Lisa wasn't sure what to look at first; she had a peculiar look and opinion about the devil race, which was known to possess intense qualities and history in the Battleworld and Skies beyond. Standing before her was a pri example of a devil, though he was sowhat different as well.
The air, aura, or feelings about him were kind of high, looking as if his gaze and surroundings guided towards him. He was collected, taking the surroundings for sothing new and unfamiliar. He was sizing up her and Murai alike, but sothing about him was wild and untamable.
Ultium was looking impressive and young, and his eyes were honest and straight and impossible to lie. His horns were noticeable, crisp ashen red skin gave his pretty face a different vibe, and his suit was pristine and clean, looking expensive.
Lisa had seen this kind of devil very rarely, and when she had, it wasn't a ti that she cherished. In her closest past especially. Only those high in the hierarchy would be like this, or by Bloodline, or...well, she could only guess who he was, but most of what was under his power or clarity wasn't obvious by his appearance, or by her senses. She didn't see his depth with eyes alone, No devil should be judged by their appearances. Feelings were different and powers were stranger.
She found a couple of weird things about this whole situation. This devil worked for David, so what to think of that? It was yet another weird idea that she couldn't fathom because David was David. How or where had he found this sort of Devil?
Where did David find him, or was that backward? David of all people took care of this devil, or was their whole situation a farce? She doubted the world made sense in many ways, but perhaps she shouldn't think twice about it, considering what was sleeping in her grasp, or what was she even doing with it.
Ultium looked quite human in all aspects, as most devils did. His ears were normal, curling upward along the side of his head. So was his overall visage besides above average height that wasn't special or tall for devils.
His notable devilish features were his horns, unsurprisingly, as well as his clean pretty face that went far too well with his nice suit. His redness made a nice addition to his overall appearance, gifting him an unnatural charm.
His tall stature wasn't burly or slender. It was just about right to fit his suit and give him strength and size. But Lisa bet he was powerful in flesh, as his body and appearance suggested sothing imnse like his aura. There was a flexible yet sturdy body hiding beneath the tight suit, and she wouldn't mind seeing it.
His face was without any hair, unlike his scalp which had pitch-black longer hair surrounding the horns. Well, he also had sharp brows above his even sharper eyes.
Red colors indicated abnormalities and qualities in devil Bloodlines, so the more powerful and cleared redness looked, the more potent Bloodlines were under their grasp, or their control and heart were imnse. That was one of their core feature, similar to how Anatideas had their wilderness or colorful feathers.
For devils, it was all about blood and heart. It was their everything, similar to how so beasts took Bloodline-related evolutions for their main course of power.
Devils had so unique powers because they were no beast, nor were they very close to most demonic races. They were their own thing since they didn't rely on evolution, but rather an overall transformation. It was about their individuality and Bloodline pact or Path. These made their decision, following their family, heart, clan, history, or what they preferred in their life. What were the differences? Well, the evolution was permanent, adjusting life in power and chance, history, ancestry, and choices. The transformation wasn't permanent and often carried vast differences in vision and power because it could be about anything. They could vary too, almost like their whole hearts.
Ultium stood on his own against Lisa's curious glances, unsure what to think about a ghost, but he saw that the situation was weird.
Opposite to him, Lisa watched him as she did with David: curiously, unhinged in her gaze and deanor. Her eyes had a certain arrogance that Ultium found interesting.
His horns weren't small either, accenting his head. There was just a pair of them, which made him not that crazy, but that could always change. They curved above his hair, gliding behind his head. They were quite thick at their roots and pointy the further they went towards sharp tips.
They were unfortunately angled in not a good direction like devil horns often were, acting as weapons. His curved away from his forehead and the tip of his head instead, giving him sha. He could stab soone with them if he smacked soone with the back of his head, which wasn't desirable or very often.
Although he had a pair of them, he was still a nice example of a devil powerhouse that stood loftily as one of the most powerful races in most Hells. They weren't that potent on the Surface, since their Chaos was like those succubuses or other ancient demonic races, causing those on the Surface to not like them.
