Most interestingly, I saw on the streets not only representatives of the forces of Order or neutral beings, but also real demons of Chaos, who did not hide their characteristic aura. I decided to walk around the city and see what people live here. Considering a lot of products, I didn't understand, this place was quite interesting, and it was possible to stay here for a while.

So, wandering through the streets of the city, I came to a small square with a fountain, where I unexpectedly met ... Keldrun. The same hunter who had fallen into the sea of darkness, suddenly emerged from the crowd and greeted me as if nothing had happened and asked how I was doing. I was not happy with this turn of the story at all. Especially considering the fact that this individual's previously piercing blue eyes had suddenly turned coal black, so that it was impossible to even distinguish the pupil from the iris. The subsequent request to be my companion again did not surprise me.

Seems, there something very bad-smelling was being planned here, so I decided to play with my unexpectedly resurrected acquaintance, and then take him to the edge of the city, where I could kill him quietly. In his quest to portray my best friend, Keldrun was too intrusive, so I already started to think about finishing him off right here so as not to burden my fragile psyche.

During all this talk, I did not notice that I agreed to go to a shop where a former hunter saw something very interesting. When I noticed the 'seller', I realized this was the purpose of whole circus. The seller in the store was a typical cthulhanoid, which radiated with the energy of Chaos. Not pure, but some kind of distorted. I could even say Filth Chaos.

The vile creature approached me and stretched out a disgusting piece of slime with a black maggot inside, obsessively trying to put it in my hands. And when the cthulhanoid tried to poke this abomination in my chest, I immediately used the force of Order to destroy the presumptuous creature.

Keldrun from this development of event at first frightened, and then somehow strangely pleased. After a few seconds, I understood what was going on. On the street, just outside the door of the store, there appeared a spiritual being of great power, in which I recognized the image of the same Ethereum that ruled this city.

"How dare you break my law?" – The spirit roared, literally destroying front wall of the store to look at me.

"I was defending myself.” - I answered, staring boldly in response. - "He wanted to infect me with some kind of Chaos creature.”

As proof of my words, with telekinesis I picked up the same piece of slime with a maggot inside and showed it to the spirit.

“It doesn't matter!!! The law is the law!” - Ethereum yelled even louder, waving his tentacles. Although his whole appearance is radiating with light and Order energy, his body shape would have been more suited to some creature of Chaos. – “Come forward and accept your punishment!”

The screams of this overgrown amoeba were literally screwing into my virtual brain, so I didn't immediately notice that the parasite in my soul was reacting strangely to the piece of slime hanging in front of me. Now the emotions it radiated were like a cat seeing its kitten outside the window which need of protection.

"Is that your relative?" - I asked the parasite, ignoring hovering in front of me the huge body of Ethereum.

In response, I received a complex image, from which it was possible to understand that the embryo was a distant and defective relative of the parasite, which it wanted to take care of, giving more strength and a normal host. The images of the angry Lord of the city and the embryo overlapped, and I instantly formed a plan of action.

I slightly opened the seal that restrained the parasite, so it could stick out one of its tentacles. With a swift and imperceptible movement, parasite touched the embryo, and then gave me the image of completing of its part of the work. And then I took a step forward, sort of agreeing with the requirements of the Ethereum, and then shoved the embryo directly into Lord’s 'divine' carcass.

All this operation was so rapid and spontaneous that the ruler of the city did not even have time to react. Of course, the spirit’s body was covered by various kinds of magic shields, but the enhanced embryo passed through them without even noticing. After that, the embryo slid into the depths of the great spirit’s soul, and it yelled a wild howl filled with horror and hopelessness.

“A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!!!!!!!” - This creature roared, as if decided to take revenge on me by drilling my brain with his scream. - "How dare you?!!!" - And this question was addressed to me. But I could clearly read fear as well as anger in his emotions. He was afraid of me, not of the embryo parasite that had penetrated into his soul.

