The Astral soul system-Chapter 191: Chaos, blood,death
[note from author: warning. Yap alert]
"I have a bad feeling"
"..."
"This feels like a trap"
"..."
"Doesn’t the timing seem weird?"
"..."
"Just as all those weird things were happening this morning, Keith calls you"
"..."
"And then we find out Aliens are on this planet "
"..."
"Are you even listening?"
Zen didn’t respond, moving closer to the location Keith had sent him, he’d been carefully scanning his surroundings, just in case there were still more cronies around but so far there were none.
He approached the cave, his mark tingling the closer he got
"Here" he muttered
"Oh now you talk"
Theia grumbled begrudgingly
Zen moved closer, eyes locking on a cave. His hand brushed against a tree as he approached when he suddenly stopped.
Looking to his hand, he saw it caught in thorns of a bush next to the tree.
For a second, his eyes locked onto the thorns and he didn’t move, looking like he was frozen in place
Thorns
....
Thorns
....
Thorns
....
Thorns
....
His vision suddenly turned pitch black, and sound seemed to disappear entirely from his ears
Zen was suddenly flung out of the body, crashing into the castle under Zaine’s confused gaze and those of the others.
A second later he opened his eyes and found himself in the body again.
"..."
Taking his hands away from the thorns, Zen thought.
’What just happened’
Theia suddenly appeared again
"To the castle. Now"
She said before disappearing.
Zen glanced at the cave before closing his eyes and retreating into his soul realm
Getting up from the throne he immediately noticed, Zyro looking like he was deep in thought.
"I’m guessing you know what’s going on"
Zyro nodded eagerly and snapped his fingers.
The walls of the castle suddenly disappeared replaced by a pitch black darkness, one that was familiar
"I appeared in the body for a split second before"
A vision suddenly started playing out in front of them.
Thorns
Thorns
Thorns
Surrounding a single person covered in blood
Her eyes were blackened from exhaustion,her fingers broken and bleeding,her hair looked like it was bleeding a strange black substance and the arcade symbol was hovering above her, behind her was a strange light with two unknown figures shielding her. Strangely, the reality around her seemed to be constantly shifting and glitching like an old TV . The ground around her looked cracked and her body had been covered completely in thorns, and a sword plunged into her side. A massive illusory beast was on top of her,fangs sunk deep into her body
It was the same vision Zyro had of Jade, but for some reason much worse.
"Jade? Again? But you Already saw a vision of her"
Theia said
Zen suddenly spoke up
"Yes but this time it was ONLY of her. It seems things are moving up"
"But why the freak? For some reason he’s the only one who sees these"
The walls of the castle reappeared and it became Illuminated again.
"Not true. Zen saw visions as well. Twice "
Theia pointed out
"That’s not what’s important. What’s important is why and why now?"
They all glanced at Theia but she truly didn’t have the answer.
Shrugging, she simply said she’d look into it and try to figure it out. Right now though,they had more important things to do.
Humming, Zen walked towards the throne.
"Then it’s decided. We continue as planned "
He was about to take his seat when Freya suddenly spoke up.
"Wait... What if,you saw another vision now... because something bad is about to happen to Jade right now as we speak"
Zen didn’t flinch at that possibility
"It doesn’t matter. Our main objective is to understand this new power and put an end to Keith, permanently. She’s not worth us loosing this chance "
With that, he sat on the throne, although it was uncertain whether everyone else agreed with him.
Finally see speaking, Lilith chuckled.
"Such cruelty...It’s almost endearing. If only he’d smile more"
Zyro sighed,his usual smile looking a bit strained
...
...
...
[I promised I’d take care of her]
******
Opening his eyes, Zen looked around and luckily nothing had happened while he was gone.
He stepped forward , carefully looking for traps but he couldn’t find any. Eventually reaching the opening of the cave, he walked in, already sensing a familiar presence.
"You came"
Keith’s voice echoed.
"No. I did"
Stopping a few feet away from him, looking at him blankly.
"So i guess I should take your attack yesterday as a response "
"..."
"You know you-"
"You talk a lot "
Keith snarled.
"Fine then, business. But in the end we’ll all die when Q comes for us"
"That’s the difference between you and me. I died already"
He slowly raised his finger to point at Keith
"You...ran. You are a failure "
"What was i supposed to do. Stay and accept my fate? We weren’t all as lucky as you, Hecate"
Keith spat scornfully.
"You call going through the pit without an ability luck?"
