Story / Prologue

"Why was I born this way?" - ???

## Chapter I - From Nothing

* **R**ed. red was the only color one in this world could recognize to its fullest. It was of blood and suffering, of oppressive will and wickedness, yet it was also a sign of fire and passion, strong desires and perhaps a sign of bravery. Across the wasteland, the crackled ground was comprised of ash and sediments, possibly from the acts of whatever evils that were conjured in this world... 'twas another day in a realm where only power and self-indulgence was what mattered; The Transvoid. The Transvoid is a peculiar world, an endless sea of stone & void, where only the unthinkable, the unnameable, could be lurking in every direction one could turn. its name was coined for the effects on those who lived within by the Monothorns, beings who were born from this pit with no basis, only by the realm's force... the Transvoid is a realm of transfiguration, as with the first Monothorns, a race for superiority & creating reasons to their existence, causing the eldest to become corrupt and make it unforgivable to travel.

* There was no orb or a primary sun, but rather an endless "floor' of stone that yielded many secrets. Below this floor rose countless stars that shined light, like the night sky they would shine, and a scarlet fog that made up the "sky" to protect the land below from heat... but the stars were just distractions. The Transvoid was always known for how it constantly transformed whatever went in it, or how it transformed many people for the better or the worse, and those stars were merely just a speck of what had to be offered. If one could comprehend the horrors behind this world, they could lead to a scientific breakthrough... at least To Ten.

* Ten No Kami was a child born from an egg belonging to an abominable cephalopod, only known amongst whatever inhabitants thrived as "MalesGrow", with the husk of a woman who had passed away far before she passed infancy. Ten is one out of thousands of siblings, so many that numbers are all they can go by with only one having a true name... One, Seventy-five, Four-Oh-Four, the names went on and on, and every time they were presented with math, that was all she could think of... Among her siblings stood Eleven, Five, & Six, and One who along with a few others stood to be the eldest. On a day of good fortune, the children would celebrate in unison, There was no day or night, so these children, whom dubbed themselves "Polythorns" by origin, dubbed their time by "wake" and "rest", but fortunate wakes were when their father had left them...

* Sad but true, Malesgrow was a very neglectful father and was only ever focused on getting bigger and ascending up the Being chain of power, even to the extent of devouring his own children... many of the younger ones have been consumed, forever remaining as memories. Fearful of this, The eldest children would hide from their father, to devise an escape from being used as a tool. Somewhere in the darkness, many of these children would abandon their mindless progenitor to seek someone superior, possibly one with better intentions, and among countless other names to keep track of, there were legends speaking of one of the few monothorns to grip the idea of morality; an intelligent feline named **Himmsworth**, a younger monothorn who was born with a mind utmost extraordinary.

* Indeed, Himmsworth was said to be a savior, as many legends would make it clear. As the children progressed, they'd tell the tale of how Himmsworth brought knowledge into the hellscape they lived in, from languages to the settling of homes, no more running from place to place, and no more needing to feast upon one another cause somebody couldn't find a way to preserve their meals. to the children, this feline was key to survival.

* However, amongst the small crowd, 'twas Ten who sought more than survival; she sought revolution! Ten could not find the joy in having potency over everyone else, as at that point it would become trivial. Instead, Ten wanted more... with every step away from the father, she didn't change. When Eleven asked about the current state of Ten's active hours, all they could gather was something of "science" or "something that could change the world". Every day she would do nothing but uproot stones and foilage, staring at them like diamonds or rattling them like an infant's toy... but Amongst these times, there was one where Ten had proven her genius to be of good use.

* Throughout their escape from eternal suffering, the children of Malesgrow sought to forever shelter themselves, blessed with immortality from time as a gift from their father, but otherwise useless had the siblings not learned to adapt. Ten was the brains, the genius behind everything, using simple methods to learn and dictate the knowledge of everything they found. this wasn't to say she wasn't perfect, as while her identification prowess was clear, some of the world's mysteries were easy to spring up confusion between the daughters, and there'd have to be at least one big blessing that would change everything.

