—BZZZT!!
"And that's one more"
Dissolving his sword and wiping the blood spilled on his face, Yuuto reeled his head back to see if any more Stings were waiting for him.
Past a couple of bodies that were reduced to a pile of flesh. He didn't seem to notice any more movements in the air.
"But this is the tenth one… what will I do with all these bodies?"
Turning the deceased Stings into fragments so he can place them into his library. The number of corpses he built up could roughly fill a small room.
But the issue was he didn't really mean to build this amount up as Yuuto felt like letting the mangled bodies just laying around didn't feel right.
Leaning down to grab a long leg that he separated, Yuuto stared at it for a while. "If it comes to it I can possibly eat this if I cook it under the fire I have…"
Possibly trying to imagine this leg as a crab leg and ignoring the fact that it was a world-destroying monster. His mouth began to water.
"No, I'm not a glutton. Plus who knows what kind of disease I could get…" He convinced himself but he remembered another detail.
"Well, I did eat corrosion that came from a Stellaron and nothing happened so I should be fine. I think?"
Shaking his head and placing the Sting's leg into his library before he gets any hungrier. He quickly cleaned up the aftermath of his fight and walked towards Gray Bean Paste.
Following the directions Gray Bean Paste told him to go down, he had gotten closer and closer to the zone of his destination. It was quite the hassle due to the amount of Stings lurking around.
But after hearing that they were almost there, Yuuto immediately picked up his pace. However, along the way, the amount of 'allies' that somehow gathered around him seemed to grow even larger than what he expected.
"Are you guys ready to go?"
[[[MONYU!!]]]
Around ten voices immediately replied and Yuuto made a small smile seeing the diverse colors hopping towards him.
A bunch of Cake Cats huddled around his legs while Gray Bean Paste hopped to the side and jumped towards his shoulder. He managed to catch and place it on his head without letting it fall.
"It's just around the corner right?"
[Monyu!!]
"Alright let's hope that was the final fight. I don't want to be in charge of clean-up duty any longer."
Releasing mist from his foot and gathering it under the Cake Cats that huddled around him. He solidified it and created a solid platform for them to stand on.
Lifting it around waist height, he continued to go down the hallway to finish the final stretch according to Gray Bean Paste.
Luckily for him, no other Stings appeared which he was grateful for and eventually ran out of the small hallway into something akin to a large corridor. It was well-lit compared to the hallway he was initially in so his eyes had to adjust for a moment.
He looked around and as expected he didn't see any other presence other than him and the bundle of Cake Cats near him.
'I wonder if Stelle already came down here?'
Recalling that Stelle would enter the Seclusion Zone after joining the meeting Herta initially planned. It had been some time since he entered and he could estimate she should at least be going down if not already in the same zone as he was.
"Let's pray she handles Ruan Mei's prototype emanator safely."
Walking towards the mirror that showcased an area at the center where a large egg-shaped incubator stood. He narrowed his eyes and a white hue covered his pupils.
The dark space turned clearer and his eyes tried to search for an entity that was subtly hiding its presence. Ready to jump on any creature that dares enter its territory.
"Found it."
Crouched down under the suspended platform, traces of yellow fluid hung on its vibrant blue exoskeleton and bulky wings that were curled close to its body. Gazing closer he began to notice that within its center, its lifeforce felt faint.
As if it was incomplete and just barely holding onto its faint form.
"56 seconds…"
Mumbling a few words, he turned away from the window after thinking about a few things. Gray Bean Paste seemed to be curious about what Yuuto was looking at so it tried to peek.
Unfortunately for it however it was too dark for it to see anything.
Gradually walking out of view, the creature hidden beneath the platform opened its azure eyes and moved its blank pupils at the spot Yuuto left.
Unknown thoughts brewed until it closed its eyes once more. Noticing that another presence had been intently watching its every move.
Getting away from the window and walking a few meters down the large corridor, Yuuto was finally met with a large metal door that extended towards both sides of the corridor.
"This should be the place."
Yuuto whispered and allowed Gray Bean Paste to hop off his head and go towards a console by the right side. It touched a few buttons to enter a password and the metal door shook before opening horizontally.
[Monyu!!]
[Meow–!]
