Did he create a new source of mana here? I felt my fears reach her core, her eyes widening in realization. I-It's possible, she struggled, understanding the gravity of our situation. Then we really have no time to waste. Ysevel, can you make it up…? I cut myself off when she materialized in front of me. Did you need to ask? Ysevel sent wryly. Nope, I rubbed the back of my neck.
At Kalia's command, the three of us followed her into the room attached to the balcony. It was undoubtedly lived in, though whoever was once here had either left or died long ago. Since we didn't have time to find any answers, I tried to push the thought of the derelict surroundings from my mind, but one thing caught my eye.
A painting? But who is that? I sent the others, gesturing to the framed image of a regal-looking man with a sharp jaw, arrowhead nose, and long ashen hair draped over a violet doublet. His pose suggested he held something small in his hands, but the torn painting was a shadow of its former self.
It stood well over four meters tall in a cracked, golden frame that hurt my neck to look up at, hanging above a dark wooden chest of drawers. Kalia stopped running, but when her eyes flicked over to what I was looking at, they widened in surprise.
That's him. That's Nexis, your ancestor. At least, how I imagine he looked before the Wardens stripped him naked and cursed his body to be slowly eaten away by his wounds when he arrived, she sent with a shudder. I looked back up at the painting, trying to see if I could find any resemblance to the rest of my family, but there was very little I could recognize.
Or so I thought.
Even though it was only a painting, I felt a sense of sadness I hadn't expected to come over me. How much knowledge he once had would be forever lost once we stopped him, things that only someone from the time before the Great Partition could know. I struggled, but I forcibly pried myself away from being lost in thought since our mission was still ongoing.
Ysevel put a hand on my shoulder understandingly and nodded that it was time to go. My eyes lazily trailed behind on the painting as I began to catch up to her and Kalia. She led us down a handful of grimly lit corridors that turned this way and that, suggesting that she, too, had spent ample amounts of time in this place.
After a good few minutes of running at nearly full speed, we arrived at the entrance to the Great Hall.
What the…? I trailed off, trying to understand what I was looking at.
Below us, there was a massive dome of rippling violet mana, while a horde of daemons, thran, ochelons, and other such beasts patiently waited for the return of their master. They formed a pair of columns down the rest of the Great Hall, kneeling or sitting on their hind legs.
As I tried to grasp what was beneath me, I saw Ardrin coming out of a hallway to my right, carrying a few large crystals and their kataki stands laced in runes I couldn't read. The thick tendrils of dark mana hoisted the devices a meter into the air to prevent them from dragging on the floor as he walked.
It looks like he's finished his preparations, Kalia noted, urging Ysevel and I to move with her. Is there anything we can do to help? He's surrounded by monsters, I noted, gauging the strength of the creatures beneath us. Nothing more than we're about to, she mentally shrugged.
I watched him as closely as I could; the crystal structures thudded into place at the far edge of the dome. I saw Buruz and the others reach the entrances to the hallways near the edges of the Great Hall, though none of the creatures near them seemed to notice their presence.
Come on, Ardrin, Kalia balled her fist tightly. I noticed a few hegraphenes had stayed behind to help Ardrin place the others during our absence. The ones in the mountains weren't the only augmented members of my clan, Kalia noted after sensing my confusion. How many more are there? I asked as we turned another corner. I'm not sure. There were more volunteers after Gravar was killed, but I don't have an accurate number, she replied.
I quickly realized whatever his plan was needed the utmost care and attention for it to work. The crystal structures were gingerly aligned with the markings on the ground, and I figured they had been pre-planned according to whatever Nexis was doing, but I couldn't be sure.
Kalia led us down a hall with a flight of stairs, which allowed us to meet back up with the others. Athar stood by Buruz's side, while Irun and a few others gathered on the far side of the Great Hall. We all knew the plan, but it was up to Ardrin to finish his side of the preparations.
Over a dozen massive crystals were emplaced, and as soon as the last one thudded into the ground, we held our breath for what came next.
Here we go; get ready, Kalia nodded to us. I could hear Athar swallow dryly, but Buruz put a comforting hand on his shoulder as we watched Ardrin stand in front of the creatures at the top of the stairs.
