Marionettes [Alyssa, Open]

[NEMO]

No! The Virus wanted to scream in horror as he jabbed his spear through the form of a Siren who'd been wandering nearby, the victim disappearing with nothing more than a final cry. But no sound left the Virus' mouth. His bony jaw never even moved. His legs pushed forward by themselves, as did the skeletal hands holding the spear as the Siren faded away around it as if it'd never been there. The tears aching behind his eyes and the lump burning his throat never left them, his body refusing to let them appear. Instead, a toothy smile came across his features.

He was nothing more than someone else's plaything. The toy of a cruel child who's face and identity he didn't know, being used for motives that he didn't even comprehend or understand. His actions and the violent thoughts in the back of his mind weren't his own. His body wasn't even his own anymore. He was nothing more than a tool meant to bring misfortune. A corpse of a murdered boy that someone had picked up and decided to use as a grim puppet.

He wanted to close his eyes as he ran through the snow in the direction of Everai, the falling snow cold on his bony form, but he couldn't even do that. Instead, he felt a horrible hunger for destruction weigh heavily in his chest and make him feel sick. There were other Viruses around him, all of them prepared for an attack. It seemed that whoever was controlling them was making a move on Everai, and they would be the ones to deliver the destruction. It wasn't fair! He didn't want to do this!

But a horrible part of him that wasn't his own did, the boy unable to stop himself as he and the other Viruses approached the village. After all, a puppet was merely a possession of it's master. It had no free will, and he'd never been strong enough to manage to fight for one. Instead, he tried to numb his heart, watching blankly though his own eyes as his body kept moving.

[/blockquote]

[Alyssa Weatherby]

Ally stood in her human form, watching over the city. Her red eyes darting back and forth. Inside of the town, five small groups of viruses corralled groups of people. She shifted into her dragon form as she leapt from where she stood.

A flap of her mighty wings and she circled the city, one final survey before she landed near a group of viruses. The viruses looked up at her, knowing she was different than them. They snarled, and the group of humans seemed almost relieved.

She let out a roar, head pointed toward the sky, and released her distortion to its fullest. The air around her freezing solid, a wave of ice reaching over the viruses and enveloping the humans. The humans screamed in displeasure, ever so slowly shifting into viruses themselves. She turned, the swarm of newly created viruses emerging from the icy cocoon, along with the other viruses that had corralled them.

The swarm went toward the other groups of humans, ready to distort them, and Ally turned her attention on a group approaching in the distance. She saw her old friend, Nemo, amongst the group. She may have been upset, but her mind truly wasn't hers right now. She climbed atop a building, and watched as her 'reinforcements' arrived, all of them under the control of the Puppeteer.

[hoffman]

It was just another one of those days. Another day where Sebastian could hardly keep himself contained in his workshop back in Maverick Square. This wasn't unusual: something possessed him to keep on the move whenever he felt bored or constrained. And today of all days, he wanted to visit Everai.

Not the smartest move he's made, though it was beyond his control. There simply wasn't any way of knowing.

"Almost at Everai," he thought, snuggling against himself warmly in his thick, fur-lined parka. He wanted to reach the town as soon as possible. The snow was falling quite heavily this time of year, he realized, and he wanted to be out of the cold and into the warm inn, to be served hot food even though it provided no sustenance...

"Honey, it's freezing out there! You'll catch a cold. Let me go put on the stove and stay there, I'll make you a hot cup of cocoa."

...or to be in the loving embrace of a caring woman. Sebastian shivered just then, his eyes widening in disbelief. That face, that voice, her touch... he had seen something, far removed from this world - it was as if god plucked away his pixels and placed him elsewhere, but only for a moment.

This face was familiar. It wasn't a face he could love as a companion, but perhaps... as a very, very close person, who would take care of him and look after him.

It was then that he realized that he was staring face-first into the snow-covered path. He had nearly collapsed, his hands and knees instinctively held out to shield him from what might have been a harmful fall. Tears were running down his face. He was... crying.

"What... ...what the hell," he stammered, reaching for his face with one of his hands to wipe his tears. "C-come on, Sebastian. Pull it together. Let's go see Everai."

The lightning claw helped himself to his feet, wiping the snow from his parka and trousers thoroughly. It was not too soon before he began to walk, though, that he began to hear the screams and cries of the residents from Everai!