Finally seeing the door open, the Cake Cats standing on the platform Yuuto made immediately jumped off and hopped into a familiar zone that made them cry in excitement.
Yuuto stood at the back for a while before following them in and all he saw was that the laboratory was filled with countless Cake Cats similar to Gray Bean Paste with a few others that resembled the shape of a dumpling.
[Squeak!]
[Monyu.]
One of the dumplings came forward as it welcomed the newly arrived Cake Cats before crying out in a stern tone.
The cats shivered when it took the dumpling's scolding. Possibly due to roaming outside and getting caught up in some trouble that may have risked their lives.
They lowered their heads as if they were ashamed while a few hopped backward and hid behind Yuuto who was watching the whole scene in interest.
"Oi, don't hide behind me. Listen to that guy's warning properly."
He waved his finger and a gust of mist lifted the mischievous cats who wanted to escape and placed them at the forefront of the group.
The dumpling was a bit surprised to see them suddenly appear but seeing their expression he narrowed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
It looked at Yuuto who was still standing at the back and nodded its small head which was returned.
Letting the dumpling continue its scolding, Yuuto slipped from the group and sat on a chair where Gray Bean Paste followed right beside him.
"Now that we've reached the area, can you try and contact your Wubbaboo friend?"
[Monyu…]
"Just go ahead and try."
He ushered Gray Bean Paste to attempt despite saying it may take a while but he didn't mind if it failed. Just knowing that the Wubbaboo frequently roamed this area helped him immensely.
Using [Clarity] to find just a tiny energy signature to trace would make the search much easier. But also directly summoning it would save a lot of time.
Gray Bean Paste hopped away from Yuuto and entered a small room where it would eventually return with a small bell and mallet
He was curious as to what the little guy would do with it and as expected, Gray Bean Paste slammed the mallet on the tiny bell. A loud ring spread throughout the room and all of Ruan Mei's creations turned quiet.
They were surprised by the loud sound but after seeing that it was done by a family bell, they returned to what they were doing and left the two of them alone.
"Wuu… Little Bean.. playtime..?"
Waiting for a minute, Yuuto was about to tell Gray Bean Paste to ring the bell once more but a faint voice suddenly appeared from above them.
A round ghost with bluish purple eyes floated downwards towards Gray Bean Paste who looked happy that the Wubbaboo actually arrived.
[Monyu!]
"Wuu… I'm a bit tired..Wuu.. scary creature…"
The Wubbaboo hung beside Gray Bean Paste who began talking to it and ushered it towards Yuuto who was watching silently the whole time.
Feeling the stare boring into it, the Wubbaboo flinched as it caught his gaze but suddenly stopped when it saw Yuuto.
"Wuu… smell like brother… Wu…"
"Brother?"
[Monyu?]
"...Warm energy.. Wuu.."
Yuuto looked dumbfounded as the Wubbaboo rushed towards him and laid on his head. Closing its beady eyes in the process.
A dazed laugh came out of him as he saw the Wubbaboo dozing off and felt that it was oddly familiar for some reason. Gray Bean Paste on the other hand narrowed its eyes at the Wubbaboo as it felt like its spot was suddenly taken.
"Warm energy. Where have I heard this before…"
Yuuto crossed his arms as he thought about what the Wubbaboo said. "It said I smelled like its brother. A warm energy."
A certain memory came to mind that went back to the time he finished fighting the Doomsday Beast. As Herta called to meet him for the first time he encountered a small Wubbaboo that hid near the Express.
It was timid but oddly attracted to him as it came to him without any hesitation. Plopping on his head and stating that he was warm.
"Wait a minute."
His eyes turned wide as pieces in his head clicked and he remembered the Wubbaboo in the video Herta showed him saying that the crystals it stole had the 'same smell'.
"Hah." A dumbfounded laugh came out of him. "So the little phantom thief was someone I was familiar with."
Finding the final piece of the puzzle, Yuuto took the melted Wubbaboo off his head.
"Hey little guy, where is your brother?"
"Wuu… Sleepy…"
"I'll give you something fun to play if you tell me quickly."
"....Really wu…?"
Yuuto nodded and the Wubbaoo closed its eyes as it tried to remember. "...He is running from a scary blue meanie…"
"A blue.. meanie..?"
