Corruption of Souls

Ch.85

We grunted while we all ascended the stairwell to whatever floor this opened up to. Almost every door we reached was blocked by rubble or flesh.

“Why didn’t we find an elevator?” Alduin huffed after we had marked at least sixty flights. She showed up last night according to the Skaven on guard duty when she arrived. We didn’t know she’d been scouting around in the air as much as could be done with this blanketing pink Miasma.

Then again, E-Dragons lived in the Era of Fog, so it was reasonable she’d be able to see something. She confirmed we were going the right way at least, also that our current objective was where the Miasma was thickest and even filled the valley around the lone mountain it was set on.

“This was the only way up in the area. It’s like the defenders made sure to make it as hard as possible to get anywhere in this city besides flight. Which makes no sense when less than a third of the population can fly.” Urta snarled while looking at her map, completely unaffected by the climb. “However, where we’re going, it makes sense to make travel hard.”

“Why?” Visilia asked since geographic data was in short supply.

“The mountain we’re trying to reach is named Mount Hades, the next one beyond is the Elysian Fields plateau. These stairs only branch off to service stations, barracks, armories and this room holds turrets.” Urta grunted when she ‘widened’ the map and pointed to the room we were passing, which had the backs of heavily corroded artillery guns with their barrels poking through flesh. “This tunnel is like a kill box from where we got into it all the way to Mount Hades.”

It was about then we noticed corroded rounds littering the floor below us and up the staircase. After reaching an overgrown hatch, Urta smashed it open to the spraying blood and shrieks of the matted flesh on the heavy metal door. She then helped us up onto the almost pink-out Miasma. It was so damn thick it was hard to even see our hand in front of our face. “This is ridiculous! There has to be a way to-!”

Alduin flapped her wings hard and the fog around us displaced for a brief moment, revealing a short bridge that led to a solitary mountain building that was no-nonsense in it’s design. It was all hard angles and plastered brick with no ornamentation. At least, what wasn’t completely coated in what had to be foot-thick or even thicker Corrupted Flesh. We could even see the mouths breathing out the Miasma.

So this is Bourtzi Fortress, sitting on the free-standing Mount Hades with a freshwater spring all to itself. According to Alduin, this is the highest concentration of the Corruption in the whole city. We’re lucky we haven’t been attacked already.

“Alright, let’s get going.” We insisted before We started to march across the bridge. “So what’s the plan for Bourtzi Fortress? It doesn’t seem to have any other bridges to other parts of the superstructure.” It’s isolation makes it perfect for a prison.

“There’s actually a tunnel leading from the fortress through the mountain to the Elysian Fields on the other side where the nobility and royalty lived once upon a time.” Urta told us as she pointed at the gate of Bourtzi Fortress when we approached. “With how damaged and Corrupted the rest of the city is going around this lone mountain, We’re better off cutting through and working on the city from both ends, even if it means cutting out it’s heart first.”

“That’s a good plan.” We commented in approval before We reached the flesh-coated gate. “Any ideas on how to get in?”

“Hold on.” Urta twirled her spear and stabbed at the center of the gate, the slaw-jawed mouths all over the flesh-encased building shrieking in that unholy piercing fashion as Urta casually sawed through the flesh sealing the entrance like it was butter to her hot lightning-charged spear. After several minutes of agonizing ear-rape, Urta literally ripped open the bleeding gates with her super-strength and sighed. “There we go. Let’s get inside.”

At an unspoken agreement, Visilia took the lead and We followed her in the center of the formation away from threats as we entered the absolutely disgusting interior. Miasma was everywhere. The walls, ceilings, floors, everything was coated in Corruption-sweating flesh with gnashing teeth, clouded eyes, deformed ears and various appendages moving about.

This was truly a sight worthy of Hell itself. “We’re going to be sick…” We gagged, thankful our armor was sealed.

“This is easily as bad as being in Hell’s depths. Keep away from the limbs, watch your step. If you get caught in a mouth or slip on an eye it could be the end of you.” Visilia warned us while she led us onward with the grace of a veteran who somehow came back from something much like this without being scarred irreparably. “Oh thank gosh, there’s a working elevator.”

“Really?” We asked in surprise when our leading group encountered an area where the flesh suddenly tapered off, as if unable or unwilling to encroach on it. The sight of clinically clean solid metal instead of stone really struck us as uncanny considering the whole Grecian stone construction aesthetic consistent throughout the whole city thus far.

“It seems like these are the main lifts for the building, let’s hope at least one still works.” Visi said as the door was removed by a couple of Night Sentinel engineers.

“Yeah.” We cracked our neck before we stepped onto the unusually large lift. It let half of us fit as We looked at the control panel. “Visilia, can you read this?” We asked in regards to the strange lettering. It wasn’t until now We even noticed anything resembling signage. How do the demons get around? Well, maybe since the lowest level seems meant for the Cerberi, the signs are just much higher up down there and up here they’ve all been destroyed.

