The Museum of Anton was a marvel to observe. Intricate architecture, carefully preserved portraits, and tools and weapons that were said to belong to the enigma himself. Everyone found themselves in awe, despite the current situation. It was hard not to be in awe when seeing traces of the mythological figure right in front of them.
“This place is something else,” Hawk mumbled just loud enough for all to hear.
“I heard about this place, but I didn’t think it’d be this…” Lyn’s words fell as she came face to face with a portrait of Anton.
It depicted a man with a steely gaze, dark hair, a strong jaw, and stern amber eyes. He stood over a pile of bones, most likely belonging to the many Corrupted he was said to have killed. In one of his hands was a spear while the other held a sword. His powerful physique likely had an inspirational effect on those who viewed his image for the first time. In times of peace, there were probably many starry-eyed children who gaped at the illustration with eyes full of wonder.
Visette moved to stand next to Lyn while viewing the depiction of Anton, she couldn't help but wonder if he was truly real given the inconsistencies regarding the history around him.
“We have to leave soon,” She whispered. “There is a nesting ground just below the city containing thousands of Corrupted that are already starting to hatch.”
“Well, fuck me,” Lyn said, adding a dry laugh. “Things don’t seem to get any easier, do they?”
“Hey,” Hawk approached. “Kitty filled me in on everything. I know we need to secure a few vehicles and leave as soon as possible, but I don’t have any ideas toward how we’ll get them. There’s probably a few hundred Corrupted scouring the streets right now and it won’t take them long to catch our scents if we linger for too long.”
“Our main priority now is to avoid drawing their attention. We let Visette rest for a little while, find a vehicle, and then make a break for it with the researchers. You should take this time to check your equipment and catch your breath.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Hawk agreed before heading toward the group of shaken researchers. He had obviously informed them of the nest below the city and frightened them as a result.
“I failed,” Visette suddenly began speaking. The traces of disappointment in her tone were obvious, but her expression remained calm.
"If I managed to kill the calamity variant, I would have guaranteed humanity's chances of survival as a whole."
“Killing it isn't on you alone. Besides, you damn near got it.” Lyn said in an attempt to cheer her up.
Whether it worked or not remained to be seen as Visette fell silent, viewing the figure of Anton.
“I’ll return shortly,” Visette said after some time, without looking at Lyn she headed off toward a deeper part of the exhibit.
“Vis– You... Just hurry back then,” Lyn gave up trying to stop her and instead found somewhere to sit.
…
There were dozens of improvised weapons filling up displays, speaking volumes of Anton’s ingenuity. However, there was a huge contradiction among each item and that was the estimated dates of their creation, with some being decades apart. It was hard to believe that a single human man managed to live more than one hundred years while slaughtering hundreds of Corrupted and taking apart in historical battles that went on for days at a time.
Vis suspected that there were several people taking on the name of Anton rather than just one man alone, but just as she did, things began making less sense. The image of Anton remained consistent across all descriptions, with the small differences that appeared being facial hair, scars, or the length of his hair at that time. Overall, the passages of historical text described him as the same figure she saw in the portrait. It was impossible for them to be all lies seeing as even the cities that were located on opposite sides of the continent managed to describe the same person.
Eventually, she came upon a certain display that was labeled as ‘The Personal Journal of Anton.’
It was locked behind thick glass and anti-theft bars, as expected, but it was nothing for Visette… Just as soon as she recovered a bit more, she decided to steal the journal since no one was around to stop her.
Returning to the main lobby area, she discovered everyone huddled around in a circle while Lucas spoke.
“Ah, Ms.Visette, we were just discussing our bio-chemical weapon. Or at least, the theory behind it.” Lucas grinned weakly, exhaustion blanketed his weary eyes.
“Could you continue?” Hawk asked, slightly frustrated. “Explain to me the dangerous part of this endeavor once more.”
