CHAPTER ASHBORN 425: UNBREAKING OATHS

Vir’s Gate attack—he’d really have to come up with a better name for that—worked better than he could have hoped. Not only was the main audience chamber rid of Chitran soldiers, Vir found nothing but corpses in the surrounding halls and two nearest rooms. Luckily, the castle had been cleared of all noncombatants, so the bodies belonged exclusively to kothi Warriors. Warriors who had refused the opportunity to surrender.

The occasional kothi patrol would find their way to Vir, and each time, he sent them running without killing them.

Not out of mercy, but a need to allow them to report to the other forces, to inform them of the threat within the castle. He needed his enemies to congregate, preferably as densely as possible, for maximum effect.

While Vir had initially planned on corralling his enemies in a narrow hall, he decided against that approach after seeing just how much damage the Ash Gate wrought.

What he needed was not a single-file line of foes, but rather the whole garrison, all at once. Or as close to that as he could manage, while also keeping him safe from harm.

As planned, his audience chamber appearance had proved quite the effective distraction. The castle’s troops were in disarray, and no one knew whether to focus on the enemy outside or on him. Without a capable leader to guide them, chaos reigned… It took only the slightest nudge to push them over the edge.

And so, Vir appeared in a corner of the small courtyard that crawled with guards. With everyone going this way and that, no one saw him appear. Nor did they notice the being of pure white until it was too late.

Ashani’s Gate bloomed into existence, and in a repeat of only a few minutes prior, the nearby Chitran died en masse.

Such a weapon was easily on par with the most destructive Ultimate Arts wielded by a grandmaster—better, even. Vir needn’t even be present to activate these Gates. Once Ashani had been to a location, she could easily establish a Gate from the other side in the Ash.

While some might have questioned why Vir didn’t simply use Balancer of Scales, the ability could not have achieved such results. Mass death was rarely the answer—but when it was, Vir was now in possession of the ultimate weapon.

Even with all his power, Vir had to be extra cautious against the few haphazard Warrior Chakra attacks that flew his way. Though his Shield Chakra protected him in the event he was hit, there was always a risk he’d be unable to bear the burden. When it came to Chakras, prudence was always the best policy.

The attacks didn’t persist for long.

The Chitran soldiers fell in waves, and not even the strongest among them lasted more than a few seconds in the face of such overwhelming prana.

In the end, Vir didn’t even have to open the gates… The Chitran Warriors did that themselves. Vir could see the terror in their eyes as the troops at the rear watched their arts fall and shatter. For no matter how powerful their Warlord’s Domain and Warlord’s Battlecry were, all were helpless against such an onslaught of pure prana.

Well, nearly helpless. Vir and Ashani were still forced to dodge the occasional Warrior and Life Chakra attacks, with Ashani being especially vulnerable. Unlike Vir, she had no Chakra defenses. While he couldn't be sure how an attack would affect her, Vir had seen firsthand that Imperium Automatons were susceptible.

In the end, Vir stabilized the Gate with his own prana and had Ashani enter. With her on the other side, the only danger to her would be prana poisoning if she was exposed too long, as well as the ever-present threat of some powerful Ash Beast finding her.

Vir wasn’t too worried about that. The Chitran didn’t last very long.

And just like that, with nary a life lost, Samar Patag fell into Vir’s hands. The routed Chitran Warriors fled Samar Patag, aiming for the fields, undoubtedly hoping to lose their pursuers in the forest they had just torched.

They never did. Nayan’s airships, freshly resupplied from their rear base, pursued them until the army had been thinned to a size that would no longer threaten Vir. Once done, they turned back, returning home under his orders.

He wasn’t trying to annihilate the Chitran. Merely cripple them.

By all accounts, it was a resounding victory—so overwhelming as to seem easy—and yet, Vir’s reservations only mounted.

As his forces mopped up the remaining Chitran and he relocated to the audience hall, taking his rightful place upon the Gargan throne, the knot in his belly only tightened.

Greesha’s prophecy was never wrong. And while there was much work to be done and a city to secure and pacify, Vir had a hard time seeing how the broken Chitran could pose him any threat in the near future. Matiman was dead. Asuman had fled under his wing, seeking sanctuary, and Annas, the spineless monkey, was last seen riding off into the horizon alone.

As for spineless demons, Raoul appeared in the audience hall, looking surprisingly haggard.

“Are you wounded?” Vir asked, surprised to see the demon covered in what looked like mud.

“No,” Raoul said, sounding winded. “I came as fast as I could.”

“Why?” Vir asked, rising from his throne. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” Raoul said, shaking his head. “Just that I was able to recover the scroll we hid all those years ago.”

“The scroll?” Vir asked, his heart suddenly pumping faster. “You don’t mean…”

“I do,” Raoul beamed. “Behold! The Ultimate Bloodline Art of the Garga! Aspect of the Demon God! Hidden underground with strange symbols.”

“Symbols? What do you mean?”

“Just that, Akh Nara. A stairway leading to a wall, of sorts. One inscribed with the symbol of the Akh Nara.”

