Chapter 267: Info-Exchange

Several hours later, I had awoken on Isabella's lap. She looked down at me with a smile.

"Hello again, my love. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. Thank you, Isabella. Where did..."

"I sent them all out. Cassandra is currently working with Nirani on getting information about the state of the other realms. Masina is waiting to call Abbadon to the ship so that you may speak with one another."

Now that I thought about it, the room was rather empty...

Regardless, this was a good opportunity to see what Abbadon's real intentions were.

"Give the order. I'll meet Abbadon on the surface platform. But...I want Cassandra and Nirani there as well."

"It will be done, my love..." Isabella said

I sat up and she looked a bit sad...so I leaned in and kissed her.

She immediately smiled.

"Thank you, Mizik! Now I feel like I can do my best!" Isabella said.

I almost smiled. She was so cute like this... I hoped that soon, my curse would be lifted. And even more, that our work of destroying the Corruption would be done as well.

That way, I could give all of my loved ones the peaceful lives they desired...and finally take mine back.

Regardless, I began making my way towards the lift bay.

* * * 

Isabella and Cassandra stood at my sides while Masina stood at my front. Behind me, Nirani began conjuring several golems, while Aldaril did the same with undead.

Finally...a portal opened and Abbadon walked out, followed by a squad of six knights.

"Mizik Iratus, I-"

I held up my hand to silence him.

"The last time we spoke, you threatened me. How and why has that suddenly changed?" I said.

"I know what I said...and I really meant it at the time. But please hear me out. This place is my world...and I was charged with its safekeeping in between my duties as the Oracle's military General," Abbadon said.

"So instead of trying to fight, you've decided to be friendly instead?"

"Precisely. I know that none of us stand a chance against you in battle. Even if we could defeat you, your crew wouldn't stand by and allow us to end your life... We would be slaughtered."

"That is absolutely correct. And now two of Tanavols Avatars serve me as well."

"I would say we're more like allies...I'm not a servant..." Aldaril said.

"Not really important right now, Aldaril..." I said.

"You really don't have to explain yourself, Mizik. I get it. You are very powerful and your crew is as well. Now...I would like to discuss our truce."

"I'll accept an apology. But I think you should go back to Excelsis. Johann would probably be happy to have you around as an ally instead of an enemy...and also his Faithful. I don't want your help," I said.

"Listen, I am Abbadon, god of destruction! I can be of great assistance to you on Tanavol! Or did you not hear about Eris...?"

I became deadly serious.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, if you must know, the Avatars all represent the same elements as the gods residing over Tanavol. I, of course, represent destruction. Eris' power takes after me."

"If I kill you, will she die?"

"No. It won't even weaken her. But I might be able to help you deal with Eris if given the chance. She wants to fight you, by the way," Abbadon said.

"She's heard of me? Or was she just made aware that I arrived?"

Over the years, I had begun to hear things from some of the demons I encountered on certain worlds.

Apparently, word of my actions had spread far...

Far enough to where even Demon Royals began to fear me.

It was understandable that someone on this world could have learned who I was.

Abbadon smiled.

"A little bit of both. One of the Corrupted Generals was spying on your arrival using Valtheim. They tried to recruit Eris to their side..."

"By the gods... Were they successful?"

Abbadon laughed.

"As if! That crazy woman bends her knee to no one! Not even me. She beat the one called Axiom within an inch of his life and managed to push Valtheim back as well."

My eyes went wide.

First off...Axiom was here. Which meant I had to kill him and collect his sword.

Secondly...Eris pushed Valtheim back?

"Tell me exactly what happened right now," I said.

"An eye for an eye, Destroyer. You let me help you and I'll tell you exactly what you want to know. I can't take a direct combat role due to lacking in power, but I have other means of assisting. Do we have a deal?"

"Fine, dammit...deal! Now start talking!" I said.

"Eris grabbed Valtheim by the throat and dispersed her remote form. She's immune to the essence of the Void. Valtheim cannot harm her."

"..."

I was beyond speechless.

If what he said was true, then Eris would be perfect for helping us kill Valtheim. A near-perfect replacement if we couldn't find Kestel.

"I thought you didn't believe Valtheim existed..." I said.

"As much as I revered the previous Oracle, I had known for a long time that Valtheim was very real. She thought to deny it out of stubbornness... She wanted to believe that the situation wasn't as dire as it really was, but wouldn't hear my words on the issue..."

"Darling..." Cassandra said.

I looked over at her.

"Would this Eris be able to help us?" She said.

