Chapter 7 – Blood of the Gods

The entire mine shakes as the already structurally compromised entrance collapses in on itself leaving an impassible layer of rubble between the group and the Crimson Soul, the tunnel down into the mine proper is devoid of any technological monstrosity's Lix’s gambit of blowing his ears out clearly paid off all over the tunnels walls.

The ad hoc lighting flickers and goes out causing it to go pitch black before Lix and Fizz both create lights In their off hands.

“You think we will run into anymore?” Green asks nobody in particularity as the group carefully walks down the tunnel making sure to feel ahead for any threats.

“I think Lix dealt with most of those foot soldiers this way.” Fizz reply’s patting the Lix on the back “we really need a name for those things.”

“How about Terror Drones, or TD’s for short” Jack proposes “we've been calling TC3 the Terror Core in Haldwake for ages anyways.”

“Seems reasonable enough.” Fizz responds “So who are you guys anyways?”

“The most wanted criminals in Crimson Soul,” Green interjects before Jack can respond “That there is Jack The Magpie and his band of assholes.”

“Careful there officer, we still haven't decided if your making it out of this.” Spinned comments with a malicious chuckle.

“Four on three doesn’t seem so hard.” Hait Says stopping “You caused the Butchers no end of grief Jack.”

“You think we can’t wipe the floor with you traitorous ass?” Jack Responds stopping aswell.

“All of you, shut the fuck up!” Lix interjects his hearing now partially regenerated “I need all of you alive if the Soul is to survive this, If TC3 has broken the promise then its going to take everyone who can fight to deal with it.” Everyone grows quiet and begins moving again until they reach an opening into a massive chamber.

Long vines and roots wind down from the roof of the cave weaving through ancient skyscrapers, down onto a cracked and ruined street every thing its lit by a silver glowing fluid seeping out of every opening slowly flowing into a basin at the center of the chamber, un-powered mining equipment and catwalks are strewn everywhere with a few mining drones on chargers next to the entrance which Fizz and Green quickly trash with their spears

“Is that Ichor?” Jack asks Lix awestruck by the ruins in-front of him.

“Before we could make our own, Ichor was gathered from here and other sites like this, who knows how much is trapped in these walls.” Lix reply’s with solemnly.

“Why did we stop? Theres so much of it.” Jack asks as the party makes their way along a stable looking catwalk around the basin “Isn't there a shortage?”

“Some places do still collect this kind, but its source is so wretched and creating more is so easy that most would rather let it be.” Lix stops and stares into the pool below “When a Human uses to much of their power they generate whats called static and too much static causes them to spike, at best they become incapacitated, but if they don’t stop generating static and continue spiking…” he pauses for a second “blood turns to Ichor and the body burns away…. on that day of awakening everyone spiked.”

Everyone stands in silence for a few minutes, hit by the weight of Lix’s words even though most of them already knew this rarely where any confronted with it so directly.

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Eventually however the silence is broken by Fizz “We need to keep moving, the building at the end of the chamber reaches all the way into the swamp.”

“Is it really as treacherous as they say?” Green asks once again moving through the silvery chamber.

“We will only be on the edge of the swamp, its only truly lethal deeper in.” Hait responds “Coming through here is required to become a member of house Delltronious, even I've done it.”

“We wont be taking the normal route.” Lix cuts in “We are going to head west until we are close to Herons Shore, if we just head south we will undoubtedly be intercepted by TC3.”

“And how dangerous is this new route?” Green asks very concerned.

“We may have been better off with a pitched battle against the Terror Core” Fizz jokes with a half heart-ed laugh as the group arrives infront of a massive building that’s clearly been better taken care of then the rest of the ruins

“Its a shame you guys didn’t get too take the tour of the rest of the mines” Lix says perking up a bit and opening a door for everyone into a slightly dusty lobby with names written in paint all over the walls “there’s some spray cans behind the counter write your names on a clear spot, and hurry up we are burning daylight.”

“While I respect your traditions do we really have time for this?” Green protests

“Seriously we could be attacked any moment.” Spinned adds while Kisla runs and grabs a spraycan.

“Not everyone who takes the challenge makes it back.” Lix says also grabbing a spray and walking over to his already written name in the corner “these names are they only thing they left behind, its proof of the butchers resolve” he adds a tally under his name making 8 marks in total “Honestly I was hoping to leave it at seven I’ll have to come back once this situation is dealt with and find a new lucky number.”

Not wanting to argue Green, Jack, Spinned, And Kisla all find a spot to write their names while Hait and Fizz add tally's to theirs, when everyone finishes Lix leads them into a seemingly recently reinforced staircase that seems to go forever.

“Its about 120 stories so get ready!” Lix exclaims a seemingly completely different person from a few minutes ago

“I see why we weren't in a hurry.” Spinned comments.

“Why are you complaining? Your kind cant even get tired.” Green retorts looking up the stairwell with dread.

“We can get bored though,” Jack reply’s before taking the first step “lets move we don’t know how long we have till it gets through the rubble.”

The climb as expected is long, exhausting, and boring, the Fractals having to slow down as not to leave the rest of the group in the dust, eventually however they make it to the top stopping on the second to last floor.

“Before we go we should get new air and rearm” Lix announces between breaths leading the group into a massive armory built into the entire floor full of ammunition, armor, survival supplies, and even a few weapons.

“your only supposed to bring your weapon up the staircase,” Fizz says refilling his air off a large tank in the corner of the room “please help yourself!”

Everyone take a moment to rearm and rest after the long climb steeling themselves for the trial ahead.

“Jack was it?” Lix says grabbing an automatic rifle off a rack “Those pistols wont break the skin of most things we can encounter, this will serve you a lot better.” he finishes tossing the rifle to Jack who slings it over his shoulder with a nod. “Green there's some women's clothes in the back over there, make sure no skin is showing and nothing is lose or open except for your head”

“Should I be wearing a helmet?” She asks getting dressed.

“you can but it'l cut your vision significantly, we cant use feel zones while we are in the swamp unless we want big trouble.” Lix Replys thinking for a second “If you want to cover your hair wear a hood.”

Green gives a thumbs up and a few minutes later everyone is as ready as can be carrying as many oxygen tanks as they could strap to themselves green taking Lixs advice now wearing a similar red trench-coat and chest-piece as the other butchers save for a black hood resting neatly over her head.

Standing before the door at the top of the stairwell Lix says a few more words

“It is unfortunate the circumstances that we are doing this under however as of now you are all honorary butchers, tho the journey ahead is wrought with danger I assure you all there has never been a more qualified group to take the challenge, and never has it been more necessary to complete, I hope you all understand its not just our lives on the line but The entirety of Crimson Soul, so under no circumstance are you to say a word outside of emergency's and your all to move as quietly as possible.”