“Let's try opening it.”
Vaya shifted nervously.
“Don't worry. If there's something dangerous on the other side, we shall vanish like thieves in the night. I promise I will protect you from anything inside.”
She nodded and placed her blood-gloved hand on the rune. Circles flashed and rocks rotated. Diagrams rewrote themselves and lines of power flowed. This was the most involved unlocking sequence they had seen yet. The door slid aside and they stepped inside.
Chapter 14 The Underworld of the Abyss
This was a vaulted chamber bigger than a joust list field. A large green crystal hanging from the ceiling illuminated every corner. It dispelled Eric's Shadow Cloak the moment he stepped into its light and, more than that, it stung. This must be more light elemental magic. What’s it doing here? There was no exit here nor was there any Fog. There was nothing except rows upon rows upon rows of vats.
They were made of the same rock as the mountain. They grew out of the floor like the mess hall tables in the Dragon's Lair. It could have been his imagination, but the layout of the vats resembled the tables, up to and including an elevated portion where the Dragoness would sit. They were of varying heights and widths, but most of them were roughly five feet by five feet by seven feet. All four sides of each vat were cut away and replaced with a thick sheet of glass strong enough to hold gallons of liquid mana. Before Eric could wonder what material could be strong enough to do such a thing, he recognized the vats' occupants.
This room housed an endless line of the same trio he’d killed nine times before. Each one had a sign declaring their name and number: Kazuma number 50, Haru number 86, Sosuke number 257, and so on. He strolled one length and found them in all stages of development, from infant to child to teenager and adult. He turned his attention back to the elevated portion and jumped up to confirm his suspicions. He found three young adults and all of them with different hair colors – blue, blonde, and orange respectively. Unlike the others, there was no trace of red anywhere.
“These are the primes…He’s preserved them with liquid mana like cucumbers in pickle juice…” The corners of his mouth twisted up. “Fascinating! Horribly unethical and horrifically dangerous, but still fascinating. Kas will want to hear about this.”
From this vantage point, he spotted a second field of crops and these were an altogether different breed. They were monsters. Specifically, they were chimera of all shapes and sizes and species. They were held in stasis or restrained via enchantments, but all of them were injured and freakish. The one thing they had in common was their red eyes, and if they had any, red hair.
“This guy is more depraved than I thought. He clones his archenemy’s students for use as test subjects for mana mutation. Kas will definitely want to hear about this.”
Vaya ran to his side and said, “Mr. Watley, we must leave. This place is not the exit. There is no doubt that Mr.15 will return shortly.”
“Not yet. If this guy has anything valuable on mana mutation, I need to get it.”
“Very well. If it’s that important to you.”
“Just like that?”
“A lady is mindful of the needs of others.”
Eric shrugged and continued walking about the cages, but with a focused intensity. He watched their movements, examined them with Magic Sight, and discussed his findings with Grey Dengel. After ten cases, he noticed that their behavior was not identical. Some were more aggressive than others and some were hungry enough to eat themselves. He saw one or two that lay in place without a care and others that looked scared.
The same person raised the same way in the same environment and by the same person….would he recycle the soul? No, Bladicraft can’t do that, which means these things are soul-less? Of course! Bladicraft is based on blood, not souls, so it would still work and they can’t use magic in this place anyway…The problem is that he has necrocraft and his Bladicraft is supposed to be sealed. A variation in souls could explain the difference. This would cross out biological factors in the cure and rest on the psychological.
“Impressive, isn't it? I spent the last seven years building this facility.”
Eric raised his staff, but Mr.15 was faster. He snapped his fingers and the ceiling crystal flashed. It made Vaya see spots, but it made Eric feel like he was flash fried. He fell to the ground and curled into a fetal position. Mr.15 chuckled at his instinctive attempts to cover himself in darkness.
“Here I bring back the dead in one meaning of the phrase. By the power of my blood and the blessing of the local representative of Death, I restore those who have left this world to this world. You have no doubt seen my work in the former half of the chamber.”
