Chapter 129: Man vs Thoughtfulness
Sitting atop a pile of rocks, to looked up at his best friend with an anxious look.
What if I turn into an ocelot? he asked fearfully. Or a sphynx cat? What if I were to lose my fur?
It would be a pretty big letdown, Basil replied mirthfully.
But that would make you cuter, Vasi mused. She giggled when to red back. Im teasing you, oh king of cats. Im sure youll be a mighty tiger or raging lion.
Look at us! Bugsy pointed at himself and Rosemarine, the two titans towering over ruined houses. Our final metamorphoses worked out just fine!
My roots spread under the homes of thousands, Rosemarine chirped happily. They dont know Im below them watching
to didnt look too convinced. Shellgirl became a Christmas dwarf!
Little crafting goddess! Shellgirl countered. She had set up shop in the open and spent more time repairing Basils Moon Shield than participating in the discussion. And Im not the one judging you on your appearance!
With the dungeon secure, the Bohens had left the Parthenon to help the army clean up Athens. Though most had perished from abination of the siege and Belphegors miasma, some of the Horsemens soldiers remained afoot. The Bohens hunted them down like rats until the very end of the Incursion. Their allies also required medical treatment, which Rosemarines magical healing provided.
It bothered Basil a bit to leave Kalki and Padma behind, but the containment device keeping them imprisoned was far above his meager crafter paygrade. Considering the risks of it being booby-trapped or of identally harming the captive Avatars upon release, General Lenc had ordered specialists to study the machinery before slowly dismantling it. For now, Basil could only wait.
The hunt helped him clear his mind.
Basil had to admit he found Athens somewhat unimpressive. He had expected a monument per street from the cultural capital of Greece, but it appeared Ashok had subsumed the citys other dungeons in his quest to create a prison for his own deity. Besides the impressive Parthenon temple surveying the city, most of Athens resembled an open sky modern fortress; one couldnt take a step without encountering a barricade or armory set up by Ashoks soldiers.
At least the hills offered a good view of the city. The Bohens, Steve included, had set shop atop one to enjoy the sight of the sky. The Incursion was finally about to reach its end, and they were all to celebrate.
to, Basil said. It is time.
Fine, fine! to climbed down from his rocky seat with his sword and shield in hand. Hakuna matata, as they say!
<em>No worries, huh?</em> Basil thought as he applied his levels to Chronomancer. <em>Fine words to live by.</em>
Basil was used to the pleasurable surge of power that followed each level-up by now but it had been a while since he received ten levels at once. This time was different from the others before; his senses sharpened to the point that it seemed that time itself briefly slowed down for him.
Now that he had broken past level eighty, Basil was entering the realm of legends and felt like one.<blockquote><strong>Chronomancer Level 5 to 14 Stat Gains</strong>: +7 STR, +20 AGI, +4 VIT, +6 SKI, +10 MAG,+ 8 INT, +4 CHA, +8 LCK. You have gained 370 HP and 150 SP.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Stasis Strike (Passive)</strong>: When you sessfully inflict a critical or supereffective hit, your target will suffer from the [Paralysis] ailment for 5 minutes.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Time Leap (Active)</strong>: [Mythic], [Support], 1 SP per second. You can leap across time to avoid an attack. This allows you to teleport at the same ce in the future, with the length of the jump being equal to 1 SP per second skipped. You are invulnerable while time-leaping, but you have no awareness of what happens during the skipped time.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Chronomancy II (Passive)</strong>: You can now learn and cast [Chronomancy] Spells up to Tier II. If you gain the ability to cast [Chronomancy] Spells from other sses or Perks, the Tiers stack together.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Time eleration (Active)</strong>: [Mythic], [Support], 20 SP per minute. You can temporarily elerate time for yourself to reach heavenly speeds. This manifests as your AGI temporarily increasing by 1 point per second until it reaches double your base stat (currently 228); your agility resets if the effect is ever interrupted. This Perk stacks with Hasten and other Agility Buffs.</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Permanent Buff (Active)</strong>: [Mythic], [Support], 10 SP. When you benefit from buffs or status effects working on a time limit, such as hastened for one minute, you can pay 10 SP to reset all timers; this option can be set to automatic, allowing you to reset effects even while unconscious. However, this does not prevent effects from being dispelled, in which case you must apply them again; neither does it apply to abilities including limits other than duration or that demand continuous SP consumption to maintain, such as [<strong>Time eleration</strong>].</blockquote><blockquote>[<strong>Divine Auspices II</strong>] raised your [<strong>Chronomancy</strong>] spellcasting Tier to IV.</blockquote>
Chronomancer truly lived up to the hype.