* 4 hours before the resting had begun, the children of Malesgrow established a small 'camp' of sorts, building with uprooted stone & using foliage to mark resting areas & make fire at the center. However, while this had been in progress, a rather peculiar, unforseen miscalculation brought ruin; The awakening of Karvarshal. Feared by the few who lived, the celestial lord was one of the eldest, responsible alongside his kin for bringing the unjust laws into fruition, and so to see them awake was like a death wish... His head was akin to a crescent moon, his flesh akin to porcelain. his jaw was agape with countless rows of razor incisors. He had the body-structure of a skeleton, bones as black as tar, though they melted liquid entropy. He ruled alone as a primal tyrant, pursuing power as did those he put under his own hand... that wasn't to say he had control; many of his "underlings", be it loyal or treacherous, would enforce the rules of what they called nature, staining the ozone with the blood of innocents, and preying on even the weakest to their own desires.

* When the children awoke, few of them retaliated, but most had mainly scampered off, leaving only a couple to fend the demon off. Eleven and six struck against Karvarshal, but were injured. Two of the siblings had grabbed large metal spikes from nearby and went to stab at him, only become met with the other side of his fist. One had approached him and carved his shell-like exterior, only for entropy to gush onto their face, scarring them with a perpetual darkness. Six went to strangle his neck, but was thrown off with a flick.

* in the heat of it all, it was Ten who had done the worst; Taunting the supposed inferiors, the abominable being picked them around, treating them as only pieces of meat. with the mere twist of his hand, the stars from far above were falling, possibly to incinerate everyone in their wake only to stop for the dark lord himself to feel something... the pain, the bleeding, the ache, Karvarshal's eye was gouged out by one of Ten's arms. In pain, Karvarshal, howled & screeched, flailing in equal amounts of fear and rage as Ten held the eye... It was an act of disrespect, dishonor and lack of empathy that would be remembered... but it never ended in that regard. In his fit, Karvarshal zapped Ten with a light from his finger, scorching the tendrils she called her legs, leaving scars on them. She stumbled and was close to dropping the eye... had One not noticed, she would've died, but to her fortune she was taken back, as the mad God couldn't stand the ache... though, One could see it all too clearly; this wouldn't be the end.

* Ten could've given the eye to her siblings, but she had other plans. She had escaped from the hands of the self-proclaimed deity with a few scars from his rampage, and the siblings couldn't help but notice the young prodigy's imperfection in strength, as she could hardly breathe. One could see the recklessness of their younger sibling, and couldn't help but feel pity... but maybe Ten had finally made herself truly useful... after all, she really didn't do much.

* *And so the next waking came.*

## Chapter II - A world of corruption & Pain

* The next waking was like the rest, it was pleasant to get some rest after being chased down by such a sharp, Hideous creature... to the rest of the creatures of this swarthy, cruel world, the children of Malesgrow were no more than blasphemies, disgraceful in the eyes of their eldritch lords. Ten had awoke with the eye of the abominable mastermind, her mouth curling into an utmost geometric smile... that's how the others did it, so it wasn't particularly special. The children had escaped to what looked to be an utmost swarthy marsh, however its foilage and plantlife seemed to have an odd abnormality, one which conducted energy from one root to another, like a tango of copper wires.

* Of course, Ten wasn't going to just move on; She had finally gotten a hold of a glass eye that held what felt like the Omnipotence of voltage... at least, that's how she would've put it. At the center, One was counting her siblings, counting Ten in spite of not being in the role call. every time they got to ten, One would have to try hard not to call her forth, knowing she would be busy with their own "research". Of course, today it was difficult... when the roll call started, peculiar sounds began to shudder within proximity, the sounds of scraping, clanging and whirring were becoming bothersome, but among the sisters, one of them began to point out how many of their supplies had disappeared. One, only half-finished with the roll call, had to go around seeing what was taken. it were mostly metals that would've been used to eventually arm each other, as one believed the strength of their tendrils could mold the metals into blades. but alas, they were taken, never to be seen... and then it became clear; Ten was stealing things.

* The siblings were in utter disbelief in what they found, as Ten used their most vital sources to make an eerie, blasphemous machine... none of the children could even describe it, in spite of its shape being comprehensive yet intricate. Ten had built a massive pole, so thick and tall that it looked like a beacon of steel. And so, to speak on the behalf of the others, Six would approach her younger sister, out of confusion and Utmost disappointment.

