Demigods vs Werewolves, Pt 3: Interference!
[Celeste Luminaris]:
Celeste managed to open a lunar gateway just in time to save Corven and herself, which was a feat in and of itself, considering the enemy they were facing a cannibal alpha werewolf progenitor wanting to eat Celeste and Corven, possibly alive, and was at the Chaotic rank of the Ascendant Stages!
'Calm down Celeste, Calm down; you're safe now…. Or safe enough,' she advised herself, taking a deep breath. She knew if she lost focus on maintaining the Lunar Gateway, they could be extracted long before they reached their destination. 'Focus, Celeste. We need to be clear headed. There's no guarantee that that creature won't be able to track us even after we leave this place.'
Celeste looked around. The tunnel they were in was one made of iridescent, most white moonlight. It went on indefinitely in two ways — Forward and backward. Celeste wasn;t insane enough to go forward for more than a few dozen feet, considering even that was equivalent to a few hundred miles in the real world. Celeste had heard tales of Luminaris family members using their Lunar Gateways and walking too far inside, only to exit into the harsh vacuum of space in the real world.
Shivering in fear, Celeste tried not to think about that.
The Luminaris family skill of Lunar Gateways was not one to be used lightly.
"So this is the famous Lunar Gateway skill of your family," Corven, now gathering his bearings, looked around them. "Impressive. I can feel the space laws here somehow. They're… strong."
"Space Laws?" Celeste looked at Corven. "You know spatial mafic?"
Corven shrugged. "Not necessarily, but I think it has something to do with my connection with Nyx — I can 'sense' different energies related to the goddess' elements."
"Interesting…," Celeste noted.
She was about to say something more, but, just then, a hole was formed in the tunnel ahead of them, a rupture in space, almost. Celeste and Corven had to hold their breath as, from this ripture, came Pallas, grinning menacingly. They were paralyzed in fear.
"So this is where you children went," Pallas gazed hungrily at the two of them, before eyeing Celeste in appreciation. "You gave an interesting take on Space Laws to have this type of ability, little girl. You'll make an excellent replacement Beta for Striker."
Then, before either Celeste or Corven could react, the werewolf was already behind Celeste, knocking Corven away and out the lunar tunnels and walls. And, before Celeste could protest, Celeste felt extreme pain coming from her right side.
"AAGH!" she screamed.
She didn't need to look down to know she had been bitten by the werewolf progenitor. The incredible pain was more than enough proof of that. The pain was like living lava coursing through her very veins. So painful was her experience that Celeste had lost control of the Lunar Gateway, causing both Pallas and Celeste herself to be sent out of it, falling from the sky on the snow covered ground below, many of miles from where she had entered the Lunar Gateway before with Corven, alone now, with a monster she could not hope to beat.
[Corven Umbrovante]:
Corven was barely holding onto life. That last clawed punch had ruptured open all of Corven's previous wounds he'd gotten from his earlier fight with Flicker and Asher and their gang of werewolves before Corven had turned them. He was now lying face first in the snow, bleeding out, with nothing in his mana and stamina reserves or his stomach to simulate his healing factor. All the while, the one girl he was supposed to protect was at the mercy of the bastard behind Corven's current condition.
To say Corven felt humiliated to die this way was an understatement. He felt wraithful and angry and the most highest form of humiliation — All at once, all in the worst way possible.
And the worst part? His body was in shock — He couldn't move a fucking muscle. He wanted to move; he needed to, if he wanted to save Celeste, but his body had sustained too much physical trauma to function properly or listen to his command.
'Dammit body, move!' Corven screamed internally, but his body refused to budge.
Despair was creeping up on him. Pain, both physical and mental, was weighing on his mind, body and soul simultaneously. Just when he was beginning to come to terms with his inevitable death and accept that his own weakness as reason for his failure to follow through on the promise he swore, he felt a powerful presence — A divine presence, coming from within him and from all around him, both simultaneously. And with it, a voice.
"So you're supposed to be my youngest brother," the voice said, sounding intrigued. "Hmm.. You have potential, I'll give you that, but you're a long way from reaching your peak, little brother."
"Who are you?" Corven was confused. Was he hearing voices or something? 'No, there is a presence coming from… somewhere…But where? And who is behind it?'
