#Shardin

[beamer7thepoko]

Yep I'm definitely ma making my own mini series rn. Oh boy here we go

The Precursor With The Tail. pt.2

Day 2: An investigation quest!

Zavala: Hey guardian. I have something to ask of you. It could be dangerous so I'm gonna send you in a fire team to see what the heck what we saw last night while we was camping out in the farm. Whatever it was it definitely has ikora spooked and she says it could had been one of the precursors from before the witness is as it is today.

07:

... well uh. I can definitely go take a look for you. Hopefully it was just a racoon. It's also better than helping eris morn with collecting those hive worm samples from rhulks pryamid. I think the witness is on to me in that pryamid. I also could use a little break and explore the outdoors a little bit before the next time I go back to go get more of those samples.

Zavala:

So that's who Eris had sent to get those hive worm samples. Anyways I wish you the best of luck out there especially if the witness is on to you which is why I had hand selected the other fire team members you'll be joining soon.

07: thank you very much and who are the other fire team members that I'll be working with today?

Suddenly a smoke bomb explodes from out of no where. Then 3 figures appered from the smoke as it disapates

Zliverite: Hello!

Limix: I think the smoke bomb was a little too much for a secret mission.

Isles: He's got a point but it's good to be back on another mission!

Isles's pet whos named Harp: mee murrp

Shardin who's 07's ghost: well this is gonna kinda be interesting.

Random person: what secret mission?

Zavala: there's no secret mission it's just a scouting mission.

Isles: yep its definitely just a regular mission!

Zliverite: wait who's gonna be squad leader again?

Limix: I think I may be the squad lead on this one. Is that correct mr. Zavala?

Isles takes a sip out of her canteen

Zavala: I'm afraid zliverite is the squad lead on this one as he's the one with the most experience with dealing with the witness.

Isles: pfft!

Liquid had come out of Isles nose and mouth

Isles: wait the witness... Oh God.

Zliverite: Don't worry we've got 07 here who's been sent by eris morn to get hive worms out of rhulks pryamid. So you should be good on this one.

Limix: I heard it may had been a skinwalker, tannuki from Japanese folklore, a fox for some reason but I think that person had watched way to much inyuasha, and a racoon. Since it happened late at night last night so no one knows yet for sure and that's why we're on this mission. Also ikora is still kinda pale as a ghost. XD

Isles: is she's really?! XD

07: poor ikora

Zavala: yes and you four should head out soon since the ship is ready for you in the docking area. Hopefully it really was just a racoon and then we all could put ikroa and the rest within the last city at ease since we got to be very careful with the witness out there still.

Zliverite: alright on it.

Limix: yep let's get to the bottom of this.

Isles: whatever you all need!

07: poor ikora and the others. I'm gonna find out what happened last night.

Harp: chrip!

~

They then head to the docking port and see a blue exo standing next to their ship.

The blue exo: Hello are you four heading out?

Isles: Great now we have Increased security now a days.

The blue exo: ... Have you guys heard about what had happened last night?

Harps then sniffs the blue exo and Isles had pulled her back.

Zliverite: we're actually here to investigate what had happened last night.

The blue exo: I think that was actually a prank. Alright the ships all yours go ahead on out.

Harp blinks in disbelief

Limix: thank you sir.

The blue exo had nodded and then walks away shaking his head while the guardians head into the ship

07: that's crazy we now have increased security due to last nights stuff and I think the gaurd looks familiar

Isles: wait he does look kinda familiar tho

Limix: I think he works with the gun smith

Zliverite then plots the coordinates to the guardian camp.

They all had arrived at the guardian camp.

Zliverite: I'm gonna check inside the barn.

07: I got the tent

Limix: I'm gonna ask the elskini if they had seen anything and I'll check around here too.

Isles. I got the primaditor.

Harp goes to the clear areas with in the campsite.

Shardin then starts scanning the area for anything noteworthy and or unusual while 07 was in the tent.

07 kneels down next to the tent and finds a black scarf to add to her collection but has noticed that it's made of a strange material.

Shardin then sees what's 07 had picked up and scans it.

Shardin: Oh boy I think ikora may had been right about this one. I'm about to scan the area 07.

07: holly Molly! Woowoahwha! Wah!

07 then drops the foreign scarf but then realized the material was metallicy and shimmery in 3 different colors and then she took it and had put it in her temp keepsake bag.

Mean while limix had began talking to the locals

Limix: Hello there. Sorry to disturb you all but would you guys happen to know what had happened last night.

They all looked at him funny and had moved on then one purple exo waves his hand.

Purple exo: Hey you guardian! Quickly I got something to show you!

Limix then follows the exo inside a building and then the exo had closed all the blinds then the curtains and then the doors.

He then turns on the security footage and rewinds them to 2 weeks prior to the event that had happened last night.

Limix: umm what has been going on here?

Purple exo: that's a very good question Limix. I had also forgot to introduce myself I'm wearver-11.

Limix: ... how did you know my name so fast.

W-11: I had been listening on channel 7 all day since last night since Gruah had finally gotten comfortable with the vanguard and had appeared before them.

A light blue ghost appears from behind w-11

Vreeland: gruah is not the witness. She's harmless but it's very amazing that after all of this time that she is the only other Precursor who has manged not to be part of the merging of the witness.

Vreeland: yep and all the proof the vanguard will need is on that security footage.

W-11: Also there might be a mini pryamid ship she has been using but it looks different from the others because we've seen it fly past the mountain past east before she began appearing in this place.

Meanwhile zliverite has been searching the barn but only has seen lots of food wrappers, used coffee cups, alien foot prints and he began following them to a cave east of the camp and notices a pryamid ship and begins running back to camp at full speed.

Ghoztt: oh crap we need to leave now!

Zliverite: Oh! Oh crap indeed!

Both zliverite and his ghost: ahhhhhhhhhhhh! It's the witness! He's found us!

Meanwhile Isles is checking the primater finds what appears to be a old forgotten hive rune circle.

Isles: Oo

Then it starts glowing

Harp then notices it and scurries to it

Then there was a warping sound.

And

More to come...

They was gone.

Then there was a hooded stranger who had witnessed it.

