Before the Ant Avatar left for Darkwell, it made one final sweep of the facility, rummaging through every drawer, shelf, and dusty corner in search of anything remotely useful. Spare samples, abandoned notes, and a few interesting containers. Anything that Petra might enjoy adding to her collection.
While that was happening, a few things had begun to unfold around the Tower Spider.
-
Over the past few weeks, the Poison Sea had continued to spread across the Western Region, and during the several days Petra spent on Lions Tail Island, the situation had only worsened.
What had originally been a slow-moving tide creeping through the outskirts of the Western Region had now swallowed nearly half of the Grey Plains. The land was buried under an ominous, undulating black ocean that devoured all life, all land, and anything foolish enough to touch it.
At this point, the Western Region, excluding a few underground tunnels, had been completely separated from the rest of the continent.
The Tower Spider, which remained in its original position, was now isolated at the very center of this black expanse, existing as a lone patch of green grass floating atop a black sea. The Poison Sea rose and fell like a living creature, twisting like a vortex around the tower, pulling itself inwards toward a single point beneath the Tower Spider's massive frame, like a funnel.
There, directly below the Tower Spider, Petra had planted one of the recalled avatars. It served as an anchor point, a node, continuously absorbing the waves of the Poison Sea that rushed towards it in an endless, unstoppable tide. The little ant acted as a bridge, siphoning the Poison Sea into Petra's Sea of Consciousness through the mental link. Every drop of poison that touched the avatar was devoured and transferred directly into Petra's body, where it was stored among the countless other poisons that drifted through her inner world.
Petra stored her poisons inside her Sea of Consciousness.
Each poison she 'consumed' took on a semi-physical form, like swirling clouds of smoke shaped vaguely like sea creatures. They drifted around her Inner Library in slow currents, expanding, shifting colors, and flickering with spirituality depending on their nature. Some resembled jellyfish made of mist, while others twisted like eel-shaped shadows. Some condensed into dense, storm-like masses that crackled softly, while others moved in large schools.
Each cloud had its own color, texture, behavior, and temperament.
Petra could summon them whenever she wanted. A simple thought was enough to pull a 'cloud' from her sea of consciousness and use it when needed. Unfortunately, the moment they left her sea of consciousness, they lost their spirituality and returned to a normal poison. This was a trait that Petra had no control over, at least, not yet.
There were two exceptions to this rule.
First, at the very bottom of Petra's Sea of Consciousness lay the King's Hand, a deep, endless abyss of black poison that swallowed everything it touched.
Second, above this abyss swam the manifestation of the Poison Sea, the Black Whales.
The Poison Sea had taken the form of enormous whale-like creatures made entirely of rolling black mist. They drifted in and out of the abyss without fear, unlike the other poisons. Some stretched nearly fifty meters long, their translucent bodies glowing faintly with an internal light. They moved like silent storms, shaking the static currents of the King's Hand with their powerful momentum.
So, what exactly was the Poison Sea?
What made it so special that it allowed it to survive in the King's Hand?
Petra had begun piecing it together after weeks of observing its behavior.
Despite the name, the Poison Sea wasn't actually poison.
At least, not originally.
It was closer to a fertilizer, or an alchemical catalyst designed to reshape landscapes, stimulate ecosystems, and modify terrain over a long period of time. Its intended function had likely been to accelerate natural growth or alter the region based on the user's chosen parameters. Volcanic soil, dense forests, coral-like biomes, vibrant grasslands, it could produce all of them, at least, in theory.
In short, it was a terraforming reagent, one that shouldn't exist in this world.
But something had gone horribly wrong.
Whoever created 'this batch' had left its environmental parameters unchecked. Without clear instructions or a defined target, the substance simply interpreted everything as viable. Instead of choosing one environment, it created all of them simultaneously. Forests, deserts, volcanoes, seas, snowfields, rapid rot, mycelium mats, and an unending growth, thousands of them, all erupted at once.
Millions of microbes, fungi, chemical reactions, biological strains, and unstable mutations fought endlessly for dominance until they blended together into a single apocalyptic substance.
This was how the 'Poison Sea' was born.
A black, sludge-like ocean that devoured water, land, air, and spiritual energy. To most people, it was apocalyptic, but to Petra…
It was food.
Because of its extreme toxicity, the Poison Sea registered as a poison in Petra's unique constitution. So, every day since the calamity began, Petra's Ant Avatar sat patiently beneath the Tower Spider, 'drinking' in the Poison Sea, while the real Petra calmly collected, separated, organized, labeled, and stored the endless sources of substances that she could strip from a single whale's worth of Poison Sea.