“I am Ultium, ghost,” Ultium said to her coldly, understanding that she was an invader of their business or the business itself. “Am a pri manager of the Lost Brothers. You are?” He asked, unfazed by her gaze and the situation that was out of his touch or mind.
In fact, he appeared completely fine, calm, and collected, as if this was just a regular day eting a Soul Render bearing Anatidae in her grasp.
“So, you are,” Lisa said as she indicated towards David with her free hand, “his subordinate, or is it backward? I can't seem to catch the right ideas, as you are a devil, right?”
“That is correct,” Ultium nodded without clarifying what he answered. He gave David a small bow, revealing the obvious answer. “What is this situation, boss? I sense trouble from this ghost in many ways things. In her hands... too, is sothing that is... strange and demanding.”
“It is complicated, boy,” David mumbled and laughed awkwardly. “Why have you co here by the way?”
“Why? Business, obviously. There was that ti, collecting tolls and jobs from the Drein District, but things got feisty with all of the ss that goes from above. Are they afraid of the loss of this world? It isn't as if the world is ending, so collecting money and doing business should remain. Can't you do sothing about it?” Ultium took a ring from underneath his suit, showing it to him in an offer. It wasn't his storage ring. It was David's, appearing expensive and filled with engraved bones, and a bunch of little runes engraved on the ring.
“What? Toll? Give a look,” Lisa flashed her hand towards his hands, almost taking the ring away, but Ultium jolted his hand away in ti, feeling... disturbed. No one shall take a business out of his heart. No one touched the money. That was what David said. Taughed. He glared at her, unleashing bits of killing intent that flooded the room like a storm suddenly appearing, shuddering Marthosh even if he was unconscious, and surprising David.
Lisa took the brunt of this aura in the front seat, but because of non-fighting rules inside this room, Ultium stopped himself from obliterating this arrogant ghost or taking this too far.
Lisa jerked her sona away in fear, almost becoming a thin fog that would toss Murai away.
But before that happened, David hurried forward, jumping to the rescue and shoving himself between them.
“Calm down, both of you. One more than the other,” he pressed his arms to a black suit, eyeing the main cause, before shooting Lisa another look. “Ulitum! This is a business I've ntioned in the morning. Business, this is Ultium. A new one, you see. The kind I've talked about before the shitstorm happened. It's like this so bear that into your head...” David kept pressing both hands to his chest as Ultium stepped forward, glaring at Lisa who backed away. He cald after hearing his tone and words.
Then, David began talking, hoping that this would resolve everything or at least part of it.
Ultium ceased his killing intent right away, still holding the ring and listening to David's explanation like a good boy. The situation in the following minutes turned into a nerve-wracking ti, giving Ultium nothing but facts and important information that David had to repeat twice. Just in case, he gave so words more attention because he was never sure what this devil preferred.
“So... It's like that?” Ulitum nodded, scratching his chin and adjusting his tie. “A business that ran rampant in the upper Gates for the past days? That is what that duck is, alongside this ghost? No. She feels... different. Weirder. What goes through a ghost? Heard the talk of Challengers before, but wasn't there a human too? The one that went against a Low-Marchal and nearly cut him in half?”
He rembered things well, thanks to Mindarch's information, rumors, and publicity that David told him. Tosing the ring to David, who stopped the inevitable issues, the situation cald down.
Lisa took Razmund's ntion with the least amount of discomfort, though the Low Marchal's ntion was kind of interesting.
Nodding to himself, David clapped and took the ring for himself. “That too, Ulitum, but this business and situation is sothing else. Sothing better.”
“An Anatidae is better?” Ultium glanced at the sleeping duck in Lisa's grasp. It looked as open as it could be, free for taking, shredding, and eating. He could kill it in a heartbeat if it was sleeping this comfortably in its clothes. It was asking for it, in fact. His Bloodline too.
He thought for a second how to to kill it, until he rembered where he was, who he was, and what he should be doing. The strangeness of those clothes didn't occur to him; he was too late to realize or think of it as sothing important. But he was looking at Anatidea with a certain interest.
It was like a switch. At one mont, he was ready to murder them all, but then, he laughed awkwardly, feeling silly for making poor assumptions and silly mistakes.
