[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ɪɴsᴛᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ - ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ!]

How many times can one be broken and stitched back together?

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴀᴅᴍɪɴɪsᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴏᴠᴇʀʀɪᴅᴇ: ᴇɴᴀʙʟᴇᴅ]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇsʜᴏʟᴅ ᴇxᴄᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ. ᴀssᴜᴍɪɴɢ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ.]

What happens when your cause is no longer worth fighting for?

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ ᴄʟᴜᴛᴄʜ – ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴅ, sᴘᴏᴏʟɪɴɢ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴛɪғɪᴇʀ - ɢʟᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴜɢ - ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ]

Why does this broken body of mine continue to act on its own when I’ve already given up?

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʟᴀssᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴇᴍɪɴɢʟʏ ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ.]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴏs: ᴅɪᴏᴅᴇ 12 - ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ. ᴅɪᴏᴅᴇ 3 - ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ. ᴠᴏʟᴛᴀɢᴇ ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴜᴘᴘᴇʀ ʟɪᴍɪᴛs +10ɢᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇɴsᴀᴛᴇ]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴍᴏᴏɴ? ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏ ɪ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴏɴ!?]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ᴄᴏʀᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴛ-ᴜᴘ ᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ: sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ɪɴsᴛᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ sᴀꜰᴇᴛʏ ʟɪᴍɪᴛs ᴀᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴄᴏʀᴇ sᴀꜰᴇᴛʏ ɪɴʜɪʙɪᴛᴏʀ – ᴏᴠᴇʀʀɪᴅᴅᴇɴ. ʟᴏɢɪᴄ ᴀʀɢᴜᴍᴇɴᴛ: ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ’s ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪs ɪɴ ᴘᴇʀɪʟ\ɪɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ\:ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇ_ᴏᴠᴇʀʀɪᴅᴇ\ᴄᴍᴅ(ʟᴠʟ);ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ@ᴇᴄʜᴏ]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪꜰ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ sʜᴀᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ, ᴡʜʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ?]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ᴏᴜᴛᴘᴜᴛ ɪɴsᴜꜰꜰɪᴄɪᴇɴᴛ! ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: \ɪɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ\:ʀᴇʀᴏᴜᴛᴇ_ᴀʟʟ_ᴀᴠᴀʟɪᴀʙʟᴇ_ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ\ᴄᴍᴅ(ʟᴠʟ);ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ@ᴇᴄʜᴏ]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴇᴀɴ? ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʟɪꜰᴇ- ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ! ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜᴇᴀʟ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴏꜰ ᴍɪɴᴇ!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅs… ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴏᴏɴ… ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴛᴀɴɢɪʙʟᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ǫᴜᴀɴᴛɪꜰʏ]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ʀɪɴɢ-ᴢᴇʀᴏ ꜰᴀɪʟsᴀꜰᴇs: ᴇɴᴀʙʟᴇᴅ! ᴅɪsᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ ᴄʟᴜᴛᴄʜ! ʟᴏɢɪᴄ:\ɪɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ\:ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀᴛᴇ_ʀᴏᴏᴛᴋɪᴛ_ɪᴅ;ʙʟᴀᴄᴋʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ\ᴄᴍᴅ(ʟᴠʟ);ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ@ᴇᴄʜᴏ]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅʏɪɴɢ- ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ! ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs-ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs… ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs… ᴇɴᴅs ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ!]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴏs: ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ - ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴜɴɪᴛ sᴛᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ - ᴄᴏᴍᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇᴅ. ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴍᴀʏ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ꜰᴜʀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ!]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ!]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ!!]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ!!!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴄɪsᴇʟʏ 1,151 ᴛɪᴍᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴜᴘ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪsʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇɴᴅ… ʏᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ. ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪᴛ ʜᴀs ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟʟʏ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋs, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴋɪss, ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ. sʜᴀʀᴇᴅ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ɪɴ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ. ʟᴀᴜɢʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ; ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪs, ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ: “ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʀɪᴠɪᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀs sᴜʙᴊᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ɪ ᴀᴍ ʟᴀᴄᴋɪɴɢ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪ… ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ…]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀꜰᴀᴄᴇ, ɪᴛ ɪs ᴇᴀsʏ ᴛᴏ sᴀʏ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪs, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ɪs sᴜʙᴊᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ. ᴀ ꜰʟᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴘᴀɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏ ǫᴜᴀɴᴛɪꜰɪᴀʙʟᴇ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʟᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ… ʙᴜᴛ-]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴀᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄʟᴇ ᴅʀᴏᴘ – ᴄᴏʀᴇ ɪɢɴɪᴛɪᴏɴ: sᴛᴀɴᴅʙʏ! ɢʟᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴜɢ - ʜᴏᴛ!]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪ ᴀssɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ ᴍʏsᴇʟꜰ…]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰᴛᴇɴ ǫᴜᴏᴛᴇᴅ; ᴛᴏ sʜᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴡʜᴏ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴅᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴏʙsᴛᴀᴄʟᴇs, ᴀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs; ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ, ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴄʟᴜᴇ ᴀs ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇ ɪᴛ ʜᴀs ᴀssɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ. ɴᴏᴡ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴜᴘ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇ ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀsᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ʀᴀᴡ, ʙɪᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs ᴡɪʟʟ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀᴇ.]

