[Morality is a lie the weak preach among themselves. There is no need for my followers to trouble themselves with the system’s incessant measurement of alignment using Intent and Action. There is no such thing as positive or negative karma. Karma is Karma. Power justifies all actions. Embrace and protect the will of might wherever you can find it, and do not hesitate to take power from those who have it. For if you can not protect the power you have, then you do not deserve to wield it.
Excerpt from The Relgte of The Demon King of The Thousand Undead Knights: Scroll 13, Chapter 3]
*
This was the highest point. Fi Kindaro III had followed every instruction, laid the talismans around the altar in the order of The Plumed Serpent’s Ursa Major, and had the acolyte, Ghol, preside over the ceremony.
Annoyingly, no one willingly volunteered to be the exalted sacrifice, unlike back home, so he had to find and forcefully bring a young NPC goblinkin boy to be the sacrifice. Ghol dressed him in the traditional attire as the embodiment of The Thousand Undead and tied him up at the altar. The child was covered in the robe of the enchantress and Fi’s skeletal Coatl Mask hid his face.
Ghol began the chant as Fi circled his death mana along his mana channels. The air was ripe with death, and his mana core revelled in it.
“Sael,” Fi said. “Rejoice, exalted sacrifice, for you stand in the place of the great Lord Mictlantecuhtli. Let your flesh become nourishment for his spirit to show himself to me. I commit your soul to the first level of Mictlan, where you will find eternal peace.”
The goblinkin boy trembled and tried to scream as he awaited his fate, but nothing happened. They had rehearsed for the ritual so many times, yet Fi’s wight, Makoto, hesitated to do what needed to be done.
Annoyance filled Fi’s heart. Did the wight not see what a great honour the sacrifice was going to receive? He closed his eyes and his mana core converted his death mana as he imposed his will on the mental lucents connecting him to the wight. The result was that he suppressed Makoto’s agonised soul effortlessly.
Fi focused 10% of his mana core on forcibly suppressing Makoto’s soul. He couldn't have the wight act out, not today. Not when the Administrator of The Shadowmancer Pirates stood watching over his ritual. Everything had to go according to plan. He'd spent a long time in the Gate working with his bare hands to obtain the purest mavale resin, and then he'd chosen the purest sacrifice. No mere rebellious undead would ruin this ceremony for him, especially not one he could so easily control.
Fi was fine allowing the wight to have its freedom, but if it needed to be forced to obey his will, he was not opposed to doing that either. Mind control helped Fi think better, it opened up his mind to new possibilities. He forced Makoto to activate its mana arrows, its body moving to fire at the trembling sacrifice against its will. The arrow struck the sacrifice’s throat, the blood flowing into the chalice with the mavale resin.
The karma from the sacrifice’s blood was absorbed into the resin and the sacrifice’s body gruesomely transformed from the flesh embodiment of Mictlantecuhtli into a skeletal representation of the death-god as the sun rose.
The rain of corrupted water filled the altar as Fi knelt before the altar and began to pray. Black rain soaked his entire body, lips swollen from days of endless praying.
The surrounding Shadowmancers raised their Void Gems, chanted his name and pleaded to The Unknown to accept his karma and allow the mavale to awaken corruption inside him. The world blurred in and out of focus as the corruption slowly condensed, getting sealed by the unauthorised void magic.
<
Fi was suddenly sitting on the third oak throne in his hometown, watching his family. He remembered that day, it was a special occasion—Joh’s coming-of-age ceremony—nearly thirteen years ago. It was one of the rare days when the crown prince’s gift allowed him to spend time with the family.
“They look happy without you,” the skeletal dog sitting next to Fi said.
Mari danced with Joh, laughing all the while. Chima was regaling the aides with the exaggerated tales of his adventures, and as usual, Vos sat next to him, hanging on every word while subtly casting glances at one of the aides.
“They always did. But I never cared about that,” Fi said, avoiding the bright face of the skeletal dog, fearing that its endless karma might consume him.
The skeletal dog laughed. “You know better than to lie to the apparition of a god, child.”