David still stood close to him. “A business is deed worth more than so mistakes or hunches, Ultium. Business grows and business rules when calmness and situations are first taken into account. Actions co later or sooner. Here, we need to take things into large consideration, since it is that important. Right?” David repeated his mantra by scolding this devil who was nearly a head taller.
He felt and sounded reassuring to this overly serious, workaholic, and airhead devil. Repeating it to his zealous head, silly heart, yet sharp Bloodline was the least he could do.
So David patted him on both shoulders, hoping that nothing wrong would happen with Ultium, Lisa, or Murai at a later date.
Unfortunately, Lisa was another problem altogether.
“Right,” Ultium said. “A good business is a start or end to a good day or night. You said it, boss. I've got the gist of the concern, but what kind of business is this? Is it a mission? Part of the Task? Accounting for sothing or soone? What about paynt, worldly situations, or what are outer effects like? Are there so gangs overlooking this as well? Should I solve them first ahead, taking this for a starting war? What about other situations? What needs to be done?” Ultium asked a bunch of questions, ending David's reassurance that instead went to other worries.
There were endless troubles ahead, yet it all seed worth it if David was as certain about this situation as he was. Above him, Ultium kept glancing at Murai, looking as if he couldn't stop glaring. David wondered if he should forbid him from touching, or speaking about Anatidaes, or if taking this to another direction was more suitable.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
For now, he hoped for clarity across the board. Ultium wasn't necessary for it, but his presence and stay were. David needed to talk to Lisa and get their business started. Lisa had yet to ntion everything, let alone ntion what he needed. She demanded things from them instead.
“Now. Now,” David patted Ultium's shoulders again. “Don't be like that. Sit or listen to . This is a very complicated business that needs special attention to details and politics. The start is with talking, not acting. So sit down and hear what Lisa has to say. I need it too, because this is sothing that could shake us both. Our lives, I an,” He motioned him to the sofa and gave him much more clarity than usual just in case.
It was one of the Ultium's weaknesses. This devil was far too focused on what mattered or not at all, and sotis, lines between these points were nonexistent.
It was either caused by his Bloodline, his head, or how he grew up. Either way, he often forgot what mattered as fast as a goldfish, so having a focus was much better than being a chicken.
And he heard sothing crisp and interesting in what David said. Sothing that he kept in his special mories. He heard it from David many tis. “Oh! I've got it. Lisa? I know that na. Is this that Lisa? That one... How was that again...” Ultium suddenly stopped speaking when David shoved him to the sofa, forcing him there, smiling at him forcefully, cold sweat running over his forehead.
“Yeah. That one. Now, calm down and sit without speaking or I won't give you the dessert you deserve,” David ordered like a father speaking to an unfililal son, giving him a long stare.
Ultium frowned but didn't speak.
Huffing a cough, David finally accomplished what he wanted with his hands, but he doubted this would end well. He often had to give Ultium physical ans of rules. Not a forceful one, of course. There was no way he could do anything to this devil.
“You told him of ?” Lisa caught up to them and asked after going over the near-end experience with a smile. She still felt the lingering aura and death of that crimson gaze that suddenly appeared, while the air around the room thickened. It was nearing, yet now as it passed, she smiled. “That makes a bit perplexed but happily surprised. To be rembered after the End, it sounds lodramatic. Not as if it is important, but...”
“T-that is... Isn't important! Not at all. Not now. Not ever. Never,” David laughed weakly, patting Ultium on his left shoulder before turning back to her.
Just in ti when Ulitum opened his mouth again, telling what was on his mind without any stops. “Tell us about this opportunity first, evil Lisa. I am all ears and...” Ultium wanted to speak further, but a palm slapped his mouth, shutting him up, but it was too late.
“Evil?” Lisa frowned, taking this as an interesting topic.
David didn't know what to feel. He shuddered and turned his head at her. “It is... nothing. Nah... I am sorry. I lied. It's been a long ti since I was... I an, since the ti and living with you get back to life. And I am never forgetful. That is what you've taught . Never stop. I said it. I was young and near the limits. You gave reasons yet so of that ti hurt. It followed ever since, and your death... It wasn't good. I didn't know what to do, so I coped with it on my own terms. Life before End, or stubbornly continue. I determined what to do and things happened on their own, but you lingered in my heart like a demon. Never changing.” David pressed on his truth, pleading for whatever reason he thought was fitting or not.
