134.) The Mad-Man's Maze?!

Amidst finding out they were within the House of Beel. The members of the Young Rebellion and Young STRIFE found themselves in a dire situation. They find out that Lancelin Jr has past trauma and a horrible upbringing within the grounds. Causing a spur of emotion to force him into a mental breakdown. One that allows the Stuliathan within him to take control of his body and mind. Going on a rampage that puts the children in danger. Their efforts were valiant, but it got them nowhere as the beast ripped them a new one. Only for their hides to be saved by the members of the Beel House. They were able to repel the monster with their team efforts and the help of Merlin. A stuliathan that can be found within Kenny. Their heroic efforts put the beast into a deep slumber that returned Young Lancelin Jr to his father, Lancelin Sr. But the joyous moment they all wished to enjoy was short lived. For they had become…

Kenny: "Hostages… he made us into fucking HOSTAGES!?"

Susanne: "Yeah, it seems we've been played for fools. Now we're to be used as the bait that will act as a prelude to civil war!"

Maeli: "Now we're stuck in this ridiculous maze."

Mackey: "One that son of bitch filled with monsters and ghouls of all sorts. Who knows how strong the damn things can be."

Sammy: "Not only that but we'd have to eventually account for nutrients and what not. We're gods and all… but."

Kenny: "So you can feel it too, huh? Good… there seems to be an Enchantment here. One that saps our essence little by little over time."

Kenny waltzes towards the gigantic wall made of nothing but wartanium. It was aligned along others as they made the cuts and grooves into the roads that the children will be forced to walk down.

Amera: "This place is ridiculous in size! These walls are even higher than the tallest mountain."

She looks up to observe the many walls they could see from that single spot. She held Morpheus to her chest as he finished healing his severe wounds.

Ju'Mosi: "Yeah, brah. These roads are more than two kilometers wide."

*TOUCH*

He places his hand on the ground and scans the place. Using his ability to control force, he fires his waves into the earth beneath him. Using a type of echolocation to map out the entire place.

"From the feel of the layout. I can say we're on a planet the size of the largest type of gas giant imaginable. And it has an Enchantment of durability that allows it to match the girth and magnitude that is a massive multiverse. Easy to say multiple forms of essence from different people were involved in this. That Beel guy is really something!" Ju'Mosi states.

Zelibus: "Tch… that means some of these monsters, Beasts, and ghouls are going to be quite the nuisance."

Amera: "It seems so."

*Cough* *COUGH*

"Huh… Morpheus!?"

Morpheus: "So… that bitch got me after all."

Lancelot: "He got all of us, Morpheus. These dumbass collars are still on as well. Quite the fiasco innit?"

Luke: "Yeah, plus Lancelin is still out cold with no signs of coming two ovah dere."

Lancelot: "Mhm.

Morpheus: "We've got a way to carry him while we all move. But I'd prefer… not to stay here."

He rises to his feet with Amera being his support. Helping him keep his balance as his power has yet to return entirely.

The team looks onward at Lancelin as his body lies dormant on the ground.

"Amera, help me summon a Fiend from the Mayhem Realm. They will carry and protect Lancelin until he wakes." Stated by Morpheus as he limps over to Kenny.

Kenny: "You can cut the theatrics, I know you're fine now. You literally don't have a scratch on you and your essence has swelled. Swelled greatly!"

Morpheus: "Heh can't fool you for shit. But damn… that guy was strong as fuck!"

He rubs the back of his head just before cracking his back. Then he proceeds to crack his neck and shoulders before stretching his body out.

Amera: "The Deer Fiend has grabbed Lancelin. Shall we all go into this maze now?"

Maeli: "Is everyone ready?"

Luke: "Bout as ready as we can be, mate!"

Zoshen: "Yeah, let's head out!"

Kenny: "Coo, let's go then."

Nubia: "Let's keep the formation tight and watch each other's backs. Actually, shall we use the same formation from earlier on?"

Maeli: "I say yeah."

Morpheus: "I agree, let's go with that."

Kenny: "Y'all heard 'em, let's go ahead and form up. It's gonna be a loooong day."

Ju'Mosi: "Never ending, brah."

