Chapter 22
The Shadow Realm.
It is an interesting place for someone who has never seen or heard of it before. Zombieman has found himself coming and going often, it also helps that he is a councilman and none of the other shadows bother him or question his reasoning for being there.
Today however he was in search of books, the ones he has over heard the other speak of and yet not talk about directly. Venturing to their library, he found other shadows looking over the various books available, he didn't realize it until now, but Shadows had their own alphabet as well, thankfully he could read those too.
"Councilman Z!"
He turned and saw a lizardman approach him. "Forgive me sir, I am Coldblood. You appear to be searching for something are you not?"
He played it cool. "Yeah, I heard about the past kings keeping records of their reigns… I am curious to those."
"Oh the journals? You would have to speak with the other councilmen, they have been removed from the library until farther notice."
"Oh? Any reason as to why?" he asked curiously.
Coldblood shrugged. "They were rather nervous to them, they were discovered by the one name Sonic who took a keen interest to not just the journals but the potions room and other areas of the shadow realm not normally explored by us. He must have found something, for there was a look of excitement on his face. Since then, he hasn't really been seen here. He's been keeping a very close eye on our King since."
"Potions… Do you still have the bottles he used?"
"Those have also been removed."
Zombieman knew there was a conspiracy going on now, he had to get to the bottom of it, Bad's been acting odd. It's concerning not just Garou but everyone else, He continued on until he found Jima.
It was a remarkable talent to say the least, despite the creatures of this world looking like nothing more than smoldering silhouettes; they all bared visible features as if there were a fire burning in their cores. Each one had a different color aura as it were. Coldblood and the other lizard people had a light blue color that highlighted their features. It was one of the few ways he is able to tall who's who. Zombieman approached Jima just as he finished his conversation with another Naga. Nagas themselves had a neon green color to their bodies. "Hey."
His voice started the councilman. "Z? What on earth brings you here?" asked Jima.
"I want answers… now." He demanded. "What's going on with Bad? You know something has happened to him. We know it too, but as to why… that's the mystery."
Jima froze to the question, he forced a smile and explained. "It is nothing serious, I promise you…"
"Then what is going on?" he demanded.
Jima was reluctant to speak any farther of it. "Tell me now… or I will be sure to get him involved… Jima… answers!"
He sighed. "I cannot deny a fellow councilman's request… Very well, follow me."
Zombieman kept his guard up of course, since they were all in on it now. However Jima was far more revealing than he intended. Zombieman was taken to another room, there laid three books, the vials of potion used and nothing more. "Read the books and you will understand what has happened. I recommend you start with the pervious King's, and work your way back."
"You aren't just going to flat out tell me?"
He shook his head. "I vow of silence we have made to say the least, but I beg of you. When you know the truth… please… not a word to our King? We mean no disrespect, we merely wish to serve him for all times!"
He was already getting a bad feeling about this, but there was no other choice. Zombieman took a seat and began to read the journals…
#
SLURP!
"GAH!" Bad moaned as he finished off another monster, this time it was bigger than the last, but unlike before his body was adjusting rather quickly in containing the feast and preventing him from looking too fat to say the least. It's been going on for some time now, in four days he hasn't been able to stop eating the souls of monsters. They at least kept him filled, yet he wondered how these monsters are somehow lured to him?
It as if they are purposely being driven towards him in a sense, he shook his mind clear of the notion as his stomach churned and settled once more. "God I hate this…" he muttered and muffled a burp.
"BAD!"
Dropping out of the sky was Garou, the moment he hit the ground he stared at him with anger. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING EATING SOULS!" he demanded. "You nearly ate 10,000 of them and now… you're eating monster souls!?"
"I can't help it!" Bad snapped back. "I'm hungry and I am craving this! Back off man!"
"You… are eating… SOULS" Garou said more slowly. "Bad, this isn't you… this isn't like you at all!"
Metal Bat began to tear up. "I know…" he whimpered. "I… I can't stop myself… I get so hungry and… and… Oh God!" he fell to his knees and sobbing to it all. It pains him, Garou knows it does and here he stand lecturing him about it.
"I know the feeling Bad, don't you think I've been there before meeting you?"
He settled himself down as he slowly looked up to Garou, this time his face was sincere. He did know this feeling; he fought it for hundreds of years on his own. "Bad, let me help you." He said. "Let's go speak with Snek…"
Bad nodded to the idea, they began to walk back to the Heroes Association when Sonic appeared. He bowed and said. "My King, there is another monster in the area, I believe you need to dispatch it at once…"
"Oh, you mean that jackass three streets down? I took care of it." Garou said.
Sonic froze. "Took care of it? What do you mean you took care of it?" he demanded. "That was an offering for MY KING!"
"Whoa, hold on there!" scolded Bad. "What's the big deal… what do you mean offering?" he demanded.
"Never mind there must be one more here someone, we just need one more…"
"One more what?!" Bad demanded. "Sonic… answer me!"
The ninja froze, realizing he had let too much escape his lips. "It… matters not, my King. Forgive me…"
"Don't you dare disappear on me or I will chase you back to the Shadow Realm!"
"NO!" Sonic protested, and then froze once more. He paused and sighed. "My King… I am indeed feeding you souls, for your body craves them. Ten thousand souls will sustain you for hundreds of years so you do not have to consistently feed. As well, I am ensuring to use monsters for they are far more filling for you." He explained.
"Wait, you are having me eat these things, so I don't have eat them for a while?"
"Yes my king."
Bad paused. "And I just need to eat one more to ensure that?"
Sonic's eyes widened as he feared the words, with a nervous gulp he nodded. "Yes, my King."
Bad began to approach him as a nervous sweat came over Sonic. However Bad merely stood before him and said. "Where's the other monster?"
#
Garou led Bad down the street to where he killed the last monster, despite it being dead, it still casted a shadow. Bad shrugged as he decided to give it a try. This one offered no resistance or put up a fight as the drained the shadow out of it. Bad ate it with no problem and didn't even feel sick! With a gratifying gulp, his stomach filled, but then, an odd sensation came over him. "Ugh…"
"Bad?" asked Garou.
"Man I feel like something heavy just sat in me… damn!"
"It will pass my King, I assure you." Sonic said but his smile was something he couldn't contain.
Bad was rather nervous to it. "Uh… Sonic… don't make that kind of face around me, it's really creepy"
Instantly his grin vanished as he bowed once more. "My sincerest apologies my King!" he stated. "Please, rest now, you have succeeded in warding off your hunger for a while. Just relax yourself and don't take many risks. You are our great King after all!"
"Uh… yeah… Okay… Garou, let's go train."
Sonic flinched. "Oh… My King… I do not recommend…"
"It's just a light sparring what's the big deal?" Bad snapped back. Sonic paused but shrugged.
He turned to Garou and said. "I would be careful if I were you… don't overdo it"
As Sonic vanished, Garou turned to Bad. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that was a threat!"
"Psh, whatever man, come on, let train and get my mind off this damn soul eating business!"