A Revenant that takes damage beyond a certain threshold will disperse as the BOR Parasite cannot heal further. Somehow, the scattered cells are still synchronized and will be guided by the parasite to reassemble in a place it deems safe.
Whatever the process is by which the BOR Parasite knows how to do this remains a big mystery.
But it's not perfect; it will likely lose some of its host's cells in the operation, leading to a loss in mass and, thus, strength. But that is preferable to losing memories for most Revenants.
However, the purpose of this action will be nullified if the parasite is the one to take damage; the Revenant will turn to ash, not disassembled particles.
Usually- no, it is guaranteed that ash means permanent death for Revenants.
Yes, despite some parts of my body becoming ash, it didn't mean they were to remain as such. They could be rebuilt…
Luckily, this BOR Parasite being abnormal has helped me this once.
With just drinking some Blood Beads, I'm back to standing on two feet.
'You sure are resilient.'
{! ąɱ}
Pft-
The parasite didn't even have to answer that one!
Was it afraid?
Oh well, the better if it answers now instead of ignoring me.
'Hey, how come you have Vestiges separate from mine?"
{! ɯąŞ ɱə-}
The gnarly growls lost some strength. I could understand them, but attributing feelings and intent to them wasn't easy.
Maybe it had trouble remembering… or it was hesitant.
Despite that little uncertainty, I didn't take my chances and took one glance at the broken blade on the counter, which made Parasite continue.
{-฿ɘ₣ǑŔə hɘŔɘ!!!}
…What the actual fuck does that answer?
Before here…?
I know that the Queen wasn't the first BOR parasite, it was just the epitome of the bioengineering product.
Either Parasite was a special product during the tests for the making of the Queen, or just a mutation that unknowingly gained sentience before it was put in my body.
I don't think I would still be at the Cathedral if Parasite were a special product made while perfecting the process of making the Queen. It simply didn't make sense.
I wouldn't have the story of being some chill guy who happened to be strong. Everyone has told me, aside from absurd rumours, that I was like a rising star and was put in the team to kill the Queen after fighting her off by myself.
You can't have such a story if you have a special BOR parasite that researchers won't use unless in an emergency. In no way would they allow me to just jump at any occasion to save people.
I wouldn't be the guy who fought off the Queen by his loneself before being put in a special team. I would be given full support the moment I woke up as a Revenant in the war.
So it is likely that Parasite gained sentience that went unnoticed by the researchers.
Understandable, since I woke up in such a chaotic time. I don't think they had time to test every parasite while they had Lost breathing down their neck.
But this does bring some questions.
How come this sentience made Parasite far stronger than others? How could I fight the Queen on equal footing? Why did this sentience not turn out just like the Queen?
The BOR Parasite, labeled as "Queen," is the epitome of bioengineering. It made Cruz immortal and almost untouchable. Every element within her reach could be molded to her liking.
She was almost described as a god whenever I heard stories about the Queen.
Maybe the intelligence of a parasite that woke up inside a host, and the one awakened inside a test tube, leads to different reactions?
Hmm…
Perhaps, if an awakened BOR Parasite has no host to take over, it will remain docile?
… To an extent. I mean, this bastard tried to eat me by slowly chewing my memories. While the Queen did a forceful take over.
Is there a chance that there are BOR Parsites out there that have taken over their host without turning out like the Queen?
Could parasites be acting as Revenants right now?
… Unlikely, the researchers should've modified the production and trials of the BOR parasites accordingly, to prevent another "immortal Queen woke up, we are dead!" scenario.
Maybe, while scientists were altering their methods and testing, the parasite in my chest escaped the fully realized new trials to prevent another BOR Parasite from taking over the host like the Queen did.
I hate this!
I feel like my gaze reaches deeper into the dark waters of an ocean of mysteries, only to be blocked by another abyss.
Just what the hell is at the bottom of all this?
The questions stringed together by deductions were broken up by Io, who entered the room with more Blood Beads.
"I'm alright, Io. Don't bring any more Blood Beads," I said after putting down my third portion on the coffee table.
"..." She gazed at me deeply, "One more." She left another one on the table before returning the pile of Blood Beads between her arms to the supply room.
She hasn't stopped giving me those looks, as if I grew another head.
Not like I changed that much…
I got up and looked at the mirror on top of the dresser.
"Haha!" I let out a chuckle once I saw myself. Maybe an odd change for others, but familiar to me.
Of course, this change wasn't all for the better. Having some of my body turn to ash wasn't without consequence. Even after these Blood Beads, I have yet to gain back the muscle mass I lost.
Besides, this sluggishness hindering my body hasn't lessened since my second Blood Bead. And not only that, I feel something odd within me… or more like just me.
It's hard to explain, but strangely enough I know the origin of such sensation is me, not the thing in my chest.
'This odd shifting feeling is just me, right?'
{...Yę$???}
Heh, I actually felt some stupefaction. Like it didn't even know what the hell I'm yapping about.
Anyway, all these experiences confirmed something.
I was bloated.
Right now, I feel at peace, in a weird sense.
So I suppose I was right about my idea back then. I filled a small stomach and gave it too little room to digest things properly.
The ease with which I manipulated the sphere of Apoz, containing all blood and liquids, the aftermath of the peaceful questioning, by my side, surprised me.
