895.M30.
Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, lower decks.
Tierney, in a black robe, first used a ritual knife made of dual-numbered black gold to tap rapidly on the floor.
As the various geometric shapes lit up, he activated the "Euclidian Runes," which, since becoming a "Decipherer," he had mastered, a skill some Chapter Lords had not yet attained.
As the runes lit up, psychic energy surged. Countless figures rose, enveloping the altar area.
He then used the ritual knife to create a psychic environment. Then, kneeling before the obsidian altar, he held the golden sphere the Black Emperor had given him.
The "Prometheus's" vision was filled with various orbs of light.
The light was not from candles, but what he could see directly since becoming a "Prometheus."
The sphere's dominant light was a large golden mass. The green teardrop light was brighter.
The rice-grain-sized silver-white light within was the smallest, but the densest and brightest.
The Black Emperor had ordered him to "steal" that rice-grain-sized fragment.
For the past two standard months, he had tried thousands of times, all failures.
The silver-white light was firmly embedded within the golden light, difficult to separate.
Tierney held the sphere in his left hand. It now seemed unremarkable, but he knew the evil will he would face when he touched the silver-white light within.
His right fingertips lightly touched the sphere, extending his psychic energy while ascending to the third level of the Thelema mindstate.
The moment his psychic energy touched the silver-white light, the hissing intensified. His head felt like it was being pierced.
Ethereal, indescribable hissing filled his ears.
The walls of his mindstate blocked the terrible evil will. The hissing quickly faded.
He did not stop. His many attempts had prepared him. His will drove his numb fingertips to pinch the rice-grain-sized light.
Simultaneously, he gazed at the irregular talisman made of dual-numbered black gold on the altar and prayed to the Black Emperor in Dunnic.
"I beseech Thee,"
"I beseech Thee to grant me power,"
"Grant me the power to complete the Serpent Talisman,
"..."
He chanted the incantation the Black Emperor had instructed him to use, again and again.
At the same moment, Nareth went to the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder to respond.
After advancing to "Mentor of Disorder," his authority had greatly increased. But when he truly needed to leverage the Kingdom of Disorder's power, he still needed to be within the realm.
He watched as the ethereal gate opened over the altar. Black mist churned. He focused.
In the seventh layer, threads of law condensed, pulling at the golden ring.
Above the altar, the "Prometheus," amidst the cold hissing, his will driving his right hand, completed the pulling motion by inertia.
The silver-white scale spun like a wheel.
As the densely packed patterns and symbols lit up, they seemed to fade, while a faint point appeared within the golden light.
The "Prometheus" suddenly raised his hand, his right arm swinging.
The ethereal wheel spun in reverse, trying to flee.
Black mist suddenly rose, enveloping the wheel, then faded, binding it within the irregular talisman.
He stared at the irregular black talisman. Symbols appeared densely upon it.
It twisted, forming a wheel.
Seconds later, it became a silver-white scale, covered in runes.
'Success.' He was pleased. He wiped his forehead, his mind relaxing slightly. He then felt something warm spreading within him, like swallowed mocha coffee.
Having experienced this before, he knew that "stealing" the spiritual imprint had allowed him to master part of the Black Emperor's gift.
Having completed the Black Emperor's command and grown stronger, he smiled involuntarily.
Then, his smile faded. He raised the talisman in his right hand and continued his prayer.
"Thank You, my Lord, for granting me the power to complete the Serpent Talisman."
"I offer it, and the golden sphere, to You."
Black mist churned. An invisible force rose over the altar. The golden sphere and the silver-white scale flew into the ethereal gate.
"Tierney, well done." The Black Emperor's commanding voice echoed like thunder in his mind.
He instinctively lowered his head. Since the 'Terra' campaign, the Black Emperor's voice had grown increasingly commanding.
Even without His presence, His divine pressure grew more compelling.
He also sensed the Black Emperor's approval. He had not let down His trust.
As he felt both awe and joy, the commanding voice spoke again.
"Next. Continue 'Stealing.'"
As black mist churned, a golden sphere, with a green teardrop talisman attached, and an irregular talisman made of dual-numbered black gold appeared before him.
In the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, Nareth held the Serpent Talisman.
"One more type. More miraculous, more powerful than the Silent Talismans."
With a thought, the talisman vanished, appearing in the third layer.
He looked at the golden sphere. Considering he would be staying at Vostroya for the next month, he decided to have the gyrinx John advance before Flaminius, Lord of the 6th Chapter.
The "Winner's" advancement ritual was as he remembered: remain in a state of misfortune for a month, without a single moment of luck.
Advancing at Shadowhold was undoubtedly safer than on a battlefield.
Having decided, he returned to reality.
With a thought, John, through their link, immediately sensed his master's thoughts.
The gyrinx's ginger fur rippled. He raised a paw, rubbing his chin like a human.
'Maintain a state of misfortune.'
'What a strange request.'
Though puzzled, the "Calamity Priest" maintained the state.
He extended his psychic energy, focusing on being unlucky.
He sensed his master walk out. He left his room, filled with crystal balls, pendulums, and other divination tools, larger than an Shadow of Order quarters.
He followed his master down the sloping obsidian stairs.
His paws tapped the steps.
After five steps, he slipped.
As a gyrinx, with good physical abilities gained from the "Robot" sequence, he nimbly twisted, using his front paws to steady himself, flipping in mid-air.
But his hind paws slipped again.
He lost his balance, tumbling like a ball of ginger yarn.
Freddy, walking down, his pupils contracted. He saw the gyrinx, a pathetic sight, bouncing down the steps, finally slamming into the black door. He froze.
His jaw dropped. He smiled.
After the smile, he asked, mockingly.
"Hey, stupid cat, can't control yourself?"
"No." John said, embarrassed.
The gyrinx's intelligence was not high, but the "Robot" had increased it. While learning divination, he had also learned some basic Vostroyan.
His obsidian eyes looked innocently at his master. "It's master. He wants me to be unlucky for a month."
Freddy snorted, pitying John, wondering if he had angered their master.
Nareth didn't explain. He continued down.
For the next month, John experienced the most unlucky month of his life.
Divination failed. Lumen lights malfunctioned and exploded. A bolt gun misfired in the training hall, sending an adamantium-tipped round his way...
Depressed, he retreated to his room. On the last day, a psychic crystal exploded.
In the blast, debris flew.
He stared blankly as his black velvet bed, his oak bookshelf, his hundreds of data slates were blown to bits.
Amidst the dust, a black-armored figure pushed through the battered, swaying door.
He lay in his wrecked home, limp, watching his master approach.
"Drink this."
'Hmm?' He immediately realized what he was about to receive. Another bestowal from his master.
In the past, he would have been overjoyed. Now, he had no interest.
He forced himself to raise his head. He saw a brilliant golden potion in his master's large palm.
The moment he saw it, joy filled him.
He eagerly took the potion and drank.
The depression of his unlucky state vanished in the comfortable golden light. His body trembled involuntarily.
Moments later, the newly promoted "Winner," his gloom gone, smiled joyfully.
"Thank You, my master, for Your gift."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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