Chapter 13: Perfect Human Transmutation.
The three of us imprisoned with Aurora's Alchemy, and the skull-like homunculus staring at us. Ed glared to both of them, trying to save his energy and to control his anger, while I tried to find a way to destroy that prison. But Ton was incredibly nervous and struggled like crazy, screaming "GET ME OUT!" as if his life would end if he stayed more there; I never saw him like that and I thought that could be because of a trauma that he didn't remember of his past life.
- Anthony, calm down please – Ed asked him and he kept quiet, but he still trembled a lot.
Meanwhile, I tried to find a way to break that heavy metal that imprisoned us. There was a big statue carrying a heavy axe with one of his hands; if I were able to bond a part of my soul to that armour…
After that, Aurora spoke again.
- Here you have the three boys, I've done what I promised; now is up to Dyral to use his methods to abduct them to the society.
- The great master will appreciate more members for the society; I think this can cover the tax… for this time.
- THEN TAKE THEM, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND LEAVE ME ALONE! – Aurora yelled and glared him menacingly.
- Calm down Ironfist, Calm down – the Homunculus said, making one step back – your payment is ready but the actions to make if you negate to cooperate can still be taken.
"focus a little more…"
- Wh…what do you mean?
- I have five very hungry chimeras waiting outside Miran's Orphanage; they only need a little more incentive to attack and slaughter everything inside the building
"just a little more…"
- WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, DON'T TRY TO BREAK IT OR I WILL AMUSE THE REST OF MY LIFE KILLING YOUR LIVES ONE BY ONE!
- I don't try to do anything, but the "transaction" isn't done yet. Now help me to bring them outside and…
"DONE!" for the first time, I was able to make a soul bound without using the circle I made with my hands as a medium. No sooner had I could move the statue than I charged it against myself. With a swing of the axe, I was able to open a big hole in the prison and I was able to break it with my own strength. Then I did the same with Ton, the most nervous of us, and finally to Ed.
- What the…! – the Artificial human exclaimed, as Mendier clapped her hands again and to big whips of heavy metal appeared from a ground with me as their target. Not used to be caught on the same trick two times, I jumped high and also clapped my hands and changed the pressure of the air around the whips, being able to deviate their curse, although I tried to destroy them.
- Wow! That thing is really hard! – I exclaimed, as I clapped my hands again and touched one of the whips nearby, and using them as a vial, I launched an alchemy reaction to the ground below Mendier and the homunculus, destroying it and making them to fall in the ground.
All of this served as a distraction, and my two brothers were finally free. Ton was recovering from his last state, and Ed came to join me.
- I thought your metal was indestructible Ironfist – the homunculus said – Seems that you're losing you touch.
- My metal can destroy my metal – she replied – I made that statue some time ago.
- Well, well, well – Ed started speaking – seems that history is cyclical. I have crazy woman with more than 4 centuries of life in front of me accompanied with a very ugly homunculus that tried to abduct us; although I never thought I will life to see an alchemist of that category controlled by one of her creations
- I didn't create him – Amelia... or Aurora, what you want, said – and he didn't control me.
- Really? Because as I see it, you were forced by him to capture us to be part of that society you were talking a lot; although his methods didn't surprise me. Now release that children and try to get us to your pitiful society if you can.
- Hahahaha – the Homunculus evilly laughed – Even if you're alchemists you still need at least two hundred of years of experience to face me.
- I've already faced seven of your kind and although I had some problems that time, there is a great difference between then and now.
With incredibly swiftness, he moved behind the Homunculus, named Famine, and a clap sounded behind.
- I'm ready to kill now.
A big explosion sounded and famine's parts flied across the room, being the upper chest the biggest part that remained, which finished at the centre of the central carpet. From it, the creature started to regenerate itself.
- hahaha! – he laughed again, just after his mouth appeared – if you try to finish me that way, it will take all your life to accomplish it.
- That's why I will use this – "Niisan" said. He was kneeled in front of famine and with his hands on the floor. Then I noticed a big Array that surrounded the homunculus. It was the array that was used to drain the souls outside of a homunculus.
- The human remains were only needed to maintain you on position, but I don't plan to let you escape – with another clap, ground raised to cover famine's feet and then the reaction started, covering the homunculus with alchemy electric reaction and light; however, time passed and nothing happened, and he started laughing again.
- HAHAHAHA! What's this, a bath of light for me? Thanks for the hospitality but I really don't have time to enjoy it.
- Why it didn't work? – Ed asked stunned to the air.
- There is a great difference between this and the homunculi you fought years ago.
- Oh Ironfist, he doesn't need to know that, at least not for now. Well, you have already got fun with me, now it's my time to get fun with you.
