Abyssal Awakening

Beneath the Coliseum in the Slaughter Docks rests a beast of old, sealed through a myriad of chains.

A being of such magnitude that it felt impossible for something like that to have been sealed all the way down here. How would one even carry it down without destroying the very landscape itself?

And why has the Abyss sealed it here of all layers? Why not deeper, in Terminus even?

These were the questions present in Alice’s mind as she approached the beast confined by chains.

Each segment of the chains was much bigger than even carriages. Two hung from the walls and ceiling, slumping towards a pit of crimson leading to the depths of this location.

From the elevator, a charred pathway crafted from the skeletal plating of the beast was laid out for them to walk.

Skin ripped and burned into the road.

Metal spikes were stapled through the flesh and bones of this colossus while two large dorsal fins carved into the walls of its prison. Even after all this time, the slaves hardly made noticeable progress on the body of the beast.

Jagged bone dyed in red trailed from its back like a mutated mane. Spikes jutting out of the spine and elbows. Deadly weapons that could carve the land apart with a simple swipe.

Platins that mimicked muscle anatomy wrapped around its body, with cracks spreading across the surface.

Armour that could be abandoned or reconstructed at all, while muscle fibres could be seen through the gaps.

Shedding said armour might grant new changes to its form, but it’s something she couldn’t find out unless Alice fought this beast head-on.

Its skull was segmented into four parts, each covering a quarter of its head. Dormant eyes flickered with an ominous light the moment Alice stepped onto the path leading towards this beast.

Despite the years of confinement, its mind was still awake.

In such a case, Alice had to give it praise.

It had four arms in total, two pinned against the walls without any leeway for movement while the other two were bound tightly against its chest.

Once again, the thought she first had when she laid her eyes upon this beast crossed her mind once more.

What if she drank its blood?

Most of the workers and the beasts had already evacuated this location once news of Alice’s arrival was spread throughout the communications.

They wanted little to do with a lord who could flatten them with a single slap.

If anything, they wanted to get as far as possible.

Everyone knew this sealed beast was alive, but if it were to suddenly wake up...

Untold levels of destruction would follow.

Walking carelessly towards the beast, Alice eventually stopped on the platform facing its head. Her eyes bore into his.

*TSSSS!!!

Steam hissed out as the jaws split apart to reveal a giant set of teeth and a tongue behind its armour.

Alice simply allowed the steam to brush past her. Running her fingers through her hair, she had a casual smile on her face.

"I must say, to have such mental fortitude that even countless years of imprisonment does little to hinder you... impressive." Alice complimented the beast’s glowing motes for eyes, which narrowed.

*RUMBLE!!!

The world seemed to tremble as the beast tried to shuffle its body only for the chains to pull against its body tightly, preventing his movement.

"I have little use for your praise, little girl..."

Finally, a loud, deep voice rumbled. Each word causing the rocks around her to tremble.

"What does the inheritor of the Abyss want by visiting an old prisoner? Is it to gloat about your ancestor’s achievements? To laugh at the state the Old Lords are in?" He growled.

Despite the chains holding onto him, it still felt like the beast could escape at a moment’s notice.

Not only that...

But the aura around this beast felt as though I hadn’t diminished at all.

"I’m not here to gloat about the past or to take pride in it. In fact, I’m not even here as the inheritor of the Abyss. Simply... Think of me as a bored girl on a walk. It’s rather late at night, and I’m desperately in need of some inspiration." Alice chuckled.

*BANG!!!

The beast suddenly lunged forward as Cayla quickly stepped up.

Several casting circles appeared in the air, ready for deployment, as Cayla had utilised the triggered casts to help support Alice in a fight.

As the eyes of the Abyss, her analytical skills were much better than 99% of casters. In just one movement, she had prepared countless countermeasures if needed.

All Alice would need to do would be to supply the energy needed, and all of these attacks will fire off without any issues.

Yet Alice didn’t do that.

Instead, she simply reinforced the prison around them. To ensure that the beast’s movements didn’t cause chaos above the surface.

Though...

That was unlikely as the previous movements had already alerted them.

"Are you trying to mock me? Am I not suffering the humiliation of my kind’s defeat? And you say you are not here to gloat. What is this if not coming to see a helpless prisoner? Or do you wish to fight so badly?" The beast warned.