"Of course. You never had to work for anything. Even when you were at the brink,Q just brought you back "
Zen stopped for s second at the, raising his hand to look at it
"I wouldn’t exactly consider what I am now as ’Back’ . I can never be whole again. None of us can. He took more than he gave"
"That was always the deal. But at least you got to keep all your little friends... well most of them at least"
A vicious smile appeared on Keith’s face as he poked an old wound
"What was that fake name you gave her again?"
"..."
"Ah who gives a shit? No one remembers that bitch anyway. Who’d remember a failure, right?"
"She was nothing like you"
"You’re right. I was smarter. I didn’t sit and take it like a moron. She deserved what she got"
"..."
"Especially for trusting you of all people. She died right in front of you and you couldn’t do a thing. How did it feel, watching that bitch fall to her death. Knowing you you probably enjoyed it. "
"..."
"Little old Z. Always wanting to save everyone. That’s not who you are now ,is it? You let them all die with that same blank look. Pointing your weapons on the ones you swore to protect"
A specific face and voice flashed in Zen’s mind as he heard that.
"You, Hecate, have no right to call me a failure. Not after you failed literally everything and everyone you stood for to become just another slightly larger pawn than me and those friends of yours "
"..."
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself Mr Grandmaster’s apprentice?"
"My destiny is one of indifference. I only do what must be done. My purpose isn’t to regulate emotion. That function belongs to the other two . I am free from such limits"
Keith scoffed
"That’s all you got?"
"I have only one purpose, and I wIlL dO mY BIdDiNg"
For the last bit, two other voices overlapped with Zen’s, melding and mixing in a grotesque symphony,each with different tones, emotions, intonation.
Keith growled, covering one of his ears.
By now both their marks were practically burning and visible through their clothing
"Prepare to meet the rest of your family"
"You’re talking like they haven’t already been turned into those things"
The mark on Keith’s back suddenly started to glow brighter and brighter until it completely bathed him in light
A massive pillar of light suddenly appeared around Keith, shielding him from view
When the light disappeared he was covered in completely black full plate armor , completely covering every single bit of skin, even his face.
It resembled early middle eastern armor, with various feathers and other ornaments on it but it was strangely compact,held together by an invisible force.
The arcade symbol was shown proudly on the back of the armor where it was on his on his back.
"You really brought it out"
Zen glanced at his right hand , wondering if he should but eventually dropping it. It wouldn’t be necessary.
"You’re going to regret that choice "
He growled,white lights where his eyes should have been visible in the armor .
"Ooh. Spooky. Wait until he sees your transformation"
Dashing towards Zen, Keith suddenly thrust his falchion forward, stabbing it into his chest.
"You shouldn’t have underestimated me"
Swinging his fist as hard as he could,he punched Zen in the face, sending him flying into a wall.
"This is the strength you wanted to kill me with?"
He dashed forward and started throwing punch after punch at Zen, slamming him harder against the wall.
"Even with an ability you’re the same weak whiny kid i used to beat up"
More and more punches landed, cracking the wall behind him from the sheer force.
He threw one more punch but was surprised when Zen raised his hand to catch it.
"That’s quite enough"
[HP: 200/450]
He’d already gotten all the information he needed, and if this was all Keith could do, then this fight was already over.
Snarling, Keith used his sword, stabbing it into Zen’s chest
Zen looked down at the sword but didn’t react.
Visibly shook, Keith immediately activated the swords ability and it immediately burst into light, resembling Zen’s soul blade .
Seeing his HP dry out even faster, Zen had nothing interest in taking more, kicking Keith in the chest and knocking him away.
Landing on his feet, Keith suddenly threw a punch despite his distance but as his fist swung a small sonic boom followed, crashing into Zen and completely demolishing the wall.
Keith’s ability: Sound
Laughter suddenly erupted from the rubble and someone jumped out,a bright smile on their face.
"Now THIS is my kind of fun"
"What?"
Keith took a step back.
"HahahahAHAHAHAHA!!!! MORE! MORE!! MORE!!!"
"You’re a-"
"Monster? How’d you know?"
Keith scowled, preparing to throw another punch.
"I remember seeing your siblings die, Keith. I killed one of them myself. With my own hands. The pit was a fun time wasn’t it? . Oh,i can still hear their screams now. Everything was so simple back then. Chaos,blood,death. Nothing else mattered. Eventually you learned to love it"
Zyro pulled out the sword from his chest, throwing it at Keith.
"So come on! More! I haven’t been human for a while. iT DoEsN’T mAttEr hOw HaRd yOu TrY. YoU cAn’t KiLl mE"
[Transformation has been triggered]
