Kharon turned his head as he asked, "When do you plan on carrying out your ritual? It won't take too long will it?"
"I was thinking of doing it today. There is nothing holding me back now. All I need is the symbol of enhancement and I can start. And I need to collect Cursed Construct #18 from the vault. And find a suitable place for the ritual..."
'He can be quite scatter-brained. Well, the sooner he ascends the better. I will be busy tomorrow so this is the optimum moment. Unless his mind isn't fully clear. I just awoke from a coma after six months. That may influence his mind in some way. It could be positive or negative. We will have to see.'
As Zack nervously scratched his head, Philip spoke up as he said, "I already have a place ready for your ritual. I created a small room with all of our path's symbols. They are sufficiently spaced apart and won't affect you."
"You really are the best Philip. Could you please help me get #18? I can't hold it before my ritual."
Philip nodded as he quickly left the room and returned a few seconds later carrying a lotus flower with black veins that pulsed like a heart. It was contained within a little, transparent block which kept the foul aether within.
"Let's go now. We don't have all day."
Philip led the way through the mansion as they approached the Room of Trials. They walked past the simple door as Philip and Freya shivered as if remembering something unpleasant. As they reached the end of the corridor, Philip's ring shone as complex symbols began appearing on the wall. He held an invisible door handle as a pale, beige door was revealed.
'He did this while I was gone...? He would make a good leader in case I die. Though lacking in combat, he compensates with profound knowledge. And though little, his fighting prowess is not zero. Before we go to the red zone, we will need to spend some time training.'
They all entered as they were briefly blinded by a bright light. As it subsided, a wide room filled with runes and strange markings was revealed. Philip walked towards a star-shaped symbol. At its edges and within were circles which contained smaller stars. A few lines ran all over the symbol.
As he reached it, Philip stepped into it and knelt down. He carefully removed the sealing block from Cursed Construct #19 and stepped back. A powerful surge of aether was released as Zack smiled nervously before stepping into the symbol. His body began to melt before being reformed. His skin turned silver and reflective as his presence was amplified. He gave them all a reassuring look before picking the Bloodroot Bloom.
What followed was a chilling scream of agony which made Kharon's hairs stand on end. But his face remained as still as a statue. Freya wrapped her arms around herself as her eyes were filled with gloom. Philip gently placed his hand on her shoulder as he tried to smile but failed.
Zack's whole body rippled as it continuously changed. It returned back to normal as his tanned skin began to revert back to metal and back again. Dark patches formed as blood flowed from his eyes, ears and nose. The sickening sound of bones cracking caused Philip and Freya to turn pale as Kharon continued to watch indifferently.
'Maybe I was expecting too much. At this rate... he will end up dead. I can still stop him from dying if I act now.'
Kharon slowly raised his hand as his lips slightly parted. But as he did, he felt someone hold his hand back. Freya despite her obvious discomfort looked at him with a determined gaze. Her hazel eyes conveyed an unknown emotion to Kharon as he lowered his hand.
A sudden shout from the runic sigil caught their attention as Zack said, "I am not going to die here! I still have my whole life ahead of me!" He coughed up blood as he continued, "I am the Enforcer and right hand man of the Architect! I promised to ensure that your vision will be fulfilled and I will keep that promise!" A stream of red ooze flowed from his nose.
"This is only a tier 3 ritual! It can't and won't be my end! I will become a tier 1 wielder and be free to do as I wish! The children of the Eclipsed Hollows... they will live good lives! Lunaris Haven will change... for the better!"
A faint, green glow covered the room as Zack's body changed once more. It slowly darkened as he stood up with the Bloodroot Bloom tightly clenched. His green, bloodied eyes slowly healed as they became brighter. His muscles rippled as if filled with maggots as he shook his hand. The shockwave caused cracks to appear as he walked from the sigil.
He was caked in blood from head to toe as he smiled brightly. His whole body had somehow changed. It felt heavy and darker. His now obsidian skin slowly reverted to its tanned colour as Zack said, "I am hungry..."
Everyone with the exception of Kharon burst into laughter as Philip answered, "Good thing I prepared a feast... Well I just preheated a few meals before collecting the Bloodroot Bloom. You should take a shower first before thinking about eating."
"Fine. You'd better have warmed a lot of food though. I am more hungry than I have ever been."
"I knew you would say that. Just hurry up and go."
"What about the blood-"
Freya spoke as she said, "No blood will drip from Zack Starling until he enters a bath."
'That doesn't quite account for any blood on his feet. It won't drip onto the floor, but it will stick to it. Unless her rule encompasses several minor aspects. She is a tier 4 after all. Her rules can probably do more than what she directly says.'
Kharon sighed as he interrupted Freya before saying, "Clean room. No exposed blood." A wave of silence came over the room as a surge of aether flowed from Kharon's lips. It swept around the room as the blood on the ground swiftly vanished. Zack's body was cleared of all the dried blood. Only dust and other impurities remained.
'I guess this ability works. The more words used, the more aether I need. But it also ensures that my commands are accurately followed. If I had only said clean, would everyone in the room be cleared of impurities? If I hadn't specified with the word exposed, would they have been drained of their blood? There is still a lot I need to learn; but I could join the little feast for now. After that journey, I have forgotten what good food tastes like. I can indulge myself before things turn... darker.'
"I am off to take a shower and return #19. All the blood is gone but I still feel dirty. I also need a change of clothing. They've been torn apart."
Saying this, Zack quickly left the room. His absence caused Freya and Philip to look towards Kharon as he said coldly, "We should go set the table. He won't take long now that he is a tier 3 wielder. Plus he is about to eat large amounts of food."
They nodded as they walked to the pantry and took dozens of different meals. As they walked to the dining room, Zack joined them wearing a simple shirt and grey shorts. His eyes were glued to the food as his mouth watered. Kharon opened the door to the dining room. They looked at it with awe as Freya commented, "We have never been in here. I always thought it was a secret room or something."
"I forgot to mention it. It was one of the last rooms I built. There were far more pressing things than a dining room. But I did eventually make it. Let's just get this over with. Zack once you are done eating you should get some rest. You will be taking the next few days off. But instead of lazing around, I expect you to be training and becoming used to your abilities."
"As you wish boss."
They set the table as the numerous dishes all flew onto it. Everyone sat down as they served themselves and engaged in light chatter. Zack stuffed himself with food as he ate like a hungry beast.
'His table manners were never good, but I never thought they could get worse. However, he has just ascended. I can overlook this behaviour for today. But as their leader I must try and set an example.'
Kharon picked up his knife and fork slowly as he sank them into his Gilded Basilisk Steak. He cut it into perfect little squares and plunged his fork gently into the rich meat. Freya looked at him in awe as he chewed delicately. Each bite was a ceremony, his jaws moving in gentle cadence, as if the food were poetry.
"Um, Architect? Where did you learn such elegant manners?"
"I have always had such manners. But it was never necessary for me to showcase them. They were also refined during my decade-long journey in my mind. Being invited to social events was fairly common. However I only went with the persuasion of a certain person who I have long forgotten."