He snapped his fingers and three fresh clones jumped from their pods to kneel at his feet.
“What is your wish, Father?”
Mr. 15 patted them each on the head and turned back to Eric.
“Here I have rebuilt the Bladi clan. I even have my own heir.”
He snapped again and, to Eric’s surprise and shock, Zettai stepped forward. She had changed since she’d left Basilard's company.
Most of the area of her irises had shifted to blood red and the root of every hair on her head had turned color. Some patches were fully red and some pink. Other patches had fallen out entirely, leaving those areas bald. The skin of her face had a red tinge that resembled blush and other sections were that of a decaying corpse. Her eyes stared blankly into the distance. Not a hint of emotion crossed them, not even when a surge of red light rippled across her body.
She wore a blood-red gown with a tight bodice, full skirts, and coal-black petticoats. A black and red sash created a bow at her waist and was decorated by runes of the Bladi clan. Red and black spiraled gloves covered her arms up to her shoulders, where it met red gauze that encircled her upper chest and neck. Underneath the gauze was more decaying flesh. Her ears were pierced with charms resembling BloodDrinker and a tiara-like headpiece held a long and transparent black veil in place.
“Lady Zettai, please greet our honored guest.”
The girl spread her skirts and sank into a deep courtesy. As she straightened, her legs spasmed and folded under her. Mr.15 spoke words in a language no one present understood and a sickening noise was heard from underneath Zettai's silk and ruffles. She gracefully rose to her feet without the slightest change in expression.
“What the abyss did you do to her!?”
Mr.15 snapped again and the crystal flashed a second time. For the second time, Eric was forced into a fetal curl; the damage was starting to show on his skin. Light elemental energy was torment to someone aligned with darkness. For someone who spent the bulk of his life avoiding notice, it was even worse. It’s only mana…It’s only mana…It’s only mana!
Eric clutched his staff and devised a plan.
“As I was saying,” Mr.15 began again, “with my heir, my children, my new home, and my groundbreaking research, I am poised to replace the degenerates stationed in Ataidar. All I need is the sword, my sword, my BloodDrinker.”
He snapped and spawned a transparent screen in midair. It showed Basilard trekking through the mountain and the Fog. He was flanked by Nolien and Tiza with Neuro picking up the rear.
“Soon it will be here and I will no longer need you. I could put you back in your cell, but you’ve come to the only room in my facility that would put you at greater disadvantage. Thus, while we wait, I would like you to witness the revolution of Medical Mana Mutation?”
Just like Dengel; get them talking about themselves and they'll go on for ages. I need time.
“Yes, I’d love to hear all about it. It’s why Her Majesty Queen Kasile sent me here, after all. I’m sure she would want someone of your brilliance and vision at the Summit.”
Mr.15 snapped his fingers and activated the crystal a third time and, this time, Eric screamed without reserve. Even as an enlightened Razor Spirit, the same weapon striking him three times was unbearable. It’s only mana! It’s th
e same as darkness. I can use it.
“Foolish boy, I am not so old and senile that I can be easily flattered. Furthermore, I have already received an invitation. Whether he calls himself Nulso Xialin or Harry Butchin, he is the biggest name in Medical Mana Mutation, and certainly the most infamous. He has tickets to spare.”
“So that freak was behind this the whole time, huh? I thought ordercrafters hated mages.”
Mr.15 snapped and the three current clones formed a chair for him to sit in. He made himself comfortable by lying back into Sosuke’s breasts.
“I’ll tell you a story, little shadow. Some weeks ago, the Royal Mage of Ataidar sought help from the Bladi Chief for treating mana mutation, and he was refused on grounds of heresy. A generation earlier, a different mage by the name of Harry Butchin contacted the previous, and still rightful, chief of the Bladi Clan. Together, they pioneered a human solution to the problem, but then an elf came along and soiled their efforts with her chaotic technology. Their project fell apart, but their partnership did not. The Bladi Chief aided him in his flight after the elf ruined him, and the new ordercrafter preserved the Bladi Chief’s life after a vicious usurpation. To this day, they continue to work together for profit, progress, and revenge.”
