Hyperlink Crystals slowly made their return across the Nex Megalopolis. Only key areas and Ateliers were allowed to house these precious installations, such as major Atelier-controlled cities, Guilds, ImpulseWorks Sites, and Atelier infrastructure.
Heavy Atelier presence was required to remain near these installations. One such installation was due to be constructed in one of the key compounds in the Heart of their operation in Grandis. It would not be completed until after two weeks at the minimum, giving ample time to Frost and the Exalted in their mission to sever the Bellum Empire from the Impuritas.
Of course, there was no confirmation yet about the Bellum Empire’s involvement in their schemes. But it would be foolish to turn a blind eye.
Additionally, the northern wall and the plains that separated the Bellum Empire from the Diavola Kingdom was likely an undefended avenue if the Bellum Empire was truly under their control.
This was the perfect avenue for Frost to strike from. Even if the Imprutias were aware of Atelier presence at their doorsteps, they would never expect Frost to arrive from their own channels.
This was why the Bellum Empire was key to their success.
* * *
Frost and Cer penetrated hundreds of kilometers into Grandis. From Divas Gate to Little Tais, to Sparus Minor Town to Infernis Gate with the backdrop of Mount Virt looming above.
Infernis Gate was no more than barren wasteland of charcoaled trees no different from the Black Forest. Calling what remained ruins was generous. Remnants of the gate itself were nowhere to be found. Craters of varying sizes littered the road from Infernis Gate to where Infernis once stood as a replacement to Paradise.
All that remained was a crater far too large to be of natural origin. The slopes were far too smooth as well. It was here where Frost briefly investigated the landscape, turning back the clock to fetch for a closer look.
“As expected.” Frost said, observing the expansive kingdom become engulfed by a Spatial Distortion. “Boulders were cut too cleanly. So it really did end up in the Derma Layer. Hundreds of thousands of people, swallowed just like that.”
Cer, her partner in her their trip to the Bellum Empire, folded her arms and clicked her tongue.
“Where they belong. A Spatial Distortion that large means they have a powerful Gravity Core. I’m just wondering how long that would’ve taken to charge up. Stuff like that can’t be done instantaneously. Then again, that was a long time ago. It would’ve been suspicious if someone cared, but no one gives a damn about Grandis.”
“Not a single person came to investigate? Fucking hell. That could be another ploy they have where we’re heading. But I doubt it would be possible given the Bellum Empire’s sheer size.”
“It seems unlikely.” Nav added. “They’re already in close proximity to the Impuritas. But it is disturbing that they can swallow entire cities. We only saw a fraction of that power used by the Blood Festival.”
“Coins again, huh…”
The mystery only compounded. There was little else to find in Infernis. Turning back the clock for environments was like rolling the dice. It could only tap into the strongest of residual Nex. This meant that an event that drew the most emotions would override the previously existing Nex.
Perhaps it was possible to adjust the Interrogating Clock as Jury’s powers developed. For now, this was a fatal flaw that severely limited their window into the past.
“Talking to Nav?” Cer trotted forward, lifting several stones through her electric field. “Would be nice if I could talk to her too. Or at least to my sisters.”
“Just speak through me and I’ll relay it.”
“It’s not the same thing. Imagine you had to go through me just to talk to Jury.”
Frost didn’t even want to imagine it.
“Alright, point taken. But don’t go Corrupting just because of that.”
“Yeah, yeah. Corrupt this, Corrupt that. Lucky for me, I got one of these!” She pointed to her ear.
A CognitO Transmitter was fitted onto one ear, and a Receiver in the other.
“I just gotta wait for the Conduits to get into position. Which brings me to my next point. Being able to communicate without relying on a Mediator or sacrificial Conduits is one hell of an ability.”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Conduits were no more than either healthy, powerful CogitO personnel or other Atelier members with the sole purpose of relaying information. They usually did not move and were the equivalent to repeaters in telecommunications.
Mediators were those who oversaw the communication lines through CogitO’s tech. All information could be transmitted to and from them, as well as allowing them to cognitively interface with those connected.
The more egregious version of this device was the Ego Overseer. It allowed a person to cognitively manipulate another person to do their bidding like puppets.
This often fell into the hands of Overseers, who could create compulsions, suggestions, and commands to the Workers whether they agreed to them or not.
In Lailah’s words, the Ego was the ultimate mediator of the Self. CogitO’s tech allowed people to essentially interact with this aspect of the mind to varying degrees, though the science and specifics behind it were largely unknown.
