Chapter Ninety-Nine: Vengeance Unleashed – Part One

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Vengeance Unleashed – Part One

I didn’t lie.

Intense loathing and dissatisfaction filled my mind when I learned what happened to Niva and Tilde. Much of that was directed towards Quella since she was obviously powerful. A mere orb of silence was enough to cripple the woman who made a hurricane to destroy a sandstorm?

She had fought for the village, spilling blood to defend it.

Not just her—but all of them. They risked it all, fighting against circumstances almost designed to counter them...

Something weird was happening. Things felt like they didn't fit or they fit too well. It didn’t feel natural—no, it felt artificial...almost like...something was on purpose? The feeling was difficult to explain. It was abstract. I didn’t understand it other than a growing knot in my stomach.

As I returned to the living room...

Another oddity occurred.

Someone knocked on the door, but the noise seemed to echo around us—like someone was rapping their knuckles against the tables.

I asked Tris who it was, but she hesitated before answering.

No one.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I heard the noise again.

No one's within 200 feet of the mansion, my lord. I do not detect illusion magic or invisibility potions.

There was nothing.

No one was there. Yet someone was knocking.

Logically, someone had to be there.

“Tris?” I called her name, but she didn’t reply. She started shivering. Sekh grabbed her hands, and the two followed me when I went to the door. Quella tagged along. Her expression had changed—she was mentally preparing for a fight.

Maybe she sensed something was off.

The knocks that shouldn’t exist continued to come.

“Don’t open it... My lord, I... Don’t... I don’t know what’s behind it... I don’t...”

Sekh reassured Tris as I grabbed the knob. The door swung open...revealing the woman who had raped me when I was still known as Shuuta Fenton.

She was standing...right there...under the moon’s glow...like a beacon of evil...

But she wasn’t showing on the map.

That was impossible...

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t focus.

My body screamed a thousand warning signs as the memories I didn’t want to relieve flashed to the forefront of my mind. The feeling of nails digging deep into my body... The way her fingers wrapped around my neck...

The beatings... The thrashing...

Thump!

I thought I was about to scream, but something stopped me. I turned around because Tris had dropped to her knees. Her eyes twitched uncontrollably. She seized up before collapsing like someone had cut her strings.

She went limp. Sekh dashed to catch her.

Surtr rounded the corner as a lion, his fangs alit with flames. He never blinked after fixating his gaze on her. The others rushed behind him. Primrose barged past everyone to support me. I needed her comforting touch because... Because I was still locked. Fear circulated throughout my body like blood—that awful night was the only thing that filled my vision.

“Wow. Guess I have a few fans here, huh? Good to meet ya, Lord Springyfield. Hello! Hullo! Hallo!"

"Remy!" Quella barked. “Please, it’s Lord Springfield! What did you do to Tris?”

This...

This is Remy?

“Aww, don’t start blaming me for shit I wasn’t involved with, Cutie Qutie!”

I was still frozen in trepidation.

I couldn’t move.

Activating Emergency Response Protocol: Wrath Induction

The robotic, monotone voice Tris had in her first evolution filled my mind. The cylinder representing my Wrath turned to 1 as a flaming belt wrapped around my skin—beneath my clothes.

Only then could I move without feeling like this bitch was about to repeat that night.

I immediately picked up Tris. Primrose never left my side or let Remy out of her gaze. The woodland spirit’s eyes were piercing-- Aetos was watching.

“Eh? I don’t get so much as a hello after I walked all this way to get here.” Remy tried to step into the mansion.

“You did not get permission to enter.” Sekh’s voice was cold. She narrowed her eyes.

“I don’t believe you own this house. Why do I care what a cub whispers to a wolf?”

“We’ll see if you keep that same tune when this cub incinerates you.” Sekh equipped her abyssal iceflame armor. Her mace manifested itself in a fiery, icy explosion. Surtr roared louder than ever, shaking the mansion’s foundation, shattering almost every window.

Remy just...smiled. She hopped back a few feet and started juggling daggers.

Quella ran between the two. “Please, we don’t need to fight! Stop it!”

“Fighting? Don’t ya know this is how people like us greet each other? Isn’t that right...? You smell of blood. I bet you’ve killed way more than me. That's not an easy feat.”

Sekh kept quiet. She looked at Surtr. Her armor vanished, and she ushered me to our room.



“That’s her... That’s the one... That’s the goddamn bitch...” I couldn’t think straight.

I was in my room, pondering against the wall after gently laying Tris between Tilde and Niva. Those two still showed no signs of waking up. Tilde’s wings were back, but they were glossy. Lei comforted the three with his blubbery body.

Sekh tightly hugged me to stop my trembling.

I rambled for another few minutes until Sekh calmed me. She made me sit on the foot of the bed, held my shoulders, and told me to breathe. Panicking wouldn’t solve anything. We needed to go through what had happened.

“You’re right.” Sekh breathed with me. Primrose squeezed my hands.

In and out...

In and out...

I opened a window to my Divine Skill. The Essence of Wrath’s flaming blood had flooded the floating metal platform. She continued to stab at her body, breaking her infinitely regenerating horns while begging for it to stop.

