Tree of Aeons

356 Part 1

Library of Eras

The cities were spread out over thousands of smaller sub-cities and districts, each home to tens of thousands of these Erasian Dwarves. Their buildings towered into the sky, often ten to twenty stories tall, and packed closely together. Their walls filled with different cylindrical pipes, some that carried steam and others carried magical energy. 

Edna moved quickly, but there was a lot of ground to cover and a lot of people to find. She had often forgotten how difficult it was to look for people amongst billions as they were quite reliant on Aeon’s surveillance abilities to monitor large populations. 

Most of the other peripheral worlds had cities in the millions, but not a large, seemingly continuous world of cities. 

Edna had many questions in her mind. "Who were the heretics?" 

Her immediate instincts and her heartfelt hopes were that they are those who still retained the old faith of Eras. Dwarves who somehow still knew that their entire faith is a lie. The question of how they did it was a second matter. But it was also possible that the heretics were heretics for other reasons, and for that, she wasn't sure. 

The Library of Eras, thankfully, was a thoroughly developed dwarven world, complete with great methods of communication, even if they evolved in their own way. The Erasians had magical formations that resembled image screens and tools to speak with each other that were far away. There were specialized horn-artifacts that spoke and made announcements everywhere, linked through the magical pipes.

There were also newspeople and a rather vibrant media scene, despite their often serious reputation, the Erasian dwarves were also thoroughly fond of [Dwarven Bards], [Dwarven Gossips] and [Dwarven Reporters], and loved a good party.

Alka once said that dwarves might not share information with other races, but when a group of sufficiently familiar dwarves gathered over beer, the amount of gossip and news exchanged was comparable to that of upper class noble tea parties. 

It was an amusing thought that dwarven beer halls were equivalent to noble lady tea parties.

"The authorities assured that Library Security Forces are doing their best to capture and arrest the Heretics in the Southern Chambers." One of such announcement-horns blared, clearly intertwined magically with a magical pipeline from the walls. That pipeline likely led back to a control center, where such announcements were designed and made.

Southern Chambers. Edna locked on the name, and looked at her map. 

Edna checked the maps and noticed there were actually three different Southern Chambers. She had no choice but to ask the nearby dwarf that looked friendly enough, to clarify. "Aye, which Southern Chambers are they talking about?"

The dwarf laughed. "Aye milady. G'day to you too. They are talking about the Southern Chambers by Southland Square. A dangerous place if you don't know what you're doing."

Edna nodded, and thanked the dwarven man. "I see. Now I know where to avoid."

"Good that you do. Those heretics are dangerous. They claim everything we know and believe is a lie. It's so ridiculous that I have no idea how they even got such an idea." The merry dwarf laughed while working on some kind of small, palm-sized wood construct. There were some forested areas remaining on the Library of Eras, though from what they observed, the forests were treated as farms, as more of a ‘resource’, than a place of relaxation. "So don't get near them."

"I don't even know what they look like." Edna feigned laughter. 

"That's the scary thing! They look just like you and me. But the things in their heads are all wrong!"

"Sounds thoroughly dangerous." Edna agreed.

"Yeah. The authorities have been hunting them for decades! Somehow they have managed to get away. I hear rumors that they have powerful protectors. But no worries, I think the Reviver's Descendants will not tolerate them any more. Once they find them, it’s over."

Edna blinked and smiled sheepishly. Well, not on her watch, she had so many questions for the heretics. "It's a good thing it is far away then. A battle would be dangerous." 

"It is, it is." The dwarf smiled as a gigantic steam tram pulled up to the tracked platform. There were many other dwarves waiting in line.

Edna paused. "Actually, maybe I won't be taking this tram."

"Forgot something at home?"

"Yeah. Something like that." Edna said, as she checked the map again. The dwarves also had large paper maps that were exceptionally detailed, because the displayed parts magnified when tapped. It was amusing and interesting enough that Central back home had already requested at least ten copies for further studies. Ȓ₳ΝȫβЕș

***

Southern Chambers by Southland Square was what the Erasians described as a mid-density miaxed district. Buildings here were much newer and were also home to many new large scale redevelopment projects. The Erasian dwarves frequently tore down older buildings to build new housing. Higher. Taller. More. 

A legacy from their past, when they once rebuilt the entire world over and over again. 

At its heart was a large temple to the Reviver. 

Edna stretched her senses. Here, on the Library of Eras, the overwhelming density of void mana interfered with some of her senses, reducing their effective range. 

It was quite like trying to see through smog with their normal eyes. But not all senses were weakened by the natural void mana density, and she, as a knight, could sense the presence of combat. 

The Erasians had a special military unit, a police force called the Heretic Removal Force, or sometimes the Anti-Heretic Army, and they were a sub-division of the Department of Descendant Affairs. Here, in the Southern Chambers, these dwarven military warriors were out in force. They came in large magical tracked war machines that resembled magically-powered tanks, while there were heavily armed dwarves riding magically powered golems. 

With her camouflage and invisibility spell, she snuck closer to the military unit and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"They are underground." One of the officers ordered a group of dwarves to start firing at the ground below. Edna's keen senses made it easy for her to keep track of them and noticed that there were many layers of older buildings underground. 

