" The Towering Worlds : Hell's Chalice. ™"
A Story written By @mohhdude.
(Be warned, there will be references from other series in this book!!)
Alternative Names -
"TTW : HC.™"
"Protocol — Hell's Chalice. ™"
"End of Earth, Beginning of Hell. ™"
Chapter X:
"...Are Visited Upon the Daughter."
Act II:
Sasaki and Aleksandr.
" I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it. "
— Epictetus.
.
.
.
[ SUMMONING ONE OF THE NINE RINGS ]
[ To summon one of the Nine Rings of Infernus, you need some sort of catalyst that bears the essence of their remembrance, and to say a chant that is identical with their past and current roles, actions and ambitions in both living and dead. If failed, it will result in the chanter's throat to swell up and bleed for three days until they can try again. ]
.
.
.
[ THREE DAYS UNTIL HE REACHES AL'ADQAS ]
The summoned demons, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Mammon, Sof'cas, Ahriman and Betrüg, surround the summoning circle, sitting in their individual places, only Sof'cas, Ahriman and Mammon standing, Árgos in the middle of the circle, "The Story of Limbo" kept in the middle of the summoning circle, acting as the catalyst.
Árgos backs away, his hands joined together, reciting a chant. Candles were set around the summoning circle.
"Let your wings spread across the world as we know it, block out all that burns, and all that illuminates. Let your first spark of Mana pierce that which defies your inbetween state, Monarch of Mundus Inter. Show them the fury of seeing your father cry as you burn."
The air got thinner, colder, and the summoning circle glowed a soft grey. Árgos knelt on one knee, holding one hand out. "O' Daughter of the Heretic, bestow upon us your presence and set the world ablaze with the beast you have tamed… Come forth!"
…The room suddenly turns pitch black, before it lights up again, a figure with the skull of a dragon donned on them as a helmet, it was a woman. She takes off the dragon skull helmet, as it dissipates into dust. Her gaze shifted around the room.
She saw several souls with colors she was familiar with, Asmodeus's soul was pink, Beelzebub's soul was purple, Mammon's soul was gold, Sof'cas was red, Ahriman's soul was black, and Betrüg's soul was yellow.
She rubbed her eyes, as she looked at Árgos who was holding her hand as he knelt, the woman withdrew her hand softly from Árgos's hand. "...Why have you summoned me…?" Her voice was soft, but she sounded tired, but she felt… odd. Her gaze couldn't register Árgos' soul color. "...Strange…"
She widens her eyes, feeling a presence that is now far, turning her head to the right, she sees a dark red color moving slowly. Her eyes softened, smiling slightly, knowing who that was. "...father.", Árgos clears his throat.
"Mistress Soniya, we summoned you here to help us get the Hell's Chalice from the Dungeon Tower of Hell and make a wish to bring him, Lord Goetia, back." Soniya looks down at Árgos. "Stand…" Árgos complies, he stands up. Backing away from her.
"Why do you wear that silver mask?" Soniya's curiosity is asking the questions now, she tilts her head, confused, Árgos looks at her. "To hide my identity, Lord Soniya." Soniya nodded. "Sloppy reasoning… But nonetheless, I won't force you."
Soniya turned to look at the other demons, before waving at them. Mammon jumped onto Soniya, hugging her tightly, "My precious! It has been such a long time since we have seen each other!" Soniya pats Mammon's arm fast, "Mammon–, I can't breathe—"
Asmodeus jumped onto the two, "SONIIII!!! We missed you!!" they lost balance, as the three fell, Soniya was feeling crushed. Ahriman took out a small device from the back of his pocket, suppressing his laughter, as he threw it at Soniya.
Beelzebub quickly dashes in the trajectory of the device, and catches it. Looking at it, as he crushes it and lets the bits and pieces fall on the floor. "Hey, Ahriman, what the hell is this?" His gaze shifted to Ahriman, veins bulging on his face, clearly irritated.
Ahriman puts his hands behind his back, a slight smile creeping up on his face, "Oh, since Soniya is the Daughter of Rygielski, I thought I could fight him again if I held her hostage…" Confessing so easily to something like that, Ahriman lived up to his name.
"I don't think you remember our actual objective, Ahriman. If a fight's what you want, I can give it to you." Beelzebub made a black spiraling hole in his hand, as the handle of a sword peeks out, Beelzebub held the handle, ready to draw his sword.
