Dawn of the Void

Chapter 36: Crown of Flesh

James felt a surge of cold panic that made him want to stand rooted to the spot and stare, wide-eyed, at where the kid had gone down.

Maybe the old James would have done that. Given Yadriel up for lost, turned away, blamed himself.

But instead he powered forward, fire-axe swinging, aura surging, knowing it was too late, but unwilling to give up on Yadriel without a fight, to lose a member of their new group so soon.

Maybe it was his Arete 50.

Maybe it was just his being tired of the world taking everything from him without doing his damnedest to take it back.

Bless James! he roared.

Bjrn and Denzel responded immediately.

Jamess cumulative +6 bonus leaped to +10.

It felt as if hed just chugged a potent mix of steroids, adrenaline, gasoline, and fire. His muscles grew dense with power and explosive potential, his feet light on the road, his reactions refined almost to the point of absurdity.

He ran forward as if in a dream, one where he was transformed into a bullet and the enemies made as delicate and insubstantial as soap bubbles.

James raced forward, unable to duplicate Yadriels leap, and swung his Smite-enhanced fire-axe like a madman, finishing off what his Aura 9 had begun.

The demons that had begun to char and curl in upon themselves like husks of paper were blasted apart by his strikes, and he powered through the charred remains, bowling into the center of the demons. Six demons leaped aside, slashing at him even as their arms charred and fell apart, but shimmering shields appeared to fend off the blows, Joanna, Sarah, and Denzel forcing foes back and blocking attacks with glimmering walls of force that leaped from spot to spot faster than James could track.

The demons parted and there was Yadriel, curled up on his side and hugging his entrails into his stomach, blood painting the street a gleaming black as it flowed out of him, his expression slack, his eyes glazed.

Dead.

One hope. One chance.

James crashed to his knees beside the body and lifted Yadriel up and turned so that everyone in Crimson Hydra a score of yards could get a direct line of sight on them.

White light enveloped Yadriels body, so bright James had to narrow his eyes, and then Yadriels organs slid back into his gut, intestines spooling, skin sliding over the terrible wound, and Yadriel came to with a convulsive gasp, healed from afar by whichever teammate had hit Supplicant 1 and acquired Healing Grace.

Oh shit, rasped the kid as James set him on his feet. Que paso - what -?

Look sharp, said James, hopping smoothly up to standing in a way hed not been able to do since his 20s, axe swinging around. Nemesis 2s closed in on them from every side, but gunfire tore through their ranks, the three Hydra teams moving forward now as one, filling Franklin Ave, Becca and Serenity mowing down the fiends as multiple shimmering walls of ineffable power blocked and guided the demons, frustrating their attempt to overrun James and Yadriel.

Back to the crew! shouted James, and Yadriel nodded and followed behind.

Jamess blessings dropped to +6, but that was enough; a moment later they were back in Sarahs protective circle, and James turned to face the horde.

The realization hit him: they were winning.

The battle was being fought on fifteen fronts, and the First Wave demons just didnt have the numbers to swarm them all. Already the press was thinning, bodies blasting apart beneath Smite-enhanced bullets, Nemesis 2s slamming into shields, and those who managed to reach them hitting Sarahs circle and flailing as Jamess aura torched them till he used his axe to bring them low.

The synergy was perfect.

The plan had been to enter the closest building and seek out civilians, but on the fly James decided to leave the other triads to execute that part of the mission. He raised his radio. Stokes, this is Kelly, Im taking Crimson Hydra to the dead zone center. I want to see what they were doing there.

Kelly, this is Star Boy, understood.

Good. Stokes had the wits to not argue with him. James turned to where Golem was bringing up the rear and pointed toward the closest residential building, a three-story brick building on the corner of the intersection. You guys take that one! Were going in deeper!

Max, the Crimson Golem leader, gave him a thumbs up and shouted her command to her team. Golem moved toward the entrance.

Ivory and Ebon Hydra, you guys take that building there. Well be back shortly.

Both triads moved to comply.

How we doing? James called to his own people.

Alive, croaked Yadriel. Somehow.

"What the hell was that?" demanded James, turning on the kid.

Yadriel scowled. "Whatever, man. Not my fault. That Benediction made me feel crazy."

