Chaos (2)
The inside of the barrier was dark. It was night, so there were no lights, but the darkness within felt unusually thick. I had a pretty good idea why. The black magic blanketing the area was probably corrupting the factory into an anomalous zone.
"Stuffy as hell."
The black magic pressed down on my body. Conversely, it would buff the cultists' power and provide ongoing support. Not the ideal spot for a fight, but if it meant luring them out, this level of risk was worth it.
"Hm..."
Before I knew it, we'd entered the factory proper. A high ceiling loomed over a vast open space. Hundreds of desks and sewing machines came into view. So far, so normal for a factory. But the mountain of piled-up clothes on one side and the workers impaled like stakes? Definitely not.
A bizarre altar made of clothes and people. Judging by the scattered oil drums, they were moments away from a grand old campfire.
"...."
"""......."""
Dozens of people stood at the base of the altar. They were all dressed identically: crimson-red robes pulled over their heads, necklaces bearing the glowing emblem of the Chaos Faction. Looked like they'd coordinated outfits for the special occasion.
I stared at them. They stared back. A brief silence hung in the air. I'm not a fan of awkward moments, so I broke it first.
"What're you waiting for? Come at me."
"....."
I opened Go-seo and drew mana up from within. At the same time, tendrils of mana stretched out in all directions, spawning dozens of white eggs in midair.
Insect eggs. They twitched violently, on the verge of hatching.
"Attack!"
"Understood!"
The apparent leader barked the order, and they unleashed their magic in unison. Raging winds and flames merged into a fiery storm, incinerating everything in the area.
"...."
The fierce flames engulfed my body and the unhatched eggs too. The pupae burned away, their incomplete forms melting down. Insects are weak to fire by nature, so in a way, the Chaos Faction were natural counters to insect summoners.
"That won't happen."
Too bad for the cultists, though. I was an insect summoner and a wielder of deep-sea magic.
I sliced my palm open, letting blood flow, and infused new power into the burning insects.
"You are the master's servants, thus denizens of the sea."
⟨ Deep Sea Manifestation ⟩
As I chanted, deep-sea energy flooded the area. The surrounding flames weakened. The insects' bodies began to transform: scales sprouted, fins emerged, tentacles replaced limbs. A grotesque fusion of bug, fish, and mollusk.
"Ride the waves and advance."
"""Kieeeek!!!"""
The deep-sea energy eroded the area, water gradually pooling on the floor. The transformed insects surged forward through the rising tide, clashing with the armed cultists.
"Slice their necks!"
"Don't let the priests get close!"
"As long as chaos exists in this world, these flames shall never die!"
Magic shook the factory. Flames boiled the sea; armed cultists mercilessly carved through the deep-sea insects. The battle raged fiercely, and I couldn't stay out of it either.
"Vanish into the vortex of chaos!"
"Whoa."
One cultist hurled magic my way.
Deep Sea Tentacle
Shrrrrk!
A slashing wind blade targeted my neck. I summoned a tentacle to block it, then fired a spine that pierced the bastard clean through.
But there were plenty more cultists around.
"Die, mage!"
"Don't interfere with the ritual!"
Sword- and spear-wielding cultists charged head-on. I whipped a tentacle at them, but as close-combat specialists, they blocked it.
"Chaos be with us!"
"...."
An assassin dropped from the ceiling, dagger flashing with a mad grin—like he was ready to die together.
"Think that'll work?"
"What?! You're no mage!"
I caught the falling guy one-handed and hurled him back at his allies. He rocketed across at insane speed.
"Into the endless whirl—"
"Gaaah!"
"Guhk?!"
He slammed into the mage, toppling them both. Magic mid-cast canceled meant the backlash hit the caster hard. An explosion ripped through their side, and the deep-sea insects pounced on the opening.
"Hm..."
The fight was even for now, but my insects kept feeding on my mana, healing wounds and growing stronger. At this rate, we'd win in under thirty minutes.
Still, I couldn't relax.
Where's the cult leader?
He'd definitely joined this op—I'd seen it in the cultists' memories yesterday. This oppressive barrier was his handiwork too. But he wasn't among them. Had he gotten scared and bailed?
"Nah."
This was the leader of a cult. All his fanatics followed him blindly, his madness and faith outshining theirs. No way he'd run. More likely scheming from the shadows.
"Where are you."
I focused, surrendering to my senses. Mana-enhanced perception fed me data from the area—like a shark smelling blood or a whale hearing kin from thousands of kilometers away.
Extreme concentration revealed it: a faint gaze from midair.
"There you are."
"You noticed. Pity."
The gaze I'd felt since entering the barrier wasn't imagination—it was the leader watching me. I'd tracked it back to him. His position: the factory rooftop.
"Sweep them away and save the people!"
"Let one die and you're dead!"
I pumped mana into the insects. Their wounds healed instantly, bodies doubling in size. I issued orders, then scrambled up the ladder against one wall.
"Gaaah!"
"Help!"
"Uwaaak! My arm!!"
Screams echoed from below. The tide had fully turned; cultists were getting slaughtered without resistance. Civilians were being rescued by the insects. They'd have freaked if awake, but luckily they were out cold.
"Hup!"
Bam!
The rooftop door flew off its hinges. I stepped out onto the sloped roof and flat landing pad. Ventilation units and a water tank dotted the space.
"...."
In the center, another altar pulsed with eerie colors. It was drenched in blood, three corpses on the floor—a family, by the look of it. Hearts excised, all wearing serene smiles.
"Heh."
A dry laugh escaped me. I'd saved who I could, but someone still died. No real sadness or guilt, though. Strangers, and I hadn't killed them.
But rage? That filled my chest completely.
"Pisses me off."
They might've crossed paths with me someday. Brushed past on the street, made the clothes on my back, or that kid could've been my junior at work one day.
"Fuck."
Someone died in my world. Seemed trivial at a glance, but it creeped me out to my core. The thought that my daily life, the people around me—even Shin-nim—could end like this someday.
"Stop hiding and come out."
"Wasn't really hiding, you know."
I caught my breath and called out the leader. He emerged from behind a vent, smirking with an infuriating face.
"Get that ugly mug outta here."
"Just turn your head."
"Want me to take your head off?"
"Give it a shot if you can."
He was relaxed. Confident in his power, and with the ritual done, no need to rush.
"More importantly, who the hell are you?"
"...."
"Never heard of anyone like you. That magic's weird too."
He started speculating wildly while I stood silent.
"One of the Yu clan!?"
"Nope."
"Nah? Well, they're all dead anyway."
Too many bodies and grudges in his past—he couldn't even guess who I was. Should I be mad or just laugh at the absurdity?
"Whatever. Doesn't matter who you are."
"'Cause you're gonna die anyway? That it?"
"Spot on!"
Five minutes of bullshit later, he finally stopped and prepped for battle. He grabbed his staff from the altar and clutched the three hearts atop it, beginning his chant.
"O chaos, grant power to your servant."
⟨ Chaos Transformation ⟩
His body slowly levitated. His jaw elongated wolf-like, fur sprouted, hands and feet turned bearish. A crude imitation of chaos beasts from legend.
"Pathetic."
"Call it divine."
He looked ridiculous, but the effect was no joke. His once-ordinary body had transformed into something stronger than any monster I'd faced. His mana exploded outward, sinister tendrils fusing with the barrier to crush me deeper.
"So what."
Didn't matter if he powered up or I weakened. Only one thing counted: beating him would finally bring true peace.