AN: So, I was able to write up a chapter yesterday, and I still need to come up with something for the event of the story reaching 200 followers. I do have an idea if I'm not able to put out a few extra chapters for you guys, but I should be able to put out at least one extra for everyone.
Oh, and next chapter has a bit of a plot twist.
Anyways, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
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"Yes. Yes it was," muttered the False God, of whom held up a small screen whose images were slowly becoming distorted just as the red robed cultists slowly revealed a malformed face beneath the hood. "Oh come on," he growled whilst the screen grew too distorted for his eyes to see much of anything, and tossed the object away, "I knew this was a mistake."
Another screen appeared within his gauntleted hands, one that showed a pair of Elves having their throats slit by a grinning Halfling who desired their purses more than anything. "Well, there goes that pair, but let's have their executioner face off against a few random cultists who know magick." To which he tapped upon the screen, and watched as part of the wall nearest the leathered individual. Of whom leapt away as a trio of endarkened robed individuals shuffled out, and, upon noticing the blatant desecration of their space, howled a few obscenities before lashing out with their destructive magicks.
This then led to the unfortunate Halfling to scramble and dodge as bolts of fire, lightning, and ethereal magicks flew towards its person. Of the three, however, only the ethereal magicks was able to strike it. For such a thing held within it a tracking spell, of which the other two had as well, and plied their energies into sending off towards their newest victim.
"Of course they did," sighed the False God, as the one he was monitoring fell over dead, "Well, that's four down, maybe five if the other does something stupid. Too bad the stupid system is still fried, else I'd have a more direct approach to it."
*****
'That's an ugly scar you have there, Red Robe,' came my mental voice, as I sheathed my weapon away. For the creature with said garment threw back its hood to reveal a malformed face which looked to be as though someone had poured an acidic tincture all over the head of the one before my eyes.
No. I could not tell if it was male or female, as the creature's entire body seemed to be one giant piece of flesh with three gaping holes in its upper portion. Two of which holding a pair of silvered orbs which seemed ready to pop out if one were to lightly tap the back of the creature's head. Whereas the latter was a mouth which never seemed to be able to close. There wasn't anything atop its head, save for the pock-marked and ragged skin which was wound tight around it.
What was more, the voice from this being was surprisingly neutral, as it spoke, "How kind of you to notice. Most Humans tend to shirk away after the sight of me."
To this, I simply shrugged, 'When you allow the Darkness to enter your being, and permeate within, you tend not to care about the horrors life can throw at your person.'
Which the other bowed, which seemed to constitute as nodding, a few times whilst its mouth stretched to reveal several jagged looking teeth spaced out unevenly within, "Too true, but now you have to die."
'Ah, but you haven't exactly answered any of my questions.'
"No, but you haven't asked any and I would not care. Because you will cease to be in a few moments," and upon these words, did the creature turn away just as the remaining endarkened robed cultists begin their chants and readied their weapons.
Whereas I simply tilted my head back whilst my arms crossed over as I contemplated on what to do. Of course, I desired to know why my skeletal form's head was upon their altar, but did not desire to reveal everything just yet. Well, I was and am a hypocrite after all. So what's one more mistake, if it'll gain my person the answers I so desire?
This then led to my person stretching my right arm high above my head, as I reached into my vast wealth of knowledge in order to pull out an advanced intonement called, "Void Structure". Of which allowed my person to pull myself, and up to twenty others within a pocket dimension of my own design. To this, I simply pulled the red robed individual as well as five others with my person. It will allow us to converse without any interruptions or spies, and keep away any unwanted attention I did not wish to have upon my person.
"What did you do?" growled Red Robe, who hissed several order to the five other cultists. However, it paused when it noticed my form stretching slowly whilst my flesh tore itself in order to reveal the skeletal structure within. "What are you?"
My voice, mental or otherwise, was not present as I continued with my transformation until, at last, I was my eight metred, giant skeleton with four arms and a small, straight tail which was used as a counter balance. "I shall ask you a simple question, thing," my voice shook the space we occupied as the endarkened robed cultists each knelt low as they clasped their hands together in a fervent prayer, "Why is my face upon your altar?"