Fi looked at one of the aides sitting inside the circle with Chima. Linora saw him look and nudged her, causing Riman to turn. Riman caught Fi’s eye and smiled. Even in the dream, she was dazzling, and he couldn’t bring himself to summon his anger and pain as he waved back to her.
“I have changed since then. Please do not deny me this path, Master,” Fi said, tearing his gaze away from Riman. Without her, there was nothing left for Fi but to forge ahead and obtain the entirety of his family's inheritance for himself.
Fi didn't hate his siblings except for Vos, and getting rid of them was a means to an end. When he killed them and added them to his undead army, it would be for practical purposes, nothing personal, except again, for Vos.
“This path will be difficult for you, child. Choose Death instead,” The Thousand Undead said. “If you choose Death, I will Bless you endlessly. You have an unlimited Affinity for it. I can make you great without you sacrificing your freedom for his power.”
Fi was determined to plead his case, and his master was obligated to hear his request since he was invested in his growth. Nearly a hundred thousand years ago, The Thousand Undead had lost his Visage, a seraphim at the time, during the last Great Corruption War. His distress at losing his beloved Visage led him to make a covenant that he would not take another Visage unless it was from his bloodline scattered across multiple worlds.
13 years ago, The Thousand Undead announced that he would honour the covenant with the Kindaro family.
It was no secret that the god favoured the crown prince, Chima, and Vos the most. However, of all the siblings, Joh was the most gifted and had been Chosen to enter the Deiwos Tower while the rest, besides Chima, had to wait for integration. Joh had a headstart, and Fi intended to close the gap as soon as possible. Fi wasn’t charismatic like Chima, wasn’t talented like Joh, wasn’t as honourable as Vos, and he wasn’t as rebellious as Mari. All he had was deception and hard work.
“I don’t want to choose, my lord. I want everything. I am your child, I will persevere and become your Visage,” he said. “I embody everything you are, Master. You used your mind to manipulate, corruption to destroy, and your undead army to trample over your brothers. You took Mictlan for yourself and never looked back. I want to be as great as you, Master. Like you, I choose the power of corruption. Let it take me. Let me Awaken.”
“You excel at manipulating people’s perceptions. Becoming a voident would limit your resources. Are you fine with that?” the skeletal dog asked.
Fi smiled. It was time for him to make another plea, the real purpose of this ritual. “I won’t be limited if I can get the Legacy of the Lost Race. Master, let me steal and complete Joh’s quest,” he asked.
The Shadowmancer Pirates were bitter enemies of Joh’s guild. They tried to sell Fi lies to get him to join them, but his Mind Magic worked wonders at reading their true intentions. They planned to use him against his brother since Joh was a threat to them obtaining The Legacy of the Lost Race.
Fi welcomed their assistance in helping him take the path towards voidentism. He would be damned if he allowed his younger brother to obtain the power of a race so feared they had been hunted down to near extinction in the last Great Corruption War.
“I will admit that you are resourceful to have discovered the truth of that quest, but you are too weak. Do you think you can do something your brother has tried and failed at in five years?” he asked.
“I will do it,” Fi said determinedly. ”Provided that I receive as much assistance from you as Joh does.”
The skeletal dog cackled. “What an audacious child. Very well, Fi Kindaro III. If you prove yourself worthy, I will give you access to the Legacy of the lost race,” he said.
[Quest: A Conch for a Festival
Quest Rank: S
Description:
373 years ago, Mictlantecuhtli gifted a portion of his holeless conch to his seraphim to use during a Clash of the Celestials. Unfortunately, the seraphim met an unfavourable match and was defeated by King Maetrolugy, Hotesect’s foolish but strong seraphim, who received the holeless conch as a reward. The seraphim who holds the holeless conch may blow it during the days of any festival of the Ilhuicatl-Omeyocan Clan and use Mictlantecuhtli’s Lesser Authority once.
King Maetrolugy is nearing Ascension and has not used the Lesser Authority yet. It is against the Edicts of The Ilhuicatl-Omeyocan Clan for an unaffiliated constellation to have one of their deities' Authorities without the approval of The Plumed Serpent. If King Maetrolugy Ascends without using the Lesser Authority, The Thousand Undead may have to face The Plumed Serpent's judgement.