To Petra, the calamity wasn't a calamity, it was a treasure hunt.
* * *
Today was a good day.
Ahem, if you were a storm lover, that is...
The sky above the Tower Spider was dark and overcast, blowing with a cool and refreshing breeze. The strong wind swept across the land, carrying the crisp edge of late fall, despite lacking the four seasons.
The warmth from inside contrasted strongly against the cold chill from outside.
Petra sat leisurely in the study, barefoot, her small legs dangling over the edge of the oversized chair. Beside her was a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Spread out before her was an assortment of books, papers, models, and quickly collected notes.
She looked like a diligent little student who had suddenly decided to dive into a study session.
With a plane pen, the same one she had been using since Evergreen Town, Petra flipped through her notes, writing down observations, and adding short annotations.
She hummed quietly to herself while she worked.
-
Later that evening…
From below, a voice called her. "Little master, it's time!"
Petra left the study, snapping her notebook shut and carrying it under her arm. The Tower Spider's interior was warm, filled with a faint scent of tea and herbs, drifting from the halls.
Petra yawned softly. "Coming!"
As she left, the camera pans to the notes left open on the desk…
* * *
[Paper One] Planning: Project Preparations…
Beast Accommodations:
Reinforce the underground tunnels, expand the cattle chambers, recalibrate the runes for temperature control, add new containment measures for volatile species, no more exploding frogs in the hallways.
Crystal Core Reconstruction:
Repair the rune channels, replace the damaged crystal exterior, add sound-dampening runes, consult Elli on the repair process, practice begging, don't cry, give up, be sad…
Grafting Equipment:
Remind the elves to remind you to remind Mell to buy alchemical grafting tools from Sevensen. Grafting knife, sheers, normal tape… figure out something better.
* * *
[Paper Two] Poison Reference: Foundational Poison…
The King's Hand (Black): The King's Hand is uncontrollable, and its mere appearance is enough to cause irreversible damage. A poison that can devour, adapt, evolve, and destroy everything.
Origin: Unknown…
-
Castle Crasher (White): A powerful acid that can destroy most materials, this is the venom of the Tower Spider, the number one weapon against troublesome terrain.
Origin: Tower Spider.
Petra: "Best used outdoors, or indoors, if you hate doors!"
-
Paralyzing Powder (Yellow): A yellow dust that can be used in a wide variety of ways, exposure to this will cause the body to freeze up and become paralyzed.
Origin: A mixture between a few common herbs.
-
Corpse-Dissolving Powder (Green): A green powder commonly used by criminals. This powder will react with biological materials to grow, then devour a target, eventually turning into a black sludge that will dissipate in the rain.
Origin: A mixture between a few uncommon herbs.
Petra: "Smells like bitter soup and guilt. Works great for cleaning up mistakes!"
-
Gender-Changing Drug (Pink): A cloud-like substance that was created specifically by Petra for her experiments. This is a foundational drug used to manipulate a target's biology. The default form of this will turn a target into a woman.
Origin: Extracted Gene Key mixed with a few common herbs, then refined through a special process.
-
Sleeping Gas (Purple): A purple gas that can force people into an unconscious state.
Origin: (Currently) The heart of the dream weed mixed with a few rare herbs.
-
Pain Potion (Red): An alchemical creation that appears as a red liquid. This potion is an extremely refined and concentrated form of capsaicin, modified to last a very long time. (Days)
Origin: Extracted through special peppers, then refined through a special process.
Petra: "For educational use only…!"
-
Truth Serum (Blue): A bright blue liquid that can make a person reveal the truth. This can extract 'Truth' through verbal conversations, unconscious actions, and conscious actions.
Origin: Extracted Gene Key mixed with a rare herb, then refined through a special process.
-
Silent Death (Transparent): A transparent and odorless substance that floats through the air. This undetectable poison was one of the poisons that Petra, back when she was the Poison Sea Sage, had created and used as her iconic weapon. She sealed it shortly after recreating it in Pillomal.
Origin: Unknown…
* * *
[Paper Three] Petra's To-do List…
Collect a High-level Wood Material:
We need a strong wood for a future project. Ideas: Skywillow from the Spire Mountains in the central region, Eldinheart Redwood from the Deep Forest, Crystal Nest Vinewood from the West, or Emberwood for its natural ability to create heated floors. Something durable, good for runes, and easy enough to transport and store. Avoid anything that screams, bleeds, or curses when cut, avoid plant spirits, avoid rapidly growing trees, and avoid light-element plants.
