568 Gimme your soul

Reima had been speaking with Kuretz and a few Chaos Servants about how the construction of the city was going. All was going slowly, but well, that is, until an ominous feeling overtook him.

Reima "Sorry guys, I-I have something else to do. Continue without me." he quickly says as he teleports to the Balcony where he kneels down and starts examining his body. Physically nothing appeared to be wrong, though once he checked his soul he could see the problem. His Humanity seemed to be shaking and shuddering, attempting to flow through the channels he'd created to be able to use it. This was a massive problem as if it got out there was no doubt in his mind that another Oolacile would be created.

He prods at it and attempts to restrain it with Elder Blood mana, but it doesn't have any effect at all, instead seeming to just aggravate it. He attempts to stifle the Humanity with the Chaos energy as well as his own soul. This temporarily inhibits the spasms it's giving off but it soon starts again.

Deciding that sticking around Kaer Morhen any longer would be dangerous for everyone involved, he teleports to the Igni Place of Power atop the mountain to try and utilise its energy to restrain the Humanity.

He kneels down and tries to delve into his soul to fix whatever was causing this, but his world goes black as he does so...

...

A while later Reima opens his eyes and finds himself within a large dark room, reminiscent of the Abyss in New Londo or the bottom of Oolacile.

Reima "Err, hello?" he asks into the darkness.

...

There's no reply, however a single red light appears in the distance... Followed by another, and another. Eventually the red lights cover the entirety of the darkness surrounding him, though Reima now recognises them for what they are... Eyes, those that had belonged to Manus, Father of the Abyss.

Reima "I killed you once, so stop fucking with me and leave." he says irritably.

Once he says this the thick darkness seems to recede, allowing the monumental form of Manus to be seen. No longer was it some sort of humanoid amalgamation, now, it resembled a true titan. It was entirely composed of the black ooze with glowing red eyes covering it. It was so massive that it's true form could be seen in every direction that Reima looked.

...

Reima scratches the back of his head, "Er, you've been working out..." he jokes.

It doesn't speak, but a voice can be heard by Reima anyway.

Manus "SEEK MORE SOULS!"

Reima "No."

Manus "DEVOUR MORE SOULS!"

Reima "Bro, I said no!"

Manus "CLAIM THEM ALL!"

Reima frowns, "This isn't Pokemon! I'll eat souls when I feel like it, you can sit and wait for the occasion when it happens."

The titanic form of Manus bends over to address Reima better, "YOU DEVOURED ME... DEVOUR THEM!"

Reima "Yeah, I did. So why aren't you dead yet?"

Manus "WE ARE ONE SOUL! A WHOLE THAT MUST FEED!"

Reima "Look, I've already had this talk with a dragon. We are one in the same, blah, blah, blah. Can we just resolve this and go back to normal?"

Manus "YOU MUST DEVOUR WORLDS, IT IS OUR PURPOSE!"

Reima "How about, I occasionally eat a soul. That's the best I'm going to offer you." he shrugs.

Manus huge arm throws something at him, it collides with the ground next to Reima which causes the earth to shake.

Reima looks down and spots the Staff of Manus sticking from the floor, he looks back up at Manus and asks, "What do you want me to do with this?"

Manus "DEVOUR OUR ENEMIES!"

Reima picks up the Staff and teleports next to one of Manus feet, he slams the axe head onto its foot causing the creature to scream in pain and fury. The axe head seems to start sucking in the liquid composing Manus form.

Manus "YOU DEFY ME?!?"

Reima shrugs and leaves the staff planting in the colossal beasts foot, continually sucking in large amounts of its body. "Yeah, I do. Now, where's the exit? I've got things to do today."

...

Manus doesn't answer and instead tries to pry the Staff of Manus from its foot, though it seems to be futile as the hand it uses to attempt this is also sucked into it.

Reima sits on the floor and watches with a bored expression as this happens, yawning to himself as he wonders how long it'll actually take to completely suck in all of Manus.

Outside the group had finally reached Reima, with Ciaran backing away as soon as she spots the black ooze falling from him. "No, this can't be..."

Geralt "What?"

Ciaran "It's the abyss, I thought Reima had restrained or controlled it, but it seems I was wrong..."

Dusk has an ugly expression on her face as she sees Reima surrounded by abyssal tendrils.

Ciri shrugs, "It's just black goo, I don't get what you're so worried about..."

Ciaran and Sif glare at her, "No? Then the deaths of many ancient cities and everyone within isn't all that important to you."

Risryn "Can anything be done?"

Ciaran nods, "Either Reima restrains it or we kill him and seal his soul."

....

Ciri "Kill Reima? You must be joking."

Ciaran "I'd never jest about something so dire."

Ciri "What I mean is, how would you kill him? I'm pretty sure he heals from any damage, his flesh is incredibly resistant, and those tentacles don't seem to want us to get close."

Ciaran reluctantly nods, "We will have to request Sir Solaire to assist-"

Suddenly the abyssal ooze surrounding Reima jerks, and begins to sink into his shadow. Reima rolls onto his back with his arms spread wide.

Reima "Ahh, for god sake. How many days does it take to hoover up a god of darkness." he groans in annoyance.

Quelaag/Ciri "Reima?" they ask, glancing at each other when they speak.