"Keep up or i'll leave you two behind." A hooded figure called back to Zero and a young man no older than twenty-five. Zero and the young man tried their best to keep up through the rough terrain. Blue trees parted by rough jutting rocks made it almost impossible to navigate the mountainside, but the hooded figure did it with ease leaping from one rock formation to the next. Rocky terrain gave way to steep inclines and rising cliff edges. Eventually, they made it to a side of the mountain that was more a wall than a natural formation.
"Straight up and over and you'll be in the Ether Wildlands and your training will begin." With that, the hooded figure made their ascension with ease. Zero and the boy watched helplessly from the bottom unsure what they were supposed to do to get themselves over this ridge.
"Do you think there's an- before Zero could finish their question the boy began climbing gripping anywhere he could to gain leverage and hoast himself upward. Zero let out a defeated sigh before following suit. They climbed for about an hour before something seemed to be wrong, the air seemed to grow thin and it became harder to breathe with every passing moment. Their pace slowed as something was taking a toll on them. After another thirty minutes of climbing the boy and Zero were winded they could make out about a few more yards up was a perfectly carved part of the mountain where they could rest. They both breathed deep unable to get enough from every gulp. The boys' muscles ached starved for release.
"Feeling light-headed yet?" They hear from above, both struggle to look up and see their hooded guide waiting on the rocky platform above.
"Tha Ether be thicker up here... Less refined ya see? So your bodies are gonna have to do all the filteren themselves." His heavy accent made his tone even more mockingly annoying, but they both also noticed how their head started to swim and how his voice seemed to wane under a piercing ring at the back of their heads. They tried pushing through the boy close to the top when he stops. Zero not too far below slows as they catch up.
"What why'd you stop?!" Zero called up above them to no reply, right then a heavy gust of wind pushes past them Zero braced themselves perfectly, but the boy seemed startled by the sudden change, they looked around in a daze confused as to what was happening.
"Loki?!" Zero calls up Loki looks down at the mention of his name his eyes widen in fear his body tenses, but his foot slips leaving just one hand to keep him from falling.
"Shit Loki!?" Zero says climbing as quickly as they can to close the gap.
"Haha looks like he passed out, oi if you fall no one below you to stop that drop but the ground." The useless guide chirps from above, Loki struggles to regain his posture, but his palms are too slick to grip. A crack shoots terror into his chest as the mountain gives way and he begins to fall. Time slows as he hears the laughter of the bastard above him echo off the mountain he wouldn't be here if he was stronger if he didn't need him if he had just saved her. Regrets raced through his mind as he slowly fell from the cliff edge then he suddenly stopped and slammed against the side of the mountain.
"Fuuuuuuuck!" Zero had grabbed a hold of Loki's leg keeping him from plummeting to his death. They pulled him upward a red Ether forming around them as they found the strength to hoast Loki up into the air. Loki was now a few feet above the cliff edge with enough time to form an Etheral spear to slam into the edge saving himself. Zero though had used up all their strength and began to fall, quickly forming another spear he tosses it downward Zero catches it forming a red thread made of the Mother Mold to tie tightly around it before tossing it back up. Loki caught the spear and braced working as an anchor for Zero to use while they climbed their thread to the top. Loki pulls Zero up onto the ledge and they collapse into a pile on each other.
"Good thing you've saved this one boy 'cause if not I would have tossed ya off." The Hoodied Figure exclaimed before making his way up the next cliffside.
"Rest! But don't keep me waiting!" He calls back as he easily scales the next cliff.
Zero and Loki took in their surroundings the ledge was huge and looked very man-made a spring nearby had water flowing into it from cracks on the wall and vegetation had a thick hold on the area. They made their way over to the spring and played rock paper scissors to see who would test if it was drinkable, Loki drank deep of the pond and it was clearly drinkable seeing as he didn't stop until Zero approached, intrigued gripped him he had never seen Zero eat or drink the red fabric that covered their body never came off not even to bathe. Loki watched intensely as Zero knelt near the water reaching in to let the water move over their hand.
"You don't drink?" Loki blurts letting his anticipation get the best of him.
"Hmm?" They reply unaware they were being studied so heavily.
"We have been together a while now and I've never seen you drink nor eat..." Loki states plainly.
"Oh I drink but it can simply be through the Mother's Mold I only drink through my mouth for fun and I eat..." Zero statement trails off into silence causing Loki to lean in.
"You eat buuut?" He asks mockingly but honestly waited with bated breath for the answer.
