COI C268
Deep within the seabed, lies the treacherous infestation of the realm’s demonic influence. The reefs have sunk into the broken cave network drowning every small gap of air with its horrendous fluids. The dwarves who were camp there before have already evacuated. It continues to sink as the air still persists to enter. The flood of waters drowning these caves slowly being succumb to the sea watery bog. There the sea creatures emerge desperate to feast of any mana it sensed.
Gnawing down to the brink of the round, its desperate still eyes searching to feast on any mana it could find. The moment it feels soft. It bites it off ferociously. The soft flesh soon faded like ghost. The body manifested by the entity. Two different creatures battle each other out for survival. The entity was able to overpowered the sea creature with lack of water in their surroundings. The entity continues to fight against those lowly creatures until a reef burst out and something inside reaches out at the entity. A creature comes out suddenly attack the entity piercing through its core then consumed.
The reef like creature finished its feast and begin to regurgitate the mana it possessed. Like shroom spreading its spores, it attracts the sea creatures as more of them having limbs than the others. The sea water continues to sink the cave as it almost reaching to where the ruin is. Yet its protected barrier from the realm resists its sinking visits. Sights of these creatures are wandering itself like fishes inside the fish bowl. Trying to swim through the glass and looking at what beyond them, then quickly scurry back with any chance of threat is approaching.
“Are we in heaven’s above?”
“Washing yourself down with nasty seawater? We are being rain by piss”
“Just keep digging up. The smell at our backs is far worse than those smelly old fish”
“Move, move, move! These rotten fishes are here! Throw yourself out at the open and plucked off of its innards and that stony rock of a fish won’t crawl out of its mouth”
The reefs moving closer attracted by their mana. They quickly spread its spores.
“Augh! Bad smell? Blasted it holy flames. We’re not going to deal with these weaklings”
One of them brought oil and a piece of cloth. He casts flames on it and throw at the reefs.
The fumes bursts into combustive flames. The flames spread as it eaten the mana of the sea creatures. One fell swoop as they are being cleanse. These horrendous creatures had been consuming the influence for a long time turned itself gluttonous creatures feastin anything like bottom feeders. But their behavior acted as if it trying to consume mana. When the flames disperse, numerous tormented souls hidden inside the reef freeing themselves searching for live beings to possess. They quickly look at them. One of the men said
“Alright, we got their attention. Get back down”
All of them gruntled with annoyance as one of them sufferably said
“Back to the smelly pits”
The souls chased them down into the depths far deeper than it can’t recognized where it goes. There it feels the wall to where it passing through. The crystal wall where the imprisoned mechanical spiders were. It felt fear as they moved away from it. They continue to chase nonetheless, as they reached deeper. To the point they can smell what the living did. It was horrendous. However, their souls’ mind starts manifesting. Confusion among them why it gained living conscious until they realized that they were too late.
A large net captured them as the waterfall hits them downward into the stretched edge of the pavement. The blood like ink pulled them in, forcing it to fuse into the floor and materializing together with the path. Their remains that they were appeared after their time inside the reefs. Forced molded together in a nightmarish sculpture on the ground pulling all at once like they are absorbed by their own monstrosity. The souls acting like demonic beings not letting either one of themselves escape, betraying one another to get out from this reach. Making themselves useful for this advantageous refinement.
Once it was done, piles of the souls merged together on the blood pavement. Keeping the images of their actions, it plays the mind whomever trying to look at it. It will give anyone fear and won’t be able to move across this hellish landscape. The path had developed faster than when the Not Worthy reaches fatigue. Resting, they see Tabitha’s already dried up the resources they brought from their teleportation. With their stamina potions reached their ration limits for the day. Under one day they are closer than they have thought.
R-cord and Haw have properly mapped out where to go and they are obviously thinking about their gears and equipment. Nothing more they could possibly imagined of their knowledge and data hidden inside their helmets. Yet, some have recognized the features among them. Whispers called out as they rest, talking about the blood pavement.
