Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 24

Chapter 231

Iratus looked at his other three guests. He started with the hyena man, Fractura.

Iratus, "You! You did not help us defend the tower."

Fractura, "Dude, outside was death. All the terrible things the blackest day offers are always outside and basically never inside. You were telling me to risk my life for what?"

Victoria stepped forward.

Victoria, "Our home for one thing."

Fractura, "I doubt it. So what if they break in? We would just smash them anyway."

Iratus, "And just leave a gaping hole in our home?"

Fractura, "Better than risking life and limb outside."

There was a second of silence.

Iratus, "You still went into the underground tower building with us."

Fractura, "Yeah, but I live there, so I have a reason to do something about the intruders. Though walking into someone's home like we did clearly wasn't the smartest thing to do."

Tempestas, "I'll say."

Iratus, "Regardless, you still refused to help defend the tower with us."

Fractura, "Yeah, not my tower."

Iratus, "Are you not our friend?"

Fractura, "I don't know. I'm not risking my life for you guys. Is that what a friend is to you?"

Iratus, "I guess so. Please leave our tower. If we ever need medical services, we will hire you."

Fractura, "What? It sounds like you are banishing me from your tower."

Iratus, "I am."

Fractura, "Our game nights are the only reason I was staying around. If I don't have that, then I have no reason to be here."

Iratus, "So be it."

The hyena man looked over at the girls.

Fractura, "Yo, don't you girls have a say in this?"

Resonantia, "It is actually quite reasonable, in my opinion."

Victoria, "Same."

Ignis, "I'd say it isn't excellent for us, and I will say that I am not against such actions."

Aestus, "And I'm outvoted. Still, I am also fine with the consequences."

Fractura, "The hell? Well, ok. I'll leave. Good luck surviving out here."

Iratus, "Thanks."

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Chapter 232

Next, Iratus turned to Tempestas.

Iratus, "Are you still going to try to harm the old fox lady?"

Tempestas with some nervousness, "I am really out of my education on what is going on with the summoners and whatever this is with you. At this point in time, I don't like what Determination's goals are. You guys didn't kill me, and you yourself have shown a dangerous amount of trust towards me. Also, let me offer you a suggestion: stop being so good and kind to others, or you will die. So no, I will not harm Venatio nor your family."

Iratus, "Then you are free to live your life."

The badger and the old fox woman just stared at Iratus.

Tempestas, "I was going to do that anyway."

Venatio, "You can't be serious. She is a heartless beast who kidnapped me!"

Iratus, "She fought with us in the tunnel. She helped me defend my home and said that she was done with the raccoon woman."

Venatio, "That's it. She says X, and you just believe her?"

Iratus, "Let me rephrase things. I have not been accosted by Tempestas and she has demonstrated deeds that are positive and away from kidnapping someone. I myself bear no ill will. Whatever your will is or your grievances are, you are free to enact them."

Tempestas, "What if I say I am really, really sorry?"

Venatio, "Ugh! Whatever, I don't have time for this."

Tempestas, "Have somewhere to be?"

Venatio, "I got a sweet deal and a nice home down here in this garbage can. Why would I stay a moment longer in the backwaters of Nexus Prime?"

Iratus, "Then everything has been sorted out."

Tempestas, "If the old bat did want to hurt me, would you have defended me?"

Iratus, "I would offer an alternative. I wouldn't let her kill you, though."

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Chapter 233

Venatio headed out of the stone tower and left, while the badger woman stayed long enough for lunch.

Iratus, "If Determinationis shows up again, will you side with us?"

The badger girl finished scarfing down some fish.

Tempestas, "I'd prefer to stay neutral."

Ignis set down another plate of food for the group and turned to Tempestas.

Ignis, "The followers of fire and the followers of water once fought over an apple orchard. Both sides lost their homes and many of their children. When the followers of water were banished after losing the war, the followers of fire came to the orchard to eat apples, only for the neutrals of the war to come and start taking apples. They had not lost their homes, children, or sacrificed anything, and so the followers of fire banished them as well."

Tempestas, "Ugh. Ok, I get it. I swear to aid you if I am around. Also, I would like to thank the group here for allowing me to not suffer for my previous actions or bring retribution upon me."

Victoria, "Forgiveness is a core tenant in our religion. If you try to redeem yourself, then none of us will see reason to spite you."

Aestus, "Then we should forgive the other three for any transgressions and let them back in."

Iratus, "Oh, I forgive them, but they are not part of our group. If they want a closer relationship, then it is up to them to start, not us."

