467. A Piece of Satania’s Mind

467. A Piece of Satania’s Mind

The presence of the Ateliers provided enough security to keep the Impuritas in check. Unfortunately, there were not enough of them to cover every inch of Greenbirth. As a result, the Hearts of the Crimson Hunger, Maestros of Flesh, Blood Festival and even the Librarians took root and began their indiscriminate acquisition of material.

Essentially, they invaded the streets in search for people.

However, not a single innocent person was dragged into the unwashed nests of the Impuritas. The fleshy hearts of the Crimson Hunger, the termite mounds of the Maestros of Flesh, the circus tents of the Blood Festival and a library in the form of a spire for the Librarians were struck almost as quickly as they appeared.

In instances where they were not, the areas they invaded were already vacant. The high-density streets were oddly empty. Meatballs ran along the lanes like bowling balls, as books flapped around, finding nothing in their surroundings at all. The Reorganizers – the fleshy, organ-snatching bags of skin – crawled into alleyways and open windows, oozing past bedroom doors to prey on the restful.

And just like the bouncing hearts that splattered joyfully against the bricked paths, they were confused by the absence of life. In fact, no matter how high the Librarians flew they could not find anyone, as if the entire city had been sterilized.

Suddenly, a pack of Meatballs exploded one by one by the mere presence of a highly decorated individual. The intense light of the sun shone in their hazel eyes, their garbs matching the flawless color of the Nexus fluttering behind them like wings.

There was no sign of sapient life. Not even the quasi-sapient Impuritas entities were present. They were all cannon fodder, slaughtered mercilessly by a group they failed to consider.

The Stars of the Nexus.

“The foresight of the Amalgam to deploy us in advance. My blood chills at the thought.” The voice of a young man was the cause of endless Impuritas deaths. He casually strolled towards a Crimson Hunger Dungeon, which was just a heart suspended by sinew and surrounded by a nest of Creeping Ivy.

The walls of the surrounding storefronts were dyed crimson. Every Meatball sent his way exploded, their blood cauterizing as they steamed along the walls and windows. The books that dared to fly in too close to the sun instantly caught alight, raining embers over the unstoppable figure.

“To have been summoned by Her Will to protect the little Alice. Oh how we have failed. We must atone by drawing the blood of the most impure.”

One of the Abilities of a Star of the Nexus was [Stellar Domination]. All living things were susceptible to its cleansing power. So long as the creature in question had a considerably lower Soul Rank compared to the Star, then they had no feasible way to prevent themselves from gaining [Stellar Rupture] Stacks.

When enough of this was accumulated, then the entity was pulled apart at the atomic level.

Where Moons excelled against powerful enemies, Stars dominated those beneath them. Their powers were rarely used due to their small numbers, and the fact that lesser enemies could be dealt with by the Ateliers and Adventurers. Their role as combatants was unnecessary, but when they did lend their hand in combat…

… then it usually resulted in a massacre.

This was why the inhabitants of areas occupied by the Stars were evacuated beforehand.

Were they here, then the death toll would have been innumerable.

“A sole heart belonging to that of many.” The Star muttered to himself, drawing near to the heart. The Creeping Ivy fizzled into nothing with each step he took. No matter how many Meatballs were vomited from the Heart, they all immediately perished.

A noxious steam filled the site, caused by the superheated blood of the Impuritas.

“One heart that speaks to so many. There can only be one. Of course. I see it now. You’re impurities because the Nexus is the only ‘heart’ that should be listened to. Yours... is an endless wailing of hatred.”

The Star did not look up at the Heart. Rather, he stared down at the ground.

There was no such thing as a Star that looked up, for they stood the highest.

His body disappeared, a crater forming where he once stood. The ear-shattering whip of the sound barrier being broken was immediately met with the squelching of shredded flesh.

“Let it be known that we Stars of the Nexus have been reinstated. I am miserable that we cannot show our face to the Amalgam again. But nonetheless – We believe in the decision.” His body appeared within the chamber of the Heart.

Rays of light pierced through the Heart. They spun like giant blades as a waterfall of blood gushed from ever opening.

“Your masterminds sent you to your deaths. To think that others can be subservient to beings that are not of the Nexus. I find it deplorable. There is only one master. Therefore, imitations should be put down.”

Multiple flashes of light similar to his own appeared across the city. There were a dozen active Stars within H5. One was more than enough for the Dungeons; however, their prideful conduct made them far too sluggish to be useful, unlike the Moons who fought ravenously and with such prowess that none could compare to.

The corpse of the Heart collapsed, swinging on the still attached webbing where it crashed into buildings like a wrecking ball. The Star stood atop the corpse; his hands tucked within the sleeves of his apparel as he stared at something through the fog of debris.

“Dog of the Nexus. Arrogance breeds monsters with large mouths and over-inflated egos.” A Demon emerged from the smoke, stroking her ram-like horns as her crimson eyes glowed like embers. “Good to see that the Stars are still as lackluster in combat as usual.”

“There can be no better way than to maintain our image. We are, after all, the ones who survived the War in Heaven. Have you forgotten already, Satania the Wrathful?” The Star entertained the Demon.

“Heroes die on the battlefield. Cowards will die later in a less spectacular death.” She said matter-of-factly. “No Memory Bistro? And here I was thinking that this was a serious attack.”

“You’re in a pleasant mood today.” The Star complemented.

“Am I? Hardly. The Amalgam’s too short sighted. I suppose that’s why she made the Amalgam’s Summit for our input.”

The Star’s eyes suddenly narrowed in anger.

“May you explain before you come to such a disrespectful conclusion?”

“She believes this is an all-out attack.” Satania stomped on a piece of the Heart, crushing it like a pomegranate. “In reality, the Impuritas are testing the waters. But I’m happy we’re also on the same wavelength. To meet them with the Beholders, Stars and Moons will tell them exactly where her mind is at. It’s akin to dipping a toe into a pool, only to find that the water is boiling hot.”

“The Amalgam can do no wrong.”

“Speaking of which, are there any other Impuritas Groups present?” Satania took a seat on an invisible throne, speaking casually to the Star.

Although the Star spoke defiantly, a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead.

Satania was an infamous Demon, known for her brutality. In the distant past she was responsible for numerous deaths amongst the Stars, as were the other Primordial Demons. The survivors of the War in Heaven were vindicated Stars in their eyes.

Unbeknownst to many was that there were two sides to the Stars during that time. One that fought to keep the Nexus beneath, and the other that sought to uproot it. The Primordial Demons slaughtered many of the former Stars.

The Stars that wished to keep the rot of the Nexus, like the thorns on the brambles of a rose.

“Who specifically?”

“Do I need to splatter your brain over the pavement? You know exactly who I’m looking for.” Satania’s eyes drilled into his, her sclera becoming blacker than night. “The Broken Thorn.”

“None. They haven’t appeared for many years –”

“Inside of your insignificant circle of influence. The Stars know all but the places their light can never reach. That’s why we must harrow hell. Cowardly Stars like you should tread carefully.” She warned with a foreboding tone, dusting her knees before she began walking back in the direction she arrived from. “Don’t get caught off guard. The Broken Thorn may break away from our front and spill elsewhere.”

And with that, Satania left like she was no more than a figment of the Star’s imagination. A surge of relief came over him.

“That is a bizarre way of saying ‘be careful’. I will never get used to it.”