Chương 84: Interlude 9

Supreme Warlady Elena Burstock" Immolate!" Legend Xanatos's beheaded corpse ignited. I then stabbed Sarah and impaled Xanatos' head, raising it.

"A blood clone. How annoying. I hate people like you, always having an escape prepared. Never willing to put it all on the line. Immolate." I glared as my flames quickly consumed the blood clone's skull, turning it to ashes. The ruins of Undercraft were bathed in sunlight as I looked up. The Mathemancer now had a flying castle, which he'd always wanted. My thoughts went to my son. Though he was in danger, I stayed focused on the fight. The Mathemancer did his job and had protected him.

I observed the Winged Snake as it burned. After I used my tier 6 skill and sent the Mana at the monster, it died instantly and burned a hole in the city's center. The evacuation was largely complete. I disliked combat in populated areas, but I didn't stop. If not, civilians would always be used as shields. That's why I sought to settle such disputes once and for all. The quicker they ended, the less damage occurred. Looking around again, the city was salvageable.

Although there was damage, the city wasn't completely buried; only the edges had a lot of rubble, and they could clear it up. Instead of Undercraft, it should be called Pitcraft. Now the whole place was a giant hole. The dwarves, in their usual fashion, would construct upward, with the less important dwarves at the top. They weren't fans of heights. Then, I shot myself into the air from the ground. I saw the College of Advancement floating over the Undercraft tunnel entrance.

I needed to see my son and check in on him. If he was harmed, The Mathemancer would pay. I landed in front of the hospital building after flying over the walls. I wasn't stopped or questioned as I moved toward my son.

"Elena," The Mathemancer said outside my son's room.

"You wouldn't be here unless there is an issue," I said as I lifted my sword up by a single degree towards him. Other people might not perceive the threat, but he would.

"The Dark Cabal penetrated my school. Over the last break, they replaced several staff members. They then tried to lure Justin to a building to perform a ritual. The goal being to move his soul into a monster to send you into a rage. They did this while I was focused on the ascent of my College." My sword rose another degree.

"He is doing well. He suffered a physical wound, but they promptly treated it, and it left no scar behind. The Healer with him, Healer Melon, suffered heavy injuries but has recovered as well. He is staying with Justin. Unfortunately, he was impacted by a ritual, which wasn't completed." My sword rose five degrees.

"He has a tier 4 skill, Soul Link, with the monster egg. Though it can be removed, there is a high risk of damaging his soul, particularly considering his other skills. Also, he doesn't want the skill to be removed." It took effort to constrain my Mana from shattering the surrounding space.

"Move," I said and The Mathemancer quickly stepped aside as I strode forward into the hospital room. I noticed Darren was here, sitting next to our son, who was lying on a hospital bed.

"Mother," my son said. I strode forward and looked down at him, and then glanced at the head-sized egg that was on a table to the side of the room.

"My son." I hesitated about what to say before barreling forward.

"You must give up the Soul Link skill."

"Why?" he asked, and I frowned. Independence was both a blessing and a curse.

"It would limit you. Having a creature be a companion is like having a weakness forever attached to you. Investing in something other than yourself is foolishness. If you don't give up the skill…" If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I will smash the egg.

"No!" he blurted.

"The ritual has already messed with your judgment."

"Elena, is it really that bad?" Darren asked, and I turned to glare at him.

"Yes. The only useful companion deep in the dungeon is a sword in one's hand. Even if you have bonded with the monster, it will forever be a weakness. Drawing experience that should go to you, reducing the pressure you face. While I have been lenient about you learning nonsense skills, this is no joke. You must quickly cut away this skill and destroy the monster."

"It is probably powerful," Justin said.

"A Wing Serpent. It doesn't get better than that," Darren added.

"You shut up." I glared at my husband, who brought up his hands and shut his mouth.

"A pet or tamed monster is weakness made manifest. Killing it will cause you to suffer. That skill will be useless."

"But I can feel it. It is afraid."

"Of course, since I am here. Everything fears me. You think you know better than I do?"

"It is my life," my son responded petulantly. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Your life? The one I gave you? You think a pet is more important than me?"

"Why do I have to choose?"

