It was difficult to perceive at first but there’s no doubt about it now. Through the thickening red mist I could see strong traces of mana flowing into the sky. No, not the sky but what appeared to be a large dome covering the city. The mana seemed to be coming from one single spot. Based on what I could tell it was almost right in the very center of the capital.

As I ran with Marie following behind I tried to gather my thoughts on the situation. There’s denying it now, the murders and the sigils left behind are directly connected to this. The more I honed my eyes to see mana the more of the various points of interest within the city became more apparent. All the spots where the sigils were left were hot spots of magical energy.

They must act as some kind of barrier to keep the red mist inside. Or perhaps they created some kind of magic circle that generates the mist. There could be other options but those two made the most sense to me.

There’s still the mystery of the killer. That guy who had killed himself in front of Marie and I was definitely a killer, but not the only one. This is the only logical conclusion. There’s more than one person involved in this. The red mist is stealing the life essence of the citizens for some kind of purpose. So, it wouldn’t make sense for the killer to off himself before doing that. The only explanation would be that there’s more than one.

It would also help explain why he apologized at the end. Maybe he regretted what he had done and wanted to attone in some way. I guess that doesn’t totally invalidate the idea that this was just a posthumous spell of some kind and he really is the only one behind this.

There’s also the matter of the weird energy leaving his body.

Ugh, guess it’s pointless for me to keep going around in circles in my head. I had a feeling that once we reached the origin point, we’d get our answers.

We do and unfortunately I was wrong. We both look around the empty street.

“Is it here?”

“It should be.”

It's definitely here. All the mana is converging on this point so why? Why is it all leading towards an empty spot? It’s like a big arrow pointing down at the ground, as if to say: “Here I am!” and I followed it like an idiot.

…

Wait, a minute.

“Marie, does this city have a sewer system?”

“Hmm, I think I remember my brother talking about that once.”

Ah, I feel really stupid now. I didn’t think that a fantasy world city would have that, but then again I think even in my world sewer systems aren’t exactly a new concept.

So, that means it’s definitely here. Just below us.

“Marie, I believe what is the cause of this is right below us.”

“Eh? Oooh, I see.”

“To make things faster I’m going to break apart the ground. Can you hold on to me?”

“Eh? Uh, sure.”

Marie wraps her slender arms around my body, holding tight. Ah, if I wasn’t just a bag of bones I’m sure I’d be feeling a really nice sensation now. I spy a glance at Marie and notice something strange.

She’s blushing ever so slightly.

Oi, I’m undead, get a grip woman!

“Are you ready?”

“Mhm. Yes.”

“Alright, time to make our grand entrance.”

Thinking back on the day I ended up in this world I destroyed a ceiling to avoid a fight, now I’m breaking the ground to start one. I won’t hesitate like in the battle with the ents. I will save Stormglass, Joseph and everyone else in this city. I’ll definitely be the hero of this story!

The ground breaks apart beneath as we descend into what appears to be a large area filled with a dozen individuals in black robes. This confirms it, there’s more than one perpetrator behind this. Despite the ceiling above them collapsing and Marie and I landing behind them, the crowd of robed cultists didn’t budge an inch. It was as if they hadn’t noticed our welcome party.

The only one who had noticed was the figure standing before them. He also wore a black robe, and was completely startled.

“W-Who are you?”

“We’re here to put a stop to this!”

Ah! I hate that I started with that! It just doesn’t seem like a cool line to say after making such an explosive entrance. In fact, it was down right corny.

“I don’t know how you’re able to move but there is no stopping it now. The Slumbering Red Dragon. The Father of Demons. The Lord of Blood. With the citizens of this city as a sacrifice he will finally awake from his astral dream.”

Oi, how many names does one guy need? Well, at least we now know the reason behind all this. Though, I have no idea who this “Lord of Blood” is.

“Marie, are you aware of what he’s talking about?”

“No, I’ve never heard of any of those things. I know the dragons are from ancient times but I don’t know of one called by any of those names.”

It seemed as if the man before us heard our conversation and couldn’t help himself from jumping in.

“Of course, you ignorant fools wouldn’t know of the glory of His Majesty. After all, he chose me. He came to me in my dreams and taught me all kinds of powerful magic arts. He knew only I was capable of waking him back up. All it requires is the lives of six hundred thousand.”

