893. She Who Walks By The Amalgam

893. She Who Walks By The Amalgam

An additional, unlisted effect of [Progenitor Art: Purpose – Commandment] was that Repenters were utterly at the whims of her command. It was one thing to order healers, but it was entirely another for the Repenters.

That said, there were three more Progenitor Arts.

(D) Progenitor Art: Civilization – Blood Crystallization

This was what also reinforced Frost’s body. Blood Crystallization essentially gave her blood form. If she were to flick her blood in a direction, then she could turn those into bloody knives. Walls of blood could be created in an instant, though its effectiveness depended on the strength of her enemy.

There was no point in using it if her opponents could not deal over 200,000 HP. While [Progenitor Art: Wrath – Rupture] could create spines from her coat, they were transient. Those created by Blood Crystallization were permanent so long as the effect was active, giving her a grand appearance befitting that of a deity. The long, feathery mantle-like scarf were riddled with massive, two-meter-long spines of crystalized blood. It melded with the golden and black feathers, matching the color scheme of her hair.

Frost tested [Blood Crystallization] further, and was able to create weapons varying from swords, axes, spears, to even bows and arrows. Firearms were possible, although they would be destroyed immediately by [Thermal Propagation].

Still, this gave rise to the first sub-Art.

(O) Progenitor Art: Religion – Bloodhail

Sub-Art were essentially offshoots of an original Art. Though they can be thought of as weakened versions of the main Art, they were also finely tuned versions. Either way it was still a Progenitor Art.

Next was:

(S) Progenitor Art: Despair – Bloodrot

Bloodrot was a cruel disease that could only be consciously transmitted. If not, then she would have to be careful to never bleed again. Furthermore, it allowed her to inflict Qliphoth Corrosion, which rotted a person by turning fragments of them into an Impuritas.

Or, as Lailah believed, very partially Corrupted. Just without the thoughts and meaning behind a Corruption. This power was born from her emotions regarding Jury’s circumstances. She spent several nights despairing in Jury’s stead, only barely able to imagine what she had gone through in the hands of Lilith, Uriel and Iscario.

She hoped to one day irreversibly corrode them.

And finally, her final Progenitor Art:

(S) Progenitor Art: Ego – Die Agnosis

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The Realization Criteria was the largest mystery to this day. The Salvation Criteria was known to her, but Realization was a completely different story. It was to bring back a Corrupted from its turmoil; to make it realize that they are not what they believe they are.

Furthermore, it gave Frost hope in terms of saving people post-Corruption. She recalled her despair over Res’ Corruption. The only way to rescue her was to force a Realization. With this, she at least had a better chance of bringing back the people she loved.

Not only that, but it was now feasible to consider Realizing Corrupted to bring to her side.

For some reason, her mind went to the Red Avenger that served as the Eternal Library’s security. Would there be a chance that she could find the original tale of the Red Avenger and bring it to her side?

“Vengeful Red was a tale, wasn’t it? I remember it being mentioned in F-H5. There’s probably a lot more Aspects of Amalgamation and Alter Frosts out there. The tale of a fairytale hunter just happens to be the most consistent one.”

Frost mused on this, wondering if she would ever encounter this Corrupted. As far as she was aware, it was part of a failed Emvita shipment to presumable G-Z7. Chances were that it existed somewhere in Emvita, which was a Region that so happened to be on her radar.

That aside, two weeks had come and gone. The only Affinities Frost was not able to create a Progenitor Art from were: Hope, Judgement and Amalgamation. Though, Sanguine Genesis in of itself could be considered an Amalgamation-based Art.

* * *

The remaining time was spent teaching the Sanguine Doves her Progenitor Arts alongside Enoch. These were called First Generation Sanguine Arts, as it was impossible for them to use the same king of Arts as hers.

So far, they have learned two First Generation Sanguine Arts.

[First Generation Sanguine Art: Righteousness – Contempt], an Art that allowed them to inflict Contempt Stacks on those they gazed at. Its effect was similar to Scrutiny.

The second was: [First Generation Sanguine Art: Vigor – Rupture], which allowed them to burst the blood within a target. Moons were mostly immune to this due to their immensely powerful bodies, but for normal people they could deal significant damage.

This plus Frost’s and Ignis’ knowledge of the human anatomy meant that they could pinpoint the weakest blood vessels and rupture them, either creating heart attacks, hemorrhages or strokes in an instant.

They were sinister by design, and no one would suspect them if they were to assassinate a target in plain sight. Enoch marveled at the Sanguine Doves. She never had someone to pass her Art to, so she was grateful to have been given the opportunity. If there was a word to describe Enoch, it would be ‘lonely’.