Hs: uh oh! They had to find the portal to the throne world of the 5th hive God in existence. Oi! Humans can be so slow and dumb and naive! Best to tell the lead to tell eris morn about this. Hopefully the munfty will help her because she's basically a gooner with out it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Orange = the good guys like the leaders like the vanguard and the cloud striders

While eris morn and the hive might be green

Purple = for my characters since I've used my guardian in game and am using my oc 07 a copy of my self kinda but with powers and stuff. Hence why this is a part of wackedverse.

Red = for the bad guys

Blue = for squadmates and allies

Idk what I'm gonna do with pink tho XD probably to use for nature idk. Edit: pink = mystery

<-first/cover ___ next->

Will add the page links later dw

Just had to get this all organized 1st.

Note: I'm having trouble with the drafts so I may be posting these early and then send them. To be safe

Note to self: always refreash the screen after saving the work!

[catofaurora]

Having a blast with @littlemanta today! So fun~~~

Twinning! Well matching atleast :D

Beautiful~

Ofcourse I had to take out the surf board!

Lil manta got was like a pro straight away

Silly fun too was had

Crab got dropped in the sea

[fizzysartplace]

comma - @foxdelias

shardines - @andellaheartz

[risu5waffles]

And i will walk TEN miles, and i will walk just TEN miles more.

Hot off the grill and fresh on the slab, got another ten up for your perusal.

It's self-indulgent, i know, to put my own stuff in the archive, but <shrug> i went and did it anyway? It's weird going back to my old stuff, and not just because it's from The Before, although that is absolutely a part of it. You can see from Osaka Hanami (花見大阪風) that we covered way back in episode 13, and from the bits i've shown from the new level (still in progress!), there's a definite theme i'm working out of my system, and that theme is i really, really like hanami. But also, i look at bits, and am just like "why did you make these choices? Why do it like this?" This is, i think, the first explicit reference to Yokaihama, which would later become the backdrop to my first review show, and it already feels overthought-out in the worldbuilding. i spent a lot of time thinking about Yokaihama, even if i felt, in the end, that i'd written myself into a corner making a setting i really didn't feel comfortable telling the story of. i wish i could actually go into create mode for this one (there's some bit of Marvel kit stuff that's locking me out of it). i'd love to see the actual guts of the oni fight at the end, because i totally didn't know what the hell i was doing, but it still managed to turn out ok? Also, there's a sticker switch in there that was originally a shout-out/collab wiv creator Enoch_Root, the sticker for which i do not have any more, and i have no idea what it actually triggers. Mystery! But also a warning against using custom stickers to gate off bits/modes of your levels.

This is a nice enough level if you can get past the presentation being pretty pants. Some of the gameplay bits are nice; i particularly liked the bit wiv the rocks being pushed out? The way they're an obstacle when you first encounter them, as they can slow you down and get you caught out by the wall, but when you loop underneath they become hazards, as their being pushed out from above can knock you into the slime? The two part nature of that bit, i really like that. i liked that there are a few secrets for you in there too, and i realize i missed a couple, watching through it now. The reverse slime waterfall bit is a whole mess tho'. The way the killzone is just the very top, so you can wind up launching into it, and then getting stuck. i imagine it's on some timed piston, but i wonder if it wouldn't work better as a destroyable block wiv a mover attached, just to keep the player from getting at it before it's reset.

People really seemed to like this one, and i don't know why? i mean, nothing against the level, it's decent enough, uses a bunch of Shardinators, which i think are neat, like potatoes. The gameplay is fun enough, tho' i wouldn't say it has a great flow to it. The checkpoints are kinda awful, so that's a bit of a point against. Too many power-ups used too little, as well, but i'm always a bit of a hardass about that. But the point of confusion to me is the video did well, compared to my usual numbers. Like, if you just looked at the name and thumbnail (i picked the nicest one i could get, but i mean, visually it's just ok), would this one really attract your eye if you weren't already invested enough in LBP to watch an archive video? Maybe the algo was just being kind.

i really wound up liking this one. It's very LBP1, in the best sense of the usage. i love all the little creature work going on, and none of the swimming bits were overbearing in their length. i'm watching it now, and i love that they accidentally put the sticker switch on the rock, and not the bananas. This race is decent too, not very challenging, but nice and smooth flowing. Yeah, this one's a keeper. Is it the best of the best? Probably not, but it's definitely good.

We talked about this on Friday, and it's still pretty meh.

i like this one a fair bit. It looks on the surface to be set up as a HARD(tm) level, but it feels, ultimately, like it falls on the gentler side of that scale. There's enough challenge to make a low- or medium-skill player sweat, but nothing that feels like it'll get too frustrating. i think that's pretty great, really. Bring that "hey! i did it!" feeling to folx who don't have split-second reflexes. Maybe some of them will like it enough to go that route and build those reflexes up, and some will just have a happy memory of clearing something that gave them a hard time.

This is another one that looks more difficult than it really is, even if it doesn't quite manage the gameplay balance as well as Pink Death. i really liked the aesthetic gimmick of parts being in space, and parts being in ship or on planet; it gave the creator a little more wiggle room to be creative wiv presentation. i would have liked if they'd played a bit wiv gravity in the external sections, but i do know that can be a bit of a pain to build things around. i'd actually like to come back to this creator and try some of their other races on stream one of these days; i feel like they could be a good time.

Another one where you can really feel the LBP1, tho' i don't think it quite manages to have the charm that The Amazon does up list. The raising the waterlevels mechanic is well-handled, tho', and i appreciate that it's a thing through the castle bit, not just a one-off. The boat was kinda cute, too. Kind of a shame this one only managed to get three players on the scoreboard (and one of them being me, a whole thirteen-ass years after publish), it's definitely disappointing to put work into a level, and not see it get any love. Who knows, maybe the creator will see this video some day, and know their work lives on? That'd be nice.

Oh my gawds. When i say i was hot about this level, i am not joking. i had to stand up and take a quick walk around my room. It's the "this level is just to get me the LBP2 plat" combined wiv the "play this level you won't regret it. :)" on the title page. Like, i feel like i got rooked. If they'd been upfront, i wouldn't have been so cheesed. If they'd given us a little something, even if it wasn't a level-level, but some tossed together gallery, i wouldn't have been so cheesed. But to make it sound like there's a level, and then spawn us on the scoreboard, and thank us for helping them get their plat? Uh-uh. No ma'am. Fuck that noise right into the sun.

