Chapter 724: True Demonlord [55] (1/2)
”Look at the watch,” he rose from her lap, ”-we've been reset. Time's 18:30.”
”Explain the term pillar?”
”I suppose I didn't. Here's the thing, for the restart to implement, the barrier has to memorize a checkpoint – thy location, mindset, and physical state. The lounge is the only entity who hasn't been affected. Meanwhile, the whole of the casino area is of effect; people are swapped around, their mindset remained unchanged from their arrival. There I come to my conclusion; we are the only ones unaffected, the rest will keep on restarting after certain criteria have been met.”
”The emperor dies and the painting is smothered in blood, right?”
”Certainly,” the door slid, ”-I'm going to face Loftha, stay here. Who is to say what reaction would befall if the pillar decided to wander around. There's enough food and beverage to last half an hour.”
”Take care,” she waved, ”-I'll sit idly and pout,” her shoulder rose, the arms locked, ”-no more harassment, please.”
”Sure.” *Click,* '-now then,' down the stairs, '-the condition isn't two, but one. The painting is smothered, the emperor doesn't have to die. She was easily fooled under the vampire allure. Humans are easy targets,' hands in the pockets, '-I'll have to examine the circle from an outside perspective. Once a potent realm has been expanded, a lesser domain can't deploy. Unless I use Rantiam, no, don't even think about it. The Shadow Realm has to remain a secret, never again – only use Mantia, nothing more and nothing less. Affecting reality at this point will be cacophonous. Magic's out the question,' the fist clenched, '-can't exactly summon either. What a predicament,' he looked about, '-there's the melancholic princess,' sights firmed onto Loftha who wandered about the entrance. Strangely enough, the back and forth didn't once make it to the outside, there seemed to be a dense air that subconsciously strayed unwanted attention. Under the cover of tables filled with cheers and others of undisrupted woe, Igna agilely made progress. 'She looks perplexed, I'd guess confusion over the constant retrial, can't be true – dismissing the possibility would be foolish.' Over the carpeted inside the marble-tiled hallway, ”-Fia.”
She turned with a certain reluctance, ”-yes?”
”Good,” he breathed a scattered laugh, ”-I've been looking everywhere. Sorry about what happened earlier, I shouldn't have left so quickly,” he grasped her palms, ”-let's start again, I'm ready to take responsibility. You said you'd do anything to make me fall, and I reply with, there's no need, I'm already head over heels.”
”Have we met?” she pulled her hands, ”-I don't think I know you?”
”Loftha, it's me, your lover,” he pushed closer, ”-stop playing these games, have I not sufficiently yearned enough…”
”Getaway,” she leaped backward, ”-I'll say it again, I don't know you…”
”That's it, huh?” face to the ground, ”-ignore me till I suffer…”
”Sorry, but I honestly have no idea who you are,” she turned and walked away, ”-blame the lady for the changed demeanor,” said a whisper.
'There,' he smirked, '-caught it, she's being controlled by another entity, time to lay on the pressure.'
”La Mort.”
”Pardon?” she pulled her steps, ”-what did you say?”
”La Mort,” he returned, ”-the painting I placed on auction for tonight's festivities. There's something very special in it, tis a gift from a goddess herself, the lady of Arts and Craft. I honestly thought it would be nice to share her work around, evidently, I'm having second thoughts. There are plenty of works to go around,” he turned on his heels and made for the stairs.
”Wait, wait,” she rushed to block the path, ”-don't pull it from the display,” a glee twinkled in her eyes, ”-the piece is…” the rush of courage diluted into second guesses, ”…”
”Don't waste my time,” he shoved her aside, ”-I don't think I know you?”
”WAIT!” No answer came, the suited man soon vanished in the upstairs area, ”-don't leave yet,” she followed to be halted by the guards.
”If thee wishes to see the painting, try again in another decade.”
”Tssk,” a hefty scowl shot at either guard, ”-I'll get it later, don't worry,” heels ambled out hearing distance.
'Time's 18:45, I know she isn't Loftha and there's a great deal of importance to the painting. I mentioned a goddess painting the picture – normal response would have been a question or a certain look of suspicion, I felt nothing from her. She knows the true origin. Judging by scowl and undertone of disgust, she's not affiliated with the gods.'
”Lord Igna,” hailed Sophie, ”-have thee come to pay a visit?” she stood before a life of neatly dressed art pieces and paintings, ”-here's the arsenal for tonight's auction. The value of each item falls into the six to seven digits, we from the auctioning company are very excited to deliver an event to be spoken of for ages to come.”
”Precisely the reason I called on thee.” The overall atmosphere was excitement over tenseness. Petty conversations led to his piece, '-La Mort,' bent over narrowed-eyed, '-the epicenter of tonight's game is this.' Bicolored pupils washed in a sudden white blaze, mana-lines, the very fabric of reality dismantled, '-the sight of he who watches from outside the box,' lines turned symbols and letters. A ball of yarn spun freakishly to spew threads in multiple directions, '-the center breaks and reassembles the property of the circle depending on the people's actions downstairs. A very intricately constructed layer of protection, after it comes to a high tier barrier then the composition of the expanded realm. Condition to the painting's activation, where is it,' he looked about in closer details.
*AHHHHH,* the watch showed 19:00, *slash,* blood smothered, '-not enough time…'
'See with thy mind, and thou art to miss what is felt by the heart. Hear with thy ear, and one shall forget the touch, sense with thy skin, and the breeze shall guide the way, in many ways than one, despair follows, the curse of misfortune never left, the curse of restarting always remained, and now, before the lifeless corpse, the truth to the Haggards shall be exposed. The world isn't pretty nor are the enemies, heed this from thy foe, we're present, we know who you are, and trust me, the day of retribution is upon thee. The clock strikes, blood is spilled, the world ends, more specifically, your world ends.'
*Gasp,*
”Someone's looking paler than before.”