Supreme Warlady Elena Burstock
“Immolate!” The beheaded corpse of the Legend Xanatos burst into flames. I then stabbed out with Sarah and impaled the head of Legend Xanatos, bringing it up in front of me. “A blood clone. How annoying. I hate people like you, always having an escape prepared. Never willing to put it all on the line. Immolate.” I glared as the skull of this blood clone was quickly consumed by my flames and turned to ashes.
Looking up the sun was shining down on the ruins of the dwarven city of Undercraft. The Mathemancer had always wanted a flying castle, now he had one. Taking off during the middle of my battle. My mind turned towards my son. While he had been in danger, I had not let that distract me from the battle. The Mathemancer did his job and had protected him.
I looked at the burning Winged Snake. When my tier 6 skill had been unleashed I had directed the Mana into the monster, killing it instantly and burning a deep hole in the center of the city. At least it had been evacuated for the most part. I hated fighting in populated areas where civilians could be hurt, but I didn’t let that slow me down. Otherwise people would constantly use civilians as shields. That is why I tried to end such fights decisively. The faster they ended, the less damage was caused.
Looking around again, the city was salvageable. While there was damage, the city wasn’t completely buried, only the edges had a lot of rubble, which could be cleared up. Instead of Undercraft it should be called Pitcraft. The entire place was in a massive pit now. Knowing how the dwarves worked, they would build upwards along the walls, with the less important dwarves being forced higher up. They weren’t a fan of heights.
I kicked the ground and shot into the air. I spotted the College of Advancement hovering in the air above the tunnel entrance to Undercraft. I flew through the air towards the College. It was time I saw my son and see how he fared. If he was harmed, The Mathemancer would pay.
Flying over the walls I landed in front of the hospital building. No one dared to stop or question me as I advanced through the building towards my son. “Elena,” The Mathemancer said outside of my son’s room.
“You wouldn’t be here unless there is an issue,” I said as my lifted my sword up by a single degree towards him. Other people might not perceive the threat, but he would.
“The Dark Cabal penetrated my school. Several staff members were replaced over the last break. They then tried to lure Justin to a building to perform a ritual. The goal being to move his soul into a monster to send you into a rage. They did this while I was focused on the ascent of my College.” My sword rose up another degree.
“He is doing well. He did suffer a physical wound, but that has been promptly treated leaving no scar behind. The Healer with him, Healer Melon took heavy injuries but has recovered as well. He is staying with Justin. Unfortunately, he was impacted by a ritual, which didn’t manage to complete.” My sword rose up five degrees.
“He has a tier 4 skill, Soul Link, with the monster egg. While it can be removed, the risk of damaging his soul is high, especially with all his other skills. Also, he doesn’t the skill removed.” It took effort to constrain my Mana from shattering the space around me.
“Move,” I said and The Mathemancer quickly stepped aside as I strode forward into the hospital room. I noticed Darren was here sitting next to our son who was laying on a hospital bed.
“Mother,” my son said. I strode forward and looked down at him and then glanced at the head sized egg that was on a table to the side of the room.
“My son.” I hesitated on what to say, before barreling forward. “You must give up on the Soul Link skill.”
“Why?” he asked, and I frowned. Independence was both a blessing and a curse.
“It would limit you. Having a creature be a companion is like having a weakness forever attached to you. Investing into something other than yourself, is foolishness. If you don’t give up the skill,” I will smash the egg.
“No!” he said quickly.
“Already your judgement has been messed with by the ritual,” I said with a frown.
“Elena, is it really that bad?” Darren asked and I turned to glare at him.
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“Yes. The only useful companion deep in the dungeon is a sword in one’s hand. Even if you have bonded with the monster, it will forever be a weakness. Drawing experience that should go to you, reducing the pressure you face. While I have been lenient about your learning nonsense skills, this is no joke. This skill must be cut away quickly and the monster destroyed,” I declared.
“It is probably powerful,” Justin said.
“A Wing Serpent. Doesn’t get better than that,” Darren added.
“You shut up.” I glared at my husband who brought up his hands and shut his mouth. “A pet or tamed monster is weakness made manifest. If it is killed, then you will suffer. That skill will be useless.”
“But I can feel it. It is afraid,” my son replied.
“Of course, since I am here. Everything fears me. You think you know better than me?” I asked slowly and carefully.
“It is my life,” my son responded petulantly. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
“Your life? The one I gave you. You think a pet is more important than me?”