The snow village wasn't far now. If he crossed over the hill in the path and looked roughly two miles from there, he knew that he would be able to spot it.

He was certain, though, that if anything had been occurring in the village, he would not be able to see it from that distance. It could easily be a trap!

But he fortunately had a secret weapon: a well-constructed headset of his own design, capable of accessing several different information systems, computing statistical probabilities, and even allowing him to see farther and clearer than his virtual eyes allowed: the silkVISOR.

Sebastian quickly reached for his knapsack that contained the aforementioned device, unzipping the cover in a hurry. It wasn't long before he had his gloved hands around the device, yanking it out with haste.

A quick flick of the switch with a snug slide over his head and the silkVISOR covered the boy's eyes with its green, transparent surface.

"Come on... come on..." he quietly murmured, waiting impatiently for the device to boot up. Every passing moment was a boon - he was fortunate that he still had time.

Finally the visor came to life, casting a green light on the claw's face, giving him access to anything that he would need to know at that exact point in time. He squinted at Everai, and it was as if the visor could read his thoughts: it focused in quickly and accurately, giving the boy a clear sight of whatever conflict the town was currently undergoing.

It wasn't a trap. Well, it wasn't intended to be one for him. Viruses began infesting the town... many, many viruses. Their shapes and numbers were all present, outlined by redish hues to indicate to Sebastian who and what he was up against.

He had but one thing to say.

"...shit."

[NEMO]

His gaze set towards Everai, Nemo absently noticed someone familiar watching the scene from nearby as he neared the rest of the Virus groups. Alyssa? Her name found its way to his throbbing mind. It was a woman he'd met with her daughter inside the memory of his home in the blanks. She was another Virus, one who'd seemed to somehow maintain her own will. What was she doing her? Was she going to be in danger? He wanted to call out, but once again his body wouldn't let him. Maybe it was just as well...he didn't want her to see him like this.

But much to his surprise, the woman suddenly leapt from the ground, shifting into what looked like a dragon. That had to be her regular Virus form. The boy's empty eyes opened wide. She looked powerful! But what was she doing? At first the other Viruses snarled at her, an angry, suspicious cry even leaving his own mouth against his will, but then she increased her distortion, converting several people into Viruses within a cocoon of ice. ...Alyssa? Had she finally fallen under the control of the puppeteer herself?

As the boy reached the village, he found himself joining the swarms, stabbing his spear through several more victims and converting others. I'm sorry... He pleaded in his mind as they writhed and screamed. The last thing he wanted to do was make anyone suffer the same fate that he was, but there was nothing he could do. His own body had become a monster, and his actions were no longer his.

Help me! He cried out in his own trembling, hazy mind. But he already knew that no one would. No one ever did, no one could. It was nothing more than an impossible wish. But if he couldn't be saved, he hoped that the people here could be. The human part of his mind wondered what was going to become of Everai. It was a major village, but at this point it was taking damage and losing people fast. Was anyone going to stop them? Regardless of what happened to him, he hoped someone would come, that the people here would be saved. The part of his mind that wasn't his thought differently, though, relishing in glee as he converted a small group of Leeches.

[TYGER WEATHERBY]

Tyger sighed traveling to Everai, he wanted to see if his wife was still hanging around. He didn't know of the troubles that lay in the town ahead. "Ally... Ally, I must find Ally. OH! And Rosie as well!" he muttered to himself. "N-Notes, Research notes, Illegible...."

He was walking along with his assault rifle in hand, liking a distanced way to take out targets since he didn't appreciate close sudden gestures. He was awfully paranoid about approaching people at this moment, as he traversed to Everai.

The screams of citizens could be heard. "I d-didn't realize I was that much of a menace" Tyger snickered, making a malicious comment before setting eyes on his wife. It was a stunning sight to see. Until it was broken by the horror of her converting people into viruses. Concerned for his well being he took cover behind a wall. If there was anything a species knew, insane or not, was their survival instincts.

He felt almost hopeless though, debating on running from the battle. There were many possibilities here. He could end up killing his wife. He could also end up seeing his wife killed, amongst countless other paths he didn't want to go down.

"Angel of Death is near..." He muttered, "This is a ma-massacre." He was certain the ghost from his "visions" were near. He remained where he sat, distanced from the town. He rubbed his eyes and ran hands through his fur on his head. He was debating on what to do, and was awfully confused about the entire ordeal.

