Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 22

Chapter 211

The blue-clad raccoon woman turned to Victoria.

Determinationis, "Please all me Determinationis, and yes, I am Qui Durat. Glad my persona is scarred into the history of my people."

Iratus looked around to see everyone start to ease a little. He could hear the metal door behind him being banged on by the machines, and he also saw Fractura eye the tied-up old fox woman intently.

Victoria, "You're the one who killed my uncle and sister!"

Determinationis, "Oh my. Well, I can only tell you that I target the corrupt, wealthy people destroying our nation."

Everyone was starting to tense up in the room.

Victoria, "My uncle was not rich! He sold everything he had to gamble on selling rare materials for his family! Since you killed him, my family's land was sold to Lord Stimulus, and my father said you were even paid by that baron too!"

Determinationis, "As I've stated, I only steal from wealthy people, who are all bad, and as for Sir Stimulus, he has only paid for my release a number of times, which does not mean that I work for him. He really saw what was wrong with the country and knew my methods would save it."

Victoria, "Your legacy is plunging Reineluft into war!"

Determinationis, "I've been caught up on our history. The new government was set up perfectly. It was the common folk's refusal to give to the poor and hoarding food for themselves that led to the nation's downfall. If everyone accepted Visio's rule, it would have been the greatest nation and the most free nation in the world!"

Victoria raised her voice, "If the common folk thought armed people coming from far away to take their food and resources with the threat of violence was the problem, then replacing them with the same damn thing but with a different lord on their lips isn't fixing the problem."

The door was still banging in the background, which did not help as everyone continued to stiffen.

Determinationis, "You're just a child; what would you know? What would you know about the brutality of the monarchy? They killed my mate and my children, and then the four richest merchants who lived in the same city sent me away without a single scrap of food. One single gold coin. Years later, I grabbed one gold coin from the road, and then I was found out. This one greedy merchant would have never known she was missing her coin because she was so rich. It was lost and gone, but I found it. I thought we were becoming friends, but one coin was one too many. I was supposed to lose a hand that day. Stupid males had no idea I was trained by a war hero. The best part about killing a man is that they think themselves so strong until someone they deem too frail and weak to resist them gives them one single stab. It turns out you don't need to be tall, strong, or male to use a blade. You only need the skill to hit someone with it."

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Chapter 212

Iratus, "Actually, being tall would drastically help because you'd have more reach."

There was a defusing calmness that came over everyone.

Determinationis, "Well, you got me there."

Victoria, "I still don't see the connection as to why people have to have their wealth redistributed."

Determinationis, "The merchant I was talking about would have never seen that coin again and not suffered a single bit from it, not even lost a single bit of wealth. Therefore, what did it matter that I found it and took it?"

Victoria, "Well, when I trade skinning a deer for coins, let me tell you that I would be incredibly angry and upset if I didn't get or lose a single coin. I should get what I'm owed."

Determinationis, "We are talking about rich people, not hunters and trappers."

Victoria, "Shouldn't people keep what they make? What does their wealth matter?"

Determinationis, "And thus I am proven right; you are a kid with no understanding of how reality works, and I am the adult who tried to change our world for the better."

Fractura, "Can we get back to your prisoner?"

The five women turned to look at the hyena man.

The otterfolk female, "That one does not concern you. Think not about it, and leave us alone!"

The badger girl jabbed her sword in the air towards Fractura.

Tempestas, "And never return here or speak with us again."

The two foxfolk females exclaimed, "Yeah!"

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Chapter 213

Determinationis, "Did you really not grasp the mistake you made in coming down here to trap us?"

Iratus, "We can't run around in the wilderness with an unknown group nearby; it isn't safe for us or you. Meeting your group is the only way to establish relations and not be hostile to each other."

Determinationis, "The world, no matter which one, isn't safe for females. Nearly all males have no honor or honesty, which means we can't walk outside without treating every man as an enemy. Oh look, here you are to scare us all."