Now, this level this kind of level is distinctly my toast and my jam. The aesthetic? This is LBP2 era presentation at exactly its "this will please risuko to no end" best. Linda, up front? Yes. Give me your slightly wonky puppets. Give them to me. The gameplay is challenging, but not unfairly so (i definitely could have played better, but i ask you to be gentle, i usually record these in my one hour of functionality before i have to get ready for work, so i tend to rush a touch more than i really ought). i appreciate that none of it is based on any fiddly mechanics that inevitably get busted in the physics changes from translation of LBP2 into LBP3 (there are a few i've played where you can clearly see how it would work, but now it doesn't, and it's hella frustrating). It's a real shame that the series this is a part of is unfinishable. The second chapter is mostly fine, but one of the boss phases has had something go sideways. The hazards still spawn, but whatever is visually representing them either hasn't, or is stuck invisible for some reason. You can still beat the boss, since the checkpoint is infinite life, but it's kind of annoying. The big problem is in the third chapter, where you get half way through or so, and some sequence just doesn't trigger, so the block you need to get on to progress never drops. We did that one on stream, and i was so disappointed.

--------------------------------------- So, that's our ten. Some real good ones in there. Tomorrow's level, spoilers, is also a real winner, so there's that to look forward to.

i've somehow managed to ruck up my right hip, where i can't rotate it out wivout pain? Which is a real problem. i'm a fidgetty sitter, big shock, i know, but my two most comfortable positions are either crosslegged, or left knee up, right knee out (i sit on the floor because, c'mon, you've seen my apartment. What you saw, in the video? Literally all of it aside from the bathroom. There is no space for chairs or sofas), so those are two natural positions that everytime i slide into wivout thinking it's just "ope, that's not happening." There's probably some stretching that'll help, but good luck getting me into a new habit.

Got a bunch of work done on the level cutscene the last few days, and i think it's ready to go into the level proper. So this means just tying it to the drop, and then sorting how to get the player from the top of the tower down to where the scoreboard is[*], and those will be the last real big pieces of the level to be done. There's still a bunch of fiddly decorative/environmental stuff, and playtest run throughs just to make sure that everything's done right, but we're past the last really big hurdle to getting this finished. i don't want to set a release date, but it would be really nice to get things done around my birthday. That would be cool.

[*] there are a couple of ways we've already kicked about getting it done, but the easy way (giving the player something to grab/ride that will take them straight down) might not be the most fulfilling way (letting them run through the destroyed section themselves, which would be neat, but would require extra set-up and testing to make sure there's actually a viable and fun route after the ArchEYEve destroys half the platforms).

[444names]

breton names from tes + adunaic dictionary x3

Acrole Adale Adanne Adine Adjeards Adrise Agael Aglie Agrance Agrelena Agren Akellau Alantoir Alben Alyzo Amariyê Amuard Ancel Ancie Andelle Angernas Anght Aniquin Aranne Arcroft Ardynnak Aregon Arlia Artivil Artonan Ascayug Ashard Astie Athie Atois Audelynd Audine Aullet Aultrut Aurel Aurey Auzor Avienric Azepi Badow Baline Barle Batrac Bauck Baumanet Beaulan Bedwulub Belant Belient Belmort Belyne Beraph Berey Berien Berne Beror Bertic Bingfix Blaris Bogeonie Boryd Bricelix Briely Brior Brofte Brudida Bruilyna Brurt Buines Burviri Bêthta Cadrane Calboic Cannar Carcenon Caric Caynette Cedardis Chael Channe Chate Cheart Chilic Chright Chrya Coric Corna Corsa Cranan Crolyste Cronce Dacroft Dalanna Dancien Dandor Danworde Darde Darvie Dasouard Dearond Deignoyn Deland Delle Delre Denne Derne Deynylot Diert Distin Dolerde Doreen Dorlaing Dorya Doucroc Douis Duffina Dunak Dunick Dunodil Durese Durus Ediel Ediend Edmala Edorgyr Edren Edrodin Elardt Elert Elien Eline Elita Ellam Ellet Elrelia Emenaric Emiene Emood Enrone Ephient Erill Erront Escelval Essele Etonrier Evanko Evrel Facheode Falie Faline Fanic Felle Fercette Fieroft Flene Flourt Flozine Fondyne Forine Franna Frede Freet Frelle Frene Fricard Frodouri Frulen Gaber Gabilley Gaette Ganchric Ganoille Garanius Gasar Gaver Gawrie Gelak Geley Gelia Gelles Gemellon Geonts Geraron Geraus Gerle Gertin Gescelen Gesly Ginwyna Girou Gitchard Glaine Glais Gleile Goisirie Gonard Gorle Gotte Grene Grenot Gretic Groin Gront Grubegon Gruzouse Gryannyn Guinise Gwine Gwynces Gwynrel Gwyra Gwyrre Gwywyna Harel Harohdet Harque Haste Hawarcel Heaum Helle Heoldan Heomtore Hermile Heroc Herthiot Hiberann Hileauck Houiste Hoïna Hulive Ilvaude Irine Izabyr Izautric Izout Jacimain Jaminces Jamris Janete Jaquerte Jaste Javaling Javend Javory Jeari Jehana Jerot Jodouing Jodoulud Jolind Joscine Jowind Jurane Jusaring Kavette Kinart Kinient Kinslyna Krirl Laduld Lafel Lanelles Lannaud Larberyn Lastaing Laulover Lerahde Lescien Lessa Loine Luele Lurone Lysab Lyvaic Lywynak Mabrey Macmun Manig Manista Marbou Marce Marde Mardsle Mardyn Marea Marencat Marld Marmon Mascane Matheona Matin Mauck Mauliert Mautrug Mauvenis Maval Melann Melyn Melyse Micelle Millel Moldarra Monhamel Monise Moods Morefulo Morgin Morte Morya Moryvanc Muinaur Muncton Munissan Murique Mylven Mynynaus Namret Nitau Noisa North Nuara Nupera Ochrya Ocquette Octyr Opele Ophin Orane Orfix Osamec Oscene Osiac Osiri Ouiso Owege Pamason Parbin Parianne Paricham Parieris Parierne Pastnol Pauberic Perely Peroche Persmir Pette Pevermon Phany Phoret Pilhick Pilliene Rarbord Rarna Rastai Relle Renia Rhawk Rierrya Roist Rolmor Rolyne Ronienan Rosten Roward Ruffillo Sabelie Segash Sevic Shardin Sillanur Sillette Sistyr Soletta Solle Sorgrey Sorra Spera Spric Stais Stord Storya Styrick Suniser Suronak Swenjak Swoodwic Syvygas Sâiric Tarchelo Tarick Taund Tharmis Thean Thilu Thysa Tices Trabyth Trien Triene Trique Triste Urvelan Ustan Utepi Uthelyn Vacque Valane Valaux Valen Valle Valleon Vande Vault Vienn Villey Vinard Vinere Vissanna Vivea Vivond Vouris Vycton Vyctynow Warobale Wenoebel Wicki Wiles Wrolie Yeont Yssaperd Ystard Ysylivin Yvale Yvyct Zagran Zibaurt Ziding Zonel

