Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 64

Chapter 631

The group took shelter in a nearby building; their journey was tiring enough, but the main issue was always the heat. Everyone had backpacks full of jars of water, which most people used to splash on themselves.

Iratus: "This is the reason we should expand our explorations. It would have been nice to have found such a silver looting location as this." The mouse boy finished with a smirk.

Venatio: "Maybe. Considering how big this place is, I doubt we would have had the proper amount of manpower to conquer this place."

Salvos: "Let's wait and see which monster type we are dealing with first."

From the second group, the tanuki woman raised her hand.

Ambitio: "The tree things."

The fox boy gave a sigh.

Studium: "Isn't that really bad?" His tone was unsure.

Confodere: "Naw. The monsters, treeskins, have drone-like intelligence."

Procella: "And they only ever move forward in combat."

Malignitas: "Unless you get a more advanced one." The one-eyed cat man began. "Then we will have a strong, fast, and brutal monster throwing us all over the place."

The fox woman, Venatrix, and the leopard man, Virtus, looked at each other with worry in their eyes. The pale-purple-skinned woman gave a cough and then began to speak.

Stina: "My, your group seems so seasoned with how you talk so matter-of-factly about monsters."

The rabbit man, Commercium, was looking out the window before turning over to look.

Commercium: "Some more than others, but I will say that this Nexus Prime is filled with absolute terrible horrors."

Victoria: "I'm still stuck on Loquor. Your group came to us with him in tow, but when we came out here, you claimed he left because of personal grudges."

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Chapter 632

Venatrix scratched her head and brushed aside her black hair.

Venatrix: "I'll say that it came out of nowhere. The only thing any of us could do is shrug and wish the man luck."

The conversations continued for a few more minutes before everyone was ready to fight. As they approached the entrance to Craterhaven, everyone got into their positions in the formation. Iratus, with Resonnatia's bow, Victoria, and Malignitas, with the second crossbow, made the center, with Confodere and Salvos in the front. The sides were Venatrix and Virtus, equipped by Iratus, who allowed them to take several weapons and armor, which they now wore. Their flank was watched by Procella and Studium. Finally, Venatio, Commercium, Ambitio, and Stina were left with their own formation to overwatch the city and guard the rear.

The colossal crater at the city's core remained visible, and its depths were clearly choked with debris and overgrown vegetation. The hills surrounding the crater, once alive with the hum of people, are now eerily quiet, their slopes overrun with wild grasses and twisted treeskin trees. The makeshift homes that once clung to the crater's edge have collapsed under the weight of years of neglect, and treeskins roamed the entire city, though the center was severely lacking these monsters. Scattered around were abandoned carts, rusted metal scraps, and tattered remnants of fabrics that flutter in the wind.

The network of narrow paths and dirt roads that crisscrossed the city were filled with various weeds and encroaching plants, and now encroaching treeskins, the smooth bark-skinned beings, with most being bipedal and most having a female-looking form, though featureless otherwise. The group walked past empty market stalls, old advertisements, and faded graffiti. 

The group did their best to methodically eliminate the treeskins that came to them, and even the rear guard would fire off a few shots. This second group didn't have any reaction to the gunshots except for Virtus, who clearly didn't know much about firearms.

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Chapter 633

Iratus fired an arrow and wounded another treeskin that would slump up to the formation, who used their spears to kill it, and other treeskins who came to the formation. After a few minutes, the formation was shaking as a dozen of these formless, wood-skinned things threw themselves on the spears. With everyone backing up, Venatio came in to assist, and the groups managed to exit the city, though they were never able to get far into it anyway.

At first, everyone was slowly dispersing, but seeing a horde of treeskins, they quickly took cover in a building. The building was crispy white and covered in black gunk with old and stuffy furniture.

Ambitio: "What's, uh...that plan?"

Iratus: "We wait them out. Simple."

The tanuki woman's gold eyes went blank with surprise, then she looked out a window to see the mindless drones reach the building.

Ambitio: "If you say so."

Venatio took Studium upstairs.

Venatio: "I'll fire from above."

Iratus pointed to Salvos and Confodere.

Iratus: "You two, lock in the kitchen."

The wolf man and the hyena man both nodded their heads and headed over to it.

Procella: "I'll take the other group and secure the other rooms."

Iratus: "Alright, here we go."

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Chapter 634

Iratus fired his bow as much as he could to tear apart the horde of treeskins, their empty faces portraying nothing as the drones fell. Many treeksins got stuck in the windows and doors of the building, with Commercium doing his best to hold the line as the three ranged fighters fired their shots.

