The Naga's shudder intensified Immanuel's wound and agony.
Syl's muffled voice then sliced through the disorienting pain.
Confronted with the creature's immense, immovable bulk, Immanuel strained to respond.
"Syl...Syl," he attempted to call out, but his voice was barely a whisper.
In a moment of clarity, he decided to access his storage again, now that the Naga seemed incapacitated. To his relief, it worked!
He summoned a small sword and began the arduous task of cutting through the creature. Gritting his teeth against the pain as he cut through the black mass, struggling as the Naga's form obscured his vision.
Disoriented, he moved towards where he believed the shortest distance out from under the Naga would be. Unable to pinpoint Syl's location until he heard her yell once more.
Summoning the remnants of his energy, he crawled laboriously until, finally, two hands grasped him, pulling him out to safety.
----
Syl appeared composed with steady hands as she examined Immanuel's injuries, yet her head twitched sporadically. Her lips trembled slightly. Carefully, she removed his shirt and pants to better assess the damage. Then, she took off her undergarments and kneeled beside him. She began to fashion a makeshift bandage from the fabric.
Meanwhile, Zach emerged from beneath the Naga with Immanuel’s sword, looking battered and bloodied. Patches of his fur were missing, revealing the raw, reddened skin beneath.
Syl finished tying the bandage and proceeded to check Immanuel's body for other injuries. Immanuel summoned Syl’s robes, offering them with a bloodied smile. That's when he realized, feeling with his tongue, that his front teeth were missing.
"Fffuck," he muttered softly, pressing his lips together.
Concerned, he asked Syl, "You alright?" He noticed her odd, jerky head movements, as if she were constantly resisting the urge to look over her shoulder.
Syl remained silent, focusing intently on bandaging and examining him. When she reached his head, Immanuel met her gaze, noticing tears in her eyes despite her steady hands.
“Syl. I am fine. I am healing.Get dressed its still fucking cold here.” Immanuel grimaced lightly.
He looked over to Zach.
"Take out the carpet and tent," Syl requested. Immanuel did and they huddled inside.
Immanuel then summoned the last two of the spirit fruits, handing them to Syl. He also conjured a black ninja suit for Zach, who transformed back into a boy to wear it. Zach's transformation revealed that half of his beautiful brown curls were now gone. Syl gave him back one of the fruits.
“Can I have a sword?” Syl asked, so Immanuel summoned one while wondering why she wasn't using her claws, as she typically did.
She sliced one of the spirit fruits into three pieces. She handed one to Zach, placed another down, and gave the third to Immanuel. Eating without his front teeth felt odd, but the fruit's magic began to work, and soon he was able to burn his core energy at a low level.
"Eat!" Immanuel urged Syl. She complied, though she continued to shake her head in a subtle, one-sided motion, now appearing less strained.
After eating his share, Immanuel lay down on the soft carpet, the comfort and exhaustion finally overtaking him, and he drifted into sleep.
----
Awakening in the tent, Immanuel found Syl sleeping beside him and Zach at his feet. He checked his side, finding it almost healed. A sense of genuine gratitude washed over him. "Whatever you did, Chimera, you did a fine job with this body and those fucking fruits."
Syl stirred awake and turned towards him, resting her head gently against his.
"You stopped shaking," Immanuel whispered to her.
"Overuse," she replied softly. "I don't know how to kiss," she added without any preamble.
Immanuel chuckled, letting his head fall down on the carpet with a wide smile.
"Zach sleeps," she whispered.
"How did your family show affection? Didn't you have a family before the sect took you?" Immanuel inquired softly.
"I had a family. Four brothers. To be close to someone, we put our cheeks against each other," Syl explained.
"Ah," Immanuel responded, then a realization dawned on him. "You did that almost immediately after meeting me." .
"You cured my sickness. I decided to stay with you."
"I'm happy you were the one to taste my blood," Immanuel whispered back. Syl then lay on top of him, her body surprisingly light, and nestled her head beside his, their cheeks touching gently.
