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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]The nearest door had been tempting indeed. Perhaps even too tempting. That was why, with his footsteps masked by the sound of shattered bone and rent flesh, he'd instead made his way into the second nearest exit.[break][break]

The cacophony of violence gave way to those heavy crystalline footsteps, growing closer and closer until suddenly they weren't. For a brief, beautiful moment, Isaac and Ogrelord were alone.[break][break]

That wasn't to say they were safe. So long as they remained within the Megalopolis' walls, they would never truly be. First, Isaac released a Pokeball, having his Ariados cover the opened door in a mass of Sticky Webs. Then he whipped out his phone and turned on the flashlight. There was no time to be wasted waiting for the spire's flickering lights.[break][break]

For a second, it seemed like he'd made a grievous mistake. The light caught black crystal, and a desperate Ogrelord charged forward to pummel the source while they still could. Fists rained down in a relentless flurry, not stopping until Ogrelord could hear something first sag, then cave in.[break][break]

It was a body encased in crystal, alright. But it wasn't Zev. Instead of wearing the crystals as if they were armor, this figure was pierced and penetrated by them. Only a corner of the corpse's face was visible, twisted into a silent scream. The rest was all hungering crystal, its growth jagged and angry as it overwhelmed its victim. A sweep of the flashlight confirmed Isaac's worst fears; dozens of other bodies, each sharing the same fate. Had Zev been here before? Or was this not his handiwork?[break][break]

Was this a warning of what might lie in store if he became dependent on his "gift?"[break][break]

Isaac took a look at the first body, the one Ogrelord had apparently broken. The black crystal still stretched in a thick, unbroken layer. Whatever Ogrelord had caved in, it hadn't been the crystals. Morbid as it may be, perhaps he could use that to his advantage. Isaac and Ogrelod each took a body, stringing them up within the webs to finish their blockade.[break][break]

Arceus. The fact that he could even make these decisions so calmly disturbed him. The fact that he could sense his own revulsion as he did so only made it worse.[break][break]

No matter. They couldn't afford to linger here. Isaac led his team into the next hall, hoping against all hope that they were working their way towards some manner of opening. If he could find even the slightest gap in this tower's outer walls . . .

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