LIGHTNOVELONLINE XXII. As Night Falls...
Cabdan bursts through the doors of a wealthy, ornate home - a drastic change of scenery from the buildings in the slums... Behind him, two henchmen carried Barr on a stretcher, with Barr himself still unconscious.
Maid: Welcome home, mister Cabdan! The doctor is already waiting for you in the library...
Cabdan: Good. You two, follow me.
He leads the men into the library. Once he opens the set of double doors leading into it, the doctor promptly gets up from an armchair he was sitting on.
The Leopard: Cabdan, what is the meaning of this?! You better have a good reason for bringing me here on such short notice...!
Cabdan smiles.
Cabdan: I do apologize, Leopard... But something came up. Your services are required.
The men lay Barr down on top of an empty table. He was still bleeding quite a lot, and barely had any color in his skin.
The Leopard: I recognize him... From yesterday! What became of him?! He's nearly dead! I'm going to need-
Cabdan: You should be able to find everything you need in these carts, doctor...
A handful of maids enter the library pushing carts that contained bandages, herbs, water, and many other supplies.
Cabdan: I took the liberty of equipping my home with everything you have at your disposal in the orphanage, and more.
The Leopard was somewhat surprised with how prepared Cabdan was, though time was of the essence. He couldn't afford to dwell on it, lest his patient would die before him.
The Leopard: Alright... Then I'll need two helpers. Everybody else - out! Fast. I need to get to work.
Cabdan: Let the doctor do his work everyone, follow me. And you two...
He turns to two pale maids that have an empty, blackened gaze.
Cabdan: ... Stay and help. Yes?
He grins, as he exits the library leaving the two young women behind. The doors close, and the doctor is quick at work, tending to Barr. As the Leopard worked inside the library, someone peered through the eyes of the maids that were left behind... A man with dark armor and a wide smile, his eyes glowing with black, ominous energy.
Mysterious man: There you are, Sadduccee... How long it's been since I last laid my eyes on you...!
He was almost salivating as he looked at the doctor... Meanwhile, Cabdan patiently waited outside the library, looking at his pinky ring. It was different. It's magical glow seemed... Gone.
Cabdan: Never thought this is what I would use it for...
He removes the ring from his finger...
Cabdan: ... But I have to admit, black does look better on me.
... And replaces it with a dark ring, emanating a black glow. He stretches out his hand, admiring its new look.
Cabdan: Beautiful... May it be a reflection, an omen of a brand new, long-lasting alliance...
When Cabdan puts on the new ring, the mysterious man is also able to see through his gaze. He grins, as it was confirmation that the ring had just been wrapped around its new user's finger, sealing the pact.
Cabdan: ... Dear Lunalus.
Lunalus (Mysterious man): Your city is as good as ours, Sadduccee...
After a while has passed, the doors to the library open. The doctor seemed exhausted.
The Leopard: ... Come on in, Cabdan.
Cabdan heads inside.
The Leopard: He's still unconscious, but at least he's stable. He lost a lot of blood, however... There's no way he's getting up from that bed anytime soon, I'd give him about a month. I've already instructed your maids on how to proceed to care for him.
They arrive at the table... It looked like a murder scene. The two maids were unfazed, cleaning everything up as best they could.
Cabdan: You two, fetch the other maids. Fill them in on what the doctor told you, and then clean up this mess.
They follow his commands without hesitation, leaving the library.
The Leopard: What's more, his genital area is completely...
Cabdan: Destroyed?
The Leopard: ... To put it lightly, yes. He can still urinate, but...
Cabdan: You did what you had to. As long as he lives, that's what matters.
Cabdan places a hand on the doctor's shoulder, as he shows him a yellow smile.
The Leopard: As for his arm, I'm no miracle worker. What is still attached should recover in time, but he'll never get that hand back.
Cabdan nods.
Cabdan: Of course, of course... That's more than understandable. Thank you, doctor. You may go, now.
The Leopard: Not so fast, Cabdan... You owe me an explanation. What exactly happened here...? These are no normal injuries...! If I didn't know any better I'd say that...
Cabdan sighs loudly as he sits down on a nearby chair.
