Chapter 64
After Harry's drones secured the small island, he took a small row boat out to the stranded ship that was beached on the reefs. No arrows came flying at him as he approached, so he assumed there weren't any archers aboard. However, when he pulled up to the side of the ship, several men poked their top halves over the railing. They shouted expletives at him and shook their swords, hoping to scare him off. Instead, Harry sent a blast of fire at them, which made them immediately back off. Harry jumped higher than any normal human could and landed on the deck with his sword in hand. The men he had hit with fire were stumbling around and holding their faces. Their cries of agony indicated how much pain they were in. One man's greasy hair was still smoking while he furiously rubbed his eyes with the butts of his palms. With a simple hand gesture, Harry levitated them into the air and flung them hundreds of feet out into the ocean. If they somehow made it back to the island alive, his drones would finish them off.
Harry walked over to the captain's quarters and politely knocked on the door. Of course, no one answered. Harry sighed and kicked the door off its hinges. A male cry of shock met his ears. As he entered the room, he wrinkled his nose from the foul odor. It smelled of a man who hadn't washed in a very long time. The grizzled man, who Harry assumed was the captain, opened his mouth and let out a harsh scream. His mouth was filled with rotted teeth, and his breath was horrendous. He immediately charged at Harry, brandishing a long, wicked blade. Once within reaching distance, he swiped at Harry's face but was blocked by him simply raising his arm. The captain's hand bounced off Harry's armored forearm, and the knife dropped to the wooden floor with a clunk. The captain spun and danced around comically, holding his now injured hand. Harry couldn't understand the words he was saying. Still, from the tone alone, he imagined the captain was cursing Harry's mother, father, children, and anyone else loosely associated with him. The moment his back was turned, Harry picked up the blade from the floor and took his own swipe. As the captain turned, the blade sliced through the flesh of his neck. His eyes bugged out, and he stood there in complete shock for just past a second. The line across the front of his neck turned pink just before a waterfall of blood began pouring out of the wound. The front of his filthy shirt darkened, and that was when the panic set in. His hands enclosed his neck, covering the wound. Of course, it didn't do any good. Blood poured through his grime-covered fingers, and his disgusting tongue lolled from his mouth. Wheezing gasps and gurgles were the last things to leave his mouth before his legs gave out. He collapsed to his knees and shot Harry one last look of contempt before falling to his side. Harry watched as his body tensed over the final seconds of his life. Finally, his muscles went slack, and his body twitched a few times before it went still.
The smell of the cabin was very unpleasant, and Harry wasn't eager to spend any amount of time searching it. He would leave that job to his drones. Harry didn't bother closing the door before he left. He just dropped the knife beside the body and walked out.
Harry dropped down into the hold of the ship. The smell wasn't much better. Lining both walls, dozens of men, women, and children were shackled with heavy chains by their wrists. The women and children looked especially frightened. This discovery didn't surprise him. This was a slave ship, after all, but it didn't make the sight any better. Harry sighed and got to work. One after another, Harry used his incredible physical strength to rip the chains from the thick wooden beams. All of the captives just stood there, too scared to try and escape. Even the adult men didn't try to attack him. Soon after, his drones arrived and found the shackle key. One came down into the hold and began unlocking their iron cuffs before directing them to the ship's deck. He would make sure they were all returned to their homeland. Harry was about to leave when he heard a female whimper coming from a storage room in the aft of the hold. He investigated and found the wooden door locked with a heavy padlock. Harry pulled it and ripped the mounting from the door and frame. The loud sound frightened whoever was inside, and a soft cry filtered through the door. Harry pushed the door open to try not to scare them any further. Whoever was in there sounded young. When Harry looked inside, he found a female with a young face but a much bigger body than should be possible.
The small room consisted of a dirty, hay-stuffed mattress on the floor and a bucket for a bathroom. The girl was curled up in the corner of the room, her hands shackled together. She looked at him, clearly terrified. The first thing he noticed was that her face was extraordinarily beautiful and looked distinctly Japanese, except for her skin. It was a bit darker. Of course, on Planetos, Japan didn't exist, but there were several kingdoms whose people had Asiatic features. Her eyes were large and appeared slightly disproportionate. The irises were golden, giving them a stunning look. Her forehead and cheeks were dirty, and Harry easily spotted tear tracks on her cheeks that had washed away some of the dirt. Her hair was darker than his, almost jet black, and it flowed over her shoulders in tangled sheets. She was barefoot, and like the rest of her bare skin, her feet were covered in grime. The rest of her body was covered with an outfit that wouldn't have looked out of place in his city … if it wasn't for the fact that it was filthy and tattered. Her lower half consisted of a long skirt that hung low on her belly and had a slit going all the way up to her hip. Her upper torso was covered with a crop top that bared all of her belly and shoulders. It completely covered her chest and ended just below her non-existent breasts. Both articles of clothing were made of red silk. Harry knew enough about silk to realize they were very high quality. Both were embellished with golden threadwork from an obvious master of the craft.
While Harry normally didn't like doing this, he made an exception. He entered her mind and basically downloaded the knowledge of her language. Doing this made his brain feel fuzzy and out of whack, thanks to his human form. Harry took a moment to recover before looking at the girl again. He opened his mouth and began to talk.
"You have nothing to fear. I'm here to help," he spoke in her native language. He wasn't used to speaking this language, so he couldn't correctly nail the accent. His words didn't have much effect on her state of distress. Harry removed his helmet so she could properly see him. Her eyes widened ever so slightly at seeing his clean, handsome face. It had probably been a while since she last saw someone who wasn't a disgusting slob. He smiled kindly at her and stepped into the room. As he did, she whimpered and pulled her knees up to her chest. Harry leaned in and reached down. He could see her body trembling as he did. Harry placed his hands on the chain holding her shackles together and pushed some magic into it. Both of the wrist cuffs popped open simultaneously. He gently pulled them from her wrists and tossed them into the waste bucket.
"W-Who are you?" she asked nervously. "What are you going to do with me?"
As he suspected, her voice sounded young. "My name is Harold," he told her kindly. "I'm going to send you home." Her beautiful face expressed obvious disbelief. "Can you tell me where you're from?"
The girl appeared hesitant to answer but finally stated, "I am Lengii."
This made sense to Harry. He knew little about the island of Leng, but what little he knew about its natives fit her description. He knew Leng was ruled by a god-empress and the native Lengii could grow over eight feet tall. He had also heard tales of the beauty possessed by the Lengii, especially the women. Harry didn't know much about the island itself, only that most of it was covered with heavy jungles. Harry nodded his head at the girl's response.
"May I know your name?" he asked her. Again, she was hesitant to respond. Harry kept his eyes locked onto hers. Eventually, she answered him.
