Chapter 243: The Neverending Greed (2/2)
Alton opened them up, scanning them quickly. ”The first subject has successfully taken hold of the Garden's power. Under the stage of Pain, the subject will be the first of many new tools of war to destroy the Garden… This was dated three years ago. Just after Zinnia left Team Rhapsody… Shit. Pain, Anxiety and Hope. These fuckers are planning on making a full army of stages of grief…”
”You've encountered them before?”
”I encountered a few: acceptance and Bargaining. I'm pretty sure Jinx made contact with Anger; Zinnia told me about the Montagues trials. They were controlled by Denial. The only one no one has seen is Depression. And now these sub-stages have appeared, the echo of pain attacked the prison… They used Percy as the host.”
”Echo?”
”Yes, that's what I believe anyway. It wasn't at its full power. Probably a test runs for the CEOs.”
”I think you're right there. Come and take a look.” Diego whispered, walking out into a large opening. Staring down over the railing, he sighed. ”This is what made me send out the distress call.”
Alton stared down; he flinched, biting his lip in anger. ”Those monsters… Percy.” Percy was down in the chamber below, covered in the Garden's clutches. Not even thinking twice Alton jumped down, landing into the chamber. Seeing Percy's body made him uneasy. He looked so full of life you would never have known he died. Standing there, he began to whisper. ”Adam. You can hear me, correct?”
Bargaining appeared, folding his arms. ”I'd prefer if you regarded me as Bargaining Child of the Garden. But yes, I've been watching since you've arrived here. What Mortem has been doing is most interesting.”
”Tell me, you knew V.I.R.A.L was run by Mortem, correct? Why didn't you tell us?”
”Would you have believed me?” He returns with a smug look. ”That's what I thought, although it is troubling to see what Mortem is doing down here. Creating its own sub-stages of grief is nothing but dangerous. Not even they can control them. Take your friend here, for instance. He is built upon the pain and guilt for losing. Once he rids of that pain for Team Rhapsody, he will more than certain turn on Mortem. Only the Garden can control the stages of grief.”
”Do they know what is happening down here?”
”Most likely. This much power is sure to gain their attention. I'm here; after all, I wouldn't advice killing the new stages, though. Doing that will only give it back to the Garden, and I'm sure you don't want to be dealing with more stages at the moment. Of course, you could always take the stage for yourself, and our contract would be over. Remember, I still have control over Zinnia.”
Alton stared at Percy's body, whispering. ”Will it give me the power to defeat Mortem?”
”All most certainly. With your own power and the abilities of the stage of pain, you'd become unstoppable. Not even Mortem could stand against you, and of course, since you're a Child of the Garden, you'd be unaffected by their control. It's an absolute win in your case; you'd skip the Gardeners' test and become one of us.”
Alton stared on, whispering. ”But that would mean killing Percy again.”
”Don't take this the wrong way, but you seemed quite content with killing him back at the prison. Even if I'm not there, I can read your memories like pages in a book. What Acceptance did was fantasising, to say the least. Percy is already dead, no? This is only letting him rest in peace. All be it; you're doing him a favour. Take the stage and save your friends. That's what the Phantom Survivor would do, no?”
Alton opened his free hand as a storm began brewing. ”What I do isn't for your own twisted games Adam. I've seen your past, the efforts you took to win, and it disgusts me. Plotting and planning. Sacrificing your own blood to win. It's clear we are nothing alike; I'd much rather take it all. The Garden is nothing but a tool for me to abuse for my own goal. I have people I wish to keep safe, a world I call home. You, Mortem and the Garden stand in my way, so I'll take this power and then the next. I'll take each and every last stage and use it as I see fit. That is how I'll win.”
Bargaining smile vanishing. ”Then I, too, have won myself.”
Holding his hand over Percy, he was ready to end the suffering and take it for himself. Nothing else mattered at that moment. He was willing to sacrifice it all for this. A sinister grin crept across Alton as his plan was moving into motion. That was until Percy's eyes snapped open. Alton's heart sunk as feathers flew around. A single giant sword snapped from them, sending Alton flying back. Stabbing him through his shoulder, he winced in pain, being held in place. Percy ascended from his tomb, staring at Alton with hate in his eyes. ”Alton Brantley, you've come to steal what isn't yours. Do you not feel any guilt for trying to kill your friend once more?”
”Percy… Percy is already dead; I'm simply letting him rest.”
Percy held his arm out as a crow landed resting. Soon it morphed into a sword as dozen more appeared. ”So, tell me then, Phantom Survivor, do you have any last words before I take that title from you?”
Alton gripped onto the sword struggling as his eyes were locked with Percy's. He closed his eyes, letting his body burst into flames. Percy didn't react, simply watching this happen as the blade melted away, freeing Alton. Falling back into the pit, a gigantic ice pillar rose from the deep halting Alton up above Percy's level. ”I have nothing to say to the likes of you, Pain. I will take your power and use it to my ever will.”
”Is that so? While my pain and guilt rest with you, Alton, others have wronged me too. Others still cause me pain and feel guilt over my death. My reach knows no bounds. All will share this pain with me.” Percy marks holding his arms out as his body begins lashing around with serval after images appearing screaming out. Holding his head, he let out a roar of pain before dozens of copies seemed all around. Alton turned to each one carrying his breath. ”My crusade for justice has begun, and you, Alton Brantley, have given me the push I need. So many people such little time. I see it only fit the leader is last to take the punishment. First… I'll start with the one who wronged me first. I'll start with him.”
Alton flicked his hand a bolt of ice ripped forward. A clone stepped in front, taking the hit fizzling away into purple flower petals. Gritting his teeth, Percy vanished alongside his clones, leaving Alton and Diego alone. ”Shit…”
”What the hell was that? You tried killing him.” Diego judged.
Alton stopped his power stepping back onto the platform. ”So what? There's nothing to save Percy is dead.”
”I'm not one to judge, but what did he mean the first one to wrong him?”
Alton stared on, thinking as he held a chunk of Percy's sword in his hand. ”Who else? The one who betrayed everything he stood for. He's going after Marcus Culling, his childhood hero and former number one streamer Vanguard.”