“. . . The dead have never ceased to be sane. United to be part of the paved path, and be forced into without a second thought of freedom. This knowledge is sure to those who had study demonology and others form of twisted studies”
“It’s been a day, and they still have five days. You guys think they could possibly be able to finish it within two more days”
“That confidence show that you are no mason”
“Archscience says other ways during my experience descending myself down to self-repairing ships. A large structure like that within hours is beyond any living could’ve finished”
“This one is no machine, but man who have taken over the limits. Only one of them is young”
“Sadly, the rumors of the last one joined them said otherwise”
“Let it be rumors, we don’t need to bring back the sins they overcome”
Haw steps on the rough path, molded into a form of bodies creating mounds and humps made it difficult to walk on. Other steps feel soft like mud, some sink in and deformed hands trying to stuck him on the ground. He slowly at ease pulled it out like it was quicksand. The materials they received have finally arrive, but in terms of quality. They need for to refine it before using it. The calm and intact group among the three surveyed around the path as they look at the tunnels where the Benedictus build. It was smooth to the point of jealousy among them.
“As a long-lived servant, when the day the foundation of Enders Bridge, it would be great to make the blood pavement a bit more in good condition”
“This is an escape route, S4. Not the show off the efforts of great men”
“It is, Rh-0. You’ve been improving with your arguments. It was almost all one cycles for you to have this personality of yours”
“Then don’t pry on your past, S4. Rh-0 is no longer our corps. Lady Coheld had her final experiment on him, until the city decides what to do with him”
R-cord disses McS4 as he didn’t realize how Haw feel about it. Naturally, Haw keeps to himself as work needed to continue.
During this time, the corrupted citizens didn’t continue the attack. The enemies are still there, fearing at the pavement as they have supernatural senses able to see what lies inside the blood like ink. Mi’lady and the sister of arms are outside of the camp looking at both sides between the path and the enemies. A cost-effective result that they would never comprehend from those influenced monsters. It doesn’t mean they themselves are immune too. The man catcher is with them and tests the path himself.
The path wasn’t fooling anybody. The eerie presence had already sent the vibe to any living who tried to walk on it. This is not fear, it was haunting, believing itself as they have already taken its prey. Broken and loose memories in random that would match the confusion in their mind in disarray. The man catcher had resisted it quite fairly. Until he sees more of it flowing into the pavement. It recognized him and behaves accordingly like a fish. Its creepy behavior begins to shift as different lives melted together creating unfamiliar, unrecognizable, and unforgiving presence.
Mi’lady and sister of arms know exactly what’s going on. They decided to leave and return to the camp. The camp’s entrance closed leaving nothing to change as time goes by. Soon the man catcher joins them as there is nothing left to test it. The blood pavement persuaded the living to leave its bidding. The experiment that it took years to mimic. A spell combined all the mana types. Ever stabilizing runes by the remains, incasing the souls through shamanism, neutral mana behaving like demons, Elven magic Frankenstein through Archscience best effort. Creating a monster that is now becomes an infrastructure. The gods were both mix or discontent, but they know it is intended against the demons.
The Benedictus returned back to the flooded caves. Their bait was a success and see the new environment of seawater and new dead piles. Bones scattered, and it is clear what they are. Chittered and gnawed, its little bits able to chew off the hardest protection of scraps that still be useful. He calls out to his men
“Be ready, men. They are finally got in. The rat men are here”
The scout hears scurry steps coming from the caves. Mostly rat men are well utilized underground. Making noise is barely mentioned from their reports. Then there is only one thing.
Their critter like eyes glazed in red glow in the dark. Sensing their mana restricted and hollow preventing the influence mana to control them. Different flow of mana within them already collecting and scavenging from the mana’s drought. The size and bodies are stitched together in a form of chimeras. No limbs attached but what large mass resist the punishments of these caves. Spectral, bones, salt watery fluids, and many abominating body parts that can be seen together with reefs and shellfishes. They move fast, but the distance they come across is nothing a few steps from its many movable parts.
