Infinite Genetic Evolution in a Game-like world

The forest felt different once Morden was finally alone; when he was heading over here with the Flaming Lion and its followers, it was much more lively and entertaining, but this time it felt extremely creepy.

Something might be wrong, or it might just be because Morden hadn’t actually walked in this Forest of Chaos entirely on his own the first two times he was with Lisa and Darlus.

To the current him, there were no watching eyes, no crackling flames trailing behind massive paws, and no incessant chatter by Darlus, just the quiet rustle of leaves and the steady rhythm of his own footsteps against the forest floor in the direction he believes to be heading back toward Evergreen City.

He let his mind wander for the first time in what felt like hours, the events of the night finally catching up to him now that there was nothing left demanding his immediate attention.

’Defects. Errors within the Matrix.’

The words the Lion had given him sat heavy, turning over slowly in his thoughts. He wasn’t sure if understanding what an Attribute actually was made things better or worse.

Before, it had just been a strange, unexplained thing sitting on his status screen, a mystery he could set aside when he needed to focus on something else. Now it felt like a countdown he couldn’t see the end of, something the world source of power itself was quietly working to erase.

’The One Who Shouldn’t Be.’

The phrase meant something now, even more than it had just a day ago. Though what he had was not the full picture, it was enough of one to make his skin crawl every time it crossed his mind.

He thought about the Old World too, the murals, the fusion, and the strange tattoos that had also appeared on his chest.

At the thought of the tattoo, Morden stopped in his tracks with a strange expression on his face.

’I haven’t actually checked it ever since I got back from the Old World.’

With that thought in mind, Morden decided to act on it; he slowly opened his chest before giving a small peep in. And he saw it, imprinted directly on where he remembered it to be.

’I will do further analysis later,’ he thought.

Everything was just slowly getting overwhelming; they were all tangled together with everything the Lion had explained, and they formed a picture that still refused to fully come into focus no matter how many pieces he laid out in front of himself.

’And then there’s whoever’s been controlling that shadow.’

The same person who had been near his house, the same person who had used him as a weapon against his own team. That thread alone was enough to make his chest tighten every time he let himself think about it for too long.

The Administrator, the person that had actually started all of this trend, where does he fit into all of this?’

He didn’t have an answer for that either, just another name to add to the growing list of things he didn’t understand yet.

He reached into his pocket as he walked, his fingers brushing against the small stone the young Lion had given him, letting the warmth of it ground him for a moment before he let his thoughts continue.

Now that he thought of it, apart from his two teammates, the son of the flaming Lion was the only other friend he had, and it was almost laughable; he had three friends, and one of them was a genetic beast.

That thought gave him a short moment of peace and a recluse until the bad thoughts came back in.

’New answers. New questions. Feels like I’ve traded one set of mysteries for another.’

Still, it was progress, especially from what he was and what he knew over a week ago, even if it didn’t feel like it yet. A few hours ago he hadn’t even known what an Attribute was. Now he at least had a shape to work with, even if most of it was still shrouded in shadow.

’Small steps. I’ll take what I can get.’

The path slowly grew more and more clear as he walked; the trees slowly began to thin the closer he got to the city, the fainter the light flickered somewhere ahead through the gaps in the branches.

’Lisa. Darlus. I hope they’re both okay.’

They had followed Marcus, and though it was unlikely for him to do anything to the two of them, he still couldn’t help but worry for the two of them.

He picked up his pace slightly at the thought, and the subconscious pull to see his teammates again outweighs whatever ache that was still lingering in his legs.

Part of him wondered what they had learned tonight, whether Marcus had given them anything close to real answers, or whether they’d been left with the same half-truths and riddles Morden had spent the night collecting from the Flaming Lion.

Though if Morden were to guess, he would say they weren’t actually given any information, especially from the kind of person he had concluded Marcus to be.

’Guess we’ll compare notes soon enough.’

A few minutes later, the trees finally gave way completely, and the familiar sight of Evergreen City’s gate came into view, torches lining the walls just as they had the first time he’d arrived.

Morden let out a slow breath, standing there for a moment just taking it in. He had left this city multiple times at once since he had arrived in the Omnisphere for the first time about twenty-four hours ago.

And right now he was returning with some answers but also more questions than he had left with.

’How do I meet with Darlus and Lisa?’ he thought.

’Have they returned to the real world, or are they still here? How do I even know they aren’t still in the forest of chaos right now?’

’Haaaaaaaa, what do I do?’

All while he thought, Ashton didn’t realize he had been slowly approaching the gate all the way until it was too late.

Now that he was alone and passing by, The Guardians reacted.

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