((The 14 pages of Valentine's Day + Double Wednesday -- Page 13 of 16))
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Six: ‘The Unworthy...’
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The booming, disembodied voice of Malast arrived before the fighting had a chance to begin.
“This will be a three way battle,” said the Idle God. “The third combatant is still being decided, so the two of you may prefer to wait for him to arrive in the interest of fairness. Or you can simply get started without him. It is your choice.”
A third combatant?
Ah. That would explain why Malast had chosen the Chamber of Grand Desire as their battlefield. It was much larger than most of the Vault’s other treasure rooms. Even after all this time, Seyos was still nowhere near filling it. He had hoped to remedy that during his next venture to Qenghis, but that was before Ettol had arrived and thrown everything out of balance.
For a time, Seyos and Hector merely looked at one another, not saying or doing anything.
Seyos knew more than the surface-dweller probably realized. He had been observing the invaders since their arrival in Himmekel. It had been his hope that they would simply leave without incident, but that was not to be, it seemed. Foolishness on his part, he now realized. He should have known that their claims of arriving here accidentally were lies. Of course they were here for his treasure.
This, too, was Ettol’s doing, he knew. That insufferable wretch. No doubt, this was the man’s true goal all along--to bring outsiders here, attempting to stir the Idle God to action.
It wasn’t going to work. Seyos wouldn’t allow it. Supreme Will or not, these meddlers were not going to simply show up and take that which rightfully belonged to him.
Especially not that ashen filth.
How could Malast possibly consider one of them to be a suitable vessel for Secho? It beggared belief. Surely, Malast had not forgotten what they had done, the misery that they were responsible for.
At length, Seyos could endure the tense silence no longer. “You should never have come here,” he said.
“...I don’t want to fight you,” said Hector.
“Hah!” He pointed at the mace in the young man’s hand. “And yet you steal the Moon’s Wrath from me!”
Hector glanced at the weapon a moment. “...Aren’t you the one who’s been stealing?”
Seyos scowled. “All such technology is derived from the knowledge pioneered by my brethren. That you would not understand this, is sadly to be expected.”
“...Okay, so if I give you this thing right now, you’ll stop trying to kill me and my friends?”
Those words took Seyos by surprise, but they sounded genuine. But no. It was just another trick, of course. Seyos knew better. “I did not expect you to say something so cowardly, but you are right to fear me.”
Hector made no response.
Seyos found that irritating. “If you surrender now and return the Moon’s Wrath, I will show you mercy. I promise to spare the lives of both you and your reaper.”
A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every day at noon PST by ~400 words.
Showing posts with label ch165. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ch165. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Page 1544
((The 14 pages of Valentine's Day + Double Wednesday -- Page 12 of 16))
“We tried to tell the children that those who have disappeared simply chose to leave Himmekel on their own,” said Torveis, “but it seems they have stopped believing us. Assuming they ever did.”
“They are far smarter than we have ever given them credit for,” said Lemoros. “It was a mistake to lie to them.”
Torveis shook his head. “It was undesirable and even heart-wrenching, but it was not a mistake. If Seyos discovered that we had told them about him--”
“He would do, what?” said Lemoros, sounding more frustrated than Zeff had yet heard from any Hun’Sho. “Abduct them? As he is doing now? We should have done more to prepare them. Our inaction is to blame.”
‘You’ve been Seyos’ prisoners here for a thousand years, no?’ said Ax.
“Roughly, yes,” said Torveis.
‘Yet you said that these abductions started only recently. What prompted them?’
The Hun’Sho exchanged glances again.
“The arrival of Ettol and Carver, no doubt,” said Lemoros. “Seyos has always been rather forceful and demanding, but he never harmed any of us, as he appears to be doing now. I do not know what has come over him or why.”
“I do,” said Torveis, causing everyone to look at him. “Or at the very least, I can guess. I believe Seyos may be trying to instigate the return of Avar in some way.”
“What makes you think that?” said Lemoros.
“Avar heralds our return to prominence,” said Torveis. “And Himmekel is not the only enclave of the Hun’Sho in the world. We know that Seyos has been in contact with others. It would make sense if that--or something similar--was their goal.”
