"Musashi??" Cy said. Another Alter? The Alter studied Cy."The Musashi!?" Is it safe to stay for a while? Can we even trust him? He could have killed us all if he wanted to. And he knows Lust? Breathe, Cy, breathe.
"Not now, Cy," Jules snapped.
"If not now, then when?"
"Do I know you?" Musashi asked.
"We met earlier today, I believe." Jules stepped in front of Cy. Not true, if my theory holds…uh, true.
"How could you not know?" Cy asked the Alter.
"I was in armor," Jules said. "With a helmet covering my face, just like you now. What's under—"
"You were covered in armor, yes. But I see all things."
"So you stopped my fight on purpose?"
"You mean our fight," Lust added.
"Of course he did." Cy nudged Jules out of his way. "He already knows about Lust here."
"It's Sera, if you wouldn't mind. And judging from your tone, I meant it when I said only a few know who I am."
"OK, well like who else does?" Envy asked. Musashi looked to Lust. Why is she hesitating?
"The majority of the senior-level Shinsorai are aware of my status, though only my family and Musashi here know which one I am."
"Wait a second," Jules interrupted. "I thought it suspicious that I was able to join in The Shadow's Path today. You wouldn't have had anything to do with that?" I bet he's smiling under that mask. "So you knew who I was before the Final Examination."
"These are all stories for another time, I'm afraid," Musashi said.
"So what now?" Jules asked.
"We fight?" Not in your state, Kat. And why's Musashi looking at her for so long?
"You haven't given up Lust, so what about us?" Still a way to work this in my favor—in all our favors.
Musashi looked at Lust. "It appears you've managed to make friends for once." The oni mask that hid his eyes shifted back to Cy and his friends. "You're safe with me, so long as Lust doesn't add theft to her permanent record."
"I need this armor, Alter."
"As do I. It is quite valuable to me, as you well know."
"I'm all too familiar."
Cy looked back and forth between Lust and his newest idol. Man, what's up with this armor?
"You fought well today, Sera. Though you dishonored your family." Ouch, looks like that one stung. "You broke tradition, and there is a price to be paid."
"Fine. But I'll pay it at a later date. I'm sure you're aware of what's happening outside of your little stronghold here."
"I thought I told you I see all things. But my vision can only extend so far. And The Spider… He is a tough one to crack." So you didn't see it coming until it was too late?
"The Spider's here?" Jules asked.
"Yes, Wrath. You might not want to meet him. Today, at least."
Shouldn't be surprised he knows Jules' identity after Marina Veridia, but how does he know their relationship? Man, these Alters are something else. I wonder if he's an info broker too—seems to be a common theme.
"So," Lust continued, "you care if I borrow this?" Musashi quietly studied them all, and paused on Envy again for some time.
"It'd be a nice gesture," Jules said. "We need all the help we can get."
"I don't look like help to you?" Musashi's right hand dashed to his left sword's hilt. "Ready yourselves, children."
"Halt!" someone shouted on the other side of the corridor, in the hallway outside the armory. "You aren't permitted into Musashi's private chambers."
"To Hell with that Alter bastard!"
"Oh really?" Musashi turned to face the advancing intruders.
"I demand an audience with him by decree of The Iron Maiden Herself!"
"Oh really?" The Alter placed his other hand on his opposite sword such that his arms were crossed. Outside, alarms sounded off. Sweet Salvos have mercy.
"What are those for?" Envy asked.
"Incoming ships." Lust darted to the Ninja armor. "Musashi, who else did they send for me?" He was silent.
"Didn't see this one coming, did you, old man?" Easy, Kat.
"I saw it crashing down in a vision, but I didn't know it had such speed." What?
"Might wanna get your eyes checked," Katarina said under her breath.
Musashi whipped around to Envy. "I can say the same of you." He turned back to the sounds of fighting in the hallway. "Little she-devil." The commotion grew louder and near. Gotta take my shot.
"Now might seem like a bad time, but I have some questions for you, Musashi. About Alters."
[Alternate History — Quest Objective ADDED: Uncover the secrets of Musashi.]
"Don't have time for you, boy." Whoever fought was just around the corner.
"I assume you're an info broker, too. I can make it worth your while." Steel struck steel, and someone gurgled, just out of sight. "I think I know of two more Alters out there."
Musashi paused and turned his head, just slightly. Jules, Envy, and Lust drew their weapons. An Iron Maiden Hunter stormed into the corridor.