[theblackdragon-studios]

Though we didn’t start out on the best of terms...I’m still so glad I met you.

A day-late valentine’s day picture. I’m posting both versions here since I can post multiple pictures at once. The whole thing silently explains the story behind this relationship, but the hint I’ll give: Redeemed villain, and enemies to lovers.

Wing Din and Gaster World AU (c) @allykatsart

Shardie and art (c) @theblackdragonstudios

[shardin]

[youngster-monster]

I spent april drawing my friends and i’s dnd characters as tarot cards and dare i say it? they fuck severely.

shout out to the mysterious sixth member who we know Nothing about beyond the fact that he’s represented by the fucking Tower

(check under the cut for character info and cards meaning)

Shardinë ‘Sardine’ / The Fool (new beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, free spirit)

She/her. A 19 year old fish person raised by an elderly fishmonger on an isolated island. This adventure is her first time leaving her grandmother, and somehow she’s the most competent of the five anyway.

Mercenaire / Seven of Wands (challenge, protection, perseverance)

He/him. A 38 year old one-armed mercenary with a protective streak a miles wide. Standing at 6′11 feet, he’s considered tiny for the clan of giant dragon worshipers from which he was banished. Believes himself to be cursed to bring bad luck and death to those who hear his name and see his face. Completely face blind. A dad and a friend!

Dukaan / The Tower (upheaval, chaos, disaster)

He/him, and that’s all we know

Ménéhyl of Stormwind / The Star (hope, faith, renewal)

She/her. 20 year old, yet the most naive of the group. Dreams of a fairy tale romance. The daughter of rich textile merchants from a hyper-religious queendom that abhors the very concept of death, she’s recently been revealed to have Death Magic, so you can imagine the kind of stress she’s under

Zarïa ‘Juvisy’ / Justice reversed (dishonesty, unaccountability, unfairness)

She/her. The 19 year old runaway princess of a recently overthrown kingdom. She’s vain, hates men, loves money, and is constantly running away from the consequences of her own actions, from lying about her real name to hiring Mercenaire to protect her and then sending guards after him when his price ended up too high and he took all her money. Currently spying on Oriû on behalf of people who would much rather see him dead.

Oriû, son of Galat / Judgement (judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution)

He/him. A 25 year old rebel from the people that Zarïa’s kind has been oppressing for over a century. A poet with a strong sense of right and wrong, he’d like to be nonviolent but will not stand idle in the face of injustice. The rebellion he’s a part of is directly responsible for the death of Zarïa’s family — but they’re not aware of that yet. Ménéhyl accidentally killed his brother with her newfound powers but he’s being a good sport about it.

[chasingmypen]

[romcommunist]

*yoda voice* shiddin. shiddin and fardin. down to the beach im shardin

[bundlesofwords]

Gylathon, the Lord of Horwar, Gylathon the Terror

It was said that Gylathon the Terror was a subject and follower of the Unraveler, so seeped he was in blood and devastation. Though, the truth lies buried and hidden from mortal eyes. Only the name is recalled, brought to the minds of men, to strike terror within their hearts, tremble their knees. For that name is one that slaughtered the people of Daiharar, the lands of Sulhan Mirdon scourged in flames imperishable, and the kingdom of Geridan, now lost in shadow. So many fell before his blade, of iron twistedly wrought in a long, withered shadow, that the old name - Eriamun - had all been lost to time, save for the efforts of the feeble orators that reminded from his lost empire. Now it is known as Gylatho’salah, and that great, terrible blade was thrown into the bowels of Shardin, never to be found again.

The tale of Gylathon rose in great winds, and fell to soft whispers. His empire encompassed near all the world, but for the lands of Heavens, which he sought to siege down and conquer for himself, to be a god, like his master. Yet, his great master, who’s favor granted him strength in arms and poweress in battle, failed him at his seige. And he was thrown from the mountain of Tasahi, torn by long lances of lightning, white and cold, and his soul was ripped from his material body, twined into a sliver, and thrown into the great darkness of the Unraveler, sworn to be tormented until the End of Rising Days and Fallen Nights.

[qwertythepopstarian08]

JSAB AU Fanfic- Bug Spray

Okay, so after the events on @small--crcle I can’t think of Rayne’s AU at all without crying, so I wrote this gift fanfic to cope.

It’s literally the most angsty thing I’ve written since “That’s Not Your Brother,” so bear with me here... and bring a tissue box. Yes, I know it’s April 1st, and I should post some happy, lighthearted fic... but nope.

This was partly inspired by some asks that I sent to Rayne’s main blog, @plaquebeat  ((as well as her priceless reactions))

Description: Here’s a nightmarish concept- What if every infected shape's magic changed a bit? Just a tiny bit, but enough for Blixer to notice. Like... being too close to Kubix or Penta for too long would make him feel like there are spiders crawling up his arms... Or being near NGB would make him feel like he's being watched... too many eyes... all around... He'd know deep down that it's not real...but he can't shake the feeling that his friends have changed.... and he's the odd one out…

Warnings: Given the source material, this fanfic has body horror, slight gore, references to PTSD, violence, and blood. Please, please, please don’t read at night. The only thing this story doesn’t have is harsh language. Please don’t read if any of these are triggers for you.

