Lilith Clawthorne, the former loyalist of the Emperor's Coven and now a professor, was acting like a child in a toy shop. Despite her age, her excitement was palpable as she gazed at the ancient ruins surrounding her.
"Look at those carvings!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "This is the greatest archaeological find of the century! This is WAY older than Belos's reign! What do you think these stones could tell us? That charlatan son of a trash slug has muddied our history! Oh! Could THIS be the Lost City of Ultharak? I wonder if this feels like what humans experienced when they found the pyramids! It's—"
Her enthusiastic monologue flowed like a rushing river, a torrent of thoughts spilling forth since Belos's death. Lilith had made it her personal mission to uncover the TRUE history of the past, not the propaganda and tampered lies that Belos had fed everyone for centuries. A heavy weight pressed upon her, a burden of responsibility for having served under his reign. The possibility that this site could be the fabled city of Ultharak—the Demon Realm's equivalent of Atlantis—only fueled her desire to explore and unearth ancient history.
"Lilith, you need to be careful," Steve cautioned, his voice laced with concern as he watched her pace excitedly near the edge of a craggy cliff. "We don't know what kind of traps might be around here."
"Oh, come on, Steve! This is history! We have to—"
"Did someone say 'history'? Because I love a good story!" piped up Hooty, wriggling out from the pack behind Lilith's back, his countenance brimming with enthusiasm. "History is like the bedtime story of the world! I could just hoot about it all day!"
Lilith chuckled. "You're right, Hooty! Every great adventure deserves a story. But we should dig deeper into the facts, not just the fun parts!"
But her words trailed off as she recalled the Time Pool. While it offered an unbiased and objective glimpse into history, it didn't connect to every time period. The unforeseen consequences of her previous visit with Luz still haunted her. That incident had caused a paradox, leading to Phillip Wittebane becoming Belos—a fact that gave her an existential crisis about the nature of time and destiny.
"Besides," Lilith interjected, crossing her arms, "ever since Belos tried to absorb the corpse of a Titan, the Time Pools no longer work."
Steve added, "And teleportation spells? Forget about it! It's like he cursed the entire realm even in death. If we get stuck here with no way out, there won't be any shortcuts." He paused, glancing at the treacherous landscape around them. "Not to mention the Scrolls since then can only work locally. With few brave enough to traverse the boiling seas teeming with sea monsters that could sink a ship, and the skies filled with flying predators and deadly weather—including acidic rains and firestorms—transportation and communication with other lands have become a nightmare. It's put a strain on Boiling Isle's economy, to the point that it took immense effort to prevent it from suffering its own version of the Great Depression."
Lilith sighed, her excitement dimming slightly. "Curse Belos to the lowest pits of Darkness Below. Even dead, he manages to torment the Demon Realm for years to come. And don't get me started on the cultist uprisings still loyal to him." A shudder ran through her as she recalled the violent cultist uprisings that had plagued Boiling Isle for some time.
As she stood there, gazing at the towering column adorned with carvings of a long-dead language, she felt a mix of determination and frustration. The column loomed ten feet tall, its surface etched with intricate runes instead of glyphs, a testament to the ancient civilization that had once thrived here. The air around them crackled with the weight of history, and the scent of damp earth mingled with the tang of ancient stone.
"Wow, look at those runes! They look like my cousin Hooty's doodles, but, like, less artistic!" Hooty joked, puffing up in mock pride.
Suddenly, her babbling was cut short when Steve grabbed her arm, yanking her away from the edge just as the bombs he had planted detonated. The explosion erupted with a deafening roar, sending a shockwave that reverberated through the air. Debris rained down like deadly confetti, and the ground shook violently beneath them.
BOOM!
Consequently, the giant column toppled, creating an unexpected bridge.
"Now you see? I just made a pathway! And they say demolition can't be constructive!" Steve exclaimed proudly, puffing out his chest as he admired his handiwork. Lilith, on the other hand, stood gaping, her archaeological instincts screaming silently in indignation at the reckless destruction of such ancient history.
"Now come and see what other things we can find there! Maybe they have something shiny!" Steve gestured for her to follow, his excitement palpable, while Lilith remained momentarily stunned.
Hooty wormed out of the pack behind Lilith and giggled. "Hehehe! Reminds Hooty of that time when I accidentally exploded a couple of Coven meanies! It was very—"
"Not now, please, Hootsifer," Lilith snapped gently, cutting off her companion before the bird could become too distracting.
They cautiously walked across the newly formed bridge, and as they reached the other side, they noticed that the cavern around them looked… odd. It felt as if they were traversing the fossilized body of a long-dead beast, yet there was something unnatural about it. This ancient construct, discovered deep underground in the chest of a long-dead Titan, seemed to have been carved into, yet there were no signs of traditional stonework or carvings like those on the fallen column. Instead, it appeared as though it had been mended, which greatly fascinated Lilith.
Her train of thought was abruptly interrupted when they reached a dead end.
"Oh, come on!" Steve groaned, frustration evident in his voice. He attempted to use his magic, but for some reason, it fizzled against the wall. "That's weird. It's like my magic is being canceled by this obstacle."
"I'm guessing the ancients carved those runes as protections against magical means," Lilith pointed out, her brow furrowing as she examined the intricate symbols etched into the stone.
"Call me a dumb-dumb, but what's even the difference between runes and glyphs?" Steve asked, scratching his head in confusion.
Lilith adjusted her glasses, preparing to elaborate. "Glyphs are more abstract and often focus on visual symbolism rather than phonetic representation, while runes typically have a historical basis rooted in ancient cultures and may even represent a language."
Steve and Hooty stared at her blankly, prompting a deep sigh from Lilith.
"Oh! I get it! Runes are like old art, and glyphs are modern art! Everyone keeps versusing each other!" Hooty concluded, puffing up with pride at his analogy.
Lilith had to stop herself from cringing; that was not at all what she meant.
"Uhm, layman's terms, please?" Steve said, looking genuinely perplexed.
"Glyphs tend to be used for immediate effects in spellcasting, whereas runes are typically used for divination, protection, or enchantment. Although runes can be used for spellcasting, they require knowledge of an ancient language to be effective. Unlike runes, which often need historical understanding, glyphs can be understood visually, allowing for a wider range of users, including novices in magic. To sum up: while runes connect deeply with ancient traditions and languages, glyphs emphasize artistic representation and immediate magical applications." She stepped closer to the obstacle, placing both hands on it as she examined the carvings intently. "This is a dead language, but it does have a few similarities with later developed languages, so maybe I can…" She squinted, adjusting her glasses to get a better look at the writings, using her linguistic knowledge to decipher some of the ancient text.
