Thanks Johnov for all the reviews and I hope there is more to come. Sorry for the fairly short chapter this week, but I hope the content more than makes up for it. In either case, please enjoy.
Chapter 35: Monster
Lucious raised an eyebrow at Yuan's unexpected question.
"I don't see its relevant to this conversation, but I will tell you as a fellow kinsmen." He walked over to one of the tubes and looked objectify at the person inside. "Truthfully, we have been unsuccessful so far with creating a Cruxis Crystal from a human. However, we have made great strives into unsolving the mystery of doing so."
"Really." Yuan said, encouraging the older man.
"In this world everyone has a different mana signature, like a finger print." Lucious explained. "However, despite that fact we have been able to confirm that there are only twelve types of mana. This type is determined by parentage and the spirit symbol you were born under."
Now it was Kratos turn to be confused. "Spirit symbol?"
Lucious snorted. "Figures a human wouldn't know."
"A spirit symbol is the star you are born under." Mithos explained. "In the vast sky lays the constellations of the Summon Spirits. Every person in the world is born under one of these constellations. It is said to influence your personality, characteristics, even your relationships. For elves and half-elves, our spirit symbol influences the difficulty of our magic."
Martel nodded. "I person born under the Summon Spirit Luna could easily master light base spells, but would have a very difficult time learning dark magic."
"Correct." Lucious stated casually. "This somehow also influences our mana signature. Some types are rarer than others, however."
"So, a specific mana type is needed in order to create a Cruxis Crystal?" Yuan asked.
Lucious smirked. "Indeed, we have learned that out of the twelve mana types, only three actually have the potential to create a Cruxis Crystal. These three also happens to be the rarest. By finding these type of human, we can not only create a Cruxis Crystal within a human host, but also make a crystal more powerful than any before it."
"Are you saying that a Cruxis Crystal created by a human host is more powerful than one created in the traditional way?" Yuan asked with great interest.
"If my the simulations are any indication, yes." Lucious then turned towards Kratos. "And one of those types is standing right in front of me."
Mithos turned towards his teacher. "Kratos?"
"He has a very rare mana type that we need that could produce a Cruxis Crystal." Lucious smiled. "Once I have obtain one, I can fully challenge the Dark King."
"You're insane if you think I'll let you take Kratos!" Mithos exclaimed as he pulled out his sword and released his wings.
Lucious looked surprise to see the appendages. "You have a Cruxis Crystal?" His face suddenly paled. "That mana signature, damn he heard me!"
"Whom are you talking about?" Martel asked.
"You stupid boy, don't you know you are holding the brother to the Dark King's crystal!" Lucious all but yelled. "No wonder he is able to control you!"
"So, what Malachite said was correct." Kratos muttered.
"I have been trying to track that crystal for months to destroy it." Lucious growled. "I heard that some kid took it, but I never made the connection."
"You were the one who ordered that attacked?" Martel asked in disbelief.
"If my ambitions are to become reality, you must die." Lucious said. "I had hoped you would help me against the Dark King, but he has already gotten to you."
"What are talking about!?" Mithos demanded. "The Dark King has no control of me."
Lucious snorted. "The moment you put on that Cruxis Crystal, you became his vessel. For the sake of our nation, please die." He pressed a button on the nearby console, which opened a hole in the floor that sucked everyone in like a vacuum. The hatched close above them as the hit the floor. Thankfully, the fall was not that long.
"That jerk set us up." Mithos muttered as he rubbed his sore rear.
"I should have known he had something like this plan." Yuan said, rubbing his arms. "He gave us too much information."
Martel looked around and realized where they were. "This is....." Before them were dozen of cylinders just like last time. The people were frozen statues of pain.
"Why would he drops us here?" Kratos asked in an uneasy voice.
"Since the Dark King knows of my betrayal, there is no point for me to keep these useless exsphere." Lucious said over a speaker. The liquid inside the tubes began to turn a deeper shade of red.
"Lucious, please stop this." Martel pleaded.
"In war there is no room for mercy." Lucious said coldly. "Even to a fellow kinsmen."
The liquid glowed brighter and the exspheres on the people's necks also began to respond. Soon, the crystals loosen themselves from their owner's and were now floating in the liquid.
"He is releasing the exspheres." Kratos observed. "But, what could be his reason for doing so with us in the room?"
Yuan's eyes widen. "Their mana......"
"What about their mana?" Kratos asked.
Mithos felt it too. "Their mana is going out of control!"
The people's skin began to change to into a sickly green and they seem to be growing bigger by the second.
"No, if their mana is unstable they can't retain their human form!" Martel yelled in horror.
"We have to kill them before the process is complete." Yuan stated as he began to chant. Once he was finished, he released his power. "INDIGNATION!!" The beam of electricity destroyed several of the cylinders, but it was already too late. Several hundred people had already turned into monsters and were slowly heading towards them.
The creatures were several feet tall and had scaly green skin. They only had one eyes, but it was blood red and stared blankly at them. Their movements were slowed sluggish as if the simple motion of walking caused them pain. One arm was always longer than the other, but both hands were full with claws.
"What happened to them?" Kratos asked in horror.
"This is what happen when humans lose control of their mana." Martel whispered. There were tears in her eyes. "They are all in so much pain."
"Is there anyway to reverse the process?" Mithos desperately.
Martel looked ready to burst. "I....I can't do it. Malachite could if she was here....but I can't..."
"It's okay, Martel." Yuan attempted to comfort her. "If you let your negative emotions to control you, your illness will get worst."
