459. All Bark, No Bite Needed!

459. All Bark, No Bite Needed!

“So you’re an Aberration of Elysia!” Cer tackled her to the other side, her arms wrapped around the waist of this Jury-look-alike as she sunk her teeth in to its waist.

… of course it just had to have high enough DEF to stop me from maiming it.

They both rolled along the street, left behind by the crowd as they bounced until both of them swiftly regained their footing. The White Rabbit turned its back to Cer, preparing to reach the crowd again in search of its target until suddenly –

“Who the hell do you think you are turning your back to a Moon?”

– A colossal bite mark devoured the street, destabilizing the White Rabbit’s footing which allowed Cer to deliver a follow up bite.

“What it with monsters and this dumbass arrogance that makes them think they’re top shit because they can tank whatever they want.” Cer immediately recognized that she was at a physical disadvantage.

So, she let herself run her mouth as a way to keep the White Rabbit on her for as long as possible.

The White Rabbit took bite after bite, sustaining little damage as a ten-meter crater formed around it.

“I’m frankly jealous of that. Because those kinds of people tend to attract the all-consuming maw of the Head! How about it. You’re an Aberration, so you’re probably looking for them too. Am I right!?”

Standing at the edge of the crater, she declared all sorts of nonsense to see which would stick. To her surprise, the White Rabbit’s avian, flappy ears twitched at one of the words, causing it to turn.

A pair of golden eyes glared through her unkempt hair, causing a dangerous chill to run down Cer’s spine.

“Aberration… Why… Do you always call me that?”

“Got a name then? The fact that you look just like Jury, who turned out to be like Elysia is no coincidence.”

“You talk so much little Wolf. That will you have is commendable… My wonderland is not for you.”

“I know right?” Cer gloated, a bead of sweat dripping from her forehead as she eyed the crowd.

This is just to stall… If this thing really wanted to, then it could kill me right here and now. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Tch… is this what it’s like to go against Frost?

“… So how about we drop what we’re doing and pretend none of this happened. I can even arrange to get the ‘light’ to come see you.”

Suddenly, another chill ran down her spine as an insane pressure was exerted from the White Rabbit.

Shit… Did I say something wrong?

“… how do you know about it?”

Cer’s tail stood straighter than her. Every hair stood on all ends as she felt its words grip her throat.

“How do you know about the ‘light’? That thing… Is all I ever…”

The world became dark all of a sudden. Uncertainty filled Cer’s heart as she tried to escape this veil.

However, she smashed against what felt like solid steel. She realized that this place wasn’t a void. It was a prison, and when she turned back down to see the White Rabbit, all she could see were two false stars.

… what is it trying to show me?

“… do you know why the stones fell from the sky?”

“Why my tail had to be harvested?”

“Why the stars were no more?”

“I am still searching for that answer. My first clue is to find my tail.”

“But right now… you are my second.”

“Come with me. If it’s you… then that ‘light’ has to follow –!”

A hole was suddenly blown through the dark prison. Light flooded through, painting the walls which were lined with the same drawings of the Star Child, only that these unanswered equations were answered and drawn over.

Cer didn’t have time to study them. Because in the next instance, golden fur engulfed her vision as she was tackled away from the darkness.

“SNAP!?”

“… You are –!?”

Snap escaped with Cer’s life, and on its back was a shocked Revy.

“I-I thought you were already…. Already…!?” Revy was in tears, unable to believe that Cer was still alive.

“What happened while I was inside!?”

“Everyone’s safe! But Snap’s been with me for an hour since you were left standing unconsciously!”

“AN HOUR!?” Cer couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You’re… kidding me…? What the fuck. I was in there for an HOUR!?”

She was in there for less than a minute, yet an hour had already passed.

“It’s still chasing us!” Revy suddenly pointed behind them at the rapidly approaching White Rabbit.

If there was anyone that could surpass it in speed, then it was Snap. It took the straightest path across the rooftops. However, Snap could not move at its top speed as Revy struggled to breathe.

Cer as a result fired back at the White Rabbit but to no avail. It shrugged off her attacks like it was no more than drop of water.

“I’m going to ask you again – What the hell do you want, White Rabbit!?”

“The one beside you. I must… help her. She must be saved.”

“Huuuuh!? Fucking crazies every single time. Salvation this, freedom that, hope here, kill despair there – Why is that morons like you think you’re doing people a service!? Fucking Wandering Healer mentality…”

Cer utterly despised it when people imparted their selfish beliefs onto people. Frost was among them.

However…

“The only person who can do that… IS FROST! SNAP! I’M GOING TO BUY YOU TIME!” Cer was livid, but she also had a plan in mind.

This thing was not going to kill her with what she knew about Frost.

Therefore, she could afford to do the only thing to keep Snap and Revy safe.

Dammit Frost… look at me. Your heroism is sticking onto me. Heh. Fuck… Was I always like this?

Cer stood at the edge of Snap’s back as she loosened her tie and handed over her outer suit to the confused girl behind her.

“Revy. You owe me a new jaw as soon as I come back.”

“Hey – Wait –!?”

“BRRRRRR –!?”

“Shut the fuck up Snap. Don’t ‘Brrr’ when you should be ‘Zzzting’ to cheer me on. What’s an idiot with a salvation fetish –!”

She did the unthinkable and threw herself from Snap and straight towards the White Rabbit.

“– TO A MOON!?”

“… your Will means that you see the world as it is.”

“Is it not painful to see it all undisguised?”

Cer crashed into her. Expecting to be brutally shredded by the hands of this entity, she was unexpectedly cradled into her tail. The sensation was a mix of Frost and Jury. In that moment, she couldn’t help but wonder where the White Rabbit morally stood.

But even so… Cer couldn’t begin to bring herself to agree with her viewpoint.

“The only thing painful here… is knowing that I share the same world with the people that hurt us! Blinding myself isn’t going to help anyone but me! I’m not selfish like you! That’s why…”

Cer’s tail wrapped around the White Rabbit’s in a show of dominance.

“… I have to be the best Moon there is! That way… that way –!”

“… if it is not for yourself, and not for ‘her’. Then who is it for?”

“You seek to become the center of it all.”

“To rise so high that all will take notice.”

“Who is it that you want to see you?”

The White Rabbit sensed what lurked deep within her heart, and as a result –

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

– Cer instinctually lashed out before she succumbed to the White Rabbit’s embrace.

“… a shame that you can resist me. But the blind one…”

“She will enjoy my paradise.”

The White Rabbit said giddily, just like a child.