"Was there no one you wanted to save from that place?" Immanuel asked, voicing a question that had lingered in his mind for some time.
"No." The word was soft, barely audible.
Syl continued, "The risk was too great. I trusted no one." After her words, silence fell, and Immanuel savored the comforting presence of her body on top of his.
After a while, Syl broke the silence. "Teach me how to kiss," she requested. Immanuel, already drifting towards sleep in the warmth of the moment, was brought back by her words.
At that moment, Zach stretched and yawned, wearing the new ninja suit and in his Lycan form. He yawned towards Immanuel, revealing sharp teeth, before transforming back into a boy.
"Alter."
"Alter?" Immanuel echoed, puzzled.
"There is an altar at the end of the room," Syl explained.
They walked out standing in the huge room. The Naga was gone, only rubble and blood remained. Immanuel looked at the side of their battle and shook his head. “It's so unreal it’s hard for me to believe my own memories.” He said while walking towards a small altar that stood where the Naga once waited.
As they approached the altar, Immanuel couldn't resist testing the acoustics of the large room by singing a tune. Though the space was too vast for ideal sound resonance, he found enjoyment in the melody.
Reaching the platform with three stone beds and a small altar, they noticed inscriptions. Immanuel translated the solitary word on the altar: "Choice, or elite." Then, as if responding to their presence, words appeared on each of the stone beds, etched into the stone as if it were soft clay. The smallest platform displayed a set of options:
- Recommended: Ancestor recovery
- Mental → Focus
- Battle awareness
- Strength → Dramatic increase possible
- Elemental affinity → Fire
"I'm not sure about 'Ancestor recovery'; it could also mean rehabilitation or recreation," Immanuel said.
Turning to Zach, he remarked, "This sounds all very promising."
Choose "one." Zach said softly while lying down on the stone.
"You sure? Don’t you want to think about it? A fire affinity? I mean-" Immanuel began.
"Do one," Zach insisted. Immanuel pressed the option and tried to pronounce the foreign word. The options vanished, and stone slabs rose around Zach, encasing him.
"So that’s that," Immanuel said, a mix of awe and uncertainty in his voice. He then turned to the second stone bed, reading its recommendations:
- Recommended: Ancestor recovery
- Dantian placement
- Affinity possible → poison
- Battle awareness
"So, that’s you, I think," Immanuel said to Syl. "What are you going to do?"
"Number one," she replied.
"Why also one? Why so certain?”
"There were three powerful ancestors who each started a bloodline. Together, they aimed to create a strong sect based on their blood. But with every generation, the potency of their blood diminished. We are mere shadows of those original beings. Through wild experiments, we try to regain that lost power. I am just a weak echo of my ancestor. My generation can't even transform into our spirit beast forms. To be restored is to become whole again."
Immanuel felt a twinge of worry. What if, after being restored, Syl no longer needed his blood? Would she become independent? He chastised himself for the thought but couldn't shake the fear that accompanied it.
"You first," Syl urged him, bringing his attention back to the third stone bed.
Immanuel read its recommendations:
- Recommended → Mental strain
- Affinity possibility → celestial
- Strength → Dramatic increase possible
- Soul split
"Do you know what the first and fourth options mean? And what is 'celestial'?" he asked.
"I don’t know what 'soul split' could mean. Maybe it's related to the core? Like a core split, allowing you to create duplicates? There's a legend about Dark Manse and a Triple Core duplicate," Syl speculated.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"I'm not familiar with celestial affinities. But an affinity is part of your core and will manifest eventually. There are treasures known to assist with that. Are you sure it says 'mental strain'?" Syl asked.
"Or maybe 'scope' or 'size' or even ‘focus’?" Immanuel tasted the strange word "Bastk." "Yeah, it must be something like that."
“It is notoriously difficult to find evolutions for mental abilities. Few beasts develop them, and it is even harder to obtain through a core. I would go for number one. If these things can restore our bloodline or anything of the like then it is very powerful magic.”
