The entrance at first led into a metro tunnel. I had already prepared for a battle, but this metro is dead abandoned. Revenant rushed to the left side towards a door in the wall reading 'staff only'. He pushed it open and nodded me inside.
It led to a set of stairs down into further tunnels with a map at the side. It held multiple levels and was scribbled over often. The label read 'Altus Opus – Abandoned Delta'.
"Altus Opus? The Deep Work?" I asked whilst reading.
"Aye, though this isn't Altus Opus proper yet. It's an old, almost ancient, area by now with a whole lot of history tied to it. The Metro system connects to the various exits of the Abandoned Delta of it. Similar to a river it led from the origin outwards like a fan. The origin in this case is Altus Opus proper. Finding certain semi-hidden passages here might allow us entry into other parts of this place, but otherwise we would just be heading down."
"What's with the map then?"
"Collapsed tunnels mainly. Eidolon, Eidolon hunters, historians, and the government are all groups that keep opening more tunnels and maintaining access to various parts of it. I couldn't tell you why."
"I'll definitely read into it someday. It's right up my alley with history and all, but I wonder why this even exists in the first place."
"Buddy, don't ask me that. The important thing is that we stay in the Delta, not just for our hunt, but also for our safety."
'Delta' is an interesting term for a tunnel system. Considering it heads to a single tunnel downwards into 'Altus Opus proper' according to Revenant, I could maybe even imagine that it leads all the way into the Underworld. It's known that it exists, and considering its name, it would be below us. Another idea is that some of the streams of this 'Delta' are actually the rivers of the Underworld, which is why the convergence point would then be the Underworld itself, though with that theory it would then mean that the 'Altus Opus proper' is the Underworld itself. I somehow doubt that the Underworld is a 'work' created by people. Ah, I really can't make heads or tails out of this yet.
In the meantime we have already started to descend downstairs. The tunnel system winds itself, but Revenant uses chalk to mark the walls to not get lost. Given that the map changes so often, I doubt that it still would be accurate.
We continued on our way, crossing over some corpses that had previously been looted already. These corpses were still relatively fresh, and Revenant would remark that this area is cleaned frequently due to the possibility of Spiritual Corrosion. Even so, it still occurs surprisingly often, frustrating all parties involved with this area.
Most of these people had various apparent causes of death, from acids to blunt wounds, bleeding out, and also the perfect slices from our target.
As we round a corner, we spot a red tengu mask^ looking around the opposite corner of the hallway, though it quickly disappears.
-> https://www.toinfinitylab.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2-2.jpg
Revenant and I look at each other for a moment, then start to chase after it. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, and Revenant used his stiletto to aid in his chase, throwing it every minute to the end of a corridor.
Though we could hear it easily, following along proved challenging, even for Revenant. The sound of it was weird. It was the stomping of someone carrying heavy weight, but following it were sounds of loud clattering metal against each other. Either this is some lunatic, or it is our target.
Since I had the time, I rapidly flipped through the pages of the Eidolon Register in attempts to identify it or to at least reduce it to only a few candidates. There is the possibility of the Eidolon just not being included, but in this case that isn't true.
'Superbia-06-4-114', otherwise called 'Ferrous Sovereign', is very likely our target. It has the trademark mask, uses swords in combat, and also has something to explain the clattering metal sounds. A cape of metal objects is attached to him using some sort of magnetic power.
"It's Ferrous Sovereign, magnetism power at Rank 4. He wields two odachi and really likes to single out his opponents for duels." I shout ahead at Revenant.
"Then I shouldn't leave you behind. I'll let you catch up." Revenant had shouted back.
I continued running and stopped once I saw Revenant crouching down in front of a tripwire.
"Almost had it, but I'd wager that was its intent. There were other methods to easily escape." He said whilst pointing above us at a tunnel that just goes up.
Left catching my breath, I look at what Revenant has started drawing. He had noted down the route we took from his last chalk marking to this spot in case he forgot. His efforts then go towards disarming the trap as he points me towards the corpses around us.
