow, why is she getting red all of a sudden?
Cruz had stared at me with shock before it morphed into embarrassment and ended with disgust.
What's going on in her head?
'Your perverted thoughts!!!' A voice screamed in outrage inside my mind…
Oh-
(⊙_⊙;)
OH SHIT, THIS IS MY MIND!!!
She can experience my thoughts!?
AHHHHHHHHH!
Don't think about it!!!
Don't think about you know what!!
Everything but that!
Yeah!
Why does this happen to me???
First, it was some eldritch horror sharing my consciousness and body that not only stayed in its little corner avoiding socialization like a neet, but it also did f*ck all to help me until it was clearly beneficial!
Rat sh!t bastard!
But now, I get this girl who knows nothing of consent!
'HUH??????'
For f*ck sake! I have a chick inside of me!!!
That is not a sentence I ever wanted to be formulated in my head of all things GODDAMNIT-
'Excuse me-!?' She was taken aback, looking at me like I was a lunatic.
Just because she has a voice as soft as cotton doesn't give her the right to be in my head! I've heard better from Io!!
'Wh-wha-' She was becoming a sputtering mess.
Pretty or not, who does she think she is!? Io???
'Yy-You are the one tha-' She pointed out but I didn't let her.
I let you in my home to talk! Not so you could come in to flaunt your proportions in front of me and read my mind, looking for a reaction just for your ego trip!!
'S-stop!' There was actual steam coming off her blushed face.
What?
You enter the mind of a man and expect pure and innocent thoughts?
Well, news flash!
Men like Women!
I like women!!!
Pretty women!
Tall women!
Short women!
Big butts!
Big breasts!
Meaty thighs!
Rosy lips!
A defined midriff!
Do you not understand what I mean!?
What part is not there for the man to love!?
Have you seen Coco!? She knows what she has!!!
OHHHH my GOD those leather pants just can't get any tighter-
'AHH shut up shut up shutup! Dad was right! You men are all perverts!!!' She covered her ears but still reacted to my thoughts.
Duh!
What do you want me to think? Of men???
Do you want me to think of Louis' butt or something????
'WHAt!' Her pupils shrunk in horror.
We have been to the hot springs together~
'DON'T!' She snapped, her eyes a darker shade of red.
Hahahah!
'What's your relationship with him- How do you know him- Where is he- Is Louis-' She barraged with questions.
I'll tell you once you stop reading my mind without permission!!!
Have some decency woman!
'You damned pervert! Have you n-no shame at all! Disgusting pierce of–!' Her face was red with anger and embarrassment, it almost matched the color of her eyes.
Huh?
Not only calling me names but also accusing me of degeneracy!
Me???
Look who is talking.
You not only intrude on my mind like you don't know that no means No!
You also begin to accuse me of acts of depravity as if what I think wasn't what every man thinks!
You are a hypocrite, you talk as if your thoughts had always been pure and nothing but platonic!
But here you are, entering and inspecting my thoughts like it's your job!
'Ah! Stop you fuck-' I didn't let her finish.
-Look at you! Slandering me in my mind! Calling me names and all!!
'Agh- I get it! I will try to-' Her disposition did a 180 the moment our surroundings began to take shape… bubbly shapes.
Do you know what that makes you!?
'Stop please stopstopstopstop-' she began to beg.
A MEANIE!
'AHHHH' Cruz wished there was a second death as our surroundings began to be taken over by pairs of pale cheeks.
Sorry Louis but it must be done!
____________________________________________________________________________
Word Count: 3039
The nameless Successor is supposed to die at Jack's hands. He isn't even a boss fight at the end of the Dried Up Trenches area.
You fight a Greater Lost that may or not be his creation… just pulling this out on my ass because that isn't implied at all lmao.
Aside from his vestige which shows how he held on until the bitter end, there is really nothing else on him. His Blood Code isn't terrible either. It focuses on Venom and offensive Gifts with some decent scaling.
B tier in Dexterity while Mind and Willpower are B+. The rest of the traits are D tier. (Blood Codes have different scaling. Atlas, the top tier of strength Blood Codes, has A+ in Strength and Vitality while the rest doesn't go below D+.)
The memories do show that he was an average Joe. His Blood Code was decent so I guessed that he was just unlucky.
So I made him this way.
Just a dude who saw a wall between him and others ever since growing up.
He wasn't anything special. And he knew it.
Out of desperation, he took a duty few could hold when given the opportunity.
So, what if some average dude with no luck takes the chance to become a Successor?
He loses his mind.
But Adam did get to him before madness did.
Well, sort of…