Issue 21: Z’ahramdus Gets Ahead
The Red King claws away at my synapses. Using what remains to keep tabs on Chronos and the entity known as Hilary Brookes. She should have existed in the first place. The blood of her mother mutated her into a wild strain that should not be.--Z’ahramdus
My fingers tingle. Shadows follow. All I can recall is the face of the woman who fled. She had every reason to. I would have torn her apart.--Hilary Brookes
While sleeping? Chronos has a modicum of control. The Diseased Wyrm of Unity updates his master. The Red King will fall. We will overtake this Oversoul and remake the Multiverse.--Sister Nyx
Abbadon didn’t underestimate us. He had a one track mind but didn’t think Thoth would prove more resourceful than a basic “mortal” mind. Anyone can be blinded. Either by Arrogance or overwhelming control. That was the element that the Highest banked on as well. Expect in his case? He knew what my brother and I would have done. Had we been in his shoes.--Unseen Archives Vol 4
The Void Between Universes
Z’ahramdus
Hilary smirked, “What does the Red King of the Night Realm wish of little old me?”
The crimson shade raised one digit. Hilary’s human facade melted. Her hybrid keeper body writhed on the floor. Dominion warbled, “...have...to do better than….”
Her back arched.
Dark blue spittle escaped from her mouth.
She gasped out, “Is this it?! My father hits harder...”
The wraith paused, “From twisted frame to belittled flies wherein the truth lies….”
Her blood ran cold. Was that her father’s plan? To install his mind within her own? Dominion noted coolly, “I see. So you intend to use my father as a test subject.”
Abbadon’s caustic snarl rolled through her skull, “It is already done my dear. You all serve me. Willingly or not. There has never been a choice.”
∞
Thoth laughed, “Sure! Believe that you shriveled corpse of a God.”
Abbadon ignored him. But Thoth had time to think since the Throne incident. Abbadon had taught Chronos part of the formula to break off his soul shard into other bodies. But not how to regrow it. That was beyond even Abbadon. But not for Eliza Murphy. But how to complete the circuit? He shouted, “The Oversoul never gave you---” Pain ripped through his chest as the Red King brought him to his knees.
“That is the point boy. I will gain dominion over all.”
Pressure lifted as Abbadon turned his attention towards Hilary. They were all deceived. His body was not his own. Not since that confrontation at the Bone Throne. What a joke. It was all worthless. Gods. Demons. Angels. What did he owe those distant uncaring foes? Not a damn thing. Thoth leaned back.
He reformed the mental lanscape into a castle. Hexagonal. At each point rested a tower. Its sharp spikes elegant yet deadly.
A small pinprick of energy curled along his finger tips. Blue and black fire. Not Abbadon’s.
The flame hummed against his skin.
Trapped as he was within his own body he listened to the pulses.
//We cannot hope to rule the Heavens beyond the Oversoul but we can remain. Such as it is. Within the Ninth Circle. Our doom was decided from the start. Before the Highest even existed.//
Thoth concentrated on the tiny flames.
There is nothing beyond the multitude of Universes is there?
//No. Only Oblivion. That is what Chronos will earn. Each wishes to consume the Oversoul. Such ideas are folly. At best.//
Who are you?
//You will know. Just as that Murphy child was chosen. You will bear a mantle. One none of these pretenders will soon forget.//
A thimble of power sparked behind his eyes. Thoth held his breath. Even if he didn't need it here. He saw Hilary glaring up at him. At Abbadon’s glamoured form coating his body. The Red King needed him. To use his body and soul shard. Such as it was. What if….
//Precisely. It goes both ways. He has a god’s arrogance. Stick to what you know.//
Thoth hummed an old tune.
“Come down to the river by moon and rain. Wherein you shall find….”
∞
Hilary spat. Phlegm coated the metal.
The Red King continued to glower at her.
He began humming.
Her Keeper implants translated. A Typherian lullaby?!
His eyes shifted. Urraden eyes peered out at her. She blinked and it was gone.
A message pinged against her HUD as Abbadon phased outside of Z’ahramdus.
//We each harbor parasites. Which shall you choose?//
Hilary paused. Considering the offer. Had this Red King consumed all Urraden House members he came across? Was that the source of his power? It would explain why the All-Father and his compatriots had fallen off the face of the Multiverse. Chronos hissed in her ear.
Not even close my dear.
She watched as he crouched next to her. Her body still entrapped by the Red King’s tendrils of energy. Chronos rested one pale digit against her forehead.
Here. Let me show you!
A planet formed below. Not a pale outer shell like the Typha she knew of but the ships that flowed around it were familiar. Half of its surface was littered with interconnected floating cities. If an ancient model. The All-Father faced Chronos. He held a strange gem in his hand. Its ruby surface shifted. “I know you only gave me part of the equation, Director.”
Chronos responded, “But of course. To get the other part? You must help me breach the barriers beyond the Ouroborous phenomenon. Those Urraden eyes hardened. The crimson irises blazed. “You wish to know what lies beyond the Path of Ancients.”
The Typherian laughed. The sound as smooth as any brandy Hilary ever drank.
He bowed. “I see.” He handed a clear gem to her father.
“Channel the essence of your soul into this gem. Then you can use the tissues of your body to circumvent the Laws of Creation.”
Hilary glared.
Part of the lie? The soul had to be renewed. Cloning didn't allow for that.
You both hid things from each other. He wishes to claim the Oversoul. You …
Chronos reached out. His cold fingers cupped her chin with one hand.
I wish to destroy it.
Hilary inquired, “Which Typha is this?”
Chronos replied, “The first one. Poisoned by Set, who was originally Lucifer. After Elysium fell many creation level “souls” were shifted into mortal or semi-mortal forms. As punishment.”
Hilary moved past the memory image of the All-Father.
This Typha was pristine. How odd. If the universe she came from had been so well guarded why was it’s Typha hollowed out?
Chronos whispered, “Exactly.”
∞
Z’ahramdus growled, “Yes. I understand. I shall reassemble my ruined form.”
The Red King commanded, “Once that is accomplished? Take Hilary-Chronos to the Galactic Core of the Path of Ancients. I will allow you safe passage.”
Let the parasites consume one another.
The Necrotic Wyrm waited until the Red King faded back into the Night Realm.
“...Perfect. We get the suicide mission.”
Galactic Core
Edenverse
May 1st 4250
Dexter dug into the shallow grave. His questing fingers brushed the metallic surface of a pod. He grunted as he lifted it from its holding place. Just where Trouble said it would be. He brushed the debris off the outer casing.
The hibernating form of the Director stared into the heavens.
Not the body he had vacated to overcome Hilary. This was his first form.
J’kua and all that entailed.
For the trap ahead? They would need all the cards they could get.
“Threads upon threads. Therein lies our salvation.”
Black’s paws sank into the soft earth.
His three golden eyes locked onto the pod.
>>Closer now. One more to add to the Ninth’s Hierarchy.<<
Dexter rose to the skies above. Pod in tow.
>>Arbiter to all Orders: Code Epsilon.<<
Issue 20: Here
Issue 22: Here
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