The Children of Zegandaria, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov [first color ebook reader txt] 📗

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: GENIUS

The devils didn't have all the time in the world to listen to scientific tirades, and Hans cut his explanations as short as possible.

He explained that they could use this same virtual reality the Doctor had developed to infiltrate the mortal world and close the portal from there.

- "But how did you figure that out," Valak dared to ask.

The Doctor has been playing solo since the end of time because he knows that Om Gur Nal is the true master of this dimension - at least on paper. But nowhere had anyone told him that the novice Elsamore's ambition could play him a very, very bad joke.

The devils looked at him in bewilderment, but when they heard that they could infiltrate the dimension of men in this way they stretched their lips into frightening smiles.

"There's something you should know though," Hans Auslander began, "The free fifth level can be used by you, but only if you rewire your mind."

- "Level five of what?," the demons puzzled.

- "On virtual reality of course!," he Announced solemnly.

- "But how can we demons infiltrate there?," puzzled Agares.

- We possess magical powers and immense might!

- "It doesn't matter there," Hans said calmly. "The cult of Tarash Duk was technologically backward, and that was why Kazuk Mon lost the battle like a fool."

- "And what was his greatest fear before he died?," one of the demons named Deumos asked.[40]

- "He was scared out of his wits of being castrated - something that never happened!," said Hans, slightly ironically.

- "And you being in Hell, how do you know all this?," queried another demon named Kresil[41].

- "Well, I just haven’t left the fifth level of the virtual reality created by the Doctor like this," Hans called. "That's been my big discovery since I've been down here in Hell. This level gives a great advantage, but it is also a great curse for all convicts like me. So many tried to reach it, but failed. But I found myself among the few willing to grasp it all. It takes a special mentality to even move at that level. And it causes tremendous suffering even for people of as elevated an intellect as mine - that's why it's forbidden. That's why no one has ever gone there except me!"

- "Not even Om Gur Nal?," asked Kasdeya.

- "Even him!," confirmed Hans. "Yet another reason why he doesn't want anyone to know about his weakness and inability to hold his own at this level - he's keeping it closed to Doctor Gad ‘Di Enn. This is of course a temporary solution. Sooner or later he will find out and have a huge psychological advantage before attacking and possibly taking down his secret rival."

- "And what's so much on this level?," queried another demon called Bilfons, in charge of geometry and other arts.

- "I'll tell you that after we make a contract between us," Hans said humbly. "This is the only way to learn the immense and unlimited possibilities that this last fifth level provides."

Then Valak, who was terribly subtle and ambitious, began to tie up the picture - there was no need to waste so much time with

Useless incompetents like Kazuk Mon and his cowardly minion Emborian Zontul - though he too could prove too valuable a cadre for Hell.

Agares stroked his beard - he didn't entirely like this development, but it suited him just fine. The elder demon had been through at least ten major coups in the last hundred thousand years, when all sorts of demons had passed to Hell's throne - cadre and talentless, brutal and secretive - but this was something qualitatively new - a sort of final deal of the cards. He had to be careful or he could easily lose his own head.

Devils didn't castrate, but they were brutal about brain manipulation nonetheless - they liked to play with the identity of any sinner who had once come into their sight.

The cunning Valak was even contemplating a perverse punishment for his ward, the dragoman Hans Auslander.

Though he didn't possess the intellectual genius of this mere mortal, Valak had lived for thousands upon thousands of years - even, frankly, he'd just had enough. Hellmouths were a true disaster, and it was rare for anyone to remain in power for more than ten thousand years. He'd struggled to stay alive for almost fifty thousand years, and he was over two hundred thousand years old. He had seen all sorts of things, and he knew that there was nothing worse than not knowing exactly who you were!

He'd put his dastardly plan into action against Hans, using him to enter the dangerous fifth level, shut the door, and then mercilessly leave him with no memory. He still wasn't sure how the demons would return, or if some would even die - but that was still a plus for the tyrannical and brutal master.

Hans tried very hard to appear humble and meek - it made a somewhat good impression, but only enough to keep the demons from gnawing at his wiry thick neck.

