madnovel Chapter 1628 Shattering of the Frozen Part 1
Chapter 1628 Shattering of the Frozen Part 1
--- Kat ---
Like many uncomfortable and complicated decisions throughout the ages, it was decided that instead of reaching a decision now they could instead pawn it off onto some other poor shmuck. As such, Corela tasked Meg with locating all of the most likely to survive the awakening process and get THEM to make the decision.
It did mean that the pamphlets Brella had done up would be useless but that was only a small loss, and they might still be necessary.
"So... these people are all certain to wake up?" asked Brella once Meg announced she'd finished looking.
Meg of course sighed at the question, "No. They are not certain to wake up. Even Corela, crazy as her body is, wasn't certain to wake up. I'd give them above ninety percent chance though. None of them are quite that secure but they're all... within the same bracket I guess? Like... they aren't on Corela's level but they're clearly close,"
"Just these seven?" asked Corela.
Meg shrugged, "Well you've got the two that haven't been in there all that long, two that have been in there almost as long as you... and the other three that joined seemingly by themselves. Not sure who here is the most likely to be fine if that's what you're angling for... but yeah just these seven. I could add another grouping on afterwards?"
"No, let's just go with these for now," said Corela.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Meg nodded and moved to the first person, a younger looking woman who was technically closest to Corela's age and someone the old woman new. Not particularly well, but she'd been the personal assistant of Corela's friend, one who had decided not to entire cryo sleep at all. Her name was Stensil apparently. Meg popped the thing opened and the girl fell out screaming.
Corela caught her but... "Let her down, let her down," said Meg as she summoned up a beanbag chair and put it under Stensil. Stensil's appearance was odd. She lacked any wrinkles or crows feet, and a general sense of age and refinement that Corela had... but her skin was faded and cracked in places and her scales were much the same.
If quizzed, Corela would reveal they were once a bright red though now they were more of a burgundy colour.
"What's happening?" asked Corela. "Is there anything to be done?"
"Hmmm..." Meg resisted the urge to lightly kick the girl to see if she reacted to the stimulation even as Kat tried to pour her aura into Stensil to help with whatever this was. It didn't seem to be working... at all. *Why not though? What's the issue?*
Meg answered a moment later as if she'd heard the question. "She's in a lot of pain. Not sure if she was in pain before she got put in but her nerves are constantly firing pain signals everywhere, her skin is cracking in a few places... but her mind is holding up and her soul isn't leaving the body so I count this as a success,"
"Success! You can't this as a fucking success!" hissed Brella from the side, even as Corela remained silent. "She's screaming her lungs out.
Kat let out a long breath and relaxed now that she no longer had to strain against keeping her aura up. *Definitely pushed things too far there. I doubt the overwhelming amount of calm was actually helping matters. I just don't know what else I could've done. It's easy to say 'be more efficient with it' but I've got NO practice at stuff like this and I guess I panicked.
Not sure how I'd practice something like this though... might have to ask Nira.*
Eventually, Kat was feeling good enough to restart the process and Meg hit the next button. This was an older dude, someone Corela really didn't like. His name was called Craunch apparently. "Are you sure this asshole is going to be ok?" asked Corela.
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"As sure as the rest of them," answered Meg.
Corela thought about it for a few seconds before nodding, "Well I guess getting a chance to see him scream in pain will make up for the headache I'm going to endure by having him around again,"
Meg gave a confused glance at Corela but opened the pod. The man sat inside for a few seconds before his eyes fluttered open and he scanned the room. "Corela you old bitch, still around I see! Great to have you around!"
Corela gave Meg a betrayed look. Meg just grinned back as if the world had given her a great gift. "Craunch... it seems we've got a chance to leave the facility..."
"Hmm, hmm, perfect! And you woke me up first? Truly I am honoured by your attentions, but I'm more into men still. Though I might make an exception for you..." said Craunch wistfully.
"You're third actually," admitted Corela.
"Third? Oof, my poor heart. Truly I am a wretched existence if I only merit third place! Where are the other two?" asked Craunch
"First one's dead and the second one's asleep in the corner," said Meg 'helpfully'.
Craunch glanced at Meg for a few seconds before nodding and turning back to Corela. "Is it true? Is what the demon says true? You would sacrifice the first survivor for their wicked games? Was that the price of awakening us? Freedom for one of our brother's or sister's souls?"
Corela smacked him on the side of the head. "Craunch shut the fuck up with your nonsense. No. It turns out long time cryo-pod usage has... problems,"
"Yeah that makes sense," nodded Craunch.