"Okay, mental strain it is then," Immanuel said with a hint of resolve, trusting Syl’s guidance.
He glanced towards the closed dome where Zach lay encapsulated. "How do we know he's not dead in there?" Immanuel asked.
"I do not believe he is dead." Syl said, touching the stone tomb.
"Oke, but you go first," Immanuel insisted gently.
"No, you go. I'll go after you," Syl responded firmly.
With a sigh, Immanuel lay down on the stone bed.
----
Immanuel lay on the stone slab as it closed over him, and suddenly, he felt a multitude of needle-like sensations piercing his body, akin to acupuncture. Almost instantly, a blissful state enveloped him, bringing an intense sense of wellbeing. A silly grin spread across his face as he reveled in the unexpected comfort and safety of the moment, just before losing consciousness.
---
Waking up later on the stone slab, Immanuel noticed that Syl’s and Zach’s stone enclosures were still sealed. Syl had neatly placed the robes aside. He pulled out some fish and began to cut it with a small throwing knife, eating his fill of raw fish while waiting for the others.
After eating, Immanuel decided to test if anything felt different. He felt rejuvenated, his core energy fully replenished. Focusing on a distant pillar, he noticed an enhanced clarity and sharpness in his vision.
Curious, he threw his sword into the air and activated his new ability. The sword seemed to slow to a near stop, almost hanging in midair, before descending. Catching the sword, he noticed his arm moving through the air as if through syrup. Releasing his focus, the world returned to its normal pace.
Grinning broadly, Immanuel recognized the potential of this new ability.
As time passed and the others remained enclosed, he explored the area and discovered inscriptions on the altar:
Choose one:
- Phoenix feather robe
- Soul binding bracelet
- Celestial scripture
- Ethereal wings amulet
- Mystic Pearl of the Seas
"Wow!" he thought, intrigued by each option. "Can everyone choose one, or is it just one for all of us?"
He contemplated the choices. The celestial scripture might relate to a celestial affinity, contain special skills or attacks, or be a religious text. The term 'scripture' could also mean 'doctrine.'
Deciding to wait for Syl and Zach, Immanuel played with his newfound focus ability. He threw his sword high and far, then focussed, slowing the descent to a crawl. Flashing, he caught the sword mid-air and landed in a superhero pose, a broad smile on his face.
Looking out at the ruins of the pillars, he pondered his future. "Is this what lies ahead? A life of constant battle?" he mused, throwing his sword again. "Might as well learn to love it," he decided. Flashing once more, he caught the sword in mid air.
---
Immanuel continued to refine his skills until a fierce headache showed him one of the limitations of his new focus ability. He returned to where Syl and Zach were still encased, concern growing within him. "What if something went wrong with the process?" he wondered, sitting down against Syl’s stone tomb
He replayed their recent battles in his mind, critiquing his decisions. "Was it stupid to throw my weapons? Could I have caused more damage if I'd kept them?" He stood up and started jumping because of the cold and eventually pulled out his tent to sit inside.
Finally, Zach's enclosure opened, revealing a transformed figure. In his Lycan form, Zach now sported dark brown, beautiful fur and a long, claw-tipped tail. His ears were round like a bear's, and his snout was elongated.
"Zach?" Immanuel inquired softly.
"Immanuel," Zach replied, his eyes still closed.
Before Immanuel could finish his next question, Zach spoke. "Gratitude, Immanuel." The sincerity in his voice was palpable as he opened his eyes and lightly stepped off the stone slab, then knelt down, his head bowed to the ground.
Immanuel, taken aback by Zach's gesture, started to speak, but Zach continued, "You saved me from endless suffering. I heard you when I was shackled in the sect. You wished to free me only because I was suffering. I distrusted you for this, but, you shared everything freely. You fought holding nothing back. This is what a pack does."
Zach remained kneeling, his head bowed.