I thought for a moment and Abbadon responded.

"Sorry, but Eris isn't going to help anyone. She's not that kind of person. She plans to attack Mizik on sight, actually. Which is why we should probably get to an area she can't reach if possible."

Nirani walked up to Abbadon with a frown.

He regarded her as though they had met before.

"Abbadon, are you insinuating that the Peace realm isn't safe? Eris is sealed in the Destruction realm," she said.

Abbadon shook his head sadly.

"What you don't understand, is that Eris isn't really sealed away. Yes, it is true that under normal circumstances she shouldn't be capable of leaving her realm. But...that seal is child's play to her. She remains trapped in her realm only because she chooses to be."

This Eris person was sounding more and more ferocious by the second. I absolutely wanted nothing to do with her...

But I couldn't deny how useful it would be to have her as an ally...

I decided to ask.

"Abbadon...tell me more about Eris. What could I do to make her want to help us?" I said.

"Are you serious? You have already done everything necessary to get her attention, Mizik. You went on a fucking rampage and destroyed countless worlds! You slew demons by the thousands and killed their Kings as if they were mere children! You razed a divine realm to the ground and killed a Guardian. What more could she ask for in an opponent? YOU. ARE. INFAMOUS!!!"

"I meant as an ally, you bastard! I want her to help us, not blow us to pieces!"

"I think you're missing the point... Eris is a volatile psychopath. Her only desire is to destroy and kill. She will not help you. If anything, she wants you dead. Forget about her, okay? Now then...is there anything else I can assist with?"

Isabella decided to speak up at that point.

"Since Eris won't be of any help, we would like any information on Kestel you can provide. Also, it might be a benefit to us if you can watch the other Avatar's movements just in case... especially Eris," she said.

"I'll keep an eye on Eris. So far, nothing has changed with her. But to answer your request...I do not know where Kestel is. I can sense him somewhere on Tanavol, but it's almost as if remnants of his power are scattered across all realms. In the faintest possible way, as well..."

"You mean to say that you didn't even see where Kestel went?" Cassandra said.

"Regrettably, no. He disappeared sometime shortly after Aldaril left. I didn't even know there was a new Avatar of Death at the time because I was in Excelsis...serving the Oracle..."

"Wonderful...another person is useless to his Majesty..." Cassandra said dismissively.

Abbadon glared at her. I could tell he still held a grudge against her for killing him at the end of the Reset Incident, but he chose not to speak further.

"I'll do my best to aid you. But be warned, my forces and I cannot fight any Avatars. They are beyond us. Demons and Corruption however? I might break the law of the Creator just this once to protect my world if I have to. I take my job very seriously."

Nirani placed her hands together and smiled.

"Then we are agreed. Abbadon, please notify us if anything changes with Eris. And if possible, please direct us to any realm that you believe might house our missing Avatar. In the meantime, we will continue to establish a foothold here," Nirani said.

I was wondering why she spoke as if she were a full-fledged member of our crew...

Sure, I considered her an ally, but I didn't know if she would be useful to us after leaving Tanavol...

Come think of it, that was something else I would have to discuss later.

If I wanted Kestel to be strong enough to take on Valtheim, we would need to steal the Elder Core. I would save that project for another day, however.

Abbadon nodded.

"We will keep watch on the Corruption. Currently, it is based in the Death realm. Which reminds me...Aldaril, I believe you have something rather important to the light realms. Yes? That is what I was told, at least," He said.

Aldaril flinched when he spoke and slumped his shoulders.

He held up his lantern and it flashed. A small, dark blue orb hovered out of it.

"The Eye of Order. I still have it. But I won't part with it until I absolutely have to," he said.

"Aldaril..." I said.

"Oh! How is Hikari? I haven't spoken with her in such a long time! I mean, I know she's dead and all, but she hasn't been separated from the Eye, has she?" Nirani said.

"That's where you're wrong. Hikari has passed on thanks to Isabella. She separated her while I was still on Delvandal...and a rather awkward and unfortunate misunderstanding happened as a result of my anger..." Aldaril said.

"Oh...so the Eye is empty...? Then perhaps we should take it back to the Order realm. I believe that Eye was the original reason Kestel disappeared," Nirani said.

"What? Nirnani, what's that supposed to mean?" I said.

"Ah...perhaps I should mention this. It is rather important. But only if Master Mizik gives me plenty of lo-"

"Fine, dammit! Just tell us what we want to know!" I said angrily.

I didn't particularly mind making Nirani mine because she was beautiful and strong. But I didn't like doing those sorts of things with strangers.

