The Crown of Mexxiah. Mentioned with its name was its origins, the crown of a tyrannical queen of the underworld that, at one point in history, had enslaved over a hundred million souls. Shackled to her every whim, these souls could do nothing but follow the orders of Harmilla, and she wreaked havoc in the realm.

That was until one witch hunter by the name of Asroll Meniah traveled to hell. Bringing with him the title of ‘Liberator of Phantoms’, he had heard the plight of the restless souls that toiled away for her. His goal, just like his title, was to free the poor spirits.

Asroll brought with him the final standard of the Leoc Empire, and along with him was the Leoc Imperial Army... or at least, the remaining phantoms that dwell within the Leoc banner. He, just like Harmilla, used souls for their own goals. He, however, differed in that he regarded them as fellow warriors and people, not just stocks of manpower that Harmilla regarded her slaves.

He waged a ten year war against Harmilla, and finally put her to the sword after several thousands of his army finally left to rest. It is said that Asroll brought down the flag of Leoc upon the artifact that gave her powers. The crown had shattered to pieces... or at least, that was the known story among the witch hunters.

I borrowed the crown from Nis, and recalled from memory the description I had attached to it. I quickly noted it down on a piece of paper within the workshop because one way or another, that information might be very crucial in the near future.

“This place is... pretty bleak, isn’t it?” Nis spoke as she wandered around the workshop, looking at the crates and the items I had in storage.

“Hey, don’t dis my crib. I love it here, it’s... moody.”

Nis looked at me strangely. “That’s... not any better.”

Well, boo hoo. I like it here. Sure, it’s a bit dark, but the emanating light from the flames set the atmosphere for a workshop perfectly. Or at least, this was my romance for a smith, and no one can change my mind.

“Anyway, Nis, how do you activate your crown?”

She brought her a finger to her chin and thought for a bit. “Hard to explain, it’s instinctual, I guess?”

I shook my head and shrugged. “So much for a high-spec AI.”

Nis slammed her foot. “I’m not an AI anymore!”

“I know.” I looked at the crown I was holding and passed it to her by a light throw.

She nimbly took the crown and caught it using her head, with her golden-brown hair bobbing to her bounce. The crown fit snugly on her, and she looked at me with a displeased expression.

“Careful! It might get scratched. else, the little voice inside won’t be happy.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You can hear it?”

“Not hear it... more like, feel it? Sometimes, it would shake a little and I thought I was getting sick, but no, it was just excited.”

Well, that’s the second thing the crown and the spear have in common. I was getting more and more interested, and cautious about this whole thing. The last of my kind, a savior, and the end. This kind of talk... it’s pretty ominous, not to mention dangerous.

I stepped into the magic circle again and tip-toed the chalk lines. “Get in here, and mind the chalk! They’re mixed with grounded dragon bone.”

Nis smiled mischievously. “What if I-”

“Don’t even think about it.” I sighed. “Activate the crown inside, then hold my hand.”

Nis eyes widened, gasped in mock fashion. “Master Chris! Are you flirting with me?” She asked and offered her hand with a smile.

I smile back. “The world will end before I even think about that.”

~ - ~

“Cool, I didn’t think it would work, but here you are.”

I said to the person next to me, who was holding my hand. Nis rubbed her eyes, and similarly held her head with her other hand.

“My head...”

“You’ll get used to it. “

Just like the realm in the spear, this was the same, bar a few differences. It still had its grainy film filter, but its backdrop was a fiery red that seemed to pulse darker every few seconds.

“And here you are, I expected your emergence sooner or later.”

Then, an otherworldly voice split our heads open, figuratively, of course. The crown appeared in front of us, bound by fiery chains to the ground and sky. It moved every few seconds, as if trying to get away, but to no avail.

“Well, what are you doing? Get me out of here!” The crown shouted, causing a migraine. To me, it was nothing more than a brief annoyance, but Nis collapsed on the ground, clutching hard at her head, her expression red.

Thinking about it now, I have an idea who this crown is.

“Now, why should we do that? I mean, you’re chained up for a reason.” I crouched down and stroked Nis’ head, putting slight pressure to the temples. “For all we know, you might try something once we do.” I then stared at the glowing chains that bound the crown.

“Then what else are you here for?!” Its thought reverberated through our craniums, even I flinched. Nis fared no better as she let out a whimper.

“You know what? Fuck this.” I patted at my own waist and found a slight comfort knowing it was there. I opened the pouch and called upon it. Then, a curious purple light broke out from the opening, and engulfed a part of the space.

One half was dyed in pulsating crimson, while the other covered in a pitch of inky abyss. Both sides clashed like armies until the owner of the darkness manifested into its own space.

The black spear stood furiously, it’s sharp point glinting and aimed at the crown.

“I know I’m not one to order you around, but can you temper that thing?” I asked, still holding on to Nis, trying to alleviate her pain any manner I could.

“Gladly.” It spoke a single word and burst through the space, then pierced the ground underneath the crown. On that point, a creeping blackness embraced the remaining red and thoroughly subdued the crown’s influence. Now, there was nothing left but the comforting darkness... strange as it sounded.

The crown trembled and quaked as if howling an inaudible scream. With its influence now thoroughly controlled by the spear, the crown could no longer exert telepathy and pain towards us.

“I never did like you. You were always insubordinate to the elder god’s wishes.” The black spear created several hundred spears from the ground, coiling to each other like chains. The chains bit into the crown mercilessly, scratching at the otherwise pristine surface.

