Setsuna stood o her in silence, her eyes fixed on those below. Her son and Marta were standing off to the side, giving them a little space to speak. Shuta cleared his throat, “Castouts, from the fsh. During the time when people did not uand. They feel betrayed by their families and loved ones, being turned away for something that is not within their trol is… hard tive.”
Sonya nodded slowly, runnihumb over the rail. The rage from earlier had subsided, leaving a cavernous feeling in her chest. She felt it itg still at the back of her mind, almost like another presence akin to Ishtar. Then there was the growing ache in her wrist. It had spread to her elbow and she could feel another one of those little spots there. She closed her eyes aered herself. I o have Da-Som check me out whe back.
You’re doing fine, Ishtar reassured her, Whatever this is. I am with you.
She exhaled, “Ultimately, you’re askio take these people in,” she said solemnly, “How many are actually part of your cult and not just seeking shelter?” she asked.
“Does it matter?” Shuta asked.
She gnced his way, “I am the enemy of every hero on the p,” she said without sugarcoating it. "They joi their own peril. Betrayal will be met with retribution. She looked back at them. "If they aren't willing to side with me, then they o find somewhere else to seek sanctuary. I am not looking to put everything I’ve aplished at risk.”
Shuta frowned, “But you’re Ishtar. There is nothing you ’t do.”
She barked out a ugh, “I assure you, Even I have my limits,” she said a out a sigh. “That’s being all too clear to me these days,” she g Setsuna, “If I take your cultists in, what do I get out of it besides people? I’m sure some of them are strong, but you know the price doesn’t match up. I already have a lot of people w for me. We’re making a deal here, I expect to be pensated.”
Setsuna did not turn her eyes away from her people as she ran delicate fingers over the railing. Her eyes thoughtful, she pressed her lips together before nodding to herself. “Two ways, my power works,” she said and turo Sonya, “Visions e. trol it, I do not,” she said softly before looking back at the people, “Or, a question, I ask. Or be asked,” she tensed, “Taxing.”
Her son shifted, “Mother, that’s not-”
“How specific a question? How often?” Sonya asked, her mind drifting to several options.
“Yes or no,” Setsuna said, “That is best. Otherwise, riddles,” she added before holding up a finger. “Only one.”
Sonya let out a breath, “So asking how to kill my enemy wouldn’t provide mu the way of useful information,” she chuckled, “Figures it wouldn’t be so easy.”
Setsuna smiled, “Sorry.”
Sonya shrugged, “A perfect yes or no response is…” she trailed off a her thoughts back to Ishtar. Thoughts?
Her other half seemed to hesitate for a moment before responding. I would take it. It seems valuable. What kind of question would you ask, though?
I don’t know, Sonya replied, I have time to decide. Let’s see if Brrees.
That would be best.
Sonya sidered any additional terms she had in mind as she leaned against the rail, lost in thought. Eventually she turo the cult leader aended her hand. Setsuna took it and she sidered using Analyze. The oracle ability owerful and one she could take advantage ive to someone else to use, but the drawbacks were troubling. It was also quite limited. Merging it didn’t feel like an optioher, and her gut told her to just let this one go and leave the divination to the professional.
“I’ll take in your people as my own, the ohat reize you and me. I have a pce they stay temporarily until I have something a bit rger and more fortable. I expect loyalty from them, I expect them to work. That extends to you as well. Make this worthwhile to me by using the cult in my favor,” she said, tilting her up a little. “You must keep my secrets. No matter what.”
Setsuna ined her head, “Agreeable.”
Process deal.
Finally something’s going right, Sonya thought and graced Setsuna with a smile, “It’s a deal.”
–
The gloom seemed all the darker with the bright lights shining down on the portal at the ter of the room as Takehara took a step back. He met the woman’s gaze and her lip curled slightly. His tacts with the branch had given him very little informatiarding the stist overseeing the study of the dungeons. What was more uling was the fact that the dungeon was in a room that didn’t appear to have been built around it. It felt more like the room had been built for it. A terrifying distin.
He flicked his gaze towards the trio of silhouettes behind the woman and paused, there were only two pairs of eyes staring at him.
The third? He started to turn when a cold hand ed around the back of his neck. He stiffened and reached for his gun on his hip.
“I wouldn’t do that,” the man behind him said coolly. Takehara felt something sharp press against his throat and he pulled his hand away from the gun. “Smart. This is what I like about old guys like you, you’re a bit more sensible.”
“That isn’t a natural dungeon,” Takehara growled at the woman.
She smiled at him, “You’re quick,” she said aured to the portal, “It took some time and a lot of resources. Fortunately, Japan has had han sixty dungeons form in its territory sihe fsh. Plenty to mine. Most were destroyed entirely, a tragedy, but that won’t be a problem anymore. We’ll just make more.”
Takehara gowards the portal, “You used mana crystals to release a rge amount of stored mana in one pd gee a portal. Why? What if it breaks?”
The man behind him squeezed a little tighter as he leaned forward to speak into Takehara’s ear, “That’s why we’re here, To clear out the chaff. Unfortuhe walls around us are made to prevent mana from getting in, so we’ve gotta recharge it now and then.”
“Why?”
“A proof of cept,” the woman said. “Though, now we’ve gotten what we need out of it, we report back. We’ll be abandoning this project soon.”
“What about the anonster?” Takehara insisted.
The woman sneered, “What about it?”
Takehara’s heart sank, his eyes going wide. He looked over at the men who were now piling crystals in front of the portal, then back at the woman. He looked up at the walls that were holding the mana outside at bay, but keeping any ambient mana in. A Carter Radar wouldn’t be able to pick up on this pce. Han to sink in at the implications.
