The Manipulators

Willier-Chapter 10

There were many misleading informations that were shared among the Mintian society about the Lunists. Such examples could range from drinking their enemies' blood or mutilating their bodies for fun and pleasure. However, not all rumors are false.

...

I awoke from a dream which Douglas decided to punch me in the back, then I realized that it isn't a dream as my back still hurts. My surroundings were very different from the previous room I was in. The room is about one eighth of the previous gigantic room and is filled with towering black pillars that have a lot of textures and decorations. I found myself laying against one of the black pillars. Slowly, I stood up and found out that there are also a bunch of people on the ground, too, all in strange positions. I managed to find Ingeborg and Hallam on the ground, unconscious, but Marvick and Trueman are nowhere to be seen. It seems to me that everyone here would be my future Lunist allies. 

"AHHA! THE FIRST OF THE FIRST AND THE FIRST OF THE SECOND!" Boomed a voice behind me. I was taken surprise from it and turned around sharply, scanning the area. However, there is nobody behind me, except for a dark elegant wolf that's abnormally large. It seems to be merging in with the dark stone floor.

"WHAT? NEVER SAW A TALKING DOG BEFORE?" Barked the elegant wolf dog, its hollow white eyes staring at me. "SHAME ON YOU GELUMNATIO!" I just stared at the wolf dog's shadowy fur, unsure what to say or do. 

"Heh, undeterred? Well, nice to meet you." Within a flash of the eye, the elegant wolf dog turned into a man. The man is almost as tall as Douglas and had black eyes and hairs, common trait for a Human. However, judging from his black hairy ears and tails, he might also be one of the Animal Hybrids. The man's feature is innocent, but his eyes are crazy looking and a large smile spread across his face. "My name is Wolfrey, former and still current partner of Vaperrashi."

Oh. Wolfrey Burkhart Ulysses. At this rate, I swear the next person to show up would be Vaperrashi. 

Wolfrey Burkhart Ulysses, a Shadowist, he was a very old friend of Vaperrashi and they were born around the same time period, allegedly. His eyes are usually crazy, and he is the kind of person that don't look into the mirror before heading outside. His hairs are an unholy messy abomination, but his black and purple robe do look clean enough. As a Shadowist, he could enter and exit darkness to his will even if the Deity of Shadow doesn't allow him to. Wolfrey, according to some sources, spoke once that he has a greater claim to darkness than the Deity of Shadow. The Deity of Shadow then decided to descend partially in order to destroy what it called a "Brute-with-no-brain". In the end, the partial Deity of Shadow was defeated and contained due to the collective effort of Wolfrey and Vaperrashi, whom were still the Best Duo back then. Wolfrey might be somewhat arrogant, but his power and ability definitely back him up a lot.

Without another word, Wolfrey sank into the darkness of the dim room we were in. Second later, he emerged from the pillar behind me and was in a fighting position. I quick stepped away as he missed his poorly prepared swing. "Ahha. At least now I could try to use a part of my power without killing you." Then, before I could react, he disappeared again when he fell into the floor. Alarmed now that Wolfrey would be an enemy to me, I formed an ice spear and was in stance of jabbing. 

"Good coordination of your body... assuming that you know where I am, little Gelumnatio." Wolfrey's voice echoed through the dark room. His words were meant to advise me, but I was unable to protect myself from all sides. Then, soundlessly, I was pounced onto the floor as Wolfrey came out of another pillar. He gave me a smile before he merged with the darkness again. It seems like Wolfrey does not know what kind of Gelumnatio he is dealing with. 

I abandoned by ice spear and cupped my hands together. A small sliver of light pierced through my fingers, and soon my hands were both on fire. No matter what Wolfrey thought of this tactic, he didn't comment on this strategy and emerged from the darkness again. However, his shadow was revealed to me due to my light, and I managed to turn around in time and use my burning fists to punch him in the chest. However, my fire also lighted up Wolfrey's face, revealing a haunting smile face. "You know, I may or may not forgot that you are the hybrid of two sworn enemies." Without another word, Wolfrey resorted back into the darkness of his own shadow. He then proceeded to make somewhat of a grand speech. "A child of fire and ice! What an unusual combination! Dear Vaperrashi remarked you as Atrophy Downfall and Sixten called you an Archangel! That is, before he met the Deity of Fire. Anyways~ enough about you. Time to hunt my prey." 

It is usually never a good sign to be referred to as a "prey" by Wolfrey, and by usually I meant always. My fire might have lit up my surrounding area, but my own shadow betrayed me. Two gigantic claws grabbed my shoulder as I was pulled into the darkness. Within the dark domain, four pairs of sharp eyes stared at him. "Welcome, to The Other Side." 

I tried to channel for my flames, but nothing came. My effort earned myself a heartless laugh. "Foolish. This is a corner of emptiness, and thus nothing could technically be created in here." Then, I felt sharp pain all over my body as my crimson blood spewed out of the claw marks on my chest. I tried to shield myself from the attacks, but there are only so many places one could cover with two hands and legs. Times later, I was covered in scars that I couldn't see and was ejaculated from the darkness and landed on the cold black floor of the pillar room. I laid on my all four, unable to move since my entire body is on fire, figuratively. Wolfrey then stood infront of me and stared down with a menacing smile. 

"Cross breeds usually don't get all the good aspects of their origin. As a Gelumnatio, you still feel pain, yet as a Combustioantitheus, you feel less emotion than you should. Personally, I would encourage you to remove one of your heart so you could be one with the Combustioantitheus or Gelumnatio, but then, it's a choice that could be made later on." Spoke Wolfrey thoughtfully. "Anyways, where are we? Ah, yes, the part where you lost. I expected more and less from you, then again, it's the first time you fought me, so, I guess, good job." 

Without another word, Wolfrey picked me up by my collar and threw me into the darkness again. As I descended, I heard Wolfrey's voice slowing coming from above. "Goodbye, I do hope that you survive the next and last part. Man, that test sure sent a shiver down my spine."