Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]

Cara takes the lead as we head through the interior of the Crystal. I'm at the rear, with Chloe and Kristil, our party's two squishiest members, between us.

Here in the Crystal, in contrast to the world outside, the flow and concentration of ambient Ether is far greater than it is outside… This is still true even compared to the world outside the Tower, without the dungeon's effect of halving [Ether] regeneration. But it's incredibly turbulent, free-flowing, circulating wildly. [Glyphcasting] seems prone to backlash, and Chloe doesn't feel confident in her ability to cast her more complicated and potent spells. Cara doesn't seem keen on using any more magic than she has to, either.

Kristil, on the other hand, seems positively charged. This environment seems tailor-suited for her to cast her spells far beyond their normal potency. And her frenetic, tempestuous personality seems to be resonating with the entire structure. Even without her elemental transformation, she's floating off the ground, propelling herself forward with what appears to be pure magnetic force.

"Where to?" Chloe asks.

"I don't know. Unfortunately, none of my informants–"

"The center of the Crystal," Kristil says. "The control mechanism that's manipulating the flow of Ether both within the Crystal and throughout the town is located in the center of this complex… Maybe a little higher above dead center."

"It's hard for me to tell, but I think she's right," I say. "Something is definitely up there; It's fuzzy and hard to see even with my Skills, but I think we'll find what we need if we continue up that path."

And so we do. We run and run, passing through the space that's definitely larger on the inside than on the outside. Outside it looked to be the size of a modest skyscraper, maybe half a city block square in surface area, and five-hundred feet tall. Inside, it might well be a full mile high and half that along the surface, full of winding pathways that branch out like a spider's web, only without being able to see where we're going. And no, [Archangel's Gaze] isn't making it much easier for me to navigate these twisting pathways.

Instead, we're left to rely on Kristil's intuition, which is surprisingly apt. So far, despite being pursued from behind and likely having multiple ambushes ahead, we've managed to avoid any signs of ugliness. And we are making progress, something I know because the faint pleas for help resonating through our [Angelic Bond] are getting stronger. We're getting closer to that poor girl reaching out to us, begging to be saved, something which all of us are feeling in our hearts now.

"Hey, Cara," Chloe asks. "What do you know about the Lord Mayor of Synthir? His proclivities, his fighting style, Skills… Anything your intelligence operatives have picked up."

"His given name is Peter Relain IV. He's… very cautious and rarely seen without his elite guards," Cara says. "I've not heard of him ever participating in battle himself, suggesting his class is not martial focused. As far as what it could be, some sort of nobility class, one geared toward ruling and administration? Those are fairly popular among that sort. Skills that help with paperwork and logistics, resource management, cost reduction, revenue maximization, seeing inefficiencies."

"Something about that seems off," I say. "Where we come from, there's a concept about how dictators have to function in order to maintain power. In short, a dictator has to maintain the support of enough key power brokers, or else they get toppled and replaced by someone new. Now, in a world with magic, that number might be very low. But he still has to maintain the support of at least a few individuals. Whoever is operating the Crystal. The leader of the town guards, the–"

"Oh… Oh shit," Cara mutters under her breath. "It's a possibility I hadn't thought about. But what if he's not a [Bureaucrat] or a [Logistician], but instead, a [Crystallographist]?"

"Then the three of you are going to have a really rough go of it when we make it to the core," Kristil chimes in.

"Oh, I certainly agree," a man's voice echoes out. I can't pinpoint a single direction from where it's coming. No… it feels like it's coming from everywhere, all at once.

"That's him," Cara says. "I'd recognize that voice after so much time living and working here."

"I do think the little mice have scurried around in matters beyond their station for quite long enough. So please, come on up; I'll light the way."

Sure enough, as he says this, the bizarre, twisted, kaleidoscopic array of colors and lights flattens out, leaving only a single illuminated passageway. That, coupled with the now stilled flow of ambient Ether, both suggest that this will, in fact, lead where we need to go.

"If you need a moment or two to say any last words to one another or… perhaps try to come up with a strategy, I will grant you that much as a show of respect for your efforts in making it this far. However, I am a very busy man and my beauty sleep has already been disrupted to such an extent. So please, don't make me wait too long."

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The Crystal goes silent. The pathway we'd used to get this far disappears, the internal lattice structure changing its form to block our passage. I could shatter it with my magic if I put a lot of effort into it, but with the Ether so wild and crazy, I'd almost certainly suffer more backlash than I'd like to deal with. In either case, we're not getting out of this floor and on to wherever we'll be heading next if we don't deal with this Peter asshole. And soon.

We do, at least, take a moment to cast our spells upon one another. My [Etheric Armor] upon everyone, with Chloe shielding everyone further in [Saintess's Cloister] and [Saintess's Blessing]. I cast [Angel's Grace] upon Chloe, [Angelic Bond] making it more potent when cast upon Chloe than her own spells. Then Cara pulls a couple of [Ether Canisters] out of her [Inventory], handing one each to Chloe and me. We absorb the contents, partially refreshing ourselves in preparation for the fight still to come.

