Redo: Grimoire System in the Apocalypse

'That's the Runic language of the beasts! There shouldn't be any here with enough intellect to do this...' 

Albus spoke the moment Geth had gotten a good look at the script that made up the Formation. 

The Runes looked very similar to the flourishing Elvish that he'd witnessed Albus' wife working with. The main difference was how rugged it looked, almost like it had been gouged into the chain by a jagged blade.

'Beasts? Like the ones who fell to the Demons first?'

'Yes. They copied the Runic translations of the Elves but could never be as intricate in their utilization.

Close your eyes. You can feel how unstable the Mana drawn in by the Runes becomes. Their use of the Runes is dangerous, but they manage.

Don't mistake the poor copies for childish drawings. Beast Runes are capable of drawing in a more primitive and powerful form of Mana, the cost at which is struggling with their sanity.

Elven Runes focus on flowing with the Mana, causing them to gain more control over the source. Human Runes may fall short in power, but they are the most efficient of any Races' attempts at controlling the Mana.'

Geth nodded, looking at the chains wrapped around the creature. Red life essence flowed from the beast and was absorbed into the crystal.

'Are these creatures powering the Formation above?'

'No. The blood isn't running into the Formation but down into the Dungeon. I'm not familiar enough with the script to determine its purpose.'

Albus knew many things, but he wasn't a scholar. His main purpose had been protecting humanity. His wife, Ren, would be able to read these Runes as if they were English.

Geth looked at the bound Direwolf once again. Its eyes screamed out for relief.

'Albus. Is there anything we can do to help?'

'Kill it.'

Geth nodded. He didn't have the ability to break these chains. Even if he did, the creature would probably attack him the moment it was free.

"Filthy. Can you kill it with one hit?"

He stepped back and allowed Filthy to take a look at the creature. His spells would only cause it further pain before it died.

'Let me.'

Geth jumped. Kane had spoken to him so suddenly, and he hadn't expected it.

His Tame's voices in his mind weren't like Albus. When they spoke, it was as if something foreign was sending a direct message. With Albus, it was as natural as having his own thoughts.

Geth summoned his Direwolf and looked at him. He wasn't any larger than the form he'd taken at Level 25, but he was much more powerful.

His black fur had taken on a purple hue. His eyes and claws burned with a dark purple light.

Geth had long wondered if he was somehow affecting the color of the things associated with him. Even his equipment tended to show up in a style that suited his interests.

Kane stepped up to the much smaller wolf, looking directly into its eyes as it approached. Filthy stepped out of the way and watched the pair with interest.

No one made a sound. The two Direwolves were so close that they were almost touching.

Geth watched silently. He wasn't sure what the two wolves were doing, but the Mana between them constantly shifted back and forth.

'Are they... fighting for control?'

'No, they are communicating. Beasts are different from Humans. They can share images and feelings almost naturally if they are strong enough.

We were actually taught how to use mental Skills by Beasts and Dragons. Without them, we would have still been using devices to communicate in the future.'

Geth raised his brow. It seemed like a lot of knowledge passed between the Races in their short time of peace.

He and Filthy waited patiently for close to ten minutes before Kane finally moved. He pressed his forehead against that of the smaller Direwolf's. 

The flames on the Sub-Boss' back began to recede swiftly as the Direwolf gave up control of its life force. The chains seemed to lose their pull as the red substance flowed forward into Kane.

As Geth looked on, he noticed a drastic change in his Tame. It didn't gain Levels or experience, but it took on a similar appearance to the smaller wolf.

Bright purple flames burst from his spine and paws. The Mana around him erupted in a wave of heat as a purple flash lit the chamber.

Geth stepped in front of Filthy and cast a Protection spell on him, just in case.

Geth found that the smaller was lying lifeless on the ground when looking back at the two wolves. The chains receded slowly back into the crystal, vanishing as if they'd never existed.

Kane's eyes were closed, his snout scrunched in a sign of concentration. The heat slowly receded, the Mana dragging back into the ebony wolf's body.

When the room returned to a bearable temperature, Geth released the Protection he'd placed on Filthy. The ranger nodded in appreciation kneeled by the small wolf's corpse.

'Master.'

"Is everything okay?"

Geth walked up to his Tame and rubbed his hand along its fur. A dull heat permeated his skin and kindled his Mana.

Kane shook his head back and forth, 'We need to find the one that did this quickly. She said that the creature is getting stronger every second.'

"She?"

Geth turned his head and looked back at the corpse. Filthy seemed to be having an internal debate on whether or not to strip it down.

'Tell him it will be fine, don't let her body go to waste.'

Geth nodded and relayed the message to Filthy.

'She thinks that those on the lowest floor have already been drained. The pull on her became stronger some time after we entered the Formation.'

"That doesn't bode well. So... what's with the new look?"

'I told her that we would kill the one responsible. In return, she gave me the last of her life essence.'

Geth's eyes widened. He figured something like that had happened, but it was still a surprise that a Dungeon creature was capable of such a thing.

"We will certainly repay her gift."

'Well... If we don't, I'll die.'

*Cough*

Geth almost coughed up blood when those words registered.