Chapter 78: From homogeneity to the mode of Saku
"Eren, what have you done?" Lady Emiko was the first to greet Eren. Slight concern on her usually cheerful face.
Two similarly dressed but opposing sigils greeted Eren as he arrived back on Earth.
To his right was a group of Silvermane. His left, an army of golden tigers. Tension hung thick as the two sides had been bickering for some time since arriving.
John Reece. The former US marine, head of guild relations within the Silvermane was arguing with Masa Tashima, a man who seemed to revel in confrontations with the Silvermane.
"Here he is. Take him." Masa ordered to the golden tigers.
"No, you will do nothing of the sort. Not until the regulators get here to sort this out." John stepped in front of Eren. A beast-like aura filled the space between the two men and their guards.
"That's the plan, we will hold him so that slimy bastard can't run away." Masa shot back. A much sharper tone than what John expected.
"What did I do?" With doe eyes, he played dumb.
"You mindless thug, Minato may never walk again." Over his shoulder was Minato, attended to by three men. The young man's nose was swollen; laying on a stretcher with a neck brace.
"I barely touched him. I bopped his nose, and the little princess is claiming paralysis?" Eren began to walk off. A firm hand on Eren's shoulder stopped him though.
John Reece. The hand of a warrior who has been through hell.
"Eren, this isn't the time for that. They are claiming a guild incident; they want reparations or guild war." John's hand remained firmly on Eren. Not letting go of their only suspect in this case. He knew this was Eren but would still wait for the truth.
'Guild war?' Said like it was common knowledge. Eren couldn't care less. 'Probably made up by some suit who spat the dummy at some minor inconvenience.
"Baelor doesn't want the regulators sniffing around the guild until we have an administrator." John said under his breath. Not wanting Masa to have any ammunition.
"Fine. I'll deal with this." Eren turned to face Masa. The older man had a face of pure disdain; but Eren was unbothered by his radiating bitterness.
"The princess started all of this, a couple of your kittens walked into a Silvermane affiliated bar and began harassing the staff." He spoke with honesty; no exaggeration nor lie.
"Destroying property and smacking around some underage kids. All on camera. All in the hands of the Silvermane."
The look of disdain turned to surprise on Masa's face. Then back to anger, "Tch, well we see what the regulators say when they-"
This time a hand was on Masa's shoulder. A thin spectacled man, with a large tome pulled Masa in. Muffled whispers as the man relayed whatever important information Masa needed.
"Tch, fine we'll call it even then. But we have our eyes on you, Silvermane trash."
The contingent of sedans took their leave. Miraculously, Minato got to his feet. Walking away; with only the limp of a dejected man who had been punched in the nose.
"Happy? I'm going to have a shower-" Eren turned away to walk back home but John grabbed Eren again by the shoulder once more.
"Eren, Baelor is not a very happy man at the moment. I've never seen him so pissed." The image of Baelor with an ever so slight crease on the brow was amusing to the Reaper.
"Alright, I'll make sure to not piss off the tigers... Too much."
"Thank you Eren. I need to deal with this now... We'll talk later about filling in some reports."
'Reports? I'll do no such thing.' Paperwork. Not on his life. He does enough of that as a teacher.
With John taking the other Silvermane suits to leave the scene, Eren and Emiko were alone.
"Eren... Your covered in blood." She stated, a little worried about what may have happened.
"Yeah, that gate was annoying. I'm going home for a shower and then I'm off again. How are the boys under your care?" Eren had left Emiko in charge of his students whilst he was away on this quest.
"Oh, they are doing great. I've been teaching them about the history and lore of gates. Although, they do miss your presence terribly."
Eren was a little flattered that the young men would miss him.
"Thank you, Emiko. I'm glad someone else has taken them on."
*Whoosh* *Whoosh*
"Hi Eren, hi Lady Emiko. Look what I got." Jun and Thanatos returned; a green sword hung around him. Mirroring Seraph.
"So, the blessing is just a copy of your floating sword." Jun beamed happily at being given such a gift.
"It appears so..." Thanatos now shared Eren's lack of enthusiasm.
"What did we miss?"
***
Gate info:
Name: Realm of Vaelorikanthrax the eternal
Opening time: Every 8 months for 8 days.
Danger level: A+
Owners: None
Last clear: Never.
Rewards for clear: Soul gems, Mana crystals, red crystals, Amulet of souls, Gold, and various other treasures.
Time Remaining: 02: 20: 20: 20
---
A full shower and change of clothing had the trio back on the hunt for ingredients once more.
The next stop for Eren was just within ward 8. A ward based around its former animal farming culture; but had now shifted into a more grains and seeds kind of agriculture. With no major guilds within the area, there wasn't going to be an incident like with the Golden Tigers.
