Chapter Forty-Seven

The first skill Jackson picked up was Bloodfyronesis. The name seemed a little self-explanatory, but he still wanted to know exactly what it did. It was also tied with Wings of Desolation, his highest-level skill to date.

Bloodfyronesis (Journeyman Level 40): This skill grants the ability to manipulate fire, blood, and bloodfyre. It grants immunity from all ranks of these elements and aspects at or below journeyman. The higher the willpower, the more degree of control you will have over these elements and aspects.

Jackson whistled. He didn’t really have a standard to compare it to, but that was a powerful skill. Anything that grants immunity must be. Sure, it was only at or below his rank, but he was positive that it would grow. Briefly, he imagined everything he could do with it. Turning fire into flaming dragons, or blades of burning flame, or just a good ol’ fashion fireball to explode the room. He chuckled to himself as a phrase came to mind, though he could not say from where he had heard it.

“I didn’t say how big the room was. I said, I cast a fireball.” Jackson smiled and shook his head. Lilith just rolled her eyes, twirling a finger near her temple. He dismissed her from his mind and moved on to the next skill. Its description unfurled in his mind with a flourishing sound of unraveling paper.

Wings of Desolation (Journeyman Level 40): Summon forth the Wings of Desolation. These wings of dark violet and crimson flame pulse with a song of destruction. These wings will increase your speed, strength, and power, and the effect grows stronger the more you destroy. A minor fear effect emanates from the wings. They also grant you flight. Be cautious, as manifesting these wings consumes a constant stream of mana.

Jackson's mouth straight up collapsed to the floor. He could freaking fly! He actually whooped and pumped a fist as excitement coursed through him—a pleasant shock. He wanted to manifest them right away and start flying immediately, but he still had one more weave to read and a discussion with Lilith that he absolutely needed to have. She was currently scowling at him, eyes narrowed.

“Contain yourself; you act as if you are a toddler.”

Jackson stuck his tongue out at her, knowing it would irritate her, and sure enough, the juvenile action brought forth a huff of sharp annoyance from the angel. He focused on the one weave he had gotten.

Bloodfyre Blades (Journeyman Level 40): Weave bloodfyre into sharp, destructive blades that have the potential to pierce even into Domains, draining life and spirit from anything living, not unlike Consume Blood. Just like Consume Blood, this skill will increase your regeneration as it consumes life, and it will satiate your hunger for blood and destruction.

Jackson rubbed a thumb along his jaw. He really loved weaves and skills with dual purposes like this. He was sure he could do some impressive things with this weave, including manipulating it even further with his Bloodfyronesis skill. It would take some experimenting, but he had some ideas that he tucked away in his mind for later use.

Done looking at skills and weaves, Jackson turned his attention to Lilith, who had been standing there patiently waiting. Well, maybe not patiently. Her foot was tapping rapidly, and she had one eyebrow arched coolly.

“I needed to know what they did. Anyway, I have some questions for you.”

Lilith rolled her eyes, something Jackson was beginning to think she was going to be doing a lot of when it came to him.

“Obviously. Ask, child.”

Jackson waved a hand around them.

“Why were you here at all? You’re clearly incredibly powerful; how could anyone in this dungeon hope to defeat you, even in a different form?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Lilith let out a little “Hmm” sound, as if she had expected Jackson to ask a stupid question and was pleasantly surprised he hadn’t.

“Every so often, the Judge offers beings such as myself an opportunity. We play a role, such as that of a dungeon boss, and in exchange, we are rewarded. As a bloodfyre wyrm, I was a little more vulnerable than I was when you ascended to the summit of this mountain and found me imprisoned.”

Jackson cocked his head, thinking about her answer. It at least made sense.

“What do you know about Delathorn? Why did he chain you to begin with?”

Lilith’s eyes grew distant, her face melting into a contemplative expression. She seemed to be remembering. She spoke as if she were far away.

“Delathorn is not who you believe him to be. He is a traitor, a rebel, and a corrupter of all that is. He is the avatar of chaos, the broken word, and the beginning of madness in all things. Delathorn is dangerous and beyond your comprehension. Leave him for now; you aren’t ready to face him, child. You won’t be for a very long, long time.”

Jackson glared at her,

“You agreed to give me knowledge, Lilith.”

She shrugged, clearly not caring that he was irritated.

“I did, and I have. You cannot compel me, vampyling. I will provide knowledge if I feel you need it. I am not some dog that barks at your command. I am an angel of Eden, eternal and powerful beyond your ken.”

Her eyes flashed like polished gemstones, pride clearly gleaming within them.

Jackson decided to pop that bubble.

“And yet, you are bound to a mere mortal. Tied to my fate, and by your own choice too. How the mighty have fallen.”

Lilith’s face twisted into something horrifically ugly, a visage of fury that blazed with sudden, burning hot fire. Then it was gone, replaced with a serene mask.

“You are not without your barbs; I see Jackson Grey. Still, you play with fire, boy. Careful, you do not get burned.”

Jackson shrugged. He was immune, so the threat lacked heat. He chuckled at his pun and then asked his next question.

“Are you capable of training me? Lazarus had this inheritance he was able to give me, and it came with training.”

Lilith flicked a hand,

“I am not mortal, boy. I progress, but not in the same way as you or the ancient vampyric spirit that was your former mentor did. I cannot pass on an inheritance. I am capable of training you, should you have the talent to be worth teaching.”

She sounded almost bored as she answered. Jackson pointed at her.

“You are required to be my mentor. That was a part of the deal. That means training, talent, or not.”

Lilith studied her nails.

“Yes, yes. Even if you are a talentless hack, I should be able to do something with you, I suppose.”

Jackson nodded and pushed that to the back burner for now. He would come back to it, but there were other things he needed to ask.

“Can you at least tell me why Delathorn took Lazarus?”

Lilith sighed, clearly unwilling to tell him, but she seemed at war with herself over it.

“Fine. You do need to know, as much as it pains me to say so. Delathorn is the reason there are demons here. He is the source of them, in a way.”

That floored Jackson, and yet again, his jaw fell open. Lilith smirked,

“Yes, I thought that would shock you. What an adorable expression. Now close your mouth and prepare yourself for this next bit, mortal. You will not like it.”

Jackson was still trying to process that last bit of news and what it meant, but he did as she said.

Then she dropped the bomb, and his stomach fell.

“Delathorn plans on turning Lazarus into a demon. A powerful, corrupted, demonic vampyre lord. The spirit of your former mentor will likely make a demon so powerful that this dungeon will almost certainly fall to corruption.”

Jackson sat down. The stone's heat did not bother him; he didn’t even notice it. His friend, his mentor, is a demon. One of those things. Jackson knew that Lazarus would not want that. He had to stop it. Lilith must have known the direction of his thoughts—something that wasn’t hard to believe given they literally shared a soul—because she said, in an utterly calm tone,

“It is likely too late to stop, Jackson Grey. The portal forward leads to the orb Abaddon wished you to retrieve. It is likely there that you will find the twisted abomination that your friend has become. Consider the source of this when I say that I am genuinely sorry. Even I, a being who revels in seducing and utterly destroying my enemies, would not wish such a fate on anyone. The kindest thing for you to do would be to end him before he grows in strength and it becomes impossible to do so.”

Jackson rocked backward, tears shimmering in his eyes, before falling to the hot stone below.

It turned out that even vampyres wept.