Weapons of Mass Destruction

Chapter 649: Spark

(Hello?) I send back.

(Hello!) The voice in my head replies.

This time, I follow it properly and confirm that it’s coming from the mark that was placed on me when I entered the tower.

(Are you the king of this city?) I ask.

(It seems that way!)

I blink a few times and glance around. Then I decide I should sit down, so I move over to a nearby bench.

(Seems that way?) I ask.

(It is difficult to say sometimes, with there being so many copies of me.) The voice sounds like a man in his thirties, maybe, but it has a strange sort of innocence to it.

(I don’t think I can really agree or disagree without more context. Also, don’t you have more important things to focus on than talking to me?)

(Not really. It’s pretty peaceful here, and the other parts of me deal with danger as needed, so I have time to watch over the attendees and my people.)

(Does that make you a stalker then?)

(I... I’m not going to lie, that definition is pretty close to the truth, but not really. There are a few more versions of me doing the same thing. I saw you with that rude guy, Weslin, before. Are you a disciple of his or a rookie freshly enrolled in the Primordial Knights?)

(I am neither. In the same way, you could almost call yourself a stalker, I could almost be called a victim of kidnapping. Are you a mind mage by any chance?)

(Don’t insult me. I only use my mind and marks to track people and observe them through the devices placed throughout the city. I don’t like to eavesdrop, that would ruin the fun of making my own observations and guesses. But some other parts of me might. Some of us are very curious.)

(So the ‘other parts of you’ that you’ve been referring to are different parts of your mind?)

(Hehe, I can guess why you might think that. I can sense you experimenting with something similar after all. I noticed it when I placed the mark on you. But no, it is not really like that. It is different from what you’ve been doing, but I won’t tell you more. Do you want me to save you from Weslin? Kidnapping people isn’t nice.)

(Thanks for the offer, but no.)

(Are you not angry at him? For kidnapping you and hauling you to the third floor? I know for sure that I would.)

(A bit, but so far it fits with what I was trying to do anyway. Are you a Champion?)

(Probably? I personally prefer watching people, but there are parts of me I can call on or ask for help. Theyʼre super strong. There are two or three that are fully combat-oriented and would have no trouble killing everyone in the city in mere moments if they wanted to.)

I pause my thoughts there. Yes, that totally sounds like a Champion, even though this one is really fascinating. I would have guessed it was someone who could split their mind like me, who’d messed up somewhere and created some sort of split personality. But he said that is not it. So maybe it is something more like duplication, intent, or an avatar, or something similar?

Leaning back, I notice myself tapping my finger on the back of my hand as I think. Maybe it really is something entirely different. But what? A Champion who acts as the main mind, meaning that the one I am talking to is something like a logic core that thinks it is the mind or the Champion? An artificial mind? A program?

Maybe he’s a new kind of race, kind of like a seven-headed hydra, each head having its own mind?

It could also be some kind of fancy trait, a passive ability, or a skill.

(Can you tell me what exactly you are?) I ask.

(Nope.)

Well, that’s it then.

I try again. (I am curious, so I hope it does not offend you. Do you want something in exchange for the answer to that question?)

(Hehe, people are rarely as bold in their curiosity as you. But I have to refuse. Still, I quite like you. You really do not want me to ask a stronger part of me to stop Weslin and sneak you up to the third floor? I can ask the part of me in control of the portal to let you use it.)

(Thank you, but there’s no need at the moment. Is it possible for me to see your body? Or talk to the main part of you?)

(Not really! And there is no main part. Each part is equally real. As for the body, we never leave our room at the top of the tower. Only parts of me move around to observe the city, guard it, run experiments, support the city arrays, and things like that. Our body has not left the room in a few hundred years. I am called Spark. And you?)

I see no reason to lie, and so I give my name to likely one of the greatest introverts I have ever met. (Nathaniel.)

My respect for the guy grows by a notch. I couldn’t imagine doing something similar, but who knows. Maybe in a few hundred years, I’ll have the chance to go on a training arc like that.

(Spark, can you tell me about Faora and Luan? Do you know them? I can give you their descriptions.)

(I can’t.)

(I see.)

(Are you angry?)

(I’m not.)

Spark lets out a laugh. (I can see that you’re not lying, hehe.)

(Why would I? I thought I’d try, but I didn’t have any expectations. So, do you need anything from me?)

(I don’t! I just wanted to watch you for a bit and talk. But I can’t annoy the attendees too much or the other me will get angry. So, in exchange, I’ll answer your questions. If you ask for something big, I’ll either refuse or ask for something more as payment!)

(That sounds good to me.) I answer, filtering out the background noise a bit.

While sitting on the bench, watching people move around, I anticipate the next question.

(Wait a moment! Another part of me has joined and wants to take part in the conversation too, so I’m trying to send him away!)

(I don’t mind.)

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(You don’t?)

(I don’t,) I repeat.

(Great! This is Marble. He’s a bit rude sometimes, so please forgive him,) Spark says as he introduces another part of this city´s King.

That new voice joins. It sounds the same as Spark’s, but it lacks the excitement and innocence. Instead, it carries less emotion and sounds deeper overall.

(Human, there is something off about your body. Will you allow me to use the mark to observe it?) it asks right away.

(What will I get in exchange?)

(Yes! Don’t be rude, Marble. Offer something. It’s very rude to probe attendees like that. Remember what Sunshine always says!)

(I’m willing to offer equal payment to satisfy my curiosity, Spark. I know attendees are greedy, and such transactions always make things easier.)

Spark sounds a bit louder now. (That was rude too! Please forgive him, Nathaniel.)