"Lord Musashi, we demand an audience to aid in our mission to capture—" At least twenty more Hunters rushed in behind him. "What's the meaning of this? You already detained them and didn't alert us, or—No. It couldn't be…"
Musashi sighed. "Bloodshed follows The Shadow's Path. One question for each head, boy."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"What do you—"
"Of these guys!?" Cy interrupted the lead Hunter. That's like twenty questions! Or maybe three, if he fights, too…
"No, you imbecile. For each of your two Alters." Oh, bummer.
"No time, Cy," Jules said. "We've got to go. Can we leave them to you, Musashi?"
"My only chance, Jules…"
"Yeah, to die!"
"We can't lose you in the chaos, Cy." Thanks for the concern, Kat. At least you don't think I'll die.
"What do you take me for, some blind fool?" Musashi bellowed.
Envy froze and looked away. "Don't die."
"Cy—"
"When you've had your fun," Lust, armor strung over a shoulder, lifted a false panel wall, "escort my friend to the Rune you instructed me in last spring."
"Oh, so you have been working on it?" Musashi asked.
"Aiding and abetting an internationally wanted criminal—a handful of them!? Her Holiness The Iron Maiden will execute you for this personally, Alter."
? ? Watch Your Tongue ? ?
The Hunter's body literally obeyed Musashi's Script—his tongue ripped out of mouth and floated above the man's eyes, which shook left and right, but couldn't look away, despite how hard he appeared to try. He collapsed to his knees, and the tongue lowered down a similar height. Blood, lots of blood.
"Don't be a dumbass, Cy," Jules said.
"What, like you earlier today?" Cy snapped back.
"Fair point. Be seeing you, then." Jules turned and left with Lust. Envy and the others followed.
"Yeah, bye, whatever." Time to show this Alter what I've got! We'll start with a deep cut, an idea that old Bookstacker gave me a few years ago.
? Blood ? ? Boil ?
[Pang! Transmutation increased to Level 31.]
One of the Hunter's shrieked and fell to the ground, and another followed shortly after. Cy sprinted into the mass of cultists, who charged him back
? ? Bait and Switch ? ?
He swapped places with several different men and disposed of a few at the edges.
? Mist ?
When some got too close, he used his Alteration Skill to transmute their weapons to steam. Bet you've never seen someone so young master so many Scripts—
"Boy, you fight like a loose cannon filled with shotgun shells that was set level by a drunk Sailor and operated by a juvenile delinquent."
"Hey old man," Cy snapped. "What was that Script you used, Watch your tongue?"
"Bah! As if you could learn a Scroll in a minute. Why do you care so much about Alters?"
"Because I'm gonna be one some day." In eight years, actually. Cy chopped down another Hunter with his curved blade.
[Pang! Curved Swords increased to Level 32.]
"Alright, I'll bite. Who's the first head?"
"For starters—and present company—The Iron Maiden is definitely an Alter."
"Blasphemy!" an emboldened Hunter exclaimed. "Her power comes from Salvos himself. You dare accuse Her Holiness The—"
Cy silenced the man, and his head rolled over to the leader, who still watched his own tongue.
"I told you, boy, their heads don't count."
Well, you must like me if you're cracking jokes already. Cy swapped places with another Hunter and stabbed him in the back. Although I wish he'd fight, just so I can see him in action. But if his focus is on me, I should take that as my own form of victory.
"I have already suspected her. I am more curious, though, as to what led you to that belief?"
"Have you stepped outside today!?" Zombies everywhere—and really, is this bastard Alter gonna fight with me!?
"You refer to The Fallen?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever. They have a Rune on their heads."
"Which one, boy?"
"That'll cost you another question."
"That wasn't the deal." Musashi grabbed a Hunter and tossed him at Cy, which knocked him off balance.
"What the hell?"
"Try to off-balance our negotiations, and I'll knock you off yours."
"Fair enough. The Sight Rune, just like—"
"The Djinns. That Bitch was always obsessed with the Shrines." Bitch, eh? You sound like Kat right now.
"She can control and see through their third eye sight."
"Pah, more like third eye blind. She's blinder than…"
"Go on??" Seems odd to have stopped there—probably something I should know, but he thinks I shouldn't.
"I feel like there's more to your theory."
More Hunters flooded into the chamber, and they seemed to replace one fallen Soldier with two fresh ones. Why are none of these assholes fighting you!?
"Well for one," Cy cast a Ryoku Shield over himself, "there was the fucking Black Sacrament that turned Pastor Zeke into a demigod, or more likely a demon."
"Do no curse Her Holiness' name—AAAGGHHAAGHHG"
"I heard about Marina Veridia. So who is she?"
