Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 467

“Where have I experienced a method of persuasion like this before?” Argrave said, rolling his shoulders. “Playing nice, with the pretext of total destruction? It’s a familiar street we’re walking. And you probably should have record in those Annals telling you that it didn’t work on me last time.”

“So, shall I tell Mozzahr all you’ve taken and what it does?” the Keeper pushed. “Conspire against you more actively?”

“Do it,” Argrave nodded. “You already got me what I wanted, and I’ve been running around long enough. But you won’t, will you? Because you want to control things from the background, as Erlebnis’ good little servant. You want us to head deeper in, limit our options, force us to fight… and have your master sweep things up.”

Orion and Melanie entered into view, and Argrave walked toward them, pulling the Inerrant Cloak tighter over his shoulders.

“What you said, about being enslaved… it sounds plausible enough to bear merit, but it’s not quite possible enough to bear weight,” Argrave continued.

“My thoughts exactly. Would Erlebnis allow a being with ill intent to control all of his operations, even his vault?” Anneliese contributed, walking up beside Argrave. “And even supposing you were kept near Hause… you spoke with such certainty that you’d be freed. But how are you sure? Antagonizing us cannot see that come to fruition. No—these are the textbook tactics of Erlebnis. And I know better than to go along with them.”

The Keeper’s silence was answer in itself, but he quickly bubbled up again, “But Erlebnis—”

“He is coming,” confirmed the Alchemist. “So you stall for his arrival, pitting us against each other.”

“We’ve collected all we can,” Argrave continued, watching Orion and Melanie run ever closer. “Now, it’s time for the final resistance. You can search without us, I trust?” He looked up at the Alchemist.

“I can,” confirmed the Alchemist. “And far faster, too.”

“Give me our weapons, and go,” Argrave said. “You’ll find us here.”

The Alchemist’s body shifted, and he drew out several artifacts, emerging from his body like frosting from a tube. He stabbed them to the ground one by one, then handed the final to Argrave—a familiar quarterstaff, the Resonant Pillar. It had two rings on each end, and looked to be made of jade.

in his hand. It felt as heavy as lead, but as it empowered him, it felt like bamboo. He gave a

was gone, twisting into a horrifying form and surging down the hall. He was empowered by

will die,” assured

see,” Argrave stepped ahead, looking back at the spear. “It’s one versus five… and you gave me the

Mozzahr. The Castellan of the Empty burst into view, his feet skidding as he slowed his speed to make the turn. When

see. It seems you’ve seen through us once again, Argrave,” said the Keeper calmly, any emotional inflection in his voice now gone. “But forget not where you are. My twin

“Twin?” repeated Argrave.

the right to my answers,” the Keeper said dryly. “Now… I’ll not distract either of you. It would not do for either side to have

yours ready for the thrusting attack. Cut at me if you

and Orion moved quickly to catch up. He twirled the now-light Resonant Pillar in his hand. It chimed pleasantly, casting off dancing lights. Once a certain distance away, he stopped, setting

hammer he’d been given. It looked to be a tooth fastened by metal, and yet exuded power all the same. “We might be

you, Orion,” Argrave said. “Keep

beyond his golden helmet, and the prince nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. The queen, our brother-in-law, and Melanie… they

at the other end of the long corridor. He declared with a steady

didn’t know how much of an effect it would have—the Domain of Law could only ever be as strong as his will… but certainly, he’d need every edge he could get against Mozzahr. He spread out his blood echoes, having them perform the simple

When Mozzahr’s bolt of Emptiness struck, he felt the Inerrant Cloak draw out that power in unimaginable quantities to suppress the damage it

chime rose to a deafening bell, and when the Emptiness faded, Mozzahr leapt through the corridor like a feral beast. The cult leader hefted a divine sword of bone in his right hand. It seemed he recognized the Blessing of Supersession from his battles with the emissaries, and knew he needed to kill the caster quickly lest they begin a painful barrage. But then,

end like a bat. Mozzahr held out his left hand to catch it midflight. When it touched his palm, the reason why it was called Resonant made itself clear. The power it

like a baseball hit foul, yet he stopped himself from slamming ungracefully into the wall using one hand. He landed on the ground, where Orion promptly charged and slammed the hammer down upon him. The castellan moved quick and received it with the sword of bone. A deafening noise erupted

Cloak used its power to defend him. Surprise flashed through Mozzahr’s elven features at his attack’s impotence. Enough residual Emptiness had struck the Resonant Pillar, and so he once again tried to bash Mozzahr. The monstrous man caught the blow with his forearm, though from the

him. The castellan grew yet more confused and shocked, yet Argrave calmly called upon his blood-infused [Electric Eels] to punish him. Mozzahr leapt away, but he wasn’t faster than lightning—about twenty eels struck him squarely on the chest, and he landed ungracefully in a painful-looking roll before gathering himself, head twitching from linger

was forced to shield himself with Emptiness that scattered under the power. Anneliese, meanwhile, collaborated with Melanie to rain a twisting spire of ice down

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