The most reVolting $hell of goat was attached, leering back at me smeared with orange goop~eyes. Green-grape strips of flesh hung from the face, showing bone in some spots. Half its snout was pulverized back concave, a zomBloodieDrained tatter, crumpled into a snarl. The lips, mostly shorn away, revealed puny pink teeth. I noted teeny bumps upon them, soon realizing each tri-pronged tooth was dangling of loose, wriggling maggots. Behind these “teeth,” lay something spindly with lank tufts of black hair, stained by some red paste being mushed around inside its mouth. Fuzzy gum stretched from roof to jaw like great pillars of saliva.

I followed the sopping mess to the side of its cheek, (which was split open). It wound right on through the gutted jaw and attached at the top, to one side of its head. A mutant, foot-long, black ear. That’s what it was. Yet the other one was only size and shape of your average sauce packet, bearing a brown dot the size of a pea.

At this point, one fiery eye popped and oozed down its face like a pricked bubble of oil, allowing me to see they were merely hollow, frigid gouges that retreated into the skull. Already, another began “blubbering” back up to take its place.

At its feet lay some furry, brown lump. Smaller beast remained unmoving, maybe a monkey? or else stretched beyond proportion. It had been… gnawing on it. I took a step back. It regarded the meat’stain beside its feet again, then cocked its head up at me.

Next thing I knew, it was issuing a hollow chatter as it lunged down and shook the limp body between its teeth maniacally. The chimeric hornBag whipped around so fast that it became a blur and pulped what remained of the carcass, staining the walls and drenching me with blood. I tried to look away as contaminants splattered, but not before my vision was streaked with the pulps. ClawinGrime away from my face, I reared back one foot to see whether I could put the deformity out of business.

But when my kick landed, nothing but an ornamental bull toppled over. Toes throbbing, I shrank back, confused, becoming greatly alarmed as it Inflated, along with walls of the room locking us in. I watched until painted wood petrified into Fortress stones, yet were overshadowed at the point of one Mega-Cow's belly. People were streaming out of the Castled cracks and the main Gate. Smoke curled around it from scattered blazes licking as high as the striped-spine. The night was full of reverberating wailing—emotions of the terrorized & dying—calling out as they were impaled, “This, Once mighty Carthage. It is fallen! Faaaawwlennn...”

And then a separate voice flowered around my core, distinctly addressing me: {{You are more Complex than death and deprivation, these but one revolving dice of freedom. Many fires Burn: feel some, seek some. Then lend Me your Heat, rather than stomp ambition's pedal until it cripple you. For critics of how the elements are apportioned, or who demands to tend multiPool Torchlight, revert to pawing tunnels in specifiClimates, end up isolating their own heart into catacombs. Such scurry and gnaw to invent hype around flavorless survival, syphoning nearby nectar -- thus crack fruit a'rid when they Belch.}}

In the midst of this cacaphony, I saw jolting branches shower down from Night above, as lightning crashed ainto the Bulky Cattle shoulders. The tail flared out in rosy-golden waves; the beast bucked from stimulation, back & forth as a yelloWash rider manifeS'carRidged with a bridle fastening 'round the Steer’s head. A Storm-fed wasp seated & loosely took shape, emanating icy ripples. It yanked the harness toward a particular flame-engulfed Market. It’s nostrils flared twice, and moisture Jettisoned over the inferno to relinquish it. The leftover material instantly became coins that jingled down into a heap.

If I hadn’t been so bewildered, I would have found the absurdity of thaTransition comical. But I was teetering as if on a picket fence.

Several folks were attracted to the scene, and cheered, stuffing their pockets. This process repeated 3 more times until the flames, apart from the castle walls, were quelled, and the splattering noises of disintegration transFeared to requests for bartering replenshment of resources. So the hubbub began, a caravan of merchants swept through the ruins as fair dawn rose gently in the distance. Greetings and chirps of amusement filled the air, the scenery flashing along like a Highlight reel Time~lapse.

Meanwhile the Bull paced passively but proudly at the perimeter of the Stone Blocks fortifying the city. The Wasp atop could scarcely be noticed now against the Gleaming sky: merely a frosty silhouette coalescing the torso and arms in faint shimmers, without other body parts unless scrutinized for a good duration.

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The people eventually simmered down, weaving back through the streets to their abodes along or even inside the walls. But they became agitated when they realized most of their familiar comforts had been dissolved by the blazes. Many created lists of what they desired to replace, or even upstage in excellence, and marched right out back out into the Central Squares and tents consulting custom tailors and experts in processes of beauty and utensils.

The Sun kept climbing as I observed from what felt like across a riverbank, until about peak noon. That’s when a whispering was heard in the temples, people praying, and discussinGoals and perusing ventures for devices and contests. The priests overheard the desires of the throngs, and decided to gather with the Palace Superiors to inquire about funds for more bigger Cathedrals, Forges, then Arenas and Zoos for fanfare entertainment.