"Kiana," she quietly told him. Harry smiled at her.
"That's a lovely name," Harry replied. Kiana looked down shyly. "How old are you, Kiana?"
"I was born twelve years ago," she told him nervously as she sat up. Even sitting on her knees, she was tall. He saw that she was rubbing her wrists. Harry knelt on one knee and joined her at eye level.
"Can I see your wrists?"
Kiana held out her hands, palms up. They were shaking badly. Her thin wrists were scraped and bruised. If they weren't treated, they might get infected.
"Come with me, Kiana. I'll take you to my ship, where you can get cleaned up. We'll put some medicine on these," he promised as he stood. She wrung her hands together as she thought. In the end, she shakily got to her feet. She probably thought that anywhere was better than the shithole she was currently in, Harry guessed. As she stood to full height, she was still shorter than Harry, but not by much. At over six feet tall, she was the tallest twelve-year-old that Harry had ever met.
The Dread Lord of Essos
"How's she doing?" Harry asked Melisandre as she exited Harry's cabin. He had brought Kiana and Melisandre to his ship where she could bathe and eat. Harry figured that she might calm down with another woman present. Out of their sight, Harry conjured a new outfit of similar style and quality as the one she was already wearing, along with some footwear. He then gave the clothing to Melisandre and told her to help the girl get cleaned up and settled.
"Better than she was," Melisandre told him. "My task would have been easier if I knew her language. The Lengii speak a specific dialect of YiTish," she informed him. "However, I helped get her bathed and dressed. Being clean seems to have helped calm her nerves. She still seems uneasy, though."
"I'm not surprised. Though quite tall, she is still just a child," Harry reasoned. "Did you check her for any injuries?" Harry asked her. Melisandre nodded.
"Besides her wrists, there doesn't appear to be any serious injuries. Her back has a few lash marks, though they aren't severe and have mostly healed over," she reported. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"She was whipped?"
"All newly acquired slaves are whipped as they enter the ship," Melisandre told him as a matter of fact, as though it was perfectly reasonable. "It's a show of force to keep them subordinate."
That disturbingly made sense to him. 'They can't have the prisoners getting uppity,' Harry thought. Just then, Harry received a mental ping from his drone.
"Go sit with her and keep her company. I'll be in momentarily," Harry told her, and Melisandre nodded and walked back into the room without a word. When the cabin door closed behind her, Harry faded away and joined his drone. He appeared in the slaver captain's cabin, and the stench was just as foul as before. A Bubblehead Charm fixed that little problem. The drone walked away, not needing to talk since Harry knew everything they knew. Inside a locked wooden chest that his drone had broken open was a small collection of gold jewelry. It consisted of two thick cuff bracelets ornately etched with different designs, a pair of earrings, and two winding upper arm bands. One band was designed like a long, winding fern leaf, while the other was that of a winding snake. Every piece was made of solid gold. Clearly, the owner of these came from a wealthy family. Harry knew the captain didn't rightfully own these. They obviously belonged to a female, and the rest of the female captives that Harry had rescued from the ship's hold were certainly not members of a wealthy family. The only one on that ship who matched that description was Kiana. Her dress alone had likely cost more than a peasant would make in five years. Harry conjured a bag and transferred the items over before fading back to his ship.
Harry entered his cabin, and Kiana's head snapped in his direction. She immediately rose to her feet and appeared very skittish. Harry sent her a handsome smile, hoping to ease the tension. "Peace, Kiana," he said as he closed the door behind him. "Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?" he asked her.
"I am comfortable, thank you. I am not in need of anything," she answered him, but just then, her stomach growled loudly. She blushed madly, turning her head in embarrassment. Harry avoided chuckling. He didn't want to push her emotions any further.
"My helpers will bring you food shortly," he assured her. Harry then presented the bag and pulled out one of the spiraled armbands. "Do these belong to you?"
Her eyes widened at the sight of it, and her head slowly nodded. "Yes," she said quietly. "It was gifted to me by my mother for Hanamai."
"What's Hanamai?" Harry asked, curious. Melisandre remained sitting quietly on the edge of the bed.
"It is the festival we celebrate when the first golden flowers of winter bloom. We give gifts to our loved ones. It brings us luck for the season's final harvest," she explained, keeping her eyes trained on the armband. Harry nodded in understanding and placed all her items on the small table beside the bed. She reached out for them but pulled her hand back while looking curiously at Harry. He nodded encouragingly for her to take them. She slowly picked up one of the wrist cuffs and examined it. She was about to put it on when she stopped. He then remembered that her wrists probably still hurt. Harry walked over to his cabinet and pulled out a small bottle of healing paste.
"This will help heal you," he said, showing her the bottle. "Rub plenty of it on your cuts and bruises. My friend Melisandre here will help you put it on your back. Is that okay?" Harry asked her gently. After a moment of silence, she finally nodded, and Harry handed her the bottle. A knock on the door made her jump. Harry opened the door and let his drones in. They brought in a dozen trays of food of varying types. There was meat, vegetables, different types of bread, soups, and stews. Harry didn't know what the people of Leng ate, so he ordered his drones to make a little of everything. They also brought in jugs of water and several types of fruit juices.
"I don't know what you like to eat, but I hope this is to your liking. Eat as much as you like and leave the rest. My servants will clean it up in the morning," Harry told her. By then, it was getting dark outside, and her cute yawn told him she was rapidly tiring after the long, stressful day. As soon as her yawn ended, her hunger made itself known again when her stomach growled. Again, she blushed deeply.
"In the morning, we'll set sail for Leng, and I'll make sure you're reunited with your family before we part. This will be your room for the journey. Please, make yourself at home," he kindly told her. Harry and Melisandre would move to another cabin for the short trip. After his drones set the food on the table, another one brought a sleeping gown he had conjured. He handed it to Melisandre.
"Melisandre will help you get settled, and I'll check in on you in the morning," Harry explained. Kiana nodded in understanding. Harry then turned to the Red Priestess.
"Help her with the medicine and make sure she eats enough. If there are any problems, come find me in the next cabin over. That's for her to sleep in … if she wants to wear it, of course." Harry knew nothing about Lengii's sleeping habits, but offering whatever she might want was a good idea. Melisandre smiled beautifully at him and stood.
"Of course, My Lord," she replied, nodding. Harry smiled at her before turning back to Kiana.
"Have a pleasant night," he said before leaving. Kiana kept her eyes trained on him as he left.