“Yes. Block A, B, C, D and E. Five floors and the top floor with Block A has Security.” Visi translated for us with ease. At least both versions of Tartarus seem to have a similar alphabet.

“Let's head to Security first.” We said when We pressed the button to Block A. The elevator went back first, then it began to go up. The Miasma was suddenly gone and it was a bit disorienting to have the pink fog out of our eyes for the first time in over a day. “So what do we do in the meantime while this is going up?”

“Make out?” Urta suggested and bumped her hip against Visilia’s.

“No.” Visilia firmly denied Urta’s suggestion and booped her in the nose. “Not when there are other people around.” That is why you say no right now Visi? Wow. We’d rather wait for a good spot first.

“Aw, come on~! It’s been over a day stuck in this lusty hell and I’m all pent up~.” Urta whined before We smacked her on her armored pauldron.

“No, love.” We huffed before the Elevator jolted. “Please tell us it isn’t broken.” We groaned before it kept going, though the walls of the small windows were stained red, “Or we ran into something.”

“Hold on, let me check.” One of the Ghosts said as he just looked up towards the ceiling. “There’s a lot of dead bodies out there.” Wait, what? Can he see through walls?

“What?” We asked worriedly even as the elevator slowly moved up the shaft.

“Dead bodies, hanging within the elevator shaft. Can’t tell if animal or otherwise.” He replied.

“Oh, great. Just when We thought We were out of the gorefest.” We groaned before the lift passed block C.

“Ma’am, after everything we’ve been through and witnessed, we have to assume everything in this city is a gorefest.” Helvex retorted.

“Right.” We huffed before the elevator stopped at the top floor where Block A was. Urta impatiently smashed open the door when it jammed while trying to open and she led us out to find a security checkpoint. It’s video feeds revealed that most of the cameras were broken or covered in red-white goo that looked like blood and semen, while some had veins covering the lenses. Block D was whited-out. The cameras were all working, but just picking up white.

“Be on the lookout.” Visi ordered when the group moved out of the elevator and sent it down for the other half of our group still in the nightmarish lobby.

“Check what cameras are working and see if there’s anyone in this prison.” We ordered and engineers descended upon the console like rabid mad scientists, ripping it open and prying wires and circuit boards out. It took maybe ten minutes at best for them to get most of the cameras for Block A back up.

What we found on this floor were dead half-formed Lust demons or corrupted animals that died half-way through the changes. There were lesser Hell demons that were constantly fighting off rapidly growing Corrupt Flesh from eating them and the weirdest cell held a Red Phantom that was visibly laughing and pounding his head against the bars of his cell.

“What’s a Red Phantom doing in a cell?” We asked since We knew it should have returned to it’s world long ago.

“I found someone alive!” One of the engineers declared and pointed out his appointed screen. The occupant looked unnaturally healthy considering she’s been locked away for possibly thousands of years. “Damn. Talk about luck.”

“That’s Velka.” Visilia snarled upon reading the screen and understanding the engineer’s comment.

“The Goddess of Sin herself?!” Urta exclaimed as We looked at the screen, seeing a woman clothed in black robes and sitting calmly in her cell unchanged it seemed, even as some big lizard tried to get to her through her cell door. Her pronounced black beak opened slightly and her hooded face jolted to the camera before she stood and clutched her talons together against her bosom in obvious hope.

“We should leave her. There’s no point in letting a Sinful Goddess out.” Helvex growled, the other Night Sentinels agreeing in earnest.

“She might have information on Lethice We could use. We should at least get to her cell and talk to the hen. What level is she on?” We asked while not looking away and the Goddess of Sin took off her hood, her golden eyes practically pleading with us. The irony is almost painful.

“Block E, Sector two. I’ll stay here to help coordinate if needed.” Visilia informed us since a squad of Skaven were already sweeping Block A of beasts and capturing the beleaguered Imps and Hell Knights who seemed eager to submit to something with the ability to reason. Depending on how long they’ve been tormented, maybe their deaths will be quick and merciful. Though if it were up to us, so long as they gave up their former lives of subjugation and conquest they’re good by now with all the crap they’ve put up with.

“Okay love.” We said with a rub on her shoulder before We went to the lift with Urta and Alduin at our sides.

“We’ll help escort her there.” Sellox declared with Helvex and that one Ghost in tow.

“Alright.” We agreed as they got onto the lift with us, only for it to groan and red lights to flash on the button dash. “Hey! Why did the lift lock down?”

“Damage to it from coming up here a couple of times with both halves of the crew, plus damage to the shaft.” The Ghost explained. “Whelp, looks like we’ll have to take the stairs.”

“Great. More cardio.” We grumbled and led our team to the stairs to Block B. It was damaged, but still traversable thank goodness. During our descent we noticed more bodies, but unlike at the research complex where they were mostly intact, these had the bones gnawed on or missing entirely along with incredible amounts of damage to the skeletons.

“Wait, if they were keeping a Goddess of Sin locked up in this Prison and not in the same prison with world-endangering terrors like Tirek and Cozy Glow, what else was locked up here?” Helvex questioned, which made us all stop to think about it.