At the same time,
Resonantia, "Agreed."
Victoria, "Yeah."

Tempestas, "If you don't mind, since the summoner's tower is free, I'd like to live there. Mostly, I just want the cool air down there. I'll come by every now and then to work and earn my fill."

Iratus, "Have at it."

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Chapter 234

Iratus, "So we have a rouge hostile roaming around. What are we going to do?"

Victoria, "Hunt her down, probably kill her."

Tempestas, "You'll have to find her first. We didn't have any backup locations. The girls were supposed to grab and bag. After that, the raccoon lady was supposed to give us our reward."

Victoria, "Were you aware of any other locations?"

The badger woman gave a shrug.

Tempestas, "The Japanese castle place is the only location I'm aware of that is around here. I guess the summoner's tower as well."

Victoria, "We could check out a few places too. Until we get other evidence, I suggest we take that castle place seriously."

Tempestas, "Maybe if we are lucky, Determinationis will just run away and never return."

Iratus, "Everyone just needs to keep an eye out so that we don't get ambushed, and we will launch searches at a later date."

The group rested for most of the day after that. Eventually, Iratus and a few of the girls would finally grab the books from the treasure room of the hot spring bath, including the entire series of Bathhouse Reviewers. All eighty books were relocated in the stone tower's library, which would bring delight to the tower folk. Tempestas would eventually head out for the summoners tower, and the day would come to a close.

The next day started with Iratus cooking breakfast for once, doing his best for his four lovers.

Iratus, "Time to see if those strange pig-like beasts taste like pork."

Ignis, "Be diligent to ensure you cook them well. Pork is one of those meats you really have to cook for because of how unsafe it can be to eat."

Victoria, "Yeah, pork, poultry, and fish are some of the worst."

Resonantia, "Hey, hold up. You can eat some raw fish; you just need to prepare it correctly."

Victoria, "But why take the risk?"

Ignis, "How can raw fish have any taste other than negative?"

Resonantia, "You all are uncultured."

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Chapter 235

Soon enough, Iratus got ready to explore some areas. Victoria volunteered to go with him and got equipped as well. The mouse boy nuzzled the other girls and headed out with Victoria, where they headed for Last Mistake. The city had not deteriorated any further, and the number of treeskins was still small, though they seemed to stay around the monstrous treeskin that was like a taur-like monster with its four legs and four arms.

The group stayed away from the treeskin horde and ran around the edges of the city, finding no traces of people. Next, they checked the fox cave and discovered the fox was no longer living in it as that strange insect panther creature had taken up residence.

Iratus, "You don't think that Ebony was wearing the poor fox that lived here, do you?"

Victoria, "Your giant ass war fox? Yeah, it was eaten by that black void."

Iratus, "I had suspected as much. Darn it. I love foxes!"

Further inside, they saw a few more insect panthers and some large eggs around too.

Victoria, "While these things are kind of cute, their size and these numbers are going to be a problem. They might overhunt our location and drive away any prey living here."

Iratus, "Maybe. This side of the stone city has a lot more woodlands than our tropical paradise. If this place is like their natural habitat, perhaps they'll stay out of our lands?"

Victoira, "If they are smart, then maybe they'll recognize our territory and stay away."

While only one of these creatures was large, there were still several young insect panthers around, and they started to get angry with hisses and growls.

Iratus, "Speaking of territory, I think we have long since intruded on their home. Time to go."

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Chapter 236

The Japanese town was next, and because it was still infested with metalheads and was quite large, the duo spent the next few days observing and trying to explore it.

On the 90th day since Iratus came to this world, Iratus and Victoria did spot someone inside the castle, and because it did not lumber like the other metalheads, it seemed possible that it was a person. Back at the tower, Iratus and Victoria told everyone what they discovered, including Tempestas, who was also there chowing down on some meat.

Aestus, "Wouldn't that be sucide? Like, people can't stay around metalheads, so that would be the ladies death."

Tempestas, "Still disturbing that being loosely near metalheads breaks the brain."

Iratus, "It is still weird that you guys didn't know that."

Tempestas, "How many times will it be explained that we don't camp in hostile areas? It isn't like we spend a ton of resources on monster research, either. This place is basically off-limits because the summoners brought the monsters here and ruined their entire space station. So anything to do with the monsters or this place is a no-no. Only a few treasure hunters or poachers come by these days."

Ignis, "How about evacuating the people inside?"