Vir balked. A Primordial Chamber? Beneath his very feet!?

This time, Vir did jump out of his seat, rushing toward Raoul. As did Cirayus. “You knew of this?” Cirayus fumed. “And you saw fit not to tell us?”

“It was in a most dangerous location,” Raoul said, suddenly looking very unsure of himself. “It would have been prudent to wait.”

“That is my decision to make, not yours, Raoul,” Vir said, letting out a long, slow breath as he channeled his Foundation Chakra. “But I acknowledge that you have brought it here to me now, at the very least.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Grievances would have to come later. Vir snatched the scroll from Raoul, who bowed and excused himself, running off to who-knew-where.

“He hopes to curry favor now that he knows you are not someone to be manipulated,” Cirayus spat. “Disgusting vermin.”

“I don’t disagree,” Vir said, inspecting the scroll. “But his actions put me in a difficult position. He conducted himself well in the battle, and with this…”

“Makes it harder to kill the chal, that’s for Ash-damned sure,” Cirayus muttered. “At any rate, I suggest you have that inscribed sooner rather than later.”

Vir frowned. “Why? If it’s anything like Balancer of Scales, it’ll take a long time to learn. I’ll be weakened after. Shouldn’t I wait until things have calmed down?”

“You could,” Cirayus said. “But that tattoo improves your defense immeasurably. I’d personally breathe easier knowing you have that on you. It can be made to function passively as well, acting like a shield against all forms of physical and prana damage. Given that it’s a Gargan bloodline tattoo, I imagine you’ll pick it up faster than any other. Besides, having unexpectedly obtained another Ultimate Art should go a long way to assuring the safety of your clan. Aspect of the Demon God is a sight to behold when it’s active.”

“I see,” Vir said, eyes glinting. The prospect of gaining another Ultimate tattoo appealed to him greatly. So much so that he found the temptation difficult to resist. Luckily, he didn’t have to. “Well then, I suppose I owe Saunak a visit. Can you take care of things here for the next few hours?”

“Aye, we will. You’ll be needed soon after, though, so ensure you’re right back here. No point inscribing it if you can’t show it off to your people.”

“Assuming I can even use it,” Vir grumbled.

Leaving the audience hall, he quickly found Ashani and had her open a Gate directly to Saunak’s lair.

“Madam Goddess Automaton! It is an honor, as always!” Saunak said, turning from whatever he was working on to kneel in front of Ashani’s feet.

“Please, Saunak,” Ashani said, reaching down to lift him. “None of this, now. I’ve asked you to treat me as any other, have I not?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse my impropriety, Madam Goddess,” Saunak said, scratching his neck. “It can be somewhat difficult to change my ways.”

Vir cleared his throat, and it was as though Saunak noticed Vir’s presence for the first time.

“Well well! If it isn’t the Akh Nara!” Saunak cried, gesturing exaggeratedly. “How goes your little rebellion, hmm? Are those backstabbing Gargans all happy now?”

Vir suppressed the urge to sigh. “Well. And they are.”

“Too bad,” Saunak said. “One can always hope.”

Vir ignored the seditious comment. “I have another art for you to inscribe.”

“Oh?” Saunak said, turning to face Vir. “Which clan?”

“Mine,” Vir said. “And time is of the essence.”

Saunak clapped his hands together, eyes wide with excitement. “Delightful! Let’s get started.”

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Vir had scarcely had the time to register that an Ultimate Art had been dropped into his lap when the pain began. Having endured it once before, he knew what to expect.

That did little to make the process any easier. Like last time, Ashani waited beside him, occasionally squeezing his hand to let him know she was there. Vir appreciated the comfort.

He kept his mind occupied with thoughts of the war. Of their exemplary performance. Of Greesha’s prophecy. Vir wondered what the old woman was feeling now. Had she made a mistake interpreting her vision? Or had the vision itself been corrupted?

And then, just as he was ruminating on that very topic, it happened. The gears of the arcane machine clicked into place, and the days of agonizing suddenly came to an end.

Vir’s communication orb hummed to life. His decision to carry the orb everywhere at all times might’ve earned him some ridicule from his retainers—if the orb broke, he lost his only link to Maiya, after all—but his decision was now rewarded. Given his awkward position lying face-down on the operating table, Ashani fished the orb out of his pocket. It was only thanks to her Gates that the orb functioned at all in the Ash. So long as he was close to one linking to the demon realm, the Gate acted as a relay, allowing the orb to operate.

His excitement at finally talking to Maiya evaporated, however, when he saw her expression. The feeling was replaced with a roiling snake in the pit of his stomach.

“Vir… Vir, can you hear me?” Maiya said, her voice weak and hoarse. One look alone at her expression, warped in anguish, and one eye smeared closed in blood and grime, told Vir all he needed to know.

“Stop moving! I can’t work unless you’re still!” Saunak admonished when Vir stiffened, but he couldn’t have cared less.

“Maiya, I’m here. What’s wrong?”

