Records of Rebirth

Chapter 301 - Assembly

[What's going on here?] Typhon asked.

|[Nothing!]| I said with a start.

[Hehe…Nothing…hic.] Ophelia repeated, her body wobbling like string, before immediately collapsing.

|[Ophelia.]| I tried to help her up, but no matter what I did, she remained limp, muttering incoherently while Typhon stared at us with a frown. 

He gave us a once over, incredulous eyes settling on Ophelia's limp form. 

[Are you…what did you drink?] He asked.

|[Shh! Stop speaking]| I immediately stopped Ophelia from replying, lest her drunken rambling ruin everything!

Unfortunately, while I did, Typhon sped over to the bottle, his disapproving stare narrowing at me.

|[It's not what it looks like - ]| I hastily said.

[What is it then?] Typhon glowered at the both of us.

|[It's not poison.]| I offered instead. |[And I didn't know she would become like this.]| 

But his frown only deepened.

[Why are you nagging, Typhon?] Ophelia sleepily muttered. [She gave me the amazing drink because she loves me more…]

|[Ophelia!]| I complained.

[I saved one for you…but It's gone now…] Ophelia giggled mischievously.

I wanted to hide my face. 

My efforts to pick her up were unsuccessful, and now she had resigned herself to resting on me.

[You're drunk.] Typhon hissed when he reached her side. 

[I'm not. I can still fly.] Ophelia stubbornly replied. 

That probably wasn't the best idea. Fortunately, Ophelia knew better than to actually try it, much to Typhon's satisfaction.

[Just rest here until you feel better.] He sighed in defeat and turned to me. [We should head outside.]

|[I think I should stay here and look after her.]| I said, not wanting to leave her alone in that state.

[I'll be good and stay here.] Ophelia said in a sleepy voice, and I felt terrible for letting her drink in the first place.

However before long, her curled form was breathing deeply, her wings rising and falling in slumber. 

How cute. 

[She'll be fine. Let her sleep it off.] Typhon said calmly, before looking at me with a menacing smile. [Everyone is waiting for you outside.] 

I felt a slight chill. That sounded way too ominous.

|[For me? Why?]| I asked suspiciously. |[What did you do?]| 

Typhon just stared at me blankly and slithered away. [You'll know when you come out.] 

|[You…]|

I had no words. How snarky of him!

He definitely did something, but he refused to say anything until I left with him.

The cave was quiet and the sparring pits were empty, the nestlings nowhere to be seen. But I was quick to notice several scuff marks where the earth had been moved, there were also spots of blood and general disarray - signs that someone had taken a serious beating.

I stared at Typhon in horror. 

He was silent but the stone fragments left behind were a dead give away.

|[Who did you punish?]| I asked.

[Someone who deserved it.] 

|[Is Apollo badly hurt?]| I glared at him.

[It's nothing he can't heal.] Typhon scoffed in reply and I sighed as we fell into an uncomfortable silence.

The matter was not something either of us wanted to discuss.

Once outside the cave, I checked The Atlas and found the nestlings in the Nymph's forest, right on the edge of the dead zone, together with a large group of Veladrys and wolves, with Sylrin soaring over the forest. 

The Abyssal monsters however, preferred to linger amongst the death and darkness of the dead zone. Their aura's bright, like they were most comfortable within it, unaffected by its power, and in fact strengthened by it.

They all seemed to be waiting for us, but Typhon took me in another direction. We moved further away, past the withered trees to the area where the dead trees stopped and normal forest began. 

[I found these.] Typhon said, showing me several sets of prints.

There were quite a bit of Ape footprints and far less scorpions, but the prints shared a similar pattern. Some strayed into the dead zone for several seconds before bounding off towards the grassier path, while the others lasted a bit longer, primarily the apes. 

The furthest to wander inside had to be the most powerful…or the most stupid, so I followed the prints to see where they stopped. However, the furthest prints were still not the size of the Colossal ape's. If he was ever here, he didn't set foot inside.

[Could they be testing their limit?] Typhon asked, and I frowned. 

I didn't want to believe it.

I also noticed another set of prints, the distinct bound of a four legged monster, only it didn't smell like the Alpha. I could tell it was large from its long stride and paws, only there was blood and acid moistening the ground where it fought something. 

The large carcass of a scorpion was unearthed not far away, its armored shell shredded with brute force and left uneaten as if it were a mere obstruction. 

This was new.

Curiously, the prints veered sideways away from the cave before bounding off elsewhere.

|[No one is to leave the cave from now on.]| I ordered immediately.