Sammy: "Tch! I always forget how far a God's power can go. This is just ridiculous, mate!"

The team heads into the maze with Lancelin and his Mayhem Fiend Guardian being set in the middle. They go in the direction they believe is north. Walking for almost an hour as they score through a slew of trees and natural forest life. They had grown to a point where their vines, branches, and roots wrapped themselves around the walls to the maze. Allowing the trees to grow and extend well over the walls and form a rooftop to the roads. Having their branches crossed as they intersect one another.

The young ones look around as the forest section shifts and moves. Showing them that the plant life can and will move if provoked to do so. In this case… Some of the group members were getting a little bit too close to the plant life.

Luke: "Hm… hey, Maeli, you see that ovah dere?"

Maeli: "What? Oh, what a bizarre sight to behold. Ellie, Billard, Zelibus sir, you guys all be careful. Looks like the roots are closing in on you all!"

She points them in the direction of gigantic roots slowly forming into claws and hands to grab a hold of the members nearest to them.

Zelibus: "Woah!"

He leapt away from the roots as their speed picked up a bit. Smashing the ones that got too close to him.

Billard and Ellie could be seen doing the same thing. Each of them got away just in the nick of time. Rejoining the group as they laugh at their screw up.

"That was a close one wasn't et? Hahahaaa!" Billard laughed along, leaning onto Loraine all the while.

Ellie sat by blushing as she rubbed her head and Zelibus simply smiled in a goofy manner as he held his hands behind his head.

Kenny: "Alright, that means we need to stay away from the unnecessary wildlife."

Nubia: "Highly noted."

They continued onward until they got to a wide opening. It showed them a lush and plentiful lake area with a mountain range in the far back. Easy to say this place was larger than three Tokyo cities combined. Everyone had smiling faces as they rushed over to the water. Examining the entire thing to ensure it was real and not some type of mirage or poison.

Luke: "There's no way this isn't real!"

Susanne: "What makes you say that?"

Luke: "Look over there, there's a ton of movement going on as if there was marine life within these waters."

He then points towards the center of the lake. It was there that everyone could see the fins and spines of multiple creatures swimming about.

Susanne: "Ah, I see now. How wonderful."

Maeli: "In what way? Creatures being within the lake doesn't cancel out the possibility of poison."

Susanne: "True, but I do have the ability of Gas. That would include poison gas of a few sorts. I've studied poison and the art of how each type is made. Allowing me to learn the ways of creating those types within my body so that I may apply them to my poison gas. With this knowledge and ability, I can determine whether it is poisonous or not. If it is… I can counter it for us."

She shrugs her shoulders as she steps towards the water before them.

Morpheus: "So… what's good, Susanne?"

Susanne: "Good news… Only one of those creatures is poisonous. The lake and everything else for one hundred miles aren't in any way."

Kenny: "Then that means…"

Nubia: "We can go hunting!"

She raised her hands to the sky in excitement.

The crew rejoiced loudly just before huddling up with their fists held out in front of them. They began to rock their fists in three count intervals. It would seem they were playing Paper-Rock-Scissors to decide who gets to hunt the monsters in the lake. After a few games, the three members of the hunting team were chosen. Those three being Ellie, Zoshen, and Drake.

Drake: "Alright, let's make this quick, I'm fockin' starving, yeah?"

Drake goes about stretching before spinning into action. This prompted Ellie and Zoshen to do the same.

Power Scale Rating: 22

Birthright: Holy Knight

Element: Wind

Study: Weather Ventriloquist

Age: 16.5

Ellie: "You're not the only one."

Zoshen: "I say we go then and get this team fed!"

Everyone: "Please do!"

All three leap into the lake and race towards the beasts that were located within. Charging the beasts with their full might, raring to go as this would be a highlighted piece of excitement. One that didn't involve a deadly situation that could put their lives on the line.

As they go about hunting, and the others observe in high anticipation for their meal. Everyone seemed to have let their guards down, now blind to the eyes that were watching from the edges of this lush lake view within the maze.

???: "Who might these little bitches be?"

A shadow from deep within the forest that sat at the north side of the lake. At its edge where nothing, but wildlife and plants could be found. Seems this shadow wasn't alone either.