"It's just embarrassing I only get my lower mouth free with the Mother Mold and so I feel uncomfortable eating in front of others alright!?" Zero exclaims folding their arms in frustration. Even though Loki couldn't see their face he could swear they were blushing.
"So can I see you drink?" A brazen Loki asks catching Zero off guard.
"i-I... Fine." Zero stammers out defeatedly they lower themselves to the water and Loki watches as the Mother Mold unravels where a mouth would be to reveal supple pink lips that drink slowly from the bond, but immediately when Zero stops the red fabric quickly returns.
"Happy!?" Zero exclaims increasingly more frustrated. Loki shook his head in affirmation not sure why, but he was slightly embarrassed himself. Both their stomachs growl right as a goatish creature with purple fur and three horns comes out of the nearby brush. They play another game of rock paper scissors where Zero was the loser this time. Zero chased after their meal as Loki used the nearby foliage to create a fire. A few days had gone by while Loki and Zero recuperated from the climb. Both of them were pretty in shape and were confused by how they barely could move their bodies how they wanted, seemingly weighed down, and action between thoughts seemed to lag. The Ledge they rested on retreated deeper into the side of the cave than they had expected. They spent the first couple of days searching its limits and realized they had begun to walk for some time when bushes turned into trees that stopped just below the cave's ceiling. They both were more sure now that this had to be artificial as moss stretched over solid stone, only interrupted by strong roots drilling deep into the mountain.
The creatures near the entrance consisted of a climbing and skittering variety. Three horned mountain goats perused the assortments of foliage that took root there. At the same time, rock and flame salamanders hunted the giant centipedes and other oversized insects that kept this ecosystem thriving but deeper into the mountain, where the trees began to sprout and bunch together, creating a reasonably convincing forest within this cave. About an hour's walk in or away from the cliff led you to the beginning of the forest, where intrigue gripped them both, forcing them to make a camp right on the outskirts. The light from the entrance at that point reached far enough for them to tell when it was day or night.
During the day, they would walk as far as the light from the entrance would allow them. In the canopy above, they could make out what seemed like birds at first, long beaks ending at a point with little coos or caws here and there at their presence. As they walked, more and more would appear above them, three keen eyes on each one watching intently. It wasn't until they were separated from each other by a few yards did one swoop down to attack before it could reach Zero though Loki had formed a spear, quickly chucking it, penning the creature to a nearby tree through the chest. The others immediately let out cries of concern as they fled the area leaving Loki and Zero to analyze what they thought were birds at first.
From high up at the top of the canopy, they seemed much smaller as they flew from branch to branch, but up close, they realized these things' wing spans rivaled most lengths of vehicles. What they thought were feathers were really scales that jutted from the body akin to feathers, and their wings were leathery. Three now lifeless eyes seemed to resemble a creature not used to light with a grayish foggy tenge. The beak, while razor-sharp itself, concealed rows of teeth that reached deep into the throat. "They must consume Rock Shell Beatles." Zero added, noting the teeth running deep into the throat. Loki's spear dissipates, allowing them to retrieve the light body. They figured it wasn't a scavenger, so they started a small fire to cook its meat. To their surprise, it was rich and soft, almost sweat, so sweat they craved more, but the smell of their comrade pushed the rest of the flying creatures further into the cave.
On the third day, they moved past the light threshold from the entrance because Zero was adept in elemental Ether. They could form a flaming orb that bobbed just above them as they walked. Darkness enveloped them as the light from the entrance was entirely gone. Now they could only make out a circular ring of light that ended sharply at a curtain of darkness. As they walked, they noticed eyes high and low ducking away from the light or circling the edge before quickly darting away. Unfamiliar sounds bounced off the walls around them. Sometimes they could have sworn the callings seemed specific, as if someone or something was relaying information to each other. They would have continued, but while they walked, something small and solid flew past Loki's head, splitting the skin of his cheek below the eye.
Before they could react, a flurry of tiny objects started whizzing by. They did everything possible to dodge and retreat as the darkness shot more bullets at them. When they finally made it back to the threshold of the entrance light, it had become midday. They fell into the soft orange glow of the sun. As they did, the firing stopped. They watched as eyes reflecting the light slowly slunk away into the darkness. They would spend the next four days recovering. They could see that what was being shot at them now were hollow tendrils coated in an iridescent slime. Loki would collapse with a fever from whatever these poison-covered spikes had on them. The Mothers Mold had already begun fighting it and creating an antidote that would pump through Zeros' veins normally via the Mothers Mold, but Loki's body had nothing to fight it.