The corpses look like they haven't been pillaged much yet, so I look through. I managed to find only some money at first, being 4 Gael and 430 Levan, but then I came across a three-fold map of 'Altus Opus'. Well, it is more of a diagram rather than an actual map. With it I can tell that the Abandoned Delta leads into the Metro, the 'Brass Canopy', the 'Inferno', the 'Steel Bulwark', and at the end connects with 'Altus Opus proper'. These are almost all of the parts of this anyways. There is a large cylindrical tunnel from the center of the Alpha Echelon Zone all the way down into 'Altus Opus proper' called the 'Celestial Spire', and the 'Altus Opus proper' is surrounded by the 'Eternal Eschaton'. Even so, this entire 'Altus Opus' doesn't end up leading into the Underworld, which is also denoted on the map but completely separate from the structure.
Revenant finished up already, so when I spot a book the body had along with the map, I just take it with me for now. It is a small book about the 'Altus Opus', looking at the cover, but I just don't have the time right now.
Again we focus on the exploration, now looking more acutely for traces and traps, but we don't manage to find it yet, but instead we come across a cleaner that runs in our direction screaming.
They stop once they spot us and catch their breath. I use that time to garner some intel on the situation ahead of here.
"Hey there. So, how many corpses have you cleaned, and how many of them had perfect cut wounds?"
"I failed… Most of my group was eliminated by 'Superbia-06-4-114', and none of us managed to get much done as such, we barely even managed to start."
"You're saying an awful lot for a cleaner. Does that mean your oath or whatever is broken?"
"I still am under an NDA, but yes, with the failure of my duty, I have no obligation to uphold that silence."
"Great. So, do you have any good leads on Ferrous Sovereign then? We're hunting them."
They looked at us for a moment, though the suit didn't allow me to make out any sort of expression.
"Well, good luck. You can copy down these observation notes on it so far. Remember that it has yet to be bested in combat, so any carelessness means likely death."
They hold out a tablet with a digital map of the 'Altus Opus' on it, certain parts of it being highlighted. On the left side of it is a block of text.
Superbia-06-6-114 – Ferrous Sovereign
Remained dormant the past two years in an unknown location, though has recently re-emerged. This Eidolon boasts high levels of intelligence, capable of outsmarting groups of experienced hunters. They separate groups and defeat the members of it in one-on-one duels or by luring them into traps. Traps either immobilize or force encounters with other Eidolon in the area.
At times this Eidolon emerges from the Altus Opus Abandoned Delta to attack buildings containing what is believed to be a certain number of Link 3-5 hunters. Part of the attack involves other Eidolon, and exits are quickly destroyed. Very often leads to the death of all people inside of the building, though damages continue around the building for some time.
Maybe capable of understanding Spiritual Corrosion and actively breeding it. Advise utmost caution.
[Further data only available to Exalted-II or above]
Attached afterwards is only the same data as in the Eidolon Register. This tells me that the cleaners have a tablet that acts as a sort of database. I don't even own a smartphone, but that tablet still seems more valuable than those I saw on the market. I also do not know what an 'Exalted-II' is, though this format reminds me of positions in the government. Besides the job description, they also have a level attached to them that acts as a sort of clearance level. People working for the government all have access to the database but can only read what is available based on that level.
A cleaner is likely a low-level goon, but they still have an automatically updating map of the Altus Opus and likely the city itself, together with observation reports on many incidents in the city. I did copy down the map as best as I could, though translating from three dimensions into only two isn't the easiest.
"Well then, good luck, cleaner, on getting out of here."
The cleaner does a sort of salute with two fingers before continuing past us. Again I look at Revenant.
"Are you sure we can take it?"
"You can never be sure with Eidolon, Nathan."
"Obviously, but are the odds worth it?"
"I'd wager yes. The risk of encountering multiple Eidolon is very high, but the reward will be beyond astounding for both of our levels. It is likely that one of us croaks at least, so we will have to be very careful."
