259. Interrogation

  A week had passed since the aurora rippled across the global sky. Despite the lack of an official report, rumour had it that the Astral Empress of the Osten Empire had fallen during the Battle of York, north of Britainia.

  Sandria Meinhardt wore a pristine white uniform, walking unhurriedly through a rural street. The thin-paved road was rough, debris crunching beneath her boots. She swept her eyes over the ruins: crumbled fences and burnt houses — the aftermath of the battle between the Armatus units and the hellspawns.

  It was a disaster far worse than any natural occurrence.

  Though Solis Aeternum experienced the softer end of the scale, the nation had the helltides mostly contained thanks to their proactive protocols. They were quick to locate and contain any sign of infestation before it could progress into something far more malicious. Yet, Sandria had lost count of how many towns had met a fate similar to this one.

  "A loss is still a loss," Sandria grumbled beneath her breath.

  There was no cure for this disease, only prevention.

  Over the hill on her left, the tall blast walls — set up prior to the battle to contain and quarantine the demons — remained active. High-mobilised towers shone massive spotlights at regular intervals, lighting up the night as if it were day.

  To her left, a group of work crews in red overalls set up a new section of container offices. P.N.I. bots drifted past, clutching boxes and supplies in their mechanical hands. Shouts echoed back and forth through the street.

  "Crews."

  Entering their line of vision, the crew snapped into a salute before returning to their tasks. An elven technician guided a small bot to erect a wall, while his colleague checked the level. With a few fine adjustments, the wall snapped into its slot.

  The area was only deemed safe to enter yesterday after the demons's activities ceased. No one seemed to know why. Hence, they were settling in and planning a full sweep of the town.

  Overhead, the humming of Arcanite engines echoed above the clouds. Streaks of white trails painted the sky as a group of war machines executed their patrol protocols.

  Just slightly to her right, a few hundred metres out, the Zeigerlich battlecruiser had docked itself atop a lone hill. The main dirt road bustled with activity, heat radiating from the engines, making the air stagnant and humid.

  Armatus units towered over the buildings and the ruined temple, their red visors ever-vigilant as they swept their gaze around. Their cannons were hot and ready, should any threat arise.

  Everything was in perfect order. Sandria gave a micro-nod of satisfaction.

  After a few turns, Sandria made her way to the main office, a large structure formed of three container offices jointed into one long arch. She entered the door, and the chill air met her skin; she realised only then that her forehead was already clad with sweat.

  A helmeted man in Armatus personal armour was already standing there with straight, militaristic discipline.

  "Admiral!" He clicked his boots.

  "Knight," Sandria replied, beckoning for him to continue. Although he was no longer a Silver Knight, she still called him that out of habit.

  "Lunarius had captured a demon, Ma’am!" Eric reported with eagerness, a smile splitting across his face.

  "That’s good news." Sandria raised her brows, sceptical. "Does this one talk?"

  "It won’t stop, even if we seal its mouth shut." Eric chuckled, his white teeth flashing. "The Lunarius is awaiting you in the interrogation room."

  "Good." She adjusted her sleeve and collar. "I’m dying to know what on earth is going on."

  "Me too! We came here expecting some sort of resistance. Then, they just fled with their tails between their legs. Well, some have tails... I guess?"

  She could almost hear the shrug without looking at the man. They started walking in a pair, shoulder to shoulder; the entire corridor felt too cramped for the two of them.

  "There are variants to these alien races..." Sandria grumbled, rubbing her chin. "Some are big, some are small, some aren’t even humanoid. Isn't it true that a few weeks back, we encountered the insect ones?"

  "That’s right..." Eric scratched where his hair should be, but instead, his fingers just rasped against the surface of his helmet. "I still don’t understand how they infest us, you know? Is it biology or what?"

  Keeping her voice steady, Sandria replied, "Some said the damned souls exploited the deepest, darkest desires. That’s how they latched onto the host and fed off them until they could manifest and take over completely."

  The tall, burly man shuddered at the thought. "That’s something straight out of the movies."

