(Rai's estate)
(Dinner table)
The dining room was a sight to behold, the red scarlet walls covered in paintings of automatons, the table being almost 20 feet long, with many chairs and pastures on the table.
Rai was walking around it, saying, "Glad we can all have dinner together. I would invite Bramwell, but that would ruin everything I'm about to do."
Lars was at the table, her hands shaking, her eyes not blinking. At the other end of the table, Marshy and Torch were sitting, bound by glowing white ropes.
Marshy thought, 'This woman..her power…we weren't even near the estate, and somehow we ended up here. Out of nowhere.'
Torch thought, 'Her power for some reason knew what we're up to, and brought us here. Reality warping? What is it?'
Lars thought, 'How did those two just pop up in here?! What's going on?! My legs, they won't move. I wanna run, but I can't! No physical pain like back at the exams, but this feeling, this woman Rai, she's giving off the same aura as Bramwell! I wanna leave! I wanna leave..'
Rai continued, "Now, the King of Rot. Where is he?"
Marshy answered, "Fuck you. That's where he is."
"Hm? That's not nice. I'll give you two choices. First choice: I kill you slowly. Two: I let Bramwell know you are working with the King of Rot. You can't hide him anymore. I was there at the theater. I left when the fighting started. I couldn't do what I wanted with him since what I need for his soul is here in this estate. As a descendant of Bramwell's so-called people, my power goes beyond alchemy and magic. But darkness…magic dealing with darkness and curses like you and Gunn, those are our only threats. But even if that's the case, you still can't beat us."
Marshy thought. 'She's related to Bramwell..? She's talking as if she's from an entire different world—.'
Rai read Marshy's thoughts, interrupting, "I am. Bramwell doesn't know about me though, but I know he feels something every time he's near me, because he doesn't come by the estate. He always sends letters. How lame. He's still such a man child. I've come here to collect him and Gunn's soul. For Gunn is the embodiment of darkness itself, and if he grows any stronger, he could wipe us out. Bramwell shouldn't be here. One of us already arrived here to put down our leaders at the foot of Bramwell's monument. If we can collect Gunn's soul, it would fully bring them out to existence to do what we were destined to do. I had to blend into his Empire, just to keep an eye on him. But he's not doing what his kind are called to do. He was born here, but that's not an excuse. His job and purpose should be embedded in him."
Lars said, "The dolls..the man in the white robe…you're related to him?"
"I hate that guy. He's wandering around here, wanting to take matters into his own hands. I want to end this without any destruction. I just need Gunn."
Torch asked, "Hey woman. If you were at the theater…."
"I can't kill him. He has to kill himself, for my power would obliterate him and his soul with one touch."
"Tch. As if he'd ever do that."
"Oh please. That boy is tormented by himself. After reading his thoughts, He yearns for warmth, but he's slowly fading away from his own embrace. How pathetic."
Marshy exclaimed, "He may be tormented, but he has a reason! But he's growing, he won't even consider killing himself."
"Persuading him won't be hard, Marshy. Let's get his attention."
Rai vanished, and she teleported in the sky above her estate, cleared her throat, yelling, "King of Rottttt!"
The entire city Thornville shook, bystanders said:
"Not again!"
"Everyone run!"
Gunn was about to fall off the building he was on top of, he looked in the direction of the loud voice, and he clenched his fists, easily becoming angry.
"Stupid name they gave me. Who is calling me?"
Rai continued, "You heard me, King of Rotttttt! It's a stupid name, yet you answered."
"Because I'm the only one branded with it. Who are you?"
"Rai."
"Rai…"
"I guess you can already imagine who I have with me. Two of your favorite people."
"No. I only use one of them for crafting material, and the other I don't like."
"Oh really? Or is it because you care about this woman that you See her as a mother figure of some sorts? Or the cat, who you're secretly friends with but don't want to admit it? You're saying this to make it seem like you don't care about them, even lying to yourself? Thinking it's going to make me let them go?"
"Shut up!"
"You can save your friend and pet cat if you just come to the estate. Just know, the power embedded in you, isn't yours. It belongs to the one whose presence is higher than all of ours. If you don't start walking your ass here, I'll kill over one hundred people."
"Do you think I care?!"