"I am the one who guides the fallen to their next destination. I am Death… in its literal meaning," the voice, a he by the sound of it, said. "I am Thanatos."
Suddenly, Corven felt himself being rolled over, and the first thing he noticed was that time had seemingly stopped. The previously falling snow paused midair and the man before him was the most beautiful man Corven had ever seen, even despite swearing to himself he was straight. If there existed a man that could personify a cold, deathly beauty, it was this being.
Hood attached to his robes, tall and lean, the man was everything Corven imagined the Angel of Death to be and then some. He had wings whose feathers were as black as they were beautiful and as trimmed as they were neat. He stood a good 7 feet tall, with a very youthful and lush, pale white hair long enough to reach the bottom of his neck. He was dressed in robes as black as his wings with minimal silver armor, including a pair of silver boots, shoulder pad on his right shoulder that connected to his robes via a clip and silver armor covering the limbs of his wings coming from his back. His black robes had silver trimmings on them and his skin was as clear and as pale as… Well, an angel of death. His eyes were an iridescent of silver, grey, black and pale white, and, unlike how Corven would've guessed, weren't cold, but warm and inviting, and kind of well, not sad, but heavy, as if he carried the weight of the universe on his back without a break. His jaw was sharp, angled and chiseled and his face was supernaturally handsome.
In the stranger's grip was a silver long Reaper's scythe, decorated in bones and skulls. It looked light in his hands, but Corven knew that it had to have been impossibly heavy, considering the power it was giving off. Then again, considering he was giving off an equally more powerful ura than even the weapon, Corven wasn't too surprised he made the weapon look so light.
'He's kinda…,' Corven thought, before shaking his head, realizing something else. "Wait, am I—?"
"Dead?" smiled the man, who shook his head. "No. You're close enough to my door that we can communicate for a little while, though, little brother, so I've decided to give you your 'Welcome to the Family Gift' a little earlier than I had expected."
Suddenly, Thanatos tapped Corven's forehead, and information flooded into Corven like water out a Dam. He instantly learned 2 new skills — Or, rather, he was gifted these 2 new skills: Tainted Resurrection and Soul Read/Glance.
Corven instantly knew their purposes. Tainted Resurrection allowed Corven to resurrect those he's Tainted with his darkness ability, Taint. They're fully alive, unlike his Shadow Undeads, but there is a 5 minute cooldown when he uses it, so he couldn't spam it like he would with his Shadow Undeads.
Soul Read/Soul Glance: was a passive skill that pretty much lets Corven 'glance' at an opponent's soul to see their strengths and weaknesses as well as true cultivation and power levels. He was already exceptional at discerning others' cultivation levels before he even acquired this skill; with this skill, his sensory perception and power level discerning abilities would grow exponentially. He also knew that, if he looks at them long enough, especially if they are weaker than him in willpower, then he can also 'see' into their soul and pick up on their emotions, reading the current emotions the target is feeling. There are hidden effects to this skill, Corven knows, but he intended to unlock them as his proficiency grows with the skill.
"I'd give you your wings, too, but you aren't at the stage to use them quite yet," Thanatos said, sounding awkwardly disappointed.
"What? Wings?" Corven was puzzled.
"Most of those in our family, if not all, have them — You'll get yours when you are ready," Thanatos stated, smiling slightly. "It's been a minute since I've had a little brother — Hypnos doesn't count; he's more my twin than anything. Our other siblings are mostly female, so I don't know much about having a younger brother I can relate to —- Aether's too bright and Geras is too wise, so maybe you'd be chill?"
"What?" Corven tilted his head.
"Our family is pretty chill in general, especially when compared to our great nephews and nieces, the Olympian gods, so you should be warmly received by the others," Thanatos muttered on, hand on chin, as if in thought. "Considering you're also mother's champion, too, Luna and Hemera should soon visit you as well as Aether to promote ties. Just try not to piss them off and you should be fine."
"I-I'm confused…. What's happening here?" Corven was having a hard time digesting everything. He had siblings? Since when? Sure, on a general level, he kind of knew this, but to be so introduced to them all of a sudden? It was a lot to take in.
"Ah, you aren't the brightest tool in the shed, are you, little brother?" Thanatos chuckled. "You're kind of short, too. At least you were born mortal, so you can basically choose your divinity when you finally do ascend, so you have that going for you. You're still short, though, and kind of slow."