With his brief look back, he did also spot Nemo, and Tyger was entirely unsure of who that was. He would say "A virus is a virus" but with Ally as one, he couldn't. That would be cruel, but they were attacking people. What was he suppose to do?

[Alyssa Weatherby]

Ally let out another Roar, lumbering toward the incoming swarm of viruses. From head to tail she was about 25-30 feet, and had the musculature to match. She let out a huff, her icy breath crystalizing a bit of air. She turned and looked at a building. One could almost assume she grinned at it. It was her home, a small shack with not much to its name. She took a deep breath in, breathing her icy breath at the structure. The ice erupted from it in a spire, spreading wide at the top, about 50 feet over the city. She flapped her mighty wings and took roost upon her new tower, ready to rule Everai in the name of the Puppeteer.

Locked deep within the icy cold virus was Allys humanity. Pictures of Rosie, Tyger, and John flashed in the dragons mind, but it just scoffed, ignoring them. 'Puny excuse for a so called Greater Being. You were easy to overpower and control. I'm going to rule this town, cutting off all others with my army of viruses. Then, I'm going to kill Tyger and Rosie. While our claws are still in them, before they're gone, I'm going to give you control, so you can watch them die by your hand.' Allys human side growled, unable to say anything in response.

The large dragon leaned over the edge of its perch, growling orders to the group of Viruses gathering below. The each responded in their own ways, running off to fulfill their duties. Ally looked to her left, then right, noticing other large reptilian creatures perched on either side of her, 7 in total, each giving off an icy distortion. She allowed the Drake-Viruses to share her perch. Each one was half her size, and they could probly hold their own in a fight. She layed down, resting her head on her arms, relaxing as her minions did their work.

[hoffman]

"Think Sebastian, think... this town isn't going to save itself..."

Every passing moment only meant that the town was being bathed in continuous waves of distortion, and that one by one, its denizens were being converted. The longer he took to act, the less likely chance he had of liberating it from the reign of viruses. Alone, he could do some damage, but for even someone of his caliber it would be suicide.

He needed numbers.

Then he had an idea. A brilliant idea.

"I'll sent an SOS out to the VDF. That should draw them out to Everai. Then I'll call an acquaintance down here, and we'll try limiting the numbers. If we start now, we might stand a chance."

And he did just that. Switching his silkVISOR to its communications module by means of calling out "communication mode", it brought up a list of organizations and contacts on its green heads-up display. Besides the Virus Defense Force and the Annulus Institute, however, there wasn't exactly anyone else he could call. ...except... one. That girl he had met in the Willow Woods some time ago. It showed her picture, though it wasn't accompanied by her name.

He took a moment to send along a message to the VDF.

"To whom it may concern, this is Doctor Sebastian Olweus of the Annulus Institute. I am not your enemy. And I assure you, this situation I am about to describe to you is of the utmost importance and must be investigated immediately. The snow village of Everai is under attack by a fleet of viruses, and by not acting soon we might incur the wrath of a large-scale virus insurgence. I repeat, swift retaliation is necessary to ensure our survival."

Bleep. Bloop. The green visor sitting atop the lightning claw's head made a few odd noises before it affirmed that his message had been passed along to the organization's headquarters.

Now to send a message along to that beast girl.

"...Ahem. I apologize. I don't remember your name, and I hadn't taken it upon myself to write it into the memory banks of my silkVISOR. But if you would please spare me the moment to listen to this message, I would be indebted to you as would the citizens of Everai. I'll do anything in return for your cooperation in liberating the town of Everai from what I perceive to be a deadly swarm of Viruses. Thank you. Dear, Sebastian Olweus."

And just as before, the message was sent along to its receipent. He understood that this could take some time. But alas, he waited. Help would come soon...

[NEMO]

Nemo stared up in a mixture of horror and awe at the icy tower Alyssa had created, watching her perch a top it with her reptilian army as she rested above the whole town. What power! She really was strong Virus - it was too bad that she'd finally fallen to the puppeteers influence. He'd looked up to her, back when they'd met in the Blanks. But now she was... Such was the fate of all Viruses, he decided solemnly. If someone as strong as her couldn't resist...what hope did someone like him have?

The village's citizens were giving out frantic screams. Almost everyone who hadn't been either converted or killed made a break for it, now running towards the edges of the city as they attempted to flee from the home that they were losing.

