Devourer

Chapter 202: Contingencies

Ariel’s heart dropped when she saw that creature drop to its knees and pray. The sheer devotion of its prayers caused a gold halo to appear around it. Ariel could feel the power seeping into her body and strengthening her with each passing moment. It was just like before but stronger this time, this creature has been improved.

“Pretty cool huh?” the Great Beast said with a wicked edge in his voice.

“You have no intention of rebuilding the church do you?” Aruian replied icily as she gazed at the Devotee.

“Of course not. Human minds are so unreliable. I think this is a far better solution,” the Great Beast said as he glanced at the praying Devotee.

“More efficient, less prone to unnecessary whining and screaming. Also easily mass produced.” the Great Beast added.

“And coincidentally, completely at your control.” Ariel replied.

“Yes, convenient isn’t it?” the Great Beast said as his smile widened.

“Do you really think we will accept this leash? You offered before, what makes you think we will take it now?” Ariel asked and the Great Beast just laughed.

“Not immediately.” the Great Beast replied, and Aruian narrowed her eyes.

“Oh I know you all will wring your hands and debate and take forever to make a decision so I’ll just tell you now. Give you some time to process it.” the Great Beast said.

Ariel grimaced at those words. This was an insidious move. If it got out of hand, Heaven would be eating out of the Great Beast’s hand. This was not something that would stand with the Divine Council, but war wasn’t an option either. If the forces of Heaven faced both the Hive and the Syndicate, the situation would be catastrophic. The best option now would be patience. They would build up their strength and take out one enemy at a time.

“I will relay your offer to the Divine Council and await their decision.” Ariel replied.

“I’m sure you will, but I have one more message for you to deliver.” the Great Beast said.

“And that is?” Aruian asked.

“You are not the only one with long knives to stick in backs. I’ve been doing it far longer than any of you. So I suggest you don’t give me a reason to take out those knives.” the Great Beast said, and Ariel swallowed nervously at the threat.

“Provided you even need a reason.” Aruian replied coldly.

“Well, all you can do is take a chance isn’t it?” the Great Beast said and Ariel could only grimace.

“Is there anything else?” Ariel asked.

“You may continue to strengthen the faith in my Empire. If you succeed then you will have no need for this.” Cecilia said as she gestured to the Devotee.

“Best of luck.” Cecilia added with a thin smile.

Ariel scowled before nodding and turning away. The two Angels left the room, Minds spinning with what this new revelation means. Things were about to get far more complicated. Although there was opportunity here. If it is revealed that the Great Beast is actively providing power to the Angels they could use this to pit the Great Beast against the Syndicate.

“Perhaps we could ask the Great Beast to provide power.” Ariel mused and Aruian shot her a look.

“Alot of power…” Ariel said as she turned to look at Aruian and her eyes widened slightly in understanding.

“Perhaps.” Aruian replied.

“I need to speak to mother.” Ariel said and Aruian nodded.

“Come I know a place.” Aruian said as she beckoned Ariel to follow.

Ariel followed Aruian down into the palace until they reached a small private garden. Ariel looked around and saw it was a rather beautiful place. It was full of flowerbeds filled with red roses and, interestingly, wild briars. The atmosphere of the garden seemed both wild and refined. However, Ariel did notice that the wild briars were white rather than their usual pink or red.

“How did you find this place?” Ariel asked as she scanned the suspiciously empty garden. This place looked like it was for one or two people at most. Furthermore, they had walked past several Royal Guards who didn’t even bat an eye when they walked past.

“By accident, I took off from one of the windows when I was in hurry and I saw it on the way out. I later visited and the guards had no issues letting us through. He mentioned as long as the garden was not occupied there was no issue with us using it.” Aruian replied with a shrug.

“I see. Then give me a moment,” Ariel said as she took out one of the magical devices she was given. It was this gold device with a constantly spinning centre. This was a Watcher Artefact; the techniques used to make it were long lost, even to the Seraphim. Or perhaps the Serpahim could never have made it in the first place.

The dial in the centre started to spin, and soon, a black void expanded outwards. Ariel and Aruian were not in another dimension, and nothing could interfere. Ariel flinched when she saw a large glowing red eye appear at the edge of the black dome they were now inside of.