So there were more Hun’Sho hiding elsewhere. That was news to Zeff. They had gotten away from the topic he actually cared about, however. “I need to know how to find this Seyos.”
Torveis sighed. “I am sorry, but I do not know. Seyos comes to us at his leisure.”
“You said he uses mirrors to travel,” said Zeff.
“Yes, but we have tried many times to discern the method of their function,” said Lemoros. “To no avail.”
“Truly, we would help you in this if we could,” said Torveis. “It would very much be in our interest if you were to bring Seyos’ reign here to an end. His power is beyond us, but perhaps it is not beyond you.”
‘Then take us to the rest of the elders,’ said Ax. ‘Perhaps one of them will know something that can help us.’
The Hun’Sho exchanged looks another time.
“Very well,” said Torveis. “But we must be exceptionally cautious. There is no telling when Seyos might be observing us.”
Zeff scowled and rubbed his knuckles. “It would be more convenient if he attacked us first.”
“I am glad you are confident in your abilities,” said Torveis, “but please, do be careful. Seyos likely wields power that is stranger than anything you have ever seen.”
Zeff returned a flat stare. “I wouldn’t bet on that, if I were you.”
“We tried to tell the children that those who have disappeared simply chose to leave Himmekel on their own,” said Torveis, “but it seems they have stopped believing us. Assuming they ever did.”
“They are far smarter than we have ever given them credit for,” said Lemoros. “It was a mistake to lie to them.”
Torveis shook his head. “It was undesirable and even heart-wrenching, but it was not a mistake. If Seyos discovered that we had told them about him--”
“He would do, what?” said Lemoros, sounding more frustrated than Zeff had yet heard from any Hun’Sho. “Abduct them? As he is doing now? We should have done more to prepare them. Our inaction is to blame.”
‘You’ve been Seyos’ prisoners here for a thousand years, no?’ said Ax.
“Roughly, yes,” said Torveis.
‘Yet you said that these abductions started only recently. What prompted them?’
The Hun’Sho exchanged glances again.
“The arrival of Ettol and Carver, no doubt,” said Lemoros. “Seyos has always been rather forceful and demanding, but he never harmed any of us, as he appears to be doing now. I do not know what has come over him or why.”
“I do,” said Torveis, causing everyone to look at him. “Or at the very least, I can guess. I believe Seyos may be trying to instigate the return of Avar in some way.”
“What makes you think that?” said Lemoros.
“Avar heralds our return to prominence,” said Torveis. “And Himmekel is not the only enclave of the Hun’Sho in the world. We know that Seyos has been in contact with others. It would make sense if that--or something similar--was their goal.”
So there were more Hun’Sho hiding elsewhere. That was news to Zeff. They had gotten away from the topic he actually cared about, however. “I need to know how to find this Seyos.”
Torveis sighed. “I am sorry, but I do not know. Seyos comes to us at his leisure.”
“You said he uses mirrors to travel,” said Zeff.
“Yes, but we have tried many times to discern the method of their function,” said Lemoros. “To no avail.”
“Truly, we would help you in this if we could,” said Torveis. “It would very much be in our interest if you were to bring Seyos’ reign here to an end. His power is beyond us, but perhaps it is not beyond you.”
‘Then take us to the rest of the elders,’ said Ax. ‘Perhaps one of them will know something that can help us.’
The Hun’Sho exchanged looks another time.
“Very well,” said Torveis. “But we must be exceptionally cautious. There is no telling when Seyos might be observing us.”
Zeff scowled and rubbed his knuckles. “It would be more convenient if he attacked us first.”
“I am glad you are confident in your abilities,” said Torveis, “but please, do be careful. Seyos likely wields power that is stranger than anything you have ever seen.”
Zeff returned a flat stare. “I wouldn’t bet on that, if I were you.”
Page 1543
((The 14 pages of Valentine's Day + Double Wednesday -- Page 11 of 16))
The Hun’Sho outside the dome were just standing there, watching. Not trying to break in and rescue their friend, as Zeff might have assumed. They started backing away when they saw Zeff looking over them again.
He annihilated the dome and watched the majority of them scatter.
‘Which one’s Torveis?’ he asked.