This guy… He’s insane right?! All because some weird dragon thing shows up in your dreams you decided it's a good idea to kill six hundred thousand people?! And what about all these other robed bastards?! Come to think of it, they still haven’t acknowledged our existence. This whole time they’ve simply stood with their heads down muttering nonsense. Similar to the man who had killed himself they too had some kind of shadow attached to their bodies. Or, it might be better to say it was attached to their very souls.

Shit! Why am I even giving this guy the time of day? The more time that passes the more bodies begin to pile up. I can see the red mist flowing from that black book in his hand. I think if we can destroy that book that’ll surely put an end to it. We just have to get past these ranting cultists.

“Marie! It’s the book! We have to get that book!”

The man leans back while clutching the book closer, giving me a very clear indication that I was right on the money. He raises his free hand, suddenly coming from out of his finger tips thin threads appeared weaving through and into the group before us.

“[Hands of the Puppeteer]!”

The strings attached themselves to the eerie shadows of the cultists and slowly they turned towards Marie and I. Still muttering, they try to circle us with sluggish movements. As if they were zombies. I immediately put myself between the approaching cultists and Marie.

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“I have an idea.”

“W-What is it?”

Poor Marie. She’s utterly terrified of the situation. I can’t say there isn’t a single nervous bone on my body right now so I understand how she feels but there’s no turning back now. All those lives above are dependent on us winning this fight. We have to act.

“I know you can’t see it, but these people have some kind of shadowy creature attached to them. I can only imagine something like that is evil. Something like that can probably only be hurt by [Holy Light].”

“Oh, that’s possible.”

“I’m going to keep them distracted. I want you to use it on us.”

“But you’ll get hurt too! Also, I-I don’t know if my [Holy Light] can hit that many people at once!”

“There’s no time to think about it. It’s all or nothing!”

I leap towards the crowd of cultists. I pull every single punch in an attempt to not hurt any of them. It’s very likely these people are being controlled, so I’d feel bad if I seriously injured them.

“Szandor!”

“Marie! Do it! You have to believe in yourself!”

That poor girl. She’s completely shaking right now. I’ve put a lot of pressure on her but if my theory is correct then she’s the only one who can get us past these people without actually hurting or killing them. I may be hurt in the process, but…

“I swear I won’t die on you!”

“Y-You better not!”

I can see it now. The resolve within her eyes. I know she won’t hesitate now.

“[Holy Baptism]!”

I understand now, Master Craven. What you saw in her. She’s strong. Much stronger than she realizes. So strong in fact, that most ordinary alchemic tools break under her power. She’s able to draw out hidden power within these tools. Transforming them into something far greater.

The entire room is bathed in light that stings the very soul. I’ve never felt pain like this before. As if every bone of mine is being burned and turned to ash. I can barely keep myself conscious and still fight off the cultists. Luckily, they too are affected and are slowly losing their step.

Before long the light dissipates and the group collapses onto the ground. I follow suit. Marie quickly rushes to my side.

“Szandor!”

“Sorry… to worry you, Marie.”

It takes me a bit but I’m able to get myself back up. Her [Holy Light], no, her [Holy Baptism] was really quite something else. I don’t think I would’ve died but wow was that painful.

“See? All you had to do was believe in yourself.”

A few singular tears roll down her cheeks as she smiles.

“Szandor… Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. It’s not over.”

We turn to the man with the black book who is now cowering in fear.

“I-It’s too late! You can’t stop it! I-I’m in control! He chose me!”

This pathetic excuse for a human being is babbling incoherently. I can think of nothing better than to put him out of his misery. I grab the book from his shaking hands, and I raise my fist.

“Szandor!”

“Marie?”

“Don’t. I think… he’s just as much of a victim of this as them.”

Seeing him, curled up on the ground crying must be making Marie sympathetic but this guy has caused the deaths of who knows how many so far! That’s when I notice something. An aura within him. A very dark energy looks to be emerging. Just as quickly as it appeared it leaves his body leaving the weeping man, begging for forgiveness.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that, within that malevolent energy I saw, there were eyes looking right at me.

It’s better to not think about that now. Because despite everything that has transpired the red mist still has not disappeared.

We had to do something about the book.

I attempt to tear out the pages but they won’t budge. I pour mana into my hands and arms and try tearing the book in half. Nothing. It’s as if the book itself was indestructible.

“What the hell kind of book is this?!”

