Chapter 84
"Mph! Those brothers are a pair of clowns. Just you wait Ortho. Enjoy acting like a finally boss while you can." Vil grumbled.
"I think you're insulting clowns." Odette remarked.
"So this is what Tartarus is like on the inside. The elevator stopped running looks like we'll have to take the stairs from here." Rook said as they stepped out into the stairway.
"According to the staff in the control room the Phantoms on the upper levels have already thawed so it's likely they're up and about. We may run into them at any time beware of your surroundings. "Vil informed them.
"We have to keep our heads on a swivel." Odette added.
"What does that mean?" Epel asked.
'Why did I say that?' Odette thought. "It's just another way to say what Vil said." She muttered.
"It does have a bit of poetry to it." Rook smiled.
"We haven't had much chance to speak since reuniting and now we're navigating an enemy stronghold but while we've got this downtime I'd like to take a moment to say something to you all." Vil said turning to the rest of the group.
"What is it Roi Du Poison?" Rook asked tilting his head to the side.
"First, you Rook you're my Vice yet you abandoned Pomefiore. I know you don't usually act like a proper vice but after Styx's attack the campus was surely in chaos and yet here you are gallivanting around by yourself? As Housewarden I can't overlook this." Vil stated crossing his arms over his chest.
Rook just nodded.
"Now just hold on Vil! Rook came to get you despite knowing all the danger." Epel countered.
"Zip it!" Vil snapped nailing him with a glare. "My abduction and Rook's dereliction of duty are two entirely separate matters. The other Vice aren't here because they're all doing their jobs running their dorms. I'm ashamed of my poor judgment in nominating a vice so irresponsible he'd abandon his dorm at the drop of a hat."
"Hey, that ain't no way to talk to him." Epel snapped back.
"It's fine Epel, Vil's ire is entirely justified. I was prepared to be dismissed as Vice the moment I left campus." Rook confessed.
"B-but that ain't fair." Epel stuttered.
"Next Epel and Odette do you have ANY idea how reckless it was to come here? You're inept children playing at being heroes that doesn't help anyone. Quite frankly you're nuisances." Vil continue as he gaze settled on them.
"I couldn't just sit around and do nothing okay." Odette defended herself matching his gaze as she thought. 'I kinda knew that but oof.'
"What fools you are!" Vil huffed "Well that takes care of of everything I had to say as Pomefiore's Housewarden now for what I want to say as plain old Vil Schoenheit."
"Pardon?" Rook gasped.
"Here's the truth when Idia told me you all had come here I was beside myself with joy I've been holding it in ever since we met up with each other. May I give you all a hug and kiss?" Vil asked as he took a step towards them.
"What?" Everyone exclaimed as Vil in turn gave them each a strong hug and a soft kiss on the right cheek.
'Did I just get kissed on the cheek by a world class supermodel?' Odette thought as she touched her warm cheek. "Where did this come from?" She asked.
"Come now you act like things like this are completely beyond my understanding can't I show my gratitude? My hunter, my poison apple and you Odette, my swan. Thank you for coming after me. I'll make certain you're all returned to school safely." Vil thanked them.
"And we'll do the same for you our queen." Rook vowed.
"I ain't gonna lose this time. Oh guess what Vil! I learned my signature spell on the way here." Epel informed him as they began to make their way down the stairs.
"What?" Vil asked as he looked over at his shoulder.
"He did indeed you saw it yourself I presume. Surely you didn't miss the Charons encased in lovely glass cages." Rook explained.
"Wait, that was Epel's signature spell?" Vil asked.
"Yes sir, Crimson Slumber traps a target in a barrier and immobilizes them. I haven't perfected it just yet though. My success rate's like maybe 40%." Epel confirmed.
"He saved my life with it, it works as a shield and a cage." Odette added.
"The Charon had us surrounded and we were quite at our wit's end that's when Epel's signature spell awakened within him. Never have I been so disappointed that my eyes lack the ability to record. Would that I could have captured the moment to share with you Vil." Rook sighed.
"It is a pity I wasn't there to see it, but something tells me I'll get to witness Epel in action all too soon." Vil smirked.
"Ah yes you're quite right." Rook frowned.
"What is it guys? Why are you both frowning?" Epel asked.