But many of them didn't make it passed the Viruses, some of them, including Nemo, guarding the paths out. The boy himself thrust his spear through several inhabitants who tried to run passed him, only one out of the four managing to escape. Trembling internally, he tried not think about what he was doing as his body and the Virus part of his mind aided the destruction and the take over. There was nothing the human part of him could do but watch and cringe helplessly.

Patrolling the outer edge, the Virus suddenly caught sight of what looked like a troubled cat-like Beast attempting to hide behind a wall just outside the village. His instincts acting, he held out his spear and all at once plunged for the man, the part of himself that he couldn't control acting to eliminate anyone he caught sight of.

[/blockquote]

[TYGER WEATHERBY]

It really was a site to see. The confusion, the panic. Some would consider such an art an art form. Sure, the karmatically evil would, as well as some other messed up people. Their brains were not always in good health, after all. Tyger knew that first hand, after years of trying to control his compulsions and paranoia.

He took a quick inspection, seeing the virus, Nemo, diving at him. Fear struck in his heart as he raised his weapon as well. His M4A1 Carbine was ready to go. Though, his wife... He had sympathy for some viruses because of her.

He took a good look at Nemo before saying "It's nothing personal... It's nothing personal..." he was trying to tell Nemo and reassure himself.

He held his rifle steady and shot a burst of rounds; Tyger couldn't quite tell how many. It was an automatic weapon after all. He wanted to close his eyes, but didn't. Viruses, for some reason this one seemed different at heart. It was nothing but instinct, nothing told him. He also appeared to be holding his breath.

[Alyssa Weatherby]

Ally sniffed the air, a familiar scent crossing her nose. She stood up and hopped from her perch. She followed the groups of people that tried running from the town, not bothering with them. As she neared Nemo, she caught side of Tyger. Her human side gasped in surprise, knowing the dragon side of her was going to do something. As Nemo lunged with the spear, she reached out and grabbed it, stopping it from hitting Tyger. She also felt the searing pain of the bullets enter her back. She turned and looked at Tyger with a toothy grin. "Hell...o... Ty...Ger..." She said, her voice was shallow and cold. The grin stayed on her face as she turned to Nemo. "Leave.... Us..." She told him, then turned back to the beast.

"Why... are you.... Here..." She asked with a growl. "You're... going to... become... One of us..." She said with a grin, allowing her distortion out. "Unless... you kill me..." The toothy grin returned to her face, and her red eyes locked onto Tyger.

~Meanwhile~

Andrew perked up, he was relaxing in the VDF HQ. As he listened to the announcement of the virus attack in Everai, he volunteered for it and headed out the door, running swiftly in the direction of Everai.

Sophia exited Fort Defray, looking around at the expanse of sand. Then, the message crossed her ears. She looked into the doorway. She let out a slight growl and made her way toward Everai. Maybe she'd finally feel the full extent of revenge after they took Victus from her... She shook her head as she ran, crossing the sands swiftly...

[hoffman]

Continuing to observe Everai from that same vantage point on a snowy hillside, Sebastian felt somewhat frightened even from this distance. He wasn't fearless by any means. Despite having lived a good twenty-nine years, he never progressed past that age of adolescence. He was still a young adult, if anything, and didn't want to squander his youth so soon by rushing headlong into a large battle.

"Come on," he urged himself. He trembled as he stood, gripping his parka desperately as if it brought him some form of solace. "Stop sitting around. Help is on the way. Get... moving."

It took a lot of willpower, but Sebastian finally mustered the strength to make his legs move through the falling snow. By now, he had mentally phased out the sounds of the war-torn community: he didn't want to hear it. If he had become too aware, he would have buckled at the slightest scream.

"One mile away now", the green-hued HUD read.

Now it was just him, the wind of the monstrous blizzard, and the sound of his boots crunching against the snow-laden path. His eyes were dead set on the southern entrance of town. His perceptions were not at all like a blur. Every signpost, every power pole, every single particle of snow that fluttered past or into his face... he would remember this moment forever.

Half of a mile away now, the green-hued HUD read. "Danger imminent". "Chances of survival: 45%".

Sebastian was no longer just fighting for his life. He was fighting for someone else - a town, rather. This was admittedly the first virus insurrection he had ever witnessed in person. He could truly sense and feel the loss of humanity up ahead. And for the first time ever, it was what he sensed and felt that drove him forward, not his rational mind.

