Factory Reset: Divine Corruption

Chapter Ninety-Two

Chapter Ninety-Two: Ruination

"No."

A simple, well-defined, well-used word. A refusal, a discouragement, a final statement of denial. There was an undeniable difference between Ruinate and Gear-Work's powers. While both could destroy easily, only Gear-Work could mend and heal, could transform and mutate. Ruinate, on the other hand, could only destroy. And yet, that suited him just fine.

Death was a part of life, it was at the exact end. And as Ruinate looked down the side of the smoke creature he had awoken, that had just attempted to spear him, and that was aiming to actually spear him this time, he felt it. It was like everything could stand still, that this was it, this was the end, seconds coming.

And yet, he felt something inside himself. Not a brash increase of power, not a feeling of resentment. None of that, he felt truly at peace, but he was also unsatisfied. Was this to be his end? Deep underground, nowhere near a lab. His friends fighting desperately for him? He was at peace, but unsatisfied with this end.

He denied the beast the chance to give him that end. It wasn't even something unconscious, or adrenaline, or anything of the sort. He was a scientist at heart, and a protector. A member of the Divine Intervention. And that meant something to the protogen. That meant something to his core. He had a family to save.

The word "No" rang throughout the cavern walls. His claws dug into the dirt, piercing the soil with their sharpness, his tail curling behind him as the thing brought it's sharpened arm down. Decay was activated, his mind clearing as he felt the Boson-Energy flow through his body. Not a violent outburst of energy, no electricity flaring, but a soft stream.

The Calm before the Storm.

Ruinate was named for his ability, Decay. Technically speaking, it was weird for a scientist to have this power, to decay things. One would expect him to have technopathy, or electricity like the late great Ion. But no, his ability and namesake were unrelated to his passion, that of hard science and research.

He had never developed his own techniques for his ability, nor did he use it much, other than for trimming metals or destroying unneeded substances. But, Ruinate knew the capabilities of his ability. And yet, he never used them. Was he scared? No, that wasn't it. Did he not want to use his ability? No, that wasn't it either.

The cracks appeared against his claws, the flowing stream of energy sinking through the air. A depressive tone overtook the cave as Ruinate sank backwards, falling as the rock, the stone and metals were all reduced to dust. Decayed away into nothing but a powder. He felt the powder against his claws as he fell backwards, time slowly beginning to slow down for him.

"No." he repeated, thumbing the powder.

He guessed that he should've done more with his ability. He didn't regret it per say, but he wished he focused on that more. Maybe he would've been much more helpful during those fights. He wanted to rectify that issue, he wanted to make sure that none of his friends got hurt because he didn't want to utilize what he was gifted with.

It was high time for his own "Special Move" as Mason and everyone else seemed to have coined in. Thoughts came in and went out along with the altering stream of Boson Energy. The decay ate away further, plunging Ruinate into darkness as more and more of the structure was decayed. He could still feel the smoke creature up above.

He could feel his decay wrap around Rallycry, but it did not envelope him and decay him, no. It simply cradled him in dust, and he too fell as the floor eroded away into a fine mist. They fell. They all fell down, further and further down as the decay swept through. And through Ruinate's peaceful mind, he thought of what to call this. To label it, to use it once more at a later date.

"Ruination." He said, his voice echoing through time. The constant, streaming flow of Boson Energy trembled and shook as he said those words, strengthening. Ruinate felt his body impact a floor of some kind, completely flat and devoid of cracks and rocks. Did he fall into another cave system, that deep in the planet?

Ruinate stood up slowly, his paws kicking up dust as the ceiling above him split open. Dust rained down like a light drizzle at first, then a harsh storm of dusty debris collapsed through. Light filtered in from the top, creating faux-sun-rays into the cavern. It was a box shape, stretching for miles and miles in each direction.

Mavet, leave them to perish. The voice intruded his mind once more, indignant and angry. Ruinate glanced upwards, and he felt the pull of the beacon above him as the rock was ate away more and more. It fell too, crackling against the sharp stones that the decay process left before eating once more. It tumbled through the air, before crashing through the ceiling.

Ruinate reached out a hand, but something stopped him. An invisible force, and the beacon came crashing down against the ground, splashing up the rocky floor as if it were water, bobbing and waving, half "submerged" into the rock. Ruinate glanced at his claws, and found them wispy. Was he using his power without touching the rock above?

"No."

That word again, this time not coming from Ruinate. The protogen in question glanced to his right, and saw nothing, same to his left. He had no time to think, before he heard a crash from above, and Rallycry came tumbling through, blood leaking from his battered body, above to slam into the ground.

Ruinate attempted to turn, attempted to do something, but it was no use. His body would not move. And that's when he felt it again. Death. Like an encroaching figure cloaked in shadow, it's cold arms reaching for someone. But not for him, for Rallycry. Ruinate tried to move once more, but he was put in place.

Rallycry was just about to hit the floor, and Ruminate cried out in anguish. His stream of pure, flowing Boson Energy was interrupted, turning staticky before waves of violet lightning cascaded off his body. The decay above stopped, and Ruinate fought against the force to move. And he did, turning to launch himself to catching Rallycry.

And yet, Rallycry stopped just a meter above the surface by some other force, laid gently against the ground. Ruinate felt his heart beat in his throat, unsure what to make of that occurrence. He was sure death was awaiting Rallycry. Why hadn't it come to collect?

He had no time to think once more, as the smoke creature decided. Slamming into the ground like the beacon, dispersing into a cloud of dust before quickly reforming as ash, and then back into smoke in mere moments. It blinked rapidly, before setting it's sights on Ruinate.

Even with Mavet's interference, I will fight against the god of death to bring you to him. For Divento. The Smoke creature promised, as it readied it's arm. For a brief moment, death flashed in his eyes before it was replaced with a certainty that it would not come. That peace of mind that he will survive this night, this day. That everyone will.

Ruinate looked up at the creature with burning eyes, and repeated the words, "No."

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Apologies...

So, it has been a **long** while since I last posted a chapter, and frankly, I need to apologize for that. A lot has happened, not a lot good, not a lot bad, it's just been... eugh.

Either way, I apologize. I am hoping to continue writing Factory Reset daily now, mostly just because I do want to finish what I started, unlike a few of my other projects, and because I do genuinely care for this story, and those that do read it, even this far in.

Well, that's... that's all I can say, really. I know my descriptions and writing have gone down the drain here and there, so apologies for that too, honestly. I hope those that still stick around are still enjoying whatever this is, heh-

Thank you for reading, I hope you've enjoyed! I'll do my best to continue writing daily. Apologies once more, and possibly in advance. 

~ Candle

2/6/2022