I inspected my little slime sphere and made it float across the room. I was definitely better at it. It was hard to describe. It's as if there was more space within me to give to the other Blood Codes.
Giving them more room to stretch the concepts I had in mind since acquiring them.
…Man, I really want to test my Gifts.
Not that I had new ideas in specific, I kinda just wanted to go out there and give it a go.
With a little more focus, I thinned the walls of the sphere, and the inside became somewhat visible.
The light of the fire that boiled the insides to nothing finally shone through, adding a little more effort to my creation. The sphere began to grow a stem from the bottom as it morphed into an oval.
It slowly stretched and its layers opened, each turning into rows of long, scalloped petals. If I had tried this before, the image would've crumbled, yet I continued, and pencil lines flowed down the leaves.
Increasing the intensity of the flame inside, the yellowish light of the room was swallowed by the purple filter from the flower.
Yes, this was a lot easier…
But, did Atlas and Berserker Blood Codes disappear?
Or…
'Were you doing something else with them?'
{...I. ɱą₭!Ng iŦ ₣₳ɱ!aR}
'The hell does that even mean?'
{D0ŅŦ ₭ŋǑɯ… ɱɘɱǑŔÝ ĝɸňe}
'So you just followed your instinct?'
{ÝɘŞ}
I presume I had a mostly physical Blood Code. I don't know how I could somehow fight the Queen who used elements at her whim with just that; surely, I had something supernatural as well.
There is only so much I can infer.
It's not like the past me had yelled at the top of his lungs what his ability was and how it worked.
Silva and Jack definitely knew. But I couldn't contact the head of Cerberus like he was my homeboy, and the other Successor was treating me like a bad ex.
I shook my head. No need to fill in such big gaps with assumptions this early. After all, assumptions are mistakes you have yet to make.
"Can you turn the light off, please?" I asked Io, who had been at the door for a while.
She silently did so, and now the flame within the flower was the only light source.
Despite Apoz being more liquid than solid, the filtered light shone the same as it would through a crystal.
"A sweet violet." Io recognized the flower.
I was a bit surprised she knew it.
With a nod, I clarified, "The image of one."
My product gently floated towards my hand.
"It's still a bunch of slime." The stem squished between the tip of my fingers, and the petals bounced at the slightest motion.
"..." Io stares at it… with thoughts I don't think I can figure out.
"I don't know how long it will take, but you will see the real thing one day." My creation reverted to a sphere with a dimmer light.
It was time to go.
Picking up the broken blade-
{!}
'Not for you… as long as you behave, that is.'
I headed outside-
My stride halted, noticing the distinct lack of light footsteps accompanying mine.
Strangely, Io stood in place instead of following.
Turning around at the doorway towards the room, I saw Io standing in the lightless room…
My eyes aren't as good as before, so I assumed it was my imagination, but the lack of light made her seem grim if I didn't know better.
She was basically a blank slate from her many deaths. And, because of this, common sense wasn't "common" to her.
Though, not sure if attendants have that with them from the beginning, given that they have the instinct of helping Successors and only Successors.
I remember how an attendant killed some Revenants who got close to a Successor's nest.
"..." Io, again, simply stared… towards the Blood Bead on the table I've yet to take.
Then her golden eyes met mine.
"..."
"..."
…Oh???
She doesn't ask things that would have me take action. If she does ask something, it's for the purpose of understanding… but now, it felt like it, even if no words were exchanged.
"Alright, alright." I traced back my steps.
Like a nurse making sure a child takes their medicine, Io patiently stood by as I downed the Blood Bead.
"Now, we are quite late… so we might as well take our time." Thinking about it, there was a perfect chance to try Apoz further.
I didn't head to the main entrance of the cathedral; I went to the smithy, and Io, strangely enough, went to the balcony alone.
Entering the vault full of machinery playing an orchestra of metal and oil, I saw our only reliable little weaponsmith.
The little girl was doing some sort of tuning on a bayonet, her back toward me.
With a playful tone, I made my presence known, "Here to return the broken blade-"
"Hell no! It has your cooties!" She didn't even turn to look at me.
She continued her tuning without glancing at me. "Besides, shouldn't you be going to the camps outside?" By her tone, she ended the conversation at that.
Shame, I wanted to see her reaction to my new appearance…
Doing a 180, I left, disappointed.
Though, soon I realized that this might be better.
I don't want her to mistake me for someone else infiltrating the base with so many weapons at the reach of her fingertips.
Maybe I dodged a bullet.
A bullet of Ichor, heh!
"What are you doing, Io?" The girl was looking at the tents down the cathedral.
Her hands on the old stone rail… tapping.
"... Thinking." She answered briefly, before doing exactly that.
… I'm not an idiot.
I decided to gamble my life in front of her to get answers I needed. Something she couldn't really help…
To deal with the most imminent danger among the many variables within this city, I did something dangerous and, if anything, cruel by counting in her presence during the endeavor.
I thought of a few things to say for her to cheer her… but if she is in such deep contemplation.
I felt inadequate.
If Io wished to know and understand something, it would most likely involve inquiring with me or others; if she wanted to do the reflecting herself to find the answer, then I wouldn't pry.
Not yet, at least.
Without the words to express myself fully, I caressed her silky hair.
"Take your time," I said softly before going down.
____________________________________________________________________________
Word Count: 2,205
Attendants can be murder hobos depending on the situation. Io just hasn't gotten the chance to show that.