The Iron Maiden? It's obvious, she's—oh. Maybe she's not who she seems…but then who? "I don't have a roster of all the Scholars. Kinda been forbidden from joining them, so I can't tell you."
"Ha! You are wiser than your first impression, boy." Thanks? "So what's your first question?"
That's a good question. Which direction do I go first? Guess my life depends on one, so—
"What's your best advice to becoming an Alter?"
"Foolish child, daydreaming in combat," another Hunter said. "I'll—"
Yeah, no you won't. Cy sliced that man down, as well.
"Raise the Levels of all the Skills you like to the same Level, for as long as possible."
Cy stopped fighting and stared at the Alter. Three swords clanged down on his Ryoku Shield and broke it, and one blade crashed down onto his armor. "Ow, you fucker!!"
? Fire ?
He blasted a conical stream of flames at the closest four men; their cindered bodies hit the floor. "Thank you for a straightforward answer. It's the first one I've ever gotten—but why?"
"Is that your second question, boy?"
"No no no no no!"
"Good. Figure it out for yourself. I think I've seen enough here." Musashi drew his two katana. Thank Salvos, these guys won't stop multiplying.
"Have you ever heard of The Painter?" Musashi halted. Damn, I should have waited for him to enter the fight.
"Ah, I know him." For some reason he couldn't explain, that statement resonated with Cy. "And that was technically a question. The next question you ask is the one we go with, so—watch your tongue." Shivers crept down Cy's spine.
"Well, that's all I got." I should have asked my other question first.
"I'll answer a question for his location." Oh? I don't know about that, feels kinda…wrong.
"I met him in Aquilantis."
"I assure you, he fled there long ago." Fled? No—that's a distraction to bait me into asking something.
"He said we'd find him in The Verdant Domain somewhere."
"Nowhere near good enough." Nowhere, huh? Cy thought back to his conversation with Davy Jones, about how he alluded to Isolda being in a place called Nowhere. And weren't you going to join the fight!?
? Stone ? ? Column ?
Columns erupted from both the ground and ceiling, both rising and descending, and they crunched Hunters in what looked like a makeshift mouth, grinding its teeth and chewing its food. Wrack your brain, Cy! Any other clues he left behind? Do I go off my theory? No, that'd probably piss him off, too, because—
"We're setting out to find him next—although I think he'll find us."
"And I will be far away by then."
"Abandoning us already…" Mid-sentence, cy shifted it from a question to a statement.
"Good catch." Musashi entered the fight at last, and two idiots swung their swords at an endless horde of zealots. "But no. Well, possibly I'm abandoning you, but not for good. I could never leave her side. But The Painter won't appear until I'm long gone."
Don't ask a question. Don't ask a question. "Riiight, so afterward I could tell you, if you gave me something to communicate with, like Kat's crystal." Musashi grunted back.
"Now or never. Prove yourself an info broker."
Damn, what do I have to give? No information to offer. I just want to know more about them, but what can I give up?
"Tick, tock…"
Did Davy Jones say anything when I asked about them? No, not much. An entire regiment of men had diverted to Musashi, and only one enemy stood before Cy. The Alter sheathed one sword and prepared for a power attack with the remaining katana. "I'm afraid we've run out of—"
? Stop! ?
Everyone froze—except Musashi. Last chance…
"You were wise not to apply that stunt to me," Musashi said through what sounded to Cy like gritted teeth.
"I believe the word you were about to say was time." Cy held up his opened palm. "This should be enough information." I need to know what they are. Musashi approached, gripped Cy's hand, and inspected the markings.
"Again, I'm afraid not, boy. He protected this Vow."
This one? Cy wrenched his hand away. It's all related, I have to find a way.
Musashi raised his sword. "Release them. I'll fight them with honor, and all at once."
Cy obeyed. Damn. Forbidden knowledge comes at a steep price. I'm sure he gained something from seeing my Binding Vow—just not enough. Wait… Forbidden?
The Hunters all recovered from the spell and gathered in to one phalanx for a final attack. They shivered, and they cowered into themselves, but none deserted; all loyal to their cause until the very end, Cy had to at least give them that. Musashi sheathed his sword, crouched, and placed one hand on the hilt.
Musashi recited their last rites, in the famed words of the Shinsorai. "You have fought with honor." He leapt to them; they cried battle cries and lifted their weapons—
"Who are the Magi!?" Cy shouted.
Time stood still. Even Musashi froze for a moment, mid-stride, until he lowered his legs back down to the ground. He turned to Cy, squatted down, and aimed his blade at him. Cy took a step back and turned his body, to make himself a thinner target. Musashi spoke slowly.
"Where did you learn that word, boy?"