As Bjorn ran though the facility he split his focus. Something that had become second nature to him. While each of his four heads didn't have a mind of their own they did allow him to have four separate thoughts each focused on completely separate tasks. He lost one of those minds when Isin manifested, somehow he was a separate consciousness. Which was something he should admittedly be more worried about but that was a concern for another day.
His middle right head focused on getting them to their destination. While each of his other minds were busy. One was talking with failsafe about the new addition to his Skills Analysis page. Apparently the blessing his mother gave him manifested and it was not what he expected.
Mother's Blessing
Aki'al Hashemi, I expect you to listen to what I said. You have been acting rude and disrespectful. You are old enough now to know not to talk back to me. When I get to the Lower Planes we will be having a long talk about respect and Hydra Hierarchy. Normally we would have this talk later but I feel corrective action is necessary.
Effects of Blessing
- Instinctual understanding of the nearest exit of the angel facility.
- Stealth abilities will also hide you from Divine Senses. In addition their energy will temporarily be powered by this blessing. (Your soul is damaged. Using magic will exacerbate that problem. I have supplemented magic for your Shadow Concealment. Do not use any other magic Aki'al!)
- Shielding from Angelic Core Destination.
- Shielding from Demonic Incursion.
- Shielding from extreme Dimensional collapse.
These effects will weaken as the Divide repairs itself. Move quickly!
"I just got scolded by a skill." Bjorn said.
"Yeah," Failsafe said with urgency. "It sounds like you are in trouble and, also… like we are going the wrong way to leave! Why are we going towards the powerplant instead of away from it? I know you feel the pull to the exit!"
"Because. We are going to make sure this place can't explode." Isin said.
"Oh okay." Failsafe said then after a moment his voice returned with far more indignant heat. "Huh? Wait what! Are you two insane? We are going to the place the evil True is going towards. A True that actually has his powers and is trying to destroy the world? The one whose avatar is strong enough to hold open a wound in reality for years at a time. That True… please don't tell me that True!"
"We aren't going to fight it. We are going to make sure it can't detonate the facility." Bjorn said.
"Instead of freaking out, maybe you should guide us so we get there quicker." Isin said.
"Right here!" Failsafe said in panic. "Right turn now! If we are going to survive this we need to hurry up!"
"Bjorn, we haven't cleared this area." Fuyumi said weakly. "Be sure to look out for S units."
Bjorn hissed in confirmation. He didn't have the power to fight while his body was healing. He moved as fast as he could while remaining in the shadows as much as possible so his concealment would keep them unseen. Then there was an explosion of force that toppled him over. A building in the distance was collapsing and the side wall of the facility was pierced by something with explosive force.
Bjorn hesitated as the face of the Great Serpent loomed in the distance. He only saw a glimpse of the shimmering scales against the sparse lights of Helmforað and the cloud of destruction around it. Eyes scanned across the facility glowing with divine power and fury.
Identify
Name: Ả̸̞P̵͙̄͝Ọ̷̩̋P̶͕̀͝Ḥ̴̢̑̽Ì̷͚͍̃S̵̱͊
Species: True Immortal
Level: N/A
Vocation: N/A
"Bjorn! Bjorn you idiot move." Failsafe said. "Stop staring slack jawed and go!"
Bjorn hadn't realized he had stopped running as soon as he took a step; it was as if the Great Serpent's eyes would land on him. Still he had to run; it was only a matter of time before this creature's plans would come to fruition.
As he turned a corner he ran into something that brought him to an abrupt stop. It appeared suddenly and without any warning. Fuyumi was flung off his back and landed somewhere out of sight. Bjorn's mind worked quickly to figure out what happened. When he saw the undeniable figure of a gnoll standing in front of him.
The figure stood tall with an amused smirk on their lips. Despite its gnoll appearance Bjorn could tell this was not what they appeared to be. They were taller than any gnoll Bjorn had ever seen. With four arms each holding a khopesh. Everything about them told Bjorn he should run but he could not move a muscle. It was like standing in front of death itself.
Identify
Name: R̸̖͘Ĭ̸̹Ö̶̭́T̴͔̂S̸͙͐
Species: True Immortal
Level: N/A
Vocation: N/A
"Well, well, if it isn't a spawn of the hydra ilk." They cackled. "So young too, hmm… and what is this?" Their eyes landed on the cloaked Anasuya on Bjorn's back. "A nidhogg as well? What an unusual pair. I haven't tasted your kind in a long time."
Riots looked up to the Great Serpent and their laughter only intensified, growing crazier.
"We will have a feast today." Their body language shifted from neutral to threatening. "No-no, we can't eat the hatchlings. They are still needed. Remember your agreement? Ugh… fine fine. Today the snake, later we will eat the new ones."
