Anby and Nekomiya walked up a gravel path in a wooded area, it goes uphill, spiraling in a counter clockwise motion. "It's best if you don't stay silent, kitty cat," Anby reminded Nekomiya. "We should have a chat whilst walking up this non-Euclidean hill, or the numbers will take a seat in our subconscious,"
Nekmiya blinked. "The numbers, nya?" she asked.
"Straight lines don't exist in the Hollow, your mind may try to understand or even formulate this gravel path," Anby began. "Some start out simple, perhaps you realize the metaphysical concept of entrance is unrelated to lock and keys, thus creating a key that can open anything. Then you may go further, taking in this infinite twisted path and applying it to the very concept of life, thus creating the fountain of youth itself..."
The cat thiren blinked and shook her head. "Nyoo, I, it's nothing like that nyaa..." her expression fell. "I just feel bad..." Nekomiya muttered, looking at her hand. "I was... the one who helped Belle sabotage Belobog's operation," she sighed a little. "It's just so... innocent to. She only asked me to pull a switch, press a button, and such... I didn't, I never want to..."
"You don't want to hurt Grace?"
"Yes!" Nekomiya huffed in frustration. "Belle's went too far this time..." she muttered. "I'm gonna have to talk to her about this nyaa..."
"I can do a very good Belle impression, want to hear it?" Anby asked.
"Sure?"
Anby began to speak, her expression and voice stays monotone the whole time. "Sorry for that Nekomiya, I didn't really expect Grace to keep going after the last Proxy gave up, ya know?"
Nekomiya pouted. "That sounds like she would say, but with all the fake small and giggles,"
"It's not fake,"
"Huh?"
"Her smile is not fake, she's being genuine," Anby replied calmly. "I thought it's ridiculous, but that's the truth, you see?" she looked down, gazing at the gravel path below her. "Belle enjoys manipulating people the same way someone might enjoy playing video games."
"That's messed up nyaaa!!!" Nekomiya exclaimed.
"Yes, but it also means that... when she looks happy she is happy, when she laughs she does think it's funny, and if she's angry then she is angry," Anby explained. "Belle doesn't lie about how she feels, she rarely does."
Nekomiya sighed and looked down. "Just because you like something, doesn't mean you should do it," she muttered. "She wants to kill Grace, that's so messed up nya... Grace did nothing wrong, she's super nice... And the fact that Belle and Nicole kept guilt tripping Koleda for blocking us..."
"Mm, just like the main Antagonist in the movie 'Hollow Hearted'," Anby said.
"Yeah!!!" Nekomiya nodded. "I agree nya! Belle is literally the Director and..." she paused and winced a little. "And I guess that makes us the Four Heralds..."
"In the end of the movie, the heroes took down the Heralds, but the Director's fate is left ambiguous,"
"That's not comforting nyaa!"
[LINE BREAK]
"Starlight Knights, to battle!!!"
Koleda watched as Billy led her into what seems to be an abandoned garage. They walked deeper and deeper, keep going forward through all the rooms within. After 6 different rooms, everything just repeats, in an almost cyclical manner.
Though, that really doesn't interest Koleda, because this Walmart Starlight Knight is way more interesting. She's seen how obsessed Grace is with Billy and now she understands why. Dude is a robot, that ticks the biggest box of them all, and dude acts in the same childlike manner as their industrial machine.
"Should we really be announcing our presence to the ethereals nearby?"
Billy twirled in front of her, flicking his gun whilst striking a force. "Don't worry President! I have mastered all the rules for a sure-fire wins from the Starlight Knights!!!" he walked around with confidence, leading Koleda deeper into the infinite hallway. "Gotta break the rules when fighting bad guys, take em out in less than a second with a flying kick!!!"
The ceiling above them cracked, along with the walls and floors around them. Steel spikes and cables lashes out from the cracks, wriggling like tentacles. Koleda took out her hammer and smacked away a gigantic arm bursting out of the floor.
"Too late for a flying kick!" Koleda looked around. "I think we're surrounded!" she was about to smash through one of the wall, when Billy grabbed her by the waist. "Hey!"
"My predictions were out predicted! I did not predict this! We gotta bounce!!!"