Cabdan: Well? You would say that...?
The doctor hesitates.
The Leopard: Tell me what happened. Now.
Cabdan shakes his head.
Cabdan: Tsk, tsk, tsk. I could explain it all to you, but that would be far too much work. I'm sure you can piece it together by yourself!
The Leopard: I don't have time for your games, Cabdan!
The Leopard points towards his pinky, but the ring doesn't come.
Cabdan: Looking for this...?
Cabdan takes the silver ring from one of his pockets, now magicless, and rolls it toward the doctor's feet.
Cabdan: I had to use all of its power to get here faster, alongside Barr and my men. Otherwise, I'm not sure there'd be any life left in the boy for you to preserve...
The Leopard: You used it... For this...?
He grabs the ring from the floor, looking at it dumbfounded.
The Leopard: But then, what ring is th-
As he shifts his eyes towards the ring on Cabdan's finger, they widen behind the mask.
The Leopard: No...!
With a clap of Cabdan's hands, a menagerie of maids and butlers enter the library. Cabdan laughs.
Cabdan: Oh yes...! I met your old friends from Nox a while ago, doctor. Took us a while to figure out the perfect time for the big reveal... But I think now is a good time as any!
It was now clear to him. These hollow maids and butlers were all members of one of the organizations that opposed his very own. His life was in danger...
The Leopard: You've made a terrible mistake, Cabdan...!
Cabdan: A mistake...? It was the best deal of my life! All I have to do is feed them information, just as I did for you, except I get complete control to run these slums however I see fit! No more of your pathetic little rules to abide by... And I also get a new ring to boot!
He flaunts his new ring, as it glows ominously.
Cabdan: And it's quite an improvement over the old one, too...
The Leopard begins casting grey glyphs from the palm of his hands.
Cabdan: Calm down, calm down! Didn't you want to know how that boy ended up in that state...? I'm sure his injuries seem rather familiar. Who do you think could cause that sort of damage to a body part?
The Leopard: This was the girl's doing, Faya...
Cabdan claps in excitement.
Cabdan: Oh yes! Yes, yes yes! And, do you know where she is now...? I'll give you a hint, too...
From his pocket, Cabdan pulls out an empty flask, rolling it towards the Leopard. From the flask's shape and the potent smell coming from it alone, he could tell...
The Leopard: Poison... You let them fight, knowing full well they could kill each other. You planned all of this!
Cabdan: Bingo! Hahahah!
Cabdan gets up from the armchair.
Cabdan: And on rather short notice, too. My own genius amazes me sometimes, Leopard... Now, for the final question! Care to guess who has the antidote...? No hints this time!
The Leopard points his glyphs towards Cabdan.
The Leopard: You truly are despicable, you monster!
Two bolts of grey energy shoot out from his palms, towards Cabdan. One of the maids jumps into the blast, saving him from getting hit. However, upon further inspection...
The Leopard: No... Not you...!
Cabdan laughed maniacally. The maid's body had twisted and morphed... It no longer resembled a woman. It had the body of a man, one whose face the Leopard knew all too well...
The Leopard: Lunalus...!
In a flash, the Leopard casts a cage of magic all around himself, resembling a transparent grey cube. From behind him, he heard a familiar voice.
Lunalus: It's been a long while, hasn't it Sadduccee?
He turns around.
Lunalus: Take off that silly mask. Let me take a look at that face again...
The Leopard doesn't hesitate, and shoots another bolt of energy toward him. Lunalus' body falls to the ground, dead.
Lunalus: Tsk tsk tsk... How many more lives will you be wasting? You know what I can do. You might as well kill everyone in this room if you want a decent shot at slaying me... Though of course...
The Leopard turns to another maid. Lunalus had transferred himself to her, as her bones broke and muscles adjusted to bear his form.
Lunalus: That still wouldn't be enough to kill me. You can't run now, Sadduccee. Not anymore.
Lunalus walks towards the grey cube.
Lunalus: What are you waiting for...? Open it! Come on. Open a portal straight into Eclipse's headquarters. How else can you survive?
The Leopard: You sure would like that, wouldn't you...?