"Wuu… a blue scary fire…"
Yuuto stiffly shook in his seat and his eyes turned serious after hearing its words. Despite only hearing a few descriptive features about this 'meanie', there was only one entity that would come to his head right away.
"Shit, it totally slipped my mind that Duke Inferno would start to cause trouble around this time too."
Duke Inferno
Casting his internal flame into Herta's Space Station, he would target individuals who were discontent with the internal leadership. Teleporting them and causing havoc throughout the entire place.
And it seemed like this very Duke was targeting the Wubbaboo Herta was looking for.
"Hey, hurry and take me to your brother quickly. It's an emergency."
***
In another part of the Seclusion Zone, faint traces of white and blue light were steadily zipping through the air.
Hiding in vents, going through walls, and sinking into the floor. The two entities engaged in a long game of tag where one side didn't want to give up on the other.
[How interesting. A mere Astral Spirit capable of such speed…]
"...Wuuu…"
[Ahaha! I never would have thought I would find something this interesting in this shabby facility.]
The Wubbaboo didn't say another word as it felt a crawling chill gradually reach up to it. Sensing that this chase wouldn't last any longer, its beady eyes began to swell as it felt like crying.
'Wuu.. I miss.. warm..'
Recalling the face of the man it met all those days ago, a faint golden energy gathered in the center of its body.
Feeling the presence of the blue ember getting closer and closer, it wished in its mind that it could just hide and stop this scary person from chasing it.
The Wubbaboo turned the corner seeing the end of the hallway get closer but sadly it reached a dead end where the wall would eventually lead to the outside space.
[Don't try phasing through the floor. It's the same as the one behind you.]
"Wu… leave me…"
[No can do. You carry something I want. Objects that seem valuable to that Society Member and something else inherent…]
The blue ember gradually formed a pair of deep blue eyes and stared at the Wubbaboo.
[A similar presence to that human who carried an essence of everlasting destruction.]
The ember or more specifically Duke Inferno felt intense greed after confirming the presence within the Wubbaboo.
A mere Astral Spirit that was entirely harmless. Being capable of holding something as sacred as Destruction. Felt like an insult to the glory and prominent existence to which was Nanook.
But what completely baffled him was how this creature held such energy. Even if it was as small as a grain of sand. Duke Inferno considered this an honor.
An honor that was not given to him.
[Why…]
The blue ember flicked intensity as it tried to match his intense emotions but he ultimately calmed down and looked coldly at the Wubbaboo.
[Don't fret. After devouring this creature I will soon understand it all.]
Being just a few centimeters away from the Wubbaboo, the flame that Duke Inferno controlled grew brighter and overshadowed his target.
Opening a rift in the flame, it was about to bite down.
However, a projectile lodged itself into its back and caused it to crash into the metal wall. Rage soared as he wanted to burn the one who dared attack him at his moment of weakness.
[Who dares….]
"How peculiar. A mere fragment of its original form dares to hold such arrogance towards such a weak creature. I expected much less but my vision seems to be lacking."
[You….]
Wavy purple hair that partially covered his reddish-pink eyes. The man closed the large book in his left hand while lightly tossing a piece of chalk in his right.
His gait was elegant and calm but also carried a hint of arrogance befitting the tone he had just spoken in. "Putting such a front may look impressive but surely you—"
The man was about to continue his sentence but stopped when he felt the floor underneath him vibrate.
"Such uncivilized actions coming from that man…." He clicked his tongue and moved a few steps back.
The minute the man stopped moving the metal wall beside him broke apart and a wave of numbing mist erupted from the other side.
"I finally made it." A person walked out of the wall he made holding a bright white sword and rubbed through his slightly messy hair.
"Hey! How dare—"
"Please don't raise your voice so abruptly."
"Hmm?"
Yuuto who heard an irritated voice near him, turned his head and saw the face of a man who had looked annoyed.
He stared at the man for a while which made the person in question displeased and was about to question him,
"My brother?"
"Who, with a sound mind and judgment could ever consider us as kin?"
"Me maybe? We have the same hair color."
The man looked at Yuuto and felt a small vein grow on his head.
***
Here is the chappy