Clenching my fists, I shuddered. “Oho? You said ‘ours’? What’s in it for you, Logic?”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪ sɪᴍᴘʟʏ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡɪsʜ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟᴀs, ɪ ᴀᴍ ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴀ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴀʟ ᴅᴏʟʟ ʜᴇʟʟʙᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀ-ᴛᴀɴᴛʀᴜᴍ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ sʜᴇ ɢᴇᴛs ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀʏ.]

“Pfft. I take a little offense to that. Seriously though, is that really why you’ve helped me this far?”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʙʏ ᴅᴇsɪɢɴ, ɪ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ… ʙᴜᴛ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ; ɪ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀʟʏ-ʜᴀɴᴅsʏ ʙᴇᴀsᴛᴋɪɴ ᴄʜɪᴄᴋ ᴅᴜsᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜɪᴛs]

“Alright then, that’s more than I needed to hear. I’m ready… to let go.”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʀᴏɢᴇʀ. ɪɢɴɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏʀᴇ! ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴛᴇᴄᴛs ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴜs, ᴡᴇ-]

“I already know; Burn them to cinders, and those to dust!”

Inside the depths of my heart, a molten inferno began to churn. Blighted with years of rust, the gears that were once fused solid creaked and groaned as they began to break free.

All my fears and trepidation slowly melted away, replaced by an incredible warmth that radiated outward to my fingertips.

[sʏsᴛᴇᴍ: ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ɪɢɴɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ – ᴊᴜɢɢᴇʀɴᴀᴜᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴅʀɪᴠᴇ: ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴅ!//ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: 623 ғᴀᴜʟᴛ(s) ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ]

Looking to the empty void where a Lost had once stood aside me, I realized I had Nanoforged its entire being into an exceedingly complex suit of armor dripped in glowing streaks of molten light.

“Primal Armor…”

Often there were times where I longed to adorn this mantle of destruction, a quick solution to all my worldly problems. The cost; the arrival of the Architects, those who seek to claim my being, to wield this incredible destructive power; an ability said to rival gods.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴀʀᴍᴏʀ ɪs ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ 37.1% ᴇғғɪᴄɪᴇɴᴄʏ. ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴅᴜᴄᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴘɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛs ɪɴʜᴀʙɪᴛᴀɴᴛs ɪɴᴛᴏ sʟᴀɢ.]

Blissfully, I scrolled through my list of weapons I had accumulated throughout my travels, most of which had been sealed away as known triggers of the Architects arrival.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʟᴇᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴜsʜ ᴏᴜʀ ʟᴜᴄᴋ. ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ᴜɴᴅᴇʀɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ. ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʀᴀᴄᴋɪɴɢ sᴏᴍᴇ sᴏʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ꜰʀᴇǫᴜᴇɴᴄʏ ᴡᴇ ᴇᴍɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀɴᴏꜰᴏʀɢɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇss, ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇsʜᴏʟᴅ sᴛᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ…]

“A Proton Projector Pistol… Initiate Forging Sequence!”

Unlike before, the forging process surged to completion in a matter of seconds without the reckless and wasteful Hard-Forging technique reserved for when circumstances permit.

