Chapter 7: Invasion (3)

Back to the surface, the man who just saved Astora was wiping his rapier with Tyr’s cape. Taking away his weapon, the man approached Astora but was stopped by a giant book with an eye in the way.

“Hey hey, I come in peace.” Said Steven. “My name is Steven. No need for alarm!”

“Don’t trust him, Grimora! He is one of the government’s agents.” Astora spoke in pain.

“Indeed I am but I am not here to arrest you. On the contrary, I am here to help. I suppose you don’t have anywhere to go right?” smiled Steven.

“As if I would go to your place, you creep.” From just a glance, Astora knew this person could not be trusted. Someone who smiled after killing somebody in cold blood could not be a sane person.

“No no no you misunderstand, little miss. I am merely suggesting a place you should probably visit. Whether you go or not is up to you. And don’t worry! I won’t get in your way or anything, just assisting you with what you want.” the man in suit proposed.

“….What do you think mistress?” Grimora asked with his eye still on the strange man. Clearly the guy was suspicious and his behaviour certainly didn’t help either. What was even more suspicious was that he wasn’t even surprised by Grimora, a flying talking book. Both Astora and Grimora noticed that particular odd detail. Still….

“…What are you suggesting? I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to listen.” Astora said.

“Tell me, what do you know about your father? Your mother, did she ever tell you about him?” Steven asked.

The question struck Astora at her most vulnerable spot. The subject about her father was a very touchy one for her mother as well as the other relatives she knew. Whenever she asked them about who her father was, all she received was either a dead silence or a quick change of subject. Even after she was captured by the government’s agents, they asked her the same questions. But how was she supposed to answer something she too wished to know about?

However, it was not that Astora was completely oblivious about her father. There was only one time in her life when Fiora told her daughter a bed time story. She told her that there was a world of magic somewhere out there with all the magical creatures one could only find in fairy tales. And most importantly, her father came from that world: its name was Astora and the reason why Fiora named her daughter in such a way. So that one day, her father would recognize her.

Alas, it was a story from so long ago and Astora only remembered a few parts of it. Back then, she simply brushed it away as a tale her mother made up. But now, confronted to the truth, how Chris always mentioned her father as the Traveller, indicating him coming from somewhere else, Astora came to the conclusion: her father was someone from another world.

“I know a few things.” Astora kept her cool. But inside, she was desperate for some info on her father.

“Good! But do you really know everything though? Are you not curious about him? About the world he came from?” Steven continued.

“Are you saying that you can bring me there?” Astora bounced up despite the injury.

“I certainly can. If you wish for it of course.”

“…”

“Of course take your time. This is a big decision after all. Still, we are in the middle of a battlefield so do mind of that.” Steven spoke charmingly and turned his head. “Oh take this for your injury! Don’t worry! There is no poison in it.” Steven took out a tablet comprising of twelves red pellets.

“Thanks!” Without hesitation, Astora took one of the pellet and swallowed it in one go. Just seconds later, she felt warm in her chest and completely rejuvenated. Her internal injuries and bruises also seemed to have healed themselves. It was difficult to think that science could have come that far. In fact, everything about the pellet and its effect seemed almost….magical.

“I am pleased that you decided to trust me.” Smiled Steven.

“Of course not. But if you want me killed, you would have done it long ago.” Astora claimed.

“ *CLAP* A good observation. One ought to know their limits and be able to admit it.

“Observation hum…..” the girl muttered in silence. “Psychometry activated!”

Target: ???

Species: ???

Description: ???

“What?” Astora startled. She was unable to scan the man in front of her and the images she saw in her mind were all camouflaged by some static. “What did you do?”

“Nothing worth mentioning. About our previous discussion, shall we go?” Steven extended his hand.

“…Fine!” The girl reluctantly accepted. She felt that even if she refused, there was no way this man would simply let her go just like that. She had no choice but to do as he said now. “Where are we going?”

“A facility near the presidential palace. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to use any vehicle as it would attract too much unnecessary attention. In addition, the surrounding areas of the president palace are now a war zone. We have to be stealthy in our way.” Explained Steven.

“Can’t you do something about it? You seem to be able to handle that god quite easily. Isn’t he among their strongest?” Astora raised her suspicion. There was still a lot of things unknown about the man in front of her.

“I was lucky.” Steven shook his hands. “Besides, he was critically injured by your little friend first. I merely did the final blow.”