Speaking of language, since I personally do not use profanity in any of my works, I’d like to say here and now that the term, “Yxxit,” is an exclamation from a fictional language that I’m developing. It’s kinda rude, so you’ll see the context soon.

Blixer’s eye snapped open, and he sat up, breathing heavily. His heart was hammering in his chest, his core feeling like it was about to explode. He stared blankly forward, his nightmare repeating itself in his mind a billion times, that horrid, twisted song echoing in his head like a mocking, broken record.

Too many eyes… too many legs… skittering bugs everywhere. His friends and family, infected… leaving him as the only pure shape left… A choked whimper left him, and he drew his knees to his chest, hugging himself. It hurt to remember… it hurt to dream.

It took a moment for the reality to set in, and he felt tears running down his face, his entire form shaking. He could still feel phantom pains from that day, that horrible event that had forever changed his friends, had twisted his world. He nearly snapped his neck to turn around as he heard shuffling. His arm thrust forth, his hand changing to a cannon as he shakily aimed for the shape in the bed next to his, his eye shining in the low light.

A sick, paranoid part of him wanted to fire, to turn whatever monster he’d see to shards before it could react… but he soon remembered who he was looking at, and he winced. He whimpered, before he fully awoke, shaking his head and lowering his arm. His cannon changed back to a proper hand, and he shook slightly, sighing.

It was just New Game… it was just his brother… his former alter ego… not a monster. Not anymore. Hopefully… never again.

He sighed, drawing the covers closer as he slid out of bed and walked over the the other side of the room. Each step sent agonizing pain through his legs, and he winced, forcing himself to breathe. He hesitantly reached for the other shape, lightly shaking him.

“New… you awake?”

New Game was practically burrowed in the blankets; he’d been doing that a lot lately, and Blixer feared that he’d suffocate. But he was fine… at least in that respect. He was alive, at least.

The other shape failed to awaken, and Blixer tried again, raising his voice barely above a whisper. “New… New Game…. Wake up.”

Finally, NGB turned around. He let out a small groan, rubbing his eyes as he tried to mutter something, if only to get Blixer to leave him alone.

“Wha...wha’dya wann?” His words were slurred, and as he sat up slowly, Blixer winced, seeing the stitching around his face pull slightly against his flesh… from where it had been torn open. NGB blinked slowly, humming, “It’s… it’s like three in the mornin’... Blix… please don’t tell me you’re hungry…”

Blixer shook his head, whimpering. “I had a nightmare…” He looked away, sighing. “That nightmare…”

New Game’s demeanor did a one-eighty. He seemed to wake up fully, his eyes widening as he sat up, sitting on the edge of the bed. Blixer hadn’t been able to shake his fears from the latest incident. Things had calmed significantly since then, but it seemed like something was… off… for one thing, he was always having nightmares now…

New’s horns folded downwards, and he shakily smiled, trying to seem reassuring.

“You wanna talk about it?”

Blixer’s tone was curt. “No… just go back to bed… I wanted to make sure it was still you.”

New felt a twinge of guilt race through his heart, his eyes flickering. He glanced at the ground, ashamed, before he sighed. Even he was still affected by the… event. He had to admit, he sometimes caught odd glances at himself in the mirror… lingering just to make sure he hadn’t suddenly sprouted extra eyes or legs…

He was barely used to having his own body… being alone in his head was much more terrifying when his form was so unstable. Deep down, he was afraid that he’d wake up one day and be back in that nightmarish form. However, he knew for sure… no shape had been impacted as badly as Blixer.

“Blix? You know it’s not real, right…?” His voice held an anxious tone as he reached for his counterpart. “Everything’s fine now…”

“That’s what you always say!”

New drew back, flinching at the sudden outburst. His horns flicked downward, and he shuddered a bit, the heart rate in his eye quickening. He looked around, trying to avoid Blixer’s gaze.

“But… you know that’ll never happen again…” he chuckled nervously, playfully punching Blixer on the shoulder. A twinge of guilt stung his heart as the other shape cringed, stepping back. “That weird bug stuff… it’s over… I ain’t turnin’ into a… what was it? Millipede?” He fumbled for the words. “Yeah… I’m not turning into a millipede again any time soon.”

He tried not to think about that day… his stitched scars tugged against his skin when he smiled, however, and he winced, trying to remain calm.

Blixer hugged himself. “But… you said it was fine when Kubix turned red… you said it was fine when Droplet blighting tried to kill us.” New winced at Blixer’s callous language. “Yxxit… you always say it’s fine… and then it’s not!”

The monocular shape breathed heavily, his hands clenched into fists. New Game whispered, “But…”

“No… just face it! No matter what we do, everything just goes wrong again the moment we let our guard down!” Blixer suddenly stepped closer, hissing in an uncharacteristic act of rage. “We’re a pretty terrible hero, if you ask me…”

Shuddering, he shoved New Game, his teeth gritted. His powers collected in his hands, and he forced himself to avoid attacking, unable to deny his anger. Sweet, innocent Blixer was gone. He’d been shattered and otherwise maimed way too many times to count, and he couldn’t trust himself to be happy. It was only a matter of time until things went wrong, after all… That seemed to be one of the constants of his world.

“You’re part of the problem…. If you weren’t around…” He shoved New again. “Maybe Kubix wouldn’t have gotten turned into a monster!”

New’s own aggression seemed to return, and he stood. “Well… how do you figure that, shortstack?” He stood, looming over Blixer by a few inches. They used to be the same height… after the incident… it seemed that the alter ego had grown a few inches.  His mouth split into a fanged sneer, and he felt his scars stretch, threatening to sever. “We single handedly save this blighted world every blighted week… and you want to ridicule that?”

He pointed an accusatory claw at Blix, feeling a swell of sadistic satisfaction as his alter winced, afraid. He chuckled, his horns flicking upward. His scars ached with a phantom pain, and he winced, forcing a wider grin.

Recovering, Blixer hissed, “Every blighted week I get beaten within an inch of my life by a Tree-forsaken void-spawn of a monster…” His horns flicked back, and he started to scream. “I’m done sitting idly by while my own so-called family sics demons to kill… me… what’s next, my shardin’ grandparents come from the afterlife to rip off my fingers?!”