"Haha. I forgot. You're just some brat who's out for revenge. Life doesn't matter to you. Hell, even your own life doesn't matter. I seen your head roll off of the stage, and the crowd cheered. They don't care about you. So you're giving them the same energy, right? Not caring? Let's see how much you care."
In the sky, Rai raised her hand, and forming behind her, was a large bright white spirit like being in the shape of a warrior with long hair and a large glowing bright white sword, and Rai slammed her hand down, and the spirit slammed his sword down, and many buildings in a line started to explode, including constables and Automatons, and many civilians bodies were ripped in half, blood splattered in the air, even rising above the building Gunn was standing on top of.
Gunn didn't move an inch, but his fists clenched to the point where his hands bled. His legs shook.
'They laughed at me…I should be laughing at them. Why the hell do I feel rage? I shouldn't care about them..I shouldn't care..! It would defeat the purpose of everything! This rage is what fuels my revenge, I should be smiling at their flailing bodies. But I can't.'
The spirit slashed his sword down again, and more buildings were destroyed, killing and ripping apart more civilians.
Back at the estate, Lars, with tears in her eyes, screamed up at Rai, "Stop!!!! Please!"
Rai replied, "Blame the King of Rot for this! He thinks it's all about revenge! You all laughed and cheered when his head got cut off at the execution! Now he's doing the same! He's not doing anything to stop the slaughter!"
"I didn't laugh! I didn't cheer!"
"Oh? Ohoho, don't get me started on you. You're the one who's attracted to the King of Rot. If you get anywhere near him you might even fall in love with him! I read your mind."
Marshy screamed, "Gunn! Don't come here!"
Torch said to Marshy, "But what about the people-?!"
"This bitch is as crazy as Bramwell. She'll cause havoc anyway. And you have a family out there, don't you?!"
"God…but no matter what we say, I know she won't stop unless Gunn comes."
"No matter what, if Gunn's soul is taken by this woman, and their so-called god transcends here, everyone is dead anyway."
Lars said to them, "G-Guys.."
Marshy and Torch looked at her, heading another loud boom outside.
Lars continued, "If what th-this woman's saying is true, then Bramwell and the others would come for her. B-Bramwell.."
Torch said, "She's right. Bramwell is all about public safety. If he sees one of his own going berserk.."
Marshy adds, "There's a risk he'll go insane and destroy everything too. And since his daughter is at risk, he'll stop at nothing to kill Rai." Marshy then looked at Lars, asking, "What did Rai want with you?"
Lars looked down at her trembling hands, her tears falling in them.
"She-She wanted me to seduce Gunn into coming here. The way she was talking about her role in the Empire, it seemed as if she was going to keep playing the part until Gunn came to her, not wanting me to know the real reason she wanted him."
"What did you say?"
"I'm sorry. I-I just cried. I didn't know how to answer. Then you two came."
Walking into the room was Mr.Cravenfield, in which Lars' heart dropped.
Mr.Cravenfield said to them, "No talking while mistress Rai is talking!"
Marshy responded, "What are you supposed to be? An automaton? A rogue automaton?"
"Miss Rai treats all of us as her own! All of those like me are hers!"
"Ah. Rai treats the automatons as her children. Like they're her own. I wonder why that is."
Torch hypothesizes, "Maybe where they're from. What realm or world they're from."
Mr. Cravenfield looked up at Rai, exclaiming, "Mother! We have resistance outside of the estate! How shall I address it?"
"Let them into the estate, let my children deal with them. And you handle the one who stands out."
"Yes ma'am! I shall deal with Mortimor!"
"Oh? Mortimor? That fucking lap dog of the Empire and Bramwell? Kill him, my son. Show him how great your mother is!"
"Yes!" Mr. Cravenfield dashed off to the speed of light, smiling, and singing, "Oh my oh my! Today I get to make Mother proud! Take the lives of those who cause a loud, bang!"
Rai thought, 'If that lap dog Mortimor is near, then Bramwell is either here already or on his way.'
Outside, Mr.Cravenfield was in the garden, and Mortimor was walking towards him.
Mortimor, clutching his guillotine over his shoulder, said, "This will be hard."
Mr.Cravenfield gushed, "I'm gonna take that guillotine and use it on you, and deliver your head to Bramwell's doorstep."
"You are devoid of life, or feelings. I won't feel bad for exterminating you, robot."