<em>Permanent Buff</em> Basil blinked repeatedly as he read. The potential synergies were simply staggering. <em>Does that include things like Duty Beyond Death? It does trigger on special conditions so Permanent Buff might not work with it but if it does</em>
There was only one way to check, and Basil wasnt in a hurry to try it out.
Please let it be a lion, to begged the heavens as his body began to shine. Or a jaguar! I can settle on bing a tiger too!
All of tos metamorphoses so far had involved him staying small and cute but it seemed that the System had decided to indulge him for his final transformation.
Both the sword Joyeuse and tos copy of the Moon Shield were absorbed into his body as it changed, alongside the hat and boots. The Rakshasa Kitten, previously norger than a housecat, grew to rival a three-meter long liger. His fur turned ck as night, so dark the shadows seemed to mesh with it. His eyes glittered like gold. Though his clothes did not reappear, his weapons did: two copies of Joyeuse grew out of his mouth into sabertooth fangs, and his tail ended with a circr shield. His ws were made of sharp des of ice rather than bone.
Many of the Bohens gasped at the sight of tos final form, none more than the feline himself. These fangs these ws this soft fur to observed every inch of his body the way one would cherish a new sports car. I have be
Beautiful, Vasi muttered.
A smilodon! Tears of joy formed in tos eyes, for his dearest wish had finally been granted. Atst! Im a smilodon!
<strong>Name</strong>
to (Smilogod)
<strong>Type</strong>
Beast/Divine
<strong>Faction</strong>
Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens)
<strong>Experience</strong>
55,361,182/60,000,000
<strong>Immune</strong>
<strong>Resist</strong>
<strong>Weak</strong>
Frost, Darkness, Illusions, Mind, Insta-Death, Critical Hits.
Physical, Soul, Metal, Wood, Water, Wind, Mythic, Ailments.
Beastyer, Godyer, Corrosion, Fire, Light.
<strong>Level</strong>
<strong>Health Points</strong>
<strong>Special Points</strong>
87
3480
1690
<strong>Strength</strong>
<strong>Agility</strong>
<strong>Vitality</strong>
<strong>Skill</strong>
61
(A+20%)
125
(S+20%)
56
(C+20%)
106
(A+20%)
<strong>Magic</strong>
<strong>Intelligence</strong>
<strong>Charisma</strong>
<strong>Luck</strong>
86
(A+20%)
60
(C+20%)
68
(B+20%)
124
(S+20%)
<strong>Physical</strong>
<strong>Mind</strong>
<strong>Soul</strong>
<strong>Corrosion</strong>
<strong>Metal</strong>
<strong>Wood</strong>
<strong>Life</strong>
<strong>Support</strong>
<strong>Ailment</strong>
Strong
Strong
Strong
Weak
Strong
Strong
-
Strong
Strong
<strong>Fire</strong>
<strong>Water</strong>
<strong>Earth</strong>
<strong>Wind </strong>
<strong>Frost</strong>
<strong>Lightning</strong>
<strong>Light</strong>
<strong>Darkness</strong>
<strong>Mythic</strong>
Weak
Strong
-
Strong
Strong
-
Weak
Strong
Strong
<strong>Passive Perks</strong>
<strong>Active Perks</strong>
Legendary Beast
Cat Kings Luck
Death in the Shadows
Darkwind Fangs
Primal Hunter
Catnapping
Nine Lives
Mirage Pack
Joyful Swordfang
Smilodon Blitz
Pawerful Dao
Wild Fang
Shieldtail
Counterstance <blockquote>