“Yes, of course… As I’ve said, we want to forcefully cause the Corrupted to evolve until they die. It’s been recently established that each evolution requires a large intake of biomass since the expenditure of energy is incredibly dangerous.”
“So does that mean the Calamity Variant could’ve been killed after– you know, Visette blew her up?”
“In all likelihood, yes…” Lucas’ statement hardly inspired those around him. The Queen was definitely stronger and more aware of the danger posed to her. The added worry of her intelligence wasn’t exactly comforting either. It meant that she may figure out some method of defense against the living weapon that was Visette.
“There’s no need to dwell on what could’ve happened since the moment has already passed. What we need to do now is find somewhere safe and isolated to further our research. If we make a single mistake, the reaction we wish to trigger may have an entirely different outcome.”
“Such as?” Lyn asked.
“For starters, it could further evolve the Corrupted into creatures on the level of the Calamity Variant. Imagine, hundreds or even thousands of Corrupted on the level of Queen Zero, each leading their own horde. The only solace I can find in that thought is the fact the social structure the Corrupted have doesn’t exactly allow for two dominant leaders.”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
“So, what, we should be happy at the thought that those walking disasters won’t get along?” Kitty questioned in a voice filled with contempt.
“It’s only a possibility… If we were to perhaps contact Eden Hall’s benefactor and get their assistance we-”
“The individual you were in contact with is no benefactor,” Visette suddenly interrupted, her cold gaze landing on Lucas. “Whoever assisted you is an employee of an organization known as Minerva and they likely have some other motive for helping you.”
“...What makes you say that?” Kitty inquired.
“If they were truly set on helping Eden Hall, your city would not have fallen so quickly.”
“Even if that were true, how could you possibly know?” Lucas asked, inwardly knowing the answer.
“I know because Minerva created me,” Visette replied.
“That’s who I saw then?” Lyn showed a look of surprise as she recalled the memories shown to her during Visette’s ‘outburst.’
Visette simply nodded in reply, finding it difficult to speak much more about them.
A stark silence drifted over the group as each person attempted to process the information. Especially the Eden Hall researchers who had the most interaction with the unknown individual. If there was an organization with the ability to create something like Visette, then it stood to reason they could’ve easily wiped out the Corrupted, or at least, lessened the threat.
“This shit is too complicated for me,” Bear grumbled as he scratched his head.
“Mhmm,” Rabid grunted in agreement.
Rodent, who had been mostly silent until now, spoke, “Why’d they ask for all of that blood then?”
“I-I can’t say for sure since that person didn’t even tell us.” Lucas frowned.
Even Visette wasn’t able to guess that methods to contain her were being created that very moment.
“I can assure you that it won’t result in a pleasant outcome,” Visette spoke with certainty. “...If you all are done speaking, I feel that I am powerful enough to assist in our escape.”
She stretched her freshly healed arm which was noticeably slimmer due to immense damage caused. The recovery of burnt out nerve endings and necrotic flesh seemed to be a small matter once the Cronus Gene triggered in conjunction with the countless nanites inside of her body.
“Right, well, we best get ready then. You have five minutes before we leave,” Lyn stood up while stretching.
“Who’s going to secure a vehicle?” Hawk asked.
“Visette, I guess and…-” Lyn surveyed the room.
“Rodent,” Kitty nominated the shifty-eyed man who gave a response fitting for his name.
“W-Wait, I don’t want to go.” Rodent shrunk away.
“Sorry, Rodent, but you’re the only who can get a car started in a few seconds. Our window of opportunity is small so–” Hawk began to explain.
“That won’t be necessary,” Visette interjected. “I alone will be more than enough.”
“See,” Rodent smiled with relief. “She doesn’t need me.”
Hawk narrowed his eyes at Rodent but ultimately gave way.
“How about you head up to the roof and take a look then, Hawk,” Lyn suggested to which Hawk agreed with a short nod.