One of the rat men approached still have its rodent head, chittering mouths, as it tries to speak out their new findings.
“Yes, yes. Drench in old mana. Where its fruits bearer?”
The Benedictus holds their tools realizing their disadvantages to face these abominations. The luck of their ears heard them questioning them. For the rat men to speak to the living made everyone cautious. The rat men have collected a large quantity of carcasses and corpse outside of the East Coast. Trembling itself as their bodies couldn’t fit the proportion of its own creation. Misalign back, crooked arms, kneecaps moved inward or outward, and all seems bizarre for the undead to move like that.
“Smell putrid thing, can’t speak because of no head. Yes, yes, I see, I see. We follow old mana”
They proceed to move pass by them down below. The Benedictus didn’t take action as the abominations going through in large number, squeezing themselves to go down. Their heads broken to no avail to see nor speak. Its holes releasing air as they breathe. It is hard to ignore how it functions to use only dead carcasses. They move slowly in motion holding in the loots inside of both friends and foes. It is a sight of this world if they knew about this encounter.
The Benedictus men whispered
“Are we going to continue digging up?”
“We passed by a horde of these outsiders. Have you ever thought the realm got breached?”
“Too many to think, I know. Let’s all just continue watching them go, so that our skin won’t be touching its plague. How’s that?”
“We’re just lifting the mood here. We’re not worrying those monsters fighting us with nothing but shovels and pickaxes”
“Of course, then why not we have to think something else besides right in front of us. Sigh* How are we supposed to get everyone out like this?”
Screams coming from the tunnels, the blood pavement have consumed the rat men. The gasping airs of putrid rat’s mouth squeaking out from the suffering of the path. The Benedictus sees the rat men with its head rushed out. Tainted with the blood like ink. It boldly excited from the feeling of power
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Yes! Yes! Old mana and magic rituals stretch down. Yes! Putrid things, keep tunneling. Many more of us lost, and will return. The old mana. Pushed to the top as we find more of us”
It rushes out with the blood like ink trails away the wind. The Benedictus saw it leaved stronger than before.
R-cord comes out as they called out to him
“That little monster called us putrid things. Your guild studied them before. How did it didn’t recognize as enemies?”
“The influence was obviously from another demon, but those rat men were wild outside when venture through. Their master must be near”
“I thought the 4th moon cycle dealt with them”
“You’ve heard about it, except when their master is near”
“Near, far, or whatever they are going to tell us about”
“Just like you said, they are probably wanted this realm too. We don’t know how long they planned for it”
“Shrouded in mysteries, I guess. It’s fine, those abominations thought of us as allies. We’ll be start digging tomorrow. The men finished baiting and you guys should . . .”
R-cord goes back down and proceed the construction. The Benedictus man wasn’t done talking and only respond with
“. . . scout out ahead. Those guys, I know some about them. They always act accordingly without us knowing about it”
“Then pray for them, especially their youths. Those two have abandoned their deaths with those machineries. It would be best to have little mercy for them”
Haw is having trouble. The blood pavement is being packed up by the large mass of rat men, escaping souls carrying the carcasses in dried husk. It was able to escape leaving the blood like ink taken away by one of them covering it up like its own mantle. A failed capture, how skillful for a minion against a powerful magic. He begins to throw out the mess underneath. It needs only flesh, blood and souls. The rat men didn’t lose anything but their emptied bodies. Their bodies are not mending together as its mana sealed in like runes. It is difficult to extract it.
McS4 asks “Is it possible to use it as a road?”
“Near to impossible, I need proper equipment to extract the sealed mana. Their glowing red eyes show how it had its masters’ mana. Those are high quality seal and it is impenetrable to release its mana. Although it is beneficial as if we are using concentrated steel in this construction”
“Concentrated steel? You mean like steel beams”
“Concentrated, a more added spell than those natural ones”
“That would take time, make it simpler”
“But it will lose its strength and it will give if it damaged”
“Suitable enough to get away, right?”
R-cord returns “It left, and it still thinks we are putrid things”
“What about our rivals?”
