Gideon noticed a moment later that the Harvester had already begun to do its work. Orbs floated above the bodies of the corpse, three were light blue in color while the orb over the bow wielding Stalker’s corpse was green.
Before he could harvest the ether, however, the orbs were being pulled across to the massive creature standing behind the two Bloodborn. It turned around, foreclaws scraping on the concrete as its ghastly face came into view, a nightmare in black and emerald with insectile mandibles dripping with luminescent green liquid and rows of chattering teeth inside a crooked maw.
It seemed to derive great pleasure from the process as it drew the ether orbs into its body, as though devouring a tasty meal. Its carapace glowed with soft green light as it finished feeding and a moment later strands of etheric power shot out from its outstretched pincers and into the backs of the two Bloodborn.
The Harvester screamed, offering up a high-picked screech that Gideon remembered from when the way was first opened up down into the basement. It flexed its arms and legs, spreading them out crab-like as the two bulky Stalkers charged toward Gideon and his companions.
“Okay, let’s do it,” he said, moving off to the side as Red charged forward shouting obscenities and triggering Warden’s Roar to generate as much aggro as possible.
The closest Stalker headed right for Red, but the other one diverted, ignoring the tank’s cry and heading directly toward Gideon as he attempted to slip into the shadows.
“Shit!” he blurted as the Stalker shoulder charged him, connecting with bone-crunching force and sending Gideon hurtling across the room.
He landed with a heavy thud, one dagger flying out of his hands as he rolled several times over. It felt like he’d been hit by a truck. The ether infused Stalker was at least three times stronger than normal and was moving so fast that Gideon would be dead in moments if he didn’t do something fast.
Forced to change tack, Mia shot an arrow at the beast. A thread of sickly green light lit the air for a moment as the shaft buried itself in the brute’s shoulder, gliding through the armor and slowing the Stalker a little as it lumbered toward Gideon.
The extra time it brough him allowed Gideon to get to his feet and trigger his Shadow Veil ability. The Stalker slowed to a walk, looking left and right in confusion as Gideon followed up with Marked for Death and then Stealth Strike.
Standing behind the brute, he thrust the talon blade up into the enemy’s body, pushing past resistance and jamming the dagger up to his wrist as the Stalker spun around and swung out with its balled-up fist. Gideon ducked out of the way, wrenching the blade free and avoiding a bludgeoning strike with the Bloodborn’s oversized blade.
The sword clanged against the floor and Gideon noticed that a second arrow shaft was now jutting out of the Stalker’s neck. Threads of bright green webbing spread out from the wound as the venom did its work and the enemy noticeably slowed as it tried to cleave Gideon in two with a savage sideways strike of its sword.
“Fuck!” Red called out from nearby. “Why won’t this prick die!”
Gideon couldn’t afford to turn and see what was going on. Finding his dropped dagger on the floor, he bent down to scoop it up and advanced on the wounded Stalker. Just as he was about to strike another thread of ether shot out from the Harvester infusing the Bloodborn with a burst of strength and vitality and drove it forward with terrible speed.
Gideon tried to deflect the blow with a sweep of his right dagger but the Stalker’s fist slammed into his chest, cracking armor and bone alike as a sudden thrill of pain filled his body. Stumbling backwards, he steadied himself, managing to stay on his feet despite the crippling blow he’d just taken.
Vision blurring once again, Gideon gritted his teeth and took a deep breath as the Stalker approached. Just as the enemy drew back to stab out with his sword, he Shadow Stepped behind the alien soldier, striking with both blades in unison and then ripping out the blades, shifting focus and stabbing a second time.
This time the Stalker stumbled to the floor, blood and ichor gushing from the wounds. Gideon ripped his daggers from the creature’s back, turning toward Red to find the other man pinned against the wall, grappling the enemy and quickly losing ground.
The Bloodborn had two arrows jutting from its back, but didn’t seem to be affected.
“Big Boy!” Gideon shouted, running toward Red and pointing over at the Harvester as Mia shifted her aim and firing an arrow at the gruesome enemy.
Gideon slipped on blood as he approached the two combatants locked in a death grip. He stumbled forward, ducking low and using his momentum to carry him into the legs of the hulking Bloodborn.
Chest still smarting from the earlier punch, he grunted at the impact, but quickly used his position to his advantage, driving his right dagger up into the inner thigh of the enemy and through a section of its body that wasn’t protected by chitinous plating. Blood gushed from the wound and Gideon rolled out of the way as Red slammed his head into the Stalker’s immediately regretting the move as he cursed and staggered back against the wall, blood appearing in a cut above his eyebrow.
Slipping and sliding all over the slick floor, Gideon grabbed the Stalker’s leg, using it to haul himself up and then jamming his remaining blade into the creature’s neck. It roared and gurgled, staggering a few steps as Gideon held on and rode the dying brute to the floor.
“Gideon!”
