The Core of Evil
The Agreement of the Two Parties
{{{ 7 hours 20 minutes later }}}
{{{ Planet unnamed }}}
Urgh-h!
'Don't fight'
I won't-!
'I think we've agreed with each other'
I just want you to-!
'My heart hurts knowing that you're just using me...'
You are also just using me, you bastard...!!
'Haha...! You're right, you're right...'
*BZZT!*
"ARGH-H!"
'So stop fighting so you don't fall to the floor for the umpteenth time...'
"No will! Never will I surrender myself and die in your hands!"
It hurts--!
'seen? You suffer...'
Ugh-h!
"It's better so-than to let a parasite like you loose..."
'Oh~ Look at you who have started to get tired and grimace it...'
*BZZT!!*
"ARRGHHH!!"
...
'Founders. You're as strong as that guy'
"Huh...! Well then, you've always been unlucky apparently huh...?"
'Shut up'
*BZZT!*
"URGH!!"
*Damn...*
Huhah...! Huh...
Strength weakens...
That's because I'm also starting to weaken right now... And he can't do anything if my consciousness is gone...
"I'll drag you with me if I have to die here... No matter how..."
Huh... Huh...
My breath can no longer be used...
...
L'm... It's really okay to die here...
But...
It feels cold...
Aahs...
I wish I could at least drink one more can of soda...
Consciousness disappeared. Within minutes, I began to see nothing more while I was sleeping
...----------------...
{{{ Elsewhere, same planet }}}
The spacecraft went down to the surface of the planet with a decent atmosphere. However, even the cold temperature can be seen directly through the ship's control monitor, showing -100°C as the number
"It seems that because the planet is too far from the nearest star" one Primus said, to the three Venias who looked tense as they faced what would become Maledict in a moment
"That's the first time I've seen you drink coffee, Ariel. And I didn't expect the first time it would also be so aggressive" Jun commented
Ariel whose eye bags look very wide with a coffee cup that he still holds it responds with one step
He drank again the contents of the cup, not realizing that there were only a few drops and dregs left, making Venia Lumia immediately shake her head and snatch the cup
Knowing that the cup was no longer in his hands, Ariel just sighed
"... I can't sleep, Juni. Even if you all try to convince myself that the situation will improve though" Ariel gave a complaint
Jun and Lumia were silent, thus making even the ignorant Primus indirectly shut his mouth
In the next 30 seconds, their ship had arrived safely on the planet, it was safe for them to descend now
"Atmosphere is certainly safe, although the temperature can kill if not careful. O-2507 is 5 kilometers ahead. And you can see it clearly later because the planet is not much different from the satellite Mensis" Primus gave an explanation while lowering the way down from the plane for them
"I'll be on standby in this place if there's anything. The radio is always open for the Gunther chairman to listen to, and supplies are already laid out in this module respectively" He explained again, giving a storage module to each Venia there
The three of them nodded in understanding, and immediately woke up when the door of the ship opened automatically until the cold temperature began to ambush
But they cannot be blocked by the temperature at that time. They have more important goals, stronger goals
"O-2507 should we get back. Remember that, you two"
"That's our plan, Venia Lumia"
They without further ado began to exit the ship, as the Primus gave them some vigor and good luck while waving. Unfortunately he was not noticed, because they all only focused on one mission at that time
...
...
...
They analyzed the planet for a long time, helped by data provided based on observations of the spacecraft that carried them
"The prime minister said that we would find Azure 5 km further away from this place, heading east" Aurora explained, while examining the digital data provided to them via mobile phones
"Then prepare your weapons. The journey there will be quite short" Lumia said to them, already taking out a fencing sword from her storage module
Jun and Aurora nodded in agreement, taking out their respective weapons. Jun with his sword could emit that light, and Aurora who had a cross that was half a fold larger than his body. A turret weapon that could pull out sharp chains for him to use
"Forward!" Venia Lumia also gave the order, and was replied by the two people with "Good!"