Riots brushed past Bjorn, their eyes full of manic glee as they jumped into the air vanishing from sight.
"We almost just died." Failsafe said frantically. "What is the King of Riots doing here?"
"It doesn't matter we run and get out of here as soon as possible." Isin said.
Fuyumi limped over from wherever she had been flung to. She looked more disheveled but her eyes weren't on Bjorn they were on the massive Serpent and Riots who was a small dot in comparison.
A collision of the two forces was coming quickly and Bjorn didn't want to be around when it did. He ran over to Fuyumi, his tail wrapped around her waist, placing her on his back as he continued to make as much distance as possible.
***
Tanisha woke up in Aurelius's arms, she had to shake off the last of her lethargy from being suddenly pulled into Bjorn's Dreamspace. The message from The Queen of a Thousand heads had been clear. Get out and survive. The blessing she granted to them would protect them from the resulting explosion but Tanisha was not willing to become the last of her former species.
"I am okay, let me down." Tanisha said breathily.
Aurelius put her on her feet, "What happened? You don't normally just faint like that."
She told him about the warning she just got from Poison in the dreamspace. She saw his face darken at the news. If they just let this happen then what was the past few years for? He did this to protect his family but this would guarantee their deaths.
"You can go, Tanisha, but I am staying here." Aurelius said as he took out his sword. "I don't care if it is a Divine or not I will fight it to the end."
Tanisha grabbed his arm, her grip firm enough to arrest his movement.
"Don't try to stop me!" Aurelius yelled.
"I don't remember saying I was leaving to go anywhere. Did you forget my entire country will be destroyed? So many lives lost. I am not going to run away. We need to figure out how to keep this facility from detonating no matter what. Maybe there is a solution here somewhe…" Her word died on her tongue as she turned to the direction of the familiar bond. "Huh? Bjorn is on the way here?"
"He is awake?" Aurelius asked.
"We didn't clear out all of the androids in the city. Can you make sure he gets here safely?"
"That shouldn't be a problem." Aurelius said.
"Great, bring him here." Tanisha said urgently. "He might be able to do something."
Aurelius nodded then got in a runner's position as primana flared around him. In the next instant he was gone. The fastest Tanisha had ever seen him.
She turned back to the computer trying to make out any of the words she saw on the screen. She had to remember her lessons on the language. Laxy and Ivoi had to teach her in order for her to learn chemistry as most of the terminology didn't have a direct Yuhian translation.
Think-think Tanisha you got this. Only the world is at stake. No pressure.
"Doxy? No chance you will translate this for me, huh?" Tanisha asked.
"Query: Tanisha Scalebound is barred from system access. Status: Criminal, active Death Warrant."
"Yeah, that is what I thought." Tanisha muttered.
An earthquake rocked the facility throwing Tanisha to the ground. She balled herself up as what sounded like thunder rang throughout the metal halls.
"That sounds like he is here." Tanisha said as the rumbling persisted. "No time for this. I have to figure something out and fast. Doxi, the facility is under attack. Isn't there something I can do? It wants to destroy the core."
"Query: Hostile Entity detected. Analyzing… analyzing… no additional permissions granted. Tanisha Scalebound is a criminal, active Death Warrant. In addition, you are in connection with two alien True Immortals system access revoked."
Tanisha frustratedly growled as she rubbed her temple. She looked at the screen of sprawling text. Focusing her seiðr through her mind gate to help her focus. Her memory sharpened and the world slowed ever so slightly as she started piecing together words from the alphabet she knew of this language.
The tapping of footsteps behind her caused Tanisha to look up from the monitor. She didn't feel Bjorn's presence was close enough for Aurelius to have returned so quickly.
She turned around to see multiple people walk into the room. Not androids, not by the auras. She sensed mana, and material energies; spread amongst the group. Tanisha's eyes widened in shock for a moment. She then snapped to alertness, they could be followers of the Great Serpent.
Her staff which had been levitating around her flew into her hand as she moved to intercept the interlopers. Identify already activated to know what she was up against
Identify
Name: Muninn Springhold
Species: [BLOCKED]
Level: [BLOCKED]
Vocation: [BLOCKED]
Identify
Name: Rockmaul Ironbrawle
Species: Dwarf
Level: 90
Vocation: Artificer
Identify
Name: Nikandros the Swift
Species: Satyr
Level: 78
Vocation: Healer
Identify
Name: Olivia of the Treadmarkers
Species: Cursor Harpy
Level: 110
Vocation: Ki Swordsman
Muninn stepped in front of the last person before Tanisha could see his information. The woman whistles at the size of the room looking around at terminals.
