H5 lacked the waterways of H3. Land-dwelling races populated the bordering city where the massive inland lake connecting to H3 ended. Wide streets became commonplace again, but they were nowhere near as large as the City of Diamonds.

They felt far more reasonable, save for one major highway where wagons towed by giant beasts rode. Giant wolves and painted chameleons, and even tentacled sea urchin-like monsters drove the caravans. The chameleons were painted over since they had the tendency to blend in with the black-bricked roads, rendering them invisible to others.

Frost imagined them wearing a high-vis jacket as an alternative. The image that propped up in her mind was adorable.

This was one of several highways that ran throughout all Sectors of the Nex Megalopolis. Large cargo could not be carried by train by regular folks, and the Blessed could not always be relied on if their cargo exceeded a certain mass. Therefore, these highways were purpose built with these travelers in mind.

Humans were everywhere, and they made up the majority of the population. Insectid were a close second. Bards stroking the strings of guitars, and composers twirling the stick of a conducting wand was a common sight. Music flourished in H5. There was never a dull moment, and what should have been a cacophony of sound became a pleasant symphony that played as the ambience of this city.

Houses, stores, inns – Everything was made from a combination of slightly red tinted brick, and timber. Green was also a common color scheme and was worn by banners and musicians. It was to pay tribute to the late Green Conductor, who called H5 their home.

Most street musicians were Insectids, who expertly played their instruments with their multiple appendages. They had an inherent advantage over all races because of this, so many found themselves gravitating towards music. That was if they weren’t part of a fighting force.

There wasn’t any in between with the Insectids from what the triplets told her. They were either extremely peaceful like the Bee-woman they saved, or pathologically violent. Whilst the world had its own fair share of wars, with humans versus the Demons being one of the largest, it paled in comparison to their culture back in the Gnawer Region.

Frost knew how brutal insects were back on Earth. Picturing it on a human scale was difficult. She looked to the Insectid, seeing multiple eyes that carried a white sclera, a colored iris, and a black pupil. They laughed. They smiled. They ate…

They were people. But Frost acknowledged that they were fundamentally different, both biologically and psychologically. Whilst they were, for lack of a better word, very human, she knew that reading them was an impossible feat.

“When enough generations of drones pass, they kind of forget they’re like, what? Super related to their Queen?” Cer said, specifically mentioning the Bee Insectids as they passed a walking band of black and yellow-stripped women.

They were identical as far as Frost was concerned, and they were just like humans, just with a giant insect-like abdomen protruding from their bottom. Their exposed stingers were lightly trimmed, almost manicured in a way, and they decorated them with colorful bows and ribbons.

Insectid also had hair alongside their fur, which usually accumulated on their chests, belly, shoulders, arms, ankles, and wrists. These were stylized as phenomenal cuffs and scarves. Out of all the races Frost had seen in this vast world, the Insectid had the best fashion sense by far.

“Super related? Bees like to say that their Queen is a part of themselves. That’s why they fight for her.” Res further added as they followed the main strip. “Just in case you were wondering, Frost, we’ve been to Gnawer. It sits up there as one of the worst Regions in Elysia. Millions die. Those millions just become a part of the landscape. Or they’re recycled as food.”

Ber then followed with:

“Devotion at that kind of scale hurts your brain when you try to think about it. Never seen so much coordination in my life! But that’s why Insectids are a good pick for an Atelier. They’re strong, and they don’t complain that often.”

“Aside from those Arachnids.” Cer pointed her nose in the direction of an eight-legged Arachnid woman, who repaired broken string instruments with her own silky strands. “Maneaters like them always wonder why they end up all lonely in the City of Lust.”

“Just don’t eat your partner.” Ber sighed. “Simple as that.”

“Those guys must be desperate if they’re up for a chance with an Arachnid. Who the hell wants to be eaten?” Cer scoffed, causing everyone, including Snap, to turn to her with judgmental eyes. “… Well. Maybe I do understand them. Just a little.”

Cer’s tail wagged as she enjoyed being subjected to their gazes.

“Just a little?” Jury muttered.

Out of all the Insectids, the Arachnids looked the most like the insects the took after. They were almost like Centaurs, with the lower half being a spider, and the upper being human. They sported two main eyes, and 6 accessory ones dotted around their forehead. Subspecies of the Arachnids did exist as well.

Frost couldn’t imagine keeping track of just how many different races and species existed.

“That’s where the Archivist comes in.” Nav said.

I don’t envy her.

“Millions die. But the Nexus doesn’t see that as an issue?” Jury questioned, comparing it to the disaster of Paradise which seemed smaller in comparison to the wars in Gnawer.

“A Corrupted is one thing, and something that people can’t help is another.” Res said. “That’s their born purpose. Workers. Soldiers. Broods. We can’t do anything about that when it’s so deeply ingrained that it’s a part of their way life. It’s an eat or be eaten world.”

Frost did not know what to think of it. It was of course horrifying as a human. Her moral compass knew that the bloodsheds were wrong.

