CHAPTER 42: Familiar Chill

Up from the ground, giant glowing red steel pillars seemed to melt upwards, countless behemoth stone walls rising from the earth and encroaching on the sky. Tremors knocked everyone within a half-mile radius to their feet as they looked towards the source to see the looming wall. Some of the pillars curved and veered as they slowly and smoothly filled in the massive skeletal ribs of the infrastructure of the building. Chandler's eyes dashed around carefully, piecing together each and every step he had predetermined in his mind. The man waited patiently to observe the awesome sight. The base of the structure was a whopping nine hundred by nine hundred feet, with the frame only just beginning to emerge. The first floor of wall stopped and became permanently suspended by the great steel beam underneath. The second layer of wall began to rise over the first forming an arc dipping lengthwise to the structure. As the steel beams that would support the roof interlocked at the soaring top of the structure, controlled metal waterfalls dropped down from above and grew into more pillars towards the center of the structure, liquid metal then branching off and forming more intricate, complex structures that would later become the rooms and structural support. Oddly enough, the interior walls were created top-down, which made sense due to the material sprouting from the ground. The man saw as the machines inside the beams cooled the red-hot pillars in preparation for the third slab of the megastructure, the very tip of the arc. As the third slab crawled up the slant, the light faded from the massive blank space where pillars were starting to raise a variety of walls straight, curved, and circular up to the roof. As the last sliver of light disappeared, leaving the man to only hear this new world build around him. In the blackness, echoing scrapes and shrieking metal clanks could be heard as everything locked one by one into place, the only light originating from occasional bursts of soft red as a new molten pillar gushed out of a cold one. It was like a puzzle, the scraping shifting along and around previously made sides as everything worked together to harmony. Sparks flew from the now much smaller room that he was in, the outline of tiny shape-shifting robots wiring and laying out the more advanced components. The man gazed curiously at the robots, before being blinded by a strong white light. Lights dotted the ceiling of the room he was in. How the hell? The image of the sinking buildings came into his mind. He absorbed many of the surrounding building's resources to make this one. His machines… or he, is exceedingly capable of recycling resources into completely good-as-new products. This room was already using electricity leached from what he could only assume to be the power lines, which he probably already adjusted to fix from the self-made quake. A several-month job all in seven minutes. But no matter how fast he could create them, they'll still fall just as fast. The man outstretched his arms and with some hesitation, blasted the walls of the room with antigravity. Microcracks formed on the wall and its paint chipped off, but the cracks did not expand or break through. The man examined the wall carefully. This wasn't rock, it was concrete. And this fine grain and usual color, just like the cells he was kept in as a child. This wasn't even normal concrete, this was the concrete made to bring out its prime strength. Various new minerals were used in it, and every ingredient was of perfect proportion, creating a concrete tough yet ductile. A breeze gently flowed from the doorway of the room, inviting him to go explore. As he peeked out, he noticed this was one of many rooms. As he journeyed through them, he saw each room had its subtle differences depending on its location. Some ceilings were arced, other walls were not straight, some being full circles. The hallway was long, about five hundred feet. Was he transported underground during the building process? As he walked down the hallway, delicate decorative patterns were added over the building's light tan paint. This level of detail shouldn't have been possible. With his minions one with him now, he had eyes and hands at thousands of places at once, creating a limited omnipresence perfect for such construction. Combined with the strength and precision to successfully move tons upon tons of materials to where they need to be, Chandler was now the apex of builders, as far as the man was aware. A little drone lay waiting in one room as the man peered around the corner. The drone immediately fired up its propellers and lifted itself to eye level. After a moment of silence, the drone moved slowly out of the room and down the hallway. After getting to a certain point, the drone turned around to stare with its tiny eye. It wanted him to follow! How adorable! What a cute little trap! The man went along with the robot, hoping for a source of more daily entertainment. Door by door, hallway by hallway, the man was toured until he arrived at a pair of great double doors. As he pushed them, another world opened up around him as he found himself in the great cavity of a sleeping dragon's belly. The main room was less of a room and more of its own enclosed structure. Huge metal ribs smoothed by delicately furnished arcs, and the pillars held a large indoor balcony curling around the sides and back where the door was. It was like a mega-theatre, but with many significant differences. There were no chairs, no tables, and no furniture. Kind of a letdown. Far to the front of him, Chandler floated high above the floor, shaping and texturing a grandeur stained glass window.