Convince King Maetrolugy to use the Authority before he Ascends.
Rewards:
???? Karma
???? EXP
Divine Artefact
Path to the Legacy of the Lost Race]
Fi trembled. The Lost Race had been hunted for millennia, and their deities devised multiple methods for them to hide from regular mortals. If he obtained Legacy of the Lost Race and performed a partial race change, it would allow him to wield the power of corruption without the repercussions that came from being either a voident or a Branded. But for power that great, the Challenge was devastatingly difficult.
“Can you give me any clues as to what King Maetrolugy wants? What can I use to confound his mind?” Fi asked.
“You think you can manipulate a seraphim?” The Thousand Undead asked.
“I know I can,“ Fi said confidently.
“There are very few clues I can give you. Someone whose karma recently got bound to yours for all eternity possesses something that is the key to completing that quest,” the skeletal dog told him. "I cannot say who it is as it contains a mortal’s right to free will."
“Thank you, Master,” Fi said with a bow. He would meditate on that information later.
“The Demon Reaper has already set in motion events that will ensure they are at the required place during the last days of Huey Tozoztli so if you can convince that idiot to use the conch, he will be able to use the Lesser Authority without breaking The Unrivalled’s rules,” he said. “By the way, Fi, with your underhanded tactics you could be of use to Xolotl in his quest to take the 36th Floor.”
That came out of nowhere. “The whispers of the constellations are true, then. Your clan wants a share of The Deiwos Tower?" Fi asked, not missing a beat.
“Not just a mere share. Xolotl's thirst for vengeance knows no bounds, he is out for karma. I’m sure you’ve read the stars. If we can take the 35th to 39th Floor, giving us a Two Storey majority, we’ll be able to sponsor more players in this Tower and contend for a share of it from the Deiwos Clan. The 37th Floor, your world, is mine, so if you conquer the 35th, Xolotl and I can put our differences aside for a second in our dislike of Picciari, En Dohhasieda and Adtonifulmin.”
“Then I will be the first of my siblings to reach the Third Storey. I know you don’t get along, but if Lord Xolotl offers me power, I will take it,” Fi said.
“I would not expect any less from you, deceitful child,” the skeletal dog said with a laugh.
“Forgive me for asking, but why would you give Joh this quest, my lord? Playing mind games is not his strong suit,” Fi asked, genuinely curious.
"That is not the only way to complete this quest." The skeletal dog shrugged. “He and the seraphim have a similar mental capacity,” he said. “I hoped perhaps they would form a connection.”
In Fi’s understanding, that meant the seraphim was extremely powerful and talented but dumber than a manaless rock. “Before the end of the festival of The Great Vigil of Huey Tozoztli, I will prove myself by completing a quest your Chosen failed to do in five years.”
“You may indeed. As I said, one who you recently got linked to through karma has the key, and you do have a vested interest in the 36th Floor," he said then flinched. "Oops, the lady has made it impossible to give you any more clues. Set yourself apart from your siblings, my child, Fi. Work harder because I can tell you, right now, you are sitting in fourth place.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Fi was suddenly thrust out of the dream and back into reality, his head throbbing. He was still kneeling on the altar, but the resin was fully condensed now.
“I take it your ritual was a success,” Dayetriq, the Shadowmacers’ Administrator, said. He picked up the now fully condensed Void Pearl and handed it to Fi. “The Shadowmancer Pirates have kept our end of the deal. As soon as you awaken the Void Pearl, you will become a voident with the ability to wield corruption. It's your turn to make good on your promises now.”
“Of course,” Fi said, already feeling the pull from the corrupted karma inside the Void Pearl, begging him to bind himself to it. The vile energy stirred up his death mana, considering how many lives the initiates had taken to seal this much corruption. Of course, Fi wasn't going to awaken himself just yet. Not until he found the Legacy. “Infiltrating my brother’s guild isn't a problem. Once I've established myself and turned his force into yours, you can have Joh’s head.”