Lunalus: I will like that. It is not a matter of if... It is only a matter of when. Let me inside now, and I promise I'll make your colleagues' death quick and painless...
He stands next to the cube.
The Leopard: One of us will die here.
Lunalus sighs.
Lunalus: You always have to spoil everything! There'll be plenty of time for dying. But first, tell me... Who's in charge now?
The Leopard doesn't answer.
Lunalus: Come on... You can at least tell me that. Is it still the Owl?
No reply.
Lunalus: No... He's probably a bit too old for that nowadays, right? Must be someone else calling the shots.
The Leopard: You're not getting anything from me, Lunalus. You can torture me all you want... You know I won't break.
Lunalus: Hahaha! Torture you...? I would never, we go way back, Sadduccee! I wouldn't do that to an old acquaintance. See, truth be told... I just want to have some fun.
Cabdan: Mister Lunalus, shouldn't we-
Lunalus: Shut your fat mouth, Cabdan.
With a snap of his fingers, Lunalus sends a shock of dark energy through Cabdan's ring, electrocuting him and causing him to fall with his knees to the ground. He pants heavily.
Lunalus: You finally did it, huh? After all these years... You finally found a way to destroy the realm created by the dark goddess Tentoria herself. Mortmundus may fall, Sadduccee... But that won't bring you any closer to achieving the future that your little group desires. If anything, you've just unleashed a new era... An era of chaos, of war... Of death on an unprecedented scale. Is that the world you envision...?
The Leopard removes his mask.
Sadduccee: The world we envision is one in which the gods have no hold on our souls. A world where people live unafraid of spending an eternity in the limbo that is Mortmundus...
Lunalus smiles as he sees his face.
Lunalus: You've grown old...
Sadduccee: We both have. Too old for this... We know how this will end. We both know neither of us will change.
Lunalus: Oh, I'm fully aware...
Lunalus sits down on a nearby armchair. He seems almost... Sad.
Lunalus: Which is why I want to cherish our final moments together as much as I can. Tell me, Sadducee... Was this life everything you had hoped for...? Were your battles worth fighting, in the end?
Sadduccee looks at him... For a brief moment, he didn't seem like the heartless monster he once knew.
Sadduccee: Old age is really catching up to you, isn't it...?
Lunalus' gaze seemed empty, as he looked down at the ground.
Lunalus: Answer the question, Sadduccee.
Sadducee ponders before replying.
Sadduccee: I could. But honestly...
Glyphs emerge from Sadduccee's palms.
Sadduccee: ... I'd prefer to die without giving you the pleasure of knowing.
He shoots rays of grey energy at everybody in the room except for Cabdan and Lunalus. Their bodies freeze in place, petrified in time. Lunalus gets up from the armchair.
Lunalus: So, this is how you wish to perish? By taking down meaningless pawns alongside you...?
Sadduccee smiles.
Sadduccee: Oh, don't worry... It's not them I really want. I was just making sure that there'd be no more shields you could use...
His eyes quickly turn to Cabdan. With everybody else unable to move, he finally had a clear line of fire.
Sadduccee: I may not be able to kill you, Lunalus...
He takes aim at Cabdan.
Sadduccee: But I'll at least cripple your operations.
He fires a shot of energy straight towards Cabdan, different from the ones he had just used. This one seemed more powerful, and it was aimed straight at his heart.
Lunalus: Oh...?
An explosion of grey energy knocks Cabdan back - a direct hit. Sadduccee smiles.
Lunalus: ... A clever effort.
From the cloud of smoke caused by the explosion, an identical ray of energy is shot toward Sadduccee's cube. As it hits, the cube shatters into a million pieces. Cabdan had been knocked back, but he seemed unaffected... His ring was emanating a smoking trail of energy, as if it had just been used.
Sadduccee: The ring...
Cabdan laughs as he claps.
Cabdan: Marvellous! Fantastic!
Lunalus: He did tell you it was an upgrade over the old one, you know...
Lunalus casts a glyph of black magic from the palm of his hand.
Lunalus: Now...
A spear of dark energy is summoned from it.
Lunalus: Let's skip to the part where one of us dies!