Ch. 43 – Heavenly Realms (II) (Patreon)

The room they were let into was an enormous courtroom that looked like it was right out of a primetime TV show. A large jury box was off to one side, there was an audience gallery with rows of seats, a large desk for the judge with a door behind that desk, places for the two sides, and a witness stand.

Sitting at the desk was a woman made of grey starlight. Her gaze was stern, two large spheres of grey that glowed from behind a blindfold. She wore a toga in the Greco/Roman style and tapped her long fingers on the desk in front of her. With the other hand, she was manipulating the evidence Felix had compiled with Magic, making the documents float about her head as she examined them. “Most curious.” She looked at the two, “Versewalker, Escort. Please, approach the bench.”

Tinuriel glanced at the various benches around them, but Felix grabbed her hand and brought her up to the judge’s desk. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Ceros.”

“Yes, thank you, o goddess of wisdom and justice.”

What’s up with the flowery language?

“They like this type of stuff.”

The evidence flew back into the folder and set itself down on top of the desk. The goddess of justice leaned forward and stared at Felix despite the blindfold. “You have done some meddling, Versewalker. But that is your lot in your life. To travel the Universes and fix Crises.” She leaned back and tapped her fingers together. “I have reviewed your evidence. I find it to be compelling, and your actions on Ethdellin just.” She stood up and looked to Felix and Tinuriel, “Please, to that table,” she pointed to the left side of the room. Felix and Tinuriel sat there, and the evidence floated over to the table. There was a flutter of grey energy, and both were suddenly wearing dress robes over their armor.

“Are you going to have us…prosecute a case?” Felix asked.

“Drinala will be summoned along with her charge, William VIII, and you will present your evidence. She will have a chance to defend her charge’s actions.”

Let me do the talking. My words might carry more weight since I’m an angel.

Got it.

Ceros sat down, “I warn you, though. Trial by combat is still allowed if the accused party wishes it. But, only after the case is heard and a verdict is rendered.”

Felix leaned over to Tinuriel and whispered, “That means we could dictate the terms. Make it a fair fight.”

Tinuriel grinned, “Let’s hope they go for that.”

Ceros waved her hand and an explosion of grey energy scattered across the room, “Drinala, I summon you. As the oldest and strongest of our kin, answer this call or face my wrath.”

There was silence for several moments. Then, the doors to the exterior waiting room opened. A woman with dark, smoky black skin and series of spider-like eyes on her face – complimented by a series of spider legs that were folded against her back, walked into the room. She was dressed in a dark power suit with a skirt. The usurper king, William, was behind her – still dressed in the same clothes as the day prior.

Drinala stared at Felix and Tinuriel as she took her place at the other desk alongside William, “Alright Ceros. I’m here. What is it?”

“Accusations that warranted a response have been levied against your ward, William VIII.”

Drinala raised her hands, “What is this? Some mortal can just come up here and make accusations?”

Ceros raised an eyebrow quizzically before looking at Felix, “If you would like to introduce yourself.”

Felix stood up and dipped his head in a sign of slight respect to Drinala. “I’m the Versewalker that’s been solving Crises up and down Heficyre for the past few…weeks?” He glanced at Tinuriel, having lost track of time.

She coughed lightly, “Months. It’s been two months.”

“Right, thank you, assistant.” Felix looked back to Drinala who looked at him with suspicion and aloofness, “I’ve been solving Crises here for two months. And your ward there is the cause of one of them.”

“Your honor, permission to exit my vessel and address the court?”

“Granted,” Ceros said with no hint of any emotion.

Since when can you exit me outside the VBV?

Heavenly Realms are just like the Heaven I came from. Lucifer exited Felix’s body and bowed to Ceros. “Lucifer Morningstar for the prosecution, your honor.” He turned to Drinala, “We have gathered and compiled a heap of evidence against your ward. Crimes that must be answered for.” He pointed at her ward like an attorney out of a video game series, with a devilish smile on his face.

Drinala hissed and looked to Ceros, “We can skip this whole affair and go right to the proper way to handle this.”

Lucifer deflated slightly at that, but looked to Ceros as she leaned forward, “Are you invoking trial by combat?”

Drinala looked at William who shook his head in fear, “I am.” She looked to Lucifer, “I am. My ward and two of my servants against your Versewalker and his…companions.”

“Escort,” Tinuriel replied promptly.

Ceros looked at Lucifer, “Are these terms acceptable?”

Lucifer walked over to Felix and Tinuriel, leaning down and whispering. “They set out the parameters, a three-on-three match. We can provide some limitations, such as only certain types of weapons, or a location. It sounds like I’m being included since I’m technically a separate entity inside of Felix.”