'Motherfucker!' scream Corven internally.
"Anyway, I've got to go, souls to guide, people to reap," Thanatos said, looking at Corven one last time. "Darkness is a nice element for those of us descended to Erebus, but it is also an ancient and powerful one, created before even Erebus came to grow consciousness. Stick with your Shadow affinity for now — It's easier for your body to handle with less drawbacks on it. You can work your way up from it to Darkness.
"As for the mutt, well, shadow is a power that lives in you. Use it and use it well. Let it flow through you; feel it in your emotions, your movements and your combat techniques — Become the shadows you were born to be. You won't be able to draw out its full power on the first try, but what power you do draw out will be more than enough to handle that mutt. That is my advice unto you.
"Oh, and before I go," Thanatos tapped Corven's forehead, but nothing happened. "You'll thank me when time starts again. Until next time, brother."
With the snap of his finger, time resumed and Corven was fully restored to his prime state, completely healed and restored, no injuries in sight.
"What the hell?" was all he could say.
That wasn't all. The moment time started again, Corven felt it — the energies within him, they were gradually rising. He was breaking through to Demigod rank!
[Celeste Luminaris]:
Getting to her feet was a struggle, what with the wolf-sized bite mark at her side, but Celeste staggered to her feet, the snow beneath her stained red.
'If I don't seal the wound, there's no guarantee I won't bleed out before I can find Corven,' Celeste thought to herself. She clenched her teeth, knowing what had to come next.
"Ardenti Lux," Celeste's palm lit up with a burning light that she used to sear her wound up. Groaning, she tried her best not to bite out her tongue in the process.
Eventually, the bleeding ceased and, in the place of Celeste's bite wound, there was a red hot handprint on her side.
"So you're a lightbearer," came a voice to Celeste's right. "Never would have thought you had both space and light affinities — the rarest of affinities amongst mortalkind. My darling, you are quite gifted, quite gifted indeed. You'll make a wonderful beta, maybe even a wonderful queen. We'll make so many cubs, I can already see it. We'll rebuild my pack and I'll make you my queen, and, from our union, you'll give me so many heirs!"
Turning, Celeste saw Pallas Lycaon chuckling like a maniac — Not chuckling, but full on cackling. This was insane.
"Sorry, not sorry to burst your bubbles," Celeste cut in, slicing through the werewolf prince's cackle without a hint of remorse. "I don't fuck mutts, and as royalty, I've got zero interest in taking one as a partner — in this reality or any other. Honestly, the sheer delusion in your proposal makes me want to gag while hanging myself from the ceiling. And looking at you? It disgusts me in ways I didn't even know were possible."
As if to prove a point, Celeste clutched her stomach, making slight gagging motions before giggling to herself.
"Why, you little bitch!" the mutt of a werewolf prince let out an annoyed growl at Celeste's mockings. "I'll fuck you until you can't help but want more! I'll deflower you and then ruin you at the same time! I'll put so many pups in you, you'll love it! Just you wait!"
"First of all—gross. Second, go to Hell, you disgusting, overgrown mutt," Celeste said coldly, her voice sharp with a mixture of revulsion and contempt. "I'm fourteen. A minor, you creep."
Though her tone was calm, it cut like a blade, and there was something unnervingly detached about the way she spoke—like his very presence repulsed her on a primal level. Her silver eyes were as cold and distant as a winter moon, and despite the creature towering over her, she somehow looked down on it, radiating an unshakable disdain that made it seem small and pitiful in comparison.
"You know what? I'll just have to force you into submission," Pallas decided, stepping forward.
Celeste brought out her Legendary ranked rapier, Silvermoon, her eyes glowing a moonlight silver hue.
"You're welcome to try," Celeste took her stance. "But I won't go down so easily."
Then, as if enraged by the challenge, Pallas charged at Celeste, and Celeste, feeling the power boost from Silvermoon, charged at the towering, charging beast before her.
[Corven Umbrovante]:
Corven was in pain. His body was forcibly breaking through to Demigod rank. It was releasing foul, black impurities that had the most ranky smell, and it was from every orifice — including his mouth, where the foul taste coated his tongue. — It was horrible, nothing like his breakthrough into Legacy rank. And the pain — Gods, the pain had Corven gritting his teeth, resisting the urge to roll on the ground in his own impure funk. He settled for groaning in pain instead.