“Somehow I doubt that….But fine, it is not like you will tell me anyway. Let’s go then!”

“As you wish, miss!”

* * *

On the Resistance’ side, or rather the special group tasked with rescuing Astora led by Fiora, they were doing a great job in avoiding conflicts. With so little fighting capabilities in their members, the group had no choice but to do so in order to survive. Using the ruins for their advantage, they wasted no time advancing from one district to another. Based on the situation they have seen, perhaps things were not so hopeless for humanity as they thought it would be. While the common soldiers of the army were unfortunately no match for the invaders, Fiora has seen special types of soldiers being deployed onto the battlefield. Characterizing for their black uniform and gas masks, these special types held inhuman capabilities and were equipped with unknown weaponry.

Fiora recognized the uniform they wore. The Resistance have encountered them before on multiples occasions. According to their findings, these were a prototype unit under direct command of the president himself. They were developed by a secret research team, in short artificial soldiers. However, if this information came out, it would deal a serious blow against president Hyland as it violated the international ethical treaty. The plan was for the Resistance to show the evidences at the inauguration day but of course, because of this attack, it was scratched away. Such misfortune!

“Is this the right way?” Fiora asked the man in front of her.

“Yes. To get to the hospital ward, we need to pass the through the presidential palace. It is dangerous but I know a tunnel that can help us get there unnoticed. With all the chaos outside, there shouldn’t be any guard watching over it.” The scientist explained.

“Do you think there is a chance that they already moved her?” an esper following behind asked.

“I won’t say it is impossible…However, the presidential palace is currently under attack and the whole city is a war zone. I doubt they would have time to think about one girl.” Said the scientist.

“A lot of assumptions there….”

“We don’t have a choice. This is our best chance of getting her after all these years. If we take too long, she might be moved somewhere else out of our reach.” The scientist said.

“I won’t let that happen!” Fiora clenched her teeth. She refused to let this chance go away. For five years she tormented herself on why she was there that day. For fifteen years, there were time she asked herself: ‘Did I do the right thing that day?’ This question stayed in her mind for a very long time. If it was a sin, then she had to atone for it. And the only way to do so was to watch over Astora as long as she lived.

The way was supposed to be safe. It should have been with the army and the unknown invaders attacking each other on the surface. Unfortunately, things seemed to never go according to plan for the Resistance. Perhaps it was fate, or a terrible luck they had. The moment the group came out of the tunnel, an abominable creature stood in their way.

“I sense a faint foul stench of the One who would rebel against the Almighty Creators”

“ONE OF YOU? BUT WHICH?”

“Doesn’t matter. Eat them all!”

Possessing a flaming body the size of a bus, the creature had three heads, each with their own personality. Its fangs were sharp and imbued with poisons that melted even steel with a single touch. Its breath was as scorching hot that burned the skin of its victim. A demonic creature only from the legends.

“We are Cerberus, keepers of the Gate to the Underworld. For the glory of the Almighty Creators, we shall devour all seeds of rebellion.” The beast declared.

“RUN!” Fiora shouted at her comrades.

The beast charged toward the group but they managed to avoid it by jumping to the sides.

“Miserable bugs, taste the flame of Hells!” the two side heads Cerberus breathed a torrent of crimson fire.

“” one of the espers stood in front of the group and raised a forcefield around them, deflecting the flames.

“Insolent fool!” Cerberus’ middle head began to prepare for an attack.

“” Fiora’s eyes glowed as they watched the beast in action. “Everyone, jump to your right!”

“” From the middle head, Cerberus fired a stream of blue fire. Have the esper continued to maintain his barrier and if not for Fiora’s warning, he would have been reduced to ashes by now and so would the others behind him join his fate. But they still had a chance. While Fiora didn’t have any fighting potential, her psychic ability, telepathy, allowed one to read the mind of any living being in her proximity. This was a tremendous gift in a battle as the opponent’s moves would be constantly revealed and even countered. However, if the enemy was a mindless beast, it would not have worked. Thankfully, Cerberus was a beast but possessed rather high intelligence because of its godly attributes so Fiora’s abilities would work on it perfectly. Still, there was a big difference in term of power between them. Just because Fiora could predict an attack, it didn’t mean that she would be able to avoid or defend against it. Furthermore, the group has severely underestimated Cerberus’ intelligence. The beast has already made a rough guess of what happened and was preparing its next move.

