From Moving Crates to Killing Gods-Chapter 61: Weirded Out

As I approached Argent’s perimeter, I didn’t slow down. I just kept walking. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The massive green dome towered above me, humming, but I passed through it like walking through a curtain of warm water. One moment I was in the wasteland, the next I was inside, the barrier sliding over my skin with barely a whisper of resistance.

The Hibrem Cube’s barrier still surrounded me, its green light a smaller bubble within the greater one, and the two barriers coexisted without conflict, overlapping like reflections in the water.

I then stopped to assess my situation. Barefoot. Clothes torn. Covered in black ichor from head to toe. Two new Corruptor kills to my name and the third fleeing into the wasteland. Not bad for someone who’d been unconscious in bed days ago.

The adrenaline that had carried me through the fight was finally fading, leaving behind a deep fatigue that made every step feel like walking through mud.

Now for the tricky part.

I focused on the Hibrem Cube still active in my palm, willing the barrier to shrink. The green sphere answered, contracting inward like a deflating balloon, drawing closer to the cube until it formed a barely visible green layer against the cube. I could still feel it there, but it was no longer the obvious bubble it had been moments before.

"Deactivate." I commanded, and the cube responded instantly. The barrier collapsed entirely, until nothing remained but the small silver like object in my palm. I returned it to my inventory with a mental command, making a note to study it more thoroughly when I wasn’t covered in monster blood and half dead from exhaustion.

The familiar surroundings of Argent enveloped me, the multiple pathways and silver buildings created a sharp contrast against the chaotic wasteland I’d just traversed.

It was early, judging by the angle of light filtering through the clouds, and only a few people moved along the streets. Those who were out slowed as they noticed me, their eyes widening at my appearance, barefoot, clothes torn, and splattered with dark dense liquid from head to toe.

I made my way to the spire, keeping my head down and praying I wouldn’t run into Damian or any of my friends before I could clean myself up. The last thing I needed was questions I couldn’t answer.

But luck, as usual, wasn’t on my side. As I approached the spire’s entrance, a familiar figure walked from the obsidian door. Small, orange haired, with a perpetually childish expression despite being close to my age.

Coco.

He froze when he saw me, his mouth dropping open in an almost comical expression of shock. "Allaran? Is that... are you...?"

"Hey, Coco." I said, aiming for casual and landing somewhere closer to guilty. "Nice evening, isn’t it?"

"You... you were unconscious!" he yelled, pointing at me like I might be a hallucination. "In your room! For days! And now you’re..." He gestured wildly at my entire body, words apparently failing him.

I looked down at myself, trying to see my appearance through his eyes. My clothes were torn in multiple places, revealing scratches and bruises that came from the Quickstep incident. My pants were caked with dirt and black blood, the material stiff with dry fluids. My hands were the worst, completely coated in the dark stuff. And I was barefoot, both boots probably still in my room.

"Yeah, about that..." I began, then trailed off, unsure how to continue. I couldn’t tell the truth about the vow. But I needed some explanation that wouldn’t raise more questions than it answered.

"I sleepwalk." I said finally.

"You... what?" Coco’s expression shifted from shock to confusion.

"Sleepwalk. Since I was a kid. Usually it’s not a big deal, but sometimes when I’m really exhausted or recovering from something intense... I guess I wander further than usual." I rubbed the back of my neck, avoiding his eyes. "Woke up outside the Citadel. Had a little run in with some Corruptors. You know how it is."

"Outside the..." Coco’s voice rose an octave. "How did you get back in? How did you even survive?"

I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. "Turns out I’m getting pretty good at killing those things. And I had a helpful tool to make the trip easier. It’s... complicated."

Coco stared at me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. For all his childish demeanor, he wasn’t stupid. He knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth.

But to my surprise, he just sighed and shook his head. "You’re weird, Allaran. Really weird. But I’m glad you’re not dead." He paused, then added, "Again."

I managed a tired smile. "Me too, Coco. Me too."

"You should probably clean up before Damian sees you." he advised, glancing toward the spire’s entrance. "He’s been in a weird mood since our weapon went all speed demon and knocked himself out. Finding you covered in Corruptor goop might make him ask a lot of questions."

"Good plan." I agreed, taking a step toward the door. "And Coco? If anyone asks..."

"You were in your room the whole time." he finished for me. "I didn’t see anything, especially not you coming back from the outside covered in monster blood."

I nodded gratefully, then made my way into the spire, leaving footprints across the floor. Another mess I’d have to explain away somehow. But that was a problem for future Allaran. Right now, all I wanted was a shower hot enough to scald away the memory of the two Corruptor heads in my hands, and maybe twelve more hours of sleep.

And after that? After that, I was going to eat lots of meat. I was really hungry, all that time that I was passed out I ate nothing but the water they gave me.

And then, I had new powers to master, and an entire wasteland full of monsters that could now be killed as easily as swapping a yo-yo for their heads.

The thought made me smile despite everything. Maybe being a weapon wasn’t such a terrible fate after all.