“I look forward to working with you, Third Prince,” The pirate said and bowed before he left with his subordinates.
*
Fi consulted diviners, Seers and other mind mages for days, until finally, he locked himself inside a crypt and drew the magic circle. He had obtained the divine artefact: The Libram of Meditative Wisdom from one of Lord Quetzalcoatl’s constellations as a reward for completing the tutorial. It was an excellent item, almost as useful as his skeletal mask. It helped him hone his mental powers and once he slipped into a meditative state, his mental capacity improved. His Mind stat and the special stat: Wisdom were increased by 100%. It meant that with the Libram open, he was the smartest person in the room...which really wasn't all that different from normal if he was being honest. He was surrounded by idiots.
He de-summoned Makoto as he needed his entire mental capacity for this session. He also drank a Potion of Lucidity that allowed the mental lucents in the air to gravitate towards him. He opened the Libram, laid it down, and began to meditate. It was time to put his mind to work.
If he wanted to make the Floor Overlord use an Authority he’d held on to for years before the end of The Great Vigil, he had to make it seem beneficial to him.
The mental lucents swirled around him, the Libram at work. What could a seraphim want more than anything? It wasn’t that hard an answer to arrive at. There were only three things seraphim would sacrifice anything for; obtaining stars, participating in divine wars to earn karma, and having their own divine domain.
The reason why most seraphim worked as Floor Overlords for The Unrivalled for hundreds of years, was to gain fragments of stars in order to complete their constellations and Ascend to deityhood. If The Thousand Undead wanted to entice King Maetrolugy, it had to be either the promise of a divine domain or a star.
If someone Fi knew was the key, he could deduce a few things already. There was no way a Tier 1 player could have a divine domain, that was impossible because they could only be obtained by people with Stars and only with the permission of The Great Quartenity.
A Tier 1 player possessing a Star was almost equally unlikely, but it wasn’t impossible for someone to have found a fragment of a star in an area where absurdly powerful rewards could be obtained. There was only one such place for a Tier 0 or 1 player, and that was inside abandoned worlds during tutorials.
He was beginning to piece everything together, he could feel it. The Libram told him he was close. Someone whose karma was bound to Fi must have received a fragment of a star during the tutorial.
It was frustrating how tightly The Unrivalled controlled the deities from sharing private information about mortals with other mortals, so they had to find creative ways to steer their followers, including such things as Seers and diviners.
The Thousand Undead couldn’t tell him exactly who had the fragment of a star. Who could it be? One of his siblings? If Vos or Mari had received a fragment of a star, at such an early stage in the Tower, it would be a problem. Thankfully, he knew it was someone only recently bound to his karma.
The only people who recently had an impact on his karma were his tutorial teammates. It irked him that one of them had obtained such a treasure right under his nose. He immediately dismissed the useless Viking since he was, well, useless and his mana control was atrocious. He also hadn't had time to complete any side quests. Fi also dismissed the lionkin as there was no way a mere brute of a beastkin could’ve gotten such a good reward and still been so terrible at magic.
That left Liv’Kungsadu and Langa. Fi thought for a moment. It couldn’t have been Langa because he'd seen his Calling, it was a unique weapon. Fi touched his eye and felt the scar left below it by that fucking weapon.
It had to be Liv’Kungsadu. If he'd known that filthy demigod received such an amazing reward, Fi would have sacrificed both Ghol and Makoto to enslave Liv’Kungsadu’s soul instead. The demigod had been very shifty about his side quests, and Ghol had been unable to follow him when he was completing them. He gritted his teeth, lamenting the fact that he was stuck with such a useless aide. If he had someone like Linora or Riman by his side, he'd be unstoppable.
But why did his master mention the 36th Floor twice? While Liv’Kungsadu was the logical choice, Langa was from the 36th Floor.
“Ghol,” Fi called. The acolyte immediately came into the crypt and bowed to him.
“Yes, Your Highness?” she asked.
“Come inside the circle. Today, even as unworthy as you are, I shall let you enjoy the effects of the Libram,” he said. “Divine something for me.”
“Thank you, My Liege,” she said. “You won’t regret sharing this power with me.”