It is hard to tell the Link of corpses, but, according to Lis, cleaners are generally Link 3. I don't think the corpses will be anything beyond a Link 4 at highest either. Obviously I am a fish out of water here at an astounding Link 1-2, but with my Sin Equipment, Eidolon Equipment, and Incantations, I could at this point even play myself up as a Link 3. I suspect Revenant to be Link 3-4 with a pretty decent load-out as well, so I am leaning to Link 4.
Personally I would want a third member at Link 3 or 4 to feel comfortable with this. Lis herself mentioned that she was at the Trombone District for the same reason I was, so I would imagine that she would also hunt after it. Revenant was in contact with her before, so he might have her number. I should probably buy a smartphone with my funds. They cost like around 300 Gael, but still, it really would be nice for keeping in contact with people and stuff.
"Hey Revenant, do you think we should invite Elizabeth onto this? She was looking for the whereabouts of this Eidolon, so I imagine she can help."
"I don't have any signal down here, so I can't use a telephone. Before you ask, the government is an exception."
I was about to ask about the cleaner having a connection down here.
"Wouldn't want to invite her either. She doesn't take money, and I can't pay her otherwise. You also couldn't pay her back after this encounter."
Deliberating on his sentiments sometimes is a waste of time, and other times he asks me to think three steps ahead of him. I would appreciate it if Revenant were to choose more appropriate times to mince his words.
We continued to move during the conversation and came across the longest straight corridor inside this Eidolon's entire 'domain'. At the end of it we even managed to spot it, but before we could react, the ground below us collapsed and started dropping me down roughly two stories.
Revenant easily escaped with his stiletto, but I was doomed to drop into the pit. He started to take out a rope; however the Eidolon acted for the first time. I heard a stifled scream from Revenant as he very barely parried the incoming odachi with his stiletto, though he was flung into the wall. He dropped down a piece of chalk to me but then was pressured away from me by the Eidolon.
Both of the exits of that corridor caved in shortly after, so even if I had planned on climbing, it would've been for naught.
The fall itself wasn't bad at all; I'll walk it off. There is only a way forward into a tunnel, I suppose. The map I made does show a way I could reconnect with Revenant if he managed to get away and recall the map.
These tunnels were pretty out of the way though, so it will take me a bit. Well, these legs here are still fine, so I guess it's time to run. As I run, I continuously look around to prevent stepping into traps or Ferrous Sovereign itself. Currently there aren't any diverging paths, and there won't be for some time.
I then spot a group of three corpses on the side. They are in perfect condition. Actually wait, that is very suspicious. This is the 'territory' of Ferrous Sovereign, and these corpses are not its doing. These corpses look like they died asleep or something. They've begun to rot, but besides that they aren't injured, nor have they been looted.
One of them wears an entire samurai armor that doesn't like me. Well, it's a Sin Equipment of a Sin I don't have, so it feels weird. I describe it as the item not liking me because it is technically true, but I could still use it. The only drawback is that it would have none of the benefits it would usually have for being a Sin Equipment, and I would feel weird the entire time. That armor is too heavy for me, so no.
Another has a Chain Shirt that… likes me. cool. I think I'll take it. It could be greed, sloth or a type I haven't realized yet. There is an ordinary Aspis shield, so no. A partisan is there with it, and it doesn't like me. A bit too big and unwieldy for me to carry around. The next is an ordinary machete. Nothing special, but I might as well take it. It isn't too heavy, and it is also worth a few Gael. Let me look through their paperwork.
Two of them have a copy of the Eidolon Register. Usually I would take it for the resale value, but I'm carrying a lot of books right now already. They have some normal paperwork. I then spot something quite incredible: a fully written-out incantation.
Call Ashura Incantation. This one is massive. There are warnings on it because it is a very pricey incantation. It makes sense since Ashura is a powerful Yokai.
