Josh mithril warden stood quietly behind Idris, feeling the palpable tension in the room, the holographic images of the other primordial terrestrials seated as well. His eyes flicked subtly to Idris who held himself with a rigid pose, eyes staring straight into that of Kairos and while he approved, he also shivered, turns out they were right. Staying around Moyo had made them immune to the reality of the level of monsters the Archailect could produce, but fat lot it did for them though, the titan was gone.
Altair spoke, the ancient of house Thousandblades who according to Moyo was soon to break through to the ranks of primordials, his blue eyes and silent gaze speaking volumes.
“Your lord, my friend, is gone” he said, quite formally if Josh could add.
“It is good that someone can pick up his mantle, his emissary no less, and while it hurts us, we must face reality, unless you hand over the rune of mutation in your possession, Araman would come after you with what’s left of his forces” the Thousandblades said.
“I thank you for your kind words, lord Altair” Idris replied.
“But house titan blade can manage just fine on its own” he replied.
“I hate to be that person, but what’s a house without a ruler?, who among you can stand up to whatever forces Araman sends our way, along with those creatures of darkness, whatever they were” Thorian said.
Josh found it amusing that the ashes of the titan had not cooled yet and they were fighting over the spoils already, his rage was under lock and key, but his eyes glowed with a rage so terrible, he had to grip his hammer tighter. Idris turned to him.
“The titan blade was a man of foresight, it’s why he made us what we are, each and every facet of his house has a master watching over it, as of right now, house titan blade has a significant number of masters, along with the resources at our disposal, we can hold out till the titan blade performs another miracle” he replied.
A murmur broke out among the assembled powers.
“I do not understand, what miracle can he perform while dead?, look, I understand your pain, and you have my word that house Garuda would always stand to protect the sovereignty of house titan blade till you can produce another ruler, whoever that will be, but as of right now, your head has been cut off” Raye said.
Annika gave a tsk as all eyes turned to her, Idris, nodding softly for her.
“We survived when our house was locked up on earth, we survived the attacks even when we were mere advocates, we survived everything thrown at us, now we believe Moyo isn’t dead, that the titan blade is merely…well, whatever the fuck just happened on that world” she said.
Lightning danced in her eyes as a purple power suffused the room.
“See this?” she said.
“This is the aspect of the titan that remains within us, his will isn’t dead, heck, even the entire ship runs on his aspect, what does that tell you?” she asked.
“That sooner or later, it’ll fizzle out, just like all other powerful ruler aspects bestowed on their vassals” Ardos replied.
Josh could see the literal tension between the two lightning users, he knew just what sort of rage was within the Stormseeker, and he spoke up before she said something irreversible.
“The will of the titan lives within us, and that is enough, we will take the rune back to Ibere, we will mount our defense and we will await what fate has in store for us” Idris said.
“The only reason I’m not on that ship is out of respect for the titan blade, child” Ardos growled.
“Do that and half your forces will not make it home” Viaris spoke up softly, all eyes turning to the sand primordial.
Golden eyes glowing, the ruler of Khemet turned to Ardos who crossed his arms.
“you’re in support of this farce?” the thunderer asked.
“Every second you waste is enough time for Araman to gather his forces, we should be back in our galaxies, fortifying every system that we can, drawing our populations to our core worlds for an effective lockdown, not bickering like children” Viaris said.
“I agree” Kairos said, speaking up for the first time.
All eyes turned to the de facto leader of the terrestrials.
“Moyo gave it his all, he wasn’t even a full primordial, besides, I know him, he wouldn’t go this way” he said.
“The evidence speaks otherwise” Tengoku said, the Omnifox’s tail swishing through the holographic image.
“Primordial rank manifests in different forms, you know that” Tiamat said.
“True, but should we be speaking of such in front of ancients and children?” Viaris asked.
“The titan was open with his house, judging by the looks on the faces of his vassals, I can say they pretty much know things they shouldn’t, even for their ranks” Typhon said.
“And there lay the problem, he has made them so brazen, no fear for their superiors” Ardos grumbled.
Josh had the fleeting thought to punch the primordial in his face, he would be obliterated, but it would feel so good. Glancing down at one of his palms, he clenched it shut tightly, he may had failed his lord, the titan alone would absolve him of his sins. Taking a deep breath even as Annika glanced at him, he focused on Idris as he spoke.
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“Primordials, ancients, lords of the Archailect” he started.
“I’m sure you have the best interests of the Archailect at heart, but this is rightfully the possession of the titan blade. Now we have cause to believe he’s not dead, and we have orders to return straight to our house, so please, I plead your indulgence, can we round this up?” he said.
Josh felt a light smile on his face even as the primordials stared, dumbfounded, Ardos literally bristling.
“You believe he’ll be back, don’t you?” Kairos asked.
“You said it yourself, there are many paths to attaining primordial status” Idris started.
“We believe this is one of them, the titan wouldn’t let us down, not when we need him the most” he finished.
The king of monsters nodded, glancing at his wife.
“Then we leave Ashira in your protection, a venomous blade to strike at the heart of those who would dare assault those dear to her beloved” Tiamat said.
Ashira for the first time glanced up from where she cradled the jar containing the hidden rune of the titan blade, eyes red as she nodded silently, glancing down again. Josh could see the pain in her gaze but saw something greater in those of the primordial.
“We go to protect our empires, see just what terrible powers were unleashed, I do not envy your fates, scions of house titan blade, for you do not deserve what is coming for you as a newly formed house” Kairos started.
“But if there’s any house than can do it, it is yours” he completed.
“I thank you, lord primordial” Idris said.
One by one, the holographic images went out, the room lighting up back as Urne stepped out from the corner she had silently stood, same with Ahib.
