Episode 12-Nefarious Sloth (8)

"Cool."

I elbowed Marcus like, "What the heck do we do?"

[I see you clearly. Ethan Nakamura-]

My body froze when he said my name.

[- and my Incarnation, Marcus Santiago. I know who you are, but can you say the same for me?]

"U-uh, yes! I know."

The wolf squinted at me. Should I say his name?

"You're Fenris wolf, the wolf that will devour Odin. You're pivotal to Ragnarok because your freedom is a sign of the end times."

[It seems mortals are not completely ignorant. It is relieving. Yes, I am Fenris, or Fenrir as others call me.]

The wolf glared, sizing me up.

[You are Ethan Nakamura, the lackey of Surt, the self-proclaimed King of Chaos and Revenge. A promising figure in the world of men, but still human.]

I was too focused on Fenris, so I couldn't see if Marcus was surprised. After they were done addressing me, Fenris glared at my friend.

[Ah, my dear, disappointing Incarnation. How weak you are. I had higher hopes for you, but your lack of determination makes you pathetic.]

Marcus was frozen in place, and I tried to speak up for him, but Fenris continued.

[I saw your ferocity in the First Scenario, but was it a lie? I gave you power, but was it not enough?]

Marcus tried to reply, "I-I..."

["I did nothing," is what you should say. I gave you my unbridled support; my stigma, my coins, and my attention. Yet, you wasted it. You idled in that vile nest of humans, when you are beyond them.]

The nostrils of Fenris Wolf flared. He stood proud, and even though he was chained, he was violently majestic.

[If you wished, you could've slaughtered that repulsive, human congregation. My stigma would've given you the strength, and their lifeblood would've empowered you. Alas, you decided to mingle with them, eroding your ferocity.]

Fenris continued.

[Once you've attained freedom, you could've joined me. We could've devoured the Aesir Gods together.]

The Wolf resettled, now looking dismissive.

[Although, it seems you've decided to waste your natural talent. I was foolish to invest in a human.]

"Wait! What can I do to become stronger?"

Marcus was scrambling now.

(That's what Fenris wanted. To belittle Marcus and make him susceptible.)

I wanted to speak up, but the Fenris's presence silenced my will to speak.

[You do not care for strength, Marcus Santiago,] Fenris said softly. [You desire freedom.]

Marcus nodded.

[Alas, freedom is not attainable for the weak. Only the strong may possess it.]

Fenris turned serious again.

[Promise me. When I release you from this Illusionary prison, activate the stigma I've given: the Fenris Transformation. Decimate the kingdoms of man and ascend higher than their mortal perception. Tear the scenarios apart and destroy their shackles. Then it will present itself - the world you wish to see. Do it.]

My heart skipped a beat. If Marcus fully activated the Fenris Transformation, he'd gradually lose his humanity. He would turn into an amalgamation of beast and man, killing everything in sight. The Fenris Transformation is a capricious stigma; if the user doesn't control it properly, it'd instill instinctual, animalistic desires.

In the original ASS webnovel, this situation was avoided because Natalie Garcia had a stigma that calmed Marcus's temper. It was from her Constellation, Enchantress of Words or some shit. Or maybe that was Alexa's Constellation - I don't know.

Basically, Fenris was tempting my friend.

[Fable "Ender's Game" is fluttering their pages.]

It reminded me of myself, and how I encountered another version of my psyche within the simulation. The Red-Blader tried tempting me to join the dark side, which didn't work because I was already a part of it.

This abusive situation between Marcus and Fenris reminded me of those times. I detested it.

"H-hey," I said.

I tried to interrupt, but I felt like a nice guy at a frat party trying to be noticed.

[Ethan Nakamura, did I permit you to speak?]

I couldn't utter another word. My voice was gone, and I felt as though I was being crushed. It's like that moment from Star Wars: A New Hope, where the gang is stuck in the trash compacter. That's how my existence felt - like Fenris Wolf was surrounding me, pushing down until I'm this condensed mess of misery.

I couldn't feel angry, enraged, or wrathful. His emotions smothered mine; hell, I couldn't even cuss the Wolf out in my head. That's how strong he is, how fear-inducing. You can't even curse Fenris Wolf because he wipes it away from your mind through sheer intimidation.

(But I have to say something.)