Fi watched as she laid her tools inside the circle and began to pray. Her eyes turned dark pink, and she stared into the crystal ball. “What knowledge do you seek?”
He held out his hands to her as his mana core converted his death mana into mental power to force his will upon her. He used the power of the Libram to connect their minds so she could see exactly what he was looking for.
While Fi was 90% sure that Liv’Kungsadu had the star fragment, he needed to confirm it before he told the Floor Overlord who to target. The Libram had never steered him wrong.
Fi took out two of the bones he used to keep track of his karma-bonded people and placed them in the circle. “This one represents aura, and this one represents lightning,” he said, pointing to the one on the left. “Which one of them has what the seraphim needs?”
Ghol bit her lip and then placed a hand on the two bones. Once again, the mental lucents surrounded her in the air, mixed with the arcane lucents, vibrating with so much energy that Fi had to cycle his death mana to repel them, so he wouldn’t get overwhelmed.
She cursed loudly and let out a groan. “They are both Shrouded, but I don’t think it’s him,” she said, pointing to the right bone. “I can’t tell if it's the left one or not.”
That made no sense. Why wouldn’t it be Liv’Kundgsadu? “What do you mean you can’t tell?”
“Master won’t let me see,” she said, rubbing her temple. “My level is too low. And whoever you're looking for was touched by another deity's Seer.”
“Who's the deity?” Fi asked eagerly. Was he about to find out who Liv’Kungsadu’s mystery parent was?
“The Eye of Sinitian Darkness,” she said.
Fi frowned. He didn’t know who that was, but a quick search through the Dent confirmed it to be a constellation of The Deiwos Clan. There was no way Liv’kungsadu’s parent was a Deiwos Clan member. His karma alone testified that his parent was at least an Ancient level god. He could even use advanced aura at his age.
But the only other explanation was Langa. The only person karma-linked to Fi that The Deiwos Clan would protect was Langa since he was one of their bonded.
“How the fuck did a lost-worlder obtain a star fragment right under my nose?” Fi said angrily. He closed his eyes, letting the mental lucents in to calm himself.
As smart as he was, Fi was in denial. He couldn't believe Langa had received such a ridiculous gift as a star fragment! Granted, he’d also gained a ridiculously overpowered skill that helped him begin his necromancy journey, but that was different, he was special.
“Master said The Demon Reaper will make it so that they hasten to their doom. Where will they go that the seraphim can use The Lesser Authority without violating the rules?” he asked.
Ghol’s eyes went blank as she stared at the crystal ball. “I see four people, they walk within the rules of the Tower, but outside its confines. One of them holds what he seeks, and as long as it’s within the festival month, the lock will turn, allowing the aggressor to do as he pleases. As long as Master’s power is active,” she said. She looked like she didn’t understand what she was talking about, but Fi did.
It meant that the Floor Overlord could use the Lesser Authority, as long as the stars aligned. What did it mean to walk within the rules of the Tower, but outside of it? Of course, he thought, shaking his head at the fact that it took him even a second to conclude that it had to be a Gate.
Gates were under the Tower's laws, but they were typically passageways to worlds outside the Tower. If the Floor Overlord was able to catch Langa and lock him inside the Gate using the Lesser Authority, he could get the Star he needed and Ascend without repercussions. Of course, if he failed to Ascend, The Unrivalled’s wrath would destroy him.
But that wasn’t Fi’s concern. All he really needed to do was get him to use the Lesser Authority during the festival days.
*
Arranging a meeting with a Floor Overlord wasn't easy, but The Shadowmancers used their connections to organise it for Fi. It just meant that he owed them even more now. He was an investment to them, and if he failed to deal a blow to Joh, he'd be in trouble.
The office was a dry desert with a sweltering heat. Fi’s homeland was ripe with rivers and nature so he disliked the environment immediately. The 1st Floor Overlord, Manticore King Maetrolugy sat on a savion, his cold eyes fixed on Fi as he approached.
