Shadow of the Abyss

"What's with her?" Tasha inquired, staring at the brooding Morrigan as they took the shuttle toward Babel Tower. "She looks like someone punched her in the face."

"Master is a bully," Raven said, not as a comment but as a fact. She sighed, patting Morrigan on the head. "There-There big sis. Ravens here for you."

"Have you ever been punched in the face?" Altair asked, swiping through the matrix of holographs.

"Of course. Your not a true devil if you haven't gotten your ass handed to you. Lady Levi kicked my ass so bad I needed to enter the Blood Pits to regenerate part of my skull that went pop."

Altair had to look up for that. "I know Devils are immortal, but that seems… excessive."

"Do you ever put your hand back into the fire after it's been burned?" Tasha remarked, silencing the matter. She hadn't been wrong, for with each cruel beating she'd gained, Tasha's defensive capabilities grew. "Demons have a much higher threshold of battle comprehension than we'll ever understand, so these methods are the only ones we can take in the hopes of remaining on top."

"The Top?" Said Morrigan finally.

"Demons are like our slaves. Most of them are stupid. We usually use them to breed cattle." Tasha said, pausing when she faced the peculiar stares of everyone around her. She said, compelled to explain herself, "Ever heard of the Demon realm? Well. All those so-called demons are just half-bloods if even that.

They are experimental failures we have in breeding new races. A damned soul breeding with a demon results in something not particularly 'infernal' but rather 'Demonic.'

"There is a difference?" Altair mused.

Tasha folded her arms over her ample chest. "Of course. That is why they are two different words. Demons from the Demonic Realm pale in comparison to our kind from the Hells, but they are very usually tools in controlling territories. They aren't stupid like those from the Hells. They've retained their humanity, but while also gaining… what was the number again?

Ten percent of most Infernal Kin abilities."

Raven raised a hand. "What compelled you all to copulate with a soul? How is reproduction functionality even possible?"

"People screw animals, and out pops a goddamn half-breeds. No one seems to question beastiality. Shit happens," Tasha said. "Blame it on the Mana or our Infernal Bodies. I've no idea."

Raven turned to her master, hoping that he might know. She was disappointed to find out he didn't. Not that he would have given a proper answer. He wanted to be done with the conversation.

His wish was granted when the shuttle finished docking a few miles off of Babels Tower. They left, hurrying into the tower through the teleporter onto the first floor.

Altair stood alone for a while in the first city of the first floor, which he'd once ruined in an outburst of rage. That wasn't the case as he appeared, as it appeared to have been fully restored.

He smiled, opening his inner awareness to the system to where a system message appeared.

[First Floor of Babels Tower - Completed]

[Would you like your Reward]

[Yes] [No]

Selecting 'yes,' Altair suddenly felt a mild warmth surge through him, alerting him to the strengthening occurring.

[Your Strength has increased by 10]

[Your Dexterity has increased by 10]

[Your Constitution has increased by 10]

[Your Wisdom has increased by 10]

[Your Charisma has increased by 10]

Altair made a face. "That's bullshit! What good is that shit to me now!" he barked, stomping his feet down, looking over his current stats.

Name: Altair Blackwood

Class: [Prince of the Vale II Lv 150]

Mana Circle: [Forth Circle 30% → 98%]

Strength: 1440 → 1640

Dexterity: 1545 →1745

Constitution: 1720 →1920

Wisdom: 1740 →1920

Charisma: 1740 → 1920

Mana: 300

"That shit would have been welcomed when I was… huh." He paused, suddenly realizing he was still in the realm of a third circle. Slowly, his appearance turned strange as he snapped an eye to some of the awakeners around the third circle.

Name: Joyce Mcflay

Race: Imperial

Class: [Legionnaire I Lv 25], [Legionnaire II Lv 50], [Legionnaire III Lv 75]

Str: 272

Dex: 197

Con: 360

Wis: 360

Chr: 360

"I really am a monster. That's not even fair." Turning on his heel, Altair sighed, drawing toward the vortex near the upper edge of the city, ignoring the guarded eyes of pedestrians and awakeners alike who'd recognized him.

