Rasputin frowned down at the glowing, black box on the ground. They had noticed it's light only a moment ago, and it seemed to be growing in intensity. Remus had been muttering over the ground around them. Trying, unsuccessfully, to stabilize the melting rock and surging dirt.
"Something happened." Remus said unhelpfully, and Rasputin grunted. Of course SOMETHING had happened, but what was the trigger? Getting deeper? The number of monsters they had slaughtered? Honestly, they were surprised they hadn't run into the other group considering how dense the monsters were on the ground now.
"For a legendary Shaman you can't make the earth do much." Rasputin decided to say, even if it was unfair it made him feel better. In another life the two had been friends, and it was easy to fall into those old behaviors so many years later. He also knew, that for all his own powers of magic. This staff was so far above him it felt like a piece of the System itself.
There was only a handful of items made by the System, and they were all considered natural treasures and tactical tools. Most were odd items that had disproportional powers. Like a metal tube that could kill most things it was aimed at, but used a special metal to do it. Analyzing such things always came up with static and odd symbols. That was the mark of such things.
"I think we should keep moving." Remus growls, kicking a now melting stone wall, leaving a slowly melting foot print. Rasputin nodded and lifted the staff from the box. It was far heavier than it looked, and the Strength enchantments on his gear spun into life to help him lift it.
"This damn thing weighs a ton, but the box is just dead weight at this point." The box had partially turned into falling leaves and snow. To which the two of them sighed, and turned to face the expansive chamber before them.
This was the furthest that most had managed to come, often referred to as the Devil's Playground. It was a lava filled area of elemental monsters that few had gotten through. Beyond was the strange fog that blocked further transgression into the Gate's of Madness. Though Remus had thoughts on how to get through it. Then, the air hissed.
Both men dodged to the side of the wide tunnel as force blasted its way into the chamber. Sound echoed off the high stone due to it's shear volume causing both men to wince. That would certainly draw every beasts attention. Then, the sight of the three newcomers filtered into their brains.
A woman who seemed to personify grace and nobility, a lady in the word itself, but carved from flesh and ice. A knight of silver full plate that towered at least seven feet in the air, and wielded no weapons in his gauntlets. Finally, a boy with golden and green hair who seemed to wear just tattered clothes, yet they seemed hungry for some reason. Each was human looking at first glance, but they had features that set them far apart from human.
The woman's horns and nails of red ice, or the knight's second pair of armored arms, or the way the boy's long hair seemed to form into wings or teeth. The two level 100's could feel the power radiating from these creatures, but not the animosity of beast or monster. Just the raw power of something standing at the peak. Hungry and waiting for a mistake.
"I must deeply apologize for causing a disturbance." The lady bowed to the men, before looking at the armored one.
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"Of course, my Lady." He rumbled and he reached into the wall to pull out massively oversized chunks of stone, that rapidly compressed into blades of nearly black rock, "I will be back in a moment." He burst forward into the Devil's Playground just as the first monsters were in sight, and screams began to ring out.
The boy clapped his hands and the sounds just vanished, before sitting down on nothing. His eyes moving around the battlefield to watch the soundless fights. A picture of child-like fascination.
"Now, I hope you have seen our siblings?" The Lady hadn't taken her gaze from the old men, but had formed a seat from clear ice for each of them. They showed no interest in sitting, but it didn't seem to offend the powerful wizard. Both were running through the names of the 100, and none could recall a name related to any of these three. In fact, the power they were showing off didn't have the feel of a Skill.
It was just raw control and mana. Which was a far more terrifying issue, since that would put them firmly in the monster category. The Lady tilted her head, clearly waiting for a response to her question. Light entered Remus' eyes.
"You are the sister of Pyra?" He guessed, and the wide, genuine smile on her face did more to scare him for some reason. It was like the blood in his body was reacting to her joy. He made sure to activate his suite of protection skills including [Blood Control]. Since that would interfere if she was doing something to him.
"So you have seen the eldest sister?" Her voice suddenly excited, almost like a child herself, though a fully figured woman.
"She went on ahead, we have been trying to catch up." He said stiffly, nodding towards the staff, "She left that behind and we wanted to make sure it got back to her." The Lady's face fell a bit at that, but her eyes were still locked onto Remus'. He had used blood magic to read the truth in people, but it was such a rare skill that he never thought he would see it used on himself. Yet, it was clear this woman was using it, and it was so subtle that he could imagine it wasn't happening.
Finally, she nodded and a vine of water wrapped around the staff in Rasputin's hands before pulling it towards the lady. A couple more vines had to add themselves in to carry it safely.
"Ah, this is brother Yana's staff. He must have gotten too excited over some experiment." The words didn't have time to sink in before the Lady exploded forwards into the chamber, and they realized that the little boy was also gone.
"Okay, so there are five of these creatures?" Rasputin gasped, his excitement overlaying his fear. Remus could only nod, it would seem like things were heating up far too quickly. His own plans were nothing before the power of even three of those creatures should they attack him. Even going all out with clones it wouldn't be a fair fight.
"Six of us siblings." Came a light voice, and standing by the edge of the tunnel leading into the chamber was another woman, but this one looked ancient, strong but ancient. Her straight back and pure white hair marked her as someone with military or nobility training. The veins beneath the skin glowed with light against the folds of her skin, and her eyes burned like lightstones.
"Mother decided it was time to end this journey of our sister, and to meet in person for the first time. She is also coming herself, once all is done." Then she was just gone, a blink and nothing.
"I both want to continue and want to run." Rasputin declared, deciding it would be best to just expect more company at this point, "There is history here in the making, but I might be collateral damage." Remus couldn't help but internally agree, he felt like a level 50 again. At the edge of ranking up to the next tier, but watching level 100's fight against void beast with ease.
It was a similar feeling he got when he first fought Pyra, and then when he fought the boss in the Dungeon. The feeling of being so outclassed it was a quality he couldn't reach, and yet his own motivation drew him onward. Perhaps there would still be a chance for his wish to come true. Even if he wasn't the one to wield that power, perhaps he could make a deal with a demon.
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A wide, white crack split the sky above the Capital of Masire. Those were sweet words.