The ti for departure arrived quickly, and the convoy of the lesser important characters left the Free City, although so rcenaries decided to stay behind. Three days had passed since that ti and Ira had co to realize a few things. The young man with the shadow abilities was called Casper, and he had always found his work in the criminal underworld, but the Golden Aurora improved his abilities dramatically. After signing a Soul Contract, one that was of his own insistence, he would bring Ira information on potential enemies. The agreent was that as long as he could prove his worth, Ira wouldnt kill him. Since he was confident in his skills he had no doubts about it until the ominous black strand flew into his chest and disappeared.
At the mont, Ira and Avery silently rode in the carriage. Ira was reading the Black Book while Avery was polishing their weapons.
Can you hear them? Avery suddenly asked.
Hear what? The whispering? Ira responded as he continued to watch the series of nonsensical symbols spin and shift.
Yes.
Not since the first ti I started reading it. Is it bothering you?
It's nothing more than an annoyance as of now, Avery replied.
She was referring to the unintelligible choir of hushed voices attempting to worm their way into her mind. Just being around the book was dangerous for most people since the knowledge itself had a way of warping minds.
Ill read it sowhere else. Ira shut the book and stored it away imdiately. Even if the Valkyries had a stronger will than most, the longer one was exposed to the book the quicker their ntal defenses would degrade.
Avery didnt attempt to reassure Ira because she wasnt confident that she would continue to be unbothered by the book.
I should just use my primary transformation and take you back, Ira said with a sigh.
Are you forgetting about my wings?
Huh, I guess I did.
If you want to use your transformation dont let stop you.
Ill do it later, Id rather practice manipulating space without a dium first, Ira said as he shifted his body in the carriage.
Then thats all the more reason you should find sowhere you can concentrate. Ill protect that Prince while youre gone, Avery insisted before continuing, You can catch up by the scent cant you?
Yeah Ira weighed his options before he decided to follow Averys words.
Avery handed over his sword which he placed in the scabbard before fastening it to his waist. Ira opened the door to the carriage while it was moving and leaped out toward a tree. Since the Fourth Prince didnt have many people in his retinue, no one was close enough to notice his departure, save one young man eager to prove his worth.
Ira sat on a tree branch before looking a the shadow that appeared next to him, What?
Should I keep an eye on the Prince or for your wife? Casper asked.
Ira laughed as he looked at the shadow, The Prince. If you value your eyes you wouldnt bother Avery.
...I understand, Casper said grimly. He couldnt tell if that was a personal threat or Iras warning to avoid upsetting Avery, either way, was dangerous for him.
Im sure you do, Ira grinned before he leaped away toward the deeper part of the woodlands.
Deep within a cavern filled with mana crystals, a fight was happening between humans and sothing else.
Harpers chain scythe shined with an ominous blue glow as she swung it at a Minotaur. It tore through the Minotaurs thick hide and caused it to roar in pain. Amy approached its side and stabbed her spear into its leg before twisting it, the Minotaur swung but Amy rolled away before shooting a ball of green fire at it which burned its hair. Aldis rushed up behind it with and drove two swords into its back.
Now! Aldis shouted as he held on to the Minotaur that was enraged.
Harper conjured her phantom halfway out of the ground before making it grab onto the Minotaurs legs. The Minotaur tripped and fell and Harper took that ti to wrap the bone scythe around its neck and pull tightly. The Minotaur foad at the mouth as it tore at the chain, but it couldnt free itself and ended up dying.
Aldis and Amy exhaled before sitting down on the spot while Harper recalled the bone scythe and broke off one of the horns and tied it to her waist.
Fifth one today, Harper said with satisfaction.
Theres probably a herd sowhere, the Chief should be sowhere close by, Aldis huffed. He was the only in their group without so sort of a power so his endurance wouldnt be at Harpers level.
Then lets go, Amy hurry up, Harper ordered.
Right, Amy said as she approached the Minotaur in a practiced manner raising her tal arm as her Demon Fla covered the body of the Minotaur burning its flesh away.
As soon as she was finished, Harper went up to it and converted its bones into armor. The pieces of bone that were left over floated toward Aldis and Amy before covering them. Although they werent as thoroughly defended as Harper the extra reinforcent didnt hurt.
The trio traveled deeper into the caverns in search of the Minotaur with Harper at the forefront. The path was lit by a glowing spectral ball that Harper created. With Harpers abilities, she shouldve been able to locate the minotaur, but she couldnt pick up on any traces of it. While her senses werent as good as Iras but it shouldnt have been a problem for her to find it.
Hmm Harper made a strange face as they ca to what looked to be burrow. There were crude stone tools all around, but they seed as if they werent used for weeks.
Sothing wrong? Aldis asked.