He moved upwards, waiting for the three ladies to catch up to him. Since he'd already completed the first floor, Altair was allowed to rise to the second floor anytime he wished; the others, like everyone else, had to reach the safe zone.

Beside the spiraling vortex, Altair took out his Datapad to continue his work when a sharp voice caught his ear.

"Altair Blackwood," shouted a petite young lady. Smaller than most, she strutted up towards him as if she were the tallest man or woman around, her arms folded across her flat chest.

The emperor did not acknowledge her swiping through the holographs of data projected from his datapad. He winced at how much work that had been generated after a few seconds.

"Damn that Thaan. He's sending me all the shit work to do," He grunted. "Then there is that blasted Zelos. Fuck I—"

"I heard you were a part of the Crucible," the little thing snapped. Her words were louder than they ought to have been, especially since the Golden Crucible was a secret to the outside world.

Altair fixed an eye on her. "What do you want?"

She snorted. "Elder Grim wants a report." She lifted her palm, expecting… something. A challenging smile playing on her lips.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Altair resisted the urge to slap her head off her shoulder. It would hve been so easy, especially since she was a mere fourth circle. Instead, he said, "I report to The Goddess of Rot herself. The likes of this Grim is of no consequence."

Julia Helsvort's smile turned nasty. "We know a lot about you, Blackwood. But it doesn't matter if you report to the Goddess of Rot. You must and will report to—"

Altair slapped her, snapping her jaw out of place. Blood smeared the cobblestone as his blood-red eyes burned infernal might. "It seems to me you don't understand my position. I own Earth. The Tower of Babel's Fourth Entrance. My importance outstrips you and some fucking elder I've never met."

Julia didn't dare to make a sound, her heart rumbling against her chest. The look in Altair's eyes told her if she so much as uttered another word, she'd die. Dread trailed across her almond-colored eyes, forcing her to take a step back.

Altair sneered, resuming his work for an hour before the three ladies finally appeared.

"Master!" Raven sang, leaping into the air onto his back. "You didn't tell me there were demons out there."

"Half-Bloods," Tasha said, rolling her eyes. She sounded disdainful.

Altair lifted the little girl by the collar, bonking her on the head, saying, " I did tell you. You just weren't listening!'

"Master tried to assassinate Raven! Call CPS!!!"

"You're not a bloody child!" Altair snapped, dropping the little thing with a smile. He rustled her hair, glancing at the other two. "No problems, I hope."

Morrigan pointed a finger at Tasha. "She has authority over the half-bloods. They couldn't even step a mile in our direction. The time we spent getting here was due to Raven collecting herbs."

Raven nodded. " But now that master has tried to assassinate Raven, She'll never give it to you."

Altair flicked her across the forehead, rolling her eyes. He ignored the threats coming out of her mouth, turning one final glance to Julia, holding her purpling jaw. He didn't understand why she stood there for an hour but said, nonetheless, "Get out of here. And tell your Elder I report to the Goddess of Rot. And only the Goddess of Rot."

Julia dismissed herself, scurrying off and nearly tripping over her feet, so lost in fear.

"You struck her?" Morrigan asked.

Raven nodded. "I expect nothing less from Master. These bitches out here can catch Equal lefts and rights."

Altair looked at Raven, then Tasha, "You taught her that, didn't you?" Discover stories at empire

"Me?" Tasha said, exaggeratingly. "My Lord, I am the embodiment of righteousness. How could I—"

Morrigan covered her mouth. "Even I fear that the One will hurl lightning down at your blatant lies."

'Although, you've got quite the mouth on you too," Altair mused, remembering last month when Morrigan had the unfortunate pleasure of drinking a glass of poison meant for him. After she puked up a mouthful of blood, she slaughtered an entire noble family, reigning curses. Raven watched it all, eyes glued to the fierce Morrigan.

Morrigan flushed. "That situation was different. I… I wasn't in my right head space. Yeah. Yeah! I was poisoned."

The look everyone gave her read, 'We don't believe you.'

"Alright. Let's head up towards the second floor."Altair finally said, breaking the awkward silence; he turned to face the vortex when a familiar voice halted his steps.

"That's him! That's the bastard who cursed Elder Grim!"