"Maybe there's a secret password. Let's see… Tithanax means Titan, obviously…" She rolled her eyes. "Thragothar means a place of great power in rough translation…"
Despite her expertise, translating a long-dead language was proving to be an arduous task. Minutes turned into hours, and as fatigue began to set in, Steve, bored and with nothing better to do, set up camp nearby. Hooty, too, was of little help to Lilith's quest for knowledge.
"Nethak'tal, I think… sort of a name? But what?" Lilith rubbed her eyes in frustration.
"Oh! Maybe it's the name of a spicy food! It does sound spicy!" Hooty chirped, his enthusiasm unwavering.
"I don't think it's talking about food, Hootsifer, but I appreciate the input."
"Happy to help!"
As more hours passed, Steve had fallen asleep near a tree, and Hooty had dozed off as well, the night deepening around them. Lilith herself was on the verge of sleep, her face pressed against the wall, drool pooling beneath her chin. "The Covenant of Daeva… Flesh rots… Bones remain… Marrow tells…" she murmured, her consciousness drifting into the realm of dreams.
Unknown to everyone, while Steve slept, sharp, white edges began to protrude from the ground around him, resembling rib bones that grew slowly and menacingly. He squinted in his sleep, feeling an unsettling sensation. Gradually, confusion took over his sleepy expression, and when the realization struck him, he tried to move. However, he found himself stuck against the ground, his back pressed down and his hands restrained by sticky, red-like veins that had latched onto him, while some of the ribs imprisoned him in place.
"LILITH! LILITH!" he called out, panic rising in his voice.
Startled awake, Lilith's eyes shot open, her senses sharpening as she turned to see the chaotic scene behind her. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, using her clawed hands to break the sticky veins and tear away some of the ribs that had ensnared him. As she did so, the remaining ribs reacted, retracting back into the earth like a retreating tide.
"Huh? What happened?" Hooty mumbled, waking up and blinking sleepily as Lilith helped Steve to his feet.
"Did you see that!? That thing was freaky!" Steve said, frantically patting around his body, checking for any remnants of the nightmarish grip.
"Uh, yes, and? Carnivorous plants aren't exactly rare in the Boiling Isle," Lilith replied, her brow furrowed in genuine confusion as she observed his distress.
"The tree had freaking rib cages!" Steve exclaimed, disbelief coloring his voice.
Lilith's mind flashed back to the ravenous tree she had seen earlier, and she considered what she had just witnessed. It was indeed disturbing. "That is concerning," she admitted, a new thought sparking in her mind. "Oh! I get it now!" She rushed back to the obstacle, her excitement bubbling over as she spoke words of an ancient language.
"Nethr laka kona lona marwa at kahm!"
Suddenly, the wall shook violently, moving as if it had a will of its own, until it crashed down to reveal an open pathway.
"How did you do that?" Steve wondered aloud, awe mixing with confusion.
"I spoke in the Kaalia language, a variation resembling the dead language. I said: 'Flesh rots, bones remain; in marrow's depths, truth holds pain,'" Lilith explained, her excitement growing.
"The nursery rhyme?" Steve raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"Yes," she confirmed, smiling at the unexpected connection.
He shook his head, a grin breaking across his face. "Only here do we have such lovely nursery rhymes."
Lilith chuckled. "That's exactly what Luz said."
"I like it," Hooty chimed in, shrugging with his nonexistent shoulders.
The trio entered the newly revealed passage, and what they saw left them awestruck.
"Wow," Steve breathed, his voice dropping to a whisper of admiration.
"Woooah," Hooty echoed, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Is that… is that—!" Lilith's voice almost squeaked with excitement.
"The Lost City of Ultharak!" she exclaimed, her heart racing as she took in the breathtaking sight before her.
As they stepped into the lost city of Ultharak, the trio was greeted by a breathtaking sight. They found themselves surrounded by crumbling buildings and ancient ruins of a long-forgotten civilization. The architecture, though battered by time, bore the remnants of intricate designs and towering structures that once stood proudly against the sky. Now, however, the stones were cracked and weathered, with deep fissures running through their surfaces like scars from a distant battle.
Thick vines and vibrant vegetation had claimed much of the stonework, cascading down the sides of buildings and weaving through the remnants of walls. The greenery contrasted sharply with the gray stone, creating a surreal tapestry of life reclaiming what had been lost. Some structures appeared to have collapsed partially, their foundations sunken into the earth, while others leaned precariously, as if they might topple at any moment.
"I've found it! Well… I mean, we found it!" Lilith exclaimed, her voice a blend of excitement and awe. She calmed down when Steve gently placed his hands on her shoulders, grounding her.
"Slow down, Lily. I like the enthusiasm, but how do you know this is the fabled city? Uhm… it doesn't look big enough to be a city," Steve noted, glancing around. The ruins seemed more like a village than a sprawling metropolis.
"It has the same runes the legends spoke of!" she insisted, pointing at the walls adorned with faded symbols that echoed the ancient language she had studied. "And look at the disjointed earth!" She gestured to the cracked ground, where chunks of stone jutted out at odd angles, some structures appearing as if they had been flipped upside down. "I'm guessing an earthquake caused a piece of the city to fall beneath the earth, while the rest may have long been destroyed by some sort of calamity. And that nursery rhyme? It's the oldest known nursery rhyme in the entire history of the Demon Realm, said to have connections with this place!" She spoke with a fervor that lit up her eyes, her voice brimming with victorious reasoning.
"Hooray! It's cause for CELEBER—!" Hooty began, but he was immediately shushed into silence as Lilith quickly closed his beak with a gentle but firm hand.
"Shhh! There may be underground predators here; you might alert them," she warned, her eyes scanning the shadows with a mix of excitement and caution.
"Mmkay!" Hooty replied, nodding earnestly as Lilith released his beak.
The trio began to explore the ruins, Lilith particularly focused on documenting her findings. She pulled out her scroll, jotting down notes and sketches of the peculiar architecture, her eyes shining with curiosity. The bioluminescent plants that thrived in the cracks of the stone provided a soft, ethereal glow, illuminating the surroundings with shades of blue and green. It cast an enchanting light on the moss-covered stones and vibrant flowers that seemed to bloom in defiance of the decay around them. For now, there was no need for a lantern, and even Steve had to admit it was beautiful.
