บท 26: Phantasma esse Immortalem
The saber wielding half-lizard man had a hole blown completely through him. The man with the diamond-shaped mustache's chest was severely burned. He looked dead, while the lizard man was dead. Energy rumbled from the inside of the lizard man and surged around him. The energy became like blue smoke and drifted in the wind until it surged toward the man with the diamond mustache. It entered his nostrils and filled him. Faint blue glowed from within the man as the energy cloud slowly disappeared.
Diamond Mustache's eyes flew open and he stood firmly. He looked around and saw Xan and Yahn the Healer. Next, he looked around him in all directions as if he expected to be attacked at any moment. He hardly cared about Xan and Yahn the Healer. "Resonance, I have resonance!" The man shouted into the endless shadows of the night. "You can't beat me now, Phantom! I will crush you, come out if you don't believe me!" He continued to yell.
Xan pulled a few items out of his treasure ring, they were different types of artifacts he discretely collected before heading out on his journey. Just as he told Otrera, if he stored his items in something other than the storage space provided by the system, she couldn't stop him from creating inventions and gadgets.
Among the things, he brought out was a pair of glasses and different colors of colored glass. He used a cutting laser to shape the glass and welded them to the glasses. Next, he pulled out some wires and a few stones and a jade tablet. He cobbled all of these items together and then put on the glasses. He looked into the dark and stopped at a certain point, then he looked over at Diamond Mustache. After looking, he walked over to the Healer Yahn and grabbed his gun and took out a couple of bullets, fiddled with the bullets, and then placed the bullets back into the gun and handed it back to the Healer Yahn.
"Point the gun at Diamond Mustache and if he makes you nervous you can shoot him," Xan said. Strangely he pointed the gun at the man's foot. Yahn the Healer nodded his hand and pointed the gun at Diamond Mustache's hip instead. Xan looked confused. "If you want me to shoot off his foot it will be easier to just take out the lower half than the foot since he could quickly move it out of the way," Yahn the healer explained. Xan smiled and was impressed for the first time since he met Yahn.
"Now I understand what's going on," Xan spoke out. Diamond Mustache didn't pay any attention to him but kept looking into the endless shadows. "Two immortals," he said. Now Diamond Mustache was paying attention to him. "It explains the standoff earlier. I suppose the Phantom believed we could distract you so he could get away and set up an ambush. He probably didn't care if we lived or died. The two of you aren't taking my friend and I seriously, this could get you killed," Xan said.
"How is a mortal going to kill one much less two immortals," Diamond Mustache said. "You think immortals are such a big deal?" Xan said. "These are immortals, but why are they so weak?" The Healer Yahn said. "They are a different kind of immortals from what you are used to. They didn't receive their immortality after tireless work like most warriors. They have a special immortality stone core in their body. Each immortal's stone core is located in a different place in their body. The lizard man's core was located in his chest, poor thing. In the stone core, they store all of their knowledge, skill, and power. In return, their special stone core blesses them with immortality. They forever remain the age they were when they formed their stone core," Xan said.
"My goodness man! That means..." Yahn began. "Exactly," Xan nodded. "This Diamond Mustache fellow formed his immortal stone core after he had gone bald. I don't think even my technique can restore his hair! He will always be an immortal baldy," Yahn the Healer said. Xan was impressed at how profoundly and utterly Yahn the Healer could miss the point. Why was he so focused on bald heads, as far as he could tell Yahn had a very thick and luscious head of hair.
"It means that but it also means the only weakness any immortal has is to break their immortal core. Otherwise, it doesn't matter what you do you'll never be able to permanently injure the immortal much less kill them.
If you can break their stone core then all their power will be released and they will die. If another immortal is around at the time, he or she will absorb all the power, knowledge, and skills of the now-deceased immortal.
This is what happened with the lizard man. When you shot the lizard man you accidentally destroyed his core and Diamond Mustache happened to be there to absorb it," Xan said. "Amazing! You have really outdone yourself this time Elam," Yahn the Healer said with profound praise.
"How do you know all of this?" Diamond Mustache asked in shock. "Not only do I know that I even know where your immortal core is located in your body," Xan said. "Impossible," Diamond Mustache said. "Really? It's in the big toe of your right foot," Xan said smugly. A look of horror materialized on Diamond Mustache's face. "I even know where the Phantom's immortal stone is located, it's..." Xan was about to reveal the Phantom's weakness when a figure appeared out of thin air and slashed the foot of Diamond Mustache. He flicked the detached part of the foot into the air with his saber and then unleashed a torrent of slashes turning the toe into dust.
Just as happened early, a blue cloud of energy materialized and flowed behind the mask of the Phantom. His body began to glow and after a few minutes, everything turned to normal. Diamond Mustache shrieked before falling to the ground dead.
"Thank you for your assistance Great Hero," The Phantom said. "You don't seem afraid I will take advantage and destroy your immortal core," Xan said with a faint smile. "I do not sense any hostility from you, so why should I fear you?" he asked. "Perhaps my interests are more mercenary than blood-thirsty," Xan responded. "What do you want?" The Phantom asked. "Let's have a chat about the missing girls and the nature of our future partnership," Xan said with a smile.
Later in the evening, the Phantom, Xan, and Yahn the Healer made their way through the maze of hills and trees to a cave opening. At first, it seemed like any other cave, but the Phantom walked to one of the walls and pushed a section hidden in shadows. A small door of rock opened and the Phantom, Xan, and Yahn the Healer went in.
A tunnel lead from the cave proper into a much larger opening where a series of smaller caves were dug. Huddled in the various little caves were the girls who passed Xan earlier in the base. In the middle of the common area, a woman around thirty-years-old wearing a rugged blue and white top and dark blue riding pants and a black mask sat with her feet on the table leaning back in the chair. She had a thin on the table in front of her. "You've brought us some guests?" she asked. "Havah, my wife, may I introduce Prince Elam son of King Bar Lin of the Three Cities, and his trusted aid, The Healer Yahn son of What," The Phantom said.
He removed his mask and took off the cloak placing them on the table. "What are you doing?" she asked in surprise and worry. "This man knows where my immortal core is; if he can find that I doubt learning my true identity will be difficult for him," he said. "He found your immortal core?" She said in terror. "Don't worry, my love, please prepare some refreshments. The Prince and I will be entering into a long and mutually beneficial relationship, I assume." The Phantom said. When he turned to the pair they were shocked to see a man with exquisite and handsome features looking at them. Black hair, dark chestnut-colored eyes, and milk-white teeth. "That's right," Xan said.
The woman removed her black mask and revealed the face of stunning beauty. If Helen of Troy had a face that could launch a thousand ships, then this woman had a face that could launch ten thousand ships. Bright light blue eyes and dark red hair framed a smooth jade face with graceful eyebrows, cherry red lips, and milk-white teeth. "I'll be back in a moment," she said with an enchanting smile.
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