The magical tanks and golems aimed their weapons in the gaps in the ground, and fired their magical weapons. The ground trembled, as Edna noticed some of the Anti-Heretics charged into the tunnels. 

"Don't let them escape!" The commander roared. "Close the ancient tunnels!"

Yet, Edna felt there were many, many layers underground. How far could those weapons reach? Edna saw a few of the large war machines redirected their weapons on the ground beneath them, and fired.

The powerful magical beams expanded the smaller natural cavities in the ground and transformed them into massive boreholes that led right into the deeper layers below, and she felt more tremors. 

"Are the tunnels closed?" The Commander asked, and received mixed responses from the Anti-Heretic’s earth mage. 

“Not all, sir. Only the higher level tunnels.” 

There were many level, and because they were made with a mix of stone, steel, and magical crystals, it was likely their senses would not completely detect the full structure of the tunnels. 

But the anti-heretics’ weapons worked, because their targets were not that deep.

Edna repositioned herself amongst the anti-heretic army, and now she could feel the presence of a large group of dwarves underground, and from her senses, she could feel that the magical beams didn't get them.

There were still more tunnels underground. Even deeper underground. 

***

Deep underground.

"Go." The mithril golem said to the rest of the heretics. "We do not have much of a choice now. I will hold them off. Hide, and reach the lower tunnels. They are not aware of the ancient tunnels older than the Lucrantian Era."

Seva, the leader of the heretics, looked at the rest of his compatriots. "Take them with you. Go. Lord Gorkun, I will stand with you. Without my presence, they will not count this as a victory."

A few other dwarves joined the golem and their leader. "Not just you, Seva. Enough of us must stay and fight the anti-heretic army. We need to let them believe they got us all. They would continue their hunt if they didn't get the leaders."

Gorkun nodded, and the golem prepared itself for battle. "A shame that our quest to reveal the truth ends here. It was my pleasure protecting all of you."

The tunnels shook violently as more of the army used more of their weapons. They could feel the vibrations from the magical explosions. The magical beams were getting close as their earth mages could largely detect their presence.

"HERETICS!" They could feel the furious screams of their hunters. 

Gorkun's mithril body whirled into being. The rest of the dwarves quickly ran into the even more ancient tunnels, and Gorkun activated an ancient mechanism that shut the ancient doors once the last of the heretics fled through it.

Seva watched his family and friends crying as they ran through the ancient doors. They would never see each other after today. 

Gorkun looked at the de-facto leader of the heretics, the dwarven Battlemaster Seva. Seva rubbed his warhammer, and activated his battered shield. They’d seen many battles and managed to outwit the anti-heretics for years. In his heart, maybe this was when their luck ran out.

"To die in battle is glorious indeed. Come, Gorkun. Let us remind my fellow dwarves what we Erasians used to stand for."

Gorkun nodded, as parts of the tunnels and segments of the roof collapsed. There was a hill of debris that led to the surface. 

It’s been a few days since Seva saw sunlight. Ever since the Anti-Heretics picked up their trail and found their last known location, they’ve kept to the subterranean tunnels. 

"Heretics! There is nowhere else to run!" The Commander of the Anti-Heretics said with a magical sound amplification artifact. 

"Run?" Seva countered, and shouted a response. The more he taunted the anti-heretics, the more they’d focus on him and ignore the fleeing allies. "On the contrary, this will be your burial ground. I will take you down with me today."

The Commander laughed. "Big words for men corrupted by false ideology. It seems that corrupt ideology has also ruined your mind, Seva. To think we used to be such close friends."

"I was wrong." Seva raised his warhammer, and it glowed. "We are all wrong. Everything is wrong, Shai. You can join us too, Shai, it’s not too late."

"A shame that the rot was so deep." Commander Shai sighed. "You leave me no choice, Seva. Get them!"

The younger dwarven commander made a hand signal. The rest of the heretic hunters rushed into battle, and magical tanks got into position. 

“Beware of the golem! That golem is the source of all their corrupt ideology!” Commander Shai roared. “Armor, focus on the golem!”

The magical tanks and golem-wearing warriors obeyed and moved to face Gorkun.

But their artifacts and machines were no match for the Sentinel of Eras. Gorkun roared, and a blast of magical energy exploded outwards. Gorkun, Seva, and ten other warriors stood to fight against the army of almost two hundred hunters.

However, Seva was stronger. He was a senior member of the heretic hunters, and then, years of being on the run and fighting at horrible odds, meant he had explosive growth in levels. 

Seva's warhammer slammed into Commander Shai's magical shield with such force of impact that the commander was blasted backwards. 

“You’re still too weak to defeat me, Shai.” Seva taunted, and activated a powerful glowing [Taunt]. It easily caught Shai in its area of effect. 

"Ugh! Gang up on Seva!" Commander Shai commanded, much to some of his subordinates’ reluctance. 

200 anti-heretics against 10 or so heretics were bad odds, but since Seva and Gorkun were incredibly powerful, they were able to fend off the attacking heretic hunters. 