Immanuel did not know what to say and desperately searched for words to match Zach’s sincerity.
"...Zach, we are a pack. You, me, and Syl," Immanuel affirmed, searching for the right words to encapsulate the bond they shared. "One for all, all for one." He said with a smile saying the first thing that came to mind.
As he spoke, he inwardly cringed, realizing he had quoted the motto of the Three Musketeers. Despite his years of teaching philosophy, the first thing that came to mind was The Three Musketeers.
Zach tentatively extended a paw, then hesitated. Immanuel embraced him, picking him up from the ground. The warmth and softness of Zach's fur was comforting in the cold environment, reminiscent of a plush fleece blanket.
They remained in the embrace for a long time, and Immanuel, sensing the importance of the moment, decided to be the last to let go. However, Zach seemed in no hurry to break the hug. ‘Maybe it’s a leader thing? Maybe he is waiting for me to stop hugging. Or is Syl the leader?’
Finally, Immanuel gently set Zach down. Zach affectionately nuzzled against him, displaying a newfound comfort and familiarity.
"Do you know how you look?" Immanuel asked Zach, curious about his awareness of his transformed appearance.
Zach did not inspect his new form, “I believe whatever the outside changes are the most important is that I believe my limit is gone.”
"Limit?" Immanuel echoed.
"We all have a natural limit to our growth. Mine was at stage 9, maybe 10 if I was lucky. Few lycans can grow beyond 10." Zach explained, with a toothy grin.
Just then, Syl's stone enclosure opened. Immanuel was immediately by her side, offering his arm instinctively. She took his arm and drank deeply. The act filled him with a sense of lightheaded joy and simultaneously guilt for being happy that she still needed his blood.
After she finished, she gently released his arm. Syl, completely bare, walked to the edge of the platform and transformed, showcasing her own new form.
Her skin morphed into scales, and her head took on the shape of a cobra's, with a wide mouth full of sharp teeth, not just the typical fangs of a snake. Her eyes transformed into mesmerizing red rubies, and her head shimmered with a golden sheen, complemented by a distinctive white stripe of scales running from her lip to her tail.
The transformation extended to her body, which resembled that of a snake, supported by six thin almost transparent insectoid legs, three on each side. Moreover, she had two arms resembling those of a praying mantis, each ending in a formidable long blade.
As she moved tentatively, exploring her new form, she turned towards Immanuel. Her tongue flicked out rapidly. She then acknowledged Zach with a nod of her head, to which he responded in kind.
Immanuel found himself consciously closing his mouth, struck by the terrifying yet majestic presence of Syl in her transformed state. Her new form was not just fearsome in its appearance but also exuded a regal aura. The combination of her intimidating size and the powerful grace she possessed in this form made for a striking image.
As Syl experimented with her new form, Immanuel watched in amazement. She struck with her arms at a deadly speed. Her movements varied from quick dashes to slow, deliberate retreats. She even slithered on her belly like a snake, her arms and legs positioned to the sides.
Then, standing upright, she used her legs to move with incredible speed, displaying a capacity for short, rapid bursts of movement. After her display, she returned to her human form, still naked, and walked towards Immanuel, a smile on her face.
Immanuel, caught off guard by her sudden change back to her naked human form, smiled widely. He quickly turned to retrieve her robes and tossed them to her.
Syl's expression of contentment was evident as she spoke,. "This feels absolutely divine," she said, her smile radiating satisfaction while she draped the robes over her head.
"It was always clear there was a piece missing. That I was deformed. That there should be something, but there was nothing..." she reflected, her words trailing off.
“Well you both look absolutely amazing. But, there’s more!
He then directed their attention to the altar, listing the options they had to choose from:
1. Phoenix feather robe
2. Soul binding bracelet
3. Celestial scripture
4. Ethereal wings amulet
5. Mystic Pearl of the Seas
"Any ideas?" he asked.
"I don’t know what they do," Syl admitted.
