Chapter 6 - New Generation Craftsman
…
… …
.
.
.
Levi in the end, decided to risk and extend his experimentation session. Skipping the dragging part, and immediately started to skim through the flesh of the final [Wraith], going directly for it's heart after confirming there was no visible difference in the flesh and bones of the thing.
He can see bite marks, and a failed cleave marks on the body wIth four to five sets of small baby-like footprints that at some point wandered and seemingly played with the carcass, the footprints were probably the area was still empty even now. Levi concluded after EVA verified the impossibility of the tiny footprints belonging to a human not to mention six of them at that size.
Logging the direction of the tiny footprints for safe measure. Levi set [EVA] to do a tighter interval on scanning his surroundings, all the while reminding himself that he needed to make haste.
…
.
Once again, flesh turned into mush as Levi pulled out the Orb making orb from the opening he made.
EVA noting a slight difference in the amount of tendrils, pattern and behavior of the tendrils inside the second orb indicating possible variance of effects or possibly a semblance of proper individuality, Levi opting to store the Orb for now. As he rushed off to get as far as possible from the city.
Levi continued moving from location to location. Relying on the extended senses from [EVA] for mapping and evasion. Watching in horror as the places he once knew transformed into a forest with trees resembling tendrils of darkness. A top the branches were more [Wraith]s nabbing people, sometimes eating, sometimes killing them…
People inside houses, even those in makeshift fortresses and bunkers slaughtered as the [Wraiths] phased through walls and grounds, their sheer strength and weight, more importantly their resistance to bullets allowing them to easily bulldoze a squadron of untrained gun men.
Screams of pain and cries of help sounded everywhere but Levi was forced to grit his teeth. Knowing that these people would only slow him down. That majority of them, even with his help will simply die as soon as the [Wraith]s set out to feed or expand their territory.
His heart ached and only his sheer will kept his weapons in check. The cold and calculating side of him resurfacing as he hid himself from the chaos, slowly passing alley after alley, tree after tree, his pitch black suit perfectly blending with the background…
Levi's body moving more instinctively as he tried to grasp what he's seeing now. The full blown situation kicking in as soon as the adrenaline from the battle faded, the curiosity with the orbs as well as the other materials now at the back of his mind.
Whether this was really an Apocalypse or not, these [Wraith]s would sooner or later expand their territory. And he knew that these birds wouldn't fly from the ground as soon as they saw the military forming their position.
Not to mention the baby-like footprints that he saw just a while ago…
It would be best if Levi could find any semblance of a proper military gathering. The main problem was the cut off communication.
With [EVA] directly embedded to his brain he could have easily sent and received messages through the web that should have been easily accessible, but other than distress calls from radio signals from nearby distress calls, there was nothing viable he could get.
Least thing he could do was to have [EVA] imitate his voice and relay his findings to the different frequencies. Purposely omitting the information about the orb in fear that people would do stupid shit given the hopelessness of the situation.
He simply didn't want to be the cause of people: "Joining the other side" by swallowing one or two of the orbs. Levi couldn't even start to imagine what would happen if a human swallowed those orbs…
Though he had a feeling he would encounter those people sooner or later.
…
.
.
.
.
It was night time when Levi finally arrived at a relatively empty warehouse, the place already having been already cleaned of its survivors, the scattered bloodstains and puddles along with the limbs being a relatively short story of what happened.
Confirming with Eva that the area is clear… Levi took a bit of time to recover before once again forcing himself up to revisit the earlier experiment. Having observed no reinforcements from the military, it was highly likely that similar occurrences are happening in nearby cities.
If not the whole country, the world.
Despite the advantages he held, the lack of melee is a weakness he would soon need to alleviate. His Blade and dagger being weapons more designed to cut the necks of people rather than chewy gummy flesh of those [Wraith]s or whatever else that could popup at any moment.
It was ludicrous but he had to do it, he needed an edge if he wants to survive.
…
…
.
Setting up his station, Levi went through what he knew about the orb in detail.
Evaluation:
1.) The orb seems to be functioning as the heart of the [Wraith].
2.) Cutting of the head of it's host, stops it's movement confirming that the it's brain is still in play, though opening up the thing reveals just chunks of flesh, revealing that the orb has the ability to make physical alterations to organs and alike while maintaining bodily functions.
