Chapter 1012: Khaji'Yun

Chapter 1012: Khaji'Yun

The city of Naxor Amis was silent; only the footsteps of Leons team could be heard. There was no wind blowing amongst the tall stone buildings, nor the sounds of any kind of wildlife in the area. Even the air felt thick and stifling. All was still; all was dead.

It was unnerving, to say the least. Leons eyes continued darting from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign that the figures invitation had merely been bait for a trap they were about to spring. He didnt trust anything about this and there was a small part of him that was demanding he simply turn around and leave. Investigating Naxor Amis was hardly critical to the mission, after all.

However, if there was any way to stop what was happening on this plane, then he thought seeing ground zero for the cataclysm it was undergoing was essential. If he was lucky, then he might even find some way to leave or contact Ambrose.

He doubted hed be lucky.

Behind him, the rest of the team was stone silent, save for the muted sounds of their footsteps, seemingly suffocated by the stillness of the city. No one spoke as their tension rose higher and higherLeon wasnt the only one expecting an ambush.

To Leons surprise, they reached the glowing purple crystal in the center of the city apparently unharmed. The darkness magic that inundated the environment swirled about them in thick clouds, but their defenses, including whatever ArdNara was using to stave it off, held.

The center of Naxor Amis had once been a beautiful park if what Leon could see was accurate. He could see the thick black puddles where pools and ponds had once been, as well as the cracked and broken remains of paths through whatever greenery had once existed here. However, there was little left of anything else, and in the center of this park stood a massive purple crystal nearly identical to what hed seen in Yu Nok Tor, complete with the pile of desiccated corpses trapped within.

Concerningly, hovering above the crystal was a red light, only about as large as a human head. It bore some slight resemblance to the eye of the Primal Devil hed glimpsed after destroying the previous channeler crystal, but no more. Leon, after reaching out with his magic senses, saw the magic in the area churning about the light like it was the eye of a hurricane, but oddly, no magic entered or left it. Leon didnt know what to make of it.

Standing in front of the crystal upon a raised dais was the figure, cloak of darkness still intact. They turned and laid their glowing red eyes upon Leons team, and spread their arms in welcome.

You made it! they cried out. How wonderful to see you accept my invitation!

Ignoring the figure, Leon addressed his soul realms residents. [What in all the hells am I looking at?]

[A closed channelers rift, but outside of a body,] Xaphan said in an awed tone. [This is what remains of a channeler once their body has completely decayed. That used to be some poor fuckers door to their soul realmthe same that lies at the heart of every mage.]

[Vile,] the Thunderbird whispered. [Even at the height of the final war of the Primal Age, the Devils never went quite this far.]

[How is it even possible?] Leon asked aloud. [If the mage is gone, how is their connection to their soul realm still around? The soul realm itself should be destroyed!]

[That is a question only the Devil itself can answer,] Xaphan said in a hungry tone. He may claim that he never used channelers or blood sacrifices, but Leon could tell he wanted to know what kind of magic this was.

Leon didnt blame the demon; he wanted to know, too.

He was pulled from following that short exchange up with any other question as Nara threw a small pebble at him, ringing his helmet. Leon glanced at the Prince, who stared at him and nodded toward the figure.

Leon scowled and nodded back. First things first, the figure had to be dealt with.

While he was distracted, the rest of the team had fanned out, with several dozen feet between them to allow them to cover more ground.

Join me! the figure called out. Come and sit up here, away from the dirt and the grime of this mortal plane!

Leon snorted. He could sense all kinds of magic at play around the dais; there was no way in any hell he was going to approach under his own power.

Mari said it best for the whole team. Fuck you! Your dumbass can come and join us! Her Ulta suit made a gesture that Leon supposed was rude, but he lacked the cultural knowledge to know for sure.

The figure chuckleda deep, rumbling sound that echoed about the former park, causing some of the piles of dust to jostle and spread. The figure seemed only ninth-tier, but the power to do that with only laughter Leon redoubled his guard; this cultistas if it wasnt obvious enoughwas clearly enhanced with borrowed power. A spark of power borrowed from Krithis was enough to make Jormun stronger than Leon in single combat; he didnt want to see what a Primal Devil might bestow under these circumstances.

Can we not talk as fellow humans? the figure called out. Have we grown so uncivilized that such discourse is impossible?

With a mocking sneer, Nara asked, How do we know that youre even human? You coul

Before he finished, the darkness enshrouding the figure dissipated like they were throwing off a coat. What was revealed was a man of about middle age with a skin tone that matched Maris lighter peach tone than Tir and Anus darker orange. He was in remarkable shape, which was shown off proudly as the man wore nothing at all, the space between his hips and his knees covered only by lingering darkness. Most remarkable about his body, though, was that it was covered almost completely in scars. Burns, lacerations, whip marks, and so many more, each one drawing Leons eye like a beacon. This man had known suffering and battle; that much was clear to his eyes.