Clamor, "Understandable, but the fact remains that you are an unknown force, which means you are our enemies until we talk to you."

Iratus, "We are here to make sure you won't mess us up when we go out into the wilderness to hunt and stuff."

Fractura, "Until they release their hostage, we should consider them very hostile."

Determinationis, "Now you never did answer my question. What do you know of this woman?"

Fractura, "Your question is irrelevant to the situation at hand."

Determinationis, "Hardly."

Tempestas, "Does it matter? Like, who cares about this dude?"

Determinationis, "I care."

Fractura, "Are you going to release her or not?"

The old fox woman who was tied up tried to sit up, but the alarm came back on with more sounds of drones outside the door, and the banging had not stopped yet.

Determinationis, "Kill them."

Iratus and the others drew their weapons and got into battle positions. The room was small, but it wasn't cramped. The party was at the back, with the girls spread about. Victoria, with an angered expression, readied her crossbow at Determinationis as some half-hearted fighting started. Resonantia, with her own blade, held off the black-haired foxfolk while Iratus took on the blonde. The otterfolk tried to engage with Clamor, but his spear made sure she could not approach in the small room and close quarters, cutting off the woman's movement.

Fractura, "I dare you to move against me."

Tempestas, "I dare you to eat your foot."

Fractura, "If childish insults are all you've got, then you need to get all the way off my back before I eat you alive."

Tempestas, "Sounds like you just hate women."

Fractura, "The actual oblivion? Does your whole group talk like men are all rapists and murderers?"

Tempestas, "You make it sound like it isn't true."

Fractura, "Or maybe it's women who are all rapists and murderers? You already messed that woman up."

Tempestas, "Woman hater, woman hater!"

Fractura, "That's it; I'm eating you alive."

Iratus, "Are you two just going to stand there and flirt all day?"

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Chapter 214

Victoria, "Guys, everything just got infinitely worse."

The party started to disengage and then wore fearful faces, with the rival girls slowly turning to see the problem. Walking into the light were three ebonies.

The first one had giant spider chitin fused into its body, with both arms being long spider legs that were as sharp as spears. Its face was like a helmet, with its spider visage and four eyes.

The second ebony had bones fused into its being with the hide of a massive fox worn like a cloak, which was also fused into the creature's back, neck, and arms. It wielded a giant bone club, though it was not grasped as it too was part of the hand. In the right hand was a familiar faded bronze lantern with old bloodstains still tarnishing it. Inside of it was yet another piece of black goo, though in greater quantity this time.

While these two ebonies were over seven feet tall, the third ebony was a towering nine feet tall.
(Over 213cm)(274cm)

This third ebony was nearly completely covered in bones, with only bits of black showing through. The three monsters continued walking towards the building.

Iratus, "Wow, this day cannot get any worse than this."

Clamor, "Thou should not tempt the Lord."

Tempestas, "What in the holy scion's name are those?"

Iratus, "Just some regular monsters."

Tempestas, "Regular as my spit in your grave! Those are not normal!"

The giant came forward and reached for groups, shattering the front door while at the same time a click and charge sound came from the door. Everyone immediately covered their ears as the door exploded open.

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Chapter 215

The small room was now filled with flying drones as well as two of the ebonies that managed to fit inside. A flying drone flew next to Tempestas and fired a dart, which, when she was hit, nearly buckled over as the pain became nearly unbearable. She blinked constantly as tears continued to flow. Most of the people were shot and were screaming in pain.

Resonantia tried to help the black-haired foxfolk as the spider ebony relentlessly attacked her. The shark girl got shot three times with the pain fletches, but she took the pain better than all the others who were drowning in pain. Iratus had some sort of four-legged drone with a long fork where a face would be, which would shock the poor mouse boy. He used the handle of his sword to whack the bot, but while it was not a tough metal object, it wasn't like the metalheads, for the metal would not bend or break.

The blonde foxfolk was stuck between several drones and the fox ebony, but she was lucky enough that the drones prioritized the monster instead of her. The otterfolk refused to let Clamor pass.

