The second coming of the Price of Paradise was a prediction made by the Orloj; the Orbis Impuritas of the Sect of Gears – their highest leader. His powers were like Beholder Marionette’s but were utterly inferior in comparison.

The Fate Mechanism favored only those that successfully fed it with the fulfillment of its commandments. Only then could a prediction be charted by every moving gear in the Sect of Gear’s mechanisms.

However, even with their inferiority, they were still able to somehow gain necessary predictions. This was because the Fate Mechanism had multiple outlets named the Living Looms, mere vessels of its raw power.

“The Fate Mechanism. Knows when we are born. When we will die. And how much we will suffer. Orloj lessens. The burden of thought. By offering the lost. Renewed purpose.”

The extent of the Clockwork Spindleworm’s great length was yet to be seen. It patrolled the outskirts of Paradise as the ensemble of Impuritas ventured in, gathering an army born from memories of the dead, or from leftover biomass such as the Markers.

“It’s not likely we’ll find the object. The Amalgam would have taken it.” The Monkey Brothers assured; having been one of the few that had directly witnessed their thoroughness in the Triple Paw Complex. “Our soon-to-be Stars would not send us on a meaningless endeavor. There must be another reason.”

All eyes fell onto Raven and Hypnos.

The two were the most informed of the group, and perhaps had higher standings within the whole of the Impuritas. The Memento Mori were vastly powerful, and the Authors of Existentia carried knowledge stolen directly from the Eternal Library.

“The Nex tells me that there was resonance at the center of Paradise.” Raven uttered. “The appearance of the Amalgam and the second coming of the Price of Paradise is no coincidence. It’s possible that the Amalgam may have retreated.”

“… A resonance.” The Monarch salivated as they approached the gates of the garden of Paradise. “You mean the activation of the Seed?”

“Similarly, yes. Meaning we may also find a Maestro traitor.” Hypnos spoke.

“Then why are we all needed?” The Monkey Brothers asked.

“The prediction is only one part. Our nigh immortality should explain the rest if something truly special has appeared. One part a mission for the Brightest Star, and the other part for the Broken Thorn.”

The mention of the Broken Thorn silenced all attempts of protest.

Finally, Raven explained why this came into the interest of the Broken Thorn.

“Retrocausality is at play. The events of the future influence the past. It is the only explanation of a second coming of two things that already exist. Meaning someone with temporal powers intervened. Time Reverberation, as we believe, cannot turn back the clock far enough in this case. Neither should they be able to alter the present.”

The present entities heeded the Raven closely. Then, Hypnos finally spoke.

“The memories of this place cannot be disturbed even by Mori himself. It requires tremendous power. A God of Cognition.”

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Shock filled the eyes of the Impuritas. They were aware of the existence of the Aberrations. After all, they were powerful beings that utterly despised their kind.

“An Aberration of Elysia is aiding the Amalgam? For what reason?” The Monarch screeched.

“Reasons certainly related to the prophecy of an old world.” Raven placed a finger on his lips. “We have only heard of one part of a grand tale. Are you not curious as to what the Amalgam may really be?”

Raven and Hypnos took a stand together at the gates of the sacred garden, facing the others with an extended hand.

“There are more stars out there. Plentiful more tales and rivers elsewhere than just Ordeal or Eridanos.”

Right there, the other Impuritas immediately understood what the two were implying.

“You dare ask us to betray our Brightest Star!?”

The Monarch lifted her underside, pointing her hive towards them with fury. Sharp barbs appeared within every hole, ready to hose them down with a hail of needles.

“You Librarians were always suspicious. But I didn’t think you’d be foolish enough to act upon it.” The Blind Paw spoke and was followed by the Dead Paw after the tap of his ear.

“It always made little sense as to why you actively pursued the Triplets, when it was never an order from the Brightest Star… Still, repaying what they’ve done to our festival will be done without your assistance.”

The Monkey Brothers took offensive stances, and the vibrations of the Clockwork Spindleworm immediately shook the world.

“Concerning. No wonder. No Clockwork Prophet. Was invited.”

It rose behind the others, towering over them as its maw opened to reveal layers of churning gears. They were primed to attack. But they all knew better that fighting would do them no good.

After all, they would all just return to the Derma Layer.

“We all want our own things in the end.” Raven spoke with a sly smile. “Whether you believe us or not is not up to me. We have all witnessed degrees of it. How she struck down one of the instruments of the Astrolabe. How she, a devourer, brought order to the Nexus, while we are still scrambling for things that are for others.”

The shadow of the Clockwork Spindleworm loomed over them. Hypnos marched his loyal Ankous to his side, each agreement with their sentiments.

“Think of it as an alternative method to achieve the same thing we all want. There is not one sole star in the sky to follow. The Brightest Star only obscures them.”

His smoke created a twin-tailed spiral object above him. Within were stars interconnected like constellations, depicting far more than what the night sky could possibly reveal. It was only an illustration of what he believed to be a galaxy – a place where Stars flourished.

However, the moment of awe was cut short by the blaring sound of a foghorn.

Then, what accompanied it was the shattering of chains.

“You speak like you have seen them.”

Something spoke into their hearts.

No. It came from elsewhere. Their heads turned to the southern wall. Something behind it had spoken with such gravitas that it felt like the voice came from within. The world trembled far more than what the Clockwork Spindleworm was capable of.

Suddenly, blood gushed from the gates of the inner gardens. The Impuritas avoided the flood as red slashes appeared where they once stood. Following it was the sound of a ticking clock as a group of individuals appeared.

A hail of bullets then followed. The Clockwork Spindleworm coiled around the Impuritas group just moments before it could annihilate them. Heavy firepower dented its immensely thick plates of gears like they were made of plywood.

When the barrage ended, and the smoke of Hypnos fully encased them, a voice spat:

“Tch. Close. If it weren’t for that fucking horn, then I would’ve taken them all out!”

Cara, a familiar face of Scarlet Logic’s Dawn Collection Team, glared at the fog as she held a small blade to her throat.

“Manifesting a Corrupted Persona ain’t cheap, hey!? Even if it’s just for one attack!”

“But that was still so cool!” A bunny exclaimed, hopping in place. “Just uh, do you really have to slit your throat and wrists to use that thing?”

“Raise your guard.” The indescribably deep pitch of a tall man warned, holding a clock at the ready in their hand. “They are as eager to slit that neck for you as you are. Lunas. Take formations. Manager Cara. It will be in your best interest to immediately manifest ‘Solemn Regret’.”

“This early? Fine then. You’re the Moon here.”