You four are on the wrong side, he said as he walked to the edge of the dais. There is nothing that can stop the true gods awakening. All is in place. To fight against them is to fight against the universe itself. But the gods are merciful; pledge yourself to their loving embrace, and know peace, know the tranquility of the dark!

[As much as I hate to agree with the candle, a parlay may be of some use,] the Thunderbird added. [Look for better ways to kill this arrogant fool.]

Leon softly snorted. He wouldve done that much whether or not the Thunderbird suggested it. However, he minutely relaxed his stance and took a few steps toward the dais. He kept his blade raised and filled with power, but he made no further attacks against the cultist.

Speak, he commanded.

The cultist seemed not at all offended by his curt attitude. I only seek peace between us, Leon Raime. Peace between the Thunderbird Clan and my people.

Leon scowled. He hardly wanted to dignify that with a reply. Peace, he believed, was something always worth striving for but in this case A glance around at the ruined city was all he needed to know about where making peace with this cultist would lead.

If you dont desire peace, the cultist continued, perhaps an offering to assure you of my intent? He waved his hand and conjured a cross in the air. Nailed to the cross was the very tenth-tier mage that Nara claimed hed escorted to the outskirts of Naxor Amis: Iluva, the Chosen of the Lords Three. He was dead, with his face frozen in an agonized scream. His eye sockets were empty, and his tongue had been removed.

Such a strange concept of peace you have, Leon remarked as the crucified Iluva hovered upside down over the dais.

You may reclaim his body, as you please, the cultist said with the smug tone of one rendering another a favor.

And you may stand the hells down, as you please, Leon sarcastically replied. What are you even doing? Do you not see whats around you? Have you gone blind?

The cultist sneered at him before his eyes slid to TirAnu. I was happy once, he said, seemingly ignoring Leons questions. That man there took all the happiness from me. And all for the crime of adultery. My father wasnt the most faithful man in the world, but that hardly demands death, does it? My mothers protests didnt demand her head, did it?

The cultist paused and took a deep breath, steadying himself.

I held a great deal of hatred in my heart, Leon Raime; hatred that I know you share. Both of our fathers were unjustly murdered. I envy you that you have a chance to still meet your mother.

Leon glared at the cultist through his visor, his eyes momentarily darkening to a dangerous red-orange. How do you know this?

I know it for the same reason that I set my hatred aside, the cultist said, his tone now markedly calmer. I sought out the gods for aid. For Justice. But Just Helior was silent, and Mandious, Lord of All in Heaven, ignored me. None of the gods of the Blue Sky answered my plea. So I turned to others, hoping that someone, anyone, would answer me, and grant me the justice that I so craved.

He paused again and glared at TirAnu.

Exile. Heh. What a joke. I was once upset that after what that man did, exile was all he was punished with. Truly, the friends of ArdKhil could get away with murder.

But when my pleas were finally answered, it was to grant me neither justice nor vengeance. No, Leon Raime; the highest of the true gods reached out to me and offered me something infinitely greater than either. He offered me peace. Freedom from hatred. Freedom from pain. Freedom from the worry and the obsessions of life.

And he offers to you, the same. Lay down your weapon and let us talk, Leon Raime. Let me show you what you may gain. Let me show you peace. If I can set my grudge aside, so can you. Your life will be immeasurably enriched by it. Believe me; I speak from experience. Hatred is a terrible burden; it weighs you down, makes you do irrational things, distracts you from more important matters in life. The cultist paused again just long enough to give Leon a knowing look. Matters like family. No matter what your burden may be, the true gods can aid you in lightening it.

Leon scowled, his killing intent momentarily spiking at what the cultist was insinuating. He didnt need such things thrown back in his face, but neither could he allow himself to be distracted too much. His eyes flitted between his fallen teammates, and his feet did not move closer to the dais. Instead, he asked, What did you do them?

Connected them to my god, the cultist answered. I am showing them the truth in a way that your magic cruelly keeps you from.

Thank the Ancestors, Leon replied.

[Youre welcome,] the Thunderbird replied, and Leon almost burst out laughing despite the situation.

Will you stand down, Leon Raime? the cultist asked. Will you allow the true gods to speak to you? Will you let peace into your heart?

Whats your name? Leon replied.

The cultist blinked in surprise, but quickly answered, I am KhajiYun. Though I am flattered by your curiosity, I cant help but wonder why you ask

Just wondering what to put on your tombstone, Leon stated. Though, now that I think about it, I might not bother. Leaving your bones to the elements as youve left so many others seems fitting.

He approached the dais, though not in the way KhajiYun requestedin peace, and with a mind open to the Primal Devils influence. Instead, Leon approached at the speed of lightning, his sword glowing silver-blue, his golden eyes blazing with anger. He didnt see any more point in listening to KhajiYun; the only thing left to do now was to disrupt whatever the hells was going on in the city, no matter how temporary that disruption may be