Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"A million." Owl says.

 

“Is there a conversion for gold coins to solid gold? I... oh, whatever, there’s a sizable diamond in there too.”

 

"I assume she'll be at her kingdom. Not near the water atleast, so she won't be leaving the island any time soon."

 

"Diamonds are the currency below mage, yes," Owl says, "Though aren't we getting a little off topic?"

 

“...I guess.”


I don’t respond, standing and steadying myself up as I mentally try to check how to use the railgun without using it.

 

Chroma nods.
"Anyhow, the idea was to instigate her into retaliation. Leave a calling card, hopefully get a response. Besides, if I got her to hate me enough, I could bait her into doing what I need her to do anyways by reminding her that the one way to get rid of me for good is within Overlord Atavul's domain."

"We're gonna leave you to your own devices. Didn't mean to cause such a fuss."
"Why're you going?" Puddles asks, seeming disappointed.
"Just let them leave." Fireweed mumbles.


A holographic reticle appears over the glacier.

The drums are struck once, and the sound of gently flowing water falls silent.
Two, and even a mere breath could be heard.

There seems to be a delay for the third beat...

Then, we do know where to find her.

 

“Bye!”
Crystal forces excitement.


I quickly look for an escape route while staying alert for a third beat.

 

"Cool. Where do you want to go and think? I got a few options."

 

"Well, your plans have about a fourty five percent chance of succeeding. She's likely to just ignore what you want to annoy you." Owl says, taking another drag on his cigarette.

 

"Then she won't get me to leave her alone. Besides, I'm surprised her friends left just as they were getting in position to take away the Hive Master's numbers advantage."

You're the thinker, just go.

Puddles waves happily while Shack nods with a guilty look. Fireweed lets out a sigh as Linoa carries Crystal through a portal.

"I... didn't expect that to go the way it did." She mumbles.


As you turn, your hand folds to form the barrel of a railgun. Once the drums are struck a third time, the barrel flashes but doesn't seem to do anything.

"Heh... another dud. Well, it was a cute tri-" A smug merfolk gloats, approaching you.

The entire planet starts to rumble as massive cracks form in the glacier.

"You... did you just..." He stammers.
"Your part here is over. You'll know your escape route when you see it, just don't get trampled." Stella's voice hastily tells you.


"Wh- wait... Idhaenna sent you, not that damned dragon!" He roars, claws of ice forming around his hands as he turns to you.
Your hand reverts back to normal.
"Get ready, this won't be a pretty scene to stay at."

A dark mist forms around you, enveloping nearly the entire sky as massive pieces of ice start to slide apart and reveal what looks to be a busy metropolis within.
"...Actually, I'll make this quick. Do you want out, or do you want to be filled in on the rest of the plan?" Stella offers.

 

"It was kinda sad."
Crystal thinks aloud.


"Give me the rest."
I say silently, stancing up as I turn to the merfolk.

 

"I'm gonna have a chat with Rema, tell her about the news."

 

"What do you mean?"


"Xlentia and I coordinated a siege. We can't let things continue the way they've been. Uh... your current opponent is going to feign a lunge, then throw a projectile. I'll cover you, jet as high as you can right now." She says, seeming slightly distracted.

The mist turns into hundreds of portals, draconians and Idhaenna's bots swarming in at alarming rates.

________________________________

Fair enough. Wait... didn't she ask us to bring her back something? Or did we do that already?

 

"You ever think there's a reason they did that?" Owl says, waving his cigarette, "Maybe they're getting something out of this in some unspoken partnership."

 

"It didn't look like they had anything fun to do. Just, like, they were living, and that's it."


"Au revoir."
I jokingly sign off to the merfolk, then start flying upwards as fast as I can.

 

"I doubt they'd leave Lady Ihra hanging."

“I mean, that’s what most things do. Survival is their life, and difficult at that.”


As the merfolk does indeed feign a lunge and try to get your circuitry soaked, they get turned into a blast of diluted gore from what looks to be a rocket-powered shield.

“Okay, you’re not going to terribly like this, but... I need you to make sure the city burns. The others will handle attempted escapees, but O’rogal keeps a vault with taboo tomes and runes here. Leave dust, Lady Idhaenna wants to avoid dealing with a soulless army.”

 

Owl just shrugs, seeming fairly relaxed.

 

“That’s... I really should be going soon. Anything else in particular you’d like to ask from me?”

 

"When are you coming back here?" Owl asks bluntly.

 

Chroma glances down at the ground.
"I don't know if I can trust my foes with such information currently. You'll know if I'm coming should someone else notice me raising havoc."
Pause.
"Actually... might I ask a favor? Should I leave a calling card before I properly execute Overlord Atavul's orders, might you consider manipulating the scene to reduce the damage I do?"