We were closer to the city now. For the rest of the way, no one spoke. Yaffe had purple winged particles flying around her while she kept her eyes closed. These winged energy particles flew around her, scattered, and returned to her again, swirling around her, repeating this dozens of tis in a few minutes.
Ronan, on the other hand, was using various abilities, spells, and techniques one after the other. Most of them were invisible. He also made no movent, at most whispering. He also showed no change in his facial expression, deanor, or even his aura, as far as I could tell without releasing the seal. He seed to be rely whispering as he walked. Of course, that would be the case if he were still the sa as always.
Of course, thanks to my new eye, I could see more than that. I could see his energy flow changing, I could see magic circles, runes, and even symbols around him, even so markings that should have been invisible, like the golden patterns appearing on his body. His eyes glowed various colors.
I knew what each of them was doing. Yaffe was analyzing the curse, and so was Ronan, investigating the enemies further.
The two of them were doing their part, and I'd let them. I was here more to fight. My knowledge of curses is too shallow to contribute, and I clearly can't follow Ronan's analysis.
This continued until we got close enough to the bone columns. That's when Yaffe opened his eyes with anger, and Ronan also stopped, looking in a specific direction.
"What did you find out?" ()
"I already know how he established, controls, and also how he intends to use this Curse Factory." (Yaffe)
"I've confird their location and how many there are. Beyond that, I don't know enough. They have many sensory traps and barriers, and they also have a lot of Curse Concept power in the area, which prevents from using my Pride Concept without revealing myself." (Ronan)
"Any plans? I'm just here for combat." ()
"How many are there?" (Yaffe)
"There are two of them, one of them being our Target Raakoy, but the other? I don't know, their presence was too dark for my senses to detect." (Ronan)
"We need to find out more about them before we split up." (Yaffe)
"Wait, wait... what do you an, split up?" ()
"I'll take care of this curse, and you can fight them." (Yaffe)
"Sounds like a good plan, but we need to identify our second friend over there first." (Ronan)
"If we outnumber them, wouldn't it be quicker to take this chance?" ()
"If she proposed this, then it must be necessary. This curse is probably under their control or sothing." (Ronan)
"Actually, I could help you, but I don't want to leave this Curse alone. I'll deal with it while you deal with them." (Yaffe)
"Not them, just him. We can distract the other enemy." ()
"I can do that while you take care of Raakoy." (Ronan)
"Why does the worst have to be left to !?" ()
"Don't try to fool , I know the two in your shadow, I'm glad you decided to co." (Ronan)
"..." ()
"Leave..." ()
"We can help, but our condition is that Yaffe break this curse by releasing the victims." (Lolth)
"I can't leave things as they are, I'll hold to the sa conditions as Miss Lolth." (Sarazar)
"I think it's best to agree to their terms." ()
"A curse expert will make a difference in the battle." (Ronan)
"Believe , I know... but you know who Avatars are; the importance they place on these curses is greater than the two of us." ()
"..." (Ronan)
"Okay, rember there will be more enemies." ()
"Have you found any traces of more enemies?" (Ronan)
"No, but I'm sure there are more, even if they're not here yet, they're on their way." ()
"Are you assuming the worst-case scenario you assud?" (Ronan)
"No, that was the best. Believe when I say this won't end well." ()
"This 'we got lucky' thinking will get you killed near ." ()
I don't know what to think about this place anymore. Every single one of these Entities is insane. War only wants to encourage the Ascended to continue their wars of conquest. Hatred wants the people of this universe, with their empty existences, to be excellent material for his servants, who can easily be filled with Hatred.
Not to ntion the Curse Entity now, which only wants them to enter the age of industrialization in this damned place!
"Fine, but you all must follow my instructions." (Ronan)
"Only as long as you don't put or any of them in danger." ()
------------------
Pov Raakoy:
This has been a wonderful event. I have everything I've always guided in hand now. I have a non-living planet, I have thousands of lives on my table from those threats.
After thousands of years, I'm finally truly free. Pride has always blocked from the most crucial parts of my research, whether it's how I was able to forge myself as a curse, or how I tried to master the Curse Factory, which, as I'm showing you now, beca pure madness along with my ability to terraform worlds.