"Don't call me that!"
Immediately, landing beside Mortimor, was Catherine, and she was holding her large chain and spiked wrecking ball.
She smiled, "I'm ONLY doing this because Eliza begged me to come here. Other than that, I would leave you here. Hehe.."
"Don't need your help with some automaton."
"Look at him! He's not a normal rogue automaton that we created. He has a different type of power."
Mortimor looks closer at Mr.Cravenfield, thinking, 'She's right.'
Mortimor and Catherine dashed towards the rogue automaton, and the fighting began.
…
Back on the rooftop in the city, Gunn stepped forward as more blood flung into the air, and he said, "Stop..!"
Rai replied, "Oh? What was that? Are you sick and tired of seeing the people who laughed at you during your execution? The people that WISHED for you to die? The very people who PRAYED on your downfall?!"
"…Stop. I need HER. To continue to craft my things that I need to kill off the Empire and take Bramwell's head. And the cat…he's just my backup if I fuck up. That's it
"Hmmm. Seems like you care about these people. Seems like you're tired of hearing their screams of death. The very same people…who clapped when your head got cut off! You didn't have power before then, but all of a sudden, you have a power that doesn't belong to you."
Gunn dashed ahead, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, saying to himself, "How did Marshy and Torch get caught already?! I thought Marshy had on the cloak! There's no way! Who is this woman really? The way she talks, it's like she's not even involving herself within the Empire."
[New Quest: Make it to the estate in under 25 seconds. Reward: Level up to level 14, three epic upgrades to your dagger]
Gunn got angry, saying, "I've failed too many of these. They're asking for the impossible. Don't talk like that. No. Maybe I can do it this time. When the system gives me quests that seem easy and have the most generous rewards, I fail them still. Why is it designed like that? Is it because it's trying to teach me shit? Teach me what exactly?"
'To push even harder to accomplish the quests? To give me more of a burning desire to get stronger for my revenge? I don't know.'
Rai exclaimed, "See? Wonder who you're talking to. Maybe it's that power that's not supposed to be in your possession. That cursed power of a slain god. I had you executed immediately due to the fact that your lineage is adept in the ways of necromancy, darkness, and visions. But once you died…you just had to come back. And with the power of a fallen deity? How?!"
The ground tumbled even more as it synced with Rai's mixed anger and confusion, and Gunn almost fell off a rooftop. He leaped off, going faster and faster. He sped through the streets now, he was running so fast, his skin was peeling and bleeding, blood flinging from his nose.
'Faster…faster!'
[20 seconds]
He kept going, he felt time was going slower the faster he moved, his eyes watered, thinking about the civilians who were killed in front of him.
'They meant nothing to me! They laughed and clapped on the execution day!'
He kept thinking about them clapping and cheering when he got beheaded.
'I don't pity them at all!'
His feet clamped faster on the ground, speeding through people.
'…I don't care about them.'
Then he remembered seeing the happy faces of those who were enjoying their family, friends, and kids. Remembering that's how he used to be.
He began to slow down, thinking, 'Is it jealousy? Or do I really pity them?'
He compared himself to them, as seeing them die in front of their children, and him seeing his family get slaughtered by the Empire in front of him.
[15 seconds left]
Gunn picked up the pace, saying, "I got distracted again…I have to stop this. My own very thoughts are making me fail. I can't fail another quest, not this time.."
Gunn stomped on the ground hard with all of his strength, and jumped at the same time, causing a small crater to open underneath him, and he leaped high in the air, flailing towards the estate.
'I followed this woman's voice, it's easier that way to track the estate down.'
Gunn was landing in front of Rai, and Rai lifted her head, smiling, "You've come! Shall we get started?!"
[Quest completed. Reward: Leveled up to level 14. Three upgrades have been placed on your dagger]
[Item Upgrade: Crimson Reaper's Edge]
- **Grade Enhancement:** S
- **Material Addition:** Razor-sharp Red Obsidian, Embedded in the Blade's Edge
- **New Ability:** Each cut inflicted by the dagger not only poisons but also causes the wound to hemorrhage profusely, creating a debilitating blood loss. This makes recovery nearly impossible for the victim, hastening their demise with gruesome efficiency.
- **Appearance Alteration:** The edge of the dagger now gleams with a sinister, blood-red sheen, giving it an even more menacing look as it reflects light with every deadly swipe.