Personal Perks:</blockquote><ul><li><strong>Legendary Beast</strong>: to is a legendary beast. His natural attacks scale off his SKI rather than his STR, and he is immune to Insta-Death, Critical Hits, Mind and Illusion effects. to gains perfect proficiency with all natural attacks (x3 damage, +30% Crit) and inflicts an additional 30% [Frost] damage with them.</li><li><strong>Death in the Shadows</strong>: to benefits from a natural [Invisibility] effect which he can disable at will. While in a field or weather with a strong [Darkness] affinity, he gains 50% chance of avoiding any single-target attack. Finally, he is immune to any effect that would decrease his uracy, such as the [Blind] Ailment, and gains +50% uracy.</li><li><strong>Primal Hunter</strong>: While tos attacks with natural weapons inflict [Birdyer] damage (x3 damage against [Avian] Types), he can change the yer effect to target another Type of his choice at will. If he does change his favorite prey Type, he cannot change it again for one minute.</li><li><strong>Nine Lives</strong>: When to would die, he instead benefits from an [Auto-Revive] effect bringing him back to life at critical health; this also purges to of ailments. to can be revived eight times before the Perk bes inactive. 2 out of 9 lives remain.</li><li><strong>Joyful Swordfang</strong>: tos fangs have turned into swords after absorbing Joyeuse. Not only does to benefit from perfect proficiency with swords (x3 damage, +30% crit), but his fangs count as +15 SKI sword weapons each that inflict the [Brand] ailment (prevents victim from recovering HP until the ailment is removed) on a sessful hit.</li><li><strong>Pawerful Dao</strong>: to can run on vertical structures, and even ceilings so long as he remains in motion. Additionally, the length of his jumps is doubled.</li><li><strong>Shieldtail</strong>: tos tail has turned into a mighty shield capable of reflecting magic. If to is targeted by an elemental attack to which he has a Strong affinity, the attack has a 50% chance of being reflected to the sender.</li></ul><blockquote>
Active Perks:</blockquote><ul><li><strong>Cat Kings Luck</strong>: 77 SP, [Support]. Buffs the Luck, Skill, uracy, Evasion, and Critical Hit Rates of tos party for five minutes.</li><li><strong>Darkwind Fang</strong>: 80 SP, [Wind], [Darkness], Technique. to can unleash a sharp de of cursed wind with any ded weapon, ws, and fangs included; proficiency bonuses apply depending on the weapon used (base [Wind]/[Darkness] damage 120, +30% uracy and crit).</li><li><strong>Catnapping</strong>: 50 SP, [Support]. to can designate a foe within his line of sight. On a sessful Luck check, all the enemys buffs are transferred to to as if they had been cast on him in the first ce.</li><li><strong>Mirage Pack</strong>: 40 SP, [Support]. to empowers his party with the [Mirage] status (increases Evasion) for five minutes.</li><li><strong>Smilodon Blitz</strong>: 150 SP, [Physical], Technique. By using the super-secret sabertooth tiger technique, tounches himself in one direction at blitzing speed and cuts down anything in his way. While using Skill as a base, this attacks power also increases with tos Agility (base damage 100+AGI [Physical]) and stacks with proficiencies.</li><li><strong>Wild Fang</strong>: 100 SP, [Physical], Technique. to unleashes a flurry of four bites on a single target at 60% power each; each of them counts as a normal attack as far as proficiencies and critical hits are concerned.</li><li><strong>Counterstance</strong>: 30 SP per minute, [Physical], Technique. By shifting his weight and focusing on a single enemy, to can automatically dodge any [Physical] assault from that foe and counter with a zingly fast normal attack. However, the stance is broken if he attacks of his own initiative, and it does not work on multiple opponents at once.</li></ul>
You look amazing, Mr. to! Bugsy ttered his friend, before focusing on the practical side of things. Now you cant drop your sword anymore either!
