Chapter 1763

Chapter 1763

As the Savior had suggested, there was the slightest pulse of an image when the Lizakh group approached the gate of the fort. The slightest tang of pewter rang out. Yn’ulk released a slightly less refined pulse of his monstrous image in response, but it was by far the most well-developed of the group. Naturally, their speed lowered as they waited for a response. Each one of the Lizakh tightened their grips on their weapon.

There was no further response from the gate. D’min wondered if the humans had recognized that they had previously been trying to kill them as sacrifices to their Patron.

But neither did the invisible guards attack. The fort remained unmoving before them. Eventually, Yn’ulk grunted. “Keep heading forward. Trust in the words of the Savior.”

The group picked up their speed. Now that they were nearer, the smell of salt and rotting fish was overwhelming. And, true to the Savior’s words, the heavy metal doors swung inward as the group approached. Two bored-looking tattooed humanoids gave the group a couple of looks but otherwise ignored them. They were well-muscled, more in line with Yn’ulk’s physique than D’min’s. But their chests were bare, despite the cool air.

Past the wall as a short passage and then several stacks of wooden crates. Most of the Lizakh looked to Yn’ulk as they stood in the entrance, unsure of what to do. In response, the muscular lizard man cleared his throat. “We are proud members of the Lizakh, here to fight against the Calamity-”

“Head to the central area,” A guard spat to the side. “Tide is coming in soon; you don’t want to be wandering around when the monsters begin washing up onshore. Such a bother.”

Yn’ulk nodded, his eyes tight with irritation at being interrupted. But he gestured and all the Lizakh, D’min included, followed him. Beyond the crates were two squat grey buildings that looked to be an armory and mess hall. A few similarly bare-chested guards loitered around. D’min took some time to examine their intricate tattoos, done in either blue, green, or purple. These humans, too, only gave the group a few looks before returning to their task.

After squeezing between a narrow passage between the two buildings, they found the central area they had been told to seek. And once there, D’min’s scales tingled; he might only have a rudimentary ability to manifest his own, but he was quite proficient at sensing images. Each and every person already waiting in the clearing pulsed with potency.

There were at least a hundred of them.

The first horrifying image to catch D’min’s attention drifted out from a lanky man with long red hair and a massive saber by his side. His eyes opened briefly to scan the Lizakh group, but he apparently found nothing worthy of his interest. His attention turned inward again almost immediately.

Other than him on the left side of the open area, there a dozen ogres, with their three-headed leader releasing a crushing pressure. Opposite the ogres on the right were a score of strange cavalry. The mounts were strange, possessing chitinous armor and segmented joints. The riders sparred on the ground with their long lances. Based on their slow and steady movements, this was more for entertainment purposes than training.

The main area was occupied with more humans in the dress of the guards. Their bodies were the most heavily tattooed that D’min had seen. Grand swirls and harsh sigils add flashes of color to their bodies. They wore necklaces with shark teeth and sharpened heavy, brutal weapons. In addition, there were a dozen smaller groups around the size of the Lizakh that all wore different emblems representing various human organizations.

So many representatives from different areas... so this is the power of Expira. Could we really join them? D’min wondered as he looked around. Very quickly, two groups pressed against the far wall grabbed his attention. Because as soon as he laid eyes on them, he sucked in a breath. He hadn’t sensed them before, but once he tasted their image-

A muscular man with a shaved head cracked his knuckles. “Don’t even bother to join the final expedition. We will handle this ourselves, the old-fashioned way.”

“If brute force could really solve the problem, would we still be swimming in monsters?” A slender, dark-haired man made a long knife dance across his fingers. His eyes never let his rival. “Relax and leave this to the true professionals.”

The muscular man’s smile darkened. “The only profession you can claim is sous chef. How does it feel to always play second fiddle to me?”

At her question, the image in front of Randidly flickered. He saw the thick lines of the seraphim, holding their burning lances and standing at strict attention. They kept their wings folded at their back, the picture of military discipline.

Randidly heard the long sigh of Clarent’s father. ‘They lust for control, my pride. They come to oust me. Which is why your return is so important. Without you, I would be weaponless. But with your help, I can make these fools pay for underestimating me.’

The image faded back to the room where the Skyking licked his lips while looking down at the sword he had been anticipating for so long. Clarent was confused by his words, not even noticing his expression. ‘But I... what do you mean? I know the Limina did something strange to me, but I’m not a sword-’

‘Clarent, daughter,’ Her father shook his head sadly. ‘Look at yourself. Truly look at yourself. If you are not a sword, what are you?’

A mirror blossomed into place across the wall in front of Clarent. And she could not avoid looking at the black hilt with its curling veins, the transparent blade, and the gemstone of pure darkness that was her core. As Clarent stared at herself, she could not tell which portion came from the Limina and which came from her.

Somehow, on the journey back to her father, they had blended together fully. They were one.

She was speechless as her father took her into his hands and swung her experimentally. The sensation of powerlessness and weightlessness squeezed her confusion and worry into something tight and anxious. It lodged in her throat and she couldn’t breathe around it. But already her father was laughing with joy and striding out of the dark room in the corner of his castle.

That joy gave her pause. If its just for now, if it makes him happy, maybe it is alright to be a sword for a while.

They strode into the audience chamber and found the three other Skykings waiting for them. Each was flanked by two powerful guards, radiating the illuminating light from the sun. Perhaps due to the habits of the Limina, Clarent felt herself shrinking back from that exploratory light, afraid of what they could see of her. Of what too much exposure to the light would reveal.

However, her father’s hands on her hilt were warm and firm.

The central Skyking glowered at her father. ‘What have you done? What sort of monstrous creature have you made?’

‘Do not speak to my daughter in such a manner,’ Her father replied primly.

The Skyking on the right threw his hands up in the air. ‘Such a weapon is capable of severing light! What madness would possess you to nurture such a foul thing, in your home no less! We did not comment when you detached a portion of the Great Shadow and raised it within your own home. But now to reunite it with its power-’

‘If we control the Great Shadow, can you not understand how much our influence will expand?’ Clarent’s father took a step forward into the center of the room. Light slanted through the window a concentrated on that central point, making him radiant. ‘Why stop at the sky? With this weapon, we can expand to other planets! Our empire will reach across the whole of the universe!’

‘You are mad,’ The Skyking on the left spat on the ground. The guards raised their weapons and began to stalk forward.

‘Fine then, choose the path of destruction,’ Clarent’s father sneered at the three other Skykings and the expression transformed his entire face into something sinister and dark. Some portion of that strangeness lingered as he then smiled down at Clarent. ‘My daughter, it is time. For all my hard work I have given for you... sing for me. Make these ignorant fools pay.’