What will happen when someone is saved, only for their savior to lose their life, and without knowing what had killed him in the first place? They will struggle for a moment or two, before they look upward, at their own outstretched hand. The one who had just been grasped and pulled forward by their ally who wished to rescue them.

Yet only an empty grip lay on their shoulders, nothing but a voiding and fading grasp that could not bring them any sort of comfort, for there was no comfort in the field of battle; rather, it was the cold that got to them more and more.

...

Phernes watched from a distance, "Just as he arrived... in less than a second...?! Hah~!??!" The realization took a second to come. A mere blink of an eye was all it took to miss his death and his fall.

That was what it felt like.

Zabulus watched, unamused at the powerlessness of these warriors of Onofre, and no longer wondering why he couldn't handle this guy on his own. Not when his opponent used this strategy with its worm-like mouth and strange appendages.

He was merely fighting what felt like a boulder or some sorts; albeit a fleshy boulder that continuously changes shape to attempt to absorb him and envelop his entire being. However, this also meant that he could do something similar.

So he planned to pull out some maneuver that let his body essentially hollow itself out and become loose.

The worm-like Amalgamate slowly started to bring its teeth back to their original position, and would soon be engulfing all of Zabulus' body.

'This thing will chew me for sure, I've never been so unsure about this before...' But how else would he survive if not for trial and error? It was life and death after all, and Phernes couldn't help him unless this battle became something close to a draw where the enemy backs off for a time.

Visions of a Blue invaded his mind, a body, two bodies. Two copies of the same body, one that was Black, one that was Blue.

The Black body followed the shapes of the Blue body, as if it were a shadow; a caricature. Yet they still kept their differences, only that one existed in one dimension higher than the other.

Except, the Blacks one possessed more mass compared to the average human of this world. Though this couldn't even be considered exceptional as the Amalgamates were of kilotons of mass each.

Nevertheless, it seemed the shadow had an aspect that prevented it from acting freely.

What was it?

'Find it, Lamb.' His minds' voice spoke.

Somewhere around the center mass of the brain... There was a link.

It was colored blue, a somewhat darker color than the usual sky-blue that most associate with his element, though deep and almost murky-looking like a midnight sea.

Except, it wasn't enough; what was necessary was to manipulate it, to find a way that could allow him to shape his own body with the Blue.

It felt like putting too much pressure onto the skin around the appendage or object that he would soon be grasping, whether it be your hand around your lover's neck or the way you grip your weapon...

Blue slime seeped around his midriff. Slowly and carefully, like the way he envisioned it.

Although the slime was not there in reality, he felt it. A strange sensational and tingling feeling, however it did not get rid of the dread of uncertainty. He didn't want to imagine what'd happen if something went wrong here, and having to act fast was not the answer.

That shadow, the Black body, his own body. The metaphysical, the Blue body, his own intangible body.

His core, his brain, the link between both bodies.

Though he wasn't finished yet, this was only the first step to turning his arms to the blue shade.

He had now turned his entire chest into the Blue.

There wasn't much time left, as this all had occurred in the span of a second or two.

His 'vision' began to flicker off-and-on.

It was either all different shades of blue and white, or completely pitch black.

No in-between and no chance to look around or analyze the immediate vicinity, just what was in front of him was what could be. And what it was, was simple: A false apex predator. In the form of a worm, except... there were no teeth. As if a manufactured creature that simply existed in the physical world as a total threat, yet its metaphysical counterpart was simply just... this.

A creature whose element and overall basis had been corrupted by black blotches. Lost to the Void in Blue's own corruption, albeit he figured that this was a different Blue...

The Blue of the world and the Blue of the devils were the two most compatible existences he had seen.

Thus its Corruption spread across his metaphysical anatomy, freeing his arms from the restricting form of bones and muscles.

As thus, a pair of soft and slimy arms came forth.

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Now... just the legs. 'Almost—done!'

Only a few moments left before he'd be inside its mouth completely, engulfed in its inescapable cavity.

...

'... FUCK!' So much for freedom. Or just the chance to attain it once again. But he had to focus. If he did not, then the enemy would see right through his actions and try to counter whatever he would plan to do.

When you lose strength or simply can't find it, or even on the brink of giving up? You might as well persevere.

After all this time had passed, he could not let it go away in a little worm's gullet. Even if what he was experiencing was just temporary, his instincts didn't allow him to go down without fighting...

Reawakening his determination was what he did in order to win in this situation, no matter the means. But where was the motivation? Why had it vanished so suddenly?

For a split moment, it looked down at its form.

Eyes that could not be seen, yet one felt they were there. The eyes were looking right back, deep into the heart, the core. One that creates and controls it.

One's control over the element was limited by mental barriers. A form made up of complex tendons and muscles that form the human's very anatomy.

Despite their body's tendency to adjust and the influence of those strange forces, a person's mind needs to be steady and calm in order for the body to change or shape according to their desires.

