by Andur
Niel and Soel are sobbing in a corner of the room. “I have been defiled by a toy!” “But it felt good sister. I am ashamed of myself.”
Probably someone should try to calm them down. Sharid has the wriggling tail in her hand and a strange expression on her face.
Her mother is giving me a mournful look. “Take that thing back! It has no place on this world!”
“~Gehehehe...~ Then I will take this legendary piece! You can have the rest of the suit.” Sharid stores the tail away inside her magical bag.
I hope this won't become a problem later on, but I can guess why she wants to have it. “Sharid... you are drooling again.” I step towards her and wipe the drool out of her face.
“~Do you want to rent a room?~” Sharid gives me a mischievous smile and pulls me after her.
*********
It's morning and Sharid gave me the best night of my life. We reserved a room of her mothers brothel especially for us and went wild.
Haaah... to do it in a place like this. I have fallen deep. Even if I had my fiancée as my partner.
I look out of the window while lying on a comfortable bed. Sharid is right beside me. She is sleeping and when I watch her sleeping face it's hard to imagine her true character.
“KYAAA!” “NOOO!” “MONSTERS!”
A few screams from outside the window draw my attention and I get up to take a look. What's outside freezes me for a second.
The street is a scene out of hell. People are fleeing for their lives while being attacked by demons and being devoured like cattle.
“Sharid! Wake up! Demons!” I scream at Sharid who shoots up with a drowsy face.
I get suited up while I ready my resolve and grab the sheathed crystal sword which I got from my father. But something comes crashing through the window.
It's one of those monsters! Why is there a demon outbreak here? Did someone find and play around with a sphere? Why now!
The monster jumps at a dumbfounded Sharid. But I jump towards the thing and cleanly slice the head from it's shoulders while unsheathing my sword in a smooth motion. My sword hums with satisfaction as it sucks the mana out of the creature.
“Sharid! We have to get out of here!” I point towards her clothes and she hastily gets dressed. But instead of using a pathway to escape, Sharid runs out of the room.
“We have to save them!” Sharid is around the corner before I can stop her. But I follow anyway.
We can't stop the demons without crystal weapons. And my sword is the only one which is available at the moment.
At the next corner, I catch up to Sharid who is watching horrified at the lifeless corpse of the receptionist. She is lying in the corridor in a pool of her own blood.
I grab Sharid's hand. “Stay with me! Those things are dangerous! They can kill gods.” I start into the direction of her family's rooms while I pull her with me.
“But what chance do the people of this town have if they can hurt gods!?” Sharid asks with a shaken voice from behind.
I don't answer the question. It should be obvious that the mortals don't have any chance of resistance.
Another demon blocks my path and I take the mindless creature out. It's okay as long as they don't show up in big groups.
As I reach the door, I kick it and storm inside. Two of the monsters are inside and they jump at me with bloody claws.
But Sharid storms past me while kicking the first enemy with pure physical force. It's blown apart in a shower of red blood and organs.
I slice down the other creature and take a look around to assess the situation. The room is a mess but there are no more enemies.
Then I see Sharid kneeling over the bodies of Niel and Soel. Her mother is lying beside the door. I wasn't aware of her when I hurried inside.
This is the worst outcome ever. But just when I am about to grab Sharid's shoulder to get out of here, the door bursts open and a flood of the horrifying things spills into the room.
I fight the reflex to blow them apart with attack magic, but it wouldn't be of any use. So I forcibly pull Sharid onto a pathway with me. Just away from here!
To Chimera! To get help! If I ask father, I am sure that a whole army would be dispatched to deal with this issue! Maybe we can even save the souls of Sharid's sisters and her mother.
But it's useless, since they are mortal. They won't be the same people any more! Sharid offers no resistance while I pull her with me.
Something snaps and I am pulled from the pathway! That shouldn't be possible! Since when do those monsters have the ability to interrupt someone from using a pathway!
My stomach heaves as I am forced back to reality. Being forced off of a pathway like that is by all means unpleasant!
I am in a dark place now. This isn't Sharid's home any more! As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I become aware of eyes. We are surrounded by demons!
My sword! Sharid is left to me, she is unconscious. To my right, the sword! I reach for it, but a foot kicks it away.
“Ssssooo, Who do we have here?”
“If it issssn't a niccce little prrrrey which my minions brrrought me?”
