Chapter 129: Welcome to the Elysian Woods

Chapter 129: Welcome to the Elysian Woods

Ariel looked around warily at the monsters that now surrounded her. From what she could tell they were not hostile towards her, rather it seems they have their gaze locked on the members of the Syndicate. She could feel the tension right before an all out battle.

“You would oppose us? The Syndicate? Do you really think that your little pet empire would survive us?” Theseus growled.

“Do you truly think we are strangers to war? We were bred for it, if anything this time of peace is foreign to us. We would love to have a good fight, we have not had a good one in a long time...” Legiana replied as a wide smile appeared on her face.

Ariel felt a chill go up her spine when she realised that she wasn’t the only one that was smiling. All the other creatures were smiling as well. Ariel knew she should have expected this to an extent. Hives were living weapons, there were no individuals within them, only the Hive, only the collective. The Old Gods created them to wage war and they were baptised in the fires of war by hunting the Old Gods previous weapons, the Orcs.

From what she has read, the Orcs didn’t even stand a chance. The Orcs were a brutal weapon that burned cities and entire civilisations. They were living nightmares and yet the Old Gods found them unsatisfactory. Ariel remembers what her mother said when she spoke of the fall of the Orcs.

If Orcs are nightmares then what are the Hives?

What do you call what even nightmares learn to fear?”

Now that Ariel looks around she noticed that these creatures don’t look that powerful. Why? These creatures are insufficient for the task of defeating these Syndicate soldiers. Theseus alone could probably kill all of the lesser creatures. Yes the one called Legiana was very powerful but her minions seemed very weak.

“You think you can contain me with these weak minions?” Theseus asked as he hefted his shield.

“Contain? You are already contained, have you not noticed it yet?” Legiana replied with a laugh as she snapped the fingers on one of her hands.

Immediately Ariel felt a wave of ether rush over her, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say the concealment spell covering the spell was lifted. Ariel looked around and saw the roots of the trees all glowing.

“A cage built into the land itself, I told you this place was a fortress. You should learn to listen. As for these children, they are but test subjects. Since the foes that will be faced in the future are fun sized humanoids rather than the great ancients there are many designs to test and improve. Consider yourself a mandatory volunteer for this test.” Legiana said as she nodded and immediately the dozens of humanoid beasts leapt at the Syndicate members.

The clash was brief since almost all the monsters were cut down instantly. The blades of the Syndicate cut right through the blades and armour of the beasts.

“Slow... too slow...” Legiana mused as she snapped her fingers and more beasts burst from the ground.

These ones were similar in design but far more powerful. The armaments were the same, the same blade tipped upper arms and grasper hands on the lower arms. Ariel could see markings on their bodies, probably signifying a higher rank within the Hive.

“Let’s try this again shall we?” Legiana asked with a smirk.

“You think this is a game?” Theseus asked through gritted teeth.

“A game? I take tests very seriously, my king would be upset if I play around.” Legiana said before she nodded and the dozen beasts pounced.

Ariel noted this time the fight was a lot closer the beasts put up a good fight, but slowly they were being defeated. Although this time when a beast takes significant damage it would back off and retreat underground. If this was the upgrade, Ariel wondered how much stronger the beasts were going to get.

Ariel watched as Theseus cut down the last beast, this one couldn’t escape. The spear thrust right through its head and the body crumpled into the ground.

Theseus glanced up at the still smiling Legiana and bestial growl escaped from his lips. He didn’t say a word but Ariel knew he was about to pounce and from Legiana she sensed excitement. There was a flash of light and Ariel turned to see a sword now in each of Legiana’s four hands. Each was enchanted with a different element, fire, lightning, frost and divine light.

“Last test then. Royal Guards to me!” Legiana commanded and more beasts burst from the ground.

This time they were of varied designs, Ariel saw one had a shield formed of bone and carapace on one arm. In the other it looked to be this cannon with a Focii crystal on the end. The others had grasper limbs on all arms but in each arm they held equipment formed from bone and flesh. Some held two handed handles in their upper arms and their lower arms were free. Others held one handed handles in all four hands. The final variety only had two arms, in one they held shields but also had one handed handles in their other arm. Fiind updated novels at novelhall.com

Then in unison there was a flash of blue and Focii blades ignited from the handles. Ariel openly gawked at the sight, Focii crystals were absurdly rare and nothing had Ether to maintain it long enough to be used as a main weapon. She shifted her gaze to the members of the Syndicate and saw that they were surprised too.

