Re:Cursed

Chapter 144 - 143: The Final Trial

Eyes. So many she couldn't count. They stared down on her as much as their phantom reflections did from below.

The glass echoed each crunch of her heavy boots, a sound that resounded in her mind and in her memories. Endless blackness stretched beyond Coral's lower horizon, yet she couldn't lift her head. It was quiet. The beings of the Darkness didn't flare with the same excitement of that day, but the occasional shift still twinged her senses.

No matter how dreadful it was to be back here, she wasn't a lamb for the slaughter. Not anymore.

Both altar and the hole she'd been tossed through were gone. The ground was entirely unbroken. Nyxila knew this place was imbued with so much power that she never should worry about the glass breaking, but the thought of that fall…

Nyxila's wings quivered. Below her robe, her tentacles grew rough with suckers, like clingy goosebumps. Even her liquid feet rippled inside their containment.

Coming into the Grand Sacrificial Chamber once more, Nyxila had thought she was ready. She thought it would be easy. The place might be the most important ritual chamber in Coral, but that alone wasn't any reason to fear. Anything of concern remained in her past life. None of the cult leaders were here, nor was the place prepared for her sacrifice. Today was not that day.

And yet, Nyxila's mind spiralled in a life long past.

Nyxila clamped her eyes shut, forcing the fall out of mind. The darkness beneath her eyelids didn't help. No matter how she couldn't forget the past, she was here for her Trial, if she didn't lock down these twisting emotions, this battle would not be hers to take. She forced her neck back. It was as much a fight as what awaited her, but she did it. When she opened her eyes again, she was faced with the thousands of eyes peering down at her.

This time, they weren't the unsympathetic, greedy expressions that clung to her nightmares. They remained excited, but in good-natured interest for entertainment, rather than the fervent stoicism that came with Nxyila's sacrifice. Regardless of the disaster, this was a show. Today was no more significant to most than any other Trial besides their own.

The buzz of chatter filled the amphitheatre with more life than it deserved. It was almost enough to calm her heart.

She didn't concede, despite the stress continuing to pound through her body. With all these cultists in one place, she didn't trust for a second that they were all spectators. Who knew what names they had? Even as her eyes scanned the audience, she thought up a hundred different ways any of them could sabotage her.

It wasn't likely — for every ability that could harm her, there was another that would detect it — few would risk such a public display if they hadn't already. But still, Nyxila kept her heart thumping hard and fast. She wouldn't be caught unaware.

Nyxila was not the first competitor to arrive. She could feel Grifvoi's glare from across the glass bowl. Surrounding him, were a dozen Scriptures. Each was bald and held intricate tattoos that moved like worms beneath the skin. After the boy had failed to beat her in the earlier Trial, it was strange to see him have the support of so many high creed Scriptures.

Her eyes narrowed. She couldn't dismiss him just because he was the only second evolution.

She went to move her eyes over to Lysyra's designated corner, where one particularly frazzled looking Bodytwister flicked his head around in barely suppressed panic, but they locked as they passed the crowd behind Grifvoi.

Mavi, alive and well, stared right back.

She had survived? Out of the thousands of people who'd been crushed beneath the falling pyramid, she'd escaped? Nyxila had heard there was a small group that had survived by sticking in Grifvoi's shadow, but she never thought Mavi would be one. The girl had been too intent on proving herself to rely on someone else's strength like that. Even if her cult demanded she sacrifice herself for their champion.

Nyxila wasn't sure what to feel. She had enjoyed her company during the second Trial, but Mavi had gone against her. If she hadn't gotten in Nyxila's way, the Scriptures' biggest up-and-comer would be dead.

Well, her opportunity to fix that was right in front of her. Grifvoi had already summoned his armour, and his second ritual was held on the verge of completion.

Mavi's survival didn't matter. The girl had shown where her loyalty lay, and whatever fantasies Nyxila had based on their temporary alliance would remain as such. She was a cultist, and would die like one.

"Welcome all to this year's Trials!" With his massive arachnoangel at his side, the Machine God Worshipper from a week ago strode into the centre of the ritual chamber. The same place Nix was sacrificed. "I am Shelo'S͐u'S͐en̲ͧa̦̅l̥̊os, and due to circumstances, substitute Adjudicator."

Trailing behind the massive metal spider, Ep'Nanorschi did not look anywhere near as upset at having her job taken from her as Nyxila expected. Instead, she looked down at Nyxila with a wide, expectant grin.

She shivered. What had she done to get such atten… no, there were quite a few things she could think of. Still, it was unnerving to have the woman's undivided attention.

"This year's event has been nothing if not a disaster." Shelo'Su'Senalos' directed gaze washed over Ep'Nanorschi ineffectually. "But through disaster, we have some of the most promising harbingers in decades. It isn't often you get a candidate on their third evolution, and this year we have two."

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The crowd rumbled in anticipation. Or, one section did. Glancing up at the looming numbers, Nyxila saw how segregated the seating was. Almost half the audience was animated. The rest, dead silent. It would be harder not to notice the line separating them.

"Of course, evolution isn't everything. Our other competitor is no slouch, having placed first in the third Trial."

A portion of the silent half suddenly exploded in a thrum of chatter, as if trying to drown out the larger majority across from them.

Shelo'Su'Senalos pushed on. "With only three contestants, we will skip the elimination rounds and dive right into the finale. Now, it has been decided that for fairest results, this Trial will be a free-for-all. To limit undesirable conduct such as alliances and allowing one's opponents to wear each other down, an active ritual through the chamber will reward whoever deals an eliminating blow with refreshed fatigue and a minute of boosted concentration."

No matter where Nyxila looked, she couldn't find a trace of the ritual he spoke of. She didn't doubt him, though. This was the Grand Sacrificial Chamber for a reason. There were probably more rituals interwoven through this space than anywhere else on Coral.

