Hecould still feel the rumbling in the floor, the distant sound of screams.
Therealization struck him like a bomb.
“He’sgoing to resurrect the skeleton,” Isaac said.“The Diet doesn’t care about thetreasure.It’s the corpse, this giant creature.The one the tomb is built from.This is the largest repository of soul energy in the world, and it’s enough tobring the colossus back to life.Thatis why the necromancers weresacrificing so many people.”
Hecouldn’t imagine the scale of such a beast, were it ever to rise again.It hadtaken him the better part of three days just to travel halfway down its body.It was so spectacularly massive that a city had been built in its chest.It hadonce been the cradle of an entire empire.
If hisuncle succeeded....
Nothingwould be able to stop it.The man who controlled such a colossal mountain ofbone would be the terror of every army and kingdom in the Nine.The mere shadowof the creature emerging over the horizon would cause entire cities to flee infear.They could hold every government hostage with only the threat of itsdeployment.With enough planning, resources, and ambition, they might evendeign to conquer the world.
Thatwould certainly be worth a little murder.
“Weneed to stop him,” Isaac said.“Him and the Archons.No one should have thatkind of power.”
Theskull gave a firm nod.
“Holdon,” Zaria said, moving back to his side.“You sayin’ that, if your brotherwins, this titan’s gonna walk again?”
Anothernod from the skull.
Hereyes roamed over the vast curve of the pelvis, as if it was the first time shehad truly appreciated its size.It took an entire turn of her body just tofollow a single wing.“Fuck me.That’d be the end of the world.”
Isaacand his father nodded together.
“Well,”she said, “my greed’s looking rather paltry now.Gods above.”
Isaacstared into the eye holes of the skull.Behind it, the wall-covering massexpanded outwards, coming forward from the pelvis.The movement was slow andcautious, like the approach of a stray dog.
Asilent question hung in the air.
“Itrust him,” Isaac said.
“What?”Zaria took a step forward, shifting her axe toward the bone wall.“How the fuckyou swinging that?”
“Watch.”He stepped forward.The skull stalk coiled back.“If I don’t interfere, Berithwill kill you.He will win.Yes?”
Theskull took a moment to nod.
“Inthat case,” Isaac said, “why did you tell me to leave?You’re going to diewithout me.You need my help.”
Bonesdanced across the metal floor.
I LOVEYOU
BE SAFE
ALL IWANT
“You’dseal your own fate,” Isaac said, “let the Diet get their giant monster, just soI’d have the chance to escape?”
Theskull gave a single, firm nod.
“Thereyou go,” Isaac said, turning to Zaria.“That’s why.”
“Haveyou gone daft in the head?”the hyena replied.“All I’m hearin’ from thispuppet show is the ways he’s almost killed you.”
“Itrust him.”
