Fate/Distorted Worm

*Mercury POV*

*Location: London, England*

*Date: June 22nd, 2000*

[Poseidon's Tears]

[Hestia's Flames]

[Gaia's Stirring]

[Winds of Aeolus]

With a series of rapid incantations, I fired off a series of spells, each one representing an element, minus void of course, with my strongest being [Gaia's Stirring] thanks to my natural Earth affinity. The creature was surprised, though thinking it would have a chance to talk as it tried to dodge out of the way, and whilst it did dodge the initial water and flame spheres. 

[Gaia's Stirring], though, was a bit different, as it shook the very earth or well roof we were standing on, and while I was fine, the thing lost its balance. That was only part one of the spell as we began to rise up, with the building being raised up and spikes jumping out at them, impaling their left arm, forcing out a loud hiss or something akin to that. The winds were blowing around him, creating a small tornado with him at the center. 

Honestly speaking, I didn't have any confidence in the first two spells working; they were weak by the standards of Magus spells. Barely containing any mystery to them, heck, even the two that did catch them off guard were of the same rank. Rather, though they were the ingredients to perform a much more impressive spell, alongside the recreation of a myth. 

[Joining of Gaia and Ouranos]

Aka when the Earth and Sky were joined together to birth the Titans, Cyclopes, and the Hecatoncheires, the third generation of gods. To explain in Greek myth, or at least the version I'm more familiar with, first came Khaos, the nothingness, then the various primordials, including Gaia, who created Ouranos as her equal. Which brought us to the Titans, then the Greek gods we're familiar with, and so on. 

Sure, I was more familiar with the Norse side of things, but I wanted to test out a few spells that were more based on Greek myths, and this felt like the perfect opponent to do so against. Strong enough to withstand them, but not a true threat to me unless I let them get the upper hand. 

Anyway, the spell essentially forced the very air or 'sky' down on the ground as the Earth rose up to symbolize the joining of polar opposite elements. It was this paradox of existence that led to the Greek myths we know today, well, not in the nasuverse anyway, as they had their own machine god things going, I didn't want to dive into. Either way, this spell was more based on the myths rather than the facts of the matter, so it didn't really matter all that much. 

During this torrent of chaotic energy and clashing, our dear little vampire was caught up in the middle of it and was being tossed around being impaled, but getting out only to be impaled again. 

"How, how, how? I was supposed to be strong like the masters said, they said no one would be able to match me now, and this city would be mine if I so wished!" He shouted as he began to try and claw his way out of the center of my spell, blood splattering all over the place alongside a few body parts. 

Honestly, it seemed like they had some Brute abilties as well, well before being turned anyway, seeing how fast they were healing. Sure, if they were a more powerful Dead Apostle, they'd be a bit more powerful and have a different way of healing. I think it had to do with reversing time to the point where they had no wounds at all, with some having an easier time than others or requiring blood/energy to accomplish. Although it was possible that I was wrong and I was working off of false information, once more, the magic method came into effect. 

Well, when I got my hands on a non-cape Dead Apostle anyway, but this one would have to do for now. Speaking of which, he was currently halfway out of the little spell I used, his body broken beyond all belief, his flesh torn in ways that defy the common sense of any living creature. Even then, the bits that did get heard were done so improperly, with his arms now twisted like a literal pretzel. 

"Well, now it's impressive you were able to survive as a newly turned Dead Apostle, a bit stronger than a ghoul but not exactly a good example of well species if you want to call yourself that." I said as I walked closer with each step echoing as the creature looked up at me in fear, with me still not being able to get a good look at it. 

It was a fascinating process, I mean, how was the creature able to force such an interaction between biological mechanisms without magecraft or any kind of magic? Well I would have all teh tiem to study it, I mean it wasn't like I was going to slit open a living human being, rahter I was goign to do so on a Jack the Ripper wannabe who turned themselves into a Dead Apostle. 

*Gurgling* "Y-Y-You how, how were *spits out blood* how were you able to capture me, they assured me no one would be strong enough to oppose me." It said as I now stood over it, the creature trying its best to bite or claw at me, but failing spectacularly. 

Touching the ground in front of me, I began casting [Reshape] alongside the etching of various sigils from my Adept practices, mostly things like {Seal}, which limited the target's strength, and {Immobile}, which limited the target's movements. Both were basic and could be used in tandem with some of the more basic magecraft, well, at least I believe so, as there was no interference between the two. 

"You *gurgles blood* what are you planning!?" He screamed out as I applied the last sigil on the new burrito. 

It was {weight} which could do one of two effects, depending on what the user desired: one to make the object lighter, or if you wanted heavier. It was nice to use these sigils instead of rune craft or other magecraft. Sure, they had their uses, but they were powered by the user's Od or the world's mana, but it also required mystery to determine their strength. Sigil magic from the world of Skulduggery Pleasant, though, was more brute force; you put in as much as you want and suffer the consequences along the way. 

Honestly, I was a bit nervous as I believe certain magic systems may...have a negative reaction to one another, well, at least that was my theory. Although it was possible that the Root in magecraft and the Source in magic from Skulduggery could be the same with different laws, or understanding, so to speak. 

Didn't matter right now, as while I didn't accomplish my initial goal, I did gain something else. An excellent lab rat that could take a beating before breaking apart, I mean it would probably starve before I kill it, or would the reverse happen, either way, as I picked him up, his death sentence was already here, he just didn't know it yet. 

"I wonder little Dead Apostle, how many spells can you withstand without dying?" I said as a look of fear flashed acorss its face.