  "Something like that." She nodded, closing her eyes briefly. “Still, that doesn't explain why they only occurred at the edge of towns. Could there be some strategic means to it?” Her voice turned into a low murmur.

  "Psst," Eric blew air through his teeth, amused. "Nothing makes sense these days."

  "By the way, how’s your sister?" She probed with her monotonic tone, though there was a hint of care beneath it. "I heard you managed to relocate her from Ironhearth."

  "Ah." Eric brushed his helmet again; it seemed to be a habit of his. It was clear her question caught him off guard. "She is attending the university in the Kanto region. All is well, I suppose." He chewed his jaw. "My old pop, on the other hand, is as stubborn as ever. He will go down with the Dunkelheit."

  "We used to share the dream they sold. Now, we have to live for our own dream."

  The man found himself nodding and agreeing. "Through the workshop here, Admiral."

  He brushed his hand over a lever and gave a heavy pull-down. The blast door ground open to the outside. A cacophony of sounds filled the air — metal cranking, high-frequency whirring, and the arcing of torches.

  An array of spotlights illuminated the workshop area. Dust turned into sparkles under the high beams. The area was spacious enough to accommodate their ten-metre machines.

  Crates and supplies lined the far wall, and the floor was made of thick metal plates jointed together. A bulky workshop bench with a mechanical overhead crane hoisted an Armatus’s leg in the air as a small bot performed welding on its carapace.

  Sandria flashed a scowl. "What’s going on there?" She raised her voice to be heard. She didn’t remember any report on Armatus damage during the operation.

  "Small fix on some Armatus plating. The street is tight, and the newbie couldn’t steer clear of the obstacles," he shot back, strolling past the rows of shiny Armatus units. The scent of synthetic grease, engine oil, and metal wafted into their nostrils.

  "I see," Sandria clipped. A worker greeted her with a wave. She returned it with a nod.

  "Our prisoner is out that way," Eric shouted over the banging noise, pointing at the tall and broad exit — easily fifteen metres by thirty metres in width.

  She nodded, shuffling along. They took a few turns until they reached the tall fences with visually dense security.

  "Careful, Admiral." Eric halted with a raised fist.

  Long shadows cast over Sandria. She glanced up at the giants, shaking the ground as they walked past. At least four Armatus units were positioned around the perimeter here, their mechanical joints whirring as they performed the ground patrol.

  After the clearance beeped on the biometric scanner, Sandria and Eric emerged from the thick plate doors, which ground shut behind them as they stepped clear of the accessway.

  The front section was like a small reception room with a single row of foldable chairs close to the wall. There was a long counter with a Wildren officer in blue, who was too occupied with something on his screen. Next to the counter was a designated rest area with a square table and some chairs.

  That was where they found her. The red-haired woman sat with a coffee mug in her hand and a chocolate cookie in her mouth.

  "Admiral, Knight," Astrid greeted, mouth full. She was clad in crimson armour from head to toe, topped with a thick, heavy cape.

  As she made to rise, Sandria halted her mid-motion. "Formality is not needed, Lunarius."

  Astrid took a full second to swallow while they waited patiently. "Thanks. Coming to see the little imp?" She grinned. Her dark eye bags added to her villainous look. Eric resisted making a face; he wasn’t sure if she intended the menacing smugness or if it was just her natural expression.

  "Yes, I want to know what ticked them off," Sandria grumbled, leaning over the back of a chair.

  "Alright." The big lady rose to her full height. She was a head taller than Sandria and almost as tall as Eric. She chucked the coffee back, crushed the paper cup, and tossed it casually toward a nearby bin. It bounced off the edge but still landed inside.

  "We found this little critter scouring for scraps at one of the abandoned houses." Astrid shrugged, her voice as deep as any man's. "But there’s something different about it. Not sure if there’s any weight to it, but it claims it isn't possessing a human."

  "Not possession?" Eric frowned, his head jerking forward in disbelief.

  "Yeah... Somehow, demons are capable of roaming the earth through the hellgate," Astrid explained bluntly, merely relaying the information from her initial investigation.

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  "This is an entirely different kind, no—" Sandria’s face flickered with realisation. "It’s the next stage of invasion."

