Azaria 2-18

Good Morning Folks!

Chapter 18: Siege of the City Part 4

Lance

Azaria’s marines moved rapidly through the city. Even on foot they were going at least thirty miles an hour and that was just my estimate. The city was in lockdown, with the normal people in basements and behinds locked doors. While the streets weren’t to the point of a gridlock, there were plenty that made traversing toward the outskirt of the city a headache.

The journey through the sky hadn’t been kind to the infrastructure of the city either. Cracks and missing chunks were common in every building we passed. A few cars hadn’t been in park or had been thrown during the tilt and we on their sides burning. Morbidly, I did notice there weren’t any bodies on the streets. That was a good thing.

I did spot a few Powered that were checking out the situation. Thankfully, they weren’t stupid enough to try and stop the dozen heavily armor, chainsaw blade wielding warrior women that were tearing their way down the street. From what I saw, they were being mostly helpful. I didn’t have the time nor the care to bother with any looting that I saw.

They were even less willing to try and stop me. I looked like a full-on monster. If it weren’t for the pink armored women in front of me, I was sure that a few of them would have launched their skills at me. In a few minutes, the edge of the city, quite literally now, was in front of us. What looked like a magic upped Viking sail boat was tethered to the ground and was surrounded by the gargoyle creatures and a red skinned man with horns and wings.

We weren’t exactly quiet about our approach. The leader pointed at us and shouted something in a language that sounded like Latin and French that had gone through a mixer. The gargoyles leapt into the air and shot toward us. I flexed my hand making my claws extend a few more inches. The women drew their swords and shields.

“For the Empress!” As they shouted a glow wrapped around them. The gargoyles slammed into their line and they slid back a few inches. The gargoyles only had their claws and hide which was inadequate against the steel teeth chainsaw blades. Blood and gore splattered over the women as the tore through the creatures.

I ignored them and used their back to launch myself over their heads and the enemy. I charged at the leader who only grinned smugly. I hoped he enjoyed the moment I ripped it off his face. The distance between us vanished as I used Scurry. I was soon right in his face when a red barrier slammed into me, or I slammed into it. I was sent flying rolling several feet. I shook my head and climbed back to my feet. The demon just stood there with even smugger grin on his face. If that was possible.

I walked over and ran my claw along the barrier. Sparks popped around my claw as I did so. The demon’s eyes almost seemed to dare me to try to break through the barrier. He was saying something, but I didn’t understand it. I reached up with my other hand and placed it on the barrier. I was directly in line with his throat.

He started to laugh seemingly amused by my meaningless actions. I bared my fangs in my own grin as I used Harvest energy. The barrier vanished instantly absorbed into my claws. I lunged forward and wrapped my hands around his neck as a bewildered look replaced the smug grin.

“Welcome to Neo-Chicago. May I see your passport?” I growled into his ear as I dragged him to the ground.

Looking back to the Azaria’s marines. They had already finished their work. They had piled all the bodies into a spot. I would need to grab those before we left. The leader was growling and screaming about something, so I pulled some rope from my storage and gagged him while binding his limbs.

The marines surrounded the man and I handed him to one of them. He had struggled but he felt weaker than a normal human. His skills might lie in magic. “The area is clear,” Ophelia said looking around. I didn’t feel like anything would escape her gaze.

“Good. I’m going to check out their ship, then we’ll head back to the dungeon. She might be able to translate what this idiot is saying,” I replied turning to the ship.

Ophelia joined me and we hopped up into the wooden vessel. Only the outside matched a Viking ship. The inside looked much more archaic. Sigils were carved into the sides, while a large gem floated in the center of the ship. A steering column that had a bunch of smaller sigil carved in it likely allowed for the control of the ship.

“I suggest we leave it. We could alert the enemy prematurely that their scouting party has failed,” Ophelia stated with a displeased expression, and I nodded in agreement.

“Or we could cause it to self-destruct,” I added with a chuckle.

We jumped back out of the vessel. Two of the marines hauled the man while Ophelia ordered half of the group to stay and watch the vessel. It wouldn’t do if a curious Powered saw it and caused something to happen. I paused as we left to store all the gargoyles. Checking, the power was reaching its max. I would need to upgrade or empty it soon.

The trip back was much the same as the trip over. Most of the looters we’d passed had been dealt with by the good natured Powered. At least on this street. I did wonder where my sister was. She was fairly powerful, and this was a situation that required all the of the top to work together. That thought almost made me laugh despite myself. I was considering myself as part of the top.