As they wandered deeper into the remnants of Ultharak, Steve felt a tension in the air. His recent encounter with the carnivorous tree of ribs and veins had left him on edge, and the odd, twisted shapes of some structures only heightened his unease. He glanced at the towering remains of a once-majestic building, its roof long collapsed, revealing a gaping maw that seemed to beckon them closer.
Hooty flitted around like an oblivious child, his head swiveling in every direction, taking in the sights with wide eyes. "Wow! Look at that one! It's like a giant mushroom!" he exclaimed, pointing at a particularly large bioluminescent plant that had taken root in what appeared to be the remnants of a grand archway.
"Stay close, Hooty," Steve cautioned, his instincts on high alert as they ventured further into the ruins. The beauty of the place was undeniable, but the shadows danced ominously, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were not alone in this ancient city.
Lilith continued to scribble notes, her mind racing with possibilities. "This place… it's a treasure trove of history," she murmured, captivated by the secrets the ruins held. "If only we could uncover its stories."
As they explored, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint, sweet aroma of blooming flowers, mingling with the musty smell of decay. It was a place where nature and history intertwined, a hauntingly beautiful reminder of a civilization that had once thrived, now left to the whispers of the wind and the watchful eyes of its ancient guardians now awoken by the scent of new preys.
Lilith's attention was drawn to strange red growths near what appeared to be a temple, the oddest architecture she had ever encountered. The structure seemed almost organic, with curving lines and pulsating surfaces that gave the impression of a living entity. "What manner of organism is this…?" she pondered aloud, her curiosity piqued.
Suddenly, the fleshy tendrils of the red organisms began to unfurl, moving upward and dancing hypnotically in the dim light. Lilith felt a shiver run down her spine as she watched the display, startled by the unexpected animation.
"Hooty is spinning," the little worm-bird remarked, his head bobbing back and forth as if entranced by the tendrils' movements.
Screech!
The tendrils lunged forward, snapping toward Lilith with alarming speed. She yelped and ducked just in time, but a few of them struck Hooty, wrapping around him and pulling him toward the mass of writhing red.
"Hey! I was just beginning to like you!" Hooty protested, annoyance lacing his voice as he struggled against the grip.
"Stay back, Hooty!" Steve shouted, rushing to help. But as he moved, one of the tendrils lashed out, grabbing him and dragging him toward the ominous maw of the creature lurking nearby.
The Snatcher opened a sideways maw filled with dagger-like teeth, its mouth snapping open and closed in anticipation of its prey. It let out a chilling screech that echoed through the ruins.
"Lilith…!" Steve called out, panic creeping into his voice.
"I've got it! I've got it!" she stressed, feeling the urgency of the moment. In a swift motion, she partly transformed into her humanoid owl form, her talons extending as she tore through the red tendrils that ensnared her friends. The creature screeched in pain, but more tendrils surged forward, targeting her as well.
Steve, using his magic, attempted to push the tendrils away with a forceful telekinetic push. For a moment, it worked, and the tendrils recoiled. But they quickly regrouped, snatching at his legs and dragging him toward the maw.
The Snatcher's mouth opened wider, its teeth glistening with a sinister hunger as it awaited its meal.
"Lilith!" Steve called again, struggling against the tightening grip.
"I'm trying!" she replied, her voice strained as she fought against the encroaching tendrils.
Suddenly, Hooty declared, "That's it! You're no friend of Hooty!" With determination, he wiggled out of Lilith's pack and charged straight toward the maw.
"HOOTIFER, DON'T—!" Lilith shouted, but it was too late. Hooty dove headfirst into the gaping maw, and the creature's jaws snapped shut, teeth sinking into him. The Snatcher screeched in agony, unable to crush the little worm-bird completely.
SCREECH!
In an explosive burst of blood and gore, Hooty erupted from the creature's back, showering the area in a gruesome spray. The Snatcher collapsed, its tendrils falling lifeless as it succumbed to the fatal blow.
"That's what happens when you mess with Hooty and his friends!" Hooty declared triumphantly, his feathers stained but his spirit unbroken.
"A little help, please!" Steve called, still struggling against the remaining Snatcher that held him tightly, making it nearly impossible for him to cast magic.
Hooty bolted forward, determination shining in his eyes. He impaled the Snatcher that was trying to devour Steve, once again coated in blood and gore, and the creature let out a final, screeching wail before it too fell silent.
Steve scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt and debris off himself as he sighed in relief. "Phew, thanks, Hooty."
"No problem!" Hooty chirped, puffing out his chest with pride. "No stinky plant is a foe for Hooty!"
"I don't think those were plants at all…" Steve replied, glancing at the remnants of the Snatchers, their fleshy forms and meaty pieces a clear indication of their true nature. Lilith nodded in agreement, her expression serious as she surveyed the chaotic scene around them.
"Whatever they are, we need to stay alert," she warned, her eyes scanning the eerie temple and its surrounding ruins. "This place is full of surprises, and not all of them are friendly."
HOWL
An unholy howl echoed through the ruins, sending chills down the trio's spines. Their heads snapped around, and the sound of a horde approaching sent adrenaline coursing through their veins.
"Hide!" Steve urged, his voice urgent.
"The temple!" Lilith pointed toward the half-opened entrance of the temple, its ancient stones looming ominously in the dim light.
Without a moment's hesitation, they sprinted toward the temple, their hearts pounding in their chests. They slipped inside and gently closed the door behind them, trying to remain as quiet as possible. The creaking of the ancient wood echoed in the stillness, and they quickly locked the door using the sliding bolt on its back, fearing that the aged barrier would be no match for whatever horrors lurked outside.
Inside, the air was thick with dust, and as they moved, a cloud of it billowed up, causing Hooty to nearly sneeze. Just in time, Lilith and Steve frantically closed his beak, stifling the sound. The last thing they needed was to draw attention to themselves.
Outside, guttural sounds filled the air, the creatures sniffing and prowling, their movements heavy and deliberate. Lilith and Steve held their breath, straining to listen as the noises grew closer, then began to fade away. It seemed they were moving on, their footsteps retreating into the distance.
When the sounds finally dissipated, the trio let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Remember when I said I hoped this adventure led to more than just digging up long-lost potteries?" Steve recalled, his voice low and slightly shaky.
Lilith nodded, her heart still racing.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Next time, smack me in the head if I make such a wish."
Lilith shared a laugh with him, both of them momentarily forgetting the peril they faced as they giggled like schoolchildren, the tension easing just a bit.
