Chapter 17: Battle of Yggdmillennia Castle
I take it back, sometimes my luck isn't that bad.
April 8
Celenike backed away from Elric as the Necromancer entered the room.
Bragg struggled as he watched Kairi free the young man but Mordred kept him firm in her grip so he was not able to do much.
As Elric looked from Kairi holding his sawed-off shotgun back to Celenike who was backed away from him, he heard a heavy footstep and looked back to the open doorway to see a surprise: a Iscariot.
It was Clitus Stark.
"Stark?"
"Good day, Belmont. You look awful."
"Yeah, well, Wolf Pack interrogation will do that to you." Elric retorted before he looked at Mordred and asked "What's he doing here?"
"He helped us find you." Mordred answered, looking somewhat apologetic at her masster. "Ran into him shortly before I found you were being taken away."
As she explained the situation, Clitus walked inside with his protege, Liliana, to remove Elric and Luvia's restraints. Much to Belmont's relief as they were causing him nothing but discomfort—almost as much as what Icecolle had intended for him—but the situation still left him with more questions than answers.
"Is there a reason you're still in the country, Stark? I can't imagine that Enrico will be pleased when he learns."
"He'll make do, I'm sure. I've made more than a few habits of displeasing my superiors."
"Of course you have." Elric sighed before he glanced at Luvia. But before he could say a word, Luvia beat him to the punch.
"Are you feeling well, Elric?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
He could see she had a million questions. What Icecolle blurted out so callously was certainly one hell of a bombshell to end all bombshells—or at the very least one of the bigger ones of the many which there was to be found in Elric's background—and half expected a measure of disgust in her eyes as a response but there was less of that and more so confusion and (what he could swear was) sympathy.
"Oh, well." he again sighed, before looking at Mordred as he stepped out of the darkened room and into the brief-blinding light of the halls and asked "Where's golden boy and his shadow?"
"Ahem." A light cough soon caused Elric to look to his side to see Gilgamesh and Enkidu, with Richter not far behind them.
And Trish on his other side, "I'm here as well, thanks for asking."
"I was getting to that, Trish."
"Uh-huh…"
He then looked to the restrained Bragg and his eyes narrowed to one of the pistols on his person—Knall—and reclaimed his cherished sidearm. "So did you guys take out all the grunts or just a few?"
"A great deal of the mongrels are unaware we infiltrated their keep."
"How?"
That time Mordred answered "We captured one of the grunts they sent to search for us. He told us of a passage into this castle intended for an escape tunnel and the patrol routes within."
"How did you know to grab Bragg, here?"
"My idea." Kairi informed him, still keeping Celenike at gun-point. "Bragg is pretty high-up in the Wolf Pack pecking order, so I imagined he'd know where you were."
Well…at least I don't have to worry about the other mercs coming our way.
"Not that'll do you much good." Bragg barked.
"Why's that?"
As Elric looked toward Mordred, hoping for more answers, she tensed up and angrily kicked Bragg in the nads—as if he had put her on the spot.
"Mordred!" Elric chided, sounding slightly disapproving, "What is he talking about?"
"Well…you see…when we grabbed Bragg one of his underlings saw us and we had to take him out."
"Did you at least hide the body?"
"Yeah, of course. What kinda amateur do you take me for?"
"Well good, we still have-"
"Bragg! We've got a problem!" Suddenly a voice down the hall cut him off as Beltway came running down the hall. Then the merc saw the party and muttered "Shit." before Elric killed him with a bullet to the gorde.
"And shit just hit the fan. We gotta go." Elric said gruffly. "First we need to-"
Mordred beat him to the punch, saying "On it." before Bragg was quickly dispatched as well with a slash to the throat.
"Perfect." Elric muttered sarcastically in response, seeming almost displeased by the action, as he was hoping that Bragg could have been used to talk their way out of the castle. They could probably still use him as a human shield but that left the young man with a bad taste in his mouth.
Seeing another one of Bragg's underlings, Pike, come charging with more Wolf Pack grunts, he said to Sisighou "Keep an eye on Celenike. We'll deal with these pissheads." then takes aim with his pistol and opens fire on his enemies.