102 - An envoy?
Asheim, Embassy
“This is not enough Angrod! We need more forces!” Gwalonna screams at me. This is irritating me a little. It's true that the Chimerans are the most powerful force at the moment. But even we can only do so much as we can.
“What do you want me to do? Every Chimeran who can fight is fighting. I won't sent our civil population out there to fight.” I answer Gwalonna's outbreak with a calm voice.
Gwalonna thinks that we Chimerans can do more than we do. This whole mess started a few hours ago when the dormant Spheres throughout the multiverse went active.
Planets are being devoured out there while we speak and there isn't much we can do. We don't have enough fighting power to cover every planet. Unfortunately we are already taking severe measures by wiping one planet after the other.
The Chimeran's fighting power comes almost completely from our crystal technology. We have very few warriors compared to the other societies. And that's what Gwallonna has problems with.
She thinks that I can order my whole planet of gods to walk out there and smite the demons like the other societies did. So it looks like we are withholding forces.
But most of our people are civilians. Even if they regained their memories, they don't have the fighting spirit to use their powers correctly. You don't just remember your previous life and are a perfect warrior from one moment to the next.
“You are welcome to go to Chimera and take a look at the people who are left there. I already asked everyone who has the confidence to take on a demon for help. The people who are left on Chimera would be just victims in front of those things.” I try to keep a calm voice.
“Gwalonna, you forget their history. You can't expect the same rate of militarisation from the Chimerans as of other societies. Most of our people have lived as gods for thousands of years. The Chimerans regained their powers only a few years ago. It could take another few centuries until they are on the same level as us. And aren't they doing more than enough with their crystal ships?” Mawu makes a calming gesture.
“That's right. I went for a walk through their cities when I was on a visit there. Most of those people are as harmless as mortals. If you put them in front of a demon, they would freeze up or run away. They are chickens. Sorry to put it like that, Angrod.” Unexpectedly Carne speaks against Gwalonna too.
“No offence taken. It's the truth. Our power comes mainly from our crystal ships. And they are all out there. We even gave those which had no crew to the Arcane Community. They had the most people who would be able to use them without much training.” I smile wryly at Gwalonna.
Chiffre scratches his cheek with his mechanical arm. “That's true. They are very interesting pieces of technology. And they are all deployed.”
Gwalonna leans back in her chair and says nothing. It seems like she just need
s something to vent her anger. But we are all feeling powerless before the current situation. There are between one and ten gods per world with a population of a few milliards.
So depending on the fighting power you need to save a single world, you have to give up quite a few others.... ranging in the hundreds to thousands.
The problem lies with the sheer number of Spheres. We grew too lazy when we thought that those things couldn't activate on their own. Now we pay the price.
Then a guard appears in the room. “I am sorry to interrupt, but there is something that wishes to talk to you. It looks like one of those demons. It says that it has a message for you.”
“Where is it?” Zanders jumps out of his chair.
“On the plaza in front of the central tower. It just appeared there. Apparently it can use pathways......” The guard has a worried expression. No wonder. Even the lowliest guard in our society has an education above any mortal king. He can think on his own about the implications.
“If all of those things can use pathways we are in deep shit!” Miruliru disappears. She didn't wait for the obvious answers.
One after the other we follow Miruliru. So I teleport to the designated destination.
I find the plaza empty. Earlier it was buzzing with life and now there isn't a single soul to see. Except for a single demon and a group of guards around it. The demon holds a crystal sword. Probably it was looted from a fallen warrior. The demon is a little bigger than the normal ones. And it looks a lot meaner!
As our group walks closer, the demon starts to speak. “Wonderful! Everyone is here. So we can tell you how this will work.”
“Why should we listen to a creature like you!” Carne shoots out a very undiplomatic question.
But the demon isn't irritated. “It's easy. To save your puny multiverse! If you don't comply, we will continue to eat and corrupt the mortals until there aren't much of them left. Afterwards I will come for you!” It points at us.
“So what are your terms? And who are you?” Gwalonna asks the dreaded question.
“We are the Calamity. And It's easy again. I retread with our forces back into the black hole if you start with the monthly sacrifice of a god. Mortals aren't as filling as the Ascended. And as a bonus we want him!” The thing points at me.
“This thing is a little confused. It can't decide if it's a single entity or multiple ones....” Carne whispers to us.