Lisa didn't care about details, but seeking an old David speaking like this was weird.
So when the tears almost erged in his eyes, for so reason, Ultium did find it strange. David usually cried whenever Lisa ca up into his mory or mouth, or he would laugh, or cry at the sa ti. It also followed many words and pleading and... whatever else.
“I asked a question,” Ultium argued to Lisa, squinting his eyes after forcing David's hand away.
“Sure, you did,” Lisa said to him with a carefree smile. “It is not much for , but it could be quite sothing for you, even if you are a mighty devil of unknown. I still... think twice about the choices and what to think of other things. For example, there is no way to get going alone. Thus, an opportunity can be a business, and your boss owes a lot, I guess. You don't have to be with him if you don't want to, because there is an Encounter hovering above this little guy along with a bunch of other things,” Lisa showed Murai to them with her hand, squeezing the hood of his hoodie.
Dozing and dreaming Anatidae remained calm even after Ultium unleashed his killing intent. They weren't calm or quiet in their discussion either, but Murai kept his steady sleep as if nothing was happening.
Ultium was interested in Murai anyway, so he heard it with open curiosity when she showed Murai like a seized fish and told interesting words and chances. Widening his eyes and mouth, this business was great as if Ulitum found a goldmine.
“Oh?! Oh! Heard that! An Encounter? Blessed clash and unphased war! That sounds like a large business indeed, but what about the... rest, or what is happening above. Encounters are large, aren't they? With Gods and people or fools touching them, they are things that could be wilder than most missions. Not everyone wants a piece of it, so what is this one like?” He changed his expression for the first ti, smiling like a charming prince.
Appearing serious as if knowing all about the situation wasn't what David expected from him. Ultium ended up leaning on the sofa and took the appearance of this evil Lisa for sothing good and exciting. He heard about Encounters on rare occasions, but they were far too rare to see or notice them in this place.
By choice, Ultium wasn't allowed outside very often. For an Encounter to influence this place, it was extrely difficult, and complicated when it did, or far too savage. Levandis never liked them, as they reeked of the Sky and the ploys they demanded. RIght. Encounters were a playground for Gods, churches, and significant figures. It was fitting for vast players to look at them and influence them, so it wasn't for soone cheap or poor.
David wanted it, so perhaps neither of them was that.
In truth, it was even more complicated than neither of them assud, much to David's awareness and knowledge, which Ultium was familiar with. Neither of them was that familiar with Murai, problems on the Surface, or what Lisa wanted. Ultium lived all of his life in this temple after all, away from the Surface and its politics, and shrouded in it like in a cage.
David felt a storm brewing, knowing that Ulitum should never be underestimated. Fun, joy, and adventure were that, but he knew things about Ultium that few could get into their heads.
Encounters always needed very specific circumstances to occur, and when they did, they filled, crashed, or increased remarkably vivid agendas and grudges around the Battleworld. Usually, quite a few Gods were involved in them, hoping to get ahead in so plots that stemd from the politics in the Battleworld through ages or hopes and various people. In so of them, it might be possible for a God to fall. It was about their Divine Kingdom and struggle with mortal powers. Everyone hoped for an edge, so many mortals always got involved.
But even after knowing it, David turned his heart upside down like a proper businessman and cald down. This situation will be good! It had to. He had to trust it if he was willing to get involved. What sort of things could co out of it, causing so repercussions or mistakes, wasn't clear.
However, he wasn't afraid. Not anymore. He knew much more about it than Ultium; he grew up in the Surface and was part of Lisa, a forr Blessed, so it wasn't surprising his savageness and awareness over the politics wasn't the smallest.
Alas, what was happening above this temple was a different story. David was still suspicious if he should put his trust in the Encoutner that might or might not work at all.
Lisa glanced at Ultium, sizing up the devil that was open and honest in his voice. “That is right. Encounter is upon us. I hope to get so Helpers, instead of him doing that for all of us,” she shook Murai, giving him a helpless look. “It sounds like a good plan. You see, he is a handful problem but weighs like a mountain down my spirit. It troubles but I have no choice but to force others to help . Us... I an.”