> **Six no kami** *(disappointed)*Ten, as much as we appreciated your efforts with escaping that menace, that does not excu-**Ten No kami** *(ecstatic, cutting off Six &)*Actually, Six... you should be thanking me. You see, what we have here is yet another example of my genius... I just needed the eye, and the miracle could be made possible. As you can see, were are in an area that is utmost littered with conductive, charged roots. This was the perfect place to build my magnum opus... **the mainframe!** isn't it delightful?**Six no kami** *(Spiteful)*May Nunn be damned, you pillager! Taking our finest resources to make something utmost useless! We both know for certain One could forgive you, but if anyone else lead this sisterhood, they'd have your tendrils ripped apart, one by one. Ever thought about that!? I'd bet the arse of Himmsworth you didn't!**Ten No kami** *(sarcastic)*Oh? resorting to fratricide, are we? That's a wonderful idea! Murdering someone who saved the entire family just cause a few useless branches of steel got whisked away... maybe cover them in the foulest sediments close by so nobody could totally notice!**Six no kami** *(disappointed)*Don't go speaking your nonsense! I mean, how's this... **thing** supposed to save us? What good is this heap of metal? What does it even do!? I'd be damned if your "Magnum Opus" is a stupid iron stick!**Ten No kami** *(firm)*Well, my sister... this device is a real deus ex machina, A "God from the machine", with the function to resolve otherwise irresolvable situations! I can see it clearly, the eye of the celestial lord being used to power and manipulate countless machines, perhaps even create those that can change the fate of this world!**Six no kami** *(disappointed, leaving Ten behind)*Ten... most of our siblings have no clue of what you speak of, and until you demonstrate what you say is true, neither I or anyone else will take this banter as philosophy. This world isn't just between you, me & one... we have over a hundred sisters left, and you insists that we just open their minds now!? I love your way of thinking... but the masses are ignorant, and neither of us can change that. I will speak to one about your little "revolution", as you'd like to say... but consider this your only warning**Ten No kami** *(questioning, before leaving)*But then... why was I born this way? And to believe I was blessed by Himmsworth.

* Alas, it was not the end of Ten's handiwork, but upon hear the words of her sister, the gravity of her actions began to set in. The guilt in her heart began to sink with regret, and though she had the determination to continue, her hands were shaking voluntarily with grief, and she knew her siblings would rag upon her work, asking her as they have done countless times before; "never scheme again". She was clamoring with fear as she moved back to the tents where her sisters shuttered in disappointment. Amongst countless scowls stood One, whom never said a word. Ten was escorted to her bed, a tent which housed a bag made of fibers brought together. Though the children of Malesgrow weren't the most advanced of minds, Ten admitted that many of them were resourceful.

* On that same day, the Mainframe would be moved. Turns out the confines of the forest weren't just safe, but from One's studies and sources, this was one of many places where other lesser kin have seen the miracles of Himmsworth, and it was he who had made the roots become conductive. Though many siblings would try to say otherwise, their arguments lacked a source, and it was beginning to seem like One was becoming much like Ten... as the siblings listen on and on to the words of One, they would become more skeptical or more hopeful... it was a roller coaster for every legend told, and some began to even accuse them of being driven mad. Nonetheless, the only direction that would be desired would be forward.

* Behind the siblings, Ten dragged on, with hell to pay. The siblings got One to make her carry the metal abomination as a punishment. Occasionally, when Ten strayed too far, One would come to assist, though they had whispered something about disassembling the device once they returned. As they got evermore closer to a stopping point, Ten began to whine of the pain of her palms, and she'd even hallucinating blood on her hands. it was an utmost terrible experience, as she wasn't the strongest in her siblinghood, so instead she'd bring a couple others to carry the dozens of kilograms of metal for over dozens of miles, dozens of moans with dozens of morose faces, their extremities soar from the constant travel... but eventually, they made it; a large flat land, not too damp but far from dry... it wasn't the finest place to situate a camp site, but for the siblings, it was a gift.

