Devourer

Chapter 205: Claws of the Ancients

Mahaila glanced down at Regari as he pounced at the Limbo Demon, his ethereal fangs and claws lashed out. The demon screamed as he ripped the essence from her body. With each bite and slash, the demon’s body started to wither and disintegrate. Each gouge tore strips off this pale blue aura from her body. Yet her physical body was unharmed; instead, the body just aged years in seconds.

Mahaila glanced at the strips of her essence just falling away and fading into motes of light. So it seems she has a messy eater on her hands. As far as she remembered, she hadn’t done much better herself.

That hunger was hard to control once it got going. There is a reason a battle to the death between Heirs usually ends up as just a feral brawl. The Firstborn, as always, give nothing for free, with every blessing, a curse. It grants power, but you also tap into what Mahaila could only imagine is the hunger that drives the Firstborn.

Most undiscovered Heirs just end up going mad with hunger and are quickly hunted down. Heirs have always been a persecuted group. Previously the Watchers would hunt down the Heirs, but some were permitted to exist. Mahaila, her master and some of her master’s old crew were some examples. An Heir in control of their hunger was a powerful existence. The Empress had an unusual amount of control over that hunger, but judging by how intelligent she was, it was of little wonder that she could handle it well.

It was apparent that Regari would need alot of work to master control over the hunger. His life of hunger had affected him rather dramatically. Just by looking at him now, he looked like a ravenous beast as he tore into the demon.

Messy eaters were problematic since the ability of Heirs to absorb essence was already weak. From what she has gathered even the most particular and clean of eaters only could absorb about 20% of the essence. Naturally, this was in sharp contrast to the Firstborn who had perfect absorption.

Judging by what she was seeing, Regari here was just getting about 5% of that idiot’s essence…

Once Regari finished eating, he doubled over and groaned. Mahaila watched as his body shifted and changed. His muscles hardened, and he visibly grew an inch or two.

“How do you feel?” Mahaila asked as the ethereal beast within him faded away. It was interesting that he had claws, while Mahaila’s own inner beast only had a pair of sharp fangs. Her master had fangs, but he also had a pair of cloven hooves that he would use to stomp his prey into submission.

“This is the power of Essence, the very thing that made the Old Gods, gods. We only tap into a small portion of it, and there is a limit to which we can grow. I will teach you to wield this power, but beware that hunger. You can lose yourself in it.” Mahaila said as Regari struggled to his feet.

He clutched his stomach and grimaced.

“It felt good.” Regari muttered.

“That’s an understatement, it’s addictive, many have lost themselves to it and just become feral beasts. Remember this is not a blessing, it is a curse that throws an occasional gift now and then.

We were never meant to have this power, it was a mistake on the part of our creators. They left something deep inside our bloodline and once in awhile, for reasons unknown to us, it rears its ugly head and grants us the power of the gods.” Mahaila said and Regari gulped as he gazed downwards at the body of the Limbo Demon that is slowly turning to ash. With its essence sapped, there was nothing left to hold it together.

Mahaila watched as he looked at his hands, he looked terrified as he gazed at his hands. He once looked like a child but now he looked closer to a young adult.

“Essence pushes you towards your prime. As for me, biologically I’m 240 years old. That is when a Draconian is strongest. But in reality I’ve lost count of the years I lived through. If you keep devouring essence, you will be immortal but you will also have to one day bury all you hold dear.” Mahaila said.

“So it is a curse.” Regari stammered.

“Yes, for every blessing, a curse. That is the way of this world, nothing is free. Better you learn how to control it than that very same hunger consuming you. It’s lucky we found you early, the hunger worsens as you mature. If we never ran into you, there is a good chance you would devoured your sister.” Mahaila said.

Regari’s eyes were wide a he cluthced his stomach, his face was strained as if he was fighting to get the hunger under control.

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“It will take some getting used to, but now that you are aware of the hunger and have tried to feed it, it will seem more present. However, as you are now you are far from in control.” Mahaila said as she approached Regari.

“You are stronger now, careful not to get drunk on that power.” Mahaila said, Regari opened his mouth to reply but in a flash Mahaila slammed him into ground closed the talons on her foot around his neck.

“But not nearly strong enough.” Mahaila said as Regari gagged and tired meekly to pry her feet off his neck.

“There are two things you need to remember well kid.

The first is this. There are plenty of beings out there that can turn you into a puddle of red soup staining the floor. As you are now, you are nothing but an insect to them.

And as for the second…” Mahaila said as she leaned down and locked eyes with him.

That hunger can never be sated, it will never go away, no matter how much you eat…

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

Regari felt the strength in his body after he devoured that demon and in a fit of naive overconfidence he thought he would try his hand at sparring again. After all his wounds were healed and his energy was back, maybe he would stand a chance?

Right?

“Ah to be young and naive.” Serchax said as she lounged on an ornate couch she had somehow materialised.

Regari glared at her as Anya bandaged up his hand.

“Don’t know what the hell you were thinking? So you got some fancy ability you ate one of us limbo demons and you thought you could take on Mahaila the Swift? She fought Archangels and won.” Anya said.

“Yeah yeah.” Regari grumbled in response.

“Don’t give me that attitude.” Anya snapped and Regari instinctively flinched.

“You need to be safe and healthy if you want to protect your sister. You think Renna is going to survive a new Blood War without you?” Anya added as she gave his bandages a tough tug and caused Regari to hiss in pain.

“Careful girl, he may be a pushover with us ancients but he can still rip your head off.” Rosa said as she swirled a glass of blood and took a sip.