‘Straight ahead of you, not moving,’ said Ax privately.
Zeff saw him. He appreciated that the man wasn’t making him chase him down, at least. “Explain yourself, ‘Elder’ Torveis.”
Torveis sighed but stood his ground as Zeff approached. “We are a peaceful people. Why must you resort to violence?”
“Why must you lie to my face?”
“You do not understand.”
“I know. That is what I am trying to correct.”
Torveis shut his eyes, though the glow still shown through a little. “We would have been happy to explain, if you had simply allowed us privacy, first. This is a sensitive matter, one we wish the children not to overhear.”
And in spite of his bristling emotions, Zeff could understand that much, at least. “You have my apologies, then.” He could only manage to sound half-sincere, though.
Torveis sighed again. “We are prisoners in this place. And our keeper, Seyos, is ever watchful. Even now, he may be listening. However, as I am still standing here, perhaps he is not.”
Zeff just kept listening.
“Seyos wields tremendous power, and we are at his mercy. But that is not enough for him. He often gives us tasks to complete for him. He transports us to distant locations--sometimes with him, sometimes not--and forces us to aid him in collecting valuables. By now, it must be an absurd volume, but I do not know where he keeps it all or to what end he means to utilize it. I imagine, however, that wherever it is, you will find your kin there.”
Zeff was silent as he processed all of this information.
‘You have no idea how we can get there?’ said Ax, still attached to Zeff’s back.
“I know that Seyos can see and travel through every mirror in Himmekel, but I do not think he is limited to that. I think it is merely the most convenient for him.”
“None of this explains why that Hun’Sho man laughed at us,” said Zeff.
Torveis hesitated and looked around. The black street had emptied, and only the tall Lemoros had remained by Torveis’ side. The two elder Hun’Sho exchanged nods.
“The children do not know of Seyos,” said Torveis. “And in recent years... Seyos has stopped giving tasks to the elders. He has been giving them to the children. And... they have not been returning.”
Zeff’s eyes widened.
‘Your children have been disappearing?’ said Ax.
Lemoros interjected. “We do not truly know that he has been giving them the same manner of tasks that he had been giving us. We have only been assuming that, as it seemed the most obvious explanation. But... as not even one of them has returned, I have begun to suspect that Seyos is doing something else with them.”
The Hun’Sho outside the dome were just standing there, watching. Not trying to break in and rescue their friend, as Zeff might have assumed. They started backing away when they saw Zeff looking over them again.
He annihilated the dome and watched the majority of them scatter.
‘Which one’s Torveis?’ he asked.
‘Straight ahead of you, not moving,’ said Ax privately.
Zeff saw him. He appreciated that the man wasn’t making him chase him down, at least. “Explain yourself, ‘Elder’ Torveis.”
Torveis sighed but stood his ground as Zeff approached. “We are a peaceful people. Why must you resort to violence?”
“Why must you lie to my face?”
“You do not understand.”
“I know. That is what I am trying to correct.”
Torveis shut his eyes, though the glow still shown through a little. “We would have been happy to explain, if you had simply allowed us privacy, first. This is a sensitive matter, one we wish the children not to overhear.”
And in spite of his bristling emotions, Zeff could understand that much, at least. “You have my apologies, then.” He could only manage to sound half-sincere, though.
Torveis sighed again. “We are prisoners in this place. And our keeper, Seyos, is ever watchful. Even now, he may be listening. However, as I am still standing here, perhaps he is not.”
Zeff just kept listening.
“Seyos wields tremendous power, and we are at his mercy. But that is not enough for him. He often gives us tasks to complete for him. He transports us to distant locations--sometimes with him, sometimes not--and forces us to aid him in collecting valuables. By now, it must be an absurd volume, but I do not know where he keeps it all or to what end he means to utilize it. I imagine, however, that wherever it is, you will find your kin there.”
Zeff was silent as he processed all of this information.
‘You have no idea how we can get there?’ said Ax, still attached to Zeff’s back.
“I know that Seyos can see and travel through every mirror in Himmekel, but I do not think he is limited to that. I think it is merely the most convenient for him.”
“None of this explains why that Hun’Sho man laughed at us,” said Zeff.