She almost laughed at how it sounded, so she glanced at sleeping Murai with unknown thoughts. With that aside, she placed Murai on the table, right beside the ring and his Token. Then, she floated aside, taking a comfortable position on the chair that was facing the sofa.
It wasn't a crucial act; she didn't need anything physical to work with, though the chair gave her a different position. It made her forget she had no flesh. That was enough for her.
She knew far well what made her body special and magical. She shouldn't complain about her body whatsoever. She just had to wait patiently for ti and her growth or get going by doing sothing she wasn't willing to touch. Not yet.
“Tell us about it further,” David gave up comforting Ulitum with his words or hands. He sat aside from him. “Give it to us as is. The world is upside down, yet if you want sothing to work, I can take it. We take it.”
Ultium nodded, asserting his Will.
“What a lovely thing to say,” Lisa said, “considering the circumstances. But yes. It is right that I would shalessly take whatever can give us so edge. Very well. It's like this...” Lisa began to hit the nail on the subject, talking and ntioning what she considered essential and validating to ntion to them.
She wasn't that unbearable with her words, so when her ideas and plans went out of her mouth without Murai in the picture, it felt good and right.
Explaining the details, crannies, or potential problems along the way, David took them with hesitation and small fears, while Ultium took it all without a change in expression. He kept smiling, thinking that this was becoming more than interesting. It sounded like fun.
Lisa took this talk as the most significant act in her plans as a whole because she was relying on others for the first ti in this live. It was important to take it well, even if the way it happened was kind of weird. She didn't expect David of all people to take this help that well; she expected him to be dead if she was honest with her heart.
Now, she wondered if she should take this as a significant point in her planning, or if using it as unhinged as possible was more fitting. Perhaps... others could be around, waiting, or living the best lives they could have with or without forgetting her behind.
It should beco clear through ti. David will tell her all about it, and if he won't, she will force it from him regardless.
Murai didn't count as her help; he was more of an inevitable force of nature that was the exact opposite of help. She had a lot to work through him, help him, and give him more attention and freedom, so she told them things that should be problematic, including the situation above the Surface, or here, or what Murai forced or created.
She had yet to care about her plans, so David thought out loud a lot and talked it out with her in an unlikely fashion and their lost position. It was bound to shift, which made her views and words strange, and so far exceeded their expectations.
David always took Lisa for soone clever, even if she used to act first before thinking. Now, it seed it was quite the opposite, but he didn't seem to mind this Lisa, who was no longer tall, firm, straight like a spear, and savage like a queen. In so sense, she was the sa as before, but smaller and different because there was sothing great about her no matter what her flesh was like.
Not speaking had its limited benefits. With her words hanging around in this room and their heads, this was about what she wanted, even if it ca with so restrictions and a change of plans. She had no idea about their strengths, but any trustworthy help was better than one that would be questionable.
A couple of minutes later, sitting with crossed arms and half-floating on the chair, Lisa was more or less done. The plan was rather simple, but the surroundings were problems, and a few main points in her plans had considerable holes. They could change with David in sight, as he was quite experienced with this temple and his business suggested so issues for her. For Lisa, who hadn't experienced this temple for literally half a century, David was priceless.
He had a lot to tell her since this could shake the rest of his life, Ultium included.
“...that is why help is needed,” Lisa said. “It could be subjective, but it sounds well to be far-reaching and hopeful. Not free either, or... it shouldn't be if Gods know what they are doing, but it falls down to my guesses. Encounters can still work, even if the world is upside down. It is worth trying it. A simple Pledge goes a long way.”
“Yes,” David said, “but it depends on the ti too, as one never knows the heart of this world or the Gods who take it away or create it. Fixing it is impossible for us while forcing sothing crazy at present is less than appealing. I say that if it's impossible or problematic, not touching it is better, and forcing it is possible. It depends on what goes around the corner and what Levandis will do if we are unhinged. Taking advantage is what you want, and you know how fucked up that is if your plans genuinely involve us. If the world and Boosts are apart, what to think? You want to get away, but what after that? That sounds like a gamble to . You were never like that.”