Ahriman chuckled, looking at Beelzebub. "Please. You're not even half as much fun as Rygielski is." Ahriman's smile falls, his gaze piercing through Beelzebub's soul. Beelzebub narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyebrows furrowed. "I'll show you fun, you—"
Sof'cas was about to leave the room. Soniya looked at her hand after Mammon and Asmodeus got off of her, her heart had the need to see her father again. But then, Árgos snapped his fingers for everyone's attention, interrupting Beelzebub and Ahriman's scuffle. "May I have your attention, Rings of the Infernus?"
Everyone in the room looked at Árgos, "That includes you, Lord Sof'cas." Árgos raises his hand and then balls his fist, purple mana wrapping around Sof'cas's limbs as he is halted by Árgos' Arrow Paradox, Sof'cas clicks his tongue, he thought he almost got away.
"I would like to say that we are close to our goal of acquiring the Hell's Chalice, the only demons we need are Lord Rygielski and the Demon of Treachery." Árgos had his hands behind his back, then he looked at Soniya. "Lord Soniya, I had two reasons for summoning you, I apologize for not stating them."
Soniya waves both of her hands, declining the apology as she saw no point in it. "No no, it's fine… I assume the first reason was something about the Hell's Chalice, what was the second reason?" Árgos nodded his head, "I summoned you here after Lord Ahriman freed Lord Rygielski, it was to pacify him and help us get him onto the Paradox side. Considering the fact that he's on a solo-crusade."
Soniya looked down, the feasibility of this plan was clever, Soniya retracted her words from before. "I apologize for my words, you are the mastermind of the Paradox… But, what exactly is the Paradox?" Soniya had not yet been introduced to the concept of the group.
"Ah, yes. The Paradox is a group striving to achieve the Hell's Chalice to bring back Lord Goetia." Árgos explained to her, "...Right. And about pacifying my father… How do we do that, exactly?" Soniya asked with curiosity in her voice. "You approach Lord Rygielski, intercept him as he approaches Al'Adqas. Simple as that. He will stop in his tracks immediately."
Soniya nodded, "But first…" Árgos snapped his fingers, as a bell rang.
…
[ ???, SUMMIT OF MT. QIU ]
Soniya was teleported onto the peak of a mountain, she looks around in confusion. It wasn't any country she was familiar with, maybe another continent…? She looked upwards, she felt a soul that had a close connection with her in the distance, as she held her hands out.
In a flash, a winged, scaly creature flew in the distance, approaching. Landing before Soniya, sniffing her hand, Soniya smiled at it. "My dearest friend… It's been so long." The dragon gently pressed its head against Soniya's hands, Soniya walked closer, keeping her forehead against his.
"Niamri, how I missed you and the starry skies." Soniya whispered, caressing the Niamri's scales, Niamri backed up, Soniya looked left and right, the arid breeze travelled, whooshing past the two. Niamri lowered its back for Soniya.
"Thank you, friend." Soniya stepped onto Niamri's back, Niamri's wings flapped, as Niamri flew at high speeds towards Al'Adqas to intercept Rygielski. Niamri's scales constantly change to camouflage himself to fit with the environment in order for it not to be sighted.
Namri, reunited with its best friend, soared through the skies of the unknown continent to the country of Al'Adqas.
…
[ SNOWFIELD, LEDYANOY ]
Five hours after landing in Ledyanoy…
CRASH! CLANG! BOOM! There were craters in the snow within the surrounding area.
Victor was trying to parry all of Volan's moves, each blow made explosions of snow, the tip of Volan's spear glowed bright with mana, thrusting forward at a fast pace. Victor dodged one hit, before Volan spun the spear around and hit Victor with the blunt side to the ground.
Victor was smacked to the ground, stunned, his breath turns into a misty cloud each time he pants, Victor holds his head. Volan lends his hand out, Victor sat up, taking his hand. "You're not bad, kid. But a bit below good. Try to focus more on countering." Volan stated.
Taiyō and the lady donned in knight armor sat at a bonfire under the aurora, Victor and Volan's footsteps crunched against the snow, as Volan was helping Victor walk, Victor sat down on one of the four logs.
Snowfalls, but gently. The fires from the bonfire crackle, the knight lady turns her head to face Victor. "Hello, I haven't really introduced myself to you. My name is Ria du Lac, one of the twelve Knights of Caelum." Victor waves, he winces a little as he reels from the trauma sustained to the head.
"You hit real hard, Sir…" Victor heaves as he holds his head with his right hand, Volan chuckles. Gesturing Ria to take out a book, she complies, taking out a book as the title reads "The Flow of Mana And Its Usages", by Kafka Vinogradov. She opens the book, flipping it to page 101, clearing her throat.
