I cursed those Lilim, and the bad luck of leading my band of heroes this deep into the mamono empire.
The Royal Archmagi told me that we would be dimensionally phased and in essence; in another plane of existence! And by all accounts, it was true! We strode past so many mamono that would have detected us, but somehow- someway….the other fools who were not part of our group phased into our area of effect and shattered our shift field.
Afterwards, it didn’t take long for us to be caught by the Lilim coven….and since I was the only one who knew how the magic worked, and how to activate it...I could be certain the Order’s most recent magical development would be safe.
But at what cost? I looked as the other fools entered their portals, unable to speak as my gag wasn’t released with the others.
I wanted to tell them that to release such ancient and powerful mamono would render the dimension shift worthless! Such Empresses having their own fiefdoms within the Mamono Empire would bolster their strength that our newly developed stealth would only serve to buy us time, and not give us an insurmountable advantage.
I glanced at the only remaining portal and blew out my breath as I finally got my gag out and stepped through.
There were only two options. Stay or go through. I barely had any intention of attempting to free any of the mamono within….but a different sort of plan began to develop in my head.
I kicked open my crate and smiled as I saw a perfect recreation of a legendary Dyson Stone, amidst all the other gear I had in mind.
I donned my gear and cradled the Dyson Stone in both hands and whispered as I raised my eyes to the tower.
“Death before dishonor.”
I was going to find a way to the deepest recesses of this blasted prison, and I was going to detonate the stone, destroy the tower, sacrifice my life and the lives of my brothers in arms….all to rid the world of the most powerful mamono apart from the Lilim, and to keep the secret of our latest weapon safe.
“For the Order.” I muttered as I strode towards the foreboding structure.
.
.
.
(later)
.
.
.
I exhaled and sat down and rested for a moment.
My entrance to the tower brought me to a portion that looked to be nothing but administrative space.
Countless of judiciary rooms, council halls, libraries, and staff quarters lined the halls. Thankfully I had the presence of mind to have spectacles that allowed instant translation of any text I beheld, but no matter where I looked, there was always more bureaucracy to sift through.
“Excuse me, may I help you?”
I shouted and whirled around to see a female ghost looking at me.
“Back! Foul mamono!” I cried out, holding my sword at her throat.
The apparition looked at the blade and then at me. “This construct would like to remind you that weapons are not permitted in the judicial wing of the Tower of N’ess. Please surrender your weapons at the nearest security checkpoint.”
I sheathed my sword and exhaled. “Where is the supporting superstructure for this tower located?”
“Please give security clearance.”
I muttered my incantation and felt a moment of elation as I heard the security word in my mind.
“Absolute Reverence.”
“Security Access confirmed. The Tower’s support superstructure and energy core is located fifty floors above where we are now, and is also the holding cell of the Eldrich entity known as, Null.”
I nodded. “Good. What will happen if the support and energy core is destroyed?”
“Destruction or severe damage to the core will result in a magical detonation that will vaporize the tower and collapse the N’ess Caverns. Estimated loss of life to be less than one hundred.”
“Can you detonate the Core as it is now?”
The apparition shook its head. “No. Self destruction must be initiated manually.”
“Take me to the core.”
The Apparition strode to one of the many windows and one of the many swarming platforms slowed, then stopped at the ledge.
“Please board the platform. You will be transported to the receiving bay of the Tower’s Core.”
I stepped on the platform that also had a small structure on it. With a gentle lurch, it started to rise and move round and round the gigantic tower.
I entered the structure and found it to be a crumbling ruin of what looked like a tavern. Old mugs on older tables, barrels lining the walls. I tried one of the spigots and found it still had liquid inside and poured myself a pint and toasted the tower.
“You fools! I bet you are all running about down there, trying to save yourselves. Bah! You don’t realize what you are doing! You’re only speeding along the destruction of all!” I drank from the pint, finding the brew to taste of peaches and honey, with enough of a hoppy flavor to give it that kick.
“You are all weak!” I shouted down. “Nothing will stop me! Nothing will prevent my Dyson stone from detonating! I have nobody! Nobody loves me! And I need nobody!” I quaffed the rest of the drink and tossed the wooden pint to the depths below. “You hear me? Demon lord? Nothing is going to stop me!”
At last the platform stopped at an ominous dock and I stepped off with my sword drawn.
A huge iron double door slowly grew before me as I approached and I squinted at a lone figure standing before it. A suit of armor holding a sword.
“Halt. I am the guardian to the Support and Power core to the Tower of N’ess. I am also the guardian of Null. My name is Ha’vash. I speak to you with the aid of magical means, who stand before me, and why have you come?”
“I am Dak’kon.” I said standing before the man. “I have come to destroy this tower in the name of the Order who stands eternal against the monsters of this world and the demon lord. Stand aside. Your duty has long since been fulfilled and will see it’s end with the destruction of everything here.”