However, doing 180 degrees turn, they still find themselves facing a dead end. Arms came crawling out of the walls as strange gurgling sound echoed above them. Black sludge began to puddle beneath them, strange white shapes swam around their boots.
"Let me go you bucket of bolts!" Koleda squirmed out of Billy's arm and take out her hammer. "I can fight dammit!"
Billy took out his guns and stood back to back with Koleda. "Alright! Let's get this show on the road!" he started shooting at the undulating tendrils coming their way from the other side of the infinite hallway. "President, see if you can find an exit!"
"Heh, I'll make you an exit!" Koleda swung her hammer with all her might towards the dead end. With a resounding 'BANG', an explosive blast of flame burst forth but she barely flinched. "Stubborn aren't you? HYA!" with a powerful spin and a rocket boost, she slammed at the wall with all her might.
'CRASH'
The area turned red with burning hot flame, followed by a shock wave that blasts away the cursed manifestations. The wall crumbled into charred debris, revealing a large clearing outside. They leapt out of the hallway before turning around. The garage now reduced into a pile of rubble with strange crystals all over it.
However, now that it's rubble, they can finally see that the garage has been obscuring another path ahead. A huge path that seems to have been made artificially, instead of through Hollow manifestation. Koleda also noticed the tracks left behind.
"Hm, it appears we've found the Pile Driver," Koleda muttered.
[LINE BREAK]
After Koleda called Belle and the rest, the group continued their way to follow the tracks. Belle lead up front with Nicole while Koleda guards the rear with Billy. Koleda remembered how the last two machines Grace retrieved was... problematic in some way and hoped that this one doesn't end up embarrassing her and the whole Belobog Industry.
"Ah! There it is!" Billy exclaimed, pointing at a gigantic machine in a distance. "Surrender now villain! The Starlight Knight has you cornered!!!" he exclaimed.
"Villain!?" The machine exclaimed. "You dare declare I, the enlightened sinner, a villain for pursuing a mission most noble!?" it crawled up towards them. "You heathens dare to threaten me!? Calling thyself paragons of virtue despite of thine most rotten of intention?!"
Koleda cringed, the second-hand embarrassment getting to her. "Friday, you're in front of our partners, can you please behave yourself and..."
"SILENCE MORTALS!!!" the machine exclaimed, smashing its equipment all around the cracking floor below it. "I am above such trivial concern of partners and money and fame and fortune!!!" the machine walked around erratically. "My great mentor hath bestowed upon me with visions and missions so dire! To strengthen the seal and protect this world from the Ultimate Evil!!!"
Belle stifled her laugh while Nicole just chuckled a little beside her. The former then turned to Koleda who simply looked away, face red. "I never thought Belobog Smart Machinery can have such character..." the proxy said.
"Proxy, I swear, this is NOT an intended behavior," Koleda groaned and stepped forward, shouldering her hammer. "Look, are you finished embarrassing me in front of my partners? Can we skip to the part where I drag you back with my hammer?!"
For the first time, the machine flinched. "Such barbaric threat! I expect no less from AAAAH!!" the machine screamed the moment Koleda blitzed towards it, swinging her hammer with all her might, and crushed one of its legs. "WAIT, WAIT, Wait! Owwww! What the hell!? That hurts!!!"
"You still wanna go?" Koleda taunted.
The machine did some dramatic twirl with its last three legs. "Oh, how the good and virtuous hath fallen!!!" it exclaimed. "The great evil shall descend upon us all, the other half of the mighty chariot, lost within the blackened despair of the fallen sun!!!!" it still managed to steady itself, getting ready for the final act.
'CLANG'
"OW!!! Come on! Let me have this one!!!" Friday yelled. "One more line, I promise!"
Koleda rolled her eyes. "Make it quick..."
With an exaggerated whirl, it waved its grappler, playing his defeat animation. "Oh Forgive this one for I hath failed you, my great mentor so virtuous, Khors!!!"
All bouts of delusion from the machine went forgotten. Koleda froze, an icy sensation filled her chest. "Why did you mention that name?" she whispered, though the machine could not hear her. "Did Grace program you with this?"