"I don't get it?" Hooty tilted his head, confusion etched on his face. Suddenly, he winced. "Ow! Ugly blossomed flowers had some sharp teeth!" He pointed to bite marks on his neck, small but noticeable.
Lilith leaned closer to examine the wounds, her expression softening. "Thankfully, it's not deep, so you should be fine," she assured him, trying to soothe his discomfort.
"Still ow," Hooty whined, rubbing his neck with a wing.
Lilith was about to roll her eyes at his dramatics when something in front of her caught her attention. "Guys, look!" She stood up, her voice filled with awe, and the other two quickly joined her.
Before them lay the interior of the temple, illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi that clung to the walls. The architecture was unlike anything they had ever seen—curved walls that seemed to pulse with a life of their own, intricate carvings of ancient creatures and symbols that told stories of a civilization long gone.
In the center of the room stood a massive altar, adorned with strange artifacts that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Some of the items looked like they were made from precious metals, while others appeared to be crafted from the same organic material as the temple itself.
"Wow," Steve breathed, stepping forward cautiously. "This place is incredible."
Lilith's eyes sparkled with excitement as she took in the details. "We might be standing in the heart of Ultharak," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "This could be a treasure trove of knowledge."
Hooty flitted closer, his curiosity piqued. "What's that shiny thing?" He pointed a wing toward a particularly ornate object resting atop the altar, its surface glinting invitingly.
"Let's be careful," Lilith warned, her excitement tempered by caution. "We don't know what kind of traps or guardians might be here."
As they approached the altar, the atmosphere shifted, a palpable sense of ancient power filling the air. The trio exchanged glances, a mix of thrill and apprehension coursing through them as they prepared to uncover the secrets of the temple.
Being a temple it was expected to have carvings or arts and time, the carvings around transcended mere artistry; they morphed into haunting murals that depicted enigmatic events and characters from an age long forgotten. Each image, rendered in ghostly shades of white, bore the weight of either history or mythology, yet none could decipher their cryptic meanings.
Two colossal humanoid figures stood in stark opposition, their presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying. One was a mechanical behemoth, adorned with steely wings and four elongated arms. Two of these arms wielded what could only be described as a staff or perhaps a scepter, its purpose lost to time. This figure's face was a mask of sharp features, dominated by four unblinking optic lenses that served as its eyes, devoid of a mouth or any discernible orifices. Atop its head rested a crown-like structure, a symbol of dominion over the ancient realm. In stark contrast, the other humanoid was a grotesque embodiment of primal chaos, its head adorned with numerous branching horns. Six eyes with slit pupils gazed into the void, while bat-like wings unfurled from its back. Instead of legs, it bore writhing tentacles, each ending in clawed appendages, complemented by two raptorial forelegs. This creature exuded a flesh-like essence, a stark juxtaposition to the cold, mechanical form of its counterpart. As the two figures reached out toward each other, a swirling model of DNA floated ominously between their gesturing hands, hinting at a dark connection that transcended their forms.
Beneath these titanic beings, six smaller winged figures hovered, their presence a mere whisper against the towering giants.
The next mural revealed a chaotic tableau, depicting these god-like entities locked in a fierce battle. A serpent-like creature with the head of a lion clashed with another serpent-like figure, this one robotic and devoid of pupils eating each other's tails like an ouroboros cycle. Between them, vague humanoid shapes flitted, their forms indistinct and ephemeral. In a more sinister corner of the mural, an amorphous entity writhed, its many eyes and a gaping maw filled with seven gnarled, gargantuan teeth, thrashing savagely within an iron cage—a chilling representation of confinement of the beast.
Another mural painted a darker narrative, illustrating demonic humanoids wielding whips against their normal-looking counterparts, who appeared enslaved and forced into labor. The leaders of these demonic figures, matriarchal in their dominance, reveled in their cruelty. Surrounding scenes depicted the subjugation of the innocent: chains of bondage, burning villages, and unspeakable horrors inflicted upon their captives. One harrowing image captured a slave, a dagger pressed against their throat, blood spilling forth in a grotesque tribute to ancient, merciless deities, depicted as devils reveling in the suffering of the damned.
The final mural culminated in a shocking reversal of fate. The cruel masters lay dead amidst the ruins of their cities, now engulfed in flames. The very slaves who once toiled under their tyranny rose up, their vengeance manifest in a macabre display of rebellion. One slave was portrayed holding a still-beating heart, grotesquely chewing upon it while some of the other slaves seemingly were feeding on their fallen masters. Surrounding this figure were five others: a naga brandishing a bloodied dagger, a behemoth with a single, glaring eye in the position similar to that of a gorilla, a humanoid with multiple arms and a gaping mouth at its chest, a feminine cyclopean entity with bat wings and a broken horn, and at the center, a figure of nightmarish grandeur more detailed than the others. This central being wielded a staff crafted from bones, its top adorned with fleshy webs. Clad in robes that bore rib cages as collars and a halo hovering ominously behind its head, this figure possessed four horns atop its head. Its right side was dominated by three eyes, while the left side grotesquely displayed three mouths. Bat wings and writhing tendrils extended from its back, completing a tableau of ancient horror and enigmatic power and yet this middle figure was seemed revered along with their companions.
The final mural loomed before them, a haunting tapestry of symbols arranged within intricate circles. Among them were three one-eyed snakes—two hissing menacingly, their scales shimmering ominously. A bleeding heart, grotesquely impaled by a raptorial limb, was positioned alongside a hand with an eye at its center, branches like veins extending outward in an unsettling display. Dominating the mural was a massive spiral vortex, twisting violently, drawing the eye into its depths.
"This… is somehow both awe-inspiring and disturbing," Steve commented, snapping pictures with his scroll, careful to capture every detail.
"Pretty," Hooty admired, tilting his head as he examined the mural, unaware of the darker implications behind its beauty.
Lilith stepped closer, her brow furrowed in concentration as she began to translate the words encircling the central circle. "Breaker of Chains… Emperor of the Deathless… Grand Karcist of Adytum… Iūn… no, wait… Ion." She paused, scribbling notes frantically, her heart racing with the thrill of discovery.
"This Ion, is he some sort of idol?" Steve suggested, glancing at the highly detailed figure at the mural's center. "They seem to revere him."
"The fact that he's depicted so elaborately, while the others are more abstract, definitely suggests that," Lilith agreed, a grimace crossing her face. She couldn't shake the uncomfortable resemblance to the way Emperor Belos was idolized within the Emperor's Coven. The thought sent a chill down her spine.
"You okay?" Steve asked, noticing her expression shift.
