Chapter 37: Divide
Julius recalled when he explained the plan to Xavier. The elf was to cast a spell to disrupt the mist, which would make Fenrir go after him. He and Lumi would deal the final blow to the boss using the switch skill.
"So I’m bait?" Xavier had protested.
"Yes but Lumi will be there to keep you safe," Julius said.
Although after seeing Julius and Lumi still standing. There was little to no doubt in Xavier’s mind now. Julius had the powers to see the plan through and so he chanted the spell at Julius’s signal as fast as he could.
Joan was near the entrance watching him. The elf had told her of the plan so she wouldn’t stop him or interfere even as Fenrir approached dangerously with Lumi in pursuit.
The boss reached Xavier with its claws raised to strike.
[Switch]
A pop sound echoed as Julius switched positions with Xavier, sending the elf to his initial position at a corner of the cavern.
The elf finished the spell before he could process the displacement and the mist dispersed completely
However, Fenrir wasn’t surprised. "I expected you’d do something like this."
The full weight of its hands slammed against Julius. The boss’s satisfied grin faded as its claws came in contact with a barrier.
[Wardstone Depleted]
[Switch]
The skill swapped Julius and Fenrir’s positions, making the former to be behind the boss. Julius wasted no time using both hands to form knife shapes.
He slashed a line across Fenrir’s legs. The gesture he set for the final skill.
[Divide - /]
[Splits the target in two along a designated line in the coordinate space.]
Fenrir turned and swiped one of his hands against Julius’s body, sending him flying past Lumi who was approaching the boss. She stopped to check on him.
"Are you alright?" Lumi asked.
Pain rang through Julius’s body as he got up slowly. Lumi helped him up. Her face creased into worry for a moment.
"Yes, I’m alright. I’ve used the divide skill so it’s up to you."
Lumi nodded and turned to Fenrir who had a grin plastered on its face.
Julius watched Lumi go. The divide skill was slow to act from the tests he had done earlier which is why he enjoyed the surprised expression on Fenrir’s face as it fell to the ground.
Its scream of pain echoed through the air. "No. What is this?" The boss questioned as it crawled in a pool of its own blood. Its legs were severed cleanly, bone, flesh and muscle.
Lumi gave it no time to process any further. The lycan jumped on its back, grabbing the arm Julius had been stabbing with his dagger during their fight.
She pressed her legs against the joint. A visible grimace lined her face as she bent the arm at an unnatural angle, twisting it even further as Fenrir screamed.
The boss moved its other usable arm to swipe her off but the lycan jumped off and sent her knives through the arm causing Fenrir to scream again.
"Please, spare me..." The boss pleaded to Lumi.
"Spare you? Of course..." Lumi said as she jumped back on Fenrir. Grabbing the arm that had attacked her with intent to dislocate it.
Julius was close enough to hear the tearing and cracking of muscle and bone as the lycan twisted the arm continuously with intent to tear it off.
Fenrir’s screams were the only thing that could be heard in the cave. Eventually Lumi gave up and used her claws to shred its back in quick succession.
Xavier looked at Lumi in shock as the lycan smiled while she clawed at the boss in a bloody and furry display of ecstasy. For a moment he reconsidered the growing interest he had in her.
Julius, on the other hand, found the woman intriguing but they needed information.
"Lumi!"
The lycan froze for a moment, clawing once more, then jumping off to meet him.
"Satisfied?" he asked.
"Yes." A nod followed the reply as she stood behind him. Julius walked to Fenrir and crouched.
"I have some questions for you."
There was a pause before the boss spoke. "And if I refuse to answer?" Fenrir responded through gritted teeth.
"Well, in that case," Julius leaned forward and traced a line on one of its dislocated shoulders.
[Divide]
Fenrir’s eyes went wide at the action. "Wait wait wait,"
A few moments later, it saw its body part separate at the point Julius had traced the line, almost as if an invisible blade had cut through it. Pain rang throughout its body as it screamed once again.
"Alright, alright, I’ll answer your questions. Don’t cut me anymore." Fenrir pleaded as blood dripped from the severed hand.
By now Xavier and Joan were leaving the cavern to wait at the entrance.
"Can you regenerate? If you lie, I’ll just cut you to pieces," Julius said.
"No I can’t. Just promise you won’t kill me," Fenrir pleaded.
’I promise I won’t kill you, as long as you answer our questions. Now why did you have the elf call me here?"
"I smelled you on the half-elf’s dagger and was surprised a human was still alive. I had to make sure." Fenrir answered through grunts of pain
Julius’s eyes widened a bit. "Make sure what?"