Zero worried for Loki, so they collected the spare tendrils to analyze the liquid further. They realized it was venom only being able to take effect if inside the body. They also noticed that a concentrated amount of Ether would dissipate the liquid in mere moments, leaving just the projectile behind. Soon Loki's fever worsened, and Zero realized they would have to share some of the Mothers Mold to counteract the venom and needed to collect enough venom from the source to make an antivenom that wouldn't kill Loki or cause the Mother Mold to rewrite any fundamental part of Loki as an "attempt" at saving his life.
"I'll return shortly..." Zero said, propping Loki against a tree nearest to the campfire. They focus on gathering a good amount of Ether before expressing it outward, along with massive killing intent.
"That way, nothing is coming near this area. At least for the next three days. You can hold out for that long, right?" Zero asked a gruesomely pale Loki, whose eyes fought to stay open.
"y-You just come back to me." Loki struggled, his head slowly bobbing to his chest before passing out. Zero didn't have much time. They turned, heading deep into the darkness, not waiting for the sun to rise, hoping to return before then. Zero had been sprinting none stop away from the light until darkness and alike slowly enclosed them. Soon they stood deep within the cavernous forest, quadrupedal footfalls around them. Zero stood in the dark, sure they were being surrounded. They could hear their retreat being blocked and other pursuers taking positions around him. These creatures were intelligent and coordinated with each other with chirps and chattering. Silence fell over the surrounding area. Everything but the insects fled at the presence of these creatures. Zero released some gathered Ether in hopes of better seeing their targets.
In response, the darkness riders fire their toxic needles. Zeros' reaction time is good as they form a wall of flames catching the first volley. The flames illuminate the surroundings well enough to show one of the creatures before they begin fleeing the light source. Its body resembled a feline form, agile and quick while being daunting in size, leaping from tree limb to trunk with ease. The light glinted off two sets of eyes though Zero could make out a pair of eyes on the tail that writhed like a serpent.
They fled deeper into the cave. Zero was losing their chance to catch one, and every second here put Loki closer to death. So Zero gave chase deeper into the forest. These creatures were fast and could clearly see in the darkness, an advantage that Zero lacked. They soared through the canopy Zero, closing in on one and entangling it in their crimson web. The beast falls to the earth, struggling to break free. Now that Zero has had the chance to see one up close. They could make out what their attackers looked like.
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A strong feline form wrapped in jet-black reptilian skin. With sharp talons that pulled and kicked against Zero's threads. Zero came closer to the beast, preparing to analyze it to find the organ that creates the toxin but was forced back when they noticed the tail taking a sharp bite at them. To Zeros' surprise, the tail of this creature was alive snake-like eyes peered at Zero before spitting a set of needles that they had to dodge.
Zero superheats a set of threads that effortlessly glide through the head of the tail, severing it from the body an automatic response to realizing where the needles came from. What followed next was something Zero could not prepare for. A soul-piercing screech escaped the feline portion of the creature immediately after a barrage of needles hailed from the canopy. All Zero could manage was a flame wall to protect themselves. When the storm ended, they could see that the on-lookers had pelted the body and severed head of their comrade with needles killing the rest of the beast.
Was this purposeful?
Did they understand what Zero wanted, or was this a mercy their kind afforded each other?
Zero had even less time to wonder. Rage filled them, and they were running low on Ether and time. They couldn't keep conjuring flames to protect themselves. That's when they noticed some of the needles were toxinless. All the ones that hit the beast were without toxins, while the ones near Zero that had hit the ground were still covered. Zero pushed a ring of flame outward, causing the creatures to back away again.
They knelt next to the feline portion of the body and could immediately feel the creature's skin was still giving off Ether even after death. They must know how to naturally gather ambient Ether and express it through the skin to allow a form of protection from each other's toxins. Zero didn't have the time at all to learn this skill. They barely manipulated Ether well enough to sense a presence.
"For Riley." Zero whispered before initiating assimilation mode for the Mothers Mold.
"PROGRAM SKILL GLUTTONY PERMITTED: Devour." The Mother Mold rang out in Zeros' ears as a longing filled their belly, a yearning they hated. The crimson fabric that covered their lips slowly unraveled and shifted until forming a beastly maw with sharp rows of red teeth. Zero began eating, tearing flesh from bone. As they devoured the corpse, they could hear what sounded like whines and cries of anger from all around them that slowly made more sense as they ate. Zero hated this part. It always felt like the Mothers Mold was changing them, making them less of who they were and more challenging to remember what that meant.