New’s good eye twitched, and he snarled, his heart rate monitor eye spiking.

“You know what… you should feel lucky… you didn’t get your blighted face ripped in half…” He raised a claw, his voice dropping to a venomous growl, “Although… that could be arranged…”

A sudden, wet ripping sound rang out (like that of flesh tearing), and New clasped a hand to his face, hissing in pain as he felt his stitches tear, pink blood pooling around his hands. He winced, glancing at Blixer. The other shape seemed terrified, his eye wide and tearful. He started to back away, raising a hand… which seemed to be close to becoming a cannon.

New chuckled nervously, dropping the violent act. Guilt pooled in his heart, and he felt a rush of nausea flood him; he’d gone too far… from how Blix was staring at him, he must have thought he was turning back into… that creature.

“Oh come on… I’m kidding…” He shrugged, removing his hand. “Blix… you have to get over it at some point.” Something dripped down his face from the wound, and he cringed, his vision blurring. He smiled shakily, trying not to make a sudden movement as he felt more of his stitches starting to tear… revealing the horrors within...

Blixer’s eye widened, and he screamed, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at New. The alter ego hissed, reeling, and Blixer scrambled back, vaulting over the bed and rushing out the door. Tears streamed down his face as he ran, his entire body glowing as he prepared to make a mad dash to escape. He didn’t even want to see Kubix…

“Blix!” New yelled after him. “Wait up! It was a joke, I promise!”

Blixer could still hear the skittering of billions of little legs with each step that his brother took. Just being in the same room with him… or any other formerly infected shape, was unbearable. He could still see the eyes staring at him from every angle, the mottled innards lining the ground as New Game’s spine cracked backwards, his flesh tearing apart like wet paper.

A choked sob left him, and he shook his head wildly.

Nothing was the same… it would never be the same again…

Blixer eventually collapsed, his legs giving out just as he shut himself in the closet. His eye was flaring with a panicked light, and he uncontrollably sobbed, his entire form quivering as he wept. It was hard to breathe, his hands flickering with his powers as he tried to force himself to stay calm.

The images from his nightmare assaulted his mind’s eye, and he broke down completely, covering his face, his claws digging into his arms as he hugged himself.

He couldn’t even bear to face his friends… each time he so much as locked eyes with his own father, he felt shudders crawling up his spine, his nerves on end as his anxiety skyrocketed. He was afraid…. Afraid that if he let his guard down, everyone around him would become something beastly and kill him.

His mind supplied a twisted pun; things were bugging him more easily lately. He let out a broken, bitter chuckle, his voice cracking… much like his body snapped each time he’d been slammed across walls by his enemies...  by his own family.

He drew in on himself, whimpering as his laughter devolved into sobs again. He couldn’t forget that horrible day… having to watch his own brother rip himself to shreds, all in an attempt to stop himself from shattering… no,  murdering him.

A soft knock at the door startled him from his dejected thoughts, and he looked up, choking on his own gasp. He coughed violently, shaking as his horns flicked back, fear filling him. How much time did he have until they hurt him again? Until some new big bad came around and turned someone he loved into a monstrous puppet, whose only purpose was to harm? Would he be next? Or would he just be the target the monsters would be sent to shatter? Blixer felt his heart stutter as he heard Kubix’s voice, muffled by the door.

“Blix? You alright?” The door started to open, and Blixer whimpered, scrambling back. “Blixer?”

He yelled, “G-get away from me!” He grabbed the nearest object- an old, balled up sock- and threw it at the square, screaming. “Please… please… get away!”

The sock sailed over Kubix’s head, despite his height. He opened the door fully, sighing and stepping inside. His eyes glowed with a soft, reassuring light, which was nothing like the deadly, predatory shine from the incident. Still, Blixer winced as Kubix approached.

“Blixer… what’s wrong?” He kneeled, reaching out slowly. “Did you have a nightmare?”

The unspoken, “Another one?” was easily communicated in the king’s tone. Blixer whimpered, shaking violently as he turned away, unable to coherently speak.

“S-stop… I.. I just wanna… wanna be alone right now… please…” he stammered. “Please… p-p-please….”

Kubix felt his heart break, and he sighed, his eyes dimming. He inched closer, and Blixer felt nausea race from his core, flooding his senses as he saw the scars along the sides of Kubix’s head, from where those dreaded horns had ripped from his skull.

“Get away… get away, please…” the small shape whimpered. “I can’t take it… can’t… just… please leave me… alone…”

All he could see was Kubix, covered in pink… spindly insect legs writhing from his back as he screamed and howled. Horns jutting from his head, spiking upwards in the air like wicked knives. Seeing the powerful king of Paradise, reduced to the pathetic, screeching mess of a creature, a creature that existed only to kill him. The flashback hit Blixer like a ton of bricks, and he screamed.

“You’re just going to h-hurt… me… again…”

Kubix backed away, raising his hands. “Blix… you know I’d never hurt you-”

“YOU ALWAYS DO!” Blixer suddenly shrieked. He threw a shoebox this time, wincing as it hit Kubix in the shoulder. He instantly cringed, drawing back with a squeak and cowering. “I’m sorry… I-I… I’m sorry….”

His eye was wide and unfocused… hazy with fear. His breaths were uneven, and Kubix was afraid that the pink shape had reached a breaking point.

“Blixer… stop apologizing… you’ve been through way more mess than a kid deserves…” He lowered his voice, his tone warm. “I’m sorry that I had to be the ‘bad guy’... you know that the real me would never hurt you… it was that… blighted infection…” He glanced down at his hands, mentally kicking himself for accepting that cursed tea… if he hadn’t been so naive…. Blixer wouldn’t have suffered…

“B-but… you used to… you used to be a bad, bad shape….” Blixer buried his face in his sleeves. “What’s stopping you from going back?”

Kubix winced, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Blixer… it’s been years since that happened… one incident isn’t going to undo… how much I care for my sons.”

Blixer hesitantly looked up at him. “I… I can still sense it…” He snarled, “E-everytime I see you and New Game and Penta… I can see the… the things you turned into…”

He looked away, breathing heavily. Kubix could see the utter terror in his son’s gaze. He felt his own heart stutter with a protective anger, and he suddenly reached out, pulling Blixer close. The shape instantly began to shriek, his eye widening and glowing with a terrified light. Kubix stood, backing out of the closet, keeping his hold firm yet soft.

