Underworld - Book 8 - Chapter 31

I forced myself to pay attention to our new surroundings as we shot through the portal. We arrived in a natural tunnel some distance from the city. Whether we were on the Cavern or Dungeon Level, I didn’t know.

Matriarch Kya was standing in the middle of the tunnel facing us. We landed and Sergeant Valls immediately formed up in front of us. He saluted the Matriarch as if indicating he was ready and had done what was expected of him. I doubt he was fooling anyone, but I appreciated his insistence.

Technically, they’d just botched their mission of protecting me. Considering the assassins had attacked Jasmine first, distracting me just long enough, I assumed the same had happened to them. They’d been attacked a split second before they’d known I was in danger. We’d both failed.

Even if I couldn’t bring myself to look at the dead dark elf in my arms, I still felt her weight and lingering warmth. When we first met, she hadn’t been able to sleep alone because of the unending crimes of her master. I had placed my back against hers so that she had some comfort and could fall asleep. Was it fitting that I held her now, offering her the same comfort in her final rest?

It was vile. She’d just escaped. Slavery. Abuse. That was all behind her. Her life had just begun. How could this happen? Why?

Daring a downward glance, I saw her lifeless face. It was true, but it didn’t seem real. She was right here.

Countless regrets bubbled to the surface. I should’ve spent more time with her. If I would’ve helped her fit in more, maybe she wouldn’t have chosen to come with me. I should’ve insisted she stay. Her level just hadn’t grown high enough. Perhaps most importantly, her monster core had still been at the Master rank. When she was attacked, it had shattered because it didn’t have the density of a grandmaster core.

Wasn’t that the case? The reason my implanted core had survived was for that very reason, wasn’t it? Or had my armor saved it from becoming much worse for me?

I was an idiot. I’d wrapped my Skeletal Armor in obsidian. As good as it looked, I hadn’t taken seriously armor’s real purpose. I’d become so used to summoning it that I’d repaired it during the fight, but I bone offered little resistance during battles at our current level. So as not to disturb Jasmine, I created a layer of thick steel between the bone and obsidian covering me now.

Would I have survived if my grandmaster orb had shattered in my heart instead of just being dislodged? I was confident I would have. The reason? I didn’t lose the ability to control my mana without my cores like those of the monster races. I also had my Light Surgeon form. I doubted I’d be able to die even if someone tore my heart out of my chest.

It wasn’t fair.

The memory of lessons learned mocked me. ‘Life wasn’t fair’ was the universal mantra of parents everywhere. But wasn’t that the point of living? To be fair and decent even if nobody else was? To befriend others that desired the same thing as flawed as they might be and try to live it out? And now that I had power, wasn’t I supposed to use it to thwart such tragedy? To give someone that had suffered as Jasmine had a chance at a good life? Even an incredible one?

What did I do instead? I slaughtered thousands based on fictional prejudice, accidently killed tens of thousands while defending myself, and even led Jasmine to her death.

This was a mistake. All of it. I should’ve been reluctant to bring Aeris and even Sergeant Valls and his men with me. The whole parading around to gain status was insanity incarnate. I could’ve come alone in a blue magic disguise and taken care of business without any issues. I’d fallen into the trap of thinking I should be carefree just because I wanted that for others. I had wanted so terribly for Jasmine to experience the simple joy me and the other humans from the surfaced often did during our foolish banter. We were at war and what was I doing? Trusting in the security provided by the succubi of Matriarch’s Crown? It was succubi assassins that attacked us.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” Matriarch Kya announced. “Bring me this would be killer.”

Jasmine’s hand had fallen from where it rested on her abdomen. Aeris was there in her Sprite Form to respectfully lift it and put it back in place over her chest. My wife looked emotionally drained.

“Yes, Matriarch,” Ronja called as she flew the assassin forward. When the dangling succubus’s feet touched the ground and the socialite let go, she plopped like a sack of potatoes.

This gothically dressed succubus Matriarch was truly ancient. She didn’t bother looking at the unconscious woman at her feet.

It happened so quickly. The assassin was lying there one moment, and in the next instant, she wasn’t. A dagger made of condensed mana surged for the Matriarch’s heart.

The games were over. I didn’t even lift a hand. Laser shot out of my forehead as I willed it with millions of MP backing it. It had never been necessary to cast with my hands. When timing mattered, it was simply wasted movement.

Even with Time Crawl active, Kya reaction seemed slow. Yet, when the blade arrived at her chest, the Matriarch’s index finger had arrived just in time to intercept its point. As for the damage, it just broke the skin of her finger, causing a bead of blood to form.

That wasn’t what the ancient succubus was paying attention to. Her head was tilted to the side, and she was leaning over slightly. It was just enough for her to see the hole Laser had burned in the assassin’s back.

The assassin staggered back a step.

