Chương 91: Interlude 10

Supreme Warlady Elena Burnstock I missed my son. It was hard to step away, but I needed to. A monster? What was he thinking? We couldn't trust or reason with them. I detested monster tamers. They were absolute scum, working with the monsters that had killed my family. Now my son was teaming up with a monster instead of listening to me.

"Your son has his own ideas. All Supreme Legends are stubborn. You should take comfort in that," The Mathemancer said. I resisted the urge to hit him in the face again.

"He will endure, or he will die. Now that he is old enough to make his own decisions, he can fend for himself."

"Even though you brought the Dark Cabal to him?" The Mathemancer asked.

"That curse skill is Experience Siphon. They won't kill him. And in overcoming that curse skill, he will become stronger. If he doesn't, he can live a life of mediocrity. I am not a puppeteer like my husband." As for the ritual to place his mind into a monster, that was meant to target me. Otherwise they would have waited until I was not around to act.

"So, you knew?"

"Of course, I knew. I am not an idiot. But if I were going to have a child, I would accept nothing less than the best. The diviners pointed me towards him, and it didn't take me long to realize who he truly was. His skills are subtle, but I have seen worse from monsters down in the dungeon."

"And you played along? I honestly didn't think you had it in you."

"I am capable of holding my tongue. I'm more restrained than people think. I didn't become a Supreme Legend by following the example of Bastian or Blood Gore," I countered. I spoke with The Mathemancer a lot more than I normally would. If we were to be a team, communication was important. We understood each other better as we went down the dungeon. My lack of social niceties didn't mean I was unaware of them.

I swung my blade, easily cutting apart the Champion monster at the entrance to the 11 th layer of the dungeon.

"I am still surprised Blood Gore agreed."

"He just doesn't want to be left behind. While he is strong, his strength is that of a beast, and not of a thinking person," I answered.

"I suppose I should prepare for his unique odor and personality. He honestly makes the rest of the Supreme Legends look like saints in comparison."

"He has the manners of a pig. The Dark Cabal has been trading with him. I have no doubt that he has acquired some troublesome skills."

"No one else is mad or powerful enough to seek him out, except those crazy people. It's a shame I never got hold of their Dark Library. The knowledge contained within is truly priceless."

"Supposedly, it is a living artifact. Able to select its owner and hide itself," I stated. I had done research into the Dark Cabal after recent events.

"Indeed. That makes it so troublesome. You could consider it the true founder and ultimate supporter of the Dark Cabal. Demonic skills, curse skills, and so many other things lost to the ravages of time and war are protected within it," The Mathemancer said with a sigh.

"If I find it, I am cutting it apart, without mercy."

"Maybe spare a book or two for this old man?"

"Perhaps for a favor or two."

"Ah, well, I am quite old. The only reason I am going on this last delve into the depths." He was quoting some ancient texts at me, but I didn't care enough to think about which one he was quoting.

"Well, if four Supreme Legends can't make it to the bottom, I don't know who can."

"Perhaps your son."

"He has a long way to go, and he doesn't share the same hatred for the dungeon that I do. He is soft, but perhaps fighting the Dark Cabal will temper him." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"You know, I was thinking you didn't care. But when you left, you didn't hide your departure or plan of the final descent. You want the Dark Cabal to know, so they won't target him. Your heart still bleeds, Elena," The Mathemancer said.

"Family is important. Despite my immense power, I am but one woman. But don't go spreading that about once we reach the Last Bastion, or I will be upset," I said while we quickly traveled through the dungeon to the passage leading to the next layer. At our level, the first 20 layers were relatively easy to traverse with little concern. Only the last few might be annoying.

"You were always the best of us, Elena, despite your reputation. You never lost that spark of humanity." I did not know how to respond to that. Having my feelings analyzed made me uncomfortable. I steadied my mind and breathing.

"Thank you, but we must turn our attention to this descent and handling Blood Gore."

"Just let him rush in first. You will support him from behind, covering his flanks. The Librarian and I will cover the rear and provide support and a spherical defense." Legend Xanatos of the Dark Cabal"So, she fled!" The kneeling Shadow had just delivered the news to me.

