Hey Guys

Sorry for the late release, but first chapter PR'ed guys... Creds go to awesome PR Thernn.....

Hope you guys like it, new  character inspiration from Magician by Michael Scott, awesome book you guys should check it out. Indiana Jones also helped for this chapter.... As per advice toned down on the description and am going back to old writing style.

Croppingprince8

Deimos:

I ran down the long winding path examining everything around me. The catacombs were damp and soggy with puddles of water. From the corner of the caves' walls I could see water trickling down.  Giant spiders and millipedes scurried about and the whole underground cave smelt like rotting flesh. Packed skeletons filled scattered recesses in the walls.

By my rough estimate, I guessed that these catacombs contained millions of skeletons, including those of magical beasts!

This entire structure seemed to have been built from the death and decay of millions of life forms. I continued down the path in an attempt to discover where it led. Running my hand down the sides of the wall I attempted to find discrepancies in the walls, and discover an exit. Everywhere I looked the walls were littered with stained- yellow and bleached-white skulls. My ambient golden hue sent shadows dancing and twitching, making it appear as though the empty eyes were moving, following me. It was hard to control the shivers that ran up and down my spine.

My legs moved swiftly, bounding down the path, but even with my strong body my feet did not dent the ground. I barreled forward naked except for innerwear and some black cotton breeches. One thing I definitely missed was the velvety texture of a Valentino suit coupled with comfortable Armani leather shoes. My usual repertoire for a perfect look. With the open collar white shirt from Prada and the Valentino I felt most comfortable.  I promised myself that in the future I would definitely make myself a suit because these armor and medieval breeches were abhorrently barbaric.

This was truly a strange place. I sensed that this pathway was built under this necropolis for someone important. Like the tomb of a Pharaoh these caves must have been created to honor an extremely powerful person or immortal who chose this as his final resting place. The graveyard was located right on the precipice of the Great Forest of the West and was bound to attract some monsters.

I jumped swiftly to the left as a monstrous spider shot its web at me. The spider was skittering across the roof. Its eight furry legs crouching and extending continuously as it advanced by jumping from one place to another. It looked truly ghastly as thick saliva dripped down small teeth arranged in multiple layers much like a shark. A thick white web flew towards me, but I dodged jumping forward at a blinding speed towards the creature in front of me. I balled my fist and punched clean through the creature. I couldn't even feel resistance from it as I spilled its white blood and guts all over my body, I grinned feeling excitement I had not felt in a decade. It was an 8- eye Queen Spider, a Higher-level Knight beast.

I soon realized that due to the earlier change to my brain none of my physical capabilities were enhanced, my body was in no way stronger than before. It was just as if I could sense everything around me to the smallest degree, and use the full capability of my body. I knew that even a peak stage Bishop level combatant, would be overwhelmed if 5 Blightrats along with their accompanying 1000 Plaguerats attacked him. Horde type magical beasts were simply too overwhelming. They would surround the fighter continuously biting and expelling their poison into him, resulting in a gruesome death.

I knew that combatants who had reached the rank of Monarch were able to probe their surroundings with their spiritual energy similar to sonar. However, while I was unable to currently project my aura, my physical abilities allowed me to sense and perceive things in a way similar to that of a Monarch level fighter.

On the road to becoming an immortal there were three bottlenecks that were extremely crucial. Each would determine if one held the requisite power to advance to the next phase.  The first when a Vassal becomes a knight which will give them a significant power boost. Then it was when a Cardinal becomes a Monarch which was said where 95% of the combatants fail. The final is when an Emperor becomes an Immortal, which was near impossible.

A Divine Tattoo measures one's potential. Thus they were given the utmost importance for academy recruitment. Divine Tattoos above that of a beast were incredibly rare and sought after. In many cases a commoner family whom gave birth to a Divine Tattoo wielding child would see their social standing rise tremendously. Alternatively when a noble family failed to give birth to a potential combatant, their reputation would significantly decrease.

I encountered more and more 8-Eyes Queen Spiders, but I cut them down testing the various techniques of silat with my new body. I dodged their attacks with minimal effort, continuously testing myself. I also attempted to gauge the minimum amount of power needed to kill a high level Knight beast. I determined that I only needed to use 20% of my power to kill one of the beasts, however when they appeared in groups I would need to exercise 60% of my power as their coordinated attacks of white web were incredibly deadly. One would circle me and shoot webs to provoke movement while the other would predict my movement and attempt to coil me in another web.

Unexpectedly I felt a slight change in the air. I realized that this path was completely straight and would eventually lead to the outside. I did not expect, however, to find a slight almost unnoticeable difference in air pressure.

After not observing even a slight variation in this winding tunnel littered with death, a single small change was extremely noticeable to me. I slowly made my way towards the small crevice located on the right side of the catacombs. It was a small hole, shaped similar to an extremely thin oval, located between two skulls lodged in the wall. I peered in but even with my enhanced eyesight I could not see past anything as if there was some sort of a magical barrier covering my eyes. All I saw was endless darkness. Even with the bright light my Divine Tattoo gave off, I couldn't see anything or hear anything, except for a slight whistling sound from the air being sucked in.

