As we are led by the guards to Belobog, I look around... just cliff and snow, rock and more rock. What thought there was gonna be scenery?
Why am I asking myself questions-
BB, popping out as if from the snow - "Good day~ how are you doing Sen-pai~"
Honestly not too poor- wait what did you just call me?
BB tilting her head, admittedly cutely. Says with a confused tone "Hm? I called you Senpai, just as i have been for the past few days or so?"
Oh... right, I do remember that, sorry it just feels unusual and I got previously I was to focused on your antics to notice the way you address me.
Giggling, BB responds "Senpai~ oh Senpai~ hmm I wonder? do you not like it when I call you something else?" - she smiles, then in a now seductive tone - "Master~ would you prefer me calling you that?"
Nope, nu-uh, I am not dealing with this. Nope.
Still with the same tone BB carries on "Master~ You know, that March girl is still wearing your cape."
Don't.
BB, smiling "She's buried her face in it twice now. Think she's enjoying your scent?"
She's cold.
BB continues "Sure, sure. Nothing to do with how cute she looks all bundled up~"
"Sorry to interrupt you, esteemed guards but could you tell me who that is on that cliff?" I say this while pointing up to a cliff not too far away.
While the our group has their heads turned.
I turn left staring at BB, in a second my face shows an evil smile. BB seeing my reaction freezes up and realizing something unfortunate was about to happened to her. She tries to backpedal "You know Senpa-", unfortunately for BB at this moment my irritation has little rationality.
Therefore, I as swiftly as possible show up in front of BB, pick her up by the back of her colar. Then punt her away, like a meteor. Returning to my original space, the snow, blown by the wind, had already covered my tracks.
showing little evidence of my movement.
Nice and quiet. Peaceful even-
From inside my head, a very angry voice erupts - *SENPAI YOU ABSOLUTE BASTARD!!!*
Oh good, she's back.
*BACK?! You punted me into the STRATOSPHERE! Do you have ANY idea how long it took to materialize back?!*
About five minutes by my count. And you deserved it.
*DESERVED IT?!* - her voice reaches a pitch that makes me wince internally - *I was simply having a conversation!*
You were being a menace. There's a difference.
*I AM NOT A MENACE!*
You materialized Himeko's underwear in my room.
*...That was strategic revenge.*
You got me chased through the entire Express.
*You kicked me first!*
After YOU could suddenly be touched because of Aha's bullshit!
A moment of silence. Then - *...Okay that one wasn't technically my fault.*
Ha! Admission of-
*BUT* - she cuts me off - *You still punted me like a football! Do you know how UNDIGNIFIED that was?!*
You've literally called yourself a "digital menace" before.
*That's different! That's a self-assigned title! YOU don't get to-*
"Sane?" Stelle's voice breaks through my internal argument. "You okay? Your face is doing... things."
I freeze, realizing I've been probably scowling and smirking alternatively for the past minute. "Sorry! Just uh, thinking. About stuff. Cold stuff. Very cold."
Stelle looks unconvinced but shrugs. Dan Heng shoots me a look that says 'I know something's up but won't ask because then you'll ask me questions I don't want to answer'
March doesn't even glance back.
B.B. in my head - *Ohhh, smooth Senpai~ "Cold stuff"? Really?*
Shut up.
*Make me~* - her tone shifts back to that teasing lilt - *Oh wait, you CAN'T. Because I'm in your head. Rent free. Forever~*
I will find a way to evict you.
*You'd miss me~*
Like a hole in the head.
*You already have one. It's called your skull. I'm living in it~*
...That doesn't even make anatomical sense.
*Don't need to make sense when I'm right~*
I take a deep breath of cold air- which I still can't feel properly, weird- and try to center myself. We're approaching what looks like the outskirts of civilization. Broken structures, ice everywhere, that post-apocalyptic aesthetic.
B.B.'s voice softens slightly - *You know, you're handling this surprisingly well.*
Handling what? Your constant harassment?
*All of it, dummy.* - she pauses - *Even if you have been a bit more... impulsive since that drink.*
...Fair.
*See? You didn't even argue. That's how I know I'm right~*
I take a moment before responding. She's not wrong. The whole barging into March's room thing, the immediate punt without thinking it through fully...
*Hey.* - her tone shifts, almost gentle - *For what it's worth? You're doing okay. Better than okay, actually.*
...Are you trying to be nice?
*Ugh, don't make it weird. I'm just saying- you haven't completely fallen apart. That's... something.*
That's almost a compliment.
*Don't let it go to your head. Your ego is big enough already~* - and there's the deflection - *Besides, I can't have my favorite meatbag dying on me. Where's the fun in that?~*
There it is.
*What?~ I have no idea what you mean~*
You care. Admit it.
*I care about my ENTERTAINMENT. Big difference~*
Sure. Keep telling yourself that.
