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Chapter 2
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Diero gently set his boss back down on the ground and took his skeletal hand off from over his mouth. “Boss, I really think we should wait this one out and see what happens.”
“HE is GHID!” Renner retorted, spitting out the taste of Diero’s extremely filthy gloves. “Diero, you had better let me through so I can rip his tiny head into confetti and ensure he NEVER comes back!” Ducking Diero’s arm, Renner bolted through the hall and made a diving tackle for the little Ghid who had just begun to open a door on the other end.
As Renner’s dive successfully caught the little Ghid in his extended hands, the door was pushed open to reveal a very large banquet hall on the other side. A large amount of eyes turned to greet him - from a very small amount of attendees inside, all of whom bent their tall forms downward to observe the silvery newcomer.
“Hi guys, sorry I’m late.” The little Ghid, who seemed completely unfazed by the incident, looked down at Renner with a smile. “Thanks for the boost, pal.”
“N-No problem.” Renner forcibly composed himself, getting up off the floor and dusting off his armor. “So, uh… What are we waiting around for?”
The voice of Volume suddenly sounded from somewhere in the ceiling, crackling over a speaker system. “Thank you all for your timely attendance. I'm running a little late, so make yourselves comfortable with some complementary refreshments.” Renner’s eyes turned to a completely empty set of trays which bore the crumbs of having once contained a numerous amount of sweets.
As the speaker shut off, one of the attendees gave a snarl and raised a revolver towards the ceiling, but hesitating, eventually changed his mind. “Why don’t you come down from there, you hideless coward! Do you have any idea how long we’ve been waitin’, hearin’ the same nonsense from you over and over again?!”
“I told you, it’s a recording.” Another attendee, shorter than the rest, hissed at the angrier one, only for the angrier one to immediately bite back. “And I told you, there ain’t no such thing as a replica of a man’s voice! He’s up there, hiding, makin’ us waste everyne’s time with this nonsense!” Raising his arm again, he fired two shots in the ceiling, making certain other attendees duck in response. “Come down, you yellow-bellied… Hm?”
The small Ghid had an expression of abject horror plastered across his simple features, and the armed attendee tipped his hat and returned his firearms. “My apologies son, it’s… It’s been a long night.” He sighed, and waved his hand towards another one of the attendees, the shorter one who had retorted to his tirade before. He approached, his squat and sphere-like body entirely mechanical, with a very large head with fearsome features. But inside that head, protected under a transparent substance, was a sleek, white face, with no features aside from sunken cheeks and holes for eyes, which squinted and blinked at the even shorter newcomer.
“Our condolences for your circumstances.” The mechanical arm extended and shook the tentative noodle limb of the other. “We- ahem, I am Krana Za number 7894. Clean-” The mechanical arm smacked the head suddenly. “Someone else taker over.” Krana Za number 7894 stalker off, gripping his mechanical cranium in disappointment.
A four-meter figure walked forward, his face hidden behind his helmet with only his left eye visible - until Renner noticed the slots in the right side of his helmet his two extra orbs. The figure seemed to recognize Renner’s discerning them, leaning forward with a metallic hiss.
“Ghidrius the Endless.” He rumbled, standing back up after a moment, not bothering to acknowledge the small Ghid as his eyes stayed fixed on Renner’s. Backing away, he was replaced by a pile of some dark liquid which grew itself up to Renner’s height and allowed four white lights to glow out of its form, in very Ghid fashion.
“That one is Tarnish.” Krana Za number 7894 interjected, having broken from his apparent migraine to pay attention to what as happening. “He cannot speak. It took us three hours to find out his name.”
The gun-wielding one made some kind of noise of disgust under his breath in retort. Before anything could start between the two, a much more human-looking Ghid stepped forward, grabbing Renner’s hand and shaking it violently with the sleaziest grin possible. Unlike the others present, he appeared to be human, with the only distinguishing factor being his extra eyes, which were illogically nestled around his right one.
“Very happy to meet you, sir, very happy.” The human Ghid spoke, his small mouth turned up at the corners with an artificial smile. “I trust you’re not one of these neanderthals with their poor fashion sense and disgusting, protruding extra eyes?” His low nose and spiked silver hair added significantly to his untrustworthiness.
Renner slowly removed his helmet with his free hand, trying desperately to hide his concern from the figure. “A real person! Sorry, human, a real… Well, you get the idea. Hanging around these persons has been an ordeal, what with their constant talking and even more constant getting into fights with each other. It’s been so bad I haven’t been able to talk about me or my interests in overseas media! Tell me stranger, have you ever heard of Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Ha-”
A hand grabbed this Ghid by the back of the collar, and the assemblage of different Ghids began viciously stomping and hitting the human Ghid. Renner fell back in shock as it began, with even the little Ghid rolling up his sleeves and stalking forward to partake in the brutality. It grew increasingly violent, descending into absolute carnage with what little remained being absorbed by the tar abomination.
All eyes in the room turned and approached Renner, looming menacingly. “I didn’t know he had such heretical opinions.” The little Ghid spoke, walking up on top of Renner’s chest and looking down at him with empty eyes. “Thankfully no one else here shares them… Right?”
The armed Ghid suddenly growled and drew his revolvers, firing two shots over Renner’s head which ricocheted into tar Ghid. A stony hand lifted Renner up from the floor, the scowling chin of Diero coming into view.
“I’ve made my choice.” Diero growled, his eyes locking with the armed Ghid. “Boss, get writing.”
“For what, your last will an’ testament?” The armed Ghid snarled back, stepping in front of the other Ghids. “I’ve hunted you a long time, Diero, but you could never outrun McGick.”
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