"I just showed you what the clerk of this store wanted to do to me." - I said innocently. - "According to your statement, it doesn't violate any laws or regulations. Is there any problem with your new symbiont? Are you dissatisfied with something?”

After such question, Ethereum suddenly shut up and almost grayed. At least his appearance had turned deathly pale. Looks like he knew very well what kind of pig I had just gave to him.

"Get out of town.” - Ethereum wheezed, then disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared.

I mentally took a breath, then grabbed prostrated Keldrun by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to the exit of the city. He was so shocked that he didn't even think to resist. The people in the streets also looked at me with horror in their eyes, parting at my approach and opening road to me. So, in silence, surrounded by awe and reverence, I reached the gate and stepped on the Path that led to the right direction. All this time, the parasite watched insidiously from its lair, spreading emotions of pleasure from a well-run scam.

About half an hour later, when I little calmed down from this incredible story, I stopped on one of the small flying islands and turned my attention to Keldrun, who was responsible for the fact that I was almost killed by some arrogant amoeba.

"So, talk." - I ordered to him, releasing his scruff of his jacket from my grip.

"Oh, Kruger, don't ruin me! I beg your grace.” – He fell on his knees.

"It's a little late for that." - I crossed my arms over my chest in a pose of insulted innocence.

"I didn't know you were the carrier of the Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" - This oaf yelled again, making my ears to rang. – “Please, show mercy!!!”

"Talk." - I ordered again.

The tearful story that was poured on me was quite banal. After falling into the sea of darkness, in fact appeared the very Filth, Keldrun was captured by cthulhanoids. At first, they simply tortured him for the love of art, then they were impressed by his stories about me and the reports of their spies about how I had dealt with the ambush on the caravan. Knowing that Ulthar would be my final destination, these creatures figured out that I would pass through the city of Ethereum, where they decided to set a trap for me.

The cthulhanoid that attacked me was a kamikaze from the beginning. He had to either plant the embryo of Filth in me, or provoke me to an 'unmotivated' attack, after which Ethereum bribed by them had to sentence me again to infection with embryo of Filth. But I had confused all plans of the cthulhanoids, so now the hunter had to be with me and play the role of their agent. And in fact, this corrupt creature began to beg me to save him from his new owners, who promised to expose his soul to endless torment if he fails of the operation.

After listening to all this nonsense, I calmed tearful hunter.

“Don’t worry. I know how to save you from the power of these creatures of Filth.”

“Really? Will you do it?” - He shined with hope.

“Of course. To save you from these creatures of distorted Chaos, you must be sacrificed to the inhabitants of original Chaos."

With these words, I pulled the steel blades out of my right hand and stuck them in Keldrun’s heart. With misunderstood look he stared at my hand, and then his eyes widened in horror as he realized the meaning of my words. A second later, his soul went to feed the demons of Chaos, so that they would always hiccup in the dark.

My further journey to Ulthar was not marred by any problems or difficulties. I was just walking along a rainbow road through the clouds. After a while, the road turned into a yellow brick road that wound through picturesque fields and forests, past villages and towns. This area was surprisingly similar to the usual material world, pleasing its inhabitants with a flourishing agricultural economy. Unencumbered by the presence of all sorts of companions, I flew over the road at my maximum speed, passing all those who needed help and support from random travelers. Some particularly zealous individuals even tried to catch me on the fly, at the same time begging for help, but not being able to slow down the passage of time, they had no chance of doing so.

That's how I arrived to Ulthar, the image of which shine in my mind. Only when I landed on the outskirts of this small town, I realized that my journey had gone somewhat beyond the time frame that planned by Being. However, as they say, better late than never. As my fifth point told me, if I had come here earlier, I would have had a lot more problems.

I walked along the streets of the city slowly, trying to fully enjoy the unforgettable atmosphere.

Spoiler: Images

Cthulhanoid:

Ethereum: