「Arc 1: Subjugation」

Chapter 0020 「Veil」

Everyone's eye fell on 101 as he revealed himself from the Labyrinth's exit.

"Did he get taller?" 18 wondered.

The spotlight that briefly illuminated 101's presence waned, eclipsed by an overwhelming force that emanated from 200. In an instant, the collective senses of 18, 84, 178, and 50 were seized by a sensation entirely foreign, an electrifying dread that gripped them at their very core. It was 200's bloodlust, a primal aura that seemed to seep from his very pores, permeating every inch of the chamber.

This malevolent aura dispersed like a creeping fog.

Yet, amidst the paralyzed masses, two figures stood unyielding, untouched by the suffocating weight of 200's bloodlust. The Governors, Seth and Groak, radiated an air of eerie calm, their expressions betraying no hint of vulnerability. In stark contrast, the professors felt beads of sweat forming on their brows, their composure fraying under the oppressive weight of 200's bloodlust.

101, toward whom the bloodlust was directly aimed, stood adamant. He noticed the faces of the ones who made it into this room, including the unconscious 71 on the floor.

After that, he noticed the Golden eye that Seth had. Both of their eyes met. Now, 101 could tell Seth and Groak. These two were also like him and the kids, i.e., Bloodvermins. The professors behind them, however, were humans. 101 could differentiate.

The most troubling thing still was 200's bloodlust. Lyla had explained the rules to 101 of the ongoing selection for the position of the Dictator. He knew everyone would aim for his headband. Seeing 200's eyes, he could tell that 200 didn't care for the headband. It was his life that 200 wanted.

200's eyes were filled with emotions, but he didn't act. Looking at his, 101 thought of him as a leashed beast.

That's when he noticed Groak's smile.

"Let the hunt begin," Groak's voice slithered near 200's ear, a chilling prelude to the impending clash.

In an instant, 200 closed the gap, his movements swift as a bolt of lightning. His punch hurtled toward 101 like a descending meteor.

But 101, unwavering, met the oncoming assault with a defiant palm. A peculiar sensation washed over him. Something was awry.

As their contact ignited a frenzied clash, red mist erupted from 200's form, spiraling and engulfing the room. It crept like a malevolent specter, ensnaring every child within its ephemeral grasp. Across the chamber, Governors, Ryutch, and the professors stood in a small pocket of sanctuary, kept at bay by the mist's spectral boundary.

Within the swirling haze, 200 and 101's fists collided, each impact resonating with a deafening intensity. The very air seemed to shudder with their unrestrained power.

"You can't hear me, can you?" 101's voice pierced through the veil, a question born of a disconcerting revelation. There was no stable consciousness within 200, only a tempest of chaotic emotions.

In one swift motion, 200 seized 101's arm, hurling him further into the abyss of the room. Despite the jarring impact, 101 landed on his feet, his body a testament to the resilience forged within the Pit.

"Ouch," he muttered with a sardonic edge, though the pain radiating from his strained arm betrayed his nonchalance. The lingering mist clouded his vision, yet the heightened senses acquired through his trials allowed him to stand resolute against the encroaching darkness.

 

"Why?" 200's voice wavered, a tremor of anguish weaving through his words. "Why did you torture me?"

 

A disconcerted pause hung in the air as 101 grappled with the unexpected confession. "Hm? I did?" 200's words, laced with a discordant vulnerability, caught 101 off guard.

Then, a resounding crack pierced the hushed atmosphere. 101 received a hit in his abdomen. He got sent back at least five steps. His eyes widened. Since the beginning of the clash, for the first time, he was genuinely surprised.

He received no damage because the centipede manifested at the last moment.

The centipede materialized from the shadows. With an obsidian exoskeleton gleaming like polished onyx, it manifested with an air of foreboding majesty. Its scales seemed to absorb the ambient light, casting the creature in an eerie, shadowy radiance.

As the punch hurtled towards 101, the centipede moved with unnatural speed, its crimson legs extending to intercept the blow. The impact resonated through the creature's sinuous form, the legs absorbing the force with a grace that belied their monstrous appearance. The collision produced a resonating thud.

With the threat thwarted, the centipede encircled 101 with an almost protective fervor. From neck to waist, it coiled around him, segments interlocking with a seamless precision.

The centipede's glossy carapace seemed to ripple with a palpable energy as if responding to the pulse of 101's heartbeat. Its fiery red legs, juxtaposed against the obsidian expanse, held an air of both danger and guardianship.

101 looked at 200.

That punch was different. Had he received a direct hit, he would be dead. The centipede also sensed that, so it manifested without 101's calling.

Shards of broken shells fell from the centipede. It had received a brutal blow.

'His fists weren't that strong before.' 101 took a defensive stance.

"You…should have left me alone." Tears dropped from 200's eyes. Along the tears, dark markings also started to emerge.

"Dark Arts." 101's eyes narrowed.

From 200's back burst forth two grotesque, human-sized wings, leathery and veined. His once familiar arms contorted and writhed, now concealed beneath a sheen of jet-black, gnarled scales. The fingers, elongated and tipped with wickedly sharp claws, stretched out like the talons of a nightmarish creature.

The abrupt metamorphosis of 200 stemmed from a convergence of two factors: the tumultuous currents of his emotions and the unsettling apparition of the centipede, both exerting their profound influence.

"Transmogrification. I see," 101 remarked, a subtle quiver of excitement beneath his smile. His fist clenched and rose, ready to face the upcoming attack.

As 101's attention was fixated on the eerie transformation of 200, a sudden jolt of unimaginable force struck him square in the back. The impact sent shockwaves through his body, causing his vision to convulse and blur. His senses reeled, struggling to keep pace with the bewildering assault.

"From behind?.." In the ensuing chaos, 101's eyes failed to maintain a coherent focus on 200. The world around him became a whirlwind of distorted shapes and frenetic motion. The colossal wings of 200 beat with a thunderous force, resonating through the chamber like the ominous rumblings of an impending storm.

Through sheer determination, 101 managed to steady himself. He could feel the residual tremors of the punch coursing through his bones.

As 101 regained his composure, he sensed the palpable weight of 200's menacing presence looming over him. It was as if a feral beast had been unshackled, poised to unleash further devastation. The room itself seemed to groan under the weight of their conflict.

With grim resolve, 101 met 200's ferocious gaze. "What a monster."

As 200's onslaught continued, 101 fought, relying on the protection of the colossal centipede encircling him from shoulder to waist. Each blow felt like a cataclysmic force of nature, the resounding impacts sending tremors through his frame.

Despite the centipede's best efforts to shield him, the relentless barrage took its toll. 101's breaths came in ragged gasps. The centipede did its best to absorb the blows' brunt, but it also suffered, its segments splintering and fracturing under the unrelenting assault.

Blood welled from wounds, staining the floor beneath him. The room seemed to warp and distort around him, his vision swimming with agony.

Through sheer willpower, 101 summoned the last vestiges of his strength. He met 200's onslaught head-on, his own attacks a testament to his unyielding spirit.

But as the battle raged on, it became painfully clear that 101 was teetering on the precipice of exhaustion. His movements grew sluggish, and his defences faltered.

But 200's instincts screamed. Something felt off.

Thump!

"My heart…" Amidst the fierce battle, a gentle smile graced 101's lips, a testament to the humbling experience that had touched him deeply. "It feels light."

For a fleeting moment, 101's mind wandered back to the Pit. It had been a hellish ordeal, but he regarded it as a hidden blessing. Emerging from that crucible, he honed his senses, bolstered his physical prowess, and fortified his stamina and speed. He acquired a wealth of combat experience, a deficiency in his previous life. When Lyla informed him of the ongoing contest for the position of Dictator, he harbored the belief that no one could wrest his headband from him. The recently awakened youngsters might experience a surge of power, but he remained confident in his physical capabilities and accrued know-how. He acknowledged that over time, as the youths delved deeper into the Dark Arts, the gap might widen. Yet, this skirmish with 200 served as a stark awakening to the true potential of those Dark Arts.

This epiphany extinguished his hesitation to use the centipedes.

In the throes of the relentless assault, a surge of divine energy emanated from 101, manifesting two more colossal centipedes. With swift precision, they coiled around each of 101's arms, their segments interlocking with the first centipede to form a barrier of protection.

101's movements gained renewed vigor. The centipedes acted in perfect synchrony, deflecting and absorbing 200's blows with calculated precision. Each strike that came his way was met with a resounding counterattack as the centipedes moved with a grace that belied their immense size.

The room seemed to quiver under the force of their combined efforts. Blood welled from 101's wounds. With every passing moment, he grew more attuned to the rhythm of the centipedes, their collective strength bolstering his own.

The resounding clash of blows echoed through the chamber.

Outside the Mist

"As I suspected." The Ryutch observed the crimson haze, his usually sharp vision now clouded. "That mist. It obstructs my sight."

Groak turned to Seth, curiosity etched across his features. "And what of your fancy golden eyes? Can they see what is happening inside?"

Seth's response was unequivocal. "No."

The Ryutch delved into a reminiscence. "Before 200 claimed his classmate's life, there was a similar shroud, though it was pitch black. Harmless to us, but a veil that veils all. We remain blind to what transpires within unless we venture in ourselves."

Groak's grin widened. "A marvel, indeed. 200, you are a creature of wonders, a trove of surprises."

"This is not the moment for mirth. We must halt this competition and delve deeper into 200's essence. He should not roam freely like th--" The Ryutch's words trailed off, stifled by Groak's menacing glare.

101 stared in abject horror. In a shocking turn, 200 abruptly ceased his onslaught, freezing in place.

"Kekekeke..." 200's laughter twisted, a malevolent echo in the air.

Drip.

Blood oozed from 200's eyes, staining the ground beneath him, as his long, razor-sharp claws mercilessly pierced his own sockets.

The ghastly spectacle seized 101 with a visceral shock.

"More... pain..." 200's voice dripped with a perverse craving.

Drip! Drip!

200 relentlessly gouged at his eyes, then drove his claws into his forehead, crimson rivulets coursing down his face.

"These feeble memories..." Each strike grew more savage. "These aren't mine."

200's tortured howls reverberated, a ghastly showcase of unspeakable agony.

Steam billowed from 200's visage, the heat a testament to his rapidly healing wounds. His wings began to disintegrate, fading into nothingness. The transformation receded.

Gradually, the anguished cries subsided, replaced by an eerie calm. The scarlet hue of 200's eyes exuded an unexpected serenity, catching 101 off guard.

101's golden eyes widened in astonishment. He saw what he had missed before—the cacophony of countless souls ensnared within 200's being, a tapestry of a chaotic existence.

"101, to endure all that... You are strong," 200 spoke with a newfound politeness. "Never did I imagine encountering one who could match me. Fate has dealt us an intriguing hand, wouldn't you say?"

101 stood in awestruck silence. The person before him bore no resemblance to the deranged creature he had been locked in combat with just moments ago. "What transpired?" 101 mused aloud, though he already harbored a hypothesis.

"And," 200's gaze shifted, "Did you truly believe you could remain concealed within my mist?"

A silhouette emerged from the shadows. "I didn't intend on hiding. Nothing wrong with little observation." 50 materialized, his presence heralded by a chilling aura. Above his head, azure flames formed a twisted diadem, while on the right side of his face, fire coalesced into a nightmarish exoskeletal maw of teeth.

101 had been aware of 50's existence for some time, but he had chosen to overlook it in the throes of his confrontation with 200.

Now, amidst the clash of two abnormalities, a third contender entered the fray.