“” Cerberus held its breath. If its opponents could read its mind, then it could simply make its attack unavoidable, by leaving no blind spots for them to escape to.

*BOUM*

The three heads formed a giant blast that burned the entire area around it to crisp. With that level of intensity, attempting to defend with their puny barrier would be a foolish move. Cerberus looked around with satisfaction: a barren ashen land devoid of lives. With nothing in sight, the giant beast turned its back and dashed away.

“Weak! Is this all the so called Usurper can do?” the left head of Cerberus spoke with a croaky voice.

“NO! TOO WEAK FOR USURPER! CAN’T BE IT!” the right head retorted.

“But they had the scent.” The left head said. “It’s still there but there is.”

“TOO FAINT! TOO LITTLE!” the right head explained.

“Whatever the case, they are all dead now. We must find lord Tyr.” The middle head broke the discussion. However, something remained in its mind, something it believed that it overlooked. “The smell….I can still sense it.”

“THEY ALIVE!”

“Turn back!”

Although, while the beast certainly had intelligence, it severely underestimated the survival instinct of the humans. When it finally came back to the battlefield, Cerberus searched it carefully and found something that shocked it: a large hole enough for four peoples to hide in. Furthermore, it was located right behind a pile of rubbles so Cerberus didn’t see the humans jumping and hiding in it the whole time. And the ashes after blinded its nose momentarily, allowing them to escape. The keeper of the Underworld has been played miraculously.

“ARRRRRRRRRRR!” the three heads howled in rage. But that howl was not just a simply roar. It was communicating to something. “Follow their tracks! Find them!”

Just moment before the blast, Fiora has ordered one of the espers to create a small hole so the four could jump in. If there was no place to avoid the attack, simply made one. However, they didn’t manage to go far. From afar, a large silhouette loomed. And then another. And another. Somewhat smaller than the three headed beasts, the newcomers still gave off a frightening appearance. Two headed giant dog-like creatures have surrounded Fiora and her comrades. Served as the grunts of the Keeper of the Underground, these beasts were called Orthrus and followed loyally the commands given to them by the leader of the pack, which was Cerberus. It didn’t take long for Cerberus to arrive along with dozens others Orthrus.

“What the hell? How are we getting out of this?” the scientist trembled. He was perhaps too naïve for not expecting this much trouble. The way was supposed to be safe, but that was before the attack. A few soldiers would not pose a problem but this, this was something entirely different. “I am…sorry everyone….I led you all into this.”

“Stay focused!” Fiora shouted, pressing her back against the scientist.

“You two go ahead, we will halt them.” The two other espers volunteered to stay behind.

“Don’t speak nonsense! I won’t leave any of you. Besides, how are we even going to get out?” Fiora spoke. This mission was her only chance to save Astora. But with the cost of others? That was too much to ask.

“Yes...I did promise her that.” The scientist mumbled quietly. It seemed that he has gathered all his remaining resolution for his next move. Slowly but steadily, he reached for his pocket. “I will open a path. Miss Fiora, please use that chance to get away! The presidential palace is just up ahead. It will still be a way to the hospital ward but that place shouldn’t be heavily attacked. By yourself, you should be able to….”

“What are you saying?”

“I promised that I will help her find her mother. Whatever the cost, I must fulfil my promise. Please don’t waste this chance!” The scientist suddenly rushed away from the group toward a pack of Orthrus. He didn’t get far but enough from the group. One by one, the Orthrus jumped at him, biting and tearing bits of flesh. The scientist screamed in pain but refused to release his fist. With his thumb, he pressed onto the small device he pulled out of his pocket earlier: a grenade.

*BANG*

“NOW GO!” the esper didn’t waste any time and pushed Fiora toward the blast zone. “If you truly want your daughter back, show us your resolve! GO!”

Fiora couldn’t say anything. She simply couldn’t. If she stayed behind now, then the scientist’ sacrifice would have been to waste. Could she bear that sin too? How could she? Even if she stayed behind, it wouldn’t do much to change the status quo. So the only way for her was to move on and run as fast as she could. It was a logical solution. Why must all die when one could at least survive? But if the choice was so obvious, why did it hurt so much?

Fiora ran without turning her head back. A flow of tears dropped from her red eyes, blurring her vision. Still she ran, wiped away the tears. By taking of the chaotic situation after the explosion, the beasts would be able to go after her immediately. Or so she thought, naively.

