67 Chapter 18: Glass Sky 3 (1/2)

I looked at my hand.

It doesn't have the black veins in them but the same feeling is welling up deep inside me. The dark magic is there but it's not apparent on my hands... how curious.

I'm not sure if Faram triggered something inside me or if he imparted a bit of his own powers to me.

Either way, it feels like I can control my magic better.

I remember what Faram said, something that sounded like a riddle again. About the sun and the shadows.

I squinted as I look up at the sky.

The sun is scorching bright as usual.

All of a sudden, an explosion went off.

I stood on a balance by the high walls that enclosed around the ruins of the temple like a barrier. It exists on a higher ground that enabled me to view the entire Sharisukhteh District.

From a distance, I can see dust clouds rolling out like a rug from where the explosion originated from; it spreads a mile that covered the streets in a dusty haze.

Scias and Cecil must be over there.

I scanned my eyes around to the other side of the distric and saw one of the hovering machines that I saw earlier.

I took a step forward and on my fall, I spun and kicked at the wall, it shoots me forward, propelling several meters before landing on one of the abandoned rooftops.

Few blocks away is the Osteell machine. I can see three soldiers accompanying it. They're heading this way.

Aide and Emis suddenly appeared from both my side. ”Need help? We're kinda free.”

”I need those soldiers separated from the hovering metal contraption.” I replied without looking. I kept my eyes on the Osteell men. They're not aware of us yet but they look pretty alarmed. Probably because of the explosion awhile ago.

”Consider it done!”

”Gotcha'!”

They replied at the same time.

And with that, they jumped and vanished.

One block left and the soldiers will be close enough to encounter.

I watch as Aide and Emis appears in front of the three soldiers. The machine hovers idly behind the men. It halted as they did.

The men kept their formation and began to attack using alchemy.

Aide stood her ground, only all her chains that appeared from her back did the work for her. She just stood there with hands crossed as if watching in enjoyment the hopeless struggles.

Suddenly, her chains shifted its move.

And it all hit the soldiers like a whip. Two men flew across the roads, rolling to a stop and laid down flat on their backs; one slamming hard to the buildings.

Without a second delay, the chains moved again.

I closed my eyes, but the scene burned behind my lids. Her chains jabbed right through them. I can hear the soldiers groan and heave as the last of their breath was drawn.

I should have asked Aide not to kill them... but would she even listen?

I sighed.

I joined them below, jumping off from the roof and to the open streets.

”You didn't had to...” I began as Aide just shrugged,

”They were aiming to kill us, why not return the favor?” she replied in a smirk,

I winced at the sight of their unmoving body and the pool of blood that surrounds them.

”I'll have them.” Emis steps forward, cuddling the eerie looking doll on her arms.

She swayed her hand and the doll's button eyes lit in a faint black light. She released it and it grew in a blink of an eye and rushed to where the dead bodies are.

”They'll be added to my collection! Sooo that way their existence won't be wasted!” she says in glee, referring to the corpses.

I watch as the gigantic doll consume the bodies in one gulp.

At lost for words, Aide pats me on the shoulder, ”The metal thing is all yours!”

”Yeah, we'll leave you to it!” Emis says in a nod. I just blankly stared at her mask covered face as her doll ran back to her and shrinks back to its usual size where she can hold it cuddly in her arms again.

They both jumped and vanished in thin air.

I looked around.

The blood puddles and splatters remained. I can smell the reek of it in the air as the wind blew pass me.

I turned to where the hovering machine is and realized it was watching me the entire time with a single lens located in its fronto-central part of its head.

A camera?

I walked towards the machine and stopped when I stood just few feet away from it.

I remembered Scias wanted to test this thing so much while I didn't want to have anything to do with it but here I am. The irony.

I just have to destroy this and I'm done here.

Suddenly it vibrated and occult symbols began to hover around it.

I know those symbols!

I bit my lips and tried hard to remember.

Until finally, I remembered the ruins under the Ouboros base back at the deserts. I saw the same ones from there.

Ancient transcriptions?

The machine began to move and revealed its ammunition.

A huge alchemy circle appears on the ground exactly to where the machine hovers.

I gasped.

—ancient transcriptions and alchemy?!

Oh god, Levi... what have you done?

Few parts of the ammunition began to pivot and rotate on its own axis.

A long beeping sound emitted, escalating into a rapid and high pitch warning noise...

And then suddenly...

A huge golden occult circle appears in front of it, bearing both the ancient symbols and of alchemy's.

It fired.

On instinct, I swerved out of its way, missing me narrowly.

The firing's projectile propelled across the street and toward buildings seen at the far end of the road.

The roaring sound of explosions went off like a bomb. Sand and dust billowed out ragingly pass me and covered everything on sight.

I turned my head over my shoulder, glancing where the damage was as slowly the sand screen clears.

There on the clearing, layers and layers of palisaded buildings, and covering over dozens of miles far, are huge holes penetrating right through all the structures that had crossed its path.

I turned my focus back at the machine but didn't budge. All it's lights are off and it's ammunition is tucked back inside its body.

Was that a warning shot?

I blew an exhale and stood up properly, dusting my pants off.

Now I get it, this thing is not only for searching. It can fight and kill people.

I won't hold back anymore!

———

I raised my hand to my face.

Null can only abate elements.

This machine doesn't use any.

Now I understand Faram completely.

Shadows, I thought.

I want to call them.

The very ground where I stood shudders.

I can feel the rise of power from my surrounding...

I closed my eyes.

Focus.

Hear me, I prayed.

'Whoever can hear me now...'

A chilly draft is slithering pass my legs.

Focus.

'Rise to my side...'

The ground heaves a beat.

Focus.

I can sense several people watching me from a far.

'Prey on my enemies...'

A chill ran the length of my arms.

Focus.

Silence is the only music drowning my ears.

”Anything that can hear me now...Heed my call!”

My heart pounding wildly inside my chest.

Focus.

My ears are ringing.

”I am Aerra Leingod...”

I can feel them all now.

”I am...”

「Mistressss....」

「Miiiisss..tress....」

「Missssstr'ss....」

「Mmmssstress....」

「Mis..tressss....」

I flipped my eyes opened, ”your Mistress.

—Come out!”

I watch as severalareas of the ground cracked and out crawling shadowy figures.

They stood seven to ten feet high. All their bodies are pitch black, as though they defy the rays of light blasted at them by the sun. Their eyes are round and yellow, with a slit like pupils, drawn in the middle of their irises. No other facial features but their gaping mouth where a dark void is seen.

I took my hand down and reached out across to point at the Osteell machine.

Without words they understood me.

All the creatures began to sprint and jump towards my enemy.

Their croaks and shrills filled the air. It echoed loud and wild as they went forth and attacked.

I watch as the machine began to move again.

But the creatures impeded it, as it was hurled down, bombarding it nonstop.

They clawed at it.

Ripped it apart.

They screeched and howled while I watch them all horde on top of it, completely destroying the metal contraption until it wasn't able to move at all anymore.

Some of the creatures started to vomit black viscous fluid like liquid asphalt and the metal melted on contact. From the gaping holes where the black fluid passed, black vines crawled out like worms and slithered hastily to cover what's left of the machine.

A smile creeped out across my face, seeing the satisfying result.

I walked over and the creatures... my creatures... cleared the area.

I looked at what was remaining and saw a solemn glass sphere lying inside. It glows in a blue bright light and looks resilient even against all the attack my creatures had done.

I picked it up and felt the familiar energy coming from it.

It's the same energy from my brother!

How is this possible?