As he hit the floor and rolled, Gideon spun around to see Mia backing away on the other side of the chamber. The Harvester had unfurled its body, rising so that it stood hunched up against the ceiling, outer limbs and chitinous plates peeled back to reveal a terrifying creature of gristle and bone, its hateful eyes locked onto Mia.
Gideon scrambled toward her, sliding across the ground as the Stalker he’d just stabbed started to rise. He didn’t look back but the sound of Red cursing in frustration suggested that the tank would take care of the straggler.
Getting to his feet and clearing the worst of the bloody flooring, Gideon quickly assessed his options. All of his stealth abilities were on cooldowns and the Harvester was seconds from reaching Mia, despite the trio of arrows she’d shot into its bulging torso.
A strange smoke was swirling around the beast’s body, flowing out of its mouth and oozing from its skin as it continued to shriek. A Pair of vicious looking talons twice the size of Gideon’s blades appeared as the Harvester prepared to strike.
With no other option and conscious that losing their healer would likely kill them all, Gideon lunged between the pair, one dagger held out in front in a blocking position, his other hand balled up into a fist. He entered the strike zone just as the Harvester slashed out with its talons, driving aside the blade that was poised to cut Mia and half and buying her enough time to get clear.
The second blade cut right through Gideon’s torso, pinning him in place as a burst of pain ripped through his abdomen. He cried out as the Harvester pulled his body toward its snapping paw, a thousand black teeth waiting to rip and tear his flesh.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Trying to block out the excruciating pain and the stench of the Ether Harvester as he was drawn close, Gideon struck again with his talon, driving it into the beast’s chest and prompting the huge creature to pause momentarily. Gideon pulled the small throwing knife from his inventory with his spare hand and flailed about on the Harvester’s claw, trying to ignore the blood pouring from his gut and find a moment to strike once more.
Ether poured from the creature, stinging Gideon’s eyes as pincers extended from the beast’s abdomen. They latched onto Gideon’s body, biting into the flesh of his shoulders and crushing muscle and bone as he cried out in agony.
An arrow bounced off the Harvester’s hooded head, deflected by the thick armor and flying harmlessly into the wall behind. A second arrow followed shortly after, but again it failed to penetrate the beast’s hide.
A moment later, light flooded into Gideon’s body, and he felt the rejuvenating power of Mia’s healing spellwork repairing the damage he had endured. He tried to kick himself free of the Harvester’s grip with his renewed strength, but the boss had him pinned in place with the crushing pincers and the blade still sticking through his abdomen.
The healing caused a strange kind of equilibrium for a few moments, situating Gideon in a limbo between being renewed and broken as healing magic and the devastating injury in his gut warred against one another. Etheric power started to swell around the Harvester as energy crackled in the air and pressure rose to bursting point.
Gideon’s head felt like it was going to burst. His vision blurred and he could barely breath as all sound within the chamber suddenly ceased.
A split second later a wave of potent energy erupted causing a shockwave of etheric power to radiate outward from the alien creature. Gideon was driven backwards by the force of the blast, sliding back on the blade jutting through his abdomen but still held firm by the pincers at his shoulders.
“Mia!” Red cried out from somewhere behind. “Shit! Gideon, she’d down. Just hang tight, I’m commin’!”
The unmistakable sound of a sword beating against the Harvester’s body reached Gideon as he clung on to life. The repeated beatings were accompanied by Red’s ranting and raving. Gideon’s mind wandered and he found himself cursing Red for misusing the sword in such a stupid way. Why couldn’t he just find a gap and slide the damned blade in, instead of trying to batter the monstrous creature to death?
A moment later the sound of the Bloodborn Blade smacking against the Harvester’s armored hide ceased. The creature turned its full attention back to Gideon as he fought to stay conscious and remain focused on the job at hand.
His body was on fire, his mind was screaming, but he refused to give up. This wasn’t where Gideon Blackthorn’s story was going to end. Gary might have died here in this dark basement, but not Gideon Blackthorn.
There were still mighty deeds to be done, epic quests to be completed. He needed the world to know that Gary the burger boy was dead and now the legend of Gideon Blackthorn was about to be told in full. The story wouldn’t end here, couldn’t end here!
He coughed, blood running down his chin as the Harvester drew him close once again, opening his ghastly maw as though he intended to bite Gideon’s head clean off. What was he saying?
Clearly he was suffering from extreme stress and blood loss. His mind had cracked, and he was unable to face reality.
The legend of Gideon Blackthorn? What the fuck was that about?
The Harvester’s hot, acrid breath brought tears to Gideon’s eyes, teeth dripping with black goo as the creature raised his body and shoved his head towards its mouth. This was it. This was how his story would end.
No.
With the last of his strength, Gideon triggered Shadow Step, moving through space and arriving behind the gruesome monster. He was still holding the small throwing knife in one hand, but could barely stand, let alone see the indicator highlighting where he was supposed to strike.
He was out of options and had already delayed too long. The Harvester spun around, scything its claws through the air and forcing Gideon to duck down, grimacing in pain as blood still flowed from the wounds on his shoulders and the hole in his gut.
