Irmeia coughed. Her fingers wrapped around her throat, massaging it.
Nyx, get me a potion, would you?
“Ordering me around as soon as I get here,” the spirit chuckled. “That’s so like you.”
I grinned. A stream of lights flew into my hand and condensed into a vial of red. I tossed it to the Eternal. “Here.”
“Thanks.” She uncorked it and downed it in one go.
“Do you need me to get you another potion?”
Nah, I think she’s good.
“Alright. By the way, why aren’t you wearing your swords around? I leave for twenty minutes and you become completely dysfunctional. What will you do if I’d just—”
A knot formed inside my stomach.
“YOU LOST YOUR WEAPONS?” Nyx yelled. “HOW THE HELL DO YOUR WEAPONS BREAK?!”
I…I don’t know. Nyx, can we not talk about this?
“THEIR STATUS SCREEN LITERALLY SAID ‘UNBREAKABLE’. HOW ON EARTH DID THEY BREAK THEN?!”
Look, I don’t know, okay? My voice turned firm. If I did I’d tell you. But I don’t.
The silence pushed us apart.
“I’m sorry,” the spirit said. “I just didn’t think it was possible.”
Well, the Time Lord did it anyway.
“Damn him.”
By the way, where’s Acnologia?
“Sleeping.”
I blinked. Eh?
“He tried resisting the Time Lord’s restraint on us, and I think that drained him out. Anyway, enough about that. Are you going to go after your Phantom Heart?”
My chest heaved. The images of my friends dying replayed in my mind. I traced a finger down the blood on my arm, and a chuckle left my lips. I smiled.
“Uhh…Zoran?” Nyx asked. “I can’t tell if that’s a yes or a no.”
Irmeia leaned forward. “Diablo, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “How’s the throat?”
“Sore,” she said.
“Sorry, I gripped you too hard.”
“Hellooo?” Nyx said. “Are you ignoring me now?!”
Relax, we’ll find it.
“How?”
Let’s just say it feels like I’ve had a switch flipped inside me.
“I’m just going to say that using that phrase when you’re covered in blood—and after you kind of tore those beasts apart with your hands—makes it seem just a little worrying.”
It’s fine.
“Okay, that isn’t helping.”
“What do we do now?” Irmeia asked.
“I need to find a certain item,” I said.
“Eh? What is it called?”
“You wouldn’t know it,” I said. “It’s something that pertains just to me.”
“Oh.”
“But I still need you to help me.”
She perked up. “What do I do?”
“Watch out for enemies.”
“Are you expecting any?”
“Not really. But I’m going into a trance. I won’t be able to tell if anyone is coming after me.”
“Got it,” she nodded. “I’ll take care of them.”
“Thank you,” I said, and crossed my legs over the ground.
“Are you sure you want to trust her?” Nyx asked.
I do. But whether it is a good idea or not remains to be seen.
I breathed in deeply and then closed my eyes. I directed my energy into my mind, and a cluster began to build up inside my head. I concentrated into a single spot and then let it burst out.
A searing heat exploded inside my head. My forehead throbbed, and my eyes watered, but I kept my consciousness. A mental pressure surged out of me, expanding out in a circle. I waited for a few seconds, turning down all other thoughts and focusing on just the wave.
The circle set off four other smaller circles from a few different places. They expanded up to about fifty miles away and then stopped.
Not here.
“What the heck was that?!” Nyx asked. “I’ve never seen it before.”
Just something I tried. I figured out how most of this mental pressure stuff works. I presume my Phantom Heart has a high mental pressure, meaning if I manage to stimulate it with these mind waves it’ll respond with a really intense feedback.
“Oooh,” the spirit said. “Wait I’ll help. Acnologia too. I’ll wake him up.”
“I am already awake, spirit,” the Dragon said.
Hello to you too. I smiled.
“Let us do this,” he said.
I nodded, and focused once again, diverting my energy into my mind. Heat built up within my head as I pushed past my limit, packing my head with all the energy I could. Suddenly two more presences, each massive in its own, pushed into my mind, stuffing it even more.
I gasped, but held on, concentrating for a few more seconds and then letting the power go.
If the last time felt like a tap on the finger, then this one was a nail boring through it.
Numbness took over my body, and heat exploded into my veins. My head shook, and I sincerely believed for a few seconds that it had become an entity of its own.
A massive wave of light emerged from my mind, and surged out. It activated daughter waves at the same four spots as before, but nearly a hundred more as well. The main wave kept going, urged on by its increased strength. It crossed a hundred miles, four hundred miles, eight hundred miles, and just kept moving further.
Suddenly, a spot far, far away lit up. A plethora of waves, each as massive at the one I’d sent out, shot back from it, and surged into my mind. Pain struck through my head, like a knife was slashing into it. I fell back from my stance, collapsing onto the floor, and gasped.
A smile curled onto my face.
“You found it didn’t you?” Nyx asked.
Yup. You got the coordinates, right?
“Yeah. Trying to figure out where exactly it came from.”
Good. I sat up.
Irmeia was right before me, with her eyes wide. “What was that?” she asked. “I felt something weird. Did you find what you need?”