Mr.15 checked the screen tracking Basilard’s team and found them fighting a Ceihan Rhino mutated to giant size. The only one not covered in blood or gore was the girl, and only because her dress automatically removed such things.
“I take it you two are the heroes of that story?”
Mr.15 gestured to Zettai.
“Why not? I saved this damsel in distress from a life on the streets, didn’t I?”
“I bet you kidnapped her instead.”
“That’s not at all true. I only kidnapped four of my potential heirs.” He laughed and the clones laughed with him. “In truth, I’m not so vain as to believe what I’ve done is heroic, but Nulso is another matter. He thinks giving me an elf in exchange for you will make the world a better place.”
Eric’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“While the Fog of this mountain is tremendous, it is not infinite and my power needs will grow with my operation. If I had an elfin slave, then I would have all the energy I could ever need. Nulso promised me an elf in exchange for you, which is one reason why I haven’t killed you yet. He’ll likely use you to get a collar on that elf girl he moons over in our calls.”
All this to get his hands on Annala. I need to learn Chaotic Starlight fast, but I can’t do that unless I survive. If I could just provoke him a fourth time…
“He’s a pervert and a creep. Based on that outfit you put a little girl in, I’d say you were one too, and a pedophile to boot.”
Mr.15 laughed instead (his clones obediently laughing with him) and settled deeper against Sosuke.
“I prefer something more developed. As I was saying, our plan will make both of us happy. It will satisfy our revenge and promote our agendas as pioneers in the field of Medical Mana Mutation. This makes the Mana Mutation Summit the perfect opportunity to reveal ourselves to the world.”
Vaya emerged from her hiding place and said, “Exploiting high-level political events to gratify your ego is not polite.”
Both Mr.15 and Eric looked in confusion. She blushed and looked away.
“A lady points out breaches in etiquette. There were twenty other breaches that I restrained myself from correcting, but that one last was too grievous to ignore.”
Mr.15 sighed and stood up. “Children, please escort her back to her room and administer the usual punishment.”
The trio approached her while she crossed her arms in defiance. When Sosuke and Kazuma reached for her arms, she pulled them apart, slashing the both of them in the chest. Then she kicked Haru in the balls and followed up by stabbing him too.
“A lady defends herself when necessary.”
Eric patted himself for his daggers, and when he found none, he laughed uproariously. Mr.15 face-palmed, but then joined in Eric’s laughter. This made Eric stop and Vaya inch toward the exit. Mr.15 abruptly appeared behind her and grabbed her hair.
“As the good book says, ‘The Trickster grants favors to people he laughs at.’”
Vaya quickly moved to stab his wrist with one dagger and cut her hair with the other. Mr.15 prevented both actions by blasting her with his spirit, disarming her and severely dazing her.
I could summon him, but he’s more likely to pull my pants down and leave…
“Do you understand this line?”
Eric glared. “Don’t tell me you’re his choice as well.”
Mr.15 shot him a sour look. “It means ‘irony.’ My Bladi children are bred to be warriors. I personally tend to each one of them. I created this girl to be a delicate flower and did nothing more than upload memories and program survival skills.”
Vaya’s struggling ceased. The shock of his words sent gears turning in her head.
“Yet this one defeated three of mine. I suppose her greater age could be a factor; she grew up more naturally than my own children did. She looks fifteen, but she’s actually six, while my children look twenty when they are truly three at most.”
All color drained from Vaya's face. “Did...Did you...I'm...I'm not...”
