Chapter 14: Chapter 13 Fastidium

Krutak’s overall anatomy remained the same. But he had developed a thick ridged armour over his body while doubling in size. He now possessed a square angular jaw with small varied plates jutting upward to hide his mouth opening and protect his face. His bark-like hide had taken on an uneven rockface texture, with it thicker in some places than others. Large upswept horns gave him a deeply imposing presence that made it difficult for him to blend into the environment.

 

***

 

“Don’t get a big head, you’re not a Dolore demon yet,” Tsiyaha mocked, a tail emerging from her mass of hair to playfully caress Helios’ face, heckling him for his elongated skull.

 

‘She’s right, master. It’s only safe to leave after we become one. Primus demons don’t survive beyond the Glass Beach. I don’t even know what’s out beyond,” Krutak added, looking in the direction of the giant tower far off in the distance.

 

“Master? Have you formed a new kink, Helios? I hope you don’t expect me to start calling you that. Hahaha,” Tsiyaha teased, clutching her stomach in uproarious laughter.

 

“Very funny. Ha… Ha,” Helios dryly replied.

 

“ Cheer up, buttercup. It’s only a joke. You wanted to know what’s beyond the Glass Beach. See over there, that giant glass anthill on the horizon’s called Fastidium. It’s one of the seven kingdoms of Hell,” Tsiyaha said, walking away a short distance and gesturing in the direction of a dark tower.

 

“What’s there?” Helios asked.

 

“I don’t know a lot about it. Only what I’ve overheard from other Primus. Apparently, it’s the closest thing to order that exists among demons. Strength and cunning hold the highest respect. The biggest benefit for us is the only official rule, ‘those of higher castes cannot prey on those weaker while inside the city’s walls.’”

 

“That sounds great and all, but who enforces that?” Helios asked with a sceptical expression.

 

“Any who violate the rule forfeits its protection. It keeps all but the highest echelons of the archdemons within control. And they’re too busy fighting each other for the throne to care about anyone else,” Tsiyaha replied.

 

“It's settled then. We should be relatively safe there. Nothing will waste its time with a Primus when there are bigger predators breathing down their necks,” Helios decisively said.

 

“What makes you think I’m coming with you?” Tsiyaha asked with a coy smirk.

 

“Because you’d be lost without my winning personality to keep you company. Let’s face it. If you had any better options, you wouldn’t still be here,” Helios arrogantly retorted. Tsiyaha’s face clouded over with a scowl but she remained silent.

 

“Is this a good idea, master? Fastidium is a long way from the Glass Beach. We could be killed on the way,” krutak worriedly asked.

 

“How the fuck did you survive this long with a cowardly attitude like that? Are your size and physique just for show, did you really just get big so no one will even try to mess with you? That’s clearly not a valid strategy,” Helios snapped in annoyance, gesturing at the remains of Argolos.

 

“No, master,” Krutak quietly replied, lowering his head in shame.

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“Good, because we’re going. Tsiyaha, do you want to scout the way?” Helios asked.

 

“Yes, we will travel through the Wailing Woods. A place where the mortal world’s evil roots run deep,” Tsiyaha replied, starting the long trek toward Fastidium.

 

“What does that mean?” Helios called out, walking after her with Krutak at his heels. Tsiyaha paused and glanced over her shoulder before answering.

 

“The sin of mortals plant a seed within Hell. The guilt of their misdeeds torments them in life, bringing threads of their soul here to suffer in mental anguish. Giving them a taste of what to expect when they join us after death,” Tsiyaha indifferently replied, turning to continue leading the way. 

 

Helios shared a look with Krutak before hurrying to follow. It was quite the distance to travel to the edge of the Glass Beach. A disturbance drew Helios’ attention, he glanced over to discover a Primus siphoning a Newborn. It hissed at them and then dragged the compliant victim into the shadows of the obsidian stalagmite. 

 

Layers of obsidian fragments collapsed from a neighbouring stalagmite. Helios surveyed around him and saw Primus demons encroaching from different directions, giving the pair a wide berth. Helios breathed out a heavy sigh and quickened his pace to catch up to Tsiyaha who had blended seamlessly into the environment.

“So, this is the Wailing Woods? I see how it got the name…” Helios slowly observed, standing at the edge of the forest, staring at the trees in front of him.

 

The most notable feature was each tree trunk resembled a human body with a recognisable face in the centre. Spindly bare branches off-shot from the trunk covered in thorns, stretching together to form a thick canopy overhead. The trees moaned and creaked in the still air. The trees were gnarled and twisted with a black secretion over the bark that made them look charred. The smell of sulphur was pervasive in the air. 

 

“The trees in Hell possess an instinctive level consciousness lower than that of a Demonic Larvae. Legend has it that the plant will bloom if its tormented soul finds peace. It’s almost unheard of, but like anything in Hell, a flower produced here will be ugly and deadly, lasting mere moments before crumbling into oblivion. Death can be considered a kind of salvation for our kind,” Tsiyaha philosophically said. She stepped to the side and invited Helios to be the first to enter with a gesture.

 

“Krutak, you go first. Put your size to use and clear us a path,” Helios instructed.

 

“Yes, master. Be wary of the thorns. They can’t cut me, but they will be dangerous for you,” Krutak obediently replied. 

 

His muscles bulged with power, reaching out with oversized hands to grab hold of branches blocking their path. He effortlessly tore through them, causing the tree to wail in protest. He ignored the sound and efficiently opened a path through the woods.

 

“This is our safest route, most go around the barrier and avoid entering the Wailing Woods. It’ll take a lot longer but we won’t encounter many threats within. It’s not too late to change your mind,” Tsiyaha said, looking for any change in Helios’ expression to indicate weakness or hesitation.

 

“I’ll be able to alert us of anything getting close. My aura detection has kept me alive until now,” Krutak called over his shoulder without slowing. 

 

“No, Fastidium will be a place of many opportunities. Staying at the Glass Beach holds no threat higher than the occasional stray Dolore. I have no interest in hiding and becoming stagnant. Let’s go,” Helios resolutely stated, walking into the Wailing Woods into the path opened up by Krutak. 

 

He leaned down to retrieve a slender branch from the ground. Holding his new-found staff in a pair of hands, he started using his second set of arms to start working on attaching his obsidian dagger. He was unaware of being observed from nearby as their figures disappeared into the shadow of the canopy. 

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