29 Stolen Fire

A moment before my oncoming demise I began to cry out to Celecia. Now something else answered. An oddly polite voice began to speak inside my head.

OH MY. THIS IS QUITE THE PREDICAMENT YOU'RE IN.

This voice doesn't belong to Celecia. Compared to her almost choir-like speech, this one's tone dripped with pure contempt.

But not at me.

"W-Who are you!?" I shouted.

BE AT EASE, LITTLE LAMB. THAT (CREATURE) ISN'T GOING TO ATTACK YOU ANYTIME SOON.

My eyes focused back on the Centaurion. At the moment, I thought it would fire its cannon at me but it hasn't done so yet. In fact, everything was completely still. The world around me looked drained of their colors.

SO YOU'VE NOTICE, YES? THE (FLOW OF TIME) HAS STOPPED. FOR NOW.

Looks like I've received a stay of execution. But still, a newcomer has appeared and I don't know what his intentions are. He's even powerful enough to stop time! Is he another god that's been watching me?

WHY NO, LITTLE LAMB. I AM BUT A (SERVANT). ONE WHO ATTENDS TO (HIGHER BEINGS). TO BE COMPARED TO THOSE (GODS) IS QUITE (INSULTING).

It could hear my thoughts!? "Just who the hell are you anyway!? How did you find me!?" I shouted.

It's manner of speech was too strange. Whenever he said certain words, it felt like something else was being said but something else came out. Like he was censoring himself.

I'M AFRAID IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T QUITE (RESONATE) WITH EACH OTHER, LITTLE LAMB. AT LEAST, NOT YET. OH, BUT I DIGRESS! MY NAME IS (THE FACELESS CHILD WHO WATCHES THE WAVES). IT'S A PLEASURE, (ARLAN).

I was a bit perturbed by what I just heard, "What kind of name is that?"

IT'S QUITE A PLEASANT NAME, I ASSURE YOU. I'M AFRAID THESE (PEOPLE) DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO UNDERSTAND OUR BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE. AS TO WHY I'M HERE, WELL... I'M HERE TO HELP YOU, LITTLE LAMB. YOU HAVE BEEN (CHOSEN)!

"By what?" I asked skeptically.

OH, YOU'VE NO NEED TO BE SO SUSPICIOUS, LITTLE LAMB. YOU'VE BEEN CHOSEN BY THE (CRYSTAL)! YOUR (CORE). THE VERY THING THAT POWERS THAT (VESSEL). HOW ELSE COULD HAVE A WAYWARD SOUL BE ACCEPTED TO INHABIT IT? YOU HAVE BEEN DEEMED A WORTHY (SUCCESSOR). OF COURSE, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY. TO THINK THAT IF YOUR (CORE) HAD NOT BEEN EXPOSED, I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND YOU.

This thing seems to know about my body but I don't have time to ask questions right now. I need to find out a way to defeat the Centaurion.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, LITTLE LAMB! SINCE YOU ARE A (SUCCESSOR) TO THE (GREATER BEINGS), I AM OFFERING MY ASSISTANCE.

Well that's a bit of a relief, however... "If you want to help me, I've got no reason to say no but..."

WHAT'S THE CATCH? THERE'S NO CATCH, LITTLE LAMB. IT IS A (SERVANT'S) DUTY TO ATTEND TO THEIR (MASTERS) WHEN NEEDED. I ONLY ASK THAT YOU MEET WITH ME WHEN YOU DEFEAT THAT (CREATURE). WE HAVE MUCH TO DISCUSS ABOUT YOUR (INHERITANCE). I'LL BE WAITING OVER IN THE LABORATORY WHERE YOUR (VESSEL'S) UPGRADES SHALL BE. YOU ARE HERE FOR THESE, I ASSUME?

"Wait, what do you mean 'me'? If you haven't noticed, my body is a complete wreck!" I shouted.

ALLOW ME TO GIVE YOU A SMALL SAMPLE OF YOUR (INHERITANCE). I CAN'T DO MUCH FROM THIS DISTANCE BUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFEAT THAT (CREATURE) WITH EASE.

