The long corridor went for what felt like years.
The loose coat on the shoulders barely stayed on with the pace she was walking at.
The flickering lights echoed the harshness of the outside.
The door at the end had the translucent square window show the light inside.
It was green and piercing.
Overbearing dominance.
A quiet sigh left her lips.
To work with the ground, permission is required.
The sound of boots was the only thing heard.
In the righteous hand of those swearing fealty to the good.
Overwhelmed by a single smile.
The light became closer.
The shadows of those waiting inside.
And the one who has the command.
The Star smiled again.
— — — —
For only The Progenitor knows.
They were at an impasse.
"How are we supposed to know you won't screw it up?"
Her eyebrow twitched.
"Distance."
"Distance. Really?"
The Frontliner scoffed.
"Tell me something that won't get them slaughtered so easily."
"Use the range of your weaponry. Vehicles. How about releasing the use of types?"
The Frontliner narrowed their eyes.
"You think that it could give us an easy victory. If so, you are sorely mistaken."
"It's a reasonable judgement from the viewpoint of withdrawal."
"Tch. Those bastards won't let us breathe. You want us to be even more vulnerable?"
She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple.
"It's viable."
The eyes turned to The Hunter's Prey.
"However, losing ground might set us back."
"Your proposition?"
The Inverted Lens asked.
"A ring."
"A complete surrounding again." The Frontliner snorted.
"Their greatest strength is the forest. So the specialists for kindle should handle it."
"Hoh."
A smile bloomed on The Believer of Light's face.
"Additionally, to support such an endeavor, the cards must distract them. So should the division."
"Hm."
"Lucky~ me~!"
The Faceless Heart exaggerated.
"It works I suppose." The Frontliner grumbled.
"Then–"
"Area of effect."
They waited.
"Strike their center. The Barren Rangers can do that much right?"
The eye with the Star looked at her.
"...Yes."
"Great, that's great."
She watched Them with their everlasting smile.
"Then go ahead. Blind them. Show me your cooperation."
— —
The world can be so unfair.
However for those who came, it was not.
The voice heard out there was speaking as usual.
Here, with her, were five other individuals.
A 'Demon'.
A Wish Granter.
A Falkin.
A RazorFin.
A Yeon.
Out of them, two barely resembled a human.
One if you cut off their ears would look exact.
One was a variation with characteristics distinguishing them from those similar.
One was just a plain beast.
Though their expressions varied.
If you could tell that is.
[Out]
The sign lit up.
The only summed up word.
Damn.
"The…"
Host.
With Their smile as we walked out was in every way, irritating.
Yet to say that to Them would be nothing but a mistake.
I can only mumble.
How They take it…
"Ay, introduce yourselves!!!!!!!!"
Their exaggerated complaining erased the bitterness.
"T-T-Taylor Jenkins..!"
"I shee shee. Ye whomst the bell tolls!"
"Argent."
"Verily!"
"Nickel Nio!"
"Ooh that's funny… I mean, uh Welcome!"
Dampening the spirit of a Card, They moved on.
"Mina M– M-Mina Garft!"
"Excitement too much."
They wiped a non-existent tear off Their face.
{Eat Shit.}
….
"Equia Redalon."
"Mm!"
….
Their smile deepened.
Waiting.
"...Akrieas."
"W'hell! Now with our wondrous entitlement! Answer these– Put that down."
{This isn't even Family Friendly.}
"I dooooooooooooon't caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaareeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!"
The audience.
The sounds deafen in response to focus.
The era is that of the false gods.
Thoughts of cursing Them start to flood my mind.
Haphazard but ultimately just mere rabble.
The audience who play along.
If this was the False Divinity period they would blend in.
No, even farther than that.
The red button irked me.
…Even pretending is displeasuring.
Have they been robbed of everything?
Have they lost everything?
The outside is perilous.
Still they try to flaunt.
Still they try to be above others.
Petty animals.
Eyes of furious righteousness.
Eyes of mad sin.
So docile once they see what they consider a blight.
No one has room for a mask anymore.
Outside they bite for anything.
Yet they cling on to their customs.
Simple sentience describing itself as something greater. Higher than those they eat.
The bottom dwellers are more honest.
Few, but they hold remarkable resilience.
Suck ups.
All they are.
The board further unveils questions.
"Armored Brigade. Sub-department of Valorie Division."
They are candles.
Snuffed so easily by a single hand.
Nevertheless this is not contempt.
Really, if it was….
"W-Well… I was born in Ion, in my hometown Einda, ah, that's long ago! I live near The Progenitors tall, tall tower!"
Ridiculous.
Then maybe it would occur.
All I see are animals that copied insects.
A human life is heavy.
We are the progress made by humanity.
As humans we must strive to be good.
A lamb's death is not so much a shock as a human's.
"The work consists mainly of mechanics. Though it is much broader than that."
It is comfort.
Such encouraging words.
Lofty and ideal.
They hurt no one.
A practice everyone must strive for.
"Um, consider that as… substitution. When I get tasks, I carry them out. So when it comes to outfit there's options. It varies for other departments…but options are always considered! That's what tasks are like!"
It is truth.
An ant's life is not the same as my own.
Fragile.
Crush one and you barely feel it. Or even not at all.
It's vain.
These practices.
"S–...S-So… that's because of my ancesh– anchesh– anc–...sestors… Laqwhen ish cooold…. And warmf was neevev… sho fire was in-put-ed as a sheremoney…"
Though.
How can you really be mad at self justification that they themselves break again.
Instincts.
Just like an animal that so feebly can be erased in one day.
The audience knows deep below.
A human.
A human.
A human.
A human.
Plain. Race. Importance. Deserving.
I looked at Them.
Their smile unwavering as if everything was funny.
Listlessly I slowly pressed the button.
Disappearing in the background.
Psychopaths, sociopaths, insane, deranged.
What do they call them?
Not human.
Negative oddities.
They are of the same people. The same code.
They watch as the answers to know more come in.
How much hope can a single person have?
Hypocritical.
Meaningless.
In the face of denial, they block out what they wish not to see.
A human weighting the same as any life.
A human with flaws.
A human the same as them.
A human that is fragile.
There exists no humanity.
There exists no animal outside smarter than everything else.
There exists no best version.
There exists no higher value.
Therefore I hold no contempt to an animal trying to live.
"Your job is the great forest of the east. Relive the awakening of flashes!"
{Stop speaking out of your ass.}
"It'll be split into two!"
They raised their hand and pointed at me.
" ~!"
My face hardened.
"The Ember squad and the dust squad! Uh, so like, spin the wheel."
The wheel replaced the board.
I grit my teeth.
It was them first.
My fist shakes intermittently.
"Eh~ dust squad assembled!"
I want to–
….
Trying to smooth it over, I gazed at the two next to me.
The emblem of a blaze evoked frustration.
Even more so when the emblem of a card was there next to them.
I rubbed my temple.
The place would be vitriol.
And these two.
Not new.
Not high ranking.
It's not an issue.
Their expressions were not at all suited for this.
I turned my head to see Them snickering.
"Have fun."
It warped and a white room was present.
Two doors.
"...Damn… The…"