But for those Insectids it couldn’t be anything less than right.

 

* * *

 

They followed the main strip. Bustling marketplaces flanked them, as did caravan and wagons taxing goods and people. The dazzling colors and the endless music was utterly intoxicating in a memorable way. She felt like they were travelling through the thick of a festival.

It was also here where she was given a rundown of her near mastered [Cleanse] Skill, which sat as Cleanse IV [7/10]. The last few levels were incredibly difficult to gain. In fact, she hit IV [5/10] on the second day, and only gained 2 levels on the third.

 

< Cleanse IV >

< Instantly remove 4 chosen stacks on self or target in contact. If multiple targets are in contact, then 4 stacks will be simultaneously removed from them all >

< Distance: 2m: 4 stacks, 5m: 3 stacks, 10m: 2 stacks, 15m: 1 stack >

< Cost: 75 MP >

 

It was cheap and highly effective. Cleanse also increased its distance by an additional 5 meters per level, but this only worked if her targets were in contact with one another, which was a shame. Ever since receiving her Skill Masteries, Frost wondered what other interesting effects existed.

Omnipresent Maw and Commitment of the Black Dove were already insanely powerful on their own. Since she did not plan to feast on a Corrupted anytime soon, Frost planned to gather her strength.

There was no telling what kind of threat they’d be faced with next, and if the trend of increasingly powerful Corrupted continued, then it was not farfetched to expect an Apocalypse-risk Corrupted to make an appearance.

She sincerely hoped that wouldn’t ever be the case.

A Woe of the Fallen Star was bad enough.

And speaking of Woe of the Fallen Star –

Nav. You never showed me the Corrupted Skills I gained.

Frost inquired as they approached a relatively large music store. It piqued her interest, and she gravitated towards it, much to the surprise of the others.

“Do you wish to see them?” Nav asked as Frost briefly recalled that Hellen had a music store along the main strip in H5.

Hoping to meet a familiar face in an unfamiliar land, she stepped through its wide-opened doors. The store was vacant. Cold. But there was one person who manned the counter directly to the left of the entryway.

Yes. Please. Show me everything.

 

< ACTIVE: Beaten Desires >

< EFFECT: Ramp up the emotions of allies. Muddle the hearts of your enemies to suppress them >

< Cost: 25,000 MP >

< They could never act on their suppression. Ambition was wrung from their soul through bouts of violence >

 

< ACTIVE: Unwilling Unity >

< EFFECT: Physically conjoin an unwilling heart with all those within a 1-meter radius. They will fight for you, however unwilling they may be >

< CRITERIA: Initial target must be suppressed by Beaten Desires or other means. Secondary target must have more than 100 RESIST and 500 base DEF >

< Cost: 40,000 MP >

< Banded together for the wrong reasons >

 

< ACTIVE: Collective Leap >

< EFFECT: Collect the hearts of the fallen and raise them to the sky. Hurl them at will and deal 25,000 MAG ATT to target >

< Cost: 50,000 MP >

< Let us take this leap of fabricated faith >

 

< PASSIVE: Shattered Dreams >

< EFFECT: Summon devouring clouds. Cannot dictate where they appear >

< CRITERIA: Active when emotional state increases and when your heart is confronted >

< Oh how we all wish we could all just sleep in a bubble of ignorance. Wouldn’t we all be happier that way? >

 

< PASSIVE: Gushing! >

< The higher your emotional state, the more inclined your heart will be to speak. All targets within a 50-meter radius are affected. Target with over 200 RESIST will accumulate Gush stacks >

< The world doesn’t need to know what you think. Sometimes, it’s better to just keep it to ourselves… for our own sake >

 

< PASSIVE: Aspirating Aspirations >

< EFFECT: All those considered enemies will be challenged by their aspirations when emotional state reaches critical levels >

< Grasp it. Or risk drowning in a sea of fruitless ambition >

 

< UNIQUE >

< False Heart >

< Determined >

 

Frost allowed her thoughts to simmer. These were too interesting to notice that the man at the counter had greeted her in a rather stiff and awkward manner. A low-pitched bell rang just as she entered.

“Hello. Are you sure you don’t need anything? Is that so? Goodbye.” He said, smiling.

“Sorry? Ah. No, I’m fine. I thought this was a different kind of establishment.” Frost immediately pardoned herself before the others could follow her inside.

“Is that so?” He asked just as she walked out.

“Yeah. I’m sorry about that.” Frost answered, freezing at the entrance as she waited for a small crowd to pass.

“Are you sure you don’t need anything?” The man blankly blinked, still smiling stiffly.

Is this his first day? I remember being like that on my first days as a nurse.

“Nothing. Have a good day.” Frost politely waved, and she caught him tilting his head to the side as a small group of aspiring musicians entered, marveling at the aisles of instruments.

When she finally regrouped with her friends and attempted to explain why she suddenly entered, she heard the man’s cold, emotionless voice issue an unnatural farewell.

“Goodbye.”