Overpowered Wizard

Chapter 107: B2: C7: Ramifications 2

“The anti-air barrier really is gone,” Zarian said, looking up.

He could feel its lack of presence with aura manipulation. There was no missing the disappearance of a powerful divine working like that.

Either Good Goddess Lovewar wasn’t a friend anymore or couldn’t use her boon for him. He wanted to think it was the latter, but he wouldn’t be surprised if Lovewar was unhappy with him. At the very least, he knew of one goddess who would accept his call regardless.

The crystal ball turned shadowy. In its glassy surface, an oily liquid swirled before taking the shape of a feminine humanoid. There were no defining features, but Zarian knew he was looking at what Luciana wanted to show him.

She really liked to play the mystery card, even after they’d spent countless years together as a spreading darkness with an indestructible shadow.

“Luciana,” Zarian said, some emotion entering his voice.

“Zarian,” she said in return.

Her voice was magnetic, inviting, tragic, and shadowy. The way she uttered his name held as much familiarity as the death of countless worlds did, making it sound beautiful despite the horror.

Zarian licked his lips. “Who are you really?”

“Are you sure you’re ready to hear that?” she asked.

“Yes.” He needed to know. While he and Ariana were apocalyptic darknesses, Luciana had hitched a ride and stayed completely safe the whole time.

Luciana sighed deeply. “Then so be it. The truth of me is that I’m a young goddess, a sacrifice on the altar, a child whose destiny was decided years ago, a girl whose potential is already dead and fossilized, a woman who has but one duty.”

“What is that duty?” Even with free evil +3 active, Zarian felt a hint of worry gripping his heart. He wasn’t sure he was ready to hear the truth like he’d claimed.

Luciana chuckled darkly. She was enjoying this, no doubt. “I’m to be the strongest and most powerful of the Shadowfell Family, one who is foretold to usher a corruption that engulfs the hearts of all men in the shadow of sin. I am a most worthy possession, a prize to be sought and used. I am also a gift from my lineage, who are conquered servants to a greater and more powerful lineage.”

Zarian slowly shook his head. He wanted to tell Luciana to stop. He didn’t.

The can was already open.

The worms were wriggling free.

“Zarian, I am your promised wife, the future bearer of your children, a factory of flesh who’ll produce the most horrific monsters ever seen, all sired by you. This is the truth of my tragic existence, for I am the shadow of darkness. Isn’t that lovely, oh husband, oh master of mine?”

Zarian’s mind nearly collapsed from the marriage revelation. He couldn’t comprehend it personally.

His free evil +3 became too rabid, too merciless. He nearly reduced its power, but when his Fractured Mind struggled to support hundreds of skeletons scavenging around the battlefield, he kept free evil +3 fully powered.

He took a long time to sort himself out. A few hours went by in silence, and Luciana Shadowfell stayed on the other side of the crystal ball connection.

Para kept the glimmering leather cloak wrapped comfortably around him, less a dark display of might and more of a supportive measure for her host.

“Can we talk more about this another time?” Zarian asked.

“Your will is my command, husband,” Luciana said.

His stomach did flips. He felt revolted.

“My will is not your command. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re a whole ass evil goddess. You can’t just ... bow to me.”

He wanted to counter her and the dark thoughts of his free evil +3. He knew how deeply depraved many people could be with this limitless power.

“I didn’t bow to you at first because I was waiting to see the truth of you as my husband. The truth has been revealed. You are my master husband, and I’m your servant wife. But if you wish for us to roleplay as if this is not the case, I can facilitate that for you.”

Zarian gritted his teeth. “I didn’t agree to marry you. We’re supposed to start off as friends! What happened to that?”

“Our lineage. Our family. Specifically, the great matriarchs. The matriarchs of mine kowtowed at the feet of your matriarchs. My matriarchs were taught a lesson. Your family is the strongest. To appease your matriarchs, I’ve been wedded to you with little ceremony.”

“No freaking way.”

Denial, denial, denial. Zarian was in denial.

Luciana laughed again, evil and witch-like. “If you don’t think that is true, then hear my full name. I am Luciana Shadowfell Darkrun, and I am your wife.”