One bullet struck Pike in the head, leaving the mercs leaderless.
This causes a smile to form on Clitus' face, and the Iscariot quickly charges with his bayoets in hand. Yelling "Praise God for entertainment such as this."
Elric and Mordred follow after him, with Clarent and Bleidd readied as they did so. Luvia and Trish chased after them; and Liliana does so as well with her own bayonets ready, but voicing some reluctance "I fail to see what good this'll do us."
To which Mordred replied "It'll mean fewer people to stand between us and the exit."
Some of the mercs let loose with some fire magecraft, but that did little to stop Stark from massacring them.
Mordred went into her Mana Burst and took down several of the Wolf Pack members alongside her master.
Trish returned some of the special gem stones, which had been confiscated from Edelfelt when they were brought to the castle, then opened fire with her two customized 1911s while Liliana was putting her own bayonets to work.
Elric carved through the soldiers. Slicing of heads and limbs alike with Bleidd in one hand, feeling something burning within himself—inspiring only joy and enthusiasm for what he was doing.
He could hear that same voice he heard before Bragg interrogated him, whispering 'good, young Belmont' with a delighted tone in response to what the freelancer was doing—as he left a path of blood and corpses in his wake. Feeling no guilt as he, Mordred, and the two Iscariots took point in the charge; with Luvia bringing down some enemies with lighting magecraft with her ambers and emplemented Finn Shot a few times; and Trish unleashing a barage of bullets with her pistols.
Luvia aimed to only wound or incapacitate, Elric, much like the three at his side, had no qualms with ending these soldiers of fortune.
They get what they deserve was all Elric could think in regards to what Wolf Pack was going to experience that day.
A sentiment Trish shared.
Torturing him was not even the beginnings of the reasons he had to hate them. Zed told him a great deal about these mercs—how they killed innocents, how they kidnapped, how they tortured, and how they did things that men should never even think of even doing.
Elric had killed a man similar to their ilk before, and he never lost a night's sleep over getting retribution for that depravity commited—just as he would not lose a night's sleep over what he was doing in that castle.
Zed left them for a reason.
As they fought their way through the castle they found themselves reaching the courtyard at the front, but once there, the cadre saw something new. Wolf Pack stopped fighting them, they seemed to've run out of men.
As they stepped out they were confronted by men dressed in non-military clothes, armed with swords and bows.
Looking at them, Elric's eyes widened and his heart sank.
Clitus had a less emotional response.
Joining his side, opposite of Mordred, both she and the Saber of Red asked "What's wrong?"
Elric made a gulp sound, filled with trepidation and reluctance, before finally answering "These aren't Wolf Pack members,"
"Then what are they?"
"They belong to the other side of his nature," Liliana answered inhis stead, "They are Homunculi. Abominations."
"What?"
"Afraid so," Clitus said shortly after. "The testament of the arrogance of mages. Those molded not in the image of the Almighty, but in the averice of humans."
Elric sighed. Stepping forward he asked "Can you wait here for a moment?"
Liliana was prepared to protest, but Clitus motioned her to restrain herself and allowed Elric to step forward.
"Elric?" Trish said, concerned as she watched along with Luvia and Mordred as he approached the homunculi.
It was something Elric hated; and Trish could tell it hurted him to be in this position.
Back when he worked for her faher, and during their time together as partner freelancers, he hated hurting a homunculous, let alone fighting one of them.
An arrow landed near his right foot, a warning shot, of sorts—subtly telling him 'not another step, ass hole' without a word.
Sighing, he put away Bleidd.
"Listen up, you pissheads!" Elric addressed commandingly. "I don't want to kill any of you," then pointing to the two Iscariots who helped to liberate him "They, on the other hand, would have fewer reservations." He then lowered his arm. "Now, personally, I don't want to kill any of you, and I certainly don't wanna watch the Iscariots do it, but if you get in my way I won't have a choice."
There was dead silence in response.
"Look, there's no reason to-"
An arrow then suddenly shot at him. Elric managed to catch it but if he hadn't, the projectile would have certainly skewered him through the head.