[Item Upgrade: Echo of the Abyss]
- **Grade Enhancement:** S+
- **Material Addition:** Coating of Black Diamond Dust
- **New Ability:** Upon piercing flesh, the dagger releases a soul-chilling scream from the depths of the abyss, causing paralyzing fear in nearby enemies. This psychological terror saps enemies of their will to fight, making them easier targets for further carnage.
- **Appearance Alteration:** The entire blade now sports a mysterious black shimmer, like a starless night sky, enhancing its ominous presence. It subtly vibrates, emitting a low hum audible only to its bearer and intended victims.
[Item Upgrade: Phantom's Grip]
- **Grade Enhancement:** S++
- **Material Addition:** Ghostly Silver Filigree along the Handle
- **New Ability:** With each successful strike, the dagger's grip binds temporarily to the hand of its wielder, turning their arm nearly incorporeal. This allows for strikes that pass through defenses such as shields or armor, delivering fatal blows directly to flesh and bone.
- **Appearance Alteration:** The handle is now inlaid with intricate silver filigree that glows faintly in the presence of enemies, highlighting the supernatural connection between the weapon and its master, enhancing its dread-filled allure.
Gunn whipped out his new enhanced dagger, and sling it at Rai's neck, but Rai just stood there, then side stepped. Gunn fell past her, saying, "Dammit!"
He fell through the roof of the estate, and Rai snapped her fingers, the entire estate began to shift. Every room was turning besides the dining room where Lars, Marshy, and Torch were, and Gunn was falling from room to room.
With an effortless snap of her fingers, Rai, who seemingly hovered above the turmoil, commanded the very structure of her grand estate to contort and shift, all rooms rearranging themselves like pieces of an intricate puzzle except the dining room, where Lars, Marshy, and Torch remained, untouched by the chaos.
As the mansion twisted and spasmed into new configurations, Gunn plunged through the reconfiguring roof, room by room, until he crashed into a space utterly unlike any other part of the house. The chamber where he landed transformed dramatically, eliciting a sense of foreboding and awe. This new environment was cavernous, the walls fashioned from dark, glossy stone that seemed to absorb light. High above, a chandelier made of jagged crystals emitted a dismal, pulsating glow, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. Thick chains hung from the ceiling, swaying slightly as if stirred by some unseen force, their ends lost in the gloomy heights above.
"What is this place? The estate was shifting. She commanded that? What kind of power does she have?"
The far end of the room boasted a massive throne-like seat, framed by two enormous statues depicting grotesque winged creatures, their snarling faces forever frozen in stone. Between these statues, an immense archway led seemingly into an abyss, as if it was a gateway to some unfathomable dimension.
Standing before him, as if conjured from the core of the Earth itself, was an automaton unlike any Gunn had ever encounteredâ€"Seraph, the centaur automaton. This mechanical beast towered over him, its equine body sculpted from a blend of burnished steel and dark iron. Intricate engravings of ancient symbols and scripts ran along its metallic flanks, emanating a faint, otherworldly light.
Seraph's human torso rose seamlessly from the mechanical horse, its chest plate adorned with the semblance of ancient armor. Positioned proudly on its back were wings, frames of polished gold with membranes of translucent, shimmering fabric resembling flames. These wings flickered with a fiery red light, adding an intimidating aura to its already daunting form. The flickering red flames also cascaded through the flowing mane and tail, giving it a wild, untamed appearance. The centaur's eyes were glowing pits of red, mirroring the fiery motif.
Gunn thought, 'A rogue automaton. But it's not like the others I've come across. These seem modified from the Empire's regular automatons.'
In his hand, Seraph wielded a spear with an elongated, jagged edge that shimmered with a radiant light. The spear appeared to pulse with an inner life, its white glow illuminant against the dark backdrop of the chamber. This light-based weapon hinted at powers Gunn had not yet encountered in his many confrontations with Rai's creations.
Before the battle could start, Seraph's deep, resonant voice boomed through the chamber, the metallic timbre echoing off the stone walls, "Mother has created us with care and purpose. She watches over us, as she watches over all under her dominion. It will be a pleasure to dismantle you, a discordant element in her grand design."
Gunn, tightening his grip on the dagger, his only response cutting through the charged air, was a single word: "Move."