  They moved along the three-metre-wide hallway, flanked by thick concrete walls with metal doors at regular intervals. It certainly looked like a prison, or at least it was made to be one.

  "The Unsullied..." Astrid said while maintaining her long stride.

  Eric could only spare a blank look at the Admiral, while Sandria swept her eyes under her lids. None knew what the word meant.

  After a couple of minutes of trudging, Astrid gestured with her palm up. "This one." She turned to a steel door with a small glass window.

  "Hang on." Astrid rummaged through her loincloth until she found the iron tucked beneath her belt. She produced a long iron key. "Found it—"

  The air abruptly froze. The ventilation ceased. The fluorescent lights flickered erratically.

  Unmoving, Astrid froze for a full second. Dark wings fluttered in the corridor, converging into a singular point. Before Sandria could react, the Lunarius shouted and bolted forward with a flying fist.

  Astrid’s attack struck air, but it felt heavier, denser — like a thick cloud. The masses swirled before beginning to gather again.

  "Stay back!" Astrid roared, engulfing her fist with fire. The outline of the figure was now clear, taking the shape of a female.

  Instinct flared. She knew she had to attack before the enemy — or whatever it was — completed its transformation. "Empyrion!" She swung her fist at the mass with a rupture of wind. She hit something hard, and a smile touched her face.

  "Lunarius!" Eric shielded his body, wedging himself between the attacker and Sandria.

  Wild serpents of light, emerald in hue, slithered around Astrid’s arm. She jerked back a few metres, though her guard remained up.

  A black-haired lady emerged from the black masses. Her bewitching visage was oddly pale, colourless, like a corpse. Her blood-red lips smiled widely.

  "Demoness!" Lunarius Astrid surged forward, her fire fist hammering at the lady.

  The figure shifted to the side, almost levitating. Astrid missed again. She jerked back, shifting her momentum to spin into a strike with her other hand. The swing connected only with the jade serpents coiling around the woman's fist.

  Astrid’s eyes bulged with shock. "Impossible..."

  The pale lady shoved her hand forward. Green magic erupted, hurling Astrid’s body into the wall. She crashed into it with a thunderous impact, the air pushed out of her lungs in a pathetic wheeze. The concrete shattered behind her.

  "Feral... and rude..." The pale lady inspected her long fingers and sharp nails.

  She wore a long black dress, embellished with fine embroidery of intricate flower patterns. Her waist was thin, disproportionate to her bust and hips, giving her a perfect hourglass frame. But the bright blue light glowing in her eyes was like a lost ocean, mysterious and yearning to be explored.

  "What say you?" She turned to Sandria and Eric.

  Eric’s legs were stuck in place; he couldn't move them even if he wanted to. He couldn't flee or fight. This was power beyond his comprehension.

  Red-faced, Astrid sprang up with newfound rage. "AH!" She delivered a sweeping low cut at the lady’s legs, but the woman hopped over it effortlessly.

  Astrid spun around, her fingers forming a claw around a condensed ball of fire.

  But the enemy weaved with even more terrifying speed. The lady smiled and flicked her wrist, a gesture as elegant as the fluttering wing of a black swan. The serpent's green energy shot out and froze Astrid mid-motion.

  What is this magic? First, she felt a slight weakness in her muscles; now, she couldn't move a fibre, no matter how hard she tried. She could only hear her own heartbeat thumping. She realised she had screwed up by not using her buffs.

  "Controlling the muscles of the dead is a much easier task than the living... However, it is not entirely unachievable," the lady admitted, dispelling her emerald magic with a gentle clap.

  Astrid collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. "You... are Celestius Serene?"

  "Oh!" Serene looked down her nose, her lips forming a teasing circle. "Finally, some courtesy, Lunarius Astrid." She extended her hand, palm up.

  Surprised, Astrid took it to hoist herself up. "Apologies... I didn’t expect you to show up without—"

  "It’s alright, I had a bit of fun," Serene admitted, dusting her clothes and combing her long, silky hair.

  "I... I am Admiral Sandria Meinhardt of Zeigerlich," Sandria approached them, her hand extended.