"Crazy?" asked Serenity, eyebrow raised. "I've seen crazy. That was suicide."

Yadriel flushed. "I felt this huge rush, like I was invincible, and... Yeah. I felt like I could tear them all apart with my bare hands."

"Maybe you shouldn't use your power till we get a better sense of what it's doing to you," said James. "Next time you might not be so lucky."

Yadriel's scowl deepened, but he nodded.

in other news, I made Supplicant! Denzels satisfaction was obvious. Feels amazing.

Supplicant here, too, said Joanna, grinning widely. What the hell is going on? We sharing the kills or something?

Looks like were all Supplicants now, sir. But despite Jasons attempt at soldierly self-control, he wasnt quite able to repress his grin.

James caught Serenitys eye, and she winked at him. All good.

Sarah? he asked.

The homeless woman inhaled deeply and rubbed the back of her wrist against her lips. Was touch and go there for a while. Havent faced that much pressure since this party started. But Im fine. Supplicant Level 3.

I want to go in all the way. James paused as Serenity raised her bullpup to drill a Nemesis 2s mask apart as it rushed at them from a doorway. Theyre building something there in the center under the demon symbol. I want to know what it is. Serenity, you make anything out?

Serenity aimed her Tavor up Franklin at the pink construct two blocks north of them. Definitely made of human paste. Fills up the whole intersection, size of a huge house. Looks to be open on top, sloped walls with large holes in them. More Nemesis 2s milling around, looks like theyre freaked out but refusing to leave it. Cant make out more.

Lets go see what theyre guarding. Save your energy till we need it.

James led the way, Sarah canceling her circle, and occasionally either Becca or Serenity drilled a Nemesis 2 as it appeared on a rooftop or burst out at them from a doorway.

The radio chattered.

This is Nakalanzi with Crimson Bugbear, weve secured seven people. Theyre non-responsive but alive. Were bringing them out, over.

Klin with Crimson Mothman, weve cleared our building, bringing out three, over.

Carvajal with Crimson Dragon, buildings empty, moving to next one.

James drowned out the words. He refused to let his guard down. Black blood dripped off his axes head. Sound off on which Benediction you took.

Healing Grace, said Denzel, tone proud.

Inspiration. Bjrn sounded contemplative. Havent used it yet.

Remove Fear, said Joanna. Just as I was told.

Dark Vision, said Becca, never ceasing to move her rifle back and forth.

Dark Energy Siphon, muttered Yadriel.

Excellent. With my Sacred Strike, Sarahs Protective Circle, and Serenitys Deadeye, weve got all nine. Im sure Stokes will have plenty to say about this. All right, here we go. Lets approach nice and easy.

The intersection was filled by a great crown of brittle flesh, tiered like some horrendous birthday cake from hell, the first six feet of which were made of what looked like crude bricks of crimson flesh that had run and squeezed into each other, and atop of which were placed receding walls composed of dry, leathery jerky. Archways were placed atop these tiers, most ornamental, but one central archway, larger than the rest, gave access to the dark interior. The peak of this construct was a mass of bone spars like some evil crown of white thorns, their edges fibrous, the whole of it some forty feet tall.

What the everlasting fuck, whispered Serenity, momentarily allowing her bullpup to sink.

Nemesis 2s crawled over it like wasps over a hive, their masked visages turned always to track them, their movements frantic, upset.

A nest? Jasons voice was blank with an almost helpless horror. A flesh-nest?

We need to call in the military, said Becca. Carpet bomb this into oblivion.

First we find out whats inside, said James, forcing his tone to remain calm, unruffled. They built this beneath the demon symbol for a reason. We need to know what it is.

You cant be serious, protested Denzel. You want to go into that motherfucker?

Dont think weve have much choice, unfortunately. James rolled his shoulders. The exterior walls they were trying to finish were to defend their turf, with this in the center. Whatever theyve got going on inside is important to them and worth defending. So we need to destroy it.

Bjrn stepped up beside James and frowned at the structure. I cant find much fault with that logic. Still. Wish Id brought some wading boots.

Sooner this is over the better, said Serenity. And it looks like we need to add flamethrowers to our Christmas shopping list.