“Planning to take a rest. Then it is a perfect time for us to help them. Haw, are the tools you made good enough for combat?”
“All of them were designed by Ironno, I think it would be good enough to kill something with it”
“Good enough . . . copy, good enough. McS4, time is limited. We must take out that large massive reef before the rat men controls it”
McS4 checks the remains, the stench of bile salt water proved of its success
“There’s a massive reef?”
R-cord nods as all of them. He shows them what he found out about it before they entered the caves.
Above the sinking caves, there is the ocean. Close to the seashore and next to the trenches where its realm by the influence. Concealing anything that would sink to the seabed. The wide reefs back when Tabitha’s team having troubled to go through. It is now held bent on itself struggling to protect against the invasive rat men. Both the reefs and the rat men fight to no end gaining each other’s own ranks with no progress who gained the victor. The reefs ingest itself releasing fluids and weapons inside of it to fend off the intruders. The rat men with their runes cursed down those reefs only being easily repelled of its microscopic enzymes releasing out the damage.
It was unending fight without their demonic masters to deal with this recently short stalemate. Until one rat man comes out from the caves. Dyed in blood like ink rosing up from the ground. The seawaters stop pouring inside as magic it holds pushes it out to the surface. A large magic being cast a humongous rat monstrosity come out in full humanoid like engulfing in blood like ink. Its horrifying rat like hand grabs the ground plucking up the source that breeds the reefs demonic powers. A crustacean shellfish fused together with the reefs unnerving as it hid inside the shell.
The shellfish pops up like viper quickly attacking the rat humongous cutting off its hand. The rat humongous restore its hand as mana around them gathered among the rat men’s remains. They all cheered to see magic as they call out to the rat man with its head intact. It calls out what they wanted to say
“OLD MAGIC! We have found what we have searching for!”
Speaking in normal words, this rat man who was ordered down to seek and steal this realm’s power. It succeeded partially, and now they push harder to the last rat men as they’re going to end the monstrous guardian.
Everyone senses the battle from above, numerous flows of seawater dive down with intense torrent. Holding nothing but shovels and pickaxes they see the enemies they are trying to find. The humongous rat is fighting recklessly at the shellfish. The shellfish is carrying its back with the reefs releasing its fluids and spores multiplying itself to no end. They look at their shovels and feel the quality of its blunt force. Its sharp edge is fine, but they never notice the blunt of its blade is thicker. Its design would only hinder the digging because of its weight. From the hands of these warriors, this is no issue as if they are holding a half size polearm.
The Benedictus called out each other.
“Like what Dexters explained to us, cracked through its shell piercing deeper from its soft reefs. The rat men will distract it, but don’t try to exposed yourselves. We won’t know how dangerous we’re facing with”
“Yes, sir!”
“Enclosed your magic and try every strength from every humanesques’ might. God is watching, afar from this world as he is not from here. But he will never lose his sheep. Let the begotten find us in our deaths”
Meanwhile, from the Dexter Guild. McS4 shouts out to R-cord
“Because we didn’t bring our equipment. Use the sling and propel everything what Haw made thus far. From what’s worth with your muscles intact. Keep it accurate and focus in our surrounding from any enemies at our flanks”
“That wouldn’t be a problem, the trajectory will be simple if we added a few woods on the sling”
Haw stood there and listened to them since the time he was teleported into the camp. His lips move as he is still in awe from their conversation.
“If Tabitha would hear you talk like that . . .”
“Tabitha has her own abilities, and we need to talk like this because of our rivals”
All three look at each other, seeing all the changed and truth of their own beings. Both R-cord and McS4 see Haw is becoming more like the citizens. It was the first time he rejecting order from Lady Coheld, the one who saved him from a broken mind state. He is still who he is and continue to coordinate but added a few questions in between. All that is important was Haw is reliable in the support. While Haw himself sees the augmentation for the first time. Elderly body and still able to act accordingly like any soldiers would. It is the first time he understands why they empathized with him. Not completely, as their excitement is still the same even without their power armor. He had suffered many injuries before. This must be the reason they continue on as soldiers.