CHAPTER FIFTY: ELSAMORE

This marvellous trick was difficult-too difficult for the elemental head of a helper like Elsamore-but Om Gur Nal was very sneaky and ruthless. Under his mask of morality, he was trying to baffle the doctor, and he suspected that the latter had evidEnt intentions of getting at the last fifth level - and, it was driving him crazy. He needed someone to distract him - some ignorant fool and minstrel like Elsamore. It wasn't easy to find this drifter - but with Enough effort, he did.

Of course, not even Om Gur Nal could calculate all the possible probabilities - it was absolutely impossible!

Om Gur Nal had taken a lot of time of his own to find this helper, and had created a whole series of favorable circumstances to help him get to where he was now.

Elsamore justified the trust, but the price was too high - so much work for nothing! But of course Kibera played his part and dragged the demons on his heels

The strangest thing Om Gur Nal couldn't explain was how a boy like Emborian Zontul possessed such remarkable Endurance and fortitude to survive - you just couldn't help but wonder at him.

Om Gur Nal wasn't so unpredictable that he didn't even keep track of Boss and his team's movements - of course, he sent the assassin and expected them to even guess that it might be him. But, Boss needed a full rehabilitation to regain confidence in his own personality - for the moment he was unable to achieve it. And he himself existed outside the law!

Elsamore suffered from tons of complexes, but being truly loyal to Kazuk Mon shortly before he was killed did nothing for him. Eventually the new kid came along - Om Gur Nal had taken note of this turn of events.

Zontul's reign lasted a little less than three weeks. And all the other events happened that sparked a real revolution - not just on Earth, but even in Hell itself.

Further on, it was more than clear that Om Gur Nal had already drawn the main teams in the 'game' - they had to fight each other for supremacy while he was gaining a little more time - a little more- quite a bit, of course!

Some ordinary servant was going to play a key role in today's events - that was the most essential part of Om Gur Nal's plan.

Deep down, he was convinced he hadn't lied to himself and everything would fall into place!

The fifth level was also protected by special Arleon electronic gates that assessed the brain potential of any potential intruder before letting them in - a very special morale level check was also being done, which was a detailed scan of the brain impulses of the respective intruder's willingness to infiltrate there.

In fact, one of the main reasons Om Gur Nal wouldn't let anyone in at that level had to do with another special reason - known only to him. This level was the only one that had the ability to expand limitlessly according to the spiritual ability of the one residing in it - this of course did not mean that it was infinite, but only that it seemed so in the eyes of the one residing in this level of reality.

Om Gur Nal had devoted his entire life to preserving his twenty-five years of power that he had inherited from the old Om Gur Nal - this was not An end in itself, but simply a kind of foresight. But the strangest thing was that before he ascended to his high throne he had never, but never had any friends - that forever scarred his mind. He knew that once his tenure as supreme ruler of the planet was over - however long it had been - all that awaited him was a painful and inevitable death - that was what they did to every great leader - and there was no reason to complain!

- "Why am I you, Your Excellency?," the novice had asked when Om Gur Nal had decided to recruit him.

- "You will be a very valuable cadre," the overlord assured him, and he asked nothing else after that.

The meeting was kept in complete discretion and no one ever learned exactly what they talked about, and Kazuk Mon was too busy fighting his demons to bother with all that wildness.

Elsamore became Om Gur Nal's eyes and ears, and from that day on, everything worked out exclusively in his favour - there was never a day when he didn't bring enough information to his new boss.

Yes, technically he wasn't betraying Kazuk Mon or plotting against him - he was just a harmless ear that could pop up anywhere at the right moment - no more, no less.

- "Where ambition will take you, my dear spy?," stroked Om Gur Nal's beard. "It's up to you. I won't stand in your way - at least for now!"

In all the almost fourteen years he had served his new shepherd, Elsamore had never once put himself at risk - he had always calculated his next move early, and everything had somehow fallen into place.

Many would say that Om Gur Nal was artificially maintaining the cult, but that simply wasn't true - he had absolutely no interest in doing so - he just wanted to have enough time before making his final move!