Chapter 41- Hatred

Morpheus flew south and stopped on a mountain overlooking the city from a distance. The city looked peaceful, but he knew it was in chaos because of the jinn’s undead. He brought out the cylinder which encased Fuzz.

He carefully unscrewed the top and the little shadow dashed out and into his cloak.

“Fuzz! I’m sorry.”

All the messages he got back was that Fuzz was scared. He checked his status and Fuzz was his familiar again, he let out a deep breath.

“Fuzz what’s wrong.”

He took his cloak off and placed it on his lap. Fuzz didn’t pop up like he had done before, the shadow was hesitant to come out.

Morpheus sighed and lit a cigarette, he thought about what Rose had done. He was happy that Draghaul was dead but he was now frustrated. He kept replaying all the things they did and her smile, it all was fake, she was just on a mission.

He brought out the rest of the papers that he got from her pouch.

‘Target is extremely gullible and innocent. First encounter shows he is extremely inexperienced and recently created.’

‘During intercourse I touched all his other tattoos. A power of sorts from Hermes on his ankles, rather weak. Isis and Hercules marks were average and obvious from the gods mark he mentioned. Themetruük’s mark on his left hand had been confirmed, basic. No advanced god marks, only basic. Path to Valhalla tattoo 1st stage on right peck, basic but rare for his level. Most interesting was a tattoo from a powerful shadow user or god. Shadow magic was S+ tier, extremely powerful, only a slither of it felt unfathomable. It could possibly be a mark from his creator as he was hesitant to talk about it. I am also hesitant to say it is a god mark, or even possibly a gift of sorts from a god.’

Morpheus just hoped she wouldn’t remember any of this but Rose was someone filled with knowledge and had the brain of an elephant.

Morpheus had wanted to join the Scarecrows, for they had seemed so amazing to him. Now the young chimera thought of them differently, spying on him when they easily could've just asked as he was ‘easy to approach’.

He stopped reading, for every sentence seemed to carve a deeper scar in his heart. Morpheus realised he was gullible, a fool at best. He had been wandering around Arios like it was a dream, a fantasy word where all is possible and all is found. But now he viewed Arios as Earth, a cesspit, a pool of people in high power doing as they wish.y

He knew that groups and organisations like that existed everywhere he just didn’t want to believe it. Morpheus thought back to the king of Ervos and Southcross. How they both almost bargained for him to represent their city, Morpheus felt worthless. He was just a tool used for their agendas.

He scowled while flicking away his cigarette. The young chimera was lost at what to do, he had no plan in the slightest.

He checked over his notifications and saw that he could evolve Battle Axe Arts. He knew it wouldn’t be anything special but evolved it anyway.

Evolution in progress, stats and achievements have even analysed.

Battle Axe Mastery: You have proven yourself worthy of the Battle-Axe. Skill improves with level increase.

“As I thought.” He said in his glum mood.

Morpheus drowned in his thoughts as the sun began to set over Southcross. The orange sun glaring over the shimmering sea to the west.

He looked over his status, every basic stat, every skill he had. The young chimera felt lost, he did not know which path he wanted to take, let alone a stat to focus on. Morpheus didn’t even know when he would receive another secondary class, or even get a subclass.

Morpheus sighed and brought out his map and saw that Fort Cidra was below Southcross, next to the Serpents Sea. Rose told him that you can take a boat down, or risk it by going on foot through the Herch Mountains.

Morpheus didn’t even feel like visiting a new city, he heard that there were Scarecrows in every one of them. They would probably find him one way or another.

He sighed again, he was stuck at what to do. He set up his tent to hang on the mountain and fell asleep early, the day had been eventful.

The young chimera didn’t sleep well that night, Draghaul’s ugly smile and Rose’s betrayal swirled around in his dreams. He woke up to find Fuzz sitting on his chest, but the shadow quickly dived into his cloak.

Morpheus felt terrible for the pain he caused Fuzz. He pushed away the thought, he got dressed and packed away his tent.

He took a long last look at Southcross and took off south, a vast dense forest was before him stretching as far as the eye could see. Morpheus didn't know what it was called or how long it would take but it was better than being in Southcross.

He glided over the densely packed trees, not even being able to see the ground. He soared over the trees, and Morpheus noticed some trees in the distance stretching further up into the sky.

He dropped down, carefully lowering himself into the slightest gap in the leaves. He brandished his axe as his feet touched dead leaves beneath him.

He noticed that the trees looked more vibrant and full of life. An array of different coloured flowers sprung from ground all the way into the trees.

