Capítulo 29: 029 Hunt Away
"Dammit why!"
GGRRAAAHHH!!!
With one quick semi circular sweeping motion orbiting around her immediate proximity, Quinn had furiously knocked over the standing piles of ancient looking tomes that encased her.
They fell ungracefully as the force from the impact caused the bindings of several tomes to be ripped apart from their original body.
Ink tainted and wine stained tan colored scrolls lay about at Quinn's feet. They contained years of her research and several magical spells she had developed from that research. However, due to the recent forceful disturbance, most of them found themselves scattered and crushed.
The mess would be maddening to anyone who saw it. This was required though. No. It was a necessary response to the note she had just received.
It's contents pounced and paraded themselves as an insult to her dwindling sanity.
Quinn walked to the far side of her room opening up a door to reveal a balcony. She needed fresh air. She needed to calm down and think rationally about the situation.
The hastily written note in her hand had been crumpled in a fit of rage as it read:
Juno and Valt found dead.
Dismembered bodies with violent signs of brutality.
No known players in Lilly strong enough.
It's message was swift and to the point
"Juno and Valt. They weren't incompetent by any means. And yet they're dead. Two of my mid level officers...Strong enough to clear up to the 40th floor, how did this happen!?"
A confused rage slowly began to creep up from deep inside her.
As she spoke to seemingly no one, her shadow began to bubble and waver. Out of the fading blackness rose a clone that reveled in the likeness of Quinn.
At first, the being began rising as a shadow of black ebony darker than the night itself. Soon it slowly adopted color and curvature as it molded away its body.
Before long a stunningly beautiful, nude, and perfect replica of someone who Quinn considered to be the pinnacle of wisdom and magical expertise was in the room with her.
Now completely out of her shadow, the being roamed throughout Quinn's room. Stopping by the bed for a simple sapphire colored satin sheet. In one quick motion she threw it over herself to cover her nudity and become decent. It tore a nearby robe and used it as a belt to fasten the sheet.
Despite the massive size of the now satin robe, her elegant and envious figure could be seen perfectly.
Not that it mattered. It did nothing to calm the spell of ire Quinn was suffering from.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Quinn began her rant.
"What am I suppose to do Nniuq? Clearly this was Em! No one else could have done it! And to this extent! I mean brutality dismembered!"
Quinn tightened her grip on the note in her hand. Bringing it up to Nniuq's sight before violently throwing it on the floor.
It bounced several times, spinning and moving away until its momentum ceased.
"He is pissed. And that bastard Xavier was right...he is back...This is clearly just the start but if he continues like this then everything we managed to build and obtain is going to crumble!"
Nniuq silently approached her, gazing deeply into Quinn's eyes, hoping that by some miracle she could comfort her.
"Why do you not think it's Xavier's doing?"
Quinn shook her head.
"It can't be him, there is no reason for him to act. Besides our research only benefits him in the end. The only answer is that Em is finally back like he promised...And he is filled with poisonous wrath, ready to kill us all."
"Do you have any information regarding him? What of the spies we planted? Has he lost any strength? Is he really still a threat or can he be easily squashed? What weapons does he have? Is he alone?"
Quinn shook her head again. She knew nothing and that lack infuriated her. She was the Zenith of Magic. She was suppose to be a genius among everyone dammit! And yet here she found herself unaware.
Anger was beginning to flow through her. White hot seething rage was pumping its full course through her veins.
She had worked too hard on her life's ambition.
"If everything starts collapsing now...I will be damned if I let it happen!"
And just when the final pieces of the stone were going to be created!
Nniuq spoke up again after placing her smooth hand against Quinn's cheek. Softly stroking and caressing it. A feeble attempt to distract her master. Feeble but effective.
Soon all the useless emotions uprooted themselves from Quinn's consciousness. The cool hand on her cheek froze everything away and brought her focused collective back to her again.
"Quinn, there is only one solution. You know what it is."
Quinn with new determination nodded in understanding.
"I have to repay his kindness in full...plus interest. I already betrayed him once. Besides this isn't some impossible task, After all I was the one who lured him to his initial demise!"
Quinn tore herself away from Nniuq's touch and began pacing her room as she continued on in her now fully crazed rant.
"What is there for me to fear?! I taught him everything he could ever hope to know! And over the last five years I have been growing more powerful! What has he been doing all this time?! What does he posses that could be used against me?! Rudimentary magical knowledge? A stick he can swing around with some speed!?"
Now accepting her schizophrenic rage Quinn turned towards Nniuq as she threw her arms up in the air. She kicked the last of the remaining stacks of magical tomes and continued.
"I'll tell you what he has! He has NOTHING!!! That little shit will fall again even if it's the last thing I do!"
Nniuq smiled. Seeing this side of Quinn, of her mirrored self, evoked something unusual from deep within.
A yearning, a quiver, a fluttering desire.
"Nniuq! Go and get the main portion of my army! Tell them this. I don't care how long it takes, how hard you have to look, or how many useless pawns need to die, flood the floors! Each and every single one below me! Flood them with my soldiers and root out this pest!"
Nniuq nodded after having confirmed her duty.
"Bring me his head—No bring me his soul! This time I will personally tear it away and destroy it before him. I'll watch the brilliance of life leave those nauseating green eyes of his and this time HE-WILL-STAY-DEAD!"
Nniuq Stared at her master in awe of the raw passion she displayed. Unfortunately for her it was the wrong answer.
Quinn slapped her violently across her right cheek. Her nails scraping flesh and scaring her flawless complexion. Black substance oozed forward slowly trickling down Nniuq.
"What are you still doing here!? GOOOOO!"
She pointed furiously towards the door and Nniuq complied.
Quinn turned around and faced the outside once again.