I nodded. “I said hi and it replied with hello.”
She cocked her head. “Eh?”
“Diablo,” Nyx said. “You’re going to want to see this.”
What?
DING!
An empty map emerged before me, containing just two dots, a red one to the left and a blue one to the right.
The red one’s the Phantom Heart, right?
“Yeah, but look where it is.”
The map filled with boundaries and landscapes. I kept my eyes on the red dot, and then I froze.
“Yeah,” the spirit said. “I don’t believe this.”
I leaned closer, looking hard at the text beneath the red dot—the name of the place it was in.
Damn those thieves. My fists clenched.
What did the text say?
The Headquarters of the Alliance of Light.
***
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
My eyes were wide. Are you sure?
“There’s no doubt about it,” Nyx said. “The Phantom Heart is in the Alliance of Light’s headquarters.”
Why would such a thing be in their headquarters?
“I don’t know. There are a lot of things about your Phantom Heart that we don’t understand.”
“Zoran, your face is pale,” Irmeia said. “Are you okay?”
I stared at her, and then shook my head. “Don't worry about it.”
The Eternal parted her lips, but said nothing.
Nyx, I don’t have my Shadow Travel spell active yet, do I?
“No, the cooldown is still running,” Nyx said. “It’ll take a few more hours.”
I guess we’re depending on you then, Acnologia.
Silence replied.
My eyebrow raised. Acnologia?
“Ah yes,” the Dragon replied. “Certainly. Let me get out of this familiar storage system and I can fly you to the Alliance of Light’s Headquarters.”
&
nbsp; Are you okay?
“Indeed. Why do you ask?”
No reason in particular. I stood up, gazing at the horizon. The lands were dark, as were the skies. Not much light came down from anywhere, and I couldn’t really tell if it was day or night beyond the clouds. I managed to make out a few miles of my surroundings though.
Probably because of my Night Vision skill. I peered into the darkness, looking for as far as I could see. Nothing showed up in my vision, other than some more flatlands colored with the same old darkness.
“How are we getting to the Alliance of Light?” Irmeia stood behind me.
“I have a friend,” I smiled. Nyx?
Done, the spirit said.
A stream of light swirled before me, and a bright flash radiated outwards. Acnologia emerged before me, standing tall and mighty, with his scales of darkness blending with the lands, and his eyes of blood-red standing distinctly out of it.
“A Dragon.” Irmeia walked up to Acnologia. “You are my brethren.”
He turned his head and stepped away from her.
I laughed. “The Ancient Dragons were never your brethren.”
“That’s what you think.”
“Anyway.” I strode to the beast. “Let’s get going.” I leapt up, settling myself onto its back. I lowered my hand down to Irmeia. The Eternal gripped me by my wrist and I lifted her up behind me.
“Ready?” Acnologia asked.
I nodded, and the Dragon expanded its wings. A few strokes of its wingspan and we rose into the air. The dry winds swerved through our bodies, and I heard the rattling of broken bones inside me.
“Broken bones don’t rattle,” Nyx said.
I rolled my eyes. Yes, that was very important to the conversation.
“We’ve got a good few hours before we get to the Alliance of Light. So, any conversation is a good conversation.”
Great. Let’s talk about the Phantom Heart then.
Nyx sighed. “Why is it always work with you?”
I ignored him and continued. I don’t know much about it, but I do know it’s something that was a very intimate part of me. Even if I don’t completely comprehend what its existence means, I can feel a connection to this item.
“Okay? And?”
Why on earth is such a thing with the Alliance of Light? How did they even get it?
“I don’t know. Maybe it isn’t even with the Alliance of Light. It’s possible it’s just buried under the ground they live on.”
I frowned. Exactly where the Alliance of Light built its headquarters?
“Okay, that’s actually pretty suspicious.”
I can’t wait to talk to Sage Gorias about this. I am going to love this conversation.
“You sound excited already.”
By the way, can you send a message to the Death Lord?
“Sure. What do I send?”
Tell him Irmeia is with us, and co-operating. Ask him to meet us at the Alliance of Light’s Headquarters, and to bring Freya along.
“Eh?” the spirit asked. “Are you sure? The Death Lord is fine, but Freya might not be a good idea. Given her strength levels compared to the others, that is.”
Bring her along. Oh also, ask him how the village is doing and if it needs any repairs.
“Fine thing to be worrying about right now,” Nyx chuckled.
Hey, I’m the village master. Got to take care of my residents.
DING!
Nyx pulled up the Death Lord’s quick reply.
Very well. The village is fine. Irmeia caused no big problems here. Your men already have your place fixed up. Any news on the Time Lord?
Oh shoot, forgot to tell him about that. Nyx give him an update on everything that happened after the Markus Goodfield army attacked.
“You realize I was blocked from your mind for a while after you regained consciousness, right?” the spirit asked.
Nevermind. I sighed. Just tell him the Time Lord is very strong now, and that he’s still got an army of Markus Goodfields with him. No clue where he’s going.
“Also mention he’s one of these Ancients?”
Yeah, that too. Man, I’m forgetting a lot of stuff.
“It’s cause you’re too distracted by the lady,” Nyx chuckled.
