[Shrine Hunting — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Ascend the second tier of Marina Veridia.]

  Jules stared up into Thorn’s eyes, a full head higher up. The old man broke their gaze first and walked away. Damn, I was counting on Maddie taking us all the way up to the Shrine. At this rate, the military will close in on us from the side.

  “It’s rude to interrupt a fight between rivals,” Jules said to Selene.

  “Rivals,” she repeated. “Is that what you are?”

  Surely she doesn’t suspect anything.

  “Who are these new chaps you brought along?” Cyrus asked. Jules was grateful for the change of topic.

  “Couple of creeps,” Katarina said.

  “They are no strangers to you. You and Wrath damaged them heavily, but The Iron Maiden has restored them to their former—glory.”

  “You can’t mean…”

  “Yes, I do. Just like you,” Selene looked from Jules to Katarina, “she has the power to revive the dead.”

  “Bullshit,” Cyrus said. “No one can do that but the Sins.”

  “Dead is dead,” Katarina whispered.

  “Suit yourselves, it makes no difference. If you prefer to deny their existence, then you can lose this fight to dead men. Ragnar, Felix—Attack.”

  Ragnar let out a furious, deep roar, and the group split up again. Felix fought with Katarina, Selene engaged Cyrus, and Rukia ran off during the confusion.

  I’m going to find Zeke’s scent, Rukia told Jules, who didn’t have time to respond—Ragnar was already on him.

  Jules leaned into his meditative state and slowed down the battle. He sensed Ragnar’s movements and predicted his attacks. But something’s missing. I see the strikes, but they seem off somehow…

  Ragnar’s punches and kicks got him nowhere. He stopped and reached both his arms out low to his sides. From the void, Ragnar summoned two golden axes—without an invocation. They were terribly shaped, with intimidating curves and serrated edges, and uneven in length to each other.

  Great, the change in length will make him harder to predict. And shining gold? Probably Holy Magic, though they look demonic enough.

  Ragnar hacked and slashed away. Jules studied the patterns and effects of the summoned weapons. He ducked and dodged around the blades without getting grazed or blocking the attacks. Not sure if even the Sound can block Holy affinity or not.

  But I need to fight him without the Sound anyway and save everything for Zeke. I can summon another weapon, or try reasoning with him. Maybe I can turn him around.

  “Ragnar, trust me. You need to stop this fight.”

  The Monk roared in protest. He barked and then he groaned. Spectacular, you can’t talk.

  “I’m serious—Holy damage will accelerate Wrath’s arrival, and I’d rather not be around so many people when that happens.” That's a bluff. I hope.

  Ragnar leapt and crashed his axes into the ground where Jules had just stood. He missed a spinning attack and obliterated a wooden cart. He bashed into a marble column and the railing of a staircase and destroyed them, too. The top half of the column fell onto the monster, who bench pressed it off in a fit of rage.

  He's gone berserk, traded in rationale for speed and strength.

  Ragnar mumbled incoherent words. Jules wasn’t sure if Ragnar’s snarl was out of hatred for him or out of frustration at not being able to speak. Summons it is.

  

  ? Activate ? [?91,990 // ?174,501]

  Jules activated one of his Inked Arts and summoned a straight sword from the void. It glowed with white light all over.

  “Wake up! The Monk I fought was a bigoted zealot, but at least he fought with pride and honor, not like some mindless puppet that doesn’t care about his own life.”

  “Kahh dee…” Ragnar groaned. Jules parried one ax and blocked the second. “Killed me…father, left Ragnar…Death’s door.”

  There you go, big guy. Let it all out. Jules blocked a dual-ax attack and slashed Ragnar’s stomach. Whatever effect it had, the Monk’s flowing white robes hid.

  “Demon took—look like…you.” Ragnar spun around like a tornado. With each spin, Jules blocked or parried both axes separately. Time slowed as a serrated ax edge clipped a patch of Jules’ hair.

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  “Death saved… Grant life.” He most definitely did not.

  Jules' body buzzed; his blood vessels flushed with adrenaline and rage. With the bottom of his boot, Jules kicked Ragnar square in the chest. Ragnar stumbled back a step, and Jules thrust his conjured sword into the man’s chest, high enough into the shoulders to avoid a killing blow.

  “Now must kill…Wrath… Now kill Wrath!”

  Jules’ face dropped, but not from the threat. His attack should have ended the fight. Ragnar should have fallen to the ground. Jules retreated. You are lost. I don’t know how, or where. But the only kindness I can show you is a mercy killing.

  “I am sorry, Ragnar.”

  Ragnar sprinted to Jules. He chopped overhead at Jules, one ax at a time. Jules sliced his sword through Ragnar’s left wrist. One weapon disarmed. Jules ducked and spun around. He swung his sword upward and—

  Connected again. Ragnar’s right arm flew away through the air. The Monk collapsed to the ground on his back. Jules’ attack had sliced through the robes, too, from hip to shoulder. Jules inspected his opponent and gagged. He contained himself from vomiting and swallowed it back down.

  What the fuck? Liam’s scar from Coralhaven and Jules’ new wound on Ragnar formed a giant X across his torso. Liam’s cut extended up to the Monk’s face…which had started its decay.

  This is a week-old cadaver.

