Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 214: Ch.213 Teleportation

Chapter 214: Ch.213 Teleportation

Su Ming examined the boy standing before him. He looked like an ordinary child, with neat short blonde hair, though he had a small braid at the back of his head. He wore a simple, rough cloth robe typical of a novice sorcerer.

He hadn't yet donned the black silk combat uniform or started wearing eye makeup.

But from his hairstyle alone, Su Ming could tell he had a certain flair for fashion...

"Are you the only survivor?"

Su Ming sheathed the swords he had planted into the ground and removed his mask, lighting a cigarette. After cutting down a horde of creatures in the middle of a primal jungle, a smoke was pure bliss.

"It seems that way," Kaecilius nodded calmly, glancing briefly at the Cloak of Levitation floating nearby before turning his gaze back to Su Ming's face.

Su Ming noticed that the boy seemed to be mimicking the Ancient One's serene demeanor, trying to emulate her detachment. However, the hunger for power in his eyes betrayed him. He was destined never to become someone like the Ancient One.

"Do you know how this all started? And where's the Ancient One now?" Su Ming asked, blowing a smoke ring and offering the cigarette pack to Holloway, who declined, saying nicotine made his hands shake.

Kaecilius, however, eyed the cigarette pack as if tempted. Su Ming tossed him one without hesitation.

In this era, ten years old was hardly considered a child. Many kids began working in factories by seven or eight. Besides, Kaecilius was a sorcerer; societal norms didn't really apply to him.

Cough cough...

But Kaecilius took only one puff before breaking into a fit of coughing, clearly unaccustomed to it.

"The first time is always like that," Su Ming said nonchalantly, as if it hadn't been him who had just lit a cigarette for the kid a moment ago.

"New experiences are worth trying. This thing does sharpen my mind," Kaecilius said after taking a few more puffs, quickly adapting. "If it has benefits, I'll use it."

"Good thinking. I like you," Su Ming grinned, recognizing that Kaecilius was likely on the same path he'd follow in the movie universe. "So, you must understand—nothing comes for free."

"Fair enough. You need information and magical help, right? My master should still be in Kamar-Taj. Something has invaded Earth, and the New York Sanctum was only affected by the shockwaves from the dimensional collision," Kaecilius replied seriously, without hesitation.

Su Ming nodded, his gaze drifting toward the jungle in the distance, where strange birds flew through the sky. This place definitely seemed like a foreign dimension.

"So, you're saying that the Hong Kong and London Sanctums likely faced similar problems?"

"The New York Sanctum held some Annihilation bugs and a few other experimental demons. I'm not sure what the other two sanctums were holding or if anything else managed to escape."

Kaecilius also looked out toward the jungle, though he wasn't tall enough to see as far as Su Ming. He walked over to the corpse pile and climbed on top of the bug bodies to gain a better view.

From this higher vantage point, he sighed, seemingly reluctant to leave his newfound pedestal. Power had literally given him a leg up.

"The other two sanctums are none of our concern. Can you get us to Kamar-Taj?" Su Ming asked, intent on finding the Ancient One. If he could help her out, many of his current problems would be resolved.

"Of course, but first, I need to find something."

Kaecilius jumped down from the pile of bug corpses, sighed wistfully, and knelt to dig his uninjured arm into the remains of a particularly large bug's body.

Black insect fluids squirted out under the pressure, splattering his face like a water gun. Kaecilius didn't blink, continuing to search within the body with unwavering focus.

Holloway winced. He had never seen such a terrifying child—one who could plunge his hand into a monster's body, endure the stench, and sift through its gooey insides without flinching.

"Are you really sure it's wise to just send us off to Kamar-Taj?" Su Ming asked with a smirk, finding Kaecilius more and more interesting.

"Knowing my master is there and understanding her strength, if you're still insisting on going, no one would knowingly walk to their death."

Kaecilius pulled a chunk of insect guts from the bug, tossed it aside, and moved on to another corpse, his robe now soaked in black fluids.

Su Ming nodded. Kaecilius had a good head on his shoulders for now. Though if he later decided to follow the same foolish path as in the movie universe, that would be a different story.

"I found it."

Kaecilius stood up, brushing the dirt off his robe. In his hand was an object wrapped in dark tissues, revealing a bit of bronze around the edges.

With a couple of forceful shakes, he cleared the remnants off the item and slipped it onto his hand.

It was a Sling Ring, though far too large for him. On his hand, it looked more like a giant brass knuckle.

"You don't have your own Sling Ring?"

Su Ming scratched his beard. If this kid didn't even have his own Sling Ring, how reliable would his portals be?

Kaecilius looked up at Su Ming, his face still expressionless. "You know about Sling Rings? You seem to understand a lot about sorcerers."

"I've known your master for many years. She's even sent me gifts."

Kaecilius's eyes flickered as if understanding something, and he nodded slightly. "I chose a different path than the other sorcerers. I don't like relying on the Sling Ring—it's still just a tool."

Su Ming understood. This kid was more focused on close combat and offensive spells. Support spells probably didn't hold much allure for him compared to spells designed to kill.

There weren't many spells that actually required a Sling Ring—just teleportation portals, mirror dimension manipulation, and a few others.

Their combat spells like the 'Crimson Bands,' 'Shields,' and 'Fans' didn't need the Sling Ring at all.

"Alright, so how confident are you about your portal?"

"Completely, but I've lost a lot of blood, and my mind is a bit foggy. Once I open the portal, you'll need to move fast," Kaecilius replied, beginning to draw a circle in the air with his hand wearing the Sling Ring.

Holloway stood next to Su Ming, having not fired a single shot during the fight. "Aren't you coming with us?"

Kaecilius shook his head. "No, I need to return to the New York Sanctum. I'm the only surviving apprentice left, and that place still needs guarding. Without these high-magic-resistance bugs, I can handle the rest."

Su Ming shrugged. "Alright then, good luck."

Kaecilius nodded without further comment. As he continued casting, a golden ring of fire appeared in the air before him, sparking like fireworks. On the other side of the portal was a snowy mountain.

"Let's go."

Su Ming grabbed Holloway and leaped through the portal. The Cloak of Levitation sagged for a moment, as if sighing, then quickly followed them.

The portal closed behind them, and immediately, a biting cold wind hit their faces.