One last push, it was all or nothing for him now.

Their heads were mere inches away from getting eaten up, all or none. This all or nothing battle made his core flare with ambition.

'I WILL NEVER CHOKE TO DEATH, I WILL NEVER BE CONSUMED, I WILL NEVER GET TRAPPED WITH NOTHING TO HOPE FOR. YOU FUCKING FLESH PIGS!' With the words appearing in his mind, he finally grasped at that blue link.

Clenching hard.

The worm Amalgamate didn't have time to notice, for it was too absorbed on the incoming Zabulus that was just about to get sucked and swallowed inside, until he reached out and yanked something.

ShrERREEERREEEEK!

It reared and shook its worm-like body with vigor as its tooth wings lost their balance and began spinning out of control.

GuhgnghhhgrggGnGNnnnnG

'Arghk...' What a horrible pain to be straddled into, but who could have thought that it'd taste its own poison now?

A link, one that connected both of his bodies, he made both of them coexist in the same space; both physical and metaphysical at the exact same time that it confused the world itself into viewing that space as a potential flaw.

Except it wasn't exactly a 'flaw'; actually it was something he meant to exploit because he could control the nature of this illusory and semi-reality.

Thus it was possible to split his body, as well as let it become as incomprehensible and as messy or illogical as possible.

Breaking the laws of reality, his body spasmed out of existence for a moment. The metaphysical aspect of his body came forth instead; which burnt the worm's mouth.

Poof!

Then the Blue-half which burned and started to melt the Amalgamate's insides returned to its natural state, as did his normal body.

As it went crashing down, Onofre shouted at Zabulus.

"GET OUT OF THERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE, BOYO!" Her two scythed polearm was flying spinning towards the worm Amalgamate, flying past any other soldiers nearby. Aimed directly at its rapidly crashing down body.

Zabulus' fist came out of its mouth as he began running, although he was free from its grasp, the feeling was still icky on his body, serving as a reminder that 'he was almost done for.'

Successfully landing on the ground, he continued his running, until some distance was reached.

The polearm flew and tore through the worm as if it was made of paper. Spouting blood and shredding pieces of the hard-fleshy interior as its screams filled everyone's ears.

Except not really, as there was no such screams from its nonexistent mouth...

Silence ruled over his consciousness, his comprehension had not yet been shattered. With nothing to prove, he couldn't find even the slightest piece of evidence to prove the enemy was sentient; yet not without reason.

On the edges of his thoughts, an instinct lay: That this was only what a God would deem as the perfect situation, and what a God-reality would become, given some time.

'Gods, Reveals, Axioms; truths that only exist due to misconceptions' that was something this world failed to distinguish. Something that had been made apparent through these experiences that this soul had experienced.

…

The junior warrior of the squad, who had been ordered to go back to safety had not followed her superiors and simply waited right behind the scene. She was fearful, too; yet, in contrast, her bold initiative allowed her to see some confidence in herself regardless.

But...

It was that.

Seeing a comrades dead body drop limp in an instant as if it had no reason or purpose, she could clearly recall that her comrade may have suffered a mental breakdown over the fact that he might not be able to live another battle a few days ago.

It made no sense to her at the beginning, he was always like this after all. Cowardly... a scaredy-cat... a vile loser, just like her. But when he saw his General call him out and basically force him into the field of battles, he responded and followed his duty after that.

Without fail, and any doubts; every attack, each strike, and every swing seemed to get better and better.

Only for him to show a small sign of hesitation and it proves fatal on the battlefield where your decision affects your life or even your death.

Yet, she saw none of this. Everything made no sense to her! Why did he have to die here? For that... That man that came out of nowhere and invaded their ranks?

'It's all his fault... That man should have just died!' The idea that 'one's own would have greater value' by showing superiority to someone else meant that they would attempt to undermine them.

Of course, how could anyone not see the fact that their squad was truly incompetent in the face of these horrifying war machines.

In fact, the strongest were akin to warring dance machines, or powerful foes locked in a duel.

But there was nothing important about that! Her friend had died due to them! For her, it was unforgivable... but what could she do? She was weak, useless. She can't do anything against something of this caliber. Except, hate.

Hate, hate and keep hating.

Especially when those around her are dying due to their inability to handle what would normally be their jobs.

'What is happening... this... this isn't normal!

Nothing was making any sense. She knew the difference between them, but why was it this time that these flesh pigs were such an overwhelming force, that Phernes himself couldn't deal with one of them head on?

Because of the sheer difference. That she had misunderstood how impossible his job was, and this small squad he had, who only numbered a couple ten or so, to overwhelm a nation of armies.

For her, it all returned to Zabulus, as soon as he appeared, he also caused his friend to go into the field of death.

As soon as he appeared, the Amalgamates grew strong.

As soon as he appeared...

She felt hatred for the first time.