[I'll send out more scouts.] Typhon said determinedly. [Cygnus and I will watch this area. We won't miss them next time.] 

|[No, I'll do it.]| I had a much wider scope anyway, and I couldn't have them risking their lives. 

We returned to the Nymph's forest where the nestlings swarmed us at once. Surrounded by so many brightly coloured serpents, I wasn't sure where to begin, or why Typhon had brought them here. 

The Abyssal monsters still lingered in the dead zone, but I could make out several pairs of red eyes flickering from the shadows, waiting. Across from them, the Alpha studied us carefully. Most of his wolves were play fighting, but the braver ones mingled among my serpents. 

With so many wolves in one place, their numbers easily surpassed my serpents - only lower than that of Veladrys flitting through the trees as they made their presence known. 

It was truly a sight to see so many creatures gathered together in one place and I wondered if the Nymph would make an appearance too. I looked around for her and saw the Alpha and his wolves now had the option to be given names.

I cursed under my breath - much like Sylrin, he joined without even alerting me. 

It seemed they shared several rude traits! 

[Can you teach us [Legacy] skills too?] An eager voice brought my attention back to the nestlings.

It was Arsinoe, her bright pink eyes sparkled with impatience and yearning. 

Joining her were other nestlings who bombarded me with questions, but none so eager or bold as she. 

I was surprised Typhon had shared the news so readily. 

[That's not why I brought you here.] He reprimanded her. [Legacy skills are earned, not requested at will.]

Arsinoe hid her face in embarrassment and the nestlings fell into place one after another, orderly rows in place of a rowdy crowd, their enthusiasm curbed. 

I watched several Veladrys slip back into their trees in fear - [Commander] was quite effective. 

[You said you wanted to mark them.] Typhon reminded me. [It should be easier with everyone gathered.] 

|[Ah…yes.]|

How could I forget?

From the nestlings, a haggard Apollo came first, then the Veladrys and then the wolves.

The capabilities of their Atlas would vastly improve as soon as every Pit member received a [Captain's Mark] and I set out to do exactly that, watching as more squiggles joined Sylrin's to populate the Atlas.

Soon there were so many marks in one area, it was difficult to tell them apart. While it was too soon to give them [Legacy] skills, at least Typhon and Ophelia could track them whenever they wanted. 

I then moved on to the dead zone, where the Abyssal monsters waited, but…

[Make a worthy contribution.] Typhon announced. [Anyone that surpasses my level will get a [Legacy] skill right now.] 

I stopped dead in my tracks.

It turns out, he had his own reasons for telling them!

The nestlings were now in uproar, each one jostling for more details - and I was appalled he had made it into such a competition. And a cruel one at that!

Knowing the nature of Typhon, he would never let any of them surpass him while he lived. And with his skills, it was foolish to try.

However, from the violent looks in their eyes, several nestlings were thoroughly up to the challenge. 

Of my Captains, Arsinoe looked especially eager to beat him, as did Artemis, Cygnus and Aquila. 

Yet, Morgana didn't react. 

[I don't approve of you gambling at my expense.] I said using [Thought Transference].

[It's not a gamble if I know the outcome.] Typhon calmly replied.

There were already arguments breaking out among the nestlings but he didn't seem to notice nor care, so I intervened with a clause.

|[You'll also gain a [Legacy] for every outstanding monster you bring to the Pit.]| I added. |[If a monster submits, and you decide to let them live, bring them to me.]| 

Some of the nestlings seemed confused, but others were quite open to having a second option. My suggestion wasn't perfect, but it worked as a means to filter out monsters with below average intellect.

[Does this mean we should not fight?] I heard Arsinoe say. 

[Not fight?] Morgana laughed. [Spare all your foes and I'll gladly watch you fall beneath me.] 

Arsinoe hissed in anger. [What does that mean?]

Morgana simply smiled. 

They were misunderstanding me again. I simply wanted them to take an interest in some monsters and not kill everything that moved. Perhaps fuelling their competitive streaks wasn't the best tactic.

[Ignore them.] Typhon advised. [They'll learn to work together eventually.]

He seemed to think a hands off approach was best. I didn't agree but there were other pressing matters to settle.

First, I called Sylrin, instructing him to return to the Valley with some of the Abyssal monsters, to inform the others that we would pay them a visit soon. 

It was a simple task, but I couldn't trust anyone else to do it.. And after marking all the Abyssal monsters present, I bid him farewell.