  The charming woman took it with both hands. "My pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you. A mechanii who won the Thylin war." There was a hidden edge beneath her affable smile. "Just call me Serene."

  "Affirmative, Celestius. And this is my knight, Eric." Sandria beckoned to the man, trying her best to keep her tone neutral, unfazed. But deep down, this bewitching mage terrified her.

  "It’s my honour... Celestius Serene," Eric outstretched his hand, reluctant for a shake.

  "Nice to meet you, Knight!" She performed the same eerie but amicable gesture to Eric, shaking his gloved hand with both of hers. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, a complete turnaround from a moment ago. He twisted around, feeling heat rising in his cheeks; at least that was well hidden beneath his helmet.

  "Ahem!" Astrid cut the introduction short, seeing how the man was completely flustered. She eyed Eric with a hint of reprimand. "Is there anything we can do for you, Celestius? Surely you aren’t visiting this ordinary camp without a proper cause."

  "Straight to the point, I see." Serene squinted her eyes, feigning contemplation. "If you don’t mind, I’d like to tag along to interrogate the imp in that room."

  Astrid glanced at Sandria as if to ask for permission or an opinion. Sandria shrugged in response.

  "Very well. I guess we don’t have anything against that... since we can’t exactly stop you," Astrid said bitterly.

  Serene chortled, showing her long, arching fangs. "No, you cannot."

  With a twist of the key and a heavy push, the steel door creaked open. Astrid brushed her finger over the light switch on the left side. A short static hum buzzed before the light revealed the body of a small child, not older than ten. His skin was demonic red, and short, stubby horns peaked out of his forehead. His long, unkempt hair curtained his face as he tilted his head to greet the newcomers.

  "Grrrh!" He growled, showing his sharp teeth. He snapped at them, but the shackles around his neck, arms, and legs kept him on a short leash.

  Once everyone had filed into the room, Astrid strutted toward the demon and yanked the chain as if to discipline him.

  He twisted and lunged at her, teeth first. Her fist countered, slamming into his face and sending the demon tumbling onto the floor. He heaved and coughed up dark liquid from his mouth.

  "Play nice, demon. We only need answers!" Astrid warned. She pressed her boot down on his frame, just enough to show that she could easily kill him with a single stomp.

  The demon nodded, whimpering. "What do you want, human?" His voice was gravelly, echoing like multiple sources speaking at once.

  Sandria wrinkled her nose at the strong scent of sulphur and took a step forward. "Where are your demonic forces? What is your plan?" She started with simple questions.

  Serene, meanwhile, leaned against the table on the far wall, her eyes narrowing as she observed the room.

  The demon chuckled deeply. "I don’t know..."

  Astrid’s boot increased its pressure. He reeled. "The last call from our gods... we were setting up for war. All chieftains have been called and rallied..." He felt the weight lift off his chest and sucked in air for a full second.

  Eric swallowed a big gulp of saliva. The fact that this demon could speak his language so well shook him to the core.

  "Where?" Sandria continued, unprovoked. She wasn’t going to believe what he said without confirmation.

  "Our home," the demon said, locking his red eyes on her. There was true malice in them.

  "Nonsense! You’re full of crap!" Astrid muttered, pulling back her fist for a strike. The demon flinched and cowered, squeezing his eyes shut. "What are you plotting?!" she demanded.

  Curbing her temper, Sandria asked, "You mean demon forces are recalled back to the underworld after the attempt at invasion? That is absurd."

  The demon chuckled.

  "Enough of your games!" Astrid launched her fist, smashing into his gut. A meaty thud echoed. He rolled and twisted in agony, the thick metal chains thrashing and clanking against the cold floor.

  "I wasn’t lying, you foul woman!" the demon growled, spitting on the ground. His eyes twitched, afraid to meet her gaze. "The gods need every warrior. We need to take down the bearer of death."

  His words sucked the air from the room. Everyone appeared either stunned or confused — except Serene, who bounced forward.

  "Funny." She giggled behind her fist. "Do your gods think all of the underworld couldn’t take on one arcanist? That is amusingly idiotic."