Kratos' eyes harden as the stare at the monsters.......no people before him. "Forgive me." He muttered as he charged into the crowd. He wasted no time decapitating one of them and gutted another.
"What are you doing, Kratos!?" Martel screamed. "These are still people!"
Kratos didn't even turn to glance at her. "These people are suffering. To make them stay like this is worst than death."
Yuan's face also hardens. "He is right." He said as he charged up another spell.
"But.....we can still save them!" Martel argued, not bothering to hide her tears. She began to cough violently as her Cruxis Crystal began to glow steadily. She could feel her arm becoming stiffer.
"Martel?" Mithos whispered worriedly as he held her. Martel fell to her knees and grabbed her arm in pain. Mithos began to shake steadily. "Why..why did things come to this? These Farms are an atrocity to life. Even if they are humans, who the hell give you the right to play god!!?"
His own Cruxis Crystal began to glow. "This place has caused Martel pain, I won't allow that." He began to glow brighter as wings seemed go grow in size as he floated upwards. "I will destroy this entire place!!" The words that had aided him with Gnome filled his mind. "SHINING BIND!!" A seal of light appeared around him and the seal grew until it covered entire area.
"What is that?" Yuan asked in surprise. "I think I felt it before."
Kratos was equally stun. "Mithos."
Soon, the light turned into a giant pillar of energy that engulfed all of the monsters. The former humans screamed in pain as they bodies were reduce to nothing. However, it didn't end there. Using the remained of his attack's power, he blew the ceiling off of the Harvest Chamber and flew up to confront Lucious.
Mithos floated above the lab and used his senses to find Lucious; it appeared he had moved to the next room. Without a second thought, he flew towards the room where the general was hiding. The door opened once he got close enough and he was now face to face with Lucious.
"You, you have caused my sister pain." Mithos growled. "I won't ever forgive that."
Lucious' face was completely blank as he stared at him. "I see, no wonder the Dark King chose you."
"I wasn't chosen by the Dark King." Mithos sneered. "I was chosen by Lord Zilveren to save the Kharlan Tree. And now I have another goal, to defeat this Dark King."
Lucious chuckled. "You? Even with a Cruxis Crystal, you're still just a kid."
"I am far more than a kid." Mithos said as he pointed his sword at Lucious. "I am the one who is going to kill you."
Lucious laughed. "Just try it!" He removed a staff from behind his back and charged Mithos. The two met in the middle as they tried to overpower each other. They soon broke apart and spent almost a minute blocking and parrying one another.
"Do you really think a little urchin like you can stand against the Dark King?" Lucious asked as he attempted to slash Mithos. "Fool, he became leader of the Fahrer by not just being powerful."
"I don't care what you say!" Mithos yelled back as he attempted a thrust. "I have vow to save the tree and that means defeating all those who would harm it."
"Vows will only get you so far." Lucious stated as the knocked Mithos aside. "You don't even know who the Dark King is."
"That won't stop me!" Mithos argued back as he rammed Lucious with the hilt of his sword, pushing him back.
Lucious laughed humorlessly. "Naive till the end." He began to chant a spell. Before Mithos could stop him, Lucious had already finished the spell. "May the merciless embrace of frost take you...ABSOLUTE!!"
The area surrounded Mithos suddenly froze to absolute zero and Mithos could feel his body freezing. Ice froze around him before they exploded into huge chucks of ice that cut across Mithos' body. He screamed in pain before he collapsed to the floor.
"See." Lucious said coldly. "If you couldn't even beat me, then you stand no chance against the Dark King." He then proceeded to leave, however, he stopped when he felt a surge of mana behind him.
"It's not over yet." Mithos whispered as he slowly stood back up. "I won't lose here, not to you."
"I am impress, you can still stand." Lucious said casually. "But, what can you do with that beat up body?"
"Plenty." Mithos growled as he began his own chant. "I call upon the heavenly messengers. I summon thee, Come, Sylph!!" With a strong blast of wind, the three Sylph appeared. "Get him!!"
The Sylph wasted no time charging Lucious and plummeting him with several wind base attacks. The blades of wind cut through his skin, causing blood to spill everywhere. With their task done, they disappeared from sight.
"Damn, I wasn't expecting that." Lucious muttered.
"That was your first and last mistake." Mithos said as he came in for the final blow. Without pause, he embedded his sword through Lucious' chest. He looked down in surprise as his blood flowed from the wound.
"Dang, that was good, kid." Lucious said weakly as he pulled the sword out, causing more blood to sputter. He was breathing hard and his eyes were dull, but he refused to fall down.
"You can still stand?" Mithos asked in surprise.
Lucious chuckled. "Sorry for not dropped dead right away, but I still have something to do."
"What are you talking about?" Mithos demanded.
Lucious looked down at his Cruxis Crystal before he answered. "The Dark King has been watching you this entire time. From the way you have talked earlier, he has even spoken to you. I don't know his plan, but it somehow involves you. If you truly wish to save the tree, you will have to defeat him."
"Why are you telling me this?" Mithos asked.
"My death is near, but I still believe in the dream of a half-elf nation." Lucious cough up some blood. "I can see it in your eyes, you will be the one to create it." He then began to look up towards the ceiling. "The Dark King is some kind of noble, respected among all races. I am certain you will see him when you go to make your final pact."
"Lucious." Mithos whispered.
"The Dark King lives within the shadows. For the sake of our nation, make him see the light of day and end his rule." Lucious said as his eyes went dark and closed for the last time. Even in death, he remained standing.