Infinity in the Void – Freedom in the Abyss

So, I dragged Londinium out of his room and onto my ship, which was docked just behind the Enchanted Rock.

And as Utopia said, Lughz Dustur is here in their true form - a 4-meter-tall angel with a pair of white wings in a pure white hooded robe, their face is a golden cage containing blue fire. The Enigma Code had stood here for six hours straight, motionless, according to my Silver Knight.

"So... why are you here?", I ditched you.

Their head snapped down at me, "Because I am familiar with this place, much to your distaste. Though it is by chance I stumbled here, your rules I once again shall adhere."

"So are you going to stay in this form from now on?", I am not enjoying this at all.

And I literally can't do anything about them. Who the fuck thought an Eldritch God having their full power was a good idea?!

"Unfortunately the answer is yes, for that mask was about to cease. And I have yet to fulfill her last wishes.", there was a lament in their soothing voice...

I glanced at Londinium.

"So, how do I send them home?", I asked.

"Do you really want to ask that right in front of me?", the Eldritch God stared at me.

"How would I know?", he just shrugs at me.

I frowned, "You are messing with me, aren't you?"

"Yes."

I smashed him in the face with Ouroboros Omniscia, sending him off the ship.

"Alright, that was not helpful at all.", I turned my attention back to Lughz Dustur.

"So, how do I banish you back to your Star? There must be a condition to having your full power, right?"

"There is a condition for me to be my own Herald, but I do not need to share it with you, that is settled.", the Arbiter of Equilibrium's soothing voice is at it again.

"Fine...", I rolled my eyes, "Whatever you do, never leave this ship until I say you could."

"...", they stayed silent for a moment, "As you wish, this is your home and not mine."

There is something fishy here...

I leaned back, Utopia formed a throne behind me to let me land softly on the cushion.

"Avalon.", I called out.

The white cat appeared in my lap, "What do you need me?"

"Give me five more cats and ten big chinchillas.", I need something soft for comfort.

Immediately, a bunch of cats and chinchillas dropped on me. They are soft and would make a good coat.

"This is nice.", I hugged a chinchilla, "Cute."

"Are you going to stay like this?", The Enigma Code asked.

"Yes, this is my ship and I do whatever I want in my ship.", I glare at the Eldritch God.

I should really bring these guys into my office for comfort. Yeah, I should.

"Avalon, come with me to the academy.", I switched for a ragdoll cat, sinking my face into its fur.

"Sure, Charlotte."

"Of course."

"We follow."

"Charlotte."

They are doing that now...

"Shut up, help me find Roko so I can glass an entire region.", I sighed, it is extremely hard to find them.

"Their scent."

"Unmistakable."

"Prey."

"Once again."

"The hunt."

"Begin."

"The World."

"Other one."

"Hunt."

"Fragment."

"Hunt."

They love doing this voice thing...

I turned to Lughz Dustur, "So, how are you going to pay this month's rent?"

Beyond that flame, are countless eyeballs, which all snapped at me, "There was rent?"

"I don't let others live on my ship rent-free. Utopia and Enna are different, they are my servants so they don't have to.", Hoa was just a freeloader, but she does help with the upkeep, "As for Avalon here, they just need to be cute."

Cute for a hive mind that is.

"Lend me an Angelic weapon.", I smiled, "Just borrowing it for a while."

The flame flickered, they reached their right hand into the cage, into the flame, and... they took out one of their countless eyeballs.

"Is one of my own eye suffice?", they tilt their head as they extended their hand with the eyeball.

"It isn't a tracker, is it?", I was skeptical.

They stayed silent. Seem like they cannot lie.

"You are a smart child, Charlotte. Indeed I can feel the location of my eye, but I do not wish to earn your ire.", they crouched down to my level, "I simply want to know where you are at all times so that I find my beacon in this strange world."

"So what does this do?", I took the eye.

"It can help enhance your power of Judgement, and since I am not in control it is out of my attunement.", their flame flickered, "If you use it correctly..."

I will... just pocket this. I don't really want to use this thing, at all. I know this is some overpowered stuff, but holding an eyeball isn't my kind of style.