He moved his hand, and with a crack of his fingers, over 20 different species of animals, entered the room. A distorted semblance in their faces, red eyes and excessive drooling showed that they were on some kind of awful mental control.
- Seems they are hungry, and you're inside the menu, hehe!
Suddenly, all the animals charged against us, seeking vital points. Ed transmuted his arm into a sword as he usually did and managed to kill some of them. at mi part, I encaged most of them into small strong cages transmuted from walls and floor; and Ton was using his notable fighting techniques to knock out them. The problem was that they kept coming from everywhere.
- are you having fun? – Famine said with his evil grin
- You coward! – "Niisan" yelled- Stop using animals and come here to fight us!
- But I'm fighting with you; I have infused a part of my spirit into those animals, inflicting them enough hunger to attack the first target they see in sight. My name is Famine, and I've been created by the desire of my creators of cover this world with famine stalks.
- That's sick
- You can consider it sick but that's my way to be; as I can consider sick the way you kill those animals knowing that they are not conscious of their acts.
- I don't have another choice!
- But of course you have another choice! You can agree and join our beloved society right now and stop this "senseless" massacre.
- I have already told that I will never join a guild that uses this type of methods to achieve their goals.
- Oh! But you will. You just need a little more of persuasion like…
He crackled his fingers again and finally, that happened. A dog inside of that trauma was able to bite Anthony's leg, making him fall in pain. Both Ed and I run towards him, while the other animals pursued us, but they suddenly stopped, when we turned around, Famine was impaled by a black metal, Aurora/Amelia glaring at him.
-You traitor! How you dare to stop me when I'm working for the society!
- You don't have the right to harm those kids! That wasn't part of the agreement!
- I consider these high betraying against the society! You can start praying for the Orphans.
- DON'T YOU DARE TO…!
Before she could finish saying that, a large boulder transmuted by niisan fell down over famine.
- Hurry and protect them! We will take care of this monster – Ed yelled to the alchemist. With a smile on her face, she started running towards the door and then she went out of the mansion. Shortly after famine managed to get from below the boulder.
During all of this, I ran to assist Ton.
- Are you alright Ton?
- Argh! It hurts!
I kneeled to check the injury; however there was no injury to check.
- where did it bite you?
- In the right leg…I think so…the pain is gone.
And the injury as well; I was sure I saw that hound even chopping his leg, but the proof of it had completely disappeared. At that moment I thought that maybe was the power of the PS that he had in his necklace. Months later I would see that I was wrong.
- can you transmute me a dagger please? With that, I'll be able to deal with them easier.
Having seen him in action before, I went to where niisan was and aid him against the rest of the animals
Looking at that senseless blood spilling really made me very mad. Soon I would realize that I was capable of a level of cruelty that I never thought before I could have.
- Hahahahaha! You really have a lot of energy – famine mocked – don't worry don't worry, there is a plenty of creatures outside to continue with your diversion.
- I can't continue with this – I yelled to air and started walking towards the homunculus. – It's time to cut the roots of this problem.
At this time I transmuted a spear from the floor and charged against famine. He dodged the first attack but I was able to make him to fell down and there I cut his extremities and his head.
Ed was frozen.
- hehe, it will take you all your life to try to vanquish me, no matter how much times you try it, I will return and return and my attack will be stronger and stronger.
- Of course being a homunculus gives you almost endless regeneration but; if your body is shattered to an atomic level, what happens?
The regenerating head was already at the centre of my array. This array was quite similar to the one that was used to make the PS, but with the difference that the equation was reversed, as it produced high level expansion rather than high level density.
And the reaction was produced. The entire room finished covered with blood including us. There was no trace of flesh of the homunculi at no part. The animals finally stopped. I clean myself with alchemy and then turned around to see "niisan" completely covered with blood staring at me with his mouth white opened and his eyes trembling.
- What? Do I have something on the face?
No response.
- Argh! Nasty – Ton yelled, cleaning his eyes of the blood – what is that thing over there?
He was pointing at the centre of my array; there was a small bloody red stone emitting resonance. No doubt, that was a Philosopher's Stone. Before I could get nearer to check it better, the stone started glowing and flesh and bones started going out from it. In one of the most grotesque things I've ever seen in my life. Those things started to take the shape of a human body and in less than one minute. Famine was there again glaring at us.
- You've seen something that only the members of the society are supposed to know. Now you have only two possibilities: Join the society or Die.
- I've already said our answer – Ed said, finally going out from his trance.
- DIE THEN! – Famine said, cracking his fingers again.
A/N: I think you can easily deduce the reason of the name of this chapter even though it's not mentioned in any part of it. I will end tihs fight before I write the next chapter of my other fic. if things go well, it will be done this weekend.
Next Chapter: Society of Darkness