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I slowly placed my hand inside, trying to see if I could identify anything. I wasn't hesitant at all, from the creatures I have encountered so far, there were only the 1000- legs Bloodpede, a giant millipede about the size of a small dog and that was just a High Vassal Ranked beast, and the 8-eyes Queen Spider.

My hand went into the crevice and I felt the dingy wet rock in the inside, the rock was grinding against my skin making small cuts on it. What!! I thought even getting bitten by magical beast wouldn't tear my skin but, this rock cut through me. As my blood dripped on the wet rock inside I suddenly felt searing pain as my golden aura blazed to life in a fashion that was far from its usual gentle hue. Thick golden light radiated off my body and was sucked into the crevice…

Without warning the skulls surrounding the began to liquefy and the surrounding walls started to slowly dissolve.

I didn't understand what was happening. Soon the the crevice had vanished, instead in front of me stood a circular doorway, emblazoned with scenes of battle and countless methods of slaughter.The chamber was completely empty except for a long black rectangular raised stone in the middle of the room. My tattoo seemed more and more harsh its golden aura illuminating every corner in detail. Lying flat on the top of the black raised stone was a statue of a huge man in ancient looking battle armor, similar to archaic Spartan armor with flanged bronze cuirasses and leg greaves coupled with a Corinthian type helmet. A small metallic earring consisting of a chain with a cross at the end hung from the statue. It was the only object not made of stone. His gauntleted hands wrapped around the thick hilt of a broadsword that was at least 6 feet long. The statue was at least 20 feet high and was a masterpiece of art.

Visibly disappointed by the turnout, I turned around deciding to leave after thoroughly exploring the small room. I looked back to the entrance to find that it was no longer there, replaced by a wall with skeletons lined on it. Suddenly, I felt a faint chill running down my back. I spun around just as two nightmarish, creatures materialized straight from the thick dark shadows.

They were completely white, eerily white. This scared me as they looked to be living talking skeletons. But they were alive. They possessed large bulbous heads with two small slits for nostrils. A forked tongue could be seen in their open mouth and their clear fangs dripped a thick white liquid. Large reptilian eyes with black and white pupils were nestled in their eyesockets. Adorning their head were twisting black horns similar to mountain goats. They were 8 foot tall with something peculiar about their legs. Their thighs were curving backwards, and then the legs jutted forward from the knee ending in thick black goat hooves. It seemed chimarian, a cross between a giant snake and a goat.

I scoured my memory trying to remember what type of creature this is. Nothing. Nothing came to mind, I knew that I had the knowledge of every creature in Avalon. All the books I had read in the library of Kislev, combined with the books in Jeanne’s library, gave me knowledge of Every Magical Beast on this plane. I was already astounded that this creature’s movements were something I couldn't observe. I couldn't tell anything of them unlike the Queen spider, and the Millipede. It was as if this creature’s movements were too complex and too powerful for me to comprehend. I could usually observe everything about the creature I have met thus far, like their small variations in their muscle movements, their short rapid breathing and even the direction of each of their eyes.

They separated from each other, appearing less than a second later a hair’s breadth from me. Intently focusing their circular eyes on me, they slowly circled me. Their long icy fingers tipped with black fingernails. stroked my bare upper body, and pinched my blood covered skin. They chittered and chattered to each other in high pitched almost inaudible voices.

I remained still, scared that moving might prompt them to do something monstrous to me. When their fingers touched the my blazing golden aura nothing happened as if the aura was too weak to fight back. However, when they hovered their hand over the silver star in the middle of my chest, it spat silver sparks, as if to ward them away. The creature jumped back, but that single touch had sent my heart racing.

I was gripped by a boundless amount of fear; sweat pouring down my back, and all the nightmares that most terrified me flooded to the surface. The scene of my daughter’s death played over and over again. Tears streaked down my face as I was unable to contain the emotions bubbling up inside me.  The two monsters had done something to me. I was starting regret my decision to come to this place. Just where the hell was I?

The creatures were jumping up and down from laughter, obviously delighted by my reaction…

Suddenly realization came to me…if these creatures were not from this Plane, Avalon, and then they must be from a different plane. I knew that from Keres’ explanation anything plant, creature or man in a different plane was an Immortal level being at the minimum. I was shaking and gasping, bathed in bitter icy sweat. My heart was tripping madly; my stomach was churning from my mindless panic. The earlier slight touch from this creature itself gripped my heart in fear.

Just what in the world did I walk into?

“Quinn, Finn enough with your games,” a primal overpowering sound came…

“Fear not Deimos,”

“They are just my guardians…”

And then with a grinding of ancient stone the enormous statue sat up and swivelled its head to look at me. Within the helmet two eyes blazed blood-red...