If I stood here and did nothing, Marcus would slowly get manipulated. Fenris wasn't even whipping out the big gaslighting guns yet; if he brought out Marcus's trauma, the young man would break down. If that were to happen, everyone in this shitty high school is dead, including me.

(Wait, if that's possible, why didn't it happen in the original webnovel?)

Shit, was it me?

(Pay attention, Ethan.)

I tried to muster every single scrap of courage I had. I needed to harness my power of emotional manipulation and smooth-talking for the power of good, and that sure as hell ain't easy, but there was no other option.

"You're in his head," I said. "He- Marcus has the power to free himself if he wants to. You're not even supposed to be here because of the probability."

My voice was small, and everything I said felt like a half-assed excuse. Fenris Wolf treated it as such.

[Oh, please,] Fenris said while rolling his eyes.

That sent a shudder down my spine and throughout my body. It was such an exasperated, human reaction. Seeing the reaction through a wolf's body was uncanny - it was too expressive for a beast.

[You Incarnations and lesser Constellation are always the same.]

Fenris proceeded to talk in a mocking tone, but it still sounded sophisticated.

[You speak of probability and unfairness in the scenarios, but you are the ones who seek to break the system. Constellations throw tantrums like children, using probability to vent their anger and punish the weaker. Unsurprisingly, they use probability as an excuse, a shield for themselves when events become awry.]

Fenris Wolf's nostrils flared again, and his mouth was set into a resentful snarl. If this wasn't a dream, I'd probably piss my pants.

[You are nothing but hypocrites who use the system for your own convenience. Selfish, uncompromising, and destructive. I detest the likes of you.]

I felt Fenris's contempt leaking towards me like a gas, coiling around my legs and body.

[Haven't you tarnished the probability quite a few times, Ethan Nakamura? You are not as clean cut as you wish to appear. Many Constellations can see how shady your actions are. Alas, there will be consequences. You seek to become a star, but you will burn out before then.]

Fenris calmed down.

[Now, silence. I shall speak to my Incarnation. If you utter another word, I will use what little power I have to shred your mind.]

"Stop!!"

Surprisingly, that firm, angry voice wasn't mine. It was Marcus. His fists were balled like that Arthur meme, but his expression was serious.

"I-I'm sick of people treating everyone I know like shit."

Marcus's voice was so small, his head was turned down, and he was shaking. Yet, he still spoke his mind.

"I'm done. I want to be done with everything. They don't deserve this shit. None of them."

Marcus looked at Fenris in the eyes. Through gritted teeth, he said, "We're getting out of here. Ethan's right. This is all in my head, so I should know how to get out. Forget you."

Marcus's voice cracked when he said that last part, but I felt awed. He was resisting the influence of his Constellation, which many Incarnations can only dream to do.

[Hahahaha!! Such bravado!]

Marcus's shining moment moved me. As a reader, I knew how much Marcus was taken advantage of by others. Seeing Marcus stand up for himself was incredible to see. So, I felt pissed off when Fenris laughed at him.

[Hm, it seems your strength comes from defending others! It is still pathetic, but workable. Very well then. I shall permit your exit.]

(Wait, this feels too easy.)

[Although, you shall pay the price. You are too weak-willed, that fact has not changed. You must sharpen your fangs.]

As Fenris said that, his mouth morphed from a jesting grin to a vicious snarl.

[Your past is the chain of your present. Break them.]

Fenris Wolf suddenly lunged in Marcus's direction, mouth wide and maw gaping.

"Oh shit!!"

[At this moment, time slowed down.]

Fraggy spoke in my head. Like a stuck page, or a laggy webnovel chapter, the moment in time became sluggish.

[Fenris Wolf was not as imprisoned as he appeared to be. It seemed that over the eons and centuries, he has struggled against his binds, loosening the dwarf-made chains. It is not enough to gain freedom, but it is enough to gain power in preparation for Ragnarok.]

[Fenris Wolf decided to use this power for his Incarnation once again. Dark mist coiled around Fenris's jaw instead of saliva. As Marcus became entrapped in Fenris's gullet, the boy began disappearing.]

[Ethan Nakamura saw this.]

(Shit! No!)

[Even with a panicked mind, Ethan Nakamura thought-]

(I have to save him!)