Regari sighed as he glanced apologetically at Anya who just gave him an annoyed look. He looked around again at the opulent tent that Serchax had summoned. She never bothered to take this out when they were on the road but Regari supposed that now that they were stuck here for awhile she decided to use it.

Either that or she just likes messing with people…

Probably a bit of both now that Regari thinks about it.

“So any idea how many people I need to devour before I get strong enough to beat Mahaila?” Regari asked with a sigh and all he got was gaggle of laughs from the rest.

“You could eat Lucifer himself and you wouldn’t be able to beat Mahaila. She is the best duelist to have ever picked up a sword, not counting her master of course. But the rumours do say towards the end of her master’s life Mahaila could go decently even against him. Even the Great Beast loses quite regularly against her. You are talking about killing a god boy, best keep your ambitions in check.” Rosa replied as she finished her cup of blood.

“She is the Goddess of War in Zarima you know. A million warriors fall to their knees and pray to her for victory. Lest you forget prayers have power. The Seraphim are not the only ones who can benefit from prayers.” Serchax said with a sly smile.

“Right, guess I got a wait a few millenia huh.” Regari replied dryly.

“Oh don’t be so bummed bumpkin…” Serchax said and Regari’s eyebrows twitched in annoyance.

“There have always been those that are stronger than you and that will always be the case. Just do your best to protect that which matters most to you.” Serchax added airily.

Regari paused and turned to look at Serchax. Was that good advice from Serchax?

Apparently he wasn’t the only one looking at her in surprise. Rosa was just looking stunned and Alastor was just staring blankly at her.

“Huh, the Hells really do drive people crazy.” Alastor muttered as he went back to his wine.

“Oh come now, I need to know these things you know. Most of the sailors are those decent, brave types. You have to know your market if you want to sell them something before you drown them.” Serchax said with another laugh.

“Ah that makes so much more sense.” Rosa replied.

“Thank the Hells, I thought I was in a nightmare.” Alastor said.

“Ah.” Regari muttered in response.

“So what are we doing now? We are just going to wait?” Regari asked.

“The clean up of Limbo should conclude soon and that new Brood Mother is reorganising the new Hive here in hell. So for now we wait…” Serchax said.

Besides I highly doubt that the Great Beast is just idling the time away…

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

“Ahhh I love idling the days away…” I said with a giggle as I snuggled deeper into my cushion.

“Friend I do enjoy your company but shouldn’t you address the problem in Hell?” Cecilia asked. She was laying on the bed in a silk night gown, thanks to it being midnight we could expect no interruptions.

“Oh don’t worry, Mahaila is sprucing up a new toy. I’m just gonna let her handle it for now.” I said as I rolled over and lazily reached for the barrel of wine next to me.

“If you insist, although it is nice to see you relax every now and then.” Cecilia replied with a airy laugh.

“So what do you plan to do now?” Cecilia asked and I paused for a moment before rolling back upright.

That was an interesting question, right now the global situation was chaotic to say the least. Refugees were flooding into Eastern Voleria. The Naga were picking off Divonian ships in droves and the Merchant Princes’s were being bled dry by their naval loses.

Alastor or should I say Asmodeus was doing good work in Divonia. From what I can tell the Divonian Empire has gone mad, its threatning to collapse from within despite the Seraphim’s best efforts to maintain stability.

It won’t be long before an Archangel will have to step in and when that happens plenty of demons will jump at the chance to try for the Archangel’s head. Ambition is something no demon can walk away from, it is in their blood and such temptation will push some to do something really stupid.

As for the war in the north it seems Nemesis has switched to a war of attrition. Nemesis seeks to bleed the strength of Heaven rather than push for a decisive victory. A wise move considering the underlying game being played.

But this does leave some hints to the Serpahim about what exactly was happening. Almost everything the Seraphim is facing aims to drain their strength.

“I wonder what will happen now? Now that the Serpahim are feeling the pinch.” I mused and Cecilia just shrugged.

“Argue probably.” Cecilia replied nonchalantly as she lazily rolled over in her bed.

“After that I mean, they have to make a decision at some point. They won’t last the year at this rate. Divonia is going to cave in months. Anyone worth a damn has fled. Right now the only people left are probably the destitute, corrupt and incompetent.” I said and Cecilia nodded.

“They will reach us soon, Eastern Voleria does not have the means to handle the wave of refugees.” Cecilia replied with a lazy yawn.

“Huh, I never got that report,” I said as I turned to look at her. Cecilia had gotten off the bed and walked over to her study table.

“I didn’t get the report either, but I did get a letter,” Cecilia replied cheekily, and I laughed.

“It’s from Kykikaze, the Mugumman Farseer council has reached an agreement with parts of Eastern Voleria. Kykikaze has offered to send the refugees our way, the hive can detect demonic possession quite easily and we have the resources to spare.” Cecilia said as she put the letter down.

“These desperate wretches would have little faith in the Church of Order. They will swell the ranks of the Faith of Unity. Most of those who fled would generally be wiser or be people of means. The cowards would have arrived a long time ago, this is the main bulk, the tipping point where anyone with any sense would flee.” Cecilia said as she glanced at her royal seal.

“I will tell Kyikaze to send them to us, they will be useful, those of talent and ability would no doubt be useful,” Cecilia said.

“More meat for the shield as well. What will the Seraphim look like when they attack the merciful empire that took in the people they failed to protect?” I added with a laugh as I flexed my claws. I’m close now, almost there before I own this world. The cards are stacking my deck and Seraphim bleed cards with every passing hour.

The Seraphim are out of cards…

There are no more Light Born to protect you now…