Although...if I had to for information, it was a small price to pay. Especially if I could make her a permanent ally.

"Ahn...treating such an honor as if it's an annoyance...yes...! Ahem! Kestel made it his goal to locate Aldaril after he left Tanavol. His goal was simple: find Aldaril and take back the Eye of Order. After searching for a way to locate Aldaril, he simply disappeared from his realm. No one has seen him since. This happened shortly after Aldaril disappeared," Nirani said.

Abbadon raised an eyebrow at her strange words and shook his head. Ultimately not saying anything.

"What else is there? Any small details? Anything he said before leaving?" I asked.

"Sorry, my memory is a tad fuzzy... It happened a very long time ago. I believe he mentioned having found a lead to Ranis last I heard. Ranis may yet have some information he hasn't shared yet. Partially because he's unwilling to share with me unless I perform 'favors' for him... Perhaps we could check the Life realm? I would have to make preparations at my castle before departing, however..." Nirani said.

"That's fine. We can wait here while you get everything ready," I said. Then I turned to Abbadon. "Go back to the divine space. And take this. Contact us if you want to relay information and we can exchange info again. But do me a favor and try to stay out of direct conflict. No offense, but I'm fairly certain you would be killed if you got caught up in a fight between the Cursebreaker forces and the Avatars."

I handed him a small radio device specifically tuned to our comm channel. He took it and looked at me.

"I will take no offense. You are probably right, Destroyer. A man capable of fighting on the same level as that monstrous abyssal god is no laughing matter. I will take my leave."

A portal opened and Abbadon motioned the Oracle's Faithful to follow him into it. After that, it closed behind them.

"Well, if that's all, I'll be going back on the ship. Nasuria is probably worried sick..." Aldaril said.

He turned and walked into the ship's gravity lift.

Then Nirani began squirming in place all of a sudden.

I reluctantly decided to ask.

"...Is there something you want to add...? I'm assuming it's perverted..." 

"How inulting...to assume I am some kind of lewd woman...ahn...so amazing! I would like Master Mizik to accompany me to my castle, actually. I must introduce you to my parents," Nirani said.

"How original..." I mumbled.

"Then we shall depart at once," Isabella said.

She motioned towards Cassandra and she nodded with a smile.

"Actually...I would prefer he accompany me alone. This isn't just some lewd request, it's to make it clear to everyone that the uh...Cursebreaker...? Isn't some kind of threat. I would prefer the captain to arrive and speak with the leaders of the realm."

"I typically do not go anywhere without my first and second by my side. This isn't just for my protection, but yours. I will be completely honest with you, Nirani...I am quite unstable. I have a tendency to snap and destroy worlds without a second thought to anyone else if pushed to that limit."

"Do not worry, Master. I will ensure that you remain calm. Don't you remember who I am?"

"That isn't relevant. I already broke your aura once and doing it again would be child's play."

"You broke one frequency of it. I can modify the frequency to prevent that in the future. I won't take no for an answer!" Nirani said defiantly.

"You dare disobey his Majesty's wishes...?" Cassandra said.

Her eyes went wide...as if she were preparing to strike.

I touched her shoulder to calm her down and...

"Ahn...d-darling...not now, please..." She said.

Goodness. Why are these girls so perverted?

Isabella rolled her eyes and touched my heart device. I felt something connect to me.

"If anything goes wrong, let me know, my love. I can use divine teleportation to come to your aid at any moment," she said.

"Alright... Cassandra, stay next to your sister. I'll be right back."

Cassandra looked distressed. She began shaking.

"Ah...m-my darling... Y-yes...I will obey..."

"Cassandra, you aren't already experiencing withdrawals, are you?" Isabella said.

She slowly nodded and stepped close to Isabella.

"I will obey his Majesty...no matter how unpleasant the order..." Cassandra said.

"Isabella, take her and go. Nirani, let's get this over with."

"It will be done, my love. Let's go, Cassandra."

"Of course, sister..."

I felt my heart ache as I watched the two of them board the ship and turned to Nirani. I straightened myself and spoke in an authoritative, menacing tone.

"You now stand in the presence of the Destroyer. Since you asked them to stay behind, I am currently unbound. Do your best to ensure that I don't go on a rampage. The lives of the Peace realm's citizens are in your hands."

Nirani just stared in awe with her mouth agape.

"So...regal... You're really like an Emperor..." She said.

"Enough talk. Lead the way."

Nirani nodded and several golems came to our side. They surrounded us and we began walking down the stairs of the gigantic platform.