Chapter 351: Arming Up

This chapter is updated by Novels.pl

The Queen had risen from her Throne to pace up and down before them. Standing, her small stature was even more apparent. She was barely over four feet. The Mask thought it a wonder so much rage could fit in something so small.

You three will be my arms in the City. Until more Marks can be found, you are all I have. She stopped, casting a slow gaze over them. You shall cooperate and help one another. Should I hear of any attempts to sabotage one another, I will come down like a hammer on the culprit! She slammed a small fist into her small palm.

Xyrrith nodded easily. Of course, mother.

Drekhul shrugged his own assent, shooting a glance at Nicolai.

The Queen turned to him, and he gave his own nod.

You are new to this, so I will fill you in. The three of you are to investigate House Veyron. In their last trip, my sons found signs that they have what I want.

And what signs would these be? asked Nicolai. What is it we are looking for?

It is called the Relic, human, said Drekhul, puffing up his chest self-importantly.

What is The Relic?

What it is, is not important. I need it and you will find it, said the Queenwhich he translated to I dont trust you with that information. You will be looking for the signs it gives off. These are a certain frequency of ripples. It will be well hidden and protected, but even so, some of these faint ripples should escape.

She glanced over at Arcritch, and the Spider shifted forward slightly, then began to release ripples. Strange, high-pitched, almost like singing. He made the noises until he was sure Nicolai had understood them, and then fell back.

They will be extremely faint, cautioned the Spider. But I am pleased to say that you will no longer have to wander around, groping for ripples. To assist you three, I have fashioned an Artifact.

The Spiders furry legs burrowed into the massive webbing around him, then emerged to proffer what looked like a small gnarled piece of root. The Queen nodded to Xyrrith, who stepped forwards and gingerly retrieved it.

Go ahead and break it in, said Arcritch. I have opened it for you.

Xyrrith did so, but even once hed broken it in he still regarded it with confusion.

What is it? he asked.

A sensing device, replied Arcritch. No matter how faint the ripples might be, it will have them.

And you had better go unseen, added the Queen. If they see this device, they might recognise what we are searching for, and take even greater pains to secure it. I wish you to press in as deeply as you safely can, discover precisely where the Relic is.

Xyrrith and Drekhul stirred. That may be risky, murmured Xyrrith. Each House has a large compound. If the Relic is deep within, we will have to pass by many guards and defences.

She waved that off. Do what you can without discovery. If you make good progress I will reward you.

The Queen had a few more ominous warnings for them, but Nicolai got the gist. It seemed to him this wouldnt be a difficult task, really just some preliminary investigations. However, the Queen had a few more jobs for them.

I want manpower, Players! Find people who are willing to kill for coin, who we might be able to recruit. When the time comes, I want to be able to summon an army in that City!

We need more Marks. Dig into every Player you meet, try to find out where they live. I dont care how you do it, but get it done. If there are any of them near to the Hive, or who could be tempted to come and visit I want them! I want their Marks!

We also need to discover the location of every Keystone Here the Queen had passed off to Arcritch, and Nicolai listened with especial interest. This was the first he was hearing about any Keystones.

The Keystones are powerful Artifacts embedded into the Heavenly structure of the City. They are one of the major points of contention in this war of the Houses, along with the bell towers and the various service centres. They grant direct control over the city. It is said the House which can seize all of the citys keystones will He trailed off, raised two heavy legs in a shrug. Who knows? Some nonsense about being forgiven by Heaven, I believe, alongside various other rumours and legends. It isnt important. He waved one furred appendage dismissively, then continued.

Wed hoped to locate them all last week, but our agents were only partway successful. He cast a somewhat scathing glance over Xyrrith and Drekhul, who scowled back at him.

I expect my sons will do better this week, growled the Queen, and the pair straightened up, now emanating determination. She glanced to Nicolai. I need to know which Keystone is the most lightly guarded. In the future, once we have a supply of mercenaries, you may be required to take and hold one of them.

Finding those mercenaries had just become more important. And am I permitted to know the reason for this? he asked.

Arcritch glanced at her, and she shrugged affirmation.

We believe it is possible to use the Keystones to create large, open portals. Portals that are not bound to a Players Mark, which any number can use. His eyes glimmered. An army of Hornets, for instance.

As he says. The Queen tapped a talon on the edge of her throne, impatient. Any questions?

Nicolai did, in fact, have one.

Do you want me to bring Serrin with me?

They all stirred, confused. What do you mean? asked the Queen.

My access to the city allows me to bring a plus-one. He nodded to Xyrrith and Drekhul. I had assumed theirs can do the same.

That is not the case, said the Queen, with an irritable glance at Arcritch.

Likely a result of the method the Ripper used to steal the Marks, the Spider hastened to explain. Tangling with a Mark of Heaven is certainly a difficult task. In truth, it is surprising he managed anything at all.

She nodded, slightly mollified. Yes. Yes. She chuckled, tapping her chin, increasingly pleased by the idea. Bring Serrin with you. You can fill him in on all the details. She looked to Xyrrith and Drekhul. Make sure to leave a good impression on your younger brother. I want him happy.

I am always pleasant, replied Xyrrith.

As am I, added Drekhul, less convincingly.

The pair were sent away, and they finally got to the business of the poison within him.

Come and kneel before me.

Nicolai did, taking a few smooth steps forwards and sinking down onto one knee.

Raise your hand, she said imperiously.

He did, and she raised her own. It shimmered with green energy, and then she touched him on the finger.

It felt like a jolt of cold electricity, tingling through his fingers, pressing deep into him. Immediately, he felt something that had been tense and tight, something he had barely noticed, unclench. The poisonous construct around his heart relaxed. At the same time, the itchy burning in his eye began to fade.

