Chapter 18: Mission Start!
At a secret location.
A very beautiful woman with silver clothing could be seen playing with a small snake that rested on her shoulder. Her laugh was like the soft chime of bells, with a unearthly charm that could attract any man. She and the snake painted a very beautiful picture pleasant to the eyes as it seemed as though they were in a world of their own. One would never believe she was the leader of an all powerful organization that controlled things behind the scenes, but would rather believe she was a lady Iwith the mind of a child that was playing with her pet.
"Lady Silver Serpent, I've brought news." A masked figure flashed in the garden like terrain where the woman was present. From the figure's body shape, one could deduce that she was a female. She wore a leather sleeveless vest and had a tattoo of a number 15 in the center of four concentric circles on her left arm.
{A/N: For those who might not get it. Think of like a number 15 inside a circle, inside a circle and....you know the rest.}
"Speak." The woman's eyes turned cold.
"Everything is going as planned. He has entered the dungeon. His skills are getting better, although at a slow pace." The masked woman began to speak.
"Good. Is there anything else?" The beautiful woman stroked the snake as it hissed in happiness.
"The Academy and the Six Families are getting troublesome. They have begun to sense our movements. I'm afraid they'll try something big. Though the Monarch hasn't approved of their moves yet. I think they're trying to draw us out my Lord—"
"Hmph. Petty tricks by insolent fools that know nothing of the world. Childish." The woman snorted in contempt.
"My lord. If I may ask, was it a good thing? Sending him to that place? If he attracts the attention of that being, he just might get stronger, strong enough to put a wrench in your plans—"
"Who are you to question my motives?" The woman shot a glance at the masked figure that sent dangerous chills throughout her spine.
"I'm sorry. My lord. Forgive my intrusion." The masked figure said calmly.
"It'd be best if he catches the eye of that being. The more power he has in the future, the better it is for me. All you have to do, is follow my orders to the letter."
"Yes, my lord. My lord, there's one more thing you might need to know."
"Speak."
"The assassin you told us to keep an eye on. There are rumors going on. They say he—"
"Killed one of the Dreylars. I know. Even though he was just an impertinent fool, he was one of the Dreylars after all. They will most likely not let him go. Hmm." Silver Serpent tapped her fingers on the elegant chair she sat on.
"Continue as ordered. You're dismissed." She waved her hand.
"Yes, Lady Silver Serpent." The masked figure disappeared.
"Soon, it will all fall into place. Skye, I'm waiting for you." She said with a glint in her eye.
....
Beyond the Gate.
Five figures could be seen inside a massive labyrinth. The labyrinth was extremely large, and the gravity here was extremely distorted. Waterfall- like structures could be seen flowing around the place, giving the place a huge sense of dangerous beauty.
The group consisted of three boys and two girls. They looked at their surroundings with caution.
"Hey, what happened to Javkon? Why isn't he here today—" A boy with black hair and dark blue eyes asked with an interested glint in his eye.
"Shh. Can't you keep your mouth shut Keith? You know—" A girl with pink red hair said in exasperation as she interrupted the boy.
"No need to interrupt him Melanie, it's really not much of a secret anyway. Javkon is— dead." The boy that seemed to be the leader amongst them calmly said as the eyes of the other four widened in shock.
"What the?— How? That shouldn't be possible right? He's a Dreylar— I mean, he wasn't the brightest guy but still, who's got the guts to kill him and NOT think of the consequences?" The boy who spoke earlier asked in shock.
"What do you mean, "not the brightest guy?" Are you blind?" The girl with pink hair asked with annoyance as she secretly gestured at the guy in the lead.
"Ugh come on! You know—" The boy was about to reply when a voice sounded out.
"You two! Stop acting like kids. Apparently, the one who killed him was the assassin known as the Bloody Skull of Salem." The other boy, who hadn't spoken until now, said in a cold and mature voice. He had blue hair with turquoise coloured eyes and gave off a cold and mature feel. His whole body radiated a watery aura and he carried a spear on his back.
"What? It was him?— But wait, why don't I feel surprised at this news? Are you sure what you are saying is true? You're not kidding me right?" The boy with dark blue eyes said puzzledly.
"No. It's true." The second girl, one with obsidian hair, a jade like face and purple eyes that radiated a beautiful and immaculate aura, with a touch of coldness and tenderness within, said in a cold voice. The four couldn't stop taking side glances at her, as she was truly beautiful. She could easily pass for an A-list model on Earth.
"How'd you know that?" The boy with dark blue eyes couldn't resist asking. It appeared he was quite talkative.
"..." The girl silently stared at him, and closed her eyes a second later.
"Never mind." The guy gave up. Apparently, his game was quite....
{AN: Hehe. Somebody's trying too hard...}
"But Des, aren't you— you know worried, angry or something?" He continued.
"Why should I be? And my name is Desmond Dreylar. Stop calling me that." Desmond coldly said.
"What's going to happen now?" Keith asked plainly.
"What would happen? Javkon was just a hedonistic fool that didn't know what was good for him. He already disgraced our family name as it is. And for him to get himself killed by some dimwit assassin further diminishes his worth. I doubt he'd amount to much in the future anyway. But that assassin will not be spared. He dared to kill one of our own. His death date is near." Desmond said condescendingly.