To this query, Red Robe simply gaped openly as though it were a fish out of water, whilst the others continued with their prayers. When they continued to stay silent, my body leaned forward so that the skull atop my shoulders was only a few millimetres away from the one I was speaking to. "Well, thing? Do you insist on remaining silent, or shall I simply pluck the information from your mind? Of which is quite painful, to be sure, and I shall make you live through it all as though an eternity has passed by your senses. This will be the consequence of your actions towards my person."
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Which led to the other to widen its eyes, as the silvered orbs swiveled towards the now crimson light shining balefully upon its body. However, it stayed silent. Perhaps it was in awe, or perhaps it was simply too afraid. For now, though, I simply desired the answer within its mind, and stretched forth my right, clawed primary forefinger in order to lay the top against the centre of its being.
"You will give me the knowledge I seek, thing, for I desire it so," and from these words came my own chaotic energies which rushed from the centre of my skull, down the whole of my arm, and into the body of the one before my person. Of which led to it releasing an unearthly scream as my magicks tore into its brain to steal everything of worth.
Well, it wasn't worth as much as I had thought, for the orb which came out of its head and into my own contained only the barest of memories. First was the darkness, then the desire to rid the cavernous space of intruders, such as the Dwarf who desired to take the Human child away from their persons, then the strange, masked Human who slew the other without a care. "How is this possible?" I was quite upset from this, as it did not have the answers that I sought. Even when I turned on the remaining cultists within the space, I found much the same as the former.
Not a shred of memory outside this cavern was found. For it appeared to my mind that nothing existed beyond this space, which was strange to be sure. "What has the False God done to my world?" came my words, as I contemplated such a mystery, "This will not do. For I shall be needing the assistance of my servants to understand this more."
Upon these words, did I open up a portal of shadows and crimson. Whilst within the space was a laboratory full of tinctures, vials, and the like upon thick, wooden tables which have long ago been stained from the mixtures and failed experiments. This was along one side of the room, whilst the other held cages and simple chains anchored into the wall. Within the cages were malnourished creatures and Humans, each with a look of Death within their eyes.
Whereas the chains held a nude, male Vampire who was weakly struggling against the bond which held him in place. Yes. This was the same one which was deemed a spy amongst the ranks, and held several marks of torture upon the pale skin. Especially around the genitals, as it appeared to my person that the male had been castrated recently.
"Rojaahn," my voice echoed throughout the laboratory. Of which I was rewarded with the male, Bear Beastman with metallic fur and four arms peering from around the corner.
"Ah, My Lord God," he called out joyfully. Of which led to him rounding the corner which allowed my eyes to spy the white robe most of my Undying wore had been stained with fresh blood. Most likely from the Vampire who appeared to be very frightened from my visage within the portal. "To what do I owe the honour?"
He had bowed low, whist I half turned towards Red Robe and the five cultists, and summoned six tendrils which wrapped around their persons. This was then proceeded with my stepping through the portal with them in tow, simply floating behind my skeletal self with a blank look about their features.
No. They were not dead, merely unconscious from the torture session I had subjected themselves to. For I desired to know why they held little to no memories within their person. To which I explained to Rojaahn, of whom was our leading researcher amongst my Undying.
"No memories, My Lord God?" he asked, his brows knitting together with some concern, "And they are from our world of Terra?"
"Correct on both accounts, Rojaahn," came my reply, as my skeletal self slowly flowed into my Kobold self, "There are no memories within their minds of beyond the cavern in which they resided within. It is as though their world only began when my person, and anyone else, had stepped forth into the space."
"What is it you desire, My Lord God?" He was concerned over this development, yes, but still did not understand why I had called upon his person for assistance.
"You are to experiment with them, and find out just what exactly they know," which led to another thought, "The children that were brought over from Terra; have one of the Chosen ask them about our world. This is to see if there are any gaps within their memories, and talk to the Elder which became a Vampire recently. Make sure to discuss it with him at length, for he should have a more extensive knowledge than the children."
"Do not worry, My Lord God. For it will be placed highest upon my list," his brows knit further together, as the thought of our world being tampered with further than normal. For it was rather disconcerting, as the thought of the people of our world called Terra continuing to be nothing more than playthings for the False God's sick and twisted games.
This was the thought I had, as the portal behind my person closed.