"You have awaited your master long enough," his voice boomed through the Hall. The creatures growled and hissed at his words with evident excitement, some going so far as to have drooled on the ground beneath them. "Come forth, Lord of the Underworld," Ardrin shouted. I could feel the immense amount of mana he drew from the sky being pushed into the top of the dome, shearing it in two.
Luckily for him, none of the creatures present fully understood what he'd done.
As the mana unfurled itself like a servant rolling up a curtain, it revealed a handful of hegraphenes and one human-like person standing before a large black semi-circle covered in runes. "What is the meaning of this, Ardrin?" the man who looked just like Athar scowled, his face was contorted into a mixture of anger and confusion.
Nexis, I gritted my teeth, feeling a palpable aura emanating from him even from where I stood. Devyr, Kalia sent with a flare of anger. I looked behind my ancestor only to find a weakened, younger, more lithe version of Kalia slumped behind him. Don't worry, we'll get her to safety, Ysevel put a hand on her shoulder with a firm nod. That bastard will pay for this, Kalia seethed, but held her position. I noticed Athar shift uncomfortably beside me, likely feeling the same way Kalia was.
This is bad, I thought privately, returning my focus to the conversation between Ardrin and Nexis.
"My lord, the creatures who wish to do your bidding couldn't wait any longer for your return," Ardrin lied. "Do you think I care what they think or feel, mage?" Nexis growled. "Reform the dome and let me finish my work!" he shouted, causing a few creatures to take a step back in fear and anger at his words.
"My lord, judging by your progress, it is time to implement the crystals. Since I could not enter the dome myself, I figured this was the best way to work them into your construct," Ardrin gestured to the large half-circle of kataki. It stood well over eight meters tall, with runes inscribed into the thick black structure.
Nexis grunted with a furrowed brow, but relented as he motioned for Ardrin to step forward. Ardrin and the hegraphenes placed the large crystals into the pre-made sockets just behind the structure. Each one landed with a dull thud as they were fitted to their respective sockets, but Nexis only glared at Ardrin during the process.
Remember, as soon as the last one is emplaced, I'll move in, Kalia sent Ysevel and I before performing silent hand signals to Buruz. He nodded his understanding and began to form a weapon from his kataki. Get ready and wait for my signal, Kalia urged as she formed her weapon, prompting Ysevel and I to do the same.
Ardrin carried the last of the crystals over himself, subtly looking in our direction before locking the support struts in place. Mana whirled around and between them, jumping from one crystal to the next as Nexis began to flood them with mana. The runes on the kataki half-arch structure began to glow sequentially as they emitted a low hum.
This is it, Kalia sent. Her anxiety spiked through our connection, but she never once showed any sign of it through her posture, while her eyes shifted from violet to scarlet.
The final rune lit up with a bright violet light, as a swirling maw of mana opened just behind Nexis, who looked at it proudly. I could hear him begin to chuckle as his shoulders rapidly rose and fell, placing his chin on his chest. "Finally!" he exclaimed, suddenly spreading his arms, quickly turning to face the creatures patiently waiting for him.
"My friends! The Wardens who cursed me and brought me here have failed their duties. This cycle, we will return to the Between where we belong as I promised you so long ago," he said, reinforcing his voice with mana so it rang clearly throughout the hall.
The creatures before him roared, belting their support, which shook many of us to our cores. "Although I have emerged early from the dome, I see now that it was a necessary move by my subordinate, as the revelation of…" he halted, watching curiously as one of the creatures' heads rolled into the center of the Great Hall.
Nexis stepped forward, his eyes darting around the room to look for any potential threats. Another head rolled into the center, much larger than the last. His eyelids closed to slits as a pulse of dark mana rippled throughout the open space before him.
When no response came from the pulse, he cocked his head to the side. Three more heads rolled into the center, each of them facing directly toward him. "Where are you?" I heard him ask no one in particular. "Surely you can't believe I will be intimidated by such petty tricks," he scoffed loudly.
Four more heads rolled into the center, the bodies wetly thudding against the ground amidst the horde. The creatures did their best not to show any signs of fear, but I could see more than a few of them beginning to tremble.
Clicking his tongue, he walked over to Devyr, who was slumped against the far side of the portal's structure. He grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground, her arms weakly struggling against his grip. "Come on out, Kalia. I know you're here," he said, holding Devyr up for all to see using only a single arm.