3.) The Behavior reinforces how the [Wraith]s seem to still favor devouring their prey rather than simply killing them using their physical advantage.
-
-
-
4.) Behavior aside, it's ability phase through objects and even the ground. Conjures a slight change in hue of the subject while in corporeal form. Though barely noticeable due to the color of the beast itself.
5.) A side note to #4 is what seems like an automated function to avoid attacks. –This however could be limited to 'Lethal' attacks, though further tests would be needed as he didn't have the luxury to chip away at the enemy slowly back then.
6.) There's also possible 6-7–8ish second Cooldown of the phasing ability.
7.) As well as the ability to link up with cut off limbs despite having only one part of the body linked up proves that the ability can be used to a certain 'scope' rather than being only able to use it after getting close. *** Levi noting that this opens up the possible use in ranged weaponry.
8.) The Opportunity for self use / consumption of the orb will be strictly prohibited until there's guaranteed immunity / cure is present. *** Levi making sure to observe and experiment / if not ask questions should he encounter a living person that had consumed the orb
9.) …
10.) …
His list went on and on, Levi adding more details as he used [EVA]s help to review the footage. Manually sorting and excluding irrelevant details so that he doesn't miss crucial information in the process. Crossing out the more improbable ones, Levi was left with the more relevant details.
As for containment purposes… There was none.
The Tendrils don't react even when placed at the direction of concentrated light. The Tendrils "Bypassing the orb"only when it can extend to flesh. Quickly receding back to it's shell as soon as it deemed that the flesh was unreachable. The orb serving more of a protection, rather than a way to contain the thing.
It doesn't seem to be able to connect with innate objects– Which leaves Levi to his conclusion.
Intent.
Recalling the whispers he heard when he held the orb directly on his hand… The tendrils seems to be able to deliver intent as well as a connection through direct contact. Given how insistent it whispers to be swallowed, suggests either a possibility of a more rapid rate of corruption or that it seeks a situation where the host can't remove the orb himself.
Adjusting his records, Levi had [EVA] bump up the level of sentience logged in her database. Tagging the tendrils to have confirmed mind-control rather than simple manipulation or derivation of instincts. Similar to those zombie-ant fungus that affects ants and other smaller insects.
This also adjusted the Level of danger of those birds into *Infinitely Dangerous* as it was now confirmed that they possessed true intelligence, unlike ordinary beasts.
… …
.
Going over the details for a second and third time, Levi finally opened the container and picked up the orb wearing the gloves more by habit, even if he knew that the tendrils wouldn't be able to affect him.
As expected the whispers once again invaded his mind, the orb having learned as it adjusted it's pitch this time promising endless power upon swallowing it, slightly removing the tense situation for Levi as it made him laugh for what it seemed to be the second time.
.
Securely placing the same orb to the ground. Levi took three to four steps away from turning around before throwing the dagger placed on sheathed hidden on the side of his chest.
The target hit the mark, and the orb shattered. The tendrils shrieked in intent. Levi's mind receiving it's angry howl even while at a distance.
The intent was a scream of evil, violent and vengeful anger. The tendrils wanting to tear Levi into pieces but could do nothing as it had started to dissipate without it's protective shell. The Tendrils tried to stretch and crawl, but there was no living tear near. It needed a host or atleast a shell. Something that will keep it from dissipating.
But there wasn't any glass of the same nature as the orb. In panic, it shrieked once again at Levi, it's dissipation ramping up faster seemingly due to the anger it couldn't bear. The tendrils threw cuss words as if singing them amusement once again in Levi's face as he watched the tendrils try to reach him but even without moving it was easy enough to tell that they'll fail.
Majority of the tendrils trying to spring at Levi, but the other tendrils…
They weren't willing to die just like that. They wanted to at least inflict their pain on to others. They started embedding themselves on the only nearby thing they could find. But there was only the dagger. More started to fade, indecision costing more and more of the tendrils until one relented, the rest following. Embedding themselves to the Dagger embedded on the sand, then to the blade itself.
Creating patterns of pitch darkness, adding a natural tint to the rest of the blade, the patterns that were once the tendrils squirming and screaming, until finally, they stopped moving, their consciousness ceasing to be as their very existence merged with the inanimate the dagger.
The seemingly normal Glass, orb disintegrating as the last of the tendrils turned into patterns.
...
... ...
To be continued.