[Chapter 38 part 3] Soul – The Outbreak

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“Anyway, shall we head to the Liquid Air Historium?” Light continued. He’s eager. So am I. Through an enchantment field, the resistance and weight of air was altered to feel like water. You could swim around while breathing normally. Combined with high-quality projectors, this allowed guests to relive enactments of famous events from an aerial perspective. We splurged for a private auditorium.

“Wait, since we have a couple minutes, there’s somewhere I want to take you to.” Emelia pointed to a blue windowless building with a revolving door. A large sign read:

‘PROTOTYPE VIDEO GAMES’

‘No channeling please.’

Technology from the Barsal Empire. Emelia started towards the entrance, “The walls are coated with field blocking ambient magic. High-end electronics are sensitive to magic. Bytes in the chips get flipped when they shouldn’t be, causing them to go haywire.”

“There were a lot of words I’m unfamiliar with…” Free objected while following behind.

“Electronics are machines that run on electricity.” Wise volunteered. “As for Bytes and computer chips…” He winced. “They make my head hurt.”

“Just look up circuit boards on your wrystal.” Emelia suggested.

Before them appeared green broads with all manner of components in their surfaces. The networks of metal lines could easily have passed for a school of magecraft. I wonder what they can do.

Inside, cabinets with glass screens filled the brightly lit space. They resembled the pinball machines they had seen earlier. So these are video games. One had a little circle which ate dots while ghosts chased it through a maze. Another had a space ship shooting alien bugs. On the far side, a crowd had gathered around two machines with falling blocks piling up at the bottom.

“Why don’t you try playing?” Emelia suggested.

We don’t have much time. After being consumed by ghosts a few times, he joined the others watching Hope have a good run at the spaceship game.

“It’s fun for the novelty, but otherwise not that exciting…” Hope reported, sadly watching a flashing ‘game over’.

“These are just early prototypes sent out as showcases.” Emelia explained. “The latest ones are much more advanced. The Goldstone family is backing companies making big investments in the field. This technology holds great potential.”

“I don’t know.” Rose hesitated. “They might suffer the same problem as movies. There’s stiff competition out there…”

“Maybe, but games can be far more more engaging than films. Imagine experiencing the Dark Age battling from the perspective of Ethan Skyfell. Wouldn’t that be appealing?” I already do that in my sleep, Soul smirked while nodding.

“I admit the stumbling block is interfacing with enchantments.” Emelia continued pensively. “If we could hook them up to projectors, it’d be amazing. Maybe someday…”

Wise was the only one who understood that. “Isn’t it time for the Historium?” Soul asked.

As they left, the ground trembled. Rose and Soul both pivoted to Wise.

“There’s been three large explosions in the Undercity.” Wise reported. “The survivors are rapidly transforming…” He frowned. “…and not just them. Anyone near the blasts is being affected. There are four hundred and counting.”

So Argent was right. “Can we leave Hope to you?” Soul asked Simon.

The man nodded, “I’ll get her to safety.”

Abandoning them, they wove through the crowd toward the pillar. Most haven’t reacted yet. At the barrier, they saw rising smoke far below. They’ll know something is wrong once that spreads up here.

“I received our deployment instructions.” Rose shut off her wrystal. “We’re to head to the highest explosion and prevent anything from reaching the waterworks.”

“North of the skyriver, three quarters of a mile down.” Wise concluded.

They jumped. This is fastest. Soul grabbed Light, Dawn took Wise, and Rose clung to Free. Plunging through the smoky haze, they saw the Undercity ablaze. The furthest blast site was West near the bottom. The second was smack in the middle. The final was East, eight layers down from Level 3’s main floor. Connecting the three would form an arc through the Northern Undercity.

“There!” Emelia shouted. The golden ninja pounced off a stone platform towards some werewolves making for the waterworks. She curled into a ball, and rock formed around her. A second later, a fifteen foot boulder smashed down, caving in the floor and annihilating two beasts. They arrived in close pursuit, gliding on ice wings and a leafy parachute.