Lisa still maintained her smile. “I get that idea a lot. Thought of it far too much for days. My ideas stem from that thing on the table. What will happen cos with full or limited repercussions, unless it all works well and nicely. I could expect a paynt instead from you and it wouldn't be strange. Paynt is your help, which could co with your own rewards out of this world. That's the premise of Helpers anyway, but this one never had it before, unless ntioning Suns is worth it. It is what it is. A gamble across the board, followed by power, uncertainty, and interest between us.” Lisa explained, smiling at the flabbergasted pair in front of her.
“B-boss?” Ultium asked David, turning his head toward him.
“What?”
“I want to see the Surface,” Ultium said with a wide smile and a glint in his eyes showed deep emotions. “It sounds like a gamble worth accepting. If nothing happens, good. If sothing happens, all we can do is bear the consequences. We always worked that way. Lost Brothers never backed away from sothing awful or hardly possible. This seems like the perfect chance and so much fun. If it... works, of course, as evil Lisa said.” He cheered and asked for a favor like a child looking for answers.
“Don't spout nonsense!” David shouted. “A lot of places are nothing good for us. Especially you. You are far too preoccupied with your wants and desires. Do you think the Surface will take that well? No! Not at all.”
That shut Ultium down, making him a bit sad.
“Still,” David hesitated and looked at Lisa. “It is better than this place. I will take this opportunity without hesitation since it might not work at all. And if it will, do you think this place will take our plans, or what will co from the far? If I do that, I would be forfeiting my line in this world, so it needs assurance.”
“You already agreed anyway, so what are you talking about? Forfaiting everything? You wanted it anyway.” Lisa chuckled.
“Yes. I agreed. Questioning it a little is called an argunt. I want clarity between us, unlike ever before, Lisa. Don't make change or regret this. This treasured opportunity is far too big to pass away, but you forgot one thing.” David said, pointing his finger at Murai. “What sort of ss caused this, and what true dangers are involved behind? You talked a lot about the details of your hopes and information but glossed over many important facts. Your Blessed, yourself, and what can happen if things go south and so on.”
“That is up to the future,” She excused herself. “And things I don't know, frankly. Why should I speak like a moron when plans are there to work with such plausibility? I want assurance so I won't regret thinking about failures. It is what this business is about, moron.”
“Or have no point in knowing at all. You ntioned the Centralis Kingdom more than twice, including the Vermillion Church. Centralis is just a Tier A power, not worth ntioning when one sees this whole temple, but they are clever in their tactics and military strength. They are considered closest to becoming Tier S power on this continent, and they have a tight connection to Zeanor, while their Blessed are known for their craziness and many Delvings.”
“So of that is overestimated. Not worth ntioning too, when one thinks straight to a couple of points. Why? We, my little friend included, are small fools who aren't concerned about sothing this big. I don't want to think about it. Gods took it differently, so I do what I can do to prevent our loss.” She said, feeling that this truth hurt. She feared the unknown factors for sure, as so of them had already made their move, so why would they not do that again, or endlessly?
Razmund might be just a small part of everything, with unknown heights of many plans hiding away, waiting for the further sections of the Encounter, or their failure or triumph.
In one way or another, there were many problems ahead, and solving them beforehand or later was no longer sothing she could do alone. Lisa already forced this temple into this ss, so she wondered what else would change or what Levandis or Mindarch would do. After all, it was no longer about the rules, or Will of the Battleworld. They were gone, so it was possible for Judges or so other Gods involved in this Encounter to make their moves.
So far, nobody had done so, but Lisa wasn't stupid. She calculated and figured that Murai's latest Boost coincidently worked well. A while later, they were gone, while the aftermath of his Boost was strange with those voices arguing for nothing. Murai already clashed with the rules because of this temple, so when it went far away with Vermillion's plot, things might get wild.
David thought so as well, fearing the Ruler of this temple and the Ruler of this world might not be happy about it. “I wouldn't say it isn't fit to ntion the larger dangers, but when you ntioned balance, there might be nothing onto it. You see, if Razmund is the opposing side, and yours is a weak Child, then this is weird. Like really weird. Your Blessed is.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)