“FOUND YOU!”

* * *

Not far from there, a trio of unexpected members was also heading toward the presidential palace, or rather a place near the location. Because of her weak constitution or the fact that she was a normal child up until now, the odd government’s agent Steven had to carry her like a princess toward their destination. Based on his figure, Steven also didn’t seem like he was the type with physical strength. Yet, betraying her expectation, the man seemed to have no trouble at all carrying her. In addition, he was able to keep a steady speed even though the terrain was quite uphill.

“Are we there yet?” Grimora in his notebook form asked.

“Almost there. I can see the building from he….!!!!” Sensing something coming his way, Steven immediately stopped. Just in front of him, a card was stuck in the ground. Then before he could turn back, another card was thrown in the same way.

From above, a figure jumped down and confronted the trio. Wearing a set of uniform of black and white similar to that a standard bartender, the man’s face was covered entirely by an ivory mask with not a single gap. It made one wonder on how he could even see with that kind of accessory.

“Now this is a surprise.” Steven, still holding a panicked Astora in his arms, seemed shocked at the arrival of this new stranger. “You came faster than I expected.”

“An acquaintance of yours?” asked Astora.

“We are more than just acquaintance, aren’t we?” Steven redirected the question toward the stranger. However, it was impossible to read his expression because of the mask.

“I don’t have time to joke around. Let go of the girl!” the man spoke with a grave voice.

“And what? So you can take her to your bar? She is a minor for god’ sake.” Steven joked seriously.

“I won’t let you use her like a tool.” The bartender lunged forward to grab the girl. But Steven quickly took a few steps back. The masked man executed a series of martial arts techniques trying to separate the girl from Steven but could not touch the man.

“And I suppose I will just let you use her?” Steven began to fight back with his leg while doing acrobatic moves to gain balance and attack at the same time. However, holding the girl really put a dent on his ability to do as he wished.

“A weakness!” the bartender managed to close their distance. Putting a hand on Steven’s chest while the other grabbed the girl, the man has overpassed his opponent’s defence. “”. Hit at point blank, the agent was blasted away across the street and crashed into a building. Have it been a normal human, the blast would have shattered their bones and smashed their internal organs to pulp. Luckily, Steven was no normal man.

Meanwhile, Astora could only watch the battle unfold in her eyes while remaining motionless. She has just been passed in the hands of yet another stranger. Despite whatever they said, it seemed that they considered her having no place to say in any of this. And that pissed her off.

“Astora, come with me! I will….” Before the bartender could continue, a giant book was smashed against his face. The indestructible material the book was made from turned the attack into a deadly strike at such close range. As for the man in white mask, he didn’t expect to be hit by the same person he claimed to rescue from the hands of the evil man over there. Now, he was on his knees, recovering from the sneaky attack of the girl. It didn’t hurt him that much but enough to crack the side of his mask.

“Hahaha! How humiliating! It seems like you have been dumped.” Steven laughed out loud.

“Arr….” The bartender stood up and checked his mask. “One way or another, I will bring her back.” It truly seemed that Astora’s attack from earlier didn’t really faze him at all. His voice remained calm and collected.

“The same as always. You haven’t changed at all. Come at me!” Steven dashed forward.

“As you want!” the bartender followed.

The moment the two clashed, it resulted in a brutal eruption. The pressures these two exerted on their surroundings were nauseating. It took a strong mind to even be able to retain their consciousness facing such a clash. Strangely, Astora was fine. Perhaps it was an influence of her connection to Grimora, a mysterious artefact of unknown origin, that helped her.

As for the girl, she was left speechless at the powers displayed by these two men. This was far beyond the self proclaimed god Tyr and she thought he was already a monster. But these two were something much more. Were they gods too perhaps? If so, how could there be so much differences between Tyr and them? Since her childhood, Astora has always admired the power of the elite Greymen like her uncle Kennedy or her aunt Jora. They were, in a way to the girl, heroes in real life. But now, her opinions have changed. She has witnessed a new power that far exceeded the espers. Maybe, her father too was just like these men? A godlike being of unlimited power?

But now was not the time to stand around and be baffled by some strangers. Astora had to figure out her next course of action. From the way things stood, both the agent and the bartender lookalike wanted to drag her to somewhere. The problem was where and why. Even if Steven said that he would take her to her father’s world, could she really trust him? Of course not. The man was too suspicious to even take his words seriously. But then, what should she do? The girl bit her finger nail in stress.