Lilith took a deep breath. "It just… feels too similar. The worship, the power dynamics... It makes me uneasy. Just like Belos, it seems they placed everything on this Ion." She motioned toward the mural, her voice dropping to a whisper as if speaking too loudly would summon the echoes of the past. "There's a darkness here, Steve. A danger that lies beneath the reverence."
Hooty, still entranced, blinked as he absorbed the weight of her words. "But he looks strong! Maybe he can help if we get into trouble?"
Lilith shook her head slowly. "Strength can come with a price, Hooty. Idols aren't always what they seem."
As they stood before the mural, a sense of foreboding filled the air, thick like the dust that coated everything around them. Each symbol seemed to pulse with energy, whispering secrets long buried beneath the ground. Lilith felt a chill crawl up her spine, a warning that perhaps they were meddling with forces far beyond their understanding.
Withdrawing from her thoughts, she returned her focus to the mural, the swirling patterns playing tricks on her eyes. "If Ion is as revered as this suggests, there must be records about him somewhere in the temple. We need to find more information and understand what we're dealing with before we make any decisions."
"Right," Steve agreed, his tone serious now as he pocketed his camera. "Let's keep searching. We'll figure this out together."
Slam! Slam!
HOWL!
The door burst open with a violent smack, and the guttural howl echoed through the chamber.
"Titandamnit!" Lilith cursed, she was hoping there was more time to investiagte the temple.
"Found us!" Steve shouted, eyes widening as he realized the gravity of their situation.
"Bring it on!" Hooty, in stark contrast, was eager for a fight, puffing out his chest defiantly.
With a sinister crack, holes emerged in the door, revealing sharp, half-plant hands that writhed and clawed, desperately trying to invade their sanctuary. The trio reacted instinctively.
"There! It leads up!" Steve shouted, spotting a gaping entrance that opened into the ceiling above. "Maybe it's an exit!"
Without hesitating, they followed his lead, darting toward the opening as the creatures howled louder, their determination palpable. Steve quickly harnessed his telekinesis, pulling large boulders and chunks of the ruined structure, blocking the entrance just as the tendrils began to slip through.
As they climbed into the gaping entrance, the sensation of the outside world vanished, replaced by a profound silence that felt almost unnatural. When they emerged on the other side, the environment shifted dramatically.
"Is it me or does this look different?" Steve pondered aloud, glancing around in confusion.
Lilith took in her surroundings, her brow furrowing in concentration. The architecture here was starkly different from the organic designs of the previous chamber. Gleaming metal, steel, and copper replaced the earthen tones and grotesque organic shapes they had just left behind.
"It's not just you, Steve," she replied, biting her lip in thought. "It feels oddly reminiscent of the inside of the old steam-powered trains humans used to use. This architecture…" She trailed off, a mix of fascination and bewilderment in her voice. "It's like we've stumbled upon another culture that we never knew about."
"I can't read any of the languages and runes here except for maybe… strangely Greek perhaps? I'm not sure," she added, scanning the walls for any familiar scripts, her fingers brushing against the cool metal surface.
Hooty flitted closer to one of the inscriptions, tilting his head as if trying to decipher the symbols. "Maybe they're just bad at spelling," he joked, seeking to lighten the mood, though his voice carried an undercurrent of concern.
Lilith chuckled quietly but remained focused. "Or perhaps they represent something more. Whatever culture created this place, there's a chance they had advanced technology or understanding of magic—something that could explain how we fell into such a strange world."
Howl
A chilling howl echoed through the chamber once more.
"While fascinating, I suggest we get out fast before whatever those are following us," Steve urged, glancing back toward the staircase.
"Good idea," Lilith nodded in agreement, her heart racing.
Hooty whined, "Aw, I was hoping for some blood!" His eagerness for a fight was palpable, but the urgency of the situation quickly overshadowed his playful nature.
The trio moved at a faster pace, the allure of the ancient machinery and the remnants of a lost civilization fading into the background as the howls grew closer. They sprinted past damaged devices, gears, and even a few skeletal remains that had mechanical parts fused into them—each a testament to the strange blend of organic and inorganic life that once thrived here.
As they ascended a staircase, Lilith suddenly halted, her curiosity getting the better of her. She leaned closer to one of the skeletons, examining the intricate mechanical components intertwined with the bones.
"What in Titans' name…?" she murmured, her eyes widening in shock as she realized the skeletal structure was identical to that of a human. The implications hit her like a cold wave, but before she could voice her astonishment, Steve rushed back, grabbing her hand.
"Come on! Not time for sightseeing with dead people!" he urged, pulling her away.
"Did—did you see—!?" Lilith stammered, still reeling from her discovery.
"I saw it! I saw it!" he answered breathlessly, urgency in his voice.
Another howl reverberated through the air, and they looked back to see humanoid shadows crawling up the staircase, moving in a staggering, relentless wave.
"No time indeed! Hold on to me!" Lilith instructed, her voice steady despite the chaos.
"What do—"
Before he could finish, she transformed into her owl-humanoid form, her wings stretching wide as she grasped Steve firmly. With a powerful flap, she took off into the air, making Steve yelp in surprise.
"Hooty is flying!" Hooty cheered, momentarily forgetting the danger as he flitted alongside them.
But the moment of triumph was short-lived. One of the creatures managed to leap high enough, grasping at Lilith's wing with claw-like hands.
They yelped as she struggled to hold back the creature from tearing into them. In that instant, they got a horrifying glimpse of its features. The humanoid figure was a grotesque hybrid of plant and human—pale, gaunt skin stretched tightly over skeletal frames, giving it a lifeless quality. Sunken eyes glimmered with a haunting intelligence devoid of warmth, while thin, cracked lips hinted at a long silence. Wooden branches sprouted from its head like twisted horns, and its long, spindly fingers reached for them, hungry and predatory.
"NO!" Lilith cried out as the creature sank its teeth into her right wing, pain shooting through her body. She nearly dropped Steve, but her bird foot clutched him tightly, keeping him secure.
Hooty, sensing the danger and fury bubbling within him, lost whatever eccentricities he had left. "NO ONE HURTS HOOTY'S FRIENDS!" he screeched, his voice fierce and protective. In a flash, he slithered forward, his beak diving toward the creature's right eye.
With a sharp plunge, he struck, piercing the eye and causing the creature to screech in agony. Black mucus poured from the wound, staining the floor as it thrashed in pain. Despite the creature's attempts to claw at him, Hooty pressed on, plunging his beak deeper and twisting until the creature could bear it no longer.