"Because I said so! I know it is a mistake. Now cast it aside and focus on yourself instead and not this foolishness."

"No. If you hurt it, I won't speak to you!"

"If you don't get rid of it, I won't speak to you!" I refused to back down. Even if it were my son, I would not bend.

"I can make better threats than you."

"But…I feel it, mother. We were one for a moment. I can't describe it."

"Foolishness and idiocy!" I roared, and the room shook. My son sank into the hospital bed. I pointed at Darren.

"You! You'd better convince him to get rid of that skill and kill the monster himself, or else."

"He is your son as well and has inherited part of your stubbornness," Darren replied.

"But he doesn't have my overwhelming power! I am going to teach an old man the meaning of the word regret while you fix this husband," I declared and swept out of the hospital room. The Mathemancer wasn't trying to hide as I marched out of the building and flew over to a nearby mountain peak. The biting icy wind and swirling snow didn't faze me in the slightest.

"You screwed up, old man," I said while bringing my sword to point directly at him.

"I admit I let some things slip by, but even you couldn't protect your son from the Dark Cabal."

"I couldn't. That was my failure. I don't blame you for his injury. I blame you for the ritual and for letting him keep that monster."

"The skill is at Tier 4. He must agree to it being removed. It is too deeply ingrained, and his Soul Resistance would make it difficult to change. Even soul mages or experienced System Priests would find it difficult."

"You took responsibility for my son, and that means the good and the bad."

"You can't kill me."

"I have never really tried. Let's see if you are worthy of descending to the bottom of the dungeon with me," I declared." Slice!"" Force Redirection!" He brought up a staff, deflecting my attack and spinning about." Unbound Mass!" I instantly became lighter and floated off the ground." Air Platform!" I was going to teach this old man that allowing my son to come to harm under his care was a bad idea. Legend Xanatos of the Dark Cabal I screamed in pain as my soul entered the homunculus I had prepared ahead of time.

It was the only way to break the chain of divination. I knew Elena would track me down otherwise. Unfortunately, a blood clone wouldn't have worked. I had to use a darker method.

A method that would ensure my soul didn't collapse. I kept screaming as my soul reworked itself into its new body. Once it was done, I slowly rose. My body shook. I focused and checked my status. My hands clenched into fists. So many stats lost, so many skills lost or degraded. The door to my private chamber opened, and I frowned.

"A homunculus? You have become weak, Xanatos."

"Yonder, a pleasure as always," I replied as I wrapped a robe around my naked body.

"This is why we don't mess with Supreme Legends. Your pride couldn't handle such a thing, could it?" Yonder asked with a sneer. I walked over to my liquor cabinet. I poured myself a much-needed drink.

"You couldn't even destroy Undercraft or the College of Advancement."

"What?!" I paused in my pouring.

"The Mathemancer flew his college away and the top of the mountain. The idea of smashing the two together has failed. Now, our enemies are more aware of us and stronger than ever. Wasting resources carefully placed into the College and to avoid their truth orbs. That was a long-term investment. Already, The Mathemancer and his forces have cut down all involved. The legends are organizing, the divinations show we are headed to ruin once more."

"So what? You seek to replace me? You wouldn't dare," I replied with a sneer. I wasn't worried about betrayal from the outside. The chains that bound us all would not allow such a thing.

"I am just wondering why? Why target Justin and drag the Supreme Warlady into a conflict?"

"Are we rats? No! We are the Dark Cabal. The pinnacle of power in the entire world. What good is power if no one uses it? While things didn't go according to plan, our name carries weight."

"We are called the Dark Cabal, since we thrive in the shadows. Your foolishness endangers us all."

"Those who respect power will understand. They will know what it means to face Elena and survive. The legends that desire more will seek us out. And we will grow in strength, not become weaker. We are not rats, Yonder. Leave me." I waved him off.

"Fine. When you stumble, I will gladly take the Dark Library off your hands." I held back a wince at the mention of the Dark Library. The end of the battle had been too desperate. I had lost control of it. I was no longer the master of the Dark Library. Once they discovered that, the Dark Cabal would no longer obey me. I needed to reclaim it quickly.