"Please, pay attention, Victor Ivanov." Ria states, Victor glances at Ria, his eyes half-lidded. It was clear he needed durability and endurance training, those four years of slacking off did, well, nothing. As Ria takes a slightly deep breath, she puts her index finger on the first bit of text from the right side, reading out the words.
Ria reads out the words, slowly fading into the voice of the writer…
…
"Now, Mana is used in various ways. Inputs, Outputs, or a special form I had invented myself, but I will refrain from speaking of it for now… Let us start with Inputs."
"Our "Mana Input" is basically the amount of mana one can have from birth, whether it be low or high. The amount of mana input you have will depend on the constant training you go through, one ring of the Ten Rings of Solomon can showcase the manifestation of your mana input. Though, this phenomenon of the Ten Rings is considered rare amongst people. Nonetheless, the mana input is and always will be the catalyst to using…"
"Our "Mana Output" is what makes magic like fire or lightning even possible. Your mana output determines how strong your magic is from a radius, whether it be Concentrated or Area-wide. Mana output can be scaled with percentage, from 0% to 150% Output. Though, I do not know the limits of our mana output, for all I know, it could vary from person to person."
"Mana Output, unlike the Input, can never be increased. Since birth, your limit is decided. Based on my experience, my limit is around 101% output, and I specialize in both Concentrated and Area-wide magic."
"I've determined this by using my magic to the fullest potential over several times, and there is a theory going around about a mark that determines when you reach 100% of your Mana Output, it's no theory at all. A sigil in the form of some sort of eye forms on your hand as you reach 100% output."
"I've had colleagues with higher mana output than me, though I've seen that Eye Sigil lasts for around five minutes, so it could determine how long someone can stay at 100% or more."
…
Ria closes the book, Victor was closely listening, he stopped holding his head. "Right now, your friends are hearing the same thing. Though, I'm not so sure about the other two." Ria flashes a reassuring smile at Victor, Victor nods his head. He stopped reeling from that pain, thinking if it was either Aurum and Leif or Gudo and Sheri she was talking about.
…
[ KANONAS, SHERIEL'S ABODE ]
Leif was reading a book about mana, conveniently enough. Aurum was playing with Kalon after Leif introduced himself as Rien to Kalon. It was exhausting for Aurum to catch up to this little speed demon. How did Sheri take care of him for four years? Leif sets the book down, folding his hands, nodding his head in an understanding way.
"...They forgot to bookmark the important chapter, so I read the whole thing." Leif thinks in his head, Solomon, in Leif's mindscape, was simply lazing around. Leif had a sudden thought in his head.
"No, Yamamoto. Our pact doesn't let you read the book in one second." Leif sighed, hearing as to how Solomon answered his question. He doesn't call himself omniscient for nothing, huh? "Hey, how exactly–", "I cannot tell you, for it is a secret."
"Saw that coming too, huh?" The fireplace crackles, its harmless embers travelling around the room as it does so. "Of course, I don't call myself 'Omniscient' for nothing, really." Solomon heard Leif's thoughts, Leif leaned back on the chair he sat on. Groaning in his head.
Another idea popped up. "...Yamamo-", BAM!! The door slams open with Aurum carrying Kalon with one hand, panting. Sweat dripped from his chin as Kalon escaped Aurum's grasp, "I'm beat…" Aurum says, as he collapses on the couch, knocked out.
Leif's were still closed, "Damn it, I forgot what I was gonna say…", Leif sighed. Looking at the pact sigil on his hand, his gaze softens at the sight of it. "...Four years, huh… Can I even have the courage to tell Kalon, I'm alive…?"
"Heads up, Yamamoto. He's gone again." "AGAIN?!!?", Leif shouted in his head, Solomon, in his mindscape, covered his ears, looking at Leif with one eye. "So loud… Just go find him." Leif had a bit of an irritated look. "Really? You can't like, tell me where he is?" "I won't give you the answer so easily, and your eyes are the only windows to the outside world, now hurry up and entertain me, Yamamoto. I'm bored."
Leif groaned in his head, "FINEEE!!" He heads out in search of Kalon, taking the keys on the keystand, closing the door and locking it, sliding the keys from under the door. Leif's cloak flutters as he runs through the forest as a first guess.
"Kalon!! Come out, cmon!!" Now walking through the forest, Leif shouts Kalon's name out in the forest, a faint footstep was heard. Leif turned around, as Kalon was now behind him holding a dagger to his neck. "Don't move. Only answer my questions."