Otterfolk female, "You ain't going anywhere."

Clamor, "Move out of my way or die!"

Otterfolk female, "Try it and find out what happens!"

Clamor engaged in battle now seriously as he moved the tip of his spear around and came in with a feint, only to pull up and run forward, slamming the spear easily into the otter woman. The woman was thrust against the wall, where Clamor moved to punch her in the face and throw her to the ground. Once she was out of the way, he focused on trying to attack the fox ebony.

Clamor, "No more victims!"

During the chaos, Determinationis fled out of the building, dodging the giant ebony, with Victoria running after her. Next was Fractura, carrying out the tied-up old foxfolk. The giant walked back as the bipedal drone wrapped itself around its arm. The giant looked at it confusingly until the drone gripped hard enough that the bones broke and the arm popped, with actual blood being flung everywhere.

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Chapter 216

The spider ebony walked out of the building with Resonantia on its back and in a choke hold while also trying to stab the monster. Iratus came out to hold the monster's attention, which seemed to work. Three drones came outside to fire their shots at everyone, which bounced off of the people's armor while some actually shot into the ebony's black skin. The ebony gave a tremble before focusing on the drones and, with several crack shots, knocking each one down. It stomped and destroyed the three drones, but by the time it finished, Iratus and Resonantia managed to draw blood.

Using her sword as a crowbar, Resonantia broke part of the ebony's face plate apart and then started to stab into its face. Iratus stabbed where he could, as he also had to dodge the spear arms. Some managed to strike him, but his armor absorbed most of the blows. Resonantia pulled herself up further onto the ebony and used her body weight to force her blade into the neck of the ebony. In response, the ebony threw itself to the ground and knocked Resonantia off, but it opened itself up for Iratus to tear into the monster.

As the spider ebony stood back up, Iratus and Resonantia gave one more thrust with their weapons and drove them deep inside the spider ebony, which stopped and then dropped to the ground.

The giant crushed the biped drone and then was stuck by a flurry of flying drones, keeping it distracted. Clamor and Tempestas ran out of the building next and only saw that Iratus and Resonantia remained.

Tempestas, "Damnation!"

A large number of strange-colored flying drones flew out of the building and onto the giant. With another charging sound, everyone covered their ears as the strange drones that were attached to the giant exploded, causing enough force to drop several people.

When Iratus pulled out his pistol and put on his ear mufflers, everyone refused to stop holding their ears as the mouse boy fired the entire clip into the giant, which was still standing. The giant slowly started to move towards the group, with the fox ebony walking behind it.

Iratus, "Tactical retreat!"

Resonantia, "I'm all for it!"

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Chapter 217

With complete exhaustion, the party dropped once they entered the giant elevator room. While the group had flashlights to see, they saw the flashlight of Fractura, who had just finished releasing the old foxfolk from her bonds.

Fractura, "Now that I know that you are alive, Venatio, how about you pay me what I'm owed?"

The old foxfolk woman stood up.

Venatio, "You didn't win any bet; hell, everyone thought you died in that helicopter crash."

Fractura, "As if that could kill me. Why are you still down here?"

Venatio, "Because I wasn't the only one left behind, duh."

The rest of the party held their chests as they ran through an icy tunnel, and their lungs were on fire with cold.

Iratus, "Hey...we...got to get out of here. The ebonies are still...there."

Victoria came from the corner of the area and walked to Iratus to give him a loving nuzzle.

Victoria, "Glad you made it out! Sorry for leaving you guys back there."

Clamor, "Perish the thought. We are alive, and that is all that matters."

Iratus gave a final sigh and then said,

Iratus, "And I'm happy that you are still here with me."

The sound of something moving through the tunnels made everyone have a surge of adrenaline.

Fractura, "Alright, time to go."

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Chapter 218

The giant ebony squeezed out of the tunnel and chased the group up the paths. The party had almost made it to the entrance by the time the giant climbed up the path for them. The fox ebony slowly walked up the path and was far behind. The party held their ground as the giant climbed over the path forward, blocking their way.

