Capítulo 6: STIGMATA

Raizel couldn't believe that he had been gone for many ages. It was hard for him to fathom the changes that the world had undergone in his absence. He took a seat on a plush couch and motioned for Royce to join him.

As Royce took his seat, Raizel turned to him and asked, "I guess my age is surreal at this point. Royce, can you tell me everything that has happened since I was gone?"

Royce, who was now addressed as Drake, looked at his master with a deep sense of respect and admiration. "Of course, Master," he replied.

And so, Royce began to recount the long and storied history of the world since Raizel's time. He spoke of great wars and battles, of technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs. He told of the rise and fall of nations, of the birth of new societies and cultures.

As Royce spoke, Raizel listened intently, his eyes wide with wonder and amazement. He couldn't believe the incredible strides that humanity had made in his absence, and he marvelled at the ingenuity and perseverance of the human spirit.

As the hours passed, Royce's tale continued, weaving a rich tapestry of history and knowledge. Raizel listened with rapt attention, eager to learn all that he could about the world that he had left behind so long ago.

In the end, Raizel was left with a deep sense of gratitude and awe. He was grateful for the opportunity to hear such an incredible story, and he was awed by the sheer scope of human achievement over the ages. As he gazed out at the world beyond, he knew that he had much to learn and discover in this brave new world.

Raizel turned to Royce, his gaze intense and serious, his eyes burning with a hunger for knowledge and adventure.

"I need to be educated," he said, his voice low and firm. "I need to learn about this new world, its customs, its technology, its politics. I need to understand the forces that shape this age, so that I can better fight for my cause."

Royce nodded, his own eyes shining with a deep sense of respect for his master's determination. "Of course, Master," he said. "I will arrange a place for you at the Vanguard Academy with the best facilities at your disposal. Please rest assured and take it easy."

And with that, Raizel felt a surge of excitement and anticipation course through him. He knew that the road ahead would be long and challenging, but he was more than ready for the journey. "Moreover..."

"Is there any other matter that requires your attention, My lord?" Royce inquired.

"How is our visitor progressing?" queried Raizel.

Royce took the hint and led his Master to an underground chamber, accessible only by a secret passageway. The chamber was devoid of any natural light and reeked of must and metallic odours, like a high-security prison cell.

In the center of the room was a containment unit, a massive cylindrical chamber made of advanced, nearly indestructible materials. It housed a captive, whose every movement was monitored and restrained by a network of intricate wires and cables.

Raizel strode towards the containment unit and peered inside. The captive's eyes were closed, but his body was twitching and writhing in the grip of a powerful electric field, like an insect caught in a spider's web.

"How is our guest faring?" Raizel asked, his voice low and even.

"His physical condition is stable, but his mental state is deteriorating," Royce replied, his expression grim.

Raizel nodded, his eyes fixed on the captive's struggling form. "And the stigmata? Has it been secured?"

Royce nodded and handed him a small, glowing object. "It's a stigmata that utilises a celestial's power, sire. It was successfully extracted from the target's brainstem and neutralized. However this stigma has traces of being corrupted. Beyond that I do not know."

Raizel looked at the stigmata and examined it closely, his expression unreadable. "Good work, Royce. But I would like to have a word with him alone." he said finally.

Royce bowed and turned to leave.

Raizel's voice was laced with a coldness that seemed to permeate through the very air. The light that emanated from his hand intensified, casting a harsh glow across the dark and damp chamber. Within its sickly glow, a figure could be seen slumped on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood.

The figure slowly raised his head, his eyes narrowed with hate and malice as he glared at Raizel, who paid him no mind, his attention focused solely on the captive before him.

"Well, Hashira," he began, his tone brooking no argument. "Let's get to the point."

Hashira's maniacal laughter filled the air, his eyes glinting with a dangerous fervor as he looked up at Raizel. "So, you were the one we were searching for all this time? What a futile waste of resources and effort," he spat out, his voice dripping with contempt.

Raizel regarded Hashira with a cold, calculating gaze. The air around them was thick with tension as the two locked eyes. "I have no interest in your personal affairs," he replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. "My only concern is acquiring information about QUANTA, and if you possess any knowledge that can aid me in my pursuit, then I have use for you."

Hashira's eyes gleamed with a mixture of fear and defiance as he realized he was in a precarious position. "You won't get anything out of me," he spat, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

Raizel merely raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Hashira's bravado. "We shall see," he replied cryptically, leaving the possibility of coercion hanging in the air.

"Go to hell Asshole! As if I'm going to say- AAAHHH GAAHHH".

Hashira let out a guttural cry as scarlet chains imbued with crimson fire impaled his limbs from every direction, causing him excruciating agony.

Hashira's expression contorted with horror as he glanced down at his arms and limbs, which were now pierced by crimson chains. Blood flowed freely from each wound, spilling onto the ground below and refusing to stop. His gaze flickered back up to Raizel, and the pure hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Tch! Why won't it stop bleeding?!", yelled Hashira in frustration.

"It won't, well not anymore at least.", replied Raizel coldly.

As Raizel raised his palm, the air around him began to shimmer and distort, as if the very fabric of reality was being torn apart. Slowly, a glowing mark began to materialize on the surface of his skin, its intricate design pulsing with an otherworldly energy.

The mark was a complex series of interlocking symbols, etched in a brilliant white light against the dark back drop of Raizel's skin. It seemed to writhe and twist like a living thing, radiating a cold, malevolent energy that sent shivers down a normal person's spine.

Hashira could feel the power emanating from the stigmata, a dark and dangerous force that seemed to defy the very laws of Quantal Reality. He knew that Raizel was not to be underestimated, for the stigmata gave access to abilities beyond the comprehension of mortal men.

With a cold smile playing at his lips, Raizel unleashed the power of the stigmata, unleashing a torrent of energy that sent Hashira flying backwards. As the energy dissipated, the corrupted stigmata began to fade, vanishing into bits of light.

Hashira's eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed upon Raizel. "You extracted my stigmata?!" he exclaimed, his mind struggling to comprehend how such a thing could even be possible.

Raizel simply smiled in response, his expression cold and calculating. "There's no hope for those wounds to heal by themselves unless you have this," he said, holding up a small vial filled with a glowing, otherworldly substance.

As Hashira tried to reached out to take the vial, a sense of overwhelming defeat washed over him. He knew that without his stigmata, he was nothing; a mere mortal in a world ruled by those who possessed the power of the stigmata, without it he was nothing more than a weakling in the face of the Raizel's power.

Raizel's voice was cold and measured as he spoke. "Let's make a deal," he said, his eyes locking onto Hashira's.

For a moment, Hashira's heart leapt with hope, a glimmer of light in the darkness that had surrounded him. But even as he opened his mouth to speak, he knew that there would be a price to pay.

"Say no more," he said, his voice steady. "You wanted info on QUANTA, right? I'll spill the beans, while you, in return, would give me back that vial. Got it?"

Raizel's smile was thin and cruel, a predator sensing its prey. "Very good," he said.

Hashira's eyes flickered with a mix of fear and uncertainty. He knew that Raizel was not to be trusted, but the chance to get his stigmata back was too great to ignore.

"What would you like to know?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.