"
However, just as these words had finished speaking, his mind returned to the white void within as more pain engulfed his entire being. For something within his entire being broke with a thunderous explosion that only he felt and heard. It was as though a strong, but fragile bottle of thin metal had ruptured, sending forth many shards to lacerate his insides. So much so, that he did cough and spat out many a mouthful of blood just as the voice once again made its presence known.
"
Unfortunately for himself, the same effect occurred, and his mind was sent forth into the land of pain and anguish whilst his body retched up several mouthfuls of blood within the darkness.
*****
"Ugh! What now?" grumbled a small girl within a black void space. Of whom wore a pink and flowery dress, and had a head of snow white hair, skin of alabaster, and eyes as dark as pitch. Before her was a small table she had been kneeling again, the remnants of a tea set and empty cups were strewn off to the right, whilst a small puddle of drool had formed where her mouth laid open.
This would have continued to form into a larger puddle, if not for the fact that a translucent screen had appeared in front of her person. Upon such a screen, and with bold letters, was the word ERROR. Accompanied with the word came a blaringly loud sound that was both deep and rich as well as being one of high pitch. This, along with the constant flashing of red caused her to awaken and rub her petite mouth with the back of her left sleeve.
"Huh?" Her face molded into one of disgust and annoyance as she sat back upon her knees whilst the screen flowed within a few dozen centimetres of her face. Yawning greatly whilst stretching her small body, she reached out and swiped at the image. Within heartbeats, the flashing lights and sounds faded whilst the word drifted off to the upper left corner. Whereas the rest of the screen revealed the man coughing up many mouthfuls of blood, whilst within the body showed the construction and immediate destruction of the Mana Core the System tried to create.
However, this did not catch her eye, save for the apparent torture the man went through, whereupon she did grin at his suffering. Instead, it was the Mana flow itself. For the entirety of the mystical energies within his body were pulled together in order to create a vessel for which the Mana upon Terra would come to fill, but when it broke? The energies should have dissipated, but instead continued to flow within and throughout his body as though he were naught, but a sieve in a raging river.
"Curious," she muttered, tapping the index finger of her left hand against her lips, whilst her right tapped on the screen in order to stop the torture of the man before her. Of whom then floated in the black void, his chest heaving up and down as he filled his lungs with the air of the space.
He was, indeed, gladdened for the respite, but steeled himself for whatever was to come. Even going so far as to glance around with crazed eyes full of fury and hatred for what he had to endure.
"Oh," softly moaned the child with a great grin upon her features, one that revealed many rows of sharpened teeth, "That's the look I want to see, but now I need to see who is summoning... you... Humans?" Texts within an unknown language filled the screen, which then revealed the war torn capital of New Wair. Of which was being besieged by two legions of Demons, causing her to release a, "Tch," as she noticed them.
"Well," she sighed softly, mussing her hair before shaking it quickly. Of which then drifted into a style which begat it to fall all around her head, shielding it from the prying eyes that did not exist within her space. Well, it would have shielded her features, if a part of it did not peel back to reveal a left eye which had become a bright crimson which had been spilt upon virgin snow. "Well, let's get you to the Humans, shall we?"
However, just as she sent out the command to send the man on his way, the word ERROR appeared in the centre of the screen. All the while, texts upon either side revealed that due to the absence of a Mana Core within the male Human, he was not allowed to enter the world down below.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," she growled, rolling her pitch coloured eyes at the System's warning, "Just give him the Wizard Class and be done with it."
"
Of which caused the girl to release a half scream, half growl into the black void which was her space. Her hands and arms flailed about her body as she toppled upon her back whilst her legs were stretched out underneath the low table. "Why do you have to be so god damn annoying, Command?" she called out into her space, and followed it up with, "
"
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"
"
"Blah, blah, blah," the white haired girl waved at the voice and its stern warning, "I've heard it all before." Slowly, she sat upon her rear end, stretching her body once more before bringing the screen closer to her person. Here, she began to tap away at the translucent and rectangular structure with all ten of her digits. Of which was being used to implement the Class called Wizardry, and everything necessary for an individual to use such a thing. This, as well as creating several vague legends and heroes who used such a thing.