Even Descartes had separated themselves into five forms for none could arrive at a unanimous answer.
The most important thing was that they could not interact with the mind like Elysia could.
Seeing Cer show off her Atelier Item made Frost pull out her pair of contact lenses. They were CognitO Filters designed to mask the color of Frost’s eyes as well as to completely erase her presence.
… Which was difficult putting it generously. If one had to compare, it would be akin to throwing a thin blanket over a lamp. The light would still shine through, albeit slightly less brightly. Over time, that blanket was bound to catch alight. Frost’s presence was unique in that regard.
She was something that could not be cognitively ignored. She actually had two sets of CognitO Filters. The first to disguise her eyes, and the second being in her stomach.
< ABILITY: Cognition Interrogator >
< EFFECT: Your presence may transfer from the target’s consciousness to their unconsciousness. It may be imposed and amplified to nearby targets. The strength of your Will is more potent the closer you are to the Target >
//////// < ALERT > ////////
< A significantly powerful Ego and/or Will is required to interpret your Will. But through proximity, it can manifest. This is not an effect of Cognition Interrogator. This is a power you already possess. Cognition Interrogator can be treated as an amplifier of your Will >
< What it entails is not yet understood >
< But it may have to do with Cara’s claim that she had heard your voice >
< It coincides with the truth of how Wills can propagate and manifest, like the System as Lailah’s Will, Elysia’s as the Voice From Beyond the Void. It is likely that you possess something similar >
The Fractured Nilhim uses something similar too, don’t they? They’re able to enter people’s minds and draw out their deepest fears… Sorry Nav. The thing closest to my ‘Will’ is the Will of the Amalgam. It just lets me manifest Corrupted States.
“The States are perhaps that?”
Maybe. We have no way of knowing either until we see it.
That being said – Frost had eaten other devices from CogitO prior to leaving the Nexus. But this was the only Ability she had gained much to her intrigue. It was somewhat useless to her unfortunately.
For now, at least.
“Doing it again?” Cer could sense Frost’s presence become more pronounced, and she couldn’t help but shiver slightly. “Heh. So this what it’s like to be swallowed –”
“It’s this way, right!? Past the short plateau and the weirdly elevated road!?” Frost desperately interrupted.
With no Res in sight to chain this wolf down, she feared that the Cer Syndrome may rise to the Second State.
She didn’t dare to imagine what a Fifth State Cer Syndrome was like, less she wished to lose her mind.
* * *
Cer thankfully did not exhibit distressing behavior now that she was separated from her sisters. Not long ago, the three were inseparable and prone to meltdowns. Rather than the anguish and the anger of separation, Cer wore a smile brighter than the red shimmer in her eyes.
The two dashed through Grandis like a pair of bullets. An electric trail followed Cer as she ran on all fours. Frost matched her pace as trees bent, grass shredded, and the ground trembled in their wake.
Cer would stick out her tongue and let the wind drag it along her face at times.
Their destination was the coastlines of Southwestern Grandis, just outside of Paradise Lost. Cer knew the coastlines of that region like the back of her hand. They could skip the mountainous trails and head directly to the Bellum Empire through that route. If they were lucky, then there would be zero human contact.
How did she know about this?
Because her village once sat somewhere along that coastline.
Southwestern Grandis was an anomalous place in the greater whole of the Region. It held the smallest cluster of mountain ranges in all of Grandis, with the elevation varying chaotically. It made the terrain unideal for caravans and carriages unless one followed the path set by the Patrons of the Highways.
It would not yet flatten until they reached the coastlines.
The region itself sat between the Bellum Empire, Puritas and the base of Mount Saris; the largest mountain that sat in the center of Grandis.
Furthermore, the region mostly consisted of steelwood woodlands. They were an unassuming variant of the redwood-like trees found in the Anid forest, save that these carried similar properties to steel.
As a result, steelwood could not be burned. With how cold winter nights tended to be in southwestern Grandis, only Demi-humans and monsters with thick fur or highly advanced endothermic systems could feasibly survive.
The area had seen war, monsters, Anids, and now Corrupted. What likely remained were ruins as was with nearly all places in Grandis, except that they were guaranteed to be left intact. Little dared to venture through that path.
At least two Corrupted were expected to roam those lands according to Autumn’s map.
The Scented Thoughts, and Salivating Spark –
– Cer’s very own Corrupted.