Got the Grimoire, Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Ellisburg would have looked like a quaint little town, if it wasn’t for the wall. The PRT’s quarantine consisted of a massive wall of concrete and steel, manned by dozens of troopers with a variety of lethal weapons and several capes in different rotations, a mix of Blasters, Shakers, Brutes, and Tinkers. A lethal medley, some of them not even technically Protectorate, parahumans with powers so deadly or dangerous that they were considered ‘parahuman assets’, instead of regular heroes.

All of it to contain just one man, Jamie Rinke, the supervillain known as Nilbog. An insane Master with control over life forms that he created with his powers by recycling organic matter. He’d slaughtered an entire town and turned it into his personal fiefdom. He was considered a potential S-class threat that could result in an out of control army of bio-engineered monsters or a tide of plagues. Definitely not something the PRT wanted happening, so they’d cut off his access to the outside world and prayed he didn’t try and break out.

They were lucky that Rinke was insane and didn’t feel like going on a rampage or trying to free himself. Just ruling his little kingdom of monstrosities and pretending all was well in the world seemed to be enough.

In another time and place, Rinke might have been an ally of sorts, a cape that fought during the Gold Morning and even assisted the Wardens of a new world in some way. None of that justified the slaughter of 5,000 innocent men, women, and children, nor the threat posed by his abilities if he decided to try and break free.

I focused upon my magical power and created a dome over Ellisburg, cutting it off completely from the outside world and rendering what was about to happen, invisible to those that were monitoring the place. They wouldn’t know anything had changed until after I was long gone.

I’d once had access to a drop of blood from Heartbreaker’s lineage. I’d told Alec that I couldn’t really use it to directly hurt Heartbreaker without doing a lot of bad things first. I’d had a couple of options when setting up the ritual I was about to perform, but Ellisburg had been the most palatable in my opinion. I was sure that even if Nilbog’s creatures didn’t count as humans, they’d count as some kind of life. Life and blood had special places in almost all forms of magic and could be used to pull of some pretty powerful specialty pieces of work.

Such as a death curse tied between mother and son. Especially when one had access to as much fresh blood as I’d been able to acquire from Valefor’s corpse. I drew a line at the sacrifice of innocents, but… I don’t believe Nilbog’s creations counted.

Perhaps I could say that what I did in Ellisburg that night was difficult. That Nilbog, the Goblin King, actually put up a fight worthy of his self proclaimed title when I went to Ellisburg to wipe out his small kingdom.

That would be a lie though. I had all the advantages, powers that transcended his. I was taking him by surprise, giving him no time to build up any sort of defense against my powers.

I raised a hand and rained down golden fire upon Ellisburg. I watched impassively as buildings evaporated in the heat, as creature’s burst from every nook and cranny and died screaming. I watched still as their life force was stripped from them, kept contained by my will and power. Amidst it all, a human soul surged into the net I’d cast and I felt even more weight added to the metaphysical trap I’d created. Within five minutes, Ellisburg was gone, a crater of glass going down to the bedrock. I’d been thorough in making sure all of Nilbog’s failsafes were destroyed along with him.

The glass field also provided a good place to begin my ritual for the evening. With knowledge dragged from Raziel’s memories, I began to inscribe a spell circle upon the smooth glass.

I hope you realize that what you are doing is considered some of the darkest of magics, my host.

I know. But Mama Mathers is too dangerous to attack head on and even if I did so, not all of the Fallen are like her. They’re a cult, they’ve preyed upon those that are simply easily misled or worse, kidnapped and enslaved others. I can’t just nuke their compound from orbit with a good conscience. This is the best alternative. Plus I figure the lack of real human sacrifice might be a bit… less dark.

It probably will make the magic less corrupting, Raziel mused. It may also weaken the spell.

That’s fine. Mathers is the main concern, once she’s gone, the Fallen will be picked apart by the PRT and Protectorate. She’s the thing that makes them such a large threat. I don’t need to exterminate her entire bloodline or anything.

Not to mention doing so would be very unethical. Some of them might be only children or babies after all.

I’m not going to even touch that topic with a ten foot pole, considering some of the things in the Old Testament.

…Fair enough.

After several minutes of meticulous carving, my circle was completed. I placed Valefor’s blood upon the center of it and allowed the waiting life energies from Nilbog’s creations to flow down into the circle. The runes I’d carved lit up brilliantly as power surged and air crackled with the weight of it. What I was doing was very similar to what I’d done to Coil or Lung, but on a much grander scale and it packed far more of a punch. The circle shaped the spell, the energy powered it, and the blood plus my intent gave it a target.

Magic, fouler than anything I’d ever used before, poured out and went streaking across the country. I watched it go, then turned around and teleported back to my apartment. In my room, I looked through my scrying pool, focusing upon Mama Mathers.