These conventions became more and more common as the Sun meandered Overhead along its avenue. More leaders and assistants were selected for projects; the earth was tilled and prepped for level foundations. Warehouses sprung up first, churning out supplies and pieces that were for the more specialized Structures. The industries started to fill places & became bustling, Towering in the forefront of peoples’ leisure time. The festivities were regulated rather equitably, and the majority was entranced.

But as the Solar Orb began to dip in the sky, discounts became linked to gambling promos, prices hiked, debts turned to enslaved recruits, addictions set precedents for bribery and blackmail to creep in. At these brutal business exchanges, the Rider’s mandibles would peer into windows and puff smoky stinger-shakes of approval -- floating sparks into the eyes of the greedy, & the ears of the victimized...

{{That rider behold is VesToiLuREZdresSCrawl}}

"gusHell?!" I saWiffled no oNEar addressing me. "With a name like that prolly organized the alphabet or something... What's the meaning of all this between you and me hear?"

{{I'm the CollecTartar -- REzin is the rattle in my lungs;- due my offsprings' misapplieDecisioNurJeer. Absorb what repeats, imperiling my Market offers...}}

SmokinGun, was i inside its lungs? "I'm just grateful i'm not getting cooked, booked or quarreleDown there I guess..."

{{You forget already, what drove you to evacuate?}}

"HeeYooo, what does that..." no i didn't want to comprehend anymore. "Nevermind, can I go somewheRElaxing soon?"

{{Hush, you are far noisy of swooshing sheet -- but I will soothe your nurSEnds...}}

"Tired Tower... Google could help me decode Gut's suggestions, but you're slippin speech like bygonEra. Pacify me if possible."

{{You take ApathetiClassic stance, befoRESkewTheraPool bedder. Realization tends rely on proximiTune enthusiasME. This digestion will settle when i replant your skates.}}

"Fine, Wise Acre."

Eventually Sunset approached, and seemed to rupture into a blaze. The Steed adjusted it's speed of fuming intensity as it slinked patrol, encompassing the city. The Sky faded to ashen hues, and once again the Creepy duo was plainly visible to me, crowding the populace in pungent wafts of smoke -- but only a handful of folks were aware of this happening, even as The Thunder Rider began to gallop. The common person was disgruntled with hierarchy exclusions, & disturbed it was all devolving away from fulfillment for the contestants and spectators, down into competitive swindling.

But the majority of Corporate leaders felt powerfully supported like Spiders sprawled upon sticky Networks, that they hardly considered pacifying amendments, and made no deep reconciliations. This was something I understood right away, just as the Pronged Ones began to ascend velocity with Vehemence, and the tail fanned out into quills, which went to Twirl above the city, locating & jamming into the Arrogant of Influence (including any individuals who regularly partook of callous behaviors). Those that were injected soon sprouted cigarettes from their noses like chimneys and breathed like Dragons. One by one, riots broke out against Corporations, and caused a chain reaction against alliances with manufacturers and governors.

The joviality of the entire process seemed so short-lived, before it relentlessly frenzied a degeneraTone.

As the scene soured, the disembodied voice returned in my mind, calm and collected as previously, to suck me out of this infatuated & disturbed state: {{In the communities you know, they truly tease of Influence & respect with lopsided flux. Neither friction nor divides may be relaxed with additional pressure, rather by inspecting fuel sources -- now cross-Wise strands perpendicular swing-handled hold the essence of BulBlossom Affixture {complimentary*}, whereas brash Compulsions spawn Magnitudes of cagey relucDance,]!< confounded to grasp Tolerance without strategiCommunication & compromise. Thus I beseech: If you find yourself outnumbered, indulge your enemies. If you meet your enemy overwhelmed by tragedy, commiserate with them; and if they do not heed sympathy, provide pointed depiction about their karmic manner; and if finally you expose their motives and feature alternate incentives this way, but they lash witHorde violence instead of remorse -- inhibit their tubes or perish trying. This is universal procedure, for every type of Guard. In that event, do not worry over the desolate outcome -- because Memoir dwells maidgem-Nest'tick: that's to say sensory is inhibited by holograVine flakes -- yet progresses illumination Purely more.}}

I almost burst out laughing at all its highly technical speech, and somehow it seemed similarly amused that I was dragging a "Buzz'Hareness" filter across its communication style.

But the Enigma was unable to quit there. {{I now bind you to a misfortunate Treat that will unlock your endurace endlessly -- for your hopes to date, show this chosen if your perspective could weigh both sides of the possible impact.}}

My amusement sharPleaDrained away. That sounded like a stepping stone to an unpleasant Stairtower of Growth.