Chapter 34 – The Veil and the Storm
[BOOOOOOM!!!]
A violent alarm blared—loud, piercing, almost primal—as if the walls themselves were screaming. The very second Elias yanked the glimmering blood-red stone from its arcane mount, a deafening buzz shrieked through the underground hall.
"Dammit!" Elias cursed, instinctively backpedaling as the low hum of energy dissipated from the air, leaving behind an eerie void. He turned toward the only door, and through the reinforced glass at the top of it, he spotted movement.
Dark-clad followers armed with hybrid weapons—half rifle, half runic staff—rushed through the metallic corridor, their footsteps clanking with coordinated precision.
"There's a breach!" one of them shouted. "Get the intruder!"
The sound of metal being unsheathed echoed as a sword caught the moonlight filtering through the slatted ceiling above the hallway—silver edge gleaming like a warning.
Elias glanced around. "No windows. Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Wise bastards."
Suddenly, his comm buzzed—not a clean connection, but a staticky interference-laced pulse, like mana disrupting the frequencies.
Zzzzzt---kkkrr---pttchh.
"Huh?" he reacted, tapping the side of his comm. "Is anybody there? It's Elias. Elias!"
More static.
Zrrrrrrrt---bzzzt--- "Elias! Elias?!" Raymond's voice finally broke through, garbled but present.
"Yes! Raymond, it's me!" Elias kept his voice low, crouching beside a pillar while peeking at the door. The armed cultists had closed the distance, now just meters away.
"Elias, you're inside enemy territory. Where can you be located?" Raymond's voice crackled with urgency.
"Right now? I'm in a tight spot. Why?"
"We just got visuals of the hidden town—the illusion barrier dropped. The General authorized an all-out strike. Cannons are loading now—starting with the mana grenade launchers!"
"Wait—WHAT!? No! Don't! There are civilians in that town! Don't—!" Elias's voice rose in panic.
KZZT---kkrrrr---rrrrbzz! "What was that? I couldn't get—Elias? Where's Frank?!"
"Frank's secure for now!" Elias shouted, pacing backward.
"Alright! You two stay secured and low!" Raymond ordered.
"WAIT! I SAID DON'T! RAYMOND!? RAYMOND!!!"
Only silence and soft static remained.
"Shit!" Elias growled as the cultists finally accessed the locking mechanism. The door slid open with a pressurized hiss.
The intruders burst in—four of them—blades raised, runes igniting along their edges.
"Alright... here we go," Elias said with a clenched jaw, drawing his twin daggers. Their silver hilts pulsed faintly.
–––
Outside the Illusory Town Perimeter...
"I got in touch with Elias!" Raymond exclaimed, running up the gravel slope toward Augustus.
General Augustus stood with a sharp presence, the moonlight reflecting off his pristine white military coat. Beside him were Laura and Tayla, both armored and alert. Scott tightened his grip on his energy-forged javelin while Andrea stood with her crossbow held diagonally across her chest.
"Elias! He's inside the town?" Tayla asked quickly.
"Yes. He followed Frank through a teleportation sigil. Says Frank's secured… for now," Raymond replied as he strapped his heavy axe onto his back.
In front of them, the Arcline Conflux Cannons glowed—three massive artillery turrets infused with mana reactors. Glimmering runes etched along their sides pulsed with humming energy as soldiers lined up, hands over ignition levers. The charged crystals inside vibrated, releasing bursts of heat like furnaces.
Behind them, a low-frequency thrum built up—like a beast exhaling.
"The town only revealed itself minutes ago," Augustus spoke, his arms behind his back. "Hidden behind a multi-layered illusion, like the Order used during the Sekath Sieges."
"They don't seem to know we're here yet," Raymond added.
"Anything else from Elias?" Scott asked, adjusting the weight of his armor.
"Hard to say. The interference from the mana field around the cannons probably jammed our signal."
Kaido stepped forward, both his curved swords drawn—crimson-black wisps danced along the edges.
"Alright!" he shouted. "Stand ready! These cultists specialize in stealth terrorism and mental manipulation. But we strike hard and clean—TONIGHT!"
Augustus raised his gloved hand. "And tonight, we bleed them dry."
The soldiers grunted in unison, gripping the cannon ignitions.
––––
Inside the Inner Temple Hall
Frank panted hard, sweat tracing lines down his cheeks. Before him, Jack held the long ceremonial dagger—its blade thin but sharp, engraved with intricate lines that shimmered like liquid obsidian.
"Shit… What, are you gonna stab me to death with that?" Frank asked, tone strained but still sarcastic.
Jack smiled.
"Not quite yet."
One of the followers brought forth a dark veil and knelt, lowering it over Frank's head.
"This is only the beginning of your transformation, child of the vessel," Jack said.
The crowd erupted in chants—each follower robed in red with black-lined interiors, their eyes glowing with fanatical fervor.
Frank's heart raced.
A second follower came forward with a golden chalice. Thick black liquid sloshed inside—reeking of rusted iron and rotten bark.
Vance's Blood, Frank realized.
"Nope. Not drinking that."
"Don't struggle," Jack ordered, nodding.
Two acolytes moved in. One gripped Frank's wrists despite the cuffs. The other grabbed his face, squeezing his cheeks until his lips parted.
Frank's eyes widened. "Oh hell no…"
The woman poured the liquid into his mouth. It was thick, syrupy, and burned.
"GURK!! GURGH!!" Frank tried to spit it out, black streaks dripping from his lips.
When they finally let go, he fell forward, coughing. Stains marked his jaw and neck.
"Ohhh how joyous the day shall be," Jack proclaimed, "when Lord Vance returns."
Spike frowned.
Bill noticed. "You okay?"
She didn't answer.
"I feel... off," she finally said.
"Off?" Bill asked.
Astrid groaned. "We don't need this now, Spike. Save your drama."
"You don't get it," she muttered.
Jack unsheathed the dagger slowly, reverently. The gem on the hilt glowed amber.
Frank stared, and his eyes locked on the inscription: 01: Leonardo Vance
"What?!" he exclaimed internally.
But Jack was already speaking. "It was an honor having you with us, Frank Onclave."
The guards forced Frank's head down.
"No—wait! WAIT!!"
Jack raised the blade.
"MY REAL NAME IS LEON VANCE!!!"
The room froze. The blade halted.
"I AM LEON VANCE! BY NAME… and by birth!" Frank shouted, struggling to lift his head against the pressure.
"Propoistrous!!" Jack hissed. "You dare speak the sacred name of Lord Vance in vain!?"
"I'm telling the truth! I'm from another world—you already knew that!"
"Blasphemy!" Jack shouted. "SEIZE HIM!!"
The followers stirred.
Bill turned. "What the hell does that mean!?"
Spike whispered, "He's not lying…"
Astrid tightened her grip. "He's losing it. Grab him before Vance's wrath consumes us!"
Jack lunged with the blade—
"WAIT! WAIT!! WAIT!!" Frank shouted.
And just like that—
Everything changed.
He blinked.
The chains were gone. The collar too.
He wasn't in the hall anymore. No followers. No altar. No dagger.
"Wh—what the hell?" Frank gasped.
The walls were smoother here. Lit by blue crystal sconces. Circular room.
Suddenly—"Grab the intruder!"
Guards in armor tackled him from all sides.
"What is going ON!?" Frank cried as they pinned him again.