In only a matter of seconds, every inch of the crown was covered in spear-like chains. Now, only it’s immediate vicinity was dyed in red.

“She is one of the vestiges. It is admirable how you found another so quickly, contractor.” The spear praised in monotone, just like usual. “Now that another vestige has been found, I will be able to locate the Successors.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Successors?”

“Heroes and people compatible with the vestiges. Anyone can use us, but not everyone are the true chosen by the Elder God.” The spear shook. “With this crown’s ‘help’, we may find a Successor.”

A trembling laughter sounded, though impish and faint. “That’s hilarious, what makes you think I will help you?”

I turned to the crown, where the voice was originating. It wasn’t through telepathy, now it actually had a voice. It’s tone was mocking.

“I don’t.” The spear rebutted and increased the tightness of the many coiled spears. A sound of creaking metal could be heard from the crown. “I have no qualms of forcing you, Crown. You were always the most hateful of us. Were it any other vestige, I would never resort to this, but I am more than happy to do it to you.”

For a moment, I swore I heard a subdued and eerie laughter from the spear. The spear even seemed to jump for joy as the creaking increased. The spears glowed purple, and the voice within the crown wailed an agonizing cry.

“How does it feel, Crown? To be at the opposite end of torture. Servitude or death, your choice.” There was a a hint of joy to the Spear’s voice.

“Eat shit Spear, do you not realize what would happen if Boots or Cloak heard about this?!”

“You seem to forget that I am the primogeniture, the original, the first of the vestiges. I have more than enough power to engulf you whole and take your powers as my own. I did not do so in respect for the other vestiges.” Its monotone voice changed to one grave and murderous. “But if you stay a hindrance to the elder god’s plan...”

For a moment, there was pause between their conversation.

“Fuck you! FINE!” The Crown screamed.

~ ??? ~

Gunshots rang behind me, and I pushed across the alleyways and into the darkness. The yells for me to stop kept echoing through the narrow walks, and I hurriedly and deftly navigated the labyrinthine alleys.

Even then, their echoes didn't seem to change in intensity. If anything, they felt even closer than normal. I bit my lip and took a left out of panic.

“Fuck!”

Wrong turn at the worst possible time!

I craned my neck to look at the imposing walls in front of me. Three walls, insurmountable. A fucking dead end. Just my stupid luck.

“Lookie lookie here. Looks like the little rat’s out of luck.” A raspy voice from behind me caught me unaware, and I immediately bolted forward, turning my back to the walls.

There, in front of me, were three thugs holding guns. All of them pointed towards me. Even from the distance, I could smell the gunpowder.

“Mates, come off it. Let bygones be bygones, I only smoked like, what, 4 or 5 stores? That’s nothing.”

A ringing in my ears and a sharp pain on my shoulder jolted my attention, and I immediately collapsed on my knees.

“God damn...! Let me talk, at least!” I gritted my teeth and, with difficulty, raised my head to the man that shot me.

“I ain’t no idiot. Slippy tongue right there, with your head working on an out.” The man walked to me and slapped me with the butt-end of his pistol across the cheek. “Boss ain’t happy, bringing you fucked would though.” The man smiled and bunted me again.

I let out a low groan of pain and completely collapsed on the floor. My own stupid blood covered my vision, and I could taste iron on my tongue as they kicked and whipped me with their pistols.

I quietly endured the pain. No way I’d let out a whimper and give these assholes the satisfaction. Urgh...

All of a sudden though, one of the thugs yelped, and a healthy amount of blood spurted out from his thighs. Then, the man collapsed, holding for dear life on the sizable wound. No, it wasn’t even a wound anymore, the man lost a sizable chunk of his thigh.

The other men immediately jumped back and pointed their guns, looking for their assaulter.

I really wanted to laugh at them, but this was a chance I didn’t want to waste. I spat out blood and went to work.

“Wih, Und, Bluh, Ast”

I brought my palm towards the thugs, and I squeezed out every last bit I could. I felt my mana wove, and explode out of my palm like a gust of force.

The idiots were taken unaware and were blasted backwards. I took this chance and shakily stood from the ground, still holding to my bleeding shoulder.

“Get fucked.” I gave them the rudest gesture of Crossian design, and brought my mana to a halt.

A blur of brown and blue appeared on my vision, and a loud thunk in the ground later. I saw there, boots of elaborate design. My eyes widened, because I knew just from one look that this one was a keeper.

“Use it!” A voice from above, and then a wall of spears from the ground, separating me and the assholes.

I grit my teeth and hurriedly wore the boots. Once I did though, a storm of ideas and knowledge assaulted my brain like a hammer, and I stood there dazed.

It didn’t last long though as I knew what I had to do to survive and get my ass out of this mess.

As I had willed it, a orange-red orb manifested beneath my feet. The heat was negligible, but its appearance was as if a blazing star created on land. Tongues of flame surrounded my feet and legs.

This fiery ball spun in place, and brought me along with it. I leaned forward, and my body moved at a blistering pace. Literally, even, as behind my path was a trail of charred brick and flames.

I turned to the right wall and jumped. I brought my hand and feet to the bricks, and an orb of flames appeared on my right palm. The orb rotated madly, and it turned the vertical incline into another road to ride on.

I jumped to the front wall, blazed at an angle to the left and upwards, then to the left wall and reached my destination. I looked to the sky, though it was blurred by the blood that obscured half my vision.

Good to be free, I thought.

I landed on the roof of the building. There, I saw a young man with a black spear on his hand.

“You truly are a Successor. Jackpot.” The kid smiled.