(It’s okay,) I say. (What interesting or useful information are you willing to give me in exchange for probing my body, Marble?)

For a moment, he falls silent before speaking again. (I have a hard time judging what attendees consider interesting or useful. But there are four pieces of information my other selves were interested in as of late, so maybe you’ll find them interesting too. You can pick one.)

(That works for me. What are they?)

(Someone threatened to destroy the 1st and 2nd floors of Beyond. Then there was the death of someone important. The number of times attendees have tripped over their own feet while trying to look mysterious or intimidating in the past 500 years - the actual number will surprise you. And finally, a detailed chart tracking how many times attendees have tried to secretly feed the sparrows on the 26th floor of the city, only for the sparrows to completely ignore them. This one is long term, observed over the past 1,000 years.)

I sit on the bench and stare into the space in front of me.

Some of these don’t feel like the others.

Both Spark and Marble wait patiently while I make a difficult decision.

(The first question and the second one. What would you want in exchange for both?)

(Are you sure, Nathaniel? The actual number of tripping attendees would really surprise you!)

Spark probably doesn’t realize how close I am to picking that one.

(Maybe next time I come to the city.)

(He has picked his questions, Spark.) Marble says. (For the first one, I’ll probe your body. For the second one I will...)

(What are you two doing!) A third voice joins the conversation. It sounds the same as the other two, just stricter.

(Veil!) Spark says, and I can hear fear in his voice.

I feel Marble trying to slip away, but something holds him here just like Spark.

(You two aren’t going anywhere! What information are you trying to give to the rookie attendee!)

(But Veil! Nathaniel and I are friends.)

(We’ve made a fair trade, Veil. Please don’t interfere.)

(I’ll just sit here, then. Carry on.)

(I’m sorry, Nathaniel. It’s just Veil being rude. Veil, apologize to Nathaniel!)

(I agree with Spark, Veil.) Marble says. (You barged in so rudely, even though I...)

(Argggghh, just be quiet. How could I not barge in when you’re about to talk about this information.)

Marble’s voice softens a little. (I see. I guess it really was too much to offer information about the chart of the number...)

(Not that!)

(Veil, you’re getting riled up,) Spark warns.

I reach towards my bag next to me and pull out one of my last, and according to our calculations, around 100 thousand dollars’ worth bar of chocolate. I take only a few pieces before I carefully package it and put it into the bag while eating the ones in my hand.

After a bit of fighting, the conversation shifts when Marble says, (Veil, you probably would want to probe his body too. I got only a hint, but look at this.)

Then there is a long silence, and in peace I finish the chocolate.

(Mmm, I guess we could come to a trade agreement. But the chart is out of the question. Breeze spent too much time on it just to give it away so freely.)

(I’m fine with that.) I say.

(Thanks for your understanding, Nathaniel!)

(You are welcome, Spark.)

This time Veil addresses me, (Well then, the information about someone threatening to destroy the 1st floor and the death of someone important in exchange for a deep probe of your body. We will not touch your mind and will swear an oath not to share it with anyone other than ourselves, even if it would mean our death.)

(I agree.)

As I do so, Veil recites the oath, (We swear by our name, by our mark, and by our bond with this city. The knowledge we gain through this probe, or that any part of us gains by any means in relation to this act, will not be shared, shown, spoken of, or otherwise conveyed to any being or force beyond ourselves. This includes all parts of us, present or future, known or unknown. This oath will bind us wholly and without condition, and shall hold even if our ruin or death be the cost. This is our word.)

I confirm its reality by the feeling of weight these oaths have, and observe the entire process. As always, calling the system as a judge is a very interesting process.

(Go on,) I say.

Then these three presences, through the mark placed on me, start examining my body. It isn’t as creepy as I expected it could be, and it doesn’t feel all that intrusive either. They’re being very careful about it and never go any deeper than they need to. And the mark serves as a great boon to the process. With their work, it expands through me and allows for a deeper scan.

While they do so, I continue to hear their voices.

(Nathaniel, how are you still alive!)

(Isn’t that Cycling similar to The Absolute’s?)

(This is such a mess. How can all these things fit there?)

(Two hearts. You’re so cool, Nathaniel! The demons must love you!)

(Statistically, he shouldn’t even be alive right now.)

(When was the last time you saw someone with this kind of stat distribution?)

(Nathaniel, how are you still alive!)

(What is this?)

(Connection? Maybe to bond?)

(It feels scary.)

When it’s finally done, Veil leaves after a brief thanks.

(Thanks for your patience, human. Spark, youʼre coming with me. Right now.)

(Sorry, Nathaniel, I have to go. They probably want to reprimand me again. I’ll see you later!)

(See you, Spark.)

Only Marble stays, and from him I get two pieces of information.

About a certain Absolute who escaped the tutorial and threatened to destroy the first two Beyond floors. Something Marble and the other parts of the King noticed, and even feared, as it was happening, finding themselves unable to push back against that incredible power.

The second piece of information connects to this as well. The Ruler of Envy is dead, killed by the imitation of The Ancient Monster that once tore through the Beyond. She is now trapped on the 12th floor, where her fate remains uncertain.

And the last piece of information I get is for free. The death of the Ruler of Envy means one of his Masters will sooner or later be crowned as the new Ruler of Envy. Then they will gain privileges and the opportunity to pass through the floors the same as the Rulers before them and head deeper into the First Dungeon to prove themselves.

They might stop at the 11th floor like the other Rulers did. Or maybe they will head deeper, to the 12th floor, in an effort to kill the monster entrapped there.