“Yes, you’re not real. I made your body from DNA that your ‘father’ provided me with and then I laboriously searched for just the right soul to match it. I found a little girl about your age and experience, and plucked the soul right out of her. She was such a sweet and innocent thing; adored her father. It was simplicity itself to implant all the necessary memories. “
Eric was sorely tempted to vomit and then rub Mr.15's face in it. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. This guy's a sociopath! I'm at the mercy of a sociopath...Maybe I should call Tasio…
“Haburt won't be able to tell the difference between his dead daughter and my simulacrum.” He tightened his grip on her hair while his other hand glowed with dark and otherworldly light. “Of course, if she knows that she’s a simulacrum, the effect is ruined. Watch closely, little shadow. I'm about to demonstrate necrocraft on a level rarely attempted: selectively deleting memories!”
Abyss!
“Tasio! Tasio! Tasio!”
The Trickster popped into existence beneath the ceiling crystal and descended to Eric's side. Then he waved to Mr.15, who waved back while deleting Vaya’s memories of the last five minutes.
“Hello, Mr. Numeral, what have you been up to since we last talked?”
“More of the same.”
He finished the mind wipe and tossed the now unconscious Vaya toward the exit. Then he summoned another clone trio to take her back to her room and administer punishment.
“Tell her it’s for wandering around.”
“Yes, Father.”
Tasio spotted Zettai and circled her. “‘Father,’ huh? Maybe this one will live long enough for you to earn such a title. How do you feel, dearie?”
She didn't say a word nor did she acknowledge Tasio's presence.
“She broke her vocal cords from screaming, so I put her into a trance. I'll fix them once the transformation is complete.”
Tasio patted her on the head. “The poor thing.” Then he made a big show about noticing Eric. “Eric! Did you summon me? I thought for sure it was Mr. Numeral because, as much as you dislike me, I figured it the more likely reason.”
“Haha, very funny, Tasio. Do you mind giving me a hand with this guy?”
“Yes, I do. I told you this a couple hours ago: I’m not a deus ex machina. If you want to defeat the evil sorcerer and save the damsel in distress, then you have to do it on your own. Otherwise, you’ll die. Speaking of which…” He spun his head one hundred and eighty degrees. “Why isn’t he dead?”
“I have a deal with Nulso, I need leverage for BloodDrinker and I also want to study him.”
Tasio’s form inflated into something large, glowing, and divinely majestic. With scowling eyes and glowing pupils, he boomed,
“You dare speak so to The Trickster himself?”
“Yes.”
Tasio shrank back to his default friendly form. “Wonderful. You still have that Push-The-Boundaries mentality as when you first ventured into the forbidden arts and contracted a reaper.”
“Contracted a reaper?” Eric said in shock. “You contracted a reaper?”
Mr.15 smirked beneath his mask. “You asked if I was the Trickster’s Choice. The answer is no. I am someone else’s!”
He cut his left palm and slammed it onto the ground. It spread out into a circle and formed an intricate series of runes. “Reno Grade! By our contract, I summon you! Appear before me!”
Black light shined within the rune and a darker being arose from it. A form took shape from the inner light and became something masculine. It wavered between broad and muscular, and slender and toned before settling in between. The darkness condensed in its hair and became so black it pulled in the light around it, making further details difficult to pinpoint.
Despite the blurriness of the darkness cloud, the creature stood in contrast to its surroundings. It was brighter, fuller, sharper, and yet somehow also transparent. It was as if everything around him was an imperfect reflection of some other form, while he himself was the genuine article. Simply being in his presence suffused Eric with a deep dread and sense of powerlessness.
Divinity! This guy’s divine! These feelings are a symptom of that. What did Nolien call it…?
As if whispered in his ear by The Trickster, he remembered his mentor’s words instead. It was the answer to the crystal on his staff.
“Legends say it can steal a god’s divinity.”
The reaper furled his divine spirit and pulled in the darkness, revealing his current form. His skin was as white as a leper’s. His ears pointed like a trickster’s. Crow feathers adorned his brow and shark teeth hung from his neck. He wore a robe of black silk that was tied with a spinal cord. He waved his hand in a circle and summoned a scythe; a blood-red shaft and an earth-brown blade. He grabbed the shaft and brought the blade down on the floor beneath him. It disintegrated into dust immediately.
Looming Shadow: Journey to Chaos book 2 Page 40