"Hmm, doesn't seem quite right, how about…" As his machines went to work, Chandler stood there on his levitating platform and observed the work of art while he held his hand out to the side as he spoke.

"I realized what you meant by your previous statement. You gave me a choice. To show you who I am, whether it be through fighting or other means. I am Chandler Praze. From a young age, I wished to design buildings of all shapes and sizes. After many years of hard work and new friends, my wish had become reality. With my successful transfiguration, I reached my peak, not in combat, but in the ability to enact my passion to its highest efficiency. I'm… not as good with interior design, though. That was always Alwin's job. May I have that call now? I have people to meet and an Alwin to revive." Chandler replied smugly. "Also, which one are you, Phantom or Orobos?"

Phantom chuckled "Who do you think? If the violet aura hasn't given it away, I don't know what else will. Orobos… They have pale green. They love snakes, too. I'm sure you three would be good friends." Phantom proceeded to start throwing his cell phone in the air and catch it, the sound taunting Chandler as his yellow snake-like eyes turned back subtly. "And… actually, there is one more thing I want…"

Chandler knew immediately.

"Information. But don't you have access to it in my head?"

"I already have. But… I was thinking about giving some to you instea-'' Phantom halted and Chandler swayed off his pedestal to fall straight on his head as their ears and thoughts were drowned with insane static. UYGFHDVTIDBSYBSVDIB&TFIYDGISYBDTYVBIUYVSGTYVCYUISYVYDTIVSIUYVDYVDYTSVIYDTVSYVIDBHJKALDBCUIKNAHGDGHCKKTDFGHILKJHTRDFGHILREWASWQAZXSDRFGHJKJHGFDFGUIKHGFDGHUIKJHTRDFGUIJHTRDFGUIOLKJHGRDFGUIJHTRDFGYTREWQSEWSEDFTGHJILK;LKJUHYFDERTYTRDSWERFGYTRFDESEDRFGHJGFVGHJKNBXSERTYUJGFDGYHGYHELPMEJDHGYSGHSAYDGHGUJWHYCANTITHINKJSHYGDHANBDHAJHGFHUSJNHYAGHJHEADACHESJHDAUHBJSAOITHURTSSHYFUHADHJAUBEFYUDNSUSHUTUPUBCYUBDSOUBCSBDSBUSIUSNSIWANTTOSLEEPUBDYSDUHSNSUDJKIMTIREDUSAIUNUSUHJKLMNCBFVAGVGAYTEGOUYEBFBBSUSBDUYSANOAISDNSDHJSHDLAJBASDYABUIWANTYSVDYTVSDYGAYGDSYUSQUIETGBDUYSDUSNCUNYDSHIUSDBCDBVDYTVSDYGAYGDSYUSQUIETGBDUYSDUSNCUNYDSHIUSDBCDBUYVBFUYDBFUYDBSVUYISGDFYUDSBFIUDSBFUYDSFUNVUDSYUSYGAUYGTEHSNYUSGDUSBADUKAKYGSDBAIYUSDGYDSBFYGSAHDSUJDSAISJNDIUSHDUFGAIGAYDBDFGDYFGSDUYGSDYBSADUAIYAOTWVIYUGFABFYIAGSDYUSGDWIUYBASDUHSDBASUYAGHDNASGADIUYNASUYDAUSVDASUYDBASUYIDGAUSBSNAIUHAJIDKLQWERHGFDVBNUYGFHDVTIDBSYBSVDIB&TFIYDGISYBDTYVBIUYVSGTYVCYUISYVYDTIVSIUYVDYVDYTSVIYDTVSYVIDBHJKALDBCUIKNAHGDGHCKKTDFGHILKJHTRDFGHILREWASWQAZXSDRFGHJKJHGFDFGUIKHGFDGHUIKJHTRDFGUIJHTRDFGUIOLKJHGRDFGUIJHTRDFGYTREWQSEWSEDFTGHJILK;LKJUHYFDERTYTRDSWERFGYTRFDESEDRFGHJGFVGHJKNBXSERTYUJGFDGYHGYHELPMEJDHGYSGHSAYDGHGUJWHYCANTITHINKJSHYGDHANBDHAJHGFHUSJNHYAGHJHEADACHESJHDAUHBJSAOITHURTSSHYFUHADHJAUBEFYUDNSUSHUTUPUBCYUBDSOUBCSBDSBUSIUSNSIWANTTOSLEEPUBDYSDUHSNSUDJKIMTIREDUSAIUNUSUHJKLMNCBFVAGVGAYTEGOUYEBFBBSUSBDUYSANOAISDNSDHJSHDLAJBASDYABUIWANTYSVDYTVSDYGAYGDSYUSQUIETGBDUYSDUSNCUNYDSHIUSDBCDBVDYTVSDYGAYGDSYUSQUIETGBDUYSDUSNCUNYDSHIUSDBCDBUYVBFUYDBFUYDBSVUYISGDFYUDSBFIUDSBFUYDSFUNVUDSYUSYGAUYGTEHSNYUSGDUSBADUKAKYGSDBAIYUSDGYDSBFYGSAHDSUJDSAISJNDIUSHDUFGAIGAYDBDFGDYFGSDUYGSDYBSADUAIYAOTWVIYUGFABFYIAGSDYUSGDWIUYBASDUHSDBASUYAGHDNASGADIUYNASUYDAUSVDASUYDBASUYIDGAUSBSNAIUHAJIDKLQWERHGFDVBNUYGFHDVTIDBSYBSVDIB&TFIYDGISYBDTYVBIUYVSGTYVCYUISYVYDTIVSIUYVDYVDYTSVIYDTVSYVIDBHJKALDBCUIKNAHGDGHCKKTDFGHILKJHTRDFGHILREWASWQAZXSDRFGHJKJHGFDFGUIKHGFDGHUIKJHTRDFGUIJHTRDFGUIOLKJHGRDFGUIJHTRDFGYTREWQSEWSEDFTGHJILK;LKJUHYFDERTYTRDSWERFGYTRFDESEDRFGHJGFVGHJKNBXSERTYUJGFDGYHGYHELPMEJDHGYSGHSAYDGHGUJWHYCANTITHINKJSHYGDHANBDHAJHGFHUSJNHYAGHJHEADACHESJHDAUHBJSAOITHURTSSHYFUHADHJAUBEFYUDNSUSHUTUPUBCYUBDSOUBCSBDSBUSIUSNSIWANTTOSLEEPUBDYSDUHSNSUDJKIMTIREDUSAIUNUSUHJKLMNCBFVAGVGAYTEGOUYEBFBBSUSBDUYSANOAISDNSDHJSHDLAJBASDYABUIWANTYSVDYTVSDYGAYGDSYUSQUIETGBDUYSDUSNCUNYDSHIUSDBCDBVDYTVSDYGAYGDSYUSQUIETGBDUYSDUSNCUNYDSHIUSDBCDBUYVBFUYDBFUYDBSVUYISGDFYUDSBFIUDSBFUYDSFUNVUDSYUSYGAUYGTEHSNYUSGDUSBADUKAKYGSDBAIYUSDGYDSBFYGSAHDSUJDSAISJNDIUSHDUFGAIGAYDBDFGDYFGSDUYGSDYBSADUAIYAOTWVIYUGFABFYIAGSDYUSGDWIUYBASDUHSDBASUYAGHDNASGADIUYNASUYDAUSVDASUYDBASUYIDGAUSBSNAIUHAJIDKLQWERHGFDVBN

The sound of several thousand voices. An overwhelming chorus of dissonance. And with a mental voice proclaiming "SILENCE, LET THERE BE NIGHT." There was a sudden calm. Chandler awoke on his back to see Phantom touching his forehead. Phantom stood up and focused in a certain direction of the walls.