My frame began to uncontrollably shake. The soft blue glow that usually emanated from my core began to shine hotly turning into an almost lavender like color. A low hum started to reverberate from it.

[Warning! Core power has started to surge through the Unit! Output energy have risen to unsafe levels!]

SUCH A NOISY (CREATURE). IT IS (UNWORTHY) TO BE YOUR (SERVANT), LITTLE LAMB. IT REEKS OF HER STENCH.

It was then I noticed the damage I've received began to repair at insurmountable speed. Weaves of metal began to close my wounds and smooth out dents. Even my limbs were fully functional again.

[Unit repairs are now complete! Power levels are still exceeding recommended output.]

She was right. I was absolutely bursting with energy, like my entire system was overclocked to the extreme. Even my mana supply was completely full once again. I need to stop this, though. I don't think this body can handle so much power.

REPAIRING YOUR (BODY) IS A SIMPLE MATTER. NO... YOU CAN DO MORE!

I started to hear the sound of liquid dripping on stone. My core began to heavily perspire black liquid.

[Warning! Unknown energy is entering the syste-*#^&(&%#(]

I started to panic at the strange sight, "Hey! Hey! I-Is it supposed to do this!?"

OF COURSE, THIS TOO IS PART OF YOUR (INHERITANCE).

As if it had a mind of its own, the black mass began to grow and follow the ancillary piping that lead from my core into each of my extremities. My right arm began to hemorrhage dark liquid from the gaps between its metal plates and began to pool around my hand.

This wasn't normal. It was like I dumped my hand into a pool of tar, "Holy shit, stop this! What are you doing to my body!?"

DO NOT BE AFRAID. THIS IS BUT A SAMPLE OF YOUR TRUE POWER, LITTLE LAMB.

My entire right arm began to bulge and distort as the mass began to take shape. A giant predatory claw of wicked proportions emerged from where my right hand once was. A grotesque thing made of shadows and machinery. The nails on its tips looked sharp enough to cut through flesh without effort.

I was terrified at the sight, "What is this!? What have you done to me!?" I ask, demanding to know.

WORRY NOT. YOU MAY (HIDE) YOUR MAJESTY, IF YOU WISH. ONE DAY YOU WILL SEE IT AS I DO. FOR NOW, USE THIS TO DEFEAT YOUR (ENEMY).

This is insane! I was ok with lasers and shooting out my fist but having this power was horrific. I looked like a monster.

YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER, LITTLE LAMB. THIS... THIS IS THE IMAGE OF (GODLY SPLENDOR). YOU TRULY ARE THE (SUCCESSOR)!

I can't believe what I'm hearing. But now that I've had a moment to think about all this, I'm... ok? I feel like I can accept this for the moment. How odd... well, I still need to deal with that golem and if this new ability can help me bring this thing down, I'll take it.

GOOD, GOOD. I'LL NEED TO RESUME THE NORMAL (FLOW OF TIME) BEFORE YOU-

"Wait!" I yell. "Can I heal my friends before you do? They don't have much time left before they die!"

YOU WANT TO HEAL THOSE (PEOPLE)? SUCH A STRANGE NOTION. BUT IF THAT IS MY (MASTER'S) WISH, THEN WHO AM I TO SAY NO, LITTLE LAMB. PLEASE RAISE YOUR (HAND) UP HIGH AND CHANT YOUR (SPELL). YOU WILL FIND YOUR (INCANTATIONS) TO BE MUCH MORE POTENT IN THAT FORM.

I follow his instruction and raise my clawed hand into the air as a rather large magic circle appears above it. In fact, it was much larger than it usually is for such a low tier spell. Then, almost instinctually my claw grabs hold of the circle as if it had physical form and begins to pour my body's mana into it.

"[Light Heal]!"

The moment I cast the spell; shadowy tendrils began to emerge from my claw's skin and radiate a soft light from their tips. Looking over at each of my comrade's bodies, I saw their wounds begin the close. Whatever damage they took had now disappeared with my spell.