The three of them also darted quickly to reach my current position
Because of their abnormal speed even though they were carrying weapons, they could arrive at a distance of 3km in just a matter of 5 minutes
And when they had arrived at a distance of 4km, Lumia also gave them a signal to stop for a while
...
"We're going to start here" Lumia said
They also began to walk slowly starting from that place, while paying attention to the surrounding environment. But nil, there was no life there other than the three of them
Even though it has an atmosphere, poor planets like this one will not want to be inhabited by any living creature. Unless they were forced to adapt in this cold environment, they would have to mutate
Blank. Just rocks there
There are only rocks, until...
"Yes"
A voice that did not belong to the three of them, but was very friendly without any ill intentions was heard greeting so they were jolted half to death. Slowly they turned their heads, to catch who the figure who greeted them was
And how surprised Jun was when he saw that figure he was quite familiar with
"You-you!"
"Hey hey! Stopit! I'm here to come in peace!" Noah said, panicking
Yep. The person Jun knew was Noah. And he was sent there first for one thing: Test whether the Venias will act aggressively or can be invited to negotiate
But why he had to be sent there, Noah had no idea, other than the fact that they might do it because Noah might have been cut by one of the Venia
"I understand that I attacked you that night, but listen to me" Noah said again, fully raising his hand
Jun examined every inch of Noah's body to make sure nothing was suspicious. And when he was sure, he was cut off by Lumia who asked for an explanation
"Explain it now"
Jun was silent for a moment, before finally starting to talk
"The "Maltict of Eternity. He's the one" He said
Lumia and Ariel gasped, immediately ready to split Noah in two. But the two of them were soon driven away by Jun who wanted to hear an explanation from Noah first
Noah, who initially panicked again, immediately felt relaxed when he found out that Jun could be invited to negotiate
"I came here to save the boy too" Noah spoke
"Huh?" Jun answered her with a sharp answer
"Maybe I sound crazy. Maybe you don't believe me. But trust me
"..."
Unfortunately, the three people just kept quiet and started discussing with body movements. One weakness of Noah who did not understand body language at all in communication
"But why? You and Hector Misleif are also Maledict?" Lumia asked this time
Noah doesn't know what to say anymore because Hector didn't help him out of that first negotiation. Therefore, he also let out a cold sweat while starting to say his own version of the sentence
"We are indeed Maledict. But we're not Maledict. Understood?"
...
Their faces clearly depicted that they were looking down on Noah right now
He was immediately lethargic because no one understood, then he had to explain again
"We just want the O-2507 okay? And if the Maledict of Corruption gets up, we can't get the boy" Noah explained
"You can explain that from the beginning you know?" Ariel said ketus
"Who's the guy I don't know what to say! He also asked me to!"
*TAM!!*
*BRAK BRUK!!*
Unconsciously Noah, his hand suddenly moved on its own and hit him. It was so loud, that he was thrown quite far away as the three Venia started to feel the presence of 3 more people
But Jun's eyes immediately widened until he pegged when he saw a figure more familiar to him. The figure he had longed to meet for so many years, and was now back before him in a healthy form
The figure is also recognized by the other two Venia, but it makes them feel more in danger
"We really will not attack, as the foolish boy said. But, if you attack first, the language is different again" Hector spoke, as his eyes slowly stared towards Jun
But he immediately turned his face away from the longing gaze of his old friend, and hid behind Ulysses who was taller than him
"I'm sorry for the surprise we gave you... We really came in peace...
You already know Hector, so I'll introduce myself, although it's a pity we have to use the code name..." Ulysses takes over the conversation, while Jun remains hopeful that at least Hector will talk to him again
"... Go ahead" Venia Lumia said, sheathing her sword slowly
Ariel, though unsure, also begins to recoup her turret weapon with voice commands
"I'm Tenet... And this is Flair... While what I made him hit himself was Span..." Ulysses said, as Lumia nodded in understanding
Noah on the other hand, finally regained his senses and ran towards Ulysses, trying to attack him
But he was ejected when Ulysses moved his head to look at him, so he returned to the position where he had fallen
...