Investigate the Dragon Clan:
Research the overseas Dragon Clan. Look into clan colors, the Emerald Dragons' origins and history, general dragon biology, including 'changes to the upper torso', collect information about their customs and territories, figure out the taboos, make a list of this generation's troublemakers. Get a reliable source… preferably one that doesn't know its place. Avoid trigger scenarios, avoid the dragon ancestor, do not expose my background.
Buy a World Map & History Book:
We need a proper world map with continents, islands, regional history references, and the layout of major forces. Should include resource zones, rare materials, and dangerous or restricted places.
* * *
[Paper Four] Poison Reference: Beast Poison…
Tower Spider Venom (Castle Crasher): A powerful acid that can destroy most materials, this is the venom of the Tower Spider, the number one weapon against troublesome terrain.
The Ethereal Echo Silverwing Butterflies' Scale Dust (Echo Dust): A disorienting dust that can distort one's perception of time and space, trapping them in an illusory world.
Sky Strike Dark Frog's Toxin (Slothful Sin Toxin): The body of the Sky Strike Dart Frog is coated in a toxin that can cause those who are in contact with it to perceive the world at a slower pace.
The River Winding Centipede's Poisonous Breath (Sailor's Miasma): A breath attack that can fill an area with a poisonous aura capable of convincing a person that they are drowning. Their bodies will respond to this suggestion.
Warlord Forge Ant Queen's Aura: The massive mental network connecting the ant queen to her colony has a corrupting effect on those too close. This can cause false assimilation and memory loss. Those exposed for long periods of time can begin to produce this same corrupting aura.
Approaching her caused corruption due to the massive soul network.
Nine Sapphire Demon Snake's Venom (Sapphire Beauty): Refine a target through nine stages of transformation (blood cycling through the body) until the body and soul crystallize into soul sapphire.
Calamity Wolf (Ice Age): Infects and transforms the surrounding landscape into a frozen wasteland. Spawns mutated ice elementals from within the ice, which are completely under the Calamity Wolf's control. These ice elementals can devour and grow, allowing the poison to propagate endlessly.
Ash Fire Fairy's Sting (Ash-amber Venom): Burns both body and soul, melting anything living into pure energy that can be cultivated.
* * *
She trotted downstairs, each step thumping softly against the tower's wooden floor, until she reached the first floor. Near the entrance stood two of her servants, the deer and Rose, along with two others, Little Lux and the middle-aged man Petra only knew as her guardian.
They were preparing to leave.
After receiving news about Mousa, Petra had told him that it was time. He returned on a flying beast, and after a few days to play with Lux, Petra happily handed the little girl over to her adopted father.
Petra smiled faintly, waving her chubby hand lazily. "Mm, don't die, I hope to see you in the future."
They walked outside.
The man grinned awkwardly as he hoisted Lux onto the back of a large, winged creature. They waved, and Petra waved back.
Whoosh!
The wind from the creature's wings scattered her hair as it rose into the air, vanishing into the dark horizon within mere minutes.
Petra turned to go back inside, but suddenly stopped.
Her ears twitched, and she turned her head towards the horizon.
Something was approaching…
She looked up just in time to see a small, glowing light flicker through the clouds. It was a sphere of mental energy falling from the sky.
"Oh," she murmured, tilting her head. "Delivery…?"
Wait… One of the ants had dropped it…!
Did she teach them that?
What happened to being gentle?
Swooooosh-BANG!
The sphere struck the ground nearby with a dull bang. The bubble burst apart like thin glass, and a dazed young girl spilled out, rolling once before collapsing on the ground, then groaning and snapping up. The mental energy had cushioned most of her fall, but the journey had taken a toll on her.
Woosh!
The girl rolled herself onto her knees, her short hair matted and her amber eyes fierce. Her clothes were tattered, her nails were sharp, and her movements were wild.
She was a savage, completely unrefined and unintegrated into human society.
The red hair and amber eyes told Petra that this was Lira, Rose's little sister.
Just as quickly as she calmed the dizziness, she jumped back and took a stance, ready to attack.
Petra blinked slowly, looking down at her like a wild animal.
The girl, Lira, shook her head, scanning the area in confusion. She had spent the last few hours unable to see outside. Her gaze darted across the courtyard until her eyes locked onto Petra… and then shifted to the two maids standing nearby, the deer maid, and the red-haired cat girl… who seemed a bit familiar.
Her pupils narrowed.
In an instant, her posture changed, recognising the Red Ring Cat Tribe maid. (Rose) Her muscles tensed, her tail straightened, and she dropped into a half-crouch, glaring at them with pure suspicion.