I raised an eyebrow. Do you actually think that?
“You tell me.”
Just send the message.
Acnologia powered through the skies, spinning clouds into elongated shapes as we brushed past them. I watched the horizon, waiting for the first landform to show up, waiting for the mountains that split the Hexel Ruins and the Kingdom of Aingard.
I smirked. The Alliance of Light is going to regret keeping a secret from me.
My eyes drooped for a second but I slapped my cheeks, snapping myself back awake. My body ached, and I most certainly still had fractured bones in my body. The potion I took helped my healing process accelerate but I still had to wait for the injury to heal.
Acnologia’s Dragon Fusion and Rage Mode had helped me get through the pain the last time. But if I had to battle without that, I’d just have to be willing to bite through all that hurt.
And was I willing to do that?
Yes, I was.
The mountains soon emerged before us—a long range of short peaks up on the horizon. The moment we passed them the landscape changed, turning to grassy fields and dense groves. Mini streams ran across certain sections, cutting through the green land.
I averted my gaze at first. To a man who had been surrounded by dull and dark colors, the flash of vibrancy was almost blinding.
That’s a bit depressing, I chuckled.
Acnologia tilted his body and we rose higher into the air, past the clouds. The sun shone bright up here, and the heat wove its way onto our bodies. I put my hand out to the side, and my fingers sunk into the puffs of mist.
A soft, chilly sensation coated my fingers, contrasting the heat the sun had poured onto me. The image of an elf flashed in the clouds before me. I shook my head. No.
I thought of the moment Freya and I had shared in the skies. I relived every second, feeling every sensation.
And yet, anger was all I felt.
It didn’t matter what it had been before, but to me, she was the lady who forced me to care too much, who’d made me stay too ‘human’. Sure, it definitely sounded like it wasn’t a bad thing to force myself to stay human.
But on the flip side, I had not felt this liberated since I could remember. I didn’t remember the last time I felt this free, the last time I could let literally everything go and just sink my weapon into my enemies.
My weapons. I tapped my waist, but there wasn’t a sheath there.
“You’ll get used to it, Diablo,” Nyx said.
My fists clenched. Don’t assume things.
I don’t know how much time passed by, but we soon flew over two small villages, and were now heading to a large city ahead of us. There was a tall enclosure outside, and a taller one deeper in.
The Headquarters of the Alliance of Light.
My fists clenched. We were here.
Acnologia soon descended the clouds, and the entire city came into view. “Head right for the tower?” the Dragon asked.
I looked down at the massive tower rising from the center of the innermost enclosure. Smaller towers, about three-fourths in height, rose around it, all of them colored the same white as the main tower.
I’ll jump off at one of the smaller ones actually.
“Eh?” the Dragon asked. “Are you sure?”
Yeah, it’s fine.
Acnologia turned his head, and I could see him look right at me. “Really?”
Okay, okay, I just want to have some fun, I smiled. Also, I’m really, really angry.
The Dragon sighed. “Very well. I do not like it but do what you want.”
Yay. I grinned.
The towers neared. “What shall I do after you jump off?”
Hover for a second. I’ll get into the main tower a
few seconds after I jump down. Just follow me in. We can break through the same entrance we used before.
“I pity these builders.”
The towers were just a hundred yards ahead of us now. I grinned. I pity them too.
“Irmeia,” I turned around, “stay here. Acnologia will bring you down when the time’s right.”
“Understood,” she nodded. “What are you going to be doing?”
I swung my leg over the dragon. “Something fun.”
I dropped from Acnologia, timing myself so that I fell close to the inner towers. I scanned the surface. Perfect. I was right on course.
I pulled back my fist, and let all of my anger seep into it. Well, all the anger I could fit into one punch. I twisted my body, and smashed into the tower roof as I came down. The surface broke and I went crashing, breaking down multiple floors as I crushed through the structure.
I stood at the very bottom. “Ahhh.” I shook some rubble off my clothes. “That was good.”
Bricks and walls crashed down all around me, peeling out the side. In a mere five seconds, I’d pierced through the entire tower and brought it all crumbling down. Blood and bones scattered between the rubble, and I didn’t recall the faces of any of those people.
Battle cries echoed around me. Knights in white armor all charged in, with spears and swords rushing up to my body. I smiled. That won’t be enough.
I thrust my hand forward. “Tritus Oceanus!” I yelled.
A blast of water surged out, crushing into the men, and throwing them against the walls. I kept the attack going and rushed forward, towards the taller tower. I hunched down for a second, taking an extra step, and propelled myself into the skies. I directed my hand down, and used the rebounding force of the water Arts spell to lift myself up even higher.
I cut the attack off a second before I hit the peak of my jumping arc and then smashed into the tower, just like I had the last time I’d been here. The wall crumbled apart, at the exact same spot I’d broken through a day or so ago, and I landed comfortably inside the chamber.
“Are you kidding me?!” a voice yelled. “We just had that fixed too.”
The council was in there just as before, sitting atop their circular arc of six seats. I walked to the center, and looked at them all. Well, at the four that remained now.
The Eternal: A Boxed Set (World of Ga'em Book 6) Page 114