The Ha’vash reached up and removed his helmet. His face showed the visage of a man in his early forties, but he had the ancient aura of eons behind his pale grey eyes. “I am unfamiliar with these terms, but I state now. You seek your death? Why?”
“It is the only way to prevent the others who are here now to release the abominations your empire imprisoned here.”
“It is true that the Gryphon Empire imprisoned here what could not be killed. However, some time ago the prisoners here changed. Their ways turned gentle and they now cry out for the most noblest of virtues; Love, peace, understanding, and the joys of a family. Is this not the case for the world you know?”
“Lies! All of it! I’ll have you-” I ducked as Ha’vash swung his sword at my neck.
“No- you lie. I can see it in the very air. Your breath and words. You seek to kill for nearly mindless reasons! What blood marrs your taste? What vengeance do you carry?”
I drew my sword and sneered. “Good sir, you know nothing. Stand aside.”
Ha’vash smiled and nodded. “Indeed. I do know nothing. So allow me to ask you plainly? Do you declare that Nothing will stop you from your bloodlust? That Nothing will claim your heart? That Nothing will ever move you to love? That Nothing will ever bring you to forgive?”
“Nothing!” I screamed and charged forward, surprised as Ha’vash didn’t raise his sword in defense and spread his arms, almost accepting me like a lover.
“Good.” Ha’vash said as he smiled, trails of crimson flowing from his lips and nose. “It’s been so long since I’ve taken this task. You have released me….but more than that….you’ve released yourself.” He backed up to the wall beside the iron door and pulled my sword from the small space between his chest plates and slid down. “Thank you.”
I exhaled and gave the man a moment of silence and turned to the door, probing it with my magical power.
Ah! There it was, the entrance trigger point!
I activated, and the doors opened revealing an enormous crystal and….
“Hello Dak’kon” She said, looking at me.
I shook my head. “No! This- this is impossible! You are just an apparition! A figment of my imagination! You are not real!”
She shook her head and strode towards me. “And yet, here I am. I am here to stop you. And I will, if by virtue of your own declarations….you will be stopped.”
I pulled the Dyson Stone from my satchel and activated its detonation cycle. “I think not! I’ve already set this into motion! In a few moments everything here will be gone, not even I can stop it! Nothing can stop it!” I said and tossed it towards the pulsating core.
“Gotcha!” She said, jumping up with unnatural speed and caught the Dyson Stone and stroked its surface. “Rest now, be at peace.” She cooed, as the Stone grew dark and crumbled to dust.
I felt my mouth go completely dry as I watched the dust scatter from a sudden gust within the enormous cavern.
“That’s impossible!” I whispered, trying to back up. I turned to run….to sprint and throw myself off the ledge when I was suddenly in her arms.
“Dak’kon. Please….rest….be still.” She whispered in my ear and stroked my hair. She kissed my cheek and I felt my knees grow weak and collapsed into her embrace.
“Let me go.” I cried, struggling against her arms and power. I tried to pull my dagger but it was gone.
“Why would I do that? I love you, Dak’kon. Don’t you love me?”
“I love nothing!” I spat.
“Yes.” She said holding me tighter.
“I need no one!” I said, feeling weaker as I struggled to push her away.
“Yes! My love! Yes!” She said, kissing my forehead.
“Stop! Please!” I begged, feeling my strength waste to….nothing….”I don’t want to die!”
“You won’t die, my darling. You are with me. And I am with you. We are together, and I will take care of you...always.”
“Please!” I begged, barely able to breathe. “Let me go! Let me stand! Let me breathe!”
Like a flipped switch, I felt my strength return and struggled to stand and backed away from her.
She stood and held out her arms and smiled. “You need not fear me. I love you. We shall always be together.” Her smile widened. “I will give you everything you could possibly want, just as you will give me everything I need.”
I felt a strange and overwhelming sense of emotion well within me and I took a small step away. “I have no choice, do I?”
She shook her head. “There is always a choice, my love.” She gestured to herself. “Of all that reside here, I am the strongest. And if not the strongest, I will always reveal that which will bring anything low. This you now know. My nature is known to you, so do use the understanding the best way you know how.”
“Can I be with you, without losing who I am?” I said, feeling a sense of peace steal through me.
“Yes, but first you must answer a question you already know the answer to…..who are you?”
“I am nothing.”
I closed my eyes, expecting darkness….expecting oblivion….but I was slowly aware of my breathing….aware of a breath puffing across my cheek….aware of….a kiss.
I opened my eyes and saw her looking at me, smiling.
“But you aren’t nothing, my darling husband. That is what I am.” She purred as she kissed me again. “And in so many ways, even I am no longer what I once was...as your love fills me, and my love for you.”
She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head upon my chest. “My love, please. Show me the world. I want to see the sun and know that which is not me, that I may be more….as you are.”
I felt a heavy weight lift from my chest as I strode to the waiting platform and took my bride to one of the beds in the old, crumbling tavern. Triumphant as I could honestly say that I surrendered to nothing…..and in the same breath...surrendered to love.