Tension was ignited like an inferno between the two. When did that bright, cheery child suddenly sound like an experienced assassin? Leif thought to himself. "First, why do you have that sword?" "…Ah, Sheri must've taught him self defense…" But just then, Solomon, in his mindscape, trembled. As Leif felt the pact seal on his hand throb suddenly.
"...Solomon?", "...I don't know what just happened, this kid…", Kalon waits for Leif's answer, Leif was genuinely taken aback by the feeling of Solomon trembling. "This child… I cannot figure out for the life of me why I feel..."
Whilst Solomon talks to himself, Leif takes a deep breath, and exhales. "Because it's my sword, Kalon." Kalon inches the blade of the dagger closer to Leif's neck, his eyes empty of remorse for what he was gonna do next.
"...What's your actual name?" …Was he always this sharp? Leif thinks to himself. "...Lei–" "Stop, you're lying…" The dagger trembles in his hand, as Kalon bites his lower lip. Memories of Leif and the others come back flooding like a tsunami.
"...I'm glad I saved you from that captain, Kalon." Soon, those eyes of no remorse suddenly were flooded with tears. "Shut up…" That village was enslaved by that man, the pain of his horns being ripped out each time it grows anew, but those four found it and helped them.
The dagger nicks Leif's neck, making blood leak slightly out. Just a drop of it, Kalon drops the dagger, as Leif's hand holds his wrist. "...I missed you, kid." Kalon punches Leif in the back "ACK–", Kalon definitely hits hard now, as his eyes are still watery. Tears began streaming down his face, dripping onto the floor.
Leif turns around to look down at Kalon, Kalon looks down, his fists balled. "Why… *hic* couldn't you come back… All of us were grieving…" "...Poor kid. He had been holding all of it in all this time, those months with the five of us meant more than anything to Kalon." Leif approached Kalon, pulling him close, embracing Kalon in his arms, trying to provide him comfort.
"It's fine. You can cry." Kalon's eyes widened, he gripped on Leif's shirt and began screaming as he cried while holding Leif. Four years of held back tears, Solomon held his head in his mindscape, that trembling disappeared. "...Yamamoto… I have a bad feeling about this child." As Leif looked down at Kalon, patting his head, Solomon saw a glimpse of a red eye through Leif's eyes, but only Solomon saw it.
"...This… familiar feeling…" Solomon thought to himself. Solomon's hair stood on his neck, his pupils dilating slightly. There was only one being that made him feel like this. "It's similar to HER'S but…"
"...I never encountered something I didn't know about in hundreds of years."
…
[ TSŪKIKAMI, UNDERGROUND TRAINING ROOM. ]
Dressed in formal garbs provided by the guards, Sheriel and Gudo sit next to each other on their knees, Queen Ame sitting before them, her presence was graceful, she stayed cool as the room was hot for both Sheriel and Gudo. Gudo reached to his shoulder to take it off, but Ame looked at him with a disapproving look.
Gudo refrained. Sheri looked at Gudo, then Ame. "...Your majesty, how is this going to help us?" Ame sips a glass of cold water. "So we can talk whilst you withstand the heat. I survived a hundred years, dear, this heat is equivalent to a small ember to me."
Both of them, slightly irritated, nodded at the same time. "Now then, I will show you something that is hidden from the eyes of the public, and even the other four rulers." Ame's smile was gentle, her cracked, porcelain-esque face still remained as graceful as ever. She gestured to one of the guards holding a case to come over here.
"But first, Sheriel, please untie your top garb and slide it down to reveal your back." …Gudo looked away, so did the guard holding a case, Sheri tilted her head. "But why?" "For precautionary measures." A female guard approached Sheri from the back as Sheri sighed, she slid her top down, "Be gentle, Izumi." The guard nodded.
The guard reads a chant in Tsukihi, before her index and middle fingers touch Sheri's back, tracing around it and creating a sigil very similar to Gudo's. Gudo was still looking away, his eyes shut and his heart slightly elevating to his throat, Izumi's fingers touching the middle of the sigil, as it finished.
Izumi gestured to Ame that she was done. "Alright, you may tie your top back up, Sheriel." Sheriel did as she was told to. Sheri tied her top back up, Gudo opened his eyes and turned to look at Ame. Ame lets out a small chuckle as she notices Gudo looking away from Sheri.
The guard who was holding a case knelt down and handed Ame the case. The case popped open with two buttons, showing five vials filled with blue, glowing mana with a needle on the top. It could be for something like drinking… but the needle was too obvious that this was a drug. "This is called a Mana Stim."
——————————————————————————
— CHAPTER IX, FIN.
— NEXT CHAPTER: "Sheriel."
——————————————————————————