“Other gods?” We postulated before We continued and pulled our hammer out of our tits. It may be big and unwieldy in these close quarters, but We didn’t max out our strength to use a toothpick!

“What do those Gods represent?” Sellox asked next.

“There was the Nameless King that was a god of war.” We looked at our lovely slime vixen goddess wife who huffed and puffed out her chest proudly. You’ve ironically inherited the mantle of the one who led the Dragonslayers Urta. “One could be death, one of Moonlight, maybe a few of Wolf’s Blood if Sif or any pups she may have had are around. I don’t know what else.”

“Why the God of Death? The only time you ever imprison someone, or something, like that is if it runs rampant within the mortal realm and starts killing everything. Bringing unnecessary imbalance.” The Ghost has a point there, but he still missed our point.

“We said could. We don’t exactly know if they’re here. We haven’t exactly seen who took over the realm of Death.” Thank goodness for that. Though if they’re like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld version of Death that’d be pretty cool.

“Right, that makes sense.” The Ghost nodded his head. “Speaking of Gods, Lord Runner seems to have figured out what sort of Gods he and the other Doom Marines could become.”

“Oh?” We purred and instantly got aroused by the thought of our mates/soon to be husbands. We almost regret not getting to be bred by Pillar yesterday. “What gods could they be?”

“For Lord Berserker; the God of War, Ruin, Rage and Blood. Lord Hunter; the God of Nature, Balance, Fate and Luck. Lord Runner; the God of Death, Despair, Madness and Souls. Lord Pillar; the God of Valour, Protection, Judgement and Faith. Finally, Lord Collateral; the God of Duty, Honour, Vows and Oaths.” He listed off for us and our trio of tails contained in our suit’s single much thicker tail wiggled about excitedly.

“Hm~.” We purred, actually finding it all quite sexy to hear. Damn We missed them, but four Aspects each? That’s pushing it! We’ve suffered a lot having three and now down to two with a bit of one was more than enough We felt. Hopefully they don’t actually get that many and only one each. Being a deity is a surprising amount of work even with all the perks.

“You seem to love them quite a bit.” Helvex said to us.

“Yes We do.” We crooned before We instinctively lashed out at something when We rounded a corner, smashing the skull of some creature about to jump us into the wall. Our strength dented the metal of the wall as gore sprayed everywhere and We blinked at vaguely realizing what We’d done to the insignificant fleshy horror-beast.

“That ruined the moment.” Sellox snarked as she shot another foul, horny creature charging at us.

“Yes it did, but We would think the boys would love it! We didn’t miss a beat there!” We snarled excitedly before breathing fire down the Block. Holy shit We have fire breath as the Great Horned Rat?! Awesome!

“So, they are very fitting to them?” The Ghost asked us.

“Very much so, though We hope they don’t get all of those Aspects at once.” We replied worriedly, but then wiggled our bum at the thought of our future husbands not lacking in anything at all. This ended up causing the others to stare at our booty and We snickered. “Your eyes are on the prize too soon. We have a job to do.”

The others snapped out of their booty-induced hypnosis, though Urta only licked her chops and slapped our armored butt, making us jump and squeal in laughter.

With the others having their heads out of the gutter we started cutting through the floor’s feral inhabitants until we reached Block D. Strangely, this floor was empty, as in devoid of walls and cells. It was also empty of anything else except for a fucking PONTIFF BEAST with six blood red eyes staring at us. We aimed at it, but it didn’t move to attack us while we got to the stairs to the next floor.

“Creepy.” We said as it literally twisted it’s head 180 degrees to follow us without moving its body. It was even stranger since it’s whole body was pure white and seemed to eat the light around it.

“Funny. It’s body is almost acting like a Black Hole with how it’s absorbing light particles.” The Ghost commented with a curious tone, leading us to feel he was rather intelligent.

“Still creepy. Especially since it was the only thing on the whole floor.” We shivered at the grim implications before noting the stairs here were also empty.

“Maybe it did more than consume light?” Helvex speculated.

“Alright, let's move before it decides to kill us.” We shivered before rushing downstairs, finding Corrupted at the end of the stairs. Thankfully Helvex switched to his Rocket Launcher and blew up a portion of the Corrupted Horde, which paved the way for the rest of us to pulverize the remaining flesh beasts while they were concussed from the explosion.

With them gone, our group slowly proceeded and even gave a wide berth to a small golden retriever puppy staring up at us as we passed. “What the…?” Sellox looked upon the puppy in confusion, before shaking her head and focusing on the task at hand.

“Your highness, did you sense anything weird or abnormal from that pup?” The Ghost asked us.

“Not really, it's mostly just watching. It’s clearly not looking to fight us. Just ignore it and leave it alone.” We considered with a bit of longing to go over and coddle it, but this place is not one a supposedly defenseless creature like it appeared to be would’ve survived for more than a few seconds. This place is more dangerous than it already seems.