"So I take it that's your final answer?"
The homunculi all readied themselves.
Dropping the arrow, Elric faced the homunculi and felt the rush of adrenalin intensify within him. The smile of excitement returned to him despite the odds against him and his personal feelings. Stretching out his arms, summoning Bleidd back into his hand, he shouted out "C'mon, you sons of bitches, do you wanna live forever?!"
The various homunculi looked at each other then some charged.
The Iscariot joined the gunslinger's excitement, joining him in charging the enemies with a wicked smirk.
Mordred quickly activated her Mana Burst and positioned herself infront of Elric, using the Secret of Pedigree to shield him from hail of arrows which were sent his way.
'Appreciate it, partner.' Elric told her telepathically with a smirk.
'Let's get this over with!'
'Right!'
He supposed this was no more of a pleasant experience for Mordred either. She was born a homnculous—and experienced many of its downsides, and some that even James Rheon was spared of knowing (such as rapid aging)—and thus had even more incentive to have disdain for this, even if she did not let it show and rather preferred to put up a front of indifference to her fellow homunculi.
Once the barrage of arrows ceased, Elric and Mordred charged with Clitus, Liliana, Luvia, and Trish soon to join them.
Elric slashed one of their heads off and kicked it toward one of the archers who had prepared a new shot, causing them to accidently shoot one of their comrades in the chest.
Mordred tore them several new ones. Slashing through waves of them. Showing no sign of mercy for them for trying to kill Elric.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu watched from afar.
"He truely is impressive on the battlefield, would you not agree, my friend?"
"Things seem to be heating up. Should we not help them?"
"There is no need." the First Hero told his friend. Leaning against one part of the doorway which led to the courtyard where the battle was underway, watching with much amusement as the cadre made short work of the enemies. "These paltry soldiers of fortune and their homonculi never stood a chance against the Alagaddan."
"Is it fair to refer to Elric with such a term, Gil?" Enkidu asked. "He conducts himself in no way resembling the stories you once told me of the depraved city."
"Perhaps." Gilgamesh said with much reluctance as he watched Elric continue to do battle with the homunculi. "The mongrel does conduct himself with a more dignified manner than Arioch's kith and disciples were reported to have possessed."
Enkidu looked at his friend curiously. "Was that…a compliment? Are you taking a liking to Belmont as well…?" His tone betrayed a faint hint of teasing at the edge of its delivery. "Who are you, and what may I assume you have done with my friend?"
"Yes, yes. Laugh it up, perhaps I will reward you with rust and mold."
Enkidu relented from his taunting. "That is not, in the slightest, amusing, Gil."
"Perhaps."
Back in the battle Elric and Mordred are tearing through the last of the enemies, and with them the last of adrenaline died within Belmont.
Sending away his runeblade, the freelancer glanced around—seeing only the empy space with only their allies and comrades still standing—before asking sarcastically "Anyone else?" with a smirk to conceal the bitterness he was feeling deep within.
"It seems that was the last of them." Clitus said, as he and Liliana washed away the blood from their bayonets.
Twirling one of her pistols around her finger, Trish muttered "How disappointing."
"Gotta hand it to 'em," Mordred said, dispelling Clarent and Secret of Pedigree, "They put up one hella fight."
"Yeah." Elric said, looking back to the castle. "I wonder what all's in here that they need so much security."
"Let's find out." Luvia said.
Trish agreed, as she and Elric were having similar thoughts to Luvia. Remembering Sissigou and Richter were still with Celenike. Thus they all collectively walked toward the doorway and made their way back to the trio.
They found Kairi and Elric's uncle still guarding her; with the Russian magus still being held at gunpoint by the necromancer.
"You two okay?" Elric asked.
"Fine, Elric." Richter told them. "What about you? Are there any other enemies?"
"No. I'm pretty sure we took 'em all out." Elric told him.
Kairi found some relief in that. "Well that's good." Before directing the group's attention back to their captive. "What are we to do with her?"
"Yeah." Mordred was eager to know as well. She wasn't aware of the situation they walked-in on, but based on when little she saw she had some idea of what the depraved woman had in mind for her master and thus earned Celenike a place on the Knight of Treacher's shit-list.