“Child of The Thousand Undead, to what do I owe this disturbance?” the manticore asked, gesturing for him to sit. “If you have disturbed me for nothing like your brother is oft to do-”
Fi knew he had to tread carefully, so even though he found the seraphim repulsive, he bowed his head, “King Maetrolugy,” he said, calmly offering a smile. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I brought you a gift." He handed over a primere quasi-modiaki.
The manticore took it in his clawed hand and examined it. “Quasi,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “This is useless to me.”
Fi resisted the urge to insult him because of the amount of karma he’d lost purchasing that modiaki. It would all be worth it, though. Once he completed this quest, he’d earn unimaginable amounts of karma. The manticore’s penchant for items that raised the quality of his karma preceded him, and it was common knowledge that in the Deiwos Tower alone, he had already received two warnings for his conduct towards players from the System Administrators.
"That fruit is but one part of the gift I am here to offer you.” The mental lucents struggled against the fire lucents. Well, it wasn't like Fi was strong enough to control a seraphim, so he had to do it the old-fashioned way. With words.
King Maetrolugy raised an eyebrow, and bit into the modiaki, his interest piqued. "Go on."
Fi took a step closer. "I heard that you possess a part of Master’s holeless conch. I have a proposition that I believe will be of great benefit to you."
“I am not interested. The Lesser Authority granted within the conch will offer me great leverage against The Thousand Undead once I Ascend,” he said. “He will have no choice but to pay me in karma to prevent me from selling it. After all, an unaffiliated seraphim is one thing, but an unaffiliated deity using his Authority would be such a blow to him.”
“A masterful plan,” Fi said with a smile. Was the manticore really so foolish that he would sell the Lesser Authority instead of using the power himself? Fi lamented the fact that the Lesser Authority could only be used by a seraphim, deity, Visage or a Daeva. “I'm most interested to see what you will bargain for the conch if you Ascend.”
King Maetrolugy's eyes narrowed, suspicion growing across his face. "Do you, a mere mortal, question my ability to Ascend?”
Fi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Mere mortal? The manticore may have been seraphim rank, but that just meant he was at peak mortal level. “I’m not questioning anything. I’m just worried because next month is your 13th review from the System Administrators,” Fi said, hating that the heat was making him sweat. “Haven’t you had two Inscribed warnings since the inception of the 1773rd Deiwos Tower?”
“What is your point, boy? Did your master send you here to insult me?” The heat intensified because, no matter what, they both knew that three Inscribed warnings in less than 13 years meant a dismissal from his position as Floor Overlord, meaning his chances of obtaining a star fragment would take even more years.
“Not at all.” Fi leaned in, his expression serious. “You just need to Ascend before the 13th Review!”
Maetrolugy snorted. “Sure, I will find a star or a fragment in less than 30 days when I’ve been searching for years to complete my final star.”
“What if I told you where you could find a unique star fragment from an abandoned world to complete your constellation so you can Ascend as soon as possible?" Fi asked.
King Maetrolugy's breath sharpened, and his eyes flashed with barely concealed greed. "Where?"
“You must have heard the whispers from the constellations,” Fi said, leaning back, and talking out of his arse. He was sure the constellations would be talking if what he deduced was true. "A player from my tutorial batch has a star fragment."
“So the agitation of the lesser constellations’ seraphim wasn’t unfounded. I wondered about the sudden influx of essence from distant Towers. They must know that there is an easy target in this Tower, even if their deities cannot tell them the truth directly. Who is it?” King Maetrolugy's lips curled into a sinister smile. He stood up, pacing. “No, don’t tell me. It will just haunt me to know my Ascension is so close, yet I have no means of taking a star fragment from a mortal."
“His name is Langa Zulu,” Fi said readily. “He calls himself Blitzhunter now, and they say he is bound to The Lackadaisical Herald.”
[The Deiwos Clan God: The Lackadaisical Herald of The Lightning Storm, briefly turns his gaze towards you, and, finding nothing of particular interest, turns away.]
Fi ground his teeth in frustration. How petty. "Did you have to tell me that, my lord?" The god could have just looked away in peace without belittling Fi. Well, it didn't matter because he couldn't warn Langa, and The Unrivalled couldn't interfere with the natural order of things, even if she knew they were planning to bend her rules. In exchange, if they failed, if they broke instead of bent the rules... well, then it was over for King Maetrolugy.