“Your aim was good, but you’ll need a higher concentration of Solar Magic to destroy a dark magic core of this level,” the Matriarch critiqued. Then with a motion that was as swift as it was graceful, the succubus appeared before the assassin and placed a bloody index finger on her forehead.

The assassin collapsed again, but this time she didn’t get up.

Then Kya electrocuted the woman’s body with a bolt of Vitality Aspect to heal her. “So that we can question her later.”

“She’s a succubus,” Queen Degima said, mentioning what everyone was thinking.

“Yes. Even among the succubi there are traitorous factions. Give me a moment.”

The Matriarch flew off to a distance of a few hundred feet where she removed metal stakes that made me think of Vlad the Impaler. She systematically javelined them into the ground had measured increments until a formation array was set up around her. Then she began to cast. It wasn’t necessary to use Forced Learn because I’d already learned this Blue Magic Pillar. A portal appeared a minute later, and she tossed the unconscious succubus into it before it closed.

I observed the process as close as I could. It wasn’t as simple as creating a circle out of the metal poles. The mana moved in very complex patterns.

I had to ask so I reached out to Shamash through mind speak. “Is there a Blue Magic Pillar for creating formations?”

“No,” he replied. “Formation Mastery is more of a profession than it is a school of magic. Many consider it the sovereign of all professions. What you just witnessed is amongst the most basic uses. And here’s the most difficult thing about mastering it. The Underworld’s system provided to all magic beings gives no instruction to those that pursue it. It simply judges their skill level.

“Know this. If you survive long enough and we exhaust all there is to learn about the magic of this world, Formation Mastery will remain with its countless mysteries. Legend tells of Advanced Rank Formation Masters of bygone eras that were able to create wonders that would make the Ireki Empire’s mana machines look like children’s trinkets. As far as I know, the greatest Formation Master of the current era has reached the Intermediate Rank at best. Despite this, there is a reason the Highbred Elves and their closest relatives remain despite their comparatively small population.

“There are other places in the world—hidden places—with ancient peoples and monsters that exist in relative peace simply because of the right formation. It would please me to no end if the day comes when we can look into such wonders together.

“For now, set your eyes on survival above all else. There will be a time for mourning, but now is not that time. Danger has not passed.”

I glanced back to see Shamash in butler form. He bowed his head in a way he couldn’t in his true form.

“Is there something you sense that I don’t?” I asked.

“Nothing of substance. Just a feeling. Instinct. I know it might be too much to ask for you to hand the girl over to someone else, but it would be wise. It’s not just well-trained assassins we’re dealing with here. Some max level parasite likely noticed you had a core, and despite being human, they deemed it worth a shot to send someone to test the unlikely theory that destroying it might kill you.”

The muscles in my back flexed with such tension that I had doubts the earlier assassin’s blade would’ve even made it through to my heart. “Are you telling me someone tried to assassin me, killing Jasmine in the process, all to test a theory that they knew was unlikely?”

“The idea of perfect strategy in war is an illusion at best. Often, it’s the borderline comical attempt that is the most successful because its unexpected.”

The Matriarch had rejoined us. Ronja was standing at her side with a girlish fanaticism of being so close to a succubus she looked up to.

“We must get moving,” Kya said.

“Just one moment, please,” I replied. I didn’t delay, removing the very bed Jasmine had once slept on during our return journey to Sanctuary. Placing her on it, I pulled the blankets up to her shoulders so that she looked just right. Stepping back, I gave the others a moment to say a quick goodbye. There would be time later for more.

Degima and Nava came in turn. The young succubus who had made our starting months in the Underworld so difficult leaned down and kissed her cheek. Aeris grabbed the girl’s hand as she rose before fixing a few strands of Jasmine’s hair. My wife gave me a nod.

I placed the bed with her on it in the Master Ring I’d gone to Persepolis to retrieve for the Head Mistress. I then addressed the Matriarch. “We’re ready.”

We began traveling on foot. Our pace wasn’t fast, which seemed to contradict the urgency of the moment. At the same time, I thought it might be the Matriarch giving us a little grace period after what had happened. She was walking out front while Ronja tentatively asked questions.

I knew Aeris wanted to be close, but I insisted she travel in her Wisp From. At the same time, I allowed her to cling to me like a cloak of wind. Having her both safe and close alleviate many of my worries.

At the same time, I had Time Crawl activated and would keep it that way. It wasn’t cranked up to the highest level, but it allowed me to observe what was happening around us in great detail even if it was tedious.

When Matriarch Kya suddenly stopped, I noticed it instantly. But what it meant—

I sensed the disruption in mana that came from the way we had come. My perceptions were cast forth and I found the cause a quarter of a mile behind us. It was a seedling?

If there was a seed, it was so small it was almost indiscernible to the human eye. Even through my perceptions, it was a speck of mana. What spawned from it was so much more. What started as a seedling the size of my finger grew so rapidly that I had to draw my perceptions back. Within seconds it grew into a winding vine as thick as a mature oak. Thorns covered its surface. The largest ones were the size of my arm and shaped like the beak of an eagle, while the smallest covered it all over like the scales of a shark. Then it started to flower.