“You didn’t reveal my presence” the android said.
“Remember that the next time you decide to lie to us” Idris said softly.
Ahib pursed, tapping his left shoulder as a small grey cylinder popped out.
“This is a sealing chamber, spatially reduced to this size” he said.
“it’ll contain the energies of the rune of mutation from spilling across the ship and leaving a trail for Araman to follow” he said.
“We sense nothing” Josh spoke up for the first time, his voice like gravel.
“thanks to the aspect of the titan wiping it out, but soon enough, it will bypass even that power, leaving a smoke like trail across the stars, such power without an active resistance is dangerous, it will draw the forces of the abyss, in whatever form they might be right now” the android explained.
“Whatever form?” Annika asked.
Ahib tuned to her.
“Araman has successfully fused four of the abyssal runes, I cannot divulge more information than to say this is bad, I mean in a galactic way” he said.
“Meaning he’s four times stronger?” Urne asked.
“That and now he can create his own blend of abyssal creatures and even domain, imagine a creature with the raw brutal strength of a Bloodfiend, the pain tolerance of the afflicter, the psychic might of the defiler and the raw power of destruction” he said.
Josh somehow gripped his hammer tighter, Ahib nodding.
“Exactly, now while they may be killable, imagine what would happen if they got their hands on the rune of mutation, allowing them to adapt to any situation and heal from any damage rapidly” the android explained.
“It would make them neigh unkillable” Idris muttered.
Urne froze before speaking.
“we’re reaching the boundary of this system, once we leave, we’re through, the legion also requests orders” she said.
“Inform the legion masters of a meeting in thirty minutes time, inform them to follow as closely as they can, we’re all heading for Ibere” Idris said.
Urne nodded and turned away, the moment the rune of mutation was removed from the same jar as the titan’s rune, the ship lurched as Shola appeared, runes in her eyes.
“Multiple abyssal pathways are manifesting around our vicinity!” she said urgently.
“Power all weapons online, inform the legion to fire at will” Idris commanded.
“Is this them getting on our scent?” Annika asked as Ahib sealed the rune within the container.
The android nodded.
“Araman moves fast, our only prayer now to the supreme beings is that he is not with them, also, you’ll need to protect the rune of the titan blade, it’s his only link from the other side to the mortal plane again” he said quickly.
Ashira was a blur, pushing towards the exit as she glanced at Josh, the Valoris nodded once.
“agreed” he replied and turned to the three last Shieldborne.
Aldric Stonefist, his first commander, Loren Steelwrath and Eric Ironheart, the three nodding as they fell in step behind him, moving along with Ashira who had drawn her blade. Echoes of explosions tore outside the ship as the legion of the titan surrounded the Defiance, pushing hard for the farthest reaches of the system to open a pathway through to their own system.
Josh swore on his life and that of the rune of the titan blade, he would defend the ship till his dying breath.
Ω
Araman crossed his arms, staring at the cesspit of a planet he had won, feeling the roiling power of each of his fellow abyssal lords within him as they continued their process of fusing. He bit down the irritation within him at the absence of the last piece, feeling the powers of the entire abyss at his fingertips, along with the locked away secrets that had unraveled at his ascension.
He felt the fear trickle down his spine as he quashed it, he knew what was coming, and he would be prepared. It had taken him centuries upon centuries to reach his current position, and now that he had it at his fingertips, nothing would take it away, not even the machinations of what he could only describe as a true higher power. A pathway opening up in front of him brought a smile to his lips as Rohan tumbled out, robes smoking, the leader of the undying hands glanced at him and froze.
Right in front of the pseudo prime lord of the abyss were two heads on pikes made of congealed blood, their lifeless eyes staring at Rohan accusingly.
“What is the meaning of this?” Rohan asked.
“I admit, they did put up a fight, as little as it was” Araman replied softly.
Rohan produced a blade, the power of the weapon burning the abyss around him, consuming it.
“So, I thought right afterall” the prime lord said.
Staring at Rohan.
“You were going to offer me to that existence” he said softly.
Rohan shrugged.
“Our union was one of convenience, wouldn’t you agree?” he said with a smile.
Araman gave a brief chuckle and snapped his fingers even as Rohan struck, a shield of a myriad of powers deflecting the strike as Rohan gave a brief growl, agony lancing through his frame. Araman frowned.
“That must had hurt” he said.
The barrier had a crack, whatever that weapon was, it was powerful enough to almost shatter his barrier.
“I was also a means to an end for you” Rohan said softly.
“Indeed, and now that I know the full tale, I have no use for you, and your master” Araman replied.
A crown appeared above his head, a grey thing of powerful magnificence that sought to possess the body of Rohan, driving him to his knees even as the ascender fought back, eyes glowing. The power of the defiler at his fingertips, Araman had to admit, it was useful to have, and with a thought, he formed a blade with all the aspect he had. It was a thing of beauty as well as terrible power, wreathing with abyssal energies as it took shape.
Rohan swung his blade with all his might, Araman actually feeling a sense of terror as he clashed with it, watching as abyssal and chaos energies ran rampant, a pathway opening and a skeletal eye staring at him through it. Dread filled Araman, the prime lord grabbing Rohan and throwing him through before bending his entire willpower into close the pathway even as the being laughed.
“Soon enough, imposter” it said,
The pathway closed and Araman fell to his knees, rage burning in his eyes, even now, with powers literally unseen for countless centuries, he was still weak. He would not have that, he might not have the strength to face that, but he would get back that last rune, he would chase the servants of the titan blade to the ends of the cosmos if he could to get back what was rightfully his, his life, his existence depended on it.
The abyss depended on it.