"You look a lot like the King Cobra, a snake that lives where I grew up," Immanuel complimented her with a smile as she came to stand next to him in front of the altar.
Turning to Zach, he added, "And you, Zach, look strong."
“The pack was victorious.” Said Zach softly.
"The pack was victorious, indeed," Immanuel agreed.
"Syl seemed to understand the weight of Zach’s words, and as Zach moved to kneel on the ground, she surged forward, enveloping him in an embrace."
They remained in that embrace momentarily before she whispered, "You saved us."
"What happened on top of the Naga?" inquired Immanuel.
"Zach had the spirits with him.” Syl said releasing Zach.
“He discovered a similar structure within its body, akin to the smaller Naga. We succeeded in destroying it."
“Can you ask for an explanation of the items?" Syl requested.
"I can try," Immanuel acknowledged. He switched languages. "Elucidate." No response. "Could you explain the items, the inventory?"
The words materialized on the stone as though crafted from liquid. Intrigued, Zach touched the stone with the claw end of his tail, finding it still solid.
Phoenix Feather Robe: A garment woven from the feathers of a mythical phoenix, bestowing protection against fire and intense heat.
Soul Binding Bracelet: A bracelet capable of binding or controlling a single soul.
Celestial Scripture: A manual detailing the enhancement of celestial affinity and skills.
Ethereal Wings Amulet: An amulet endowing the wearer with the power of flight for brief intervals.
Mystic Pearl of the Seas: A pearl offering the ability to breathe underwater.
"Hmm," mused Syl. "The scripture could certainly help you."
"The sects' scriptures were completely incomprehensible," Zach added. "Yet, the power of flight could prove invaluable in combat. My choice is the wings."
"Breathing underwater holds little value unless one is intent on delving into its depths," Syl pointed out.
"I am never going to explore those depths," Immanuel stated firmly.
"The soul binding, if it indeed binds the core, could preserve someone even after their body is destroyed. But I am not sure. Perhaps it could even enable control over a beast? Or a way to store a beast." Syl thought aloud.
"This battle would indeed have been easier with the added advantage of flight. Zach's suggestion is sound. Shall we opt for the wings?" Immanuel said.
"Is the enchantment of the Ethereal Wings Amulet permanent for a single individual? Does it require a binding ritual? Is it possible for us to share its use?" Syl asked.
"Does the Ethereal Wings Amulet necessitate a binding that's irrevocable?" Immanuel queried in the ancient tongue.The stone did not answer.
‘I think Zach definitely wants those wings. He is just biting his tongue. And who does not want to fly?’ Immanuel thought.
"We choose the wings," he said in the archaic language. The altar responded, revealing an amulet shaped like two wings, crafted from bone.
"In preparing for the worst-case scenario, and assuming this item binds to its user, who should use it? Who would gain the greatest advantage in battle? I can teleport and may soon access my own flight capabilities. The decision lies between Zach and Syl."
"Then it should be Zach. His smaller stature makes him ideal for swift, stealthy attacks. In my King Cobra form, I'd be far too conspicuous a target." She said with a wink to Immanuel
"Zach, you have the honor." Immanuel said while smiling to Syl.
Zach leaped up, energetically pulling both Immanuel and Syl into a unifying group hug.
Zach descended, picking up the intricately crafted amulet. Its necklace, woven from delicate-looking bones. He carefully placed it over his head.
"It appears this amulet isn't bound through a ritual, but rather it requires time to, for lack of a better term, to integrate," Zach said after a moment as he watched the bones begin to meld into his chest. Tiny spikes sprouted, weaving seamlessly into his fur.
"Does it hurt?" Immanuel inquired with concern.
"No, it's painless," Zach reassured.
"Well, then let's leave this icy church," Immanuel suggested.
“It takes at least a day before I can use the amulet.” Zach said while they walked towards the exit.
Immanuel smiled, noting, "It's impressive that you can now talk in both forms."