Torveis hesitated and looked around. The black street had emptied, and only the tall Lemoros had remained by Torveis’ side. The two elder Hun’Sho exchanged nods.
“The children do not know of Seyos,” said Torveis. “And in recent years... Seyos has stopped giving tasks to the elders. He has been giving them to the children. And... they have not been returning.”
Zeff’s eyes widened.
‘Your children have been disappearing?’ said Ax.
Lemoros interjected. “We do not truly know that he has been giving them the same manner of tasks that he had been giving us. We have only been assuming that, as it seemed the most obvious explanation. But... as not even one of them has returned, I have begun to suspect that Seyos is doing something else with them.”
Page 1542
((The 14 pages of Valentine's Day + Double Wednesday -- Page 10 of 16))
One of the Hun’Sho to Zeff’s right stepped forward. “Please calm yourself, Mr. Zeff.”
Zeff recognized the voice but not the face, as they all looked more or less the same to him. “Torveis?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me what is happening here,” said Zeff, able to steady his voice somewhat. “Where are my people, Torveis?”
“Mr. Zeff, you ask more than you realize...”
Zeff didn’t know what that meant, and he didn’t care, either. “I ask only what is necessary. If you cannot help me, then stand aside.”
Torveis stepped closer and reached out to him.
A wall of soul-strengthened ice shot up between them. “BACK. AWAY.”
Torveis did. A chorus of mumbles and whispers rose from the onlookers.
Zeff refocused on the direction that the laugh had originated from. “One of you will answer my questions.”
And again, there was silence.
Fine, then.
‘Hold on, Ax,” said Zeff.
The reaper latched onto his back without hesitating.
Zeff picked the first Hun’Sho in front of him and walked forward. He coated his own hand in a gauntlet of ice and grabbed the man by the molten neck. “Allow me to ask again. Where are my--?”
Someone in the back row started running away.
Zeff released his chosen Hun’Sho and launched himself over the crowd on a platform of hissing ice. The runner didn’t get far. Zeff landed on him and pinned him to the ground with both bare hands and ice alike.
“Where were you going?” he said, much calmer now that he had his target within his grasp.
The other Hun’Sho were yelling something now, but Zeff wasn’t listening. He materialized a dome around himself and his captive.
“S-stop!” the Hun’Sho man said. “I know nothing!”
“Tell me what you do know, then. Why did you laugh at us?”
“I--! I wasn’t--! I know nothing!”
Zeff tightened his grip on the back of the man’s neck.
‘You should dig into his chest and go for his core,’ advised Ax privately. ‘His heart, in other words.’
Zeff paused at that. ‘He won’t be useful if he is dead, Ax.’
‘He will not die unless you destroy his core. These people are very durable.’
That was good enough for Zeff. He ripped into the Hun’Sho man’s back with a blade of ice and started rifling around.
“Ah! Stop! Don’t do that! I know nothing that you--!”
Zeff’s hand found a very warm sphere, and he knew it was what was he looking for when the Hun’Sho man released an inhuman scream as soon as Zeff had touched it.
“Answer my questions.”
“The elders! They have been lying to the rest of us! That is all I know!”
Well, that was new, at least. “Who are these elders?”
“Ah--oh! Lemoros and Torveis are elders! And Arsok! And Meigast! Hermeios! And--!”
“That is good enough.” Zeff stood and released him.
One of the Hun’Sho to Zeff’s right stepped forward. “Please calm yourself, Mr. Zeff.”
Zeff recognized the voice but not the face, as they all looked more or less the same to him. “Torveis?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me what is happening here,” said Zeff, able to steady his voice somewhat. “Where are my people, Torveis?”
“Mr. Zeff, you ask more than you realize...”
Zeff didn’t know what that meant, and he didn’t care, either. “I ask only what is necessary. If you cannot help me, then stand aside.”
Torveis stepped closer and reached out to him.
A wall of soul-strengthened ice shot up between them. “BACK. AWAY.”
Torveis did. A chorus of mumbles and whispers rose from the onlookers.
Zeff refocused on the direction that the laugh had originated from. “One of you will answer my questions.”
And again, there was silence.
Fine, then.
‘Hold on, Ax,” said Zeff.
