Familiar female voice: Hurry up!
A female undead was walking hastily through what seemed to be the hallways of a cathedral. Behind her, was Raxyas. Or rather, the undead whose eyes Raxyas was seeing through. These visions seemed to be the memory of some undead that lived in the citadel a long time ago, and Raxyas was shown a first-person perspective of them.
Familiar male voice: Are you sure the master has left?
Out of his mouth came a voice that, too, sounded familiar. Albeit, he could place neither of them at the time.
Familiar female voice: Well, not exactly... But today is the day, we can wait no longer! The others are waiting for results... If we don't give them something by the end of the day, they will surely cast us out. And we cannot be cast out... Not after all our work.
They reach the end of the corridor and take a turn to the left, where there is a locked, tall metallic door. The female undead had the keys to open it. She does, and they both enter the room, locking the door behind them.
Raxyas couldn't see her eyes yet, sadly [https://img.wattpad.com/137aa7f458400dff098e0f6c30485a0ff29b2c7b/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f42574b704b4634464b59423656673d3d2d313232333431323032372e3137326237613433613635356634396636393038313830373536342e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Her eyes could not be seen, at least not yet. The visions only showed her from the back.
Familiar female voice: Now, place them on the table.
The male undead had been carrying what seemed to be early prototypes of the soul sphere, and places them on the table. They seemed smaller than the devices Raxyas was accustomed to, yet he could tell they were brimming with souls.
Familiar male voice: Do you have it with you?
Familiar female voice: Of course.
The female undead takes out a strange device. It was some kind of rod, decorated with glyphs.
Familar male voice: I'll ready the corpse...
Hanging from the ceiling was a long chain, with a hook at the end. On this hook, the male undead placed what seemed to be a recently deceased watcher, with black blood still dripping from its wounds.
Familiar female voice: Are you prepared?
Familiar male voice: Yes, I'll just-
Before he could finish his sentence, the door's lock turned quickly. It opens even faster, and an undead comes barging in.
It opens even faster, and an undead comes barging in [https://img.wattpad.com/7ed31d2a69e074b93599bce992c5e4e8a9adc8ba/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7a526f517a3741796c7334412d413d3d2d313232333431323032372e3137326237613462353831326130653537303339363037303837382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Black V: Well... So, it is true.
He was much larger than the two of them. If they were about the size of a redeemer, it was unmistakable that this undead had to be the size of a master channeler. He had black eyes, and white, v-shaped pupils.
Familiar female voice: Master, we can expla-
Black V: Do you have any idea what you're doing...?!
Familiar male voice: Master please, we-
Black V: SILENCE, QU!
The room quaked with the master's yell. None of them dared to utter another word. Qu. Were these visions from master Qu's eyes...?
Black V: The missing reports... Dozens of citizens' souls vanishing in a matter of days. This was your doing, I presume. Out of all the undead in the citadel, it had to be two of my redeemers to commit this heinous crime. And to perform experiments on them, no less. Listen to me, you two...
They were terrified out of their minds.
Black V: Were you not redeemers, I would damn your souls myself. Do you understand? You have shattered all the trust I had in you. I have turned a blind eye to your suspicious doings for so long, but enough is enough... You leave me no other choice. Your access to the labs will be revoked, and I forbid you to conduct further experiments. ANY experiments. From this day onward, you are no longer this citadel's researchers. Are we clear?
Qu (familiar male voice): Yes, master...
The other undead didn't say anything.
Black V: I SAID ARE WE CLEAR?!
The room shakes again. Small debris and dust falls from the ceiling.
Familiar female voice: ... Yes. Of course.
Black V: Good. You two are lucky that it is so difficult to recruit redeemers... Starting tomorrow, you will be re-converted to join the exploration squad. You will be spending most of your time outside the citadel's gates, in the wastelands.
The two undead couldn't believe what they were hearing.
Familiar female voice: Master please, you can't do that to us!
Black V: Do. NOT. Test me further... A proper punishment would be to banish you there for life. But, we can't afford to lose any redeemers. It would seem some civilizations have started colonizing the surface... The wasteland is not as deadly as we thought. Yet, these civilizations seem incredibly hostile towards the underground citadels. There is likely some sort of... Misunderstanding. They think we are lawless savages, due to some less than pleasant events, that we would rather have kept under wraps, having leaked out. Events not unlike what was about to transpire here had I not intervened, I assume... I will send envoys of redeemers to these citadels to help clear the waters, but first we must establish safe travel routes. That will be your task.
Qu: Yes, master... Thank you for this opportunity. We will not let you down.
Black V: You already have, Qu... I would not have expected this of you. Nu, on the other hand...
The female undead was clearly uncomfortable. She was master Nu. It would seem both Qu and Nu used to be redeemers in the same citadel, a long time ago.
Black V: Leave everything here, I will see to it that this mess you've created is cleaned. Now, go.
They quickly leave the room, closing the door behind them.
Qu: I can't believe this... It's over... We've ruined our reputation, and we've ruined any chance of escaping this hellhole...
Nu: Have we...?
Nu pulls out her lab key.