It was then that Astora spotted a cloud of dust from afar. Looking closely, someone was being chased by a pack of savage beasts. The monsters looked straight out of those from hell itself with their burning body and multiple heads. As for the person they were chasing, it was a woman with brown hair and rather average stature. The woman was running as fast as she possibly could. Her legs were tired, stuck in her continuous motion. Her body was sweating like crazy. She could not remember how long or how far she has run. But she was approaching her limits. As of the moment, the woman was blindly keeping her motion like an automatic robot keeping doing what it has been doing. Then she tripped. And she fell down against the ground. It was the end of the line for the woman. Now the beasts were approaching and bared their teeth. After her comrades, the woman would become their next meal.

The woman, accepting her ultimate end, closed her eyes. It seemed that in the end, her final wish would not come to realization. She just wanted to see her child once more, to embrace her little girl in her chest, to caress her gentle hair and to soothe her fear like any mother would do.

Then, her mind started to play tricks on her. She could hear the voice of her child, calling out to her. Why couldn’t she die in peace? Why must she endure this any longer? The voice began to ring louder and louder, along with the sounds of footsteps running.

“MOM!” a loud voice called out.

“Astora?” the woman opened her eyes and turned back. Could this be a dream? An illusion her mind created?

“Get away from my mom!”

The girl threw her book at the monsters. As it got close to the beasts, the book suddenly grew and turned into a demonic being with large teeth and started devouring everything in its path. The beasts fought back by breathing fire at the grimoire but it didn’t do anything except making it even more enraged.

“Mom, are you okay?” the girl asked her mother worriedly.

“ASTORA!” Fiora put her arms around her child and embraced her tightly. She couldn’t believe her eyes. This sensation, it couldn’t be an illusion. It was real. After all these years, she finally found her daughter. “I miss you so much.”

“Me too mommy *hic hic*.” The girl cried while hugging her mother. She remained strong and independent all these years. Still, it couldn’t stop her from crying out loud like a baby.

“Hum…I hate to break this touching reunion but we are being surrounded by hungry BEASTS!” Grimora covered the mother and daughter from a torrent of blue flames. “Mistress, these flames are not like the others. We can’t keep defending forever. Now would be the perfect time for you to learn more about your power.”

“Are you talking about ‘that’ ?” Astora grinned. She remembered the conversation she had with Grimora just earlier when she remained captive by Steven.

But in reality, the whole time Steven was with them, the two never uttered a single word. So how did they communicate with each other? Through thoughts. Their connection allowed them to speak to each other with no need to speak at all. A convenient power especially when an enemy was observing them or around. And of course, Grimora wasted no time to explain some of the basic but most certainly crucial powers he could bestow upon Astora. Perhaps bestow was not exactly the right word. Rather, the two combined in sync and in union allowed for such power to take hold and manifest itself into reality.

With a nod from the girl, Grimora resumed his normal size and floated above her hand.

“THIS SMELL! THE GIRL! THE USURPER!!!” one of Cerberus’ heads groaned.

“Yes yes yes! Eat her! Tear her apart!” the left head spoke. “Turn her to ashes!”

“” the three heads focused their attack and aimed at the girl. Upon release, Cerberus fired a condense blue beam of fire that consumed everything in its path.

“Astora, get away from there!” Fiora shouted.

“Let’s do this, Grimora!” Astora opened the large book in her hand and showed an empty page at the incoming attack. ”!”

Like a black hole that sucked everything it encountered, Cerberus’ flames too were somehow absorbed into the blank page through some magic. As the flames subsided, the once blank page began to be filled with a new inscription.

Spell: Triple Flames of Gehenna

Type:

Rank: Unique (Cerberus)

Description: The immortal flames of Hell itself. Long ago, when the three realms were one, the king of the First Men claimed to have seen the messengers of Heavens in his dreams. Following their instructions, the king ordered the massacre of all residents of the Valley of Hinnom and set it on fire. Then he forced the families of his kingdom to give up their first born, even his own, and made them walk through the valley. One by one, the children were pushed into the crimson flames. The more sacrifices he made, the brighter the flame. Until it transformed into a fierce blue flame that none can put out. The fire spread across the kingdom and the entire world until no living being was left. To this day, the flames continued to torment the souls of its victims and sought to claim even more.