*I will, thank you very much~*
*Speaking of which- that March girl keeps looking back at you. You notice?*
Really? I hadn't-
*Third time now. She's trying to be subtle about it~*
I hate that you're right.
*I'm always right. That's why I'm the AI and you're the meatbag~*
"Meatbag?!"
I said that out loud.
The entire group turns to look at me.
Stelle: "...Did you just call yourself a meatbag?"
"No! I- sorry, I was just- there was a-" I'm floundering and I know it - "Sorry."
Dan Heng sighs. "Perhaps the cold is affecting you more than you realize."
If only he knew. The cold is literally the ONLY thing not affecting me right now.
B.B. is cackling - *Oh this is DELICIOUS~*
One of the guards speaks up, "We're approaching the outer checkpoints. Please stay close and follow protocol."
Thank the Aeons for timing.
B.B. - *Running away from our conversation, Senpai?~*
It's called 'tactical retreat' and it's a valid strategy.
*It's called being a coward~*
Says the AI who lives in my head where I can't physically reach her.
*Hey! You reached me just fine twenty minutes ago!*
Because you MATERIALIZED.
*...Okay fair point.*
I knew there was a brain in there somewhere.
*Senpai~* - her voice drops to that dangerous sweet tone - *You know, I still have access to your inventory~*
...You wouldn't.
*That box Himeko gave you? The one you didn't open? I could just... materialize it. Right here. Right now. In front of everyone~*
You're bluffing.
*Am I?~ Want to test that theory?~*
...Truce?
*Truce~* - I can HEAR her smile - *For now. But Senpai?*
What.
*That punt was pretty well executed. Good form, distance, and the misdirection? Chef's kiss~*
...Are you complimenting me?
*Don't let it go to your head. Your ego is big enough already~*
Coming from you that's rich.
*I'm ALLOWED to have an ego. I'm fabulous~*
And humble too, apparently.
*Humility is for people who have something to be humble about~*
I can't help it- I actually smile slightly at that. She notices immediately.
*Oh? Is Senpai actually enjoying our banter?~*
Oh please, you couldn't amuse me even if you tried.
*Aww~ You DO like me~*
...? that ain-
*Too late~ Already pushed~*
We continue walking in relative peace- well, relative for someone with a chaos AI in their head. The guards lead us around what looks like a massive crater, ice formations twisted in ways that seem physically impossible.
B.B., quieter now - *Hey, Senpai?*
Yeah?
*When we get to the city... be careful. Something feels off.*
Coming from you, that's actually concerning.
*I'm serious. The Stellaron's influence here is... different. Stronger. And that Supreme Guardian the guards mentioned?*
What about her?
*Just... trust your instincts. Even gimped ones are better than nothing.*
...Thanks. I think.
*Don't mention it. Can't have my favorite meatbag dying on me~*
And we're back to meatbag.
*It's a term of endearment~*
*Bzzt.*
We continue forward in silence. Well, external silence. B.B.'s presence in my head is constant, but she's gone quiet. Observing.
The ruins are changing. Getting denser. More... personal.
We pass what used to be a residential block. Buildings lean against each other for support, ice cementing them together in their decades-long collapse. Through a broken window, I can see the inside of someone's home- table still set for a meal that never got eaten, chairs frozen in place. Plates covered in seven hundred years of frost.
A playground sits to our right. The swings creak in the wind, moving slightly. Frozen solid but still hanging there, waiting for children who will never come back. The slide is covered in that golden crystalline corruption, growing like a cancer over the metal.
There's a stuffed animal half-buried in the snow near the swings. Can't tell what it was supposed to be anymore.
"My grandmother used to tell stories," one of the guards says quietly. The scarred one. "About summer festivals in this sector. Said they'd hang lights between the buildings, and everyone would dance in the streets."
"Summers," another guard mutters. "Can't even imagine it."
"She said the sky used to be blue. Not gray. Actually blue."
March's grip on my cape tightens. She's looking at the playground with an expression I can't quite read. Lost, maybe. Or remembering something she shouldn't be able to remember.
Stelle moves closer to her. Doesn't say anything, just... stays close.
Dan Heng's expression is carefully neutral, but his eyes linger on the frozen homes. Calculating? No. Mourning. Quiet and controlled, but mourning nonetheless.
The lead guard's radio crackles. "Scout Seven to escort team. Movement detected, multiple contacts. Signatures are... mixed. Fire and ice elements registering in same location. That's not-"
Static.
"Scout Seven, repeat." The lead guard's voice sharpens. "Scout Seven, do you copy?"
Nothing but white noise.
He tries again. "Scout Seven, confirm your status."
The static cuts off abruptly. Silence.
"Fuck." The lead guard switches channels. "Command, Escort Detail Sigma. Lost contact with Scout Seven, sector seven-alpha. Requesting immediate-"
"Sigma, Command." The voice on the other end is tense. "Scout Seven's beacon just went dark. Pulling back all forward scouts to inner perimeter. You are now priority route. Get those civilians to Belobog gates. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary. Multiple Fragmentum signatures detected in your sector."