Visette headed back to the journal on display. The reinforced glass began to warp once her psionic power made contact and the anti-theft bars were easily bent. With no issue at all, she retrieved the journal and immediately opened it.
“...Strange,” She muttered, finding incoherent letters and symbols.
Rather than nonsense, it seemed that Anton felt the contents of his journal were worth encoding. If that was the case, it stood to reason that whatever was inside was immensely valuable. The question of Anton’s abilities remained in Visette’s mind for a long time since he predated the appearance Abnormals who had only just begun to appear.
“Hey, you ready? Hawk said he saw three cars just east of here,” Lyn spoke from behind.
Visette turned to face her, not hiding the fact she had stolen Anton’s journal but was surprised to see Lyn with a brand new sword, clearly a relic from the museum. However, the blade was still pristine and clearly sharp enough to still be used as a weapon.
“Ah, you had the same thought, huh?” Lyn asked with a smile. “Anyway, the vehicles are a straight shot. We’ll cut through the side streets and alleys while you’ll be the one to run straight for them and start them up. We’ll try to avoid gunfire, but we’re bound to run into some.”
“I’ll be quick,” Visette nodded.
“Good… You know, we may not make it back to New Mayhall alive,” Lyn suddenly said. There was a fair bit of hesitation in her gaze as even she couldn’t be brave when faced with the prospect of being eaten alive.
“I've come to a decision,” Visette started, her eyes were clear as she stared at Lyn. “I do not plan on staying in New Mayhall.”
Lyn’s expression fell, transitioning between anger and confusion, before finally settling on sadness.
“You’re serious?” She asked, hoping that Vis would perhaps change her mind, but the white-haired girl gave a solemn nod.
“There are a few things I must retrieve before I depart, but I will no longer serve under them.”
“Then what?” Lyn asked with a dry laugh, “You’re going to Freedom City? That place?”
“I don't plan on residing there,” Vis answered. “My main purpose is to seek out any traces of Minerva and recover as much of their technology as I can in order to eliminate the Corrupted.”
“And you’re going to do all of that by yourself?”
“If necessary, yes,” Visette was steadfast in her answer. “I didn’t believe it was appropriate to say earlier, but there is a high chance that the Eden Hall researchers fail. If their project didn't produce results it wouldn’t be problematic, but if they inadvertently increased the strength of the Corrupted, humans would face a guaranteed extinction.”
“But they might not fail,” Lyn was optimistic with her reasoning, though it may have been just to convince Visette.
“I suppose that they may not, but they are both short on personnel and time. I find it hard to believe they’ll succeed before the horde arrives.”
“That’s why we need you there to help protect them! If we give them enough time then–”
“I’m not willing to take that risk and neither should you.” Vis shook her head resolutely, but her expression softened as she continued. “Lyn– would you abandon New Mayhall and come with me?”
“Don’t fucking do that,” Lyn spoke sharply while her eyes reddened.
“Will you?” Vis asked again, in contrast to Lyn, there was something bright within the depths of her eyes.
“Why do I have to be the one to choose, just how is that fair?”
“Your answer, Lyn?”
“New Mayhall might mean nothing to you, but it is my home so, no, I– I can't just leave it.”
The little spark buried within Visette’s gaze seemed to die out as Lyn finished speaking. For a brief moment, her calm expression was shaken, but it returned just as quickly. For Lyn, who witnessed that brief change in Visette, it stung. Somehow, she managed to hold back the tears that were on the verge of spilling out.
“It was wrong of me to ask you without taking your relationship with New Mayhall into account. I understand your decision,” Visette replied, with her usual expression of tranquility.
The two of them stood silently for a few moments. Neither of them had anything else to say and even if they did, nothing would change the mind of the other.
“You two ready?” Hawk appeared in a timely manner, pretending he and everyone else nearby hadn’t heard the argument.
“Yeah,” Lyn gave a listless answer, choosing to focus her attention on the situation at hand. “Let’s go.”