The Red Hand

Chapter 463 – The Impending Family Reunion.

"I see, so things haven't gone according to plan." Labrys said as he slowly approached a small farming village on foot. He'd been wandering the Confederation's countryside for some time and had racked up an gut churning number of kills, with his existence becoming more like a natural disaster than a simple mass murderer.

{I'm sorry, my Lord. Valuru is currently held up in the safe house within the Dwarven Capital. Something is blocking the teleportation magic. It's likely the Demon Lord's power is at work as I can't imagine anything else being strong enough to stop it.} (Tanya)

"A city-wide anti-teleportation barrier would be child's play for a Demon Lord. She must want him for questioning, something that could prove troublesome if it were to come to pass." Labrys said as he stopped just up the road from the village and moved over to a tree to keep out of sight as a carriage approached from the opposite direction.

{Shall I instruct Valuru to take his own life?} (Tanya)

"As if he'd follow that order." Labrys uncharacteristically chuckled at her suggestion. "The man is dedicated to the cause, but few are willing to end their life at the drop of a hat. No, that won't do. I have no interest in giving orders that I know won't be followed."

{I'd kill myself if you asked, Lord Labrys!} (Tanya)

"T-Tanya... Never mind..." Labrys decided not to retort to her comment and honestly found himself caught off guard. The level of dedication she'd showed all these years impressed him but even the Demon Axe found himself a bit off put by the enthusiasm she'd just displayed. "Send our most capable forces to extract him, and if necessary eliminate him. If he's captured and reveals our location it will cause... Problems..." He knew that if Akagi got to him then all would be lost as while he was powerful he could never hope to resist a true Demon Lord.

{Rodger that! But didn't you say you wanted to talk to this Demon Lord? Wouldn't that be the chance?} (Tanya)

"The time for our meeting is fast approaching, but I need to do something before then. The time is not quite right for us to meet." Labrys said as he watched the carriage slowly pass, noting that a group of adventurers was aboard. “There are things I must do before then.”

{Are you trying to find your Sister?} (Tanya)

"The apprehension in your voice is understandable." Labrys said, causing Tanya to get flustered since she was outed. "But yes, I am." He said as he popped back out onto the main road and continued toward the village. "Enūma will be important in the coming battle. I need her power and cooperation if I'm to fulfill our Master's goal. I did not have the opportunity to properly meet her the last time due to the chaotic circumstances, but as things stand now I should be able to meet her as an equal." When Halifax was captured by the Cult in the past he was partially dormant and unable to interact much with the world writ large. He'd hoped that by capturing her he could wait by time to recover his strength, but the enraged Divine Blade proved too strong for the Cultist's meager defenses.

{Our records show that we captured her not long after we broke you out of the Imperial Vaults. Things must've been chaotic as my predecessors held off the Gods' assault, but were you really unable to meet her then?} (Tanya)

"I was weak from the millennia of slumber and hadn't consumed a soul during my time sealed away. I was barely conscious at the time and had no real way to communicate with anyone. Speaking to Enūma was simply not possible or practical. I'd hoped to keep her confined for long enough so that I could restore my power and then work on saving her." Labrys said as he continued down the pathway. "My Sister had a cruel fate bestowed upon her. She was ripped away from our Master and forced to be a servant of the Gods. They even took away her memories, memories that she once held precious..." His words drifted off as Tanya continued to listen shocked to hear him speak in a nostalgic and melancholic manner. “It was truly the worst fate imaginable for her.”

{That sounds terrible. To have been taken from Lord Vikes like that...} (Tanya)

"He and Enūma shared a close relationship. I was not created until after she was stolen, but from what I do know the two were inseparable even before he awakened. My Sister existed alongside my Master from before he even knew what he was and tried to help guide him." Labrys continued as he entered the village, ignoring the glares from the many villagers on the sides of the dirt road. "Demon Lords have no need for things like 'friends' or 'family' but my Sister was probably the closest thing he had to those mortal concepts, for however much they can apply to a Demon Lord."

{Lord Vikes must've been truly sad when she was taken.} (Tanya)

"Sadness doesn't even begin to describe the emotions he felt upon losing Enūma." Labrys said as a child bumped into him and fell backward, wanting to cry but paling upon seeing his mask and running away. "My Master shattered upon learning what had become of her, and I don't think I've ever seen a rage so deep as the first time he saw what the Gods had done to her. From what I could tell from the memories he imparted to me, my Master was somewhat coherent after his full awakening but upon losing Enūma he reverted to something little better than a feral beast. His rage burned so brightly that it snuffed out most of whatever remained of his prior personality, and he gave in to his instincts once and for all."