The Dread Lord of Essos
A couple of hours later, Melisandre slipped into Harry's cabin. He had just begun dozing off when the sound of the door opening woke him. Melisandre sat down at the foot of the bed and removed her boots. She then stood up and slid the dress from her shoulders. Harry loved watching her undress, especially when she pulled down the top of her red dress. Her big breasts always spilled out and jiggled merrily. She forced her dress down lower and pushed it over her wide hips. Her smooth mound came into view, followed by her shapely thighs. As she stepped out of it, she climbed on the bed and crawled over to him. Harry smiled and lifted the blanket. Melisandre returned his smile and slid underneath it, joining her Lord. She immediately snaked her leg between his and pressed her breasts against his chest. He could feel how hard her nipples were. His cock quickly hardened as she rubbed the top of her smooth thigh against it. Melisandre wasted no time. Her lips found his bare chest, and she began laying soft kisses all over it. Harry threaded his fingers through her hair and gently scratched her scalp. Melisandre purred with delight.
"The girl?" Harry asked before she could get too caught up in her actions.
"Fed and in bed," she quickly answered before returning her lips to his chest. Her thigh was rubbing harder against his cock in an obvious attempt to arouse him further. Harry rolled his eyes and asked nothing more of her. Melisandre always followed his instructions to the T, so he didn't need to worry about anything going wrong. Harry rewarded her efforts by pulling her thigh and moving her body directly on top of his. Now her wet slit was pressed against his hard manhood. Her large breasts were mashed against his chest, and Melisandre took the opportunity to capture his lips in a steamy kiss. As she explored his mouth with her tongue, Harry's hands found her wide bottom, and he spread her open. Melisandre was squirming on top of him, and she repositioned herself so that the head of his cock was firmly pressed against her opening. Sliding down a bit, she gasped into his mouth when his cock forced her lips apart and penetrated her.
Being inside Melisandre was always heavenly, Harry thought to himself as her incredible heat enveloped him. Her slick walls offered no friction and hugged him tightly as he slid inside. When he bottomed out, her taut lips were clutching the base of his shaft, not wanting to let go. This didn't stop her from sliding forward. Her hard nipples slid up his chest while her wet pussy eased up the length of his shaft. At the height of her movement, she slid back down, taking him to the base. Harry couldn't help but shudder as her inner walls massaged his length.
"You're so big," she shuddered. Melisandre was constantly amazed at how perfect his cock was. It was long, thick, and filled her like no man ever had. Just thinking about his perfect manhood made her pussy juice drip down her thighs. As she sank back down, a perverse wet sound squelched from her womanhood. Melisandre wasn't embarrassed about the sounds her body made when being fucked by her Lord. She was proud of the fact that her Lord could coax such levels of arousal from her. Her body was his temple, and she was always open to him.
"And you're so tight," he complimented her. His words filled her with pride. "Your body pleases your Lord," he added teasingly. She knew he was teasing her, but it didn't matter. Just hearing those words made her pussy begin to cream.
She gripped his broad shoulders and pulled up until less than half of him was still in her. She then lowered herself and moaned sexily as she was stretched around him. The head of his cock hit that perfect place inside of her, and Melisandre whimpered in pleasure. Her nipples were incredibly stiff and sensitive from rubbing against his chest, and she desperately wanted them to be sucked. Pushing her upper half off of his body, she used her arms to hover her dangling breasts over his face. He rewarded her by wrapping his strong arms around her slender waist and taking the nipple that was brushing against his lips into his mouth. His tongue flicked over the hardened nub, causing her body to tremble. He sucked on it hard just as he began thrusting into her.
Harry smiled as he lightly pinched Melisandre's nipple between his teeth. He increased his tempo, and before long, his groin was loudly smacking against her fleshy ass. His entire groin was soaked in her warm, fragrant juices, and the scent of her wet pussy was by far the best thing he had smelled that day. Harry could always tell when she was close to cumming. Her insides began to flutter and grip him with abnormal strength. Her already slick cunt became even more slippery as she creamed all over him. Melisandre was practically smothering him with her breasts. Harry did his duty by kissing, licking, and sucking on every inch of her cleavage and nipples that he could reach. When she couldn't take any more pleasure, she collapsed flat on top of him. Harry rolled her over so that he was lying between her spread legs. His hip rocked back and forth as he continuously penetrated her deepest depths. The wet sounds of her getting utterly fucked only got louder the closer she came to climaxing. Melisandre couldn't take it. Her body bowed, thrusting her breasts harder against his chest. Her walls contracted so tightly that she was almost strangling his pistoning cock. This brought a moan from his lips, and it pleased her greatly. She then focused all her efforts on keeping herself as tight as possible. It was her duty to bring him as much pleasure as possible. It was an arduous task, she discovered as she started to cum. Her squeals of pleasure were likely heard throughout the ship, but she couldn't stop herself. Her vision began to blur as her Lord mercilessly pounded her, taking every scrap of pleasure for himself that he could. Melisandre choked out a strained wail as her pussy clutched him and refused to let go. Her vision darkened, and when she felt her loving Lord finally release inside of her, she happily gave in and succumbed to the darkness of slumber, knowing she had satisfied him. She drifted off with him still inside of her, just as she preferred.
Chapter 65
As soon as the day broke, they set sail for the island empire of Leng. The waters of the Jade Sea were rougher than normal, but it was nothing Harry's monstrous ship couldn't handle. The magically reinforced bow cut through the white caps like a hot knife through butter. The trip was largely uneventful, and they arrived that afternoon.
Leng was a large island off the southern coast of Yi Ti and was largely covered by thick forests and jungles. Harry had heard stories of the wildlife that occupied those jungles. There was hardly a place where you couldn't hear the call of a monkey or the deafening caw of the jungle birds that so closely resembled parrots. However, monkeys and birds were the least of your concerns if you ventured into the jungle. Tigers were abundant and nearly invisible through the densely packed trees. Tales were told about tigers sneaking into the cities at night and dragging unexpected children back to their lairs. Harry didn't know how true these tales were, but he would wager that there was at least some truth to them. But in the jungles of Leng, even the tigers weren't the most feared.
Great apes prowled deep in the jungles, and it was said that some, like the spotted humpback apes, were as intelligent as men. The most feared of all were the hooded apes, which were said to be as big as giants and just as strong.
Kiana of Leng stood excitedly on the deck of his ship, watching as the southern coast of her home island grew ever closer. She explained that she lived in the port city of Turrani where most of those with native blood resided. She further explained that the people native to Leng, like her, were called Lengii and lived in the southern half of the island, while the people descended from Yi Ti lived in the upper half.
Harry stood further back, watching Kiana closely as she stood at the bow. As tall as she was, she was still a young girl and prone to the normal curiosities of such. She would lean over the rail and watch the dolphin-like sea creatures as they swam spirals around each other and even occasionally jump out of the water. Harry didn't stop her from satisfying her childish curiosity, but he did make sure she didn't fall overboard. Melisandre joined him and pressed her back against his front. Leaning against him, she smiled when he wrapped his arms around her slender waist and kissed the side of her neck. She subtly rubbed her shapely ass against his groin and purred when he kissed her shoulder.