The humongous rat is backing away. The fluids turned mold as microbes begin to grow on its body. Parasites begin to sink into its runes bleeding off the rat men’s mana. Hosting the humongous rat with endless streams of fluids. Its mouth gaping wide as both its attack and parasites gushing out at the shellfish. Both harming and healing it at the same time. The humongous rat tear itself apart and rebuild a new body leaving the upper torso lunges forward to push the shellfish away continuing the infestation of its shell. It slides a bit leaving an opening for the Benedictus and the Military Corps cracking into a hole then sneak inside.
Since the day when Haw was left behind because of how toxic the air be when it reached the realm’s seabed. They brought their breathers to prevent inhaling what poison holds stinging their lungs. The Benedictus had provided them a blessing to hold the toxicity down their throats. It also includes the citizens’ special fabric to resist it as well. Now inside the body of the shellfish, the hazardous enzymes are already pestering them. They continue dug through to the most core parts of the shellfish internal organs.
The rat men are almost reach the breaking point. One step in, in robe hiding itself but still portray the body of the rat man. Search around the new biome it barely compared from the other demons’ realms. It is full neglection from the looks of it. It is the same as it watches the remains of the rat men’s souls scurry out like the rodents they are. The lesser demons have still shown their incompetence. It slightly turns its head to see the failure of the humongous rat. The giant was able to gather quality mana but failed to utilized it.
The in-robe rat man charges forward to the battlefield. Into the vile, it shreds like plague with the powers of dark attributes. Dissolving its enemies’ presence into the void. The clever foot works and the raise of its broken spear. The spear head representing the old warfare that will destroy any magic it tries to hit. Charged deeper to the very reefs and the top of the shell of the shellfish. The crustacean unleashes unspeakable fluids flowing along to the torrents pushing away the in-robe rat man. It retaliates with its spear diving through without a problem. It lands on the shell as the reefs continue to release its fluid.
It raises its hands creating a chain locking together with the humongous rat and the shellfish guardian together. They tug themselves and force to fight each other once more. The in-robe rat man blends into the torrent and left the battlefield. It reappears back to the trenches where the barrier began. Completed its purpose as it returns to the shore to guide the other rat men here as reinforcements. Both of the massive monsters fought once more, delaying the destruction of their horde before anything that could defeat the crustacean.
On top of its shellfish’s shell, the reefs began to crumble and bleeding out including guts and chunks. Coral reefs begin to crack, as bits fell off one by one. The rat men see the opportunity and tried to take advantage of it. When they jump at it, strong current pushes them away not giving a reach at its weak spots. Soon the coral reefs on the shellfish back continue to fall off as its own shell shows a massive crack going upward as pressure inside trying to find release.
Something gushing out. Blood like ink pouring out as the humongous rat sees its recognizable source of power. It grabs the chain pulling it closer as the crustacean holds it by its claws. It rips the humongous rat in half leaving again regaining its new body by gnawing at the cracks where the blood like ink bleeding out. As it consumes it, its strength regained, and uses its gnawing hands to scratch through the shell chipping away the shell. The cracks become bigger as shellfish’s body is exposed. Leaving it to dig in and chowing down the vulnerable meat lies inside, devouring the guardian with its savage mouth.
The shellfish starts to continue to spill blood like ink. It spread everywhere where more rat men consumed it and begin their advantage against the sea creatures, aquatic infestation, and many more abomination that could be raided down. The mist comes up as more rat men’s magic spread creating a boundary as it controls the realms for the first time. Sending a horror across the existing realm fighting against other intruders. The humongous rat man is reaching its peak as it feasts the last remains of the crustacean. The wailings of countless souls bring forth its victory.
Benedictus made it out first. Their tools drench on the blood and flesh of the massive creature. The reefs’ protected corals have been harvested by R-cord’s orders. Luckily, they are not the one who had to carry it. They cut it off, and only those three people to carry it all. Tons of flesh to go down to the sinking caves or to the ruin to continue the construction. They sit there and watch the victory of the invaders sending their own infestation of rat men to take control of this realm.