“Why?” I ask while I ready myself to summon my staff.
“Because you stood in our way for long enough! Bright One! Your soul always interferes with me throughout all of your reincarnations! You are a menace! First you banished us into the black hole where we had to starve! And then you interfered with our food source until now! This will end!” The creepy thing smiles at me.
I don't like it. It looks too much like a razor claw. “So you do starve inside that black hole? Thanks for the information! I guess if we manage to wipe your agents and familiars from the multiverse, it's your end.” This time I smile at the creepy thing.
“You hope for too much. My main-body may not be able to leave the black hole. But these familiars of us will be more than enough. We have anticipated that you won't throw your life away for others! You always sacrificed someone else in order to escape me until now. But this time we have captured something precious to you!” The thing throws the crystal sword to my feet.
It's a thin blade which is a little longer than the standard version and covered with runes. I recognize this work. I made it especially for Aengus.....
“We caught the one you call 'son' in your current reincarnation. His fiancee is in my hands too. Funny that she is one of our former agents. Maybe she will like it if we use her as a tool again. BUT..... If you sacrifice yourself, we may consider to let them go. I wonder if you have enough feelings for th...”
*STAB*
Slowly the demon looks down to its chest, where the sword embedded itself. It took me only a moment to close the distance and ram the sword into the creature.
“I will come for you. Just wait there in your safe little black hole. I will tear you apart and find the insane personalities which are responsible for your actions. Then I will create a new world for you! And there, the word HELL will take on another dimension!”
Before the thing can answer I rearrange the blade and move it upwards, splitting its chest and head apart. The body stood another second and then it drops to the ground like a doll with its strings cut.
“You just killed the envoy.....” Carne comments my action from behind with a slightly affected voice.
I don't answer and concentrate instead. If this thing said the truth I might be able to get Aengus back. Wasn't he supposed to visit Sharid's home world? They should have been able to run if there was an attack there.
No matter. I have a spy with them. If I act fast I may be able to find them in time.
“Angrod. We have no idea where to search! Why did you kill that guy?” Miruliru nags me from the side.
“I will find them. There is no problem. I just need a few strong guys to go in and out without giving them time to act.” I wave at a guard who heard the conversation and he nods, vanishing immediately.
“If my wife finds out that something happened to Aengus I am dead meat! Kukuku.... No worse! I will be the only guy in the family!” I start to hack with the sword at the dead body. This is frustrating!
“S.. Stop it. You need an anger management course! You know that?” Miruliru stops me.
“Haaah...” I turn around and walk back into the direction of tower. “I wish I could have those times as an evil scientist back! Nobody you care about! Everyone is just a resource for the next experiment. Those were good times. But nowadays you have to be nice and play by the rules. It's infuriating!”
Yes! It's important to choose your priorities wisely. Otherwise you end up like me. I have to take care of the whole multiverse now and the evil guy goes for my family! It's obvious that I messed up somewhere.
“Let's continue this in the conference room.” I teleport back to our previous location. The needed fighters should arrive shortly. Time to gather some information.
I activate a big screen at the wall and enter a security code. “Warden, I need a secure connection with the mobile personal spy Enyo. The codeword is -spank-!” While I am at it, the rest of the ambassadors arrives.
~Excuse me?~
“You heard me Warden. Connect us now!” Come on. It isn't hard to understand.
~As you wish.... you should choose another codeword later. It's inappropriate and you had listeners.~
I sigh. “Thanks Warden. Now the connection.” It's annoying but the positioning signal of my spy is very weak. It's almost not there.
The screen goes dark. Huh? A malfunction? “Enyo? Enyo!”
“Ssss... Masster! Why do wake me up at sssuch a time?” A snake-like voice answers.
“Where are you? I need you to send a signal on your position.” I have no time for this.
“I am inssside Sssharid'ss magical bag. Ssshould I get outssside?” Enyo answers immediately.
“Get out and give me their position.” Simple minds are surely a bother. I hear a fizzling sound and then the screen finally shows a picture.
It's a first person view of Enyo's vision. It looks like she is in a dark cave. By looking back, we see that Enyo's body looks out of a magical bag. It looks like a furry snake like thing...
“I am outsside. Sshould I ssend my possition?” Eyno takes another look around, but there is nobody in the cave.