Eventually the others slowly retreated back to the center room as the other areas of the house became overrun, but the horde of monsters wasn't too thick, and when their numbers thinned, everyone was expecting an easy win. Then, the ceiling gave a groan as it was put under pressure.

Victoria: "What was that?"

Commercium: "No, no, no. Don't tell me that we ran into another mega-sized, god-tier monster again."

Iratus could hear the upper stairs being torn into with crashing and the sound of walls being smashed. Studium came down the stairs, followed by Venatio, who fired off a few more shots before meeting up with the others.

Venatio: "Can't go that way anymore."

Iratus: "The horde is almost gone, so let's secure the front door before we worry about what's up there."

Venatio: "It's a four-legged lizard-looking thing."

Victoria: "Sounds familiar."

Two treeskins were trying to enter through a window in the front, as well as another one coming in through a second window. The door was full of bodies, and three more treeskins were trying to enter at once. From the side, a male-bodied treeskin as large as a horse was trying to smash its way in. Venatio and Malignitas shot it enough to slay the creature, though the hole it left was wide enough for the lizard treeskin to attempt to enter. Unlike the smooth bark that the normal treeskins had, this thing had rough bark, like from an actual tree, as its body, with the head being a bestial lizard of some kind that had the smooth bark skin as its head, though this thing had an actual mouth and sunken eye sockets, which not even the normal treeskins had.

The creature's green tail slammed into the hole, making it wider, and then the beast entered into it, its size bigger than the height of the room. The second group had a hard time making sense of what was happening and began to panic as Iratus and his group used the best tactics they could muster to push the treeskin horde back and put a lined spear wall against the treeskin beast.

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Chapter 635

Iratus spread his focus to the four fronts, which were the front door, the back area, the side with the beast, and the kitchen.

Salvos: "Kitchen secured!"

The wolf man tried to move out, but the beast was deep enough that he could not find a way to jump out and into the center room. Even though he was unwilling, Commercium, to no one's surprise, jumped past the jaws of the treeskin beast and entered the kitchen.

Commercium: "Then let's get out of here."

Salvos: "But the others."

Commercium: "You will be more helpful on the outside."

Salvos: "You mean we?"

Iratus didn't hear an answer as the pair disappeared. Then the mouse boy turned to the front door and shot as fast as he could, with Stina and Confodere trying their best to hold out. By the time Iratus and the others cleared the front door, Stina had a root growing in her right arm, and from behind, some of the others were being dragged away from the beast.

Commercium and Salvos were dragging treeksin corpses out of the doorway for the two groups to file out of the building.

Iratus and Procella were ordering around to encircle the front door as the house cracked open and the treeskin lizard ripped itself out of the building.

Procella: "Fire!"

And a barrage of ranged attacks slapped the beast, which reacted and recoiled—another odd thing as most treeskin creatures were too mindless and drone-like to care about pain. Iratus dropped his bow and empty quiver and ran past the spear wall. The creature came to attack Iratus, but everyone's spears poked it back. The mouse boy cleaved the treeskin's leg, which made it drop to the knee, allowing Iratus to climb up the beast and, once on the back, start to cut into the neck of the creature. The creature wiggled and tried to throw him off, but once its focus was on the mouse boy, the spears and ranged attacks came in.

Iratus kneeled down and, with a dagger, stabbed right into the back nick of the creature, which staggered it. The beast writhed around in its death throws before finally stopping.

Iratus: "And that's why you need an army to explore this damnable world."

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Chapter 636

The party headed inside another building to care for their wounds and rest.

Commercium: "You know, that was quite easy. I think having so many of us really does make fighting these things easier."

Venatrix: "I fear to ask, but do you guys do this all the time?"

Victoria: "Basically."

Iratus: "Hardly a dull life, that's for sure."

Malignitas: "Yo, I am tired as a tree stump and out of ammo. Any chance we just loot the outskirts and kill things another day?"

Venatio: "I'm up for that."

Salvos: "Same."

Commercium: "Yup."

With that, everyone started to pack up and get ready for looting.

Victoria: "If I knew we were going to be looting already, I would have said to bring the carts."

Salvos: "It's just a little grab and go. It's not like we expected to actually grab stuff this day."

Off to the side Iratus saw Venatrix call him over, so he and Victoria both went over.

Iratus: "Something wrong?"

Venatrix: "Maybe. Listen, Loquor got really weird when he came back today."

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Chapter 637

The fox woman looked around before continuing.

Venatrix: "Honestly, my whole group has been acting funny recently, and I am concerned that Loquor might do something crazy."

Iratus: "What do you mean?"

Venatrix: "I used to really agree with that guy until we met you guys. Now, he just seems a bit unerved; like, he really hates your Resonantia girl to the point that I think you should stay in your tower for a bit."