I continue again with haste until I reach a more open chamber, the opposite door blocked by a large, slightly floating amalgam of molten metals with lanterns attached to its sides. Most of them aren't lit, but some glow in various colors.
Once again I encounter an Eidolon. Recently I've noticed something. I've tried to ignore it, but during the fight with 'Denied Beauty' as well as right now, I can hear a voice inside of my head.
This voice doesn't cloud my thoughts, but it kind of connects me to that Eidolon emotionally. This Eidolon speaks of gloom and self-pity.
No, priorities first. This is 'Avaritia-03-5-057', otherwise called 'Fleeting Light'. Hold on, Rank 5? Shit. This Eidolon floats using some dark energy that lowers the temperature of the room it is in, though these lanterns provide warmth. It isn't extremely powerful offensively, but caution is still advised. The trap is showing emotion. It doesn't matter if it's joy, sadness, anger, or whatever; strong emotions are check and mate. It has powerful hypnosis, and once entranced, escaping it is nigh impossible.
Alright, staying calm then. Now let me actually think about its thoughts.
It seems to have suffered in life. It took risks in hopes of making it big. He had to take a leap in his career to feed his growing family, for example, but failed in the end. He lost his jobs, and the family starved in the end. After a certain amount of risks, he just played it safe for the rest of his life. He didn't have the guts to risk it. In the Epsilon Echelon Zone was where he had lived then, and it wouldn't change. Rummaging through bins for food on various occasions and being forced to corrupt to stay alive.
I honestly started to pity him at first, but his thoughts revealed more and more that he ended up just becoming a coward. Because he didn't take even the slightest risks, he suffered more. He could have prevented his life from deteriorating, from him corrupting so much, if he would have had the guts. Just because his life went awry once doesn't mean that it has to continue that way. No matter what happens, dusk will fall and dawn will rise. The expectation for a problem-free life is pathetic and childish; meanwhile, they just sit in their own pain and suffering, throwing excuses at themselves instead of actually doing something to solve their current situation. It is obviously sloth.
That alone isn't enough. When they do take something, they do not think about how best to do it; they just take what they need without consideration, acting in the now, even if it hurts their future self, though in that future they excuse their own false action with their miserable life. What he took was what he believed he deserved.
He thought that he deserved to get back everything he had lost then as a sort of justice or karma. That fueled him to take what wasn't his. To then hold onto the figments of what he had claimed from others desperately. Again, instead of working towards a long-lasting source of what he held, he instead just clutched what he held tighter.
'Fleeting Light' describes his greed for taking from others, in this case emotions, to light flames in his heart, though these flames never last. This Eidolon then represents the denial of the impermanence of these flames as well. I was correct not to listen to these thoughts.
I am utterly disgusted by it; no, I hate it.
This was the moment when I realized my mistake, though it was already too late.
My feet had already carried me towards it, and the trance placed on me made me unable to notice my eyes fixated on an empty lantern, when whoosh.
Suddenly I was filled with hatred to the fullest. All I could feel was hatred towards it, towards everything I would feel hatred towards. Nothing else existed. I sat inside one of the lanterns; no, it was my soul. My body had disappeared. The soul, my soul, was set ablaze a dark crimson red from my hatred, and it continued to be drained.
How long would I spend inside of here now until I am burnt up? A few hours? Maybe even a couple days?
…
…
It hurts. I hate pain. I hate life, not just this life, but life in general. It has been so very painful. I am doing everything in my power to thrive, but this world fundamentally doesn't allow it. Everyone here is chained to something. The only difference is status, but even in that regard I only recently managed to reach gamma. The cost was my life. I hate that I accepted to become a hunter.
I hate how foolish I can be at times and how insistent I am on doing some things at times. I hate how my current hatred is expressed at an extreme. I hate how I cannot accurately represent my feelings.
How long still? How long has it been?
…
…
All of a sudden I find myself on the cold stone floor of these tunnels again. I recall all these thoughts. It was good for venting, I suppose? How am I alive though?