A small red triangle glowed in Gideon’s HUD indicating a weak point just below the Harvester’s mouth. Throwing every last ounce of strength and resolve into the maneuver he thrust the small blade toward the Harvester’s body, pouring the entirety of his ether reserves into a simple Thrust and praying his aim was true.
Pincers grabbed his body once more, ripping into his sides as the Harvester let out a deafening shriek. It twisted to the side, slamming its bulk against the wall and stabbing its sword-like talons wildly about as though it faced a dozen enemies.
One of the blades caught on something behind Gideon and he heard the sound of hissing gas nearby. Still channeling ether into the attack, Gideon felt his body grow stronger, his mind sharper as more and more etheric power flooded through his arm and into the tiny blade.
It didn’t make any sense. At last count, he had forty-five ether stored up. That would increase the critical chance and damage of the Thrust ability but given the limited size of the knife and such a small amount of either, it was hardly going to do the kind of damage Gideon was currently witnessing.
The Harvester slumped to the ground, still holding Gideon with bone crushing force, its grip only weakening slightly. The power that had been flowing through Gideon’s arm ceased abruptly and he pulled back the blade. It felt ordinary in his hand. Just a small throwing knife with no special qualities whatsoever.
Instead of shrieking, the Harvester began to mew, folding in on itself like a bouncy castle with all the air being let out. Gideon fell on top of the creature as it slid toward the floor. Its angry red eyes began to dim and its mewing turned into a deathly wheeze.
The pincers that had been crushing his sides moments earlier now fell away and Gideon slid to the floor, stepping back and turning to see Mia and Red lying unconscious nearby. He waited for a moment, wanting to make sure that the Harvester was completely dead before checking on his companions.
As the enemy went limp a large, multicolored sphere of ether appeared above it and was immediately drawn into Gideon’s echo.
BOSS DEFEATED: ETHER HARVESTER
ETHER COLLECTED: + 5000
Harvester Talon +2
MISSION COMPLETE: Clear the Bunker
You have successfully eradicated all hostile enemies within the Lunar Station basement.
STALKER’S KILLED: 10/10
REWARD: 10 Enhancement Points
** NEW CORE STAT UNLOCKED **
GRIT +1
You have shown an uncommon ability to endure pain and heal yourself in spite of overwhelming odds against you. In recognition of this feat, you have been awarded a new Core Stat against which enhancement points can be allotted.
Increased Grit will allow you to endure more pain, self-heal, and recover from injury faster.
Endurance +3
Tactical Insight +2
Bladed Weaponry +2
Stealth +1
“Holy Shit!” he blurted the implications of what he was reading hitting him.
He turned and ran toward Mia, finding that she was already conscious and starting to push herself up into a sitting position. He bent down beside her, checking to see that she was alright.
“I’m fine,” she managed weakly. “Check Red. Make sure he’s okay.”
Gideon turned and slid over to where Red was lying on the floor. The other man opened his eyes, blinking with a look of confusion as he stared up into Gideon’s face.
“Did I win?” he asked with a broad smile.
“Sort of,” Gideon said, grabbing him by the arm and helping him to his feet. “We’re all still here, so I guess we all won.”
They stood side by side, armor battered and torn as they looked at the Harvester corpse.
“Damned thing looks like it’s been deflated,” Red offered.
“How did you kill it?” Mia asked.
Gideon started walking toward the dead monster. Careful to sidestep the blood and goop leaking out onto the floor he walked around to a cluster of large glass and metal tubes fixed to the rear wall. He brushed the dust off a label on the closest tube and read the message on its surface out loud.
“Emergency ether storage. Property of the Artemis Ministry. Unauthorized use will incur severe penalties.”
He turned to the others, shaking his head.
“I think I know what happened.”
WARNING: You have utilized Ministry ether without proper authorization. Recently incurred ether debts have not yet been paid in full, so you now owe the Ministry an additional 10,000 ether.
TOTAL ETHER DEBT: 10,020
This will be deducted the next time you make a deposit at the nearest ether harvester.
“Yep,” he confirmed, turning back to the tube and pointing at a break in the glass. “That’s it, all right.”
“What?” Mia pressed. “Tell us what happened?”
“Well, I used up all of my available ether in a single attack, but the Harvester must have burst this when he slashed around with his talons. I figure somehow the ether got into my body and just kept channeling into the knife.”
“Which knife?” Red asked.
Gideon held up the small throwing knife. “This one.”
“Holy shit? You killed it with that?”
“I killed it with this and around ten thousand ether.”
Mia’s eyes widened. “Really? That much?”
“Judging by the ether debt I’ve just racked up, I’d say so. I figure this is why the Harvester was down here in the first place. It was trying to get to the ether stores but couldn’t figure out how to get to them.”
“Ten thousand?” Mia repeated. “How the hell are you going to pay that back?”
15:18
“Hopefully they’ve got some kind of easy payment plan.”