The atmosphere tensed as both adversaries poised themselves for the imminent clash. Seraph's stance was one of calm assurance, his spear held at the ready, its tip glowing intensely. Gunn, on the other hand, exuded a relentless determination, his every muscle taut in anticipation.
With a sudden flare of his fiery wings, Seraph made the first move, charging at Gunn with a speed surprising for his size. Gunn sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the spear's deadly reach, his own weapon drawn back for a counterstrike.
The room seemed to pulse with an unseen energy, the shadows cast by the chandelier's dim light dancing more wildly as each moment passed. Gunn darted towards one of the room's shadowy corners, aiming to use the darkness as cover, while Seraph countered by sweeping his spear in wide, illuminating arcs, each move calculated to box Gunn into a narrower field of play.
Just as Gunn found his footing and took a swift leap towards Seraph, aiming for a critical strike, Seraph pivoted with astonishing agility for his size, the wings flapping powerfully, creating a gust that threw off Gunn's trajectory slightly.
Their movements were a blur, a dance of death between steel and shadow, light and dark. Each second brought them closer to a collision that would decide fates. None of them landed a hit yet, it's as if they were scoping each other out, testing each others reach and patterns.
As Gunn lunged forward with his dagger raised high, and Seraph met his charge with the glowing spear aimed at Gunn's heart, it was like time froze, the two warriors mere inches from each other, their weapons poised in deadly intent.
Thus began their battle, under the ominous radiance of the eerie chamber, a stark testament to the fierce clash ofwills on a field where mechanization meets mysticism, where loyalty to Rai was as fiery as the flames adorning Seraph's mane. The fight was set to unfold, relentlessly governed by the overarching schemes of the imperious Mistress Rai and her sprawling estate's shifting walls, where ancient met the mechanical, power clashed with defiance, and light battled shadow.
Above the estate, Rai sighed, "Ugh. I have to have my babies keep that boy busy for a while until I deal with a rebellious man baby."
KATHOOM!
Rai vanished, and then she was being dragged through an open field, by none other than Bramwell. As Bramwell dragged her, he was staring into her eyes with his own glowing red eyes, saying menacingly, "Traitors to the Empire must die."
Rai laughed, "Me? A traitor? That means I tricked you pretty good then, huh? You were born here, yet, don't know what you're supposed to be doing."
BOOM!
Bramwell was knocked back, by none other than the man in the white robe, the same man who dropped the dolls off at Bramwell's monument.
The man scratched inside of his ear, saying, "So we've found the King…Of Rot…?"
Rai stood up, saying to him, "Icarus. It's about time you showed up."
"Huh…? I spent all day looking for the King of Rot…have we..?"
"Yes we found him. He's inside of the estate. But we have a rebel in front of us. We can't work with him that way."
"Ughhhh. Can't we just kill him…?"
"We can. But I realllly wanna avoid that."
Bramwell snarled, "So you are the one who hurt my maid Catherine?"
Icarus tilted his head, "Huh? Who is that?"
Rai said to Bramwell, "You were born here, and when you were born here, the black crystals you're dishing out to your Empire people are awakening the deities we placed. Since we had to do half your job for you. The more your people embraced the crystals, the more their embracing energy and loyalty and surrendering actions fed into the soul fragments of the deities within the dolls. Those crystals are from our world, and you were sent here with them to do your job. And here you are, running an Empire, and killing people, and even mating with these humans."
Bramwell stated, "I am for the Empire, and the Empire alone. I don't know who you are or where you come from, but anyone who denies the public safety of the nation, those who put my daughter in danger, must be eradicated. Even if a baby was in your position, they shall meet the same fate." His eyes had gone pitch black, and he walked forward, a grin coming upon his facial expressions.
Icarus said to Rai, "So uh…we're gonna have to fight him….to get to the King of Rot..?"
Rai was pissed, she clenched her fists, saying, "We're gonna have to."
"Kill him?"
"Kill him. He's standing by his choice. His heart and mind is solely for the Empire, his little human daughter, and the world. He thinks he's a savior. He sees the world as he sees his daughter, that drives him to be like this. But it doesn't matter. He can't beat both of us, no matter how highly the deities spoke of him before their demise."
"Fine…then we get to the King Of Rot…"