Seer’s Town was worse than what Frost had in mind.
Her prior reconnaissance from the mountains did not prepare her enough for what resided within.
Aside from the filthy walkways and the grim atmosphere of the town, she had at least expected the trafficking to be kept under the wraps. Instead, from the moment she set foot into the town, she was greeted by countless cages, wagons, and stalls selling people from the standard Demi-Human to even humans themselves.
Slaves were hosed down every few hours to clean them from feces. Only the most exceptional of slaves were either kept in chains or leashes and worked as servants. The latter were lucky enough to have access to a washroom.
Frost couldn’t believe the humiliation the slaves endured.
Despair hung thick in Seer’s Town. She arrived at a peculiar time as well. More than half of the town gathered by a wide well. A hand-cranked elevator had collapsed around thirty minutes prior to her arrival.
It made for an excellent distraction as she roamed every inch of Seer’s Town, entering shops where there were far too many golden hearts. Her harmless physique made it quite easy for her as well, but also made her a prime target for a potential future slave.
Figures stalked her as she stopped by various cages, inspecting Demi-Humans and silently probing into their memories for a better understanding of this place. She had noticed that Ankous were present too, which was why she had refrained from taking drastic action.
She took note of their positions and relayed it to Nav and another specific Alter Frost of hers.
< How will you approach this? >
I want to say scorched earth and burn everything down, but I can’t let a single Impuritas die by my hands. They’ll recognize the flames, and this’ll all be for nothing. But I have an idea.
Frost contemplated as she stared at a cat-eared Demi-Human. They shivered in fright but presented themselves in hopes of being bought out. The humiliation had a purpose. It was so that the slaves would be far more willing to be bought out.
Additionally, some would even see their master as their savior.
The Memento Mori are the only Impuritas Group here as far as I can tell. It’s annoying that I can’t see their hearts at all, aside from their intentions. They’re the first that need to go down. Once that happens, then there will be nothing left to stop me.
Impuritas lacked the ubiquitous spark of Light found in the hearts of all. With what they knew of the Light and how it was ultimately what allowed Corruption to take place, it made sense as to why they could not Corrupt in the first place.
I can’t imagine how it must feel, seeing people dressed so elegantly just to purchase a slave. I can sense so many more underneath this town as well. I know this world isn’t… like Earth, and I know this kind of shit happened in our past, but I still can’t believe it.
She eventually parted with the girl and headed for the nearest tavern. Coincidentally, it sat close to the center of the town much to her thanks. Not that it would matter with what she had in mind.
Clinks of wooden mugs and music deafened the sound of a slave being slapped for having spilled a pint of beer. Eyes instantly moved to Frost as they watched her openly study the interior height of the two-storied tavern.
Catcalls, whistles, beckons, it did not matter to her. All that mattered was whether this timber estate would prove enough concealment for what she was about to summon.
“Hey – OI!? Watch where you’re going!” Frost eventually began walking straight into tables like an NPC with a buggy pathing. “Are you daft!? You hear me!?”
“Stick a blade into her. Maybe that’ll teach her a lesson.”
“Where do you think you’re going!?”
There was no point in engaging with them.
She trampled on their belongings with such heavy steps that it fused blades and armor into a single alloy. Those who noticed froze well before Frost’s gaze changed, and in that instant, the entire tavern fell silent.
A cold snap consumed them all. The warmth of the fireplace and the acrid heat of the ale were replaced by a chill that gnawed on their bones. Even those outside of Frost’s vision were not spared.
The music ceased abruptly as she reached what seemed to be the center of the tavern. With an outstretched hand, a pale-blue tear in space appeared. The height of Frost’s gateway into the Derma Layer nearly spanned the entirety of the tavern.
< ABILITY: Spatial Distortion IV >
< Attachment may very well be the root of all suffering. Endorse Attachment. As we always have, as it will always be – and as it must become >
< EFFECT: Deplete your mana immediately to create a major Spatial Distortion connecting you to your last known location within the Epiderma and the Derma Layer. Up to three major Spatial Distortions may exist at once and each may connect to different locations. Mana regeneration is unaffected, but your emotional levels will dictate the stability of the Spatial Distortions >
The latter part of the description was why she refrained from manifesting a Corrupted. She wanted this to move as smoothly as possible. Had she done this outside, then the Memento Mori would have noticed her immediately.
The faint heartbeat of gravity-powered machinery throbbed within the portal
A hand suddenly emerged from the other side, followed by a Justica Longarm, and finally, a splitting image of an epicurean Frost who hailed her with a salute.
AFFINITY : Civilization
Her Hired Arm was more powerful than a Moon, Star, and any Exalted under the banner of the Nexus. Even with only a quarter of her stats, barring her AGI which was only cut in half, she was as much of a monster as Frost.
Not to mention that the Hired Arm possessed every single one of Frost’s Active and Passive Skills.
It was only a shame that her Abilities did not transfer.
Frost’s ‘Devour’ ability was not just an Ability. It also came in the form of a Skill Mastery. The Hired Arm read Frost’s mind and obeyed her intention, moving to the man who tried to stop her earlier.
The Hired Arm lightly knocked on his back.
An entire hole was then removed in the blink of an eye.
< MASTERY: Omnipresent Maw >
< It devours all that it touches >
< EFFECT: Your punches will devour pieces of your target as if it were your all-consuming maw >
Frost required a second pair of hands to swiftly annihilate the Impuritas presence without alerting them.
“Amalgam Frost!” A voice called out from within as the tip of a large Isolation Sphere emerged from the portal. “A war-scaled Isolation Sphere is at your command! Sincerely, your Vermilion Moons!”
A red-haired Moon did the honors of installing it before Frost, saluting before disappearing without another word. Her Hired Arm had arranged this for her ahead of time. It was why she was sent into the Derma Layer in the first place.
And judging by the roars of machinery on the other side, Caldera Industries also seemed eager to be let loose.
“Big Frost. Devour all Impuritas you come across. I’ll help clear the surface, but I’ll head underground as soon as things are manageable. I’m detecting a bright light down there. Afterwards, you know what you must do.”
Heal, rescue the slaves, and more importantly, punish those who endorsed this place. They could try to run and hide, but now that there was an Isolation Sphere in play –
– There was no escape.
Frost placed a hand onto the cool surface of the Isolation Sphere and interfaced with it.
The portal sealed shut as the Hired Arm flourished her Justica Longarm, wielding it like a club.
“10x Relative Time. Handle it the same way as you did in the Triple Paw Complex. Round the slaves up when you’re done.”