With a final, agonized howl, the plant monster lost its grip on Lilith and fell back, its body collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
"Let's go!" Lilith shouted, adrenaline fueling her as she flapped her wings harder, propelling them upward and away from the remaining threats below.
Hooty flew beside them, his heart racing with the thrill of battle, but concern for his friends lingered in his gaze. "Are you okay, Lilith?" he asked, his voice softer now.
"I will be," she replied, gritting her teeth against the pain. "But we need to keep moving. There's no telling what else is down here, and I doubt we've seen the last of those things."
As they ascended further into the unknown, the howls faded into the distance, replaced by the rhythmic sound of their own heartbeats.
Lilith grunted as she stumbled, falling onto the cold floor.
"Ah, crikey! You're alright, Lilith?" Steve rushed to her side, concern etched on his face.
"No time! Must run!" she gasped, forcing herself back to her feet despite the pain shooting through her wing. They pressed on, adrenaline pushing them forward.
Fortunately, they had gained enough altitude to put some distance between themselves and the horde of plant monsters, at least for the moment.
As they entered what appeared to be a trophy room—or perhaps a sample room—Lilith's eyes darted around, taking in the bizarre collection of artifacts. Shelves lined with glass cases displayed long-dead animals, preserved plants, and various inanimate objects, all encased in dust and neglect. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of history, but there was no time to appreciate it.
"Keep moving!" Lilith urged, her voice strained as she groaned from the pain.
In her haste, she accidentally brushed her bloodied hand against a broken, rusted mirror. The instant her palm made contact, an eerie sensation coursed through her. Before she could react, the mirror's fragments seemed to come alive, sucking the blood from her palm as if it were a parched desert.
Lilith gasped, her eyes widening in shock. The shards levitated, swirling together in a dark vortex, and instead of her own reflection, she saw a male figure emerge—half-naked, adorned with intricate red tattoos that seemed to pulse with a life of their own.
"Wha—?" she started, but her words were cut off as a hand shot out from the mirror, grasping her throat with a vice-like grip.
"Kin-traitor…!" he said in an angry whisper to her ears.
Violent clashes erupted in her mind, a chaotic symphony of brutality and despair. A man, consumed by envy, rained blows upon another with a jagged stone, each striking a grotesque punctuation in a narrative of bloodlust. The crimson liquid spilled forth, pooling like the remnants of shattered dreams, all born from the poisonous roots of jealousy. The scene twisted, yanking her back to her past self, a specter of bitterness cursing Eda, her heart a cauldron of envy and spite.
Suddenly, the vision morphed, plunging into first-person horror. The man, once thought to be a victim, now rose from the depths of death, a snarl twisting his features. Red tattoos writhed across his flesh, pulsating with rage as he brandished a black sword, its edge gleaming with malevolence. "TRAITOR!" he roared, the word a thunderclap in the storm of her mind.
The scene flickered again, revealing Eda and Lilith locked in a fierce struggle, their bodies entwined in a dance of hatred and betrayal.
"You've always thought you were better than me!" Lilith spat, venom dripping from her words.
"I AM better than you!" Eda retorted, the fire of rivalry igniting the air between them.
"Then WHY WERE YOU SO EASY TO CURSE?!" The accusation hung heavy, a dagger poised to strike.
The vision twisted once more, and the figures of two Knights emerged, clad in ominous armor coming to blow at each other with a furious roar. One gleamed white, the other a shadowy black, both adorned with skull-shaped masks that glowed with the intensity of their rage. Four red eyes glared from the darkness, their swords raised high. The white knight's blade shimmered with a heat that could sear flesh, while the black knight's sword pulsed with a magma-like glow, alive with a sinister will of its own. When their blades clashed, a cackling shockwave erupted, echoing the violence of kin fighting kin in a kingdom ravaged by war. The dead of night enveloped them, rain falling like tears, only to turn to steam upon contact with their searing weapons.
Another vision this time in a desert instead of greenery where the two brothers ran toward each other one was the same red tattooed man with a sword snarling and the other was his murderer in blue tattoos helding a black spear and metallic arms once more brothers facing off former serving a Nation of Flesh and the other siding with an Empire of Metal.
The scene shifted again, revealing the horror etched on the faces of a human male and female both tanned skin in humble clothing, their eyes wide with disbelief and despair. The vision darkened, morphing into her own parents, their expressions mirroring that same horror as they realized their daughter had unleashed a curse upon another.
Vision once shifted this time showing a caucasian human redhead kid with injuries over his body and a pale skin and white haired gaunt girl 5 meters height and while none spoke a voice of a much older man shouted "JACK!" then switching to a medallion with a red jewellery at its center with blood drops on it. "Mikell!" another voice shouted.
"Why did you leave me father!?" A half-human and half deer girl cried out and then shifted to the hand of a dead woman and the sound of a baby crying.
"WHERE IS MY FATHER!?" An angry furious asian female adult human shouted.
Two male gruffed sounds accused each other.
"-YOU RUINED MY LIFE!"
"YOU RUINED YOUR OWN LIFE!"
And from the sound of it they were in a fight especially with the sound of a cry and burnt flesh later on. This one sounded awefully familiar and yet she could not recall why.
Then came two male voices, one mechanical and malicious and the other old and tired.
"What are you doing!?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago, standing up to you!"
"Says he's happy. He's a liar. Blame the arson for the fire." an unknown ethereal voice rhymed.
"Why did you do it?" An utterly mechanical emotionless voice asked.
"CALEB!" Sound of Phillip Wittabane roaring.
Flashes of betrayal cascaded through her mind—kin turning against kin, parents weeping, kingdoms crumbling into dust, tyrants leading dark armies, all underscored by the cackling of mad gods, their laughter echoing through the ruins of shattered worlds and earth satiated with blood and the tree burning-
Lilith snapped back in startelement of the experience and breathed shakenly.
"What happened?" Steve was holding her from falling out while helping her to run faster.
"Are you alright Lurker?" Hooty worried, asked.
"I…not sure…" she gasped feeling her throat was dry and her legs weakened despite running, she looked back and there was the broken mirror still on the ground as if it did not just float by itself and became a whole mirror just seconds ago and there was just her own reflection not the angry man that just grabbed her by her throat as the distance became greater "None of you…saw that?"
"See what, Lurker?" Hooty inquired in puzzlement.
By their look she could tell none of them saw her getting grabbed by the throat by the angry man as if that never happened, not evrn Hooty who was on her back did not noticed anything unusual which made Lilith's mind wrap around trying to think of possible explanations.