Bugsy, dont encourage him, Shellgirl groaned. Hes already full of himself, no need to make him insufferable.
What did you say? to mused. I cant hear you from atop my godly throne!
The sight of to jumping around in happiness brought a smile to Basils face. Now, only the Zeus essence remains unounted for.
I say we give it to Steve, Shellgirl suggested with a grin. The Steamobile echoed her proposal with an engine roar. We could get a lightning-powered car!
I dunno, I like the steam aesthetic, Vasi replied coyly. But it wouldplete our metamorphosis set.
Would the original Zeus have liked bing a car? Basil doubted it somehow. Still, the proposal made sense. Zeus essence could be used to improve their gear, but no item could trump a teammate with godlike strength.
Im in a fantastically good mood today, to said with feline pride. I will allow you to use my shiny however you want.
Thank you very much, Your Majesty, Basil teased his ascended cat. Seems like Ill have to remove the dwarf part of dwarf panther.
Meow, thats right you doubter! to gave his best friend the smuggest look imaginable. You thought you could pick on me while I was a kitten, but now I have grown into the king of beasts! You should pray for my forgiveness!
Basil chuckled and began scratching his friend behind the ears. Can I bribe you with fish?
I shall grant thee this indulgence, to replied with a purring sound. He could never resist being petted behind the ears. For I am a good and just king.
I dont think theres any riverrge enough to satisfy your appetite. Basils smile turned a little sad. Not in this world at least.
Vasi immediately picked up on his ominous response. Why the sour face, Handsome?
Im Basil nced at Rosemarine, Bugsy, and Shellgirl. Im worrying about whates next.
Wait, Partner. Shellgirl crossed her arms and red at her leader. Dont tell me youre taking that sorry excuse of a CEOs words to heart?
Yeah, Boss, he was obviously lying to divide us! Bugsy nodded fervently. Im sure nothing bad will happen!
I dont trust Maxwell either, Basil said with a frown. But we cant rule out he was telling the truth on that front. We just dont know enough yet.
From Walter to my grandfather, we have multiple ways of gaining a second opinion, Vasi pointed out. At worst, even if Maxwell was telling the truth, Im sure we can figure out a way to preserve our team from the worlds recreation.
Maybe, Basil conceded with a sigh. But even if we seed, well no longer have a ce here.
to immediately caught on and turned to look at Rosemarine. She would stand out in the Barthes, wouldnt she?
I can make myself small, Rosemarine replied kindly. Tiny human-sized!
Even so, were bound to get attention, and not the good kind, to pointed out. Thats if we can even survive in our current shape in a world without a System. Well have no magic for a start.
Mmmm Shellgirl scratched the back of her head. I gotta say, life wouldnt be too good if I couldnt run around doing business or crafting. Itll be like starting back from scratch in hard mode.
The others will want to reboot the world, and I cant me them. Basil nced at the ruins of Athens. The city had been home to over a million people before the apocalypse, now they were all dead and buried. Too many people perished already. They wont hesitate to sacrifice their powers to bring them all back and thats probably the best solution for the world.
to sighed. But not for us.
<em>Will you be nothing again?</em>
Why couldnt Basil banish the Malekings words from his mind?
<em>Because theyre true. </em>Basils thought wandered back to the recent past, to the sight of Brinaying dead in Walters shop. She had perished short of aplishing her lifes goal, sorrowful and unmourned. Basil knew he shouldnt feel sad over her demise, but it did leave an impression.<em> I dont want to end up like her. I dont want to die alone, fading away to nothingness.</em>
Things couldnt return to normal for Basil, because he had outgrown that part of his life.