"Ah... That little fly really, I can't understand..." Ulysses said, putting up his own distinctive lagak, which is a fused hand like praying
"... You have mysterious powers..." Lumia commented, half amazed
"But I'm not Maledict... I'm just...
Born with a {curse}..."
Lumia doesn't want to talk anymore
"You said you wanted to save O-2507 too? How can we trust you?" He also asked
"If you're listening well, that kid named Span told you we wanted to take the O-2507. The Maledict of Corruption was just a bonus, and honestly we wanted to get rid of it as well" Hector suddenly spoke from behind Ulysses
"You're Maledict"
"And somehow we can be rational and not attack you blindly right now, old granny" Hector interjected
...
"Hmphs. You are still as presumptuous as you used to be" Lumia said, completely giving up
Lumia was not on standby anymore. He understood that Hector was honest with him and really intended to be allied
What makes Hector sure that they already believe in the offer is the fact that Lumia's power is to see someone's honesty
More precisely, he could analyze in detail the condition of one's body. Whether her pulse changed, whether she was nervous, Lumia could tell
And with his years of experience, he understood who was lying and who wasn't
"You're still shrewd, old granny" Hector commented
"I've always been good at Hector. And apparently, failing to cut your neck in that moment could make us meet again right now"
Jun was silent at the conversation between the two men, as Hector slowly walked out and once again looked at his friend
...
...
...
"June"
His name was also called. Not only called, but also by familiar sounds
So she turned her head and nodded, as her tears began to flow like a child. Meanwhile, Hector who saw his friend was also reminded of a memory where a young child among the four friends was always crying when he was injured even a little
They both just kept quiet. Not daring to speak any more than that, while Lumia also invited all those who had been allied for a while to come and rescue me
...----------------...
...
"So... How you doing?"
"Good"
"Uh... Do you have any new friends?"
"One boss and one waitress are actually not very loyal but know how to make drinks"
"Sounds pathetic"
"When isn't my life pathetic...?"
Jun chuckled at Hector's comments, as he rubbed his tears close to falling
"... Well, even though I'm happy with all my current co-workers..." Hector said again, after seeing Jun who looked happy
The two of them continued to walk behind everything, where they were only filled with discussions but did not dare to expose the secrets of the group to each other
The two old friends just watched, as they continued walking. In both of their hearts, they were grateful to at least be able to meet each other again, despite knowing they had to separate after that
...
"About Lloyd..." Jun says. "You know she has a child?"
Hector nodded softly before replying with "But the child must be dead by now, because Sylvia is weak"
"Oh, so you know that Sylvia is her mother..." Jun muttered
His face dropped when he looked back at Hector's sentence
"... Yep. The boy may be dead. But, Amitha kept the child's body in hope that she could stay alive"
"That's absurd. And you know that Amitha is absurd, but she didn't stop him"
"You know Amitha can't be stopped, right?"
...
Hector doesn't know how he should fight that one question
"Then? How else?"
"I don't know where he keeps it, but I do know that he does. I don't know why"
"Memories"
...
"You mean, Amitha saved the boy's body for..."
"Yes. He probably misses Lloyd, because that fool is the link between the four of us" Hector explained
He then slowly sighed as one memory flashed
"But when he makes one of us a criminal, the other 2 will follow right?"
...
Hector's right
Everything changed that day. When Amitha did an experiment to Lloyd's son, to create something that {useful}
But until now, they had no idea what Amitha meant. Even their friends don't know
Or he knew, but never had a chance to explain...
"I only know that Lloyd died because of the first Maledict of Corruption attack in this era" Hector said again
Jun was silent for a moment, until...
"Maledict...
Is his own son, you know?"
That phrase... Made Hector distrustful...