"Are we planning to spend time in Leng, My Lord?" she asked him.
"I was thinking about it," Harry replied, breathing in her intoxicating scent. He wasn't sure when he would get back to this part of the world, and he wanted to take advantage when he could. Leng had an abundance of flora and fauna that he could potentially collect and add to his growing list of products he produced and sold. Leng was one of the few places he didn't do much business with. As a tropical island nation, they produced plenty of food and lumber for themselves. They did not need his silk since they cultivated silkworms the size of sausages. There wasn't much they needed or wanted from the outside world. Until recently, outsiders were forbidden, and trade was non-existent. All in all, Leng was very self-reliant. Harry wanted to poke around and see what they could potentially desire.
"Is there anything you wish to do while there?" he asked her. Melisandre nodded.
"Sadly, religions beyond their own are forbidden, so we were unable to build a temple in R'hllor's honor," she explained. "Still, our priests have a presence in every major city on Leng to try and spread the word. I wish to consult with the local chapter," she told him.
"Just be careful. I'm unsure how well they tolerate priestesses of outside religions," he warned her. Melisandre tickled the back of his hand with her dainty fingers. "I would hate to have to go to war with them if they were to hurt you," he teased. Melisandre's sultry laughter rang out. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. She then leaned in and softly kissed his lips.
"I've traveled to places much more dangerous than this. I'll be fine," she assured him. Harry knew she would be. Melisandre was a very capable woman. "Would you allow me to offer my fellow priests aid?" she asked him.
"Aid in the form of what exactly?" he asked in return.
"This ship always carries more food and wine than we can use," she commented. This was true. His ship was always packed to the brim with supplies he never ended up using. Resupplying it using his magic was hardly a difficult task. "May I offer the priests some of our supplies as a show of your generosity?" she asked with a soft, sexy smile. She gently played with the hair on the back of his head. She then leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"I promise to show you how generous I can be," she whispered, her warm, pleasant breath tickling his ear. Harry chuckled as he ran his hands down her sides and over her flared hips.
"I suppose we can offer our assistance to the local priests. I am a generous man, after all," he teased as he cupped her bottom and squeezed. Melisandre smiled kindly and kissed him passionately.
The Dread Lord of Essos
The docks were full of onlookers as Harry's massive ship came to rest in the harbor. His ship contrasted dramatically with the rest of the aging ships docked beside him. It was likely the largest ship they had ever seen. Harry left his armor on the ship since he didn't want to project any hostility. Instead, he wore his finest clothes that screamed wealth. With Melisandre by his side, he escorted Kiana down the ramp, and they were quickly followed by a group of his drones who would take care of any docking fees.
The docks smelled like any other he had visited. It stunk of fish and dirty men. Carts full of fish were being pushed and pulled in every direction. Some were being carted into the city, while others would be loaded onto trade ships for transport. As they walked down the dock, his small group garnered a lot of attention. It seemed the peasant workers couldn't decide who to look at. Harry was tall and handsome and gave off the air of power. Melisandre was a walking wet dream in her blood-red, skin-tight dress, but it was Kiana who drew much of the attention. Whether it was because she was Lengii or for another reason, he didn't know. Just to make sure it wasn't for nefarious reasons, he kept close to her.
The warehouses along the dockfront were made from a mixture of rough-cut ancient stones and wood. Just by looking at them, Harry could tell that they had been standing for thousands of years, with only the wood being replaced once it rotted. A man walked by pushing a wooden wheelbarrow with a single crab inside. That crab, however, was the size of a wagon wheel, and its long, spindly legs hung several feet over the sides. Its massive claws were bound tight with thin ropes but looked like they could sever a hand if left free. Kiana saw him looking at the crab and smiled.
"We call it an emerald crab because of the green spots on the shell," she commented. "The meat is very good," she told him.
"I'll have to try some," he responded. "Where is your home? Is there somewhere we can take you?" he asked her. He didn't want them walking around blindly. Before she could answer, a large group of what appeared to be guards came rushing up to them. Most of them were making a beeline for Harry with menacing looks. A few of the others were going for Kiana. He wasn't having that. His hand had just found the handle of his sword when Kiana's hand touched his forearm.
"They are my mother's guards. They will escort me home," she assured him.
"Will you be safe?" he asked her. The men stopped short of them and stood staring. None of them seemed pleased that she was speaking to him. Most had their hands resting on the handles of their daggers.
"I will," she said softly. She stood face to face with him and smiled softly. She then lightly touched his forehead with two fingers before touching his heart with the same fingers.
"I thank you in the name of my mother. We will meet again, Harold," she smiled sweetly before walking the short distance to the guards. Just to be safe, Harry placed a Tracking Charm on her as she left. She had a short and quiet conversation with them before being whisked off under their close protection. A group stayed behind, glaring at him until she was out of sight. When she was gone, they too disappeared in the same direction, leaving Harry alone and confused.
"What was all that about?" Melisandre asked as they began walking.
"I don't know, but she assured me they would take her home safely. I'll try and track her down before we leave just to make sure," he told the red priestess. "Do you want me to help you find your wayward priests?" Melisandre shook her head.
"There's no need. The Lord of Light will always guide those who search for him," she smiled prettily.
Soon after, they split up and went their separate ways. Harry had one of his drones discreetly follow her to ensure she stayed out of trouble. Free to go about his business, Harry did just that. The first thing he did was walk further into the city. One thing was clear from the start. Those who were poor were very poor, and those who weren't were incredibly wealthy. Their two major exports were spices and gems, which the kingdom had in abundance. After leaving the fishy smell of the port behind, the pleasant aroma of various spices became apparent. Small shops littered the street, and almost all of them dealt in spices. Vendors displayed woven sacks filled with everything from cinnamon to cloves. There were small sacks for the more casual buyers and crates for those who bought in bulk. Harry was definitely a bulk buyer and made a mental note to check it out further.
The further he traveled into the city, the more ornate the buildings became. All of them were constructed out of the same dark gray stone that had likely been quarried from the closest mountain. Stone arches were prevalent, and all were adorned with carvings of beasts. Roofs were made from fired-clay shingles, layered and sloped. The shops became more ornate as well. The further he strayed from the port, the fewer spice shops he found. Instead, they were replaced by jewelers. Harry walked up to one shop whose outer facade was decorated with magnificent stone carvings of hundreds of flowers. The front of the shop didn't have any windows, only a thick wooden door. In fact, Harry had seen very few windows in any of the buildings. The few he did see weren't protected by glass, but wooden shutters painted green. Intrigued, Harry went inside.