However, the area was known for high level but low reward gates. One such gate was where Eren had found himself.
"What are we looking for this time?" Eren asked as they waited under the red glow of the gate.
"Shards of the veil. In abundance beyond this gate." Answered Jun, a little more reserved than before.
Red gates were real threats. Many would lose their lives in gates like this. A place where the weak were devoured by the strong. Yet by the disposition of the two reapers. Eren, who looked tired, bored, as if this was a minor inconvenience; not worried in the slightest, and Thanatos more concerned about his family back home.
They may not like each other but they were more alike than they'd care to admit.
"Let's go. I've got things to do." Eren entered the gate, followed by Thanatos and then Jun.
---
"A forest?" Eren wasn't expecting a forest of all places. Like an old English woodland, the trees were large and covered in moss. The smell of petrichor permeated throughout.
"Not just any. The realm of Valerikanthrax." Thanatos spoke with some familiarity to the name. A place of myth for some and a place to avoid for others.
"It's a lich gate. A place designed by the being itself. To horde their treasures. Souls, stolen artifacts, and even other liches. If it's dead it's here."
'A lich... So, a necromancer like me.' Thought Eren, but he must have been a powerful one to have their own gate.
Jun had grown silent since entering. Eyes darting around the gloomy, misty forest; looking for dangers, as if something was about to pop out at them. This was his first venture into one. Not even during his army days did they dare send the grunts in.
For once the army was sensible with the lives of their young recuits.
Coming across a large mansion overrun with vegetation and crumbling with decay. A place that was once grand was now a forgotten relic.
The doors slowly opened, a grand white door that creaked under its own weight; welcoming them into this home of the dead.
"You have entered my domain. Weary warriors, wandering woefully within woe-woven, withered walls. Succour, salvation, serenity—you seek, but surely shall they stem only sorrow."
Ethereal whispers emanated within the depths of this ancient, dilapidated structure. They felt like icy breaths caressing their souls, leaving the mark of dread upon their hearts. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
"Vaelorikanthrax the Eternal? What an obnoxious name." Eren said, not one to be intimidated by a lich. Or for a lack of caring.
Entering what would be a grand foyer; the floor and walls were cracked stone with vines slowly taking over the place. A staircase led up into the unknown darkness, paintings of undead monarchy hung along the walls.
"Welcome. Weary adventurers who have sought shelter in my domain of eternal night." The voice was more corporeal this time. Coming from the top of the stairs.
"I am Vaelorikanthrax Maltrazethkor Drezzikarathion, Apex Sovereign of the Infinite Void, High Thaumaturge of the Blackened Wastes, Corruptor of the Celestial Leylines, Keeper of the Thrice-Locked Obsidian Reliquary..."
"Oh, my… for fuck's sake. I thought it was obnoxious when the name was short." Eren cut off the beings long, drawn-out introduction.
*Fwip* *Fwip*
Virtue and vice ascended from the shadows. Firing shots from where the voice came from. To little affect however.
"Ahhhh, fellow kin of the shadows, a lord of the undead, you must understand the pain and suffering we necromancers endure. I will welcome you as brethren to my abiding collection."
A dark hooded figure descended from the top of the steps. Face with two golden glowing eyes and a pale skull. Crown of gold, black robes of a king; adorned with chains and spikes. This was the Lich.
"I am Vaelorikanth-"
"Valarie." Said Eren wanting to shorten such an obnoxious name.
The lich's face would twist if it had features.
"I Vaelorikan-"
"Tear this place apart. Find our goal." Ordered Eren to his feet.
From the darkness came all his forces. Shadows poured out from the ground, walls, and the ceiling. Hordes of shadowmen, a small army that stood at Eren's beck and call.
"So be it..." The lich vanished into black mist; beginning the descent into the abyssal mansion.
*Clank* *Clank* *Clank*
Loud footsteps echoed out of the darkness. Knights spread out across the foyer, entering rooms, and going down halls in a large sweeping motion.
The ring pulsed; it was excited. No, it wasn't happy pulsus that's for sure
"What are you talking about?"
It was rare that the ring took such an interest. Usually only doing so if something could threaten Eren or itself. But this being certainly got it all hot and bothered
'You better give me something good out of all this.'
---
Eren and Co ventured deeper into this strange, shadowed mansion, passing through dust-laden halls adorned with faded tapestries and intricate, cobweb-covered chandeliers that cast eerie shadows on the floor.
Hooded spectres and the lich's own minions; skeletons and zombies. A more traditional necromancer compared to Eren. However, they were of little match for the Reaper's own shadows. At every turn, a small contingent would attack. Only to be crushed by the knights.
