OLD Chapter 198 (UPDATE AS OF 11/23/23 - These original chapters 195-210 will be pushed out to another future part of the book or recycled. New chapters starting at 195 are being posted after the original 210, and these original chapters will soon be removed. For now, skip ahead to the NEW Chapter 195 past old 210) (Patreon)

Chapter 198

Riven stood at the edge of the volcano’s basin, looking up at a creature that towered over him with an absolutely majestic yet simultaneously intimidating figure.  Dark gray scales, enormous spines over the top of its head, magma-infused eyes and a maw that could swallow three tanks in a single gulp.  Splashing in the magma pools behind the creature, its enormous body shifted around and writhed like a sea serpent - and the flaring, fin-like ears coming out either side of its skull only added to that impression.

Yet even despite all this, he could feel only a fraction of the heat that he’d have expected.  Nether realms, especially individual ones that weren’t shared between demons, were rather tricky in nature and didn’t have all the properties that a normal realm would have.  But even so, it was quite something.

“Nice to make your acquaintance, Yattazi.” Riven said with a smile and a small bow.  “I would very much like that.  Becoming friends with my contracted demons is far preferable to having servants, as both Athela and Azmoth can attest to.”

Azmoth grunted his acknowledgement, and Athela slyly smiled while shifting forms into her blood-weaver body - then hopping up into his arms to let the vampire cradle her.

Yattazi hissed, a serpentine tongue flicking out between her lips as her mouth closed and her head came forward to more closely evaluate the spider in Riven’s arms.  “Yattazi knows… Yattazi sees.  It is why I have attempted to contract with you, as I am very impressed with not only your power, but your relationships concerning your charges.  However that is not all I desire, as I also wish to explore the multiverse and find new foods to consume.  I am ever hungry, as you will one day find yourself to be should you ever make it past the profane baptism.  I am very eager to find another that may cultivate alongside myself in the quest for gluttonous unity.”

Riven paused, frowned, and continued to stroke Athela’s little spider head as she gave the snake a curious look.

“You’ve passed this trial yourself already?” Athela asked, pointing a spider foot up at the much larger creature.  “TELL US YOUR WAYS OR FEEL MY WRATH!!!”

The huge snake gave an amused hiss as bubbles from the magma pit popped and gurgled.  “Silly spider, I already intend to do so.  But only under the condition that I am chosen.  Yattazi thinks it is a fair trade.”

“Well where’s your version of me then!?” Clone Riven asked, stepping forward and slamming the butt of his spear into the ground - purple eyes squinting up from underneath his hood.  “I’m rather curious!”

The snake blinked, and a wide smile curled back to bare its fangs again.  “From the base classroom as harbinger of gluttony?  My other half was absorbed.  I chose unity instead of duality, and fed on my own soul to further strengthen my foundationsssss…. Just as all the other harbingers who came to take Athela’s soul away from you had done.  It is the commonly chosen path.”

“You get to choose if you keep your soul clone?” Riven asked, and the two versions of himself glanced at one another.  “Can you clarify?”

The huge snake nodded.  “Your soul clone can either be devoured to strengthen your core and gain far more stat points per level and allows for far easier cultivation of sin, or it can remain split should you take the path of duality.  There are benefits and downsides to both.  Should you choose the path of duality and keep the clone, your cultivation will be slowed and your clone will start to acquire unique sin-affiliated skills your main body cannot channel.  The direct soul damage it can inflict is terrifyingly strong.  Both bodies will need to be killed in order to truly die, and this aspect is already infused into Athela’s own soul - only her evolution gave her 3, which is an unexpected mutation of duality’s path.”

“Sounds like duality is a better choice.”

“Not entirely true.  Asssss I ssssaid, the stat points on the path of unity are truly grand, and the path of duality often leads to bottlenecks - which is the true reason most choose not to go down that path.  You are new to the multiverssssse but know that there are many cults that worship the ssssins with members who have gone much further than you and I down this path.  Those that can successfully cultivate on the path of duality are able to separate the influence of sin from their mind, acquire the advantage of needing both bodies to die in quick succession for a true death, and your soul clone is a potent weapon to use.  But this simultaneously means both halves of your soul will need to reach mediation with one another, will need to reach enlightenment individually, and you will lack the 30 additional stat points that the path of unity provides after ringing the bells and performing the Profane Baptism.  It is often sssaid that duality is somewhat stronger, but not many reach through the bottleneck into the next kingdom of enlightenment while doing it, and when the halves of your soul clash it makes cultivation all the harder.”

