Masquerade of Flames 1

After our encounter with Frostnova and the completion of our quest, we decided to continue our journey towards the centre of Chernobog. A common trend that I noticed was that the further we moved, the fewer Reunion soldiers we encountered. It might've been Rhodes Island attracting all of the Reunion soldiers.

"This should be it," Rimuru knocked me out of my daydream as we approached the tower that dominated Chernobog.

"Wait, someone has the same goal as us," Zhongli pointed out as we noticed the littered corpses of Reunion soldiers. The blood was still wet, which meant that this was a recent kill.

"Is it Rhodes Island?" I asked as I recalled their VTOL vehicle. With an aircraft, it wouldn't take them long to resupply and reach the centre of Chernobog.

"No, Rhodes Island is unlikely to kill them like this. It must be the LGD, or someone from Lungmen," Zhongli replied.

"I see…" I murmured as I remembered how pragmatic the LGD was back in Lungmen. Merciless and efficient.

"Isn't Chernobog outside the jurisdiction of the LGD?" Rimuru asked as we continued to climb the tower.

"Yes. However, the LGD may gain access to Chernobog's jurisdiction in many ways. Illegal and legal," Zhongli replied as we reached the top of the tower. A full five minutes of climbing stairs.

*Ching* *Ching*

Behind the door that led to the observatory, the sound of blades clashing could be heard. Without hesitation, Rimuru kicked down the door to reveal Ch'en and a woman wearing an armband with Reunion's logo on it.

"I guess it's true, the LGD is here," I muttered as I looked at Ch'en.

"Who are you?" The woman, presumably Talulah, asked as she pushed Ch'en away with her sword and pointed it at us.

Before we could reply, another pair of footsteps echoed in the hallway behind us. With the trust that the Zhongli could protect my back, I turned around and saw a familiar figure behind us.

"Amiya?" I asked in surprise.

"What are you all doing here?" Talulah asked with a domineering tone as she waved her sword at us, summoning a blade of flame towards our direction.

"Watch out!" Ch'en shouted as she rushed towards us, however, she stopped in her steps as she noticed that Zhongli was about to do something.

"Stabilise!" Zhongli shouted, summoning a pillar of rock and giving us all a shield that circled us. The flame crashes into the pillar of rock and dissipates, leaving no injuries. Without a second thought, I unloaded what remained in my magazine towards Talulah, however, all of it was burned away by Talulah's flames.

"Hui-Chieh… Clukay… Why do you insist on defending the executioner of our kin? I'm disappointed in you two," Talulah asked as she waved another attack at us.

"How do you know me?" I asked as I remembered the question that plagued my mind ever since I met Mephisto. I wonder what happened to the insane little kid.

"So it is true… You've lost your memories. Come! Redeem yourself and join me. I'll reawaken the power that you've forgotten!" Talulah shouted as she opened her arms to welcome me.

"I don't know why all of you are here but don't listen to her! She is no longer the innocent girl that was kidnapped from Lungmen; she is now the successor of Kashchey!" Ch'en shouted as she pointed her sword towards Talulah.

"Madame Ch'en, you've got it wrong. I will tear off its disguise!" Amiya suddenly interrupted.

"What disguise?" Ch'en asked. We turned back to Amiya for an answer.

"You're the Cautus from Rhodes Island, aren't you? If you're here, it must mean Buldrokkas'tee is dead. With the last threat to me in the city dead, I have nothing to worry about. Should I congratulate you? Slayer of my kin," Talulah said as she slowly walked towards us. It was the immovable force of Zhongli's shield against the unstoppable force of Talulah's flames.

"You…" Amiya muttered as Rimuru had his eyes wide open.

"Buldrokkas'tee, how did he die? He was a noble warrior that wouldn't let his own kill civilians. That Wendigo would let himself fall to a mob of the blinded and ignorant. He knew he would fall to his humanity one day. With you here, how did he die? I'm curious," Talulah asked with a provocative tone as she slowly walked even closer. Despite her approaching us, we didn't launch any attacks. Rimuru was also surprisingly calm.

"I… I killed him," Amiya replied with a downtrodden expression. Was this another case of Frostnova?

"Amiya! Don't fall for her tricks!" Ch'en shouted as she prepared an attack against the approaching Talulah.

"Madame Ch'en, the Talulah that stands before you is still untainted. You are the last link to her," Amiya replied with words that none of us could understand.

We all had problems with Talulah here. Rimuru wanted to capture and punish her for her cruelty. I wanted to know about my past. Rhodes Island was her nemesis, and now Ch'en had an unknown connection with Talulah according to Amiya.

"What are you talking about?" Ch'en asked with confusion visible on her face. I turned around and looked the determined donkey girl in the eyes. She knew something we didn't.

"Madame Ch'en, everyone. The Talulah in front of you is still alive, the tyrant has yet to take over her mind," Amiya explained as we turned our attention back to Talulah, who stopped in the midst of her steps.

"Tell me more of these ancient chicaneries, Cautus," Talulah mocked as she looked Amiya in the eyes.

"You should've died when Talulah stabbed you," Amiya replied with a fierce look on her face. I looked around and saw everyone beginning to catch on to what was going on there. I didn't know who Kashchey was, nor did I know whether it was Kashchey or Talulah that knew me, but questions can be answered with time.

"Mind-reading rabbit… I never thought of this," Talulah laughed as flames engulfed her blade.

"Am I? You've always bragged about your psychic originium arts, Duke Kashchey. It was your pride," Amiya mocked as the flames that engulfed Talulah's sword intensified.

Shit is about to go down.