The reaper latched onto his back without hesitating.
Zeff picked the first Hun’Sho in front of him and walked forward. He coated his own hand in a gauntlet of ice and grabbed the man by the molten neck. “Allow me to ask again. Where are my--?”
Someone in the back row started running away.
Zeff released his chosen Hun’Sho and launched himself over the crowd on a platform of hissing ice. The runner didn’t get far. Zeff landed on him and pinned him to the ground with both bare hands and ice alike.
“Where were you going?” he said, much calmer now that he had his target within his grasp.
The other Hun’Sho were yelling something now, but Zeff wasn’t listening. He materialized a dome around himself and his captive.
“S-stop!” the Hun’Sho man said. “I know nothing!”
“Tell me what you do know, then. Why did you laugh at us?”
“I--! I wasn’t--! I know nothing!”
Zeff tightened his grip on the back of the man’s neck.
‘You should dig into his chest and go for his core,’ advised Ax privately. ‘His heart, in other words.’
Zeff paused at that. ‘He won’t be useful if he is dead, Ax.’
‘He will not die unless you destroy his core. These people are very durable.’
That was good enough for Zeff. He ripped into the Hun’Sho man’s back with a blade of ice and started rifling around.
“Ah! Stop! Don’t do that! I know nothing that you--!”
Zeff’s hand found a very warm sphere, and he knew it was what was he looking for when the Hun’Sho man released an inhuman scream as soon as Zeff had touched it.
“Answer my questions.”
“The elders! They have been lying to the rest of us! That is all I know!”
Well, that was new, at least. “Who are these elders?”
“Ah--oh! Lemoros and Torveis are elders! And Arsok! And Meigast! Hermeios! And--!”
“That is good enough.” Zeff stood and released him.
Page 1541
((The 14 pages of Valentine's Day + Double Wednesday -- Page 9 of 16))
Zeff and Axiolis visited the last place where Axiolis had sensed them, which turned out to be some kind of empty moat around a stone monument. But without any idea of what to look for or visible traces of where they might have gone, Zeff soon started consulting the Hun’Sho for information.
At first, he’d been polite. Then he’d gotten steadily more assertive.
Now he was angry and looking for Torveis, the Hun’Sho who had spoken to the group the most during their first day in Himmekel.
A different Hun’Sho approached him first, however. It was a physically brighter and larger man, hands held out in front of him as an apparent sign of peaceable intention.
“Please,” the molten man said, “you are scaring my people, Kare’Hyomen.”
Zeff’s expression twitched. ‘What did he just call me?’
‘It’s not an insult,’ said Ax. ‘It’s their name for those from the surface. The same way that Hun’Sho is our name for them.’
And it took concentrated effort, but Zeff tried to steady himself. He had no proof of their guilt. And he knew that treating them like criminals would not aid him in acquiring their assistance.
Willingly, anyway.
“I apologize if I have been causing you alarm,” said Zeff with a stiff jaw, noticing that more Hun’Sho were gathering around them. “But my kin are missing, and I must find them as soon as possible. Can you help me?”
“I will do all I can. My name is Lemoros. Might I ask yours?”
“Zeff.”
“Then, Zeff, let us go somewhere more private and speak there.”
“Let us not. Let us speak right here, right now.”
That was obviously not what Lemoros wanted to hear, and the Hun’Sho man looked around at the open street and increasing amount of onlookers.
Zeff just tried not to feel like they were gathering around to lynch him. “If you have any idea where they might have gone, please stop wasting my time and tell me.” Then, more loudly, he addressed the crowd “That goes for all of you. If you have anything to tell me, anything that might help me find my kin, then do so now, and I will leave you alone.”
‘Please,’ Ax added, ‘we are very worried about them. They are as precious to us as I am sure all of you are to one another.’
Someone laughed.
Zeff’s attention was drawn instantly. “Who was that?” he said. The voice had come from his left. He knew that much and took a step toward it. “Who laughed just now?”
Dead silence.
“Who laughed?!” he growled, no longer in control of his anger.
“Please, Mr. Zeff--” tried Lemoros.
“Step forward now or be hunted down!” said Zeff, taking another step.