I sent my spirit into it. On the outside, Sekh was still watching the window I displayed on the wall.

“PLEASE!!!!! I’M SORRY!!! LORD SPRINGFIELD, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!” The EoW scrambled towards me. “MAKE IT STOP!!! MAKE IT STOP!!!!!” I kicked the bitch away and demanded an explanation.

“Allow me to answer that.” A prismatic orb of rainbow energy flashed into existence. Its voice was stiff, robotic, and monotone.

“Tris?”

“I am the emergency backup of the entity that was given that designation. The primary unit is undergoing system maintenance to repair illogical errors that should not have occurred.”

Tris had said something about that back on the boat to Plymoise—about 5% of her was comprised of a core backup.

“Is she okay? Will she get better?”

“Affirmative.”

"What happened? I don't get it?"

"The one called Tris has linked the Essence of Wrath’s flames to my activation should you desire assistance when she was indisposed."

In this case, it was just enough to make me move.

It just wouldn't.



We walked downstairs, where that gross bitch was pigging out on a turkey leg. Greggie and Elly were cleaning her mess. Surtr kept staring. Quella pleaded with her, but Remy wasn’t listening.

“Ah, ready to see Lord Meruria, Lord Field of Springs?"

“We need to talk,” I said. I needed the flaming belt around my stomach to keep me going. I was glad it was under my clothes. Tris didn't look at Remy. She spoke with Elly and Ami, who were worried about her. Melusine had her back turned. She looked nervous around Sekh, who never let her eyes wander from our enemy.

“Good. I was getting tired of waiting. It’s common courtesy to show a guest some hospitality when she arrives. Greggie, handle the mess, will ya? Quella—”

“She will be coming with us.”

“Is that such a good idea? I know she’s from another world. She’s supposed to be smart, but our discussion might go over her head.”

“I have made myself clear. Quella, you will follow us. Everyone else, could you watch over my allies? Greggie, can you prepare a meal if they awake?”

I received a series of nods.

We departed the mansion under Remy's final moonlight. She would never see another one.



[Quella’s PoV]

Remy marveled at the ethereal beauty of the Spiritual Grove. "Woooooow... So, this is the first time I’ve seen the inside of a place like this." She gazed around with wide-eyed wonder. "So, this is technically located inside the Spirit Realm? Heeeyyyy!!! Lord Aeeetoossss!!!’ Where are you!!!??"

Lord Aetos remained silent, choosing not to respond to her enthusiastic call.

"The silent treatment, huh? I figured. He’s said to be a shy little birdie. Anyway, why did we come here? I heard rumors of Hymn being active around these parts, and... Yeah, from what I’ve seen of the graveyard... I’m guessing they showed up? Sorry about that. Did they mean a lot to you?"

“Yes. They did. I failed to protect them.” Lord Springfield rubbed Surtr’s head.

"Lord Meruria can help you with that, you know. She’s the strongest, most beautiful Holy Lord to have ever lived, and she will be a valuable ally when you wage war on Gloria."

“Do I need her assistance? Crushing Dirge won’t be hard. The plans are already set in motion. They’ll activate before dawn.”

“Care to tell a curious wolf about your intentions?”

"No. I don’t have a reason. There’s nothing your lord can offer me. I’m aware of her reputation. I’ve no need to concern myself with a wretch like her."

“Petty insults reveal the true depth of one's character,” replied Remy, her tail whipping like lightning.

“I never considered myself to be anything but who I am,” retorted Lord Springfield.

“Who are you?” interjected Tris, her sharp voice cutting in.

“Remy. A loyal soldier of Lord Meruria of Cridia, the fairest Holy Lord in all the land.”

"No. That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Who. Are. You?" Tris didn’t back down.

Remy smiled, narrowing her eyes. “I’m Remy. I’ll always be her. I’m more concerned about why you’re hanging out with someone like her.” Remy summoned a dagger before raising it towards Sekh. The wolf licked her lips.

A tense silence hung in the air for a few heartbeats.

“Who do you think me to be?” Sekh asked.

“The Dark Lord of Tyranny.”

My heart sank. “The...Dark Lord of Tyranny?! She’s not—”

“Quella. You’re an idiot, but you’re not dumb. Think. Recall what Melsuine told you. Remember the ice that drowned her kingdom? She’s responsible for it. You should’ve seen the similarities to the cursed ice that queen uses and what this cub wields.”

Sekh...didn’t deny it.

“I smell the millions of deaths you’ve caused. I don’t know how you broke your seal, but Lord Meruria needs someone like you. Just think of how much power she’ll gain when she has access to [Tyranny Control.] I didn’t expect you to be here, but this is a nice bonus.”

“I serve no lord.” Sekh looked at Lord Springfield. “Not anymore. Meruria will die by my hands.”

“Oh? What has she done to deserve your ire? You’re destined to destroy the world. You need to kill to accomplish that. Lord Meruria will give you free reign. Just think of how many babies you can slam against the wall! Or how many mothers you can butcher like pigs! Yeah, I’ve read the stories. They say Amos and the other Lords conspired to remove all mention of you from history, but there are a few traces here and there if you read between the lines. Seriously. You're an expert in depravity. Even I gagged at the atrocities you forced upon others.”