Petra could practically hear her thoughts flickering between, 'conspiracy', 'trap', and 'kidnappers'. She sighed softly. "Yup. Savages, they're all so slow."
Lira's eyes lingered on Rose, the red-haired cat maid, who shifted awkwardly under her gaze. The way Rose held her hands, the faint stiffness in her movements, it only made the misunderstanding worse, completely magnifying the suspicions she had towards Petra and these people.
She snapped her feline gaze towards the little green haired girl, believing her to be in charge, and growled. "You!" Lira barked. "Where's my brother? What did you do to him!" Before she had 'packaged her up', Petra told Lira that she was taking her to reunite.
Rose immediately turned away, face flushing red.
Petra's lips curled into a small smirk, and she pointed her tiny finger at Rose. "There."
Lira froze. "...What?"
Petra's grin widened. "This is your brother."
"Bullshit!" Lira snarled, dropping even further to all fours. "You think I'm stupid?! My brother's a boy, A boy with a big worm! You can't fool me, small child!"
Rose's face turned crimson, and she began to feel dizzy.
Petra tilted her head. "Well. You're not wrong, he definitely did."
Rose: "!"
Lira: "…!"
Deer: "…"
Lira, interpreting that as a confirmation that something had happened to her real brother, was ready to attack. Just as Lira was about to pounce, the front door creaked open…
From inside, a young boy stepped out. He was a thin youth with short hair and tired eyes. One of the survivors from the laboratory, recently taken in by Petra. His hair was dark red, and his eyes were black. He was about seven years old.
His name was Noah, the one Petra teleported back.
He had arrived only a few hours earlier, still adjusting to life in the tower. It was understandable that he was slightly slow, because suddenly learning that his new home was in the middle of a massive sea of black death, would cause anybody to have some doubts.
Petra turned to him with a small smile, ignoring the wild child growling in the background.
"Settling in well?" she asked in a lively tone.
He nodded stiffly. "Yes… Your people have treated me well, but…"
Several maids stood behind him, holding tea trays, food, and medicine, watching quietly with an unseen emotion. The boy had noticed it a while ago, but some of these maids seem to have a certain sense of 'schadenfreude' hidden in their eyes.
He had ignored it for most of the day, but…
Then, he made a mistake.
Noah frowned slightly, hesitating before asking Petra, "You said… you could help me get revenge. I'm fine with selling myself after that, you can do whatever you want with me, but… there's something that's been bothering me."
He glanced around at the surrounding maids, every single one of them was female, and then looked back at Petra with confusion in his eyes.
"Why are there no men?" he asked. "Why do you still want me, if everyone is… a woman?" The moment the words left his mouth, he realized that something was wrong.
The Red cat stiffened.
The deer maid blinked.
The air itself grew heavier.
Lira, mid-crouch, sensed something too.
Every single maid in the hall turned towards Noah with pity in their eyes. Rose's expression was… indescribable. Her lips trembled, and her eyes were wide with something that looked like sympathy and despair at the same time.
A chill ran down Noah's spine.
He stepped back. "...W-wait."
Before anyone could say another word, Petra flicked her sleeve like a magician. A puff of pink mist burst into the air like a cloud, and engulfed Noah completely.
Lira's eyes widened, confused why Petra would attack 'her own people'. "What—!?"
The pink cloud shimmered like a starry sky, then flashed brightly before fading.
When it faded, a very different voice echoed through the air. It was high, trembling, and furious in a way that few could understand.
"W–What did you do to me!?" Noah screamed, grabbing at his now far softer chest, and staring down in utter disbelief. "I–I'm a—!" His dark red hair had become pale pink, and his black and bottomless eyes were now filled with a rose-like red.
"I'm a girl!"
Rose: "…"
The Maids: "…"
Lira: "!!!"
Petra giggled.
She walked past 'her', looping once, grinning like a child who had just created a masterpiece.
Noah understood, and for that same reason, tears of pain flowed down his cheeks.
To the side…
In that same instant, Lira suddenly understood.
The realization hit her like lightning as she turned slowly to stare at the red-haired cat maid beside Petra, her expression shifting from suspicion… to horror.
"Brother…?"
Rose looked away, her tail flicking in the air nervously. "...Yeah."
"Ah!"
Lira shot forward and jumped into Rose's bosom.
She began to cry.
It had been so long!
From behind, Rose and Lira were embracing tearfully, while poor Noah was on the floor, shaking and mumbling curses that could have made even Arthur blush.
Petra strolled towards the doors of the tower, her childish laughter echoing through the void.