The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 71 - Fate Versus Destiny

Looking at the empty staircase in front of him felt like looking at the hollow of his stomach, and as the deer demon realized his prey had slipped from him Alastor found that the bitterness of that knowledge eclipsed any relief at the battle being concluded.

"Did- did he void himself?" Vox asked quietly.

"It seems so, but for what purpose I couldn't say," Laurence murmured.

"To escape being cornered without the need of a rune," the Radio Demon hissed, trying to keep his composure in front of the crowd still cloistered in the warehouse. "The wish that was on that ribbon let him annihilate his essence here. I suspect he'll spawn again in his own miserable universe, the same as last time he was destroyed."

"How ironic," Rosie shook her head. "For such devotion to be wasted on that creature."

"How ironic that this is twice now he's been defeated; and technically by his own twice-damned hands," Alastor snipped. He'd won, yes, but the victory felt hollow. Almost fitting, in its way, considering his opposition - this strange triumph felt twisted and wretched, almost like some kind of defeat.

"His flight may be a pity for the hunt, but I doubt we would have liked the taste of his ruined essence as it is," the Lace Overlord offered, putting a gentle hand on his arm. "What now?"

There was still the fight with Charlotte to come. He'd have to use some magic to repair his staff yet again if he wanted to channel more powerful runes, and he would almost certainly need them against her stronger magic. "We have to help Charlie. Her alter is here, the same as mine was," the deer demon replied, picking up the broken end of his staff and holding the pieces together. He focused on rebinding it, with the warning from his shadow that if it shattered again, they would likely have to drink a cup of dark in order to fix it.

The veiled spectre's pale eyebrow rose. "And she's no friend, I take it?"

"Gracious no!" Alastor scoffed. "But as much as I'd appreciate having an army to face her, I can't risk it - not when she would likely compel obedience with the Royal Authority. I need to keep our team small and strategic."

Rosie nodded with a serene smile, not questioning his judgment. "Then what would you have us do?" she asked.

He looked back at the crowd, truly surprised at seeing so spectral kin having answered his summons, and also that the Exorcists hadn't mobbed this place already considering the essence concentrated here. But perhaps... that was something they might take advantage of. "I would not have you fight the invading Princess - but I would have you face her army," the Static Overlord proclaimed, turning to face his umbral assembly. "Heaven has bared its fangs at us, and now I bid you show the angels the shadows' teeth! Hunt them down! Spread yourself in large packs - swarm the isolated and pick them off one by one. Tear them into as many pieces as it takes to guarantee they cannot do further damage, but do not devour them!" he added after the cautionary remark from his shadow. "Leave their corpses to show Hell the Exorcists can be slain!"

The crowd shouted with excitement and began to turn to move away, following his instructions gleefully as they streamed from the warehouse - as if this was a common parade, and not the Extermination they were marching into.

The Lace Overlord lingered briefly, her hands clasped together in glee. "This will certainly send a message. How exciting!"

"Consider it a preview of the show to come," Alastor smirked. "A new reign is coming to Hell!"

Rosie's abyssal eyes were practically twinkling with delight. "Indeed it is! Hail the Shadow with Voice," she smiled, fangs gleaming as she turned to follow after the other veiled spectres with an easy step, humming quietly to herself as she, too, departed.