Threads of the Soul

Chapter 500 - 500: Liquid Hot Magma

Zero lowered his hands, which were dripping with glowing globules of magma, as his chest heaved exhausted breaths in and out. His hair had lit aflame as soon as he started to use his abilities, which was something he had not practiced in doing ever since he got them, and the area in front of him was completely covered in magma, melted steel and cooled volcanic rock. Between these new geologic structures, one could see the burned remains of Kelpie's who joined the exclusive club of knowing what exactly what Lava feels like, before they were promptly cooked alive by their latest discovery.Behind him, a crowd of people were slowly but steadily crawling into a small crevice that had been dug out of the wall. This was the old tunnel that had been dug to initially arrive at this facility in the first place.

After all, they hadn't always known of the teleportation gate, and even after its discovery they were very bad at using it. It was incredibly power intensive, and was being taken apart to be studied properly when the world ended.

The old entrance tunnel, which had been collapsed at both ends to ensure that no one untoward stumbled across their facility, was now being used as a desperate escape tunnel as someone had found it anyways.

The only good thing about this escape tunnel, was that only Zero himself knew of its existence, because he was one of the people who dug it in the first place. Of those who had arrived through this tunnel, he was all that remained living and, although no blueprints actually existed, if someone did find a way to document this facility, the tunnel would not appear on any of those documents.

Even the people working here did not actually know where it led. Not the exact location, nor even the general country. All those living here now had been teleported here. Even the intruders.

When He and Young Alfie had realised what these intruders were doing, that they were here simply to slaughter everyone in their path as they somehow controlled their own guardians, they had decided to split up, with the communication device being left with him so that he could keep calling for reinforcements.

Alfie left to pursue the intruders, as he was higher up on the evolutionary path than Zero and better equipped to deal with them, whilst he focused on evacuation. The thought of being too useless to fight did cross Zero's mind for a moment, but it didn't last long.

Such thoughts were for young men, men with family to return to and fight for. For a man of his age, a good death was all he could hope for, and if it happened when he was saving people, he could think of no other way.

The sound of echoing footsteps drew his attention to the door and, for a moment, he got his hopes up that Young Alfie had returned, as these were not the clopping footsteps of more Kelpies.

Yet that hope didn't last long, as he listened closer to the foot falls. Slow and methodical, the type taken by someone who was completely at peace and was unhurried. That was not the sound of someone who was in danger, but the sound of someone who was enjoying the chaos around them.

Glancing over his shoulder, Zero grit his teeth. There were still a few more stragglers yet to leave through the escape tunnel.

Humans were much more dangerous than beasts. He could still remember the terror that had gripped his heart at the arrival of Seth, how helpless he felt in the face of someone so powerful.

It was doubtful that this new visitor would be as kind to him or his people, and he had no way of knowing for sure if he could protect those behind him and defeat this invader at the same time.

So he made a decision.

Taking the communicator from his pocket, he turned and shoved it into the hands of one of the fleeing scientists. A woman he had only ever known by her designation, Scientist 18.

A genius who had been working so hard to create suits of mechanised armour powered by magic and science combined. A genius that the world would be worse without.

"W-what are you doing." She stammered, to which Zero merely smiled and started to push her and the others towards the escape hole.

"Wait! Stop! I can help! If you just let me get my machines I can-" She pleaded as the others were forced into the escape tunnel faster, with her behind the final person through.

"I know you can my dear. It's time for everyone to know where we have been hiding for so long." Zero finally replied with a mysterious smile. He pressed a button on the communicator and pushed the young women deeper down the escape tunnel. But he didn't follow.

Instead, Zero quickly lifted his hands as they morphed and grew. His skin cracked and rapidly darkened, as a deep orange glow emanated from the newly formed cracks in his skin.

Twin streams of liquid hot magma burst from his hands. They engulfed the wall, forcing 18 to shield her face from the heat, as it quickly melted the metal and then began rapidly cooling, sealing the tunnel once more with a door of volcanic stone and twisted metal.

Lowering his hands, Zero let out a sigh of content, before turning around to look at the man standing behind him. Standing in the middle of the room without a care for what he had just witnessed, was a young man holding a dazzling golden Trident.

"You are the old man?" He asked dismissively, looking at Zero with a hint of disappointment and disgust.

Zero couldn't help but let out a morbid chuckle, nodding his head softly.

"That would be me boy. Nothing more than an old man waiting to die. Now come, Let's make it a good death, shall we."

He thrust his hands forwards as his hair erupted into flames, spewing forth a torrent of magma once more. The floor melted where the magma touched, the corpses of Kelpie's sizzled as they were roasted once more and the man with the Trident watched the approaching wave with a singular emotion.

Disgust.