"Raakoy, how are the miasma condensers?" (Krimus)
"They're in order, but those things are still coming." ()
"They're just Souls who, once disembodied, can't do anything against us. Their struggle will only build the miasma better." (Krimus)
I look back. Krimus was having a blast with this whole ritual. He loves large-scale research like this. I never imagined myself doing anything alongside this madman, but after thousands of years, here I am.
"(I so wanted a decent al. I knew I should have gotten those two Divine Dragons.)" ()
I was in the middle of collecting Souls, Vitality, and ntal power. That red-haired woman, that thing in her shadow, they were Divine Dragons, and their scent, that delicious sll, still makes my mouth water just rembering it...
"Huh?" ()
"What's wrong?" (Krimus)
"Ascended, they're gathering off-planet and have triggered one of my Illusory Beasts." ()
"Sothing's wrong." (Krimus)
The Illusory Beasts possess combat capabilities, curses, and can be used to signal enemies, but they are difficult to conceal. They are a simple first line of defense, simply to keep the weak at bay and also to serve as external surveillance.
But the Ascended are intelligent, masters of guerrilla tactics, and highly experienced in deception in battle; they wouldn't let themselves be caught in the first line of defense.
This might work with new Avatars with little experience, but it would never work against .
"They're trying to lure us in; they must have noticed the curses behind the planetary illusion and won't descend to the planet." ()
"Who should we send?" ()
"I'll go. Most of my part of the ritual is already complete, and the Curse Factory is up and running." (Krimus)
"Send another, you'd be overkill." () My V.i&rt u$al Libra.ry^ Em.pir&e@ ($M|&V.|L*E1M-PYR)# t h a*n@ks* you for read!i*n@g at the s%ou.rce&.@
"I'll train the youngest, he just gained consciousness." (Krimus)
"I never imagined my experint would beco an Avatar, it was worth using one of my children to strengthen him." (Krimus)
Insect experints are quite common among Curse Masters, but I must say that Krimus is exceptional in this area. Thanks to his insects, collecting the materials for this terraforming was much faster.
"I'll leave this to you. I still have to control the flow from the other collection points to this place, and Batrol is tending the furnace, but I'll still need you to start production." ()
"I know, I can't leave this to the newbie, and Batrol lacks finesse." (Krimus)
"!!!" ()
"!!!" (Krimus)
"< Isóros is dead, be careful, this was done hidden from my eyes. >" (Curse)
"..." ()
"..." (Krimus)
Krimus and I exchanged a look, disbelieving what we'd heard. Isóros was one of the oldest Avatars of Curse. For her to die, another Avatar would be needed, and a strong one at least, stronger than .
But Isóros's strength isn't the main point; rather, she was killed hidden from Curse. To do so would have required another Entity, and even then, they didn't tell us who it might have been, so not even Curse must know who it might have been.
"Krimus, wasn't Isóros with the Ascended leader, Vecna?" ()
"Yes, after I closed the deal with him to beco an Avatar, I left her there to keep watch." (Krimus)
"Did he die too?" ()
"< My connection with the Ascendant is still being ford, just as my entry into its unique energy flow with the other Ascendants is still being implented. >" (Curse)
Curse answered my questions, but that only made more confused about all this; soone else is doing sothing.
"Could it be Pride?" ()
"I know one of Ohara's children is looking for here." ()
"Impossible. Pride, of all the Entities, is the most predictable. His debts are paid clearly to the debtor. The only one to bla before them is you, not Curse, and therefore the other Avatars are also off his radar as long as they don't protect him." (Krimus)
"You're right, but it doesn't make sense for it to be War. He wouldn't hide. Hatred doesn't fear us either. Comrce wouldn't interfere. Greed has his own grudge against Pride and won't seek us out for now." ()
"That only leaves the Chaosbringer's side, but they're too weak to hide their Curse actions." ()
"You forget that the agreed-upon rules only apply to this universe. Vecna, like Isoros, are outside the universe. This leaves room for anyone to act outside the rules." (Krimus)
"..." ()
I look up. I feel a strange fluctuation, and Krimus must have felt it too. I exchange a look with him as he prepares to leave.
"Be careful watching out for those Ascended." ()
"You too, they might be trying to drive us away, so try to strengthen the Anomalous creature further." (Krimus)
"I will." ()
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