"They dare devour us!" A voice in the darkness screams.
"A lowly Red Ape should know its place!" Another voice from the circling darkness. Zero started to remember something at the mention of Red Apes, a familiarity from their past.
"POSSIBLE LINEAGE CONNECTION ACQUIRED." The Mother Mold said, interrupting the gripes of the creatures from the dark. Zero's stomach curled. Something about this thing was part of its family?
"Classify!?" Zero demanded quickly, concern gripping their chest tightly.
"APEX PREDATOR OF APEX PREY GENUS: Human. VARIATION: Red Ape." Calm returned to Zero at the sound of that. So this creature had eaten something connected to the Zeros family.
"The Napa Juma will not stand for this!" A cry from the darkness caught Zero's attention.
"Must Alert the Napa Juma!" Zero heard one of the voices that held the line blocking their retreat break formation to start running deeper into the forest. Time had slowed as Zeros' body began the acclimation, thoughts racing through their head. They weren't sure what the Napa Juma was, but if they alerted it, that would leave no time for Zero to capture one of them and return to Loki. Zeros body had begun gathering the ambient Ether that the creature had stored and expressing it over the Mother's Mold like a thin veil. Their body felt lighter.
Zero could feel the flow of Ether around them better than before, and the Ether stored could be directed quickly to the legs and hands. The creature that broke formation was now about to pass Zero before it could, though Zeros' body reacted, the stored Ether springing their body like a bullet into the side of the creature crushing ribs and sending it deep into a tree trunk. Zero uses the impact as a springboard to land on a tree limb, expressing Ether outward so they can count their targets.
"One down, nine to go." Zero said, priming more Ether in their arms and legs. Loki awakes to the sound of wood snapping and a fire crackling. His eyes were lighter than the sacks of lead from earlier. Vision blurred into focus to show a crimson figure hunched over a flame. He made it to his feet, slowly reaching his red companion.
"I guess you got what you needed?" He said to Zero, hunched over this slow-growing flame, not turning or acknowledging Loki's existence. The silence grew unbearable as Zero snapped twigs and tossed them into the flame, causing it to grow again.
"Did something happen while I wa-
-you're slowly dying and inching closer to death by the second, ya know?" Zero interrupted. Their voice was odd and distorted, causing a shiver to run down Lokis' spine.
"Who are you!?" Loki demanded, causing the faux Zero to cock their head to the side.
"You know us deathless... You use our name yet refuse our family." The voice is hollow and distant even though Loki looms over his partners' form. He was frozen. Every muscle lurched at the idea of moving away. Another handful of broken twigs was thrown into the fire growing it more Loki could feel the heat growing closer to his face.
"Deathless?" Loki questioned, unable to do much else.
"You have died once before, no?" The faux Zero posited curiously. Memories flooded Loki's mind, years gone by, and a vengeance yet exacted.
"Mothers Mold?" Upon speaking its name, Mothers Mold spun around, revealing its face, unlike Zero, whose face, even though entirely covered by the crimson fabric, held life and so much emotion that he had seen the past few days. The Mothers Mold's face was hollow and sullen, its eyes dark abysses that tugged at the corners of your soul for something you, yourself, never knew was there, but it wanted to change it, shape it to fit its form even if that meant breaking whatever it wanted to make sure you fit its Mold.
"The one you call Zero... They struggle to keep your thread from snapping while mending it constantly... To keep you whole..." Mother Mold's mouth didn't move, but Loki heard every word clearly. Loki's skin crawled at how close the Mother's Mold was. It cracked another handful of twigs, throwing them into the fire and causing the flame to grow behind it, the heat now baring down on Loki's face.
"They struggle for you... To keep a Promise made to Family... I can't undo but if you... joined..." The offer from Mother Mold shook Loki to his core, allowing him to take a step back. A heavy gust blew behind him, causing the flame to wane, giving him slight relief. He understood what joining meant. It meant allowing the change and the breaking of who he was. Loki could see the flames dance behind the Mother Mold, his focus drawn to it. Deep within the fire, he saw Zero fighting creatures in the darkness, the needles from earlier peppering their body as they struggled against these agile creatures.
"They struggle for you... You join, they struggle less..." The Mother Mold states, waiting for Loki's answer. Loki looked from the hollow crimson spectator and the vision in the flames of Zero.