No one answered.

I couldn’t believe it.

I just couldn’t. The horror I’ve heard... The foreboding feeling Melusine had gotten was her gut being right about Surtr being subservient to the most fearsome threat the world had ever met.

The atmosphere was thick. Suddenly, Lord Springfield spoke. Her voice was so calm. How did she endure the pressure? The mana thickened around everyone here, like whirling vortexes of densely packed energy.

“Quella. This is your chance. You stand at a crossroad. Either remain a slave to someone who turned your life upside down or join me in bringing justice to the ones who have wronged you.”

“Cutie Qutie won’t do that, will she?” Remy sang. “No. She owes much to Lord Meruria. She’s the glue that holds her team together. Her punishment won’t be exclusive to her.”

Remy laughed. She just chuckled like it was the funniest thing in the world.

“Seriously.” Her tone turned cold. “I will make you suffer for a thousand years if you ever think about betraying your summoner. You have no idea what I have planned... Or what Lord Meruria specifically requested for me to do to traitors.”

“Quella, you won’t have to worry about that if she dies. You’re speaking to the woman who unlocked [Conferment] for the rest of the world.”

“You did that? You made that awful voice appear!? WHY?!!!! I’M GOING TO BE SICK!” Remy vomited as she dropped to her knees. She screamed...

...but it was all an act. Remy vanished in a puff of smoke and appeared hanging upside down on nothing. She then returned to her feet and busted out laughing. “Bwhaaaaaahahahah!!! Sorry, I couldn’t help but pull your leg. Seriously, how important do you think you are? Yeah, you’re a fusion of two forests, but come on. Immunity to time doesn’t matter because a Vredi can bleed like the rest. They can die like the rest. Their minds aren’t resistant to torture. They can still squeal like a bitch in heat.”

“Does the Transcendent Dark Lord ring a bell?”

“Only if you’re a little kid lost in imagination. Such a thing doesn’t exist.”

“But it does, wolf.”

“No, it doesn’t, elf. [Conferment] was hidden behind a metaphysical lock trapped in the void. That old fool Sajun had theorized there was untapped power waiting to be excavated. He was right. The most beautiful woman in the world did what that failure couldn’t! There could be more. Only the ever-powerful and righteous Holy Lord Meruria is worthy to master all the goodies!”

"I suppose it doesn’t matter. Believe it if you want. Or don’t. Quella, make your choice.” Lord Springfield grew four additional arms from her back. Each hand wielded a different gun.

“A chimera? I bet you can create a decoy Status Menu. That’s why [Detect Chimerism] failed when I used it. I wonder how the world will react when they realize you’re a false fraud. I wonder which Vredi you killed to get that body? You said you’ve met Seraphina Vredi, right? Sorry, I was spying on you a while back. How will the last surviving Princess of Vredi act when she realizes you’re a phony?”

“Since you’re not that alarmed... I presume you’ve experienced the void too?”

“Right on the coin, you false elf. Don’t think yourself special. A few dozen have survived being dipped in its illusive warmth and lived to tell the tale. You’re looking at one of them. I guess that makes me your elder, so why don’t you treat me to some goddamn coffee? How about a little respect while you’re at it?”

Remy’s teleportation makes sense if the void is responsible. Are her time abilities a result of being dipped in it? Or is that something else?

“Respect? You deserve a goddamn dagger through your heart. Or maybe I’ll shove a spike up your ass and pierce your throat.”

“Oh, wow. Easy on the hatred, there, Lord Bouncyplain.”

“Meruria... That vile woman turned my life upside down, and you were a part of that. You raped me...”

“A part?” Remy played dumb. “Well, it’s a pain to track names and faces when you live as long as we do. Who knows how many I’ve raped throughout the years. You’re a disgusting chimera. There’s really no telling which one you were. Did you scream, though? Did I bring you to the brink of heaven? Wait, were you male or female? Either way, I probably pegged you, right? Oohh~~~ I’m getting tingly down there just thinking about it... I think I’ll drive myself wild... I JUST have to know!”

I was disgusted. Remy was already a terrible person, but seeing...just how happy she was...and how she danced and jumped for joy...for doing...those things...

“Quella.” Lord Springfield’s serious voice attracted my attention. “Do not stand on the wrong side of history. Would you rather remain a slave than finally fight to obtain your freedom? Remember... Remember our discussions. Remember our talks. Remember the feelings you felt. The relief? The anxiousness fading away? Recall it all. Make the right choice. Do not become my enemy."

“I...” Any words I wanted to say were stuck in my throat after hearing revelation after revelation.

A chimera that could avoid being detected masquerading as a member of an extinct forest?

The worst threat the world has ever experienced was someone she loved dearly?

How much had Lord Springfield lied to me?

But she had a reason...

She hated Meruria...

She hated Remy...

She despised everything Cridia stood for and wanted to burn it.

If this doesn’t work... If we fail to take her out...

Remy changed her tone once more. She readied her daggers and increased her mana once more. It shot into the sky like a pillar of pure destruction—darker than night-- reminiscent of the void Shuuta was thrown into.