The Court of Souls?

“Gateway to the Heavens: The Assyrian Account to the Tower of Babel

The story tells of the construction of a tower in Babel, which resulted in the confounding of language. The Book of Genesis tells of a time in which all of the world’s population migrated eastward to the plain of Shinar.”

- The Journey to the Afterlife

***Dedessia, the Sea of Souls, Mana Storm***

***Elona***

“Why does our current strategy feel like a stupid idea,” I ask myself aloud, watching the mana storm which is promising our impending doom. The ominous vortex of swirling energies is sickening to watch. Staring at it for too long makes me feel like my mind is falling apart. If it wasn't for the fact that I keep concentrating on the ground, I am sure that I would have a strong headache by now.

The final tests on our little invention were concluded yesterday and we decided that it is best to deploy our hidden weapon as soon as possible. Hence we gathered our forces at a safe distance and marched right towards the storm. The possibility that our special weapon gets found out is small, but we shouldn't give away a single advantage. Moonray surely doesn't realize how much of a power boost the crystal technology really is.

Gods already have earth shattering powers on their own. A being which has an almost unlimited mana pool can devastate continents on its own. But the mana crystals add a whole new level to that stage. They provide yet another source of energy, but that isn't their most powerful feature. Their nature allows them to be enchanted very easily, which frees mental resources for other tasks. In addition they are able to penetrate almost any magical defence, as they are pure magic themselves. Mana crystals are to gods what silver is to werewolves. Any other weapon has to be wielded with great care, a steel weapon for example can be shattered or bent with bare hands. Not so with a weapon formed from mana crystals.

It took some time to walk all the way to Moonray's hideout, but in the end we gave him a satisfying show of force. We even have our allies from Soistaat an Equilibrium with us. Probably their leaders think that showing their full allegiance might get them access to some of the crystal technology in the future. They may be right if they continue to prove themselves.

“I don't like it. Not at all,” Shade mumbles. He is walking right next to me, worry in his face. “You should have stayed at home.”

I frown and look around. “You are joking, right? If it's about giving birth-”

“I don't mean that,” he interrupts.

One day ago I gave birth to Cylus, Seria's brother. But thanks to healing magic I've long since recovered. I am really starting to like being a succubus. Apart from giving birth, it really makes getting children easy. The only thing I have to look out for is not getting carried away.

But that should hardly be a concern of mine at this moment. “Then what did you mean?”

“They could have set off the storm by now. All it would take is casting strong magic at us. Yet they allow us to come closer and closer. They don't even try to keep us away from their complex. A wholly unsatisfying situation if you ask me,” Shade explains.

I squint my eyes at the sole building which rising above of the devastated landscape. It's nothing much, just a little bunker next to the spell formation, probably five kilometres away. If I didn't know what to look for, I would likely miss the small bulb on the horizon. It is the only indication that there must be some kind of complex next to the huge magical circuit.

The architect clearly took some inspiration from a good, old bomb shelter. It is a cylinder, about twenty metres in diameter and fifteen metres in height with a rounded roof. The material used is the same molten rock which is covering this entire landscape.

Everything is brimming with magic. At this moment I am really glad that I mastered my inner energies. I don't have to rely on using my outer magical system.

“We could try to deploy our countermeasures from here and charge right in,” I suggest and look around. Eighty-nine higher immortals and five hundred mids should be more than enough against Moonray's forces. From what we have found out, he should have about eighteen higher immortals and that's it. And that's already taking into account that he most likely joined forces with the remaining slavers.

“I don't think that's wise. We have only one seed. It's tempting to simply throw the damn thing at the storm, but what if Moonray has a way to intercept it?” Shade shakes his head. “It feels much safer to deploy it directly at the source.”

There is no way that they can stop us, even if the storm forces both parties to fight without magic.

“It's about the fact that he didn't even come to the surface. If we have to crawl into some kind of tunnel system to drag him out, I swear that I will find a way to scrape off his skin and keep him alive. The world will be a place of pain for him.” Shade growls.

I chuckle. “Do you have something against tunnels, dear husband?”

He shudders and lets his gaze wander over the people who follow us in a loose formation. Marching in a tight formation would be stupid. Especially when we are already expecting some kind of trap. The last thing we need is walking directly into a mine field. Of course, approaching like this makes changing tactics hard. It nonetheless makes it harder to take out all of us at once.

“Do you think he is hiding an army of spirits somewhere in the vicinity?” I ask.

Shade shrugs and then he nods. “It would fit his style so far. But if he could keep a mentionable amount of spirits locked up in cages, then why didn't he already use that capability. Sending us more than a handful of spirits at once would have been much more effective.”

“I think something is happening!” I point at the horizon. An eerie, orange light is illuminating the horizon above the bunker. It is clear that Moonray started whatever he intends to do. Then a huge portal starts forming, and the mana storm which is looming behind the scene quickens its pace. The circular motion becomes faster and more vicious, and my heart sinks as it starts expanding with frightening speed.

“Okay, from now on all limits are off!” Shade takes off the backpack with Yggdrasil's seed inside it. “I hope you didn't make any mistakes when we created the thing. Because if we have to ride the reincarnation train, then you are the one to blame.”

I shake my head with newly found fervour. “Oh, no! Certainly not! If this doesn't work, then you are to blame. I don't make mistakes.”

Shade laughs and prepares himself to hurl the seed at the mana storm, but he doesn't even get the chance. When the fast approaching storm reaches the orange portal, it stops. I watch in awe as the portal starts sucking the energy out of the storm. Did Moonray have a plan similar to ours? But why would he need so much energy to open a simple portal. I admit that it is huge, but that can't be the reason!

The storm keeps raging, but doesn't advance any further. I can also feel the suppressing magical aura lift and within a moment the area feels almost like everywhere else in Dedessia.

Then the creatures start pouring out of the portal. They are spirits of various kinds and sizes. I don't know why I know it, since most of them are completely unknown to me, but I simply know it. Moonray opened a gateway to somewhere and that place is overrun with spirits. And now they are pouring into our realm.

“Shit!” I point at the seemingly endless flood. “We have to stop this! And fast, or they will run out of control.”

“Do you think the portal will close when we throw our little experiment at it? I didn't specify which energy it should absorb to get started. Did you?” Shade turns towards me with a doubtful expression on his face.

I shake my head. “No. I was only concerned with balancing the different spell components. It should initially absorb any and all big energy sources.”

“Then this will be solved in no time.” Shade teleports, only to reappear three metres in front of me. After a dire moment he turns around with a grumpy expression. “Moonray's circle seems to hinder teleportation!”

He holds out the backpack. “You try it.”

I take the heavy item and attempt to flash step, but the energy in my surroundings ripples and I stumble, rolling over my shoulder and returning to my feet in one graceful movement. Turning around, I find myself just a few steps ahead of Shade. “Pure movement skills don't work either!”

Shade flicks his fingers and starts gesturing at our companions. “Form up on us! Looks like we have to fight our way through them the hard way!”

I turn around and look at the approaching mass of monsters. After a brief moment of orientation, the fucking things homed in on us and are now in a race for who reaches us first. And the reinforcements from the portal don't seem to stop.

.