"I-
-Just hold on, Loki, I'm coming! Don't give in!" Zeros voice erupted from the flame, causing the mark under Loki's eye to burn.
"I won't join." Loki replied, causing the Mothers Mold to let out a soul-piecing screech. Loki could move now. He shielded his ears from the noise. The wind picked up, and the flame burst to life behind the Mother Mold. Loki forms a spear and tosses it directly into the Mother Molds' chest, causing the screech to end, but instead of slumping to the earth, the Mother Mold stood with a twisted smile. It lunges forward, and now, inches from Loki's face, the world grows silent.
"I may have to mend you... I do not have to keep your thread from snapping..." The Mother Mold's voice was quiet. The wind seemed to whip around them, but all Loki could hear were its words. The Mothers Mold holds up a green thread before Loki's face, and the flame's heat pours over his body as it grows. The Mothers Mold pulls tightly on the strand. The noise of the stress on the string booms in Loki's head, causing pain to streak through his body. They pull tighter, the noise growing louder as pain grips his limbs. He reaches for Mothers Mold's hands, but they pass straight through, to his surprise.
"STRUGGLE!" The Mother Mold screams as the flame folds over its back. The heat makes Loki wince and shies away. His eyes snap open to the sight of a maw with endless rows of teeth slowly spiraling down a throat inching towards his face—hot breath poured from its beak. With quick instincts, he forms a spear to skewer the creature through the top of its beak, killing it instantly.
The beast slumped to the ground with a few death throws before falling limp. The sky filled with cawing from the others that had gathered above. Black wings filled the canopy with the bird-like creatures from earlier, watching the most courageous of the bunch suffer the consequences of such bravery. His arms and legs ached from the scratches and pecks he suffered while unconscious. A ringing in his ears and the feeling of standing on a boat let him know the poison still coursed through his veins.
He summoned all the Ether he could, filling it with as much killing intent as possible, but that didn't deter them. This time, something was different about this flock. They were agitated and more aggressive than the last. Screeches from above made it known they had grown the courage to attack two dive bombs, causing him to dodge the earth swaying beneath him, though causing him to fall flat. More caws rang out above him as if mocking laughter. He watched as shadows circled him from above. His body was heavy again, unlike the dream, and was barely responsive. He remembered the string and the Mother Mold stretching it, and something in his chest tightened, but then he remembered Zero and what they said.
His mark itched again.
"I will struggle... I will hold on because Ivo is dead, and I am Loki!" Green threads form a mask over Loki's face as Ether pours from his body and black wings engulf him. Zero returns carrying a severed serpent's head four times bigger than the ones he had to chase down. They had returned to camp, glad that only five to six hours had passed. The image they returned to was a battleground. Black Wing corpses were everywhere, some nailed to trees by spears that Zero recognized as Lokis.
They toss their trophy near the camp and start searching for their partner. Zero followed the trail of corpses to the noise of flesh and bone breaking. At the end of the corpse trail, Zero found a masked figure tearing into the chest cavity of one of the most enormous Black Wings they've seen yet, devouring flesh by the handful.
"Loki..." Zero called out to him but with no reply.
"Loki!" Zero screamed, causing the masked figure to chuck a spear in their direction. Zero didn't dodge as the spear grazed past their cheek. The fabric tore and slowly mended itself again. Loki now stood primed, another spear in hand.
"Loki, please..." Zero's pleading died on deaf ears as Loki charged them a deathly bellow escaping the threaded mask. Zero stood their ground as Loki closed the gap. Loki unleashed a primed thrust that Zero dodged.
The thrust rips through several trees, leaving a gaping hole in some and shattering others—zero spins on the spot, griping Lokis' masked face and slamming them into the ground. Loki struggled as the red and green fabric tore at each other while Zero pulled, ripping it slowly from Loki's head. Screeching as the last thread ripped free, it squirmed in Zero's hand as the red fabric consumed it greedily.
Loki lies still at Zero's feet, pale as ice veins blackening from the ever-spreading toxin. Zero forms red needles from their threads that prick into Loki's skin spreading antitoxins through Loki's body, causing the black veins to recede, but Loki remained pale. His breath was shallow, and the Black Wing's wounds covered Loki's body. Zero could tell these wounds were old by more than a few days.
"z-Zero?" Loki struggled to open his eyes.
"I told you I'd be back in no time..." Zero replied with concern in every word. Loki laughed through coughs of blood that stained his pale lips.