The pain lasted for awhile. Even so, Corven kept himself in meditation position, eyes closed, focusing inward, to his inner energies and mana veins. He wanted to make sure the breakthrough went over properly.
Corven wasn't sure when it stopped, but when it did, he was beyond sore. His body felt like he'd just run a 12 mile marathon with no supernatural stamina. Still, he knew Celeste needed him — and he made a promise to her father. He was no saint — far from it, but he gave his word and intended to keep it. Besides, he wanted a rematch against that werewolf prince; he wanted vengeance.
Forcing himself to move, Corven expanded his senses out, using Shadow Sense to sense any nearby powerful shadows. He closed his eyes and willed his Shadow Sense out even further when he couldn't feel anything of note. He went farther than he ever did before. He was now sensing the shadows of everything within a 10 mile radius perimeter of him.
He sensed the stone rocks' shadows a few miles west. The shadow of a mountain 7 miles north of where he was. The shadows of multiple fauna and flora that had evolved to withstand and thrive in such cold temperatures. He even sensed the shadows of a school of fish underwater to the south of his position, where the temperatures weren't as freezing cold.
And, just at the edge of his sensory field, due southwest at just under 10 miles, he sensed the clashing shadows of a swordswoman and an overground dog. Opening his eyes, Corven locked onto that shadow in his mind.
"SQUAWWK!"
Summoning Azurez, alive and healthy once more, Corven willed his shadow to wrap around the Tainted Griffon, forming a harness and saddle along with reins. He then climbed atop the griffon, and, silent but determined, they took off skyward in the direction of the showdown, full speed ahead.
[Atha Eubuleus]:
Meanwhile, at the cave Corven and Celeste were hiding earlier, a group of seven capable individuals plus a neatly groomed crow was investigating the scene…
"It's warm," Seger said, having felt the place where Corven and Celeste had stopped to set up a temporary camp. "They must've only just left this place."
"'They'?" Draco Jackson said, inquisitively. "There's no guarantee it's 'they' who lit this campfire. It could be a 'he' or a 'she'. We don't know if either of them has managed to survive this far."
"There's also no guarantee that it was our students who lit it, either," said an ever vigilant Dr. Bruce. "This Dungeon is one that has 2 other known entrances."
""Hopefully, it is the girl,"Madea Helios said thoughtfully. "I hope the girl lives. If that boy dares to do anything to her, I'll kill him. Men are such disgusting creatures."
"Look…" Rowena Rae pointed out. "Footsteps. Two sets. From the sizes, widths and lengths, one girl, one boy. There doesn't seem to have been signs of a struggle. Maybe they're working together?"
"If they are, then we really don't know the whole story behind what really happened," stated Tommen objectively. "I mean, why help the girl you pushed into a portal? Things aren't adding up."
"Guilty conscious? Survival? Insanity?" offered Draco, completely dismissive. "Teenagers make weird decisions, so you can take your pick. I'm sure it won't matter much the difference. The end result is all the same."
Athan was busy studying the environment outside the cave, but, thanks to his vampiric hearing, he could hear everyone speaking just fine.
'There's no guarantee one of the Faction Heads aren't behind what happened' he thought privately to himself. 'At the very least, they are suspect in aiding Sean's group — I can't trust them. Maybe Bruce, but everyone else is a suspect…'.
"Interesting… A battle must've taken place," Athan muttered aloud, seeing the tracks of beasts intertwine with Corven and Celeste's footprints. "And something else… Are those wolf paw prints? They're quite big for wolf paws. Werewolves, perhaps? And, are those feline paw prints? It seems almost as if that feline was fighting alongside Corven, against the wolves. Does Corven have feline familiar… No, don't tell me."
Eyes wide, Athan slowly smiled. 'Of course, he is her son, so of course he has her ability.'
"Athan," Seger's voice knocked Athan from his reminiscing. "Did you find anything? I know you have superior sens—."
"I caught their scent," Athan interrupted the nobleborn, gaze looking westward. "I'm ready whenever."
"Alright," Seger said, leading the group onward, following behind Athan. "Let's go."