Most interesting though; the rings tendrils were drawn to the fallen undead. Each time, the tendrils would grasp at the bodies, easily pulling the souls within itself.
"Scoundrel, thief of my creations. You dare steal from me? Have you no taboo you will not break?" Valarie spoke from the shadows. His emotionless corpse now hinted with annoyance.
"Do you know what a 'Shard of the Veil is?" Jun asked as they made their way deeper and deeper into the gloom of the lich's mansion. The boy had been silent since entering the place. Not even looking back at the undead as they fought Eren's shadows.
"To take my creations and plunder my treasury. A thousand deaths would not be enough." Valarie's tone turned sinister, as if the being were about to strike. Eren had heard it before, many times. Only one had followed through on their threat.
"I think it's beyond this door." Thanatos stood by the only doorway in the long hallway they now found themselves in. An ancient wooden door; runes of power glowed from its surface.
"Halt. You may proceed no-"
"Would you like to do the honours?" Eren asked Thanatos.
"Heed my warnings-"
"Gladly."
*Wham*
The door broke down with a single kick. Revealing the lich, standing before an altar that glowed ghastly green. Hundreds of glass vials filled with liquid green, like mercury hung in mid-air around the lich. Several hooded shades roamed about within the room.
"You dare attack Val-"
"This must be where he keeps the shards." Jun entered the room, followed by Eren and then Thanatos.
"Excuse me?" Valarie attempted to speak but the three simply ignored the lich. They were too focused on the Shards of the Veil.
"If you dare continue *Thonk* Excuse me..." A small pebble hit the skull of Valarie's head. Another one flew past the lich and then another.
Shadow knights sheathed their weapons, picking up small stones from the ground and began throwing them at the lich.
"Hey! What are yo- *thonk*" One by one, each pebble struck the lich as if he were a pitching net.
"I command you to stop-"
"You call yourself a Lich?" Eren asked the being.
"What? You dare mock me. I am a Master Necromancer *Thonk* OW! I command you to stop that. I am Vael-"
"This thing isn't happy you are using its power. Also saying that you're a weakling that's not worth the dirt in the walls." Eren spoke truthfully, the ring had deemed Valarie as unworthy of its power. Waving his ring finger in front of the lich.
One of the hooded spectres took a keen interest in the ring.
"I-I... your power is nothing but a- *Fwoosh*"
Within an instant, the spectre that took an interest in Eren blew its former master away in a sudden wave of energy. Valarie was no more. Unfortunately, his voice was not.
"MY OWN SCHOLAR? DARES TO BETRAY ME?! VERY WELL, YOU WIN THIS ROUND NECROMANCER. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE PUNISHMENT OF 1000 DEATHS WILL FALL UPON THEE. I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!"
The voice disappeared with the low wind. Gone unheard by the trio, more interested the Shards and the being who stood before them now.
A shadow, like the ones that belonged to Eren; but more ethereal. A dark purple aura with one glowing eye.
"You..." It spoke. Voice, high pitched and airy.
"Me?" Eren questioned the spectre.
"God...Eater…" The being spoke once more.
"Eren, we have them all. I think. Let's go." Jun was holding a large bag filled with Shards of the Veil.
Promptly they left, whilst the being followed. Repeating 'God Eater' several times along the way.
---
"What do you mean?" Asked Eren.
With that, the tendrils latched onto the spectre and it vanished into the ring.
"I thought going into a red gate would be a little more difficult than this." Jun said, a little disappointed. He was expecting a great battle, a story made of the three. Instead, they walked through an empty gate inhabited by a being with an overly dramatic voice and then left.
So much for being like the 13. His tale would have to wait.
"When you have powers like mine. A gate is nothing more than a walk in the park." Eren absently mindedly said.
"What now then?" Asked Thanatos. Not quite feeling the same level of disappointment as Jun. One step closer to his goal was all he cared about.
"Another good night's sleep. Then we go again tomorrow."
Eren took another glance at the ring on his finger, still processing the being they found.
It was becoming stronger. Eren could feel it.
"Actually. Chicken paramania at my place. You two in?"
"Yes." Jun was always happy to have dinner at his master's home.
"...I'm good thanks." Thanatos left without another word. Disappearing into the sunset of a long day.
"Are you really going to kill him?" Jun asked. A little concerned for what will happen once they all reach their goal. He had taken a liking to Thanatos. Which wasn't hard considering he liked everyone.
"..."
No response. Not because Eren didn't hear or was ignoring the question. He didn't know himself if he could kill the man; to take him away from his family, a life that he has built.
"Let's just get home."