{The Gods only bring pain to everyone...} (Tanya)

{In the end, the loss of Enūma caused him to become what he always meant to be, but I firmly believe that he never wanted to lose himself entirely to his power. Enūma seemed to anchor him and prevented a full evolution into a Demon Lord as doing so would mean that his personality would vanish. As much as I believe in our mission, neah our duty, to destroy this world my loyalty to my Master means I would rather his wishes have been respected. But none of that matters now. My Master was defeated, scattered, and shattered. Nothing more than fragments of his power exist, and it's up to me to set things right. I have a duty not just to him, but to my Sister and I'll carry on their memory and see this world destroyed.} (Labrys)

"If it's the last thing I do, Tanya, I will make the Gods pay for causing my Master so much pain. Even if it requires me to sacrifice my very existence, I will bring this world down." Labrys said as he clenched his fist, a wave of determination washing over him.

{And we're right here with you, Lord Labrys!} (Tanya)

"Yes, yes you are." Labrys said as he reached for his Axe body on his back, readying himself to slaughter the villagers. "And now, it's time to-" Suddenly, Labrys paused just as he was about to draw his weapon.

{Lord Labrys? Is something wrong?} (Tanya)

"No... Not wrong, but... It... It would seem that fate has its own plans." Labrys chuckled. "And I suppose this means that it's time."

{What's going on? Lord Labrys?!?} (Tanya)

"My Sister is not far from here." Labrys said as he continued walking, heading through the village and out the other side as the villagers looked on, confused.

{What?!?} (Tanya)

"We're drawn to each other, I suppose that's just fate. I don't think she is aware of my presence just yet, but I can sense her."

Labrys continued. "There is another powerful energy signature near her, likely a servant of Demon Lord Akagi. I wonder if she is searching for me? It appears that she's intentionally masking her presence, but is failing to hide it completely. It's likely that she is not aware that I can sense the faint traces of our Master's power within her."{Isn't that bad?!? You should return! If you're captured-} (Tanya)

"This is the best opportunity that I'm likely to have if I want to speak to Enūma without Demon Lord Akagi interfering." Labrys shut her down. "She is in the Dwarven Capital, and even if she can move quickly it would be impossible for her to get here before I have a chance to speak with my Sister."

{But isn't that servant you sense a risk?!? At least allow me to send you a few guards!} (Tanya)

"No, I must do this ALONE!" Labrys shouted at her his voice echoing through the telepathic connection. "Enūma will only become wary if there are others. My best chance to speak with her candidly will require it to be the two of us. If the Demon Lord's servant gets in the way I will remove them. They are powerful sure, but I do not fear a single mortal, no matter how powerful they may be. I am a weapon created by Demon Lord Vikes! I fear no mortal!"

{I...I understand...} (Tanya)

"Good, then you understand that any interference will result in earning my most severe displeasure." Labrys warned her that trying anything would result in her being killed and consumed.

{I would never go against your will. If it is your wish to do this alone, then I have no right to object. Just... Please promise me that you'll be careful.} (Tanya)

"That a mortal is worried about my safety..." Labrys shook his head in disbelief, something he'd done far too much when it came to Tanya. "I promise only that I will endeavor to succeed. If fate is on my side then Enūma will agree to work toward achieving our Master's goal."

{And if she refuses? What will you do if she wants nothing to do with you? If she wishes to destroy you and save the Gods?} (Tanya)

"Then I will kill her." Labrys said curtly and without a hint of reservation or hesitation in his words. "That is what my Master would want... And it's what she would want. Should Enūma refuse my aid, should she desire to remain shackled to the Gods that stole her away and corrupted her... Then I will do as I must. If for nothing else than to allow our Father peace, if such a thing is even possible for a Demon Lord."

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“How you feeling?” Akagi asked Imp, her face buried in some kind of schematic.

“Obvious?” Imp commented a she continued to read.

“Yeah, I just wanted to make sure.” Akagi chuckled. “Well that's good, I was worried there might be some kind of side effect from from that blade. But I'd guess since it was dealt with so quickly there wasn't any lingering effects.”

“Hurt though...” Imp sighed.

“I'd bet.” Akagi said. “Oh yeah. Marshal called me a bit ago, he said that him and his men love improvements you made to their machines.”

“Hee...Hee...” Imp laughed. “Now they are truly-really iron steeds!”

“I'm sure he and the Knights will get to try them out for real in good time.” Akagi smirked. “And while we're on the subject of the future, what did you think of the data I provided you on the Reactor?”

“Want.” Imp spun around and met the Demon's eyes. “No, NEED.”