His eyes locked on a cheetah like animal which was glaring at him.

(Infant Linciln, Level 120)

It had a cheetah-like body, green feathers coated the beast down to its tail and its head sprouted yellow feathers, enlarging its face. It’s yellow eyes glared at him.

He hissed at the creature and much to Morpheus’s amazement it ran away, leaping over a fallen tree and disappearing into a cluster of bushes.

The young chimera didn’t follow, if the beast didn’t attack him he didn’t care for it. He kept his axe out as he ran through the forest, admiring the beautiful colours.

As he was running he began to hear four legged steps behind him. He stopped and turned to see a pack of them behind him.

(Alpha Linciln, Level 138)

(Linciln, Level 134)

(Infant Linciln, Level 120)

“So you brought your friends.” He said while swinging his axe around in front of him.

The Alpha had bright red feathers covering its face and the one next to it had orange feathers.

Morpheus showed his teeth and applied Spartan’s Ethos, this seemed to only antagonise the alpha more.

The alpha lunged at him, he spun and nipped its shoulder with his axe. He sprouted his wings and flew up above them, where they could not reach.

Suddenly, the alpha scaled the tree in an instant, it’s claws gripping the bark. It jumped off the tree, claws out and teeth baring as it collided with Morpheus in the air. He couldn’t dodge in time, and they went flying into a tree opposite.

The alpha linciln gripped onto the tree they fell into, catching Morpheus between. It’s teeth sank into his neck, and Morpheus screamed in pain. He dropped his axe and extended his nails and began to claw at its face and neck as Absolute Heal pushed out against its neck.

He managed to pull Dagger of Black out and jam it into its throat, causing the alpha to go limp. Morpheus fell on top of the beast still with his dagger in its neck.

He rolled off and lunged at the other one, sticking his dagger in its head through its eye. He yanked it out and jumped on the infant linciln, repeatedly sticking his dagger in its throat. It fell down and Morpheus climbed off, while holding his bloodied neck.

“Fucker.” He said while kicking the alpha.

He put the bodies in his pouch and went to go and grab his axe.

—————————————————

Dion dumped Morpheus’s arm that he bit through on his table.

“You’ve disappointed me Rose.” Dion said.

“How? How could I know that Draghaul was going to kidnap me!” She screamed.

“Lower your voice.” Dion said calmly.

Rose carefully sat back in her chair. “I didn’t know that ‘The Beast of Seaford’ was going to kidnap me.” She sarcastically said but in a calm tone.

Dion sat in his chair and interlocked his fingers.

Another man walked in the room and closed the door behind him.

“Sir, we have multiple reports of people flying out of the city.”

Dion blew in his interlocked fingers. The man swallowed the lump in his throat.

“Any specific details on the people who flew.”

He gulped again.

“No sir, most of the guards were fixated on the horde.”

Dion did not look angry, but Rose and the man could tell he was furious.

“Thank you Módi, you may leave.”

Módi quickly and as quietly as possible left the room.

Dion opened his mouth and held it for a while.

“Rose.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know why we employ your family?”

“No Sir.”

“We employ your family because you have deep roots in this organisation. Your family have always been faithful and have never left an assignment unfinished.” Dion said, staring at the wall to his side.

“Dion.”

Dion glared at her.

“Sir, I apologise for my failure.”

“It's not that Mrs Crownwell, you haven’t just failed the mission. You have scared him off, he knows you were going to keep his shadow and he knows you're an agent. He has all the information you collected on him, Correct?”

“Yes Sir, he went through my pouch.”

“Ok, now what would you do if you were that chimera?” Dion asked, still in an alarmingly calm voice.

“I would avoid the Scarecrows at all cost, for they had spied on me.” She reluctantly said.

Dion nodded very slightly.

“So you haven’t just failed, but you have lost a future asset and his information.”

“Sir, with all due respect.” Rose said, slightly raising her voice.

“I don’t want to hear it, Rose. You are being taken off undercover jobs. Of course you may happily disappear or choose other jobs.”

Rose dropped her head in defeat.

“Yes Sir.”

“Now leave, and tell Celene she’ll have to find another candidate. You will tell her it’s your fault.”

“Yes Sir.”

Rose stood up while trying to keep her short temper in check. She left, also closing the door very slowly.

Dion let out a sigh and placed his hand over a green crystal, a few seconds later a lady walked in.

“Yes Sir?”

“Relay message to the teams or individuals that are looking for work that there is a bounty of information on this chimera. Give them details and the last known location.” Dion said.

“Yes Sir, oh and Lucifer is back.”

“Send him in.”