As soon as he entered, he was nearly overwhelmed by the thick haze of burning incense. He wrinkled his nose and fought back a sneeze. The scent wasn't bad. It was just very strong. At first, he thought that he was incorrect. He didn't see a single piece of jewelry. The walls were lined with shelves, displaying dozens of ceramic jars, pots, and vases. The largest of which was a vase a few inches taller than he was and thicker than he was wide at the shoulders. It was creamy white with golden animal designs accentuating it. It was a beautiful piece that probably cost a fortune.
"May the Empress bless you on this day," he heard from around the corner. Harry walked over and found a Lengii man who must have been eight feet tall. Though much taller than Harry, he was also much thinner. His arms were long and spindly, and his bony fingers were tipped with long nails filed down to sharp points. His eyes were large and golden, and his long, ebony hair was worked into a thick braid that fell over his shoulder and down his chest.
"May she bless us all," Harry answered, hoping it was an acceptable response. It seemed like it was since he smiled softly and slightly bowed his head.
"Are you seeking my fine crafts …" he began, waving his giant hand at the many ceramics on display. "... or perhaps it is a trinket you desire?" he continued and opened the door of a wooden cabinet behind him.
Dozens of pieces of jewelry were displayed in the cabinet. None of them were as high-quality as the stuff belonging to Kiana, but they were still very good. His eyes immediately went to a beautiful spiral armband made of gold. It was shaped like a thin, twisting flame inset with small rubies. He must have noticed Harry studying it and plucked it from its place.
"A beautiful piece I crafted in honor of Lianma, the year the mountain breathed fire and the night was unending," he explained in his native tongue. From the brief description, Harry knew he was talking about a volcanic eruption. He then spoke quieter. "It is said that the Old Ones became angry and cursed the sky when the Yi Ti sealed off the cities below."
"The Old Ones?" Harry asked him.
"Few would openly speak of them. Doing so would risk torture. Seeking them out, a sentence of death," he warned. Now, Harry was very intrigued. He felt a slight tingle in his head like someone was trying to break through his magical mental protections. He reinforced them, and the tingling stopped. He knew it wasn't coming from the merchant. Whatever it was, it was coming from far away.
Harry dove into the Lengii's mind and found what he knew. The Lengii groaned and swayed until Harry pulled out. Harry quickly erased the last few seconds from his mind and watched as he blinked in confusion. "I would like to purchase it," Harry stated.
"Purchase?" he asked as the fog lifted from his mind.
"The armband you are holding," Harry reminded him. The Lengii looked down and remembered he was trying to sell him something.
"Ah," he said, happy to have a sale.
The Lengii didn't have their own currency, so they accepted any form of copper, silver, or gold. He pulled out a scale, and Harry added coins until the correct weight had been reached. He then took possession of the armband and left after sharing a few kind words. As he left the building, Harry looked at the beautifully crafted armband. It would make a nice gift for Melisandre, he thought. He placed it in his bag and carried on.
What he had found in the man's head was strange. The Old Ones supposedly lived underneath the ancient ruined cities deep in the jungle. He didn't know much about them, only that the conquering Yi Ti had the tunnels sealed long ago. There were tales that the Old Ones would speak to the god empress and command her to do strange and terrible things. Harry wanted to meet these Old Ones, but as it was getting dark, he didn't think it was a very good idea to go traipsing around the jungles in the dark in search of them. He decided first to enjoy the city and go in search of them before leaving Leng.
As he continued down the street, the people suddenly appeared much more nervous and paranoid. Some of them closed shop early while others walked down the street, looking over their shoulders. The tension was palpable. Harry lowered his mental shields a bit and felt that strange tingle return. Did everyone else feel it as well? He strengthened them again, and the tingle went away. Something was trying to affect his mind, and he had a good guess as to what it was.
He was no stranger to the pseudo-gods of this world. The Seven and the Drowned God were actively trying to snuff him out, though he hadn't had a run-in with them for a while. The Old Gods of the North didn't really bother him, nor did Melisandre's Lord of the Light. The gods of this world were definitely strange, Harry thought. They were powerful compared to normal men, but they were far down the food chain when compared to Harry. Even in his human form, he was vastly more powerful than them.
'These Old Ones might not even be gods,' Harry reminded himself. They could be like the frozen freaks marching south from the Lands of Always Winter … less than gods but more than men. He was interrupted by the sound of shouting. Harry turned in that direction and spotted several guards rushing up to him. They didn't look like they wanted to have a friendly conversation with him.
Harry slipped between two shops and quickly strode onto a backstreet. He heard them shouting again. He moved across the street while the few people still outside quickly bolted in the opposite direction. Harry then cut between two more shops and hid in the shadows behind a protruding arch. The guards burst out onto the street and stopped. They looked around, trying to spot him. Not seeing him, the leader gave out his orders, and the group scattered to search for him. Only one of them came down the alley he was in. The guard walked slowly, his curved dagger held firmly in his hand. Harry waited patiently until he was within reaching distance. He jumped from the shadows and grabbed the guard by the throat. His hand tightened, and the towering guard's eyes bulged as his air supply was cut off. His mouth was open in a silent scream, and Harry took the opportunity to pierce the man's mind to see why they were after him.
What he found was a jumbled mess. The man's natural thoughts were mixed with another set of thoughts. Before Harry could fully analyze it, the second set of thoughts pulled back and disappeared, leaving only the man's confused and terrified mind. Harry stunned the guard, wiped his memory, and left him in the darkened alley. Harry faded back to his ship and thought about what had just occurred.
'Definitely the Old Ones,' Harry thought. 'They didn't want him here … but why?' he asked himself. He couldn't answer that right now. He'd have to find out for himself later. Until then, he'd do his best to keep a low profile.
As it was getting late, Harry decided to cut his exploration short and call it a night. His drone had followed Melisandre throughout the afternoon and knew where she was located.
The walk there was short, as she stayed just outside the port area. The building she was in was old and somewhat rundown. The dark gray stone was covered in a dusting of mossy green, and the carvings in the walls were eroded to the point where he couldn't even tell what they once were. Harry rapped his knuckles against the door and waited. Melisandre answered the door and smiled happily at the sight of him.
"My Lord," she happily greeted him and stepped back to let him in. She closed the door behind him.
"My Lady," he teased her as he looked around the room. There wasn't much to see. An old, wooden table stood in the corner on rickety legs with a matching chair next to it. Papers were stacked on the surface of the table, along with an ornately decorated silver inkwell with a feather quill in the holder. A wardrobe was in the other corner, and along the furthest wall, a thin mattress lay on the floor and looked to be stuffed with hay. "I wouldn't expect you to be comfortable in such a room," he commented.