Wise, Free, Rose, and Light guarded the interior. Their preparations paid off. Wise was suppressing the beasts with a sinister black disk while Free’s roots entangled and crushed them. To the rear, Rose carefully cast one spell circle after another. Each time a werewolf would shine blindingly and burst into ash. Above, Light knocked down those attempting to claw across the walls while raining shurikens on the others.

For their part, Soul, Dawn, and Emelia blocked the pillar-side main avenue. It was far easier this time. As long as we’re not overwhelmed… There was activity all around, with adventurers drooping to lower areas and ISF ships rushing by. Crashing and breaking resonated far as battle raged.

A mournful howl rang out from a foe caught in Free’s vines. Instantly, Light completed the signals for his latest acquisition, ‘Sand Tomb’. A shell of hardened earth buried the self-destructing creature, suppressing its ignition. On our side, Dawn and I will cover it in ice.

Just as Soul felt the situation under control, a trio of screams rang out. Two hundred feet feet away, three women broke out of a building and ran towards them. The noise attracted six nearby werewolves. There’s no way to make it there in time… Focusing his senses, he heard multiple cries for help, near and faraway. So many…

Soul watched powerlessly as a beast pounced… But was repelled by a shimmering wall of blue. A wave of electricity had descended on the Undercity, leaving trails of static. Across the infernos, shields popped up as lightning sprites zoomed around. One shot close and said, “Reinforcements are on the way.”

With relief, Soul finished off his opponent. As he intercepted another, he glanced back. The women were huddled while rabid beasts pounded on the barrier. Past them, an elderly women clutched a young a child, and, further still, a young couple hugged each other tightly. The shields defending them were under similar assault. How long will those hold? The static overhead was thinning out. Isn’t Miki over-stretching herself? Then the werewolves surrounding the ladies were violently thrown back. In their place, metal chains snaked protectively. They then penetrated the lighting fairies’ magic and yanked the women away.

Standing atop an airship, Legonas deposited them besides him and send out more chains. The couple, old woman, and child were all spirited away. The airship descended past them, its deck filling with grateful residents.

Werewolves released howls of frustration as their preys were snatched. All those in sight faced towards them. This might be tough…

Before they could pounce, the charging pack flashed and disintegrated. Stunned, Soul looked at Rose who shook her head, gesturing behind him. Emerit had flown into view, riding on jets of flames from his palms and feet. The man stared hard at Dawn. In response, his sister bowed politely and said ‘Thank you’ with a beaming smile.

Emerit’s eyes narrowed, and he pointed at her several times. Then he went off to aid others. Thank god he’s calmed a little.

When Emelia smashed their last enemy, Soul scanned the area. Apart a few werewolves stalking close-by buildings, he sensed nothing in their vicinity. What about the rest of the Undercity? Soul was glad to note the bottom blaze had shrunk by half. The center inferno, on the other hand, had grown. Should we redeploy?

As he deliberated, a fairy popped up and spoke in Miki’s voice, “I’ve finally convinced Radin to act. He’s picking up Sars and will be there soon. Hang tight.”

They spent the next thirty seconds in a tense stare-off with the rooftop stragglers. Then Wise came over, “Radin will appear there.”

In the midst of the brightest conflagration, darkness shimmered, and Radin Lockworth strode into view, expression cross as always. The man’s hoarse voice reverberated in their ears as if he were standing just behind them, “To the rabble which disturbs the Isle’s peace… ’High Speed Executions’”

Hundreds of shadows spread out, traveling across all surfaces. Once one reached a werewolf, a horrific figure emerged, wielding a scythe, and cleaved its victim in two.

This was Radin’s second Sublime Vagary, the dreaded result of his merciless reign as high auditor. ‘High Speed Execution’ cut down all those he deemed guilty. As the werewolves were wiped out, a low melodic cry washed over them, squelching all the fires and plunging the temperature into glacial territory.

What? “It’s Sars.” Wise was looking up. “He’s singing a song of ice.”

On the pillar’s underside, a giant lizard clung to the rock. From its gaping jaws, a musical roar poured forth, extinguished the Undercity wherever it hit. Soon the last flame had flickered out. It’s over.