She even went out of her way to implement some unrealistic abilities. Such as attuning one's self to an element would allow such a being to interact with them on a more intimate level. This caused her to devolve into a fit of giggles as she reread what she had typed into the System, believing such words to be taken in a way that would cause one's mind to fall into the gutter.
However, one of the main key points in using such a Class meant that a person must not have developed a Mana Core. Which meant only one in a few million beings upon the world would be able to use such a thing, but with it being a vague and odd Class, the chances of obtaining it... Well, these beings without a Mana Core would have an easier task of hunting Star Fish within Terra's own sun before they would be able to practice the craft. This also meant that there would be more beings without a Core appearing throughout the world, but with her absolute control, she limited the chances to almost zero.
"
"
"
"
"Yes," she drawled out in a reply, her head bobbing upwards as she spoke, "and give it to that one." Her right hand waved at the man floating within the darkness of the void. Of whom was still angered about what had occurred to him.
"Muu. Can't believe the Demons attacked while I was asleep," she grumbled to herself, "Better not ruin that bakery... I want sweets... Muu."
*****
The man floated within the darkness, his consciousness doing its best to release the body from awareness, but failed in every attempt. Even more so was the attempt made during the process of creating something called a "Mana Core", which tried to form within the space of his appendix. Unfortunately, whatever tried to perform such an action caused the unnecessary organ to rupture, spilling its acids and other undesirable fluids into his body. Therefore causing blood to seep into his stomach, which was then ejected out of his mouth.
However, when such an event occurred, the process would halt, repair the damage, then try once again. Which would repeat half a dozen times before something greater than the voice caused it to halt its attempt to create the foreign object, and therefore allowed the man a slight reprieve. Though he did try to search for someone or something to lash out against for his troubles, he could not see a thing within the Void. Therefore, he contemplated and imagined ringing the neck, or necks, of those who stole him away to torture his mind and body.
This, and only this, kept his mind from breaking too far, which left no doubt within him. 'I will kill you,' his mind stirred as the fog within was lifted away from the pain for only a moment before it returned just in time for the man to resume his enduring the torture of the unknown voice as it poured something down his throat to the point of him believing he would perish.
"
'I will kill you,' the man heard his mind growl as he felt something foreign enter the whole of his being, 'I will kill you.'
"
"
'Kill.'
"
"
'Kill.'
"
'Kill.'
"
'Kill!'
"
'KILL!'
*****
"Retreat! Retreat to the castle," howled many a frightened Human in bronze or iron armour. Each stained with blood and ichor from both Human comrade and Demon alike, "They've broken through the West Gate. Retreat!"
Whilst those upon the other walls slowly pulled back, Queen Guinevere was being ushered by a dozen battered and bloodied knights in bent armour. They were to bring her back, even if she complained or fought against their wishes, and she did so greatly. Even when she was reminded of her daughter and her safety, she still did not budge.
"She's a strong girl, and has the best protecting her," she growled as the first of many Demons, each clad with tattered leathers to hide their deformities beneath, rushed towards their positions. However, these were considered to be grunts amongst the legions, and therefore were cut down with only a few casualties from the Humans' side. Unfortunately for themselves, they lost these wounded to the next rush, which was enough to cause the remaining knights, the twelve before, to usher her away.
"Forgive me, your Majesty," growled one of the knights, calling her attention away just long enough for one of their number to knock her out with a spell. Whereupon this one caught her unconscious, and proceeded to sling her body over his shoulder as though she were a sack of potatoes.
"To the castle," he howled, calling attention to everyone and anyone nearby, "Protect her majesties Queen Guinevere, Princess Delilah, and the Ritual! The Hero is coming!"
"To the castle!" responded another voice, as the group led a ragtag procession of wounded, haggard, and dying Humans back to a well fortified castle. Of which allowed the procession to enter whilst archers rained death upon the Demons with iron and magick.
"Close the gate!" cried out another battered knight as the one carrying the Queen was sent flying into the stone wall nearby. For she had awaken, and was not at all pleased to see that her knights had rebelled against her, as well as the gate crashing into the ground, closed.
However, instead of punishing those who performed such a treacherous action upon her, marched off towards the cathedral with an air of fury around her.