The Cult Pt 5

Classical music filled the party.

In a vast hall, the cult once again displayed its meticulous organization. A huge buffet stretched along the walls, a dance floor gleamed in the center, and a magical orchestra — instruments floating and playing themselves — filled the air with music. For a moment, I felt as though I had stepped into an 18th-century European ball.

Tadashi's eyes widened, impressed by such abundance.

There were dresses, each more indecipherable and colorful than the last, passing by on one side, and tailcoats and jackets on the other.

In a simple suit, Zero looked like a gatecrasher at that gala party.

“We shouldn't be here...” whispered Tadashi.

“Speak for yourself, I'm exactly where I should be,” I reply, my skeletal form clad in a beautifully tailored suit.

At first, we had declined the invitation, wanting to stay home and wait for news from Bourne, but our aunt literally pulled our ears.

“If Bourne found out you missed a party because of him, he would never forgive you!”

And there we were.

It was a somewhat bitter happy ending, but we were happy.

The antagonist had won, but at least we had some crumbs left. Rush was happy, we were free of problems, and the city triumphed over its troubles.

The story spread about Bourne losing control, but everyone believed that the guards had detained him — a certain Captain Russel taking the credit.

In addition, the sword also had its lie. The oracle told Rush that his team had arrived there later and that the sword was lying loose on the ground, detached from the position it had been in for so many years.

Everything was attributed to a delayed effect of Dr. Agnes' team's attempt... or something like that, I didn't pay much attention to the details.

She didn’t take it very well, trying to figure out the math to understand how the experiment had worked hours after failing, but in the end, what mattered was the result.

Speaking of Rush, there she was:

“Hi, honey, are you enjoying the party?”

“I-I... Y-yes.”

Rush was wearing a beautiful blue dress adorned with spheres of light. Still, her beautiful yellow eyes were what shone brightest in her look. She was stunning, to the point that Tadashi couldn't talk to her without keeping his mouth open....

...Come to think of it, is there any way to speak without keeping your mouth open?

My writing is being affected. Tadashi, put down that glass of wine!

“I'm going to get a drink, do you want anything?”

“I'm not feeling well... I think I'll stop here at... four glasses?” said Tadashi, already losing count.

She laughed, going to get some champagne that was being opened at the next table.

She seemed lighter and calmer. A glow of freedom projected onto her lilac soul.

Rush's whole team was there celebrating, swapping their lab coats for beautiful outfits. Dr. Agnes, wearing a provocative dress, was followed by her strange staff, all wearing black shirts and pants.

It would have been nice if the rest of Zero had been invited, but that wasn't the case. Except for Rush, everyone there was a stranger to us.

It’s company party... and we don't work here.

Yeah, it was a good comparison.

Suddenly, a waltz began to play. An instinct took hold of Tadashi, and before I knew it, he was over at Rush, taking her hand:

“Hey, wanna dance?” Tadashi asked.

“Me? I don't know how to dance and...”

“Don't worry, baby. I'm canonically a great dancer!”

Damn... it's true, he really is a good dancer!

Ah, at least we got something out of that bad chapter with the dancing zombie.

Pulling her onto the dance floor, Tadashi slowly began to get her into the rhythm. Smiling, they danced, Tadashi skillfully preventing Rush's clumsy steps from causing them to bump into other couples.

Their eyes locked, she gradually got the hang of it. Several couples stopped to watch the two of them dancing beautifully.

“You dance so well! You never cease to amaze me, honey.”

“You haven't seen anything yet!”

Just as Tadashi was about to start showing off his skills, the lights went out and the music stopped. A spotlight focused on the top of a staircase, and the oracle began to descend, brandishing the ExE sword. As it lit up, everyone applauded. Letting go of Rush's waist, Tadashi also applauded bitterly.

Without a microphone, the oracle projected his voice throughout the immense ballroom:

“Thank you, thank you all. This is the result of the collective effort of everyone here. However, there is someone to whom I want to dedicate this award.” The spotlight went straight to Zero's face. "Rush, my dear, thank you for your work. It has been a pleasure to have you with us, but I fear that now... your destiny is yours alone. Today, my beautiful fleur-de-lis, you become an honorary member of the order, receiving a hefty grant to... well, to do whatever you want."

A shower of applause rained down on Rush, who thanked her master with a bow.

“But I'm afraid I have one more surprise. This party was, theoretically, to celebrate the acquisition of this masterpiece,” he said, raising the ExE sword. “But its real reason is the new addition to our order. No need to change the light. I'm talking about you, Mr. Zero.”

More applause hit us.

“What are you saying, Oracle?” Tadashi asked, silence taking over the place.

“What do you think? Did you think I was going to let you escape with all that power? No, I'm not going to use it just to take the sword.”

Rush, who was hugging Zero, moved away.

“You... you took the sword?"

“Yes, dear, your husband is a man of many mysteries.”

Zero took a few steps forward:

“You have the sword. It gives you so much power, more than I have. Why chase me?”