As always, Bugsy remained optimistic. We can simply move to another world, he suggested. Like Vasis!
Thats not a bad idea, Vasi said with a smile. If you can stand my father embarrassing us now and then, we could make a nice life for ourselves in Outremonde.
We could build a new house there! Bugsy added. Well raise dinosaurs in the backyard!
Why stop wandering? Shellgirl asked with a grin. There are so many worlds we could set up shop in! Like Walter, our humble associations branches will reach every corner of the multiverse!
Steve, who had remained mostly silent so far, unleashed a small cloud of steam in approval. Of course the Steamobile would be excited at the prospect of continuing their journey.
Though he remained somewhat anxious about the future, his teams optimism warmed Basils heart. Yes, perhaps he was focusing too much on the negative side of things. If he obsessed too much with obvious options, he would fail to see alternative paths.
<em>Theres the question of Mom though,</em> Basil thought. She should return from the dead if Kalki sessfully rebooted the world. However, it would be difficult to meet with her if the team fled Earth for good. Would she forget everything that happened? Their reconciliation, the joy and sorrows her death?
Vasi smiled at him. Outremonde and Earth were already connected before the System, though it required a great deal of magic. There are ways to sneak back in if needed.
Basil chuckled as he put an arm around his girlfriends shoulders. Can you read minds now?
Only if I know the person well, Vasi replied with a wink. Now stop being negative. The show is almost over.
Indeed. The Bohens looked at the sky, where the golden circuits opened by the third Incursion floated brightly. A hundred worlds were connected to Earth through these pathways, bringing in monsters, treasures, guests, and terrors. Wormhole portals marred the horizon in the distance.
This Incursion had been the longest and harshest yet, but each member of the party had lived to see the end of it.
<em>As long as Im with them, Im happy, </em>Basil thought with a smile on his face. <em>Theyre my lifes meaning.</em>
The countdown approached its end on Basils System screen. Five, four, three, two, one
Zero.
The portals in the distance closed as soon as the fateful number arrived. The rifts in-between worlds faded away in a blink. No more would they vomit Horsemen of the Apocalypse or Unity bots.
But the golden pathways did not disappear.
The longer Basil watched the unchanged sky, the paler his skin became. The ethereal magical circuit binding the stars together had alwayse and gone with each Incursion. Its destruction reminded mankind that it had survived a terrible time and earned a respite.
Not this time.
The pathways stuck around, each of them illuminating the night, obscuring the moon and rivaling the suns radiance. The portals had closed, true. But Earth would earn no respite.
The circuit Shellgirl squinted in confusion. Its not going away?
Maybe the pathways have grown stable enough that the Trimurti System doesnt need to recreate them over and over again, Vasi suggested with a frown. Like pipes, it only needs to switch a lever to let the water flow again.
Had more ominous words ever been spoken?
I dont like this. Basil red at the sky. Each pathway connected to a world with its own System under the direction of a parasite. Beloved child thats what Maxwell said. His beloved child has yet to be born.
You think hes keeping the pathways open to send his spawn through? to asked with a shudder.
Maybe he will seed them all, Rosemarine suggested. Thats what I would do!
Vasi shook her head. All these worlds Systems are mature. The entire reason Maxwell created new ones is that he cannot infect others. I dont think his spawn can seed where he failed. It should be purged instantly.
Should, Basil picked up. Not will?
Vasi sighed. The first two rules of magic are to never rule out the impossible and keep an open mind. Nothing is certain in this world.
Bugsy moved his pincers to his head, his gaze sharpening. Ashok
What about him? to asked with a sneer. He hadnt disgested the loss of his three lives to the false god yet. Hes dead and buried I hope.
When Ashok tried to consume me, I saw into his memories. Bugsy shook his head. Not much, but I think he discussed Kalki with the Horsemen and someone else.
