Chapter 23: A Gift of Flight and Chains

Chapter 23: A Gift of Flight and Chains

As I bit down into the heart of the Wyvern immediately I heard the voice in my head sound off.

Feathered Wyvern Essence AssimilatedT/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

Achieved [Feathered Wyvern Genome] Level: 1 / 5

[Armoured Feathers] acquired

[Fire Resistance] acquired

[Wyvern Bone Density] acquired

[Wyvern Fire Breath] acquired

[Feathered Wyvern Venom] acquired

Augmenting...

[Armored Feathers] now being applied to exterior armour

[Molt] has been adjusted for [Armoured Feathers]

[Armour Regeneration] has been adjusted for [Armoured Feathers]

Augmenting...

[Wyvern Bone Density] has improved [Chitinous Bone Blades] material strength

Core Evolution Achieved Stage: 4

Advanced Mobility options now available...

Scanning Assimilated Genomes...

Flight type Genomes detected...

[Mantis Wings] acquired

[Feathered Wyvern Wings] acquired

Augmenting...

[Greater Feathered Wings] Acquired

[Gravitic Hover] can now offer additional mobility options during flight

When the voice ended I felt my body change dramatically. I grew another half meter taller and I felt something change on my back. My growth was slowing but that made sense considering how volume vs length works. As my height grows the volume of my body grows exponentially so unless I ate something really significant it’s unlikely that I would get a growth spurt. Still a half meter growth is quite a lot for a creature my size.

As I focused on the new appendages on my back I felt something click in my mind as I realised I now had wings. I found I could move them easily and I instinctively knew how to use them. I spread my wings and I saw it was covered with white feathers, in the exact colour tone as my body. I looked down at my body and saw it was now covered in a layer of white feathers...

Hang on this tone of colour looked alot like the Angels wings, then again they do say Devourers were the first lifeforms, I guess their wings had to come from somewhere...

My body also now felt much stronger, I guess it was time to finish the rest of that little family. After that I could finish off the trolls as dessert, but first let me finish up that Troll the Wyvern was about to kill.

I reengaged my invisibility and I flexed my wings. With a single push of my wings I felt my body shoot into the air. I flew straight up enjoying the feeling of flight. I dived and weaved, getting used to my new flight ability. It honestly surprised me how mobile I was in the air, I thought my body wouldn’t be suited to flight considering how big I was. I now towered about five and a half meters tall, with wings five meters long.

I was now a large, flying and invisible monster, anyone who wants to kill me better bring a hero or an army...

I looked down at the ledge where the Wyvern had left the Troll and I saw it struggling to climb down the ledge. It was looking fearfully around him as he descended. I bet he saw what I did to that Wyvern. It did take awhile for me to eat such a large body afterall.

I swooped down and I grabbed the Troll while invisible. As I grabbed him my invisibility vanished so I just flew up the ledge and dumped it there. Then I flew up a little higher and dived on top of the screaming Troll. I grabbed his head with my hands and I smashed it into the rocky ground cracking the stone. It’s head popped like a fruit from the force, his pulped brain now splattered across the dark stone.

To think these Trolls were a challenge a few days ago...

Once I ate the troll I flew off from the ledge and began heading for the nest. I had a plan of attack, it was a little dramatic but I think I could end the fight in a single attack if I pulled it off. With my new found abilities I realised I could now generate a significantly increased amount of momentum behind each slash of my blades.

When I spotted the nest I saw the Wyvern’s mate looking out at the night sky as if waiting for her partner to return. Well something will be coming just not it’s mate. I turned two of my claws into blades and I flew up before diving down towards the little crevice.

“I am sorry...” Sarana stammered.

“No, it was the best attempt so far. You see Lady Sarana. I have plans for this city, very large plans...” Nemesis said as she tilted her head.

“You... want something from me?” Sarana asked shakily, that was after all the only logical reasons her and Cornenk were still alive. The others who tried all died extremely gruesome and messy deaths.

“Of course, you all will have a new ruler soon. I want the two of you to prepare for that eventuality. So I have an offer...” Nemesis said.

“An offer?” Sarana asked, she knew this was no offer. What was Lady Vengeance going to do if they said no, let them go? Sarana will be lucky if anyone ever finds a piece of her the size of a fingernail...

Sarana was sleeping in her bed, in the palace. There were guards outside her room and frequent patrols along the corridors. How the hell did they manage to get past all of that? If the Syndicate wanted her help then they couldn’t kill the guards. If there was a large uproar then it would diminish her use. Whispers and rumors will start to circulate, she already didn’t have the best reputation in the court. There might even be accusations of murder. After all, if you look at the scene it was easy to see how that would be a problem. Sarana disappears in the night and some of the guards near her room die, then she reappears in the palace perfectly fine. She can’t sneak through all of the guards, word would eventually get around that she was out in the middle of the night.

“Yes, Lady Sarana, you will stay in Lord Averlon’s service and you will start sowing the seeds of discord, laying the groundwork for an uprising. Agitate the peasants, frame nobles, pit the court against each other, leave them divided and desperate. Paint the court as an evil institution, shake the loyalty of the guards and army, make the adventurers guild question it’s continued loyalty. How you do so depends on you, what matters is that you succeed. Can you do that?” Nemesis said.