Iratus: "Hm, then I suppose I should start getting back then."

Victoria: "But what of our share of loot?"

Iratus: "I'll grab someone else then."

Iratus thanked the fox woman and asked for someone to go with him. Both Procella and Malignitas volunteered to go back with him.

Iratus: "You two sure?"

Malignitas: "It just means I get more loot next time, not like there will be anything amazing on these outskirts."

Procella: "And I got the rabbit guy picking out my stuff for me."

Iratus: "Then let's go."

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Chapter 638

As the three walked back down the long road home, a conversation sprouted up.

Procella: "So what was that all about with the fox?"

Iratus: "The shark guy seems to be a bit unhinged, to the point he might try something on our home."

Malignitas: "I hope so. I am itching to kill someone."

Iratus's senses were reaching out, but they didn't pick anything up.

Iratus's thoughts: "I can never make out anything with that guy. I literally have no idea if he is serious or not. Venatio has said that Malignitas has a great poker face."

Procella: "What about the others? Are they bad news for us or not?"

Iratus: "That is to be seen. They understand that those who work get their dues, and they seem to be willing to pull their own weight. So, I will remain hopeful."

The journey was long, but Iratus finally got back to his tower, and everything seemed fine so far. He sniffed the air and did smell the shark guy's scent, but it might just have been from the morning.

Iratus: "I don't sense anything out of order. If you two could scout around real quick for me, I'll check on the others."

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Chapter 639

After about fifteen minutes, Iratus came back outside and listened to the other two.

Iratus: "The girls and the other two have not seen anything."

Malignitas: "I got nothing either."

Procella: "Unfortunately, I got a whiff of something. Over eastward, I investigated and found an old firepit. I can smell what I think, think, is your shark guy, but I can also smell a few others. I tried to search around more, but I don't have a nose like Salvos or the foxes."

Iratus: "Geeze, then we should put finding this possible threat as our top priority. Monsters are one thing, but people are a greater danger."

Malignitas: "I'll say!"

Iratus: "Thanks everyone. Please continue watching out for yourselves because I fear something is coming."

Procella: "Absolutely."

Malignitas: "I'll be heading back home. Call me if you need anyone dead."

Iratus: "I sure will."

After a few minutes, the two left, and the rest of the group came in. When Victoria sat at the table, Iratus and the other girls gathered around.

Iratus: "Victoria, Your back so soon. What happened?"

Victoria: "Group number two got a bit scared of everything. We had to cut our looting spree short."

Ignis: "What is this scared of everything you speak of?"

Victoria: "Once Iratus and the other two bailed, those guys started to greatly hinder our search, and when I confronted them, they just said they couldn't continue without greater numbers to feel safe. I kind of get it, but there were still many of us there."

Resonantia: "There is also something Iratus found out recently about the guy who does not like me."

Victoria: "Oh, do tell."

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Chapter 640

After a few minutes of explaining everything, Victoria gave a sigh and shrugged.

Victoria: "Does this mean we are going to have another fight on our hands?"

Iratus: "I'll keep praying that it will be."

Victoria: "Resonantia, what did you do to piss this guy off?"

Resonantia: "I saw him this morning, and I don't recognize him, and unless you get his full name, I'll never know his connections to me. I still can't imagine who else hates me; heck, I didn't even know Tacitus Rustbane hated me to the point that he killed me."

Ignis: "What are the odds you are fated to meet yet another person in your recent life?"

Resonantia: "I still think that meeting my killer here is whacky, and meeting him again as a conduit seems more normal from how those damn gray masks work, but I swear that if this guy is someone I'm connected to, I will be upset."

Iratus: "I'm betting on that shark guy to suddenly become a gray mask conduit."

Victoria: "Oh God, please no. That abomination, Kollektivi, wouldn't go away until we killed him how many times?"

Iratus laughed and enjoyed the rest of the day with his four lovers. Two more days would pass until there was another knock on the door, and Iratus would open the door to see Venatrix once again.

Venatrix: "I have some bad news."

She was clearly stressed, both visually and by her smell.