“Blixer,” he whispered. He held the small shape close. “Please… listen to me… no one is going to hurt you…”

Blixer writhed, and Kubix felt claws digging into his arms. “Get away, let me go, let me go!” He felt as if he’d die. His heart quickened to a fervent pace, and he started screeching, vainly clawing at Kubix’s arms. “‘S-spiders… spiders every-everywhere…”

The small shape started hyperventilating, his eye wide and bright and so painfully distant. He was reliving his worst memory…. Even Annihilate wasn’t this bad… At least then, he hadn’t cared so much for Kubix… hadn’t had to fight his own father figure.

He tried to squirm out of Kubix’s hold. He could feel spiders crawling up his arms, a spine-chilling phantom sensation. He could see the black and pink acid dripping from Kubix’s mouth and eyes, like twisted tears… just before he started shrieking. He held his head, trying to banish the horrible images from his mind.

“Blixer… I’m not a spider…” Kubix held him, whispering futile reassurances. “Blixer… please… don’t do this… it’s okay…”

“No! It’s not… not okay… not okay…” Blixer shook. “Y-you… you guys turned into m-monsters… I never want to see anything like that… ever again…”

Kubix sighed, “I promise… I’ll do everything in my power to prevent that from happening again. You know this.”

He carried Blixer to the kitchen, setting him down at the table and pulling up a chair to sit across from him. New Game was already there, an ice pack pressed against his cheek as he glared passive-aggressively at his counterpart, who subtly inched his chair away. His glare was more like a slightly irritated, watery stare, pained tears having collected in the shape’s eyes. Kubix crossed his arms, sighing softly as he sorted out his words.

“Blixer… you need to tell us what’s bothering you. We can’t help ya if you just lash out…”

“T-tell you what’s wrong?!” The one-eyed shape growled, bristling. “Seeing you guys get torn apart and turned into monsters is what’s wrong! I thought that was obvious!”

Kubix narrowed his eyes, huffing. “You’ve seen me get turned into Annihilate far too many times to count… we both know you can handle a little body horror.”

It hurt to see Blixer like this; so standoffish, having closed off from the world in fear of being too vulnerable to help. It had been his emotions that stopped him from trying to save his own brother. He’d frozen up, overtaken by fear… but now, it seemed that he couldn’t stop reacting, usually with violence.

Kubix breathed, “Blixer… if it helps you get over this… I’ll go Annihilate right here and now just to make you see… I’m in control.” He winced as he felt his magic spike a bit, trying to force the irritated red out of his glow. “No matter what form I take… you’re still my son, Blix. As long as my mind is intact, I’ll never let ya get hurt again.”

New just grinned, starting to move the ice pack from his face. Blixer whimpered as he spotted the glowing yellow eye that had opened in the alter’s face. Kubix reached over, lightly plucking NGB on the shoulder and glaring at him. The alter ego huffed, pouting, before replacing the ice pack.

Blixer shuddered. “B-but… this was different…” He hugged himself. “Even when you go Annihilate… I know it’s still you, deep down... “ He looked away, sighing shakily. “But… whatever Suenami did… it changed you… and I can still sense it…”

Kubix huffed, “Blixer. Do I look like an insect?”

The panicked shape squirmed, shakily breathing. “N-no… not on the outside… but… w-what if…. What if the infection’s still there? What if you all t-t-turn back… into those bugs again…”

New scoffed, “Okay… so a FEW of those creepy eyes are still there… but I’m not gonna start sproutin’ bug legs all willy-nilly…unless...” He reached for Blixer with his free hand, wiggling his fingers eerily. “Ooh… I’m a monster… blegh…”

His brother squeaked, smacking his hand away. “Not funny!” he squealed. He growled under his breath, “Y-you won’t be laughing when I... spray you with pesticide…”

“You won’t be laughing when I turn into a bug monster and eat you.”

“Y-you’re already halfway -tthere…” Blixer’s tone was venomous… although his stutter remained.

New stood, clenching his fists. “Oh yeah? I’ll show you a real monster…”

“Look in the mirror and tell me what ya see…”

“Boys!” Kubix yelled. Both circles paused in their argument, eyes wide. The king huffed, crossing his arms as he eyed the two, disappointment clear in his gaze. “You two need to learn to get along…” He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Look, I get it… that… incident… was emotionally taxing for all of us…”

New Game deadpanned, “There’s an actual hole. In my face right now.”

“Shut it, New,” Blixer growled. His voice faltered instantly, and he huffed, quivering. “Just drop it.”

New ignored him, of course. “A Tree-forsaken hole, Kubix.”

Kubix glared at NGB, before sighing. “As I was saying… last week was filled with some… unfortunate events…” He looked away, glancing at his hands. “But… we can’t just let it tear us apart.”

Blixer snarled, “Tell that… tell that to New Game.”

The alter ego whimpered, sitting down and hugging himself. He subconsciously scratched at his scars, squirming in discomfort. Blixer seemed to regret his rude tone, turning to face his brother with a small sigh. Hesitantly, he hugged the other, his horns flicking back as he stared hollowly through Kubix.

“S-sorry… I just… haven’t been feeling myself… since then…”

Kubix’s eyes filled with a sympathetic light. “I know…” He breathed shakily, “None of us have…”

Standing without another word, Kubix backed away, giving a last, empathetic smile, before turning away. He rushed out of the kitchen, towards his room… The last thing he wanted to do was scare Blixer… and if his very presence was painful, he’d just stay away… until things all returned to normal… no matter how much it hurt to know that he was the source of his own child’s nightmares.

Blixer thought he saw a flash of an agitated red in Kubix’s glow. He hurriedly stuttered, “D-Dad… wait…” He stood, dashing over to intercept Kubix’s departure. As he caught the ruby glimmer in the king’s eye, he felt his breath catch, a twinge of fear stinging at his core. He stammered, “I’m s-s-sorry… I shouldn’t have been so… so curt…”

Kubix’s expression faltered, and he backed away a pace. “Blixer… I know you’re still on edge… I want you to recover at your own pace… I can’t force you to be happy.”