An image of a corpse filled the pool. Blood ran from every orifice, veins standing out and blackened as if from poison. I felt a moment of pity at what I’d done, but banished the feeling. Some people were just too dangerous.

Not to mention she would have moved against your beloved, had you not intervened.

Just because it’s true, doesn’t mean you have to say it.

Yes, I acted selfishly, killing Mama Mathers because she was a threat to Crystal. No way she would have let the death of her son go unavenged if I hadn’t killed her first. But sometimes selfish actions can line up with the greater good.

Guess I just got lucky.

***

Friday, March 18, 2011

“You asked to see me, Magus?” Piggot asked, not even looking from her computer monitor.

“Yes ma’am. Just wanted to let you know that I took part in an operation sanctioned by the Chief Director last night. Thought you might want a picture.” I produced a single photograph that I’d taken from the air and laid it on her desk.

That finally got her attention as she picked it up with a frown. “A glass crater? Why would I want to see that?”

“That’s all that’s left where the little town of Ellisburg used to be.”

Her eyes jerked back to me. “What?”

“Nilbog and his little horde of underlings couldn’t fight against some of the tricks I have. It was easy.” I did my best to shrug modestly. “Really, he would have been a threat eventually, not like he would accept being starved out. Better to take the fight to him sooner rather than have him come at us later.”

“…If we weren’t already paying you a substantial amount, I might just have offered you a raise,” she said.

“Oh, before I forget, I also got a power that might let me boost capes and even normal people permanently.”

Piggot sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Poor woman looked like she was fighting off an oncoming headache. “When did this happen exactly?”

“Shortly before the Empire’s rampage. Haven’t had the time to fully test it. Gave Laserdream a boost and so far it seems permanent,” I said.

“Putting aside you using new powers upon a cape not of this organization, what are the costs and requirements of this power boost? Is it like Teacher’s in any way shape or form?” Piggot asked sharply.

“No, not at all. I don’t get any special kind of leverage over someone I’ve boosted. The main requirement is that I require… sacrifices. Not like, human ones. Just some kind of material sacrifice that gets turned into energy that I can then use to boost someone. It focuses mainly upon physical attributes, but I can focus it on a parahuman’s ability as well,” I explained as best I could.

“This will require further testing,” Piggot sighed. “Go talk to Armsmaster about it. And please, stop being such a problem child.”

“Sorry, ma’am.”

She shook her head. “I suppose I should just be glad you joined up with us instead of going your own way. Dismissed, Magus.”

“Ma’am.”

***

I knocked on the door of Colin’s lab. The ‘occupied’ light was on to indicate that he was in and tinkering.

I waited patiently for about thirty seconds before Colin opened the door, an uncharacteristic smile on his face. “Magus! Good to see you, come on in.”

I followed, a little confused, until I saw the monitor over the workbench. A nondescript brunette woman gave me a smile from it. “Hello there, Magus. It’s nice to meet you face to face, so to speak.”

I recognized the voice, even if I already could have guessed who it was. “Dragon. The pleasure is all mine. Sorry if I interrupted your guys’ Tinker time…”

“Oh it’s no worries, I was just sharing some good news with Armsmaster.”

“He knows my name, Dragon, it’s alright if you use it in here,” Colin said as he crossed the room to rummage through his mini-fridge in the corner.

“Ah, that’s good,” the woman relaxed minutely on screen. “Colin speaks highly of you, Magus.” She lowered her tone conspiratorially. “Thank you for putting up with him.”

I chuckled and scratched the back of my head. “Colin has to deal with plenty of shenanigans from me too. And he speaks more highly of you than basically anyone else I know, so it’s nice to meet you outside of an emergency event, like last time.”

I swear that the AI actually flushed at my words, but schooled her expression rather quickly. “Yes, well, Narwhal is always getting on my case about branching out. I know this isn’t quite an in person conversation, but I believe that it counts closely enough.”

I nodded and glanced around the lab. Colin’s armor and halberd were undergoing repairs and maintenance by the look of things. “So how far along are the nanothorns?” I asked Dragon conversationally while he was still busy looking for something.

Dragon blinked. “I hadn’t realized he’d told anyone else about those.”

“He didn’t need to,” I gave Dragon another smile. “I’ve got a weird Thinker ability. Gave me a sort of… snapshot, of a possible future. Colin used the nanothorns and while they were extremely effective, they weren’t quite up for a killing blow on an Endbringer.” I glanced over at Colin very briefly and lowered my voice. “I also probably know what you’re telling him about too. Congratulations. Saint was an asshole.”

“Yes, it’s quite liberating,” Dragon agreed. A moment later, her voice hissed quietly in my earpiece, privately. “Were you the one who did that?”

I manipulated sound so that only she could hear my reply. “No, but I asked an ally to take care of it. Sorry I couldn’t help sooner, just been busy.”

She laughed in my ear. “You’ve barely been a cape for a month and a half. You can’t expect to solve all the world’s problems overnight. But still… thank you.”