Ariel couldn’t help but suppress a thrill of fear when she saw it. Her mother had warned her of this place, they couldn’t linger here for too long. They were in the gap between worlds and apparently, there were creatures that lived here. As far as she knew these creatures have never broken out into what the old records call “Real Space”. Apparently, a Firstborn once tried to create a door into this gap dimension, and it was swiftly torn to pieces by the other Firstborn soon after.

If this place held creatures that even the Firstborn feared, Ariel had no intention of lingering. She took out another device of similar make and pressed a button on the device. The centre started to spin faster and faster as it gave out flashes of blue light. This went on for a few seconds before her mother suddenly appeared in the black dome. But she was not really here, her body was wispy and translucent. She was just a magical construct being projected by a device she was holding.

“Daughter, is everything well? I was not expecting a call so soon.” Uriel said a tinge of apprehension in her voice.

“Mother, I am fine.” Ariel said as she raised her hands soothingly.

“I have some concerning news.” Ariel said before beginning to explain the Devotee and what she felt when it started to pray. How it was even stronger than before and how the Church was unraveling in the Empire.

Ariel watched as her mother’s grow pale and concerned from her words. Everyone here knew what this means. The Great Beast was offering salvation in exchange for a leash. This would not be an easy decision to make. Depending on which path they take it would either save them or damn them.

“There are… contingencies for such possibilities.” Uriel said hesitantly as she looked away.

“Contingencies?” Aruian asked as she took a step forward.

“Yes, contingencies. The Virtues in their wisdom have given us contingencies to handle such events.” Uriel replied as she grimaced.

“May I ask what contingencies are in place?” Ariel asked and Uriel just sighed as she bit her lip.

“I don’t know what the contingencies are. This particular scenario was tasked by the Virtues to one individual.” Uriel replied with a sigh.

“My lady, a task given by the Virtues to one individual is no small matter.” Aruian said and Uriel nodded in resignation.

“Yes it is, it shows trust and if it is to one individual, it means they do not trust the input the rest of the council.” Uriel replied as she glanced up.

The one tasked with this is Silvana…

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

Silvana glanced over at Uriel who finally emerged from her little pocket dimension. She looked… disturbed to say the least.

“Not good news I presume.” Silvana said as she raised a brow.

“No, but I suppose one of your pet projects will now be used.” Uriel replied wearily.

“That bad?” Mihael asked from his seat next to her in the council chamber.

The Divine Council was in another of their pointless meetings when Uriel suddenly got called by the transference device. Silvana was loathe to give up some of her toys but she needed to keep the peace amongst the lesser children of the light. It was not easy masquerading as a Seraphim when she was a Light Born.

They all had their suspicions, of course, this farce had been going on so long that if they had no suspicions, then Heaven would be doomed. But still, Silvana held contempt for these lesser creatures. Resentment was sure to set in after being beset from all sides by imbeciles for millennia, and she was supposed to be the most tolerant of the Virtues. Silvana was sure any of the others would have wiped the slate clean long ago. But alas, there just weren’t better replacements. Without the Firstborn or the Watchers, all the species were doomed to atrophy and decay. The Old Gods were cruel and they made sure without them, their creations would wither and decay.

Silvana glanced up as Uriel began to explain the situation and she noted how the expressions of the rest of the Divine Council started to darken.

“This is absurd, does that creature truly think we would accept his leash?” Mihael spat, he looked like he was all but ready to declare war.

“I think we should take the leash.” Silvana said and all the heads turned to face her.

“Or at least make the Great Beast think we are taking the leash. I have contingencies if you recall.” Silvana added.

“Are you confident your measures can address the problem?” Mihael asked and Silvana nodded.

“We will need to take his leash first and fill our power stores. This means we should request for more than we lose, much more. So if the Great Beast ever tries to cut the power we have plenty of power to fight for an extended period.” Silvana replied.

“How long is an extended period?” Mihael asked.

“As it stands at full capacity I can store enough for centuries of use.” Silvana stated and there was stunned silence across the chamber.

“Why didn’t you bring this up sooner?” Gabriela, the Archangel of Diligence asked.

“The process is expensive and I do not have infinite supply of resources.” Silvana replied with a shrug.

“Resources?” Uriel asked with a slight bit of unease in her voice.

“You think the Great Beast was the only one that thought to use condemned criminals for something useful rather than just executing them?” Silvana replied as she raised a brow. Instantly the chamber went silent with heavy silence.