Enoch lived for the sake of living, but there was genuine joy in her eyes whenever she spoke to either Frost or the Sanguine Doves. She was so used to being outcasted that she tended to stand far away as she observed the Sanguine Doves during training.

It surprised her whenever they came directly to her or greeted her whenever they saw her.

On the last day of Frost’s training, Enoch left Frost with another coffin as a few heavy words.

“Blood is transient. Nothing lasts forever. I learnt that for as long as I was alive. I’ve had Workers come and go. Live and die for the sake of the Atelier. I cared little for what happened to them. Nor did I care what happened to me. I’m sure our bonds are only temporary. The Sanguine Doves will eventually forget my name, but…”

Enoch unlatched the coffin. Inside was the newest iteration of De Jure. Like the old one, it was created using Frost’s femur. The beautiful, 2 meter long weapon was clad in an obsidian-black stone. White trails and golden feathers decorated it across its length as crimson veins ran across it.

A prong sat where the handle was to draw blood. It funneled blood into the chamber where a crystal bullet would be formed.

What caught Frost off guard was that there wasn’t just one of these. Smaller ones surrounded it too.

“… I would like for them to remember me.” Enoch’s expression didn’t change, nor did her tone.

Yet this was the sincerest she had ever seen her. It was the first time she caught a glimpse of Enoch’s raw self, and as a result, she placed a hand on her head without thinking.

“Healers, no matter who or what they become, will never forget those who helped them. Enoch. Thank you. I’m sure you set important things aside just to be here. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but you’ve contributed greatly to the Nexus. I don’t see a reason why I shouldn’t make you a Blessed.”

“Ah? Ahaha…? Would you really? A non-Blessed like me, with this blood of mine?”

“Would you prefer it if I didn’t?”

“No. You’re an enigma to me. Am I not a tool to be disposed of? My work here is done. If you require me to work for you again, then all you have to do is order me. Why are you rewarding me for fulfilling my duties?”

Enoch could not comprehend being rewarded for her work. She tried to rationalize it as a method for Frost to keep her close to work on more weapons, or to further teach the Sanguine Doves. But in truth, Frost didn’t consider Blessing Enoch on the merit of her usefulness.

Nor did she base it on how much she pitied her.

She just felt like Enoch deserved it.

Nothing more, nothing less.@@novelbin@@

“I’m not like the Beholders who regard you based on your usefulness. I’ve given my Moons and Healers the option to retire for good and live their lives on my Floor of Amalgamation. Like you, the Moons have been through hell and back. No one chose to look their way. They’ve done more than enough for the Nexus. You’ve been creating weapons for them for a long time. I just wanted to thank you for it. Without you, I’m sure many of my Moons wouldn’t be here today.”

Enoch was at a loss for words. Still, her expression didn’t change. But the glimmer in her eyes showed exactly what she was feeling.

Delight. She turned her head away and deeply sighed, like she was disappointed in Frost.

“Your way of thinking does not mesh well with the way this world works. The less we involve ourselves with the lives of others, the easier it is to live our own lives. But it is that way of thinking that has brought change to the Nexus. The Moons have never called this place home. They only referred to it as ‘that place’ with exhaustion.”

“What do they call it now?”

“Their home. I won’t refuse an offer to become a Blessed. It’s not my right to refuse an order~ But in truth, I am elated you consider me worthy of it. Not by merit or my abilities… but by the weight of my suffering? I suppose the Blessing works in that way to begin with. Those who would Corrupt become Blessed.”

Enoch straightened her tie, straightened her back, and presented herself to Frost like a solider about to receive a medal.

“Do as you wish, Amalgam. I – Enoch the Artificer of Rupturing – will gladly take this opportunity to be brought into your heaven.”

Frost placed a hand onto her head again and prepared to grant her the Blessing of the Amalgam.

But before that, Enoch asked Frost one last thing.

“If we were to find out the origin of my other blood. The traitorous one… then would you still forgive me?”

“I will.” Frost promised.

Enoch closed her eyes, and for the first time, she wore a pleasant, endearing smile.

“Then I will remember the words you have said today.”

“You’re not the only one with a traitorous parent, Enoch. The likes of Typhoon exist. If there is a day where they come for you –”

“– Then they will have to deal with the entirety of the Nexus. As a Blessed, you will never be alone. We are all your family.”

“I will forever take that to heart.”

Enoch vehemently vowed as she dropped to a knee, basking in the utmost glory and mercy of the Amalgam.

“You are the only Star I will follow.”