"I've lived in much worse," she reminded him. Her arms slipped around his waist, and she tilted her head, waiting for his lips to meet hers. She didn't have to wait for long. Harry sent a mental ping to his drones before capturing her lips in a heated kiss. Melisandre immediately moaned into his mouth as he explored her talented tongue. Harry moved his hands down her back and onto her ass. He squeezed her thick cheeks, which seemed to turn her on more. She pulled back and smiled sexily at him. Melisandre slowly peeled the front of her dress down, baring her breasts. Her rosy nipples were stiff and ready to be sucked. She continued pulling her dress down until it reached her wide hips. Harry, ever the gentleman, decided to help her further. He knelt in front of her and pulled the dress over her flared hips. He was immediately hit with the smell of her arousal. As the dress pooled around her ankles, she stepped out of the material, leaving herself fully nude.
Harry ran his palms up and down the backs of her thighs while he peppered her lower belly and smooth mound with kisses. Melisandre gasped and mewled cutely as he tasted her sweet skin. Harry stood, kissing his way up her belly until his lips reached her stiff, crinkled nipple. He captured the little bead between his lips and sucked while his hands mauled her bare bottom. Melisandre squirmed in his grasp, loving how he treated her body. His hand slipped between her cheeks, and he found her slit to be wet and ready for more. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Harry let go of her nipple and answered it. His drones entered, carrying supplies to make her small room more comfortable. They dropped off food, wine, and of course, a much bigger and better mattress. The drones removed the old, smelly one and added silk sheets to the new one. They also dropped off her personal items like clothing and makeup. Melisandre didn't bother covering up. She was used to his drones' presence. She stood there straight-backed with hard nipples perched upon her incredibly perky tits. Her inner thighs were streaked with droplets of her arousal and glistened in the candlelight. The drones quickly left, and Melisandre smiled at him.
"Thank you, My Lord," she said lovingly, crawling onto the new mattress and rolling onto her back. Her knees parted wide, displaying her glistening slit. Her invitations were always obvious. It was something he greatly liked about her. Harry removed his clothes and settled between her parted legs. Soon after, the room was filled with her cries of ecstasy and raucous moans of pleasure.
Chapter 66
Harry hopped over a downed tree whose trunk was nearly completely covered with a strange moss that smelled vaguely like caramel. Before moving on, he collected a large amount and stuffed it in his magically expanded bag. He was always looking for anything he could use to make new potions or medicines. If he could somehow extract a caramel-like taste from it, he could end up with some tasty treats. Closing his bag, he carried on deeper into the jungle.
The jungles of Leng were no joke. There was hardly an area of the ground that wasn't covered with slippery rocks, logs, or vines. A normal man would have broken his ankle by now, but Harry was far from normal.
He came upon a stretch of grass with blades wider than his sword and twice as tall as he was. He swiped his hand to the side, and a deep swath of grass tumbled onto the ground. He pushed into the overgrowth and swiped again, deepening his trail. The magical barrier he had placed around his body was doing its job well. Mosquitos the size of dragonflies were divebombing him from every direction, only to be pushed back by the barrier.
Harry had been flying over the wide expanse of never-ending jungles, looking for anything that caught his fancy. He spotted the top of an ancient ruin sticking out of the top of the trees, but he couldn't see where the base of the ruin started. The jungles were so thick and had practically swallowed the ruin whole. The only option was to land close to it and search on foot. That was easier said than done. He continued through the thick grass field until the ground became marshy. He focused his magic and levitated a foot off the ground. A loud howl caught his attention. Harry looked up into the trees and saw a gray monkey with leopard-like rosettes dotting its fur. It was the size of a teenage boy, which was quite large for a monkey. Its tail was stubby, but Harry thought that might not have always been the case. It appeared damaged at the end, and the monkey probably lost it during battle or possibly due to disease. These jungles were very unforgiving. Ignoring its howls, Harry moved forward.
As he pushed his way through the bramble, he noticed the monkey continued following him from high up in the trees. It was watching him. Perhaps he was being paranoid, but the monkey seemed to watch him with intelligence that wasn't normal for such an animal. Harry kept moving, pretending not to notice. He lowered his mental shields and felt that familiar buzzing. 'The Old Ones,' Harry immediately thought.
From what had happened the previous night, Harry rightly concluded that these Old Ones were actively influencing the people of Leng. Seeing this monkey's strange behavior, Harry wondered if they were doing it to the animals as well. Were they watching him through the monkey's eyes?
He eventually reached a pile of worn stones that had clearly been carved by the hands of men. They were eroded and covered with moss and algae. This was the first hint that he had reached the ruins.
From what Harry could tell, the ruin had once been a large stepped pyramid that towered over its surroundings. Hundreds or even thousands of years of abandonment had changed that. The trees had grown monstrous in size, and the upper levels of the pyramid had collapsed. He drifted over the rubble and used his magic to clear out a portion of the jungle that had grown over the base of the ruin. It would take him far too long to find the proper entrance. It was way too overgrown. So Harry stood in front of a cleared stretch of the stone wall and snapped his fingers. The large stone bricks began shifting. Some pulled forward and slid to each side, creating an open rectangular doorway for him to walk through. He lowered his shields and checked again. The buzzing was getting louder and more frantic. Behind him, a terrifying screech made him spin around.
A gray blur struck him in the chest and knocked him backward. His back slammed onto the uneven ground, and a heavy weight settled on his chest. A vicious set of teeth snapped forward, and he was barely able to get his hand up. His palm struck the neck and kept the monkey from sinking his teeth into Harry's face. The monkey was screeching and snapping its jaws menacingly. Its long, pointed canines were stained yellow, and its breath smelled horrid. He squeezed its neck as the monkey struggled to break free. Its muscled arms beat against Harry's body with bone-breaking force. Its eyes were open wide and were filled with psychosis. The monkey's balled fist struck Harry square in the chest. Had he been a normal human, that blow alone might have killed him. Still, it hurt … a lot. His anger flared, and Harry used his godly strength to hurl the enraged monkey into the air. As it tumbled head over heels, Harry unleashed a powerful Banishing Charm. The magical blast hit the monkey, and it exploded in a puff of meat and fur. Harry quickly got to his feet.
Suddenly, in the trees above, the howls of dozens of enraged monkeys filled the jungle. All it took was a thought for Harry's black battle armor to appear on his body. No sooner than it had, another gray streak blurred toward him. His sword flashed, and two halves of the attacking monkey flew by on either side of him. Severed at the waist, the top half hit a large rock with a wet splat while the monkey's lower half tumbled into the overgrowth. The truly amazing part was that the monkey's upper half continued to shriek at him. It rolled off the rock and clawed at the ground, slowly dragging itself toward him. It only made it a few feet before dying. If these Old Ones wanted to play, then he would play as well. He extended his arm and unleashed a torrent of fire similar in size to Daemon's dragonfire. It burst from his palm like a flamethrower, reaching high into the trees.