“Make sure that deities can’t interfere,” Tinuriel stated. “We don’t have the equivalent of godly power on our side.”

Lucifer nodded and turned to Ceros, “We ask that a limitation that prevents divine intervention be put in place.”

“Granted,” Ceros said. She looked to Drinala, “Any other stipulations?”

Drinala shook her head, “None.”

Ceros raised her hand and a grey gavel appeared in it. “The terms are set forth. Felix the Versewalker and his Escort, against William VIII and Drinala’s chosen participant. The location for the fight will be decided henceforth.” She brought the gavel down, and the room warped and distorted. The dress robes were gone, Lucifer got sucked back into Felix, and the five of them – two goddesses and three mortals – were standing on a vast field. Short-cut, golden grass that extended seemingly endlessly gave way to verdant blue skies. Ceros floated up above the field with Drinala. Felix and Tinuriel were moved by some Magic force to one side of the field, and William was moved to the other.

The usurper king fell to his knees and begged, “Drinala! I’m not a fighter! Please…help me! I gave you my firstborn! You owe me!”

“Yes, I was allowed two more combatants. There were no stipulations that I could not merge one with you.” Drinala raised her hand and a black portal opened on the field next to William Two enormous spiders crawled up and through it. One of them grabbed William and seemingly merged with him, becoming an amalgamation of a spider and human that manifested armored weapons of inky, black shadow. The second spider remained in its form; a grotesque, armored body with razor-sharp blades lining its legs. It looked like a boss out of a very difficult video game – the type where you would have to die over and over before finally beating it.

Ready?

Let’s get everything primed. Netherlight Mantle, Netherlight Cohort, Beacon of Free Will, Detect Weakness-

Affinity Empowerment

-Hellblade, Netherlight Blade, Anathema Blade, Anathema Shroud, Netherlight Arena.

Using two Anima Elixirs and three Vigor Elixirs to top you off.

The various Magics/Powers flowed over and through the two of them as the Netherlight Arena spread out in a sphere. The monstrous spider had only two weak points – the cluster of eyes on its head, and next to the deadly barb on the backside.

“No fair!” Drinala yelled. “They can’t do pre-battle preparations!”

Ceros turned on the goddess, “You did, by infusing your combatants with one another.” She clapped her hands, “Begin!”

Tinuriel ran forward, screaming her war cry as she attacked the spider creature. She swung her Valiant Edge and two legs dashed outward, pushing the sword aside and striking at her – the Netherlight Mantle taking the hit as her Anima drained prodigiously from the blow. She used an Anima Elixir from Felix’s inventory and kept up her assault.

Felix used Shadestep...

...having figured out that he could use that Skill within the area of Netherlight Arena with no need for shadows since it was made of that and light combined. He teleported thirty feet, appearing under the creature. Right next to the weak spot on its back end. He activated Execution twice – once for each weapon – and plunged his knives into the weak spot.

The creature shrieked in pain as the Anathema Blade removed some type of protection as the Wyrmtooth Knife injected its poisonous payload. The Hellfire burned against the exterior of the wound and began to sap its Anima.

The spider-person version of William shot volleys of webbing and shadow towards Felix – but several missed thanks to the combination of Netherlight Arena and his nimbleness. A few of the blasts did hit – being absorbed as his Anima was reduced thanks to Anathema Shroud forcing the damage to affect his Anima pool instead of his Health.

Tinuriel continued to keep the large spider’s attention. Its movement was slowed thanks to the damage Felix had inflicted, and she was able to keep up with it despite the appendage advantage it had over her. She still suffered injury, but she kept using Elixirs from Felix’s inventory to offset her rapidly draining Anima pool.

“I’ve only got four of those left!” Felix shouted as he dodged the flailing back-limbs of the big spider and ran towards the merged-version of William. The shadowy weaponry that it was holding – two swords and two daggers – darted in to strike Felix and found their mark. His Netherlight Mantle took the hits, and he had to use two more Anima Elixirs to top himself off to maintain his Magics/Powers. He activated Execution again – once for each knife – and threw himself into the spider-figure, stabbing first with the Anathema blade, and then with the Channeling blade.

The spider-thing imbuing William was forced off from the Anathema Blade, reforming as another sizable spider creature that appeared dazed. Felix’s second strike with the Wyrmtooth Knife stabbed right into William’s neck – and he died almost instantly. The Hellfire licked at his skin and the lights left his eyes.