Less than a quarter of a mile away now. Sebastian could feel waves of distortion emanating forth from the town's core. He could even see a group of four or five viruses unaided by the visor's visual module. They were keeping the southern exit secure.

But he was strong enough to keep on going.

Pushing on, his hand reached for a cylindrical-shaped metallic object hanging from his belt, drawing it without delay. His hand was swift, activating its main function in the span of less than a second.

And less than a second was all that he needed. He leapt, he wept, coming down on the cluster of inhuman viruses with a powerful swipe of spectacular blue light that seemed to gush out from the object's front end. One by one, each virus fell in succession, dissolving and leaving chips behind as they collapsed. Not a single one could stand to defend against the wicked cutting power of the boy's weapon.

He breathed heavily as he remained crouched, taking a moment to wipe off nearly frozen tears from his face. It stung, though he wasn't sure which hurt more: the fact that his tears began to freeze or that he was crying in the first place.

"You bastards," he coldly thought, coming to his feet. Now that the southern exit was mostly secured, he could see droves of civilians scampering through the new opening.

It wasn't over yet, however. He brandished his beam saber nervously at a newly-arrived group of viruses who wanted to make the lightning claw their next meal. "You don't get off just doing this. How can I be involved with a cause that's trying to save you when all you do is just convert and destroy all that you see?"

[NEMO]

Everything happened in a flash as he lunged for the cat-like Beast, the Virus feeling something grab his spear and then pull him back before hearing a ringing of bullets that never reached him despite the way he flinched. The pulsing of his chip, what would've been his heartbeat, throbbed rapidly, a few moment passing before the Virus comprehended what happened. It was Alyssa in her dragon form, standing between him and the Beast for turning to look at the man. She managed to speak, though her voice was different and somewhat sputtered like his now. Tyger...?

She knew his name, was that Beast someone important to her? The human heart suddenly ached for her, he couldn't imagine before forced to attack his family or someone important to him - thankfully such a situation had never arose. But there was nothing he could do to help, just like he knew that the human part of Alyssa that was surely inside of her somewhere was clearly acting against her will. He did manage to utter out one word, though, as she turned back to him and spoke. "Al...y...s...sa?" In his Virus form, it was even harder to speak, and that was the only thing he managed, the boy indeed turning away as he suddenly heard other Viruses cry out from behind him somewhere. Viruses were going down and civilians were escaping. The sight threw the Virus part of him into a frenzy, and that small glint of control he'd gained just a moment ago quickly shattered as he charged closer to the situation. There was a claw man cutting Viruses down.

He felt an internal sting at the man's words. A cause that was trying to save them...? Was he with Annulus? He'd heard something about such an organization from Alyssa and her daughter the last time they'd met. We're not doing this of our own choice! We don't want this! He wanted to yell out, but his mouth moved to his will no more.

Getting closer would only be suicide - even the Virus part of his mind realized that - so he hung back. But he increased the strength of his distortion - an aura that was able to turn people and objects to stone if they remained nearby for too long. Directing the core of the strength towards the man, he focused it on the Claw's feet, hoping to petrify them in place and keep him from moving. He had no idea whether he'd manage to do it in time, though, and he stayed on alarm - he was ready to flee if the man noticed and came after him.

--------------------------------------------------------Meanwhile

Sofia heard news of the announcement as the message from the Annulus doctor reached the HQ. A large scale Virus attack in Everai...? She'd been skeptical at first, but a man she knew as Andrew, a fellow Claw who she'd worked with before, quickly volunteered for the job. She sighed. After all...this kind of thing was what they were there for, right? At least checking it out couldn't hurt. Seeing him leave, she volunteered herself, heading out of the base and towards the ever winter village as quickly as she could.

[/blockquote]

[TYGER WEATHERBY]

He looked at Alyssa and realized what she had become and what she was doing. His thoughts wouldn't allow him to think of anything else besides what was in his guilty conscious. He sharply exhaled, examining his surroundings.

"Ohh, you're pissed, you found out about the thing..." Tyger said, slightly fearing what was going to happen next. He started to feel sick. Tyger wasn't completely sure if it was distortion he was feeling, or his emotions that were getting to him. He felt hopeless and pressured as he lowered his gun starting to back away.

Kill his wife? How could he even think of something so sinister... He was thinking about risking the conversion. Surely, word had gotten out about this virus attack on a town. Where was help?