“That’s not acceptable.” Uriel snapped.

“There is a reason the Virtues assigned this task to me and me alone. You think all of you are the guard against the return of the Ancients. You are correct in this assumption. So let me ask you, who do you think the Virtues assigned the task of handling the situation when they do eventually return?” Silvana replied coldly.

“I am the final line of defense, there is a reason the Virtues tasked me and not any of you.” Silvana said as a scroll appeared in a flash of light in her hands.

“This is a mandate of authority from the Virtues. If I deem it necessary I may assume control of the Divine Council and outrank all of you.” Silvana said and the chamber paused in tense silence.

Silvana let the silence sit for a moment before making the scroll disappear again in a flash of light.

“But that time is not here yet. So for now I will continue to participate as equals. However, remember this well, if the time comes I will enact these emergency powers with the blessing of the Seven Virtues.” Silvana said and the other members looked away in unease.

“Now then, are we agreed? We negotiate for an excess of power with the Great Beast in exchange for his leash. No drawn out debate, we cannot afford it now.” Silvana stated but again silence.

“I wish to see what your contingency actually is before I make a decision.” Uriel said and the rest of the Council nodded agreement.

Silvana just nodded as she stood up.

“Before you see it you should remember something. There was a time before this council, a time where power was for its own sake, there were no lines of morality to cross. It was just survive or die. All of you are about to see a relic of that world.” Silvana stated and she watched as the rest of the Council slowly got their feet.

Silvana lead the way as the council fell in behind her. She led them to one of the nearby teleportation arrays and keyed in a code only she knew. She was the only free soul that knew the code, her entire research facility was manned by automated constructs as well as some other… assistants…

When Silvana arrived she was immediately greeted by her loyal servants. A mechanical golem approached as it knelt in front of Silvana.

“Greetings Mistress.” the golem said in a voice that sounded like it was vaguely in pain.

“What is this thing?” Mihael asked as he peered at the golem.

“A criminal, a murderer and a rapist. He now serves as my assistant. Worthless in life, useful in death.” Silvana stated coldly as the golem visibly trembled as Silvana’s cold gaze.

“What?” Uriel sputtered.

“What you think I was just executing all the criminals you give me? The Virtues demanded secrecy for when I researched the darker realms of magic.” Silvana said as she pressed a button on the golem’s metal body and the chassis opened revealing the mutilated torso of an Angel.

The entire Divine Council baulked at the sight. Silvana raised a brow as she saw Mihael’s fist clench in rage, he reached for his sword and in a flash it was out of its scabbard. Silvana smirked as she pulled out the scroll again and Mihael faltered as he gazed at the proof of the Virtue’s sanction.

“Rage all you want Mihael, bottom line is the Virtues trusted me and only me with this task. None of you would have been able to carry it out. The Virtues chose wisely.” Silvana said and the rest of the Divine Council just looked darkly at her.

“Hmph, you do not approve but that is to be expected. Shall I show you what exactly, my task was?” Silvana asked and the Divine Council just looked at each other for a moment before slowly nodding.

“Follow me.” Silvana said as she began walking. She walked past many of her other projects but they were of course not the topic of discussion today.

“What is behind those doors?” Uriel asked warily.

“You will know when the Virtues decide you should know.” Silvana replied.

“Or perhaps when you decide we should know.” Mihael challenged.

“That is true for some of them. But not all. I do not have the right to tell you what is behind some of these doors.” Silvana said as she rounded a corner and finally reached the destination.

Silvana stood before the gold door as she reached out a hand. She casted a silent spell that gave the codes to the door. The runes on the gold surface roared to life as the turned and shifted before opening and revealing a massive chamber.

Silvana walked through the doorway and gazed fondly at the hundreds of thousands of metal pods housing her living batteries.

“Impressive no?” Silvana asked as she turned around to face the pale-faced Divine Council.

“Living batteries, with some augmentations, each can hold a significant amount of power. But unfortunately, it’s one charge only. I use their life force as a catalyst to store the power. So once filled, they will die when they are drained,” Silvana said.

“How many…” Uriel muttered in mute horror.

As if on cue another of her servants approached and answered the question.

Current count lies at 656 732

At full capacity, power reserves are able to last approximately three centuries…