Turning around, I see a hole in the chunk of floating metals, it having been pushed to the side. There is a savior in a brown cloak with glasses flashing below them. The cloaked figure is holding a battleaxe and casting various incantations. It is left crippled by the blows, and the cloaked figure drags me by the wrist in a familiar manner, pulling me away from it through the tunnel it previously blocked.
Together we rush through the corridors, though the figure often looks down at the map that I copied down; no, a copy of my copy of the map.
We moved quickly, but 'Fleeting Light' wasn't a fast chaser, so we were already long gone. I still rush because of Revenant. I don't know how long it had been, but hold on. I forgot I bought a watch, which is surprising given how often I had already checked it.
It had been at most 10 minutes since I had been caught by it, though likely it was only very few minutes. Still, every minute now, Revenant might just get to explore hell.
Luckily enough, Revenant only had some moderate cuts on him, not any that would inhibit his abilities; they would just hurt. He stood at what I expected our rendezvous point to be, and he seemed relieved seeing me doing alright.
"At least you're doing alright."
"Yeah, sorry. Courted death a bit by listening to an Eidolon's voice."
Both the hooded figure and Revenant were stunned.
"The voice? Hey, which Eidolon was it?"
"Not capable of speech or telepathy, it was Fleeting Light." A feminine voice responded.
"First off, you're lucky you are alive. Second, what do you mean, listening to an Eidolon's voice?"
Wait, was it really that weird?
"I mean, when fighting an Eidolon, I tend to hear what I believe some of its inner thoughts to be in my mind. The same happened with Denied Beauty."
"That… is not something normal. Anyways, you should thank your savior here."
I looked over to them and thought for a moment.
"Thank you… Mary?"
The figure took off their hood, revealing that they are indeed Mary Ebberay.
"I thought you would be able to tell more easily than that. You're making me seem a better fortune teller than I actually am."
"How so?"
"You are way too predictable. I also heard the news, and, knowing you, I'd imagine you would beeline directly towards that Eidolon like a magnet."
Fair enough. I am quite predictable.
"Revenant, how was it for you?"
"Better than expected. Even though it is great at tricks, it itself can be tricked with illusions, so Mary was able to help me using a call. Not going to lie, I'd be dead otherwise."
"I myself had hoped for a third member to hunt it, which is why I asked if you had Lis in your contacts, but it worked out."
I look towards Mary Ebberay.
"Mary, just asking, but why do you have a battleaxe?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"It makes sense that you know incantations, but how come you know how to wield a Battleaxe and can navigate these tunnels without much difficulty?"
"Didn't I tell you already? I'm a Link 3 Eidolon Hunter."
No, she definitely didn't tell me that already.
Author's Note:
Anyways, since worldbuilding has been discussed quite a bit more now, I will give a rundown of everything plus some additions that may or may not come up in the future. I wouldn't consider them spoilers, though for those that absolutely want to piece this together themselves, feel free to skip. This is your last warning of an impending lore dump that is purely optional.
This is a very large metropolitan city with an estimated population of around 2 million. The name of this city is Iphte-houp (the p at the end is silent), and it is the capital city of its country. The general setting is a modern dystopia with historical anecdotes and fantasy elements. This means it would play in the year 21XX or 22XX, though likely the former. Due to immense levels of pollution, the entire city is covered in a thick cloud of smog that looms above, blocking out most of the sunlight. The location concerning climate would be around 60° along the latitude, though due to the reduced sunlight it is a few degrees colder all around. Currently in the story it is the middle of winter.
