Chapter 512: Truce
’She’s not as strong as Maia,’ Laz thought to himself as dozens of skeletons ran out from the blasted wall, only to be mowed down by the combined might of the guards weapons and the attacks from the Chosen. Annie, who was passive before, was now giving it her all, throwing wind blade after wind blade into the hole in an attempt to destroy more of the room and maybe block the hole.
The problem was the armor of the skeletons, something that didn’t look like anything that had been used in the past anywhere in the world, was actually resistance to the elements channeled by the chosen.
As for Laz, he stood firm at the approaching deity, not because he was frozen in place, but because he felt that somehow, she wasn’t as much of a threat to him as she should be.
"Hey. Get running, go find Jennia and get the hell out of here," Laz said, slapping Mercy on the back of the head to get her attention. She had been frozen to the floor for a while now, ever since the main members of the cult had been killed and collected, along with the other six girls around her. Whether it was in shock or fear, Laz didn’t know, but her being here would be nothing but a problem for him. They weren’t warriors and now, with the shock of the situation, they were going to be even less hopeful.
Laz saw the chosen out of the corner of his eye along with the guards, still fighting as more guards were coming from the other side of the prison, enforcing the line.
’I can’t believe I’m going to have to rely on their help,’ Laz thought to himself, shaking his head. It wasn’t that he cared if they were killed, it was just that Laz had a really bad feeling about the territory thing that the dead god had mentioned earlier. He didn’t know exactly what she meant, but some ideas flashed though his head and none of them were good.
"So what’s your name?" Laz said, turning his attention back to the approaching woman.. thingy.
"I was once known as Neferia, Mistress of Death," she answered back, a smile on her face as she came within reaching distance of Laz and stopped.
"You’re hesitating?" Laz said, reading her body language. Despite the danger of the situation, he couldn’t help but notice her body in this moment either. Long strips of black silk draped down over her almond brown skin, the garment looking strangely middle eastern. The top and bottom were secured with golden chains that hung loosely to her slim yet succulent figure. Her feet were bare with only a few small, golden chains wrapped around her right ankle.
"I’m curious as to why such a thing like you is here all by himself?" She said, her voice sounding like a purr.
"Why can’t I be?" Laz said, still curious as to where this would go.
"Your blood... isn’t pure... but it seems like it comes from a pure line. I’ve met Asura’s in the past and while they do let their younglings go out for training, I can’t believe there is no protector around for you. It’s vexing..."
"How do you know I don’t have a protector?"
"I’m a god. If there was a protector around you, I would have felt it, even if it was just a sliver of their will."
"Hmm. Well, you would be right. After all.... the Asura are all dead... at least as far as I know," Laz said, knowing that bluffing wouldn’t be possible. Since she had discovered how weak Laz was and could tell there was no one stronger around him, she had already made plans on what she wanted to do with him.
"THEY??? ALL DEAD?" Neferia seemed shocked at this revelation and it didn’t seem like she was acting either.
"That’s not possible.." She said, looking Laz in the eyes.
"How long have you been asleep?" Laz asked, not avoiding the eye contact.
"Apparently too long. How?"
"In your time awake, did you ever hear of the Infernals?"
"Yes... they.... do they rule the omniverse now?" Nerferia asked, a hint of fear in her eyes.
"No. They were beaten back as well. I have no idea what’s happening out there, but from what I’ve gathered, there is no one ruler any longer."
"So even the universe itself is a treasure waiting to be captured. Simply stunning." Her eyes lit up like she was seeing something she could take easily within her grasp.
"I’d give it up if I were you. You’re not even the strongest on this planet, much less dreaming of taking a piece out there."
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK..."
"Don’t. Just don’t there are many gods buried on this planet and soon they will awaken to fight for control. While you are simply somewhere in the first realm, I’ve met stronger gods than you. It’s foolish of you to try to take a piece when you don’t even understand who’s on the board, wouldn’t you say?" Laz decided to direct her to give up, maybe even recruit her. While she wasn’t a part of the Fae, Laz didn’t think A’ruya would mind another god to help her.
But this goddess wasn’t having any of it.
"Ha. So be it. I’ll raise a land of my own and capture the board on my own terms. Hasn’t anyone ever told you? The best army you can have is one made of the dead. They never tire and they are endless in number. Need more warriors? Just take the bodies of the fallen. It’s so easy it’s almost like cheating. Anyway, thank you for the information. I’ll make your death as painless as possible as a reward." Neferia stepped forward and placed a hand on Laz’s cheek before opening her mouth.
’If I didn’t know she wanted to kill me, I would think she’s trying to kiss me.’
BOOM!
"GET BACK YOU BITCH!" Vera screamed as she launched a grenade that his Neferia in the back before exploding.
’DAMN IT. If I was human, that might have killed me as well,’ Laz thought as he coughed out dust. Opening his eyes, Laz saw that Neferia was still standing there in the same position, it was Laz who had back up several steps thanks to the explosion.
"Sigh. Ants sure have come up with some interesting things since I’ve been asleep," Neferia said as she laughed before turning around and facing Vera. Lifting one arm into the air, Laz got a bad feeling and moved quickly.
"Die pest!" Neferia said, a sliver of crooked light escaping from her finger.
Shoosh...
The attack never landed on Vera. Instead, in front of her, stood a tall man with shoulder length white hair, tinged in red accents. His skin was grey with black tribal markings running all along his arms and neck, the parts that were exposed anyway. What remained of his clothing was in tatters at his feet as a thin, silvery material covered his upper and lower body like a skin tight diving suit.
While everything else looked different, the face was still the same.
"Nate?"
"Sup Vera. Now’s really not the time so it would be best for you to get away from us right now, ok?" Laz said with a smile, his voice still the same as well.
"YOU!" Annie screamed, having kept a watch on the situation with the obviously strong being being preoccupied with the one male guard she had known they hired on the females side of the prison.
"Long time no see bitch," Laz said with a little wave in her direction.
"YOU!... WAIT! You know me?" Annie asked, somehow confused at why the number one criminal seemed to regard her with a knowing look.
"I do. In fact, the last time I saw you, you had a candelabra shoved up your pussy!" Laz said, not really thinking about his words.
It was like a pin dropped when he said this as everyone just froze in place, including the skeleton attackers, having lost their direction with the loss of the attack.
"No... It can’t be..: Annie’s eyes went wide as realization sunk in. She had thought Laz looked familiar, but she never knew why. That mixed in with Jesse’s and Tommy’s obsession with finding him and suddenly bam... everything just flew into place.
"The party... that fighter in the cage. The one who... everyone in that room... that bitch that has been fighting us since then. Everything.... it all started with you..." Annie looked like she understood way more than even Laz at this point. He had only seen things from his point of view before, but it seemed like there were many more events that where buried beneath the surface.
"I’m going to keep this prime piece of ass occupied so you just need to keep the dead guys busy. Think your horny ass can manage to handle a few bones? Nothing that you haven’t experienced before right?" Laz went on, just making joke after joke.
His words had two effects. One, Annie turned a bright shade of red that mixed well with the immense anger on her face. The other thing that happened was that all of her subordinates seemed to turn a pale shade of white.
"If we get out of this alive, I will hunt you down myself, cut off your dick and shove it, along with my fist, up YOUR GOD DAMNED ASS!" She yelled, now more pissed off than ever.
"Don’t threaten a guy with a good time. You’re making me blush," Laz shot back before turning his attention back to Neferia.
"Time to dance my lady. Don’t worry, you might bite, but I don’t... at least not on the first date," Laz said, igniting the black flames within himself and covering his body with a thin layer before charging forward.