Gorkun’s magical weapons crushed the tanks and hunter-golems, and Seva’s abilities slew multiple soldiers with every strike. 

Commander Shai staggered backwards, injured from the confrontation with Seva. It was then that Commander Shai activated a strange, faintly demonic object. A blast of red light shot out into the skies above.

A red sphere temporarily appeared in the blue sky. A signal.

Gorkun and Seva knew that their luck had run out.

Edna, watching from a distance, felt it too. A powerful pulse of magical energy came towards them.

A domain holder. 

A blast of red light, and then, a Descendant appeared. A mutant humanoid with a weird oversized jellyfish head, with tentacles that looked twisted by demonic features. The creature was horrific to look at, and yet, all of the heretic hunters bowed as if they were in the presence of divinity. 

"Lord Shu-na." Commander Shai said while prostrating on the floor. "These are the heretics."

The Descendant ignored Commander Shai, and walked to the edges of the debris, and stared at the massive collapsed tunnel, where the heretics fought with the anti-heretical force. Shu-na glared at Gorkun. "So, one of the old war golems remained? How interesting."

Edna felt the creature's domain wasn't that strong. Level 180 at best? She wasn’t certain. The shape and feel of the domain felt somewhat strange, though it was weak enough that she concluded that this descendant was likely just in his first domain. 

But now Edna wondered how many of these creatures existed throughout the five core worlds.

Shu-na offered a deal. "As long as I am here, victory is assured for the Hunters. Why resist us, heretics? Why hold onto the old heretical faith? Come, golem. Let us rewire you, properly. Come, my beloved dwarven men, join us in worship of the Holy Reviver."

Gorkun countered, the golem raised its mithril fists at the Descendant. "I will rather fall than let your foul hands touch my creator's sacred soul."

"A shame. The Reviver's return is not far away. Your resistance is eventually useless."

Gorkun's body glowed as it prepared for battle. Magical lines appeared through its form.

“Amusing. You believe you can stand against us who stepped into the divine realms?” Shu-na waved his hand, and a dark ball of magic blasted into the golem's body. The golem flew backwards, Gorkun's mithril shell charred. 

"Ugh."

"Oh. Tough one. I suppose the old faith’s borrowed power still has some uses." Shu-na's smile looked thoroughly monstrous and sinister. He raised his grotesque black tentacle-arm, and then a black ball of fire emerged overhead. "A shame, I would have loved to tinker with your body, but Divine Lord Wa-Libra would be pleased to see your corpses."

It was at that moment, as both Gorkun and Seva prepared for their final moment, the glow of a divine blade emerged overhead. The sun suddenly felt so much brighter.

Seva saw a burst of light, while Gorkun glimpsed the outlines of a sword of a thousand colors. 

"[Martial Paragon]."

"[Stronger Together]."

"[Quest Sword - Monster Slayer]."

Shu-na's eyes darted, as a blade of magic sliced through his black fireball, and then right through his body. He wanted to react, but the assailant’s speed was so fast that the blade was already half-way through Shu-na’s flesh before he could retaliate with another spell.

Then came a second slice. And a fraction of a moment later, a third.

Then all they saw were millions of light flashes, and a huge surge of magic. A power so overwhelming that the domainholder's flesh could not even regenerate. 

They saw a human with a glowing blade.

They stared at where Lord Shu-na, one of the divine Descendants’, splattered all over the floor as sliced and diced bits of flesh. 

Lord Shu-na was dead?

Seva could not believe his eyes. One of the magical masters of the Descendants, dead?

Seva blinked. Gorkun blinked.

The heretic-hunters gawked, unable to believe what they’ve seen.

 "[Regenerating Guardians]." A small army of magical knights appeared around the woman. "Slay the heretic hunters. Don’t miss even one."

Commander Shai wanted to scream in shock, but his head was already cut apart. It took mere moments for all of the heretic hunters to be defeated by a magical army of knights.

The woman checked and poked the remains of Lord Shu-na, and then looked up into the sky. She looked frustrated, and annoyed.

"Stella, Stella? Are you there? I need evacuation. I have unfortunately escalated things. I killed a domain holder." They saw the woman speaking into the void.

The death of a domain holder was so sudden that even the world had a moment of silence. 

Then, reality finally came to accept what had occurred. The world shook in recoil, as the death of a domain holder sent a wobble, a small tear through the fabric of reality. As if a thread of the world’s fabric was ripped out.

The reality of a domain holder's death made the entire world seem quieter.

"Wait? I have the heretics with me. I don't think it's safe!" 

The woman turned to them, and her eyes was locked at Gorkun.

"You must be a [Sentinel]." 

Gorkun blinked. The golem could sense that the woman was at least a few steps into the divine. "You are on the path."

"Path? Is that what they called it? Anyway, I am Edna." Edna frowned. "It seems that I have chosen a side, and our evacuation will not be here until three days. Now, I shall be your protection, and we shall see if any of these Descendant's domain holders come our way."

Seva looked at Gorkun. "Do you know her, Lord Gorkun?"

"I do not. But she is on the path, and she smells different. She is not from our worlds. I have many questions, Lady Edna."

"So do I."