“What a silly question. The sword is a battery... it will run out at some point. But, you..you are precious. A soul so great that it still regenerates. With you, I will have power forever.”

It was true. I had never thought about it, but the 10 percent of the death entity I had placed in the soul should theoretically burn out and never return when we used magic. The core of Tadashi's soul had not only joined my power, but assimilated it. The power we spent returned after rest.

“I won't go down without a fight...” said Tadashi. It was the only card we had.

“Hehehe... I know that, but... I have numbers.”

The oracle opened his arms, a white glow consuming the matte pyramid on his head. Everyone there, without exception, began to glow exactly the same in their eyes.

“No one reads the fine print in the contract. I can control everyone here at my pleasure... except you two. Because, after all, I am a man of my word." Descending the stairs with long, confident strides, the Oracle opened his arms. "You are strong, and my soldiers are just a bunch of low-level magic users, but they'll give it their all....Do you want to carry their blood on your hands?””

As he opened his arms, everyone else did the same:

“I made the deal with the Zeroes, they threw you away like trash for pennies. I see the potential in you, why don't you see mine? You only have your friend and wife because of me, why not take her name instead of the other way around? Join us in peace as More, and be a Lord!”

The crowd of glowing eyes began to close in on us.

"I'm going to have to decline...the vibe of your cult is actually pretty cool, but the whole hive mind thing you did turned me off a bit."

Swords and weapons appeared in the hands of the guests, standing between them and Rush, I began to raise our mana.

“Why are you doing this, Master... After everything we've been through?”

“WHAT HAVE WE BEEN THROUGH?” he asked, letting his calm voice slip. "WE'VE NEVER BEEN THROUGH ANYTHING! I HELPED YOU DO MAGIC, YOU WORKED FOR ME. YOU ARE IDENTICAL TO EVERYONE HERE — MY SLAVES. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT I TOOK YOU IN WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG... I made an investment in you. So Rush, do me a favor... convince him... or die."

She took a step back, a tear running down her cheek.

“Accept the contract, Zero. Or I'll kill you—”

The sound of breaking glass cut him off:

“We won't let that happen.”

Two unstoppable forces arrived, throwing the crowd in all directions. It was those two crazy rockheads — my family.

“No one will touch my pupil. I need him for manual labor,” said Master Zyg.

“You said you sold him for pennies? If that's the case, I won't forgive you! We deserve a refund!” said my aunt.

Linsley and the butler sneaked in. She blended into a shadow, leaving the butler there alone, who, under pressure, just punched the first person he saw.

Bam!

It was a quite nice punch!

“Hey man, I just work here! I'm not one of those crazy people,” said the waiter.

“Oh my good man, forgive me...” said the butler, taking out a handkerchief for his bleeding nose.

Zero, excited, couldn't hold back the question:

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Originally? We were stalking you....But now, we're saving you, silly!” said Master Zyg.

Using all kinds of magical attacks, the two managed to disperse the crowd.

“Oh shit, I only make contracts with weaklings...I have to do everything!” The oracle pointed his sword, casting a spell, but....

One of the Oracle's soldiers broke free from mind control and struck a deadly blow with his sword, decapitating the Oracle. The sword fell to the ground, next to the pyramid mask.

"YES!" Tadashi said.

It wasn't a pretty sight, but there was no way not to celebrate.

“I won't let you hurt Miss More,” said the soldier, the gleam in his eyes flickering, indicating that mental control over him was failing.

It wasn't just anyone; I would recognize that laser sword anywhere.

“GATORADE! IT'S YOU!” shouted Tadashi.

“Ahhhh, he's so weird that he even broke free from mind control because of his obsession with me... Such a creep," said Rush.

However, we had counted our victory too soon. Gatorade was sent flying by an immense burst of magic. The decapitated body rose, its head regenerating.

“You shouldn't have done that, fwiend.”

A round ball, with two dots for eyes and a wide, comical mouth — On that immense male body, this was the head that appeared behind the mask.

It was one of my sister's minions.

“What the heck...an angel?” said Tadashi.

Not any angels...It's a fallen angel!

 Instead of the pure white ball of angels, this one was purple, its constitution polluted.

“It’sh good to show u my twue face, entity~” said the fallen angel, in its cute, husky voice.

Our enemy was one of those immortal balls...and even worse, an evil one.

“Everyone, new plan!” Tadashi grabbed Rush and carried her in our arms. Running to the window my family had entered, I shouted:

“Let's escape!”

Coming behind me, the master and my aunt managed to keep up, staying by my side, while the butler needed a little help from Linsley, who carried him.

Jumping out the window, we unexpectedly encountered several flashes of light in the night.

Were they fireflies?

No... how nice it would be if they were.

Outside, thousands of cultists with glowing eyes were waiting for us.

“I know what to do!”

Almost instinctively, Rush pointed his hand forward, projecting a portal that we all entered.

We entered the portal into the unknown.