I recognized what it was right away. A rose. A giant one. Except then I got a good look at one of its red petals. It wasn’t a petal at all, but a tongue.

When the man-sized tongue-petals began to open, I half expected vicious teeth, but instead Matriarch Hadassah was there curled up with her knees to her chest. As if opening them for the first time, her eyes fluttered under the meek light off the tunnel. As soon as her confused nativity appeared it was gone. Understanding flashed and she bound from the flower with terrifying grace. Covered in a short gown made of the tongue-like petals, she landed giggling. Her voice was playful as she called out, “Old witch. Where are you taking little sister Aeris and this palatable young light mage?”

“Get behind me,” Matriarch Kya commanded as she spun to face the newcomer who was still hundreds of feet away with us caught smack dab in the middle. “It’s just a doppelganger, but she’s still quite dangerous. It seems we now know who sent the assassins after you.”

“Me?” Hadassah innocently batted her eyes. “That can’t be.”

“Then explain yourself clone. What is your purpose?”

“What indeed?” The body double looked directly at me with the same flirtatious undertone her expressions she always had. “How is one to know who to trust? We are at war. If you decide incorrectly...”

“Continue in the direction we were headed as quickly as you can,” Kya insisted. “I’ll take care of her.”

“And where are we exactly?” the clone interrupted.

“If I tell you that, you’ll report back to Hadassah’s main body.”

“Oh?” The clone’s face lit up. “Why didn’t you take them directly to the Head Mistress’s palace?”

“El, I’ve been wondering that since we got here,” Aeris said through mind speak.

Meeting Nava’s eyes told me she’d been thinking the same thing.

“Be ready to defend from either side,” I sent to Sergeant Valls.

“Keen.” A moment later, he added to make sure I understood. “We’re ready.”

“There was an assassination attempt,” Kya hissed. “Any competent assassin would anticipate the most likely destination of retreat for their target. Their safety comes first.”

“Trust,” the Hadassah clone said. “Sister, brother, Little Nava, don’t trust. Loyalty is fleeting, but while you can’t trust people, you can trust motives. You don’t know this ancient witch, but you know exactly where my motivations lie. I don’t want you dead. I want something far more pleasurable.”

The body double began licking her lips, but when she realized she was being too forward she hid it behind her teeth. The look she was giving us said all that we needed to know.

“She admits to her motive,” Matriarch Kya snarled.

I studied the ancient blond succubus. Her anger was genuine and her retort about the person who sent the assassins might be trying to anticipate what we did next made sense. However, I knew that what this clone was saying about motivations was right as well. Even if you didn’t trust someone, you could still predict what they were going to do if you knew what they were after.

“Enough,” Kya shouted, reaching the end of her patience. She began walking forward.

Holding up a closed fist, the Hadassah clone smirked. “Sorry, hag. You’re already too late.” With a wave of her hand, she released what was in it. Thousands, maybe millions, of the smallest seeds scattered into the air behind her.

A whirlwind of power flew over our heads, driving most of us to our knees. I remained standing thanks to Crimson Incubus being summoned under my armor with many times its cost channeled to it to boost my physical stats. Sergeant Valls stood as well with his melee specialist.

The heat came swiftly. Matriarch Kya reached the clone before the flames rose from the ground. As she did, I saw them collide. The clone didn’t even try to resist her.

The ancient succubus didn’t use magic, a skill, or even a weapon. Her body struck Hadassah’s head on. As if hit by supersonic train, the clone splattered into a mist of blood. In Ancient Matriarch’s wake followed a forest of fire. It seemed she intended to burn up every last seed that was cast.

We fled out of necessity. There was nothing natural about this furnace. The flames climbed from floor to ceiling and glimmered with blue and green heat. Aeris had picked up Degima and the squad from the Illuminated Cathedral as Nava, my golems, Shamash, and I high tailed it in the direction Kya had suggested.

I admit to looking for side tunnels, not exactly trusting either Matriarch as far as I could throw them. Survival first. I thought we had at least reached relative safety for the moment, when the flames calmed and we saw Kya flying in our direction. But then the entire world began to shake. We heard it. It was as if the earth was coming to an end and starting to crumble all around us.

I first saw movement on the ceiling above. One sprout was followed by a thousand. Soon the ceiling was carpeted in green. The walls and ground beneath our feet were already covered.

With Time Crawl turned up to the highest level, I watched as the mile or so worth of tunnel we’d just traversed turned green. I didn’t rely on my body’s speed to look back the way we were going. My perceptions peaked out of the back of my head only to see nothing but green in either direction.

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Sorry for all the cliffhangers. I didn't want to post this section until it was ready. There's a lot more to come.