The Modules and even the Mask were arrayed around the poison construct. They had shifted through his Soul in preparation for this. As the cooling energy calmed the poison construct, they seemed to Nicolai a group of scientists, taking notes.

The construct could be described as a three-dimensional net, present in both Soul and body, observed Threat Analysis. As the week has progressed, it has been growing tenser, tighter.

But now it loosens, continued the Simulations, nodding seriously. It may be possible to replicate this cooling energy.

Does the Queen create the energy from a Symbiote, or from some part of her Soul? wondered Psychology.

How about we simply cut the whole area out? said Cyberwarfare. We could make a device like those used to cut shapes from cookie batter. A big, metal circle. Two of them, on either side. It would punch, cutting out a circula section of Nicolais chestroughly 60%then suck it away

That would definitely kill him, said the Mask, horrified.

The idea has merit, said Simulations. We would simply need to ensure rapid sealing of blood vessels, and the plugging in of a new blood pumping system.

But this device is also tied to his Soul, our Soul, argued Psychology. And from what we know, it seems that once one has a Soul, its destruction can lead to the body also dying, even if the body is unharmed

Nicolai wondered how the hell Cyberwarfare had come to know about cookie batter, then let their murmuring fade from his mind. He rose and gave the Queen another low bow for good measure.

I thank you. He was pleased to feel practically no emotion as he delivered the words. Since consuming the various demons and entities and chaining them into a Dark Spirit, his control seemed solid.

Before I go, you said Serrin can take what he likes. May I be permitted some tools from the armoury?

She glowered at him. If you were Tier 2 I would allow it. But you failed. If you want rewards, then bring me successes.

###

Thryss led him through the Hive. They had a brief discussion on the way, which he mostly used to gauge whether shed shaken off the leash hed started to wrap her in last time. So far as he, the Mask, and Psychology could tell, all was well.

Soon enough, they arrived at the armoury. More Hands stood guard here, but they stepped aside for Thryss without comment. He spared a careful look at the spiritual defences woven into the doorway, now recognising them as a mesh of rituals and loci-bugs. He brushed them lightly with his soul sense. Cyberwarfare poured through the information gathered from the brief contact, and declared these defences as solid as youd expect, then it set to the problem of trying to find a way through.

The Hornet armoury was a vast storage chamber, overflowing with weapons, Symbiotes, arms and armour. Ranks upon ranks of suits of platefashioned from the typical black chitinstood ready. Spears, the Hornets preferred weapon, were everywhere, alongside a wide variety of other weapons. To one side stood a large vat filled with a strange liquid, Symbiotes swimming lazily within. It gave off powerful ripple-pulses.

The vast majority of Imbued items and Symbiotes were Tier 1, but there were quite a number of Tier 2 Symbiotes, and even a few Tier 2 Artifacts.

Serrin stood uncertainly before a small selection of Artifacts. Hed pulled free a Tier 2 sword and spear, and was evidently feeling some conflict over which to take.

Nicolai came to a halt beside him. Inside, greed burned hot, but he kept the fire carefully banked. Thryss followed, but Serrin glowered at her. She shrugged. Only one Artifact, and no more than a dozen Symbiotes, she said, before retreating to stand some distance away.

What are you thinking? Nicolai asked.

The sword is probably better, said Serrin uncertainly. But I prefer spears, he added in a defensive mutter.

What do they do?

The sword is capable of flight and has a powerful offensive artone that fires blasts of light that deal heavy spiritual damage. Kind of like a long-ranged Sting. The spear only has one effect, penetrating straight through Shields. He looked back at Nicolai. Which should I pick?

Nicolai considered for a moment. Just as he began to form the ripples, the Mask came into play. It should be his decision. He shrugged. Choose whichever you feel the most comfortable with.

Serrin breathed out slow, straightened his back. I want the spear. He took it and ran his hands thoughtfully over it. It was not so different from his original, but longer, with an almost sword-like, leaf-bladed tip that could be used for both slashing and stabbing.

Nicolai thought it a fine weapon. Good decision.

The Hornet seemed surprised. You agree?

Striking through shields is extremely useful. The sword has a powerful Art, but it will consume a lot of Oma. Plus, you like to get up close anyway, and if you prefer a spear, you should use a spear.

I am not sure what else is good, murmured Serrin, peering around.

Nicolai took him by an arm and gently steered him around. The Hornets had a very nice selection. He didnt so much tell Serrin what to take, as explain what was prevalent in the City, and what would counter his own methods.

Serrin also retrieved a Skin Shield capable of deflecting lasers, along with a Silver Net set. It was clear he intended to do much better the next time they sparred, and was making his choices with that in mind. Since Nicolais methods comprised a combination of some of the overall strongest strateges that had become popular in the City, gaining defences against them was pretty much the best decision Serrin could make.

I recommend something with spiritual defence, Nicolai added. Even with your skill at parrying, enough opponentsor a capable opponent with something like my Clawcould overwhelm you.

Serrin nodded and retrieved another set for his other armone quite similar to the one Xuejing had wielded.

Under his helmet, Nicolai smiled wide. Serrin was now basically Xuejing, only the Hornet possessed even more raw martial talent than she did, plus he was frankly a genius when it came to anything spiritual.

Serrin had just become a force to be reckoned with, and that force stood at his shoulder, facing his enemies.

###

The pair opted to leave by the same route theyd entered, the disused tunnel. As they were halfway down it, both paused.

Something was stirring.

Moments later, a huge, hairy figure boiled out from a hole in the wall.

Ah, Id hoped to catch you two before you left, said Arcritch, gazing at them with many eager eyes. I wanted to invite you to tea. Not for long. I simply wish to chat.