“God preserve us! Did we just sneak inside a massive fish just to harvest its guts?”
“And I thought we have to defeat it. Those hordes have nothing left to hold themselves back. Cough* How we wish for the holy flames dive down to these very depths. Cast Judgement, O Lord”
“If what Mi’lady said is true. This cycle will be our last” “Unless those mechanical spiders are free, right? Cough* We’re definitely ask for a death wish”
They turn and see one last time the fight between the rat men and the sea creatures.
“Well, our prayers been answered, a half of it . . .! What is that?”
Demons’ puppets, a creation that only manifested through the existence of the demonic mana. And with each demons’ puppet, there will be a gift among the creators. They hold two, both the shellfish and the coral reefs, remained drench in blood holding off the surviving organ order to produce needed to create blood pavement. Haw was at lost as he didn’t know about this kind of harvest. Keeping the core alive by letting an organ become the host provided needed sustenance he can’t identify what is it.
The core shines as it pulsing. Believe it or not, the Dexter Guild have secrets and discoveries have brought this shock on the masses. This is needed as their blood pavement construction will be complete. With this rich in blood or self-regenerating flesh, this will be enough solution to combine together the dried husk. R-cord says to Haw
“Is this enough for you to refine the path?”
“I can’t say anything about it. I rarely used demonic essence or anything that belongs to them”
“I understand, I’ll give you a copy. We are far ahead from out intended schedule”
Haw stops and look at the Benedictus. They shared the same disgust. The Benedictus themselves ask Haw
“Is this a fight we really needed to be done?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been here for more than a day while stuck myself at the border of the realm”
“At the border? Then you mean the poor saps controlling nothing but weak critters”
“They are so, and they become the part of the building resources needed for the path”
“Then may I ask again, when do you think we can actually fight. With these tools, this more than just labor”
Haw bows down “Show them mercy”
The Benedictus looks at the tools handed over from him. After using it on the massive shellfish’s insides and the coral reef, the way Haw said to them to be merciful. One of them honestly explains to the others
“Sing your hymns and march your steps like drums. God will find who are lost and punished who sins against him”
They rub the shovels and the pickaxe, smothered and sealed away the runewords sealing the demonic power. Harmonized together with rituals to harm the spirits and souls. The meaning of merciful to them is death. All of them respond
“Pray for us when that day comes”
Few days have passed, the blood path is complete. However, the consequences of letting the rat men won have drove themselves into the ruin. The Circoston invaders stayed at higher grounds at the valley. The rat men scattered all around searching themselves down as they quickly fall to their dooms by the waterfalls. Countless more continue their demise as new change of the realm has begun. Deep within sinking caves, a new route has begun to stay away from the intoxication altogether. Creating a longer path where everybody made it to the entrance of the realm.
Haw made it back, and sees his traps and defenses are intact. No new victims fell from it, and no rat man had ever ventured here. All gathered together as they finally finished it.
“Who would’ve thought the rat men able to breached in, but not here”
“No survivors ever tried to chase us because of the rat men”
“Or did they stay away from the blood pavement. It’s great to hear that you three used only those demonic souls and meat. You can still hear lost souls begging to be release inside”
It can’t be help
“If we haven’t done that, is there any chance for our leader Tabitha to leave with her people?”
R-cord asks boldly
None of them answers. McS4 leans to Haw gives the other alternative
“Operation: East Shore Scapegoat”
Both Haw and McS4 nodded. While they are in a conversation, they can fill the chill in the air. The same magical presence that Sarah Mae used. Yet this one is stronger and clearer than the original. They turn around and sees the doll. The Silfa’s or Miyusuki’s doll. Holding a letter that none of them able to read it. Fae-chan speaks out
“Wilson”
The magic surging into the blood pavement disappearing the bad elements it possessed. R-cord caught its attention.
“Interesting”