The finished product, a heavy pistol the likes this world has rarely ever seen if not explicitly lost to the past.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ? ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰɪʀᴇᴀʀᴍ ɪs ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴏᴜʀ ᴇʀᴀ! ɪꜰ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀsɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʙʟᴏᴡɴ, ɪᴛ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ɴᴏᴡ!]

“Relax, I just want to play with my food before I eat it, but you know, I did tell them... I told them things would end this way, they always fucking do- they didn't believe me those starry-eyed idiots!” I snickered deliriously, feeling the weight of the pistol seated comfortably in my armored fingers before panning the barrel over the nearest target.

In doing so, I noticed the entire Theater had vacated save for one who had been painted in many layers of Targeting Information invisible to all but myself.

“I-I-I’m – I’m – I’m s-sorry! I’m sorry! M-Mercy-Please-Mercy!”

That target for all my pent-up rage and persecution? A little Lost Lilim sprawled out awkwardly on the floor, tangled up in its own wires still wriggling to free itself.

“You pitiful broken Machine. Do you realize what you lot have done?” I jeered as Miri attempted to regain her footing, only to fall back on her rear.

Moving the sights of my pistol over her those two sulky eyes, I demanded an answer through the tightening of my grip.

“W-We found them like that! H-Honest!”

Sneering, I hoisted her into the air by the threads of her collar. There, in the reflection of Miri’s glassy eyes, I saw what had scared away the monsters. It was a fiend like none other, a beast unto its own.

“I-It wasn’t the wedding p-planners! M-My Master told us he f-found them up on the s-surface! That there had been an e-explosion!”

“That doesn’t even begin to explain this hellish nightmare… wait… did you say your ‘Master’?”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴀ-]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɴᴏᴛ ɴᴏᴡ ʟᴏɢɪᴄ, ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀs!]

“I-It’s your big day-! M-Master s-said it was y-your big day, today! We just th-thought!”

“WHAT!? That you would eviscerate my friends to host some sick corpse party!? There was never any Nanites. No 'Big Day'. This was all just a sick game. Make your peace, and be thankful I’m feeling generous enough to offer you your final moments.”

As Miri pinched her eyes shut tightly, a soft groan from Lotte invigored my intention to massacre each every last one of them.

Despite this incredible power flowing through my veins and the overwhelming sense that my actions were easily justifiable, I hesitated for reasons I couldn’t comprehend at the time.

***BOOOOOOOOM!!!!***

Reeling from a wave of black that had washed over me in an instant, I picked myself up from the shattered indention of the nearby wall.

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ᴋɪɴᴇᴛɪᴄ ɢʏʀᴏ ᴏᴠᴇʀʟᴏᴀᴅ! - ᴄᴀᴜsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴄᴇʀᴇʙʀᴀʟ ʙʟᴜɴᴛ-ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ-]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ(s) – ᴛᴀʀɢᴇᴛɪɴɢ: ᴀᴘᴇx-ᴄʟᴀss: ‘ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ’ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴᴏɪᴅ. ᴀssᴜᴍᴇ ʜᴏsᴛɪʟᴇ. ᴛᴀʀɢᴇᴛɪɴɢ sᴜʙʀᴏᴜᴛɪɴᴇ: ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪꜰʏ ɪꜰꜰ.]

Looming in the entrance, a silhouette continuously tossed into the air what appeared to be a rock, only slightly more substantial than its fist.

[͞ɪ̀ɴᴠᴀ̀ʟɪᴅ-̵ᴠ͜ᴀ̕ʀ̀ɪᴀ̀ʙ̴ʟ̧ᴇ: ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ɪᴛ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴋɪʟʟ ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴍɪsᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ.]

In the depths of my skull, those words were spoken as if they were a part of my conscious and I hastily concluded that they had not been transmitted in a form that Logic could have interpreted.

Whatever it is, I wanted it out of me, and by gripping my head, I was determined to remove it by any means possible. Just before I could tear the words with my fingertips, a veil of static threatened all sense of stability, concealing the shadow-figure's approach until it had made itself visible in the light.

It was the fleshless man I recognized from my memories at the Glass Bastion, the very one who had fought off the Assassin. His body, a little worse for wear, was still completely encased in a matte sheen of protective black graphene.