Nu: The master forgot to take this... There's still time, Qu. Tonight. We'll go back in there and we'll finish what we started. No matter what.
Qu: Are you mad?! The master will probably have removed everything from the inside by that time...
Nu: Are you so sure? You've seen how busy he has been lately. Frankly, I didn't even think he'd have the time to come snooping around the lab... I guess we weren't as discreet as we thought we were. Look, either way, it's now or never. What else is there to lose?
Qu: Oh, I don't know... Perhaps the chance of ever leaving Mortmundus?!
Nu: And you're expecting to leave after this...? Ever? We have betrayed his trust. He will never free us! It's either limbo or damnation for us, Qu. And, we both know how he would never damn us. Not now, when he needs us most. So, come on. Tonight, when everybody rests. We will meet here again.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Qu: ... Alright...
The visions fast-forward to night time. Qu arrives at the lab again. The door was already open, Nu was waiting inside.
Nu: Everything is still here... I told you he was busy...!
Qu: Good. Let's just get this over with quickly, then... I'll start the process.
Qu activates the proto-spheres, releasing the souls within. They quickly flock to the dead watcher.
Nu: Hurry, Qu! Get over here!
Qu runs to Nu's side, and they both hold onto to the glyph-decorated rod.
Nu: Give it all you've got!
They channel as much energy as they can into it. At the tip of the rod, a ball of energy starts forming.
It grows more and more [https://img.wattpad.com/ea314d2dc00b898b7110e0a5eff2609ee8798329/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f644852544f766d74756f526845413d3d2d313232333431323032372e313732623761376331363837303262643435333935313032353738372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
It grows more and more.
Qu: Almost there...
As the souls congregate all around the watcher, the ball of energy seems to have reached maximum power... It was time.
Nu: Now, release it!
In one final push, they channel more energy into it. The ball of energy explodes, shooting forth a powerful beam of light. The beam comes in contact with the souls, destroying them. As more and more souls are destroyed by the blast, the air itself around the watcher seems to warp and shift. Something unnatural was happening.
Qu: Is it... Really happening?
Nu: This is it Qu, this is finally it...!
Suddenly, an explosion that decimates the remaining souls occurs. The blast seemed to have ripped time and space itself, opening a portal. Sadly, it was not big enough for any of them to fit into.
Nu: No... No... It's too small...
Qu: Wait... Nu, that isn't the world of the living. Look!
Upon further inspection, the portal seemed to have been opened into a dimension of pure blackness. There was nothing but darkness on the other side. Then, a tar-like substance started pouring out from the portal, identical to the blood of the watcher. It slowly dissolved the ground beneath as it touched it.
It slowly dissolved the ground beneath as it touched it [https://img.wattpad.com/633425f36294e942d1cb023a800d946ee3ad6bad/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f517547342d75686d6e74395266773d3d2d313232333431323032372e313732623761386462353364356363353330333836303936333237382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Qu: Nu, we need to close this. We need to close this now.
Nu: Is that what I think it is...?
Qu: We've opened a portal into the void, Nu... Quickly! Help me close it!
More and more tar was pouring from the portal... The two fumble with the rod until they manage to get a firm grip on it. They channel energy into it once more, shooting it at the portal. When the beam hits it, the energy fluctuation it causes makes the portal grow unstable. It was slowly closing and phasing out of existence, but not before a considerable amount of tar had already been released...
Nu: Fuck...
They were relieved. A catastrophe had been avoided.
Qu: Are you feeling alright? Did the tar get to you?
Nu: No, I'm fine... Most of it seems to have evaporated. I think we're safe.
Qu: Where did we go wrong...? This had to work... It was our only chance...
Nu: Leave it, Qu. We were wrong, it's how these things go... Still, what we did here helps. We need to write a box detailing our findings. After this, there's no way they will continue to look down on us. Even if it was a failure, it is still a significant contribution. None of them had managed to open a portal at all thus far...!
Qu: Yes... You're right. Very well. I'll take care of writing it myself. Now, what do we do with all of this...?
The lab room was in chaos. There is no way they could hide it from the master.
Nu: Right... This isn't good. The master will be furious. Unless...
Qu: Unless...?
Nu: Well, Qu... Who's to say we know anything about this? As far as we know, things should be just as we left them: ready for experimentation. By not even giving us the chance to undo our set-up, it is very likely that some things reacted in ways they shouldn't have. Reacted in ways that made a big explosion. Whoops...
Qu: You think he'll buy that...?
Nu: He has no idea what we were doing here, he has no choice! Now, let's go. We did all we could here...
They leave the lab. The visions fast-forward again, and days go by. At first, no side effects from their experiment could be perceived anywhere. Qu recorded their findings in boxes, purple boxes. According to the visions, these boxes were the signature information storage device for an anonymous group of researchers, devoted to exploring the dark secrets of Mortmundus. Then, the visions slow down again. Raxyas was taken to the day where watchers began circling the citadel.
Qu: Watchers? Down here...?
Qu was on top of a guard post inside the citadel. Nu was beside him.
Nu: And they're going in circles. I've never seen this before.
Qu: Is it just me or... Is it raining?
Nu: Raining...? Qu, were beneath the ground.