The giant tried to grab at everyone, but they retreated with Resonantia firing her bow, Iratus and Clamor doing their best to parry attacks, and Fractura using the only blunt weapon among the group to effectively attack the giant's hands.

Clamor, "I'm going in!"

Clamor rushed forward and stuck the spear into the monster, while Iratus sheathed his sword for a second and ran across the railing to the other side, where he then attacked from the backside. The giant was already massively wounded from the shattered arm and explosives, which left holes in its body.

The blood from the giant was smeared everywhere as everyone continued to lay into the monster. With one punch, the giant sent Clamor to the ground, unconscious, with Venatio and the badger woman dragging him out of the fight. Resonantia ran out of arrows, with the last one striking into the ebony's eye. With enough strikes  to the back knee, Iratus finally made the monster kneel, though only for a moment. After a second, the others repositioned themselves and started pushing together to throw the giant off the path. The combined efforts eventually led to them throwing the giant over the rails, where it slammed into a lower path and broke its bone armor on a rail.

It looked like it had run out of blood as it lay on the smashed wooden rail, and it was not moving, with the last ebony looking at the scene and then backing away. As the last ebony walked away, the party headed outside of the cave system.

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Chapter 219

Once outside, they all took a break, with Iratus starting the next conversation by pulling out the keycard.

Iratus, "So who are you, and why did you give this to me?"

Venatio, "Well, I guess everything is messed up now. While Victorium was hired to stop you, Determinationis was hired to stop me. Many of the summoners of this place like to run experiments or collect certain people to fight the monsters plaguing their home. You are no exception."

Fractura, "Still, why so much interference?"

Venatio, "It's just another experiment. I can only assume the summoners are having a political breakdown if they are engaging in this stuff. As for the keycard, you'll have to explore that summoner tower that rabbit guy lives in."

Clamor, Actually, only the hyena lives there now."

Fractura, "Is there a locked door or something?"

Venatio, "It is for the tenth floor."

Fractura, "Ah, treasure."

The badger woman was trying to sneak away until Resonantia caught her.

Resonantia, "How about you give your side of the story here before we bury you?"

Tempestas, "Hey, you two are from outside of Nexus Prime, right?"

They both said, "Yeah." in unison.

Tempestas, "Well, I am in the same boat. Tempestas promised me a way out of here, and I don't know how she roped in the other three. I was just following orders."

Venatio, "Hard to blame you. Things are always strange in here or even outside."

Iratus, "What are you three talking about? Fractura, you are an invader?"

Fractura, "Still, feels strange to be called such a thing, but yes."

Victoria, "The way you talk about Nexus Prime, the stranger it sounds. What is this place?"

Venatio, "Uh...Ok, think of a building. This is a really big building. This is a REALLY big building. For who knows how many millions or billions of years, people have been building and adding to this building. These people died, and the summoners were then in charge. They brought a lot of stuff into this building—everything you can see, really. This building is Nexus Prime, powered by a strange black hole the original builders created by...nevermind. Let me get back on track. This building is so big that multiple planets and stars are housed within it."

Fractura, "It's a giant space station."

The party had a confused look, but they eventually imagined it and looked on for the old fox woman to continue.

Venatio, "Technically, there are no planets in here, I think, but half-planets sprawled all over the place. Normally you could look up and see other planets close up in the distance, but this planet had its own room. That's why my, er, our original party landed here."

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Chapter 220

Clamor, "Let's get back to the stone tower, rest, and tell the others everything that has happened."

Tempestas, "I guess I'll just be leaving then. Goodbye, see you never; ok, I'm gone."

Victoria, "You are not going anywhere. I need you to find the Qui Durat."

Tempestas, "Not like we had a rally point, and look, I just want out of here, and I don't see that happening under that raccoon lady anymore. How about I just disappear from your story and never show up again?"

Venatio, "Fine, whatever. Is that woman still going for you, though? I suspect all these deaths have summoned their attention."

