The Starlight Lancer

Chapter Nineteen: Maw of the Eldritch

"The weapon of a lancer, and those of the heretics, are unlike any that can be forged by known methods. We've tried, with bio-weapons, genetic modification, and synthetic connections, to replicate those properties found in ciphers, only to fail at every turn. Those principles and resources might better be invested in other areas of deficiency across the Allegiant Militarium."

—Doctor Phydus Neeran, Head Researcher at JIAHC Facility Syfon-0031, in the abstract of Report 3-i447/E87-Sfn-0031-4

Zaina turned as glowing, crimson liquid pooled in the chasm, spilling over between the spikes jutting from the ground. Then, a well of energy rose from the depths, and Zaina covered her head—a resounding, howling boom erupted from the pit, leaving wisps of black smoke towering into the sky above.

Facing the chasm, Zaina was stared down by the Eldritch's skull—there was no darkness cloaking it, so she got a glimpse of its true form as it rose above the spiky wall surrounding the pit. Its base seemed to be a large, humanoid skeleton, but everything about it otherwise was wrong—fleshy, bulbous sacks with snapping mouths, their teeth bared, protruded from between its ribcages, and malevolently staring eyes covered its body. Rotting flesh was stuck to its bones in places, and insects and maggots crawled about freely, drinking the black blood that seeped from its joints—the flash from a streak of lightning illuminated its guts, which consisted of writhing, endless hands, all twisting and fighting, dragging against their skeletal-prison, their fingers spilling through the crevices of the alien's ribcage and tears in its writhing stomach. The odor was otherworldly—everything about it was impossible. Zaina nearly threw up, but was too enraptured by the primordial horror before her.

The dark streams of smoke rising from the chasm swirled around the Eldritch's skull, forming its phantasmal cloak once more. The shadows twisted with the shining orb of the Eldritch's crown at their nexus.

With no weapon to fight, Zaina turned to run toward the ship. Instead, she stumbled, nearly collapsing—the voices had formed a deafening chorus tearing at her brain. The frantic voices blurred together until a singular, echoing voice harnessed them. The Eldritch uttered another phrase of power.

"Stop."

Ancient sounds tore at the sky itself, as if hundreds of small engines overheated at once, then ground to a halt with a metallic screech that grew slower with every repetition.

Zaina's body froze again. This time was less absolute—she was able to move her eyes and take deep breaths, but every muscle was completely locked in place. The Eldritch's haunting chuckles filled the air as everything faded, replaced by darkness—total darkness closing in from every horizon. There was no ground, no sky—only her and the Eldritch, both draped in shadow. A thick silence hung over everything, blocking out the whispers and even her thoughts—only dim, blurred whispers pierced through the mental haze. The creature floated slowly toward her.

"Even now, at the end, you continue to resist."

The creature's words pierced the void—Zaina kept fighting against its will, determined to defy its influence to the last.

"Why do you struggle so, human?"

Zaina choked out a response. "I'm—not—listening—to you—"

The Eldritch continued its approach. Zaina squirmed and wriggled, trying to break free like she had before, but it was no use. This spell was different—its grasp bent, but never broke. The harder she fought the more her vision was consumed by shadow—it stained the corners of her sight, threatening to take over at a moment's notice.