Chereads / Akashic Chronicles: Paradise Lost / Chapter 7 - The Burning Prison: Tartarus (III)

Chapter 7 - The Burning Prison: Tartarus (III)

Outside the burning wreckage that is Tartarus two men stood outside the gates stupefied at all the carnage happening within and outside the colony. They ignored the running inmates as they breathed in the fresh smell of their newfound freedom.

"What's happening?" The tall man in a black suit asked his partner as he scratched his slicked back blonde hair. His noble demeanor didn't decrease even a little bit as he watched the flames spread all over the place. His brows furrowed as he looked ahead. The man Beside him on the other hand had waist length black hair as he was wearing a black short sleeve vest. His hands covered in runic tattoos. His face white as sheet with Death metal make up. This Duo stood out from the crowd yet they were seemingly ignored by everybody. Completely unseen.

"It looks like a prison break." The death metal vocalist looking man said flatly to his partner making the other scratch his cheeks. "I could see that... I'm asking...Why are we here?"

"I feel malevolent mana here. All kinds of Demonic energy swirling in this place. Especially at the center of Tartarus." He said as he snapped his fingers creating a red portal in front of them. The blonde man on a suit pondered for a bit then nodded his head, "So should I come with or...?" He trailed of as he looked at his partner shaking his head. "Leave the clean up to me. These amateurs are in for a scolding." He said making the other shrug. "Alright then. Don't leave a single one alive. We don't want another 'Incident' in our hands just like the shura virus." He said as he slowly turned into blue particles of light. Completely vanishing from sight.

The Death Metal vocalist looking man streched his thin and lanky body as he stepped inside the red portal to do his job.

Meanwhile...

Haruki was slowly being swarmed by prisoners who were infected by the shura strain. They were numerous as they each exited a large tube like glass structure. Their humanoid forms slightly deformed as numerous red crystalline scales covered their body. Lumps of flesh that are slowly being crystallized into some kind of lethal sharp spikes.

He looked at both his sides looking for a gap he could slip past through however the infected were too close to one anoter making him knit his brows. He clicked his tongue as he kept backing away slowly as the infeced shambled their way towards him.

He scanned the area and found 2 guns near him. The weapons that were previously wielded by his now dead crewmates. He then lowered his posture as if he was about to break into a sprint. Then he stomped on the floor as he dashed towards the nearest gun at his disposal. He rolled on the floor as he grabbed it avoiding the sharp claw that swiped near his head.

He didn't even bother to check how much ammo he had, he just started firing at their heads as accurately as he could. Each bullet was accounted for as they pierced the skulls of the infected. However after only mere seconds of firing the guns he soon ran out of ammo. He clicked his tongue and threw the empty gun towards the head of an infected near him. It bounced off its head like nothing.

The voice of Ars Magus rang inside his head. He shook his head as he grit his teeth, "What the fuck do you mean anytime now?" He slowly raised his voice as he dodged the incoming strikes and countered with his bare fists sending them flying. "This aint enough to kill'em! Magus! A little help here!" He said as he kicked another infected in the chest.

Haruki flipped backwards as he raised his eyebrows, "I don't really have that luxury at the moment!" He said as he looked behind him only to see a solid metallic wall, "Magus! If you're gonna do something do it now!" He said as he felt a cold metallic sensation behind him. He pressed his back against the wall and clicked his tongue, "Fuck! This better work!"

He said as he closed his eyes. The moment he did everything in his surroundings slowed down. He was enveloped in swirling red lightning as power surged forth from beyond his shadow. He was sucked in his subconciouss as he felt a tugging sensation.

When he opened his eyes once more all he saw was darkness. He tried to move but he felt like he was submerged in some sort of liquid. He clutched his neck as he tried to breath he struggled as he swam his way up towards the surface.

He grabbed the first thing he could to get out of the murky darkness. He pulled himself out of the liquid. Finally he could stand up. However once again it was nothing more than a vast emptiness. It was dark wasteland submerged in some sort of red liquid. Countless weapons floated atop it drifting endlessly into oblivion.

He stared at his body only to see the very same red liquid. He looked down and all he saw was the same, he was standing at the top of the red liquid. Weirdly enough he wasn't sinking anymore. He instinctively knew he could walk on top of it.

The moment he took a step a familiar stench entered his nose. The smell of rusty iron. There was no wind nor even a gentle breeze in this place however he could smell it. The familiar stench of blood.

In front of him was a inconspicuous looking katana standing upright as it floated halfway the bloody sea. He felt a tug towards it's direction. He slowly made his way near the blade. It was calling to him.

It said as he closed in. When he was a few meters away from the blade. Bloodstained hands burst forth from the blood sea clutching his feet, holding him in place. Skeletons sprang forth from the blood sea clutching his entire being preventing him from grabbing the sword. However this did not deter him. He inched his way through dragging all the corpses latching behind him. As he was a step away from the blade a gentle and soft hand caressed his cheeks. It was cold, it lacked the warmth he seeked. Yet the touch was oh so familiar to him. He looked at the person standing infront of him as he opened his eyes wide.

A woman of angelic beauty, Akin to enchanting perfection of the goddess themselves. Her shoulder length brown hair was tied up rather messily in to a bun. Held up by a shabby pencil. Yet in his eyes, she was perfection itself. His eyes wavered as he stopped dead on his tracks. Staring at her magnetic green eyes that took his breath away in a single instant.

He looked down and ground his teeth as he stared at her bloodstained attire. A baggy wool sweater. That seemed like it was worse for wear. A long beige skirt that reached until her legs. Although her clothes were stained in blood, mired in dirt and grime. She still wore this scolding expression, that even without words he could understand her meaning.

He looked down as his face warped whilst he bit his lips until it bled. He closed his eyes then sighed and softly muttered as he stared straight into her beautiful green eyes, "I'm sorry." He said as he passed through the ghostly reflecton of time long past. He extended his hands forcibly as he grabbed the hilt of the katana. Even if he was being held back by the mountains of corpses behind him he slowly pulled out the blade. The moment he did countless more piled up behind him trying to drag him down the depths of the murky sea of blood.

Beside his feet a simply designed wolf mask floated above the sea of blood. He struggled to bend down to pick it up. The moment he did more and more hands burst forth eveloping him, trying to drown him. Red mana burst forth from within him the moment he wore the mask. The entire place was enveloped in blood red flames. He could feel the power surging forth from within him. He shouted from the top of his lungs blowing away all the phantoms that enveloped him. He closed his eyes once more.

He could feel the entire atmosphere change. He opened his eyes once more. What he saw was the world standing still. The infected that were swarming him were frozen in place. He looked at his body and saw red sparks of lightning and black mana enveloped in a red aura occasionaly roaming around his body.

He was surprised by the blade he was holding that seemingly appeared out of thin air. Yet it felt like it's right where it should've belonged. His entire body felt light. He could feel his strength skyrocket. He touched his face only to feel a jet black mask of a wolf with golden accents covering it. He looked at the clothes he was wearing. It was his old ragnarok coat yet it looked better than ever. A jet black long coat made out of pure black mana as it swirled with red flames. The glowing wolf insignia behind him shone making him inhale sharply as the corner of his eyse sparked with electricity.

He grinned towards the enemies infront of him as they started to move once more as they shambled towards him.

"Looks like it's time for round two."