"Not at all. When I say I came here for a walk, I speak truth. Why don’t we settle down and talk? Or would you rather me remove your binding first?" Alice laughed casually with a wave of her hand.

"Even if you are the inheritor of the Abyss, I can see through that fake aura you’re emitting. You are no Lord. Can you handle the consequences of removing my bindings!?"

*RUMBLE!!!

The full aura of the beast burst outwards as the only reason for Cayla, the ’sane’ one of the trio, was to simply crease her brows.

It was to the extent that this was simply a slight inconvenience rather than a real threat.

After all...

Alice had faced far worse.

She had seen powers far stronger, faced dangers beyond that of a ’mere’ sealed Lord.

"You’re not very cooperative, are you? Do you have a habit of antagonising the people you come across?" Alice sighed before snapping her finger.

*BANG!!!

Her own aura burst outward, this time without holding back.

She replaced a few sigils so that her most powerful was on full display.

The myriad of authorities overlapped, and within that, even a hint of the aura belonged to that of an apostle!

"!!!"

The beast’s pupils constricted in shock. But most terrifying of all...

Tiamat!

’Has this girl killed Tiamat? Impossible! But... that aura is undeniable...’

Through the misunderstanding of Alice’s power, the beast was now under the impression that Alice was no different from a raging war machine. One that had slaughtered members of all the main factions, one who claimed the life of even Tiamat, the dragon queen of the apocalypse.

With such powers under her control, what need did she have for his life?

Even with his power... he doubted he would be of use to her.

In which case...

"Are... you really here for a mere ’walk?’" The beast asked hesitantly as Alice created a set of chairs and a table.

Flicking her hair back, she sat down and crossed her legs.

"Of course. I’m not so idle that I’ll gloat in front of prisoners, you know?" Alice brought out a cup of tea.

As much as she would like to drink, she recalled Allura’s stare when she had wanted to drink some mead leisurely and shivered.

Her mother would wake up in an instant to beat her ass if she were discovered to be drinking mead this late at night.

"So, would you like me to free your bindings? Or would you prefer to speak under your chains?" Alice offered.

Breaking the chains wasn’t exactly difficult. With the authority bestowed upon her along with a myriad of other sigils, she could make something happen.

Yet his response surprised her.

"Leave it be. Breaking the chains would cause a calamity for the cities around here. This prisoner has no desire to drag countless with me in death." The beast exhaled.

For a beast to be concerned about the civilian’s living above it... An old Lord at that... This one was different from the others.

Closing its eyes, energy surged like a tidal wave before calming down to a gentle stream.

A level of control she hadn’t expected. Especially since the beast seemed to be the brawling kind with four arms and muscles across its body.

Like Tiamat in the inverted world, the beast temporarily created a vessel and took a seat opposite Alice.

A sophisticated old man with a top hat and carefully groomed grey hair and beard. A smart black suit, a single monocle and even a cane.

His crimson eyes stared at Alice, who raised an eyebrow at his appearance.

"It is common courtesy not to stare so hard. Most would find it rather offensive and wonder if there is an issue with their appearance." He tapped the cane on the ground as the echo snapped Alice out of it.

"Ahaha, my apologies. I simply didn’t expect to see a behemoth of an old lord shrink to the form of a refined old man." Alice waved her hand, creating a tea cup for him to use.

There was an assortment of snacks laid out on the table, but he didn’t touch any of it.

He simply poured himself a cup of tea.

"Judging others by their appearance alone makes one unsuitable to become a ruler. Especially if you intend to take over Velouria’s role. Little girl, you have much to learn." He scoffed, but Alice took no offence.

In fact, she found it rather amusing.

"Indeed, you are right. I too think I’m rather unsuitable, but what can we do when the world has dealt us this hand? My name is Alice Agnelia; may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" Alice introduced herself.

"Agnelia... So you’re Allura’s child." The old man paused briefly.

"Something of the sort. We’re not blood-related, but she’s my mother regardless of that fact." Alice smiled.

"I see... I am Yngvar. The Old Lord of Earth. So, inheritor of Velouria, speak your mind and I shall listen."