Tempestas, "As if resources are not spent on people elsewhere. Besides, not only have you ghosts already lived life, but none of you could survive in our current time. I've seen grown men break down because they couldn't use an elevator, even with training. If people can't adapt to the galactic age, then why divert resources from rescuing our own people from broken planets, war-torn worlds, or feeding thousands of worlds? The sad reality is, we can't save you, and if we did, you wouldn't survive in a place and time so far flung from your own, with cultures, ideas, politics, and so many other things too alien and probably too repugnant to your own time's tastes. If you wish to be happy, then here is the best place for it, even with monsters around every corner."

Resonantia, "Well, that was depressing."

Iratus, "Uh, how about that person in the castle?"

Victoria, "We have spent too much time around there; it is only a matter of time before we shut down because of the metalhead sickness."

Resonantia, "Leave it to the rest of us then."

Tempestas, "Maybe I'll stay around here, you know, in case the tower gets attacked or something."

Iratus, "You know, I could have sworn you were super paranoid about being around other males. Something about all males being evil or something?"

Tempestas, "Should be considered on sight to be evil. I've spent enough time with you and your wives to know that you are decent folk."

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Chapter 237

The next day, Ignis, Resonantia, and Aestus prepared their own expedition to go into the castle town. Iratus spent the day home watching over the tower with Victoria, with the two reading some of the Bathhouse Reviewers books. Everyone had already discovered that most of the written language was written differently, to the point that the girls had to relearn eighty percent of their words to read the books, and today Iratus got a lot of work done with Victoria.

Victoria, "My word, this really is...something."

Iratus, "Really popular."

Victoria, "I can understand why."

Once the expedition group came back, Iratus saw how exhausted they were.

Iratus, "You are all alive. That's wonderful."

Resonantia, "As if we would die, ha!"

Victoria, "You girls look awful; what happened?"

Aestus, "We secured a route inside, and let me just say, that castle is infested with metalheads. I super doubt our kidnapper is hiding there."

Victoria, "I ain't giving up the search in there just yet. If it is possible to get in there, then I wish to check it out."

Iratus, "You and I still need to spend some time away from that place to clear our minds from the sickness stuff."

Ignis, "Have we seen any signs of the raccoon woman wandering the wilderness?"

Tempestas, "I've done a lot of patrols around here, and I can confidently confirm that I have seen nothing."

Victoria, "Let's give it a few more days and keep that castle under lockdown. After a few more days, let's dive in there."

Iratus, "That should be good."

With the discussion concluded, the group would keep an eye on the castle location and let another ten days pass before the watch group of that day reported that the metalheads were gathering up in a horde. After a brief discussion, the group decided to head over to see if there would be any problems. Aestus was voted to stay behind, while Tempestas said that she had a surprise to show everyone.

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Chapter 238

Near the bridge, Tempestas brought Fractura and Clamor with her.

Iratus, "I didn't think you two would stick around here."

Clamor, "Yeah, I'm way too lazy to travel out there and find a new home. I'm just here because I'd like to work and earn some food at this point."

Fractura, "Same."

Iratus, "Should we negotiate pay then?"

Fractura, "Eh, we can do that later. This sounds too pressing at the moment."

Victoria, "Wait! Tempestas, have you been living in the same tower as that hyena man?"

Fractura, "That hyena man? Why does that not sound flattering?"

Tempestas, "Yeah, and I have been trying to get him to move out, but he just won't go."

Fractura, "My tower."

Tempestas, "And every day you talk about it being the day you leave, boop, you're still here."

Fractura, "I'll leave eventually."

Tempestas, "I hate this man."

Iratus, "And thank you for bringing him then."

Tempestas had reloaded her pistol a long time ago and used the last remaining five pistol bullets.

Tempestas, "Venatio has also been staying around. I can't get a word out of her."

Clamor, "I wonder why."

Resonantia, "Since the bridge is probably the only way the creatures can infest our domain, let's camp on it and maybe send some scouts to double check what the horde is doing."

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Chapter 239

As the group approached the bridge, still discussing who would scout ahead, they stopped and saw the horde approaching. In front was Determinationis, jogging ahead of the horde. Her clothing was different this time with a gambeson with mail and pieces of Japanese armor slapped on her person. The party aimed their weapons at the raccoon woman, who stopped in place.

Determinationis in a partially serious tone, "Oh good, you are here! You have to help me these things are after me."

Fractura, "After what you've done?"

Determinationis, "Tempestas, you have made some new friends. Tell them I can be of use to them."

Tempestas, "I have admitted I have done wrong and now work to inspire trust and friendship. Try doing that."