Tyger wanted to cry as he raised his weapon again, continuing to back away. "S-Stay back..." He said, he was ready to use belief alteration if necessary. He didn't like his abilities, he often thought they toyed with his own mind.

He stood tall with confidence, aiming the sleek M4A1 downrange. He didn't know where Ally's chip was, but he didn't want to know to destroy it. He really wanted to avoid it.

Sophia's words rang throughout his head though, "...My parents became viruses the moment we got here, so I had to kill them..." No, no, no, he wouldn't be able to do that. He wished he had a flare gun, or a smoke grenade, he wished that he had a form of a distress signal.

Instead he fired a warning shot at his wife, continuing backing away. At least she was farther away from the city, right? RIGHT?

[Zane Haskill]

Ally let out a bellowing laughter. She took another step toward Tyger. "Come... Cat... Shoot me... If you... can..." She laughed again. She took three more lumbering steps toward Tyger, standing on her hind legs. Her full height of 25 feet showing. She looked down at Tyger, her red eyes seeming to look through him, as a Lion would eye a Zebra. That's all he was to her, currently, a piece of meat to kill. She landed, putting her claws on either side of Tyger, and throwing her head down at him aiming to bite him. Her mouth started to close slowly.

A loud howl was heard, and the large dragon that was Ally toppled over, Sophia landing in front of Tyger, next to the virus. "STAY OFF OF HIM. HE'S MINE!" She bellowed out, lunging at the dragon again, hopping onto the dragons back and clawing at her. Alyssa bellowed in pain, and attempted to swipe the girl off her back. It didn't work, so she threw herself toward a building, back first. The building collapsed over Ally's frame, and she stirred, standing up slowly, Sophia's fate was... unknown at this time.

Andrew rushed toward the town of Everai, he knew that Sofia Blakke was only a few steps behind him, but didn't turn to meet her gaze. There was a lot happening in Everai, no time for pleasantries. As he neared Everai he jumped up, pushing off of a rock and landing atop a building. He swiftly moved toward a higher rooftop to survey the scene around him. He estimated 500 Smaller viruses, took note of the 7 mid sized Viruses, and the two larger viruses. He concentrated, sending a report back to HQ, making sure Sofia heard it too.
"This is Andrew Partridge, reporting in. Ive got an approximately 510 viruses in the town of Everai. I see four... Five civilians running from the town, headed in the direction of Clocktower. Two Major viruses, one seems to be skeletal, the other, a Dragon. Their distortion is strong, will report back when I know more." he shook his head, he hated the Telepathy thing, but it WAS effective. He hopped from the building and made his way quickly toward Nemo first, seeing that the Wolf Beast from Defray, and another beast were already working on the Dragon.

[hoffman]

A skeleton-shaped virus now approached, giving off a considerable aura of distortion. Sebastian had become somewhat resistant to distortion over the years, but he had still felt it nonetheless. But what spoke more accurately for the distortion, however, was the boy's green visor. It could trace the waves of distortion and the path they took.

And from what he could tell from the visor's heads-up display, the flux of the waves converged at a point, being sent downward and towards his feet.

Sebastian didn't give it enough time to figure out what would happen if he stood there. He learned that staying on the move was instrumental to surviving in clashes with viruses, and so he side-stepped the ray of distortion, leaving the spot in which he had previously stood in open. A subtle glance to that vacant spot showed that this ray had in fact petrified all that it came into continuous contact with - even snow itself. The snow seemed to bulk up and it lost its white color, slowly becoming a dense, stone path. Tingles went up the claw's spine.

"Hnn, that's an interesting ability you have," he commented, giving the skeleton a piercing glare. The lightning claw danced back and forth to keep a consistent flow of movement going, his boots making a steady, but light thump against the snow-covered street. He would be ready to move and attack at the slightest provocation, though it was no secret that he was somewhat nervous.

His hand gripped the beam saber's hilt tightly. He was tense. And in the corner of his eye, he could see a figure jumping amongst the rooftops: a claw, to be more specific. The first sign of backup, he realized, feeling somewhat relieved. He wanted to grin, but he knew that this was not a happy moment. Not for him, nor for the virus in front of him.

"...I can feel it. You're afraid, aren't you? Facing me up close means certain death for you," Sebastian remarked with a careful, but somewhat empathetic stare. He had somewhat lost that serious, penetrating demeanor, but he wasn't dropping his guard. The boy remained in that current spot, waiting for the skeleton's next move.