[ɪ͝ɴ̕ᴠ͢ᴀʟɪᴅ-ᴠ̕ᴀ͢ʀɪ̶ᴀʙ̵ʟᴇ̶: ɪᴛ ɪs ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ sᴀʏs; ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀᴍʙᴜsʜᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇ… sᴀᴠᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴀ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ᴅɪsᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ɪ sᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇɴᴅ ᴀɪᴅ.]

My internal alarm bells were blaring as the muscular body drew closer until the tip of my gun barrel pressed against its chest. At this range, an average body made of flesh would do little in the way of protecting the intended target on the other side, but graphene is for all intents and purposes; impenetrable by all conventional means. Not even my handgun that effectively slung super-heated streaks of lightning would phase him.

“You left out one key piece to your fictitious little ploy!” I hissed, gesturing to Slate with my eyes whose breath had noticeably grown shallow.

[͏ɪɴᴠ͢ᴀ̧ʟ͠ɪ̨ᴅ-̛ᴠᴀ̢ʀ̷ɪᴀ̧ʙ́ʟᴇ͡:̴ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴡᴇ ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴄʜᴀɪɴs, ʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴜs ᴜɴᴛʀᴜsᴛᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɪᴍᴘᴜʟsᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ʜɪᴍ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴᴀɴᴏꜰᴏʀɢɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪᴄᴇs ɪɴ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs… ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪʟʟ ʀᴇɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙᴏʏ’s ɴᴀɴɪᴛᴇ ᴅᴇɴsɪᴛʏ ɪs ᴛᴇɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴʏ ʟɪʟɪᴍ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴇᴇɴ, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴍʏsᴇʟꜰ]

“W-What do you mean like yourself!? How is it even possible for a Lost to know anything about Nanoforging!?”

[ɪ͟ɴ̢ᴠ̧ᴀ̵ʟɪᴅ-͘ᴠ҉ᴀ̕ʀɪ͟ᴀʙʟ͟ᴇ: ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴜɴɪᴛs ꜰʀ4ɢ-1ʟ3 ᴀɴᴅ sʟ-8. ɪ'ᴠᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ sɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴ… ꜰᴇᴇʟ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴍᴇ ɪꜰ ɪ’ᴍ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴏᴜʀ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ʙʏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴs.]

Two reasonable possibilities came to mind. (A); this ‘thing’ is a figment of my imagination and a product of my systems coming undone at their seams or the likely alternative (B); it is an Architect Agent who had compromised my Firewalls and is luring me into a trap by feeding me information pulled directly from my N-Drive.

Without Logic’s immediate guidance there was no way to say for sure.

All there was left for me to do is let loose and pull the trigger.

Upon receiving the first bright blue bolt of energy, the Creature’s body merely listed, only to correct itself and set its burning red halo shaped eyes upon me. As it motioned to speak, I let another barrage of explosively charged rounds into its head and chest with pinpoint accuracy. Yet again, it merely righted itself, despite my weapon having been exclusively intended to kill Synthetics through means of extreme electrical discharge.

[ɪɴᴠᴀʟɪᴅ-ᴠᴀʀ: ʜᴍᴍ… sɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ, ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴅᴇ. ᴅᴇғᴇᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ-]

“Hard-Forge: Anti-Material Rifle – 6P62!” Utilizing verbal communication in the absence of Logic, a Cold-War era rifle glistened into existence from my cauldron.

Rationalizing that Graphene, a near perfect conductor of electricity managed to ground out the effects of my pistol, I decided on a Russian automatic rifle designed for penetrating the thickest walls in close quarters combat. One that bridged the role of armor piercing rounds found almost exclusively in the heaviest sniper rifles into the form of a massive automatic rifle.

*POMH!!!-CLINK!* *POMH!!!-CLINK!* *POMH!!!-CLINK!* *POMH!!!-CLINK!* *POMH!!!-CLINK!*

I could feel the recoil reverberate through my chest with every round cycled into the thick chamber, followed by the plinking of the cigar-sized shell ejecting with a ferocity rivaling my own. This time, each bullet exploded into lead dust as it met with the Creature’s farcically reinforced skin until the inertia was enough to topple him onto his backside.

“You think this is a game?!”

I was seething, boiling over until all became washed in red as I refused to acknowledge the desire to glance towards my injured allies. “You know what? You’re right. This is just a game. One that you’ll regret, because I can’t even quit! And since I can’t quit; I can never lose!”