???: "Supposedly, they're lost within the maze world. Ripe for the picking if I do say so myself, Master."

A smaller shadow appeared behind him with crooked eyes and a fucked up grill. I mean, it was a REALLY messed up grill, man."

???: "You don't say. Then I say we let them fatten themselves up and we'll go greet our new prey. Get the others ready, Gibbit, you disgusting mess of a being."

He pushes Gibbit aside with a strong shove as he proceeds. Walking towards an even darker area within the forest.

Gibbit: "As you wish, Master."

Gibbit bows to his master as he disappears into the forest.

"These new prey will make for a nice meal, glehaja!"

Gibbit ran into the light of the forest. Running towards the many locations his comrades like to reside in.

In the meantime, the group of our young fighters had already slaughtered the two beasts within the lake. Drake took charge of the cooking seeing as he was the best chef they had to offer. He made sure to be very careful with the cutting process for the meat of the poisonous beast. He wished to make sure the poison sac and core were removed and salvaged for after.

Mackey: "Is that it?"

Kenny: "Yeah that's it. And lucky us, the core's right next to the sac."

He points out a big, glowing, purple orb that sat at the center of what they believe was the beast's heart.

Susanne: "Pause."

Kenny: "Mhm! Ayo, shut up!"

They all burst into laughter as Drake removes the core and sac and hands them over to Morpheus. He and Nubia placed both within the same pocket dimension pouch as the two Teirei Gluttonous parts they were able to obtain. Another jumble of useful supplies for armor and weapon upgrades.

Morpheus: "Starting to feel like one of those RPGs made in the Gaming Verse. They send their shii all over the cosmos, wouldn't be surprised if Beel or one of his subordinates designed this based on one."

Lancelot: "I mean… yeah. But real life feels like a damn game every day with us hunting and using parts for pure benefits. Good benefits, but benefits nonetheless."

Morpheus: "Er… eh, that's the actual facts right there."

Lancelot: "Yeah. Oh, and how is my nephew doing? Is he awake yet?"

Fiend: "No, Master Lancelot. Not even the essence fed to him by Masters, Amera and Morpheus have done a thing to help."

Lancelot: "Mhm…"

He stared at the ground with a solemn look on his face. Everyone could tell he carried a heavy weight on his shoulders and it was bearing down on him like no other.

Maeli: "Don't let it get to you, Lancy. He'll be back on his feet in no time. His wounds have healed and his essence and Presence have calmed down a great deal. He'll be fine."

She rested her hand on Lancelot's shoulder to help with the comfort. Everyone around them nodded their heads as Lancelot looked onward.

Lancelot: "I appreciate it, guys. Really, I do, and I know he'll be good. Just really hard to look beyond it when being here."

Zelibus: "By here, you mean the House of Beel, right?"

Lancelot: "Yeah."

Zelibus: "Hmm… what happened to Lancelin here, anyway? Why are you both so wary of this place, it's your home."

Ju'Mosi: "Yeah, I've been wondering the same. There's just no way a guy's own home can cause him to flip out the way Lancelin Jr over there did."

Lancelot: "I'll speak on that when he awakes, it's quite the morbid topic of discussion. Plus… I need him to overcome his trauma if he ever wants to start conquering that beast inside him."

Kenny: "Truer words have never been said. We've all had to deal with inner traumas earlier than we wanted to after taking in these beasts. And you can hear all about them when the youngin wakes up. For now… come eat with everyone, you three."

He points over to a park table they created along with a few extras that offered filtered water from the lake.

Zelibus: "You've said nothing but a word, my friend. Allow me to lead the way."

Kenny & Ju'Mosi: "Tuh… fatass."

Zelibus: "It's a happy muddafawk youuu to both of y'all. Now I'm eating ya shiiiet."

Kenny: "Aye, hold on now!"

Ju'Mosi: "Brah, it was just a joke!"

They both run after Zelibus with their mouths wide open. Lancelot laughs and chuckles as he follows behind them. Yelling, "Hey, wait up", as they approach the tables, food and everyone else on the team.

Morpheus: "Ayo, come smack some of this food y'all!"