“It’s… It’s all over, Vir. The rebellion. Ira. Everything. He knew. He was using us. He’d known all along. Letting us do his work for him.”

Maiya went into a coughing fit, which ought to have been impossible for a high-level mejai. It meant she’d either gone through all of her precharged Life orbs, or that she couldn’t use them.

Both worried him.

“You speak of Andros?” Vir asked, his frown deepening. “No, that’s not important. Where are you now, Mai? Are you safe?”

Maiya answered with only the feeblest of smiles. “Vir?” she said, her voice breaking. “I love you…”

“Maiya?” Vir responded, his own voice trembling. “Don’t… Don’t talk like that. Don’t you dare. I’ll—”

“You’ll what, dear?” Maiya asked. The pain was gone from her face, and all that remained was a serene smile.

Chills rippled down Vir’s body, and he suddenly felt nauseous.

Vir had seen that look before. It was the look of a warrior who’d accepted that they were about to die.

“No, Maiya, tell me where you are,” Vir said, growing desperate. “I’ll come for you. I swear it to all the gods. I will help you!”

Maiya’s eyes widened as hope filled her half-dead eyes. “You can do that?”

“Yes,” Vir lied without hesitation, despite the guilt that roiled within his chest. Could he? “Just tell me where you are.”

“Sonam,” she whispered. “Inside the castle. He’s looking for me, Vir. When he finds me… He’s so strong. I thought I could fight him. I thought I could save Ira. How foolish I was. We walked right into his trap. The city is burning, Vir. It’s pandemonium.”

“Just wait there, Mai,” Vir said, mind already roaring with a dozen plans. “Find a way to remain hidden. Hide for as long as you can. I swear to you, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Maiya shook her head. “You make it sound like such a simple thing. Crossing realms.”

“Because it is,” Vir replied. “I’ve already mapped out most of the route to the demon realm. It won’t be much longer. Trust me. Please, Mai… Don’t let yourself die.”

While not an outright lie, Vir had only mapped to the deepest depths of the Ash, not beyond it. It would take weeks, if not months, of effort. From Maiya’s perspective, however, the time might only feel like a few days.

A few days, when she might not even have hours.

Maiya was about to reply when she looked away. “They’re here. I have to go. Vir, no matter what happens, I want you to know, I love you so much. I miss you terribly.”

And with that, the light from Vir’s orb dimmed and the transmission cut out.

Vir stared at the lifeless orb for the barest of moments before barking out orders.

“Ashani? We leave for the Ash immediately,” he said.

“You can’t!” Saunak cried. “Your inscription isn’t complete!”

“Damn the inscription!” Vir said. “Maiya’s in danger. I’ll not lie idly by while she fights for her life.”

Vir cursed Fate for conspiring to have this happen at the worst possible time.

“Boy,” Saunak said, in a lower voice he rarely used. “You wish to save your Rajni. I understand. Truly do. But if you leave now, your tattoo will be forever crippled. It will never function, and you will be unable to inscribe any further tattoos. Is this what you want?”

Vir paused. “How long?”

“I will work quickly. Give me an hour.”

“You have thirty minutes,” Vir said, turning his head to Ashani. “In the meantime, Ashani? Ready my airship and gather the wolves. We leave as soon as Saunak finishes. And grab Tara, too. I want her and her team on standby at Vijaya Stronghold. Just in case.”

“Understood,” Ashani replied, before bolting off.

She was replaced by Cirayus, who arrived only minutes later.

“I know this must be hard for you, lad,” Cirayus said slowly, squeezing Vir’s shoulder.

“Ashani told you?”

“Aye.”

Vir snorted. “What, the most precious person in my world in mortal peril, and all I can do is lie here on an Ash-damned table? I should never have put off establishing a route to the Human Realm. What a stupid, stupid decision.”

Cirayus looked like he’d swallowed a bug. “Lad, I’m as fond of the lass as much as anyone. She’s good for you. She’s a good soul.”

Vir felt his heart race. “But?”

“But question what good you’ll be to her. Say you meet with luck in the Ash. Say you arrive on the morrow. She’s fighting for her life right now, lad. What if you arrive only to find you’re too late?”

Vir’s expression darkened. “Then I will end Andros and burn his empire to the ground.”

“And while you are off doing that, your fledgling kingdom might very well falter on its newborn legs,” Cirayus said, resting an arm on his shoulder.

“We need you here, lad. Thousands of demons in this realm need you.”

Vir shrugged off Cirayus’ arm—earning him a scolding from Saunak—to scowl up at his mentor. “I can’t believe you’re saying this. What would you do, were you in my shoes?”

Cirayus grinned. “I’d save my wife.”

Vir gaped, open-mouthed, before stammering out a sentence. “W-well, she’s not my wife… Not yet, I mean… But—”

Cirayus roared with laughter, clasping Vir’s shoulders once again. “Forgive me, lad. I would have been remiss as your military general had I not mentioned the risks. Go save your lady. Then come back and defend your kingdom against the Chitran-Aindri retribution that is sure to besiege these walls.”

“I will. I made a promise, didn’t I?”