Book 7, Chapter 122 - The Venerated (2/2)

Cloudhawk paid the two guards no mind for the moment. He stretched out his senses even further in all directions. Every corner was revealed, and if he hadn’t seen it with his own ‘eyes’ Cloudhawk would have trouble believing any of it was real.

The two metallic figures shared a brief exchange before extending their hands toward Cloudhawk and his companions. Ominous light shone in their palms. “You may be Venerated, but if you do not verify your identities we cannot allow you further into the city.”

Cloudhawk brought his attention back to the robots. His eyes glimmered through his mask, and when he spoke it made his voice harsh. “And if I must enter?”

There was no reaction to his unsaid threat. “In accordance with directives from our Venerated Elders, we are authorized to stop anyone who does not present identification. We would be forced to act.”

“Try it,” Cloudhawk countered, his voice challenging.

The light from their palms grew and shot out. While not weak, they were no threat to Cloudhawk. He stood without moving a muscle, for their attempts wouldn’t even displace a hair.

A pale white light flickered in the air. The blasts of energy disappeared when they got close without even leaving a ripple. At that moment the guards realized they did not have the strength to stop this Venerated and called their companions. In no time more of them flooded into the area.

“You can’t stop me.” Cloudhawk’s words were full of confidence and menace.

The other denizens of Gehenna watched with some apprehension. They knew how powerful the Venerated were. Although there were only four of them, it would be foolish to underestimate the damage they could cause. But there was supposed to be an accord, an agreement for cohabitation even the Venerated couldn’t violate.

Abaddon cut in. “You fools, do you not recognize your King? Even the Elders prostrate before him, but you will stand in his way?”

The guardians didn’t fully understand, but after scanning Abaddon’s face they located his information in their records. Abaddon was a Venerated who went missing several hundred years ago. It was unexpected that he should suddenly resurface here.

“Quickly now, tell the Venerated that we have arrived.”

They obliged. These beings were capable of sharing information in much the same way as gods, though not across tens of thousands of light years as they could. At least across the breadth of this city they could quickly relay information, and it was through this neural network that they reported Cloudhawk’s arrival.

A few minutes later the demons stirred.

Several powerful essences sprang up to Cloudhawk’s senses in a specific pocket of the city. They all started approaching their location. He looked toward their source.

With the support of his spatial power, Cloudhawk’s field of view was ubiquitous. Solid objects did not impede his vision. Thus he extended his sight to the heart of the city, where a large tower lay. Hundreds of dark figures were pouring from it.

They all wore the familiar, frightening armor of demons. Powerful, oppressive auras hung over them. It was the first time Cloudhawk had seen so many of these beings together.

Clearly, the tower they left from was the headquarters of the city’s ‘Venerated.’

Some sort of agreement existed between the demons and the citizens of this metropolis. They called the demons ‘Venerated’ and showed utmost respect, putting them at the height of authority. In other words, if one took control of the demons they would have dominion over every living thing in this dimension.