  But what gave Jules the most pause were his eyes. All three of them. The two human eyes were closed. Stitched shut, actually. Inscribed on Ragnar's forehead sat the Sight Rune. Whoever outlined it did so in the style of a Djinn’s third eye, and in the same place.

  Gold light sparked from Ragnar’s wounds. The light was most dense around his new stub of a limb. The wounds healed themselves, though the patchwork job appeared rough. He arose again.

  “So you can heal yourself.” Is this some type of trick? It may not be Regeneration, and he… He isn’t revived. Not really. “There’s no way you could imitate our powers, right?”

  You sound a bit like Pride right now, Jules. Jules sensed Rukia; he smelled the scent that filled her nostrils. I’ve found Zeke. Hurry up and dispose of this one.

  Jules realized he and Ragnar were the only two left where they’d started fighting. With a sparking stump for an arm and now wearing only pants, Ragnar tackled Jules. They fell to the ground and grappled.

  “AGGHH!!” Jules shouted. The contact of their skin burned his flesh. He face scrunched in agonizing pain. It was clarifying, almost purifying in a way. Jules gritted his teeth and grabbed Ragnar’s lone arm with both of his, then kicked the man off of him. Jules rolled to his feet and retreated to a safer distance.

  

  [?81,990 // ?174,501]

  Jules wiped the snot and tears from his face and spat out a tooth. Damn, bit down too hard. Jules’ Seal pulsed, and the blackness crept in the slightest bit. Great, that wasn't a bluff. That Holy magic really is speeding up the clock. This needs to end soon.

  Ragnar stalked over to his dismembered arm and reattached it. Gold sparks welded it together. Could be Regeneration after all. The monster retrieved its axes and slammed them together. They fused into one hefty battle ax, at least seven feet long. He dragged it along the ground toward Jules, and the blade carved a deep line in the cobblestone street.

  In one swift attack, Ragnar sliced Jules’ torso in a familiar line—from his left hip up to his right shoulder. Jules flew through the air. He thought he might pass out before he hit the ground.

  

  [?46,990 // ?174,501]

  CYRUS

  “Your new outfit suits you even better,” Cy said. Damn, it’s hard not to look.

  “My last armor set was rendered useless thanks to your friend.” Selene drew two daggers. "It was expensive. Know anyone rich enough to replace it?" Afraid I'm broke again.

  “You know, I’ve been wondering which one of your friends gave it to you. Something capable enough to defend against Wrath’s rain, surely didn’t come from Zeke.”

  “And I’ve been wondering where my dagger went. That was a gift, too, you know. Also expensive.”

  “Sorry, I don’t know where it is. Lost to space and time, I suppose.”

  “I see. No scar. You didn’t listen to my advice about a Medic." Selene circled Cy. "So how?”

  “It’s trapped in a Shrine somewhere, with a Djinn.”

  Selene nodded to the sword on his back. “Lighthouse Point.” She glanced in the general direction of Maddie and her crew.

  “If you’re planning to kill me, then why are you so curious?”

  “I’d just like to know where my new Vessel came from.”

  “You’ll have to rip it from my cold, dead hands.”

  “That's the plan. Though your hands would still be warm.”

  “I don’t understand you." Cy stretched his hands to the heavens then ran them through his hair. “Why'd’ you save me, Selene?” She glanced around.

  “I didn’t. I imprisoned and left you behind to die in that cell. I figured you didn’t have the patience to leave that dagger in.”

  “Interesting word choice.” Does she know? They walked around their imaginary circle. She’s quiet, maybe not. But she doesn’t seem shocked, or even curious. They could be on to him, too.

  “Speaking of death, how are your friends still alive?”

  “Because you guys suck at your jobs.” Join the club. “Zeke will not show any mercy, to anyone. Especially a Sin.”

  “He certainly hasn’t shown you any. What was your punishment for Coralhaven?”

  “He deemed it best to delay punishment until after this victory. But we must all face Her judgment upon capturing Wrath.” She hasn’t mentioned Kat. There may be a way out of this for her in a worse case scenario—

  No. We are going to win this. Good vibes only.

  “What does Zeke have on you?”

  “You have to be more specific, dear.” Toying with me.

  “He’s got some type of control over you, I just haven’t figured it out. Yet.”

  “Not him. Not directly.” She winced, though she tried to hide it. Words aren’t getting me anywhere tonight. “But whatever his order is, I must obey. This time, I am strictly bid to kill—”

  Cy charged and swung at her. He used enough force to prevent a counterstrike, but slow enough so she could block his attacks. I'll solve this puzzle tonight. No more sacrifices for the greater good. Selene nicked him a few times with her daggers. The Holy Magic had no apparent effect on Cy. If anything, it invigorated him. Adrenaline’s pumping now.

  She furrowed her brows, then tossed the two golden daggers aside.

  “Ha! You thought I was a Sin, too!?”

  “It crossed my mind.”

  “Because I’m so powerful, right?”

  Selene grunted. “Men.”

  “Careful, you're reminding me of someone I actually like.”

  With a sneer, Selene drew two more daggers and attacked. Cy held back his own strength; he feared killing or maiming her, but he also worried about breaking his curved sword, which clung to its last leg. He studied her moves, but studied her body more closely. Only one reason she’d be following orders so desperately.

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  90

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