Determinationis, "I...for various reasons, I cannot admit to being in the wrong. You see, I have debts to pay, and I want out of here. It is impossible to break that contract."

Tempestas, "The summoners are not all seeing. Just say your feelings, and we can move on. The people that matter are all super religious and will welcome you with open arms if you show remorse."

Determinationis, "You have no idea! The summoners have no power here."

Fractura, "Is that a no?"

Determinationis, "If anyone else would do the same in order to get out of this hell hole, then how can I be in the wrong? Listen, we can all get out of here because I work for someone greater than the summoners."

Fractura with no emotion, "Shoot her."

And Tempestas fired three shots into the raccoon woman still standing, but barely until Victoria fired her crossbow and finished her off.

Iratus, "On second thought, killing a formal ally so easily kind of creeps me out."

With the last two bullets, the badger woman fired into the horde.

The two armored samurai metalheads led the pack, and on closer inspection, the horde was actually quite small, maybe around 30 other metalheads.

Clamor and Iratus stood in the vanguard with the other melee users ready to jump in, and Victoria, along with Resonantia, stood at the edge of the river to get clearer shots.

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Chapter 240

Iratus did well to parry the monster's glaive, but even he had to back away as the creature advanced. Clamor got a few swings in, but he too was pushed back, and soon the group was pushed all the way off the bridge, with the metalheads now crossing over it. Fractura and Tempestas, now with a spear, held off the metalhead wave while Ignis moved to where the line was breaking. Clamor and Iratus each faced one of the samurai.

The samurai monster excellently swung its glaive, which kept pushing Iratus back, but he eventually had to dive in to stop the horde from expanding. Iratus managed to get close enough that when the blade hit, it was near the hilt and couldn't cut past him. Iratus managed to thrust his blade into the head of the monster, but it wasn't a killing blow. Iratus jumped back as two metalheads came forward with their blazing breath, nearly hitting his fur and flesh. The samurai swung his blade and nearly cleaved one of the metalheads in half, while Iratus jumped back again. Iratus charged at the last metalhead to breakthrough and sliced the creature's neck, dropping it, but then Iratus was pushed to the ground by the force of the glaive.

Ignis moved it to cover Iratus while he got up, but when he stood, she fell with a cut all across her torso. Iratus stood over Ignis and deflected the incoming glaive attacks. One cut from low to high, and then one from high to low. Then, when the creature thrust, Iratus caught the glaive with his blade, though he still got a small cut. He raised his blade, dived into the samurai, and slammed it backward into more metal heads. He couldn't capitalize on his gains as more metalheads filled the gap. However, as the samurai was beginning to get up, a crossbow bolt slammed into its neck, and the creature fell back down.

Iratus moved to help Clamor while Ignis halted the metalheads. Iratus had to dodge the swings as the glaive was long and the samurai was easily able to fight two opponents at the same time. Iratus managed to get some good stabs in before the samurai landed a deadly cut into Clamor's face, which spurred Iratus to charge in and cut into the neck of the samurai before pulling and severing a large portion of the monster's neck, which dropped it.

Resonantia was pulling a wounded Fractura away from the battle area as Victoria did her best to cover Tempestas in melee. Ignis struggled against the monsters that began to surround her, and so Iratus quickly started to cut into their numbers.

Iratus, "Try to split them into two groups."

With that, the two managed to encircle the metalheads on two fronts and slowly close in to slaughter the remainder. After that, Fractura told everyone to head to the summoners tower for medical injuries, and everyone rushed with the wounded there.
 
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EPISDOE 24: END

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Episode 24 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
Coverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork, minor damage, and torso tear), 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), Stomach, stab wound (fresh)

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, 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, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), box of unknown ammo, 4 hunting traps, 3 snares, 2 pistols (no ammo), 12 unknown bullets
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, Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series)

Year 0, Day 101

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(Extra Stories)

Extra Story 1

(sometime ago) Venatio sat in her car and opened her laptop up.

V, "Well, that was a dumpster fire. How much of it did you see?"

DE, "We didn't. However, that location has been updated, and you are now registered to be in that area. I am sorry to say this, but you can no longer act as one of my agents. Now if you wish to continue employment, staying apart of the tower and helping the group would be it."

V, "Are you stupid? I accepted the job to continue living in luxury instead of this crap hole. What is the point of staying employed if I can't reap what I am supposed to earn? I quit!"

DE, "Understandable. Just remember, the dome is off limits."

V, "That's it?"

DE, "That's it."

V, "Then thanks for saving me and goodbye."

DE, "Of course. One more thing: destroy the laptop."

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