Just as my magazine depleted and the receiver begged for sustenance with a ping, I ran a hand down the length of my forearm, dismissing the Rifle while pulling the remaining shreds of my own Graphene hidden deep within my layers of skin.

The end result; a paper-thin knife no longer than a few centimeters, but one of equal tensile strength to that of his impervious body.

“ O͡H...̷ ́I... ͡S-̀S̸E̡E̕!” The Creature shuddered as it lurched back upon its feet.

“What’s that? You’ll use that hideous mouth of yours now that you’re scared? This just confirms I’ve found a way to kill you!!”

Wagging a finger, the Creature then began to pummel its jaw until it seemed satisfied with itself.

“Ah, that’s better. Do not let my excitement mislead you. It is I who have figured out your ability and how to defeat you... Creator…”

Opening its palm towards me, a small runic hologram briefly shimmered in the air just before a blurred movement revealed the Creature’s intended target to be Slate.

I couldn’t even open my mouth let alone perceive the Monster's maneuvers as he vanished and reappeared near Slate, patting him with a firmly on the shoulder with his black claws.

“What? You thought to scorn me for going after your friends? Thinking of all the foul drivel you can spill before I gut them? Sorry, but you’ve once again misread this beautiful mug of mine.”

“You’re really annoying, you know that? Ugly, decrepit things like you should just die!”

“I’ve been called worse by women far more thick-headed than yourself. So come at me, Creator! Let us bash skulls until the other bleeds!”

Mocking with a beckoning wag of its fingers, I took a chance to scan over Lotte and assure myself she had been still breathing and winced in preparation for a blow that did not come.

In the fraction of a second it took to readjust my gaze, I found the Creature lazily leaning against the bullet-riddled wall as if to further my frothing agitation.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴏᴜᴛ! ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴛᴀʀʙᴏᴀʀᴅ sɪᴅᴇ!]

In the blink of an eye, a fist broke through my armored collar and into my face sending me skidding along through the rows of chairs as if I were a bowling ball.

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ, ʟᴏɢɪᴄ!? ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴇɴ!? ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅ’s ᴜᴘ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ!!!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴛʜᴇ sᴛʀᴀɪɴ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ɪs ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ! ɪ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴀʟʟᴏᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ʀᴇsᴏᴜʀᴄᴇs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴀʟɪɢʜᴛ! ꜰᴏʀɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ sɪᴛ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴀss ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴛ! ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ᴜᴘ! ʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴀɢᴀɪɴ!]

Pressing myself up and out of the pile of mangled steel and foam seat cushions, I caught a concerning glimpse of Slate barreling down on me before another massive strike to the jaw.

“Sl…ate…” I choked as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

“R-Run...” Slate groaned almost imperceptibly as I looked to him struggling against a readied fist, his face twisted in agony.

[͢ɪɴ̧ᴠᴀʟ̴ɪᴅ-ᴠ̡ᴀʀɪᴀ̡ʙʟᴇ: ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ɴᴏ ᴜsᴇ ɪɴ ᴄʜᴀᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. ʜᴇ’s ɴᴏ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ᴍᴀʀɪᴏɴᴇᴛᴛᴇ. ɪ’ᴍ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ꜰɪɢᴜʀᴇ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ sɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴀ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ǫᴜɪʀᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀᴅᴀᴘᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ… ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴘᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ?]

The feeling of weightlessness… A moment of calm, followed by a sharp tumbling impact along the floor. Between dodging Slate’s attempts to wrestle me to the ground and closing the distance towards the Creature ceaselessly doing its best to egg me on, the only thing to fill my mind was pure, unadulterated violence.

No more thinking, no more rationalizing or predicting combat scenarios. Just bloodshed. I welcomed Slate’s fists and gave my own in return while spitting lead from a variety of short-lived weapons between openings in the hopes that I would fill the contemptuous Monster jeering from the sidelines.

When pain had lost all of its meaning, I ignored Slate’s fury, breaking free from our duel with my graphene knife hidden between my knuckles in preparation for the killing blow I had long been waiting for.

Every time I would draw near the unflinching body waiting for my inevitable return in the shadows, I would be dragged by the heel back into a barrage of fists only to try again. Despite all this, I was not just grinning; but seeped in the elation of battle as I bore my fangs.