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EPISDOE 64: END

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Episode 64 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 16
Coverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork), leather gloves, tactical vest, tailorcraft backpack, leather plate helmet, delicate gold chain with a small pendant shaped like a lion's glare, flashlight, bronze breastplate
Weapons: long sword, 3 knifes, short sword, hammer, 1 dagger
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 5 copper coins, 1 small silver bricks, 20 silver coins, 30 gold coins

Wounds: none

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 2 glass jar, 12 bottles, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, metal scrap, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, a large barrel, writing material, 68 cloaks and other clothing materials, some fabrics, 4 carts, 4 stitched tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenery, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing, ancient era hyenafolk clothes, gas generator, four flood lights

Armory: 37 short swords, 33 knifes, 19 daggers, 23 metal spears, 4 arming swords, 4 long swords, 2 extra gambeson, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 3 hunting traps, 5 snares, 12 backpacks, 3 katanas, 3 short katanas, crossbow, several pounds of C4
Aestus: gambeson, bronze breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, 2 knives, short sword, bronze long sword.
Victoria: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, 2 daggers, flashlight
Resonanita: steel breastplate, gambeson, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, 1 knife, compound bow, flashlight
Ignis: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar, 1 knife

Treasure: 13 copper coins, 2 silver coins 12 iron coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, bronze lantern, bronze idol, some jeweled trinkets, iron lantern

Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates, clay pots, and wooden chests), Basic Workshop Area (lots of tools, woodcarving tools, glue, sandpaper), Kitchen Area (many tools, many cutlery items, pots&pans, makeshift grill), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools, first aid kit, plenty of medicine and equipment), Children's Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding, sensual antfolk sculpture), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding), four portable solar panels

Outside Base: Butchering Hut (modern butchery kit, smoking rack), Tannery Hut, Underground Storage Area, Garden Area (fenced in), Tool Shed (fishing gear and supplies, trowel, woodcutting axe, woodworking tools, lots of rope, rope ladder, plows, hoes, sickles, rakes, shovels, scythes, chisels, anvils), Wooden Wall, Small Cabin (Venatio), Large Cabin (Winter Winds), Large Cabin (Dark Sky Family), Gravestone, Rabbit Hutches.

Books: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), cards, Fractura's Notes, Tempestas's Notes, 12 survival guides, 3 technical manuals, 46 fiction novels, 11 encyclopedias, 4 dictionaries, 22 cookbooks, 2 gardening guides, 3 crafting books, 20 educational textbooks, 5 religious texts, 4 diaries

Year 2, Day 72

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TOWER FOLK:
Iratus of House Lionheart
mouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'6, age: 16, b day: 350
-
Victoria Mother of House Lionheart
raccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'3, age: 16, b day: 5
-
Aestus of clan Riversinger
otter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'1, age: 15, b day: 99, (preg 77 days)
-
Ignis Yang
red panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eye, 6'4, age: 16, b day: 344
-
Resonantia Diamond Heart Steel
shark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 16, b day: 2, (preg 104 days)
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CHILDREN:
Negligere Lionheart
shark, male, steel gray skin, white hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 2
-
Ruina Lionheart
otter, female, orange fur, vibrant orange hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 330
-
Gula Lionheart
red panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 340
-
Tenacitas Lionheart
raccoon, female, silver fur, dark blonde hair, amber eyes, age: 1, b day: 345

Frustra Lionheart
raccoon, male, gray fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 338
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NEIGHBORS:
Venatio of Wise Storms, Mother of House Black Jewel
fox, female, red fur, red hair, brown eyes, 6'6, age: 72, b day: 299
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WINTER WINDS CLAN:
Studium of Winter Winds
fox, male, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 5'8, age 13, b day: 190

Fuligo Leaf Shadow
otter, female, black fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5'6, age 13, b day: 245, (preg 6 days)

Bellum of House War Knuckles
cheetah, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5'11, age 14, b day: 91, (preg 42 days)
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DARK SKY FAMILY:
Salvos Dark Sky
wolf, male, black fur, white hair, copper eyes, 6'8, age 27, b day: 66

Leitmotif Schlange
snake, female, yellow and red scales, naga bodied, gold  eyes, age 24, b day: 229, (preg 117 days)

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(farm)
UMBRA OCEAN FAMILY:
Procella Ocean Drinker
weasel , female, blonde fur, black hair, green eyes, 6'5, age 22, b day: 207, (preg 21 days)

Iter of Sanguinem Umbra
goat, male, white fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, 6'7, age 20, b day: 334
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(farm)
THE COBALTS:
Commercium Jade Blue Cobalt
rabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6'8, age: 25, b day: 221

-
Abrasione
hyena, female, tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'5, age: 20, b day: 4, (preg 160 days)

-
Kuxatura
hyena, male, tan fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 284

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LAST MISTAKE
Deficio
lion, male, gray fur, rich gray hair, green eyes, 6'6, age: 46, b day: 111

Confodere Oculi Acuti
hyena, male, dark brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6'9, age 26, b day: 239

Malignitas of House Brokensand
feline, male, light black fur, light black hair, brown eyes (single eye), 6'7, age 29, b day: 343