Maybe there was some sort of spell and she unintentionally activated it? Or was blood loss or some sort of infection from the plant monsters caused hallucination.
Her theorization stopped as they went inside a giant chamber while Steve with his telekinesis made the pathways the passed by harder for the following plant monsters to follow by throwing random objects blocking the way.
They took a right and then left and then they gasped at what they saw.
"What…in the…Titan…" she gasped.
"OH MY TITAN!" Steve too lost his cool staring at the horror in front of him and his companion.
It was an unspeakable organism of grotesque flora, an accursed amalgamation of pulsating, sinewy vines intertwining with grotesque, shifting forms that grew around a great device that looked like a long-dead reactor which would been awestruck if it weren't for the living horror growths around it. The very air was thick with the stench of decay and alien biology, where shapes morphed and blurred—a nightmarish fusion of plant and flesh, indistinguishable from one another. Each humanoid and nonhumanoid body, ensnared in the verdant horror, shuddered and gasped as if conducting a perverse symphony of photosynthesis, their breaths echoing in a sickly rhythm that fed the insatiable hunger of the greater organism. The twisted limbs and gnarled roots melded seamlessly, creating a living tableau of suffering, a nightmarish cycle of nourishment that betrayed the essence of both plant and life. Here, in this grotesque battleground of creation and decay, sanity itself seemed to wither away.
Hooty made a face and was too disgusted, albeit for a different reason.
"Blech! Meat and vegetables at the same time!? If I wanted my salad with side of beef I would've chosen cobb salad for lunch!"
"Sometimes Hootifer, you worry me." Lilith admitted. Even though she valued Hooty greatly as a friend, even she would admit that Hooty can be disturbing at times.
"NÄLKÄ!"
"NÄLKÄ!"
"NÄLKÄ!"
"NÄLKÄ!"
The chaos in the chamber escalated as the plant monsters closed in, their guttural howls echoing like a twisted chorus. The word they repeated was baleful and unnerving, reminiscent of a sick parrot mimicking its owner, but far more sinister.
"These guys must be really hungry or just fed up with us!" Steve groaned, dodging a vine that lashed out from above.
The creatures finally reached them, surrounding the trio with a relentless onslaught. Some crawled from the ceiling, while others slithered across the ground, their forms a grotesque blend of plant and flesh.
"HOOTY WORM-POWER GO!" Hooty shouted, launching himself at the nearest creature, his body whipping through the air like a living weapon. He slammed into an enemy, taking it by surprise.
Lilith flapped her wings, using their strength to throw off a couple of the creatures that lunged at her, but she winced as one of her wings throbbed painfully from a fresh wound. "Get off me!" she cried, slashing at the nearest monster with her claws.
Steve unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one igniting the plant creatures and sending them into frenzied, horrifying screeches. "Burn, you abominations!" he shouted, feeling a surge of adrenaline as he fought back.
Despite their efforts, the sheer number of enemies overwhelmed them. Lilith cried out in pain as a creature's claw scraped against her side, and Steve struggled to keep up, using his telekinesis to shove objects at the creatures, only to have one sneak up behind him. Hooty managed to knock that one away, but not before it left deep claw marks on Steve's back. Even Hooty looked worse for wear, his feathers ruffled and bits of plant matter stuck to him.
The plant humanoids seemed to realize they weren't easy prey. With a sudden, coordinated movement, a few of them raised their hands, commanding the surrounding vegetation to lash out with wooden thorns and vines. The air filled with the sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves as they attacked.
"What the—? They can do plant magic!?" Lilith exclaimed, ducking under a thick vine that whipped past her head.
"What are these things even!?" Steve flailed his hands in frustration, narrowly avoiding another attack.
Hooty, feeling a surge of confidence, continued to slam into the enemies. "AHA! Get this! Get that! Hooty is the KING of the Grudgby!" he boasted, but his bravado quickly turned to agony when one of the plant creatures, its face a ghastly skull with a green hue, reached out and touched him causing him to have his eyes going wide and his body violently contorted as if he was being electrified.
"HOOTIFER!" Lilith bolted and plunged her claw at the plant monster's head killing it and spilling black blood.
Hooty dropped into Lilith's arms and she held him gently "Hootifer! Are you alright?"
Hooty only groaned as his mouth was foaming and still convulsed a few times more.
"Not good, Steve! Hooty is harmed bad! We have to get out!"
"Did that seven minutes ago!" Steve shouted as he held his scroll, sending another plant humanoid up in flames. He pushed the burning creature into others, igniting a chain reaction that sent the entire mass of vegetation into a frenzied screeching fit. The sound was deafening, forcing both witches to cover their ears.
Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle echoed through the chamber, and a sleek vehicle barreled in, crashing through the ranks of the plant monsters. It spun and parked near them, revealing Lilith's raven-like Palisman behind the handlebars, looking particularly smug.
Croak!
The raven croaked, greeting them with a triumphant sound.
Lilith blinked in disbelief, staring at her Palisman. "What—THAT'S WHY YOU TOLD ME TO LEAVE MY PALISMAN!?" She turned to Steve incredulously. "MY PALISMAN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE LEGS FOR THAT CONTRAPTION!"
Steve smirked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Then it's a good thing I made my baby Palisman-friendly." He gestured to the modifications on the motorcycle, adorned with a 'Blight' logo, and a smaller controller with glyphs that the raven seemed to be using to steer.
Howl!
More plant monsters were coming, and the still-burning mass of vegetation was thrashing wildly, its tendrils reaching out to ensnare them. "Get on!" Steve shouted, jumping onto the motorcycle and gesturing for Lilith and Hooty to follow.
Lilith carefully placed Hooty onto the seat, holding him steady as she climbed on behind Steve. "Let's get out of here!" she urged, wrapping her arms around Steve's waist.
With a roar of the engine, they sped off, weaving through the chaos as the raven piloted the motorcycle with surprising agility. Lilith glanced back at the chaos they were leaving behind, the shrieks of the plant monsters fading into the distance.
"Hold on tight!" Steve called out, revving the engine as they tore through the chamber, leaving the horrors of the past behind them.
More plant monsters emerged from the shadows, their twisted forms writhing as they sought to close in on the trio. The still-burning mass of abominable vegetation lashed out with its tendrils, furious and wild, forcing them to scramble onto the motorcycle.
"Besides, do you really want Hooty to be our getaway?" Steve quipped, revving the engine. "I wouldn't even trust my jacket with him! No offense."