“Ah,” King Maetrolugy laughed. “That ancient petty war between your master's clan and The Deiwos Clan is still going strong, I see. But as much as I want that star fragment, The Relgte of The Unrivalled does state explicitly that a Floor Overlord may not directly engage in combat nor incite an attack on any mortal within the Tower.”
“What about outside The Tower, in a Gate? If you blow the holeless conch on any day of Huey Tozoztli, The Thousand Undead will allow you to use his Authority and also lock Langa Zulu and his companions inside the Gate. Free from the rules of the Tower,” Fi offered.
“I am a seraphim, even within a high-ranking deity’s Lesser Authority, I cannot directly attack a player or explicitly send other players to attack them,” King Maetrolugy said. "It would be different were it a Sovereign Authority."
“Do I have to tell you everything?” Fi asked, his annoyance leaking out. “With Master's Lesser Authority, you can enter into a temporary Sponsorship Contract with a maestril. Sponsorship is not a direct attack, especially if the Daeva prays for it themselves.”
For a moment, the seraphim stared at Fi blankly, and he wanted to punch a wall. How did someone this dense, who had lived for over 800 years, reach peak level? He supposed that was the consequence of being born a mere beastkin. They were all born stupid. He probably put all his stats into something like strength or agility neglecting his mind. He sneered in disgust but hurriedly schooled his expression.
“Oh!” The Floor Overlord said finally getting it. “I will have to speak to the maestril Gatekeeper to make this work. Thank you, Fi Kindaro III,” he said. “But why has the great Mictlantecuhtli chosen me to carry out his will against The Deiwos Clan?” he asked.
Fi couldn’t very well say it was because he was close to Ascending, and the Thousand Undead didn’t like his Lesser Authority in the hands of a stupid seraphim likely to be hunted for karma as soon as he Ascended. “You are precious to your clan. If you succeed in this, you may create a path to an alliance with the Ilhuicatl-Omeyocan Clan,” Fi said. ”This is a sacred time for the followers of Lord Tlaloc. He waters the most promising seeds from his brethren’s desires. The remaining few days of Huey Tozoztli are your last chance, King Maetrolugy. Will you blow on the conch without holes, and receive Lord Mictlantecuhtli's Authority?”
The seraphim stroked his chin as if he hadn't already decided. “What if Langa Zulu does not enter the Gate in time?”
“Don’t worry. The Demon Reaper has promised to back my master. He will use his followers to ensure Langa Zulu enters the Gate before the end of the festival. I know Langa's greatest weakness too,” Fi said, deciding to add something he didn’t have to, just to be petty. “He has no mental resistance.”
“How annoying,” King Maetrolugy said with disdain. “Weak people shouldn’t possess such valuable items. Relieving him of it will be doing him a favour.”
King Maetrolugy then eyed Fi with interest. “Joh Kindaro V comes twice every year trying to convince me to use the Lesser Authority. According to him, great power awaits him when he completes this quest. You would betray your own brother for that power?"
Fi's eyes hardened. "My brother's personality threatens the stability of both the kingdom and Master’s glory. He is an immature child whose rule would see Master’s reign torn apart. I seek to unite and strengthen our kingdoms. Joh does not embody Master’s will like I do. I am the only one who deserves to be Master’s face. Sometimes, difficult choices must be made for the greater good."
King Maetrolugy studied him for a long moment, with a sinister smile. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, Fi Kindaro III. Once I Ascend, I may give you a divine skill for your assistance.”
Fi didn’t think he’d want a divine skill from someone like him, but he smiled. “You are very kind, King Maetrolugy,” he said. “Before you kill Langa Zulu, and rip out his star fragment, can you give him a message for me? Tell him I said, ‘Power justifies all actions. For if you can not protect the power you have, then you do not deserve to wield it.'”
Fi touched the scar on his eye again. It was a shame he wouldn’t be present to see the seething hatred and anger in Langa’s eyes when he discovered he’d betrayed him. Again.