Chapter 7: Reunion and Revenge
Jason finally had enough materials to summon Shade and resummon Colin as gold rank. Gordon would have to wait until he could find some dimensional quintessence.
[Shadow of the Reaper], (gold rank, familiar, living shadow)
"Ah, Mr Asano. I was wondering when I would see you again. But... Peak gold rank? Jason, how long has it been?"
"Truth be told Shade I have no idea. But I woke up here gold rank, some asshole tried to experiment on me, so I let Colin loose, found a bunch of shadows that looked like you but flatter, killed them, found more Builder cultists, and killed them, found these gold rank lizards, and killed them, but how are you? How many bodies do you have now? Have a nice chat with dad?"
"207 bodies and The Reaper is fine but Mr Asano, did your power identify them as Consuming Shadows?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"The Reaper has many shadows but only one has gone missing. It was sucked into a dimension that was locked out even for him and other great astral beings. He must have gone rabid and deteriorated to a lesser shadow at gold rank."
"So, you knew him?"
"Darkbourne was kind but quick to react to anything and rash. He went in without knowing what would happen and paid the price."
"Okay then. Well, if that's all, could you help me set out Colin's ritual?"
"Certainly Mr Asano."
Several minutes later.
[Sanguine Horror], (gold rank, familiar, apocalypse beast)
"Hey Colin."
And then Jason passed out for the third time that day from an overstressed mana pool.
"Hello Colin," said Shade.
Colin instead of responding, released a sound akin to a blender full of blood.
"I see. Would you like a sandwich? I still have access to Mr Asano's storage space. You sound hungry. I don't remember The Legion having enough food to feed sanguine horrors."
Colin looked at the rotten lizards down the hallway and back to the sandwich Shade was holding.
"Screeches angry leech curse at Shade."
"Fine you can have both. I will spread my bodies around so Jason can teleport out once he awakens."
The leech swarm let out the cry of a flayed animal being cut open and started to tear gleefully into both the sandwich and the lizards.
Sometimes I wonder if he can ever truly be full, Shade mused to himself. His first body finally arrived outside the facility. Upon seeing the surface Shade thought, Oh goodness I believe this will be a bit harder than anticipated.
"Open fire!"
The sound of a machine gun was deafening in the silence.
"Target has dissipated sir."
"Good, keep an eye out for any more of them. Colonel, the weapons are effective against the shadows of 017. Wait. That was something else. How many unknowns are in this damn facility?"
"Assume they are from 426. A member of Broken Glass can summon a lava wolf that stays in her hair. He could have multiple of these summons. Shoot anything not recognisable. Magically enhanced nuclear response has been approved and is on its way just in case. The accidental termination of any SCP is acceptable if we stop 426 before he adapts."
"Understood sir."
"Good."
Jason woke up with another splitting headache. He couldn't remember fainting more in a long time. Especially without a brain. Colin had munched his way through the lizards and was waiting to go.
"Mr Asano, there is a problem," stated Shade.
"What is it Shade?"
"This facility must have radioed in support. There's an entire army out there armed with magical weapons. And I felt something I hope I'm mistaken about. My bodies are going through the entire mountain this place is buried under, but it isn't going to be quick. I suggest you wait."
"No Shade. They started this. They will pay the price of transgressing me. I will not run."
Then a diamond rank presence enveloped the place.
"Oh dear. It seems I wasn't mistaken. Mr Asano, I strongly suggest leaving. You could take him, but you haven't adjusted to your new rank. And you've never seen a diamond rank fight."
"You know what Shade? I think I'll go. Just give me a second. Colin, back here please."
Colin crawled back through Jason's skin.
As your lives were mine to reap, so your deaths are mine to harvest.
[Blood Harvest]
Incantation: As your lives were mine to reap your deaths are mine to harvest.
Spell (drain, boon).
Base Cost: Low mana.
Cooldown: None.
Effect (iron): Drain the remnant life force of a recently deceased body, replenishing health, stamina and mana. Only affects targets with blood.
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Effect (bronze): Affects any number of bodies in a wide area.
Effect (silver): Gain an instance of [Blood Frenzy] for each corpse drained, up to a threshold determined by current rank. After reaching the threshold, gain instances of [Blood of the Immortal] instead.
[Blood Frenzy] (boon, unholy, stacking): Bonus to [Speed] and [Recovery]. Additional instances have a cumulative effect, up to a maximum threshold depending on rank.
[Blood of the Immortal] (boon, healing, unholy, stacking): On suffering damage, an instance is consumed to grant a powerful but short-lived heal-over-time effect. Additional instances can be accumulated but do not have a cumulative effect.
Effect (gold): Each corpse drained adds a stack of [Momentum Breaker] to the wielder. Every corpse drained adds to a threshold depending on how powerful they are. When it is reached, grants an instance of [Revival].
[Momentum Breaker] (boon, physical, stacking): The next attack made will cancel out instances of [Momentum] at 1:1 ratio. If the target runs out of [Momentum], escalating resonating force damage is dealt. Additional instances have a cumulative effect.
[Revival] (boon, magic, healing, holy): If the owner of this boon dies, they are immediately revived with full health, mana and stamina pools and all debuffs cleared. Additional instances can be accumulated up to a threshold depending on rank. Current threshold is 3 instances.
The remaining life force in the air not eaten by Colin was sucked into Jason, red streams coming seemingly out of thin air.
Outside the facility
"Ma'am, infrared cameras have confirmed SCP 682 is about to break out."
"Good, Private. Everyone listen up! This is possibly the most dangerous Keter Class this Foundation has. Do not hesitate to use everything. There is a high likelihood that this will result in extreme casualties. Do not be afraid. Instead, imagine what it could do in a populated city. This is what you were trained for."
A large claw scraped through the door of the facility.
"I WILL DEVOUR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. YOU ARE A DISEASE THAT I WILL CLEANSE FROM THIS PLANET. BE THANKFUL YOU WILL DIE QUICK."
The entire door smashed open as the large reptile broke through. The door hit a car, crushing all the people inside. One person crawled out, missing both legs and his lower torso, crying for help. She shot him in the head. It was a mercy than dying from blood loss.
"Fire at will!"
Every single gun pointed at the lizard opened fire.