THIS TOO IS THE POWER YOU HOLD. ONCE YOU HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR (INHERITANCE) YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE. I AM (WEEPING) FROM THE THOUGHT.

Now that the danger of my friends dying has passed, it was now time to focus on the Centaurion. Huh. Shouldn't I just kill it now that time is still stopped? It would make this whole thing easier.

I'M AFRAID WE CAN'T HAVE THAT, LITTLE LAMB. IT WOULD BE MUCH (SWEETER) TO WITNESS YOUR MAJESTY IN (TRUE COMBAT).

The colors of the world began to return as time began to return. The Centaurion seemed unfazed at the event, even with me now suddenly standing and wielding a giant mass of shadows. Once again, it unloaded a ball of plasma from its cannon, sending it careening into my body with a giant explosion.

It had hit its mark but whatever damage I sustained was quickly repaired. My core was still in overdrive.

SUCH AN UNSLIGHTLY (THING). (STOLEN FIRE) EMPOWERED BY A (CORPSE). TO THINK THOSE (PEOPLE) HAVE USED (US) LIKE THIS.

I wasn't really paying attention to him anymore. All I could think about was destroying this golem. To make it pay for what it did to the people I hold dear...

SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS TO PARASITES THAT TRY TO SUP ON BEINGS GREATER THAN THEMSELVES.

I lunge forward to attack with deadly speed. I'm even faster than before now. The Centaurion looked as slow as molasses compared to me. It tries to hit me with a swing of its sword but I dance around each attempt.

Taking aim, I leap towards its sword arm and with a swing of my claw completely shreds it off. Blue mana starts to pour vigorously from the jagged amputation as its sword falls to the ground with a large thump.

This claw is more dangerous than I thought if it was able to cut through its metal frame like wet paper. I jump towards its humanoid upper body and pierce through its skin, taking hold of the Centaurion's core to rip out. It starts to stutter while I pull it away. Its attached tubing and wiring begin to tear away violently the more I rip away until the Centaurion finally collapses on itself.

My anger not yet abated; I begin to squeeze the gigantic core with my claw. The shadowy tendrils appear once again, wrapping themselves around the crystal and began to burrow within it, as if they were trying to drain it of mana. Blue ooze started to pour out from the cracks that started to appear. With one final crunch, the core explodes into fine dust, covering me in fresh liquid mana.

SPLENDID. JUST SPLENDID! TO THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO WITNESS YOU IN BATTLE ONCE AGAIN, LITTLE LAMB.

I was completely exhausted from this maddening ordeal. My core thought likewise as it began to emanate its usual blue light. The shadows around my arm began to melt away and slop onto the ground like batter.

[Power is now returning to acceptable levels.]

ONCE AGAIN, LET ME JUST SAY I AM FILLED WITH (JOY) TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE TRUE (SUCCESSOR).

[Error! Damage to support systems has been received. Unit functionality has decreased dramatically! [Spiritual Attunement] is at dangerously low levels!]

My body falls unceremoniously to the ground. Once again, I couldn't move an inch.

IT SEEMS THIS WHOLE ORDEAL HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON YOU. REST FOR NOW, LITTLE LAMB. WHEN YOU ARE READY, IMPROVE UPON YOUR (VESSEL). ONCE THAT IS COMPLETE, WE WILL TALK FACE TO FACE.

[The system will now begin the reboot process while initiating repairs.]

The bodies of my friends began to stir as I started to lose consciousness. They're safe now, at least...

TO THINK YOU COULD MANIFEST THAT MUCH POWER WITH JUST A TINY PUSH... YOU TRULY ARE A WORTHY (SUCCESSOR). OUR (MASTER) HAS RETURNED! (THE ONE WHO WATCHES THE PLAINS).

I could barely hear what the voice was saying as darkness covered everything.

(THE BLACK LAMB WITH SEVEN EYES). DO YOU HEAR THEM (MASTER)? THE PARASITES ARE TREMBLING...