Ding! “Cell Manipulation has been activated. Remaining time: 59...58...57...”
Datil and Fresa can’t hear this announcement, and yet...
“What on earth? I understand what this ability is and how to use it. Cell Manipulation not only strengthens my muscles throughout my entire body, but my cells themselves. I can move just like Apple-san!” Datil’s voice was filled with wonder. He was right on the money about his new ability.
“What? You just got faster, didn’t you?!” the queen said.
Seems like Fresa’s in the same boat.
“I understand how this works too. Activate King of Apples.”
Ding! “King of Apples has been activated. Please ensure that others are a safe distance away. Activating in: 10...9... You will feel a strong shock wave, please stand back. 3...2...1...”
Fresa held me in her left hand and glared straight at the queen with a dignified look on her face. Her outstretched right hand had another apple floating in front of it. “This new ability of mine is King of Apples. It’s the ability to manipulate apples however I wish. Heh heh, this really is like apple magiiic!” A bunch of other apples suddenly appeared around her, floating in the air. “Seems like five is my limit for now. Harden, superoxidize, leech.”
Ding! “All apples will be hardened, superoxidized, and leech seeded. 3...2...1... Upgrade complete.”
Fresa completely understands her own abilities too.
“You vermin! Stop scurrying around! Just what is happening here?” the queen screamed.
“Amazing. I don’t even feel like myself,” Datil said, as he proceeded to overpower the queen.
“Datil! Dooodge!” Fresa yelled, and Datil jumped out of the way. “Here I gooo! Apple Meteor!” The apples floating around Fresa flew towards the queen at breakneck speed.
“What? Are those fruits?!” the queen shouted. She raised both of the staves she wielded in a cross pattern, trying to block the attack. The apples dodged around her guard and struck her in the abdomen. “Gaaaah?! Why do these tiny fruits hurt so badly? Eek! It burns! It hurts! What’s going on?!”
We heard a sizzling sound as smoke rose from her figure, and a sweet aroma of burnt apples lingered in the air.
“It seems like my oxidation is a bit weak,” Fresa noted.
The queen’s hard exterior melted away as the acid seeped in. So that’s what she meant by “superoxidization.”
“Raaagh! D-Don’t think you can win against me, you insolent fools!” the queen roared.
“And don’t think my attack’s over yeeet!” Fresa replied.
Fresa, can you understand the queen’s words too?!
“Wh-What?! Something’s burrowing into my body! Ow! What is this?!”
“The seeds of those apples have made their way deep in your body. They’ll take root and suck out all your bodily fluids!”
What? That’s terrifying. That’s a different plant entirely. Just what do you think apples are, anyways?
“You! Youuuu insolent foooool! These toys will not kill me! This...owwww!”
“You shouldn’t try to pull it out, you knooow? Their roots are tangled with your nerves and blood vessels.”
That’s so scary! That’s straight-up a biological weapon! Hey! You can eat seeds from normal apples! Just don’t eat too many at once, but they’re generally harmless! Also, apple cider vinegar’s good for you!
“That’s amazing, Fresa! Er, I mean, Fresa-san! Uh, now it’s my turn!” Datil said.
Ding! “Cell Manipulation’s effects have expired. Recast possible in: 59...58...57...”
“Aw, man...” Datil said, his shoulders slumped.
Seems like Datil’s Cell Manipulation has a cooldown. Okay, then! Sorry to steal your thunder, but I’ll activate Shackle!
Ding! “Shackle has been activated. Please be careful of your surroundings.”
Looks like I had a full understanding of my new abilities too. This is odd, but I guess this is how it goes.
The curse card created chains linking me to Fresa and Datil. They kept jingling.
I’m the only one that can see these chains. They’re proof of my bonds that can never be broken.
“Apple-san, is this...?” Fresa gasped.
“I get it! This was how we were connected!” Datil exclaimed.
You guys can see this? Ha ha ha! I get it now! You guys think of me so much that these chains are visible to you!
“Apple-san, take care of that queen!” Fresa said as she placed me on the ground.
“Fine. I guess I’ll leave the finishing blow to you!” Datil said with a grin.
All right, here I go! This is the end! Funerary Shackles!
Ding! “Activating Funerary Shackles. The coffin will appear in: 30...29...28... Please be wary of your surroundings. I repeat, please be wary of your surroundings. 24...23...”
The queen was writhing in pain, unable to pay any attention to me. “Raaaagh! It hurts! It hurts! The roots! The roots!”
Now, I’ll send you off. Dragging the chains behind me, I approached the queen.
“A-Another fruit?! S-Stop! Get away! Not an inch closer! Stop...” the queen cried as she fearfully backed away.
I won’t let you escape! I started rolling around the queen, wrapping the chains around her.
“What’s going on? Why are you rolling around me?! Stop! Stop! Stoooop!” She couldn’t see the chains that proved the strength of our bonds.
You’re about to get dragged into our destiny and die.
Ding! “The Funerary Shackles will now be deployed. Join your hands together in prayer. For those attending the cremation, a bus has been prepared for you. Please board immediately.”
As the horn sounded, the chains went taut, and the queen was crushed into little pieces.
✦ ✦ ✦
Just because the queen was defeated, it doesn’t mean the other ants would magically disappear. This isn’t a video game, after all.
Datil began to speak. “Fresa-san, they’re—”
“All deaaad?” Fresa said. Indeed, every single ant had perished.
We’re lucky they didn’t just disappear into thin air. Let’s collect them all. Grida, could you please?
“Furutsu, why did the ants all die?” Grida asked as they began to vanish.
You got them all at once? You’re amazing, Grida. Anyway, yeah, this is the effect of the Funerary Shackles. It doesn’t just affect the target, but anyone that would mourn the target’s death too. They all get taken away by a bus.
“A bus?”
Oh, uh, you don’t have to worry about that bit. Since the ants must’ve had a queen-and-child relationship, there probably aren’t any alive still.
“That’s a little scary, isn’t it?”
I agree. This essentially means that I could kill a bunch of random things in one fell swoop. This time around though, we needed to defeat all the ants in the colony, so it worked out.