Lets get this done. James began moving forward. Serenity, Becca, how you both doing for ammo?

Running low, said Becca. Couple of mags left.

Four mags for me. Helps that I cant go full auto.

You should try it some time, said Becca, her tone darkly amused. Nothing like it.

That just means you need to get out more, honey, said Serenity, earning a momentary scowl from the dark-haired merc before she returned her attention to sighting along her Bushmaster.

Then save your ammo for whats inside. Sarah, you got enough juice for a circle?

Aye, that I do. The homeless lady gathered her coarse honey-colored hair and swept it over one shoulder. Leveling always helps.

That it does. Lets see if I cant aura torch the external Nemesis 2s when they come at us, then well climb to that main archway and head on inside.

Better not be a bunch of winding spelunking tunnels, said Jason. I dont know if I can go in there if we gotta crawl.

One way to find out. Lets go.

They advanced, and when they were within a stones throw of the hive the Nemesis 2s came scurrying as one down toward them as if theyd all received the same signal. Sarah raised her circle of burning white fire, its edge brushing against the base of the flesh hive, and when a Nemesis leaped atop them the whole of it shimmered into a white hazy hemisphere upon which the demon stood, slamming its scythe-arms down.

Serenity raised her Tavor and blasted its mask off, and the demon slid down the curvature of the hemisphere to crumple upon the ground.

There was no time for talk. The shields started deflecting other leaping demons, blocking them in mid-air, and James stepped forth to sear them with his aura and hack them apart. There were only a dozen, and in moments they were all dispatched.

There, he said, yanking his axe out of the last demons head. Lets get climbing.

How you want to do this? asked Serenity, moving up the hives base and looking up at the entrance some eight feet above them. Looks wide enough for two of us to enter at a time.

Denzel, Joanna, plug the entrance with your shields, and keep them there till Serenity and I climb up. Bjrn, focus your blessings on Serenity, Denzel, Yadriel, you both focus on me. My Agilitys shit compared to hers. When we see what lies within, Ill give fresh orders and well move further into the passage to make room for the rest of you to follow.

Sounds good, said Denzel. Joanna just nodded, her usually cheerful demeanor now pale with disgust.

James felt his +6-blessing bump up to +10, bringing his Agility to 15. Light and nimble, he reached out hesitantly to one of the cinderblock sized meat bricks. Despite its appearance it was hard to the touch, like marble, textured but thankfully not sticky in the least.

Least its easy to climb, said Serenity, slinging her Tavor behind her back and reaching up for the higher bricks. But seriously, James, this is the worst date ever.

Youre telling me. He leaped, his Power of 20 carrying him nearly four feet straight up, and latched onto the wall, then climbed swiftly to the entrance, over whose lip he peered into the hives interior.

Pitch black, he called out.

Lovely, responded Joanna with an audible quiver in her voice. Just lovely.

James hauled himself up neatly, Serenity joining him, and together the peered into the gloom. Light penetrated perhaps five feet before giving way altogether.

Becca, called James. Get up here and see if your Dark Vision helps. Bless Green

Affirmative. She climbed up and James shifted aside so that she could hoist herself up and crouch at the edge of the passageway, Bushmaster coming round in an instant and aimed into the darkness.

Ive got perfect visuals, she said. Wish I didnt. Passageways about five feet deep, opens to a huge central chamber, must be the entire inside of the structure. Flesh spire in the middle, like Cleopatras Needle in Central Park.

Nemeses? asked James.

Negative. Want me to take point?

Move slowly, yeah? Dont jump in there. Well follow. Sarah, youre up next, get that circle protection going. The rest follow as you can.

Becca rose smoothly to standing and crept past Serenity and James, moving into the darkness which began to leach her of color. James took a steadying breath. The darkness was cloying, made it hard to breathe, though that had to be his imagination.

Getting a wider point of view, said Becca, almost completely swallowed by the shadows now. Chambers empty but for the no, wait. I can see civilians on the floor. Just piles of them, eyes open. And

She swayed to one side, as if looking around a corner, and then went rigid with shock.

Becca? asked James hoarsely as Sarah scrambled up into the passageway.

Jesus Christ, she whispered. Theres something in there, and its huge.