Chapter XXI: Empty Lusts (Pt. 2)

Earlier at Base N...

 Za'Fia was staring at a cell meant to detain Naomi. She was somewhere in Southern Texas at the foot of an inactive volcano. She'd already destroyed the base and the Holders and Sub Deity responsible for operating from it. It was built above ground, but the area meant to keep Naomi enslaved was built beneath it in an artificial furnace.

 A giant cube like the others was suspended above a pool of lava by four anti-gravitational machines. Alongside the sulfuric air, the temperatures down there were so hot she doubted any humans could survive being there for more than a few minutes.

 Imagining Naomi being helpless and locked away like in that cage an animal made Za'Fia's blood boil.

 Za'Fia sighed deeply to reduce her stress, something she'd done since she was still a kid. It helped prevent her from losing control.

 "I should hurry and destroy this," she said aloud. "Then I can leave. I don't want this acrid scent to stick to my clothes.

 Za'Fia proceeded to break the anti-gravitational machines. Once the final machine was destroyed, she watched with satisfaction as the giant block of cindium plunged into the pool of lava below.

 When she could no longer see any part of the cindium cage, she turned and flew up through an opening that led back up to the base.

 "Now to get out of here," Za'Fia said, surrounded by charred bodies, but a sudden kick to the head sent her flying back through the ground and into the lava beneath.

 Za'Fia floated beneath the surface of the lava. It tingled against her skin. She'd never taken a swim in lava before. It was thicker than water. She couldn't see much either. There was no joy to be had from it.... She didn't like it.

 "Ughh," Za'Fia groaned as she rose from the lava. She was fine and pleasantly surprised to see her PRP cloak held up in the heat. Her spatial bag and the rest of her clothes...not so much.

 Kaila floated down from the hole Za'Fia made. Her skin was armored in a protective layer of blood. She was clearly ready for a fight.

 "Bitch," Za'Fia said as she spat blood from her busted lip. She released her fiery spirit energy, causing some of the lava to splash from the pool.

 Kaila's eyes glowed red as she watched the blood hit the lava. Not wasting any time, she shot blindingly fast streams of blood that wrapped around Za'Fia. Za'Fia used spirit enhancement and exerted substantial effort to free herself, but Kaila's power was far above hers. She'd need more than just her physical strength to break free.

 While looking at the blood, Za'Fia smiled as she realized she had nothing to worry about.

 "Avarice told us about your trick: the longer the fight goes on, the more likely you'll get angry and more powerful," Kaila stated scornfully. "I'm not the type to take chances, but honestly, I'm a little disappointed it was so easy to take you down. You don't deserve the praise you receive. The only thing about you that seems worthy of praise is your rare blood."

 Without another word, Kaila rushed in and attempted to sink her sharp teeth into Za'Fia's neck, but Za'Fia had broken one arm free and held Kaila's head in a firm grip.

 Kaila struggled pointlessly as she tried to inch her fangs closer.

 "Hm. You're powerful, without a doubt. Probably more powerful than Junichiro, but your physical strength is seriously underwhelming," Za'Fia tormented her as she raised the heat even higher. "Not only that but just like Trevor, I'm a bad match-up for you. Look at your blood."

 When Za'Fia and Kaila observed her blood, they saw it bubbling and having difficulty maintaining its shape in the heat. Even her blood armor was reacting the same way.

 With the blood unstable, Za'Fia flexed her restrained arm and broke free of the blood.

 "It's amazing. You seem to keep supplying the streams of blood. I'm guessing that's the only reason it hasn't evaporated even with all this heat," Za'Fia stated as she flared her power more. "But that doesn't change the fact that with your strength and your blood being practically useless, you can't defeat me."

 Za'Fia noticed Kaila was slowly levitating away from her.

 "What? You plan to run now?" Za'Fia called out as Kaila's holo-bracelet started to blink red.

 Kaila shrugged.

 "I'm not fighting someone I can't win against, so, yeah. But first..."

 Kaila suddenly increased the volume of blood released from her body and sent four massive extensions straight into the lava.

 "This heat, my blood can deal with," she said as she channeled more and more into the lava pool. Then, the tendrils erupted from the pool as spiraling pillars of blood and lava broke through the ground above them. They snaked around and above the base before curving down and crashing back toward the lava pool, bringing the base with it.

 Za'Fia shot skyward, melting any debris that came within five feet of her. By the time all the debris had fallen and the pool of lava was filled with it, Za'Fia noticed Kaila had used the havoc as a window to flee.

 "Guess she's not coming back," Za'Fia commented, shaking her head. "Better head back to the cave."

 As Za'Fia prepared to leave, she suddenly sensed Tymon and Damien's energies being released. Typically, they'd been trying to keep their power to a minimum because they never knew when someone might've been searching, but like just then, with Kaila, releasing some power wouldn't immediately catch someone's attention unless they were already searching. But due to Tymon and Damien's energies being focused in one spot, it was easy to detect them without trying.

 "Damien? Of course..."

-----

Fun fact: In the year 2545, Claeg and Kaila were put on death row for their cannibalistic activities.

Fun Fact Special: Each character in this chapter has an insatiable lust for either Blood, Love, or Vengeance.

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