“No…” Blixer shook his head. “NGB may be a pest…” That earned him a glare. “But I… I can’t just… run from my fear... “ He shuddered, barely able to make eye contact…. Barely able to ignore the anxiety in his heart. “I faced Ra… and Droplet… and… our own family… I should be able to face my fears.”

He took a hesitant step towards Kubix. The square went still, not wanting to frighten his son again. The young hero was terrified… he could see his horns quivering at a glance. New Game watched from afar, blinking owlishly. He was curious… what would Blixer do? Run… or face his fears head-on?

Kubix breathed, “Blix… if you’re scared of me… it… it’s okay… I know I haven’t given you reason to t-trust me lately…” He sighed, collecting himself. It hurt to see his son so terrified… of him. “But I promise you…Even if you think I’m still a monster... I will never hurt you, Blixer. Please, try to understand that much…”

He was cut off as Blixer hollered.

“N-no! I’m not afraid of you… because you’re n-not… you’re not a monster…” Blixer took another step, quivering like a leaf. “You’re… my dad.”

Much to the shock of the other shapes, Blixer suddenly hugged Kubix. Terrified shudders went down his spine, and he lingered, shaking violently. He repeated a mental mantra like a broken record, reassuring himself that his father was himself… that he wouldn’t harm him… ever again.

Yet, the memories of all the times Kubix had been controlled, all the times that he had hurt him… made Blixer’s eye fill with tears, and he shook, his breath catching.

“I… I don’t w-w-want…. Don’t want you… to turn into a monster… e-e-ever again…” His voice cracked, quavering. “I… I wouldn’t be able to take it…”

Kubix returned the embrace, sighing. He reached down, picking up the small shape and carrying him back to the table. He wordlessly pulled New into the hug as well, holding his two sons close… as his happiness depended on their safety…

In a way… it did.

Kubix’s voice was airy as he whispered, “I’ll never let this happen again…” He shuddered. “You shouldn’t have to fear for your lives… not in my kingdom…”

New said nothing, and Blixer just whimpered. The latter felt an eerie chill race up his spine. He could still picture those insect-like legs, the extra limbs that had torn free from Kubix’s back… that had left scars deeper than any corruption.

Blixer couldn’t speak. There was really nothing to say, except that he was deeply, truly afraid. The scars were proof that the transformations hadn’t been mere corruption… it was something much, much worse...

Kubix continued, “If you ever… ever feel unsafe… I will be there in an instant, and I will slay whatever beast is harming you….”

New shuddered. “It… it hurts, Kubix…” He sniffled, despite himself. “I’m s-s-sorry… sorry for teasing Blixer…”

“Like I said, I’ll always protect you… both of you.”

Kubix held them for awhile, silent. He still hadn’t been able to fully shake the effects of the incident. It was so, so much worse than anything he’d ever encountered. At least in the past, when it was simple as corruption, they could be sure that whatever mutations had occurred would fade away completely… but now, the scars ran deep to their cores, and Kubix was unsure if he could take it.

Yet… he’d remain strong for his sons… for his kingdom. He started to drift off to sleep, hoping dearly for sweet dreams, before he heard whimpering. He looked down, seeing Blixer clinging to New, his eye wide with tears.

“Blix?”

Blixer finally squeaked, “Wh-what if you’re the beast….?” He buried his face in Kubix’s sleeve. “What if… what if you lose c-control? What if you turn… into a m-m-monster?”

He didn’t want to picture that scenario… he never wanted to see Kubix or New Game… or anyone else… in that state again.

“Blix… as long as we’re on the same side, you never have to see me as a monster again… however…” The square chuckled, despite his seriousness. His tone was bitter, laced with a morbid, foreboding growl. “To the enemy… that’s exactly what I’ll be.”

[glitched-out-shapes]

Blixer, calm down. Barracuda did this to help you. He didn't want you to die... although none of us know why you'd be dead, anyway...

Blixer: “Calm? You want me to be calm?!”

He gave a bitter laugh, shaking.

“You try being calm when you find out that you’re dead and have been revived as a shardin’ robot!”

He quaked with rage.

“The l-l-last thing I can remember… is the explosion… my life’s work… in shrapnel.”

[superccplusxixi-blog]

Can we listen voice from China about Blockchain?

There is a famous person in China, Jimmy Zhong, the founder of IOS (internet of service). His speech impressed me so deeply on the Blockchain technology forum of Spring, 27th, May.

He mainly talked about technology application and the situation of Blockchain, and mentioned the solutions and cost for the bottleneck Blockchain met for now.

Firstly, there are 2 directions for the creation of Blockchain, one of which is providing a platform to other creators, like IOS and Andriod. Another direction is to create applications with assuming the blockchain is an operation system. He said Exchanges and On-line advertisements can apply on blockchain fittingly; But there are some problems with Exchanges, For example, If you put your Ripple, Ethereum or other cryptocurrency into it, like a private bank, they can't do anything to protect your cryptocurrency if there is an fire. Assuming the 2 of them are blockchained, all of the exchanging data and advertisements we watched every time are packed up to save in Blockchain, which can't be rephrased. That is a perfect situation. But for now, we haven't seen that, as the self-existent blocknet of Blockchain.

Secondly, Jimmy Zhao mentioned the conflict the dilatation brought. Comparing with exchanges, every second volume of an Ripple or Ethereum is only 20 and needs extra fee, Exchanges’ is up to 2000 ~ 5000. This because not only the insufficient mills and imperfect programs but also the time issue. For example, every 6 exchanges for Bitcoin need 60 mins to confirm the character. So it’s hard.

I think there is another important and pivotal issue Jimmy Zhao said which also impressed me so deeply. The internet of Blockchain is not stable all the time. Assuming ethereum support one thousand transactions every second, the speed might be not able to follow up. So the internet of complete decentration Blockchain is hard to support more higher capacity of transaction with ensuring the consistency of data, and still needs to synchronize all data.

Now the most visual solution is the super node which is easy to deal with and can normally handle with the transaction on Blockchain. But it requires the capacity of internet speed up to millions level for every second. And another important way is partition in network, of which technology includes DAG and Shardin.

Apart from above issue and solution Jimmy Zhao mentioned, he analyzed that the development of blockchain in the future can unlikely become the oligarch.

[shardin]

Pugsby in San Francisco