The first tree burst into flames, and the air was filled with the agonized wails of burning monkeys. Harry swept his hand to the right, lighting the treetops of every tree in the fire's path. Harry watched dozens of monkeys jumping from tree to tree, trying to avoid the rolling inferno. Some missed their intended branches while fleeing in panic. They dropped from very high up and hit the ground with meaty thumps. Others were less lucky. He ignited one tree, and over twenty burning monkeys fell out. Their yowls were terrible to hear. When every tree surrounding him was aflame, Harry cut the spell and put his hand down. He stood there, watching the jungle burn around him.
"It's quite the sight, isn't it?" Harry heard a very familiar voice behind him. He couldn't help but smile. He turned and saw the lovely visage of his boss, Death.
Most humans thought of the personification of Death as an imposing figure. A skeletal figure covered by a tattered, black cloak usually came to mind, but they would be quite shocked if they discovered the truth. The Death that Harry knew wasn't physically imposing by any means. At just over five feet tall, she was short even by human female standards. Her hair was dark … even darker than his. Harry often teased that her hair was woven from the void of space, and her eyes radiated starlight. Though she pretended to be annoyed, he could tell she enjoyed his compliments. Her face was strikingly pretty, with large eyes that drew you in and a small, cute nose perfectly proportioned with her other lovely features. Her mouth was wide, and her lips were delightfully plump and kissable. Her flawless skin was pale like exquisitely crafted porcelain. Despite being so small, her figure was tantalizingly sexy. Her breasts were large, her waist was slim, and her hips were wide. All in all, she had a very sexy hourglass figure.
Death stood there with a cute smile on her face. Harry's eyes twinkled amusedly as he slowly walked over to her. "I've been wondering when you were going to call. I've missed you, love," he said happily and wrapped his armored arms around her waist. He lifted her up in a hug and spun her around. Death squeaked and smacked his shoulder.
"Put me down, you brute!" she cried out. Harry chuckled and set her back on her feet. She scowled at him and tried to steady herself. "I hate when you do that! I always get dizzy," she huffed and fixed her hair. She then smoothed out her dress. Harry's eyes drifted down her curvy form, and he whistled appreciatively.
"That's some dress," he complimented her choice of attire. Death smiled teasingly at him and struck a pose to accentuate her considerable assets.
"Do you really like it?" she asked, running her hands down her toned belly. Her dress was oddly familiar. It was nearly skin-tight and showed off a lot of cleavage. It had one long slit starting at her hip and ending down at her ankle. He could see the full expanse of her smooth leg as it showed through the slit.
"You better believe it," Harry said, checking her out. "What's it made of?" he asked, running his fingers down the fabric. Death smiled cheekily at him.
"Your silk … I stole some," she said, giggling when Harry's eyes widened.
"I've been watching you for years," she confessed. "It's like a very amusing television show for us."
Harry wasn't surprised in the least. In fact, he expected it. The Reapers often tuned into the vacations of other Reapers. It was a good way to break up the monotony.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's had its moments, but overall, I'm enjoying it too," Harry truthfully told her. Death smiled happily at him.
"I have to say … I'm a bit jealous. That Melisandre girl you're with is quite the looker, and she has a great sense of fashion. I styled this dress after hers," Death told him while angling her body so he could see more of it.
"Well, it looks great on you," he said, checking out her ass.
"I know," she smirked. "Anyway, I've come here to talk about a problem."
"There's a problem back home?" Harry wondered. Death shook her head.
"No. As I said, we've been watching, and the wannabe gods of this world have a real problem respecting the free will of others. You know the higher-ups take great issue with that kind of thing," she said seriously. Harry nodded.
That was true. Reapers had been sent after gods who didn't play by the rules before. Sometimes, things got really messy.
"The higher-ups are now aware and are watching them closely. They haven't made any decisions until now. These Old Ones have to go," she explained.
"So they sent you? Why not a regular Reaper?" Harry asked her. She shook her head.
"Nah. This is your world, and they don't want anyone butting in. They want you to handle it," she told him.
"But you took my Higher Powers before sending me here. How am I supposed to reap their souls without it?" he asked her confusedly.
"You don't need to reap them. Just absorb their powers, and we'll collect their souls when they enter the Astral Plain," she said.
"I have two problems with that," Harry began. "Stealing their powers is a clear violation of our rules. The other problem is, again, I don't have my Higher Powers."
"The Higher-Ups have issued a waiver. You can safely absorb their powers, and we'll take them from you when you return to work. As for your other concern …" she said while holding out her hand. The handle of his sword appeared in her palm, and she lifted it up to inspect it. She ran her delicate finger along the length of the black blade, making it momentarily glow pale blue. She then gave it a test swing and nodded.
"It's a beautiful sword," she complimented his work. "It reminds me of my early days. Back then, Soul Cleavers were used by most Reapers before they fell out of fashion. Anyway, it now has the ability to absorb power, but remember, don't use that ability without our permission. The Higher-Ups get twitchy about that kind of thing," she warned him. Harry nodded and accepted his upgraded blade.
"There's an entrance to the underground cities in this ruin. You should be able to track the Old Ones easily," she added.
Death snapped her fingers, and his helmet disappeared. She levitated off the ground and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. She smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek. "Finish up with this world and come back. I miss you," she told him. Harry smiled back.
"I will. You can always come and visit me, you know?" he said.
"I'll keep that in mind," she chirped, softly kissing his lips. She then disappeared, leaving him alone once again. Harry shook his head as his helmet reappeared. He could hear more monkey activity in the distance, but ignored it and moved into the ruin.
The inside of the largest chamber was dark and foul-smelling. He conjured a ball of light and made it hover over his head. He first noticed the massive square support pillars spaced evenly apart. They were green and damp like so many of these old stones were. Many were half-crumbled and looked none too safe. Harry ignored the danger and began walking. The chamber was large and deathly silent. Other than his footsteps, the only sounds were the slow dripping of water seeping through the cracks in the ceiling. He stopped and examined one of the pillars more closely. He ran his gloved hand across the surface, wiping away centuries of grime and algae. There were carvings hidden beneath the muck. He waved his hand and magically cleaned it. Carved on the pillars were three figures, each tall and lanky. There was something alien-like about their depiction. Each figure was holding a spear as long as they were tall.
He trekked deeper into the chamber and came across an old copper brazier that had been tipped over. The metal was heavily patinaed and warped. The sounds of howls were getting louder outside, so Harry pressed on. Spotting the entrance to the underground wasn't difficult. There was an area on the floor where newer bricks were added. They were still greened from age, but their condition was much better than the stones around them. Harry flicked his hand, and the mortared blockage was ripped from the entranceway. It tumbled off to the side and broke into pieces with a loud boom. A weathered stairwell was exposed with nothing but pitch-black darkness beyond. Harry descended without a second thought.