Qu: I know but... Still. The watchers made it in.
Nu: Yes, someone must have left the gates open or something. Look, I honestly couldn't care less. We have our first expedition soon. Personally, I couldn't care less what happens to this place.
Qu: Don't say that, Nu. This is still our home...
More days pass. The visions resumed after the expedition was over, with both redeemers returning to the citadel. Strangely, the gates were open. Citizens seemed to be escorted out of the citadel.
Nu: What is going on? Hey, you! What's happening?
Nu turns to one of the guards by the gates. He tells them the master had the citizens evacuated. He fears something terrible is about to happen...
Qu: Something terrible...? Nu, let's go. The master may need our help.
They head inside the citadel, and cannot believe their eyes. Black clouds had formed above the underground city. It was not known how it was possible, or where they had came from.
It seemed like rain was falling from them, except this was not rain [https://img.wattpad.com/1967132ab5ec1010bf3687f5c69c164c3b046b20/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f735f7361692d4968345f37417a413d3d2d313232333431323032372e313732623761633337336630363434623530343837363936373839372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
It seemed like rain was falling from them, except this was not rain. It was the same black tar that seeped from the portal.
Nu: The tar...
Qu: No... No... The tar Nu! THE TAR IS RAINING DOWN ON THE CITADEL!
Nu: Will it be like...? Are we all going to...?
The outside gate closes behind them. An emergency protocol had been activated, sealing the only exit into the outside world.
Nu: It's not enough. We need to seal the gates to the other citadels as well...!
Qu: But how will we ask for help?! Nu, we cannot deal with this alone. You know what will happen next.
Nu: So do you... Nothing can save this citadel anymore! All we can do is contain it.
A shriek was heard. It was loud. The same as the shrieks Raxyas had heard from the monsters he and his comrades had battled against.
Qu: It's already beginning...
As enough tar fell into the vessels, it seemed to corrupt the very undead that those vessels belonged to. It turned them into zombies, controlling their mind, and forcing them to amalgamate with other corrupted vessels. Then, the tar dissolved and bound the vessels together, consuming whatever humanity was left in their souls and creating hulking monsters out of them, the very same ones still found many years later inside the now abandoned citadel by Raxyas and the group.
Then, the tar dissolved and bound the vessels together, consuming whatever humanity was left in their souls and creating hulking monsters out of them, the very same ones still found many years later inside the now abandoned citadel by Raxyas and ... [https://img.wattpad.com/65721649d939a8add55058dcc09420c52ef0781a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f42573448765447734f7a753652413d3d2d313232333431323032372e3137326237616438313436656662616434353834353830303838382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Nu: We must go, Qu. There are two tunnels connecting our citadel to the other ones. You and I will seal them both. It is the only way we can keep these horrors from escaping here.
Qu: This is all our fault Nu... What have we done...?
Nu: Now's not the time for that! Damage control, Qu. Focus on that. Now, get a move on!
They split up, each heading to opposite sides of town. As he ran across the citadel, Qu saw horrible things. Monsters destroying homes, devouring other citizens... People tripping on each other, the weak getting left behind to stall the monsters so that the others could escape... It was hell. On his way to the tunnel, he passes by the cathedral.
Qu: Master...!
He cannot help himself. He bolts into the cathedral. There, the master made his final plans.
Black V: ... and you will take this key to him, he will know what it means. Lock us from the outside in as you leave. Understood?
The redeemer he was speaking to nods, and takes the key and quickly leaves the cathedral, locking the door behind him. The master then turns to Qu.
Black V: Qu... This is it. This is the end for us.
Qu: Master... I'm sorry...
Black V: Don't be... None of us are to blame for this. We could not have predicted it, either. There is still much about this world that we do not know, and it is our job to document it.
Clearly, the master had no idea this was Qu and Nu's fault.
Black V: I forgive you for what you did before. I know you were only trying to uncover more secrets of our world... But Qu. Hunger for knowledge is a dangerous thing. As is the hunger for power, fame, riches... We must temper all of them, lest we risk sacrificing the very lives of the people around us to achieve them...
Suddenly, a loud banging from outside was heard on the cathedral doors. A piercing shriek followed.
Black V: I'll be in my chambers, Qu... The time has come for me to unlink my vessel. I suggest you do the same. With any luck, our souls may escape from this torment...
The master goes to his chamber. His heavy feet dragging across the floor.
Qu: Sorry, master... I can't. There is still something I must do.
With the front doors closed, Qu had to look for another way out of the cathedral. Then, he remembers that souls will usually wander outside when released in indoor spaces. He follows his master's soul as it searches for a way out. It managed to find a window that was large enough for Qu to escape.
Before he does, however, he grabs an empty box from the nearby library [https://img.wattpad.com/d4523a7323e4d53d9ff5aa038da8fe50b1201000/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5a6c314e7555414a79756f4968673d3d2d313232333431323032372e313732623761653133383966343666633538343535363139343138332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Before he does, however, he grabs an empty box from the nearby library. He writes one last purple box, created from his very own memories.
Qu: To whoever sees this... I'm so, so sorry...
The vision slowly fades to black. Raxyas returns to his world.