Chapter 251 – Floor 48: Part 2
“When the world was new, and humanity was still in its infancy, Mischievous Depravity came to possess this planet. He chose from amongst the humans a man of great strength, charisma and intelligence, who had led his tribe to numerous victories against his enemies and expanded his territory…”
As Mathew listened to the young woman tell the story, he fell into a kind of trance. He could see the events that she described as clearly as if they were happening to him. The images on the page came to life; the colourful illustrations moved with her words.
He saw a man, tall and strong, dressed in furs that he had obtained from the beasts he had slain. His tribe lived in huts, and their numbers were small. One night, the Chieftain heard a voice calling him from the darkness.
Cautiously making his way through the forest by the light of the moon, he came upon a cloaked figure who held out its hand to him where a single drop of blood hovered above its palm. The Chieftain consumed the drop of blood, a piece of the divine essence of Mischievous Depravity and was instantly transformed.
The chieftain’s skin grew taut and stretched; his veins darkened and stood out like spiderwebs beneath the surface of his flesh. His hands were clenched into fists as nails elongated into wicked, blackened talons.
A low growl escaped his throat, guttural and inhuman. It reverberated through the air like the snarl of a beast awakening. His face twisted with agony and malice; his cheekbones jutted sharply as his jaws widened with the growth of long fangs.
“In a single moment, the Chieftain had lost his humanity and had turned into a monster. Mischievous Depravity, seeing the effects a single drop of blood had on a human, decided on a different approach. If his divine power was too much to be contained within a single mortal, he would divide it into three.” The young woman said, reaching down and flipping the page.
The next illustration showed the monstrous Chieftain standing amidst the bodies of his tribe. In front of him were three people, a male and two females. The drop of blood left the Chieftain and was divided between the three, changing them slightly.
“The Chieftain, his mind gone and his thirst for violence unquenchable returned to his tribe and slaughtered them. They fell one after another until only the Chieftain’s three children remained. Mischievous Depravity, seeing an opportunity, made an offer to the three. In exchange for their lives, the god slew the Chieftain and divided his cursed blood between the three in the hope that by diluting it, they would remain useful to him.”
The three devoured the tainted blood and transformed.
“The oldest of the Chieftan’s three children was Eryn, the Exquisite. Regal and commanding, she represented her father’s noble heritage as a ruler. Her hair was a black as a raven’s feathers, and it was said that when she spoke, all who heard her voice were compelled to heed her words.
Eryn was the first to drink the cursed blood, and with it came the power of dominion, physical strength and allure.” The young woman said, turning the page to reveal a beautiful woman with a line of bright red blood falling from her mouth. Her eyes seemed to leap off the page and stare at Mathew.
“Eryn is the progenitor of the First Discipline. The Aether-Blood Ascendant.”
Discipline: Aether-Blood Ascendant.
By selecting this Discipline, you will trace your lineage to Eryn, the Exquisite. Her bloodline focuses on the enhancement of physical and social traits beyond mortal limits. Superhuman strength beyond compare, Supernatural Allure that can compel or dominate the mind, and resilience to endure the most crippling of blows, the Aether-Blood Ascendant is the Discipline of Nobility.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Weakness: Pride, Overconfidence and Rage at those who refuse to obey will affect those who select this Discipline.
The young woman, seeing that Mathew had finished reading the text, flipped the page. This image showed another young woman with bright red hair and a wild look in her eyes. She seemed half-crazed, and the image twisted slightly, alternating back and forth between the young woman’s normal face and a monstrous version.
“The second to drink was Serana, the Unrestrained. The Aether-Blood enhanced her insanity, making her fierce and unpredictable. Her bloodline developed the ability to shift and change their bodies to suit her needs. From horrible monstrosity to unremarkable, her flesh could be crafted as she saw fit. Eventually, this affected others as well, often against their will.
Serana is the progenitor of the Second Discipline. The Sanguine Sculptor.”
Discipline: The Sanguine Sculptor
By selecting this Discipline, you will trace your lineage to Serana, the Unrestrained. Her bloodline focuses on altering their physical body in order to achieve greater strength, speed and even flight. They are able to take on a monstrous form and can sculpt the flesh of others, corrupting their minds and bodies to create the perfect servants.
It is said that their unique form of madness gives them a ‘second sight’ that reveals the truth of the universe to them.
Weakness: Madness and Insanity are ever present and will affect those who select this Discipline.
The grey-suited woman turned the page to the last illustration.
It was the youngest of the siblings, the only son of the Chieftain. He had a quiet and sombre look about him. He had pale white skin and blue eyes and was shorter and smaller than the other two. Mathew watched as the illustration reluctantly consumed his father’s blood and changed.
He transformed into a scarred and broken version of himself. The young man had sores on his cheeks, his teeth lengthened and yellowed, and his features shifted ever so slightly to take on an inhuman and wrong appearance.
“Kael, the Hallow Fang. Cursed with an appearance that ensures he will always be an outcast, it was the youngest child of the Chieftain who inherited the greatest of his father’s powers but was afflicted with the harshest curse. While his siblings could still live amongst those who did not share their gifts, Kael would always be an outsider, as would anyone descended from his bloodline.
But Kael held the power over the dead. His connection to the realms of the unseen expanded, allowing him to manipulate shadows, craft illusions, and hide from his enemies.
Kael is the Progenitor of the third Discipline, Abyssal Outsider.”
Discipline: Abyssal Outsider
Those who belong to this Bloodline can manipulate the very essence of death. Drain the vitality from your enemies to heal yourself or wield necrotic energy to command the decayed remains of the dead. This Discipline represents the void, the Abyss from which Mischievous Depravity once emerged.
Weakness: Those who give themselves to the Abyss are outsiders and can never be mistaken for humans. Their appearance will change, and all mortals will inherently view them with abhorrence. They are shunned by all, even each other.
The grey-suited young woman nudged the book toward Mathew slightly and gestured to it.
“Those are your choices and will be the only Disciplines available to you for the next ten Floors. Choose wisely, Mr. Larson.” She explained.
“I want to know what the next Floor is about before I do so.” Mathew replied.
Floor 49 – A World of Dusk
Millennia ago, a being of immense power emerged from the abyss and descended upon the mortal plane. It bestowed a fragment of its immeasurable essence upon a mortal and transformed them into something otherworldly.
Unable to contain the corrupting Ichor, it fell upon his children to destroy and consume him, taking his corruption into themselves.
As the ages passed, the three became progenitors of a vast lineage, each creating children in their own image. These new beings, though lesser in power, inherited the divine curse and Blessings of their Sires. Their lineages grew, spreading across the world as their influence seeped into the shadows of every kingdom and empire. Although their father was long dead, his Ichor still pulsed within the veins of his children and their descendants, a constant reminder of the godlike power they wield.
The Patron god of this world, Mischievous Depravity, has determined that the crop is finally ready for harvest. For millennia, the Aether has built and strengthened inside these beings, and you have been tasked with destroying them.
Floor Goal: Enter the World of Dusk and establish your presence within. You will take the role of a newly Blessed ‘Chosen.’ This is the most delicate time in an Initiate’s life and when they are most vulnerable. Everyone will seek the Aether within your blood for themselves.
“What kind of world are you sending me to?” Mathew whispered as he stared at the burning words. Brushing his hand through them to disperse the writing, he flipped through the pages to study his options once again before choosing.