Riven’s jaw dropped.  “30 extra points per level?”

“Don’t even think about it asshat!” Clone Riven said with a pointed finger.  “NOPE!  I’m here to stay!  We’re not clashing at all so don’t fuck with me man!”

Riven and Clone Riven shared a grin, but even despite this - he could feel that the other half of his soul aperture, one being nurtured by his gluttonous core of sin, was quivering nervously at this news.  It wanted the soul clone to remain, as though it was still a part of himself - it also had a mild amount of individuality to it.  Regardless it was still him at the end of the day, and even that small part of individuality would bow to his decision should he choose to absorb it entirely.

Still, he was very interested in the aspect of having multiple bodies that needed to be killed in order to perma-die.  He was surprised the snake knew anything about his current trial, and wondered how it would effect his own soul aperture should he take in a demonic minion who had already undergone the baptism.  If Yattazi had already done so, then wouldn’t that mean she already had at least 5 shards of gluttony too?

As if reading his thoughts, the enormous serpent lit up with profane sigils and runes - showing off a large and actively shifting tattoo that covered most of her head.  It glowed a deep, ominous burgundy against the black of her scales, and then faded away into nothingness again.  But it was similar, if not the same as the shifting sleeve tattoo along his right arm.

The mark of the sinner.

So she actually had acquired 5 shards of Gluttony.

Clone Riven nodded slowly to himself, thoughtfully rubbing his black chin with one hand.  “Interesting.  So… my counterpart and I are wondering how taking you on would effect our own soul aperture.  Would your shards of Gluttony be absorbed into my sin core?  Would it cause conflict?  Because the other harbingers were consumed entirely, and their souls were destroyed after our piece of Gluttony wanted to eat the others.”

Another amused hiss from the snake sounded out, and her eyes flared.  “Appropriate question… but no.  It would be a symbiotic relationship, as the system contract would react with a bond forming between our souls.  It is why Riven’s soul aperture was able to form the mark of the sinner and register him at 5 shards even though he only has 4 himself.  The fifth shard is counted because he is bonded to Athela, yet there is no conflict there.  If you were to bond to my 6, we would have 11 shards together.  It would greatly increase our cultivation of the sin of Gluttony… but would further increase our hunger.”

“Yeah… you mentioned the hunger thing before.  What happens when we finish the baptism, concerning that?”

The snake grinned.  “You will see.  The short story, is that you will truly feel what it is like to become… glutinous.  The urges are… both unsettling and… empowering.  I would think that, as a vampire, you would understand to a very small extent what it feels like.  Only the hunger almost never leaves, and it is directed at everything.  Yet, the rewards for pursuing your urges are equally satisfying - as the sin grants you permanent boons for allowing yourself to fall victim to its whims.”

Riven nodded.  “Thanks for the information.  But let’s talk more about you.  What do you like to do for fun?”

The giant snake blinked and smiled.  “For fun?”

“That’s right.  You want a friend, yeah?”  Riven raised an eyebrow.  “Aside from eating things.”

This truly seemed to stump the giant creature, and it thought for a good while before eventually answering with another hiss.  “All I have ever known is the need to feed and consume, the urge to grow.  But… if I must choose something else, I would sssay I enjoy cooking.”

“Cooking!?” Athela butt in, hopping out of Riven’s grasp and scurrying over to the larger creature before mutating into her house-sized drider form.  She crossed her arms and stared suspiciously.  “How would a snake like you even cook!?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I am very good at cooking, and have even acquired a specialized crafting category for it. Cooking level is at 86.”

“WHAT!?”  Athela barked out in shock.  “YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE HANDS!?”

Both Rivens turned to Azmoth.  “Specialized crafting category?”

Azmoth grunted again, four armored arms still folded over his chest.  “They level independently of combat level.  If stuck with totems, you might acquired one yourself.  It take long time, hard work, but rewarding.  That all know.”

Riven turned to Allie.  “Did you know about this?”

Allie shook her head, hands in her pockets as she continued to inspect the nether realm around her.  “No I didn’t.  I don’t think we have any crafters with that kind of… separate category.  It would be interesting to figure out how to get one and why no one has achieved it in our nation so far.”

