(ATTENDENCE PLZ)
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'I'll never be forgiven'
Zero thought grimly.
He had destroyed a world, created untold amount of suffering and death, he had ruined the lives of billions, no, trillions of living beings.
Suddenly, a memory came to mind. A very, very old memory.
Perhaps it had been hidden in his subcounscious all along, waiting for this moment.
It was of his mother, her face, he could finaly remember, and that's what she said to him when he made a mistake and asked for forgivness.
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"I have made so, so many mistakes, in fact, there's still many things I haven't been forgiven for; Listen, my treasure, no matter what you do, no matter how horrid a mistake, you will one day be forgiven.
Hatred can never hold forever, that is why it is different from Love. If you ever find yourself having done something unforgivable, stop. Live a polite life, a happy life. Little by little, day by day, one day, you will be forgiven."
He looked at his mother, deadpan.
"I just broke a vase mom, no need for that elaborate speech."
She chuckled and looked at him softly.
"Yeah, I know…"
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Zero opened his eyes and looked around him.
An Idyllic welcomed him, lush trees, plump rabbits, and a beautiful sky.
As he looked around, Zero noticed that he was surrouned by a forest.
Suddenly, however, something caught his attention.
Pilgy. Standing in the middle of the forest, near a small pond, fishing quitely.
"Hello there, little sleeper. You slept for a long time, you know ? So, mind if you told me about your dreams."
Zero looked at him, and directly said:
"Cut the bullshit. Tell me what the hell you are…And what in tarnation is this world."
Pilgy sighed,
"Geez, you're no fun. Well, I can probably imagine. It must be terrifying, to fall into a world you do not belong in…"
*WOOOSH*
Zero appeared right in front of Pilgy in an instant.
He was already in a bad mood from that dream, his patience being paper thin at this moment.
"FOR THE LOVE OF THE DEAD GODS, HOW!!? HOW WAS SHE THERE? WHERE AM I? WHAT EVEN IS THIS WORLD?"
Zero drew his nail, and hanged it right next to Pilgy's head.
"Calm down friend, we can discuss things peacefully… I don't remember you being this aggressiv—"
"Friends?"
Zero stared at Pilgy, his grip over his nail tightening.
He pressed the edge of the blade on Pilgy's face, drawing purple blood.
"Look here, whatever you are. The old me would've done it in a heartbeat, no hestitation, how abou that uh? Tell me, if you knew who I am…No, WHAT I am, would you still call me your friends ?"
Pilgy stayed silent for a second, before replying in a calm voice.
"Yeah, maybe I wouldn't even have considered approaching you. But tell me, you're not like that anymor—"
Zero cut him off.
"Anymore? Let me inculcate this lesson into you. People don't change. In the end, no matter what I do, no matter what I try to do to erase these sins crawling upon my back, I won't change. I won't be forgiven. I'm a monster, that's all there is."
Pilgy, seemingly ignoring the nail pressing on his cheek, sat down.
"First, we're getting a bit too philosophical for my tastes, second, could you please rein in your bloodlust and speak like actual civilized bugs ? I mean, you do what you want I ain't gonna force you pal."
Zero paused for some time, before sighing and sheathed his nail, and asked Pilgy.
"First, what is this…what the hell is this world…"
After the "Trial" and that dream, his perception reached another level. And now, he could feel it. This world…
"It's wrong. Yeah, I know."
Pilgy said, as if talking about the weather.
"But how? Why does everything feel so real yet so illusory at the same time ?"
Hearing this, pilgy sighed, and simply said:
"This world…Doesn't exist at all."
Zero's eyes widened.
That was impossible.
Everyone here, every bug he had met, they felt too real. They even had souls. The laughed, cried, and lived together. How could this all be an illusion ?
Pilgy, seemingly hearing his thoughts, sighed,
"Yeah, I know. I myself don't exist, and I got no clue what's happening. Tough, you must have it tougher, I can't imagine how it feels…To fall into a world you do not belong to…"
'And I experienceed that. Twice.' Zero thought.
Pilgy sat down, cross legged, awaiting more questions.
"But how do you know ? How do you know I don't belong here ?" Zero asked, his voice betraying his curiosity.
"I can feel it. You, and your servant, both don't have the aura of someone who was born and raised here. You feel…More real. More Physical. Its pretty hard to explain. But its like…You're real, you're "special" to this world."
And with that, the world around Zero started to collapse.
"Pilgy" smiled, and said softly:
"Be kind to my other side. He's pretty young, I guess only someone that naive could've trusted you. And, remember…You're a better person than you think"
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[Another Abyss Forms…]
Zero started to feel a burning pain in his chest, as if something was growing…
It was the same as when he unlocked the Abyss of Salvation, same exact feeling.
[Congratulation, Hollow Knight, You have discovered the Second Abyss of Humanity, Forgiveness]
Abyss Core: 2/???
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'The Second abyss of Humanity, Forgiveness? Holy shit, what exactly is this body, Lord of Shades ?!' Zero thought in utter confusion.
He had NEVER heard of a mutated core like that.
From what he had understood, unlocking more core wasn't as easy as other Mutated Cores, instead, he had to understand or "feel" a concept linked to the Core, and THEN have enough accumulated shards to form another "Abyss" and repeat the process.
'And it doesn't even show how many I can form, just what in tarnation did the Lord of Shades create ??'
As Zero's vision cleared, he began to take in his new surroundings…
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Hiii guys. Sorry for the long break, I had to deal with a lot of personal issues. BUT ITS FINALY HOLIDAY, YIPIEEEEE.
Was close to killing myself last week, glad I didn't lmao.
Anyway, PS goal is still up, and please, comment more, it makes me feel that I'm not writign for no one.