"...there were no surviving humans," Fenrir answered.
"Why?"
There was a moment of silence before Fenrir spoke between breaths. "That’s what the voice in my head told me."
"A voice? Whose?" Julius asked.
"I don’t know. I woke up some time back in this place and have been killing those who step in through the gate, then escaping when it was difficult."
"Escape?" Julius looked around the cavern. There was no other exit apart from the one they had entered from. "I thought you couldn’t leave this place."
"I can’t, not yet anyway. But there is a gate under there." Fenrir pointed to the stone throne.
That explains why it learns but not why it was different this time. "What changed this time?"
"I swallowed the tether."
’Tether?’
[Breach Tether. They form links between two gates, allowing connections between this world and another.]
[This place you are standing in is a link.]
’Got it’
He turned to the others. "Does anyone have any questions?"
Xavier was processing what had happened and Joan was making sure he was alright. Both of them shook their heads.
Lumi stepped forward. "Are you Fenrir the first Lycan?"
The boss hesitated. Julius raised an eyebrow. Fenrir found its words. "I am not."
"Any other piece of information you’d like to share so we can all leave," Julius said.
"I don’t know. All I know is the voice in my head wants humans gone, including you." His gaze fell upon Julius.
Foolish human, I’ll make both of you pay. Fenrir thought.
Julius mulled over the information Fenrir had shared. Someone or something wanted the human race dead and ensured they were wiped out centuries ago. Whoever that thing was, wanted him dead too and they resided in this alternate dimension.
Just what did I get dragged into?
Julius turned to Lumi, who nodded and walked towards the boss. She used one hand to angle its head, exposing its throat.
"Wait, wait, you promised you wouldn’t kill me."
"I did..." Julius replied with a smile.
"...I didn’t," Lumi completed and dragged her claws against Fenrir’s throat, ending its life.
[Breach Spawn defeated.]
[Essence core formation]
The process was similar to a Mana core formation but the difference was the colour. While mana cores were reddish, essence cores were black.
Julius picked it up. The weight almost caused him to fall. It was heavier too.
He turned to look at Fenrir’s body parts scattered about. He wondered if they had some value.
’Can I store these parts in the Draft?’
[Yes.]
Julius grabbed Fenrir’s severed body parts and sent them into the inventory with the essence core. Lumi looked at him in surprise as he did this.
[Items Received: Fenrir’s Body Parts.]
[Items Received: Essence Core]
[Items Received: Breach Tether]
Julius noted the last item. It must have been inside the boss. He turned to see Lumi staring at him.
"What the hell was that?" she asked.
"Magic," he answered but she wasn’t convinced.
[The breach will destabilize in moments.]
The dungeon started rumbling as if an earthquake was happening.
"We have to go," Joan said.
Julius tried to use the switch skill but got a red pop up.
[Trial Mode Has Expired]
[Host Tier has been reset to previous state - Builder]
[Physical after effects will compile shortly]
How convenient.
Somewhere in the cavern a piece of rock detached from the ceiling and came crashing down, releasing dust in its wake.
"Run," Xavier yelled.
The four of them sprinted as best as they could. As the cavern came down. Xavier and Joan were faster while Julius and Lumi came up behind.
As they ran, Julius used the eye on the cave rocks. The prompt to harvest the rocks appeared and he slid, his hand against a section of the wall, pulling into the Draft.
The screen displayed the item received notification but he was focused on running. He had passed Lumi by now.
The Lycan moved slowly as the effects of the hunt faded. Her breathing grew heavier with each step she took and her eyes faded back to their normal colour.
Joan and Xavier disappeared through the gate. Julius was about to follow through when he turned to see the Lycan was behind, leaning against the cave wall as she struggled for breath.
Damn it.
Julius turned back and steadied her body against his, helping her walk to the gate. Her bandage wrappings were soaked due to sweat and heat but he didn’t care.
Pieces of rocks detached and fell as they approached the gate. Julius willed the Draft around his free hand to bring the wardstone which deflected most of them as they passed through.
The earlier sensation of passing through the gate occurred but this time the effect lasted for a few seconds before he stepped through the gate.
A breath of fresh air and sunlight welcomed him as he stepped out with Lumi by his side. Yumiko rushed to meet them but refused to touch the Lycan.
Julius set the Lycan down, gently. Behind them, the rift shifted and wobbled before disappearing with a whoosh as air rushed to fill the space the rift had occupied.