  "Heretic!" He growled. His claws tried to grasp her, but the short leash limited his movement.

  Astrid eyed the black-haired lady. "Celestius, who is that arcanist?"

  "Oh." She smiled eerily. "You must have missed the light show."

  A blank look painted their faces. They looked at one another as if searching for answers; none had it written on their features.

  "It’s our Astral Empress, Aurora Vere Borealis, who descended into the underworld," she revealed with a big smile. She looked at Astrid, who had turned to stone. "That was one week ago; hence the helltides have been receding ever since."

  Slapping her forehead, Astrid’s pupils dilated. "We... we haven’t heard of this... The Empress has fallen? That was during the Battle of York?"

  "Hm." Serene hummed. "Not quite. The Empress went there on her own accord; she was…” Serene searched for a way to put it, “Too invincible. Anyway, it seems to be working, though." She shrugged, swaying her hips as she drifted closer to the demon at the centre of the room.

  "Heheh, we’ll rip her to pieces!" the demon sneered softly. There was an ignorance plastered on his face, which Serene found entertaining.

  Before Sandria could utter a word, Serene cut in. "Now my turn, little imp."

  Serene flicked her green tendrils, and the demon helplessly collapsed flat onto the floor. No one dared to interfere.

  "I’m more interested in the natural order." She paused, rolling her playful eyes. "Or unnatural. So, tell me. How do demons roam the earth without possession?" Her voice lost its tease, replaced with a cold, commanding tone.

  The demon lowered his head. "We..." His eyes darted around, searching for words. "Transforming the plane."

  From the uncertainty in his voice, Serene knew this fool wouldn’t know the full extent behind that phrase. The green serpents coiled around his arms and legs, constricting until it became painful.

  "Talk." Serene looked down her nose at him.

  "With enough damned souls roaming the earth... our sages could open the abyss where our warbands can travel through. That’s all I know, I swear!"

  The magic continued to wrap even tighter. The demon grunted as his muscles ripped slowly and painfully. Serene did not respond.

  "That’s all I know! The damned souls made this place habitable! Without it, we cannot roam free!" He reeled, his breath hitching.

  Serene loosened her hold, satisfied. "I see."

  She pivoted on her heel and strode from the room. The others shuffled behind, sealing the door shut.

  Matching her pace, Astrid cleared her throat. "That’s what you’re after, Celestius?" She raised her brow, confused.

  "There are rules that govern this realm, Lunarius," Serene said, halting in the middle of the empty hallway. "This isn’t their first attempt. Hades must have been testing out this theory forever." The last part was more of her own hypothesis.

  Astrid choked, blinking fast. "The Vinveil incident... That is related to the demonic infestation somehow?"

  Serene’s face softened. "There’s a certain threshold for the demons's hellgate to establish and their forms to remain on earth." She deflected, but Astrid didn’t want to pursue the topic. She already knew of the tragic tale of Vinveil and Serene’s decision to completely wipe her own infected citizens from the equation. No demonic possession, no demonic invasion. Cold.

  "As I suspected, there are waves or levels in their invasion after all," Sandria said, crossing her arms. "First, they terraform us, then they launch the full invasion with their main forces. That’s what I’ve been trying to solve forever—why does it always happen on the outer rims of the city rather than the middle or randomly? They need to gradually take over humans without getting terminated first. They need sufficient numbers to actually reach the threshold."

  "Like a sentient plague?" Eric added.

  Serene hummed. "Something like that. I’ll hint at a few things, although we couldn’t fully figure out the arcane science behind it all. Our primal senses can give us the edge."

  After a few seconds, Sandria’s lips moved. "The scent..."

  "Correct." Serene smiled and nodded happily.

  "Oh... I see. Everywhere they went, they always carried that smell of sulphur!" Eric grasped his helmeted head with realisation.

  With a fluid weaving motion, Serene readied herself for departure. "At least there’s no need to worry about the helltides for now—until next time." She said her farewell before her body dispersed into hundreds of dark wings.

  "Celestius?" Astrid’s word fell into the darkness.

  With that, the Celestius of Scorpio left.