Book 7, Chapter 51 - The Eternal (2/2)

Was he preparing to strike? Cloudhawk was ready, but in a surprise turn the wizard flipped the dagger around and plunged it into his own chest. He forced the dark steel in, centimeter by centimeter until it was buried up to the hilt.

Coudhawk wasn’t sure how to react. This idiot didn’t have to kill himself because they couldn’t talk!

But there was no sign from the man that he was in pain. There was no reaction at all. It was as though it wasn’t a body the dagger pierced at all, and in fact there was no blood leaking from the wound. Rather a thick black smoke poured forth and began to congeal.

A few moments later the wound closed up. This strange wizard was unharmed, even his robes were intact. Returning the dagger to his waist the rider continued to make rasping noises at Cloudhawk and then… bowed? Like he was entreating something.

“I know what they are.” Jara spoke up with a hesitant, quavering voice. “They are the Eternal! Creatures that live forever! The legends are true...”

But something was bothering Autumn, making her ill at ease. She held tightly to her flute, ready to unleash the Shepherd God’s power at a moment’s notice to control the ants. Frost and Abaddon could deal with the riders.

As for Cloudhawk? He needed to conserve his strength! Only his spatial abilities could ensure a safe escape if they needed it. Furthermore, he was the only one who could defeat Belial.

The Eternal’s superhuman regenerative abilities meant this conflict would be much harder than originally thought. It wasn’t even certain if blowing them to pieces could keep them down.

Slowly, the leader raised his staff. The other riders reacted to this signal… by stepping aside. A long passage was formed through the swarm, which took Cloudhawk and the others by surprise. Their intention had been to storm this stronghold, but instead of fighting back these natives offered no resistance. They were letting them pass. What did it mean? Cloudhawk looked over his shoulder at the others and shrugged. They would deal with things as they occurred.

They followed the passage toward a cave.

Kesjir’s cave system dug into solid rock, likely created by the ants themselves with their mighty jaws and powerful acids. Below was a maze-like network that was heavily traversed by the insects. They could jump out from the many exits to attack intruders.

Only this time they didn’t. The ant riders, brandishing their hooked spears, kept the unbridled insects at bay. A kind of energy was released by the spears that allowed them to control the ants and prevent them from attacking.

They were some sort of relic. It was how these wizard-like natives were able to live and thrive here. Cloudhawk guessed the gauntlets on their left hand were offensive relics, but he also felt a resonance from the body of these beings as well.

He suspected Belial had done something to them, changed these people in some way. It was where their strange power came from. The way the smoke had appeared… it reminded him of Blackfiend the Undying.

Cloudhawk imagined there was much about these wizards that was similar to Blackfiend. Had they been turned into immortal fiends by Belial, like Skycloud’s Seraphs? If that were the case then a thousand of them would be a formidable threat.

Worry was heard in Autumn’s voice. “If we follow them in there are we walking into a trap? Remember, these people belong to the demon.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t think they’ll pull any tricks. Actually, I think they want to help,” Cloudhawk mused. “I’ve been testing this place’s enchantments. It’s more like a cage, stopping people from coming in but also keeping the Eternal from going out.”

Autumn understood. These folk were prisoners. And as they all mulled over the implications a scene unfolded before them.