"Some taken…" Hooty slurred, his eyes still glazed as he looked like a possum pretending to be dead. He might not be dying, but he sure felt like it, which was classic Hooty—always exaggerating everything.
The motorcycle roared to life, and Steve accelerated just before a few of the monstrous creatures could reach them, flames belching from the exhaust and igniting two of the snarling forms behind them. The wind whipped past them as they sped away, but the thrill of the ride only heightened Lilith's anxiety. She clung to Steve, heart pounding, fear of him losing control gnawing at her.
"Steve…!" she exclaimed, alarmed by the reckless speed.
"Trust me! I know what I'm doing, and I'm not just doing it to look cool," he replied, flashing her a confident grin that barely masked the tension of the moment.
"ONLY—AAH!"
He swerved sharply, dodging a mass of burning tendrils reaching for them, then took a hard left and right again, pushing the bike toward the cliff's edge. Without warning, he gunned the throttle and launched off the cliff, ignoring Lilith's helpless shriek as they soared through the air. Time seemed to stretch as they flew, but they landed squarely in the infernal blaze, flames licking at their sides.
More tendrils lashed out, but Steve maneuvered the bike with a grace that belied the chaos around them. With a loud creak, he slid the motorcycle to one side, narrowly avoiding the assault. Straining with effort, he used his telekinesis to push away the flames temporarily, creating a path through the inferno.
The raven staff, with surprising precision, conjured blue magical disks, slicing through the thick vegetation and clearing a way forward.
"Go! Go!" Lilith urged, adrenaline coursing through her veins as the plant humanoids struggled to follow, their paths obstructed by the flames. A few of the creatures met their fiery demise, succumbing to the inferno. Others, however, spread out to circle around, intent on blocking their escape.
Lilith's keen eyes caught sight of something out of the corner of her vision. "There! Go there!" she shouted, spotting a tunnel that beckoned them from the thick foliage.
Steve steered the bike towards the opening, their only chance to escape the relentless pursuit. As they entered the tunnel, he quickly fished out his remaining explosive portions—the same he had used to blow up the column before—and telekinetically shoved them back into the oncoming horde of plant monsters.
The explosives detonated with a thunderous roar, taking several of the monstrous forms with them and sending debris flying. The tunnel shook around them as rubble collapsed, creating a barrier between them and the remaining creatures.
"Did that do it?" Steve asked, glancing over his shoulder to see the chaos unfold behind them.
"Let's hope so," Lilith said, her gaze fixed ahead as they sped deeper into the tunnel.
Steve paused for a moment, exchanging a glance with Lilith as they both caught their breath, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. The noise of the monstrous chaos outside faded into an eerie silence as they stood, momentarily safe in the dim light of the tunnel.
"You know… what the word Ultharak actually translates into?" Lilith panted, her heart slowly settling.
"That being?" Steve asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead and trying to shake off the remnants of fear.
"Corpse City. Guess we nearly got added to the corpses there!" Lilith replied, a morbid grin spreading across her face. The dark humor struck her just right, and both she and Steve erupted into laughter, their mirth a welcome distraction from the horrors they had just faced.
"Uuuuuugh…" Hooty moaned, his tongue lolling out as he flopped uselessly against Lilith. He sounded utterly pathetic, as if he were paralyzed from the events. "Do we have to keep doing this? Can't I just get a nap instead?"
Lilith looked down at their vulnerable friend, concern flashing in her eyes. "We should… go back and get Hootifer help," she suggested, instinctively knowing her Palisman needed support.
"Hold tight." Steve grinned, revving the engine. With a jolt, he punched the throttle, and the motorcycle surged forward, causing Lilith to yelp and grip him tightly once more, her heart racing anew as they sped back the way they had come.
Unbeknownst to the trio, their escape had triggered a series of events far beyond their understanding. With the abominable mass of organic matter now reduced to blackened coal, its grip on the ancient reactor and the intricate mechanical gears that lay hidden within the depths of the cavern was severed. Slowly, the gears began to turn, grinding against one another with a long-forgotten purpose.
Hours later, the air in the tunnel hummed with energy as the reactor stirred back to life, a soft but ominous glow emanating from its core. A sickly hue pulsed rhythmically, illuminating the walls of the cave with faint green light, casting eerie shadows that danced across the rubble.
Amidst the hushed sound of machinery coming back to life, a broken monitor flickered in one corner of the cavern. Dust and grime obscured its surface, but soon enough, it started to clear as the machinery powered up. Blue text flickered on the dark panel, bright and insistent against the gloom.
INITIALIZING PROTOCOL.
SYSTEM ONLINE.
ANALYZING EXTERNAL THREATS…
The words scrolled rapidly, interspersed with static and digital distortions, before pausing momentarily. Then, another line appeared.
THREAT DETECTED: ELEMENTAL ENEMIES, DAEVITE AND SARKIC LIFE SIGNS.
ALL CREW OF MEKHANE'S MIGHT ARE LONG DEAD. MAY THEY FIND PEACE IN MACHINE GOD'S GRACE.
As the ancient reactor thrummed with energy, the flickering monitors displayed a cascade of messages, the green text forming a haunting directive that reverberated through the air.
UNKNOWN SIGNAL RECEIVED…
ANALYZING… MEKHANITE CODING CONFIRMED…
NEW COMMAND… SIGNAL GAINED… RITE PASSAGE CONFIRMED… BY THE ORDER OF SAINT HEDWIG AND THE LATEST INHERITOR OF EMPEROR BUMARO.
HAIL MEKHANE, IN THE GLORY OF THE MACHINE GOD.
With each line, the air grew heavier, charged with a palpable sense of awakening purpose. The colossal eyes of the ancient machine, long dulled by neglect and time, blazed bright, a fierce dimmest burning within their depths. The shadows around it danced as if alive, flickering with the newfound energy that coursed through the massive form.
The machinery groaned as it shifted, the joints creaking and groaning like a slumbering beast finally roused from its long sleep. A low, resonant sound echoed through the chamber, a mechanical roar that signaled an irrepressible will to fight. The Colossus, although old and damaged, was no longer dormant; it had awakened to a singular directive: to annihilate the enemies of Mekhane.
DEUS VULT.
The phrase resonated in the air, a battle cry from an age long gone that spoke of divine mandate and relentless conquest. Its Machine Spirit surged to life within its mechanical body, pulsing with vigor and ferocity that had been long buried beneath layers of debris and time. Gears engaged with newfound vigor, clanking and spiraling into action as the ancient Colossus prepared for war.