Interlude VI

  Revolutionary Measures

  (Chalmner Drucal)

  Deep throaty gurgling sounds, that is all Nostrylvanian Revolutionary Guard Commander Chalmner Dracul heard at first. The only alien sound that seemed to match the rapid movements of shadows coming to life.

  As it turned out the giant protective shielding around the arena had an amplifying effect for the lights. Like having multiple lenses placed on top of each other to cause multiple levels of magnification to be seen.

  Suddenly the audience that had been mostly in the dark to us, was now bright and glaring. In that first instant, Chalmner saw the arena patrons for who they were. For the people that they were when they thought no one was looking while they were in public. I saw looks of horror flood their faces as many were confused for the moment.

  Then dawning realization hit those that were at ground zero for the deep throaty growls. However a mob is only as effective as the edge and peripheral members are, meaning that while those who were right next to the gurgling and bubbling shadow, the rest were not. This momentary confusion and panic by those trying to move away from the center of ground zero, caused those that were still unaware of the imminent danger to run into each other causing anger, outrage, and even more panicked confusion.

  Seeing the bubbling shadows Chalmner instantly understood a few things. First, he knew exactly what the bubbling pulse of shadows was, for it was the mass of shadows designed to showcase a revealed Death Eater, one of the most dangerous creatures alive. The reason for increased danger is the fact that by shining this miniscule amount of holy imbued light on the creature, did relatively little to impede the monster.

  Yes, the light forced the creature to come out of hiding and made it impossible for the creature to leave so long as the shadows were burned away with this primitive fighting method. But all it did was make the creature angrier and more feral. For while a typical Death Eater could survive and repair any wounds suffered by eating flesh of a living creature, an event that causes low grade necrosis to sink into the affected target, causing the creature to slowly rot away over time. A process that is quite painful and often not even joked about as an act of punishment. The second way such a monstrous creature can survive is by shrinking back into the shadows, where these monsters seem to possess slow regenerative capabilities, along with an ability to blend in almost seamlessly.

  Chalmner watched as the creature feeling the intense burn of the holy lights shining down upon it, finally emerged from its shadows, long thin bonelike fingers clawing away at the legs and thighs of the nearest noble. A noble that had the bad mistake of being at the wrong place and the wrong time. Just the fact that the fingers and skeletal face were shown at all, revealed by a layer of shadow that had been burned away showed how effective the lights and mirrors actually were. While not the best quality, they were apparently enough to actually cause some damage to the monster while it was in its shadow form, burning away some of its protective shadow layer and revealing its true form. A true form that would then need to be burned away by something other than Holy energy.

  That was the true power of these creatures, the fact that one would need to use not one, but multiple high level Skills using multiple layers of power to actually take down a Death Eater.

  “Holy for the shroud, flames for the bones,” Chalmer muttered to himself, his voice a dull murmur in the growing cacophony of noise and panicked screams that were now erupting. In one act, chaos erupted as the looming death eater rose up, boney fingers lunging up and piercing deep into the leg muscles of the chosen noble, the strikes so deep and penetrating that the noble was helpless to resist and ended up collapsing due to the leg muscles being cut deep. This only fueled the Death Eater who, despite having a stream of holy light shine on it, reached up with those same boney fingers and pierced them deep into the chest of the now collapsing noble. With that, the Death Eater effectively had a human corpse to shield it from the light.

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  Shaking his head, Chalmer scanned the area seeing how most of the emergency doors had been flung open wide as the first and most aware spectators at the end of the rows bolted for the doors. That one glance away was all the Death Eater needed to hide itself. Scanning quickly Chalmer eventually found the Death Eater, or what he assumed was the Death Eater, for he saw the now lifeless body of the noble being dragged forward down the side of the row of seat, and quickly gaining on the nearest nobles who were panicked and crashing violently into the stream of people desperately trying to escape. What happened next was as predictable as it was tragic.

  For the corpse that had been dragged and seem to swim along the row of seating crashed into the back achilleas of a fleeing noble who had not turned to see the danger behind her. That thump and crash was all the monster needed, for as soon as the well dressed noble looked back in panic, a boney hand now coated in shadow rose up, and grabbed the leg of the woman. Only after a second or two of exposure did the newly formed shadowy cloak of the Death Eater begin to burn away, but it was too little too late for the woman who was quickly crippled by a few quick slices to the back of her legs and calves, forcing her to drop to the ground and slowly get devoured by a monstrous shadow creature whose protective outer layer slowly got burned away to reveal a monstrous skeleton beneath. A skeleton that had its eyes glowing brightly with stolen green life energy. Energy that it continued to steal and siphon from the collapsed noble.

  “AHH!” The woman cried out, as did many of the nobles around Chalmner. One noble turned to strike at the Death Eater, but not being allowed to bring a weapon, they found that only their briefcase was at hand. An empty briefcase that only served to momentarily distract and, worse, annoy the Death Eater. Before the Death Eater reached up with a fluid grace, grabbing the briefcase pulling the noble forward and having him fall on top of the Death Eater who could now eat not one, but two meals in the protection of shadows.

  Chalmner calmly watched as many of the nobles that had been unaware of what was happening in the opposite section suddenly sprang up from their own seats and tried to busily scurry past Chalmner, who for his part only had a look of annoyance on his face. Pulling in his legs tight to his chest, Chalmner waited as the other guests and spectators hurriedly ran past him to make their daring escape.

  The reason for why Chalmner was annoyed? Well that was simple, it was still too early. Worse, the fool who released the Death Eater released it in the wrong section entirely. Plus, the Healer, the sole reason for this charade and obfuscation was protected, by not just her own guards, but also the referee and the two ring girls that Chalmner had also been warned about.

  In all, this was an epic waste of time and resources.

  Then something truly remarkable happened.

  There was a faint but unmistakable vibration that began in Chalmner’s pocket, one that could not be ignored.

  Sighing heavily, Chalmner realized that this was the activation of his communication crystal, something that was not to be done under any circumstances, unless the mission was ready to go. Feeling the crystal’s movements, Chalmner sighed and pulled up the crystal. With an annoyed tone, Chalmner grabbed the crystal and placed it next to his ear, then using the ancient tongue of Nostrylvania, Chalmner spoke.

  “Weren’t you supposed to wait?”

  “Sir, sorry about the delay, but we just got in place, but it seems that the event has been cancelled?” The operative cried out from the other end of the crystal.

  Hearing his subordinate speak, Chalmner suddenly leaned forward in his seat, as a plan began to form in his mind.

  “You are ready?” Chalmner asked, his voice low, almost drowned out by the sea of screaming spectators. For a moment, Chalmner thought he would have to repeat, but that’s when his subordinate responded.

  “Yes, just give us the go,” the subordinate responded.

  At that, a smile appeared on Chalmner’s lips as he looked forward and saw the back of the cloaked healer. The one that garnered the attention of the Nostrylvanian nobility yesterday and sparked this impromptu operation. An operation that Chalmner had thought was a wash due to incompetence, but now he felt that there might be a chance for everything to succeed. Actually, this might be more fortuitous than he expected if there was a second Death Eater already here. Realizing that all was not lost, Chalmner responded as he got up and began moving to a less conspicuous place, following the fleeing crowd, but only so much, while he moved to his ultimate position.

  “Very well, wait for my word to begin,” Chalmner responded.

  “Understood,” was the one-word reply. With that Chalmner couldn’t help but smile as he prepared for his role in this activity.