"Participants will be considered eliminated when brain activity slips to an unconscious level or the heart ceases to beat. Forfeitures will be up to the other contestants to accept."

A murmur of discontent rolled through the crowed. Some shouts of accusation rang over the rest, declaring the terms unfair for one cult or another. Shelo'Su'Senalos didn't let them stew in their anger for long.

"Now to introduce the contestants." He waved an arm towards the group of Scriptures. "G͇rifv̪oi, as you can all see, wields an impressive set of Bound-armour, but it is his skill with the halberd that sets him apart. Barely sixteen, and already a deadly force."

Cheers and shouts rocked the stadium from a third of the crowd. The Scriptures were determined to be heard. With the occasional name boosting their own voices, or that of those around them, it quickly became a roar more akin to a monstrous beast, than the accumulation of human vocal chords.

Grifvoi stepped forward, waving off the cultists around him. They backed away, slinking up into the crowd and dispersing. Having never taken his eyes off Nyxila, Grifvoi finally let his ritual finish, and green flames exploded off him. For a full second, the boy was a bonfire, until the fire retreated into the gaps between bones and smouldered there. Once more, his eyes were replaced with virid wicks floating in a void.

Nyxila narrowed her eyes when a third ritual, encircling Grifvoi's neck like a noose, ignited beneath his bone armour.

"The next participant holds the ability on the tip of everyone's tongue this past month. Teleportation. Such has not been seen since the first Trial centuries ago." Shelo'Su'Senalos paused as a swirl of white motes converged into the shape of a girl. "Ly͚sy͚rã."

The Bodytwisters, taking up almost half the entire crowd, made the Scripture's roar seem like that of a cub. Nyxila's body shook under the pressure pelting her from above. It was only made worse when the Scriptures and what few other cuts were in attendance raised their own voices in derision. Subtle names clashed against names, filling the amphitheatre with an intangible weight.

Lysyra had eyes for the substitute Adjudicator alone. As she appeared in her place, she didn't look at Nyxila or Grifvoi. She didn't glance at the crowd. Not even the waiting Bodytwister was gifted a glance, despite how he tried to address her.

Nyxila quirked a brow. The man was growing continually more enraged at being ignored. It almost looked like he would make a scene… until he froze. The Bodytwister caught Ep'Nanorschi's eye, hesitated, then backed off.

To Nyxila, the woman's grin never seemed to change.

"And finally, we have N̪ỷx̱ila. As a survivor of both a Dark Star and last Trial's disaster, she has shown a resilience second to none." As he spoke, she couldn't help the slight nervousness that he knew, and was going to share something she'd rather keep hidden. Thankfully, she needn't worry. "With a focus on body enhancement supporting a rapier Talent, her foundation is strong enough to make anyone wary."

Compared to the previous two, her announcement was met with… lacklustre reception. Some of the Bodytwisters applauded her at first, but upon realising how none of their brethren did the same, they soon stopped. At most, Nyxila instigated murmurs from the Bodytwister crowd, but silence from the rest.

For the first time, she looked into the cult distributions amongst the crowd. Beyond the Bodytwisters and Scriptures which took up the majority, only Machine God Worshippers and Fleshsmiths held any seats. Neither looked upon her kindly. Technocultists, Everseeing Eye cultists, and all of the smaller cults were almost completely absent.

Sure, the Worshippers had taken over as temporary hosts, but they had no Champion. Su'Baar was dead. Why were they here? Why were the Fleshsmiths here, even in fewer numbers?

"Future harbingers, you have thirty seconds. Prepare yourself. You fight for the Amaranthine Core, and the cult of your choice. Gift them the right to this Grand Sacrificial Chamber, and they shall reward you." The enlarged arachnoangel dropped a leg and plucked Shelo'Su'Senalos from the ground. He did not fight as the massive limb cut into his skin. "When the ritual starts, you may begin."

With his last piece said, the machine carried the Worshipper into the crowd, its massive legs threatening to crush Bodytwisters with each step. Ep'Nanorschi was not far behind.

Nyxila undid the string holding her blade in place, and unsheathed it. Her eyes flicked between her opponents. Knowing the cults would do anything to gain control of this chamber, she prepared herself for anything. Grifvoi's eyes flickered much like hers. He was facing two that were both an evolution higher than himself; this was not going to be an easy battle for him, no matter his plan.

Lysyra, meanwhile, appeared relaxed. Not once did her eyes land on her opponents. Despite that fear Nyxila knew she'd seen when she'd escaped the Null Scar, the girl was acting like this wouldn't be a challenge.

As much as she wanted to bury that ego, the Bodytwister acolyte was going to be the harder opponent to lock down. Grifvoi had to go first.

Nyxila lowered her body, rapier swept wide as her other hand held her sacrificial knife close to the chest. The glass beneath her ignited with burning red runes that flowed beneath the surface like water; ever flowing, ever changing. Each rune was a part of a larger pentagram, one that spread beyond the edge of the chamber they were in.

In the brief moment that Nyxila realised the ritual spread across the lower surface — likely across much of Coral — the crowd gave way to silence, and the Trial began.

She moved in an instant. Lysyra, who had seemed distracted only a second before, now drove a knife into Nyxila's back. The rapier slapped it aside, and with a twist, her own dagger pierced the teleporting girl's heart.

Or it would have, if Lysyra hadn't dissolved into white mist.

A combination of instinct and the flicker of green reflected off glass had Nxyila slamming her boot into the ground to leap out of the path of a racing arc of fire. She turned to the heavy footsteps, and found Grifvoi charging her. Lysyra did not take the opportunity to stab him in the back.

Of course they're both gunning for me.