An Altruist no more, the Puppet of the Idol stares up at the top floor of the tower. The Children, blind and complacent, do not notice the Puppet enter the tower as they undo their work. Everything inside the Puppet screams at them to stop, but how can one refuse a god? They get to a safe distance just before the tower collapses, leaving everyone inside to-
Rot has exactly one mission; to spread. It does not matter what the cost of this calling is. Which is why, as the Agent of Rot bleeds out in the sewers, blood bubbling, the King does not help them. The King of Rot only watches through the eyes of millions rats as both the Decomposer and the Bloodletter limp away, a necrotic seed planted in each of them, which would soon-
Spread throughout the Garden, vines have formed a dense net, barring off the hungry mouths of the Engine. Their outward-facing thorns drip with poison, leaving countless would-be intruders paralyzed and vulnerable. The Construct, mechanical arms wrapped in the aforementioned vines, is ready to stand their ground against the Engine-
Beneath tons of rubble, very few of the Children have survived. With their altar to the Sun destroyed, the moon once again grows cold and freezes over. Buildings and bodies all over Viedelich sizzle as thousands of fires are put out at once and the city once again falls-
Silent, the Duo of the Bloodletter and the Decomposer limp throughout the sewers. Neither says a word to the other, though they both know they will not make it out alive. The Bloodletter’s right arm is a deep red, veins visible and bulging, blood boiling. The right side of the Decomposer’s face tells a similar story. Slumping against the slimy brick of the sewer, the Bloodletter takes a final breath, before closing their-
Eyes pointed inland, the Sea watches Viedelich with much interest. It had already begun to recede hours before the tower collapsed, leaving exposed the rocky shores of Viedelich, before returning tenfold. The tsunami passes over the seawall with ease, smothering out both remaining fires and lives. As the Sea fills the cracks of the pavement of Viedelich, it begins to know the city intimately. At once, it can sense what it is about to destroy, though it is too late for it to stop itself. Rot is overpowered as seawater races through the undercity and towards the Garden. The Construct, who does not need air to live, can only watch as the plants of the Garden drown in gallons of-
Water still drips from the withered plants of the Garden to this day. The Sea withdrew and wept. The Construct still weeps, mourning the strange greenery under Viedelich, claimed by an arrogant Sea. Cry not, little one, for not all is lost. Far below you, within the waterlogged corpse of the Engine, a Seed survives. Vulnerable and alone, yes, but alive, thriving in salinated water. It needs your guidance, hatchling, lest it grow unruly and devouring. The Construct gets to their feet, preparing for their journey into the depths of the Engine for the sake of the Seed.