Susanne: "Be quick about it, this here tickles my fancy heavily. Drake is quite the chef."

She states as she licks her fingers and continues to grub.

Kenny: "Yeah, yeah yeah. We're here now and ready to chow down."

Zelibus & Zoshen: " Chī de shíhòu!!"

Luke: "Uh…."

Billard Jr: "The fock did those two say? Sounded pretty neat, dinnit?"

Loraine: "Oh absolutely, my dear boy."

Morpheus: "I always forget we can all speak other languages. Which one was that?"

Zoshen: "A slightly more ancient language that the Earthlings on most versions of Earth like to call, Chinese or Mandarin."

Zelibus: "He is correct." *MUNCH*

Ellie: "Ah, that's pretty nice there. I fancy that quite a bit, mind teaching it to me sometime in the future, Zojin?"

Zoshen: "Uh… only if you don't call me that. I don't like being called my name after I found out something about myself during a despicable incident."

Ellie: "Ah, totally my fault on that then. But sure thing, Zoshen. Just teach me a bit, handsome."

Luke: "There you go flirting again."

Drake: "Mhm…"

Zoshen: "Nah, nah nah… let her cook for a bit."

Ellie: "See, he likes it Luke, now shut your mouth holes. The grownups are talking!"

She gestures a closing mouth with her hand as she waves it in their faces.

Everyone bursts into laughter as they watch the exchange. Looking onward as they watch Drake and Luke argue with Ellie as she mocks them. Making stupid faces as she gets in their faces. Even the Fiend couldn't help but chuckle a bit as he cradles young Lancelin Jr in his arms. Feeding him Mayhem essence in an attempt to force him awake with a slight scare factor. A tactic the group approved of.

Morpheus: "Hmm… (Hey Kenny, Maeli, Nubia? Can you all hear me?)"

Nubia: (Loud and clear, what's up, cousin?)

She nods her head at him as she speaks.

Maeli: (Is something going on here?)

Kenny: (Yeah, I can feel those prying eyes. Is that what got you on high alert all of a sudden Morph?)

Morpheus: (Yeah, they're filled with malicious intent. Let's be ready for anything.)

Nubia: (Will do, best to keep the others how they are. If we all know, the demeanor of our group will change and our predators will likely back off. I honestly don't want them hesitating.)

Morpheus: (Neither do I, so let's allow them to come to us then, agreed?)

All three: "Agreed."

Ju'Mosi: "Agreed to what?"

Sammy: "There's likely an attacker, or am I the only one who can feel that foreign bloodlust?"

Mackey: "Nah, I feel it too."

Within the deep crevices of the forest, a group lied in wait. Ready to commence a most unsettling attack. One that's aimed for the children of STRIFE and the Rebellion. The deformed Gibbit steps forward as the acting leader. He raises his misshapen, three finger claw.

Gibbit: "I can sense bloodlust from over theeere. Let us make quick work of these little pestiiies, gibbit. I want their heads for the master, gibbit!! Go now Trimptree Ghouuuuls!!! Gibbit!"

He points at the group of our young Godalescents.

Trimptree Ghouls: "YESSSS~SIR!!

Morpheus: "Hmph, guess they're not a bunch of bitches after all."

Nubia: "Splendid work from the group of imbeciles. Such a bitchin' event we're about to be in, innit?"

Maeli: "Hell yeah, now let's crush 'em!"

Fong: "Heh! How fun!"

The young Gods and Goddesses make their rounds within the World-Maze. A maze that holds many environments and beings who inhabit them. Just how will this all play out as the Civil War draws ever so closer!

Billiam: "Well then, I'd say it's high time we send in the Keeper of the maze, mates. Let him have his fun with the young ones."

Elizabeth: "You sure that's a good idea? Those brats from our family within Gahwardia evolve quite quickly. Almost like a beacon is calling them to greater heights."

Lancelin: "Yeah, you're forgetting they're Senkozens on top of being Gahwardians. It's a nasty combination when it comes to evolving in fights."

Billiam: "Your concerns are sound, but we'll be fine no matter what. Isn't that right, Morris?"

Morris: "Leave it to me, Beel. Chi-kahw."

Next Chapter: Decisions.