“Why do I have to choose?”
“Because I said so. I know it is a mistake. Now cast it aside and focus on yourself instead and not this foolishness.”
“No. If you hurt it, I won’t speak to you,” my son said.
“If you don’t get rid of it, I won’t speak to you,” I countered back. I refused to back down. Even if it was my own son. I would not bend. “I can make better threats than you.”
“But…I feel it mother. We were one, for a brief moment. I can’t describe it,” my son said.
“Foolishness and idiocy!” I roared and the room shook. My son sunk into the hospital bed. “You! You better convince him to get rid of that skill and kill the monster himself, or else.” I pointed at Darren.
“He is your son as well had has inherited part of your stubbornness,” Darren replied.
“But he doesn’t have my overwhelming power. I am going to teach an old man the meaning of the word regret while you fix this husband,” I declared and swept out the hospital room. The Mathemancer wasn’t trying to hide as I marched out of the building and flew over to a nearby mountain peak.
The biting cold wind and swirling snow didn’t phase me in the slightest. “You screwed up old man,” I said while bringing my sword to point directly at him.
“I admit I let some things slip by, but even you couldn’t protect your son from the Dark Cabal,” The Mathemancer said.
“I couldn’t. That was my failure. I don’t blame you for his injury. But a ritual. And letting him keep that monster?”
“It is a tier 4 skill. It can’t be stripped away unless he is willing. It is ingrained too deeply and with his Soul Resistance skill, it would be incredibly hard. Even for an elite soul mage or an experienced System Priest,” The Mathemancer declared.
“You took responsibility for my son, that means the good and the bad,” I replied while readying myself.
“You can’t kill me.”
“I have never really tried. Let’s see if you are worthy of descending to the bottom of the dungeon with me,” I declared. “Slice!”
“Force Redirection!” He brought up a staff deflecting my attack and spinning about. “Unbound Mass!”
I instantly became lighter and floated off the ground. “Air Platform!” I was going to teach this old man why allowing my son to come to harm under his care was a bad idea.
Legend Xanatos of the Dark Cabal
“Ahhhhhh!” I screamed in pain as my soul entered into the homunculus I had prepared ahead of time. It was the only way to break the chain of divination. I knew that Elena would track me down otherwise. Unfortunately a blood clone wouldn’t have worked. I had to use a darker method. A method that would ensure my soul didn’t collapse. I kept screaming as my soul reworked itself into its new body.
Once it was done, I slowly rose up. My body shook. I focused and checked my status. My hands clenched into fists. So many stats lost, so many skills lost or degraded. The door to my private chamber opened and I frowned.
“A homunculus, you have become weak Xanatos.”
“Yonder, a pleasure as always,” I replied as I wrapped a robe around my naked body.
“This is why we don’t mess with Supreme Legends. But your pride couldn’t handle such a thing, could it?” Yonder asked with a sneer. I walked over to my liquor cabinet. I began to pour myself a much needed drink. “You couldn’t even destroy Undercraft or the College of Advancement.”
“What?!” I paused in my pouring.
“The Mathemancer flew his college away and the top of the mountain. The idea to smash the two togeather has failed. Now our enemies are more aware of us and stronger than ever. Wasting resources carefully placed into the College and to avoid their truth orbs. That was a long term investment. Already The Mathemancer and his forces have cut down all involved already. The legends are organizing, the divinations show that we are headed to ruin once more,” Yonder declared.
“So what? You seek to replace me? You wouldn’t dare,” I replied with a sneer. I wasn’t worried about a betrayal to the outside. The chains that bound us all would not allow such a thing.
“I am just wondering why? Why target Justin and drag the Supreme Warlady into a conflict.”
“Are we rats? No! We are the Dark Cabal. The pinnacle of power in the entire world. If power isn’t used, what good is it. While things didn’t go according to plan, our name carries weight.”
“We are called the Dark Cabal, since we thrive in the shadows. Your foolishness endangers us all.”
“Those that respect power will understand. They will know what it means to face Elena and survive. The legends that desire more will seek us out. And we will grow in strength, not become weaker. We are not rats Yonder. Leave me,” I waved him off.
“Fine. When you stumble, I will gladly take the Dark Library off your hands,” he said. I held back the wince at the mention of the Dark Library. The end of the battle had been too desperate. I had lost control of it. I was no longer master of the Dark Library. Once that was discovered, the Dark Cabal would no longer obey me. I needed to reclaim it and quickly.