"What the hell was that?!" Chandler wheezed in a terrified voice.

"My real objective. Aldebaran."

Just then, the sidewall, like paper, was ripped into and gashed in half by another scythe. A powerful blast of white haze caved in the special concrete like it was thin, brittle plastic. Tearing themselves an opening, a short, white-haired man with blue eyes and a massive, bone-thin, ethereal white being with a pitch-black core in its head and red surface markings emerged. The creature was entirely translucent except for its core and markings, which looked completely solid.

"Looks like I won't be needing these anymore." Phantom said as he hastily unbuttoned his jacket and shirt and threw them off his body to the side, revealing streamlined abs and shoulders under a tight white t-shirt.

"Immediately when I come in here, you start stripping down, what the fuck?!", the white-haired man said.

"Every time we meet, my clothes get scuffed. Not today, you bitch!"

"Well, in that case…" the man used antigravity to dig the jacket into the floor, tearing and dirtying it. Phantom's jaw dropped as a whistling gasp escaped his windpipe.

"What the hell, bro!? She doesn't issue these clothes to me! I paid more than I want to admit on this- you know what? Have it your way. Enough of this psychic battle bullshit, I'm throwing hands!" The white-haired man dodged out of Phantom's way as his scythe plowed into the ground and everything past it. Phantom hurled chunks of rock at the man, who brushed it sideways with ease.

"Why are you still using a normal scythe? It isn't going to help you. Use a gun, a sword, or something. Do you like to play pretend that much?"

"Ironic, coming from you." Phantom and the man's scythes locked together as Phantom's handle started creaking. Even mutated roots could not compete with the white-haired man's original. The scythe's handle broke, and the blade whizzed past Phantom's hair as he ducked and pulled out the shotgun from the man's sling. As Phantom scrambled to turn the weapon the right way, the man was already coming down with the scythe. With a trail of white haze, Phantom propelled himself forwards into the man's stomach, launching towards the ceiling before the man caught himself and levitated. Phantom aimed and shot. A direct hit. But the bullets seemed to pass right through him.

"Let's get one thing straight. The only reason I carry this stupid-ass thing around is it has its perks. What's your excuse?"

"Scythes are badass! Scythes are fun! The largeness of them. The curve of the blade. The satisfying swing that cleaves through stuff most of the time! It's the overall aesthetic! And besides, in a world where I can kill or do anything with just my fists or mind, why can't I have something like this? You and I both know full well, we're above needing any 'tools' to get by! Yet here you are, thinking you need 'intangibility' and 'invisibility'!"

"Enough talk! I already have a headache as is. And could you stop caressing that broken scythe? It's weird."

Phantom stopped immediately, and intentionally pointed the blade of the scythe sharp-side down as if expecting something to happen. For a few seconds, they stared at each other. Nothing happened. The white-haired man became genuinely angry. As his eyes narrowed, the man locked Phantom in stasis with the extreme pressure of his antigravity from all sides. He always did have the stronger AG force. Phantom could not or did not resist with his own.

"You're wasting my time. I went all the way out here, to a bustling city, where people's thoughts run rampant, to meet you here because you're claiming to have a cure. But here we are, where I'm at my weakest, with nothing to show. Just because we're brothers doesn't mean I won't kill you. Wait, did you set this up to kill me?!"

"Yes…" Phantom admitted as a green-haired girl with creamy red eyes pierced through the man's neck with her teeth and began drinking. Phantom's look of pain faded into a smile of ecstasy as the insignia and violet glow returned to his eyes. violet and indigo colors extended through his hair. "And you fell for it, hook, line, and sinker!" Phantom casually walked forward, even with the immense weight of antigravity restraining him.