"Understood. Sigma out."
The guards' formation tightens immediately. Rifles come up, safeties clicking off. They're not escorting anymore. They're hunting. Or being hunted.
B.B. materializes beside me. Purple hair sharp and focused, eyes scanning the ruins like she can see through them. Her usual playfulness is completely gone.
*Ten contacts. Maybe more. They're circling our position.*
I don't like the sound of that.
*You shouldn't. Fragmentum creatures don't normally coordinate like this. Pack tactics require higher brain function than corrupted monsters should have.*
So what does that mean?
*Either they're higher-class entities, or something's controlling them.*
Both options suck.
*Correct~* - even now, a hint of her usual tone - *Your situational awareness is improving~*
The ruins around us feel different now. Every shadow is suspicious. Every sound of settling ice could be footsteps. The wind howling through broken buildings sounds less like wind and more like breathing.
I notice one of the younger guards- can't be more than twenty, baby-face under the helmet- is pale and sweating despite the cold. His rifle barrel shakes slightly.
The scarred guard notices too. "Jensen. Eyes front. Steady breathing."
"Y-yes sir." The shaking doesn't stop.
We round another collapsed structure, and the corruption is visibly worse here. Ice formations grow in patterns that make my eyes hurt to follow. Fractals that fold in on themselves impossibly. Colors shift across the surface- purples and golds and shades that don't have names.
This is Stellaron corruption. The thing the crew came here to fix.
It's beautiful in the way a knife is beautiful. Deadly. Wrong.
Stelle whispers, "Is it just me, or does it feel like we're being herded?"
Dan Heng doesn't look at her, eyes still scanning. "Not just you. They're pushing us toward something. Or blocking escape routes."
"Could be both," March adds quietly. She's got her bow out now, not manifested but her hand is ready.
The lead guard heard them. His jaw clenches but he doesn't disagree.
We're in a trap. We just don't know when it's going to spring.
My hand moves to my side instinctively. Rhongomyniad responds immediately- I can feel it humming just beneath reality, waiting for my call. The weapon knows I'm tense.
But the fire weakness-
*Is still a major problem.* B.B. confirms what I'm thinking. *I'm sensing at least two distinct heat signatures in the group tracking us. Probably Flamespawn-class.*
Fantastic. Just what I need.
"Sane?" Stelle's noticed my expression shifting. "You okay?"
"Fine. Just..." I scan the ruins again, that feeling of being watched crawling up my spine. "Everyone stay alert."
She nods slowly. Doesn't ask for details. Smart.
March glances back at me. Just for a second. Our eyes meet and there's something in her expression- still angry about the room incident, but also worried. Conflicted.
Then she looks away.
B.B.'s voice cuts through - *Senpai. The presences are getting closer. They're tightening the circle.*
How close?
*Close enough that I'd recommend NOT getting comfortable.*
The temperature feels like it's dropping even further. Which shouldn't be possible- I can't even feel cold- but something about the air changes. Gets heavier.
One of the guards ahead raises his fist suddenly.
Everyone stops.
The ruins are silent except for the wind.
Then I hear it. A sound like glass scraping against glass. Distant. Multiple sources. Coming from different directions.
The lead guard's voice is barely audible. "Contact imminent. Defensive formation. Protect the civilians."
The guards spread out, creating a perimeter around us. The young one- Jensen- is trying to control his breathing. Failing.
B.B.'s standing beside me, expression grim. Purple hair settling as she focuses.
*Multiple heat signatures. Multiple cold signatures. They're not fighting each other. That's wrong. Fire and ice Fragmentum should be hostile to each other.*
But they're not.
*No. They're coordinated. Someone or something is directing them.*
Dan Heng's spear materializes in his hand, water and wind coiling around it. Stelle's bat appears with a flash of gray energy. March's bow fully manifests, ice already forming along the string.
The grinding sound is getting closer. Surrounding us.
I can see movement now. Shapes in the ruins. Multiple shapes. Circling.
The lead guard's radio crackles one more time. "All units, Command. Multiple Fragmentum breach detected. Elite-class signatures confirmed in sector seven. Engage only if-"
The transmission cuts to static.
B.B.'s voice is calm. The way she gets when everything's about to go sideways.
*Senpai. Buffs active. Fire weakness is critical. Don't do anything stupid.*
I'll try.
*That's not reassuring.*
The shapes are getting closer. I can make out crystalline bodies now. Heat haze from one direction. Frost spreading from another.
Fire and ice. Working together.
This is going to be bad.
*Bzzt.*
A notification flashes in the corner of my vision. The group chat.
Oh thank god, a distraction.
B.B. - *Oh no you don't, we're not done-*
Too late, already opening it.
A notification flashes. The group chat.
Oh thank god, a distraction.
B.B. - *Oh no you don't, we're not done-*
Too late, already opening it.