***

The rest of the time spent with Yattazi was very refreshing.  Despite what and who she was, she had a very warm personality.  She was easy to get along with and eager to please, but still withheld a lot of information with the knowledge that she’d tell Riven more about his current trials should he choose her.

When discussing combat power, it appeared that she was heavily focused on close combat and body enhancements.  Most of her abilities and insights were focused on making her physical body more powerful both in offense and defense.  There were exceptions to this, including a ‘Chaos Cannon’ martial art that created a blast of raw chaos energy, a petrifying flash-glare ability that often silenced enemies if they didn’t turn to stone, a martial art that used her body much like a power strike infused with unholy energy, and a ‘Magma Chamber’ martial art that was essentially a burrowing ability that could also create eruptions of magma that blasted enemies.  She had a variant of Hell’s Armor that Azmoth used, a spell similar to but better than Riven’s own Blessing of the Crow, and a handful of different passive buffs that increased resistances against all types of damage.  She also had a gluttonous passive that made her ever hungry, but it enabled her to receive quests from the sin of Gluttony that gave her permanent stat boosts every time she ate enough biomass.

After parting ways and telling her that at the very least she was under heavy consideration, Riven left and moved on to the iron scarecrow - Fimrindle.  Selecting it next, he found himself being pulled out of Yattazi’s realm, only to receive a notification.

[Fimrindle has failed to create his own nether realm.  Do you wish to use your already acquired demons for use of their nether realms instead?]

He glanced at Athela, then Azmoth.  “That’s weird.  Either of you want to give up your home for a bit?”

“OOOH!  OOOH PICK ME!” Athela exclaimed excitedly, shifting back into her small spider form and waggling her arms in the air.  “PLEASE please please!  I’ve been wanting to show you my nether realm for a while now!”

“Don’t care.” Azmoth said simply.

Riven gave an amused chuckle, but nodded to Athela and motioned for her to get on with it - selecting ‘Yes’ and then mentally checking into Athela’s realm when a strange tug yanked at the borders of his mind.

Abruptly the world around him spun, and Riven felt himself in a…

In a temple?

Towering statues of black spiders were on either side, a long hallway to a throne where a woman who looked very similar to Athela - yet older, sat on that throne, and pillars of stone held the ceiling up high above them with only trace amounts of barely visible light leaking in through window slits at the very top adjacent to the ceiling.

Athela was nowhere to be found, until she suddenly popped into existence and squealed in excitement.  Jumping up into Riven’s arms and simultaneously morphing into her more humanoid form, she tugged at his hands and motioned towards the throne.  “Riven! You HAVE to meet my mom!  She’s been waiting all this time and I’m SO EXCITED to show you to her!”

Mom?

Riven's heart jolted at the thought, and he suddenly became very self aware - and very nervous.

His mind raced.  Why was he nervous?

"Athela!  Wait, wait wait!"  He held up a hand in protest, rather desperately looking back at the throne.  Then in a low whisper, he pulled Athela close.  "You can't just whip out something like this and not warn me!  I have to mentally prepare myself for something like this!"

In a flash of light, another figure soon joined them.  It was a scarecrow for all intents and purposes, wielding a rather simple scythe in his right hand and a metal unlit lantern in his left hand.  The scarecrow was posted upon a metal cross, was stick thin, with a metal jaw that lay slack and almost unhinged with sharp teeth smiling his way.  The eyes were only X’s carved into the otherwise almost featureless metal of the face, and the way it stared at him was… rather creepy.

“We’ll get to you soon Fimrindle, just wait a moment!” Athela piped up, still yanking Riven forward step by step while giddily motioning over to her ‘mother.’  “MOM I’M HOME!  AND I’VE BROUGHT THE HUNK!”

The old woman on the throne stared with a small smile creeping at the corners of her mouth, but remained sitting as Athela pulled Riven her way.  She glanced at the scarecrow, frowned, and motioned towards the newly arrived archdemon.  “Honey… perhaps you should talk to the scarecrow first?  Riven and I can meet afterwards.  I don’t think it is wise to have such a creature enter your nether realm like this only to be made to wait… because without me also being here, it would be rather dangerous for you to let him into your safe space.  That creature is deserving of respect, and you should show him as much.”