The damp and slick stone stairs plunged deep into the earth. Harry climbed down them for nearly half an hour before leveling out. The ball of light above his head lit his path forward. He followed the stone-lined archway in the only direction he could. The air was stale and thick, and he imagined that a normal human would have difficulty breathing down there. After a certain distance, he came across an intersection. He could go left, right, or forward. Harry closed his eyes and concentrated, lowering his mental shields. His mind was immediately bombarded with the mental shriek of the Old Ones. It was a disturbing thing to feel. They were trying to scare him off, but Harry latched onto the probe and examined it closely. They were the ones who were scared. He could feel the terror they felt. They wanted him gone, but Harry had his orders. The probe was coming from his right, so Harry took the right corridor. The Old Ones panicked and tried to pull the probe back, but Harry had a firm grip on it. He was locked on and wouldn't let go.
After another five minutes of traveling, Harry began to hear a soft hiss and the lightest pattering on stone. It was coming from up ahead, beyond the range of his light. The hiss turned into multiple hisses, and the pattering turned into clicking. Harry pushed his light further down the dark corridor, but still didn't see anything. He pushed it a little further, and something reared up.
A centipede that was monstrous in size reared so high that its razor-sharp pincers brushed the top of the corridor. Judging by how high the corridor ceiling was, Harry estimated that the centipede was more than fifteen feet long. The carapace was glossy and black, but there were red bands between the large segments. The thing hissed again, and suddenly, many more burst from the darkness, menacingly skittering toward him. Harry thrust his hand out, and the ball of light exploded violently. His eardrums protested as the concussion of the blast reached him. A portion of the ceiling collapsed, crushing any of the giant insects that hadn't already been destroyed by the explosion. Harry was momentarily bathed in darkness before conjuring a new ball of light. He coughed as he breathed in the cloud of dust while walking forward. He reached the caved-in portion of the corridor and listened. He could hear more screeching and hissing coming from the other side. Thrusting his hands forward, he sent the rubble rocketing down the corridor, leaving a trail of smeared insect goo and body parts in its wake. It was a disgusting sight to behold, so he tried not to concentrate on it as he stepped through the mess.
The corridor was very cold, and he could see the clouds of mist coming from his mouth with every breath. Harry focused on the mental thread connecting him and the Old Ones. He followed the path through a maze of twists and turns. Hours passed, and he could tell he was getting close. The corridor came to an end with a large, smooth slab of stone blocking the way forward. Harry swiped his hand up, and the slab trembled. He heard the sound of metal tearing right before two loud metallic pops. The slab shot upward while chains rattled from the other side. Harry walked into the next room and intensified the ball of light. A golden haze met his eyes.
The chamber room was circular in shape and as big as the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Lining the walls were dozens of golden statues of various Lengii figures. The statues were nearly as tall as the chamber itself and were expertly crafted. They looked like giant Lengii that had been dipped in gold. Aside from the statues, there wasn't anything else in the room. No table or chairs … There wasn't even a door. There was only one other thing of significance … a circular pit centered in the middle of the chamber. Harry walked up to the edge and looked down. There was only darkness. He created a second ball of light and tossed it down. The light dropped down, illuminating the walls of the pit before disappearing into blackness. The Old Ones were frightened. They were frantically trying to wrestle the probe from his grasp. The probe was leading him down into the pit, and they did not want him going down there. He was about to jump down when he heard the sound of rushing liquid. Harry jumped away from the hole just in time to avoid getting hit by a massive jet of black liquid. It splashed against the ceiling, sending it flying in every direction. Harry covered himself with a magical barrier, but everything else in the room was covered by the sticky, oily black ooze. Suddenly, there was a sound behind him, and Harry turned to see one of the golden statues pulling away from the wall. It was coated in the oil, and somehow, it was coming to life.
Harry knew that Leng was well-known for its magic users, though he hadn't met any since his arrival. Were the Old Ones magic users or possibly Shadowbinders? There was something magical about them. He was sure of that. However, at the moment, he had other things to worry about. Every statue was covered with that foul ooze and was breaking free of its restraints. The one directly behind him reached for him with its arm and let out a terrifying screech. That was followed by dozens more screeching. Harry swung his hand out and banished the statue against the wall. It hit hard enough to crack the stone behind it, but no visible damage was done to the statue. The rest of them began charging.
The sword in his hand ignited, bathing the room in a fiery glow. The first to reach him had its arm severed in a shower of sparks. This did nothing to dissuade it. It swung its remaining arm, forcing Harry to duck. Another shot forward and tried to tackle him. Harry faded away and appeared on the opposite side of the room. Harry levitated the one closest to him and sent it flying into a group of others. The bang of the impact was deafening, and it sent the entire group crashing into the opposite wall. Harry didn't even have time to appreciate his work before an oil-smeared golden hand shot forward, ready to strike. Harry conjured a magical shield at the last second. The blow was so hard that it shattered his magic. Less than a second later, more were closing in. With merely a thought, the air around him began swirling at tornado levels of speed. The statues closest to him were instantly swept up. Harry focused and increased the size of the vortex. More and more statues were lifted off their feet. The clanging and banging of the statues slamming together as they twisted through the air told him some serious damage was being done. Chunks of the walls were being ripped off and added to the maelstrom.
Keeping the wind going, Harry pointed his sword and unleashed a stream of fire into it. Swirls of orange fire streaked the twisting wind, and he saw the statues begin to glow red-hot. Harry focused while ignoring the pleas of the Old Ones. He thrust his free hand forward, and a serpent made of Fiendfyre erupted from his palm. It immediately turned on Harry and hissed, ready to strike. However, Harry's will was much more powerful than that of the magic. The serpent turned, ignoring its master, and slipped into the swirling wind. The screeching of the statues grew louder as the serpent wormed its way through, unbothered by the power of the wind. Pops of sparks nearly blinded Harry as the serpent devoured everything in its path. When the screeching stopped, Harry waved his hand, causing the serpent to disappear. He cut the flames from his sword and stopped the wind. A boulder-sized glob of molten gold splattered on the floor, filling the room with intense heat. Harry pointed a finger at it and blasted it with a stream of frost. Once it had cooled, Harry waved his hand and sent the gold to his operation on Sothoryos. From what he could tell, all the black oil had been burned off. His drones would study it and get back to him. Harry slowly walked up to the pit, ready for something to come out. Nothing did. By then, he was growing annoyed with the Old Ones. They were doing their best to stop him from going down there. Sadly for them, Harry was determined. He had never let Death down and refused to let that happen today. Harry stepped off the edge and fell into the waiting darkness.