“Do you know how many hero managed dungeons there are in Tokyo, Mister Takehara?” the woman asked.
He frowned, “There are six.” he said. All of them were on a cycle. One was cleared out of monsters and theo rest for a week or two to recharge. This allowed the duo regee monsters and resources while the was cleared. It was an effit system that the three guilds and Pandora ittee agreed upon.
She smiled primly at him, “I wonder what would happen if a seventh dungeo’s say an until retly unknown unon-tier dungeon, burst within range of a few of those dungeons?”
With a snarl, he tried to yank himself from the man’s grip, but was instead lifted bodily off the ground by some unseen force. He flew across the room and crashed into a wall, coughing up a gobbet of blood as he slumped. Something ed around his arms before g tightly and pinning him to the wall where he could still see the portal clearly. He opened his mouth to ask more and another rope of what he now realized was steel ed around his head and gagged him. He struggled for a moment, trying to pull his arms free, but it was no use.
“Sorry, Mister Takehara. You decided to check up on our little project at the wrong time. Nothing to be done about it now, I suppose. You’ll have tive me for not stig around to watch the show with you,” she said, him a light bow, “Strength from Liberty, Mister Takehara,” she said and turned away. “Run the clear programs just in case and don’t fet to ge into the provided uniforms,” she ordered, “Liberty wants this tied to Ishtar’s cult and the Pandora ittee’s negligence.”
With those passing words she and her shadowy retinue marched out through the doors, the traitorous stists following shortly behind.
–
The museum was just as beautiful on the ihan it was oside. Lillian wasn’t much of a museum person or really into history, but having someone as passionate as Sappive the guided tour really made the whole experience just pop. She was swept away as he talked about each dispy, statues and paintings, diorama, and delicate works of art that were more breathtaking tha. There was a serenity to the pce that put her at ease as they wandered from one exhibit after another.
When they left the building, Sapporo turo the four of them and put his hands on his hips, “Our stop will be-” he paused as his ph. “Just a moment,” he said and quickly answered, “This is Sapporo.”
Lillian turo Snow, “You hungry?” she asked befng up at Cass and Alex, “Did you two eat on your date?”
“What date?” Alex and Cass protested simultaneously.
Her lips curled and she was about to tease them more when Sapporo went very still. “Where?” Sapporo asked, “Nothing on the radar?”
An uneasy feeliled in Lillian’s stomach as the big man furrowed his brows and seemed to trate for a moment. “No, I don’t sense anything. Are you sure the tremors were localized? Also, why am I hearing this from you and not Takehara?” his frown deepened, “How close is Koto to the seismic activity?”
The four heroes exged a look, “Ahquake?” Cass asked, “I don’t feel anything.”
Lillia her jaw and tapped her earpiece a few times, switg to the open el they’d chosen on arrival, “Sonya? You there?”
“Miss ovna is in a meeting,” Marta replied over the open el, “What I do for you, Lillian?”
“I think we’re going to need ear, I’ve got a bad feeling,” Lillian said.
RRRRMMMBBBLLLLLL
The ground shook beh their feet and a few of the civilians nearby let out shouts of surprise before settling. Most of them were used to mihquakes, but this was the first time Lillian had felt o was a jarring experience, but nothing terrifying pared to the kinds of things she’d seen before. Even so, she shifted uneasily on her feet as the shaking ebbed. She turo Sapporo who was looking more and more irate with each passing moment as his call tinued. “Call the guilds and have them on standby. We may need-”
RRRRMMBBLLL
The ground shook again and Lillian pivoted in time to catow who stumbled with the tremor as Sapporo stormed past her, his eyes sing the south-east. Rage gave way to , then to fear as a third tremor nearly knocked Lillian off her feet. Each seemed to be shorter tha, but the strength escated in exge. Lillian swallowed hard and turo face the dire Sapporo was looking. Another chill running up her spine.
“Lillian? I just felt that, what’s happening?” Marta asked over the phone.
“I don’t know, but it’s bad,” Lillian said, “We need ear.”
There was a long pause, “Where am I meeting you?” Marta asked.
Lillian turo Sapporo, her heart thundering in her chest. She ched her fists, “Where are we going?”
He held her gaze for a few heartbeats befiving a grateful bow of his head, “Koto Ward,” he said, ending the call. “I fear we’re going to need all the help we get.”
Lillian turo the others who nodded. Scales began to spread across Alex’s skin and Cass’ body began to glow faintly as she grew in size. Lillian turo Snow, “You know what to do.”
“Find somepce safe to hide and spot from, I got it,” Snow said quickly as they began following Sapporo dowh, people scattering out of the way.
RRMMBLL
A thrill ran through Lilliaire body as the shortest but most interemor yet hit, a warning loud and clear. Every instinct screamed at her in arm. Her eyes went wide as time seemed to slow in those st few moments, “BRACE!” she shouted and dropped to a knee, pulling Snoith her. Alex and Cass dove to the ground, c their heads. Sapporo dove forward, throwing himself between what was ing and the four trainees behind him. Lillian looked up at his back just in time to see his form in silhouette.
Light.
A dome of light.
The world was light.
BOOOOOM!
The world shook as the air rushed past them. People screamed as a veritable o of mana washed over and through Lillian like a tidal wave. There was nothing to make sense of. Everything was sounds and movements and fusion. The tremblih, the howl of wind, the burning of raw painst her skin. She pulled Snow closer as her mind drowned in it all. Her senses were on fire as she realized for the first time the dowo being the type of light-touched who had a built-in mana sehere was so much. Too much. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t breathe. She could only hold on for dear life as a dungeoier above the Dharan portal burst in the heart of Tokyo.