The crowd was perfectly still now. Beings of magma, frozen. Not even daring to look at one another, apparently. And why weren’t they? Weren’t they confused? He couldn’t read Hun’Sho expressions and so didn’t know if they were frightened, but surely, they should have looking around at one another in confusion, no?
Was it because none of them were confused? Was it because they all knew exactly what was happening here?
Zeff and Axiolis visited the last place where Axiolis had sensed them, which turned out to be some kind of empty moat around a stone monument. But without any idea of what to look for or visible traces of where they might have gone, Zeff soon started consulting the Hun’Sho for information.
At first, he’d been polite. Then he’d gotten steadily more assertive.
Now he was angry and looking for Torveis, the Hun’Sho who had spoken to the group the most during their first day in Himmekel.
A different Hun’Sho approached him first, however. It was a physically brighter and larger man, hands held out in front of him as an apparent sign of peaceable intention.
“Please,” the molten man said, “you are scaring my people, Kare’Hyomen.”
Zeff’s expression twitched. ‘What did he just call me?’
‘It’s not an insult,’ said Ax. ‘It’s their name for those from the surface. The same way that Hun’Sho is our name for them.’
And it took concentrated effort, but Zeff tried to steady himself. He had no proof of their guilt. And he knew that treating them like criminals would not aid him in acquiring their assistance.
Willingly, anyway.
“I apologize if I have been causing you alarm,” said Zeff with a stiff jaw, noticing that more Hun’Sho were gathering around them. “But my kin are missing, and I must find them as soon as possible. Can you help me?”
“I will do all I can. My name is Lemoros. Might I ask yours?”
“Zeff.”
“Then, Zeff, let us go somewhere more private and speak there.”
“Let us not. Let us speak right here, right now.”
That was obviously not what Lemoros wanted to hear, and the Hun’Sho man looked around at the open street and increasing amount of onlookers.
Zeff just tried not to feel like they were gathering around to lynch him. “If you have any idea where they might have gone, please stop wasting my time and tell me.” Then, more loudly, he addressed the crowd “That goes for all of you. If you have anything to tell me, anything that might help me find my kin, then do so now, and I will leave you alone.”
‘Please,’ Ax added, ‘we are very worried about them. They are as precious to us as I am sure all of you are to one another.’
Someone laughed.
Zeff’s attention was drawn instantly. “Who was that?” he said. The voice had come from his left. He knew that much and took a step toward it. “Who laughed just now?”
Dead silence.
“Who laughed?!” he growled, no longer in control of his anger.
“Please, Mr. Zeff--” tried Lemoros.
“Step forward now or be hunted down!” said Zeff, taking another step.
The crowd was perfectly still now. Beings of magma, frozen. Not even daring to look at one another, apparently. And why weren’t they? Weren’t they confused? He couldn’t read Hun’Sho expressions and so didn’t know if they were frightened, but surely, they should have looking around at one another in confusion, no?
Was it because none of them were confused? Was it because they all knew exactly what was happening here?
Page 1540 -- CLXV.
((The 14 pages of Valentine's Day + Double Wednesday -- Page 8 of 16))
There seemed to be a pile of coins and stones in Mr. Sheridan’s bag now, but the man’s hand indeed wrapped around the grip of a pistol. He didn’t pull it out yet, though.
Still, Hector wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the man was worried that Hector would betray him for the sake of the tournament and was therefore preparing to defend himself at a moment’s notice.
But after a couple more steps, when Mr. Sheridan began lifting the weapon up to point it at Hector’s back, that was as far as the young Lord Goffe’s courtesy extended.
Hector bricked the pistol in iron, encasing Mr. Sheridan’s hand along with it.
“Oh--what?! Ah--hey!”
Hector finally turned to look at him.
Mr. Sheridan stopped flailing when he noticed Hector’s stare. “Aha... I, ah...”
Hector didn’t say anything. He wanted to hear what the man was going to say for himself.
“Ah... eh... I’m sorry, Lord Darksteel. Please don’t kill me.”
Hector sighed. “Why were you about to attack me?”
“Oh, um, well, y’know, you guys’re pretty hardy, ‘n I knew you wouldn’t actually die, so I just thought, maybe, ah... ooh, I’m really very sorry.”