“Yes...” Sarana replied, she already had some ideas, so this wouldn’t be that hard. The issue was the timing, when did Lady Vengeance want the outrage to boil over?

“When do you wish for the uprising to occur? I need a timeline if possible...” Sarana said, trying to play the part of a willing collaborator. Sarana would need at least 3 months to get everything in place...

“I know you will need 3 months and that is right on schedule.” Nemesis replied.

“But do you intend for Cecilia Averlon to rule? If that is your wish then it is likely that she will kill me...” Sarana replied softly, Cecilia would eventually figure out that Sarana was the one that helped lock her up. Unless she already knew...

Sarana knew if Cecilia took the throne, the first to lose their heads would be Princess Cecilia’s parents and the Head Mage. If she knew about Sarana’s involvement then she would be next. As for her siblings, that was a separate thing entirely. They didn’t actively cause her imprisonment, except for her younger brother who Sarana suspected conconted some political machinations to ensure he would inherit the throne. But she had no confirmation on that, just whispers and rumors. Then again he did stand to gain the most from her imprisonment...

For her two younger sisters, the elder didn’t do anything, of that Sarana was sure. With regards to the youngest sister, she is currently six years old and was two when Cecilia was imprisoned. So it was unlikely that Sarana bore her any ill will, but if she would kill her to secure the throne... that was something else entirely...

“I am sure she can be persuaded to let you live... she will need someone of your talents afterall.” Nemesis replied calmly.

“Ok... I assume you have some way to keep me loyal?” Sarana asked shakily, she has heard that the Syndicate has access to powerful lost magic that was long forgotten. Not only that they had reagents any normal person on Terra would struggle to get their hands on...

“Of course, but first I need to speak to your compatriot.” Nemesis said as she turned to face Cronenk who flinched as soon as her mask faced him.

“Congratulations Cornenk Vorash, and yes I know your full name. You are now the undisputed master of Averlon’s underworld. The gold will continue to flow to your pockets as long as you obey my commands. If you don't, your blood will flow...” Nemesis said calmly.

“Yes, my lady.” Cornenk said as his green face went paler than it already was.

“Excellent, I will have my agents keep in touch with you. Now for your initiation. Your hands please...” Nemesis said as she rose out of her seat and Sarana went pale as she realised what she was wearing. She was wearing a cloak of gold feathers...

As Sarana looked at the angel bound on the wall and saw the gold blood leaking from the wounds. She knew exactly where those feathers came from...

The two of them froze at the sight of the cloak but the two nearby agents grabbed their hands and slammed it on the table. Sarana began to shake as she watched Nemesis slowly walk around the desk.

Sarana watched as Nemesis ran a hand along the mahogany wood as she took her time walking over. Each step she made caused that blood stained cloak to flutter slightly. How many angels did she kill to get that many feathers? They were all the same size... she was picky with her choice of feathers...

Sarana watched as she calmly took out a small pen with a blade at it’s tip. Then she took out a small inkwell. When Nemesis dipped the pen in Sarana saw the blade exit the inkwell stained gold.

“Seraphim blood, a powerful substance... perfect for this...” Nemesis said as she bent down and began carving runes into the back of Sarana’s hand. Sarana instinctively tried to pull her hand back but the agent held her hand down. Sarana looked down tearfully as she saw the gold blood steam as it mixed with her own. It felt like the blade was a red hot knife and all she could do was watch as the spell was weaved into her flesh.

“Ah ah ah... don’t fuss... you really don’t want me to get this wrong...” Nemesis said calmly. Hearing this Sarana bit her lip as she tried to ignore the searing pain in her hand. When powerful magic goes wrong, it REALLY goes wrong...

Sarana tasted blood as she bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood. After what felt like an eternity she felt the blade stop.

“All done, see, that wasn’t so bad... at least compared to what comes next...” Nemesis said with a cold chuckle.

Immediately after her words Sarana felt a searing pain in her hand. She looked down and saw the bloody mark on her hand glowing and steaming. The pain traveled up her arm and soon her whole body was wracked in indescribable pain. Sarana screamed and screamed, soon she felt her vision start to flash white. Finally and perhaps mercifully, she felt her consciousness fade as she passed out from the pain...

Sarana awoke to the feeling of some kind of liquid being splashed on her face. She sputtered as she snapped awake and the first thing she saw was the empty wine glass. She looked up to see Nemesis leaning against the desk as she poured herself another glass. She took a sip of the wine before splashing it on Cornenk who was passed out next to her. He sputtered back into consciousness, as his eyes focused on her and his eyes filled with fear.

“I just put a seal on your hands, you disobey, you die. You run your mouths, you die. You try and cut the hand off, you die. Simple enough?” Nemesis asked calmly

“Yes...” the pair of them stammered as they looked down at their hands which were now healed perfectly. The only thing was that Sarana could somehow sense there was something very wrong with her hand now...

Sarana watched as Nemesis stood up and outstretched her arms as if seeking an embrace. As she did so her gold feathered cloak spread apart, revealing the hundreds of feathers that she wore. The angels were thought to be unbeatable by the denizens of Terra but here one stood, wearing their prized feathers stained with their blood.

Nemesis cocked her head slightly as she seemed to smile under her mask as she lowered her head slightly to leer at the pair of them.

Welcome to the Syndicate...