* The children never got a chance to feed, so whatever One could find for a feast, it would have to be something that would be edible and obtainable, and around them were primarily herbs & weeds, plantlife which could possibly be cooked. It wasn't that bad of a night, to say the least; the children got together & got a taste of the herbal porridge they'd be consuming for a good while, though Ten didn't seem hungry... at first. Eventually she ate what she could, but down on the floor, one of Ten's siblings noticed how she had carved into the dirt beside her tent... some people resist to change.

* *Ten wasn't the only person like that... the next waking would prove as such.*

* Hours had passed on when the children awoke once more, roll call was the same, a morning hymn was sung this time, which was a rather pleasing change of pace... Ten was busy doing her usual abnormal behavior, gathering things that were irrelevant to the others, messing with sticks & mud... Every once and awhile, Ten was seen nudging her nare upon her siblings, gaining their begrudging attention when she had the chance. At some point, her sister Five noted that she was "scheming in spite of the outcries", and it didn't help that the shaft she built from the metals she pilfered was now up high, like a totem of authority, a prepotence that nobody asked for. However, that would come to a halt. Four hours into their waking hours, the children of Malesgrow began to witness sightings of something quite upsetting; in the sky, shadows were beginning to take shape, the sanguine ozone becoming darker as figures began to form in the sky. Thirty & five, two of the children, commented on there being figures in the sky, stalking them above like predators. Many of them wished to put aside the sightings & called her mad, but then others began to see the same sights... and then it came, something utmost blasphemous; a massive pale, aureus creature resembling a winged lizard, their limbs baring claws, with duplex the wings one would expect from the typical 'dragon' people would speak of. When they came down, the land around it began to crumble, seismic waves shaking the lands around them. The flaming eyes of the beast began to gander upon the countless faces... but before anyone knew it, their eyes stopped moving, turning towards none other than Ten no Kami, who turned their head to witness the abomination staring upon her... This was a familiar situation, and the face in front of them was not forgotten, for the children it never ended well when they saw the beast, whom had an ego of its own, but believing this place would go untouched by the enforcers of the primal chaos, One knew what had to be said:

> **One No kami** *(betrayed.)*Ten... was this the intention of your machine!?**Ten No kami** *(neutral)*If I wanted a blubbo, I'd connect the machine now & make it rain sugar in vast quantities & asked them to deep-throat every inch down their wretched gullet!**Brimm** *(hysterical)*Agh, Tis' it bickering I hear? Thine body is but a snack and your words are but banter! Oh ho ho... isn't it funny how someone with such an audacity to silence Karvarshal for a couple seconds and get away with it has to be someone with the fragility of a pebble.**Ten No kami** *(smug, full of themself)*And I wouldn't doubt you'd lick your own rump every morning like a wild feline & call it cake, would you? Big creatures eat big proportions, it's science!**Brimm** *(shocked)**HUFF* May Nunn damn you!**Ten No kami** *(equally smug.)*Pardon? I thought you came for prey, not banter; 'your words are but banter', right!?**One No kami** *(questioning with fearful care, but cut off)*Ten, if someone as mighty as Karvarshal was an issue, why spit upon a beast whom has the feroci-**Ten No kami** *(blunt)*One, I don't need wuss talk, I need this beast's groveling!**One No kami** *(agitated)*AND FOR WHAT!?**Brimm** *(self-absorbant, watering at the mouth & circling the bunch)*Ahaah! I like the one with the ponytail, she gets it! You see, you children have wandered far from your source... I'm surprised you haven't been biting each other's legs, wandering off this often**Ten No kami** *(blunt)*Don't you change the subject, you foul beast! You said you wanted to prey upon us, go ahead!**Brimm**Oh? Now you wish to kneel before me, to become MY lunch and let your bones be apart of MY throne? I'm flattered! Soon, when the Lord himself gives up this world, I will be at the top of this chain... simply delicious! To think he'd be thwarted by little extras is quite promising.**Ten No kami**Pardon? I don't recall the world to be your throne, because if it were, we'd all be under your ass... actually, Brimm, that's one reason I wish to disassociate. I'm not your maid, your cushion, or your therapist, I'm a free thinker! I silenced that glorified hanger, and I will do it again! Not only are you treacherous, you're spoiled as well!

**[TBA]**