“You want to win this tournament and become a god?” said Hector.
“I... I thought it might be nice, yes. But I see now the error of--”
“You weren’t worried that your next opponent might just kill you in an instant?”
“Oh, well, I-I suppose I figured that if I could eliminate you, then the others would be smooth sailing by comparison.”
“That doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“Heh, please don’t kill me.”
“I’m not gonna--” Hector stopped himself. Obviously, he wasn’t going to kill him. But it could be a problem if Mr. Sheridan became genuinely convinced of that. He recalled the only rule of this tournament as Malast had described it. Victory was achieved when the opponent died or surrendered. “Mr. Sheridan... do you admit defeat?”
“Oh! Yes, of course! I happily surrender!”
Well, that was one less thing to worry about, at least. When the distortion in his vision began to arrive, he made sure to annihilate the iron around Mr. Sheridan’s hand and weapon.
The next room was noticeably larger than the last two, almost on par with the one that they’d found Malast in.
That was not Malast standing in front of him now, though.
That was Seyos.
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Five: ‘O, disgruntled lord...’
Click to display entire chapter at once -- (mobile link)
The Hun’Sho didn’t seem to appreciate him stomping through Himmekel, but Zeff was far beyond the point of catering to their sensitivities.
When Axiolis had told him that everyone else’s souls had simply vanished into thin air, the Lord Elroy had not been pleased. His time spent trying to get Carver’s damn EWE to work had been frustrating enough, but now this?
He honestly wasn’t sure what he would do if he discovered that these molten bastards had done something to Hector and the others.
There seemed to be a pile of coins and stones in Mr. Sheridan’s bag now, but the man’s hand indeed wrapped around the grip of a pistol. He didn’t pull it out yet, though.
Still, Hector wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the man was worried that Hector would betray him for the sake of the tournament and was therefore preparing to defend himself at a moment’s notice.
But after a couple more steps, when Mr. Sheridan began lifting the weapon up to point it at Hector’s back, that was as far as the young Lord Goffe’s courtesy extended.
Hector bricked the pistol in iron, encasing Mr. Sheridan’s hand along with it.
“Oh--what?! Ah--hey!”
Hector finally turned to look at him.
Mr. Sheridan stopped flailing when he noticed Hector’s stare. “Aha... I, ah...”
Hector didn’t say anything. He wanted to hear what the man was going to say for himself.
“Ah... eh... I’m sorry, Lord Darksteel. Please don’t kill me.”
Hector sighed. “Why were you about to attack me?”
“Oh, um, well, y’know, you guys’re pretty hardy, ‘n I knew you wouldn’t actually die, so I just thought, maybe, ah... ooh, I’m really very sorry.”
“You want to win this tournament and become a god?” said Hector.
“I... I thought it might be nice, yes. But I see now the error of--”
“You weren’t worried that your next opponent might just kill you in an instant?”
“Oh, well, I-I suppose I figured that if I could eliminate you, then the others would be smooth sailing by comparison.”
“That doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“Heh, please don’t kill me.”
“I’m not gonna--” Hector stopped himself. Obviously, he wasn’t going to kill him. But it could be a problem if Mr. Sheridan became genuinely convinced of that. He recalled the only rule of this tournament as Malast had described it. Victory was achieved when the opponent died or surrendered. “Mr. Sheridan... do you admit defeat?”
“Oh! Yes, of course! I happily surrender!”
Well, that was one less thing to worry about, at least. When the distortion in his vision began to arrive, he made sure to annihilate the iron around Mr. Sheridan’s hand and weapon.
The next room was noticeably larger than the last two, almost on par with the one that they’d found Malast in.
That was not Malast standing in front of him now, though.
That was Seyos.
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Five: ‘O, disgruntled lord...’
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The Hun’Sho didn’t seem to appreciate him stomping through Himmekel, but Zeff was far beyond the point of catering to their sensitivities.
When Axiolis had told him that everyone else’s souls had simply vanished into thin air, the Lord Elroy had not been pleased. His time spent trying to get Carver’s damn EWE to work had been frustrating enough, but now this?
He honestly wasn’t sure what he would do if he discovered that these molten bastards had done something to Hector and the others.
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