The song went on for an hour, all to make sure it is drilled within the boy's head in following his direction. A whole hour, and the luscious grass was stained in blood. A whole hour, and his skull is visible from the damage, the torn skin, the injury, as he'd lay down there, not moving an inch. Miyashi stood close, kneeling and grieving, as the other monsters gave their roars, with some finally reaching close, but no longer having a proper will to fight. Barklode kept moving his hands like a conductor to ensure it keeps playing, as the girls kept performing, though does sigh as he began to get close. "I'll give you this, your heart remained strong. Even when all I ask is a simple kill to one of your kin, your resolve would rather be the death of you than to follow along. A failed experiment, but luckily not one of mines. Perhaps when all of this resolves, you can be properly educated." He'd mouth off, as he'd watch by his side the contract quickly disappearing, vanishing into flames, before a hand grips his shoulder.
"Now, now. Let's not get TOO hasty." The Devil spoke, a new mask donned to null out the sound and imagery, as Jesta takes form by the scientist's side. "While I would admit this is a marvelous way to inflict such tragedy, we can't expect the story to end here. What about the reprieve? What about the others? Tie up loose ends first before you-"
"If you want to keep parading around this 'story' of yours, you can join him." Barklode's bark was quick, interrupting the Faustian Demon with no hesitation, no fear in his voice. "Emotions are nothing more than a byproduct of how the brain acts and reacts. Awareness in the brain that acts as the voice when prompted. Whatever 'soul' you think exists, it's nothing more than what the mind wants, what the mind believes."
"Really? Even when you're looking at a demon right in your face? Even when you have seen magic that makes the soul tangible? You don't believe that?"
"Not that I don't believe it, I simply don't acknowledge it. If will truly exists, then why do so many people give in to depression or anxiety? The brain functions above the soul, and the soul is forced to follow along, if it even bothers to have such a consciousness. There's no point in caring about something that matters little in the face of the conclusive. Emotions matter little to progress." As soon as he said such words, Barklode would notice a twitch, his body instinctively pulling back. As he did, he watched as Harvard got up, playing possum just to grab ahold of Miyashi's blade and take a swing, even as it burned his hand in the process. A temporary sign, a weakness behind the Simulacrum, one in which his Monster took to the helm as he'd let himself break down and coat around the Card Magician like it was living armor. The steel was too much, yet he could care less. Jesta's eyes widened upon seeing such determination, laughing to himself, clapping along as he'd move to the side and watch the Scientist sweat.
"Well now! Is this enough for progress? Is the Brain still above the soul after this?" He taunted, as he let it sink in on Harvard's Actions: Wearing the scalding armor, his skin charred, his muscles cooked, his face potentially scarred. Even if he had Monster Magic, such an act to take on his beast as protection, even after being exposed to the violent sun's heat, was maddening enough. Harvard has never imagined to feel such pain again in a long time, let alone one as excruciating as this. He could care less, however.
That pain was the answer to Barklode's magic. To overwhelm himself so much, it shocks him back to reality and focus.
The Scientist clapped his hands as he made the scene change, the walls from the real world shifting, the light changing, the laboratory more exposed and emitting a sweet aroma, letting the Simulacrum warp. Once a lush land, now a road and kingdom of sweets, just like Candartha. The Child rushed ahead, sword in tow, as he watched Barklode quickly move the mountains of chocolate to crush him inside. One, two, three swings. Such wild movements reflected the other side, the walls carved and melting under the strike. He'd rush up ahead to the sky, using the mountainside's cleaved wounds to scale up and get close, prompting the Scientist to swat him away and make distance, the Sun beaming down as he brought the other monsters alongside, hoping such a torrent of freaks would be enough to deter him.
It did not.
"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STAY STILL!? WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT ITS USELESS!?" He'd scream, yet Harvard does not listen. Why should he listen? He wanted him and everyone else around dead. If he doesn't care about Monsters.
Why should he care about Barklode?
The setting changed once again, the walls shifting around, as Applin would be closing in and see the sun emitting its rays, keeping herself far away from such light. She'd listen in at the Monster's grievances, begging and clawing, as if they were unable to move. Beyond that light, she knew that she would be in extreme danger, yet she still wishes to help. She'd decide on taking a risk once she saw the sharp openings in the walls, quickly timing herself as she'd hear Harvard's wild cries and slashes, more holes opening up. She'd wait until one was close by and jump inside, much to Dahak's annoyance as he'd keep up and see her disappear. "In there!? Really?! You're gonna suffocate in there! There's barely any ventilation or open frames! It's just pure steel! What are you gonna get out of this?" He'd shout, as he'd try to follow her inside and hope to finish the job he messed up by opening his heart out.