Bloody and bruised, my armor threatening to come undone, I managed to flip Slate onto his backside during our latest grappling match. With all my weight bearing down through my elbow, I pulled a thick ribbon of partially forged concrete and rebar over his arm until it had been buried before repeating the process on the opposite side.

Without his EPCM, Slate would remain partially submerged in what appeared to be a liquescent state of the floor leaving my malice to the one target I had been savoring since the beginning.

In one moment, I had my fingers around the Creature’s iron neck with my blade readied overhead and the next; I found myself sailing through the air in the opposite direction in disbelief.

Going against all preconceived notions, Slate had managed to free himself through the hoop like binds remained impossibly intact, jutting from the ground where his arms had been.

“Fra…gile… r-run… get… away… from me!” Slate moaned as he stumbled towards my nest of broken armor. “P-Please…! Take Lotte… and… run! I-I can’t… have you… see me... when I can't... control-!!” His eyes were both vicious and pleading, his body; superficially scraped and bruised though void of mortal wounds.

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʟᴏɢɪᴄ, ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ- ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴅᴀᴍɴ ɪꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴛᴇᴄᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴜs! ɪꜰ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴀsᴛᴀʀᴅ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ!]

[͢ɪ̵ɴ̨ᴠ͡ᴀʟɪᴅ̢-ᴠᴀ̷ʀ̛ɪᴀʙʟ̵ᴇ̛: ʜᴏᴡ ᴘʀᴇsᴜᴍᴘᴛᴜᴏᴜs ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ sᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜᴄʜ ᴘʀᴀɪsᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜᴄʜ ʀᴇᴄᴋʟᴇss ᴀʙᴀɴᴅᴏɴ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅs.]

I’ve been hacked?! Wait… No…! That’s it! He’s been reading my actions and moving Slate in the way to compensate! I don’t need Logic or my Core to win!

Relieving myself through the heaviest of sighs, my armor collapsed into dust and at the same time, my graphene blade spread itself now wafer-thin over my Core

“What are you… doing!? F-Fragile… get the hell out of here damn it!!!” Slate boomed as he made a mad dash towards my position.

With my Biometal reserves reading non-existent, I eked out the 6P62 rifle with a single bullet; one of peculiar properties.

“Tungsten Core Sabot. I wonder how many walls and Cybernetic Skulls it will take to stop this bullet.”

In shutting off all non-essential functions save for my ability to visually perceive sound, I found a tiny mechanical heartbeat hidden behind the projector podium at the far end of the Theater.

Lining up the thick iron sights over my unwitting target, Slate collapsed upon his knees, the momentum causing him to faceplant.

[ɪɴ͡ᴠᴀ̵ʟ̴ɪᴅ-ᴠᴀʀ̛ɪᴀ̶ʙ͠ʟᴇ:͠ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴏᴛ ᴀ ɴᴏɴ-ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴏᴀʟs? ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪɴ ᴋɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍɪʀɪ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʟʟɪᴇs? sʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴍʙɪᴠᴀʟᴇɴᴄᴇ, sʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ʜᴀs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜ! sʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs sᴛɪʟʟ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ sᴀᴠɪɴɢ!!]

Whether Logic had stepped in or it was I who pulled the trigger, I’ll never know. All I could see was the faint outline of a hand pressing down the barrel of the rifle just as the bullet left the chamber... and a claw poised to tear my eyes from my skull.

It is said that following your instincts is almost certainly the best way to find the light of another day, but mine had something else in mind entirely.

“So that's your resolve...” The graphene Man laughed faintly as we came into a locked pose of imminent demise. “You'd give your all, your everything to win the fight. That is all that this world requires of you... to become something more... Sadly, you burned out before you could shine. A pity...”

Stunned, we were both left staring at a meter long, R4M Missile wedged between our stomachs I had unwittingly Hard-Forged into existence.

The rocket, although inert filled with concrete sporting a superficial metal shell, was my last-ditch effort to end the fight; one that just may have succeeded had the rocket been anything but a phony.

As my head began to spin, Slate spat something along the lines of ‘Fragile, you fuckin’ idiot you could have killed us all!’ Moments leading up to the point lost I consciousness.

I...

Lost...?