"That's a rude greeting…Tanisha Valkyrja Scalebound, cernunnos… oh seiðr? Mana, aether and maya. That's a new one." Muninn said. "See… how invasive that feels? You can relax for now. We have the same goal, stop that half dead immortal danger-noodle from detonating this core."
Tanisha took a step back unsure with how to proceed. The details of Muninn became more apparent as Tanisha focused on her. She seemed to be the leader of the group. She looked human but something about her aura was uncomfortable and too sharp to be human. Her skin white, eyes sharp and with long silver-black hair.
She wore a dark long coat with purple feathers. There were no visible weapons but that didn't mean much when dealing with people that could use magic.
"Who are you?" Tanisha questioned as rose gold electricity gathered around her.
Muninn smirked, "I let you see my name didn't I? Put the staff down unless you have a plan to stop everything."
"How did you get in here?" Tanisha questioned.
"Unconventional means." Munnin said.
"Unconventional is an understatement, Lady Munnin." The dwarf Rockmaul said.
"We are running out of time." Olivia the harpy said. "Brave warrior, we mean you no harm. We have come to stop the facility from erupting."
"You know how to stop it?" Tanisha questioned.
"Of course I do." Muninn said. "Mímir get ready, we are going to start the extraction."
The person Tanisha didn't get to scan stepped out from behind Muninn. Tanisha didn't need to use Identify to know who it was. He had the same staff he used at the academy. His blue eyes were focused only on the facility core. He walked with purpose as he prepared his incantation.
His brunette hair had grown to shoulder length and he no longer kept it up in a bun. His clothing was justs as colorful and loose fitting as he liked to wear when not in academy uniform. He looked tired not physically but spiritually. Something about his aura wasn't the same as when they were in the academy.
It didn't feel human anymore, it felt like Muninn's aura. So perfectly uniform it couldn't belong to a living creature. It felt more like that of the machines here. But it didn't make any sense.
Identify
Name: Matthew Kenway
Species: Æsir
Level: 63
Vocation: Invocation
"Matt?" Tanisha's voice came out in a whisper.
Tanisha's body acted before her mind as she ran towards him. She stopped when a spear was pointed at her throat. It was the harpy woman that stepped in front of her.
"Can't let you get any closer warrior." Olivia said sharply.
"Matthew, it's me Freja," Tanisha said, her eyes not leaving his form. "What are you doing here? Who are these people?"
"I knew it was you." Matthew said his head low. "You should leave as soon as possible. Also you need to find Julie, she was taken by gnoll slavers. A couple years ago, sorry I can't say more. But we will stop the facility from being able to be used by the Great Serpent. You have my word."
Tanisha straightened at the news, "Matt, what are you talking about? Why would she have been taken? Why didn't you save her? What is going on? Talk to me."
Matthew turned to her, his eyes now alight with magic. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing left his lips. He then turned back to the core and kept walking, staff raised while starting a new invocation.
The harpy woman didn't let Tanisha any closer and she didn't want to disturb Matthew while he was channeling. Her mind was racing, there was too much going on all at once. A distant explosion rang out and a moment later a tremor rocked the city. It shook Tanisha from her stupor. Her team was still out there and there wasn't anything more she could do here.
"Muninn." Tanisha's eyes were sharp as she called the woman. "You owe me an explanation."
"No, I don't." Muninn said, "But what Mímir said is true, you should leave soon. The facility is likely to be flooded by corrupted mana from outside soon. You won't survive that. There is a passage you can use to get out. I will give you the directions."
[Message Received]
Tanisha's eyes again widened in shock as she saw that she had in fact gotten a map sent directly to her armor's systems. She didn't know that was possible. Muninn was hiding more secrets than she was comfortable with.
Muninn continued. "The door should be open now. It will take you far enough away from the eye of the storm to exit safely. Survival is on you though."
"How are you going to get out of here if the facility will be flooded?" Tanisha asked.
"That is not your concern." Muninn replied.
Tanisha took a step back, "Fine. But I will find you again and when I do I am getting answers. From you and Matt."
Olivia lowered her spear in a moment of tense silence aside from Matthew's incantation in the background.
"So no fight right? I am going to take a look around." Rockmaul said cheerily. "Working aethertech! I can't believe it! You think I can take apart one of these terminals? The knowledge even one of these contains for an artificer like me! By the divines, this place was worth it."
"I wouldn't do that Rock." Nikandros said as he followed behind him. "You don't know what opening one of those things will do."
"I know right? It is so exciting!" Rockmaul said.
Tanisha took one long look at Matthew's back or Mímir as they had been calling him. A thousand unanswered questions but no time for a single one.
"I will save Julie," Tanisha called out.
She turned to the door and ran as fast as she could. She wouldn't have believed Muninn but Matthew wouldn't lie to her. He said he would save the facility and she believed it.