"y-Yeah, three days quick as a whip this one..." He manages before losing consciousness. Fear gripped Zero's chest. Three whole days had passed? They could have sworn it only had been five or six hours since they had left. Zero hoasts Loki over their shoulder and begins heading back to camp. The area was silent Black Wing corpses littering the camp had been a clear sign to the wildlife to flee. Zero created a campfire and quickly laid Loki next to it.
"Mother Mold mend protocol." Zero demanded, kneeling over a paling Loki.
"THE DEATHLESS, KNOWN AS LOKI, HAS BEEN MENDED." The cold metallic voice replied. Zero watched as the color didn't return to Loki's face. They leaned in to listen for a heartbeat that was at half pace, further tightening the grip of fear.
"Analysis!" Zero demanded.
"RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: Nominal
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: Nominal
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Critical
NERVOUS SYSTEM: Critical
INTER-
-Mend endocrine and nervous systems!" Zero screamed, interrupting Mother Molds' analysis. Silents filled the air for a moment, and if Zero could sweat, they would be drenched in a puddle of dread.
"NEGATIVE GOD SIN INFLUENCE DETECTED." Mother Mold finally replied, replacing fear with annoyance similar to Mother Mold. This toxin was attempting to change Loki. Zero makes their way to the serpent's severed head, climbing to the top of it. They form a blade with the Mother Mold before jamming it into the creature's skull.
Lifeless eyes flick open to reveal that one, instead of an iris and pupil, had the mark of God Sin Sloth upon it. A patch of red fabric on Zero's back unfurls to reveal the center where the God Sin Wraths mark sat in the center surrounded by its siblings' sigils.
"Decimate." As Zero says this, the mark of Wrath burns a bright crimson, and the Mark of Sloth on the serpent's eye a deep violet. The head squirmed as the sigil of Sloth began to break down and tear, opening wounds across the undead eye. The parts that were torn away filled in slowly on Zero's twin sigil on their back.
"Desecrate." The serpent's head began to buck and writhe at Zero's words, and the creature's skin violently started to decay and melt as it did everything it could to escape. Its effort was futile exposed bone cracked and waned under Zero's desecration.
"Devour!" Zero screamed out alongside the head that let go a deathly bellow which echoed deep into the cave. What skin and muscle left that clung to bone was devoured by Zero's Mother Mold, leaving nothing but a cleaned skull.
"PORTION OF GOD SIN ACQUIRED: Dream Weaver." The Mother Mold reassured Zero, who could have sworn a lilt of joy danced in its tone. Zero leaps from their skeletal post as it returns to the Ether, becoming specs of stardust in the wind.
"Synthesize cure." Zero said while looking over an unconscious Loki. His skin had turned pale as stone, and his lips slowly blue.
"CURE FOR GOD SIN SLOTH TOXIN
ATTEMPT:" A chilling silence filled the forest as Zero waited for the Mother Mold's response.
"Fail."
"Again." Zero demanded.
"ATTEMPT: Fail."
"Again..."
"ATTEMPT: Fail."
"AGAIN!"
"ATTEMPT:...Fail." Zero crumpled next to Loki, defeated by the hopelessness that dawned upon them. He couldn't have more than mere moments before the mending the Mother Mold was doing would be worthlessly keeping a husk alive.
"SUGGESTION?" Mother Mold's inquisitive tone jolted Zero's attention.
"He won't join the family..." Zero grunted through clenched teeth, anger slowly boiling over.
"SUGGESTION: Creation of a new Family
BRANCH: God Sin Sloth." Zero heart raced at these words.
"Is that possible?" Zero asked, not entirely trusting the Mother Mold.
"MATERIALS ACQUIRED: Essence of God Sin Sloth
QUINTESSENCE ACQUIRED: Corpse of Napa Juma
CONSENT OF DEATHLESS: Loki
REQUIRED." The Mother Mold patiently waited for a reply that wasn't coming from the unconscious Loki. Zero knew what they had to do. The patch of fabric on their back covering their sigils unfurled once more. The mark of Wrath below Lokis eye began to glow a similar crimson to the one on Zero's back.
Red electricity jumped between them as a projection of light formed a bigger Sigil from Loki's eye. The other God Sin sigils began to spin around the center, one on Zeros' back, until a crimson hole took its place. A spectral form of Zero flowed from the crimson hole to the projection Lokis mark created before it all disappeared, leaving Zero unconsciously kneeling next to Loki, their chin resting on their chest.