A stance shared with Luvia who had a front row seat.
"We'll start by finding a place to tie her up."
"How thrilling." Celenike smirked. "Though, you know I prefer being one dominate one in foreplay."
Trish heard that and a wicked smile formed on her lips. "Oh, Elric, were you getting so lonely you dropped your standards?" preparing to tease him to no end, much to his chagrin.
"Stuff it!" Elric became even more annoyed. "We don't have time for this, Trish."
"Trish?" Celenike's eyes widened as she looked at Coen. "So you're her?" And began to laugh. "I must confess I'm a little disappointed." Then looked at Luvia then at Elric with a wide, sinister grin "You have a peculiar taste in women, lover."
"Shut up." Elric aimed Knall at Celenike and fired a shot. It did not hit her, but grazed her arm. But she continued to laugh. "Someone's angry."
"It's been a long day…or I assume it has only been a day or two. I was tortured; had a rib broke; had to kill more than a few people; and when I do eventually get back to Clock Tower I imagine Lord Rheon is gonna find a way to blame me for this and give me a ear-full."
"We all have a set back or two to contend with."
"Yeah." Elric said, pressing Knall against her forehead. "So give me a reason I shouldn't turn your head into a canoe."
"My organization has something which may interest you."
"Which is?"
Celenike then proceeded to lead the group to an office or study in the castle—a spacious room rife with books in various artifacts. Each bearing symbols that resembled the one on Richter's parchment.
"What is this?" Liliana asked.
"Alagaddan shit." Elric guessed.
"Yes." Celenike confirmed as much. "We have been collecting artifacts for research and study for the past year." Directing their collective attention to one artifact in particular. It was ancient looking—as if it belonged to the time of the Mesopotamians.
Elric looked at the cyclopian artifact, marked with calligraphy and symbols similar to those seen on the piece of cloth which Richter presented at the congregation. One symbol, in particular, caught his attention and demanded a good degree of fascination.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his gold-plated lighter to see a similar symbol among the various occult symbols to adorn his lighter.
"I thought this may interest you." Celenike said. "We call it Arioch's Keystone."
"Yeah…" Elric muttered as he pressed a finger on the Keystone. Hearing that other voice he heard before his interrogation, before he soon said "I once was lost, but now I'm found…I am bline like all lost sheep, but thanks to the shephard now I will see…"
Out of concern, Clitus approached him, placing a hand on his rival's shoulder, begining to say "What has gotten over you—?" only to be stopped in his words as he saw Elric's eye burning crimson. "My Lord."
The others soon joined him in looking at Elric, and were all left befuddled by what they saw. The eye-glowing thing was les surprising for them, except for Liliana, but it was his unresponsiveness which alarmed them
"Elric?" Luvia, Mordred, and Trish all said at once in concern.
Trish looked angrily to Celenike, who was still being held at gunpoint by Sisigou, and drew one of her 1911s. Asking demaningly "What the hell did you do to Elric?"
"I have done nothing." Icecolle replied. "This artifact has had differing effects on certain individuals who gazed upon it. I was certain Belmont would be different."
"What led you to believe so?" Luvia asked, joining Trish in Celenike's inquisition. Quickly accompanied by Modred, who was iching to bring Calrent back out, saying "Yeah. What're ya expecting?"
Whilst all this was going on, within a dimension, which was separate from the one in which his physical form resided with his friends, loved ones, and the Iscariots, Elric was standing in the midst of the derelic of an ancient city beneath a crimson sky.
It was vast and expansive; rife with ancient statues, cathedrals, and spires.
"The hell…?" Elric muttered to himself. Stepping forward to explore whilst looking out into the city of ruins before he saw a cadre of hooded figures approach him, armed with swords in each of their hands which—much like Bleidd—were adorned with crimson runes upon their blades. But there was one great distinction between the swords they bore and the one the freelancer typically brought to battle: Bleidd merely had a demon-like eye at the base of its blade, whereas the swords raised against Elric had metallic skulls at the base of their weapons.
And each of them demanding the freelancer's surrender.