Tinuriel had run out of Anima and was taking blows – empowering her Berserker Collar as she laughed with battle-lust. She let out a roar and brought her blade through several of the bladed limbs that were prodding at her – slicing them clean off as spurts of black ichor painted the golden grasses. That gave her an opening to stab forwards as she turned rapidly on the monstrous spider, plunging her blade into the bundle of eyes, and twisting as it went limp, curling in on itself.

Felix turned to face the reconstituted spider that stared at him with murderous intent. Tinuriel walked up next to him and the two faced the creature as it began glowing with black energy.

“I don’t think so. Anathema Prison,” Felix said as he gestured at the creature.

And Vigor Conversion to refill my Anima to full.

Using two Vigor Elixirs as well.

Felix put the knives away as Tinuriel charged forward to keep the creature busy. They had discussed this battle plan before in the VBV one night – if fighting a large foe, Tinuriel would get in close, and Felix would focus on keeping at a distance. But there was a reason he wanted full Anima and Vigor. He had shown Lucifer some of his memories of his favorite TV show as a child, and Lucifer loved the idea just as much as he did.

Vigor Conversion.

Felix pulled his hands back as a bead of crimson and black flames pooled in his palms. Growing brighter and brighter, as the crimson and black seemingly fought against each other. He put all his Anima into the Magic/Power, and with Vigor Conversion taking all his Vigor into account…this would be his strongest-ever Beam.

“Hellfire Beam!” He shouted out as he thrust his hands forward – the blast of crimson and black flames roared out, shooting forth at incredible speed and almost blowing him backward off his feet. It encompassed Tinuriel but did not harm her thanks to Felix’s intent when using the Magic/Power. The beam grew in size and strength as the spider creature was wiped from existence – the blast continued onward until it impacted some invisible barrier and dissipated.

Now, we use that level-up. Give me a level of Ascended Animancer.

[Selection Made: Ascended Animancer]

[You now have access to several Class Skills]

Finalize.

The light flutter of heat in his chest was the only indication this time that something had changed.

Drinala screamed and flew down towards the two, spider limbs extending from her back – but Ceros appeared in front of them, holding up her hand. “The trial by combat is over. Your bid for taking over Heficyre through a puppet ruler has ended.” Ceros turned to Felix and Tinuriel as Drinala vanished in a grey flash, and the world around them returned to the courtroom. “You may take William VIII’s body as evidence.” She returned to her seat and smacked her gavel, “Court is adjourned.”

Felix went over to the corpse and put it into his inventory, doing the same with the evidence left on the prosecutor’s desk.

Tinuriel led the way out, and Rae waved them over to the front desk. “I hope you did what you wanted. Drinala was pissed off.”

“We won’t be around Heficyre for much longer,” Felix said. “Maybe just visit.”

“Probably for the best,” Rae stated bluntly. “She’ll plot your downfall if you stick around for any length of time. Now, your badges, please. Then I can send you back.”

The two complied and then the world went black before they found themselves standing next to Melanie’s throne, just in front of the Spire. She glanced sideways at them, and her face instantly brightened, “You survived!”

Tinuriel grinned, “Yeah, we got to beat up these spider angel things. It was a blast.”

Felix pulled out the evidence from his inventory, as well as the corpse of William, and put both on the floor. “There’s the proof.”

Melanie regarded the corpse with disgust for a moment before waving a guard over. He picked up the body and evidence, leaving with both. “I thank you for finishing this task.”

[Experience Awarded = 75]

“We’re going to stay in the VBV for a bit. Relax, and enjoy our downtime. But I had a question.” Melanie gestured for Felix to continue, “Is there an easy way down the Tiers? Like, a glider?”

Melanie nodded, “Mercantus has been known to use those on a rare occasion. Normally to send supplies on a special order since they cannot easily be recovered.” She smiled, “Wanting to go to Avelion?”

Tinuriel sighed and nodded, “Yes. We should open a VBV portal there. My people will take some adjusting but living there beats living on the next Tier up from tribes of Vugog.”

Felix looked over at her, “We could try going down there also-”

Tinuriel cut him off with a death stare, “-No. They are a bunch of cannibals. Evil psychopaths. They do not belong in civilization."

Melanie solemnly nodded, “She is correct. The Violent Vagrants are named that for a reason.” She clapped her hands and Brianne came over, leaving a conversation she was having with some noble. “My new seneschal will get you from the VBV once the glider has arrived at the edge of Ethdellin.”

Brianne curtsied, “My pleasure, your grace. I’ll send for it at once.”

Melanie waved the two off, “Take care. I’ll see you for the feast later.”

“Feast?” Felix asked.

“Oh, yeah. I decided a party was in order. So, we’re going to celebrate later.”

Felix just shook his head as he went through the portal.

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