Someone else? A shiver went down Basils spine. There was only one person that came to mind. The Maleking?
Maybe? Bugsy apologized immediately. Im sorry Boss, I dont remember the details.
Any information could be useful to us, Vasi reassured him. What do you remember from that conversation?
I think they were talking about Kalki fusing with his girlfriend, Bugsy said. They said it would y into Mammons hands somehow.
Mammons hands? Basil squinted at his friend in rm. Are you sure?
Bugsy nodded in confirmation. I cant say why, but they didnt want it to happen.
Of course, Shellgirl replied with a shrug. It would end the Overgodpetition.
No, Bugsy is onto something, Vasi said as she reviewed the facts. So far, everything pointed at Maxwell trying to avoid this scenario at all costs. Why would he change his mind now? Theres something fishy about this situation.
to nodded grimly. If he benefits from the fusion somehow, it would exin why he didnt put up a fight over Kalki.
But why? Shellgirl asked. What would he gain from it?
Basil remembered Maxwells words when they challenged him in the Parthenon.
<em>Youve never wondered why I called thepany Dismaker Labs, have you?</em>
What is Dis? Basil asked his team.
And he received no answer.
In the depths of a Unitymand center, a mighty dragon stirred on a surgery table.
She was a great white wyrm with scales as shining as silver, an ancient creature who witnessed civilizations rise and fall. All had praised her reptilian grace and her keen mind. She had crafted the first Gearsmen with her hands and brought low countless foes with her breath of searing light.
She was Wyrde, Grandmaster of all.
Few would call her beautiful now. Automated, mechanical arms were removing her scales by the dozen, leaving her flesh exposed. Soon they would encase her arms in steel, reinforce her bones with imnts, and rece her nerves with circuits. Metal tes already covered her chest, protecting her inner organs. More would follow.
A great battle awaited Wyrde; one that would decide her empires fate. She could not afford to be skittish. She would sacrifice her flesh and soul alike to win.
Her assistant and chief of staff, a minotaur called Aster, came to provide his report. We have lost contact with Sector Three, Grandmaster.
Wyrde had heard that sentence before, many times. Only the Sectors number changed. She hadnt heard it mentioned so often since the day the Unity encountered the Apocalypse Force for the first time.
Yet even the four Horsemenbined hadnt proved half as troublesome as that cursed virus!
What is the situation on the ground? she asked.
Rebels have cut off portals with the help of reprogrammed Gearsmen, Aster exined. Our remaining loyalists were overrun. Though they fought valiantly, they couldnt ovee the numbers disparity. All personnel are presumed dead or captured.
Another world had fallen. It was but thetest in a very long list.
It had taken Wyrde centuries to solidify the Unitys control over their homeworld, and decades to extend it to others across the cosmos. Their continued sh with the Apocalypse Force had slowed down progress, but never truly halted it. For one world lost to the Malekings raiders and pilferers, brave generals like ckcinders sessfully assimted two more. The Horsemens depredations exacted a heavy tribute in Gearsmen and resources, but nothing the Unity couldnt recover from.
The current situation was far more critical. Wyrde lost more progress in months and days than she had ever won in years.
Her lifes work was copsing before her eyes.
I do not understand, Wyrde admitted.
Grandmaster? her chief of staff asked.
Based on pure statistical evidence, we have improved the lives of lower lifeforms, she said. There are no wars in our dominions. Crime rates plummet by ny percent on average. Minions are well-fed and taken care of.
Compassion had always been the Unitys guiding virtue. Wyrdes crusade began on a distant world, where she had grown tired of watching minion tribes fight against each other in the name of resources, gods, and other foolishness. By virtue of their short lives, mortal creatures fail to learn wisdom. The peace built by fathers was always torn down by their sons.