But inwardly he was thinking. 'Damn! Just when the family was about to see my worth— he just had to ruin this for me! How do I clean up this mess? Sigh! Even in death, Javkon you bastard! You continue to cause problems for me!'
The dark blue eyed boy was speechless.
'Bro. Is that really a way to speak about your brother? Where's the brotherly love?! Family matters. So complicated.'
The purple eyed girl suddenly looked in a particular direction and said.
"Desmond."
"I know. Let's go." He suddenly rushed towards a particular direction. The two girls and the blue haired boy followed him not long after.
"Wait. What? Hey guys! Where are you going? Aw come on!" The dark blue eyed boy said in exasperation as he rushed after them.
The five of them rushed into the distance.
****
In another part of the dungeon, two sisters could be seen fighting a giant bear.
"Nova! What the fuck do you think you're doing sis! Restrain it! Shit!" Hela shouted while she narrowly dodged a swipe from the bear.
"Can you shut up! Mind your language. Distract it for a while. My wood magic should be ready any...moment— now! Move!"
"Right!"
"Sealing Art: Wood Style Magic— Thorn Prison!"
Thick and deadly looking branches sprang up from the ground and bound the unsuspecting bear. The branches had sharp thorns on its sides that dealt the bear serious damage. It growled and thrashed in pain and anger.
"What are you still looking at? Finish it! Now!" Nova said in exhaustion. It seemed the spell she cast was quite draining on her.
"No need to tell me twice!" Hela shouted with a fierce glint in her eye.
"Lightning Style: Purple Lightning Blade!"
Thick sparks of lightning gathered at Hela's hand and condensed into a deadly looking blade. Rushing towards the bear with a scream, she pierced it into the bear's hide. The bear roared and tried to hit her with its giant claws, but missed. Hela quickly distanced herself from the bear and stood by Nova. The two of them looked at the beast with exhaustion on their beautiful faces.
"It's injured. We just have to deal the finishing blow. Shouldn't be too hard at least." Hela said with a chuckle.
"Easy for you to say. That might be too much to ask. We're lucky to even be alive right now. Who knew these guys would be so tough. Let's—" Nova groaned.
"Now, now. Before you quit, know this. We only need one." Hela said with a crafty look in her eye.
"One what?" Nova asked in confusion.
"One— shot. One shot to kill it." Hela said.
"How is that possible? Look at that thing! It's supposed to BE injured!" Nova said while pointing at the beast, who had already begun to angrily rush towards them, drool at the sides of its mouth.
"No need. Less talking. More killing." Hela said with a teasing grin as she rushed towards the beast.
"Ugh! So brash! We're using that, right?" Nova said as she ran after her sister.
"Of course! What else? Time to finish this! All right beast! Witness OUR magic! Now! Nova!" Hela said with a fierce grin that created a stark contrast to her beautiful face.
"Right!"
""Augmentation Art: Wind Style Magic— Piercing Fang!"" The both of them shouted.
{AN: I dunno. The guys here really do like to call out their moves' names. Meh! Not my problem anyway.}
Nova created a huge gust of wind on her palms. Hela leapt a few feet into the air, and landing on Nova's palms, she quickly flew away like a bullet out of a gun towards the bear. Wind and lightning gathered at her palm which took a blade like shape.
"One strike— to the heart!" A greenish purple glow soon pierced through the beast's hide, right where its heart was. The beast soon collapsed as it drew its last breath. Hela walked towards the bear with a grin as she quickly made it disappear into her spatial ring.
"Whew! Now that wasn't so hard. Wasn't it? You know. For two sisters like us with extremely different personalities, the only thing we have in common is our affinity for wind magic." Hela grinned at Nova who sighed in exasperation.
"Don't. Don't even go there." Nova groaned.
"Hey! You heard about Javkon's death right? But did you know that it was—" Hela began to chatter.
"Black Skull who did it? I know. I think everyone one does by now." Nova said with a pensive look in her eyes.
"Man! I love that guy! So confident! The guts to dare kill a member of the Six Great Families. Ah! Very inspiring." Hela continued to blabber.
"Not a 'member of the Six Great Families'. Just the Dreylar family. And look at you getting all inspired. You probably don't know what this means for the Federation. I'm worried. I can see the tides changing."
"Stop being so mysterious. Nothing is going to happen. What are you so worried about?"
"Ah! It's nothing. Forget it. Nothing too much to worry about anyway. Let's go. I can sense a beast up ahead."
"Woohoo! Time to earn some points!" Hela waved her fists excitedly.
***
"Where the hell am I? Hmm. Seems like some sort of gigantic labyrinth. Do all Gates lead to places like this?" A silver haired boy in black peered at his surroundings as he stepped through a portal in the air.
"Time to scout this area. Preferably, find a suitable hideout. This places seems pretty dangerous." His voice had a pensive tone.
I wish I was able to activate the first level of that technique. It would be a big help in this mission. Skye thought.
'Breathe. Feel. Fight.' A faint voice sounded.
"What the hell? Who's there?" Skye asked in shock as he looked around in caution.
"Strange. I thought I heard something."
'Hear my voice. Skye.' The voice called out again.
"All right! Whoever the fuck you are! Come out! Stop hiding around like a creep. Now! Show yourself!" Skye pointed his guns at empty air.
"I look crazy right about now. What was that voice? And what was it saying anyway? Sigh. Let's look around. I have better things to do than waste my time here."
***
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