“Here we are!” Colin stood from the corner, holding a bottle of fine liquor. “This was a present from Challenger, ENE’s previous leader. Told me to only bring it out for special occasions.” He walked over, pouring into two styrofoam cups. “Magus, you’ve heard of the Dragonslayers?”

“Yeah, villains who target Dragon for some reason, right?”

“Indeed. Seems they were dropped off on the doorstep of the Guild, tied up, with the coordinates of their lair taped to the leader’s forehead. Dragon has been able to recover a great deal of stolen tinker-tech and now doesn’t have to worry about them ever again,” Colin said, perhaps the most overtly pleased I’d ever seen him. He handed me the cup. “I also heard from Piggot that you dealt with Nilbog, so it seems a good of time as any for a toast.”

I raised my cup with him and downed the liquor. Whiskey. Probably scotch based on the flavor. Not bad, Challenger had good taste. “Did she tell you the other reason I came down here?”

Colin finished his drink and shook his head. “No, just said that it was you being troublesome again. What is it?”

“New power. Think Dauntless meets Othala.”

Colin froze. “Dragon, I’m sorry, but…”

I could see the gears turning in his brain, how badly he wanted to stay, but also how he wanted to go over my new abilities. Dragon saw it too and gave him an out. “It’s alright, Colin, I just wanted to tell you the good news. We can meet up later this week to do some collaborating, if you’re free.” She glanced to me. “You could join if you wanted as well, Magus. Colin tells me you have some Tinker abilities.”

I knew an offer that was only there out of politeness when I heard one. “That’s alright, my tinkering is nowhere near your guys’ level, I’d just get in the way. But it was very nice meeting you sort of in person, Dragon, I’m sure we’ll do so again.”

She nodded and smiled in farewell before the screen winked out.

Colin gave me a look. “Alright, start explaining.”

As we marched toward the testing room, I gave him the same spiel I’d given Piggot about how Greatest of Fairies worked, though leaving out the name of the power of course. Didn’t want my team thinking I was any crazier than they already did.

“We’ll have to establish a baseline then,” Colin said. “Find a willing trooper to undergo the physical enhancement and test how much the boost is and at what cost.”

“You don’t want me to boost you first?” I offered.

He paused and considered. “Perhaps, once we know for certain it works, but we can’t rely on only your knowledge here, we have to be careful. Also, me being a parahuman might throw off the testing.”

“I did already use a boost on Laserdream,” I informed him. “It dramatically boosted her flight speed, though I’m not sure about her shields or lasers, haven’t had a chance to see yet.”

He dragged a hand down his face with a groan. “You just opened us up to so many potential lawsuits.”

“Crystal wouldn’t do that. I literally helped make her stronger.”

“But the potential is still there. You have to think about these things, Mak,” he chided me.

I nodded in agreement and he dropped it.

Once we reached the testing area, we got to work.

I forgot how boring this stuff is…

***

It took most of the day before Colin was even remotely satisfied with what my power boosting could do. Everything from just a penny’s worth of energy (basically nothing) to seeing if paper bills worked (they did) to even weirder things, like offerings of food or drink. Food, yes, but only homemade. Drink, yes, but only alcoholic. Basically things that were once considered sacrifices to gods or monsters in mythology. I didn’t want to suggest trying an animal sacrifice because that just seemed to wrong to me for some reason.

The good news was though, that by the end of the day, the PRT now had four agents with enhanced physical abilities. Not enough to be classified as parahumans, but the extra bit of strength or speed could very well save their lives one day. They’d also gotten hazard pay, in case it turned out my enhancements had some kind of negative drawback that just hadn’t manifested itself yet. Which considering some of the parahumans in the world, seemed fair enough.

I walked back into my apartment, exhausted mentally and a little bit magically, and nearly cheered when I saw that the decor had finally arrived.

Mimi poked her head out of her room and gave me a massive grin. “Mak! We have a couch! A table! Chairs! My room finally has a bed. This is fantastic.”

“So we do,” I agreed, kicking off my shoes and sinking onto the couch. “Ah, that’s nice.”

“A t.v too!” Mimi practically danced with excitement before settling on the couch next to me. “Let’s actually use it, I feel like I haven’t had a chance to just kick back and watch a movie in years.”

Which sadly, might have been true. The Slaughterhouse Nine didn’t strike me as the movie types.

“Sure. I’ll order pizza.”

Sometimes it was the little things in life.
***
A/N: Another week, another chapter. I genuinely considered making some kind of fight happen between Magus and Nilbog, but like... It would have felt disingenuous. Magus has way more firepower and had the advantage of total surprise. Sometimes a villain's defeat is simple as that when the hero is prepared. Anyway, hope y'all enjoy. Can't believe I'm up to fifty of y'all. You guys are seriously the best, I appreciate you so much.