"Dad's made me stronger than when we last fought. Now…" He ran his fingers against the strange smooth metal device implanted in his chest with scars framing it as he pointed his eyes downward sadistically "It's my turn to play!"

The man launched the girl into the air with a strong burst of white and sped towards Phantom with the strength of his antigravity amplified by his killing intent. Phantom closed his fingers on the small, faraway figure of his brother as if squishing a bug. The man became slightly flattened as his organs became crushed and blood ran down his nose with his bloodshot eyes still trained on Phantom.

"This X-Enigma feels so good! Almost worth the times I had to get my feet and arms sawed off or my body systematically impaled or starved or electrocuted or burned! You were never weak enough to require such a modification, and escaped before it was your inevitable turn! I always hated you for that day you tossed me back to the guards! But, I understand. It was either you or neither of us. I was too young to understand that. Besides, it saved you from the worst pain. Being tortured while alone."

"I would've come back for you!"

"Then why didn't you?! We fought, you won, you ditched me. No other plan, no other attempt to reclaim me from that pain. You know how much it hurt, we have the exact same scars, minus a few for you. You should've known how much we relied on each other every passing day as we were cut apart and grown again. You know the comfort of night, no more worry, no more pain for the day unless they kept us up intentionally. That's why you cast the illusion of the moon in the sky again. We are both creatures that thrive in the comfort and tranquility of the night. We've associated that moon with peace and rest."

"I have also suffered alone, you know, with these thoughts racing in my head and suffocating my sanity. My senses have numbed and my nights are restless. I have no choice but to cast an eternal contract with myself to always see nighttime, just in hopes that I can get a few more minutes of sleep every time I pass out. I am always at my wits end, did you expect me to do something rational the night this defect awakened. No second of any day can I turn off these voices in my head. I am forced to live in the wild, where the thoughts are louder but inconceivable. It's not just human thoughts, Astraeus, it's animals, fish, insects, vermin, any multi-celled organism. Their thoughts won't ever stop intruding my head! Only when I command them to silence themselves will they stop! And then I have to reverse it because cities and towns and countries freak out! How many countries have I gone through, how many times I've been on the run, all to avoid the governments catching on and causing catastrophe? Not that I care anymore about human lives, but it seems like a pain. You fight and kill one country, and the rest will be on your tail, especially since I don't have the protection anyone in the TA does. They can do all sorts of shady stuff and the nations are forced not to investigate or bat an eye. Speaking of which, that man down there… could he be…"

"Ignore him. Ahhh, look at us squabbling about our pain like losers. I thought we both agreed to not take anything so seriously!"

"Well, in that case… allow me to show you a new trick." The man slowly turned invisible, as the ghastly figure in the corner remained motionless and unchanged.

"What are you even trying to do? I still have you suspended- what the, there's no weight. Shit, can he teleport now?! Orobos!" Phantom yelled as the figure of a full-grown woman began to stand up from the crater she made in the wall.

"Yes?"

"Look at where the white haze is with your infrared."

"Nothing, I'm only sensing compression heat."

"Fuuuuuuuuck. Great, we need to see if he's anywhere in the proximity. Here, Chandler, you can just take the phone, I've got a spare." He said as they dashed off. In the distance, Chandler could hear Orobos complaining about Phantom taking his sweet time with the reunion talk. He could only hear Phantom mumbling shit as they disappeared. Chandler was tired. He released his arms from his sitting position to lay down. The machine's strain was his own now. And he was all out of fuel. Sleep. He felt so comfortable, lying there on the floor of his new fortress. His eyelids drooping, he yawned and without care of the dangers of being discovered while asleep, he drifted off momentarily. A momentary flash triggered Chandler's instincts to evade. But it was too late. At blinding speed, the white-haired man phased out of the wall and descended on Chandler with his scythe. This was it. However, a familiar chill filled the air.