Clamor, "Are they watching us? Hey, all you people are dirt-lickers! No one loves you!"

Venatio, "Uh, anyways. With plots revealed on all sides, is she still going to be a threat to your group?"

Venatio, "Better safe than sorry. She will also submit and denounce her actions or die."

Victoria, "Amen."

The group continued walking after a break and nearly got to the stone tower when a strange force acted upon everything. Iratus felt like the first time he was sent to this place: an empty step followed by the ground. Most of the group was staggered, and Venatio, Clamor, Tempestas, and Fractura had fear showing on their faces.

Clamor, "By the savior of folkkind. The day did get even worse."

Resonantia, "Excuse me?"

Fractura, "It's a blackest day."

The sun still shone, but the blue sky faded into night, and a foreboding sound could be heard coming closer to the party.

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EPISDOE 22: END

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Episode 22 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
Coverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork, minor damage), leather gloves, tactical vest, tailorcraft backpack, leather plate helmet
Weapons: Long Sword, 3x Knifes, Short Sword
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 33 oval copper coins, 7 small silver bricks, 6 gemstones, 20 fine silver coins,20 fine gold coins

Wounds: Shoulder, stab wound (minor), Right Leg, minor burns (superficial)

Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, a lot of animal bones, 3 glass jar, 1 fish net, fishing gear, primitive sewing kit, trowel, woodcutting axe, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, some of sheets, metal scrap, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets, some medical supplies, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), a strange device (Gameboy-like device), lots of wooden planks and boards, wood glue, sandpaper, compass, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, lots of rope, a large barrel, some ink, 1 papyrus paper, 3 hide paper (parchments), 80 cloaks and other clothing materials, some alcohol, some primitive medicine, some fabrics, 6 carts, 11 tattered tents, skin drum

Armory: 10 wooden spears, 56 short swords, 53 knifes, 25 daggers, 34 metal spears, 2 hand bombs, 21 rusted weapons, many armor pieces, ruined metal armor, box of unknown ammo, 4 hunting traps, 3 snares, 3 pistols, 12 unknown bullets, 5 extra pistol ammo.
Aestus: leather vest, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword
Victoria: scrap metal Breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, flashlight
Resonanita: breastplate, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, compound bow, flashlight
Ignis: leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar

Treasure: 88 oval copper coins, 33 oval silver coins 74 ancient metal coins, 40 fine silver coins, 44 fine gold coins, 23 fine copper coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a handful of sparkling glass beads, a small wooden trinket box, a collection of delicate, hand-painted porcelain charms, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, 157 copper lion coins, 25 silver lion coins, 14 gold lion coins, 165 wolfen metal coins

Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates, clay pots, and wooden chests), Basic Workshop Area (lots of tools, woodcarving tools), Kitchen Area (many tools, many cutlery items, pots&pans, makeshift grill), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools), Guest Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding)

Outside Base: Butchering Hut (modern butchery kit, smoking rack), Tannery Hut, Underground Storage Area, Garden Area (fenced in)

Books: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), Special documentary on Nexus Prime #34, 16 Broken Tower documents

Year 0, Day 85

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Special documentary on Nexus Prime
Author: [DATA ERROR]
Report #: 50
Invaders are what they are called. The ones who come from outside of Nexus Prime and enter into our home. They are just normal people who live outside of our home. We lack the ability to communicate, for the most part, with anyone from the outside, but one would think they could see our plight and help us. The systems outside have several armies worth of soldiers and metal and their governments have never once tried to even free us from the monsters.

These people that come to Nexus Prime are adventurers, researchers, and other things that aim to pillage what we have summoned and steal our greatest resources and technologies. Some military bases exist on or around our home, but all of it is to enforce the outsider's rules and regulations. It makes sense as our technology is the warping of time, matter, and reality itself so all Invaders that come here must be regulated by their own laws. Imagine if one of them stumbled upon the controls to the Prime Black Hole?

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