Its not here, Harper said as she activated her spectral vision. The rock walls were too thick for her to see through and the only thing she confird was that there weren't any hidden enemies in the imdiate vicinity.
So should we keep going? Amy asked without fear. Over the course of the extermination job, her flas had grown at a rapid pace.
Harper narrowed her eyes as she nodded, she proceeded on with a visible caution as they advanced forward. Eventually, they ca upon a tunnel that was recently made judging by the claw marks.
Harpers ears twitched as the faint sound of a battle echoed in her ears, without a word she sprinted forward and left a phantom blue trail behind her.
Harper! Aldis called out as he and Amy gave chase.
Clark and Randolph were lost. That was the easiest way to describe their situation. Neither one of them could use magic so their only source of light was a torch of the mana crystals embedded in the walls.
Were lost, Clark said.
Were not lost...were just a little mixed up, Randolph said with a dry laugh as he tightened his grip on the sword in his hands.
Lost, Randolph, Clark found it out that he could remain so calm. It was most likely due to the fact he had faith in Randolphs strength and he had his own abilities.
Fine, were lost, Randolph huffed.
Wait, Clark squinted his eyes at the source of light in the distance, I think...I think soones up there.
Really? Randolph narrowed his eyes toward the source of light that was moving closer, Oh, it really is soone. Looks like...Three people.
As the trio approached them the figures of the strangers finally beca clear. A trio composed of one male and two females stopped in front of them.
Hey, are you lost too? Randolph asked, Oh, my na is Randolph and this is Clark.
The young man at the head of the trio was the first to speak, Im Lance, this is Sarah and Valerie. To answer your question, yes, we are lost. We got mixed up in so tunnels.
...Nice to et you, Clark said in a polite tone. He took notice of how their expressions lacked any hint of joy or excitent. The trio appeared to be very battle hardened and capable.
Theres a split not too far from here since you ca from that way we should just backtrack, Randolph said.
Lance briefly contemplated before looking to Valerie and Sarah who nodded, If you cant trust us well lead the way.
No need, with Clark watching my back I dont have anything to be afraid of, Randolph said with confidence. If he was around to witness Clark ineptness during soone elses ti of need he probably wouldnt be able to feel the sa way.
Lance raised his eyebrow and looked at Clark before gesturing for them to lead on.
The duo turned into a group of five, Lances expression turned dull as he rembered his two friends. Although Ira said he would try to bring them back, they hadnt heard from him for a while and it wasnt surprising that they began to lose faith. Still, none of them would admit out of fear of upsetting each other and breaking the only thing keeping them together.
So, how long have you three been together? Or are you just temporary partners? Randolph tried to make small talk as they moved onward.
Sarah noticed that neither Lance nor Valerie wanted to answer so she spoke up, ...For a few years.
Wow, Ive only known Clark for a few months, Randolph replied, not picking up on the reluctant mood of the trio.
It feels like it's been longer, Clark smiled wryly.
How long have you known Yellow-Eyes? Randolph asked.
I told you not to call him that, and Ive known Ira for almost a year, probably the sa as everyone else, Clark said as he thought back to the first ti he t Ira. The mory quickly beca sour as he realized it was the day Benjamin died.
What did you just say? Lance shouted.
Y-Yellow-Eyes? Clarks a friend of his, Randolph said.
Have you seen, Ira? Lance grabbed Clark.
Hey! Randolph pushed Lance away and due to his lack of restraint, Lance flew backward and tumbled onto the ground.
Sarah knocked an arrow and several icicles manifested around Valerie as they prepared for a fight.
Hold on, Lance said as he stood up and dusted himself off, Were...friends of Iras. Im sorry I was too aggressive, but Ira agreed to help us and has been gone ever since.
Clark exhaled a sigh of relief while Randolph eased up.
Im sorry too, Randolph scratched his head awkwardly.
Uh, I havent seen Ira since those weird monsters attacked the Capital, Clark confessed.
Lance, Sarah, and Valerie all made disappointed expressions.
Thats unfortunate, Valerie said.
...Lets continue. Lances expression darkened.
R-Right, Clark agreed.
A strange silence filled the air as everyone seed preoccupied with their own thoughts. Thats was why they didnt notice the pattern of cracks that resembled claw marks that appeared every ten feet.
Within a wooded area, Ira opened his eyes and held out his palm. A small bubble of air rippled above his palm. It wasnt wind magic, but rather him bending space into the shape of a bubble. He waved his hand and the small bubble slowly traveled forward, it hit a tree and dug a few inches into it before dissipating. Although the power was far from lethal, Ira still smiled, and that was because he could manipulate space without a dium. It mightve beco more powerful if Ira used his sword, but he didnt care. The concept of bending space beca a little bit clearer to him. He took a big step in his comprehension and set his next goal to teleporting over large distances. After that? He wanted to imbue the power of the Void into it, but that was still too far away to think about.