The city itself is separated into five different zones, each housing a different echelon of this society; thus, they are referred to as Echelon Zones. The general structure of these zones is a circle with further circles inside of them. These circles are not perfect, just to note. From the center, each zone gets poorer. The central zone is called the Alpha Echelon Zone, and it is where government officials reside alongside the top percent of society. Buildings there are very extravagant and take up extraordinary amounts of space, so even though it is large enough to be separated into six districts, each district houses only around 200 people each. Next is the Beta Echelon Zone, and it also houses only the extremely rich, though in this case the buildings are not as stupidly extravagant. Here is where you are generally called part of nobility, or just loaded as shit. Next is the Gamma Echelon Zone and it is where life is upper class to lower class. It is the most acceptable lifestyle. The Delta Echelon Zone is very massive and designated to the poor, though it cannot contend with the zone it is often combined with, that being the Epsilon Echelon Zone. Some people do live decent lives here, though it would be because they are leaders of gangs or similar, as the resources in that area are abysmal and shouldn't be able to house as many people as are living there.
The currency used in the city is Levan, Gael, and Phalite. 1000 Levan is equal to 1 Gael, and an equal amount of Gael is worth 1 Phalite. 1 Levan is equal to 1 KRW (South Korean won), so around 1400 Levan (1,4 Gael) would be the value of 1 USD. The prices are generally as you would expect them nowadays.
Between each of the Echelon Zones are walls, though the construction of each is separate. The one between the poorest zones isn't monitored and consists of only a barbed wire placed on the ground. Nobody cares when anyone crosses. Between delta and gamma is the most notable wall to the majority of the population. This wall is a pretty simple concrete wall, though some slabs of diorite and other similar rocks were dragged for foundations at some points. There are a total of 14 gates for this wall, and since it is the third from the outside, the code would be 3-01 to 3-14. Yeah, it's groundbreaking to know what 'Gate 3-08' stood for. The next level of wall between gamma and beta is made of solid steel, well as solid as can be. You are correct in assuming that it would be expensive as hell, but my counterpoint is tax the poor. This wall has only 9 gates since it has a smaller length. Last is the special wall between beta and alpha. It is made out of a special material that I am not spoiling here; just know it is highly resilient to most forms of damage, though especially resistant against attacks from Eidolon, Sin Equipment, and Eidolon Equipment. This wall still has 7 gates, because why drive like 2 minutes longer?
Below the city is the Altus Opus, which is a pain to explain without an image, but my current image of it looks like ass, so you aren't getting it unless you ask really nicely for it. Nathan explained it pretty well already, but I can go into the function of these parts as spoiler-free as I can. The top half of the Altus Opus, which is essentially everything except Altus Opus proper, is surrounded by the Steel Bulwark, which is a subterranean wall of steel. There is more to it because of maintenance and such, but spoilers. It looks like a sort of funnel in 3D. For the lower half of the Altus Opus, there is the Eternal Eschaton to protect. This one is a cylinder attached to the bottom of the funnel, and it is mostly the same, though instead of steel, it is the mystery metal. Throughout Iphte-houp, well, throughout everything up to but including the Gamma Echelon Zone, runs the metro system, which isn't anything spectacular but technically is considered part of the Altus Opus nowadays due to the fact that every entrance to the Abandoned Delta is attached to a metro station instead of the surface. The Abandoned Delta is the tunnel network that can lead you essentially everywhere in the Altus Opus if you know where you are going. It is called a delta because from the side it looks like a river delta. In 3D it resembles more of a tree though. There really isn't anything special about the Abandoned Delta. The Brass Canopy is where a lot of mechanical stuff happens; think clockwork. Sorry I'm vague, but I really can't go into more detail. It is mostly in the upper parts of the Steel Bulwark and intertwines with the Abandoned Delta so that is where it gets its name from. The Celestial Spire is a large vertical tunnel from the very center of the city all the way down into the Altus Opus proper. It is the second most important area, though why I can't tell you. The Inferno manages fuel and stuff and is the third most important area. It actually is large enough to be in both the Steel Bulwark and Eternal Eschaton. These two parts of Inferno are separate and have separate purposes. The only way to enter it is with elevators from the Abandoned Delta. The Altus Opus proper is secret. (Kinda sorry for the lore dump; it's excessive)