Traversing through the hallway wasn't as painful as I previously expected. While there were ceiling tiles threatening to fall on us and open wires waiting to spark into open flames, Stephany and Victor had good enough heads on their shoulders that these hazards weren't much of an issue. Both complained about a rotten smell within the walls but since I had nothing to detect smells with, I did not know what they were talking about but it sounded unpleasant. I used this brief downtime to recharge my mana and focus more on my eyes. I learned that if I focus on keeping my vision in this reality, I could hold off seeing that other reality for a time. The smell seemingly got more pungent as we got closer to the center hall of the department therefore when we arrived, we found a particularly nasty creature that's lifting itself above the floor. It looked like a bloated plant with its center mass made of green writhing vines and rotten roots with pulsing yellow flower heads rounding its top like a crown. Its roots were dug through the metal flooring and walls as if pierced by a sharp blade. At the very center of this was a large human skull seemingly infused with the putrid center mass with white glowing dots in its eye sockets that move towards our group.

Victor looked tense gripping his stick, a wand of some sort, tightly while Stephany looked intrigued steadying her stance.

Stephany: "That must be the beast of fortification, smells horrible"

Victor: "Yea, it's supposed to be docile but the Apostle might be changing it's behavior. The safe option is to find another way around" I could hear him reconsidering his words as he said them.

Stephany: "Time is of the essence though. The longer we linger, the more dangerous the facility gets!"

Victor: "I know! But we don't know if this thing is acting in the best interest of the department anymore. This is what happens when you put a stage 3 in charge of an entire section of the facility!"

So this is a stage 3 monster? I wonder how they measure these things. Seems to be based off their general level of danger, it does look rather menacing and it might have its roots spread about the entire department since the smell was detected much further way.... Or it could simply be that pungent.

Stephany: "Oh! What if we use the Genie Swarm as a decoy? Get the attention of the monster and you do something to speed us ahead."

Victor: "I... Think I have a spell that'll do the trick. Yea that might work."

I look towards them with expectant eyes. I didn't want to be used as bait for that rotten skull monster but it didn't seem I had a choice. They looked adamant on their decision and weren't willing to think of another solution. I was at their mercy after all, it's only natural I suppose. I wasn't sure of what I was supposed to do exactly. Do I just leap forward and hope for the best? That seemed too dangerous for me but that seems to be what they're going to do. If I'm going to be a pawn for their plan, it'd be best to guarantee that I survive at least.

Victor: "Looks like its ready, on my signal then."

I feel Stephany usher me forward and it's now or never. I leap forward towards the skull monster and fall in front of it digging my soil into the earth using Control Earth to soften the soil for whatever attack is coming for me. I see the eyes of its head shift towards me as its center mass rustles and I hear a faint raspy voice within my mind.

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Skull Monster: "Swarm... Why are you so conflicted?"

Conflicted? I don't think I'm conflicted at the moment. Nevermind that, it spoke to me in my mind. It can't be apart of the posy so how is it doing this? I was so focused on figuring out what it was doing that I barely saw Stephany and Victor run past like a rushing wind, much swifter than I had seen from them previously.

Skull Monster: "You have yet to understand yourself but you are close..... You work with these humans without knowing our true purpose. Such mindless aid is humorous"

Hm, it doesn't seem like this thing understands me as much as it implies. My focus is on escape, not necessarily helping these humans. It is a simple byproduct of increases my chances to get out of here.

Skull Monster: "Escape? How delightfully simple you are. For someone with the Many Eyes, you are woefully uninformed."

I could sense a degrading tone within its words and it did make me feel a bit lost. This situation is rather new to me and this monster makes it sound like I serve a purpose greater than I'm aware. It highlighted my Many Eyes so does it have to do with that alternate reality?

Skull Monster: "Alternate Reality? No no no, that 'reality' is simply the lie of this world being peeled back to reveal the truth. You're so close to realizing this, your mind is ready to witness the truth. Perhaps you aren't as simple as I thought, you've already known what you had to do?"

I have no idea what he's saying. Could this reality be fake? Is that alternate reality, where the moon seemingly rules all, the truth?

Skull Monster: "How disappointing. I almost thought that you were working beyond me but it seems you're still down with us.... The notion of fake and real realities are only for the uninformed to discuss. How unfortunate."

I could feel the earth under me vibrate and its sharp roots wrap around my core. It was a move so quick that I couldn't react in time, is this truly the difference of a stage 3 monster? I could barely think as my consciousness began to slip as the roots tightened around my core.

Skull Monster: "Hm.... I feel another presence within the swarm. Someone more... Awake than you. Someone more... Worthy of the Many Eyes."

I need to wish for something, anything, to escape the wrath of this thing. I was about to wish when another shot of pain exploded from my core. Its roots had tightened and pierced deeply into it. I was surprised I wasn't dead until the monster spoke in a more deceive tone.

Skull Monster: "I will give you an ultimatum. I wish for that other presence within you to join with me. If not, you will die. If you comply, I will let you go as not many are blessed with the Many Eyes."

What choice do I have? I do not wish to die and Victor and Stephany don't seem to be coming for my aid. Whoever it wants, just take them and let me go!....... I could hear the monster give a hallow chuckle as it let me go. My various vines and roots relaxing as my core was freed, a lingering pain still felt as the piercing injury continued to affect my senses. I didn't even give notice to who he took from my Posy as I moved to where Stephany and Victor were.

I hadn't noticed that I couldn't hear Untou's voice anymore....