Ira stood up and gave a satisfied stretch. While he wasnt content with such a small of practice he knew it wouldnt all co at once.
He looked around before pulling the black book out of thin air and plopped back down on a rock to read it. He planned on finding sothing that dealt with the solar force, but that was easier said than done. Ira never looked for anything specific in the book, up until now, he had let it guide him so to speak.
Ira concentrated on what he was looking for and it seed that the book responded to him. The symbols spun faster and faster until he found himself in a trance. Unknowingly, black liquid began to fill up Iras eyes until nothing could be seen. He didnt even seem to be aware as he mumbled a series of incoherent words.
A bloodied man with golden hair and a regal bearing sat atop a burning throne centered on a landscape filled with broken marble. Bodies of celestial beings littered the ground around him and the only other living creature was a black haired man that slowly approached him.
Are you satisfied, mutt? Youve destroyed everything and for what? Your kind was destined to suffer a miserable fate, but your ddling caused it to arrive sooner. The others will be here soon. The mans voice was full of strength even though he was heavily wounded.
Helion The man growled before speaking in an emotionless voice, I ate your people, I ripped apart your bastards, I devoured your wives...Ill consu you until nothing is left...you wont reincarnate and you wont be reborn.
What are talking about, dog? Helion clenched his fist and a trident made of fire appeared, You cant kill a God without having divinity of your own and even then they can return.
The silhouette grinned widely, Kill? No, Its much worse, once I devour you, youll be cut off from your divinity.
Youre lying, you filthy dog! Helion stood up and slamd the trident down, sending massive pillars of flas falling from the sky.
The black-haired man suddenly teleported away before reappearing as a giant wolf that towered over Helion. It opened its jaws and clamped down on Helions body before lifting him into the air.
Helions golden armor creaked under the massive white fangs that held him in place. Release , you filthy mutt! Helion raised his hand and a miniature red sun that burned with a divine fury appeared behind him.
The Wolf paid it no mind as it leaped backward before teleporting away. The two vanished, and Helions absence caused the miniature sun to continuously grow, burning everything in its vicinity, until it collapsed on itself and exploded. The release of energy burned away all organic matter and even vaporized the stone, leaving nothing more than ash.
Iras body trembled as he dropped the book.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He cursed as he clutched his head, it was one of the rare monts that he felt a pain great enough for him to react. Ira roared in pain as he failed to contain his strength and destroyed the ground under him. He stomped and punched the ground and when it didnt get rid of the pain, he began to slam his head into a rock and instantly crushed it. The feeling failed to subside so Ira continued to slam his head into the ground until it beca a bloody ss. The faint yet loud humming of trumpets rang out in both his ears and they began to bleed.
Shut the fuck up! Ira tore at his skin and clenched his teeth so hard they cracked, the veins in his eyes even burst. His entire body seed to be slowly unraveling under the force he exerted on himself.
Ira wasnt aware, but his suffering was due to two reasons. One was the price of using the book. The other was due to him bringing divinity into the Mortal Realm. Even if it wasnt physically present, just having a cohesive thought was enough to warrant so type of recoil, let alone an entire mory. The main reason was its unnaturalness. Usually, a God would send a blessing through their respective force to affect so mortal.
The Gods had a set of laws they had to abide by and the sa applied to mortals. Whenever a law was broken or dangerously close to being broken, a punishnt would occur. Ira was experiencing the most minor called The Trumpets Of Punishnt which was an attack that could penetrate the core of one's being. It was an automatic response to his activities, even though he didnt break any particular laws. If he had broken a law then the Gods would be notified of it imdiately. The reason for the Collapse was due to King Dietrich attempting to grant immortality on a massive scale.
Ira was unaware of everything and could only suffer through the pain. He opened his mouth and bit into his own flesh before tearing it off and repeating the sa thing over and over. Hours passed and Ira mutilated his body the entire ti until the sound of trumpets ca to an end.
What was left in the aftermath was a heavily breathing body with its organs and muscles exposed. Ira weakly crawled toward the black book and stored it away while leaving a trail of blood and viscera behind him. Just moving a few feet exhausted him and he turned onto his back while taking huge breaths. He needed ti to regenerate from his wounds so he didnt plan on moving anymore. Ira was lucky to have regeneration because any other person, be it Higher Races or Lower Races, wouldve died. In fact, their minds wouldve shattered, killing them before they could even get to that point.
Thats one for Avery...just a few more to go. It was hard to see because of the missing chunks of flesh, but it seed like Ira had a wide smile on his face and sothing in his eye that could only be described as madness.
Reviews
All reviews (0)