Zarian reeled back.

He felt it.

The Darkrun name belonged to Luciana.

Everything she was saying was true.

Luciana was his wife.

He felt frustrated. Horrified. Disgusted. He knew there were more nuances to this situation than he could appreciate now. There were greater plans in motion than he understood.

But he was a Freedom Leader, and this went against freedom.

“Is my family forcing you to be a servant?” Zarian asked.

“Yes, and no,” Luciana said, cryptic as usual. “Yes, because your family is the most powerful. We must serve them in some capacity. However, it’s my family who wishes for me to serve you as if I’m an extra limb you can command, a slave of your whim. Your family is more cavalier about the arrangement. I suppose now that I have the Darkrun name, I could do things for myself.”

“Well, I would rather you choose to do what you want. Do you want a divorce?” he asked.

“You’re one sick puppy.”

“Ah, but you see, I’m your sick puppy.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Will that be all, my dear? I’m feeling whimsical and spirited. Like never before. There’s much work to do, and I’m devoting much of my omniscience to you now. I will stay if you want me to.”

“Please, go do what wickedness you want. I’ll have altars made for you and Lovewar. And ... maybe Hisscreep and Serveserf, if they want.”

“Hm, interesting, the old frail gods of the traditional alignments have taken some interest in you, haven’t they? I hear little complaints from them after the coming and going of your darkness, at least compared to the other gods and divine beings.”

“Is that so? I guess the old gods are better at bouncing back from huge setbacks,” Zarian said.

“Hm, perhaps so. I am sure there are ways to mend relations with those two. But that is for you to figure out, I suppose. Farewell for now, my indomitable dark husband.”

“Later, gator.”

The shadowy figure in the crystal ball faded off. The surface returned to its opaque nature. Zarian tossed it up and down before putting it away in the pocket dimension.

He wondered if he should ask for a divorce. What would happen to Luciana and her family if he did that? Luciana didn’t want a divorce, but he didn’t get a say in the matter.

“Funnest Granpapa? Will Luciana stay a Darkrun if I divorce her?” Zarian asked.

No response.

Zarian frowned. His family was a pain in the ass. He couldn’t act without getting more information. Or maybe he should just ignore it all and leave it as a problem to fix in the future.

That sounded preferable.

He did a quick check with each of his Floridians by sharing senses through mind spiders.

Everybody was fine, even Bianca. She was doing a bang-up job of maintaining her miniature sun above Fort Ride-or-Die, even without her free good +5.

Maybe Bianca could turn her trauma into a weapon and reforge herself.

It looked like Naomi and Gilbert were putting their heads together by doing the simplest thing, lifting the huge body of the wolf dragon. They were dragging it all the way toward the entrance.

Naomi used Psychokinesis +1 to stabilize the ground, granting them footing. That was a creative use of her ability, which had Zarian wondering how much further she could push herself in the next couple of months.

She still had a friendly rivalry with Bianca, didn’t she? They seemed closer now after recent events. The two of them together could really grow themselves to further heights.

He also wondered if Foodie would be okay with the delay back at Castle Grimrock. How much trouble would the Grimrock Warlock produce with the extra time? How much worse would Jack get?

“We’ll make preparations of our own,” Zarian said. “Isn’t that right, Para?”

“Yes!” she growled.

Her voice was clearer now. Still monstrous, but with more notable femininity and humanity. All her practice and fluency in languages was good for her. That and the Floridian Mindset buffed her considerably.

Zarian nodded. A curious thought struck him. He hesitated before letting his free evil +3 push him. He bothered the one person who probably didn’t want to talk to him.

“Hey, System, how bad are things?”

The Star System, the overseer of the Infinita Universe, replied with a blue notification.

Zarian moved his head from side to side. He pushed a little more. “But how bad is bad?”

“Uh, no, I’m thinking I really shouldn’t do that again. Just let me know if me and my people can help in any way.”

The next notifications came out gold.

“Thanks, System. I appreciate the quests. I know we got off on the wrong foot but maybe we can do things better going forward.” Zarian tried to sound amicable.

The Star System didn’t respond.