I take a deep breath. "Are we ready, ladies? For whatever might happen?"

"We'll win," Kristil says. "I don't plan on dying in this shithole."

"I might not have said it with those exact words, but I concur with her," Cara asks. "Let's save this town already."

I take the lead this time, the four of us continuing on the path laid out before us at the pace of a light jog. To my surprise and relief, there are no traps or detours along the way. In this regard, our enemy is being truthful. Which isn't reassuring in the slightest. It means our enemy has absolute confidence in his abilities. He feels so certain of his success that he feels he needn't resort to cheap, underhanded tactics to secure a victory. Thankfully, that overconfidence is a weakness that can be exploited, given the right circumstances.

We emerge into a large cavern in the core of the Crystal. A brilliant golden light dangling above the center of the room shines with the intensity of daylight, bathing us all in its oppressive radiance. But unlike the sunlight, which is warm, comforting— if scorching at times— and full of life, this light is just the opposite. Sickly, oppressive. Not a power which radiates outward, offering itself to foment the growth of others, but a stigma born from overwhelming cruelty and malice.

"So," that man's voice says. "What do you think of my Crystal Monolith?"

"Show yourself," I say flatly. "It's time we put an end to this once and for all."

"So eager, are you?" he responds. "And here I thought you would like a moment to marvel in the majesty of this place. It is, after all, where you'll be spending the rest of your lives."

He steps out of the shadow. Far younger than I would have imagined. Scarcely looks a day over thirty. Clean-shaven as well, with a cleanly-cut side shave and perhaps half an inch on top. However, he's not nearly as big or as muscular as I would have expected. Not quite scrawny, but definitely the type that screams 'I've spent all my time playing video games or office work, and don't bother to do much in the way of exercise, eating, or breathing fresh air.'

"I don't think so," Cara says. "We're here to end this farce, Lord Mayor– Peter. You don't deserve that title. On behalf of the people of Synthir, on behalf of His Majesty and on behalf of decency and common humanity everywhere, I'm–"

"Cara, is it?" he says. "Spare me the pointless holier-than-thou words and the meaningless theatrics. Your meddling in affairs beyond your station has commenced for too long, and I grow tired of this little game. By the authority vested in my station and in the name of His Majesty, I sentence you to a life of imprisonment within my Crystalline Monolith!"

"So that's it, then," Chloe says. "I was wondering how all of this works. I might not be the most technically proficient person in this room. I might cast magic based on the spells the System gives me rather than studying it in-depth the way Sera does, but it's been bothering me. How could someone attach themselves to my Skills as they do? And more importantly, what sort of horrific tragedy, what level of torture does it take for someone to cry out, pleading for someone not to save them, not to rescue them or stop the pain, but to beg in their heart of hearts for death to take them.

"But you've answered that, haven't you? These people who've disappeared throughout Synthir. They haven't been killed. They've been locked up in here, used as human batteries to power the formations you've woven into the Crystal. Isn't that right? Or do you want to deny it?"

"Deny my greatest achievement? How I've singlehandedly created a device that ensures the preservation of peace and justice? I would never do such a thing. Those who disrupt the balance must pay a price for their crimes. Being made to preserve the balance they have tried to ruin with their lives and the bountiful Ether they generate? There is no punishment more fitting. Truly poetic, is it not? Now then, I believe it's time for a demonstration. You will enjoy the rest of your life in the service of Synthir. That, as your Lord Mayor, is my decree."

A tsunami of Ether cascades out from him in all directions, directing the torrents of Ether already cascading violently in the room. All of it is now directed right at Chloe. I leap in the air, trying to protect her with my own body, but I'm rebuffed when she flies in front of me, pushing me back.

"But, Chloe–" I message. "Are you sure?"

"I am, Sera. More than I've been about anything in a long time. This man is a monster of the worst degree. The pain he's caused, coupled with his smug indifference… I know we've made our share of mistakes too. We've not been able to save everyone, either. And maybe that's just something I have to accept about this world. That there are conflicts so pervasive that the only way they'll ever be solved is through violence. I don't like it. I don't have to like it… But, I guess it's just something I have to accept."

"Chloe, let me stand by your side and bear it along with you."

"No. This is my trial to overcome. I know I'm being selfish, asking to take all of this on by myself. But… I think I can do something to help everyone trapped in here."

"Are you sure?"

"Please, Sera." Chloe unfurls her wings, spreading them out to the maximum. The torrent of energy flows through and into her, all while she merely tilts her head back and begins to glow.

"I trust you, Chloe," I say in barely more than a whisper. "But if you falter and need our help, know that I'll be right there waiting."