"Anyway, now that you have paid your rent, I'm going back to my office now."

"[Have a safe trip, Your Highness.]", Utopia said.

I chuckled at that, "I am the most dangerous living, organic thing on Earth. And yes, I have to be specific about that."

I got up from my throne, "Bye, and stay put."

I said that specifically to Lughz Dustur.

 

=0=0=

 

You know, the best thing about being a hypocrite is that I can be as inconsistent as I want. My reputation with animals is pretty much at rock bottom in the Hunter community.

Am I someone who would kick a puppy? Not really, but if it attacked me then I'd splat it onto a wall. I enjoy being brutal and excessive when I have the chance.

Having these cats and chinchillas wandering around my office is nice. And if one of them died, Avalon would replace it with another one. Not sure how living fluff balls would help them win the Game.

Speak of the Game, how the fuck do I kill a hive mind made of all animals on Earth?

I picked up a chinchilla, hearing it squeaking cutely.

"Avalon... how do I kill you?", I muttered.

The animals look at me, the cats purring, challenging me to try.

"Very well...", I expanded my Domination, enveloping the chinchilla, then white sparks of electricity came out of my hands...

All the animals around me perked their ears... I've done it. I had cut the connection between the hive mind and this chinchilla...

So... my Domination can override the possession.

Domination and Desire, two of them make up Ambition - the ability to dream and achieve the impossible. The thing that makes humans unique, unbound by logic... the great "If", to dream is to think of the unthinkable, that is Desire, to overcome the absurdity of the mind and take its reign, that is Domination.

If I think I can do it... then I can do it.

And... hehahaha... I had already Adapted.

Splat!

I squeezed the chinchilla a bit too hard and it exploded into a bloody mess. I burned the blood and bits with Malice Flame and cleaned the stains with Reverie.

"Looks like we are on an even playing field now.", I smiled, picking up a tabby cat, "Avalon... Avalon... once Theia is destroyed... let us see who comes out on top."

Hehahahaha...

"The culmination of evolution and life, or life itself..."

Knock knock.

I put the cat down and adjusted my smile to make it more friendly, "Come in."

Francis entered my office, with a tired look to her. I don't think ghosts can have bloodshot eyes, but she does...

"Charlotte... there is a problem.", she sighed in exhaustion, and she even used my real name.

This must be a big problem... though I already have some suspicion.

"Is it the criteria for my field trip?", I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, you are getting canceled. And the students are trying to dig into your information to doxx you. I think you were too blunt."

I can only laugh at that, "Do you think that will affect me in any way? I am a Hunter, I am Humanity. And I will tell you, ignoring the problem is a legit survival strategy. So fuck them, I'll keep being myself!"

"But you still need to deal with this situation.", she crossed her arms.

True. I'd rather be loved than be hated.

"For a moment, I'll let it fester... for my great act.", I snapped my finger, summoning a cup of coffee, "You don't need to worry."

"Because it is you that I'm worried.", Francis shook her head, "Selen is already hard to deal with, I don't need you to be involved in this mess."

"Then why did you want me in the first place?", I teased, sipping my coffee.

"Because we are understaffed.", she admitted, "We rarely get professors outside of the military, and this is a revamp military academy for fuck sake."

"That explains the exterior.", I chuckled, "Like I said, don't worry. I'll only be here for a year anyway."

"You better.", she glared at me, then finally noticed the cats and chinchillas, "When did you bring these?"

"Is there a no-pet policy?", I asked, hugging the white cat.

"No... not really, but please for the love of The Pale Court don't let them make a mess.", then she handed me a flyer, "For now, just take this."

This flyer is about the welcoming event for new students, which we got fifty-eight of them from across the America Continents, so its just a relaxation and party day on Sunday. This also has a section that includes me and Londinium showing off what we can do.

Hmm...

"I'll be leaving now.", she waved and went away.

For this identity as a Hunter... I think I have the perfect event. I am a theatric person, so I only need the spotlight to be on me.

What better way to show myself than...

Fighting one of the worst monsters of America...