“Let me see it!”

I hand it over to Marie who eagerly looks through its contents before making a realization.

“This isn’t just a book. It’s an alchemic tool.”

“Ah, that makes sense. Is there a way to stop it?”

“There might be, but unfortunately I can’t read what's in the book. It’s some kind of language I’ve never seen before.”

Of course it couldn’t be that easy! Still, there has to be a way, and unfortunately I don’t think that guy on the ground is going to be much help. So, we have to do something.

No, wait. There’s only one person who can do something about this.

“Marie, I have an idea.”

“You’re full of those today, aren’t you?”

“Mhm, you said this is an alchemic tool, yes? I think it’s clear to both you and me that you have the ability to use alchemic tools to their fullest potential and perhaps even beyond that.”

“I-I guess.”

She’s a bit embarrassed by that and god do I want to admire that blushing face for a moment but there’s no time for that!

“I want you to hold the book with both hands, close your eyes and concentrate.”

“Szandor, but there isn’t much time!”

“Exactly! There’s no time to think about this. We just have to act.”

“O-oh okay.”

She does as I said. It seems this time I’m the one teaching her something.

“Think about the way it feels when you activate a spell in an alchemic tool. Think about your mana and how it interacts with the tool. I think that, if you can feel it out, you can stop the spell that’s currently active.”

Truth be told, I don't know what I’m talking about! I’ve never used an alchemic tool but I can only go based on things I’ve been told and simple gut feelings right now. I almost find myself laughing in this serious moment.

It really is just like that time. That time we met in the cave.

But this time we’ll save them. I’m sure of it.

“I… I think I see it… Hmm, I think I can stop the spell. I just… I don’t know if this’ll actually work… something worse could happen.”

“Marie-”

Before I can finish being a broken record she smiles.

“I know. I won’t falter. Not now.”

With that she pours all of her mana into the strange black book, causing the red mist to evaporate before our eyes.

There’s a silence floating in the air for a bit. Both Marie and even myself were shocked that it actually worked.

“We did it?”

“Szandor!”

Marie holds me close against her petite form. No doubt there are tears streaming down her face.

“Yeah, we did it. We saved everyone!”

I pat her blonde head while looking up at the stars, taking them in for a brief moment.

“We sure did.”

I want to enjoy this for a bit longer but a lingering thought is rising to the surface. Just how are we going to get out of here? To my surprise we fell a long way down from the street above. I don’t know if we’ll be able to climb back up.

“Hey, Marie, you wouldn’t happen to know where the exit is?”

“Eh? Well, no…”

Damn, it seems it may take us a while to get out of here. Or we could wait for help here. I’m not sure which would take longer. I’d like to get back quickly as the hero that saved the city! Of course, with Marie as well.

As I’m dwelling on self-aggrandizing thoughts a noise causes my non-existent heart to drop in my chest. An explosion from above could be heard. To be precise a building near the hole suddenly burst into rumble and slid down into the hole.

Maire and I managed to avoid the falling debris. It was clear on her face that she was just as at a loss as me.

“But it’s… it’s over, right?”

“I’m not sure anymore.”

I had a feeling things were about to get worse.

***

As the puppets danced underground, the life and blood of innocents began to pool together into an egg shaped object floating in the sky. If things had gone according to plan that egg wouldn’t have hatched so soon.

However, that pathetic tool wallowing below was not as useful as He had thought. The ritual was cut short and He is left to continue being lost in the dream.

And, just like that, the egg hatched too early. He did not appear. So, another took His place. His Demon Apostle broke free of the egg and began stretching both his limbs and bat-like wings as he had not used his physical body in thousands of years.

Once he was finished he combed back his pure white hair with his hand while viewing his surroundings. It was unrecognizable to what he was once familiar with. This, certainly, was not the Garden of Flesh and Bone.

A deviant smile crept across his face.

He was beginning to remember everything that had happened before. He didn’t understand why he was awakened before his Master but whatever the reason may be, that duty now ultimately fell onto him.

“It was six hundred thousand, right? I can manage that.”

The Demon Apostle raised his hands with fingers like daggers.

“[Falling Stars]”

Beams of highly concentrated light shot from behind him and into a building in the distance, causing it to fall in an instant.

“Hmm, it seems I’m not fully recovered yet.”

With that sinister smile still planted onto his face, the Demon Apostle descended onto the city streets below.