“Well. I might as well be,” I mumbled as we ran.

We returned to Azaria’s manor and the marines tossed the demon leader on the ground. Neo and the others walked over with curious looks. It wasn’t every day that you saw someone from another dimension. I looked around for Azaria and spotted her walking out of her dungeon. She was sporting some very sleek armor. It looked like a slim version the marines were wearing. Starburst was walking next to her, trying to adjust it as she moved.

“A present? For me?” she asked once she reached us.

“What’s with the armor?” I asked.

“We are in the middle of a warzone. It is better to be safe than sorry,” she replied as she squatted and poked the demon’s face. He was staring at her in awe. “Is he broken?”

“I don’t think so. He wouldn’t shut up on the way over.”

“Is that so?” She poked him again and the demon’s eyes grew even wider. He started to say something in his strange language. Azaria nodded here and there. The rest of us just looked on. “Well. This was interesting.”

“What’d you learn?” Starburst asked.

“You were right. This is a failed world. Guess who sits at the top,” Azaria said with a smug smile.

“Dungeons?” Neo asked in his cold voice.

“That’s right. In fact,” she pointed at the floating island above us. “That is a dungeon. Or rather a community of dungeons. There are about twenty up there. They don’t like the lower demons and use them as slaves.”

“How does that help us?” I asked.

“Not sure yet, but at least its something. As for this guy, he might prove useful. If no one minds, I’d like to move him to a cell in my dungeon. No one else can understand him right?” Azaria asked looking at the Powered.

“Go ahead. While I’m not completely comfortable about it. Like you said, none of us understand him,” Neo said waving as if to dismiss the demon.

“Thank you. I’ll tell you if I learn anything more impactful of our situation.”

Ophelia picked the demon up and threw him over her shoulder, fireman fashion. She then followed Azaria and Starburst into the manor. I only caught a glimpse before the door shut, but Azaria had the predatory grin she had when she nearly lost it when we first met. I took a deep breath.

“I’d like you to know the guard you knocked out is fine.” Anna’s voice caught me by surprise and I spun around.

Her and her husband stood a few feet from me. How so much armor could be moved without making a sound boggled me. “That’s good to hear. Next time, maybe just ask.”

“Given our reputations, information from the darker parts of this city can be limited to us. We knew Kyle was a dirt bag, but for all intents and purposes, it appeared like he was telling the truth. He was injured and you were on the run. Then there was the fact that you were leading people into the dungeon.”

I shrugged. “I had to survive. Like Azaria said. She asked me to bring people to her dungeon that the world would be better off without.”

“I believe you, or I at least will try. I’m sorry, but several of my skills are picking up some dangerous vibes from you,” Anna replied crossing her arms.

“Haha. I’ve started on a path to make sure that no one steps on me again. Though, I might have went a bit too far with some of my skills,” I said tapping my chest. “This isn’t armor.”

“An assimilation type skill,” Zaris commented. “Those can be particularly dangerous.”

“You figured it out with just that hint. You really are good,” I said shaking my head at how much the higher level Powered were actually aware of. Anna had known that some dungeons were able to communicate. If I hadn’t heard about it a few weeks before all this started on a rumor site, I might very well be dead right now.

“Tell me. Did you name the dungeon?” Anna asked.

“No. I told you the dungeon told me her name,” I replied tilting my head at the question.

“Zaris!” Anna said with a deep breath.

“I know dear. I was honestly surprised by the form the dungeon took. It’s almost an exact copy of her from a year ago. However, I’m not sure now is the time. Do you really think that our Azaria could be that… bloodthirsty?”

I took in the hurt and lost look that Anna had. I remembered my own mother. “Listen. I’m not sure if you guys know more than me or not, but does anyone know how the dungeons were actually formed?” I asked and got a negative. “Then isn’t it possible that the dungeon’s soul is actually your daughter. When I was helping the dungeon, one of the things she asked me to do was look into you guys. At first, I was worried she was trying to get information on people that could stop her, but after all this. I’m fairly certain that she’s your daughter.”

“You make a valid point.” Zaris wrapped his arms around his wife as she spoke. “Maybe I’m just wary of being hurt again. Losing Azaria tore my heart in two.”

“Better to risk it, than to lose her again,” I said punching my fist in my free hand.

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