"Ready yourself Epel something's coming from below." Vil informed the group as black smoke appeared in front of them.
A small Phantom appeared in front of them and defeated quickly.
"Did the Phantoms just turn into some kind of black ink?" Epel asked as the Phantom liquidized into a black puddle.
"It's blot take care not to touch it, it could contaminate you." Vil advised as they went pass the inky mess.
"Quel dommage look at the floor where the blot spilled it's losing color and becoming withered and cracked." Rook pointed out on the steps.
"And Idia and Ortho are trying to let these things loose on the world?" Epel remarked.
"If they succeed the world will spiral into pure chaos we must stop them. Even if it means crushing their hopes and dreams in the process." Vil said.
"We can't let these things get out of here." Odette added.
"I suppose so those Phantoms were small but it's clear many more are waking up. We must get to the bottom level before hm? It would appear we've appear we've reached a dead end." Rook stated as they approached a large red door.
"According to the map that door leads to a Phantom containment facility." Vil informed them as he pulled out the map.
"So it'll be crawling with Phantoms." Odette pointed out. 'I hope they all haven't thawed yet.' She thought as they reached the door.
"Don't you worry no matter what they throw at us I'll capture them with my signature spell." Epel reassured her with a smile.
"My don't you sound dependable well then shall we head in?" Vil asked as he opened the door.
They stepped inside a red room filled from floor to ceiling with metal cubes, in front of the wall of cubes was a walkway. On the other side of the walk way was red river, there was even a cube floating in the river.
"Well here we are the Phantom containment facility." Vil muttered as they all looked around.
"Do all those big metal cubes have Phantoms in them?" Epel gasped.
"They sure do pretty hat huh? The room's packed with Phantoms from all over the world, it's like monster city here." Ortho's voice echoed around the room as the door behind them and in front of them slammed shut.
"The door shut! Rgh! It won't open." Epel grunted as he went back to the door, pulling on it. "We're locked in I assume this is your doing Ortho?" Vil called out.
Ortho appeared a hologram in front of the exit.
"Got it in one so how's the dungeon crawling going? Having fun? Either way it's time for your second trail you have to pass through this containment facility to get down to the next level, but in order to open the door you'll need the right ID card. Before you even think about it that ID card you got from our staff I've already de-registered it. Using cheat codes your first time through would spoil half the fun don't you think?" Ortho explained.
"How very solicitous of you I'm touched." Vil mocked.
"Which brings me to your mission for this stage a treasure hunt." Ortho cheered.
"Is that so?" Rook asked raising an eyebrow.
"The rules are simple. One of the Phantoms in these cages has the ID card that will get you out of here, so just find the Phantom and get the card." Ortho explained.
"You can't be serious with all these cages? It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack." Epel exclaimed as he looked over at the wall.
"I knew you'd say that since this is a beginner level I'll give yo ua hint memorize the following cages, that one there, there and there the ID card is in one of those three. Best of luck to everyone." Ortho giggled as he pointed then disappeared.
'Is this just a game to them? Have they completely lost it' Odette thought as she glared at the three boxes.
"Well Ortho wasn't kidding our ID card brings up an error message when I try to use it." Vil stated as he tried the card but the light by the door just flashed red and made a harsh tone.
The box nearest to them began to ramble and growl. One of the boxes that sat in the walk way.
"Is that sound coming from one the cages? One of the one's Ortho pointed at?" Odette asked still glaring.
"It seems The Phantoms have started to wake up." Epel remarked.
"This may very well be a trap but let's start with the cages Ortho pointed out." Vil said as he pulled out his magical pen.
"I suppose we don't have a better option." Rook shrugged doing the same.
"We have a one in three chance. Let's pick one and hope we get lucky." Odette suggested as she looked over at the cage that was directly in front of the door. "I vote this one." She said pointing at it.
"Let's see she how lucky you are. "Vil said as he hit the release open.
The Phantom inside was small no bigger than a regular cat. It darted out and was hit with three blasts of magic. It melted immediately.
"It seems luck be a lady." Rook grinned as he pulled an ID card out of the now empty cage.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. This chapter was a bit more fun to write. I tried to sprinkle a little more fun and personality into these next chapter of chapters (About 5) to try and break up some of the repetitiveness of the journey down to to the Underworld. See ya next time. Thanks for sticking around.