Ariel looked up just in time to see the Great Beast himself land in the middle of the clearing. Finally she was able to get a good look at the Great Beast. He seemed far larger and far more intimidating when she was this close.

Ariel has been told many things of the ancients. That they are powerful, wise and ruthless. The ancients are not bound by moral compunctions, they do what serves their own personal self interest. If destroying someone else helps them then they would not hesitate.

Now as she looked at the Great Beast she could feel that the stories were true. The Great Beast was clearly powerful, Ariel knew she would stand no chance against him. To be fair Ariel was far from a good fighter as far as Heaven was concerned. There were legions of high angels who were better fighters than her, she was a scout first and foremost. Ever since her brother was captured by the Syndicate her mother has been extremely overprotective of her and her siblings.

For a moment there was silence, then a bestial growl escaped from the Great Beast’s fanged maw. The Syndicate flinched at the sound and the Beast spoke in his deep rumbling voice.

“Now then... all of you are in a whole lot of shit. You start a fight in my forest of all places and you wound my second in command. So how will you address this problem? And here I thought we had an unspoken understanding...” the Great Beast growled as it rose up to its full height and loomed over the six remaining members of the Syndicate.

“The understanding can continue as long as you hand her over.” Theseus said as he pointed at Ariel who instinctively raised her weapons. Ariel felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Legiana looking at her.

“My king has no intention of giving you up.” Legiana said and Ariel was about to ask how she was so sure when Legiana just tapped the side of her head and pointed at the Great Beast. The pieces came together in her mind and she almost blushed in embarrassment.

“Right, hive mind.” Ariel replied sheepishly.

“Just watch my king work, he will not disappoint.” Legiana said.

“Give her to you? So what are you running out of blood to write curses on spymasters hands?” the Great Beast said and the Syndicate members visibly flinched slightly at those words.

“What you thought I didn’t know? Unspoken understanding remember? I allow a pair of eyes and you keep the fuck out of my affairs.” the Great Beast growled.

“Who are you girl? Are you anyone important?” the Great Beast suddenly asked as he turned around to look at Ariel.

“I am the daughter of the archangels Uriel and Mihael.” Ariel replied hoping her status would protect her.

“Ah, even more reasons keep you safe. The north already has one less city, I rather none of my cities turn into glowing craters. Think of the property value.” the Great Beast said as he turned back to face the Syndicate.

“Property value?” Ariel muttered in confusion.

“My king has a passing interest in real estate, the economics of houses, land and other related assets.” Legiana explained and Ariel gave her a befuddled look in response. Why would an ancient beast care about land and property? He doesn’t need money after all...

But before Ariel could wrap her head around that odd bit of trivia the conversation had already continued.

“So what’s it going to be? I’ll give you a chance to leave and I will graciously forget this little incident. I’ll chalk it up to miscommunication due to the underspoken nature of unspoken understandings.” the Great Beast said as he offered a hand.

“Our orders are to recover the angel, a child of the Archangels is not easy to come by. We will be taking her.” Theseus said as he raised his weapons followed by the rest of the Syndicate members.

Ariel knew at least for Theseus thus far he has been holding back. Most likely Nemesis wanted her alive, perhaps as a hostage or even some kind of test subject for her sick experiments. The depravity and cruelty of the Syndicate never failed to turn her stomach.

“Tell you what as a gift to your Lady I will let you leave. That way maybe she won’t be as pissed when I kill the rest of these constipated worms.” the Great Beast replied with a feral smile as he gestured to the five remaining Syndicate assassins.

The response was all the assassins raising their weapons in preparation for a fight.

“Brave but foolish, your bravery means little when all of you are dead. The ancients have been gone too long, I have been doing nothing but teaching lessons ever since I awoke from my sleep...” the Great Beast said as Ariel felt the killing intent start to leak from the Great Beast. Though she was not the target of this bloodlust it still chilled her blood to ice. This was not the usual bloodlust, this was primal and ancient. A bloodlust born in a time where violence was the answer to all problems.

It seems it is time for another lesson...