"Away with you," I ordered, and the Shadow quickly scurried out of my sight. I had far more pressing concerns than Elena. While it might seem like good news, she had gone on a final descent, which made my position within the Dark Cabal much more precarious. I had lost control of the Dark Library. If Supreme Warlady Elena was not threatening me, others would start asking questions about when the Dark Library would be reopened.

The door to my throne room opened, and Yonder strode in with several of the council members. As much as I wished to do away with them, I wasn't strong enough to oppose all of them together. I had only become the Leader of the Dark Cabal since I had gained control of the Dark Library.

"Open the doorway," Yonder said. There was no point in lying or concealing the truth.

"I have lost control over the Dark Library." Yonder gave me a smile while the rest of the council members shook their heads.

"I will recover it in time."

"That means the position of leader is now open. We should cut your privileges and resources, and we should apply a punishment for losing access to the Dark Library."

"No punishment. I will step down as a council member again. Don't push me, Yonder. I might have been wounded by Elena, but my name is still Xanatos, and I had access to the Dark Library for quite some time. Time enough to learn some very annoying and dangerous skills."

"A demotion then," Yonder said and stared at me with a grin. I let out a sigh and got off my throne. It was an annoying setback, but I was playing the long game. It wasn't enough to live in the present. One needed to prepare for the future. Cursing Justin had been a risky move, but without risks, one couldn't win against opponents of equal or greater strength. That was why I was the one who had seized control of the Dark Library. That is the reason I didn't mind resigning and being humiliated.

After I got back into the Dark Library, I intended to practice Rampant Healing. The pictures in the book about the suffering and horror of that skill felt very fitting for Yonder, who was currently causing me problems. His future screams would soothe the humiliation I was enduring.

"Our main priority is to find and regain control of the Dark Library once more. All Shadows shall be alerted and watch for signs," one council member said.

"We shall have our agents and spies keep a lookout as well. The reward shall be a council position and access to certain resources," another council member said. No one objected. That was the standard reward for anyone who wasn't part of the Dark Cabal council who claimed the Dark Library. One needed both position and power to claim the throne and the leadership of this organization.

"Then we have other things to attend to and a Dark Library to find. I hope your recovery goes quickly, Xanatos," Yonder said as everyone left the throne room.

"You are always welcome to test me in the pit, if you dare. Otherwise, I am going to my chambers to rest."

"Not your chambers. Remember, you were demoted. Everything needs to be moved out," he said with a grin, and my anger with him grew.

"I won't forget this," I replied calmly.

"I hope you don't. You have oppressed the rest of us for a long time, Xanatos. Now that you have misstepped, I will enjoy it. Even if you seek revenge, I am not without certain skills as well."

"Get out of my sight. I will move, have no worries," I said and waved my hand. Yonder left the throne room, and I let out a sigh. This gamble of mine was looking poorer every day. I needed to find and recover the Dark Library before anyone else did. It wasn't just a repository of knowledge, but a powerful weapon and container of key items collected over the millennia. The ritual components alone were priceless, along with the preserved demonic organs. Such things had no replacement. My soul shuddered again.

A tremor from inhabiting a body that wasn't the one I was born with. Finding the Dark Library wasn't just a question of power anymore, but one of survival. I needed to look up how to stop these soul tremors from getting worse. I knew of a ritual, but I needed the Dark Library for that as well. I cursed Elena for the thousandth time in my mind. The world was truly unfair to grant such an ignorant, savage woman such power. Unfortunately, she had grown too powerful.

Even when I tried my best to get rid of her, I failed and faced setbacks. Justin was still in possession of the monster egg, according to my informant. While not part of my plan, it would serve its purpose. There were very few true setbacks, only new opportunities that I needed to adjust to my advantage. For now, I would leave him alone. My cursed skill had degraded, but the skill experience he sent my way was still useful, although it was reduced.

Either he would gain levels which would help me, or he would perish of old age. Either option was fine. I would get rid of him and apply my curse skill to someone else once the skill experience decreased too far. If he couldn't advance, then I would be done with him and cut my losses. But for now, I would wait and focus on recovering the Dark Library.