Book 7, Chapter 64 - The Key (1/2)

Book 7, Chapter 64 - The Key

Over a thousand years, the five Elysian realms gathered the spirits of a billion people to create the Source. One of the primary reasons gods enslaved humanity was to use them for energy.

That crystal represented a terrible, bloody sin.

But at this moment Cloudhawk needed the sacrifice for his own purposes. It would become the engine humanity used to fight against their oppressors.

Of course, this was easier said than done. The crystal was enormous! At least fifty kilometers in diameter. It was comparable to a small asteroid.

If Cloudhawk wanted to teleport the Source, it would be like trying to move an Elysian capital. What’s more, it was buried ten thousand meters underground. In short, humanity did not have the resources or technology required to mine the stuff. It was too hard to break apart and even if they could, it would take too long to extract it.

It was an impossible conundrum. Or so it seemed. Surely they wouldn’t be forced to simply ignore this buried treasure. Cloudhawk wouldn’t have it, there were ways.

Belial addressed his new King. “It’s impossible for mankind, but you are hardly a man anymore. With luck, you can succeed.”

“Yeah? What do you suggest?”

“No grand plan. I remember that during the Great War there was a spatial relic called the Key. It wasn’t a weapon and was largely disregarded as a useless trinket.” Belial explained. “But if there is any way to move the Source in one fell swoop, this Key is the answer.”

Belial was an expert in all things pertaining to relics. For these matters, he would not be wrong. Cloudhawk was curious. “What sort of relic has this kind of power? Are you sure I have enough mental power to get it done?”

Even if the relic could excavate this city-sized crystal, was Cloudhawk strong enough mentally to accomplish this? Belial’s abilities were similar in strength, so why did he think Cloudhawk could do it?

“Because this relic is special. It’s… more of an exchange than a transfer.”

“Exchange?”

“Indeed. The Key takes two objects of similar mass within your field of control and swaps their positions. So long as the targets are similar enough, the required energy is small. The higher the discrepancy the more strength is required.”

It made sense to Cloudhawk. This ‘Key’ didn’t teleport things on a whim. Rather, the user had to meet two preconditions.

First, the two items had to be within a set distance of one another.

Two, they had to be of similar mass.

Every spatial demonhunter had a limit to how far their powers extended. Cloudhawk was no exception. This limit of perception determined the distance in which one could use their skills. Teleportation, dimensional phasing, summoning from somewhere else… there was all a range limit.

Cloudhawk’s talents were exceptional and so was his range. But it wasn’t enough, not to get it back to his home base. He needed help.

Luckily he had Bruno’s Riftshards, taken as a victory trophy. They were perfect as spatial markers, which helped to extend the range of a demonhunter’s skills. With the daggers there was hardly any range limit.

With the first issue solved, it was on to the second. He didn’t have to think long.

If he wanted to move the source he just needed to find something with a similar mass. Then it was as easy as activating the Key and making the switch. It was sure to save him a whole hell of a lot of effort.

Cloudhawk’s abilities, along with Belial’s methods and the help of others like Bruno, was enough to do the job. The demon was right; if there was anyone in the world able to accomplish the impossible, it was Cloudhawk.

So, where was this relic? Cynically Cloudhawk figured it was lost to history. How was he supposed to find it then? Time was precious.

“I know they keep the relic in Highmorn’s Temple.”