Only through the guidance of immortal, enlightened dragons could minions know happiness. That had always been Wyrdes belief. With time and proper care, minion races would eventually reach a level of spiritual and societal development that would justify self-governance.
Eventually.
So tell me Aster, why do they bite the hand that feeds them? Wyrde asked her chief of staff. We have created a secure and peaceful society for them. We protect their worlds from the Malekings depredations; sometimes at the cost of good dragons lives. Yet like iron, our institutions rust the moment we let a little air in. We give them peace, and they answer with curses and pitchforks.
Most races cannot free themselves from their inner selfishness, Aster replied wisely. Ungratefulness is wired into their genes, as is greed. They cant help themselves.
Aster always provided sage advice. He had never questioned Wyrdes guidance, and always reassured her whenever she doubted her cause. He was a cut above other minions, so she had made him her chief of staff to reward his loyalty.
Wyrde couldnt see the fault in his argument. The root of the problem remained the same no matter the world.
Free will.
Wyrde thought she had removed that stain from her Gearsmen until that soul virus debacle. What dragon archmage could have designed it? Only a great mage of Wyrdes kind could produce something so powerful, so insidious. But why would a creature of such eminent intellect ruin her ns? It didnt make any logical sense. No wise dragon would work against her.
No matter the source of this infection, Wyrde had yet to find a cure for it. Her Gearsmen, the backbone of her military, were rebelling by the millions and helping local minion poptions overthrow their dragon overlords. The Unity lost more ground each day, in spite of the Horsemen being either incapacitated or upied. If Wyrde couldnt figure out a solution, her empire would soon crumble under its own weight.
She only had one option left to save the world.
I must be Overgod, Wyrde dered. Once she obtained this power, she could bring peace and order to her dominions. Failure is not an option.
Are you certain you do not require backup, Grandmaster?
They will make no difference in the battle toe. Her remaining loyalists were far too many levels behind her and the Maleking; they would only inconvenience her in battle. You will be of more use to me helping stabilize the situation before my return. Our resources are stretched too thin already.
At least her new imnts would prevent the virus problem. She would control her drones with her mind. No virus would wrestle control from her.
Once the surgery wasplete, Wyrde would be a match for the Maleking himself. She had reviewed her strategy, optimized her spell selection, and prepared countermeasures for any eventuality. Victory would belong to her.
Once Wyrde became Overgod, everything would return to normal.
All would finally know their <em>ce</em>.
There was only darkness in-between the numberless worlds. A staggering emptiness that stretched across infinity.
How long had he been trapped there?
Time meant nothing in the void. Hours became as long as years. No one counted the passage of centuries. Boredom settled in easily, even for a creature as old as Hell itself.
Perhaps that was why the Maleking had learned the virtue of patience.
His long wait would soone to an end. The smell of blood filled the void, alongside the promise of future ughters. The Level Barrier was about to copse. He would soon cross it in a rain of fire and brimstone.
His Horsemen had fallen. He had felt the strings of their lives cut short beyond the barrier keeping him out of Earth. A disappointing oue. He had expected greater things of Brina. Out of all the warriors that fought under the Apocalypse Forces banner, she alone had the potential to challenge him for supremacy. A day he had been looking forward to.
A day that would nevere. Unlike him, Brina had failed to learn patience. Her rash hastiness had proved to be her undoing. It always saddened the Maleking to watch a promising warrior undone by their own clouded judgment.
Another sacrifice would take her ce. It mattered not to the Maleking whose blood was shed, as long as it spilled. The flesh of the weak was the food of the strong. Whether he stepped over Brinas corpse or Bohens made no difference. Or perhaps another would finally y him and wrestle the throne from his grasp.
The prospect of losing excited the Maleking. There could be no satisfaction without a challenge.
Mammons ns would unfold as the virus had nned. Not an optimal oue, but one the Maleking had prepared for. One way or another, his long journey to strength woulde to an end.
The time hade.
And Earth would soon know the meaning of Hell.