The sun was high up in its heavenly realm. She heard the shuffling of Nniuq followed by a door closing behind.
With her attention once again to the sky above she spoke a final time.
"Em... be ready because this time I'm coming!"
[Lake Of Silence] [Floor Two]
Ventus let out a malicious giggle.
"Alright Em I didn't wanna do this to you but...."
I tensed up as those words fell on my ears. I had to be ready for anything. After all considering what was at stake, I had no plans to lose.
"Ready-Set-Go!"
Ventus pushed me to the ground catching me unaware as she rushed off towards the lake at her top speed.
"Hey No fair!"
I complained back to her from the rocky ground with light hearted sentiment. Her response to me was cold and calculated.
She dropped her tone of voice a couple of octaves.
"Like I told you before Em, I won't lose."
My face turned blank as a rampant fear entered my heart.
"If it's gonna be like that then..."
I grit my teeth upon hearing those words. By the time I was up on my feet again she was already almost half way to the lake. I needed to hurry.
Since this was a contest of speed I knew I could outrun her but I didn't know if she had any tricks up her sleeve.
My heart began to race now that we were in full blown competition mode. Quickly I scanned my brain and narrowed down the list of potential solutions to the situation.
Be faster than Ven.
Run super fast and trip Ven.
Tell her a hilarious joke that will immobilize her due to crippling laughter.
None of these options seemed to fit. As I poured myself into thought I realized what was the only path to take in this situation.
I bent into a deep squat and started to move my mana towards my thighs and I gathered it there.
As I extended my left hand to my side, Death's Favor silently materialized. Effectively answering my call.
I glanced one last time at Ven, she didn't have much to go, I needed to be quick. Once she entered the water, the floor boss's minions would appear. Then really there would be no time.
I can't afford to lose and have her snatch another boss from me.
In a rushed manner I began to pour out my aura into my sword. It violently rushed out and was greedily taken by my weapon. Nanoseconds passed by before Death's Favor was enveloped in my purple aura. It took in so much of mine that it's own natural aura was suppressed.
With one final look ahead towards Ven I prepared for what was for happen.
I released all the mana that I had collected in my thighs at once. As I jumped up, the explosive release of power launched me higher up than I anticipated.
Soon I became a streaking purple figure who took to the sky. I waited to reach the peak of my momentum before I aimed my weapon.
Seconds passing with eternal slowness. They flew by in this manner until finally I could feel myself beginning to fall back down.
I lifted the radiating weapon above me. There was so much aura being forcefully contained around the blade that Death's Favor had begun to shake violently in my hand.
As I regained control of the blade and steadied my aim, a lone thought entered my mind.
This aura slash was going to evaporate the lake and every single living creature in it.
Ventus still hadn't made it to the lake. She had taken a moment to look up at me.
I smiled back.
Sorry Ven but with this I win.
I tensed my muscles as I started to swing my weapon when out of no where the vile system notice rang.
PPIIIIINNG
[The Party Of Em And Ventus Has Cleared Floor Two]
[You May Proceed]
"WHAAAAT!!!"
Again! She did it again! How!?
I halted the movements of my sword and desperate searched for an answer. I couldn't find any and instead as I fell from the sky I turned my gaze to Ven desperately needing an answer.
Her evil giggles echoed throughout the crater and off the surface of the lake. Knowing full well what was going through my head she simply extended her hand outward and aimed it towards the lake.
A quick discharge of a thunderbolt was sent into the water.
"THAT'S WHAT YOU DID!!!"
She fried everything in the lake with thunder magic!
I was furious as I landed back on the rocky shore.
I approached her at my top speed as she fell into a hysterical fit of laughter.
What was I gonna do? This was twice she did this. I'm going to-I'm gonna...I am going ...do nothing. She outsmarted me.
Instead I leaned in close enough and pinched her nose again.
"Heyyy! That hurts."
Ven smiled knowing that she had won our bet.
"Yeah good! It doesn't hurt as much as my wounded pride. I still haven't taken out a floor boss."
She snickered back. Mocking me.
"Tell you what, third floor is the charm, you got this. I won't even do anything I'll just sit quietly to myself."
I rolled my eyes.
"Come on let's go already."
"Don't forget what you agreed to Em!"
She reminded me in a sing song voice.
"I won't..."
I sighed back.
RRRRUUUUUMMMMBBBBBLLLLEEEE
A loud shifting of rocky lake shore was happening before us.
Rocks violently flew about to reveal the teleportation portal.
"Let's go Em."
Ventus was making her way to the teleportation circle. Just before I followed her I took one more look at the beauty of the lake. The resplendent sapphire looked back at me. It would have been a soothing scene. Unfortunately it was tainted with the floating corpses of the various lake monsters.
Dead set in the middle like I had told Ven, was a massive grey orb of meat.
Floating about with 12 tentacles attached to it. The floor boss's corpse stared back at me. It's black electrocuted scars on its body Mocked my failure to beat Ven.
Whatever. I thought to myself. I'll beat her next time.
I turned back and started walking towards the portal. Ven had stopped feet away from it and was turned facing me in an attempt to wave me down and demand that I hurry.
I shifted my stride to a more brisk pace. Let's get out of here.
Suddenly without warning the teleportation circle began to glow furiously.
Worry began to swell in my throat.
Figures began to materialize. Five, ten, thirty no Hundreds of figures, forget it there were too many to even count!
In this materialization phase through the sheer mass I could make out someone with a weapon lifted high. Shimmering waves of radiance enveloped their sword.
That can only be...That's Aura!
Time was held still as I saw the now materialized arm swing it's attack forward. The blade cut through the air unleashing its fury and projecting the aura forward.
In its cruel path was...
"VVVEEEEEENNNNTTTTUUUUSSSSS!!!!"
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